A classic yet stylish murder mystery series from Netflix Thailand
This was yet another high value production from Netflix. Similar "murdery mystery" vibes to In Family We Trust or Master of The House.There's a lot less detective work than what was previously promoted and the story seems to focus more on unraveling backstories and past events, the vibes of this execution is somewhat reminescent of PS I Hate You (shoutout to Pat Chayanit who's a main character in both series). Fans of murder mystery series may find the 'killer' rather predictable but it's really interesting to see flowers and philosophy of flower arranging being incorporated into this series, which is a fresh and unique take.
The scenes themselves are rather draggy, a lot of beauty wide shots for cinematography purposes. The series itself is not as fast paced as its Netflix Thai murder mystery predecessor Master Of The House (I could feel many comparisons are gonna be made due this work being one of the most successful Netflix Thai originals last year).
The series is salvaged by a solid performance from Yaya and its very compelling cast of supporting characters. My favorite character is hotel manager/detective assistant Sarath who's just the most adorable, charming, "written-by-a-female" love interest ever in a murder mystery.
The series' treatment of female characters, issues of SA, misogyny, gender inequality, feminism, power politics are done well and I definitely would credit this to creator Prabda Yoon for inviting solely female directors and female writers to work with him on this series. The voice in the writing of this series is very distinctively female 馃寛
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Exceptional production values!
While other reviews highlight the plot and acting, I want to shine a light on the production aspects. I'm here to give a little love to all the hardworking folks behind the scenes who make magic with this series. It's been a while since I鈥檝e been so satisfied watching a series with such outstanding visual and production values. The cinematography and visual storytelling have truly left me in awe, standing out in stark contrast to the storytelling itself.I鈥檓 a sucker for beauty shots, and I praised the directors for being generous with it. Thai dramas typically don't focus heavily on visual aesthetics, but this series breaks the mold with its stunning camerawork. The flowers, as the title suggests, are the center of the story, presented through a lot of extreme close-up shots (ECU) that elevate the storytelling. This approach not only deepens the ambiance but also adds a layer of intensity to each episode, all without relying heavily on acting. Exceptional!
Another noteworthy aspect is the music. I鈥檓 not a music expert, but the music scores work effectively. Instead of using the dissonant chord patterns to create tension and unease, this series features the enchanting blend of piano, violin, and cello, along with the soft humming of women in certain scenes, creating a hauntingly beautiful soundscape. It increases the emotional manipulation without necessarily creating suspense. Fantastic!
One of my favorite parts of this series is the opening montage. Rather than just listing the cast and key production staff, it creatively serves as the introduction to the episode, eliminating the need for a typical previous episode recap. Brilliant!
Despite the great execution and outstanding attention to details, I personally feel that the plots lack a certain punch. There's a clear issue with character development. With so many characters to highlight, some end up feeling a bit flat. Take Risa, for instance. Even though she鈥檚 a key player, her character doesn鈥檛 really stand out, which is a bummer since Pat Chayanit is such a talented actress.
While the storylines might not be super gripping and the plot twist is a bit predictable, overall, it's an engaging drama series with with top-notch production quality. If you appreciate a show that's a feast for the eyes, with solid performances and beautiful sound, you should definitely check it out.
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This review may contain spoilers
A nicely written puzzle
I placed spoilers at the end of this review.This was a fascinating mystery/crime series. It did a great job grabbing my attention within minutes of the first episode. Overall, it had a great script that successfully connects multiple elements and characters together. All of the characters were well written and had interesting backstories. However, it had a few weak elements. The main one is the ending was a little predictable. All of the actors were outstanding and did such an incredible job with their characters. The cinematography was outstanding and visually stunning.
Random Notes:
I loved that the opening credit was different for each episode and gave a little glimpse of that episode.
******Potential Spoiler Alert******
There is minor romance element between Dalah and Sarath, but it鈥檚 not overpowering.
The surprise twist at the end was not much of a surprise for me.
I was not a fan of the hinted love relationship between Risa and Kris.
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Yaya Urassaya Shines in This Short, Thrilling Mystery!
Dalah is a gripping masterpiece that hooks you from the very first episode. Yaya Urassaya delivers an outstanding performance, effortlessly channeling Wednesday Addams vibes with her sharp wit and haunting presence. Her portrayal is mesmerizing, making every scene she鈥檚 in unforgettable.The suspense is intense, with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Just when you think you have it figured out, the story takes another unexpected direction. The cinematography is stunning, with flowers playing a symbolic role鈥攂eautiful yet eerie, adding depth to the mystery.
The cast is phenomenal. Kris is effortlessly charming, bringing a quiet intensity to his role, while Sarath (Ryu) adds another layer to the story. His bond with Dalah is subtly captivating鈥攖here鈥檚 an unspoken connection between them that adds warmth amidst the tension. Their moments together, though understated, leave a lasting impact.
With its breathtaking visuals, thrilling plot, and stellar performances, Dalah is a must-watch. It鈥檚 a show that keeps you on edge and lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.
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If only the puzzle pieces fit better...
I had to adjust my expectations a bit, because, as other reviews already mentioned, this isn't a murder mystery. In fact, there's not much mysterious about the plot as a whole. It's more of a family drama wrapped in pleasing aesthetics. But oh how pleasing those aesthetics were.The intros were cinema-worthy and almost all scenes showed a great attention to detail in filming. Without the great presentation, the plot probably would have fallen flat, but it was the atmosphere it created that made me want to keep watching. Also, while others found it to be too much, I loved the focus on the flowers and the way they used them as metaphors.
Although I correctly guessed the culprit(s) quite early on, the following episodes made me doubt my initial gut feeling, which is more than many other crime series manage to do. We have a couple of the typical tropes like people waiting patiently to be told the whole fascinating story or the police not doing a great job, but it's not shoved into our faces which makes it easier to overlook. The connections between actions and characters aren't overly complex and do not come without holes, but the overall ground base is there.
With how the story was told, I'm not sure they knew what they wanted the series to be. The first episodes were a bit confusing, leaving what exactly happened in the grey (and I had my fair share of confusion trying to figure out the characters but maybe that was just me), but by around the half of it, it all became clear and we could watch the characters find out themselves. I would have preferred had they decided for either way of storytelling, but I also got spoilered about the first part, so I might be biased.
Anyhow, I guess, the confusing type of storytelling would have fit better as the lack of screen time for clear characterisation of each character made the emotionality of many scenes fall a bit flat. I developed a liking for several of the "side" characters and would have loved to see more of them. While understanding this was never meant to be emotional, a tad more interest in the character's progression certainly would've kept me hooked even more.
That being said, if you are easily triggered by graphic depiction of traumatic events, you might want to pass on this one or skip certain scenes (more details in spoiler below).
In summary, the main selling points of this drama are its nice filming and the amount of curiosity/thirst for revenge it creates in the viewer - although I have to make clear this isn't about revenge. If you expect a masterminded crime mystery plot, you might want to pass on this one, but if you're all for dramatic family reveals and plottwists, you might want to give this a go.
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A Perfectly Paced but Short Mystery
Dalah: Death and the Flowers was a super fun watch because of how well paced the murder mystery was. While it wasn't the most complex story, I thought that for a 6 episode show, it was super nicely done.As Dalah prepares the floral arrangement for a wedding, she meets the bride Narisa, daughter of a wealthy businessman, and the groom Ohm, the soon-to-be prime minister. The marriage seems like a perfect transaction - and from the outside, the bride and groom actually seem fairly happy. That is, until the day of the wedding when the groom is found dead at the floral studio. Family secrets on both sides unravel as the case progresses, and no one can seem to figure out how Dalah is involved in all of this.
I thought that this show was a super engaging watch! I LOVE some rich family drama, and this one sure did deliver. I genuinely was surprised by a lot of the twists, and while the ending reveal wasn't unexpected, it was still a super fun watch. I thought that the way the viewer was walked through the twists in each episode was super well done, and the way it unfolded was done so well over the course of the episodes. While some things were left a little open ended or slightly unfinished, I felt that they did a great job for the time they had. Absolutely worth the watch.
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I wish I skipped it
I didn't like this one so if you liked this drama don't read.The basic thing in any crime mystery story is to have the least suspicious person as a criminal, not show him clearly in the very beginning of the first episode with a huge a$$ motive.
I know that the more you watch the more you'd suspect others and that's how the writer tried to be smart by giving too many motives for everyone then circle back to the first suspicious person.
But that didn't work out here ... At least for me.
I loved the acting here but not the characters themselves, yaya was amazing as always but Dalah was boring with her stone faced personality, also Pam was too bitchy to even sympathise with her and so on, so how can I like a drama if I hated every single character in it.
The atmosphere was great, the vibes were good and fitting but that didn't save the drama for me.
I would easily skip it, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone ~~
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Cinematography! Vibes! Plot! Characters! Just wow!
This was wonderful. It had so much dept with so little time. Almost wanted to see someone else die for it to continue. Yaya and Ryu sold me to watch this, but Phuwin won me over every time his mouth opened.I knew the murderer from the get-go. It wasn't too hard to see who had the motive but that plot twist at the end shocked me just like Dalah. The visuals were also done right. When you watched this, you know it's a mystery/thriller genre without even needing a summary. The whole vibe from the first minute was eerie but done in a comfortable way that you can watch this in the middle of the night if you so please.
The chemistry was great between Sarath and Dalah. Don't get me wrong, I know this is not a romance, but it was clear that they are meant for each other. The only hilarious thing to me was how useless the police were in the last episode. I understand it's just a series but Sarath and that other boy from the Aueathepa family were doing more action than the police when holding Ekapop back.
I definitely will rewatch this sometime in the future when I've forgotten the plot or maybe I'll come back for Kris/Sarath/Dalah moments.
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This review may contain spoilers
脡 de causar revolta
Inicialmente eu fui assistir pelo Phuwin. Fiquei curiosa pra ver ele sem o Pond e sinceramente, ele 茅 um 贸timo ator. Esse personagem (Kris) brilhou nele! Agora sobre o drama em si, felizmente tamb茅m foi uma 贸tima surpresa. Amei a hist贸ria, a produ莽茫o e os plot twist. As aberturas com flores diferentes a cada epis贸dio tamb茅m foi algo que me agradou bastante. No mais 茅 um drama que aborda assuntos sens铆veis e vai te causar 贸dio e revolta a cada descoberta. Infelizmente o que aconteceu com o noivo foi pouco. A morte pra ele foi muito f谩cil.Was this review helpful to you?
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