SarahD

OMG! This story was absolutely incredible, powerful, heartbreaking yet with a silver lining.

The opening scene should have made me realise that this was a one in a million story as we watch two bright young lives destroyed by suicide.

It is the companion side plot to the Between Us drama starring Boun Noppanut as Win and Prem Warut at Team and I’m glad I watched that one first as although their characters feature in this they are a very, very minor sub plot in this drama and watching them the other way round would not have worked so well.

The story centres around Pharm (played by Fluke Natouche) and Dean (played by Ohm Thitiwat) who are students at the same university. Dean is a final year student whose world is turned upside down by Pharm, a first year, when they meet for the first time and his lifelong search is finally over as he recognises his past in this new kid on the block.

Approximately 40 years earlier two young lads - Korn (played by Kai Noppakao) and Intouch (played by Earth Katsamonnat) fall in love in a world filled with homophobia and fathers who cannot accept their love. One fateful night (Intouch’s 18th birthday) during a heated argument between the fathers and the sons, Korn grabs his father’s gun from his waistband, tells Intouch that he loves him then blows his brains out. In, seeing his boyfriend’s body lying in a pool of blood rushes over and amidst a grief filled sob fest grabs the gun tells him that he loves him then proceeds to kill himself too.

As the drama unfolds we realise that Dean and Pharm are the reincarnation of Korn and In as they begin to have more and more flash backs letting them into to the lives of the two deceased men.

There are sad bits, funny bits and every emotion in between and Fluke and Ohm do a fantastic job of making their confused past believable. In the final scenes Fluke broke my heart as he has a mental breakdown over what happened to Intouch in his last few moments of grief before committing suicide too.

This story is a testament to the strength of love that knows no boundaries set in a world of homophobia and the tragic backlash of the double suicide that leaves the remaining family members guilt riddled and broken. This really makes the viewer stop and think about the devastating results of people’s prejudices and how utterly horrendous the fall out from suicide really is.

That said, in the final scenes there is forgiveness and the laying to rest of ghosts that paves the way for Dean and Pharm to commit to each other and this understanding of what happened and what the future could be turns this plot from a terrible tragedy into a story of redemption and hope.

Bravo to the actors and script writers for such a powerful story.

This is my favourite drama ever and I sobbed so much and so loudly through the last two chapters (to the point my husband who was in a different room thought I was laughing) as the ramifications of the actions first of Korn and then In became apparent.

Would I watch this again? Totally, absolutely and inevitably

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Bound by fate, kept by love, strengthened by never giving up…

In my top 2 stories.

This is so much more than a BL story. Yes there are a few scenes that contain NC, but they are extremely gentle and few and far between so if you’ve come here to watch some incredibly beautiful actors get dominatingly passionate or down and dirty all the time then this is not one for you. (Though the young adult actors are really very beautiful I will admit)

The plot follows a 20 year old called Khemjira and his closest friends as they try to undo a curse laid on his family that dooms male heirs to die before they reach 21. Along with a group of university students he goes on a summer camp to a distant and rather mystical village where he meets Master Paran with whom he shares deep and heartbreaking love in a previous life as fiancés as Khemmika and Wat. Meeting up in current day Thai Shaman duties and impending doom initially make it difficult for them to admit their feelings so there’s a lot of ‘will they, won’t they?’ creating additional tension for quite a few of the earlier episodes.

The second leads Chan and Jet were also lovers in their previous lives where coincidentally they were friends of Khemmika and Wat and they too remember their past but will they have the courage to pledge themselves to each other in this life? The other main characters namely Grandma Si, Yos, Chai, Thong and Ek all have a vested interest in Khem’s welfare, are brilliantly cast and add depth and dimension to an already well rounded story.

The actress Green who convincingly plays Rampueng, the bad guy who is determined Khem will not survive to be 21, is fabulously rounded as an out an out baddie but is she just venting her anger at the treatment and loss she suffered nearly 300 years earlier? The back story to Rampueng’s curse is so unfair and you will really feel for her as we get to understand why she does what she does to the people who wronged her and why she cannot let go of her hate.

This BL story is not your traditional ‘boy meets boy who get hot and heavy together and then live happily ever after’. It’s about love, revenge, hate and forgiveness and has a FANTASTIC plot line that will have you empathising with and rooting for every one of the main characters and sobbing as you get closer to Khem’s birthday. You will roll your eyes, jump as things go bump in the night, clap at little wins, smile and cry as the resolve of the main characters is put to the test in the roller coaster of a ride set in a very beautiful, spiritual and traditional Thai environment where spells, incantations, monks, Mo Phi’s and a shaman protect against evil forces.

There is nothing to dislike about this story (even though traditional Thai love songs are a little jarring to my western ears) and I would thoroughly recommend watching this.

The script is incredible, the acting terrific and believable, the buildings and backdrop on point and the fact it is set in such a stunning and cultural location adds value to the plot. Chef’s kiss level.

Would I watch again. Definitely. Absolutely

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If you’re looking for a light hearted rom com with lots of funny bits, this is for you

I giggled, laughed and just plain out snorted (yes, really!) my way through this lovely gem of a story which I will admit I wanted to watch because of Song Weilong.
The story is about a group of students at an all boys college who bond over trying to get to the truth behind a tragedy that happened nearly 20 years earlier. Additionally there are a number of interesting sub plots along the way including ones that will frustrate you through to a couple that will make you think “awww, how cute”.
The lead players are completely different characters: Wen Bin/Xi a young girl who pretends to be her brother; Yue Xuan a slick talking lad who turns any trick possible to make a profit; Lei Zi Xin a thug who has a chip on his shoulder the size of a potato field and Feng Cheng Yun a straight laced student from a very noble background who wants justice and equality for all. As the story unfolds this unlikely (and very good looking) bunch become deeply connected brothers (and sister).
The way the story has been written the two stooges, namely Wen Bin and Feng Cheng Jun, are the perfect foil to the comedy element provided by Yue Xian and Lei Zi Xin which just makes everything even more enjoyable.
These lead actors head up a stellar cast and there are plenty of good things to say about all the supporting actors whose stories intertwine with this four. From a wonderfully flaky school principal who oscillates between different points of view depending on his audience to a school bully who has a beautiful redemption arc and a young lady that falls in love too easily. There are baddies, innocents, love stuck young people and tense moments in this story that turn something quite straightforward into an even more enjoyable plot.
The fight scenes are about right even though one tiny woman somehow manages to out fight a whole platoon of soldiers which did make me roll my eyes a little. The costumes are gorgeous (especially the school uniform for the archery competition) and the overall production values very high. The music wasn’t particularly memorable but maybe that’s not a bad thing as some dramas have scores that are so powerful as to detract from the plot.
There is lots to love about this rom com and IMHO it rivals Filter in terms of the comedy.
Would I watch this again? Absolutely

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What incredible chemistry and a brilliant plot line

I put off watching this drama as I didn’t like the photos of Mark Chao’s character (yes I know, super shallow) but eventually, due to the amazing reviews it’s had I thought I’d have a go.
I was a fool to not watch this sooner.
The characters, the acting, the costumes, the production values, etc… utterly brilliant. The baddies were so well played that I wanted to boo them off my screen as I ranted in frustration. The main couple had so much chemistry they were so believable. The child who played Ah Li was mesmerising. I could go on but you get my drift.
I loved Ye Hun, even when he was being pathetic in the Celestial Palace. He has such an adorable, dorky smile and telegraphed each and every emotion perfectly from frustration and authoritative commandant barking out orders to love struck puppy.
Yang Mi acted her little cotton socks off and I felt every bit of her despair, heartbreak, love and devotion both as Su Su and Bai Qian. I really enjoyed every aspect of her journey except for the last few episodes when I wept and wailed like a heartbroken teenager.
The rest of the cast were excellent even if I didn’t always agree with the plot lines they’d been given. The two main baddies played their parts so well that I wanted nothing more to stab them with a hairpin- both thwarted in love but the outcome of their situations was so different.
Would I watch it again? Very likely.

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Great chemistry but a story that just goes on and on

There is so much to enjoy about this drama but equally lots that frustrates.
The ML falls in love with the FL very quickly but as they are both pretending to be someone they are not and as they are both bound by social and familial restrictions it takes a while for them to realise what they mean to each other so slow burn is an understatement.
The ending is very rushed as some of the plot that winds its way through this story just fizzles out without any real understanding or resolution. A great example is the copper box and gold keys which are integral to the story for 75% of the time but we never really find out if anyone managed to collect all the puzzle pieces and successfully open it.
Yang Zi and Qin Jun Jie act brilliantly together and his long lingering looks could set a room on fire, it’s just a shame that her character is too focused on her mission to see it and reciprocate until the last couple of episodes and by then it’s too late.
The production values are good, the costumes and cast excellent and if they could have cut out a whole pile of irrelevance this would have been even better than it was. I did find it quite repetitive at times.
The final scene is gut wrenchingly sad and my heart broke as the words of the grandmother came true. Nuff said, I won’t spoil it any further.
Would I watch it again? Probably not as the brutal editing of the ending leaves too much to the imagination with no clear outcome

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Clever plot line - all is not what it seems…

This drama is well acted with great production values, costumes and a slow burning romance.
The first few lives the couple lead are fairly straightforward and although the FLs character tragically dies in one of the scenarios there are amusing moments and a slow but steady move towards love. Each time they venture into the next tribulation they discover more and more that they like about each other ans they start to uncover the truth which leads to the ML starting to thaw out his once dead heart. The ML and FL start to fall in love and it’s not just about personalities and chemistry, it’s also about trust which adds depth to their story. Their chemistry is so believable and beautiful.
The bad guy isn’t who you’d expect at the outset but before he reveals himself you get hints that turn into red flags and then you can really see the depths of his selfishness and depravity. As with all the actors he is so believable and brilliantly cast.
My only criticism would be the royal guard costumes that seem to have been fitted to giants and then worn by normal sized actors - like they’ve been handed to a younger brother. Small detail but soooo annoying when you consider how amazing all the other costumes are.
Will probably watch again at some point

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They get the happy ending they didn’t get in TTEOTM

This is a feel good rom com that is very light and fluffy and I love the dynamic of the male and female lead. Their chemistry is off the charts with some very steamy moments (you’ll need your fan) and a few twists and turns which all make this drama a joy to watch.
The plot is simple but never boring as the FL and ML get closer and closer. The second leads have more drama but this does not spoil anything for BL and LYX in fact the two couples compliment each other.
There’s a bad guy who just won’t quit both emotionally and business wise but in the end he sorts his life out and redeems himself. The jealous female support character also moves on with her life so it’s happy, happy, happy all round (but won’t give you cavities)
Eminently rewatch able, in fact I already have.

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In my top 5

If you want a nice and easyfeel good story with a good laugh, great plot development and fabulous acting then story is for you. There is something for everyone in this drama and the phrase ‘karma is a bitch’ definitely comes to mind with at least one of the bad guys.
Ding Yuxi and Ester Yu work really well together and although I often find her characters a bit too sweet somehow it works for this plot. The ML & FL have great chemistry even though at certain points it’s clear that none of the male characters really know what they’re feeling or what to do about it. The female characters are a bit more emotionally mature… Don’t worry though it all works out in the end.
The support actors are excellent and as usual initially there’s a love triangle to add to the chaos caused by emotional immaturity.
What’s not to like

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Great story, great chemistry

Bai Lu and Dylan Wang have great chemistry in a well rounded plot that starts off with a slow burn but delivers a great story.
FL is a financial reporter that is determined to get an interview with ML who is elusive and reluctant to be interviewed. After a while there is an undercurrent of mutual interest that morphs into something more.
Both actors really bring their characters to life in a believable way and their love story is supplemented by great acting from the other main and support actors. As their characters grow together they bring out the best in each . She is fun yet dedicated and he is powerful yet playful.
There is plenty of genuine and powerful emotion but this what I’ve come to expect from Bai Lu as she definitely makes whoever she acts opposite bring out their a-game
Rewatch? Absolutely

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Roller coaster ride that deserves to be watched again and again

Despite its large number of episodes, this has to set the gold standard for period dramas in terms of both plot and character development. It is very loosely based on facts and real characters from the Qing dynasty.
Wei Yinglow enters the forbidden city to try and find out what really happened to her sister and then to avenge her death. Boy does she do this wholeheartedly and very effectively.
There is plenty of drama, love and heartache as well as some extremely brilliant baddies and manipulative behaviour and that’s just in the imperial harem. This is not light reading and there are plenty of tears and lots of heartache but some lighthearted moments too.
Throughout the whole thing the FL stays true to her goal but meets some incredible people along the way.
Xu Kai, Nie Yuan and Wu Jin Yan lead an impressive cast where even the supporting cast hold their own magnificently.
Have watched this twice already and will probably watch it again at some point (if nothing else but to see Fuca Fuheng in action…)

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Utterly brilliant writing leads to a mesmerising experience

Set against the turbulent times created by the Japanese 21 Demands, you will be sucked into this story from the get go.
On the second time of watching (for me), my daughters and I cackled, sniggered and outright belly laughed during the first episode and then like me they were hooked though they weren’t very amused at some of the plot twists.
The pairing of Xu Kai and Bai Lu is brilliant as they navigate their way through from hateful roomies to besties and beyond and their characters (like all the others) are well rounded and well acted. Little nuances help make the characters even more believable (Xu Kai looking at his watch as the CO droned on about the rules and regulations in the first episode for example) sets the tone for the characters.
There’s love, laughter, poignant and gut clenching moments throughout the plot and the set is incredible.
Bravo
Rewatch value? 100%

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Great suspense drama with a side order of love

This story is set in the slums of Thailand and features Jack, a poor taekwondo student who through a brief association with Joke, a middle class kid whose only skills are lying, pretending and stealing goes from poor and honest to poor, desperate and enslaved.

5 years later they reunite after Joke is released from prison following the situation that led to Jack’s downfall and at the same time we meet others stuck in their own versions of hell and watch as they all grow from individuals trying to survive to a team determined to right the wrongs of the miserable lives they been given. Through it all and somewhere down the line relationships are formed and Jack and Joker fall in love.

The standout performance for me was Tangkwa Chananticha Chaipa who plays Toi Ting a young street smart kid who wants more out of life than the shitty hand she’s been dealt. Her believable character was fearless, brave and sassy wrapped up in a cute little bundle.

Yin and War as Jack and Joker were brilliant and it’s easy to see why Jack just let Joker win him over again and again as chemistry aside deep down he knew there had to be a really compelling reason for his sporadic return to crime and the sad puppy dog eye look Joke gave when caught hooked Jack in every time (it would make me forgive him every time too tbh).

There was very little opportunity for NC’s or PDA’s in this drama and to be honest I think it would have detracted from the story. In fact there only one intimate scene but it was enough to see how their slow burn romance spilled into every part of their relationship and it had me reaching for a metaphorical fan as it was so sizzling hot.

The other characters were well acted, their plot lines adding depth and breadth to this story by injecting love, laughter, a bond forged by desperation and the need to trust that together they could beat the system.

The contrast between the haves and have nots was poignantly obvious as evidenced in so many ways: from grotty buildings with peeling paint and doors that don’t close properly to sumptuous mansions with glittering fountains and marble staircases; poorly dressed, malnourished individuals with knife and fork haircuts compared with exaggeratedly overstuffed individuals with dubious taste in horribly expensive clothing; the raw honesty of frantic people trying to survive as opposed to bored mega rich to whom the lives and belongings of the less fortunate are just a game.

As an aside , the music used a lot at the beginning of their relationship, when Jack and Joker’s hearts skip a beat, is called Windfall by Megan Wofford (thank you Shazam!) and it’s also used in Cutie Pie on Lian and Kuea’s wedding night.

You should also watch the special one-off episode. It will break your heart but alludes to another series or just another one off. Here’s hoping…

Would I watch this again? Absolutely

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