Angelika
I liked it more than I expected to
I liked it more than I expected to.
Now, that’s not to say I was expecting to dislike it, but I also wasn’t preparing for anything more than a light snack. Instead, Deep Night served up a decent helping of entertainment, even if some of it was a bit undercooked.
Acting
For a series led by a newcomer like Shogun, I have to say, the chemistry between him and First—along with what I imagine was the director gently nudging him in the right direction—helped cover up the rougher edges of his performance. There were definitely moments where Shogun looked like a deer caught in the headlights of some particularly challenging scenes, but for his first time, he did a solid job. His chemistry with First was especially strong, which worked wonders in carrying the story through its more questionable moments. It was like watching someone perform a complicated dance while occasionally tripping over their shoelaces but still managing to look graceful.
Story
Ah, the story. Let’s just say I have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, the premise is full of potential, with all the makings of a great drama—mystery, intrigue, romance, jealousy! But on the other hand, there are so many moments where the logic seems to have taken an extended vacation.
So, here’s the setup: Khen is a university student whose mother runs a nightclub/host club. One fateful day, Khen visits the club and sees his fellow university student, Wela, performing as a host. And just like that—bam!—he falls in love. The twist? These two have apparently been attending the same lectures for who knows how long, but it took Wela taking off his glasses and standing under a dim nightclub light for Khen to notice he exists. If that isn’t a lesson in how important good lighting is, I don’t know what is.
Once they become a couple, the plot shifts into what I like to call the Jealousy Carousel. Khen gets jealous because, you know, Wela’s job as a host involves interacting with other people. They make up, only for Khen to get jealous all over again. Rinse, repeat. After a few cycles, you start wondering if maybe Khen should have picked a less emotionally turbulent career path—like professional sandcastle building.
What I Would Change
If I had the power to make some tweaks (and let’s be honest, someone should hand me that power), the first thing I’d do is scrap the university setting entirely and make the characters a little older. Wela being the number one host would make far more sense if he had, say, five or six years of experience under his belt rather than being a student who’s just squeezed a couple of part-time shifts between classes. It would give his character a bit more depth, too—because let's face it, being a top host at 20 is impressive, but also feels like something out of a fantasy.
I’d also throw in a female hostess, someone with acrobatic skills. This would allow for some more dynamic scenes in the nightclub and provide a bit more balance in the customer interactions. Not to mention, a comparison between how male and female hosts handle their clients could add an extra layer of interest. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a few flips while someone’s pouring champagne?
As for Khen (played by Shogun), I’d rework how he meets Wela. Instead of them being university classmates who’ve never noticed each other until one fateful nightclub encounter, it would be far more engaging if Khen first met Wela as a customer at the club. That way, their relationship could develop more naturally—from customer and host, to the son of the nightclub owner falling for the star employee. It would also spare us the whole "love at second glance" thing, which is harder to buy than a discount wand at Ollivanders.
In conclusion
Deep Night had potential, and I genuinely enjoyed watching it more than I expected to. But with a few tweaks here and there (and maybe a little more logic), it could have been so much more. It’s like ordering a meal at a restaurant and realizing it would be perfect if only the chef had added just a bit more seasoning—or, in this case, a bit more plot coherence.
Now, that’s not to say I was expecting to dislike it, but I also wasn’t preparing for anything more than a light snack. Instead, Deep Night served up a decent helping of entertainment, even if some of it was a bit undercooked.
Acting
For a series led by a newcomer like Shogun, I have to say, the chemistry between him and First—along with what I imagine was the director gently nudging him in the right direction—helped cover up the rougher edges of his performance. There were definitely moments where Shogun looked like a deer caught in the headlights of some particularly challenging scenes, but for his first time, he did a solid job. His chemistry with First was especially strong, which worked wonders in carrying the story through its more questionable moments. It was like watching someone perform a complicated dance while occasionally tripping over their shoelaces but still managing to look graceful.
Story
Ah, the story. Let’s just say I have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, the premise is full of potential, with all the makings of a great drama—mystery, intrigue, romance, jealousy! But on the other hand, there are so many moments where the logic seems to have taken an extended vacation.
So, here’s the setup: Khen is a university student whose mother runs a nightclub/host club. One fateful day, Khen visits the club and sees his fellow university student, Wela, performing as a host. And just like that—bam!—he falls in love. The twist? These two have apparently been attending the same lectures for who knows how long, but it took Wela taking off his glasses and standing under a dim nightclub light for Khen to notice he exists. If that isn’t a lesson in how important good lighting is, I don’t know what is.
Once they become a couple, the plot shifts into what I like to call the Jealousy Carousel. Khen gets jealous because, you know, Wela’s job as a host involves interacting with other people. They make up, only for Khen to get jealous all over again. Rinse, repeat. After a few cycles, you start wondering if maybe Khen should have picked a less emotionally turbulent career path—like professional sandcastle building.
What I Would Change
If I had the power to make some tweaks (and let’s be honest, someone should hand me that power), the first thing I’d do is scrap the university setting entirely and make the characters a little older. Wela being the number one host would make far more sense if he had, say, five or six years of experience under his belt rather than being a student who’s just squeezed a couple of part-time shifts between classes. It would give his character a bit more depth, too—because let's face it, being a top host at 20 is impressive, but also feels like something out of a fantasy.
I’d also throw in a female hostess, someone with acrobatic skills. This would allow for some more dynamic scenes in the nightclub and provide a bit more balance in the customer interactions. Not to mention, a comparison between how male and female hosts handle their clients could add an extra layer of interest. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see a few flips while someone’s pouring champagne?
As for Khen (played by Shogun), I’d rework how he meets Wela. Instead of them being university classmates who’ve never noticed each other until one fateful nightclub encounter, it would be far more engaging if Khen first met Wela as a customer at the club. That way, their relationship could develop more naturally—from customer and host, to the son of the nightclub owner falling for the star employee. It would also spare us the whole "love at second glance" thing, which is harder to buy than a discount wand at Ollivanders.
In conclusion
Deep Night had potential, and I genuinely enjoyed watching it more than I expected to. But with a few tweaks here and there (and maybe a little more logic), it could have been so much more. It’s like ordering a meal at a restaurant and realizing it would be perfect if only the chef had added just a bit more seasoning—or, in this case, a bit more plot coherence.
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