Khemjira

A possible sign of what's to come

One can certainly understand the wide praise given to Khemjira. Being lauded as one of the most important BLs of 2025, it is certainly a production worth seeing.

And yet, it possesses irritating flaws. Some writing choices leave much to be desired, bordering on the absurd: for instance, why is Khem so very often alone despite the seriousness of his situation. Jet and Chan are supposed to be watching over him, but is often left unattended. Aspects like this make the series poorer.

Green, who plays Ramphueng, gives a particularly powerful interpretation of her character. So does Pung as Yos. The series gains strenght from its supperb supporting cast. The four main actors try their best, and yet one could wonder what they'd do if they had more experience under their belts.

One is left scratching one's head over the introduction of Khachen. A missed opportunity, for this character is not in any way instrumental to the plot; contrary, for instance, to the monk introduced also later in the plot, who proves essential to the resolution. Khachen's introduction should have been 2 to 3 episodes earlier, allowing for further delving into Master's past.

The series could have gained more from going deeper into the backgrounds of the characters. As such, Khem is left bordering the dangerous territory of damsel in distress and Master the role of the emotionally distant, all-powerful knight in shining armor.

Khemjira as a series does try to stray away from the common tropes of Thai BLs. Certain innovations in storytelling, the architecture of its filming, certain acting choices, do provide the outlet for it. And yet, sometimes it tends to go back to known territory. Old habits tend to die hard.

As such, I tend to see Khemjira as a work signaling a wider transition in the Thai BL industry: from somewhat poor BLs to those who encompass complexity. It is a work worth seeing, perhaps mostly for providing the tone for richer productions in the future.

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Love the visuals and effects! The ending was super fulfiling and completed.

First of all. If you are a scaredy cat like me for horror movies , skip those scary parts but persist to continue watching. Some parts cant be help as the scary supernatural part is part of the story. Is crucial. But just half open ur eyes haha

2nd . Chemistry is amazing , eyes are very expressive especially the longing and the pain. I wish the main couple had more expressive moments cause i feel 1 is too shy and the other held back too much but can be understandable from their positions and experience.

The second couple chemistry and interactions is natural n pure so is very light hearted to watch

3rd thing i like about the show is how it is all explained in the end. The questions are answered and certain things are made clear and explained. When we watch the show , there is bound to be moments where we feel that certain people should have or not have done certain things . But it is all for a reason... be patient with the plot and the rationale behind it

4th is all the effects and costume and subtle things to show the powers or intensity like glowing tattoo or the eyes the blood the veins etc . Subtle details that added alot of levels and contrast

5th the culture , the respect , the authenty of the whole show... i dont know much before watching but after watching this , it really reminds ourselves to always be mindful and why our actions whether selfish or self defence or even out of love may hurt someone or affect someone unintentionally .

6th the music and the link to the actors actions and video edit is amazing. (Spoiler) example the lyrics is like will always be with you i promise - then they hook pinkies. Or like its a seperation or fighting for each other scene n the music just matches so well with the lyrics. Usually its just the ost that means something by default but the acting continue as normal. But this show makes me feel like the scenes are coming alive n following the lyrics.

7th the actors and actresses visuals are off the roof (i love tattoos too so yes im bias) hahahaha

1 thing i dont like is how some misunderstandings could have been avoided or not dragged for too long with just open and honest communication. Like overall speed wise for the 1st couple could be faster but yes understandable that there were alot of concerns . The uncertainty and master's position and duty also make us confuse on whether they can do what they wish to.

More things you may like or dislike ,watch the show ;)

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Why Khemjira and not PeemKhem or just Khem?

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen anything outside of GMMTV, and thanks to GMMTV, I’ve become accustomed to criticizing everything about a show. However, Khemjira was a good change of pace and a reminder of what a good Thai BL is capable of.

What I enjoyed about the show:

1. The visuals, cinematography, sound, and writing.
- Visually, the color palette, theme, and filler used were all nice and go hand-in-hand with the horror theme. The actors are also visually pleasing, to a degree. Companies tend to find talents with similarities, so we got FirstOne, who looks like a mix of GMMTV’s Mix, Sea Talay, and Domundi’s Jamessu, and gave strong Yim vibes. Tle (Charn) is a mix of Bible and Mark Tuan. And Namping gave me Nunew vibes. I’m assuming all of this is intentional. I’m a big fan of the supernatural and love me a good horror show now and then. When it comes to ghosts, no one does it better than Thailand and Japan. The ghosts in here were well done, from the makeup to the CGI. Sure, I’d catch shadows here and there, but they weren’t enough to distract me from the ghosts’ appearances.
- I appreciate the cinematography here. I enjoyed the variety of camera angles, though I wish we got more zoom-ins. Overall, not much to complain about. Given that it’s a horror series, I expected good angles, and good angles were present.
- I have to say, every OST piqued my interest, and I found myself searching for the BGMs used throughout the show. The sound effects were nice, pleasant, and reflected the mood of what was going on on the screen. Although I appreciated the sound, I noticed that either there was an audio issue in ep9 or they had added Namping’s (Khem) breathing/hyperventilating over the original audio, so Khem was echoing, which was a sloppy moment.
- The writing was self-aware, and the call-backs were satisfying. At times when a character does or says something, I’d ask myself why he/she does/says that. Then, not even a few seconds later, another character will clock it, and we’ll get a reason why. This makes characters less one-dimensional and more lifelike. Some characters even held grudges over time, and this again amplifies the realistic aspect of the characters and the show.

2. I particularly enjoyed Jet, Thong, and Ake. Jet was the most consistent character, and I love a good comedy relief character. I thought this series did a good job expanding on its side and supporting characters’ lives, desires, and goals, too. No character is truly flat or useless to the plot. Domundi is superior when casting older and younger actors who can pass as the same person.

3. For the longest time, I was begging for the details of Ramphueng’s past. What was her grudge about? Why did she curse a whole bloodline? What exactly happened to her that she’ll put innocent people through hell before their 21st birthday? Admittedly, I became team Ramphueng halfway through ep9. Her backstory had me in tears, and it was the only time I cried. In my eyes, her hatred is justified. We also got to learn that she was a mother earlier on and is against killing babies, despite having been slaying other people’s adult children for nearly 260 years. I have to admit, I was rooting for Ramphueng to get her revenge and got a little too excited when Khem was willing to step outside the ring. I’d love a side story of just Ramphueng and her next life, where she reunites with her son.

4. I love that, unlike other series, it took a while to defeat Ramphueng. Showing just how truly powerful she is. I’m tired of "powerful" villains being wiped out within 10-20 minutes of screentime.

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What I didn’t enjoy about the show (in no particular order):

1. I’m going to get heat for this, but I did not like Khem. Be it Namping's limited acting or bad direction, Khem was capable of five facial expressions. Trying to cry, on the verge of crying, trying to look worried, staring, and smiling. Namping’s cries piss me off. I hate that Khem is coddled, the damsel in distress, slow, and can’t sympathize with other people. He saw the Madam throw Ramphueng’s baby into the water, and dared to act like he was the ultimate victim. I hated that Ramphueng genuinely apologized to Khem and offered to make up for her actions, whereas Khem couldn’t understand that her actions up until then were because of what was done to her baby and her being flogged to death. Khem really thought Ramphueng was just seeking revenge for herself, even after the fact. He seriously didn’t realize this until after it was over and they got to ask the monk questions. This further pissed me off. But seriously, I stopped liking and caring for Khem earlier on when he was going back and forth with Peem about lifting his curse. Peem made it clear he wouldn't help because he promised his grandfather that he wouldn’t intervene with others’ karma. Which makes sense because if he interferes with Khem’s karma, others would expect him to help them as well. Every time Khem pushes it, Peem always asks, “Do you want me to break my promise to my grandfather?”. Khem would never say yes, but would keep begging, basically asking Peem to break the promise so that Khem could live past 21. Not only did Khem want Peem to break his promise, Khem also decided to low-key gaslight and manipulate Peem by cooking and cleaning up Peem’s place. Like boi, you’re asking to stay at his place and don’t pay any bills, the least you can do is cook and clean. When Peem said Khem had ulterior motives for becoming Peem’s student, Khem acted oblivious when it was clear as day that he did have selfish motives. Khem’s selfishness doesn’t stop there; the guy constantly tries to make Peem jealous just because Khem himself liked Peem. Khem didn’t act like a 20-year-old who’s on the verge of being horrendously killed. He’s worried about love and was pouting when Peem, who has a long life ahead of him, didn’t reciprocate right away. I can’t root for a manipulative, selfish, and weak character. I refuse to. Khem's relationship with his mom was sweet when he was a kid, but as he got older, it felt forced. He'd forget about his mom until she shows up to protect him.

2. The chemistry between Keng/Peem and Namping/Khem wasn’t chemistrying. The romance was painfully dry, bitter, and confusing. Their past lives were constantly a factor in how they SHOULDN’T and AREN’T currently into each other. The show tries in more ways than once to convey that they love each other, but not because of their feelings from the past. Since it came up so much, I started to wonder if the show even believed Peem and Khem’s love was genuine. Peem and Khem’s romance was a slow burn and not worth the burn. They should have bypassed the romance or at least developed it more naturally.

3. The timeline was a mess, and the math wasn’t mathing. About 20 minutes into ep1, Khem said in 6 months he’ll be 21. And not even 10 minutes of screen time later, they go on their volunteer camp, which supposedly happened one month before Khem’s 21st birthday, per Charn's claim in ep11 of how long since he’s met/known Jet. So, within 10 minutes, there was a 5-month skip without superimposition? Also, Ramphueng was 21 in 1767/1768, so how has she, to quote Peem in ep11, “been growing her power for over 400 years”…? That’s less than 260 years, sir. The loophole of Khem being born at 6 AM was a nice touch, though predictable. Also, appreciate Peem for letting us know what exactly will happen if Khem doesn’t die before 21.

4. School and the volunteer camp were afterthoughts. Other than doing it for Khem, why did Jet suggest bringing a whole group of students to a dangerous place where possessions and spirits are common? And besides the painting, what was ‘volunteering’ about the camp? The whole time they were there, it didn’t feel like a club trip for students. We never found out what happened to those three bullies, and the girlfriend of one of the bullies didn't seem to care all that much about him on multiple occasions.

5. Just me nitpicking, but when Charn and Jet were being pursued, Charn turned the wheel left, but the car went right…

6. Another serious confusion is, was Ramphueng chasing both Khem’s soul and Khem’s bloodline? Or how was Khem and his mom so unlucky as to be born into the same cursed line twice/thrice?

7. What angers me the most was the revelation in ep10. You mean to tell me, these characters spent a whole lot of their break at this shaman’s house when the curse could have been lifted if Khem had just survived past turning 21..? WHAT!? Then what help did Khem really need from the Master? Peem’s place itself was relatively safe as long as Khem wasn’t dumb enough to fall for all the red flags, so why not just stay there until his birthday? Is it really a curse if Ramphueng was responsible for most of the incidents? Also, why did Khem run away instead of taking responsibility for falling for Ramphueng's tricks? I get that Grandma Si wasn't Khem's fault, but Thong and Ake, too? Peem really concocted that BS so that nothing's Khem's fault.

8. I understand why there were fewer ghosts as the story progresses, but the cutback was very abrupt. Except for the forest scene where Ramphueng jumped in front and mind-controlled one of the purer spirits, all of the jump scares were predictable. They were given away either by the music, utter silence, or camera placement/angles. I don’t mind it, but I wish there were more ghosts and jump scares.

9. The fact that their past lives seem to have an impact on their current ones is concerning. But also not worth diving into.

10. I didn’t care for the latter half of the final episode. Sorry, not sorry.

All in all, if Khemjira were 2-4 episodes shorter, it would have gotten a 10 from me. But because of how lengthy it is, including some episodes ranging from 1 to 2 hours, it became draggy and boring at times. Still, it’s a good watch and I’d recommend it to anyone who can handle dark and horror.

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The chemistry was chemistrying, but the romance wasn’t romancing for the main couple

As someone who's been dipping my toes into the Thai BL dramas for a few years, I have been expecting a lot more from Khemjira. Let me tell you, this series had me feeling some pretty mixed emotions.

On one hand, I truly enjoyed watching the rich cultural and supernatural elements woven throughout the story. The show's deep dive into Thai mythology, shamanism, and the paranormal was a refreshing change of pace from the typical BL fare.

It was like a crash course in fascinating local folklore, and I ate it up. The production quality was also top-notch, with the longer episode runtime allowing the narrative to unfold at a more leisurely pace. As someone who appreciates a slow burn, I definitely liked that we had a lot of fleshed out scenes.

However, despite all these enticing aspects, I have to admit that Khemjira didn't quite live up to the hype for me. When I saw that rating here was 8.8, I was really expecting something extra extraordinary, especially in the romance department.

And the biggest issue I had with the drama is the lack of properly developed romance between the main leads, Khem and Peem. While their connection was rooted in a past-life narrative, the present-day development of their relationship felt incomplete and almost one-sided. Khem, in particular, came across as a passive and rather uninteresting character, failing to garner my sympathy and investment in his journey.

Khem's character development, or lack thereof was very disappointing. Of course, I did not expect from him to be doing some unnatural acrobatics, but he was reduced to cooking and washing dishes. He didn't seem to have any other interests. I think if the storyline about him being into art was developed a little bit more that would probably make him at least a bit more interesting.

Compared to Knockout," where the physically weaker protagonist actively participates in problem-solving and team efforts, Khem's passivity and reliance on others felt frustrating. As a viewer, I found it challenging to root for a character who seemed to be merely a "damsel in distress" rather than an active participant in his own story. I basically agree with everyone that I have seen said the same thing about the character.

Acting:

Keng’s performance of the shaman was a particular highlight. His Master was way too believable. I also am not going to put down Namping’s acting because I think he had to work with whatever was in the script. And as I have mentioned above, his character was not written very well. So I am not going to compare their acting because I haven't seen them in any other drama before.


In contrast, the secondary couple's storyline felt much more well-rounded and engaging, with a stronger sense of chemistry and emotional investment. This disparity between the main and supporting narratives was a bit jarring. I mean, the writers missed an opportunity to truly capitalize on the potential of the central romance.

NC scenes: they were well done, especially Charn and Jet’s scene. I thought it was the best one of the series. The NC in the final episode for lead couple wasn’t as good as the first scene they had in the earlier episode. But that’s just me.

Let’s put it this way: the chemistry was chemistrying, but the romance wasn’t romancing for the lead couple.


That being said, I did like the series for its bold departure from the traditional BL formula. Its cultural depth and production value is great, but ultimately the drama falls short in the crucial area of the well-developed romance between the main characters. While it may not have lived up to the hype for me, the series still offers a unique and thought-provoking experience. With more attention to the main character development and a stronger central romance it could have been a 15 out of ten for me. It's still worth a watch if you like slow burn.

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Past and present dance until they collide.

This is a tough show to rate because my feelings about Khemjira are a bit scattered right now.
Yes, I know he’s very loved — hey, I know!

If I rated the series solely on its horror elements, it would be a one-star watch. There’s nothing that gives me the creeps, makes me look over my shoulder at night, makes me sleep with the lights on, or makes me afraid to peek out the window.
That said, I can’t judge an entire show just on the creep factor. After all, horror is only a small part of the whole story.

But It’s a Love Story

And you know what? If you’re looking for a romance with a ghostly backdrop, it’s actually quite good. It’s about love that doesn’t look the way we expect — and about the quiet, stubborn courage it takes to keep existing fully in a world that keeps trying to erase you.

The romance is definitely more of a slow burn, but I feel like it had the perfect pacing and just the right balance between friendship and chemistry.
The characters themselves were fascinating, each shaped by rich and complex backstories that made them feel alive.

Peem
On the outside, he’s cool, composed, maybe even hard to read.
But inside? There’s ache. There’s hope — the kind that shapes his drive, like he’s always chasing something just out of reach.
Khem’s connection with him isn’t just romantic — it’s liberating. It gives him permission to be soft, to feel deeply, without losing his edge.

Khem
Oooo, boy… He shows that bravery isn’t about being unafraid of what others fear — it’s about being afraid and doing it anyway.

I loved Chan and Jet. Especially Chan — a man of action.
I love words of affirmation, but I’m a sucker for acts of service — those little things that show love without needing to say it out loud.

The show starts off strong, and the final episodes are great too.
The middle, though, has its ups and downs when it comes to keeping my attention.
And while the ending was powerful and satisfying, it was also a bit predictable.I just wanted one more twist — something to make me gasp, even if just once more.

So… looking back, I should’ve known my expectations were too high. This is a love story, after all. But the heart wants what it wants — and mine wanted a scary ghost story.

Still, I can’t deny it: this is a incredible show. Flawed, yes. But full of heart.

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It doesnt get any better than this

Story – Exceptionally complex and rich in detail, told from beginning to end without leaving out a single thing. Every question finds its answer; nothing is left hanging. The antagonist has a deeply tragic backstory that allows you to understand her — something rarely achieved. The entire process is explained, from the very beginning of their first life, with perfect pacing. The story develops naturally from the first day onward; nothing is rushed. You’re given the time to feel every emotion, right up to the ending, which is complete, meaningful, and deeply satisfying.

Quality – The cinematography, costume design, and CGI are flawless — something that’s rarely seen even in mainstream series, let alone in a BL production.

Music – Every song was created and performed by the actors themselves, and each one is exceptional — emotional, powerful, and beautifully produced. They’re the kind of songs people would listen to even outside the context of the series.

Acting – Starting with the leads:

Namping portrayed a character who is emotionless, frightened, and very young — someone who could easily have come off as dull — yet he made you want to protect and love him. Truly mesmerizing.

Keng brought to life a shaman who seems cold at first but is actually yearning for love and peace — his performance left me speechless.

Tie and Firstone were both incredible: playful, loyal, brave, and full of love — their chemistry and warmth were unforgettable.

Ramphueng gave an Oscar-worthy performance. She made us hate her for the terrible things her character did to innocent people, yet by the end, you find yourself wishing her happiness and peace because of how much pain and emotion she conveyed.

All the supporting actors were outstanding in their own ways — from the grandmother who radiates warmth and love, to the two children whose talent is astonishing for their age, to the brother and sister who appeared briefly yet felt so real and grounded. Every single actor contributed something unique and heartfelt.

Message – The series carries a rare and powerful message: that persistence, courage, understanding, care, and love truly conquer all.

This is not just a story or a show — it’s a feeling. It stays with you forever and raises the standard not only for BL dramas or Asian television, but for storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

Bravo to everyone involved — you deserve an Oscar.

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Might be the best series I've watched in a long time...

I don't often leave reviews on series but this one deserves my time. Amazing...TRULY AMAZING. I was hooked from the very beginning, and my attachment and interest in the series only grew over the episodes. The entire plot was perfectly formed and executed throughout the series. Each character was beautifully written and thought out to give us endearing souls. Ramphueng was for me a perfect villain with the most painful backstory, who redeemed herself at the end. People may say that her end wasn't the best but personally it was exactly how I imagined it, she deserved her "happy" ending too...
As for the romance part, it was perfectly executed too. I saw many people saying that the slow burn was waaay too long, but I think that it gave time to both of the couples to really forge a strong and passionate bond. And also I'm happy that it was, of course, part of the curse plot BUT that it didn't take over it.
The whole cast was made in heaven, every single actor had their place and added a unique touch to the series. Very refreshing acting from everyone, especially Keng and Namping whose next projects I am eagerly awaiting. As well as Tle and Firstone whose chemistry also was of the chart, very pure and beautiful.
And of course, how could I end this without talking about the whole visual aspect of the series...As a huge cinematography fan, this entire production was a blessing to the eyes : the sets all came out of paradise, same goes to the entire visuals/magic effects and THE COLORIMETRY ??

So yes, dare I say this is the best series of 2025 and THE series that's changing and shaking the whole BL world

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Really hope this is the new standard for BL!!

I LOVE that they wrapped up the Rhampeung stuff within the first half an hour and spent the rest on the aftermath. Her stuff really didn't need to be dragged further. Charnjet were so cute ahhhhh!! Also peemkhem, omg my heart. THE WAY THONG AND AKE CAME BACK AS THEIR KIDS WAS SO ADORABLE!!!! ? I really really loved this series so so much. I actually feel contempt with this. Like ususally I am so sad because they resolve the issue and by the time that's done, we only get to see the characters for another 10-20mins. This was lovely though. It didn't feel rushed or dragged out. I'll miss them so so much though, it doesn't need a special ep but I would love one ? What a wonderful series. I really didn't expect anything going into this and feel like I won the lottery lmao. Hoping that other bls take notes on this series because wow. I love it with all my heart. So creative, and beautiful, and ahhh just I can't even put my feelings into words because it was just that amazing. I'll really really miss this series. I fell in love with the ost's, the characters, the storyline, the chemistry... It will be so hard to find another series like this, but right now I am so glad to be alive to have witnessed this beautiful piece haha. The gl storyline was so good too ahhh (honestly, I really enjoyed all the backstories) . The whole thing with the wedding and all that, Jin asking if there is a time where the same gender could get married... ahhh all of it was just so so good. They did such a good job I can't believe it ? This series made me laugh, cry, squeal, jump, all the possible emotions out there. I feel so thankful for all the emotions and moments this series has given me, from actually watching it, to discussing it with my friends. It was truly wonderful. I have watched a lot of bus, from really trashy ones, to genuinely good ones. But damn, this one really blew my mind. I had a wonderful time watching this, and I hope to see many more amazing series like this in the future, it will be hard, but I really hope it does happen. There are many more things that I could mention, because this series has so so many amazing features and I would be talking forever if I started, so I'll leave it at this. I feel like you could really tell that everybody involved put a lot of care and thought into this, and it really paid off.

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One of the best Thai drama's

Khemjira is truly an amazing drama. A stroy about surviving the revenge of a vengeful ghost. The story is very well executed, everything is well explained so you don't have any questions afterwards. I loved how the last episode was extra long and had about an hour of after story. In most drama's when the main plot is done it's finished, but here you get to see an hour of their lives after, that was sooo good!
I really loved the two young spirits, they brouht so much fun to this drama. This drama was very thrilling, but i also laughed an cried, i love it when a drama gives so many emotions.

The visuals were stunning, and the special effects amazing! So many attention for details. The music was very beautiful.
And i wasn't even mad about the product placements, they were very subtle.

The acting of the entire cast was amazing.
The dynamics and chemistry of both couples was out of this world, and the kisses and bed scene's amazing and beautiful. You knew exactly what they were doing without making it vulgair, it was really beautiful. I love it when they do it that way.

Definatly a must see, you'll be amazed!

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Khemjira takes the “BL” genre to another level

Khemjira é uma das poucas adaptações que não só é bem executada, como consegue elevar o trabalho original para um outro nível. Em uma indústria que muitas vezes falha em aspectos diferentes enquanto produz um BL, Khemjira aparece como um exemplo de como esforço e confiança em um projeto podem construir uma série de alta qualidade. O roteiro de Khemjira é genuinamente impressionante; muitas vezes, BLs se prendem em desenvolver apenas os protagonistas, e mesmo quando existem subtramas, elas dificilmente conseguem ser bem desenvolvidas. Essa série, por outro lado, encontra o equilíbrio perfeito entre seus protagonistas e todas as tramas que os envolvem. Khemjira trabalha com várias histórias diferentes e consegue fazer isso sem negligenciar nenhuma delas, uma habilidade realmente louvável.

Com uma narrativa fluida e uma escrita competente, e mais importante, com o valor que Khemjira dá a seus personagens, é difícil não se sentir encantado por eles. Mas apenas um bom roteiro não se sustenta sem um bom elenco, o que é bom, porque o elenco de Khemjira é impecável em todos os momentos da série. Claro que pessoalmente ainda tenho algumas ressalvas quanto a algumas atuações, mas no plano geral, Khemjira entregou tantas performances marcantes que essas preocupações parecem pequenas. Desde a estreia do Pung até a volta do Keng às telas, é como se você estivesse constantemente descobrindo novos talentos. E não só isso, mas a escolha do elenco se eleva em vários níveis, sejam nas versões das vidas passadas ou na versão jovem dos personagens; de fato, um trabalho bem executado.

Por fim, não poderia deixar de mencionar como Khemjira se comprometeu em mostrar temas além do romance. Trazendo uma série para fora da cidade e indo ao interior da Tailândia para explorar a religião e costumes de um pequeno povoado é sair da curva da melhor forma possível. Uma escolha de ambientação como essa poderia ser perigosa, mas o comprometimento em mostrar com respeito outras partes de uma cultura entregou um trabalho sensível e com grande valor cultural.

De verdade, eu poderia falar horas sobre todos os aspectos de Khemjira que tornam esse BL tão rico, mas acho que a produção se explica sozinha e mostra que existe sim a possibilidade de fazer obras que se estendam além do rótulo "boys love", sem se escorar em narrativas pobres e uso excessivo da sexualização, além de mostrar que existe um público que anseia por obras de boa qualidade.

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Humble, Yet Hauntingly Beautiful.

I came to know about the existence of this series after coming across the pilot episode, which already had amassed a whopping number of views – apparently it was already based on a widely popular novel with a huge number of fans, which sets the bar really high.

9.0 is an overblown score, but this is the best that the company had made in a while. It'll be much closer to 8 or 8.5/10. The 0.5 is for the characters.

Why did I begin this? It aired right after The Next Prince and the timing is convenient enough for me to follow throughout its run.

Well, well… Khemjira is a shocking surprise as it now sits right up there with dramas such as Not Me, Triage, Something in my Room and I Feel You Linger In The Air in my books.

It's also a heavily character driven story.
There is a high chance that one might not be able to connect to the story if the characters haven't caught up with them.
So, if you are looking for a logical, character driven, yet completely heartfelt and emotional drama, this one is for you.

I'll get started.

☆ When boiled down to the bones, Khemjira, to me, is one of those classic tales I’ve heard as a child -- young males in a family are bound to fall victim to a malevolent spirit's curse: none of them would live past the age of 21. And the women are bound to suffer illnesses, passing away before reaching old age.

And Khae knew this better than anyone else. In an attempt to save her son’s life, she names him Khemjira, hoping it would hide his identity as a male child. However, when she falls gravely ill and Khemjira starts to see the unnatural, she seeks help from Grandmaster Sek, who gives him an amulet for his protection.

15 years later, with only a month left till he turns 21, Khem realizes that his protection was failing after narrowly missing fatal blows. He confides in his happy-go-lucky friend Jettana, who decides to take him to his Master, the late Grandmaster Sek’s grandson, Pharan, a seemingly cold, young shaman with whom his fate had crossed in the past.

☆ First and foremost, there are a million ways in which this drama could go wrong - with only four characters permanently on screen, one single mystery and an established backstory, Khemjira could easily be dumbed down as boring and slow.

Is the drama slow at times? Yes.
Is the script powerful? 100%.
Is it a masterpiece? Definitely no.

To me, for a story to be solid, the plot need not have to be convoluted with twists and turns or a gazillion characters to keep one entertained.
I'm used to hearing stories like these when I was a kid, so being able to pull off 12 episodes of it while establishing the past storylines, relationships, friendships and flashbacks all into 50 minutes is no joke.

☆ We basically see Khem and his college friends visit the village for their semester break. Khem has the ulterior motive to get help from Pharan, but Pharan knows that dealing with someone else's karma is not something he should be doing. Jet and his newfound ‘friend’ Charn are invested in saving Khem from his inevitable future, but drawing all this out for 12 episodes takes skill.

(I'm kind of glad that The Next Prince was released first before Khemjira because the contrast in writing is clearly visible. That too, from the same Directors and company. I can imagine the wars that would've been waged had the reverse happened.)

Khemjira proves that flamboyance and thrills are not needed to convey a good story.
The plot has a solid direction that it was heading to. I never once felt that the 12 episodes were a waste even once.

☆ To me, the real heroes are the characters.
They were realistic, relatable and logical. It was one of those times that I've felt that I was going through a journey with them instead of watching them from the sidelines.

No story can be told well without well-fleshed out characters that aren’t air dropped into existence. Or maybe I’m telling this because I know people very similar to these college kids.
I can see people are surprised that this is a Domundi production as everyone seems to keep low expectations; a good script and well fleshed out lovable characters are all that is needed to elevate a drama to greater heights.

Starting off with the seemingly weak Khemjra, the namesake of the drama. I personally know someone who is very similar to him. Although always appearing as a smiling, caring and soft spoken boy, his backstory is extremely dark. He has only a month left to live; his mother had passed away and his father had chosen a life of ordination in hopes of prolonging their son’s life.

There are moments in the drama where his emotions explode, but it’s evident that it is solely not because of his crush on his potential savior.
Namping plays the role to a tee - Khemjira might be outwardly weak, but he was mentally, one of the strongest. And perhaps one of the most empathetic characters I've seen onscreen.

To balance for his soft and slow nature is his best friend, Jet. A sprightly young man with carpe diem as his motto, his shenanigans and fanboy behaviour is one to watch. While he sees romance in everything, Charn, a psychology student, exists to counteract and provide a rational view of matters.
This perfect balance of both supporting characters along with Khem provide a wholesome experience.
Both Jet and Charn were the comedic relief of the rather bleak story and it was absolutely hilarious.
Their friendship is relatable, lively and realistic. It is what makes this drama a worthy watch.
No character is left discarded and no storylines seem unfinished.

There is Pharan. Following his grandfather's footsteps, he takes on the role of the powerful shaman of the village, respected by everyone regardless of their age. But, the struggles he had witnessed on his path towards it has made him cold and aloof. He is initially both amused and enraged by Khem's antics, and while I did feel to whack him at times, he slowly grew on me.
He was the ‘mystery' of the show. And the writers cleverly utilised it, taking the smart route, introducing characters who have already established their position in his life, through which we get to know him little by little via flashbacks at the beginning of each episode.

Honestly, I felt to laugh whenever he appeared with sunglasses on.

☆ And last, but never the least is Rampheung, the villain of the story. Her existence and presence is what makes the drama fall into the ‘horror’ genre. But, the manner in which her tale is revealed, all the while taking sweet time to seep her icy intent into the episodes cast a constant shadow throughout it. This is where the scriptwriter won.
She is not evil for the sake of it — her backstory, empathy, grief and rage all had explanations. I couldn't truly hate her. Green, the actress kicked the ball out of the park with her performance.

Every single one of the cast members were perfect for the role. I can't find a single thing to complain about.


☆ Relationships:

The very backbone of this series. The one that I find memorable is Khem's relationship with his parents. Although it's a very sad one, and easily overlooked, it was done with care and thought – we begin the tale with them. And it's only fair that we end it with them.
Khem was in constant touch with his family all through the series. His parents’ conversation in EP2 was touching, yet shed light on the fact of how tragic Khem's life truly was.
Master (Pharan) and his relationship with his mother in particular influenced his actions and decisions till the very end.

The next are the ‘ships’.
Or rather romantic relationships. Though, I did not expect it to have too many intense moments, considering how dark the atmosphere was, the writers and characters surprised me.

I don't board any ship, but oh boy, the writers knew what they were scrawling because the development of each one of them was convincing and realistic.

Initially, Khem is enamoured by Master's good looks and admits that he simply has a crush on him; it takes him one month to break down his icy barriers. Master is initially surprised and amused by Khem's acts of service to get on his good side, but as he realizes that beyond their past lives and the curse, he was a genuinely good soul, he begins to grudgingly admit that he was fighting a losing battle.
It was slow burn at it's finest, yet hit all the marks without being cheesy.

The relationship between Master, the villagers and Yai Si were some of the other golden treasures of this show.

Jet and Charn were the abrupt couple, but never once did I feel that they were out of character. The progress of their relationship was well balanced and emotional, may it be as Jin and Da or Jet and Charn.

☆ The friendship between Jet and Khem is noteworthy because it's ultimately the one which led Khemjira to meet Master. This theme of friendship and found family persists throughout the entire series, never losing focus.
Then there is Khachen. I don't fan girl over actors, but I cheered when Net came on screen because I felt sorry for him as Prince Calvin.

☆ The overall production is rather subdued without flamboyance. Maybe because the entire production is more on the spiritual side of matters? But, it fits well with the theme.

☆ OST:
Mantra sung by Keng Harit in one of the most beautiful melodious songs I've ever heard in my life. I don't even listen to melodies or slow songs, and this one managed to impress me. (The last one that caught my attention was I Trust You by Daou Pittaya for The Next Prince.)

As for the opening… honestly, I skip it all the time because everything reminds me of going to a temple. Heck, the sound of the conch is the first thing I used to hear when I used to wake up at 5 in the morning.

☆ Another cold prickly I felt was that we didn't get to see Master's side of his feelings for Khem. The plot took over most of the screen time and we got to see only Khem's slow and inevitable fall. Master had a lot going on aside from the romance aspect and I personally felt that providing a couple of minutes for it would've been fine. It felt abrupt; some of the scenes.
I'm not complaining, though. It also might be because his character is restrained.
Another thing? The plot does get intermixed and sort of loses focus around EP4 or EP5. The romance aspect will inevitably appear bland if conveyed this way on paper, but the performances filled in the gaps. Or atleast attempted to.

☆ [I might be a bit biased in my rating as I watched this during certain turbulent times. And after the Next Prince, this one is leaps and bounds above it.]
Some random stuff that I'm writing down just to remember this drama by: The first thing that came to my mind while I watched EP1 was how my mother would never be able to watch Khemjira.

She grew up frequenting and studying in temples, enjoying temple fairs and used to speak about how she had witnessed possessions in real time to the point that it scared and disturbed even at the slightest mention of the unnatural. She also used to say how parents used to ask kids to not visit homes where young mothers or children had passed away. Seeing Master exorcising a lady in EP1 reminded me of that.


And as someone who is currently living in a location steeped in ancient rituals and beliefs, this drama speaks to me.
We literally have festivals where people draw designs, fast for days and summon deities.
Even Rampheung's story is similar to ancient legends that I heard when I was a kid. No ghost is simply malevolent in many of those stories.

Another thing? There are wild hogs where I live, so most of us are asked to watch out for hogs all the time, too. I found that scene with Jet and Charn funny because of this and it also brought a touch of nostalgia.

☆ I also wonder how good the actual novel was. I suspect that the original story was quite solid or maybe the scriptwriters were talented and had a vision in mind.
Domundi series often begin strong, then fall to aimless wandering plotlines and the only one that I truly liked was Your Sky as it delivered exactly what it was advertised as.
This series set the bar high for DMD stories in general.
Now, my attention is on Love Upon A Time, as it too, is adapted from a novel. Though, I'll keep my hopes low.

I feel like I'm bidding farewell to a friend, which this drama truly had been to me since August. It made the dark times brighter and brought about a strange sense of nostalgia, happiness and sheer joy. It was well written, acted and I applaud each and everyone behind the scenes for creating this.

I, for one, am definitely sure that Khemjira will indeed survive, for a long time in my memory.

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