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Conflicting emotions
This series is probably the hardest for me to rate as of yet. It was really good at times and then it takes multiple turns into "shaking my head" territory that was really the main reason a few stars got knocked off.First off, for a series called Never Let Me Go, there was a whole lot of letting go. It's one of my least favorite tropes where one lead claims they don't love the other anymore because they think they are doing them a favor. That happens here at one point. Another time, Neung leaves Palm by leaving a note and saying "don't follow me." Of course, Palm follows and they reconcile, only for Palm to turn around and do the EXACT same thing, leaving a note and saying "don't follow me." And this is after he knows how much it hurt him to be on the receiving end. There were just so many episodes centered around one of them leaving, the two of them sulking and then getting back together. Really, once in a series is enough.
Besides which, there was a whole lot of interesting plot going on otherwise that I felt like the writers could have easily done without the constant push and pull dance. The family business and side characters (mainly Ben and Chopper) could have had more going on which would have been perfectly fine as filler. I found them interesting even with the small amount of screen time they got and would have preferred to see other sides of the feud through their eyes instead of the same old same old with the main couple.
Even the uncle was fairly well written and used effectively. Although in the beginning of the series, he's bitching about running a casino instead of the hotels then when he's in change, he's trying to turn the hotel into a casino. And a lot of the conflicts (other than the main couple's romance) is resolved with an off-the-cuff remark or short discussion after spending the entire series as the main plot.
With all that being said, I still really enjoyed the series and thought there was a lot of good in it. The acting was great and I, personally, noticed a huge improvement in Phuwin and Pond's performances. I'd just finished Fish Upon The Sky before this and so it was super noticeable how much further they'd come in just one year. I have yet to see a series where Perth doesn't give a great performance. Whether he's a main character or side character, he fits the roles well.
Personally, I don't know if I would watch the series again, seeing as it's frustrating for a good portion of it and there weren't any surprise twists or anything unexpected that would tempt me to watch again for signs of it. You know right off the bat who the bad guy is so there's the satisfaction every time someone calls him an "asshole" (of which there are a lot).
I'd still say it's worth a watch, even if not a re-watch.
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Questionable writing but overall enjoyable
Was I the only one that thought Palm’s character type was going to be the rough and tumble, super casual, rural boy type? Like this boy worked on a boat and likes wearing Hawaiian print shirts, you’re telling me he’s the quiet, reserved, loyal dog type? Missed opportunity.I have conflicting feelings about this. On one hand, I did enjoy it. On the other hand there was something that was preventing me from getting fully invested in this story.
Getting the elephant out of the room, it’s totally GMMTVs response to Kinnporsche. Another drama I have mixed feelings about lol. It is different, in some ways that are better and in some ways that are worse.
The good: the overall vibe of this show. They’ve cast this sort of warm glow around everything that makes it feel sort of dream-like. It gives this show a unique essence about it that I haven’t seen before. I can’t explain it but I actually do quite like that part of the show.
The leads have good chemistry, likely because they have starred alongside each other before. They felt comfortable and I love a good longing stare lol.
I also like the soundtrack. The choice to mix Thai songs with Western songs worked with the overall feeling of this show.
The bad: I feel like they didn’t know what kind of show they wanted this to be. Is it a mafia, crime drama? Is it a teen romance? Because they didn’t commit enough to either one it just felt very unrealistic.
The choice to have this set around high schoolers was an interesting one. They were probably hoping that it would make the show stand out or appeal to a broader audience but it ended up feeling more like a teen drama posing as a mafia drama. Like why would Nueng’s mom want a HIGH SCHOOLER as her son’s bodyguard. That just doesn’t make sense lol. And then when Nueng, you know, an 18 year old starts running the company…????? It would’ve been better if they committed to them being adults and properly delved into the mafia element.
You say this company is built on illegal business? Where?? Where are the drugs, money laundering, etc. I haven’t seen it, so for all I know this is just some random company that people are willing to kill over.
The writing decisions are definitely the most questionable part of this series lol.
Acting also isn’t completely there. The actor’s are young and they have improved from their roles in FUTS. They have potential, so I’m not gonna hate too much.
Overall though, I would recommend giving this one a watch. There are tons of BLs out there, but despite this one’s flaws, it is still one of the better one’s out there.
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Award Nominee for a Reason
This is a drama that improves upon rewatch; you can't always make that claim. P'Jojo's homage to the mafia lakorns of his youth blended with his passion for telling nuanced stories that transcend genre limitations mix for a sometimes stilted but always earnest exploration of class and queerness in contemporary Thailand.This is more than just a BL/Series Y, but it's not playing the game of being above its genre the way The Eighth Sense strives to be something more akin to SKAM than I Told Sunset About You. Do not come into watching this drama with any preconceptions set by 3 Will Be Free or any other of P'Jojo's works or you will be disappointed. This is not as polished perhaps, but only because he's trying to push his own stylistic limitations and the growing pains around the edges are to be enjoyed rather than admonished.
Do give it an earnest try with an open mind and cautious heart. You may be surprised how many tears your eyes can shed.
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This can be described as plotholes story.
First think first whoever wrote this story didn't put much efforts. They wrote whatever there mind says.The main couple don't even know how to act.
And it's not worthy for even one star.
I have watch 11 episodes and other then main couple being cringey nothing in series. No emotions could be feel from the main character specially when this series is supposed to be focused on them.
The side characters have better sense of acting then the main actors and even director didn't put much efforts to guide them I guess.
Overall I'll give only 1/5 because it doesn't suit my taste and I waste so much of my time for watching this series.
I have 0 expectations from ep 12 so I dropping this show.
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awful, but perth carried
This is my first review on MDL but I feel so strongly about this series that I felt the need to do it…My advice: If you’re gonna watch it, do it for Perth , it will save you time and be somewhat actually enjoyable.
First few episodes were bearable; as the characters are introduced you feel like it somewhat makes sense (in a thai drama way, the teenager son of the driver for a rich family having to be the untrained bodyguard of the rich heir…)
Acting is also somewhat okay for the leads at the start, as they discover their feelings, have some regular teenager high school drama with jealousy and miscommunications, etc.
But then halfway we get to the turning point that is, one would have guessed it, the beach trip!
Both leads… escape to a remote island in fears of getting killed by the rich heir’s uncle all the while leaving behind his mom who’s just been shot and is in a coma in the city (very much at the mercy of the murderous uncle but we don’t talk about that)
Ensue pretty cute scenes ngl, but all very tone deaf considering the seriousness of the situation the leads are in (since when playing in the sea, rolling around in bed, going shopping for gifts at the market a priority when you’re both wanted for dead?? Was calling the police ever considered???)
Anyways, at one point they’re found and have to come back to the city, on their way the rich heir drugs his boyfriend he just promised he’s never gonna leave behind and gets back to his mansion unscathed, then pulls up in front of his uncle barehanded. Makes one wonder why they ever left the city at all if it was that easy to confront the bad guy…
At this point the whole story turns to complete nonsense, it’s plot holes after plot holes and Phuwin’s crying scenes become unbearable. Both leads in that matter have a very hard time acting, and you can’t attribute that entirely to the writing as Perth and Chimon did incredibly well considering the atrocious plot and so little screentime they’re given…
I honestly did not bother watching this at regular speed after episode 8, the writers trying to make us believe that a highschooler could suddenly manage a multi million dollars hotel business while wanted dead by his own jealous uncle who tries to corrupt the teenager bodyguard into killing his boyfriend’s mom for good, then when this doesn’t work tries kidnapping the heir (why was this so easy, are even his professional bodyguards that incompetent??) and being stopped only when his own son shots him…. anyways y’all understand IT WAS A COMPLETE MESS!
TL;DR: painful to watch, both leads can hardly act and the plot holes make it even worse, PerthChimmon had an actual cute and believable relationship but they were robbed of screentime, watch it for them if you’re convinced on wasting your time with this show…
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Why?
The question that will run through your head the whole time: why?Neung is just the most annoying person on this planet: he's spoiled, rude to Palm since day 1. And that's fine, we all love the character development. Yet, he just act childish all the time: you can't say why he does most of the things. Why getting back to the house where people want you dead? I'm still in shock about Neung putting drugs on his DRUNK BOYFRIEND BEER. How can someone do something like that and still think it's safe?
Palm has the vitality of a plant. When he realizes he got drugged by Neung he just shrugs it off. He has no point in life, he doesn't have any passion, he just like survives doing and living other people's dream. I'll save my comment about his behavior in ep 12, but he's no better than Neungdiao.
The whole show is about pointless violence scenes, incoherent behaviors, people having the most artificial conversations. It's like when you read a bad fanfiction and the characters keep on suffering without any sense. I don't know what the writers were thinking while making this drama, but they got to ruin two amazing actors' chemistry.
What a waste.
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Must watch
I fell in love with this series. The cinematography of the whole series is amazing. The characters are interesting and the cast potrayed their feelings and emotions very well. Pond and Phuwin were perfect for this series, other cast as June, Perth, Chimon were very great too. You can see the emotions through Palm and Nueng's kiss. Some people don't like drama too much but, I really love drama in a series, so Never Let Me Go is perfect for me. I was really exited for every tuesday because of this series. So for me iit is must watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Super mid, lacked REAL depth
First, I must emphasize, I love the cast members. Phuwin is the loml, and his irl friendship with Pond is so cute! Also, Perth and Chimon are both so talented and handsome (I loved Chimon in The Gifted). However, this drama just wasn't the best.PLOT: I don't even know what to say about it. It was just so mid. The producers definitely tried to make the plot deep and layered, but it just annoyed me many times.
CHARACTERS: Palm annoyed me sometimes because he just seemed kinda robotic and I don't understand where his attraction for Nueng came from. Nueng annoyed me too because he too often seemed like a rich and spoiled kid. I get that he had his losses, but I didn't connect enough with him or the story to care too much.
Next, we have Ben and Chopper. I love Chimon, but Ben just didn't make sense. His feelings were messy and the way he acted was so contradicting sometimes. Chopper, on the other hand, was great. I sympathized with his failures and he added depth to the story that actually made sense.
Both Palm's dad and Nueng's mom annoyed me A LOT.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: This series has a lot of beautiful scenes, which are great for fan edits and could attract the audience. Although I don't really like the plot or execution, the cinematography is great.
MUSIC: I love Phuwin, I love his singing, and I love the OST, especially how he incorporated some Chinese into it.
SHOULD YOU WATCH IT: Overall, it wasn't a BAD drama... It was just... fine. I don't regret watching it because I love the actors so much. For that reason, I think that it's work checking out.
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I don't know..
Honestly i don’t know what to say.. I started this drama because i thought it would be a different plot, original, eccentic but.. NO. It was no sense. The first episodes were slow, i would say almost interesting but towards the end it was super fast, also the last episode: everything happenend in 45 mintues and for all the time i was “WTF?”. Even the actors and the acting skills were false, no emotion, all was so forced.. the face of Neung in some scenes were so innatural, i didn’t like his role ‘cause he’s childish, rude and i would also say toxic. He kissed Ben just because he gave him attention and do we want to talk when he drugged Palm who was already drunk? He has heart problems. On the other side palm was.. i don’t know. I liked that he would have sacrificed himself to save neung but it didn't feel like love but just a "i’m doing it for duty”. last but not least: i didn’t see so much love by both.I’m so sad because it could have been a very beautiful serie.
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Slow but realistic and overall nice
The show at the beginning is very cute and you have some sense of what the main characters feel for each other and it goes back and forth of them getting jealous for a while because they know they can't do anything about their feelings in their current situation especially when one of them has a secret boyfriend. After the two flee because of family complications and they go to the hotel where we see more of their relationship become official and no, the one with a secret boyfriend is not cheating because they unofficially and officially broke up with each other if that makes sense. Even if they gave the two characters the same type of jealousy role back and forth in the beginning they add wholesome moments between the two andgive information that will later set up the plot you just have to get past the first five episodes for all the gears to move. And just a side note about the soundtrack but please tell me i'm not the only one who hears an instrumental of Noel in the background that absolutely kills the serious mood that the actors are trying to play out and why have I heard it in other bl's for example till the world ends during the same sort of situation.
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Distractingly handsome leads,yet couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing
High school students involved in running a mafia??!! It was very difficult to connect and engage with the story, as certain actions just felt like unnecessary plot devices and fillers.Profusing love and promising to stay together, then vanishing by writing a mere note seemed too lame and underwhelming, especially when repeated throughout the story. While portraying them as confused teenagers might have worked, their involvement in the adult mafia business made their behaviour less believable.
The editing and colour scheme of the drama leaned towards melancholy, even during supposed happy scenes like those at the beach.
Although the leads were stunning, their acting felt somewhat lacking at times, lacking depth and coming across as one-dimensional. They did have their cute little moments but it was a hit-and-miss for me throughout.
Additionally, the choice of OST was confusing and sometimes too loud, making it difficult to hear the dialogue clearly.
Overall a big miss for me. If I have to summarise- A BL with distractingly handsome leads who couldn't distract me from the plot holes and weak writing of the story! Had this been my initial BL, I would have rated it higher.
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EPIC!!
Don't believe the low rating reviews!! This series is the best of 2023! If I were to describe it in one word :Epic! It has everything :romance, action, beautiful scenery, entertaining plot, fitting soundtracks, the best bl actors❤️Watch it and you'll find out why is hard to let go...
10/10
It some how reminds me of Your name Engraved herein, but with a happy ending! The way they continued the story in Our Skyy2 it's just WOW! Young, talented actors, Pond Naravit and Phuwin Tangsakyuen ...I can't picture anyone else for this series.. The roles were made for them! I can't wait for their future projects! I didn't invested much feelings into BL series , until now. They bewitched me!
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