not a BL
first WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ENDING?! I knew there were only 8 episodes and still I kept hitting next because SURELY THAT IS NOT THE END.and yet- it fits. an ending as gray and ambiguous as the heart of the story. (but that didn’t stop me from knocking my rating down half a point from a solid 8 to 7.5 because I’m petty and HOW IS THAT THE END?!)
this is not a BL. if you are here expecting smoches and high jinx or angst and fists fights, please move on.
this is a complex story that should make you question how you feel about end of life care. The story does a good job of showing both sides of the argument it presents, without ever leaning too heavily in favor of one or the other. I found myself agreeing with almost everyone at one time or another.
recommended for: people who love suspense and plot twists you can see a mile away, people who like melodramas that make you question ethics and humanity.
(NOT recommended for people who need closure because COME ON with that ending!!)
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Animal Lover Here
The story line and acting are very well done for the most part. I, however, could not get past the shady character of the doctor. The actor played him as if he was a villain. His smug face and sneaky ways irritated me. It turned me off to him and I wanted him to get caught and thrown in jail. Another thing I wish the story would have addressed, was the cruelty towards animals at the hands of the local "crazy man." Instead of dealing with the animals they found, the police officers blew it off, as if companion animal sacrifice (any animal sacrifice for that matter) is legal in Thailand. It made the police officers seem like heartless buffoons. While it was not shown, it was stated and even showed a dog in a cage-like in the days of the old meat trade. Thailand has laws to protect companion animals and I wish the movie and TV industry would catch up with that. That significant part of episode 1/episode 2 should have been dealt with, even if it wasn't part of the plot. It made the police officers seem shallow, uncaring and dismissive and as if they were written as flat characters rather than officers who uphold the law as round characters. It was too one dimensional. The BL aspect was minimal.Was this review helpful to you?
A moral dilemma drama
This is a show about two people with strong values, trying to do the right thing. If you're reading this review before watching, just know that it's a very good show, that happens to have two men with feelings for each other. The focus on romance is just one aspect, not really the focus. It's quite serious, though there's small moments of humor and happiness, which I believe add more dimension. Without the moments of peace and joy, the characters would have been very flat. It is on the slow side, but I didn't find the pacing to drag. Eight episodes was perfect, imo. It told the story without any unnecessary side plots. If you're in the mood for something to make you think, give Spare Me Your Mercy a try.Was this review helpful to you?
Just watch it.
Every story adapted from this doctor’s novels has been amazing, and I’m so glad to see something fresh this time.actors from NADAO never disappoint me. Tor has been my bias from the very beginning, and seeing him play such a mysterious doctor makes me even more excited and drawn to the series.
The other lead, JJ, is also really handsome. I love how the script doesn’t overly focus on intimate scenes. it makes me feel that love doesn’t always need to be shown through NC moments.
The actors in this series are all very talented, even though they're just supporting characters. It makes me feel like this story really happened (it reminds me of a local documentary).
The way the series communicates its message clearly shows the true purpose behind its creation. It’s not just following the typical BL trend that’s everywhere right now but often lacks real quality.
This is probably the series I love the most. Everything, the visuals, lighting, colors, composition, sound, music, and even the acting. I love it all. You definitely won’t be disappointed if you watch it, I swear.
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Welcome the Morally Grey
A very interesting series that tackles the sensitive subject of euthanasia and addresses the matter from every angle by exploring the perspectives of doctors, patients, nurses, family members and the state, without supporting a specific side. Every character is loyal to their beliefs and supports them through their own ideologies and experiences. As for the acting, it was really good from all the cast members. They portrayed their roles very well and the way they should.For me, it was one of those series that could use a couple more episodes to flesh out the characters a bit more and make the flow of the story smoother without jumping from one scene to another. Even so, it's definitely a series worth watching if you like social issues represented and you usually enjoy a show with darker undertones.
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A Bold BL Drama That Blends Love, Morality, and the Right to Die
I honestly never expected to see Tor in a BL series, so when I first heard about Spare Me Your Mercy, I was already intrigued. Pairing him with JJ was such a pleasant surprise, and honestly, they delivered way beyond what I imagined. The chemistry, the tension and the gazes were all there, but what really made me hooked was the story itself.As a health policy student, this show grabbed me right from the beginning because it touches on something I just studied last semester: euthanasia. Not all states in the U.S. legalize it, and it’s such a morally gray area in healthcare. That’s exactly why this drama spoke to me on a deeper level. While many people shy away from even discussing euthanasia, I’ve always leaned toward supporting it, at least in cases where patients are terminally ill and have expressed clear consent. Watching a Thai series take on this sensitive and controversial topic, especially within the framework of a BL romance, felt both refreshing and daring.
The story follows Police Major Wasan, who becomes suspicious after noticing a rise in deaths among terminal patients, something that hits even harder because of his own mother’s passing. This leads him straight into the orbit of Dr. Kan (Tor), the doctor who cared for his mom. From there, the show dives headfirst into questions about mercy, morality, and where love fits into all of it. For me, the crime investigation wasn’t even the most important part, it was the way the series asked those hard questions: Is euthanasia an act of compassion or just another form of killing? Who should get the final say, the patient, the doctor, or the family? And how do love and guilt shape those decisions?
I really admired how Tor portrayed Dr. Kan. He was both compassionate and unsettling, which made me constantly question his motives. JJ, on the other hand, perfectly embodied the conflict of a man torn between his duty as a cop and his growing affection for someone whose choices challenge everything he stands for. Their performances in the final episodes especially had me replaying scenes just to catch every subtle detail.
Was the show flawless? No, not at all. The pacing sometimes felt rushed, and the romance developed at lightning speed. Some plot holes in the police investigation also made me roll my eyes a little. But honestly, those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying it. If anything, they reminded me that this drama wasn’t really about solving a murder mystery, it was about confronting uncomfortable truths, through characters that felt human in their struggles and contradictions.
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i hope dr kan and wasan end up together and live happily
This series is legit so good and a must-watch! The plot is super interesting, but I’m so annoyed with Dr. Kan. Like, why did he just give himself up like that? boss literally killed somsak to keep Dr. Kan out of jail, but in the end, he still turned himself in.Honestly, the ending kinda sucks. I was really hoping Dr. Kan and Wasan would get their happy ending together, especially after everything Dr. Kan went through. People said the novel had a happy ending, so why did the series end like this? it’s so frustrating ‘cause I hate when things don’t end happily. 😭
On a brighter note, I’m obsessed with the OST! The songs are so good they had me crying my eyes out.
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had great expectations, but it was just an okay watch
overall, this show has a similar vibe to manner of death, in terms of theme and what the plot attempts to do. while this one has an even more intriguing topic, it ended up being a bit disappointing and I don't think I'll rewatch this. I might have enjoyed it more, if I had less expectations going into it.first things first
- yes, there is romance. but if you plan to watch it only for the romance, you'll probably be disappointed, since it's not the goal of the show to emphasize the development of the main character's relationship.
- yes, the topic is controversial and for a grown up audience. I didn't feel that topic of euthanasia itself was a problematic issue of the show. however, if you don't want to reflect on your own standpoint on this topic, or see it explored from different angles (or not at all), this show is probably not for you.
what I enjoyed:
- plot driven, with a sprinkle bl romance that is not just there for some kitschy fan service or whatever
- interesting and serious topic, that has no devinitive right or wrong answer
- characters in all shades of morally grey, with different opinions on the topic
- the controversy of euthanasia is highlighted from the various character's perspectives, highlighting the moral dilemma that this topic can open up
- I'd say there is a slight bias towards one opinion on this, due to the main character's opinion naturally being more prominent than others. but not it's not so one sided, that viewers with a different view won't enjoy watching this at all. the show still tries to leave the viewer enough room for their own opinion
what I did not enjoy:
- the story attempts to mislead the viewer the same way as the characters are mislead. as the story progresses, both the characters and the viewers learn more facts about the various events and the character's intentions. (similar as in manner of death I guess) however, if you pay a bit attention, it's fairly easy to predict the plot from episode 2 or 3 to almost all the way til the end, and thus, the story gets a bit tedious to watch
- the characters sometimes act very out of line with their innate believes (i wont go into details to avoid spoilers)
- there are occasions, where it feels like the scriptwriters didn't look up some key principles of euthanasia thoroughly. which leads to scenes that are meant to reflect a pro-euthanasia situation, but are actually problematic (e.g. accepting the "i dont want a burden to others)" as consent). although this might not be noticeable, unless you have read up on the topic.
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I'm really into Thanapob in this series
I was most intrigued by Thanapob in this series. Thanapob(Kan) truly impressed me. He totally outshone his co-star. The suspense, moral dilemmas, and the epilogue to the story are also worthy of high praise. This series is one of the rare cases where the final episode is actually interesting to watch. Usually, series end with a drawn-out happy ending, but the epilogue in this one is more like something you'd read in a book. The script and the story are interesting, but throughout the series, there are often questions about the characters' motivations. In my view, this is the director's fault. It's their job to ensure that the characters' actions on screen appear convincing and well-reasoned. Despite this drawback, the series is simply fantastic. I was pleasantly surprised by Thanapob's ability to transform himself. I've seen him in Midnight Museum, but I wouldn't have recognized him in this series at all. If you like an actor but can't recognize them in different roles, then they're a good actor.Was this review helpful to you?
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Constant contemplation
It is truly remarkable how well-crafted this story was. There are quite a number of charcters that really get in-depth characterisation although this story is only 8 episodes long. We truly get to see the juxtapostion between savings lives and caring about a person's life. Anesthesia is a controversial topic, and I think this drama portrayed the polemic adequately. And although Tew and Kan never agreed on it, there was a kind of mutual understanding, bcs they were both headstrong in their beliefs. That final reveal truly brought all the emotions from the last 7 episodes together for a final bang. truly impressive, pensive and rewarding all at once.Was this review helpful to you?
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BL baiting at its worst
BL baiting at its worst. It's hard for me to be kind towards this series which took a serious subject and minimalised it. The avoidance of the romance made the final concoction even worse, because the inherent conflict of love and death is the stuff of the real world. In the end, the creatives wimped the story into a simplistic crime story. Saving the characters' struggle with the ethics of euthanasia to one scene at the end only made the whole thing worse. The actors were good and deserve a better vehicle for their smouldering good looks and physical attraction.Was this review helpful to you?
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Not bad, just bland
In the world of Sammon related series, which now I’ve watched 6, Spare Me Your Mercy is better than DFF or Bite Me, but it’s no Manner of Death. Its biggest flaw is maybe being the most boring one, even with just 8 episodes.The cast is by far the best part about this series. JJ and Tor were the perfect choice for Tew and Kan. Their individual scenes and most non-romantic scenes together were always great.
But I feel like the script got in the way of the scenes where we needed romance/feelings. The romance feels extremely rushed and forced. It could’ve worked in a plot where every move had second intentions. Which maybe was the idea, but not with a great execution. It’s a bland cat and mouse dynamic. No one is ever two step ahead. I never understood if Tew was too gullible, stupid or just pretending to believe everything Kan was saying. Tew caught Kan in lies several times, but always turned around and came back to Kan. So I have to say he’s half gullible and half stupid.
Unfortunately, by the end I feel like Spare Me Your Mercy is basically a watered down version of Sammon’s very own MoD or the sublime HIStory Trapped. It kinda would make more sense, since I never really believed their true love, for Kan to never confess and the couple to end up apart.
I’m really curious to read a Sammon story and find out if her endings are all super rushed as in the adaptations or the shows she acts as a screenwriter.
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