The Heart Killers

A Stylish but Hollow Ride

Jojo Tichakorn Phukhaotong's The Heart Killers had all the makings of a standout Thai BL drama: an intriguing premise, a strong leading pair in First Kanaphan and Khaotung Thanawat, and stylish production design. Loosely inspired by Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the beloved teen film 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), the series promised a blend of action, comedy, and romance. Unfortunately, it falls short of its potential, bogged down by weak writing, inconsistent tone, and lackluster performances from some of its cast.

A Promising Setup

The story follows Kant Pattanawat (First Kanaphan), a tattoo artist and reluctant police informant, as he infiltrates the lives of two assassin brothers, Bison (Khaotung Thanawat) and Fadel (Joong Archen). The two operate a burger joint as their cover, but their bloody past and hidden motivations make them dangerous targets. Kant, in an effort to gain their trust, enlists his friend Style (Dunk Natachai) to get close to Fadel, setting off a complicated game of deception, attraction, and betrayal.

Where It Falls Apart

While the premise had potential, the execution leaves much to be desired. The biggest issue lies in the script—it’s riddled with plot holes and contrivances. The show struggles to balance its tone, oscillating between lighthearted romance and gritty crime drama without fully committing to either. One moment, the assassin duo are hardened killers, the next they’re bumbling through situations with the finesse of amateur criminals. The action sequences lack credibility, and the stakes feel low despite the supposedly dangerous world these characters inhabit.

Character development is another weak point. Bison and Fadel are meant to be formidable hitmen, but their actions often contradict this. Their backstory, which should add weight to their choices, is underdeveloped, making it difficult to invest in their emotional arcs. Kant and Style’s infiltration scheme is flimsy at best, making it hard to believe that experienced killers would fall for their tactics so easily.

Performance Woes

First and Khaotung carry the series with their undeniable chemistry and acting prowess. They bring depth to their roles, making their relationship one of the few redeeming aspects of the show. Parn Thanaporn, as Mother/Lilly, also delivers a strong performance, injecting some much-needed gravitas.

On the other hand, Dunk and Joong struggle to keep up. Dunk’s expressions and delivery often feel flat, as if he’s reading from a script rather than embodying his character. His lack of emotional range makes key moments fall flat. Joong shows effort but ultimately fails to bring the complexity that Fadel’s role demands. Their dynamic, which should be as compelling as the other pair, ends up feeling forced and lacking chemistry.

A Series Made for Fandom, Not Storytelling

It’s hard to shake the feeling that The Heart Killers was made more to capitalize on the popularity of its cast rather than to tell a solid story. The romance-heavy focus comes at the expense of a coherent plot. Scenes often feel strung together without logic or continuity, as if the director prioritized aesthetics over narrative flow.

Some sequences border on absurdity—how does Fadel manage to drag an unconscious man to a conveniently placed empty swimming pool with one hand? Why do the police fail to notice two people in giant teddy bear costumes? How does Kant, a supposed informant, wait until he’s fully tied up before deciding to escape? The lack of realism is frustrating and makes it hard to stay engaged.

Production and Cinematic Strengths

Despite its storytelling flaws, the show excels in visual presentation. The cinematography, set design, and coloring are top-notch, creating a stylish world that’s pleasing to the eye. The NC (non-consensual) scenes, while meant to be intense, become cringeworthy rather than impactful due to the lack of emotional weight behind them.

Final Verdict

As much as I wanted to love The Heart Killers, it ultimately left me disappointed. Fans of Joong and Dunk may enjoy it for the pairings alone, but for those looking for a well-written, gripping drama, this isn’t it. The lack of narrative depth, clunky execution, and weak performances from half the cast make it a forgettable addition to the Thai BL genre. If you’re after eye candy and don’t mind shutting off your brain, it might be a passable watch. Otherwise, I’d suggest spending your time on something with more substance.

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The rating here is bullsh*t

If you don't judge the series based on one NC scene, you can see how well they are all performing. First managed to make his character so different from Yok and Sand that I'm speechless cuz I thought Kant would be a mixture of those two but First managed to make them so different! I really enjoy all his scenes with him! Then Khaotung, God, how can he be a cute baby and a slutty killer at the same time? Next to Fadel he really turns into this little rascal but with Kant he's not holding back. I also love how many emotions Bison expresses. Especially when he thought about dating Kant even though he didn't want to meet him again. Joong rocked his role as well, I know him as a golden retriever, in his series too though he already impressed me in The Warp Effect. About Dunk, I still don't understand the criticism he gets from many watchers. It's like his previous acting got stuck in their brain and they are unable to see his current acting which is far better than before. I know some of his scenes don't look natural but it's still far better.
The only problem I had was with the sound effects like the "creepy" sound when Kant and Style entered the restaurant or when Kant was chewing the burger. It was weird but I'm used to the sound effects being used bad in GMMTV series like the huffing sound in Kidnap or more, I also noticed that some scenes were copypasted from 10 things I hate about you but I know it was the main inspiration for it.

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I'm at a loss for what to type, because in my personal opinion this series is very extraordinary. starting from the cast, the main cast to the supporting cast also acted very cool. in my opinion the acting of the people in this series is not stiff, everyone is very great. the acting of FirstKhaotung and Joongdunk is also very extraordinary. They are very brave to take on the roles in this series. I love how they portray their characters here, Bison who is adorable but also dangerous, Fadel who is calm but also scares me a little, Style who is fun and makes me laugh because of his behavior and also Kant who makes me crazy because I really like Kant's character here and I also really appreciate P'Jojo and the team behind the scenes for creating this series so well. Furthermore, for the OST of this series "Destroy Love" I really like it. In my opinion, this song is very fitting to be sung by Khaotung, I feel if this song is intended only for Khaotung.
I'm really waiting for the next episodes!!!

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