Love upon a Time

Amazing

LUAT with NetJJ is such a well-done series. The overall vibe is what really stands out. Everyone from the scenery to the music and humor blends together so naturally. The cinematography creates a calm, immersive feel, while the music adds just the right emotional depth without overpowering the scenes. The comedy is woven in perfectly, keeping it light and enjoyable. On top of that, the acting is strong and the characters are engaging, making you genuinely care about what happens next. The storyline keeps you intrigued without feeling rushed. Definitely one of those shows that pulls you in and keeps you wanting more! I can’t wait for the rest of the episodes.

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One of the Best BL story this year

Tbh, some people might find episode 1 dragging, but when you look at it deeply, they're trying to make the basic plot strong and layered first, as it was in the novel. But overall, it is such a fun story, and in episode 2, you can really see now how it is not just a fun series but a beautiful one too. Believe me, the plot of this series is complex too, and you'll see that in the upcoming episodes. I also love the cinematic progression of the story. The chemistry of the cast, especially NetJJ, is superb—two different and opposite characters that always clash but always find a way to understand each other's hearts. I'm inlove with this series.

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My 4 years wait is worth it

Idk what everyone says, the storyline is very good and is different from other transmigration plots. The scenes are cinematically beautiful. The First episode was meant to be a little lighthearted and fun because nakhun from 21st century just went to past and he refuses to believe it and using his gen z mind. And honestly, he played the role very well. On today's date, after watching ep 2, i wanna say once again that the episode was cinematic beauty and the storyline is slowly moving into a serious mode. And as someone who has already read the novel, i wanna say it's worth giving it a try.

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real and valid reaction

Nakhun’s reaction to traveling back in time is so valid. So why in earth am I seeing comments saying they did this series dirty or that it's messy? Girl, where?

Be real, if you got the chance to travel back in time to a place where you had nothing—absolutely nothing—you’d be terrified. You would have no idea where you were, why you were there, or who any of those people were. We should be thankful Nakhun didn't just break down, because if that were me, I’d be sobbing at all those unfamiliar faces and surroundings.

Anyways, (my review on the meantime): I never thought I’d switch companies that fast. I used to be a huge fan of the blue company, (not badmouthing them, of course)—but I’ve found Domundi’s way of storytelling to be unique, natural, and truly one of a kind.

When I watched “Your Sky,” starring Thomas and Kong, I was shocked because I didn't feel any of that typical second-hand embarrassment. From then on, I fell in love with the cast and started researching them. I watched the pilots for several stories; the ones that caught my attention first were Duang with You, Khemjira, Mr. Fanboy, Magic Lovers, and Love Upon a Time. As someone who loves time-travel period dramas, Love Upon a Time immediately intrigued me. It made me wonder, “How will they convey the message this time?” I’ve seen many time-travel dramas, but never a BL. So, I decided to give it a try, and once again, I fell in love. It’s like this company puts some kind of poison in their series—it’s so addictive and satisfying, without being cringey.

I also love heavy angst. As a writer, I know those hurtful, heavy crying scenes are a pain in the ass to write, but they are so worth it. Overall, Domundi never ceases to amaze me. They keep raising my standards for visuals, storytelling, natural acting, and casting.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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"my concern for you is not unrequited "<3

Love Upon a Time is a plot heavy mystery/historical BL that is over all a very fun ride.

Starting off with the positives, the main character (I'm just gonna stick to calling him Nakun) was very lovable and easy to root for. He provides many great comedic moments, especially with his voiceovers in the beginning, and we witness his character mature over the course of the series. Nakun is also the most well developed and best written character, he feels realistic, which contributes to the drama's enjoyability.

I also loved the historical setting and the sets and costumes were absolutely amazing. I feel like I learned a lot about the Ayutthaya period of Thailand and this series made me interested enough to do my own research to learn more. (To be fair I am someone who is quite interested in history, so I understand that this might not be everyone's cup of tea.)

As for the main romance. Nakun and Phop had great chemistry and watching Nakun fall in love was incredibly adorable. The scenes between the two where they are cuddling or just being generally lovey- dovey are soooo cute and I was rewinding to watch them multiple times (I'm looking at you episode 9). Also the two NC scenes our main characters had in episode 8 and 12 were INTENSE (in the best way possible of course).

Lastly, this series was paced super well and the end of every episode kept me hooked and wanting more.

Now on to what I didn't like as much... In my opinion Phop's character was not developed enough. He was a bit too clean, a bit too perfect... He just didn't feel real. Like we barely know anything about who he is as a person besides his love for Nakun. His continuous romantic declarations towards Nakun even felt a little overbearing at times. Like, we get it you love him, but why? Maybe it's hard to see where he's coming from because we didn't actually witness him falling for Nakun. Idk, but besides all this, there were moments where I really enjoyed Phop's character and his sincerity is very sweet.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I did not like the second couple. I don't know why but I didn't feel their chemistry and I found their plotline boring compared to the main plot.

My last negative for this series is that I did not like the way the final episode concluded things. It felt like such a cop-out to have Phop remember everything from his past life and for them to get back together so easily. But maybe I'm just a sucker for angst.

All in all Love Upon a Time is super entertaining and great for those who enjoy plot focused BL's. I'm glad I watched it and will for sure stay tuned for more NetJJ projects.

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Love conquers all

While not a fan of that company, I watched several shows produced by DMD – and finally got one that I both liked and enjoyed: "Love Upon A Time". It is not a perfect show, but one that I wanted to come back to every week, one that made me feel good from first to last episode, one that I will rewatch soon.

LUAT’s plot and story successfully combine a fully developed BL plotline (including falling in love, having doubts about it, fighting for it regardless of adversities, overcoming all obstacles) with non-BL elements like a fantasy setting (complete with time travel, reincarnation and curses reaching across centuries), a fish-out-of-water main character, a mystery/crime story, but also comedy and family matters. This combination works very well for at least two reasons: the BL storyline is the most profound one and – deservedly – gets most of the attention while everything else, even solving a mystery from the past, serves the main storyline. Unlike with many Thai BLs the setting and story elements connected with it do not sideline nor overshadow the BL aspect of the series – they are supporting it. The series finds a healthy balance between its heavier, darker, more serious issues and its lighter, funnier moments. It is also helpful that the show does not take itself absolutely serious – it is, after all, a piece of entertainment. Also, to make it clear: LUAT is not a documentary about life during the Ayutthaya period and its goal is not historic accuracy.

While I have no issues with the script that are worth mentioning, nor with the show’s overall pacing (despite some initial doubts in this regard), both casting and performances are an entirely different matter.

JJ carried the show, with some help from Kim, Net and several seasoned cast members. Nakun seems like a role written for JJ, who seized this opportunity to show what he is capable of. Nakun is a multifaceted protagonist: relatable, funny, sassy, confident, but also hesitant, thoughtful and mature. The culmination of the series – at least for me – was the ep. 7 scene with Nakun and Phop confessing their feelings for each other. JJ is great in that scene, displaying actual range: starting reserved and hesitant, he lets his guard down for a moment, then becomes serious to finally admit defeat when emotions overcome him. When Nakun hugs Phop and begs him to forget about their love, there is so much emotion in that simple gesture – the way JJ moves and grabs Net is almost frantic, showing true desperation. It is a sad, heartbreaking scene, tense and emotionally charged – and it relies almost entirely on JJ, supported by Bowkylion’s vocals.
JJ’s Nakun reminded me of Punn Winnala from "Revamp" portrayed by Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong: someone hiding a secret, someone who is more than he appears, someone falling in love, but painfully aware that this love cannot last – and then realizing he should fight for this love regardless of everything. I like BL characters like that: strong, but also experienced and wise in their own way, aware of how unfair life is, yet longing for love they think is impossible – only to find out that it is achievable and standing firmly to defend it.

As for JJ’s screen partner, I was never fond of him, mainly due to the taint of "Bed Friend". Still, Net’s LUAT performance as Phop is at least serviceable – and, at times, better than that. Also, I like Phop – for his straightforwardness and honesty, and for standing his ground when faced with an ultimatum regarding him and Nakun. Thai (and Asian in general) BLs need more characters like that. JJ and Net have very good chemistry, which allows me to appreciate Net’s performance in LUAT even more.

Kim gave my second favorite performance of the series – making Kaew more than a shallow, token feminine male character. The writing is not overly generous to Kaew and Kim does a lot to give his character some badly needed depth. Some BTS footage for ep. 10 convinced me that Kim was the most mature cast member – and I think it translated to Kaew. He was able to realize what he wants early on, express that, accept one rejection, survive another, curse Jom, mourn and move on – that is actual strength.

Latte and both of his characters are on the opposite side of the spectrum than JJ and Kim; as Jom Latte is wooden and stiff like a plank and switches to annoying and unfunny as Thee. It is worth noting that Jom is the only character who undergoes a significant development - as Nakun is more on a discovery journey, while Phop and Kaew remain unchanged; all three of them are aware of their inner strength and are wielding it to solve problems and combat adversities. Jom – at the start of the series – is very different: a closeted gay man afraid to come out, hiding behind pretense and excuses, even going into full denial. Latte had an opportunity to show Jom going from that to coming out, seizing the moment, overcoming his fear and going beyond that – and he wasted it. Jom has his character arc, but it is solely because of the writing – the performer added nothing to it. More than that: Jom remains bland and weirdly emotionless throughout the whole show because of how Latte portrayed him, reciting his lines like an automaton (which probably was meant to sound serious and mature).

As for other cast members, two deserve a brief mention: Nont – portraying an awful character in an interesting way – and Lookwa, who is always a delight to watch and listen to.

LUAT’s OST consists of seven tracks available through DMD Music, listed below in order of their release.
- "ภพเธอ" by FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, which is nothing special and gets a basic score of 2 stars in my ranking.
- "แค่เธอตรงนี้" (Still You) by JJ Radchapon Phornpinit, which is alright and gets 3 stars.
- "ฝากฝันชั่วกาล (Everlasting Dreams)" by "Ice" Saranyu Winaipanit – one of only two songs performed by an actual singer. It is rather good and I give it 3,5 stars.
- "คำคะนึง (Within)" by Net Siraphop Manithikhun – 2 stars and let’s forget about it.
- "ปักใจ (Still)" by NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong, which I disliked almost as badly as I dislike the performer; 1 star is all I’m willing to give.
- "ดั่งใจฝัน (daydream)" by "Bowkylion" Nitchapha Veersutthimas, easily the best part of the OST with great vocals and lyrics – it gets a whole galaxy of stars. Listen on repeat if possible.
- "ยอมรับหัวใจ (No More Hiding)" by "Kim" Pongsaton Sittipan – imperfect, but genuine (almost personal) and sensual; 3,5 stars.
A rather long OST for a show consisting of 12 episodes – which can mean various things. BTW: what was the point of having Lookwa in the cast, but giving the songs to NuNew or Net?

All in all – a good show and even better BL from a company that served disappointment after disappointment. Got to rewatch it asap.

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HE'S 500 MILES FROM HIS HOME IF YOU EVER CARE

And just like that, Love Upon a Time is over. I can’t lie, I didn’t watch the trailer or read the description. I just wanted to come out and support some new ships, and I am glad I stayed, because this show was actually awesome. Of course, I have a few criticisms, but overall, I enjoyed this a lot, and if you are looking for something fun to watch, watch it because it’s amazing! I would give it an 8.5 (8.7) out of 10, and of course, we know the drill for my reviews. I am going to say what I liked and what I did not like, then do the episode overview, and then we will be done. Let’s hit it to the beat one final time for this great show.

Starting with what I liked was our couples. And I am NOT just saying that because "oh we have to support them", I actually mean that. So before this, Net was with James, and I had seen him and JJ in The Next Prince, but I also haven't finished that, so I don't know what I was really expecting with that. And for Latte Kim, I had only really seen them on my social media, and I thought they were cute, but other than that, for both couples, I wasn't really expecting much, but they still BLEW ME OUT OF THE WATER. I think that they both have really good chemistry, and for specifically Net JJ, it feels very natural, which I quite enjoyed. I think that is in part due to JJ's acting. He is lowkey a phenomenal actor, because it feels so natural. Like, he embodies Klao/Nakun so well that I felt like I was right there with him. Whether it be his expressions, the shy smile, or all of it, he did a great job, and I can't wait to see him in other stuff. Also, Net and JJ looked beyond sexy in this. I went into this having a fat crush on Net and not really JJ, and I came out with two brotha on my armmmm. God, JJ is like beyond sexy, especially with these wispy bangs. I AM DONE. I said on episode 8 that, "JJ has an evil smile and Net has these sad yearning eyes, and I fear we ate," and that is them in a nutshell. And then for our other couple, Latte sleeper build say what? I was not expecting all of that, my godddd. Also, Kim is to die for, ESPECIALLY THOSE LEGS, IM DONE, BE FUCKING FOR REAL RIGHT NOW. Just great job to both couples, they really rocked their shit with this one.

What I liked about the characters was that Nakun was actually gay, not just gay for Phop. I think it really seemed like that at first, but in the third episode, he was checking out the other guys in the water, and I WAS ALL THE DEADDD. I love that, that was so much fun lmao. ALSO NAKUN WILL NEVER BE KLAO EVEN IF THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON. Yeah, just gonna leave y'all with that lmao, because oh my god that made me sick thinking about that. Good job, show. AND, I made an edit to the 500 miles song and this show, and god that is such the case for him. He was in a place he didn't know for so long, and he was so far away from his home with no way to go back. I'm gonna be sick again. TUTOR YIM CAMEO AT WHAT COST, GOD THAT WAS SO SAD. They didn't even get reincarnated, oh my god, I almost SOBBEDDD. UH PHOP KILLED HIMSELF? HELLO? I am so dead (just like him) and will never be okay, my lord. I loved Net's glasses, and great sex scenes for both couples. AND AT THE END, PHOP PROPOSED WITH THE RING FOR THEIR PAST, I AM GONNA BE SICK.

Going into the show, I thought the start was actually great, and they did a fantastic job setting it up. (Also look at me spacing out with different paragraphs instead of jumping around, clap it up for your goat...or don't...freak) It was perfect in that it didn't reveal the entire show in one go, but it also left me wanting more. I also quite like the concept of this show, but I feel like the more I think about it, the more scared I get. I said this in my episode 2 review, "This is mortifying. Seeing a bunch of faces you can remember, but they’re not the people you know, is genuinely horrifying." Like fuck no, I am all the way NOT okay. Also, the thought of people in this time period and even now, not being allowed to love, makes me so sad, oh my god. More on plot, I LOVED THE REVEALS. I was gonna complain about the timeline, but it gets cleared up by the end, which is such a nice kind of full-circle moment, so they did their big one with those. I also loved everything with the dad, because it was just so well written. I also loved the bigger fish to fry with Cherd being a figurehead and Victor's character being evil, and the same with his dad, and I loved that. I also liked that it was all unfolding at the same time, and the audience didn't really get lost in the moment. That was so much fun, oh my god. And finally, PHOP LITERALLY BUILT THIS SHIT BRICK BY BRICK TO GET NAKUN TO TRAVEL BACK IN TIME AND REMEMBER HIM. IF HE WANTED TO, HE WOULD. I loved that plot point, and I was actually not expecting that at all and thought they were gonna do some That Summer, memory lost shit. YALL ROCKED YOUR SHIT ONCE MORE DOMUNDI. The reflections of their past shelves on the TV were also so well done. I loved that they did that. Regarding the ending, I felt like it was lacking, but at the same time idk what else they could have added besides seeing more of the characters from the past, so I will take it lmao.

Regarding things I don't like, the biggest thing is that this is a slow burn. And we know I don't like slow burn, but sometimes it can be done well, and well, I did enjoy this show. This was slow burn done wrong, my lord. It was too slow, and they action-packed some episodes, but not all of them, so it felt weirdly empty, which I really didn't like. I am not saying they needed to reveal everything in the first couple of episodes, but just having an even balance would have been nice. Also, some of the "action" had nothing to do with the plot, and we were just sitting in the pond like a duck.

DOMUNDI, TAKE OFF THE FUCKING FILTER BEFORE I COME TO YOUR FUCKING BUILDING AND TEAR THAT ENTIRE BITCH DOWNNN. Like, my god, it actually makes me nauseous looking at the filter. Bro, it's okay to have textured skin, fuckkk. Don't piss me off. The camera angles were making me sick, I beg, I know we have these thousand-dollar cameras that do so much, but please PLEASE KEEP THAT BITCH STILL I AM GONNA VOMIT.

Regarding the story, I don't understand why being hit by a shooting star makes you time-travel. Like, I think the show explained it vaguely, but I feel like we should have explained that more because I was actually really confused. Okay, so he came out to his parents, and they were really angry, but then that kind of faded out? I am confused on that part, like did we realize we have bigger fish to fry or what? Like, that was poor writing because it was a really big deal, and then suddenly it wasn't.

For my episode overview, I am just going to look for funny quotes I said for my episode reviews and be done, lmao. Episode 1: "Khemjira, if they all smoked weed." Episode 2: "They’re definitely fucking. Also, the servants aren’t telling him everything because they are definitely fucking too." Episode 3: "Nakun is so gay, what the hell lmaooo." "ALSO, I KNOW HE WAS LAUGHING TOO HARD IN THE WATER FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY HAVE A CUTE MOMENT LMAO. LOVE JJ LMAO." "Babe, you got the assaulters afraid lmao. Klao must have been a menace." Episode 4: "I don't know what he did to these fucking village pppl, but wtf lmao." Episode 6: "JJ and Kim, anyone? AHHHH, ALSO THE WISPY BANGGGSSSS. JJ and this flirty ass voice got me acting brand newww." Episode 7: "I would never drink WINE OR ALCOHOL EVER AGAIN IF I GOT HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A DAMN SHOOTING STARRRR, DONT PLAY WITH ME." Episode 8: "IF THE GUY WE MURDERED AND DROWNED WAS WALKING AGAIN, I WOULD GET THE FUCK OUT OF TOWN." Episode 12: "I'm literally going to shit, cry, and diarrhea everywhere, and it’s all their fault." "He’s like fuck, my man can’t remember me, only relatable issues, but shit, I’ll make him fall with me again." "Also, the fact that that net's character literally manipulated time the whole time, continuously, the entire timeline to be with him if he wanted to, that’s all I gotta say."

Overall, they did such a great job, and I would recommend this show. I hope they have more projects as a foursome (Grammarly was getting on my ass about the word quad, lmao) in the future. Okay bye!

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I've already read the novel and the series exceed beyond expectations! I love it so much! I'm not really a fan of historical dramas (or any series 😆 at all) but this one got me anticipate every single episode. The production, the cinematography, the ost, and most especially the cast is giving 😌💯 It's still on episode 2 and I can't wait for the next episodes! Also there's a lot to take in episode 2 as well! Especially where it transitioned to a chaotic funny scene to Phop and Nakhun just basking in the quietness of the night, to breathe, to think and especially to feel companionship with each other despite Phop still being skeptic about Nakhun who he thought is Klao and Khun still being unsure of everything that happened ever since he came back to the past. I love it sooooo much! Susu na jaaa~ NETJJ and LatteKim 🤗🫶🏻

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you guys should give LUAT a chance

as someone who read the novel, I REALLY LOVE how they maintain the pace in the series. they're still make me excited and curious to what's going to happen on the next episodes. the subtle change in the beginning was also a very good choice. the cinematography is top-tier, and pleasingly good to my eyes, also the chemistry of the actors are just very amazing. the inner dialogues also perfectly done to help the viewers understanding the situation more. showing Nakhun's stubbornness and his denial phase after getting transmigrated to the past is so wise and understandable (I mean who doesn't gonna act like that if it's happened to you😭) shout out to JJ for delivered this role amazingly. kuddos to the team for using REAL illustrations in the opening credit scene, also love how they don't show much there but perfectly capture the nuance of the series. This series is TOTALLY RECOMMENDED, really worth the wait, and I hope more people tuning in for LUAT. Go watch it every Friday, on iQIYI🤩🙌🏻

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