1WATCH IT
This is the 2nd mystery types of BL drama I liked so much ( Of course first is Triage ) . Honestly this series is so good . I am so happy that I have found this masterpiece . I am not going to spoil anything . My review is simple .Acting - Top tier .
Story - Excellent .
Cinematography - Outstanding .
Music - The intro music is so good .
Visuals - Eye candy
Just watch it , no regrets . Aside from the mystery and story , the chemistry between the two male leads is fire . The tension is tensioning . You will know how good this drama is after watching just an episode .
Edit - Last 15 minutes of ep 8 , dear this is one of the best acting performance I have ever watched in my life , Hands Down .
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Guilty or Not Guilty !?
The main plot of this drama centres around Euthanasia. Euthanasia becomes the unsettling heart of a moral dilemma that challenges both of the characters Kan and Wasan's values. What begins as a search for answers soon turns into a personal battle as Wasan, a police officer is introduced to confront the reality of mercy killings and whether or not they can be justified. His growing closeness with Dr. Kan adds an intriguing layer of complexity, blurring the lines between love, duty and the harsh realities of death.For me, this drama wasn't about uncovering the truth or catching the killer but about exploring the human cost of decisions that challenge life itself!
Tor and JJ delivered flawless performances. Tor's portrayal as Dr. Kantaphat was PERFECT! He brought a compassionate yet a chilling presence, the enigmatic doctor whose motives and choices remain shrouded in the mystery. At the same time, JJ as Wasan was subtle yet powerful. The turmoil and inner conflicts of a man torn between his duty and his feelings for Kan were delivered beautifully by him.
Both of them navigated the complexity of their roles really well making the ethical questions feel personal and real. The acting in the last episode was FLAWLESS especially Tor's.
The chemistry between them was so palpable! The tension, those gazes, the unspoken desire!! Their love story was not the main focus, I like how it was kept minimal but enough! The pace does bother me a bit, but considering the 8 episode run time, it can be managed.
While the emotional depth and acting were undeniably strong, it isn't without flaws. There were moments where characters just decided to overlook logic and reasons. And also I felt lapses in the police investigations distracting me from an otherwise gripping narrative. While as a viewer I understand it is to push the plot forward, but those unnecessary blind spots in the investigation sort of bothered me.
Overall, the balance between love, guilt and moral dilemmas makes this a good watch from start to finish despite its minor flaws. Recommended if you liked medical thrillers ( I would categorise it as thriller xD) and a bit of moral complexity, this is worth checking out.
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Morality and legality do not always go hand in hand.
Surprisingly coherent storytelling that does not go into preachy territories - truly presenting different perspectives on a complex subject of euthanasia. What's even more amazing is the satisfying ending that makes perfect sense. No, it's not a sarcasm. Ending that I find to be the perfect for both the characters themselves and the themes the show presents. Euthanasia is not a simple topic to discuss since it involves so many conflicting moral and legal aspects.Is euthanasia the same as murder? If not, what makes it different? When it's a valid option, and can it even be a valid option for any patient? Should politicians have the right to decide when and how we die? Whose suffering should take priority - patients' or their families? If the family is not ready to part with their loved one, should they have any say in deciding if euthanasia should be performed? How to determine if the patient is capable to make that decision themselves? So many questions, no concrete answers. And that's the beauty of this drama.
While the dialogue heavy moments shined the most, the crime aspect could have been improved. Did it bother me how bad the investigation was? At times, yes. But at the end of the day, it was not a crime detective drama, it was a psychological thriller heavy on drama. Realistically speaking, many things did not make sense, but also realistically speaking, I did not care.
Similarly, the romance came out of nowhere and many times I laughed about the validity of leads feelings. And yet, it still hits hard when it needs to. Maybe if the drama was longer, so they had more time to present the relationship in a more evenly paced way... I guess they did what they could with the time they had.
For the performance, Tor in the last episode? On fire with his acting skills. I had to rewatch a certain scene 3 times because I loved his delivery so much. I do not think there was a weak link in the cast - everyone executed their characters in a perfect manner. Yes, I talk to JJ through screen a few times to "put his eyebrow down", but at some point I just started to see it as his charming point. Maybe I was brainwashed? Still, a heavy subject like euthanasia requires skills to present it in a respectful way, and I do think Spare Me Your Mercy achieved just that.
Overall, a great watch. Both entertaining and inviting some reflection to form our own stance on the subject. It knew when to bring back lighter tone and some cute romance, and when to get serious when the scenes needed.
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How To Get Away With Murder...?
The police finally got the bad guy, but at what cost? AT WHAT COST? Also, I hate flowers. If it wasn't for those damn effing flowers, I wouldn't be sobbing into my Christmas wine. That being said, my bags are pack, imma meet y'all in hell, cuz I know I'm not the only one who wanted him to get away with murder, then get the guy as well. I even made a list in my head on what he could do/say to get away with it. And, that 'I Love You' at the end was just cruel. Merry Effing Christmas I guess.Listen, the moment we found out the doctor was guilty I knew we weren't going to have a happy ending, but I still held on hope. I would call myself stupid for having hope, but not while Police man Thiu was literally suspicious of Dr. Kan but still moved into his house, and ended up falling in love with him. Poor dude played himself so bad. But at what cost? Giving us five seconds of happiness only to take it away with that heart-wrenching confessing scene! Tor and JJ, the two main leads, did so well, I felt every emotion and cried when they did. I kept screaming, 'Child, will you keep quiet?' the more the doctor talked. Like, stop confessing dammit!! Then of course, I foolishly waited for Thiu to stop the car and take off those cuff, even though I knew... WHHYYYYY?
We need a second season where that one female doctor, his accomplice, breaks him out of jail and Thiu decides the law sucks and they move away to start a garden business somewhere in a remote village in the coast or something. Cuz this ending hurts so much.
I had a lot of questions throughout this drama. Was Dr Kan wrong for what he did even though the patients asked him? Was the law wrong for not legalising it like the doctor said? Yes, we can argue that taking someone's life no matter how you dress it up, is wrong, but with the amount of pain those people were in, and knowing they won't survive anyway, was it still wrong? In the end, the doctor did cross over that line that kept him in the morally grey area, cuz of what he did to that one pharmacist boy toy. This drama was very thought provoking when it came to the topic of Euthanasia, and the beliefs of the characters. I kept wondering between the law, Dr Kan, and the dying patients who was right? On the side of the law, they only saw right and wrong, Dr Kan saw it as showing mercy as a doctor and putting an end to a suffering/disease nothing could cure, and the patients saw it as a way to end their endless pain, and for some, unburden their families. No matter how I thought about it, I'm still not sure what side was right and which, was wrong. This drama tiptoed the line between wrong and right so well, at one point, the line became a circle.
Anyway, this drama was short, but amazing! And although I wanted the doctor to get away with it, cuz those people asked him too, in the end, for what he did to that boy toy doctor, I ran out of excuses as to why he should be set free. Still, I'm sure if given a few more days, I can find some reasons to justify his actions... cuz, he gave himself up, so in the end, was he truly that bad?
What's funny about me wanting him to be innocent is, I spent the first two episodes convinced the doctor is guilty and should be arrested and sent to Azkaban or something. Then halfway through episode 3 I started finding excuses as to why he's super-innocent and should be given the 'most merciful, goodest person award.' I need help, dramas are screwing up my morals. No, really, this was my reaction for the first three episodes.
First episode:
ME: OMG, that hawt doctor is suspicious, he did it!
Second episode:
ME: Yep, the doctor did it, he did it, he did it, arrest him! Throw him into a dark jail.
Third episode:
Doc Kan: Yes, I did it. I super did it. I am very guilty. I done did it.
ME: Whhhhhaaaaatttt? I'm shocked. But I thought...wow, you really did it?
*Doctor Kan shows up in that brown outfit on this birthday, him and Thiu being all lovey dovey*
ME: I mean... everyone gotta die someday, imirite? I say the doc is innocent, he's a saint.
Anyway, long story short, great drama and amazing actors. Their portrayed brought the story alive, and I'll recommend it to anyone who enjoy a good drama. I am looking forward to more from the cast, especially Tor and JJ, they did such an awesome job in their roles. One of the best dramas that came out this year. Go watch it if you haven't already.
Merry Christmas.
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unique premise with a great start
Overall: I appreciated the premise and production value; however, I thought there could have been improvements with the plots/characters. Adapted from the book Euthanasia: Spare Me Your Mercy by Sammon which I haven't read and I reviewed this series on its own merits. 8 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired uncut on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/spare-me-your-mercy-episode-1-1e3q3w4ts14?lang=en_us and cut on One31 YouTube channel (not in Japan, Korea, Taiwan or Thailand) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXopbKxiivxrgJk-EvQLFVdakJlFviiix&si=aaqj7i0CX2sAeIVP - the first episode cut version was about 1 minute shorter than the uncut version.Content Warnings: there were several major ones in the first episode and in subsequent episodes, but I kept this review spoiler free
What I Liked
- unique premise
- mystery element
- countryside setting
- discussed the ethics of someone making choices about their life, including at the end of their life
- production value
Room For Improvement
- the first scene as a character set up/voice over exposition dump, subsequent exposition dumps
- stupid characters/actions that felt "because the writer said so"
- reveals happened too early
- chemistry felt hot/cold, wasn't sold on the romance aspect
- the open ending
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An apt ending for a controversial topic
A challenging subject matter to tackle i.e. euthanasia, but nicely executed by the author, scriptwriter, director and the actors. The story was generally well-written, with a couple of misgivings.Firstly, I thought that the loveline between the two senior doctors was not needed to bring across the two opposing views on the topic i.e. is it murder or mercy (Somsak, Boss and lady Doctor's scenes were sufficient, and the character Boss showed just how thin that line was). Secondly, I was thoroughly confused at the beginning over some of Tew's actions and he came across as very inconsistent in his feelings towards Kan. I cannot understand how a person like Tew, with a lot of pride in his work in law and order, can continue to be suspicious of someone that he is genuinely attracted to. Lastly, Kan's decision to shoot Boss was somewhat inconsistent with the character he portrayed in the last scene who had firm conviction that what he was doing was right and that society was simply not ready for it yet and that he was prepared to stand by it. I could only interpret it as a moment of folly driven by his fear of losing Tew at that point in their relationship, which was just starting out.
Besides these three points of dissonance for me, I was impressed by the acting of the main leads and supporting cast (special mention to the actor playing Kan and the actress playing nurse Orn), story-telling was well-paced with a smooth flow and clear logic (especially liked the foreshadowing at the very beginning when Tew killed the goat to relief it from its misery), there was sufficient focus on fleshing out the topic (the flashbacks and different viewpoints of family, care-givers and the patients themselves), and I thought they wrapped up the series with a well designed ending, which was my favourite scene of the entire series. The OST was also perfect and matched the tone of the series.
The MLs' delivery in the last scene was amazing. Kan torn between his beliefs and the hurt he knows it would inflict on Tew, the mixture of guilt and conviction, love and betrayal, and Kan's final resignation as he left his fate in Tew's hands knowing that it would be his final act of love. And that hug! That was what made me finally believe without a doubt that Tew loved Kan. Almost shed a tear there. In a way, I think this was the only satisfactory way to end the series i.e. for Tew to enforce the law but still stand by his love.
Overall a really enjoyable watch with strong acting chops, a decent storyline and a heart-tugging OST.
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A drama wrapped as BL
This was a very unusual series. The "BL" aspect of this drama was NOT the focus of the series. So we were "robbed" of the romance aspect of this series. Maybe an episode more would have helped, maybe it's not as detailed in the novel too and it's close to it, I have no clue. What we got was a drama about euthanasia which is one of social questions the world has to solve. Only in a few countries this is legal, in most countries it's not and I feel in Asia it's a taboo.The production value was outstanding, camera work, lighting and of course the music was top notch. Also the acting was strong. I liked the feeling that Mr. Policeman never trusted Dr. completly. The part with Mr. Pharmacy was a bit odd and did not really fit this series. I thought without him, the series would have been as good as it was. Of course it was shocking to see his relationsship revealed but I'm not sold on him murdering his love-interest. And to not have a happy end, was the right choice.
All the not so good story-aspects can be overlocked, but so it's not a 10 for me. It lacked in the romance aspect, some things didn't make much sense, but to have this social question asked in a drama is very important. To bring awareness to the public is important. For this reason alone, I recommand anyone to binch-watch this series.
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Gritty storytelling, with flawed characters that you can't but love
Should I have the right to decide whether I want to live on or not? Is my sovereignty over my own body and mind beyond the scope of the state and its law?BL needle score: 6 - Moderate BL-ness, with sizzling chemistry but higher focus on suspense
This show raises critical and important questions about the moral and legal debate around euthanasia....and does it well. While it is a BL drama, it focuses more on the narrative and theme rather than only on the characters and their romantic developments.
It has Dr. Kan as one of the protagonists, a palliative care doctor who strongly believes in euthanasia, albeit with clear and mindful consent from the person...coming from his experience of seeing his mother suffer intense days and nights of pain due to cervical cancer, he feels people should have the right and resources to help them decide about their own lives, how much suffering is enough, and end it with dignity, if and when they so desire. The other main protagonist is Thiu, a police officer with integrity, who suffers from guilt and angst, for not having been there for his mom, and not being able to meet her at her deathbed. As Kan helps terminal patients find a peaceful end, with their expressed consent, Thiu struggles to untangle the mess that this trail of euthanasia, and his own angst around his mother's death, creates. There are a few other important characters who all help build this compelling tale that explores the theme of euthanasia, and raises important questions about our thinking, convictions, and views around life, death, family, body sovereignty and legality.
I love how this show has almost zero flab or unnecessary sub-plots......aided by a gritty storytelling about flawed characters, that you can't but love, despite their failings...this is just the kind of shows that I dig. This has to be one of the best BL dramas from Thailand that I have watched in the recent times. Go watch.
Review first posted on December 1, and edited after finale on December 25, 2024
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"The law doesn't have heart."
Oh my heart!Truly loved this! I fell in love with the story of what’s happening, how it’s told and everything else’s in between. This is everything I expected it to be from start to end! It's quite intense and fast-paced from the start. It kept my interest and had me on the edge of my seat.
I enjoyed this even with the emotional damage I experienced. I would recommend this to anyone who’s into both genres thriller and romance
I wasn’t sure how Wasan and Kan would work things out. Things look rather complex at the start of this story and the characters seem to be thrown into one impossible situation after another throughout the time. This show had plenty of suspense to keep things moving along and there were quite a few times that I was worried about the safety of some of my favorite characters.
The ending is...
The most perfect ending for an amazing series, even though I'm still sad & emotionally destroyed by it.
Let me know what you think!
It is truly an amazing story that keeps you intrigued the entire time!
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This Will Stick with You
This drama deals with the very controversial subject of euthanasia. The viewer knows from the get-go what that the doctor is guilty of doing it--but there's no shortage of questions throughout. I was on the edge of my seat. At one point, I actually acknowledge out suspenseful the music was. I was so tense, but nothing extremely tense was happening at that moment except for the music. It was setting the stage. Wow, is all I can say. It was a great story and a wild ride. Tor in particular did a great acting job playing someone who truly believes they are doing what is right. For anyone who enjoys mystery and intrigue with an underlying touch of romance, this is the drama for you. Brava to the director and cast of this gem.Was this review helpful to you?
I implore everyone to give this an opportunity without expecting it to be centered around romance
I want to start by saying that this is my first review on Mydramalist after creating an account. I know that I'm late in posting this review, but after hesitating for quite some time, I decided that it is better late than never.Until now I only visited this website to view details of shows that I was interested in. But 'Spare Me Your Mercy' touched me so deeply that it became extremely special and close to my heart. I couldn’t help myself from posting a review about it.
This may not be a perfect series when viewed with a critical eye, but for someone in a situation who has experienced pain of a similar kind, it can be perfect. Words cannot fully express how I feel about this series, but I'll try my best.
It brought out unexpressed visceral emotions that I had kept bottled up within me for so long and gave me that release that I didn’t know I desperately needed. I feel so light inside after watching this, as if some heavy weight has finally been lifted after so many years.
I cannot thank the people involved in writing and making of this masterpiece enough, for addressing the complex and sensitive topic of Euthanasia in such a nuanced and beautiful manner in just 8 episodes. I consider this series as a divine timing that happened when I needed it the most.
For me, the highlight of this series is not just how the topic of Euthanasia is addressed, but also how it is shown that early experiences can shape people's characters, views of life, and life choices later on, and this in turn can affect humanity at large in profound ways (positively or negatively).
Dr. Kan will forever be my most favorite character out of all series.
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The Best Interest of Everyone
What's right may not be legal and what's legal may not be right. The opposing views on euthanasia was discussed in great detail and according to the end, legality won. I want to say unfortunately but the other side of that coin would send a message of acceptable wanton killings.It is legal to execute a prisoner by lethal injection but illegal to give someone peace who suffers daily from excruciating pain.
The plot was very interesting, thought provoking and with a few unexpected surprises. The acting was wonderfully done by everyone. A Thai production of this caliber done in 8 episodes is a miracle in itself. The pacing, flash backs and character development produced a drama worth watching and watching again.
The divide between Thiu and Kan was bridged for only a moment and what a beautiful moment it was. Their moment of intimacy was tastfully done as expected from mature individuals. Thiu, tho a bit hesitant due to Kan's wound, encouraged by Kan, gave in. I must admit I was not expecting this as the previous meetings would show desire alone. Truthfully, I would have preferred for it to have not happened due to the ending.
The only question that should have been asked of Thiu but it wasn't...
If his mother, in extreme pain, had begged him to end it, would he have stepped back and refused, leaving her to suffer. The morality of these situations are ambiguous from the both positions taken.
Boss, the pharmacist, gave a stellar performance. From lover, to psycho, to unrepentant murderer. The difference between him and Kan would be the matter of choice. The patients chose Kan. Boss forced his choice on them. His death was his choice and I was happy that he was not a hypocrite at the end. Rin, a surprise, kept her self righteousness to herself on hearing the truth but with conditions. Every story was not rushed and given enough time to be completed adequately.
The ending was as society would want but it did not hurt any less.
"Would you confess?"
"Only if it's you."
Painfully, they hug. Placing a petal in Kan's handcuffed hands, Thiu says, "I love you."
Both Kan and Thiu proved how much they loved each other.
Beautifull writing. It tugs at the emotions that are kept in check. Sammon, the author, and Sirilux Srisukon, the screenwriter, thank you. The dialogue was enhanced by every actor's performance and well worth the praise. I will look forward to seeing these actors in the future. I hope a S2 is made.
Go watch!
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