The Next Prince

No need this much hate

This series was good. I honestly kind of enjoyed it, and I think almost all of the actors did their very best in their roles. You can really feel the effort they put into the characters, and that made the drama more enjoyable for me. and i love chakri 😁 his actions when prince n charan together is soo cute.

What made it even more interesting was the jungle competition and the scene where they got attacked. That part was really cool and exciting, but for me, it ended too suddenly. I feel like if the series had added more confusion, suspense, and thrilling moments like that, it could have been even better. In fact, if it had focused more on those thrilling elements, I would easily give it a full 10 out of 10.

One thing I often notice in Thai dramas, especially BL dramas, is that they usually have a good story idea in their hands, but sometimes they do not deliver it in the most effective way. The plot is there, the potential is there, but the execution can miss the chance to make it more powerful. I have seen this in a lot of BL dramas. Thai BL dramas, for me, are usually stronger in romance, but not always in storyline. They are very good at giving romantic feelings, but when it comes to adding thriller, suspense, or deeper plot twists, they often miss that chance too.

A lot of people gave this drama bad ratings and negative reviews, but honestly, I do not think it deserves that much hate. For a Thai BL, I feel like it is actually kind of good, especially because Thai BL dramas usually do not include many strong thrilling elements. This series at least tried to bring something more than just simple romance, and I appreciate that.

Still, this series is not bad at all. It is actually pretty good. Another thing was the villain. I could not fully hate him or feel angry at him, because in a way, he was right. Deep down, he felt more like a good person who changed because of what happened to someone important to him. That reason made his character more understandable and more human.

And honestly, one of the funniest thoughts about this drama is the whole clan system and the competition to choose a king. They are all supposed to continue their clan lines, but at the same time, almost everyone seems interested in the same gender. So in the future, it feels like none of these clans are going to have any heirs at all. That makes the whole serious clan tradition a little funny when you think about it.

In the end, I definitely recommend this drama. It may not fully use all of its thrilling potential, but it is still a pretty good watch and worth recommending.

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Cute little BL story

This cute little BL story centres around Prince Khanin played by Nunew Charawin and Charan, his body guard, played by Zee Pruk Panich. If you’ve watched anything else with them in you’ll already know that their chemistry is fabulous. In fact some of the kissing towards the end of the drama looks more spontaneous than staged.

They meet in what should have been a simple ‘escort the young man home to meet the family he didn’t know he had’ situation but which turns into an all out rescue and scramble.

The younger actors are all beautiful and over time we are introduced to two other love interest pairings and a strong female, all of which face their own challenges - this drama has several sub plots from these people that add emotion and depth as they address issues created by parents or society. There are twists and turns (but I’m afraid I guessed the baddie quite quickly) where some of the characters take control of their lives, others own up to the misdemeanours they’ve created and a couple are beyond redemption. Unfortunately there are a few missed or downplayed issues that never really get addressed.

The fight scenes, especially at the beginning are terrible (sorry!) as you can clearly see that although punches are thrown, they don’t even get close to their targets yet still they fall. They did get better as the show went on, thankfully.

Prince Khanin’s butler Chakri, played by Ballchin Tanawat is utterly brilliant and manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on several occasions much to the two main characters’ frustrations (if you get what I mean) and throughout the drama he didn’t fail to put a smile on my face. I will be watching out for him…

Production values were excellent, even though the palace sets and costumes gave me Princess Diaries vibes, and apart from the fight scenes this is a great mini series.

What’s not to like about a country that is governed by the A-see-wot-e-wot-in family? Sorry, this name made me chuckle every time I heard it!

Would I watch it again? Just for the male lead chemistry and the fabulous A-see-wot-e-wot-ins I may come back but not any time soon.

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Style Over Substance: A Gorgeous, Gold-Foil Shell Wrapped Around a Frustratingly Hollow Story

I have to admit, I wasn’t planning to finish The Next Prince, let alone give it a second chance. When it first premiered, I dropped it after just two episodes because it felt dull, a little irritating, and not worth my time. It was incredibly frustrating because I’d been following the project long before it aired; the teasers and pilot promised an ambitious, massive-scale royal fantasy blending political intrigue, high-stakes action, and a slow-burn romance with a sharper edge. However, given the long production delays and multiple recastings, I deeply worried the show would just lean entirely on Zee and NuNew's chemistry and intimate scenes rather than telling a strong story. I probably never would have gone back if clips of Net and JJ hadn't kept hijacking my feed; their scenes looked interesting enough to make me wonder if I'd judged the series too quickly. Sadly, my initial skepticism was spot on, and this 14-episode journey turned out to be one of the longest, most dragging dramas I've ever sat through.

To be fair, the series deserves massive credit for its absolute heap of ambition. Domundi clearly spared no expense, putting the cast through intensive training in fencing, archery, horseback riding, piano, and royal etiquette. The production value is top-tier: the sets are lavish, the cinematography is gorgeous, the costumes are elaborate, the soundtrack is excellent, and the Kingdom of Emmaly feels fully realised. Even NuNew and JJ’s musical numbers showcase the massive effort poured into making this feel like a prestige production. Unfortunately, all that polished gold foil merely covers up a script that has zero clue what it wants to be. The pacing takes a massive downward turn into a slow, repetitive crawl from episodes three through seven, completely forgetting the stakes of its own central succession competition. When the plot finally remembers to pick up around episode eight, the tonal whiplash is incredibly jarring. One moment we're dealing with serious mining protests and social oppression, and the very next, Khanin is bursting into a highly theatrical Broadway-style musical number that completely drains the moment of any real seriousness.

The core issue lies in the fundamental writing of the main characters and their relationship. Khanin starts as a brilliant, independent, and witty lead who is passionate about fencing and overwhelmed by his heritage. Then, almost overnight, that personality vanishes. He loses his edge, his curiosity about his biological father, and his rebellious streak, transforming into an immature, overly needy damsel in distress who seems far more interested in wearing silly outfits, ordering people around, and batting eyes at Charan. The romance itself feels incredibly rushed and artificial, lacking the organic development needed to actually root for them. Charan isn't given much depth either; Zee certainly looks the part of a stoic bodyguard, but his character is frustratingly thin, with no real traits outside of his loyalty and a childhood trauma involving rain. Worse yet, heavy beauty filters often smooth out every trace of expression, distracting from the performance.

Ironically, the secondary couples are given far more emotionally raw and compelling storylines, yet they face a severe screen time problem. While most BL fans complain about side couples getting too much attention, here it's the exact opposite; Charan and Khanin dominate the screen while fascinating dynamics like Prince Ramil and Paytai's trauma-bonding are systematically starved for time, alongside underwritten characters like Ava, Calvin, and Jay. The veteran cast and the moving performances of Net and JJ genuinely salvage the scenes they are in, and NuNew delivers some touching moments of grief, but they are constantly fighting an unnatural script where emotional beats are unearned. The activism feels entirely performative and surface-level, serving up ubiquitous social justice quotes as if they are profound truths. Ultimately, everything feels overly staged and artificial, from the clubbing to the market scenes. This isn't a jab at the hard-working cast, and Zee-NuNew fans will likely still find plenty to enjoy, but for me, The Next Prince stands as one of the biggest missed opportunities in Thai BL history. I sadly cannot recommend it.

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Gorgeous but needed a little work

I liked this a lot! The chemistry between all the couples was amazing, especially the main two, but that's to be expected. I watched this for ZeeNu, but I ended up enjoying it overall for more than just them. The spice was incredible as well.

The costuming and sets were so gorgeous!! You can tell a lot of budget went into that. They really nailed it!

As for things I didn't like...
-The ending felt so rushed
-The fight scenes were so awful. Thai BL's don't usually have the best fight scenes to begin with, but this was one of the worst I've seen
-Some of the writing was quite bad. I think if it weren't for the characters being so enjoyable to watch, the writing might have made it hard to get through.

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Glittery gold on the outside, empty filling on the inside

I was excited for this drama, and while ZeeNuNew didn’t quite win me over with their previous work, Cutie Pie, I felt this plot had real potential.


It started off really well; the beginning was engaging, and I enjoyed learning about the four kingdoms (regencies?), the intrigue surrounding the pursuit of the Assavadevathin lineage, and the different relationships between the princes/princesses and their guardians. It was all very interesting.


However, I lost some of that initial excitement when Khanin and Charan began their flirtation and ultimately got together. Their sweet and intimate moments often felt a bit cringeworthy, and I found myself wishing for a more compelling portrayal of their romance.


(Seriously, why would you dirty talk in English? Why?!)


I also wished the relationships between Ramil and Paytai, as well as Calvin and Jay, had been more developed. While there was a focus on the problematic nature of their relationships, there was no exploration of how they could be resolved. Their eventual unions felt rushed and shallow, which was disappointing.


Also, the resolution for Ramil's father left me wanting more justice. It felt unjust that the abused son ended up losing everything, while his father, who had significant issues, faced no real consequences.


All in all, I believe this drama had an excellent foundation that could have been developed further. The production value, costumes, and music were fantastic, but there was an opportunity missed in the chemistry and dynamics between the actors, as well as in weaving the plotlines together. And while it wasn't quite what I hoped for, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad drama at all.


If you appreciate stunning visuals, rich costumes, and an enchanting soundtrack – and can overlook some acting shortcomings – there’s definitely enjoyment to be found here!

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Interesting Start Turned Trashy, then Grew A LOT Better.

I almost gave up on it lots of times, it started strong, but once it went to living as royalty, dynamics changed for the worse, and the aesthetics just felt trashy, especially combined with the theme tune, the awful bad-taste old-fashioned instrumentals and the level of advertisements. It all felt OTT and too camp for a while, and the politics were just boring.

From around episode 8 things changed, and the show just got better and better. Pre-ep 8 seemed to be like the getting to know you stage, that was hit or miss, and it just dragged. I stayed so long purely because I'm a ZeeNunew fan. The later on in the show it was, the more natural and realistic the characters were and the better the music and story was, and by the last ep, ALL relationships, scenes and music was great. Episode 14 was VERY good, and felt like watching Cutie Pie, but more elevated and with even more connection.

Overall, it should probably get an 8, with the best and worst of the show, but given how good the best parts are (strongly rivaling the best of BL), I rate it an 8.5 instead.

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A princess diaries fantasy with potential it never fully reaches

I'll start with what I genuinely enjoyed: the world-building has real charm. Five regions, a reluctant crown prince who wants nothing to do with the throne, a bodyguard bound by generations of duty — there's something almost Princess Diaries meets fantasy about it, and the setup reminded me a little of Harry Potter in how it structures its factions. I was into it.
What frustrated me personally was how little the characters lived up to that premise. NuNew has moments where he genuinely shines — there's a sassiness and screen presence there that I loved. But too often he slips into damsel-in-distress territory, and that's a trope I find genuinely difficult to watch. A crown prince with that kind of defiant energy could have been so much more than someone who falls apart without his bodyguard nearby.
Zee, on the other hand, felt almost too committed to being unreadable. I get the concept — a man shaped entirely by duty and distance — but in practice it drained the romantic scenes of oxygen for me. The intimate moments especially suffered for it.
There's a better version of this show somewhere in the premise. I just don't think we quite got it.

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All in

The Next Prince has quickly become one of those shows you just can’t stop thinking about. It’s got everything—royal drama, juicy power plays, and a slow-burn romance that really hits the feels.

What I love most is how real the characters feel. Charan and Khanin’s relationship isn’t just some typical love story. Khanin comes across as a bit childish at times, sure—but there’s so much more beneath the surface. He isn`t perfect, but thats a good thing. He’s been ripped out of everything he knew, feeling lost and vulnerable, and Charan is the one person who actually gives him the stability he craves. It’s not just taking either—Khanin’s learning to give back, but he desperately needs that emotional connection.

And Charan? He’s carrying his own baggage, with a past that’s clearly left scars. Watching him try to be there for Khanin while dealing with his own demons makes their bond feel real and raw.

And then there’s the political chess game—secret meetings, shifting alliances, and power struggles between princes keep the stakes high. Plus, Ramil and Patay’s relationship adds another juicy layer. Their toxic, complicated love—mixed with royal pressure and control—brings tension and drama that’s hard to look away from. You see them fighting to hold on to each other, even if it means hurting themselves or those around them. It’s messy, intense, and strangely compelling.

On the lighter side, we have Jay and Calvin, who bring a refreshing chill vibe to the story. Calvin is a prince from a neighboring kingdom, studying semi-undercover at the art academy where Charan teaches, and Jay is a fellow student who also helps Charan out. Their cute, low-key relationship contrasts nicely with all the royal chaos around them. It’s sweet, subtle, and shows that not every royal romance has to be high drama (jet?).

The supporting cast is all in all amazing, adding layers and flavor that really round out the world. Plus, the acting across the board is just superb. The emotions come through so naturally, you can’t help but get hooked. The music ist beautiful and dreamy...

If you’re into royal dramas with heart, complexity, and some serious chemistry, The Next Prince is a must-watch. It keeps evolving, and honestly, I’m here for every moment.

PS: For those who were unsure after the first few episodes—trust me, The Next Prince just keeps getting better.
The beginning might feel a bit “staged,” but that’s only because they put so much effort into building a whole new world instead of settling for something flat or basic. And it pays off. Each episode gets stronger, and the character development is clearly taking shape. So give them a little time—it’s worth it.

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