The Next Prince

Disappointed

I had been waiting for this series ever since it was announced. The hype was huge, and I’ll admit I got carried away with it too. Domundi usually delivers shows I find enjoyable — some more, some less — so I was expecting something special. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had in a long time.

From the very first episode, I felt something was missing: nothing truly engaging ever came through. The pacing constantly swung between rushed sequences and unnecessarily slow moments, and whenever the plot hinted at something promising, it was poorly developed, almost like a token gesture. It often felt as if the message was: “Focus only on the main couple, because they’re the real protagonists.” And yet, ironically, it was the second couple who stole the show for me.

Ramil and Paytai were, without a doubt, the best part of this series. I absolutely loved their story and followed every moment with genuine excitement, even though they were given far too little screen time. Meanwhile, the main storyline got lost in unnecessary detours and attempts to give depth to a plot that ultimately lacked logic and coherence. Even the entire tournament arc, which initially seemed to be the centerpiece, lost almost all of its value as the story went on, as if the only goal had become simply finishing the series.

The NC scenes between the main leads felt especially weak: slow, dull, and completely lacking in sensuality. They added nothing to the story and often seemed more like an obligation than a meaningful narrative choice.

The only moment that truly struck me was the march, when Jay suddenly began singing in the middle of the crowd: a powerful and moving scene. But the atmosphere was immediately broken by Khanin’s entrance. Jay is a character with great potential, and it was disappointing to see so little of him, as well as of his relationship with Calvin, which deserved much more attention.

Another major letdown was the princess. She could have added real depth and nuance to the story, yet she was reduced to little more than decoration, placed there just to fill space without any meaningful contribution to the plot.

All in all, The Next Prince felt like a wasted opportunity: a series with polished aesthetics and a capable cast, but without a coherent or engaging narrative. A real mishmash, as I once read in another review.

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Royal Pains

It was decent but ZeeNuNew storyline of Charan and Khanin was leaning to boring and pedestrian. The pomp and ceremony was there but one needed to check their pulse after ep 3. Their meetings for want of a better word was just as bland as Charan's expressions. Khanin's fire was a short match, the spark didn't excite any interest one way or the other. If darling sweet bubbly Chakri was not a part of their lives, one could ff and not miss anything.

What kept me watching?
Ramil and Paytai, Wasin and to a lesser degree, Calvin and Jay and Ava. They made the experience bearable. Their storylines were far more interesting and played well. Personally, I would have felt more satisfied if the king had died before seeing Khanin's win. The many lives lost over the years due to greed was disheartening. Keeping a father away from his child as a chest piece, this he should not be rewarded for. Ava, desiring her father's approval could have been done differently. She fought for a seat at the table for all womanhood and once she received his approval, she quickly reverted. Poor message.

The ending was too long with nothing worth that time. Possibly two clips of Ramil and Paytai enjoying a moment of true happiness and Prince Tharin meeting with Calvin and Jay to get a ground level pov on the environmental issues could have been added.

I wish the script would have been as rich as the royals were dressed. The action scenes could have been carried through the episodes to liven up the viewers experience. Overall, not bad but could have been better.

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Bummer

Kinda of like what a lot of people have been saying, this was a bit of a bummer. It had been so anticipated by everyone everywhere, and to have been waiting so long and this be the solution just feels like we've been cheated.

Let's Dive In.

The first few episodes, probably until episode 6-7, are top-notch. At one point, I was thinking, "man, this is what everyone is hating on!?! This is great!" and then, it's just downhill from there. Of course, nothing wrong in the production of it all, if anything, that's what makes this series so hard to rate lower than an 7, unfortunately.

I hate that I didn't care for any of the romances in this until we're introduced to Calvin and Jay, and then...nothing. What a waste of an opportunity.

The only character I cared about was Chakri. Perfect, brilliant, amazing, lovely.

I skimmed through episodes starting at maybe 8-9. It was lovely to see Jimmy again after so long, but even then, I just don't care much for his story with Paytai.

Ratings:

Story: 7.5/10 - so good until we get into the latter episodes, and then everything starts to drag. Lots of potential wasted, like, a lot. Not so much into the romances, but I did get to see Zee's ass, so I'm not too mad.

Acting: 8/10 - Good. Not spectacular, unfortunately.

Music: 7.5/10 - I remember a lot of english songs (I watched this like a month ago from writing this review). Wasn't paying attention, but it didn't seem distracting.

Recommendation Value: 6/10 - Sure. By no means, is this a bad series, it's good cause it's Zee and Nunew and they have the production value to make a decent series. It just didn't hold up to the standards that I thought it would have, that's all. And Zee is naked enough to get you excited!!

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A high-budget snooze fest

I believe The Next Prince is the prime example of how a show can have the most gorgeous settings, costumes and overall atmosphere while in the end still being a generic, boring, half-cooked mess.

While the premise of the show is promising (being Khanin trying to adapt to his new role of prince while also trying to find out what happened to his adoptive father), the whole thing is basically abandoned after two episodes. Four or five different plots are introduced, without giving any of them enough time to properly develop. On the other hand, the romance is particularly bland: Khanin is an uninteresting character, too perfect in every aspect and overall just irritating; Charan is your typical broody BL guy, but besides that and being in love with Khanin, he doesn't really have any other remarkable characteristics, he is basically "just there". Ramil and Paytay are definitely more interesting, but have so little screen time that you can't even understand how their story ends. Calvin and Jay, finally, are just superfluous: I don't even know why the show bothered to give them space, since they have no actual development on screen and just take away precious time for other plot points to be explored.

All the plot points that the shows tries to tackle are dealt with rushed resolutions, while also wasting time on frustratingly long useless scenes ("Oh my gosh, Khanin is going to the market, let's spend 20 minutes on this in two separate occasions") and utterly boring, long-as-hell and derogatorily Wattpad-y sex scenes: the first one is almost 20 minutes long, were the writers out of their mind? The finale is the epitome of an unnecessarily long episode: if you asked me what happened in almost 2 hours, I would not be able to answer because, basically, it's just spiceless nothing.

If you want to give this show a try, go on, but I'm suggesting to not set your expectations too high: maybe that's the key to enjoy this yawn-inducing mess.

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The Next Prince Bride hehe

Ep 14 - thank the Lord a lot of the stories were resolved however I am really disappointed and embarrassed for Zee and Nunew. A lot of the issues with the pace, plot and storylines all could’ve been dealt with by inserting a lot of the resolutions into the actual earlier episodes rather than leaving it for literally the last hour to explain the plot. Given the budget and the promotion it’s upsetting because I’m such a huge fan and supporter of both Zee and New, thankfully they’re so very early in what I’m sure will be a long career in the entertainment industry with plenty of more series, movies and music to be made by them both. Even though Zee has mentioned he’s retiring from acting he says he may take on smaller projects in the future, but really as an actor he only needs to be in a movie every year or so which I think is a really good move for him then he can really think about roles that he likes and concentrate on his other passions.

Eps 12 - 13 finally some pace, but really it feels like it should have been eps 2 and 3 not 12 and 13. It’s like the story has just begun and now we should expect some thrilling developments but there’s only 1 episode left!

Ep 11 - holy cow Batman, being brutally honest, the whole series could have started from this one episode and we would have understood everything that happened in the back story so for that I’m really disappointed! It’s been such a shame as there are so many opportunities for a great script but instead we have been painfully inserted with a loooong needle and drip fed 0.001 ml of sweet nothing covered in a soft filter and packed with slow motion fan service.

I just finished watching episodes 1 - 3 of ABO Desire from China and it gave story like it was on crack, I got whiplash from just 3 episodes of finely crafted drama. There were a few holes but nothing that the fast paced story telling couldn’t cover.

I think the hype equation TNP created has been bigger than the sum.

Eps 8 - 10 not a lot happened tbh.

Ep 7 - finally a bit more story and a longer ep! There’s no denying the chemistry between the 2 MLs and the secondaries are getting more interesting. Feels like we’ll see some plots thicken halellujah!

Ep 6 - please fix all the holes, plot hole, loop hole, man hole, any hole lmao, but really can we get some P L O T. Everyhing is so short lived and feels like it needs a longer to build with more storyline and longer episodes, almost 1/2 way thru and not a lot has happened, the struggle is starting for me.

Ep 5 - hmmm the progression is regressing, slightly tedious. Felt like at least 20 minites of nothing. Let’s hope it speeds up…a lot. Hope the length gets longer too so we get more story in.

Ep 4 - Oh dear, Khanin said those fatal words, ‘I don’t trust anyone but you’. There’s gonna be some more Khanin tears with that one line, I can feel it in my waters.

Jimmy is excellent in his portrayal of Ramil as is his push/pull relationship with Ohm’s character Paytai.

Background music and scene changes are still clunky unfortunately, I’ve seen this happen with a few other Thai productions and wonder if they are using the same sound editing team, a bit unfortunate given the budget but nothing they can’t fix post-production down the track.

Getting Daou was a real bonus, his ‘I Trust You’ with its key change is magically perfect. I’m hoping for some more pop or rock songs next as it is the 4th ballady type song now.

Ep 3 - Oh my Princedomhood the Palace was Palac’ing, that’s for all the haters going on and on and on and on about it not being Palace enough, just check out the golden chairs in the dining room let alone Khanin’s bed! Gurl she rich now lol.

And so the battle for the crown doth begineth bahaha we’re off with scheming and just whose head is on the chopping block.

New track ‘I trust you’ has entered the OST.

Likes: Butler Chakri…I want one.

Not so much: Too short, each episode could easily be 90 minutes lol. Some of the scene changes are fast, don’t get me wrong, usually in BLs it feels like 5 minutes of no dialogue/music between scenes but not here it’s wham bam thank you mam and next!

JJ’s casting - his big moment came…a royal choir dressed in their finery…then his solo…and we heard an average voice HUH? Was a bit of a buzzkill. The top soprano was too strong overall and to be fair he should have been stronger if given a solo. So here’s where my intial rating is now unfortunately starting to waiver. It seems like nepotism now, so many stronger with better annunciation Thai acotrs are out there BUT Aof is now stuck with the team he has. Given the budget and hype my critical eye is now watching. JJ’s moment was more of a…meh blink and you’ll miss it. Early days still so looking forward to some strong acting from him.

Funny/cute/weird moment: The first (non) kiss was direct from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, no it wasn’t but it was a very good effort for a stolen kiss, spy stylez.

Ep 2 was off da hook! The opening sequence alone was like Mission Impossible, I got chills lol. Ok not MI but it was thrilling to watch for a BL, you get me. Now that chemistry that we all fell in love with during Cutie Pie, well she’s back with a vegence 🔥🔥🔥baby is burnin.

The pace in this episode is very different to the first one. I noticed the series has received quite a few negative 1 and 1.5 star reviews because they didn’t think the pace was good and that the environment wasn’t royal enough. Well folks you get pace, you get baddies, you get a hilarious taxi driver, you get romance on an airplane, romance in a late night book shop, you get to watch Zee being a macho man AND taking his top off and, o yes, you get Royalty, I mean c’mon King Nirut, Thai acting royalty at its best.

O and the tears, the tears 💧💧💧and that was just me lol our poor teerak Khanin has to pull them out twice.

Who was the the taxi driver? Hilarious.

Like: you’re probably not gonna believe this, but the opening credits are the Thai version of Game of Thrones. I sh$t you not. There’s a TNP world coming and I think more series are being lined up, you heard it here first.

Not so much: the scene changes and background mood music in a couple of spots is a little jarring. I mentioned it during ep 1 and again I believe it’s because of the timeframe and getting it edited on time. I personally have been in series and TVCs and I know that background noise just naturally or from filming a scene in a public area can be extremely difficult to edit out. I also mentioned before that IQIYI can update episodes so I imagine in further post production they may fix these bits and re-upload, but don’t wait get that subscription stat.

Funny/weird moment: Lavatories sounded like laboratories, try saying it like that, it’s hilarious ie instead of lav-it-tree, la-vor-ra-tory soooo cute.

Best scene/s - Nunew literally being a puppy 🥺🐶. Pahahahahaha the train scene, Zee with a MO 🤣.

Watch the cast reaction video here: https://youtu.be/73DroIOrYZs?si=SfiSVrXJyakuobrE

Ep 1 was intriguing, the sets were larger in scale than anything we’ve seen before. Given it begins between London and the fictitious Emmaly we are immediately immersed into Khanin’s world.

Like: The scale, you really can’t get past the level
of character detail this BL has gone through in creating this world, it really is next level, from the fencing apparatus and locker room, to the family crests, colours and emblems. Can’t wait to see more of this after only one episode.

Not so much: In a couple of the scene changes you can hear an audible clunk in the music/background noise, a bit of a surprise from this company who normally don’t miss that kind of detail. I can only assume that in order to get the episode in on time this could have happened however I do know that Iqiyi do reloads, so down the track might actually get replaced with a cleaner version.

Without giving anything else away, the story has begun.

Iqiyi - what was kind of annoying is that you could watch ep 1 on Youtube at exactly the same time as on Iqiyi, however, they’ve said only for ep 1 so we shall see.

The OST track ‘Above’ is here: https://youtu.be/nOnvysr64Yc?si=x8d6CcOTFjRKQWj-
It’s a signature sounding track with his usual song writing collaborator Amp. I’m hoping there will be a more fuller, harder track also.

The 2 trailers we have been given were both outstanding so I am excited for the series to start.

I am especially impressed by the costumes for this. They are very specific, very grand where they need to be and very purposeful ie fencing looks, guard looks etc when they need to be.

The inclusion of some of Thailand’s most well known and loved actors is a real bonus for us with some of them participating in their very first BL series and mentioning they accepted the roles immediately because of Zee and to balance this softer track. Nunew!

I’ll be giving a per episode review and background once it starts.

Here is the latest trailer in case you missed it:

https://youtu.be/xKAOhZyvcAU?si=1oEHDdjwqy1x0Sh6

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This went downhill pretty fast

The series started out quite strong but became so draggy and boring it was hard to complete.
I lost interest in the main couple after just a few episodes, Khanin changed drastically and Charan was just being pretty. Calvin and Jay disappeared without a sound just to have a few minutes in the end. The most interesting couple, Ramil and Paitay, had not enough screen time and I think it was not consistent. First Prince Ratacha threatened his son he'd take Paitay away, told the latter as a companion he had to endure, making us believe Paitay had to stay, but then he just walked out the door?! Why did he wait so long? Why did Ramil, who had the power to simply tell his father he would stop competing if he wouldn't let Paitay (and himself) go, accept all that? We needed a true backstory, and way more screentime for the only interesting part of the series.
And don't get me started on Ava. She stould up for women ... and than just sat down again?! Why?
The whole series became so boring and draggy, we even had to endure the actors sing (I hated that part), the political issue was not treated enough, the ecological issue with the mine just was there to throw some public interest in it and make Khanin a public hero.
No, I didn't like it and only kept watching for Paitay and Ramil.

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Don't waste your time on this!!

The problem with The Next Prince is that it doesn’t seem to know what story it actually wants to tell. It throws in a little bit of everything—royal politics, romance, family drama, even random side plots—but instead of blending into something powerful, it ends up feeling scattered and unfocused.

The first few episodes were quite promising, almost making you believe this would be a solid series. But as it goes on, it feels like a roller coaster that never finds its track. The storyline gets messy, the pacing uneven, and the excitement quickly dies down.

By the middle, the series becomes boring enough that you don’t really need to pay full attention. It’s the kind of drama you can put on in the background while scrolling through your phone or doing chores, because missing parts of it doesn’t change much—you already know where it’s going, and it’s not anywhere interesting.

In the end, The Next Prince feels like wasted potential. Beautiful visuals and a talented cast are let down by weak writing and lack of direction. This is something that you would want to watch while multitasking without minding if you missed out most parts of it.

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Just Beautiful

only watched first episode so far and after rewatching 5 times I can honestly say this is something new. never before seen a Thai series with this much attention to detail and the sheer scale of production never mind the optics and stunning cinematography. The action scenes wouldn’t look out of place in a Holywood block buster. The fantasy empire of Emmanuel needs one of its heir back (Kanin)who has been in hiding in a London uni setting. Very mult-cultural. Charin the special guard is sent to bring him back to Emmaly. has a hint of Disneys Princess diaries for this episode with added filler coaster of emotions.
This is listed as BL but will smash any notion or walls as it’s very main stream appealing.

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Excellent

"The Next Prince," a Thai Boys' Love (BL) drama, transcends the typical tropes of the genre, delivering a compelling narrative rich with political intrigue, complex characters, and simmering romance. While it certainly caters to the BL fanbase with its central relationship, the series' strength lies in its sophisticated plot and nuanced portrayal of its characters, offering a viewing experience that resonates far beyond the typical romantic storyline.

The series centers around the competition to become the next crown prince, a struggle fraught with familial betrayal, political maneuvering, and hidden agendas. Each potential heir possesses unique strengths and weaknesses, forcing viewers to question their allegiances and anticipate the unpredictable twists and turns of the plot. This isn't a simple good versus evil narrative; the characters are multifaceted, their motivations often morally grey, enhancing the overall dramatic tension.

The central romance between the two main characters,NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong and Zeepruk Pnich forms a captivating counterpoint to the political turmoil. Their relationship unfolds gradually, built on a foundation of mutual respect, undeniable chemistry, and shared vulnerability. While the passionate scenes are certainly present, they are interwoven seamlessly into a larger narrative that focuses on character development and the complexities of their relationship within the demanding royal context. This measured approach prevents the romance from overshadowing the richer political elements, ensuring a well-rounded and satisfying story.

The acting performances are consistently strong throughout the series. Khanin and Charan portray their characters with depth and authenticity, making their struggles, triumphs, and emotional complexities believable and engaging. Their ability to convey both the passionate intensity of their romance and the subtle nuances of palace politics is a testament to their talent and contributes significantly to the overall success of the show.

The production quality of "The Next Prince" is evident in the stunning visuals, the meticulous attention to detail in costuming and set design, and the thoughtful cinematography. The visuals effectively establish the opulent world of the royal family, conveying both its grandeur and its underlying tensions. The music further enhances the dramatic effect, underscoring both the romantic moments and the moments of high political tension.

However, the series is not without its minor shortcomings. The pacing in certain episodes might feel slightly uneven, with some subplots feeling a bit rushed or underdeveloped. While the overarching narrative remains cohesive, some viewers might feel a need for more exploration of certain supporting characters or their roles in the grand scheme of the succession.

Despite these minor flaws, "The Next Prince" stands as a remarkable achievement in the BL genre. It successfully blends romantic intrigue with complex political maneuvering, creating a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The well-developed characters, strong acting performances, and stunning production design all contribute to a viewing experience that is both captivating and rewarding. This is a series that deserves recognition for its unique approach and its ability to elevate the standard of storytelling within the genre. It is highly recommended to anyone looking for a BL drama that offers more than just a simple romance—a series that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It is a must-watch for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. The intricate plot, compelling characters, and beautiful cinematography make it a truly exceptional viewing experience.

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This show is bad

I can appreciate a new type of story line in a BL. What I do not appreciate is a waste of a lot of money for a script that should of have been burned and never made into a series. I will say this again (As I have in other posts) this couple has absolutely zero chemistry and needs to break up. Zee did have burning chemistry with Saint in Why R U and he actually had an acting range that went beyond A to A-. From Cutie Pie to this pile of stinking crap, these two have played the same boring characters, where one whines and the other gives brooding looks. Their intimate scenes look so choreographed they are boring and what is up with that lighting, I swear any more high density lighting and they might as well use AI to create the actors, because they do not even look human anymore and please NN never and I mean never use that hair color again, it was ghastly!! At least Jimmy and Ohm can act, but their story line was super toxic and they needed to stay apart, once an abuser is always an abuser. JJ and Net you were robbed. I actually think this show would of been better had JJ and Net played the leads and NN and Zee played the Calvin and Jay parts. I also think this show could have replaced Zee with a cardboard cutout and dubbed his voice, his acting was that one dimensional and boring. Even the music became repetitious and boring and over top as if trying to make this show more than it was, a big fat flop!

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