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The Next Prince — A Royal Story Carried More by Popularity Than by the Characters
I went into The Next Prince with pretty high expectations. A royal setting, political tension, bodyguards, power struggles… on paper it had everything needed to become a great BL with a bit of action and drama. Unfortunately, while the production looks polished and the concept is interesting, the execution doesn’t fully live up to what the story promises.
The main issue for me is the casting choice. NuNew has a very specific acting style, and it simply doesn’t fit the type of character he is supposed to play here. His portrayal feels too delicate for someone who should show strength, authority, or inner toughness. Instead of seeing a prince growing into power, I often felt like I was watching the same personality he brings to most of his roles. It never truly feels like a transformation into a character. Zee Pruk faces a similar problem. As a bodyguard, the role requires a strong physical and emotional presence, especially in scenes that suggest danger or action. But his natural softness makes it hard to believe that dynamic. Their pairing clearly exists because they are a very popular on-screen couple, and that popularity definitely helped sell the series. However, popularity alone cannot replace believable characterization. Ironically, some of the supporting actors ended up being much more interesting to watch. Net, JJ, Jimmy, and Ohm may not have as much screen time, but they bring a stronger presence whenever they appear. Their performances feel more grounded and more suited to the tone of the story. Even Kris Charintip manages to stand out with a charisma that adds weight to the scenes he’s in.
The production itself is actually quite good. Visually the series looks nice, and the music works well with the royal atmosphere and dramatic tone. Some moments feel almost cinematic, which shows that the production team clearly invested in the project. But good visuals and music cannot completely compensate for characters that feel miscast. For me, this highlights an important difference in acting styles. Some actors choose roles that fit their natural strengths and adapt themselves to the character. Others seem to play variations of their own personality every time. That difference becomes obvious when you compare performances from actors who truly transform into their roles. When the acting doesn’t evolve with the character, the drama loses some of its emotional weight.
Final Thought
The Next Prince isn’t a bad series. It has a strong concept, good production value, and a story that could have been very compelling. But the casting choices make it difficult to fully believe in the characters. In the end, it feels like a drama built around popular actors rather than around the roles themselves. It’s still watchable, but it never quite becomes the powerful royal drama it had the potential to be.
The main issue for me is the casting choice. NuNew has a very specific acting style, and it simply doesn’t fit the type of character he is supposed to play here. His portrayal feels too delicate for someone who should show strength, authority, or inner toughness. Instead of seeing a prince growing into power, I often felt like I was watching the same personality he brings to most of his roles. It never truly feels like a transformation into a character. Zee Pruk faces a similar problem. As a bodyguard, the role requires a strong physical and emotional presence, especially in scenes that suggest danger or action. But his natural softness makes it hard to believe that dynamic. Their pairing clearly exists because they are a very popular on-screen couple, and that popularity definitely helped sell the series. However, popularity alone cannot replace believable characterization. Ironically, some of the supporting actors ended up being much more interesting to watch. Net, JJ, Jimmy, and Ohm may not have as much screen time, but they bring a stronger presence whenever they appear. Their performances feel more grounded and more suited to the tone of the story. Even Kris Charintip manages to stand out with a charisma that adds weight to the scenes he’s in.
The production itself is actually quite good. Visually the series looks nice, and the music works well with the royal atmosphere and dramatic tone. Some moments feel almost cinematic, which shows that the production team clearly invested in the project. But good visuals and music cannot completely compensate for characters that feel miscast. For me, this highlights an important difference in acting styles. Some actors choose roles that fit their natural strengths and adapt themselves to the character. Others seem to play variations of their own personality every time. That difference becomes obvious when you compare performances from actors who truly transform into their roles. When the acting doesn’t evolve with the character, the drama loses some of its emotional weight.
Final Thought
The Next Prince isn’t a bad series. It has a strong concept, good production value, and a story that could have been very compelling. But the casting choices make it difficult to fully believe in the characters. In the end, it feels like a drama built around popular actors rather than around the roles themselves. It’s still watchable, but it never quite becomes the powerful royal drama it had the potential to be.
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