A Beautiful Slice-Of-Life Drama

A beautiful slice-of-life drama to watch if you're looking for something emotionally mature and cozy with an excellent cast. It is quiet and subtle; nuanced in feeling and incredibly moving in consequence. It dug deep to me. It tackles so many important subjects with what I felt was very careful thought and insight. Each character has their own journey and inner turmoil to sift through, deepening as relationships get involved, and gently yet ardently taking us along with it. Each story felt honest, relatable, and at times very real (those Wen and Alan scenes hit a little too close to home), causing deep thought and genuine emotion. Every journey closed in what I felt was a beautiful and authentic way, and they will stay in my heart for quite some time.

This is a drama that makes you pause, reflect, and immerse into feelings that we sometimes disregard, push away, or ignore. I can see why some could find it boring, as the pace is slower than most; but that's the beauty of a well-written slice-of-life drama... it finds strength in the quiet moments, shows the ugly as it is, and unveils the beauty behind it all.

Anyways, I loved it. It is now one of my comfort dramas. The cast owns my heart, and this story does, too.

Read More

An Unexpected Comfort Drama

So weeks later.. I am in a series slump as I wait for certain shows to air and my current choices seem limited, and I find myself wanting to come back to this particular drama. Listen, this is in no way a masterpiece.. there are several directorial and even screenwriting choices that deserve more than a serious side-eye, as they pummel the shows’ transitions and prevent a smooth emotional development for its characters. It starts unnecessarily melodramatic, making Win seem like tyrant for virtually no justifiable reason. It exaggerates several moments for what seems to be sheer shock factor, succeeding only in gaining, yet again, a serious side-eye. I could go on and on about this, because it hindered what could’ve been another brilliant EarthMix series; however, I will focus on why, out of everything, I find myself wanting to come back to this show in a moment when I feel a little stuck.

Yes, many reviewers have said it, and I will say it again: EarthMix fluff. There is something about these two.. how they portray their respective characters and respond to each other that just never fails to come across as comforting. They have an undeniable chemistry that just pulls you in no matter the circumstances. And here we have them at odds yet stuck together, with no choice but to push through their warring emotions in order to succeed in their journey. It creates the most angsty, hilarious, and heartwarming dynamics that will be the main motor that will get you through this series.

As usual, Mix did a brilliant job, portraying the constantly shifting and conflicting emotions of Win with loads of heart and humor. Many hated Win as a character because he initially acted like a tyrant, and he did, but isolate that initial incident from the rest, and it seems almost uncharacteristic, which is why it makes it even more annoying that they (the crew) chose to be explosive at the beginning for what seemed to be mere dramatics. Win is high-maintenance, and that can come across as snobbish and spoiled, but to me he came across as determined, fiercely protective, and a little insecure when it came to his own heart, which made him relatable at many instances. He deeply valued loyalty, which is why betrayal hit so hard for him. And yes, maybe he was a little spoiled, too.. and this is where Korn’s character comes in.

Every princess needs a prince to spoil him, and boy does Korn love to play the part to perfection. He was so in tune with Win’s feelings and who he was personally that, despite the switch, he knew exactly what to do to comfort and lift him up. He was patient, which by itself can seem so little, but paired with Win’s big personna and their circumstances, patience is everything they both needed. Some said Korn was a pushover that just took the brunt of Win’s antics and acted like a hurt puppy throughout the show, but I strongly disagree. Superficially, it can seem as such, but Korn very much did not take Win’s sh*t. He was perceptive and knew how to handle Win’s emotions and how to ease, soothe, and lift them. He knew when to push or pull, causing Win, ironically, to be the one to change direction. He took a lot of brunt, yes, but he did so knowingly and, perhaps, even as a bit of a punishment, since he knew how he had hurt Win (albeit unwillingly). But still, he pushed forward with the slight hope that, one day, he might win back his heart.
All in all, if there is a firm and dependable character at any of GMM’s dramas, you know Earth will be the main prospect, and for good reason. Though Phupha (TOATS), Jim (Moonlight Chicken - which I also reviewed and highly recommend), and Korn are very different, they all have a strong and dependable aura that Earth just knows how to exude perfectly. So put him and Mix together in anything, and they create a sort of magic that makes you feel at home.

Now, on another very important note, Miss Jan Ployshompoo also stole my heart and quickly became one of my favorite Thai actresses. She is organic, absolutely hilarious, and deeply captivating. She compliments Win’s character rather than hinder him, adding an extra layer of humor and heart to an already beautiful characterization by Mix. Both her and Mix switched between their characters seamlessly, and turned what could’ve been an annoying occurrence into an entertaining, charming, and even heartwarming one.

So, in the end, this became a comfort drama for me, mainly because of how the cast portrayed their characters, the dynamic that played between them, and their rich, enthralling chemistry; they pulled at my heartstrings, and I deeply miss them for it. If you want a no-brainer, fluff and feels drama to blithely dive into, then Cupid’s Last Wish might just be it for you; it unexpectedly was for me.

Read More