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"You Make Sand Like Me Feel Worthy" (Kot, English Sub)
This drama is an epic chaotic it is hilarious. I binge-watched episode by episode dying to find out how trio Ji-Kot-Ki would fix the building up mess. I found this drama following the works of March (as Ji here) from Lovey Dovey, and ended up loving Baifern's (as Kot) and Dan's (as Ki) performances too. This trio does not only create messy plot in this drama, they also lift up universal parenting and motherhood issues into a poignant show delightful to watch. Unquestionably it is a unique rom-com, non-typical Thai lakorn, a must watch.WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(+) Fast-paced episodes in the beginning of the drama to established the story of Moji
(+) More slower-paced episodes in the middle of the drama with lots of flirting scenes
(+) Lots of lessons to learn about building a family
(+) Witty dialogues on money, and also the money bouquet
(+) This is probably the only entangled love story that is enjoyable to watch in dramas I have seen. Thanks to the prominent acting of the main characters
(+) The story cleverly highlights the good and bad of both Ki's and Ji's characters. Viewers are divided into whom they want or think of Kot will end up with.
(+) Interesting surprises in the end
(+) Convincing acting of Baifern as exhausted single mom Kot. Her touching crying scenes are heartbreaking. She also established good chemistry with both Dan and March
(+) Remarkable acting of March as the sentimental Ji. He is good in roles with passionate/temperamental characters.
(+) Noteworthy acting of Dan as guiless Ki. I have rarely seen anyone not even an actor who has dimples on both cheeks. Surprisingly Dan is also a director and screenwriter.
(+) Cute Moji and the little actress who play the role
(+) Every important characters have their own advisors: Kot has Meaw, Ji has Bom, Ki has the secretary, Aff has her Dad
(+) Beautiful portrayals of Thai culture and places
(+) Pretty costumes of the female roles
WHAT I DO NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(-) Scenes and conversations leading to product placement (PPL). I skipped all of them, including the bra talk.
(-) The exaggerating character of Aff, which seems off since other characters seem natural
(-) It seems like the characters of Chot and Kot's mom are unimportant and are brought into the drama only to spice up the already complicated plot.
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The story is what it is, one ML is a player and has this baby, the FL raises it, she falls for the ML brother and the rest is history. You end up craving so bad that the FL and ML fall in love because of their history but again... whatever. Lol. The daughter was adorable. Also there was not much context, everything happened so fast, sometimes this was happening and then something else and uh, how frustrating.
I watched this because I’m a huge fan of Baifern and I adore March. I don’t like Dan’s acting. So that was a downfall, liked everyone else though, he really pooped on it.
I liked the opening song so not terrible.
I finished it, but wouldn’t come back. I had high expectations and that was dumb. Lol.
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Cute quick watch value
I found this while channel surfing on YouTube and saw a FMV an it. As I was 1/2 way through Biafern's other drama The Leaves, the light plot intrigued me.Shorter than the average Lakorn at 50 mins, I was able finish in 2 days. The plot was believable and the acting solid.
I'm glad I came across this drama, it wasvery east to see that Biafern is going to have a long career, her portrayal here verses The Leaves, a SPECTACULAR DRAMA, was night and day.
I recommend for anyone looking for an easy into to Thai dramas
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The angst never gets too angsty; the clingy second lead is annoying and wrecks things, but doesn't dominate the screen time.
I was at first hesitant because as a mom, I find stories that try to combine a romantic plot with a single-mother-of-a-toddler female lead tend to fall short. However, both the emotional and practical effects of the child on all the characters were well done.
There was some bumpiness in the writing around episode 11 or 12 that made it seem like something was resolved and then it wasn't in a way that was not very satisfying and left the story feeling a bit... off. But they got past that bump and ended it pretty nicely.
It's a solid escapism romance, perfect for when you're sick or tired or just need some distraction. Easy to binge watch and cute enough to use as a unicorn chaser for something more serious.
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I loved the main couple and everything but some things were really annoying and lemme point that out
1. Everyone telling Kot she doesn't have nice skin or she is not pretty!!!! Seriously what were the writers even trying to accomplish by doing this??? Kot is gorgeous, and one of the most beautiful Thai actress
2. The main couple (Kot and Ki) I love them but as the development of the couple was kinda slow and the kisses were almost non-existent
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This review may contain spoilers
TL;DR - A predictable but cute story about a makeshift family and how you should take responsibility for your mistakes. If you like drama and chaos, this is not for you. But if you like minimal drama and maximum cuteness, this is a good one for that. Personally, I didn't enjoy watching this. Beware of clingy 2nd leads.I came into this lakorn after coming off a particularly intense slap/kiss and wanted to watch something fun and easy. This lakorn had been on my radar for awhile and I've always wanted to watch something with Baifern in it, so I decided to give this a go. Needless to say, I got what I asked for although it was unfortunately to a fault and I will explain why below.
One of my biggest pet peeves are 2nd leads that are clingy/don't know when to quit. This was very pronounced in Ji and Aff; two crappy people who both didn't know how good they had it until they lost it. Both were fooling themselves into thinking that the main leads still had a thing for them and relentlessly tried going after them, even when the leads themselves told them to back off and that they didn't see them that way. I could feel more sympathy for Ji (although not very much) since he did do a lot to help Kot, but overall he was immature and I didn't see the point of him going after Kot when the end game was Kot and Kit. He could see that Kot was falling for Kit, and him to her, but still tried to butt in. I just feel in these situations, for their own dignity, that characters should just accept what they've lost and move on. Yeah that might make things less dramatic but I would admire the character more and instead of him being this player, I wish they focused on him being a better person and dad.
The romance of the main leads hit off with a bang and initially I was very invested. It was obvious that they were both very into eo even before they got married, and both have good chemistry with each other. But here's where things went wrong with me; I could see it. About halfway through the series, I could see that Kot and Kit would go through whatever trials and in the end be together no matter what. You could argue that all dramas are like this and I completely agree, but what makes it fun and engaging is the way that we get there. Their relationship got really predictable and unfortunately I wasn't very invested in their romance. When I realized this, I lost interest and just kept watching to see how it ended.
I also wanted to add that there was too much repetitiveness with the 2nd leads constantly interfering with the main leads. It took up way too much time and I felt it should've been for developing the relationship between our two leads.
I liked our leads and I liked them together. They were both honest and loyal with each other. However I didn't like how Kit would wait for Kot to make the first move after an argument, and how he kissed her when she was asleep. This was balanced by how Kit made the effort to make Moji closer to him, and how he made the effort to be a happy family. I also loved the conversation about how Kot felt she was useless like sand, but Kit would disagree and say how sand is really important. They kept each other in mind and I thought it was well done.
I also liked the 2ndary cast, and how each lead (Kit, Kot and Ji) had their own adviser in the form of secretary and friends. I liked how each gave good advice and came to help our leads when things went wrong. My favorite from the 2ndary cast was the kid character; I really liked how they didn't make her talk at all and let her do her own thing. I usually don't like kid characters and was preparing myself for this one, but they let her be and had the actors act around her.
As a side note, I really enjoyed Baifern's acting here. I've heard she's a good actress, and I'm glad I wasn't proven wrong. She's able to make you feel what she feels and can emote very well. Her expressions of sadness, devastation, happiness, being in love and many more are nuanced and not over the top. I especially loved her scenes when she met her real mom and her reaction felt very realistic and relatable to me. That's why when compared to Dan's acting, Dan did not deliver as much as she did. There were times where Dan had the gravitas of a ML, but others where he didn't. At best it was passable. I wished they'd casted an actor on a similar level as Baifern although I'm not sure if GMM could've casted anyone any better.
The music was okay here and played appropriately. I did feel weird that the main theme song wasn't played during the series, just only background music (which makes an already average lakorn not memorable). I wouldn't re-watch. If you like easy breezy, feel-good rom-coms with minimal drama and cute leads, I'd say give it a watch. If you like something more dramatic or are looking for something unique, then I don't recommend it.
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Better than many
It is a light, fluffy rom-com, anyone will enjoy.Just wanted to point out my discontentment with this drama:
1. How can you kiss a drunk, unconscious person when you are fully sober.
Consent violation is not acceptable and moreover it was completely unnecessary to put a scene like this.
I really want directors to understand, scenes can be romantic even without violating someone's rights.
2. I really really wanted kot and ji to end up together ( my execptions ruined it for me?♀️)
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This review may contain spoilers
Sand Princess - A Heartwarming Blend of Comedy and Romance
Introduction:"Sand Princess" emerges as a gem within Thai romantic comedy dramas. Led by the charismatic Baifern Pimchanok, the series seamlessly weaves together humor and heartfelt moments. As a fervent admirer of Pimchanok's previous work, particularly in "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," diving into this series was not just a choice but an anticipation of delightful entertainment.
Plot Overview:
The storyline revolves around Kod, an orphan navigating the intricacies of both school life and employment as a working student. Her financial support comes from Jirapat, a friend who seeks her assistance in various tasks. However, the narrative takes a dramatic turn when Jirapat impregnates another girl and evades responsibility. Kod reluctantly agrees to masquerade as the baby's mother, setting the stage for a series of unexpected events. The entrance of Ki, Jirapat's responsible and understanding brother, proposing marriage to Kod to salvage the family's reputation, introduces a captivating love triangle.
Character Analysis:
Kod: A standout character, Kod embodies strength, intelligence, and diligence. While the notion of raising a child for financial gain may strain believability, the series meticulously justifies her actions through her past experiences and a genuine desire to shield the child from the hardships she faced.
Ki: In stark contrast to Jirapat's playboy tendencies, Ki emerges as the responsible and understanding brother, adding depth to the narrative.
Jirapat: The playboy character, irresponsible to a fault, his actions underscore his undesirability as a romantic partner for Kod.
Acting and Chemistry:
The cast's performances, with Baifern at the helm, are commendable. Her ability to seamlessly transition between emotional and comedic scenes showcases her versatility. The chemistry between the three leads is palpable, adding layers to the love triangle and keeping the audience emotionally invested.
Story Execution:
While the overall plot may traverse familiar romantic comedy tropes, "Sand Princess" manages to captivate audiences through well-executed comedic moments. The series strikes an admirable balance between humor and a touching narrative, ensuring a consistently engaging viewing experience.
Lessons and Theme:
Beyond its comedic façade, "Sand Princess" astutely incorporates lessons about responsibility, enriching the narrative with layers of depth and resonance.
Music and Cinematography:
The music, particularly during comedic scenes, elevates the viewing experience. While the opening song may not be groundbreaking, it sets a lively tone for the series.
Conclusion:
"Sand Princess" may not redefine the romantic comedy genre, but its potent combination of strong performances, compelling chemistry, and the seamless blend of humor and heart make it a standout series. For those seeking an entertaining yet resonant journey, "Sand Princess" proves to be a commendable choice.
In summary, "Sand Princess" emerges as a Thai drama that successfully delivers on its promise of laughter and romance, earning its place among the gems of the genre.
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An emotional rollercoaster.....
I watched Sand Princess a few months ago (and re-watched it again a few more times) after I had just discovered thai BLs. Before this the only thai dramas I had watched were the overly cliched Lakorns. So when I first found this, that was what I was expecting. After watching the 1st episode I realized that while this drama did have some cliched situations, it's storyline was new and interesting.The basic plot revolves around Kot who's an orphan (which is frequently mentioned in the drama btw) and does all kinds of odd jobs to raise herself. She befriends Ji during their school days who have a business type relationship. Ji orders around Kot to do everything from doing his homework to cleaning his house. Ji is a playboy and one of his flings (who is also Kot's friend) becomes pregnant. She leaves the baby (Mochi) with Kot and Ji. Since Ji is engaged to Aff and theirs is a family arranged marriage (Aff's father is the investor in Ji's family business), Ji is unable to take Mochi as his own child. So as with all of his problems he hires Kot to be like an adoptive mother to Mochi. He tries to lure her with money and when that doesn't work, he threatens to send the kid to an orphanage. Jump to a couple of years later and Kot is still raising Ji's kid as a single mother when she happens to meet Ki. They somehow meet a couple more times and encounter some situations together. Later it is revealed that Ji and Ki are brothers and Ki also finds out about Ji being mochi's father. To somehow diffuse the situation, Ki and Kot agree to get married (and get divorced later) so as to make Mochi as his legitimate child and give Kot an exit from her situation.
From here on out the story is mostly romance. What starts as a love triangle evolves to a Love square (with Ki, Kot, Ji and Aff).
I really liked Kot's character and the actress played her perfectly. Obviously there were some very cliched situations she was put in but I didn't really mind it.
Ki's character was also great. He was the kind of character we all hope the male lead in every drama was like, a perfect gentleman who is considerate and loyal and treats the female lead right.
Ji's character was also good but exactly opposite of Ki. He was the kind of character most male leads in dramas turn out to be you know the spoiled rich playboy that leaves his playboy lifestyle for the female lead. Both MLs were good but with Ji it was basically missed timing and opportunity.
Aff's character was the typical second female lead who is a total b*tch type. She treated the brothers like her personal dolls just because her father was the main investor in their business. When she got bored with one she went for the other. I was glad she didn't get either at the end.
The story overall was pretty great and hit all the right emotional spots for me. I would suggest for all asian dramas fans to just go for this one, it's definitely worth a watch.
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