Never Let Me Go

I loved it!!

Gorgeous men, fantastic scenery, great music, interesting plot with a lot of surprises. Ok, ok, ok, I know it wasn't Shakespeare. It isn't supposed to be. To those who compared it to a soap opera; what's wrong with that? That is what BL stories are. They are light entertainment. And this series delivers! From a technical point of view, it has all of the great qualities of a Thai BL that we all love down to the perfect costuming. It also has all of the disappointing features of every BL series; too many loooong loving stares, too many looong teasing conversations, too often looong plot development. But once again, those qualities are found in every series in this genre.
My single complaint is the lack of any development of the relationship of the secondary characters. I have been a fan of Chimon since his performance in "Sweet Boy". I've enjoyed watching his acting skill grow. The same is true for Perth since "Love By Chance". Two actors with their experience and skills deserved more face time and expanding their characters would have added depth to the story line.
In summary, not a perfect piece, but a darn good one and well worth watching.

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THIS IS MY FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER WRITTEN A REVIEW , I HAD TO

FIRST AND FOREMOST, i got into NLMG late 2023 bc i have stopped watching thai bl for awhile bc of the same cliche plots and over the top scenes. i came back to the bl scene especially thai with kinnporsche and i didn’t t pick it up for awhile after that too.
ill stop rambling on lol, i first saw NLMG on viki and watched it without even looking up reviews ( am glad i did) , alot of other places had alot of positive things than here , which is why i need to defend my show 😂 .
i loved the plot of this show , it was similar to kinnporsche with the bodyguard scene but it was a different kinda of light than kinnporsche. Alot of people are pissed about the plot holes , i was but at the end of the day which thai serie has no plot holes. i dont know for alot of people but for me if a show has a good storyline and amazing chemistry between the leads( fell in love with pondphuwin here) , ill enjoy it bc at the end of the day this is a show not reality and u can never put every detail in shows.
the other point is ep 12 when palm disappears , i know that no one wants a conflict at the final but i feel like this has to be done , my theory is that we have seen couple of times that palm didnt have any goals of his and his only purpose was to protect nueng and he couldnt do that if he was the one who has to depend on nueng nw, he felt that he was a burden. the other thing is , if the alternative ending was , that palm goes to stay with nueng at the house and they graduate and yadadda happy, in my opinion that would have not been ideal for palm bc he doesnt have to protect nueng anymore bc there is no threat to them anymore , what would his purpose be , so i liked that he went to rebuild his moms bar and they had time apart for both of them to close lose ends nueng with the company and palm with the bar.
wooow thats long 😂 , in conclusion this show was my favourite show i watched 2023 , it has the burning chemistry , perthchimon were good here too, the music , the cinematography and storyline was amazing , it so criminally underrated even though kinnporsche with the most plot holes did well( no shade). i feel if u come here and thinking of watching this show ignore the negative reviews and give it a chance , u might like it or not , judge it for yourself.
thx ☺️

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Went beyond my expectations

The plot is quite cliche but I like how there are very few plotholes, which is quite rare in Thai series as most Thai series has ending that looses the plot. But NLMG is very well written and well scripted. None of the scenes felt like it was not required or exaggerated. It's a show quite comfortable to watch without cringe scenes. I liked how even the jealousy scenes are showcased in a great way. The plot twists were predictable but what really threw me off was Palm's mother's death. I did cry when Palm left the letter for Neung. That was also unexpected. The emotions of each characters are portrayed well and totally valid. I love the color grading of the drama. It's so aesthetic. Phuwin is a great actor. Pond has improved so much. Overall it was a great drama.

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You have to watch it yourself in order to value it

When i read the reviews i almost dropped it without even giving it a try...but boy was i wrong.
I can understand some of points discussed in the reviews and i can totally agree that the production took themselves a lil bit too seriously with the plot, i can also relate to the let down from watching the trailer, i was given the impression that this will be a mature type of relationship but AGAIN it's a teenage love drama.
But i can also say, i very muched enjoyed watching it, the chemistry between the leads is amazing, the second couple also is very cute, the soundtrack and locations on this was one of my favourites.
Now the donwside of this : the plot got too many holes, the fact that two teenagers can take over a mafia is kindaaa lame and overdone, too much blood shed for nothing, they could have stopped at the death of one parent, there was a lack of facial expressions when it came to sadness/anger, the character chopper needs some justice and also the lack of scars from all the battles and bullets not to forget the stupid ads ....

It's fun to watch and relax to, just do not expect something major and just because it's mafia related doesn't mean you need to compare it to kinnposrche.

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This was almost a 9/10

Contrary to the title, towards the end they leave each other a lot?! Like why do they fight so much to be together and keep leaving each other notes that they are leaving? 😂 The third act breakup was just too much and ruined the last episode for me. The couple had JUST broken up and gotten back together so why do it all over again?! They could've focused on the justice and a nice epilogue of the boys with their own hostel. Instead it was all about them breaking up and getting back together AGAIN bc despite their many conversations they keep insisting they're a burden to the other and uno reverse break up before they FINALLY get back together for good.

Last episode aside, this series is amazing. It's entertaining, emotional, and fresh to me. The acting was so well done, you couldn't stop the tears from running from my eyes!

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Tem séries que a gente assiste. Essa a gente sente.

Never Let Me Go começa parecendo só um romance em uma situação perigosa, mas aos poucos dá pra perceber que ela quer falar de outra coisa. Não é só sobre gostar de alguém, é sobre o medo de machucar quem você mais ama.

O que mais me marcou foi a ideia de “ser um fardo”.
Em vários momentos não existe medo de não ser amado, existe medo de ser importante demais. Cada gesto de carinho vem junto com cuidado, culpa ou hesitação. O amor não nasce leve ali, ele nasce responsável.

A história alterna conforto e perda o tempo inteiro. Tem cenas muito delicadas, quase cotidianas, que fazem você respirar... e logo depois vem silêncio, distância e aquela sensação de que ninguém falou tudo o que precisava. A série entende que o que mais dói não é o conflito, é quando duas pessoas se importam tanto que começam a decidir pelo outro.

Por isso os momentos mais fortes não são acontecimentos grandiosos. São olhares demorados, conversas pela metade, despedidas que parecem proteção disfarçada. Dá pra sentir o quanto eles querem ficar e ao mesmo tempo acreditam que talvez não devam.

Com o tempo o sentimento amadurece.
No começo parece dependência. Depois vira sacrifício. Só mais tarde vira escolha. E quando chega aí o impacto é maior do que qualquer reviravolta, porque não é sobre tudo ficar fácil, é sobre finalmente ficar honesto.

Não é uma série que te deixa feliz o tempo inteiro. Ela te deixa envolvido, apreensivo, às vezes frustrado e estranhamente acolhido. Fala sobre aprender que amar alguém não é decidir a vida dele nem desaparecer por ele, é permanecer quando os dois podem escolher.

Vale a pena se você gosta de romances intensos e emocionais. Não é leve, mas é muito sensível e fica com você depois que acaba.

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Wish I could give a 7.8 in this website

First of all: I wanna congratulate Pond and Phuwin for this. They were STUNNING. I've never seen they look so good and act so well. Second of all: I gave it an 8 only because it wasn't a 7.5, but for me it's not an 8 either. Here's why: this show was well produced and it was beautiful to watch. The story was interesting and the main couple had me dying with their love. But there was so much unnecessary plots, like so many times they would fight, hit or abandon each other for "protection" but it would just be way better if they sticked and fought together against the bad guys. Maybe a lot of things would have been avoided. The fact that Palm had a fucking tattoo of Neung Diao's name and named the bar after him but he just went to live there alone and never contacted him even after everything was resolved... I don't know. There were some gaps here and there that got me thinking. (I'm not gonna say anything about the secondary couple, I'll just say I don't like Ben.) ALSO there was a plot hole about the mom because she was shot in the spine and then at the end she appears WALKING NORMALLY.

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Delivered what's expected

I started watching without minding what the rating says. i usually skip series with low ratings but I made an exception for this one since I want to watch more series that has chimon on the cast. Watching this was fun, I was never bored in any of the episodes. But it's quite predictable like most series, and it doesn't make the series any less. Gave this one a high rating cause it's hard to find bl series that satisfies me. The acting can still be improved but I must say, they did good but still far from perfect. The color grading and cinematic feels so calm while watching. I like the ost as well.

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Better than I thought from reading the comments and reviews here

Just finished it after being put off by the negative comments surrounding it - I only really watched it because my friend (who knows nothing about Thai shows) just randomly picked this one out of a list of things to watch (I'd randomly put this on the list with no intention of actually watching) ; and having finished it, I'm glad they did.



TL;DR: Don't let negative comments stop you from watching this: It may not be for everyone but it could be for you. The chemistry is great, the story is like that of a classic lakorn containing business and family rivalry chock filled with romance and messy interpersonal dynamics stuffed with the occasional 1/4 episode of modern GMMTV romantic cheese, the cinematography is worth the watch even if you don't like the story, and the soundtrack is great [even if there are some moments where they play Christmas music at really weird timings (like 3 at most)] . It's worth the watch, and I can guarantee it will subvert at least one, if not many of your expectations for a show like this. Whatever plot you think they're pulling, I can guarantee you won't guess them all. It's a solid 8-8.5/10. You won't even realise the show is over until it is, it's that addictive.



Story:
Honestly, I was gripped. Yes, it was a bunch of teenagers acting like adults, but it honestly didn't matter too much to me. It felt like they were just kids forced into shitty situations by their heritage and their parents, and I didn't mind the cheesy typical modern GMMTV vibes it had interspersed with the intense lakorn-style drama. It was a breath of fresh air in what was otherwise a dramatic romp. The action was pretty well scripted, and the show was tense when it needed to be. A bit cliché at times, and it was a little predictable at moments, but it was made up for by the execution of it all. And hey, who ever said a bit of cliché was a bad thing? They're clichés because they work. Additionally, there were some scripted moments that weren't perfect, but if you don't think too much it's not enough to ruin the watching experience. The story was engaging enough for me to lose track of time completely and binge it all the way to the end in 2 sittings, with a break for lunch. Once you're into it, the story is an absorbing watch, even if it isn't the best in the world.




Acting and characterisation:
Holy cow has the chemistry between the leads improved since FUTS: that show wasn't anything special to me and I didn't really connect with the chemistry there, but here, that chemistry was as thiccc as a trifle with a set custard and mud cake, I felt like it was actually able to be cut with a knife - that was great. And the side characters were so good. It made the show feel more real, their motivations were complex, and there were some characters where I just couldn't tell what their deal was from the beginning. I enjoyed the portrayal of pretty much everyone. Phuwin's character felt like a kid who got thrown into the deep end of a shady goings-on, because that's what he was. Pond's character felt like a pining kid who got thrown into the same situation but from the opposite perspective, because that's what he was. Perth's character -- well I'm not giving any more spoilers beyond the basic premise of the show, but let's just say the acting was great. (except for some of the crying here and there but what can you do -- anyways that's only enough to knock off a single point from my acting rating.)



Romance:
IDK what people say, I think it felt pretty nice and natural to watch - flawed characters making stupid decisions, an imbalanced power dynamic that slowly becomes more and more blurry, and dissolving when the romance really starts to kick off. It's also refreshing in some senses that will make more sense if you watch the show, but I really like how they handled Ben's arc with romance.



Music and soundtrack:
Just. Listen to it. It's perfect.

Mostly.

Just ignore the Christmas music. It only happens like 3 times I promise. (it's kind of subtle too so don't worry about it becoming an annoying thing)



Cinematography and editing:
I have multiple message exchanges with my friends gushing over how pretty the lighting is. That should explain enough.

But seriously, so many of the camera choices made were really great, and props to the editor - the music and the scene really did match well (even during the overly dramatic bits). I only wish THAT beach scene was a bit longer to allow for the emotional damage to sink in, and there was like one or two scenes where I noticed the audio act funny, but honestly those are my only complaints.



Rewatch Value:

Honestly I won't be rewatching it soon on my own, but if I make friend watch it (like a 6/10 chance) I probably will.



Overall:
Watch it and judge for yourself. This show isn't perfect by any means, and the quality isn't on par with Bad Buddy or Not Me, but it isn't that far behind. It's dramatic, there are wholesome moments, and the characters feel like actual 3-dimensional people with real motivations. If you enjoy the drama, if you enjoy cinematography, or if you like the actors, just watch it.



Peace.

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More Like, Always Let Me Go

If I had a nickel for every time these two lead broke up and got back together in the name of love… I’d own a goddamn bank! We get it, you are in love, with a hero complex. Enough already!

Listen, based on the rating of some of the reviews here, I didn’t want to waste my time with this drama, cuz I thought it was going to be worse than that one drama where the lead was secretly collecting the rubbish of the male lead. But then I wanted to procrastinate instead of doing the dishes, and decided to put this on. And, I was presently surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Really, it was a good one. Which makes me wonder if PondPhuwin had been progressing backwards?

What happened to them? I felt none of the vibe I felt with them in this drama while watching We Are. Shouldn’t their chemistry had been better with time or… I’m glad I decided to watch this drama so I could see them at their peak.

My first drama with them was We Are, and that series was not it. Their acting was nothing, and their chemistry was on the floor. Really, I have nothing good to say about my first impression of them, unless to say, at one point I seriously thought they were afraid of each other’s lips. But this show was good. Sure it was messy, but they had a plot and they followed it, and I liked the general vibe between the two leads.

What I liked
- The Music in this was epic!!
- I actually liked PondPhuwin’s chemistry in this. Their acting could use work, but I was okay with how they each played their roles.
- Those hawaii shirts made me laugh. Each time, I was like, why? not sure if I liked it or not, but I laughed so…
- I repeat the music in this show was amazing!!
- The special our sky 2 episodes, don’t care what no one says, I enjoyed it.
- The plot was flawed, I'm sure it had as many holes as a basket, but even with all it’s flaws, I liked it.
- Chopper
- How Palm didn't seem to have any ill-wishes towards his mother. He went straight to calling her 'Mother'. He's better than me, cuz my grudge holding arse would have straight up went, 'Ma'am and/or Auntie.'

What had me going huh?
- Constantly leaving each other to protect the other. We get it, you love the other so much, now stop it, it’s getting old.
- When Nueng talk down to Palm and then we are suppose to forgive him because somehow it was justify. That scene at the dance party made me wanna shake him.
- How Nueng never have any bodyguards with him? Sure, there was Palm, but even when Palm wasn’t around, dude was doing stuff alone. Like, child, peoples are trying to kill your arse!
- The Uncle being sooo obvious as the villain. Literally, his expression was bad guy coded, and at one point he was even walking side ways with a villain tilt of his head. Also, how people in movies/series never notice when someone acting suspicious??
- Palm’s father: Telling his son to give up his life and future for a debt his bum arse owned, was rubbish. Also, why did Nueng’s mother think the guy who worked on a fishing boat would be a good bodyguard? cuz he played basketball?
- Palm’s mother not even knowing what he looked like was wild. Poor boy.
- No matter how I tried, I could not vibe with Ben… don’t know why, he didn’t even do anything that awful.

Anyway, there were a lot more I liked and some things I didn’t, but imma leave it here. If you haven’t watched this show, and some of the reviews are throwing you off, ignore them, this drama isn’t perfect, it has it flaws, but I enjoyed it a lot, so I’ll recommend it.

I hope we’d get more dramas like this from Pond & Phuwin in the future.

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