Interesting concept but Poor execution and super slow pace
Well, this is certainly interesting. “On Cloud Nine” has almost all rave reviews yet the MDL rating is only 7.0. Am I the problem that doesn’t quite connect with the drama and align with the reviewers? Maybe, maybe not.10 minutes into Episode 1, I wonder why this guy in white is so annoying, creepy and stalkerish. Just leave the tourist alone and let him enjoy his sightseeing! Of course, I know there’s more to it, so I persisted and finished the episode. But the pace is soooooo slow and there are such long pauses in between dialogs that I almost gave up. Since this is such a short drama, I figure I can endure the slow pacing.
The slowness never goes away and I had to speed it up to 1.25x and 1.5x.. But the story did get more interesting and I am a little less confused as the drama goes on. The characters don’t seem to do much, nor are they engaged in meaningful conversations. Is this soothing or boring? Eventually, I realized what it’s all about and did think the concept is quite interesting and unique. Unfortunately, the execution is confusing and poor.
The acting of the two main leads is decent. The chemistry is quite good, and there are a few times I said to myself, “Just kiss already!!”. “On Cloud Nine” does a nice job in showing the beautiful sceneries of Chiang Mai. But at times, the scenic shots also feel slow and edited in a way that takes you out of the story.
Unfortunately for me, I cannot recommend this short drama. it’s too slow and confusing, and I did not enjoy it that much. I want to support small production companies who are putting out work for the masses. Thus, I am rating this a 6.5 and not lower. Sorry, fans! Please don’t come at me!
Completed: 9/12/2024 - Review #484
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An eternal love
A series with rare qualities, which kept me captivated, hoping and crying at their same time. It's not action (in fact there is very little going on), it's not high school or college drama, it's not struggling in life. It's acquiring awareness, it's eternity, it's closure and a new beginning at the same, all on a metaphysical, philosophical level. I also like the fact, that the series is well-paced and finishes once the story is told; it doesn't stretch more than necessary.The acting is very good, both main characters excel in their respective roles, conveying their emotional development with minimal actions (as required by the script). The cinematography is simply spectacular (what with Thailand's breathtaking nature), the music is ok. The plot is a bit confusing. There is a strong tendency towards abstraction and vagueness (which is justified), but it goes a bit too far. This does not diminish the series' worth, since the plot per se is not the main focus.
For reasons I don't want to disclose (but become obvious once watched), this series may speak to the not-anymore-so-young ones among us a bit more.
Watch with your closest and oldest friends and plan for a couple of beers or a glass of wine afterwards.
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Probably not for the ADHD brain
This was a good series dont get me wrong. But if you are like me can have a hard time totally focusing on a show and non-linear time lines are confusing it probably isnt for you. I will need to rewatch this at least 2 more times before I will be able to figure it out completely. I got the jist of it just not how we got there.The scenery is gorgeous . The acting was good also. I really liked these two together. At times it all seemed too slow but I think that may have been intentional.
I will be watching it again to see if I can pick up the puzzle pieces and see if that will help with my rating of this series.
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I was not expecting that
So, I went into this drama BLIND, I had seen some clips on YouTube, so I checked it out and checked the synopsis after the first episode because I was very confused. It didn't really help but I think that's the point. This drama is excellent, I really enjoyed it. The plot twists were absolutely mind-boggling to me. Did not see the first one coming and the second one, holy shiz. I had an idea in the first episode the Tiew might be special but I gave that idea up once the second episode started. After I watched that, I was waiting for Mork to get hit in the head by something so the amnesia would make sense but nope, they took it one step further. Overall, I super enjoyed it and the "god" character or whoever he's meant to be is super hot. Like sir, who gave you the right? I do, however, have some critiques but they involve heavy heavy spoilers and I'm not allowed to write those so just know, I kinda dislike Mork, also how old is Mork cause he wears a uniform and Tiew does not, and lastly timeline confusion. Other than that, I really enjoyed it so I do recommend you watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
A jigsaw painting
I got to say, when i started watching this i was very confused and intrigued. It felt like the had thrown a puzzle of 1000 pieces to solve but just a few of them were from the actual puzzle i needed to put together.The story is poetry in visual form and every time it unfolds is like untying a knot that i hadn't seen was even there.
If you think of giving up on this drama on the first few episodes, i ask that you watch one more. Even if you already put into your head that you are not going to understand it either way, i plead that you try again. I promise that you will be as surprised as i was when i finally understood how to put together and look at this beautiful painting that was done in front of my eyes.
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Keep watching it …
I didn’t really understand the plot and normally I stop watching then … but here there was something that made me wanna continue watching it: was it the mystery, the music, the actors, … I don’t really know but watching this series I had moments where I was feeling sad and moments I felt overwhelmed with joy.This series is a cinematographic marvel with shots that blow you away completed with good music. And the chemistry between Meen and Rossi : steaming hot.
I want to see more of these two actors … cause they’re not only good looking but they are really excellent professionals.
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ONE OF THE FINEST AND RARE I WATCHED.. ??
This series is short but that short little number of episode are just worth watching especially the cinematography and the BGM!! There are skme flashback scenes which are some of my favorite and the cutie pies that did that a good role..If am coming to the story , at a point we may feek confused but when you reach the end you will get a better idea of what's happening, it's not that typical college or engineering stories.. It's something CLOUD NINE... Just go for it if you like something not that rushed but calming and soothing with nature views and a soulful love story....
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Entrancing and beautiful
Have you ever been afraid to rewatch something because you feared it would taint your initial reaction? The beauty of this little piece of amazement, with it's awe-inspiring scenery and it's heart-wrenching story has me at a loss for words. I really want to tell others about it but I don't want to spoil it. I am also afraid that others won't find it as entrancing as I did. But in my opinion, that was on-screen poetry. When I finished the last episode, I just sat there......there were no words. I had questions, but I didn't want them answered. I want more....but that was enough. I want to talk about it, but I don't really know what to say.Ok....here goes:
There are some people who would have problems with this piece because it involves a love story between a high-schooler and someone older. Ages aren't given, so it's hard to determine the validity of that argument, but Tiew does look older by several years, and Mork even mentions it in a round-about way. But Mork isn't innocent in that he knew what he was doing and allowed the situation to occur. He even tried to end it but was ultimately trapped by his own emotions.
I gave the Music value 10 stars, but I was so entranced that I honestly can't tell you if there was music. All I know is that the music in my heart as I watched was worthy of a 10. (OMG that line was so cheesy, but I'm not changing it!) The acting was amazing. The way Tiew gazed at Mork gave me butterflies. The way Wise delivered his lines made me not care that I didn't understand, because HE knew what he was talking about, and that's all that mattered. Watching this, you're never really sure if/when they are dead or alive or in a dream, and you won't understand the time line, but in the end, that doesn't matter either.
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Calm but Confusing
Okay. Let me talk about the good things first. The pace of the series, the acting, the dialogues, the camerawork, the sounds, the music- everything is unhurried, calm and relaxing. The interactions between Tiew and Mork are genuine, sincere and beautiful. There is a gentle undertone of suspense and mystery that is maintained nicely throughout the series. The surreal and dreamlike atmosphere matches perfectly with the unique story and plot.But along with all of these great things, there is also a sense of confusion that accompanied me constantly- I was always wondering "What the heck is going on here?" And even though some of the confusion did get cleared as the series progressed, still I felt very uncomfortable due to the constant jumps in the timeline. I felt that the number of these jumps was way too much, and it contributed nothing towards enhancing the richness of the storytelling.
Another main source of confusion (and irritation) was the idea of having Mork and his twin love the same person, and moreover (as if this was not already bad enough) both going out to meet Tiew alternatively. I mean what were they trying to do? And what was the reason for having this absolutely unnecessary plot? Was there a need for a twin at all? The storyline was already quite creative, and slightly complicated too, because of the whole 99 day stuff, and adding the twins plot did not do it any good.
The conclusion? Well, the overall quality and feel of the series is quite good, despite the above mentioned issues. Even the ending is quite nice. So, even though I will not give it more than 7 stars, still I would say go ahead and watch this one- you might enjoy the rare feeling of unanxious calmness and completeness that this series emanates.
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Beautiful & underrated
This is what small production houses can do! Just 2 actors, the Thai mountains, fitting music and a classic tale of love is all it took to make this highly underrated gem of a BL.The story is a classic mythical and mystical tale, told in pieces, so that we are continuously puzzling together what actually happened. In the end, we did not get all the answers, but do we ever in these kind of tales? The overall feeling is one of happiness and completion.
The acting is very good. Imagine no side stories, marginal side characters so all the work comes from just these two. Excellent! The Thai scenery should have been a paid actor, as this (intentionally) contributed so much to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will put in on my re-watch list!
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Missing puzzle but beautiful.
This is not your usual BL story. On Cloud Nine is a film that makes you think, ponder, and ask questions along the way. If you’re expecting hot, steamy love scenes, this is not the series for you. Instead, it offers something more subtle and thought-provoking.The title itself hints at the mystery: the characters are not among the living. Yet, how they passed remains unknown, leaving viewers to piece together fragments of meaning. It’s a story that demands more than one viewing, you’ll find yourself rewatching to catch details, connections, and to truly understand who is who.
The actors deliver performances that pull you in with quiet intensity. Their presence lingers, and it’s easy to imagine them taking on more lead roles in the future.
Overall, On Cloud Nine is a hauntingly beautiful experience, like a missing puzzle piece that keeps you searching, reflecting, and appreciating its delicate storytelling.
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Keeps you hooked, even though, a bit confused too.
I started watching this blindly, with little context, and after episode 1, I came here to actually get some context about what the story is about. However, the story synopsis is cleverly obscure enough that I went back to episode 2 with more questions than answers.Still, the episodes were so well-made that, even when I felt lost in the story, I continued to watch.
I am glad that other people like this, but for me it left me with some questions and loose ends...
Still a surprisingly good watch. worth your time.
*********Spoilers**********
The timeline was a bit difficult to get my head around. The characters first met in 2019, and the current timeline is set in 2022. Apparently, one person was in their last week of the 99-day period, while the other was in their first week of this 99-day period. However, the conversation with the brother reveals that it has been three years since the second person "left"... then how is this possible? Have I misunderstood something? Anyway... it bothered me a little, but not enough to eclipse the very well-made quality of everything else.
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