4Minutes

Four Minutes to Live a Lifetime

There is a saying: "Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it doesn't exist, yet it's one of the most important reasons to be alive." We don't contemplate death for the sake of dying, but to live more profoundly. The closer one gets to death, the more one truly lives—in a way one has never lived before, the way life is truly meant to be lived.

4 Minutes conveys a message that is both simple and timeless: live a meaningful life, don't wait until death comes knocking to truly feel alive. Cherish everything in the present. Life (often hidden in the shadow of death) will always greet you with opportunities, but no one can change the past. The only thing you can change is yourself.

I honestly wonder if having read reviews and knowing the premise of 4 Minutes beforehand was a blessing or a curse. Because I knew the direction of the story, I could better understand the filmmakers' intentions, and the narrative flow felt clearer. While it sacrificed an element of surprise, the smaller details within the film were still enough to leave me reeling. Knowing that the first five episodes represented the four minutes where Great’s brain relived his life after his heart had stopped allowed me to piece together his story more clearly and better comprehend this character who is far from being purely righteous. It also made me all the more astonished by the multifaceted nature of Tyme, a character I had initially pegged as a hero.

As some reviews have noted, no character in this film is simple or innocent. Hit-and-runs, disposing of bodies, secret recordings, murder, adultery, manipulation, exploitation, schemes and conspiracies, breaking the law and denying guilt—and yet, strangely, this is what allowed me to watch the film as if I were observing a human experiment. All the sins are magnified to a level of complexity. The human mind is not a flat screen, and these are not archetypes or one-dimensional plot devices acting "righteously" because they are protagonists, or acting villainously because they are antagonists. These are people who carry sin, as people always have. They cannot wash away what they have done; every action has irreversible consequences. What they can do is purify who they are—first in their minds, which then leads to action.

The characters in 4 Minutes are profoundly, ordinarily human. Great is a coward, fleeing the consequences of his actions after an accident (regardless of whether the victim intended suicide) and not daring to report his "friend" after witnessing him commit murder. He is numb to the pain of others because he has become numb to himself. Then there is Tyme, so blinded by vengeance that his entire purpose in life is reduced to it. His path leads to a single destination, causing him to ignore everything around him—emotions, reason, and the small wonders of this life. And we have the weak, compromising, and pragmatic Korn; the broken and frenzied Tonkla; and Win—the supposed barrel of justice, who still surrenders to the one he loves (even if it was love at first sight). All of them, these spiritually flawed individuals covered in scars and past traumas, carry their regrets as they cross paths, weaving together a suffocating, insane, and unpredictably dramatic tapestry.

It's said that "red flags" and "toxicity" in fiction can bring a certain vicarious pleasure, allowing us to experience feelings we'd never want for ourselves—to hurt with the characters, go mad with them, and love as fiercely and intensely as they do. This "toxicity" is no accident; it is a deliberate narrative device used to explore deep psychological territories and create high-stakes drama. It’s strange how humans are fascinated by our own dark side, often without even realizing it. Through this toxicity, we witness psychological trauma and internal conflict, which then allows us to observe the process of redemption and transformation in each character, leading to a conclusion that achieves emotional catharsis. Naturally, what viewers want most is a fulfilling ending, to see the change in these fallen characters.

I must say, the script of 4 Minutes stays true to its course. This doesn't make the film predictable; on the contrary, it makes it more complete. The timeline is non-linear and constantly shifting—it begins with the characters' "rebirth," follows their redemption from their own perspectives, then guides us to the objective reality of a "God's eye view," and finally concludes in a "next life," a timeline where they have been wholly reborn as different people.

Redemption, rebirth, life and death, second chances, love that saves and love that gives meaning—it is all the story of a single moment that lasts for four minutes. The entire narrative is told within this elasticity of time: Great's four minutes stretch across five episodes, the return to reality from an objective viewpoint takes one episode, Tyme's story gets one, and the final episode is for the conclusion. In my opinion, even if the film has its flaws, leaving some questions and plot holes, its narrative structure and pacing, contracting and expanding within just 8 episodes, is an incredibly impressive and commendable feat. The unique arrangement of the timeline, combined with a fresh storytelling approach for an already novel plot and theme, truly wowed me in a sea of formulaic dramas. The editing, cinematography, sound, and lighting are all polished and well-crafted. The script is well-invested, with symbolic imagery like time and the number 4 recurring with artistic intent. The narrative is compelling, and the climactic scenes are deeply emotional. Furthermore, the explicit scenes, which cater to the genre's audience, are bold and impactful, yet never gratuitous. These scenes carry their own meaning, though their "eye-popping" direction might lead some to think this is purely a "flesh-fest." For instance, the love scene between Great and Tyme during the 4-minute revival reflects their true feelings: for Great, it's the confirmation of his love in a parallel universe where he is a good person, a hero on Tyme's side, earning his recognition—this is what Great yearns for in his final moments, a chance to atone, to start over, expressing his regrets. For Tyme, it's a life not defined by the smell of blood and dust from the past, not consumed by hatred, but filled with sunshine, peace, and a gentle, melodious love. This stands in stark contrast to their lovemaking in reality, which begins with conspiracy, is stained by hatred and torment, where love never truly offers them solace.

That's my assessment of the main couple. The side couple's story is a bit harder to grasp and left me with some questions. For example, if the first part is purely Great's 4-minute dream, even if from various dream-like perspectives (first, second, third person), how could he describe in detail things he couldn't have known? Or was an omniscient narrator's voice interwoven with Great's POV from the start, penetrating all characters, inside and out, showing us reality? And how does Dome's return lead back to the present? Or are we, the viewers, also being led by an unreliable narrator—the director himself? This ambiguity and a few scattered, almost surreal puzzle pieces can make the film feel a bit chaotic. But ultimately, grounding the story in a scientific premise and exploring such a new theme is a fascinating direction, showcasing an effort to create something more than just another run-of-the-mill rom-com.

Lastly, I truly want to affirm how fortunate I feel to have watched this film on a whim, amidst a forest of criticism and some surrounding controversies. My own moral compass isn't the yardstick I use to measure a film. I want to see it from a deeper, darker, even amoral perspective—because good and evil are intertwined. To borrow from literature, as Georges Bataille suggested, when humans violate the established rules and prohibitions of organized society, they are, to some extent, marked by evil. Literature that writes about things beyond the pale of reason is considered to be writing about evil.
"Goodness is tedious, for it is bland
Goodness is trivial, for it is safe
Goodness is wicked, for it murders passion
Are you afraid of goodness?
And you?
What about you?
Have you ever been as repulsed by goodness as you are by evil?"
(translated from Mưa Nhã Nam - Nguyễn Huy Thiệp)

P/S: The actors are truly talented. To appreciate this film, you have to look past couple shipping and fan service. I'm not comparing or judging any pairings; I'm watching it as a standalone work. What attracted me and earned my highest praise was the novelty and uniqueness of the narrative above all else; the romance was secondary.

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Confusing.....

I feel like for this type of series, I need to watch at least 2-3 times to get it. The plot was okaish I guess, I didn't like the fact that we barely got in dept with our own main characters. The romance felt bleak because I didn't know why they like each other so much that they would turn their back on their own family without a second thought. I am kinda confused with the timeline. But I wont go through all that. Overall pretty meh tbh. I felt like some characters were just there and weren't really needed. Well the actors did great I guess. It was genius to caste Bible as a bottom. Sex scenes were great as expected from Thailand. But this series is kinda not for me...

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Great' wasn't as great as we thought...

Ufff, thank God I dropped this drama by the third episode and then watched it again from the beginning after it ended. I understood that I would only be able to fully grasp it if I watched the entire drama in one go.

Although, to be honest, there wasn't really any deep science that we couldn't understand... In my religion, I had already read that after death, a person's brain stays alive for 7 minutes, and during that time, they see everything they did in their entire life or the memories of things they regret.

Now, in this series, the concept is just about 4 minutes instead of 7... Simply put, in the first 5 episodes of the drama, we are seeing the guilt and memories of the last 4 minutes of 'Great's' life—what he did and what he could have changed but didn't. In episodes 6 and 7, we see what actually happened in real life that 'Great' couldn't change, meaning 'Great' wasn't as great as we thought by episode 5..😅😅😅... And Tonkla killed the title and also shot 'Great,' taking revenge for his brother's murder... And the part where Tonkla's brother (who returned home at the end of episode 4) was also 'Great's' hallucination because, in the last 4 minutes of his memory, he tried to save him... The scenes related to Tonkla, Korn, and Win are mostly real, not imagined.

"And in the last episode, we are shown 'Tyme's' last 4 minutes, where he wishes that he had met him naturally without any purpose, and had only continued their relationship with genuine love."

Now that's love—Korn, even after hearing the truth from Tonkla, sacrifices himself after Tonkla dies, and they both die lying in the same position as they did during their first date while talking. That was very emotional... And then the mini heart attack at the end of the drama, hahah... Overall, I've never seen a BL series like this. They have played with science very well...

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A Well Scripted Thriller with Intriguing Characters

A Captivating Journey Through Time and Love – A Final Review of “4 Minutes”

After watching all eight episodes of Thailand’s “4 Minutes”, I can confidently say this series has been a compelling roller coaster of emotions, mystery, and passion. What started as an intriguing premise quickly transformed into a layered narrative that kept me glued to the screen. Each episode unraveled new dimensions of time, relationships, and personal growth, making it one of the most thought-provoking BL series I’ve watched.

A Love Story Rooted in Time

Great and Tyme’s chemistry started to develop by Episodes 3 and 4, pushing their love story to unprecedented emotional heights. Great, who has the extraordinary capacity to see four minutes into the future, begins to realize how this ability impacts not just his life but also his relationships with people in general and Tyme in particular. Great’s fragility is progressively revealed by the plot, especially when he confides in Tyme about the dreams he has of him, which is a precursor to the love tension that will develop throughout the episodes.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/10/05/4-minutes-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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Setting the standards for BL

This show is soo good it feels illegal to even write a review of it. Like I don't want to spoil the thrill for others watching it for the first time.

This show has made me rethink my ratings for the series that I have previously rated higher. So I give this series a 100/10.
There were some minor loopholes offcourse but despite that I would still say for a Thriller, Mystery, romance(if it was) this show is a trendsetter for BLs.

So I will rather keep it short
Why to watch this series:
1. Storytelling might seem confusing but it makes up for it in the end and that is the reason what makes you soo engaged to the series as you'll have a lot of questions.
2. Beautiful top quality cinematography
4. Amazing acting from the whole cast
5. CGi and visual effects done right
6. Unique storyline and engaging plot
7. Flawed and complex characters
8. NC scenes were realistic and didn't feel cringe or fake

Improvement points:
Series should have been atleast 10-12 episodes rather than 8 episodes to explore the Main characters more.

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Ummmmmmm…..yeh

I couldn’t finish the show for multiple reasons. The first and main reason just being as to why on earth the 17 year old had more and more detailed sex scenes than the walk-in characters in the 1st 3 episodes. I’m extremely impressed by Fuaiz’s acting scenes, but I just feel like BoC has a knack for making younger actors do crazy stuff the sect of they turn legal enough. Not to say the whole film industry doesn’t do the same tho…. Anyways.

Next , like many have said, it was getting confusing. I watched it whilst it was airing and I couldn’t actually put my finger on what exactly was happening. I feel like , from what I saw, they put more effort into the acting in the explicit scenes more so than the actual emotional scenes. However, I cannot say I’ve watched all of it as I clearly haven’t but seeing allll there 4 and 5 star reviews saying it just got worse as it went on I think it’s safe for me to say it.

Please spend you’re time watching something else ?

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It's a 9 for me but...

I loved the series, the acting was amazing, the quality was top tier and the cinematography was beautiful.

To me everything was spectacular until the last half of the last episode, they rushed everything too much, we didn't get to see Great waking up, we don't know who tortured Warit, we couldn't see Tyme and Great reunion after both woke up and other things that were left unanswered.

Other than that, I know many people don't feel the same way, but I believe they did a good job with this series, of course the start was confusing, that was their intention, but with every episode we got to understand what was actually going on.

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A Must-Watch!

I was super excited to see Bible work with Jes in this show, and BOY did they deliver!! This show was absolutely incredible and had me at the edge of my seat every episode. A thrilling, action-packed plotline was perfectly partnered with a slowly forming romance between the main leads, and side characters that could stand alone in their own series round it out beautifully. The only potential issue with this one was that the 18+ rating needs to be taken real seriously....both with the violence and explicit sex scenes.

When Great (Bible) hits and kills a woman while driving, he suddenly finds himself with a strange ability: he is occasionally (and not of his own will) sent back in time 4 minutes to fix mistakes. After preventing the death of this woman, she still ends up in the hospital. Great, feeling bad about this, goes to visit her and meets Dr. Tyme (Jes). The two slowly get to know each other, but it seems their lives are more intertwined than they thought. Great's family's shady business seems to be willing to go to any lengths to continue their work, and Tyme seems to be somehow connected to all this. Meanwhile, Great's brother Korn (Bas) and his boyfriend Tonkla (Fuaiz) seem to be more involved in the inner workings of this shady family business, which is straining their relationship.

I can't begin to describe how incredible this show was. The plot twists were INCREDIBLE and had me sitting in shock at the end of the episodes. I can't possibly describe all the interesting plot points that happen without horrible spoilers, but it is truly an experience to watch it. I love when a plot doesn't only revolve around the romance, and this one definitely isn't focused on it, but uses the romance to enhance the plot. Again, the explicit scenes in this show were a bit much for me, but overall it was fantastic and I would highly recommend it.

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What can you do in 4Minutes?

You can listen to Why Don't You Stay by Jeff Satur.
You can watch an episode of Back to Seventeen.
You can drink a Thai Milk Tea.
The things that happened in four minutes here though..

Saying anything would spoil something, in essential, that would mean I can say nothing about the story.
But even this statement is an indicator of how mind bending the plot is, it keeps you on your toes, makes you come up with theories and you're invested throughout, just waiting to get all the answers to the tens and hundreds of questions that will inevitably pop up in your mind.
The synopsis is basis enough to go off on, at least according to me, since that way, there's no ideas on what you can expect, you can just let the complexity and intrigue of the story surprise you.

What you can expect though, in addition to the above, is great acting, NC scenes and brilliant cinematography. You'll want to rewatch the episodes over and over again to see if you missed any details and with eight episodes, it's a series you can watch quickly and revisit as many times as you want.

So grab your notebooks and pens, grab someone to discuss theories with, and just go for it. If you're not in the mood for something this complex and confusing, set it aside and come back to it later, because it is so worth it.

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4 MINUTES BEFORE BRAIN DEAD

For your questions to be answered on what is going on, you have to finish it first. Those who created this drama is a genius, they have put the answers to every questions a viewers may have all throughout the drama specially at the end, but believe me, even though you would realize that you have seen the answer it will still turn out that you do not understand it, you'll just see that the enemy was killed and the misunderstanding was cleared, the main lead got their revenge and the main meads ended up together, that's it !
The catchy thing here was the 4 minutes prediction of Great , at first I thought it was a fantasy, but the first half was just I think imagination of Great to foresee what will happen after 4 minutes because on the episode 6 there was no more predictions from him that was shown, everything happens the way they should be , and it turns out that the first parts seems a hallucinations only that is being studied by the other doctor that was a friend of P'Tyme. And that the story went into something like it was showing that what really happens in the 4 minutes that the brain still working without an oxygen, maybe that was when someone is about to be brain dead, that is what I understood about this show.
About what has happened with the other characters for me nothing was special about it because I have seen so many crime and plot twists stories like that but it was still great.
The drama was a good one, not boring and you can really prove to yourself that it was a high quality show and great actors has starred , I mean look at the acting ! It was superb, binge watchable , for me this is a recommended one , looking forward for more of Bible's works he is such a fine man and actor .

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More of a Scenario Building Exercise than an actual plot

CHEMISTRY:
Okay so hear me out! This has got to be by far the best level of intimacy and bareness I've ever seen in BL so far! Like i have no clue how they've got Fuaiz to shoot those bare sex scenes when he was barely 18 is still goes all over my head, but his level of maturity and acting makes me confident enough that he knows what he's doing and is of legal age.

PLOT:
Now coming to the plot, there were many reminiscence of DFF in the plot and by the end of ep 4 I knew it's going to take the Messier route just as DFF took but not as mad. But the entire 4minutes thing was really messy to be honest. Like what were the writers really trying to convey, like how the scenario building as we do in urban design 😂, showed how things would've been different if characters behaved in a certain way in those 4 minutes, or these were mental patients who were living in their own trance struggling to grapple with reality, or actually did time travel? It's seriously a convoluted mess!

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
I loved how every character was shown to be a grey character and shown them in their exact realness with no useless fluffy like we see in typical BL dramas, and had managed their own flaws and struggles. Though there was little character development in most of the characters except Korn, for that matter yeah just his realisation what he did wrong was enough for me 😭. DFF had really good development and plot build-up, even though this did try really hard with those mind boggling plot twists, but it has lesser of an impact.

ACTING:
Fuaiz and Bas really stole the show, to be real honest. Those two were literally the main characters of the entire show than Jess Bible themselves. Like i really didn't care by the ending of the show as to what shit they were upto, I was most concerned where the rat of Fuaiz is upto 😂. Jess is a veteran actor so need not talk much about it, and Bible really didn't have much to offer.

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