A must-watch series
As a fan of both horror and GL, I don’t regret giving this a shot. Deym, the first episode already hooked my interest. I thought it would be cringe for me, but the outcome was the opposite. The acting is great, and I can see their potential. Though the story might be predictable, and honestly, there are some parts that seem off. But that doesn’t stop me from watching it until the end.For me, it’s giving slow-burn vibes, and that’s what I love the most! It already makes me giggle even when they’re just staring at each other. OMYGHAD.
I also admire their face cards, the first time I saw the two female leads, I was like, . I really hope there are more series like this to come. Some people might not like it because it’s too different from the usual series, but I assure anyone who’s undecided and planning to watch this: YOU WON’T REGRET IT.
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Overall opinion
The plot is very interesting, keeps you on edge as to why the poor MC is haunted by the vengeful spirit. But as the story progress we know the story behind everything that happens. Still eager to know what new episodes gonna reveal. Acting wise I felt Boon's character is a bit lacking but I can see the efforts. By episode 8 I'm also kinda heartbroken by how Kwan's life ended.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I'm surprised this drama isn't more popular! The plot was interesting and different from the typical GL, and the actors were all absolutely phenomenal. It can be fun watching shows where the characters are morally gray, and you end up sympathizing with the antagonist. That's how I felt watching this show. The series is way too short for me! I didn't mind the slow burn, but I do wish we got just a little more intimate scenes between Win and Boon. I think there wasn't a lot of time to show us more of that side. I prefer plot-driven GLs than ones that rely on romance scenes to keep the viewers engaged, though I still wish we could've had a couple more scenes of Win and Boon even just cuddling or flirting with each other. Despite that, I still thoroughly enjoyed all the moments Win and Boon shared. The actresses did an amazing job portraying chemistry between the two characters even when they were just exchanging looks.
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such a breath of fresh air!!!! and easily one of the most compelling storylines i’ve seen in a gl in a long time.with such limited time, especially since the romance wasn’t always the central focus, the fact that you could actually feel the attraction naturally building between the leads is a testament to just how well done it was in my opinion, i found myself rooting for the main characters while being just as interested in the larger story surrounding them.
i also went in with very few expectations beyond knowing that people generally just said it was good, but by the end of the second episode, i was completely hooked. as the story continued, it started touching on heavier topics like self-harm, abuse, sexual violence, trauma, obsession, codependency, ect.., i appreciated how much darker and more ambitious it was willing to be compared to a lot of gls and that completely hooked me.
the character writing was easily one of the strongest parts of the series. one of my favorite things about consuming media is morally gray complex characters, being able to study characters and ponder on their actions is one of my favorite things to do.
even with the limited runtime, the characters felt real, coherent, three-dimensional and complex. i loved that the show didn’t flatten them into easy categories of “good” and “bad,”. there isn’t really a clear innocent party or perfect victim in the past timeline, and i liked that the writers challenged the viewer to sit with that discomfort. we're shown that kwan and korn’s relationship was deeply strained and explosive from the start, with kwan constantly overstepping boundaries (ex. the love spell which you could view as a form of r*pe), using self-harm threats when she felt moments of abandonment arise, and engaging in behavior that could be read as emotionally abusive and violating. at the same time, there are also hints that korn may have been physically violent before, leading to kwan’s eventual murder, while thamon’s role as an enabler adds another layer of moral complication (even though one could also argue it was probably done due to pressure from korn).
i also feel the need to mention the acting because all three main actresses were brilliant, but muisic as win was on another level for me. she gave such a layered, emotionally raw performance that i could feel everything win was going through, and i completely fell in love with the character. like by far she’s my favorite in the series, and i think she might have became one of my fave gl characters oat.
boon’s character was also really refreshing because she isn’t the kind of character you typically get to see in a central role in a gl, and as a queer person with a slightly similar personality, i felt really connected to her.
visually, the series was also really strong. the cinematography was beautiful, and i liked how the color grading seemed to sometimes shift depending on the emotional state of the characters.
my main gripes w the series are the cgi, the pacing, some of the logic behind the plot, and the ending.
the cgi/vfx were definitely distracting at times, and some moments that were probably meant to be scary came off unintentionally goofy instead. but i also do realize this might have been a lower-budget project, so i’m not holding it against the series too harshly.
the pacing was messy in places, though tbf this kind of story is probably impossible to execute perfectly in only eight episodes. that’s why im giving them grace. SOME scenes throughout the entire series moved too quickly without enough connectivity/ and no proper blending, but episode 8 especially felt like certain clips were stitched together without enough breathing room. a few lines of dialogue also felt clunky or confusing, but idk whether that was because of the writing or the translation itself.
and finally, the ending.
i’m still not fully sure how i feel about it. i’m not against doomed romance at all when it makes sense thematically, i usually love it actually.
but here, part of me felt like the ending leaned a little too much into shock value, or at least didn’t give me enough emotional or narrative closure to fully accept it. maybe the novel gives more context?, but based on the series alone, i was left conflicted at the end.
overall, even with the issues i had.. i completely think it's worth people’s time. it’s dark, ambitious, emotionally engaging, filled with amazing world building, and the kind of complicated characters i wish more gls were brave enough to write. this is the kind of character work i really want to see more of in gls.
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Strong episode one, and goes downard from there, until a horrible ending.
Some scenes are way too long, and others too short.Barely any chemistry between the main characters.
The only thing that saves this show is that I watched it with friends.
The acting was as plain as boiled chicken breast without salt. I know it's going to sound very rude, but the direction of Boon's and Win's acting was so bad, I actually think cardboard cutouts would have had more emotion as well as better chemistry. What makes it worse is that whenever they are acting possessed they seem to have more emotion and intent.
Boon does what amount to nothing, and everything she does is basically worthless and ends badly... Like nearly every single time she does something, either a prayer, a spell, a good thought, no matter what it calls the ghosts and ends badly.
I know it's gonna sound insane but the fact that Win doesn't stop crying is annoying (it does sound insane cuz everything goes wrong in Win's life so she has a reason to cry), as well as the constant laughter of Jomkwan that interrupts the slight suspense that builds up, it seems she laughs all the goddamned time, girl shut up.
The entire past life plot was so bad I have to laugh, what do you mean they broke up (multiple times btw) and still Jomkwan has haunted them for "75" lives (I put 75 in quotes because it makes no sense that the whole thing happened 60 years ago).
My friends and I where constantly confused over what was happening, and had to rewatch a couple scenes over only to realize how dumb everything was.
Such a messy family too, Pol sucks (and also why even have a pseudo incest plot anyway?).
Jomkwan's ghost is also too broken, too OP, literally nothing works against her. I kept wondering how they would defeat her, so obviously they didn't.
It also ends in a cliffhanger for a second season that never came (and never will, I think).
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Good direction, but worst writing
Spooky elements are good, but the backstory could have been much better.There were many plot holes and absurd moments, but above everything else, the background story was so weak that it kept pulling me out of the story and made it hard to invest any real attention in it.
They hyped up the vengeful spirit so much that I expected something truly terrible to have happened to her. I thought the female lead must have done something seriously awful to her, something bad enough to justify that level of hatred even after death. They really could have handled this part much better.
I liked how they made everything feel like a proper horror story, they were actually quite good at creating that atmosphere. But story-wise, the writing was very weak. Some of the dialogues in the chapters were downright stupid and completely illogical. It didn't even feel like it was written by a single person. It felt more like copy-pasted bits from different people with no proper blending or consistency.
I don't know if I will rewatch this, but if I do, it would only be for the spooky elements and the cast.
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Runaway
Runaway is a Thai GL that focuses on love, escape, and self-discovery. It follows two women whose paths cross during a moment of change in their lives, leading to an unexpected connection on the run. The story mixes quiet emotional tension with soft romance, as both characters slowly open up and confront what they’re escaping from. It’s a reflective, slightly melancholic series with gentle chemistry and a focus on healing and finding freedom through love.Was this review helpful to you?
Great concept and story, but needs better pacing and clearer explanations.
I find this show highly underrated. The plot is unique and avoids the typical clichés found in the genre. I loved how the series handled the themes of karma and reincarnation directly, though there is room for growth:CGI: The ghost effects were a bit unpolished, though the story was good enough to keep me watching.
Global Accessibility: As an international viewer, it can be difficult to track the plot while trying to understand the cultural background of reincarnation. More "in-show" context would make it much more accessible to the global fanbase.
Closure: The ending felt rushed and unfinished. A second season is definitely needed to wrap things up properly.
Despite these points, this was a fantastic novel to adapt. I’ll definitely be watching it again!
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It's now on my top 3 list
The story is honestly really good and the cast has done such an amazing job. Even though there aren’t a lot of romantic scenes like in other GLs, the chemistry between the leads feels so natural and nothing about their bond is rushed. If you enjoy slow burn stories, you’ll definitely love this one.I do wish the episodes were a bit longer so we could have gotten more backstory and seen more of Boon and Win together. Twelve episodes would have been perfect. We’re already at the last one, so let’s see how it ends. Considering it’s from a small production house, the overall work is impressive and I really hope they release more projects in the future.
If the company had promoted the series properly, it could have been a huge hit.
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Runaway Deserves a Spot on Your Thai GL Watchlist (Even If You're Not a Fan of Horror!)
Runaway isn’t a series that wants to impress you immediately. It wants to work for your affection, and if you decide to stay, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful story that resonates and lingers long after it's over. Compared to other GL series, it can feel quieter, less romantic, and at times, confusing. The special effects aren’t flashy, the kisses don’t come early, and the story leans heavily on Thai folk beliefs that might be unfamiliar.Simple Storyline with a Culturally Rich Twist
The central conflict is straightforward and easy to follow, but the cultural and spiritual layers keep the story unpredictable. Even when the premise feels familiar, the execution never is. This balance makes Runaway surprisingly accessible, even if you’re new to Thai supernatural storytelling like me.
Not a Romance-Heavy GL, But Deeply Romantic
This is a slow-burn romance in the truest sense. Unlike many GL series where intimacy happens early, Runaway holds back. We don’t even get a kiss until more than halfway through the series, but when it finally happens, it feels earned. The cast, led by Miusic, Plaifah, and Piano, is also superb, especially if you consider that Plaifah and Piano are rookie actors.
The Scariest Thing Isn’t the Ghosts — It’s the Humans
Runaway doesn’t ask you to pick sides easily — and that’s what makes it unsettling. Ultimately, the most terrifying characters in Runaway aren’t spirits, but the people. Those who manipulate, guilt, shame, and exploit others for their own benefit. As more truths come to light, the definition of “villain” becomes increasingly complicated.
Read my full review here: https://www.rachwrites25.com/post/why-runaway-deserves-a-spot-on-your-thai-gl-watchlist!
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This review may contain spoilers
I Love Both GL and Horror, And I Love This Show
I'm really happy to see GL expanding into new territory, and new genres. This first(?) attempt into horror was surprisingly great. Even the special effects were pretty good for a TV show that was (apparently) made with a low budget.One of my favourite things about Runaway was its bleak and oppressive atmosphere. You could really feel the desperation of Win and Boon, like they were trying to run away from a fate that they just couldn't avoid.
I also love how the story unravels over the 8 episodes. The more you watch, the more you begin to realize that things aren't as black and white as they seem. At times, you might even find yourself rooting for the main villain over the 2 protagonists.
The 3 female leads all did a great job. Plaifah was a believable medium, and Piano created one of GL's most memorable villains, but it was Miusic who completely stole the show. Miusic was excellent at portraying a young woman who was being haunted by evil spirits.
With a lot more focus on horror than romance/sex, I fear that this show might never get the attention it deserves from Thai GL fans, but I'm still not ruling out that it might gradually develop a cult following among horror fans.
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