This review may contain spoilers
Love conquers all
While not a fan of that company, I watched several shows produced by DMD – and finally got one that I both liked and enjoyed: "Love Upon A Time". It is not a perfect show, but one that I wanted to come back to every week, one that made me feel good from first to last episode, one that I will rewatch soon.
LUAT’s plot and story successfully combine a fully developed BL plotline (including falling in love, having doubts about it, fighting for it regardless of adversities, overcoming all obstacles) with non-BL elements like a fantasy setting (complete with time travel, reincarnation and curses reaching across centuries), a fish-out-of-water main character, a mystery/crime story, but also comedy and family matters. This combination works very well for at least two reasons: the BL storyline is the most profound one and – deservedly – gets most of the attention while everything else, even solving a mystery from the past, serves the main storyline. Unlike with many Thai BLs the setting and story elements connected with it do not sideline nor overshadow the BL aspect of the series – they are supporting it. The series finds a healthy balance between its heavier, darker, more serious issues and its lighter, funnier moments. It is also helpful that the show does not take itself absolutely serious – it is, after all, a piece of entertainment. Also, to make it clear: LUAT is not a documentary about life during the Ayutthaya period and its goal is not historic accuracy.
While I have no issues with the script that are worth mentioning, nor with the show’s overall pacing (despite some initial doubts in this regard), both casting and performances are an entirely different matter.
JJ carried the show, with some help from Kim, Net and several seasoned cast members. Nakun seems like a role written for JJ, who seized this opportunity to show what he is capable of. Nakun is a multifaceted protagonist: relatable, funny, sassy, confident, but also hesitant, thoughtful and mature. The culmination of the series – at least for me – was the ep. 7 scene with Nakun and Phop confessing their feelings for each other. JJ is great in that scene, displaying actual range: starting reserved and hesitant, he lets his guard down for a moment, then becomes serious to finally admit defeat when emotions overcome him. When Nakun hugs Phop and begs him to forget about their love, there is so much emotion in that simple gesture – the way JJ moves and grabs Net is almost frantic, showing true desperation. It is a sad, heartbreaking scene, tense and emotionally charged – and it relies almost entirely on JJ, supported by Bowkylion’s vocals.
JJ’s Nakun reminded me of Punn Winnala from "Revamp" portrayed by Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong: someone hiding a secret, someone who is more than he appears, someone falling in love, but painfully aware that this love cannot last – and then realizing he should fight for this love regardless of everything. I like BL characters like that: strong, but also experienced and wise in their own way, aware of how unfair life is, yet longing for love they think is impossible – only to find out that it is achievable and standing firmly to defend it.
As for JJ’s screen partner, I was never fond of him, mainly due to the taint of "Bed Friend". Still, Net’s LUAT performance as Phop is at least serviceable – and, at times, better than that. Also, I like Phop – for his straightforwardness and honesty, and for standing his ground when faced with an ultimatum regarding him and Nakun. Thai (and Asian in general) BLs need more characters like that. JJ and Net have very good chemistry, which allows me to appreciate Net’s performance in LUAT even more.
Kim gave my second favorite performance of the series – making Kaew more than a shallow, token feminine male character. The writing is not overly generous to Kaew and Kim does a lot to give his character some badly needed depth. Some BTS footage for ep. 10 convinced me that Kim was the most mature cast member – and I think it translated to Kaew. He was able to realize what he wants early on, express that, accept one rejection, survive another, curse Jom, mourn and move on – that is actual strength.
Latte and both of his characters are on the opposite side of the spectrum than JJ and Kim; as Jom Latte is wooden and stiff like a plank and switches to annoying and unfunny as Thee. It is worth noting that Jom is the only character who undergoes a significant development - as Nakun is more on a discovery journey, while Phop and Kaew remain unchanged; all three of them are aware of their inner strength and are wielding it to solve problems and combat adversities. Jom – at the start of the series – is very different: a closeted gay man afraid to come out, hiding behind pretense and excuses, even going into full denial. Latte had an opportunity to show Jom going from that to coming out, seizing the moment, overcoming his fear and going beyond that – and he wasted it. Jom has his character arc, but it is solely because of the writing – the performer added nothing to it. More than that: Jom remains bland and weirdly emotionless throughout the whole show because of how Latte portrayed him, reciting his lines like an automaton (which probably was meant to sound serious and mature).
As for other cast members, two deserve a brief mention: Nont – portraying an awful character in an interesting way – and Lookwa, who is always a delight to watch and listen to.
LUAT’s OST consist of seven tracks available through DMD Music, listed below in order of their release.
- "ภพเธอ" by FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, which is nothing special and gets a basic score of 2 stars in my ranking.
- "แค่เธอตรงนี้" (Still You) by JJ Radchapon Phornpinit, which is alright and gets 3 stars.
- "ฝากฝันชั่วกาล (Everlasting Dreams)" by "Ice" Saranyu Winaipanit – one of only two songs performed by an actual singer. It is rather good and I give it 3,5 stars.
- "คำคะนึง (Within)" by Net Siraphop Manithikhun – 2 stars and let’s forget about it.
- "ปักใจ (Still)" by NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong, which I disliked almost as badly as I dislike the performer; 1 star is all I’m willing to give.
- "ดั่งใจฝัน (daydream)" by "Bowkylion" Nitchapha Veersutthimas, easily the best part of the OST with great vocals and lyrics – it gets a whole galaxy of stars. Listen on repeat if possible.
- "ยอมรับหัวใจ (No More Hiding)" by "Kim" Pongsaton Sittipan – imperfect, but genuine (almost personal) and sensual; 3,5 stars.
A rather long OST for a show consisting of 12 episodes – which can mean various things. BTW: what was the point of having Lookwa in the cast, but giving the songs to NuNew or Net?
All in all – a good show and even better BL from a company that served disappointment after disappointment. Got to rewatch is asap.
LUAT’s plot and story successfully combine a fully developed BL plotline (including falling in love, having doubts about it, fighting for it regardless of adversities, overcoming all obstacles) with non-BL elements like a fantasy setting (complete with time travel, reincarnation and curses reaching across centuries), a fish-out-of-water main character, a mystery/crime story, but also comedy and family matters. This combination works very well for at least two reasons: the BL storyline is the most profound one and – deservedly – gets most of the attention while everything else, even solving a mystery from the past, serves the main storyline. Unlike with many Thai BLs the setting and story elements connected with it do not sideline nor overshadow the BL aspect of the series – they are supporting it. The series finds a healthy balance between its heavier, darker, more serious issues and its lighter, funnier moments. It is also helpful that the show does not take itself absolutely serious – it is, after all, a piece of entertainment. Also, to make it clear: LUAT is not a documentary about life during the Ayutthaya period and its goal is not historic accuracy.
While I have no issues with the script that are worth mentioning, nor with the show’s overall pacing (despite some initial doubts in this regard), both casting and performances are an entirely different matter.
JJ carried the show, with some help from Kim, Net and several seasoned cast members. Nakun seems like a role written for JJ, who seized this opportunity to show what he is capable of. Nakun is a multifaceted protagonist: relatable, funny, sassy, confident, but also hesitant, thoughtful and mature. The culmination of the series – at least for me – was the ep. 7 scene with Nakun and Phop confessing their feelings for each other. JJ is great in that scene, displaying actual range: starting reserved and hesitant, he lets his guard down for a moment, then becomes serious to finally admit defeat when emotions overcome him. When Nakun hugs Phop and begs him to forget about their love, there is so much emotion in that simple gesture – the way JJ moves and grabs Net is almost frantic, showing true desperation. It is a sad, heartbreaking scene, tense and emotionally charged – and it relies almost entirely on JJ, supported by Bowkylion’s vocals.
JJ’s Nakun reminded me of Punn Winnala from "Revamp" portrayed by Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong: someone hiding a secret, someone who is more than he appears, someone falling in love, but painfully aware that this love cannot last – and then realizing he should fight for this love regardless of everything. I like BL characters like that: strong, but also experienced and wise in their own way, aware of how unfair life is, yet longing for love they think is impossible – only to find out that it is achievable and standing firmly to defend it.
As for JJ’s screen partner, I was never fond of him, mainly due to the taint of "Bed Friend". Still, Net’s LUAT performance as Phop is at least serviceable – and, at times, better than that. Also, I like Phop – for his straightforwardness and honesty, and for standing his ground when faced with an ultimatum regarding him and Nakun. Thai (and Asian in general) BLs need more characters like that. JJ and Net have very good chemistry, which allows me to appreciate Net’s performance in LUAT even more.
Kim gave my second favorite performance of the series – making Kaew more than a shallow, token feminine male character. The writing is not overly generous to Kaew and Kim does a lot to give his character some badly needed depth. Some BTS footage for ep. 10 convinced me that Kim was the most mature cast member – and I think it translated to Kaew. He was able to realize what he wants early on, express that, accept one rejection, survive another, curse Jom, mourn and move on – that is actual strength.
Latte and both of his characters are on the opposite side of the spectrum than JJ and Kim; as Jom Latte is wooden and stiff like a plank and switches to annoying and unfunny as Thee. It is worth noting that Jom is the only character who undergoes a significant development - as Nakun is more on a discovery journey, while Phop and Kaew remain unchanged; all three of them are aware of their inner strength and are wielding it to solve problems and combat adversities. Jom – at the start of the series – is very different: a closeted gay man afraid to come out, hiding behind pretense and excuses, even going into full denial. Latte had an opportunity to show Jom going from that to coming out, seizing the moment, overcoming his fear and going beyond that – and he wasted it. Jom has his character arc, but it is solely because of the writing – the performer added nothing to it. More than that: Jom remains bland and weirdly emotionless throughout the whole show because of how Latte portrayed him, reciting his lines like an automaton (which probably was meant to sound serious and mature).
As for other cast members, two deserve a brief mention: Nont – portraying an awful character in an interesting way – and Lookwa, who is always a delight to watch and listen to.
LUAT’s OST consist of seven tracks available through DMD Music, listed below in order of their release.
- "ภพเธอ" by FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, which is nothing special and gets a basic score of 2 stars in my ranking.
- "แค่เธอตรงนี้" (Still You) by JJ Radchapon Phornpinit, which is alright and gets 3 stars.
- "ฝากฝันชั่วกาล (Everlasting Dreams)" by "Ice" Saranyu Winaipanit – one of only two songs performed by an actual singer. It is rather good and I give it 3,5 stars.
- "คำคะนึง (Within)" by Net Siraphop Manithikhun – 2 stars and let’s forget about it.
- "ปักใจ (Still)" by NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong, which I disliked almost as badly as I dislike the performer; 1 star is all I’m willing to give.
- "ดั่งใจฝัน (daydream)" by "Bowkylion" Nitchapha Veersutthimas, easily the best part of the OST with great vocals and lyrics – it gets a whole galaxy of stars. Listen on repeat if possible.
- "ยอมรับหัวใจ (No More Hiding)" by "Kim" Pongsaton Sittipan – imperfect, but genuine (almost personal) and sensual; 3,5 stars.
A rather long OST for a show consisting of 12 episodes – which can mean various things. BTW: what was the point of having Lookwa in the cast, but giving the songs to NuNew or Net?
All in all – a good show and even better BL from a company that served disappointment after disappointment. Got to rewatch is asap.
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