Khemjira

Boring

I just found it very boring. Each week before the episode I'd check to see how long the episode was and I'd have to hype myself up to watch it. But I found myself being distracted whilst watching, going on my phone and watching reels or just responding to messages. I can see why a lot of production companies are switching to Reels format because nobody has the attention span for episodes this long. I think if the episode allowance stretched to 14 episodes and could have been watchable. Or if they couldn't do that, they could have cut A LOT of it down with editing to make the episode duration bearable.

I just felt like scenes were dragged out and the director should have shouted "cut". I don't know how anyone can stare at one another for that long and keep eye contact. It also took so long for the characters to get out a sentence. One of my pet peeves is breaking up a sentence. Throughout the series it was very one note. Peem (Master) was very cold through out. He didn't let up or show much expression. Khem was always this fragile/delicate boy. I didn't feel the romance between the too very much. That emotional connection that Peem really had feelings for Khem and would do anything to protect him. And for Khem it just seemed like he had a crush on the Master but had no real reason to fall for him.

The final ep didn't need to be as long as it was. The resolve/plot was completed in the 40/50 mins. The rest of is should have been a separate special episode. The climax of the plot was very mellow dramatic. When Peem was being surrounded by Ramphueng servants Khem wasn't screaming out in worry for Peem. When Khem was getting whipped by Ramphueng he was screaming out in pain as you would expect when getting whipped. And that's also going back to the episode when Ramphueng was getting whipped. I know she was casting a curse but every time she was being whipped she could have screamed out in pain and in-between she could have carrie do with saying her curse. And Peem wasn't really fighting or objecting when Khem was getting strangled by Ramphueng. It was just all very melodramatic for a climax of the plot.

However, despite my complaints, I think it was a well written story just poorly executed. The special effects were immaculate, the best ones I've seen in a BL. The make up of Ramphueng and her servants were astonishing. And for this is the reason why I'm giving this series a 6. If it wasn't for these it would have been a much lower score and I probably would have dropped it much earlier.

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Boring dragging

This BL series promised a horror story well… they delivered, but not in the way you’d expect…

The story revolves around Khem, a boy born into a cursed family, and when he turns 21, he's supposed to die at the hands of the vengeful Ramphueng... I found the story extremely boring. Each episode is almost two hours long, but none of them have enough content to fill that time. This BL is that classic type, as deep as a saucer; none of the characters have a mother, father, grandmother, nephew, uncle, cousin, or even a dog. I know that in many BLs these family members can annoy us, but they help to fill the time... The story lacked both horror and romance, especially with the main couple, who have zero chemistry. Plus, neither of them can act, especially Namping. His character is supposed to be dying at any moment, but can you feel that in his expressions? Of course not In the middle of the story, he tried to justify that the 20-year-old character would not know how to kiss. but who at 20 years old doesn’t know how to kiss someone? I clearly didn’t buy that excuse. I hope this isn’t the next Pond and Phuwin from DMD... And this company loves to annoy the audience with that irritating trope in BLs, where one plays the bottom, always being saved by the other, who plays the top, the strong, stoic one with no apparent emotions. They’ve done this with Zeenunew and all the other couples from this company, zzzzz. The story is shallow and pointless. When they told the backstory of the character Ramphueng, I felt no empathy at all. I was already extremely irritated and tired of the whole thing. And what was Net’s character even doing in the story? The ending was completely anticlimactic and dull. I’d give it a 0. I would never watch this again.

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Boring

First, I'll talk about the performances: Tle and FirstOne: they are far from Denzel Washington or Adam Driver's performances, but I think they didn't compromise and were the best part of this BL.

Keng: just a pretty face making a face like he ate something he didn't like the whole time, wooden performance.
Namping: played the character that gives the story its name, null performance, doesn't know how to show any kind of human emotion, anger, pain, suffering, joy. *He also doesn't know how to kiss, unlike other actors in that company.

Green Ausadaporn: definitely the best performance.

In my opinion, the problem with this BL is that it didn't have enough story to fill an hour-long episode. The character Khen is cursed and needs help to break the curse, but Keng's master character says he won't help for some reasons, which are the famous obstacles of romance stories, and even so, the character remains close to the master doing many nothing and annoying the viewer in the process. Very boring and tedious story. Then at a certain point we discover that they had some connections in past lives, so you wonder, are they together because of their past lives or not? It's the kind of cliché I don't like, it seems that the characters are together just because they had some kind of connection in the past.

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Great visuals but a bit a convoluted story with mixed acting

After having watched the first two episodes when they were new, I was so bored I decided to stop. But so many people talking about it and liking it, I continued. I can say there were many moments in the following episode which were fascinating and interesting. The cinematography, the sets and the visuals were all top worthy of 10/10.

However the MC acting was not convincing me very much. The Shaman Master is a model of super good looks, but I found his acting stiff and bland, Khem was a bit better but I have seen way better and complex acting skills, so the love feeling and drama didn't really show. Even when Shamanmaster is down and defeated (apparently) he has this almost passive stare. I have seen many BL series where actors were able to express much more with their faces. (Like First or Fourth, who can make much emotions out of small events, whereas here the MC actors went through huge drama and their faces and body language just doesn't show it. So unfortunately I found them the weakest link of the series. Acting of the second couple was much better in relation, even if they too are quite away from the really good Thai BL actors.

The entire karma and destiny story was interesting but way too overloaded, so many scene, backflashes, and so many scene so slow I wanted to play it 1.5 times faster. Silent stares, you get the idea. There were just too many characters, mini-arcs, items asf added. Like when Charn and Jet outed themselves to Jet's father, I could not remember ever having seen him, and kinda failed to see the relevant to suddenly out themselves to a dad that wasn't even there in the story.

Anyway, it was good, especially visuals, but not the super hit that others feel it is. As such a generous
7/10

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Romance and Horror -- not necessarily a good match

First, I should point out that I like this series. The actors were great. Really incredible. I was totally engrossed in every single episode until the very end. The OST wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible, it didn't really catch my attention. The rewatch value for me was kind of low, because overall the ending was so much of a let down that I felt unfulfilled. It ruined my enjoyment of the series. It took me a long time to write this review, because I wanted to take some time to get away from the ending so I wouldn't base too much of my review on it's failures. This is a horror story with a little bit of romance. Too bad it got marketed as a romance. Overall, I would say it was a success. There were some good scary moments and the overall tenor of the show was horror, but often the romance got in the way of it feeling really scary. On the other side, they focused so heavily on the horror aspect that the romance kind of fell flat. There were moments when the romance took the spotlight and they were so well done. There were other moments when the horror took the spotlight and they were also so well done. I wanted the director to give the series a better focus. The horror felt less scary and the romance felt unfinished. I know there were some scenes that were shown on YouTube used to promote the show and it gave us a great glimpse of the chemistry of the main couple, however, those scenes were actually cut from the series. The last episode closes it off well, and it had moments on both the horror side and romance side that were definitely worth watching, but overall I just didn't like how let down I felt. Maybe I would go back and watch the highlights, but unfortunately I feel this show didn't have enough committment to either romance or horror to do either very well. Would still recommend, but only if you aren't picky.

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Khemjira is an interesting drama, but one with considerable flaws in editing and execution.

Khemjira is a mystical BL drama with a distinctive historical premise, yet quite uneven in its overall execution. To begin with, its story holds great potential for strong development. Culturally engaging and rooted in Thai traditions, it becomes a true gem that is hard not to admire.

For fans of the supernatural genre—reincarnation, spiritual possession, past lives, and ancient mystical deities—*Khemjira* offers an appealing dish that certainly deserves to be tasted.

Another important point that cannot go unmentioned is the commitment of the entire team to delivering a quality production. This is especially evident in the behind-the-scenes footage shown after each episode.

Unfortunately, in my view, this is where the best aspects of the drama end. I watched it until the very end mainly because of the story itself and, above all, the second couple, Chan and Jet. They completely stole the spotlight from the main protagonists.

With strong performances and chemistry that clearly extends beyond the screen, FirstOne and Tle Matimun portrayed Jet and Chan with mastery, charisma, and that lingering feeling of “wanting more.” Truly beautiful to watch.

On the other hand, the character who should have been the center of attention—Khemjira himself, portrayed by Namping—was a disappointment. Perhaps due to his young age and lack of experience, perhaps because of the way the director shaped his character, or perhaps due to his effeminate mannerisms, he failed to convey sympathy, emotional connection, charisma, or compelling chemistry.

A weak character, overly dependent on others, with an apathetic face and empty or unconvincing expressions, was undoubtedly the worst possible choice for carrying this drama.

His almost nonexistent chemistry with the handsome actor Keng Harit was a missed opportunity. Although Harit himself did not deliver a particularly strong performance—especially considering his potential—his presence in the mildly intimate scenes was appealing. Unfortunately, it simply did not work alongside Namping.

Given Thailand’s tendency to repeatedly pair the same actors across different dramas, I sincerely hope this does not happen with Harit and Namping. Otherwise, their career growth and long-term success could be compromised.

I understand that many viewers may appreciate this casting choice. I do not. Effeminate actors in BL dramas do not appeal to me. My apologies to the fans. That said, my heart remains open—perhaps one day a character like this will win me over.

In conclusion, Khemjira is an interesting drama, but one with considerable flaws in editing and execution. The episodes are excessively long, with oddly paced and unnatural dialogue. Some scenes even become unintentionally comical, with characters staring at each other, seemingly unsure of what to say or how to continue, simply waiting for the “cut” signal.

Do I recommend it? Yes—especially for the secondary couple.

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A good show, but overhyped nonetheless

When it comes to the BL as a genre, there are very few if none, actually good supernatural BL's. So it is undeniable that so far the best supernatural BL drama is Khemjira.
But that doesnt mean this show is without flaws and issues.

The most important part: ENDING IS SATISFYING. So if not for anything else, I will recommend it just so you can also get a satisfactory ending.

The good of the show is: the whole supernatural aspect and entity haunting bit. The main antagonist is a genuinely bittersweet character, you might hate her, you might love her. But no one can say she was out of place - her revenge is meaningful and has little to do with the romance. She was one of my fav characters for the show even if really scary af. The thai practices are represented well, and I think people should always respect local practices if it doesn't infringe on you. Otherwise its better not to go to a place that has strong preferences for their practice, because while you may not believe it, their believes originate from something and you can't just deny that for them.

The bad of the show is the character Khemjira himself. And I won't blame the actor for it entirely. Its the character itself which is written so poorly. Khemjira is the cursed one, but he can't get his priorities in order (and suddenly switches goals to chasing love). Instead of getting stronger for himself, all he does is cook, stitch, cry, get targeted, mope, pout and such things. It shocks me that the character is originally written this way. A person who has lived their entire life seeing ghosts and a majority of it living alone, with impending death at 21, cannot be so careless and stupid even. But he is. I don't get how, but thats how he is. So its easy to note that the character is a very difficult one to play, not because its complicated but because its actually lacks substance. I won't say the actor was particularly bad at playing this character, but the actor definitely didn't bring any additional value to this character. From what I know, this character was even less developed in the novel in terms of standing up for himself or taking action, so the fact that despite being buffed (in terms of personality) for the show, he is still such a weak main character is just sad.

This bad is balanced by other characters, specially Paran. I won't say the shaman is the most fleshed out character either, but at least his behaviour is understandable. He makes sense as a person. Whether its moments where you disagree with his behaviour or moments where you are attracted to his hot bod, he is a character that has an identify of his own. He doesn't go around offering platitudes without offering any actual results.

Which brings me to the next bad: which is the romance being forced in. Originally Khemjira's feelings for Paran do overlap due to their past relation, but at no point do you see the character question it. Although he tells others these are feelings from past life, in the end there is no genuine introspection to be seen on his end. He is already asking Paran to help him meddle with his karma and now he also wants his feelings to be reciprocated. The way its shown situation after situation, makes it seem like the show wants you to blame Paran for not returning his feelings, which is just messed up because no one owes anyone else this kind of reciprocation. Again this can all be blamed on Khemjira's own character being a hollow one.

This review is seemingly full of issues with the show, but the thing is you can already read 20 reviews with praises, so I wanna write something which focuses on the not-so-praiseworthy aspects. This show is so worth watching for the plot, you feel invested, you want to know what happened and why. But the romance aspect of it is....not as good as the plot itself. That doesn't mean you won't be getting faceful of romance and even NC scenes, there is a lot of that too. But that part feels more disjointed and glued on.

All I wanna say is: Whatever Paran couldn't do, he can do now.

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A story of "ghostly love"... or rather, a "formidable fate." :)

The serious version: A tale of two "chosen ones" who choose each other in every lifetime.

Khemjira Must Survive. And indeed, Khemjira survived. Not only that, he saved the souls of the dead. This series explores a very fresh angle compared to others in the genre, and this clever strategic move successfully created a buzz for this long-awaited project, elevating the new Thai entertainment duo to "rising star" status. That alone is enough to indicate that Khemjira has successfully nailed the standard aspects of an entertainment series: it has depth and is meticulously invested in both visuals and content.

First and foremost, the series makes a strong initial impression with its unique premise—a spiritual theme deeply intertwined with folklore and belief. I am not easily scared, so naturally, Khemjira didn't strike me as a terrifying horror series that kept me up at night. It is clearly a ghost story in every sense, but beyond the exorcisms, spirit summoning, and wandering souls, the romance remains the standout element. In fact, Khemjira balances the investigation and curse-breaking plotline parallel to the romance quite well. The two halves complement each other, walking hand in hand, just as Wat and Khem resolve past-life grievances while nurturing their love, forging a bond for this lifetime.

Beyond the spooky vibes, the theme introduces the audience to the fascinating and diverse customs of a specific Thai community. Cultural diversity is expressed through imagery, music, colorful details, and primarily through the chosen subject matter. There is also a diversity in human expression—a person can exist in any version, gender, or identity, but at their core, they remain simply human. And when two people fall in love, they just love; gender becomes irrelevant.

Watching the series, I always felt the filmmakers followed the original novel’s progression sequentially and completely, resulting in a smooth, fluid narrative with a clear, layered structure. This is the first clear success in terms of the film's construction. Thanks to the sequential handling of issues, the character introductions, the setting, and the links between sub-plots connect seamlessly without causing boredom (weaving through the past, the present, the previous life, the life before that, and even the future). The series truly built a relatively massive timeline spanning generations, constructing a systematic and substantial universe that successfully conveys the story's underlying meaning: succession. It is the succession between generations, the guardians of the village, the cursed, the old and the young, the living and the dead. It is the connection between those linked from a past life to this one, creating a bridge between past, present, and future through "spiritual" ties. Indeed, the quote at the end was incredibly powerful and encapsulated the film's atmosphere: "Bound by fate, kept by love, strengthened by never giving up." To me, the paramount factor—the alpha and the omega of every event—is always fate. Whether it is the main couple, the side couple, or any character, everyone is connected by a destined arrangement. It is an element that couldn't be more idealistic. And fittingly, that is the dominant atmosphere of the entire film: the color of destiny and idealism.

Witnessing the story unfold in a world permeated with mysticism—full of magic, spirits, and rituals that elevate religious senses—is an interesting and fresh way to perceive the world. Lovers, whether in this world or the next, will eventually be together; those who need to meet will meet. Faith, belief, and most importantly, love, create power. Love becomes the dominant force that neutralizes every curse: because Khemjira is full of love, and because the world around him is filled with love, Khemjira must survive.

Beyond the spiritual meaning and content, a huge plus point is the production value—cinematography, visuals, and sound were all handled with great care. The setting gives the film a vintage, nostalgic feel, like a period piece within a modern space. This is especially true for the smooth, romantic relationship of the main couple. Their dynamic feels fresh because both characters are written seriously with clear backstories, giving them ample space to develop according to the script without feeling shallow or jarring. Their love doesn't feel out of place; you can clearly see the trajectory of their affection and why they love each other so deeply—even if that reason leans heavily on "fatalism."

However, among all these elements, my favorite part of Khemjira is the soundtrack. The music is perfectly timed, ensuring the film rarely feels empty, creating atmosphere and storytelling through sound effectively. The chemistry between the characters lands well. While it’s evident that the actors still have room to grow, one cannot deny that the couples have a natural chemistry that doesn't rely too heavily on technical acting. Because of this, watching the film often feels like watching a "puppy love" romance—innocent, endearing, and cute. It might not perfectly fit the serious character settings, but it’s still very sweet (accidentally capturing the true essence of a first love for both of them).

The secondary couple actually has a clearer setup, and their characters stick closely to that setup from start to finish. Speaking strictly about the romance, I preferred the side couple’s dynamic slightly more, simply because I found it a bit more interesting. The main couple's relationship felt a little "safe" and occasionally relied on clichés. It seemed that, contrary to the deep connection mentioned earlier, Wat and Khem's relationship relied more on their past-life feelings than on a deep, present-day bond. I wish the film had given Khemjira a bit more time to develop their feelings in the now before introducing the tragic romance of the past. That said, the intimate interactions were well-executed. When the opportunities for kisses and conversations arose, the filmmakers—using lighting, sound, camera angles, and direction—did not miss the chance to create polished, emotional, and sweet scenes that fitted each stage of the relationship.

In general, Khemjira is a complete and well-rounded series, a standalone work with genuine depth that doesn't just chase after fan service. It is quite sophisticated, attempting to weave a story that respects the viewer's IQ and EQ. However, there are still elements that could have been developed further, as I sometimes felt something was missing. The story was somewhat predictable; because love was the dominant factor, the sub-plots weren't overly gripping. I expected more suspense and better construction in the "curse" storyline. The romance was gentle and sweet, but there were simply too many coincidences. :) The film is perhaps better suited for those more idealistically minded than I am. The final twist was impressive, even though I saw it coming, and held significant meaning. There were lingering questions—like why the villainess from the past life didn't appear, or why Nampeung only followed Khemjira—but by the end, the film made its message clear: some things happen simply because they must. So, let’s just call it destiny. :)

Finally, regarding the performances: as this is their debut project, it is understandable that the cast has room for refinement. Keng’s role was slightly more complex and demanding than Namping’s, which naturally presented a greater challenge. However, I personally felt that Namping successfully portrayed Khemjira’s various emotional ranges quite clearly. And honestly? The actor who delivered the best performance was Nampeung (the spirit). :D

The main reason the film scores an "average-good" for me is that it meets the standards—it’s stable, it’s good—but it didn't truly break through or create enough intense emotion to keep my eyes glued to the screen.

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How is the rating so high?

The story started off well. I was hooked on episode 1, but then by episode 4 it lost me. I got to episode 10 and was absolutely confused by what was going on. The second lead couple have more chemistry than the main couple. Its not because of how the characters were written (boring), maybe it was the director. Maybe the actors. I had a hard time believing they actually liked eachother. There's nothing anyone can say that could convince me this show deserves more than a 6 rating. The production value is good, music is good. The actors are good looking, but not good enough to overlook the actual acting.

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KHEMJIRA IS INDEED THE SERIES OF THE YEAR 2025??

We waited two good years just to get this show and trust me, believe me when I tell you that it has goated  beyond normal. it has exceeded, it has transcended all expectations because it was just that good.When I talk about Khemjira the first thing that comes to my head is love.  platonic love between friends, romantic love between lovers the love parents have for their children.
I tell you this show has described and it has pointed out too many good factors that literally shape our destinies.
The music, the casting, the plot, the storyline, that pacing like everything about this show is just God damn amazing 😍 😍 😍. I have to accept it at first I might have had my doubts but right now I tell you without reasonable doubts that Khemjira is indeed the series of the Year 2025.
Domundi got a fantasy series and you put it to it's best. There was nothing to complain about everything was perfect.
Shout out to the cast, shout out to the directors shout out to the fans, shout out to everybody who has made this show reach where it is.
Domundi indeed deserves it's place in the Thai entertainment industry and trust when l say that they have outdone themselves with this one❤️❤️❤️😍😍
Thank you so much and we are anxiously waiting for your next project.❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️💯💯💯💯💯💯

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A truly life changing BL.

No spoilers here! Feel free to safely read this review.

When I originally saw the trailer for this show, the first thing that stuck out to me (someone who hates horror) is that I still found myself drawn to facing my crybaby scaredy cat personality to watch this BL.

For a "horror" show, objectively it's not scary! There are a few jumpscares, but most (if not all) are really predictable and can be quickly avoided! If you are a scaredy cat like me, don't worry! I think you'll be okay.

As for the show itself, the storyline is INCREDIBLE. Loss, Yearning, Passion, Strength, Charisma, Fear, Suspense, Angst, everything you could want in a show (except it being fluffy and upbeat, though our side couple helps there) is here.

Our main couple (Kengnamping) goes through so much individually and as a duo. Their story has so many twists, turns, and things trying to keep them apart. But having their own battles to face and choosing to fight hand and hand against them, even if it's not a shared problem? Yeah, I'm weak in the knees over them.

And our side couple (Tlefirstone) Oh my gosh LOL, they're incredible! I was unfamiliar with the actors prior to Khemjira but their chemistry is off the charts! I found myself smiling over them since the first episode. Their energy and relationship is so endearing. It's everything to me! They feel like a breath of fresh air with everything the main couple has to go through.

There are endless words I could say to express my love for this show so far, but all I ask of you is to give it a fair shot. Even with each episode being over an hour somehow I felt like each was just 15 minutes.

The music, acting, chemistry, storyline, and world building of this show is unlike any other show I've ever seen. The level of detail and cultural significance in Khemjira is also everything to me. A true 10/10 recommendation from me (which is few and in between when it comes to BLs for me.)

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