Story:
The story is about 5 teenagers and their family problems and addiction. Each character is very complex and had difficult backgrounds. It amazes me how detailed each storyline was. I don't think there were any plot holes. This series is one of those series that shows the reality of life and examples of a dysfunctional and unhappy family. It also really shows the effects of unhealthy addictions and drugs.
The series is straightforward but so complex at the same time. I'm not too sure how to explain it. In my eyes how the series played out from start to end was written so realistically. I don't want to say the ending is a happy ending, but I really liked how it ended off.
Cast:
The casting was absolute perfection. If you have never seen any of the main characters before, you have been living under a rock. Like always, their acting just blows you away. If you have seen any of the cast's past works, you'll understand what I mean. Plus I feel like most people came here for Fluke, but I came because of Ploy. I just love her acting.
Overall:
This drama is different from all the ones right now. This drama got me coming back for more because it was so good. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I have some type of connection to the characters of this series. Maybe because I relate or know people that have been through similar situations. If you think you can handle it, I REALLY recommend this series, but I will give you a trigger warning. I give it a 10/10.
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This review may contain spoilers
Reality
I'm a 90's kid that could relate very well with the series. It really showed how it was back then but this is the down side of it. It can't be relatable to kids of the current generation (as advances with technologies have progressed, which means a teen's attention can be occupied by cellphones instead of nothing like back then). Still, this is gold when it comes to showing how vices could greatly affect your life in a negative way.The series covered sensitive topics that still exists in this generation and will continue to exist in the future. The only things that weren't shown were issues of teenage preganancy and STDs (I think), so basically it's everything negative.
Home. It should be the very place that one could find their own place and comfort. But what if you can't find your place within nor can you find that comfort? This series placed a heavy emphasis on the importance on healthy family relationships, which was the sole reason why each of the main characters went astray. From handling that one problem in the wrong way, everything went downhill.
What's great about this series is that it didn't sugarcoat things. Yes, depression plus drugs can lead to suicide. Yes, you can overdose. Yes, it isn't easy to get out of the addiction once you're deep into it. Yes, parents can be wrong at times. Yes, you can get imprisoned or worst, killed when you get involved in dealing. Yes, being an lgbt+ isn't easily accepted even by your own family. Yes, bullying exists. Yes, it starts with being curious of the small things and yes, it escalates to big things.
I can't find any complaint on the actors with their portrayal of their characters. They delivered and they delivered really well. The soundtrack fits the 90's thing but it wasn't my 90's cup of tea.
I highly recommend but again, this series isn't the doki-doki fluff nor doki-doki smut. It's the serious stuff and underaged viewers should be accompanied by adults. Personally, I wouldn't prohibit because this is a great learning material. Even though I didn't shed a tear, this is actually a heatbreaking series that isn't for the light hearted ones.
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This review may contain spoilers
Don't do drugs, guys... "Daughters" tells you why
This is so good, I can't believe it. I enjoyed every single second of it.The only thing I didn't like was the music. I understand the show is set in the 90's and they chose songs from the 90's to create the right atmosphere, but they could have chosen better songs.
Anyway, I loved how relatable the story is. Even if it's set in the 90's, it feels very contemporary, as the dynamics are the same. The protagonists are just a group of teenagers, with the dreams and desires every teenager has, that have to face harsh realities and resort to drugs to alleviate their pain. At first, I didn't even realise how big a role drugs played in the plot. The whole story is full of teachings and morals, I really appreciated it.
I loved every one of the main leads and their stories touched me. The only complaint I have is about Poy's background story: the other characters have such tragic background stories that hers looks like nothing serious in comparison. I just wish they gave her a more traumatic background story to match the horrible lives of her friends.
I also have to complain about Yok. His character is really ambiguous: at times he looks like one of the main characters, but then he looks more like a secondary one. This ambiguity made me feel like his role wasn't as important as it should have been. I really loved his suicide scene, though, it really hit me deep.
Everything is so real. No fairytales, no smiles: only the harshest and crudest reality without any filter. This made the moral message of the show more powerful.
The ending is also real. It's not a sad ending, but not a happy one either: it's just real and like all real things it's a compromise between the hopes each one of us has for a bright future and the harsh past we've been through.
Also I found it so funny when I found anachronisms. Like the story is set in the 90's and yet Ngoh wants a Peppa Pig plush toy and when they start selling t-shirts, one of the stand has a "The Fault in Our Stars" t-shirt.
If you can handle strong and traumatic scenes, I recommend this.
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This is a masterpiece
I never related. this much to a show. As a teenager that worries so much about money and as a closeted lesbian afraid to lose her family because she is gay, I must say this is a masterpiece. It wasn't one of those bullshit shows that was afraid to keep it real. No, this kept it real and transparent. It highlighted what most teens in low-income families go through. From drugs, prostitution, debt to rape. Them running away just makes it better because it's what all teenagers want to do, but in this show they didn't want it to be all rainbows and sunshine, they kept it real. They showed all the struggles of living alone as a teenager. They even touched up on suicide and who did it *SPOILER* the gay guy (yok), like suicide in the lgbt+ community is the fastest growing worldwide. Hopefully people will learn that he are still humans. They also touched upon rape from a family member, rape mostly happens by people around you statistics found, so it was really interesting for me to watch, sad but interesting ( be careful around everybody people, girls and boys please be careful, humans are disgusting). They also touched upon domestic abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction and many more. like man the amount of times I cried watching this is just wow. I highly recommend this. I won't read what I wrote because I know I made so many mistakes but I dont wanna fix them. Highly recommended tho.Was this review helpful to you?
Daughters: A Look Into Thai Society
Before I get started with my review, I just wanted to say that I'm Thai-American so there are cultural aspects that might not connect as much with international viewers. Nevertheless, Daughters is one of the only Thai dramas, if not the only, that delves into taboo subjects like teen drug abuse, family problems, etc. without sugarcoating the topics or romanticizing it. Another note, the native title 'Sia-Dai' means 'to regret' or 'what a waste', in reference to the teens in the story whose lives could've been so much more.Story:
Daughters focuses on a group of teen girls who each have different familial problems. The story is well-paced as it digs deep into the background of each character and develops their character arcs over each succeeding episode. Every character is well fleshed-out and has their own individual traits and stories that make them all so compelling. The story itself is portrayed in a creative way where the main issue isn't really the drugs but rather the teens' surroundings and dysfunctional families. I was invested in every single character and there wasn't any character that felt dull or lacked depth. Everything was portrayed so realistically, with nothing seeming out of place in regards to the story. In terms of culture, you won't find any Thai drama like this as companies are hesitant to talk about these controversial topics that are quite reflective of Thai society itself.
Acting/cast:
Although many of the actors in Daughters were newcomers and had little to no prior acting experience, they all executed their role wonderfully. In interviews from the cast, each actor went through major workshops and preparations for their roles such as visiting rehabilitation facilities to ask people what it was like to go through drug withdrawal, do drug injections, etc. In every scene, each actor portrays their character super realistically and there was never a moment where I couldn't guess what they were thinking. Additionally, their friendship seemed very genuine and natural which made me feel more connected to the cast overall. Huge props to the four main actors, their acting is phenomenal!
Music:
This is probably a cultural aspect as most of what 'Sia-Dai' plays is 90's Thai music and the intro/closing songs are more traditional types of Thai music. Although it might not appeal to international audiences, the music is very accurate for its era!
Rewatch value:
The topics in 'Sia-Dai' are very realistic and dark so it might be hard for you to watch it again especially if you're uncomfortable with topics like suicide, drug abuse, prostitution, etc. For me personally, I would definitely rewatch it due to each character's intriguing personality and background. I also felt a strong emotional connection with the characters and wanted so badly for them to be okay in the end.
Overall:
'Sia-Dai' is genuinely one of the best dramas I've ever watched. The topics it discusses about are rarely talked about in the media, in Thailand or even internationally. It is a unique take on drug abuse as it doesn't portray the teens as bad but rather vulnerable and scared. You sympathize with them and understand that they take drugs not for fun, but to escape from their harsh realities. I highly, highly recommend it.
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An underrated masterpiece!
Daughters made me feel generally unwell but it was so addictive. I lost so much sleep due to this show, but it was worth it?Everything these poor kids went through was so heartbreaking but real, and this show perfectly showed the harsh truth about teens and poverty without making it feel cringy or like it was trying too hard. It was an honest depiction of life and they ways people try to cope and the consequences of that. It eviscerated my heart in a way that makes me never want to rewatch it or feel the way it made me feel ever again.
Not everything was perfect however: I can’t tell if I was actually meant to route for the Louis and Frank relationships, they were just too fucking creepy for me. They were in adulthood and dating 16yos? No! And I really couldn’t tell from the vibes of the show if Louis was supposed to presented as a predator or a genuine romantic partner, especially when he’s giving a 16yo drugs, but then the show depicts him as a romantic hero. I just didn’t get it and it felt so disgusting (maybe that was the point but like I said I really can’t tell). Pu x Ngoh best girlfriends ?
Also I think Yok needed to be utilised more, his character felt forgotten about in some places and he was really interesting. The balcony dance scene whilst being extremely sad, made me feel a certain feeling of serenity and calmness that feels inexplicable. It was my favourite scene in the show. I’m a massive Fluke fan and I think his acting abilities are fantastic.
Overall it maybe a tad bit too long, it did start to lose me towards the end. But by the end I was so burnt out and depressed I just wanted everyone to be happy and safe. The ending, whilst not a completely happy ending, did give me hope and left me satisfied. It really showed that not everything will always turn out okay, really driving home the message of the entire show.
I loved this show and I cannot recommend it enough!
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Excruciatingly painful, but worth watching
This show is not fun to watch as it touches very hard realities of human existence, but I still recommend it (unless you're triggered by any kind of abuse scenes), the acting is superb, everyone did a great job in their role.The atmosphere of it reminded me of the british series Skins, only with more tragic lines and almost zero comic relief. It portrays very well how easily and quickly the lives of otherwise precious, talented and kind hearted kids can go downhill if adults around them don't take good care of them. Heartbreakingly realistic.
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O serie binemeritată.
Am inceput această serie datorită actriței Chica Ametakyul, desigur prima data am terminat show-ul A girl from nowhere.Am fost plăcut surprins sa o vad pe Pu (Chica) atat de naturală in aceasta serie, dar spre surprinderea mea am dat si de alte caractere foarte talentate precum Ngoh sau Duan, a fost imposibil sa nu le urmăresc pe Instagram, haha, macar cu atat sa imi arat aprecierea.
As dorii sa explic mai multe, dar nu vreau sa ofer spoilere, dar tot ce pot spune este ca merita vazut, mai ales nervii ce i-am dobândit pe la inceputul show-ului unde actiunea urca spre punctul culminant tot mai mult.
Oricum finalul te lasa gol... o sa imi fie dor de Chica pana apare noul sezon din Girl from Nowhere. Această actriță chiar m-a făcut asa devotat asupra artei cinematografiei încât am inceput sa fac cursuri de regizor, haha. Poate in cativa ani buni voi putea face ceva asemănător acestor serii.
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