Never Let Me Go

what was this

The truth is that when I saw the trailer it caught my attention. It seemed like an interesting story. Too bad it was totally wasted due to the lousy script and lack of development it had.

The "secondary couple" reason why I kept watching this series barely had a few minutes on the screen and their story was finished in the last chapter in a rushed way which felt very forced.

The adult characters were conspicuous by their absence, the protagonist's mother was injured and disappeared from the series, Palm's father also disappeared and the villain...they remembered that in the penultimate chapter

And the performances, the adults are fine, chopper and ben I think they did well, I can't judge them too much because they barely have a few scenes, now the protagonists, the boy who plays nuengdiao I think he has improved since Fish Upon the Sky although he must work In their expressions that are a bit strange and the crying scenes, no way, now pond that boy seem like he was only reading the script, he can't feel anything when I see him act.

To end this review, I tell you that it seemed like a series with a story that had potential but was totally wasted, 12 chapters in which nothing interesting happens because they left that for the last chapter.

My score is a 5 only because of the beautiful cinematography it had

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Disappointing But Eye Candy

LIKES:
Beautiful ocations, especially island moments.
Cinematography and sets were good.
Lighting was okay for the most part.
Wardrobe was modern and tasteful. The male leads were handsome in suits. Tasteful jewelry.
FX were okay; gun shot wounds looked somewhat realistic.
Ost was okay.
Good eye candy (beach scenes).
Chopper and Ben were cute.
Acting for Phuwin as Nuengdiao was okay and same with Perth as Chopper.

DISLIKES:
Production:
Shaky camera syndrome due to not using film stabilizer.
Zooming in way too close; no one wants to see the caked makeup or their pores or nose hairs.
Pacing issues, especially with rushed ending.
Music sometimes overpowered what was being said.
Background noises were overly loud too.
Editing:
Flashbacks in episode 11 were over done and too long.
Acting:
The adult acting was over the top for all of them, but especially for Palm's father and Nueng's uncle Kit.
Pond as Palm had friend chemistry but never as a lover. He was not good at showing emotion and felt very stiff. He needs more acting lessons or to be placed in a different role.
Directing:
Little to no emotion or time given for the actors to react to some of the climatic moments.
Pond 's kisses; he looks like he's eating Phuwin's face, which is not sexy.
Delayed reactions that were almost ridiculous.
FX:
Bruising from fighting looked very amateurish and disappeared too quickly.
Writing (see under overall, as it has spoilers).

OVERALL:
Some parts were boring and just the usual trope. Important moments for the MLs to show their emotions were rushed or non-existant. Conclusion was very rushed in all aspects. This started with potential and went down hill. Watch for the eye candy, don't use your brain and have no expectations, then it's good. I won't rewatch any of this, not even some parts. I recommend it for anyone just starting out in BL genre, but barely.




******[SPOILER ALERT]******
DISLIKE:
Writing:
Like everyone else's reviews I agree way too many plot holes.
Lots of stupid moments: Nueng's father is killed and the mother doesn't get better security?
With all the shooting going on and how wealthy Nueng's family is, why don't the bodyguards have bulletproof vests?
After Palm and Nueng make out, why when they are alone is Palm calling Nueng Mister? It makes their relationship cringy.
Palm and Nueng share a bath, but Neung is very noticabley in his underwear?
Chopper and Ben needed more time for their relationship, even their conclusion was very lack luster.
The way Palm and Nueng's relationship develops it seems more one sided with Nueng being more invested in their love.

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Can't Get Into It

It's been about a month since the series ended and I still can't get myself to watch the last two episodes, and I think I'm done trying. I really sat my ass through this series because I really do hate dropping, but also forcing myself to watch something I don't like rather than to sit and watch something I do like is torture to myself. Never Let Me Go fails in a lot of spots for me, except for how gorgeous these actors are.

Let's Dive In.

One reason that the series was so hard for me to get into was that the initial plot just doesn't make sense. Why hire a fisherman who's amateur at being a bodyguard to protect a highly important person? Especially after the fisherman's father failed to protect the important boy's dad? Just why? I think this would've worked out better had Palm just been on a scholarship to attend the same school as Nuengdiao and they became friends to then become lovers. Maybe then I could've finished this. But I can't because nothing about this situation adds up. Either that or Palm should've been an older gentleman who was a bodyguard in his past coming back into the job to help out his dad.

I've said this in FUTS, and I'm saying it here too: something about Pond's acting never settles right with me. I will say he was at least slightly better here than in FUTS, but I can never believe his acting. It sounds like he's reading the lines off the paper instead of acting them. Someone on Reddit said his acting reminds them of a last-minute put-together high school play and I couldn't have said it better myself. And I'll probably get crap for this too, but for some reason, I can't play into Pond's chemistry with Phuwin. It's just not there, at all. They do being physical very well, but besides that, I don't feel the chemistry between them in their acting. Pond gives off "I'm straight" vibes like crazy, and while I'm not trying to assume his sexuality or anything, that's just how it comes off.

I would've stayed for Chimon and Perth, cause I was decently enjoying their side story, but it's still not enough. I'll just wait to see them in their series once it airs. The fighting sequences made me squeal with laughter, because what in the everloving fuck was that. The make-up department at least did the bruising and cuts well.

Ratings;

Story: 5/10 - Chimon and Perth's story is entertaining. Some parts of Neungdiao's story is intriguing (like his uncle trying to kill him), but I can't get over that his mother thought it was a good idea to hire a fisherman with no bodyguard experience to protect her highly targeted child, which is why this series will never do it for me. I think they even teased it in one episode, which I'm glad they acknowledged that it was dumb, but still.

Acting: 7.5/10 - I'm mostly giving this score to Perth, Chimon, and Phuwin. I think there are some parts Phuwin lacked a bit for me, but it still wasn't bad. Pond's acting is once again, mediocre if not worse than that.

Music: 5/10 - Didn't pay attention to it. So it wasn't distracting. Good.

Recommendation value: 4/10 - As I said, it might've just been me that felt this way, but there are much better stories out there to watch than this one.

Just a little bit of a rant, but I don't think Pond and Phuwin were the right pair for this series in general. I think having switched up some important plot points would've made it better, but in order to have made this series as good as it could've been with just the original story, they should've found a pairing that was older, or at least a person a lot older to play Palm's role. Someone like Joss or Earth or White or Pod or Gawin or Tul (even though he's not with GMMTV, just trying to throw out some actors that would've done this role well), anyone who seems a lot more mature than Pond was able to portray. Phuwin is fine in Nuengdiao's role, but I'm thinking Khaotung or Pawin, someone who might've been able to handle a more dramatic role.

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It's not just bad, it's REALLY bad :)

It's like... the worst thing that I watched this year. The plot is kinda interesting, I don't like this trope at all, but it's interesting. The problem's that the execution was HORRIBLE.

It has 12 episodes, and in the five episode you already know who's the villain and what will happen, and after that, it's so tiring. I watched without any expectations, but I was surprised... because it's worse than everything that I could expect. The screenwriting it's horrible, the scenes was boring, and their conversations don't make sense. The character's actions didn't make sense at all too, because they "loved each other so much" but they break their promises so many times and didn't really fight to be together at all. It was so weird.

And about the acting, oh my god, they are horrible. I love Pond (Palm) and Phuwin (Nuengdiao), but as a person, because they are really, really bad actors, as I said, they work in Fish Upon The Sky bcs FUTS is camp and funny, but in a serious story like NLMG, it looks so... bad. The dramatic scenes were so cold and oh my god, Phuwin crying was so bad, can't believe that anyone buys it. Pond was better, but still very much unemotional, faceless.

The only good thing was the OST, at least Phuwin is really good at singing. Believe me, I like him, I'm his fan! But I can't stand how bad he is at acting, I'm very sorry.

Watching was torture for me, I hate it so much. The plot, everything, it's badly written and badly executed. Now I understand why GMM doesn't promote NLMG at all, if it was me I would do the same, LOL.

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My Roman Empire

For a series I binged watched, it is amazing. My first lakorn was Love in the Air and I thought nothing could top it, but now, I think this series may have changed my mind. The scenes when Nuengdiao and Palm are together alone made me feel like I was walking into something. Their scenes and emotions felt so real to the point it was uncomfortable. The way they looked at eachother were saying whole speeches without speaking a word. They went through so much together and I love the way they would do anything to protect each other. One thing I didn’t like about this series is the soundtrack and the way they kept running away from eachother, but all in all this series is amazing. Eventhough it is up to preference, this series is definitely worth every second.

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Your happiness is being with you. You are my life.

Honestly, I was hesitant to watch Never Let Me Go because of the numerous negative reviews but I am glad I chose to ignore them.

My person opinion, maybe we should just enjoy watching series/dramas/ movies and take them with an open mind instead of dwelling with why did they do this and not that, how is that not explained, where did that person gone to, why does the plot makes not sense... etc, etc. My question is, why do you want to tear your hairs out trying to make sense of things that do not make sense to you? My answer is very simple... you cannot change anything. So why not just sit back, relax and enjoy the show as it is?

If we look at the positive side of the series, Never Let Me Go is a meaningful and endearing story between a boy from a fishing village and an heir to a hotel empire. It showed the process of both young men going through adversity towards adulthood and finding love for each other along the way.

It is indeed heartwarming and you will enjoy the chemistry between Pond and Phuwin. Take for instance the gentle, tender and loving gaze Palm (Pond) had while looking at Nueng (Phuwin) playing the piano at the Dance Club. You can practically feel the love oozing out from Palm (Pond). They are so comfortable with each other that you would think they are a couple in real life. Their acting have matured tremendously since their Fish Upon the Sky days.

You wouldn't want to miss the 2 theme songs sang by Pond and Phuwin especially Only One by Pond. They are awesome! Pond has an incredible voice.

The cinematography was great. They were able to capture those beautiful moments which made your heart skip a few beats. You can only sigh and smile while rooting for the 2 boys.

I would definitely recommend you to watch it if you have not done so. Don't wait...watch it now.

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<3

This series shows a beautiful, powerful story between two men and is one of my most favorite BL's and will probably always stay this way.

for example, you can tell that the actors were passionate to make this story one that you would always remember. Pond and Phuwin's acting was spectacular, and it felt as if they were happy to be in this series.

another example was the story, which had a great plot and overall created suspense for what was going to happen whenever the scene changed.

Overall, this Series is one of my favorites, and the story of Neungdiao and Palm will forever stay in my heart.

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Much ado about nothing

Yeah, this was disappointing, and I might've lost a few brain cells in the process. The so-called plot was way too convoluted and more often than not downright stupid, and I probably would've dropped the series in its sudden honeymoon phase if not for a super entertaining group watch. But before I go on a long rant, here are some things I actually liked:

Nat as the usurping uncle. He nailed every scene he was in. No complaint there, even though his character made some dumbass decisions.

Perth and Chimon as the secondary couple, I guess? They were criminally underdeveloped and had barely any (shared) screen time, but they made the series bearable at least. They both deserved so much better.

That's it. Now on to the problems:

The writing is a complete train wreck. The entire plot hinges on a premise that screams “KinnPorsche in kindergarten” (or high school, I guess) and it could've been so entertaining. A billionaire heir who ends up with the most unlikely candidate as a bodyguard because everyone and their mother is trying to kill him for his money? And they're just trying to survive high school? Sounds campy and amazing, sign me up!

Sadly, that's not how Never Let Me Go turned out, because the series ended up taking itself way too serious. It tried to tell this super serious story about the problems of the elite few while also trying to include the struggle of the less fortunate, and it ended up being a forgettable mess. In fact, how Nueng constantly talked down to Palm was quite infuriating after a while, because the series never addressed how shitty and spoiled its little prince was behaving. Instead, it tried to hammer in how devoted and loyal Palm was, even though Nueng did NOTHING for him. Except throwing his money around, of course. Got to make up for treating Palm like a subhuman somehow, am I right? And they say romance is dead, urgh.

I think, they originally aimed for an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers kind of dynamic between a spoiled teen billionaire and his dirt-poor bodyguard, which – again – could've been interesting. But then there were other “love interests” (more like plot devices) and in the end their relationship jumped from one textbook-BL-stage to the next because stuff happened. I can't even give you a proper recap, because there was no suspense curve. Stuff happened, was resolved after five minutes tops, and then the episode ended. Nothing except the main conflict carried over to the next episode, and for some episodes our “charming” main couple noped the fuck out of that by fleeing (and staying) at a beach resort. After Nueng's mother was gunned down, I might add. But sure, take your time. Good thing the main plot just conveniently takes a break while they're away being in a relationship that came out of nowhere. A relationship they both end on more than one occasion for the stupidest reasons. So yeah, not feeling it. Sorry not sorry. But maybe don't get your boyfriend's name tattooed after three days. Seems like a bad idea, especially after watching this mess of a series.

But what made the series near unbearable for me was the nonexistent story arc. It started as a high school show, then they were on vacation for several (!) episodes, and then they went back trying to be a convoluted pseudo-thriller for the last two episodes. Where's the connection? Beats me, but if I have to see another pointless beach episode ever again, I'm going to lose it. Seriously, so much stupid “plot twists” happen, I can barely recount all of them, but here are some of my personal highlights:

Ben and Nueng have more screen time than Ben and Chopper, and they even share a kiss. It's a plot device, because although Nueng is already getting bullied, we have to add some homophobia to the plot. Dead parents and bullying wasn't bad enough, I guess. Why sacrifice the actually compelling secondary couple to a cheap-ass plot device, though? The series wasted so much time on a relationship that was doomed to fail that Ben and Chopper barely got any development, but in the end they get together either way. Good for them, but why not dedicate some time to two actually decent actors? The deserved better.

Maggie, Palm's “love interest”, shows up at the beach resort one day. Why? Beats me, she's just another device for some subplot that doesn't even matter. And it's always good to add some jealousy to the mix, am I right? Because why waste precious time on actual attraction between two characters. Maggie also deserved better, by the way.

Both mothers essentially got fridged, and I hated that. Especially at the end, when Nueng (?) had the audacity to insinuate that Palm's mother sacrificed herself for their happiness. No, shut the fuck up! That's not what happened, and there's nothing romantic about that. Oh my god, I'm still so mad about it.

Also, the last two episodes desperately tried to make up for all the time they wasted at the beach resort. Palm's dad went to prison because Nueng's uncle framed him, and now Palm has no one left? No worries, Nueng simply buys his freedom, because apparently that's how justice works. Nueng has some scores to settle? No worries, he just grabs some bodyguards (not Palm though, because he left him behind in the middle of nowhere after DRUGGING him – and they say romance is dead²) and slow-walks up to his uncle and his bullies. Turns out his uncle isn't as easily intimidated as a bunch of high school bullies, so he retaliates with the most evil and original plan ever: Use Palm to pressure Nueng into signing the company over to him. In a truly hilarious scene, a lot of people get shot (sadly not Nueng) and then Chopper saves the day. Nueng could've apologized or thanked him at this point, but he doesn't. And why would he? The crown prince of main character syndrome country hasn't done anything wrong. Urgh.

Anyway, to wrap this overly long review up: Never Let Me Go is a convoluted mess and the lead characters aren't able to safe their sinking ship. So if anyone needs me, I’ll be over there, waiting for Dangerous Romance to hopefully give Perth and Chimon the spotlight they deserve.

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Never Let Me Go - A Captivating Tale with Stellar Performances

"Never Let Me Go" is a series that truly captures the essence of compelling storytelling and showcases some remarkable acting talent. As a viewer, I was thoroughly impressed by the overall execution and the emotional depth it brought to the screen.

First and foremost, Pond's performance was nothing short of excellent. His portrayal of his character was nuanced and believable, effortlessly drawing the audience into the narrative. Pond's ability to convey a range of emotions with authenticity added significant weight to the story, making his scenes truly stand out.

The storyline of "Never Let Me Go" is another highlight. It is well-crafted, engaging, and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. The plot is filled with intriguing twists and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply. The narrative flow is smooth, making it easy to follow and invest in the characters' journeys.

The chemistry between Pond and Phuwin is off the charts. Their on-screen relationship is palpable, and their interactions are natural and heartfelt. The dynamic between them adds an extra layer of depth to the series, making their scenes together incredibly compelling and enjoyable to watch.

However, despite these strengths, there is one aspect that fell a bit short for me: Phuwin's acting. While his cute face and charming presence are undeniable, his performance sometimes lacked the depth and consistency needed to match Pond's. There were moments where it felt like Pond had to carry the emotional weight of their scenes. Phuwin's acting, though endearing, could benefit from further improvement to fully realize his character's potential and match the series' overall high standard.

In conclusion, "Never Let Me Go" is a captivating series that excels in many areas. Pond's outstanding acting, the well-developed story, and the incredible chemistry between Pond and Phuwin make it a must-watch. Despite the need for some improvement in Phuwin's acting, the series remains a highly enjoyable and emotionally engaging experience.

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The romance saved the series for me

I finished the series in the span of 3 days. While the plot was very disappointing, the romance was what kept me watching until the very end. The love story between the two main characters also takes up the majority of the series, way more than the plot, so I believe it's enough to make the rating higher overall.

Starting from the plot: it's definitely the weakest part of the series. It's supposed to be about the son of a mafia boss, but to be honest I kept forgetting about it - the characters only seemed a bunch of rich people who use guns from time to time. It's never clear what are Nuengdiao or Palm's feelings about this "business" either, whether they don't believe it's a big deal or they're just convinced that they're "the good mafia". Another reason why it was hard to keep in mind the "mafia" aspect of the story was the complete lack of organization and proper use of resources in the group: where are the bodyguards? Where are the security systems? This sloppy depiction and lack of care for the theme forced me to suspend my disbelief in front of several situations.
The plot itself suffers from a similar problem: it was neglected to the point that it looks more like a draft. There were many situations that could have been easily solved or avoided based on the premises, but they just happen anyway, which made the story frustrating to keep up with. There are even instances where the characters seem to actively avoid solving the problems just to let the story last longer. The events were extremely predictable, so the lack of proper action and the plot holes did nothing but annoy me even more.

The romance, on the other hand, was very fun and sweet. I liked how Nuengdiao and Palm started off with a rather cold relationship forced by their circumstances, but then gradually warmed up to each other. The main conflict for them was about their feelings getting in the way of their duty and vice-versa, and seeing this theme being used so thoroughly was a joy for me! I really like the bodyguard trope and I was hoping for something like this. Both Palm and Nuengdiao are far from being perfect: they make mistakes and hurt each other, but it's all backed up by their inner conflicts, fears, and desires, so nothing ever felt out of place for either of them.
The relationships between characters overall were well detailed too. Ben and Chopper in particular have their own inner conflicts and desires and they're all portrayed properly on the screen, but Nueng and Palm's parents were also great characters in their own right. The acting was pretty good, but I especially enjoyed the performances from Phuwin and Perth.

In conclusion, I believe that one might like or dislike this series based on what do they look for in a BL. If you're looking for an interesting and well-written plot, then this is absolutely not for you. If you're looking for a romantic love story with some action sprinkled in, then this might be just right!

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PG13 version of Kinnporsche

This was done better than I had expected. I'll be honest, I'm not sure how well GMMTV does dark, gritty, more serious than a school romance, shows quite yet. The only other one I've seen from them was Not Me, and that was a decent enough show. This ALMOST feels like the PG13 version of Kinnporsche! That's a good way to describe it.

The main couple had some really good moments, sad and happy ones that really made you feel for them. You felt the beach vibes, you felt the despair, you felt the seperation. Other times though, they felt very distant. I think it's because of Ponds character, he was TOO stubborn! He never truly seemed to let Nuengdiao in.

The second couple really had no time or development but hey, Perth is hot, so whatever. It was a cute small side story. Perth was dressed to impress in this one!

What I really didn't like:

Why was the rich kid being bullied? Why was the school so rundown? Shouldn't he have been in fancier attire at school and worshipped by the other kids so they could get stuff from him. They probably skimped on the budget of the school for other parts of the show but MAN that school was run down. I couldn't believe for a second it was a school for rich kids. I also couldn't believe that kids that went there would really go after someone they could benefit from in the future. Burning a super powerful bridge? Doesn't seem smart.

Can we stop shaking the crap out of people who just got shot? I get it, but also, put pressure on the wound! Stop shaking them like a rag doll! Imagine getting shot, being in pain, and having someone shake you like a jackhammer haha.

Also the death of his mother felt so odd. It felt like we saw her get shot and then she was assumed to be dead right away. It also felt like a "Hey, you're mom is dead but keep fighting man!" I didn't feel much from him about his moms death.

Finally the relationship not feeling real because Palm is a stubborn idiot who never accepted Nueng's love. He was always MR. Nueng and Palm never got over that feeling he didn't deserve him.

Overall I'm glad I watched this. It was different from the usual GMMTV college BL, it was fresh and thrilling. The romance was good and it wove together well with the rest of the plot. The ending was satisfying.

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