LOVED THIS SO MUCH
The fact that I almost didn't watch this because it was so hard for me to find a platform where this was available is crazy. This is one of my favorite bls ever and definitely a comfort series that I will rewatch. I have never watched the Japanese version but after watching the Thai version I definitely want to because I completely fell in love with this series and characters, Karan especially. Karan has to be the greenest flag out of every bl character and as a green flag lover I enjoyed him so much. Especially the scene where they were dared to kiss but he saw that Achi was uncomfortable and didn't do it, something as simple as that goes a far way, showing how respectful he was of Achi's boundaries (some bl characters should learn from him.) I'm not sure if it's because I was so into the main couple but I didn't really care about the side couples.Was this review helpful to you?
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Sometimes a Little Bit of Magic Wouldn't Hurt
Writing this review took longer than expected, but I'm eager to share my thoughts on "Cherry Magic," a delightful adaptation of the original Japanese series with a unique Thai twist. This was my first exposure to TayNew, and their dynamic chemistry significantly enhanced my viewing experience. The series skillfully balances the essence of the original narrative with culturally specific elements that resonate with a new audience. The blend of magical realism, engaging character development, and local flavour makes "Cherry Magic" not just enjoyable but also a memorable introduction to the talents of TayNew. It's a heartwarming and entertaining series that effectively captivates and entertains.Story-wise, the series shines by delving into themes of personal growth and empathy. Achi initially grapples with the overwhelming implications of his newfound mind-reading ability, which complicates his interactions and intensifies his feelings of isolation. Yet, as he navigates this unique gift, he gains insights into others' lives that foster greater understanding and connection. The evolving dynamics, notably between Achi and Karan, are a standout aspect. Their transition from colleagues to something deeper is delicately portrayed with a blend of humour and tenderness. Achi's accidental discovery of Karan's feelings challenges his views on love and intimacy, prompting him to confront his barriers. Additionally, the series nicely explores supporting characters, each contributing their struggles and triumphs, thereby enriching the narrative with diverse perspectives on love and relationships.
The characters in the series surpassed my expectations, particularly Tay (Karan) and New (Achi), who, with their extensive industry experience, delivered outstanding performances and remarkable chemistry. Their interactions were a highlight, characterized by solid communication and the resolution of misunderstandings. Junior (Jinta) and Mark (Min), portraying the secondary couple, underwent an adorable relationship progression that added depth to the storyline. I found their expanded screen time compared to the Japanese version to be a welcome development, although I did notice some inconsistencies, such as Mark's hair colour changes during dance scenes. Sing (Rock) and Jan (Pai) showcased a compelling evolution in their relationship from start to finish, with their chemistry leaving a lasting impact. I'm hopeful for a second chance for them to explore their connection further as a pair.
Looking back, I might have been a bit too generous with my rating, but I still believe in my judgment. "Cherry Magic" holds its own compared to the Japanese version, although there are aspects I wish could have been improved. Still, it's not just your average rom-com. It delves into love, friendship, and personal growth with depth and sincerity—the mix of magic and relatable real-life experiences results in a captivating and heartwarming narrative. I urge you to try and see the magic for yourself. It can turn everyday moments into something unique and spark your imagination. And with that, I wrap up my last series review for 2023.
Achi (New), an average employee at a stationery company, leads a single and uneventful life. Upon reaching the age of thirty, he discovers a surprising ability to read people's minds through physical contact. Faced with this newfound power, Achi tries to avoid contact with others. Still, his efforts take an unexpected turn when he accidentally reads the thoughts of Karan (Tay), his handsome and flawless colleague. To his astonishment, Achi learns that the generous and always-smiling Karan has developed romantic feelings for him. To prevent complications, Achi maintains distance from Karan's emotions.
"Love can start from the little moments that impress you. Before you know it, you've already caught feelings."
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What did I just watch?
I heard so much about this show that I got really excited and I wish I didn't. I don't know what's up with this GMM shows where nothing happens! Like these are turning into bromances. I'm not saying I need every show to be full of NC scenes but Jesus could we maybe get some hand holding and a good cuddle? Like there is no romance there what do ever! I'm new to the whole TayNew couple and they seem like they should have some good chemistry but this show is just... I don't know is it the story or the script that's bad? Is the Japanese version better newscaster I'm serious disappointed to the point in going to have to go watch one of my comfort shows to get over the disappointment. I was so in the mood for a good romantic BL but I got nothing. Makes me afraid to watch the new OffGun series. What is GMM doing!?!?Was this review helpful to you?
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Exceeded my expectations
As a drooling fanboy of the Japanese version (and still am), I watched this while expecting it to fail. I was wrong. Here are my pros and cons:This could h
PROS
STORY. The story is, of course, wonderful, which is what made me such a fan of the Japanese version. But, in some ways, the Thai version was better. For one (and this is a BIG one), the MC actually kissed, and several times! That was SO much needed in the Japanese version, as opposed to two wonderful actors who made it seem clear that "we're not actually gay, okay?" Blecch.
ROCK/WHAT'S HER NAME. Sorry, I've already forgotten her name. I realize that the female counterpart in the JP version was asexual, and that's fine. But I appreciated the straight couple here. They were adorable.
EXTRA INFO. I liked that Achi/Karan had real interactions with both of the families, which was missing in the Japanese version.
TAY. He really brought it. I appreciated how he made Karan/Kurosawa an even more deep character than what was shown in the JP version. He even cried.
CONS
ACHI. New did a respectable job here. But I missed the comical Adachi from the Japanese version.
LACK OF COMEDY. More lighthearted moments, please.
After the HUGE success of the Japanese version, this could have been a complete fail. It was not. And, in many ways, it improved on the earlier version. Kudos to Cherry Magic Thailand!
10/10 for me.
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The differences between this and the Japanese original will make it or break it for you
Disclaimer: the Japanese drama is not just one of my all time favourite BL; it's an all time favourite for any TV series. I am hugely biased, I can't pretend otherwise.That said, I think this ended up being perfectly calibrated for the GMMTV audience. It has leads with sweet chemistry, plenty of opportunities to use the platform to push Thai culture to the forefront, and as many boxes of Lactosoy as possible. The storybeats are similar but not exact to the manga and Jdrama, and this is enormously sweet and suited to comfort watching. I can see why many people prefer it.
But, like, go watch the original too.
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High class BL!
The cinematography is gorgeous, they’re doing a wonderful job honoring the manga while still making it Thai, and the acting is spot on. The chemistry between Achi and Karan is fire! So happy to see TayNew in such a quality drama! This is truly their Renaissance era. I love the manga, so I had high expectations, but they’re definitely meeting them. So nice to see a Thai BL about two working adults as opposed to high school or college. I also love that they’re truly building relationships both romantically between the three ships, but also the friendships between all of the characters. I would recommend this BL to anyone!Was this review helpful to you?
The Magic so far (dated: 04/02/24).
So I have been watching Cherry Magic TH since it came out on 9th December 2023. And honestly this show is hands down one of the THE best series I have ever watched that includes Be My Favorite and Theory Of Love.After what happened with Vice Versa series and an underwhelming performance from P'X (and even Jimmy Jitaraphol too) P'X had dropped out of my bias list to the point I had decided that I might never watch an X Nuttapong series again despite him having my all-time favorite series Theory Of Love under his belt. I was heartbroken then skeptical, worried and nervous when Cherry Magic TH was announced on 22/11/22 under the direction of X Nuttapong but man! With each coming episode I'm so glad that P'X keeps proving me wrong, mind you I'm so picky and choosy with what to watch and criticizing it too even regardless how much my ultimate favorite artist has starred in it.
But these past eight weeks have been nothing but pure delight each passing episode, every new episode tops the previous one, the development and dedication this work has been shown has raised my already high standards for content/series.
I just hope and pray that the ending of this work is stable, likeable and just what every Polca would want 🥹
Every actor of this series has acted so well in every damn cut! So amazing! Let's talk about Mark and Janhae first,
Mark is a rookie actor, I believe so, I first saw him in Midnight Museum and his potential blew me off and he has done the role of Min with the same level of justice, I already like him so much 💖
Whereas Janhae, I was skeptical with her at first because I remember watching Cupid's Last Wish and cringing at her acting but she has improved so much it's so nice to see and even refreshing to see her as Pai 💜
Then comes Junior, there has been so many stale and stiff side characters in Y series be it from GMM or not, but Jinta is a side character that honestly brings light into this series and 90% of the credit goes to P'Junior (with the other 10% being P'X's guidance) 🧡
P'Parn is the ultimate lady boss yet caring as a superior, I love her characterization, even if her screentime is limited, it's enjoyable 🥹
I didn't know that someone significantly older than the newly graduated people aged between 20-24 would look so good on P'Ssing, I honestly thought that he wouldn't be able to pull the slightly childish charm youngsters like me harbour but boy! Did he do justice to it 🩵
Then comes our green forest Karan, P'Tay did SUCH a great job in portraying Karan that I hope everyone who was saying that P'Tay can't do romantic roles got their answers after watching this golden series. Karan is a literal (fictional) human embodiment of love, care and dedication, when I fall in love, I aspire to be like three fictional characters; Sravani, Third and Karan. Albeit the condition (and the prayer) is that I meet someone who is Achi, 💙
Which finally brings us to our main character Achi, portrayed by P'New. I remember reading a review of The Stone Of Affection here on this very website and it stated that P'New's acting was "stiff" (although it was Bua who fit the statement more) but I would like to ask the person to reevaluate their decision because I have watched both Manee Phayabat and Cherry Magic TH and the acting P'New has done is more than just justice to Achi's character 🤌 like words have failed to express just how well P'New (and P'Tay) has acted in this series 🩷
Literally top tier series this of both 2023 and 2024 🥹
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Cute, but it should have been shorter
I never read the original Japanese manga and I never watched the anime either. I did watch the Japanese drama and I remember enjoying it a lot for multiple reasons (and it encouraged me to give this Thai adaptation a chance), but it was three years ago and I've forgotten too much about it to make any kind of comparison. This review will be solely about this Thai series.The first six episodes were the most enjoyable for me. The characters and the plot were introduced nicely and without too much confusion, the events and the introspective bits found their place and most importantly their pace. From episode 7 to the last, I had the distinct feeling that the story was already over, and I was simply watching "bonus" episodes. The plot for each episode seemed to be crafted more to fill an empty space, rather than to tell a story: the development and resolution of many aspects of the characters felt rushed and unsatisfying, when they didn't feel irrelevant.
I felt like Achi and Karan got the best treatment out of all the characters. I appreciated the portrayal of what seems to be a very healthy relationship - one where the needs and the problems are openly discussed without staying quiet about it for the sake of "not being a burden" for too long. Achi's development was steady during the first episodes, then started going much faster than I thought it would, which is a pity. As for Karan, as charming as he was, I didn't feel like he changed at all compared to the beginning.
The secondary couples felt very bland in comparison. Jinta and Min's moments felt too comedic for me to see their interactions as romantic - if anything, the second-hand embarrassment I got from Jinta's antics forced me to fast forward their scenes multiple times. Pai and Rock were even worse as a couple somehow, it really felt like they were turned in a pair for no reason other than to make the episodes longer.
If I had to choose, I'd say I liked it, but I wouldn't put this among the best BLs out there. I can recommend it to anyone who is craving a story that isn't too angsty or demanding.
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Achi's character doesn't work
The trailer for Thai Cherry Magic was super cute so I decided to watch the Japanese version while waiting for it to air, and I absolutely loved it. That made me even more excited to see what Thailand would do with the story, especially because I knew for sure we would get skinship that was missing from the Japanese adaptation. Unfortunately Thailand's version of Cherry Magic was a big letdown. The production values were great and the second couple was better than the Japanese version. But Achi's character didn't work at all. He was incredibly, frustratingly passive and didn't have the kindness that Adachi had in the Japanese version.The way the character was written, it never made sense for him to be hesitant to get into a relationship with Karan in the first place . He had the support of his coworkers who wanted them to get together and he said early on that he enjoyed the attention that Karan gave him. Yet he kept dragging his feet for no reason which made him seem passive and weak. Then after he finally made up his mind to get into a relationship, the writers suddenly threw in the company policy against dating and Karan being forced by the boss to make an impossible sales goal. Karan did all of the work to keep their relationship alive, including getting on his knees in front of an abusive client, while Achi did nothing to help or protect him. I couldn't care at all about Achi after that.
That was the biggest problem that sank the character but there were other weird writing decisions as well, like having Rock help Pai instead of Achi when her ex was berating her and having Karan's sister be the one to convince her mother to accept his relationship instead of Achi doing it.
There were things I liked about the Thai version: Tay's performance was lovely, I had some problems with how Karan was written but he was sweet and charming and made the character a lot more lovable than he would have been otherwise. I also enjoyed Jinta being a chaos gremlin all the time (though why didn't they have him lose his virginity in the end??). Pai and Rock were cute but underdeveloped, though Sing's performance did a lot to make up for the sketchy writing. The next to last episode in Pattaya was charming and the lovemaking scene was very well done so kudos for that.
But overall I have to say this was a disappointment. It also makes me nervous about the upcoming GMMTV adaptations of Ossan's Love and My Love Mix Up. I think maybe Japan and Thailand are too culturally different for these adaptations to work well but i guess we'll find out.
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Excellent BL...!!!
I watched the Japanese version and fell in love with that series. Then this came out and MY GOD it hit me emotionally like a brick. The acting was excellent, a bit quirky in parts but managed to squeeze out being cute. I loved the side story of Jinta and Min. Jinta was over the top excellent in his facial expressions and acting the part out very well. The main characters were VERY well paired and rightfully so. As they are business partners and real friends in real life. So their chemistry was spot on. These are the types of BL's i like love stories that develop. Not cutesy comedic parodies of what falling in love and being in a serious relationship is all about. I've watched FAR to many BL's that do this and it's extremely frustrating. Especially, as a gay man whose been out for over 35+yrs. And seen more changes in my LGBTQ+ community then many kids have been alive. It's nice to see BL dramas or movies that take relationships seriously. I applaud the director and his passion and i want to see MUCH more of his work with these types of dramas/movies. In many respects this was even better than the Japanese version. And i tend to favor Japanese BL's over other Asian BL'S. But Thailand never leaves me disappointed either re-doing a series like they did here. Or having something completely new. I encourage everyone to watch this and how good acting and chemistry comes together. Very well done...!!!Was this review helpful to you?
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It Was a Cherry Magical Series
We finally got TayNew back onto our screens and I couldn't be more happy. My gosh, I completely forgot how amazing both of them look -- individually and together, and man, my my my, aren't they beautiful. Anyways, onto the Thai remake of the Japan series, "Cherry Magic", that has blessed our screens with these two. I'll say, when I first heard that this was getting a remake with Tay and New I was a bit skeptical on how this was going to go, plot-wise and acting-wise. I think I agree with others when they say this series is not an entire remake of the original. Instead, it's its own series with a lot of the plot changed, some things added, and just the overall Thai BL touch that GMMTV knows how to do well.Let's Dive In.
The few first episodes were the best out of the entire series. The building of the characters and the setup of the overall plot was golden. I was sitting on the edge of my seat throughout it all, feeling so intrigued with Achi listening to Karan's thoughts, the connection between Achi and Jinta, the office relationship, and the overall pleasantness of the series. I'm glad they kept the iconic elevator scene and they executed it perfectly.
Now onto the rest of the series, the episodes where Achi had to leave to work in another part of Thailand, were where the episodes get a little draggy. Personally, if you take out Achi leaving and some other junk this series could've ended in 10 episodes. I hate when the last 2 episodes feel irrelevant to the actual plot, which this teetered very near that line. I got bored, and I skipped through a bunch of the filler to get to the parts that I wanted. But nevertheless, it was all still good, just blah.
Moving onto the Achi and Karan's relationship -- I think they were so stinking cute. I think the first bit of their relationship was obviously established through Achi reading all of Karan's thoughts and feelings, which led him to feel the same way. Tay and New have had years of connections and so their already close relationship helped build the chemistry between Achi and Karan perfectly. When the series was announced, the joke running around was that Tay and New took this role so they wouldn't have to kiss (lol), but they shut that down immediately with some amazing kiss scenes, and even a very mid-heat NC scene, but still it was done to show that Achi was about to lose his powers, and even I was expecting that. My only real argument about this couple is that Karan's character is not as developed as I would've liked him to be. He was a walking green flag, which isn't a problem, but his flaw was not having a flaw. You could argue that that's an actual flaw itself, but it's never pointed out in the series that he's too nice, too forgiving, too perfect. He was such a one-dimensional character, there to be sweet and his whole personality was to make Achi's life better. I would've loved some more character depth from him. For Achi, it was more that he wasn't taking accountability for a lot of what they had going on in terms of their relationship and let Karan always take the blame. Besides like one time he apologized, Karan was there to forgive first. I also kind of hate that Karan didn't feel some type of betrayal when finding out Achi was intruding into his thoughts, even if he wasn't trying to. I would've liked a conversation behind Karan wondering if Achi really liked him or was only doing so because he could hear his thoughts. But besides some of those small points, they were really cute, and TayNew did a good job.
Moving onto Jinta and Min -- the most disappointing part of this entire series. Junior (Jinta) was by far my favorite actor/character. He took this quirky role and made it work perfectly in this remake. His conversations with Achi, his reactions to MIn, his way of analyzing and thinking and reacting -- all of it was legit perfect. It was also so nice to see Mark (min) again since Sky in Your Heart. He did an incredible job in this -- showing how versatile his acting is compared to his character in SIYH. Their setup was nearly perfect, and their continued build-up was so good that I was rooting for them more than I was for Achi and Karan at one point. Then Jinta confesses, and it's magical. After that, they have a couple of cute moments, but my problem is that Jinta never loses his powers, which isn't entirely terrible, but the premise of this series is that their virgins with superpowers that no longer will have them by the end. It's upsetting, but I guess it's an oh-well situation. I would've still loved to see them connect and watch how their first time would've gone down which is why the end result of this couple is such a letdown, but nevertheless, I really liked them.
Another addition to this series was Rock and Pai who I actually really liked. I liked that Pai was assertive and more of the leader in their relationship while Rock was bubbly and just happy to be around her. Loved the way Rock treated her and flirted with her. Again, happy they became a couple, but a kiss would've been nice too.
Now, onto some nit-picky things: I wish they would've had the moments when Achi was touching someone for it to be slow-down because their touching for a long period of time when Achi read their minds felt so awkward. While I liked the Rock and Pai addition to this series, they still felt irrelevant to the entire series and didn't really help drive along the original plot. They were obviously added so this series could run for an entire 12 episodes, but that time could've been used for Jinta and Min to build more, or even Achi and Karan.
Ratings:
Story: 8.5/10 - Really nice. Felt like its own series and did not follow the same format entirely as the Japanese one. some stuff felt draggy, but overall, this was really nice.
Acting: 9/10 - Great! Junior was the best in terms of taking his character to the next level. TayNew were a close second. Everyone else did well too.
Music: 6/10: I didn't pay much attention to it at all.
Recommendation Value: 8/10: This was really nice! I would recommend it to anyone wanting to see TayNew again on their screens, and if they enjoyed the Japanese one. I feel like I liked the Japanese one still a lot more, but this was good too!
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This review may contain spoilers
my honest review (kinda story-telling too lmao) ??
i want to desclaimer at the beginning before im continuing this review. i might adding my opinion as a polca (shipper fandom of taynew) but overall this is my honest review as a pure viewers.first of all, this is a comeback of taynew as a BL couple and i'm so excited. no matter what kind of series they'll get, i don't care, as long as i can watch them as a couple on screen again. then, when i know taynew will got a series based on one of the famous BL manga, my excitement doubled and doubled. i know this manga already had a japanese series and ofc, i have to watch it first before the thai adaptation one is airing.
finally, on december 9th 2023, the first episode of cherry magic thailand is airing! i'm very happy and ecstatic but can't helo myself to comparing it with the japanese version. i really like the japanese one but for some reason the thai one hits so much different. starting from many adjustments to the culture in thailand so the series can be more comfortable and acceptable to watched by the native people there, details that are not shown in the hapanese series, the chemistry of taynew and other players that so fun to watched, and much more (you can watch it yourself if you want to know more).
i can proudly say, cherry magic thailand is such a masterpiece and can be one of the must-watch series that you have to see at least once in your lifetime.
the series still on-going so if you want to binge-watching it, you still have time and then keeping up until the newest episode. i'm kinda promoting here but you can watch it live at 20.30 BKK time every saturday on gmm25 channel and rewatch it on viu thailand at 22.30. the english subtitle already available both of the platform. let's feel the magic of cherries by yourself like me, guys! 🥰🍒🪄
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