Project S: Side by Side (2017)

This short series was very promising. The first episode was full of emotions, it had me that emotional that I was on the verge of crying. Autism is not a disease, it is a disorder and I am happy that they put this in the spotlight to raise awareness about people having it. We should not hate them, instead we should be patient with them...they are the most talented people in the world. I admired the pacing the story and the actors are very convincing.

I cannot wait to the next episodes to come. So far, I rated this as perfect, because everything about it is great.

This is one of the best Thai Dramas that I've seen so far.

Kudos to the whole production in this project!

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I'll keep this simple.

STORY. Superb storyline. Having badminton as supposed to be the central plot, the writers explored beyond the sport. For me, it's not about badminton. It's not about autism. It's about sibling rivalry. That's the very core of the story and it was presented magnificently. There is no antagonist, only the products of mistakes from people who caused the problems and conflicts of the main characters.

ACTING. Stellar performance. I expected a lot from Tor and Sky but they have still delivered more than what I have expected. I adore their chemistry as brothers here. Tor deserves awards for portraying his role. I can't think of other actors of his generation who can do what he did.

MUSIC. I'm a Thai series fan but I can't read and write in Thai. Despite that, the soundtrack used in the series is truly remarkable. The matches became more intense because of the musical score. The nursery rhyme used in the emotional and sensitive scenes moved me. The way Dong calms Gym down is marvelous. It gives me chills up until now. That's my favorite scene ever! Whoever thought of that is genius.

REWATCH VALUE. This is the weakest spot of the story. The editing of the series is a bit scattered. The story has become predictable because of the sequencing of events. The building up of some scenes takes a bit long. There are elements that are repetitive and unnecessary. It's not as tight as I hoped it would be.

Nonetheless, it's an incredible ride. You'll get to appreciate and love your family more after watching Side By Side. For me, its pilot episode is the best Project S episode so far. It will be just difficult to top that.

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The good:
The acting is superb! Great acting by everyone, including the extras!
The music score is just epic! Another well done OST!

The epic:
Credit must be given to  Tor who portrays an autistic person in an amazing way! Not condescending or patronising in any way you actually feel lie you are observing someone with the affliction!
The story is just epic! Sport and autism! Wow! There is no good and bad, just situations and repercussions. This has to be the Thai drama that is the most realistic to 
The chemistry between the leads, the 2nd leads and the interaction with the other characters in the Side by Side world is remarkable!

Conclusion
SxS is an amazing story, well paced, well acted, well crafted! Well worth the watch!

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I am gonna be honest, I put this one on hold months ago becuase it was boring for a person like me who hates the sight sports plus it has a very annoying character which frustrated the hell out of me. Yes I judged the drama becuase of its first 3 episodes becuase of these 2 reasons but do I regret doing that ? Hell yeah! I'm so glad that I decided to pick it again cuz it has now become one of my all time favourite dramas. Why ? As you can see in the story part, it's about a person who has autism and as I am a person who absolutely loves dramas that represents mental illness well, I loved it.


But that's not the only reason. The drama offered much more than just a representation. It gave me humane characters who make mistakes and learn from them and becomes better. Most of the dramas I see where the protagonist has a mental illness or something is that they try their absolute hardest to make you feel bad for the character and make you think that our protagonist is an absolute angel with no flaws other than their illness . While the drama did introduced our protagonist as a person with VERY kind heart, it did not in any way possible showed us that he has no flaws other than his illness.

The drama introduced to us a normal humane character who's personality was not like an angel. He had his own flaws despite the fact that he has autism. Did he overcame them? You have to watch the series to know that haha but that's the point of the story! Every character is as normal as our protagonist, every character has as much as problems as our protagonist. The drama unlike other dramas of its same genre did not made the drama only for the sole purpose of the protagonist being autistic. They told us that a person with autism is as normal as a person who doesn't have it! And I think that's a beautiful way to portray autism.

Now let's talk about the characters, omg did I got attached to all of them ? The character that I found annoying in the beginning...well yes I started loving the heck out of her and that is what I call great character development! Like I said every character is humane. They all are just like us and that's another thing I love about this drama. You may get frustrated or annoyed at their decisions at some point but don't worry, they will definitely receive character development! The drama can be called a character-driven one cuz I was so immensely attached with the characters. I cried with them, I laughed with them, became angry with them. Basically did everything with them. I got super attached with their fictional life as if I'm loving in it and that's the power of this drama's simple yet beautiful script. It defines that simple things can be heartwarming and enjoyable plus it has some great dialogues that are probably forever gonna stay in my heart.

If you start talking about the acting then god I can't praise it enough. Everyone literally everyone is SO good. I am not a big fan of tor and have only seen him in hormones and even though he wasn't bad in that one, he didn't necessarily impressed me either. But this series. Goodness he has developed IMMENSELY. I was always aw-strucken by his performance of a person with autism. The little movement he did were so amazing and needed. Definitely has increased my respect for him as an actor!

As for sky, I didn't expected him to be that good when he's not the person playing gym. Usually in dramas like this, the people who are around the protagonist are either for supporting their illness for bullying them because of their illness so the actor's acting skills are rarely present to impress but my goodness he has done his role so brilliantly that I loved his acting as much as tor! The little movement his face did wheather it was crying or honestly any moment was so well done! He has improved very much from hormones too lol

The child actors of Gym and Dong are very brilliant too and all the others ones too! Honestly nobody disappointed me on the acting part! The music was surprisingly good enough and suited the series greatly.

Overall, this drama is a masterpiece in my opinion. If you want to watch a drama that'd make you cry, definitely watch this one! If you are not into sad dramas, avoid it since I've never met a person who didn't cried at this one.

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Story: Amazing. I literally have no words. I watched this and I was hooked from the getgo because the story was so personal. The story captured all angles of perspectives of the main characters and interlocked into an amazing narrative that allowed us as viewers to empathize with all of them, and in turn, really connect emotionally, whether thats intense dislike or intense care and love. I've seen this twice, about to watch it again soon, and I still feel so interested everytime. This will forever be a favorite of mine.

Acting/casting: Tor who plays Gym for this series did a superb job. He was so amazing. It's so unreal just how dedicated he is in order to give us a realistic performance of someone who is autistic. I felt like I was really watching someone's real life and this wasn't just some drama. If I had to compliment only one thing then I would say it's Tor's eyes. He wasn't acting as Gym, he IS Gym. His eyes spoke as Gym. They say the eyes are windows to the soul and Tor's eyes is the reason I believe that might just be true because he's so good at using his eyes to convey emotional turmoil as Gym. Sky who plays Dong also did an amazing job. He really portrayed the internal conflict well and you can really feel his anger, his saddness. As a viewer, I can really empathize with his feelings and I can't help but feel anger for his situation. The mom's characters were also good, although Gym's mom's role wasn't very active in the series, She kind is part the background. Suquan who plays Dong's mom really looked like a mom to both the main characters. Overall, the actors played their roles very realistically. Everything was just the right amount of acting. Not exaggerated, not under. Just right. Chef's kiss.

Ping and Fuaiz who play the child version of Gym and Dong were pretty good as well. They're kids so I don't have much to say about them. Like they've still got years to become better.

A separate paragraph for Belle who plays Noi. This character might be my only slight dislike about the story. It's nothing major. I just don't find the acting that great. She's not that expressive, in opinion, and seemed like she's always lost. I don't know if her character was supposed to look lost but that's how I felt when I saw her. The character Noi played a huge role in the story and I appreciate her for being part of the story, but her character alone felt like the odd one out in this story. Maybe it's just me.

Rewatch value: Yes. There is no score because the answer is yes.

Overall: Yes. Just yes.

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It was one of the most emotional TV Series I've watched! No matter how hard I try to stop my emotions from flowing still its like a volcano willing to erupt any moment of time. The storyline was superbly done, the concept and the idea was brilliant. Whoever formulated this idea for me was a genius. Am already over praising it? Who cares? Because they deserved to be praised.

The acting skill was brilliant. I'm familiar with some of the casts and I was struck of how they grow as an artist. Their emotions flow like a calm water in the river. Fantastic. I tried to hide my tears but I was defeated. I ended up crying in the end.

Truly indeed that no one knows how far you can go but only yourself.

Credits to that casts for the magnificent acting skills and to all the persons behind it.

We Are / All / Normal

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Grab tissues you will need them

As a parent of an autistic child this, oh this hit my heart. I am typing through tears so if there are typos sorry. I cant get too into it because emotionally I have to shut off. I loved the story. One critique would be the cheating scandal. I think that the story would have been completely fine told with out that added. The problems that Dong was going through with his mom and Gym were enough to carry the 8 episodes. I will admit I did cuss my computer out a few times through the movie and had to remind myself its a movie. I gave the rewatch value a high rating because if you can handle it, its worth it. Me personally, I will not be rewatching. My heart cant take it. The actor did an exceptional job portraying Gym. There were several scenes with meltdowns and coping with the emotions that my husband and I have faced with our own son and his autism. I am going to go and cry in the shower because I cant stop the tears coming.

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The story of this series was really good it was interesting, funny, cute, emotional, and overall really good.
I enjoyed this series a lot and will definitely watch it again in the future.
The acting was incredible and I really connected to the characters
None of the music stood out to me but the storyline was very unique and hard to come across.
This series managed to have drama but at the same time kept it simple.
The main thing I loved about this show is the relationship between the two brothers/cousins, it was very Emotional and I might or might of not cried like a baby.
This show made me feel like a mother in protecting the two main characters despite them being a lot older than me.
I highly recommend this show it is a very unique show with a lot of different aspects to it .
If you think you’re crazy by talking to yourself, you’ll be even more crazy watching this show. Because I definitely talk to myself while watching this and my family is concerned. What I mean talking to myself I mean screaming, crying, falling off my bed and saying “ouch”, and laughing .

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Sports and mental health!

Overcoming mental /psychological disorders through sport: inspiring! This is the second series of this anthology I am watching. The first one was about dealing with depression through skateboarding. This one is about autism and learning through badminton.

The actors are amazing: just as skilled as actors as badminton players! While watching, I thought they must have had doubles but there were too many close shots with their faces on to make that realistic! They are amazing! The child actors are just as good, if not better considering their age (10 years old or something like that). The casting director gets a huge credit for finding child actors who look like their teen counterparts, who are talented actors and who can play badminton skilfully.

The series is short, as in it is long enough not to have precious time wasted on unnecessary things. And so much better for it! I binged it in one day. I must admit that I watched the first episode three months ago and the topic was to difficult for me to bear at that moment (too depressing) but it is actually optimistic and uplifting: going for one's dreams in spite of obstacles! It is definitely worth the watch: for the actors, for the story and how it deals with a milder case of autism and for the exciting way the matches are filmed! The last episode is almost entirely a competition match between Gym and Dong and the emotional turmoil it provokes in them while they are playing. You can literally see them grow and mature through the game!

Here are the notes I jotted down while watching!

So, I have only seen two episodes so far and that mother is driving me mad! Yes, her nephew is autistic but is it fair to ask of her own little son to be understanding when she favours the other boy more? She obviously cares more for the autistic boy than for her own son: everything for him, nothing for the "normal" boy! Her son is sweet and kind and she is taking a very wrong, criminal advantage of him, neglecting his needs completely! I hope she realizes the error of her ways! And the autistc boy's mother sees everything and does nothing about it. Nothing yet, I hope! So far she's the only one who is in a position to do something!
On one hand it is admirable what she is trying to achieve here: get mentally challenged athletes accepted in the mainstream sport competition but on the other hand, her own son has to pay the price for it! Is it fair to ask or expect of a child to look after his cousin whose tantrums are robbing him of a normal childhood (ep. 3: they are 10 yrs old and Gym is all sulky and upset because Dong went to play with the neighbour so the 10 year old Dong has to calm him down!)
In ep;4 we finally find out the reason for this behaviour: she had an affair with her sister's husband, got pregnant and had a healthy boy. She feels guilty about it and therefore she looks more after Gym neglecting completely her own son who is not allowed to have a life away from Gym! Is he going to have to pay for his mother's mistakes all his life? By the end of the episode, Dong rebels and asks to be given the freedom to make his own decisions about sport. Seeing that nothing good would come out of stubbornly controlling her son, the mother finally relents and gives in.
And even though Dong is independent and can take care of himself (ep 6) he still needs the support a family can give, words to cheer him up and on. So stop feeling guilty towards your sister and start feeling guilty for forgetting about your own son! Be a mother finally!
Separating boys eventually proved to be a good thing but the nagging worry that he is not good enough, still haunts Dong. And when Gym decides to go back to playing but in singles, Dong sees the tiny territory of independence he managed to conquer through endurance and hardship, being again threatened by Gym, completely unaware of the struggles Dong is going through!
The incredible thing, shown throughout the drama, is the acceptance of mental disability by the society. I had expected actually to be made uncomfortable by the rejection and difficulties people meet while dealing with autistic children: none of it here! Nobody is really making fun of Gym (except once and that was nipped in the bud)! People can be cruel towards others who are different, so showing the ideal world is a bit jarring. Maybe it is true, in Thailand! I hope it is!

Anyway, this is a great short watch dealing with serious matter but gripping and eventually uplifting!

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Atuação de milhões

Essa é uma das histórias mais tocantes que já vi, talvez por ser um tema não recorrente nos doramas, mas me marcou muito.

O enredo dessa série é uma obra-prima, uma excelente direção complementada por ótimos atores e uma ost que complementou a história. A atuação nessa série foi algo surpreendente, principalmente o ator que interpreta o Yim, pois ele foi maestral. O tema principal com certeza é a inclusão através do esporte, o esporte como agente transformador de vidas, isso realmente é louvável. Até mesmo quando existiu uma certa disputa, era visível que o desejo e a confiança em superar as metas provinha do espírito esportivo.

Apesar das emoções que me proporcionou e das lágrimas que precisei enxugar, eu não pretendo rever a série, mas com certeza é uma obra que recomendo com muita veemência.

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