Still recommended

Both Korean and Thai series have issues, mainly viewers are expected to read the mute male lead's mind in both scripts. Writers in general in this version (Thai) kept that oppressive black-hole (silent-stoic male lead) of the original intact while not skimping on the lighter side stories to soften the main topic. Sadly, they did nullify a perfectly good outcome in favor of the Thai penchant for forgiveness. I seriously wanted to see those original scenes played out in full, with Pong's character as 'apathy's' target. But it wasn't meant to be.

Strictly as a lakorn and under its own production; "VIP" with its seasoned cast follows the original Korean story nearly line for line, while fulfilling that need for the dramatic that some Thai soap operas are well known for. Long awkward moments for emphasis, overly played dramatic music, split screen longing, a second female lead that will not stop crying, a male lead's stare instead of dialogue, and flashbacks a must. Closure going far beyond the original; tying up loose ends in a neat future bow. A life lessons script; that needed to be itself, but didn't quite make it. Loosing the original's final impact in the transition. I blame production. An average series, with a few too many episodes. Still recommended. Watch accordingly.

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Average series. Total 26 episodes.

What began as something fun, then whimsical, became a frustrating watch for some viewers - me included. The last third of the series a jumble in editing, with a story line that became confusing and commonplace. The first stumble for this series; was the writing.

As an example; adding a second female lead want-to-be [a.k.a. 2nd princess] the last seven episodes was a slap in the face of the characters that lived this story till then. Wasting screen-time on a superfluous character with no story history; that looks and dresses like the teenage female lead character from the beginning of the drama [A FL placeholder?]; whose appearance lasts right up and until the last 20 minutes of the official finale; was an annoyance that wasn't needed. It was the moment, the writer, abandoned their purpose.

There were so many loose ends, a continuing story, and characters that should have been fleshed out on screen instead. Sadly, the writer didn't appear to care [ie - the male lead becoming a misunderstanding-cliche], but ultimately production seemed to regret their choices. Culminating those editing and writing decisions, into giving watchers the last few minutes of an extra episode with the main couple on-screen together. An average series - With a frustrating story arc. Watch accordingly.

Note, Review based on 26 episodes count.

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Great ensemble cast. Recommended.

The Warp Effect is an over-the-top comedic teen series, that wanders into something else at episode four. What it plays with is the past, making memory and choices ridiculous. While finding ways for resolution and letting things go, later in life. Even Jean's story, didn't stumble. Because, it didn't ask her to forgive and didn't tell her she had to forget. It is her life, and how she lived it was going to be her choice and her resolution. That teaching moment was probably taken to heart by more than a few people watching this. It wasn't negated by a quick fix, or someone else's idea of how she should feel. So, much could happen in this story and dealing with most of the past was done in the present, and not in the final episode. I appreciated that.

It is what is endearing to this drama. If the watcher didn't get all the social clues, healthy moments, and tips that past decisions (or circumstances) are not set in stone defining us forever. Then the final episode tied it all up in a ribbon. Like everyone in this series, none were handed a happy ending. It's a shame we'll never see Alex's later life solution for that other memory, and though I think the final episode was a stumble for the storied resolutions that were accomplished. This is also a fantasy, and the teen audience needed the final touch - that sometimes you need to be cognizant of what you do in real time to make for a happy ending. And, other times you have to turn around and come to terms with it in your own head. Great ensemble cast. Recommended.

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An average drama, with a frustrating story-line.

Don't let that synopsis fool you - About as close as this gets to a female powerhouse is only as long as it takes for the female lead to toss away 8 years of free-will just by landing in Thailand. Because, the writer has abandoned the story they started, going for a well-traveled 18-episode road to the finale.

That opening sequence with the umbrella and note, a unicorn moment. Not even worth mentioning after a certain point. An average drama, that didn't deliver on most of it's original promises. That created frustrating characters; villains with no teeth; male lead with no backbone; side characters with no purpose; and family with far to many childish expectations. The story begins to meander from episode thirteen on, and just when you thought it may go full-on mystery reveal, it didn't. The final stumble, the female lead mom's secret - Proving the patriarch's words: women are to emotional, to lead. A final stray thought from a writer who wanted to do everything, and nothing, all at the same time. An average drama, with a frustrating story-line, that forgot it had purpose.

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Loved. Recommend.

"How to Be a Perfect Dad" is a comedy that begins with a little girl, and her non-custodial playboy father learning to become a dad, when the child's single mom is hospitalized. Maddeningly beautiful, and warmhearted. Frustrating, and saddening, even angering at times. All the emotions that such a story can invoke, the supernaturally-based "How to Be a Perfect Dad" does.

It is a family tale, with layers of ghostly hauntings and mysterious figures. The underlying currents of love, throughout, are worth it. A modern tale without baggage, and a production team confident in the story they were creating. Highly recommended.

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angering game - have fun

"Mia Luang 2022" is maddening right up until the end of episode eighteen - the last 2 episodes being the lakorn version of loose ends. If you need romance, this is not it, no amount of wanting it, will change that. Walk in with eyes wide open; this is a game and winning is on each messed- up character's terms. Where you are only a victim, if you allow yourself to be, and if you don't know you are playing, you lose by default. This would have been a solid ten, but for the last 2 episodes, and 8 is pushing it. But, a soap-opera that generates an angry following for all the right reasons - As if reason would change the game in any way. I feel sorry for Nudee, a positive ending without getting the man, would've given this story purpose. I still recommend it.

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Stay out of comments. Good writing, & a good play.

"Choice Husband" (2023) is a well-crafted production; with a good cast; and a writing team that wove a story that was as intricate in its subtlety, as it was devious in it's execution. By the time you realize you've been had, you're almost done and ready to pay for your ending.

Step into Peking Opera and the tale of The Grape Fairie, God of Fire, and God of Night. And, the many twists and turns of multiple Opera troupe's endings all from the minds of two writers in one drama "Choice Husband." A good premise, that I believe watchers needed to know sooner. Because, the production team appeared to take on too much, loosing them, and the story to repetition. An average play, with a-not-so average story-line. Recommended.

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Rape ignored - Script Writer's shame.

The story is oppressive in its execution, storyboard, and editing. It isn't a romance; it is a reaffirmation of the stereotyping of women and the financially disadvantaged of any gender in society. Meant as provocative entertainment, and not as social commentary. Note: Production missed that mark, too.

By episode six social stereotyping begins to irritate and becomes maddening because the story fails to acknowledge rape, assault, and kidnapping in a criminal way (Two of the main leads, are lawyers). Every gender is a target and women are getting the brunt of it. Men's brutality is portrayed as a given. While women are always jealous and the enemies of other females.

This repetitive; out-dated; poorly scripted; decades-old morality play has no purpose and no entertainment value. Even subject matter, couldn't keep the boredom away. The finale, a karmic joke. I blame the writer. I don't recommend it.

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advised trigger; teacher and student relationship

"Lesson in Love" could have delved a lot deeper into the backstory. The first six episodes set viewers up for a completely different tale, one that should have gone much darker than it did. One where a compromise of tag-principals, might have been warranted. The student and teacher relationship was still what it was, even without the manipulation of timed events. The implication was the same. Instead of playing with that tag, as later flashback reveals. If the writer had clarified those in advance, it would have made both leads' choices acceptable in the end. The writer did cover certain aspects of past facts; playing on similarities and comparisons to tie up loose ends. But, that liaison was an adult college student and a married professor, and not an underage teen. "Lesson in Love" falls short of what it needed to be to convince me the topic deserved to be covered. I would say an average watch that didn't deliver on its promises in the end.

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a community, and adorable couple

I think the writer wanted to play on certain audience misconceptions - real life judgment in a scripted environment. That made some people uncomfortable, some militant, and nulled some fans preconceived notions. Just because someone has played a gay person, or is a gay person in real life. Has mannerisms, or a job you believe are stereotypical, neither of which denotes character (or real life) sexual preference. But, just like the characters in this drama that misunderstood the male lead's orientation. All characters you are watching and their mannerisms are scripted, and not the actor that plays that part. That being said.

"You Are My Make Up Artist" is a romantic comedy series, with a main couple you could watch make cute faces at each other for an entire episode and it would be enough. But, even with that going for it, there are story issues. With a rocky beginning, and a writer that wanted to hit their audience over the head with teaching moments - known as misunderstandings. They had reasons; Highlighting the treatment of the LGBTQ community in Thailand. Drawing attention to the treatment of the vulnerable as second class citizens. While, emphasizing truth and forgiveness between individuals. And, if you can accept that, and a really adorable couple. With, an ending other dramas only dream of. I can recommend it.

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Mystery, crime, and romance not so much.

"The Kinnaree Conspiracy" has little romance - It is a crime investigation series that happens to have a low-key romantic triangle playing out in the background. The series is respectful to the customs of the time, and the underlying baggage of the characters involved. Bickering being the glue, that binds this investigative team. "The Kinnaree Conspiracy" does not skimp on seasoned support actors, nor the telling of a good mystery. The forest scenery, period costumes, and historical settings are a backdrop to good performances from the entire cast. If you are looking for a modern romance, this drama isn't it. If you are looking for a historical crime-series with dark underlying currents, then this might be for you. Highly recommended.

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If you watch this - watch to episode 35, then skip to the last ten minutes of the finale.

I always wonder about drastic changes in continuity, and since I will never know why. I will ask. Whose idea was it to add multiple bar-scenes to the last six episodes? But, what's even more noticeable; our bullet proof couple was hijacked by the powers-that-be; stripped of their armour; romantically dumbed-down; while the male lead was regulated to shadowy figure.

I blame production. Who took a good love story; then voided the previous 30 great episodes, visual ascetic (remember new bar scenes), and side characters in episode 33. To end on a break-up trope, complete with ex-girlfriend. I know what they wanted to convey, choice, but then they launched a misunderstanding loop in the last 5 episodes. Leaving unresolved side stories, while everyone that deserved karma, was given a walk.

"She and Her Perfect Husband" began as a good drama, that stumbled in the final dump of the last ten episodes into confusion, cliche, and nonsense. An average watch now, that should've ended sooner. Do I recommend it? Three-quaters of this drama I loved. If you are going to watch it, all I can suggest is watch to episode 35, and avoid the filler by skipping to the last ten minutes of the finale. It had such promise.

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Lovely - Highly rexommended.

Tags, be damned and watchers drawn for whatever reason. However you got here - It is all good. This series was brilliance in, and of itself. The story was well written, the actors up to the task. And all, without demonizing the characters, with that typical Victorian mindset, and ending that is used far to often.

"To Sir, With Love "could have gone the way of so many of these Thai stories, but the production respected modern watchers. Giving us a historical reality, in the guise of a world we could navigate unscathed, and still mindful of content. The story of a family, a culture - Where the beginnings of change are better seen in hindsight. A story where viewers, become privy to a character's personal experience and can relate. Where, the writer understood true romance, and didn't try to take the easy way out. Highly, recommended.

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It isn't the cast change; it is the script.

I don't recommend season two - Go out on the finale from season one. By the time you get done with this, the questions you had at the end of season one will be unanswered, and that other dramatic finale will be the only thing you remember from this series. Because from this moment on, this story changes, and becomes an unrecognizable repetitive loop not vested in the original adventure except in title only. It isn't the cast change; it is production without continuity.

Season one's characters are regulated to little screen time, if they show up at all. Even, the effects, and choreographed action season-one was loved for, are absent from the screen. The main couple disappear into a cart for 75% of the episodes. I personally think the director just wanted to showcase the character Ye Hong Yu in this season - Pretty visuals, with no invested substance; filler. While, Sang Sang and Ning Que, the female and male leads, became secondary characters by omission.

Where, in the previous season the leads were the highlight of an intricate couple's tale (Sang Sang and Ning Que) of fantasy, revenge, and mystery. I blame production, that took the lively couple, and split them into a triangle, that was as devoid of color as they could paint it. With repetitive scenes, and dialog that sucked life out of a dynamic tale-of-adventure we came to know in season one. It was a waste of time, a waste of talent in 42 more episodes of what should have been amazing. I can't recommend it, not even for closure.

(Watched as aired.)

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Brutally horrible drama ahead.

The salacious nature of the bondage plot-line is supposed to be the titillation to draw watchers into this drama. Unfortunately, it was just another cringe-trending moment, to mask a really badly produced drama. There should be hate, joy, love, and lust among the mains triangle, but, with no chemistry to speak of between all three mains. The characters couldn't rub a real feeling moment between them if they'd tried.

Everything, was flat, even the side characters appear to have no lasting purpose. The editing was off; the story was all-over-the-place; the characters made no sense; leads had no chemistry; so brutally horrible I stayed for the bad-drama cult-film aspect. Will I recommend it to the rest of you? Certainly, not. If you proceed under the guise of 'bad cinema' - Deities help you.

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