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The Next Prince — Spectacular to Look At, but Miscast Where It Mattered Most
There is no denying that The Next Prince is one of the most ambitious BL productions Thailand has ever made. The budget is on another level. The costumes are magnificent, the locations are breathtaking, the orchestral soundtrack gives the series a cinematic feeling, and every frame looks expensive. The production team even filmed scenes in London instead of relying on stock footage, created nearly one hundred costumes for Khanin alone, and trained the cast in fencing, archery, piano, and royal etiquette to make the fictional kingdom of Emmaly feel believable. It shows. This is probably one of the most visually impressive BLs ever produced.
But beautiful visuals can only carry a story so far.
The original novel by Ceo ft. Ennice is actually much shorter than the series. Because of that, the screenwriters had to expand the plot to fill fourteen episodes, adding political intrigue and new storylines that weren't fully developed in the source material. Unfortunately, you can feel it. The pacing often becomes uneven, with long stretches where very little actually happens. Instead of building suspense, the series sometimes feels like it's admiring its own production design.
My biggest issue, however, is the casting.
I've never really been a fan of NuNew as an actor. He's an excellent singer, and his popularity is undeniable, but acting is a different skill. Khanin is supposed to evolve from an ordinary young man into someone capable of becoming a ruler, standing against centuries of tradition while surviving political conspiracies and assassination attempts. That journey requires visible growth.
I never really saw it.
NuNew plays Khanin almost exactly the same way from beginning to end. His naturally delicate mannerisms work perfectly in lighter romances like Cutie Pie, but here they constantly reminded me that I was watching NuNew rather than a future prince. Khanin needed to become stronger, more confident, more commanding. Instead, he often remained soft-spoken and emotionally dependent, even during moments that should have established him as a leader.
The same applies to Zee Pruk.
I like Zee as an actor, but Charan never convinced me as the kingdom's most feared royal bodyguard. He's handsome, charismatic, and physically fit, but his natural elegance sometimes works against the role. When I think of an elite protector trained to kill without hesitation, I imagine someone whose presence alone makes people step back. Zee's version of Charan feels more like the perfect romantic lead than a battle-hardened royal guardian.
Ironically, that's why the supporting cast often stole the show for me.
Net, JJ, Jimmy, Ohm, and especially Kris Charintip brought a different energy whenever they appeared. They had less screen time, yet many of them felt more believable within this political world. Kris, in particular, has an undeniable charisma that made every scene she appeared in more interesting. I often found myself wishing the story would spend more time following these characters instead of returning to the main couple.
The chemistry between Zee and NuNew is still there. After several projects together, it's impossible to deny how comfortable they are with each other. Their romantic scenes feel natural, and it's easy to understand why they're one of Thailand's biggest BL pairings. But chemistry alone cannot solve a casting mismatch. A believable romance doesn't automatically create believable characters.
One aspect I genuinely appreciated was the directing. Aoftionz Kittipat Champa clearly understood the scale of the project. The action scenes are well choreographed, the political atmosphere is convincing, and the visual storytelling is among the best Thailand has produced in the BL industry. Every kingdom feels distinct, the fencing sequences are elegant, and the series often looks more like a fantasy film than a television drama.
Still, I kept asking myself the same question throughout the series.
What if the roles had been cast differently?
What if Khanin had been played by someone with a stronger commanding presence? Someone like Pond Ponlawit, Jimmy Jitaraphol, or even one of the newer actors who naturally project quiet authority. What if Charan had been portrayed by someone whose physicality immediately sold the image of an elite warrior rather than relying on the audience's affection for Zee?
I honestly believe this could have changed my entire opinion of the drama.
Final Thought
The Next Prince is a technical masterpiece. The production is extraordinary, the cinematography is stunning, the costumes are spectacular, and the amount of work invested in creating Emmaly deserves enormous respect. But for me, casting is just as important as production value. I never completely believed NuNew as a future king or Zee as the kingdom's deadliest bodyguard. Their popularity and chemistry made the romance work, but not the characters themselves. In the end, I admired The Next Prince far more than I loved it—and for a story built on emotion and destiny, that's a significant difference.
But beautiful visuals can only carry a story so far.
The original novel by Ceo ft. Ennice is actually much shorter than the series. Because of that, the screenwriters had to expand the plot to fill fourteen episodes, adding political intrigue and new storylines that weren't fully developed in the source material. Unfortunately, you can feel it. The pacing often becomes uneven, with long stretches where very little actually happens. Instead of building suspense, the series sometimes feels like it's admiring its own production design.
My biggest issue, however, is the casting.
I've never really been a fan of NuNew as an actor. He's an excellent singer, and his popularity is undeniable, but acting is a different skill. Khanin is supposed to evolve from an ordinary young man into someone capable of becoming a ruler, standing against centuries of tradition while surviving political conspiracies and assassination attempts. That journey requires visible growth.
I never really saw it.
NuNew plays Khanin almost exactly the same way from beginning to end. His naturally delicate mannerisms work perfectly in lighter romances like Cutie Pie, but here they constantly reminded me that I was watching NuNew rather than a future prince. Khanin needed to become stronger, more confident, more commanding. Instead, he often remained soft-spoken and emotionally dependent, even during moments that should have established him as a leader.
The same applies to Zee Pruk.
I like Zee as an actor, but Charan never convinced me as the kingdom's most feared royal bodyguard. He's handsome, charismatic, and physically fit, but his natural elegance sometimes works against the role. When I think of an elite protector trained to kill without hesitation, I imagine someone whose presence alone makes people step back. Zee's version of Charan feels more like the perfect romantic lead than a battle-hardened royal guardian.
Ironically, that's why the supporting cast often stole the show for me.
Net, JJ, Jimmy, Ohm, and especially Kris Charintip brought a different energy whenever they appeared. They had less screen time, yet many of them felt more believable within this political world. Kris, in particular, has an undeniable charisma that made every scene she appeared in more interesting. I often found myself wishing the story would spend more time following these characters instead of returning to the main couple.
The chemistry between Zee and NuNew is still there. After several projects together, it's impossible to deny how comfortable they are with each other. Their romantic scenes feel natural, and it's easy to understand why they're one of Thailand's biggest BL pairings. But chemistry alone cannot solve a casting mismatch. A believable romance doesn't automatically create believable characters.
One aspect I genuinely appreciated was the directing. Aoftionz Kittipat Champa clearly understood the scale of the project. The action scenes are well choreographed, the political atmosphere is convincing, and the visual storytelling is among the best Thailand has produced in the BL industry. Every kingdom feels distinct, the fencing sequences are elegant, and the series often looks more like a fantasy film than a television drama.
Still, I kept asking myself the same question throughout the series.
What if the roles had been cast differently?
What if Khanin had been played by someone with a stronger commanding presence? Someone like Pond Ponlawit, Jimmy Jitaraphol, or even one of the newer actors who naturally project quiet authority. What if Charan had been portrayed by someone whose physicality immediately sold the image of an elite warrior rather than relying on the audience's affection for Zee?
I honestly believe this could have changed my entire opinion of the drama.
Final Thought
The Next Prince is a technical masterpiece. The production is extraordinary, the cinematography is stunning, the costumes are spectacular, and the amount of work invested in creating Emmaly deserves enormous respect. But for me, casting is just as important as production value. I never completely believed NuNew as a future king or Zee as the kingdom's deadliest bodyguard. Their popularity and chemistry made the romance work, but not the characters themselves. In the end, I admired The Next Prince far more than I loved it—and for a story built on emotion and destiny, that's a significant difference.
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