*Reflections on the Series (Episodes 1–7)*Let’s divide this review into two major themes. First: the emotional journey and narrative pacing, and second: the technical and artistic aspects.We’ve now reached episode 7 — what seems to be a pivotal point — and while I can appreciate the “slow burn” setup, I still feel somewhat unfulfilled. The series presents itself as an emotional, romantic journey with deep royal undertones, but it often skips the genuine building blocks that make the main relationship truly resonate.The closeness between Charan (Zee) and Khanin (Nunew), the supposed emotional center, feels rushed. The show leans on aesthetics and certain intimate scenes to suggest depth, but the actual emotional and narrative development hasn’t earned it. It’s like we’re being handed the climax of a relationship that never got the space to properly begin.Yes, the idea is that Charan is more guarded, stern, trying to establish boundaries — while Khanin, the prince, is bold and determined, pushing forward without apology. That dynamic is compelling on paper. But in execution, there’s not enough interplay. There are glimpses — the tension, the teasing moments, the protectiveness — but they did let it simmer for too long for this to feel like a one night stand. Despite that, it still feels this way, lacking fully deserved payoff.*Missing Pieces: Emotional Development*The missed opportunities are striking. Take the scene with the butler — why not show him secretly following, discovering the truth himself, confronting directly? That would’ve been a rich moment to explore his - theirs - emotional depth or even his strategic side.Where is the conflict? Where are the disagreements between the main male leads, that aren’t just power dynamics or societal constraints? I wanted to see them disagree on values, on methods — something beyond the surface. Love isn’t just harmony, it's also tension and compromise. Right now, everything is too... smooth. Too easy. We’re told they’re connected, but we’re not shown how or why, not in a way that lasts = Zee's not having distinctive bcg story; he has it, it is deep, but his char. is strongly underdeveloped in comparison to Nunew's character. Without that, how can Zee's char. compliment NN's character? The chemistry is there — but chemistry alone doesn’t make a relationship. I want to see them challenge each other, support each other, grow through each other. Khanin’s character, in particular, needs more exploration. If he’s supposed to be the love interest, we should get more than just his devotion. What drives him? What are his weaknesses and strengths? What does he want, beyond Charan?*On Side Characters & Plot Distractions*Let’s be honest: the side characters are a mixed bag. Some of them actually do an incredible job in the limited screen time they’re given — you can feel effort and thought in their performances — the older actors are skilled with such limited time. But the writing? That’s where it falters.There are storylines that just feel like distractions. The young woman who likes the her female advisor? (Is this a GL too?) She’s completely unnecessary. She doesn’t pose any threat or contrast, nor does she push the plot forward. She's just there, and that’s frustrating when the main relationship is begging for more screentime. Even more unnecessary is the storyline of Nat (the actor). Came too late, was present too short, no contribution so far from this direction.In fact, much of the scheming and court intrigue that’s supposed to be happening in the background doesn’t feel sharp enough. I get the intention, but the execution is too drawn out and wordy. If you’re going to keep these subplots, make them show their impact. Use fewer words, more visuals. Let us feel the stakes, not just hear about them.*The Visuals: Gorgeous... until they’re not*Now, about the production: it's a strange mix of impressive and baffling.The set design? Honestly, it looks expensive — or at least it makes a good impression. Maybe it’s just clever camera work (sans detail / perspective takes that is), but it sells the fantasy. However, the CGI is... rough. Very rough. The pigeon creature, flags, erbs, the weird floating elements — they break immersion and scream low-budget. These scenes would’ve been so much better left out entirely.Then there are the costumes. The male leads mostly look great, but the female characters? Some of their dresses feel like afterthoughts. It looks like she has stolen Hermione Granger's 4h year Ball dress (but cheaper version), like someone wanted to do a quick job and be done with it. Which gives off the impression of a series trying to look high-budget while cutting corners in the wrong places. It’s frustrating because the contrast is so sharp — one moment you’re mesmerized, the next you’re pulled out by a bad accessory or awkward greenscreen shot.*What Could Be*The core of this story could be powerful. The series wants to be about loyalty, class difference, emotional restraint, and devotion. It wants to explore how a prince and his protector grow into something more. But it needs to trust that story more, and stop leaning on style and lacking tension to get there.I miss the early promise — when Charan seemed to be the stern guardian and Khanin the bratty prince who secretly admires him. That dynamic had so much potential. But now, their relationship feels underdeveloped. And by episode 7, we should be much further along emotionally than we are.Even the secondary couple — Jimmy’s character and his partner — somehow show more tension and growth than the main pair. That shouldn’t happen. The contrast just highlights what’s missing between Charan and Khanin.*Final Thoughts*What I really want is this: show me the characters’ flaws and strengths, but in relationship. Let them disagree, let them hurt each other and come back together. Show me how they navigate their roles, their loyalty, and their love — not just through longing looks, but through action, choices, and consequences.As it stands, the show has charm, but not enough substance. Episode 7 gave us a dramatic payoff that simply wasn’t earned. And unless that changes, the series will remain a beautiful shell — all style, not enough soul.
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Phew, wow. Not only is this a pure filler episode, but the first 10 minutes are a cold-blooded repetition of previous episodes—unnecessary info or recycled edits. The format is blatantly taken from HP4 and The Hunger Games; I’m still waiting to see a fresh take on any of it.It’s either the stupid part (old people and CGI) or the running-archery segment (the babies). At least the babies look good—costumes and colors-wise: green and black. Unlike the ugly yellow "old clapping" segment.Well. Bravo.An infodump through and through. The final shots are embarrassing. (For one, you either ensure the king’s safety or act like a lovey-dovey gum wrapper stuck to your adoptive son—doing both just cancels each other out.)Oh, I almost forgot: the CGI is ugly. Sticking it on castle is a crime.Nice take on main leads and another crime - fake-suggested death.Phew.0/10P.S. Besides. Sort your priorities. U were more concerned about youur shot servant than shot princess heir. WE were supposed to freak out, NOT the actors.
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*A Mess of CGI, Wasted Potential, and Too Many Storylines (and I sincerely hope Khanin is ok after that brutal encounter)*If you’ve seen Word of Honor, you probably remember that ridiculous scene toward the end—two episodes before the finale—where the CGI went completely off the rails. The hand looked unnaturally small, and the head was inflated like a balloon. I had hoped human kind would learn from that kind of failure. But apparently not. The Next Prince just proved we’re still making the same mistakes.There’s a dancing scene somewhere in the last episode. At first, I thought the odd perspective was intentional due to the height difference between the characters. But no. If the issue is that the actors have drastically different heights, maybe you should have cast people with similar statures instead of slapping high heels on one of them and relying on bad CGI and characters who are not at the same line, not even looking at each other, when speaking to fix it. I honestly thought the CGI was only used for buildings destroyment (of good taste and historical ideals) or blurred backgrounds (suggestion copyright issues). But no—some genius decided it was a great idea to use CGI on people. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.When they danced, I still had hope. But then came a romantic scene at night, and they did it again. His head compared to his hand? No words. None. (So he either suffers really bad attac of anorexia or the editor, cameramen and director are all blind. Maybe both - just my perspective.)Let’s be honest—it’s not the worst series ever. It's just not the best. (Or good. It is just boring in expensive clothes with a few good ideas or veins with potential cut very short.) It's just that all the wait and all the hype built up around it made people believe one thing, but they are not blind nor stupid to not see the reality now. The final execution just didn’t deliver. The fans hoped for something meaningful, but what we got was a shallow mess.I saw potential in the couple dynamics, the characters, and some of the setup. But what I didn’t see was proper work on the set or consistency with the characters. I could write pages about the problematic parts of this series, but what I won’t do is turn a blind eye to the fact that the storytelling was completely messed up, which is the worst crime.And let me clarify one more thing: unlike some reviewers, I’m not a fan of the book. I already knew the book wasn’t good when I read the first few pages. So I had no delusions that the series would be some masterpiece. I wasn’t hyped because of the book or because they kept postponing the series or because ZNN in it. I saw it as a learning opportunity—something that had the potential to become something better. But what we got was a jumble of themes with no depth and an unflattering presentation.Inspirations or Imitations?I clearly recognized some inspirations: Harry Potter (Triwizard Tournament vibes), The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Not Me, Princess Diaries and even KinnPorsche. Then there are newer series in the BL genre or royal-setting dramas. And yes, I saw what they were trying to do with social issues—perhaps taking notes from Not Me, which I’m also not a huge fan of—but Not Me at least gave social issues the proper framing and justice. (You know why? Because they didn't inject into social issues royal fetish material maybe?)Let’s be real: After watching this, not production vise, but story vise I appreciate Cutie Pie still more. A BL fantasy involving an arranged marriage between two guys is (was) daring and refreshing, nothin like GMMTV would dare to do. But dressing up Nunew like Elsa or Princess Fiona in every scene isn’t bold—it’s tacky. This is royal-BL-fetish material with bad CGI, cringe moments, and blurry visuals that are supposed to look expensive. We have the source material to evolve beyond clichés, so why haven’t we?The Problem Isn’t Just the Story—It’s the ExecutionDon’t expect me to praise the production just because it had a budget. If you don’t know how to handle close-ups, lighting, or focus, all that money is wasted. Worse still, you had great potential in the couples and character dynamics—and you trashed it.Some characters seemed to be introduced as part of girl–girl couples… and then nothing. Either they were forgotten or never developed, likely due to fear or indecisiveness. Others started strong—secondary or complementary couples—and were completely abandoned. The emotional arcs went nowhere. I don’t want to watch everyone crying. That’s not acting, thats not proper closure for a character or a couple, that’s lazy writing.If it were up to me, I would have cut the couples down. Two at most. If you want to explore more, fine—make spin-offs. But don’t throw four half-baked couples into 14 episodes and expect the audience to care.And please: don’t insert social issues just to check a box, especially if your production team can’t handle them with the respect they deserve.What Were You Even Trying to Be?Was this a musical? A social issue drama? A royal BL? All of it? None of it? It felt like someone threw glitter, angst, and budget at the screen and hoped for the best. But the result was empty packaging.Side Couples? A Total Waste.Some stories had real potential, but instead of developing them, you made them distractions. The second couple could’ve been amazing, but you ruined that arc too. There were even hints of inspiration from KinnPorsche's VegasPete, but you dropped the ball. Hard.You created potentially toxic but interesting dynamics—and then didn’t follow through. The third or fourth couple? Unnecessary. The almost-girl-couple? Completely wasted. If you didn’t intend to develop them, why include them at all?Too Many Couples, Too Little Time14 episodes. Four couples. Way too much. Who cares what the adults were up to? No one asked for their backstory. This is not a Chinese palace drama. Don’t pad your runtime with things no one cares about.You fragmented the focus. The result? Shallow issues and undeveloped plots. It’s not terrible, but it’s not even close to good. It’s a “fan service” series that only hardcore fans will find enjoyable.A Few Positives…?To be fair, the production (at times) looks better than most Mandee shows. People complained about wooden acting of Zee, but I don't read this as wooden acting, maybe stoic character, yes. Even wooden, if you wish. I’ll take subtle over over-the-top melodrama any day. The main actor wasn’t bad—his performance was shaped by his partner and probably the company’s direction.Still, there were moments of great acting. But the writing and directing undermined those efforts. The crying scenes? Pointless. The whole show made me want to either scream or laugh from disbelief.And those filler episodes? Torture. I knew they were filler before they even started. They were empty, dull, and wasted everyone's time.Closing ThoughtsI didn’t even finish reviewing episodes 4, 5 and 10(?). I got stuck at the singing scene in episode 4—which felt out of place and earned criticism elsewhere too. Bollywood? Musical? Why was it even there? I coumplained about that a lot in here, the second part focused on other aspects of that episode, but alas. RL happened.Honestly, I don’t feel motivated to finish reviewing the rest. It feels pointless to put effort into something that clearly lacked it from the creators. But maybe I’ll finish it for closure. Or maybe not. Not everything needs to be finished, right?Final AdviceTry to change the the good boys for bad and try recast and properly work with Zee as we know he is a great actor. Recast him from wooden positions (cause i can't stand the whining of Nunews fans who haven't see Zee acting with Saint how Zee is wooden; no, he isn't, you cast him wrong, typecast him or not work witth him at all).And for newcomers: If you're a new viewer, go ahead and watch it—but take the best parts and forget the rest. I hoped this would be a meaningful, groundbreaking series. Instead, it ended up being... just another series. A “whatever” kind of show.And that’s a shame. But if it is what it is, then you can't do anything about it, if it is just a “whatever” material, right? Paws up who seen the scene with the fly at the proposal scene and found it distracting? 🐾https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951707912046268831https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951706858953076934https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951697946224800179
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 14
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*A Mess of CGI, Wasted Potential, and Too Many Storylines (and I sincerely hope Khanin is ok after that brutal encounter)*If you’ve seen Word of Honor, you probably remember that ridiculous scene toward the end—two episodes before the finale—where the CGI went completely off the rails. The hand looked unnaturally small, and the head was inflated like a balloon. I had hoped human kind would learn from that kind of failure. But apparently not. The Next Prince just proved we’re still making the same mistakes.There’s a dancing scene somewhere in the last episode. At first, I thought the odd perspective was intentional due to the height difference between the characters. But no. If the issue is that the actors have drastically different heights, maybe you should have cast people with similar statures instead of slapping high heels on one of them and relying on bad CGI and characters who are not at the same line, not even looking at each other, when speaking to fix it. I honestly thought the CGI was only used for buildings destroyment (of good taste and historical ideals) or blurred backgrounds (suggestion copyright issues). But no—some genius decided it was a great idea to use CGI on people. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.When they danced, I still had hope. But then came a romantic scene at night, and they did it again. His head compared to his hand? No words. None. (So he either suffers really bad attac of anorexia or the editor, cameramen and director are all blind. Maybe both - just my perspective.)Let’s be honest—it’s not the worst series ever. It's just not the best. (Or good. It is just boring in expensive clothes with a few good ideas or veins with potential cut very short.) It's just that all the wait and all the hype built up around it made people believe one thing, but they are not blind nor stupid to not see the reality now. The final execution just didn’t deliver. The fans hoped for something meaningful, but what we got was a shallow mess.I saw potential in the couple dynamics, the characters, and some of the setup. But what I didn’t see was proper work on the set or consistency with the characters. I could write pages about the problematic parts of this series, but what I won’t do is turn a blind eye to the fact that the storytelling was completely messed up, which is the worst crime.And let me clarify one more thing: unlike some reviewers, I’m not a fan of the book. I already knew the book wasn’t good when I read the first few pages. So I had no delusions that the series would be some masterpiece. I wasn’t hyped because of the book or because they kept postponing the series or because ZNN in it. I saw it as a learning opportunity—something that had the potential to become something better. But what we got was a jumble of themes with no depth and an unflattering presentation.Inspirations or Imitations?I clearly recognized some inspirations: Harry Potter (Triwizard Tournament vibes), The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Not Me, Princess Diaries and even KinnPorsche. Then there are newer series in the BL genre or royal-setting dramas. And yes, I saw what they were trying to do with social issues—perhaps taking notes from Not Me, which I’m also not a huge fan of—but Not Me at least gave social issues the proper framing and justice. (You know why? Because they didn't inject into social issues royal fetish material maybe?)Let’s be real: After watching this, not production vise, but story vise I appreciate Cutie Pie still more. A BL fantasy involving an arranged marriage between two guys is (was) daring and refreshing, nothin like GMMTV would dare to do. But dressing up Nunew like Elsa or Princess Fiona in every scene isn’t bold—it’s tacky. This is royal-BL-fetish material with bad CGI, cringe moments, and blurry visuals that are supposed to look expensive. We have the source material to evolve beyond clichés, so why haven’t we?The Problem Isn’t Just the Story—It’s the ExecutionDon’t expect me to praise the production just because it had a budget. If you don’t know how to handle close-ups, lighting, or focus, all that money is wasted. Worse still, you had great potential in the couples and character dynamics—and you trashed it.Some characters seemed to be introduced as part of girl–girl couples… and then nothing. Either they were forgotten or never developed, likely due to fear or indecisiveness. Others started strong—secondary or complementary couples—and were completely abandoned. The emotional arcs went nowhere. I don’t want to watch everyone crying. That’s not acting, thats not proper closure for a character or a couple, that’s lazy writing.If it were up to me, I would have cut the couples down. Two at most. If you want to explore more, fine—make spin-offs. But don’t throw four half-baked couples into 14 episodes and expect the audience to care.And please: don’t insert social issues just to check a box, especially if your production team can’t handle them with the respect they deserve.What Were You Even Trying to Be?Was this a musical? A social issue drama? A royal BL? All of it? None of it? It felt like someone threw glitter, angst, and budget at the screen and hoped for the best. But the result was empty packaging.Side Couples? A Total Waste.Some stories had real potential, but instead of developing them, you made them distractions. The second couple could’ve been amazing, but you ruined that arc too. There were even hints of inspiration from KinnPorsche's VegasPete, but you dropped the ball. Hard.You created potentially toxic but interesting dynamics—and then didn’t follow through. The third or fourth couple? Unnecessary. The almost-girl-couple? Completely wasted. If you didn’t intend to develop them, why include them at all?Too Many Couples, Too Little Time14 episodes. Four couples. Way too much. Who cares what the adults were up to? No one asked for their backstory. This is not a Chinese palace drama. Don’t pad your runtime with things no one cares about.You fragmented the focus. The result? Shallow issues and undeveloped plots. It’s not terrible, but it’s not even close to good. It’s a “fan service” series that only hardcore fans will find enjoyable.A Few Positives…?To be fair, the production (at times) looks better than most Mandee shows. People complained about wooden acting of Zee, but I don't read this as wooden acting, maybe stoic character, yes. Even wooden, if you wish. I’ll take subtle over over-the-top melodrama any day. The main actor wasn’t bad—his performance was shaped by his partner and probably the company’s direction.Still, there were moments of great acting. But the writing and directing undermined those efforts. The crying scenes? Pointless. The whole show made me want to either scream or laugh from disbelief.And those filler episodes? Torture. I knew they were filler before they even started. They were empty, dull, and wasted everyone's time.Closing ThoughtsI didn’t even finish reviewing episodes 4, 5 and 10(?). I got stuck at the singing scene in episode 4—which felt out of place and earned criticism elsewhere too. Bollywood? Musical? Why was it even there? I coumplained about that a lot in here, the second part focused on other aspects of that episode, but alas. RL happened.Honestly, I don’t feel motivated to finish reviewing the rest. It feels pointless to put effort into something that clearly lacked it from the creators. But maybe I’ll finish it for closure. Or maybe not. Not everything needs to be finished, right?Final AdviceTry to change the the good boys for bad and try recast and properly work with Zee as we know he is a great actor. Recast him from wooden positions (cause i can't stand the whining of Nunews fans who haven't see Zee acting with Saint how Zee is wooden; no, he isn't, you cast him wrong, typecast him or not work witth him at all).And for newcomers: If you're a new viewer, go ahead and watch it—but take the best parts and forget the rest. I hoped this would be a meaningful, groundbreaking series. Instead, it ended up being... just another series. A “whatever” kind of show.And that’s a shame. But if it is what it is, then you can't do anything about it, if it is just a “whatever” material, right? Paws up who seen the scene with the fly at the proposal scene and found it distracting? 🐾https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951707912046268831https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951706858953076934https://x.com/AssezPetra/status/1951697946224800179
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Perfect. The episode where Chakri's sacrifice meant 0, no one cares about grandpa nor a dead brother and the bcg we were supposed to know 5 episodes earlier. Random pictures popped up at strange places and we are supposed to end in 3 days.Georgeous.At least costumes are stomachable now.2/10
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 12
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Phew, wow. Not only is this a pure filler episode, but the first 10 minutes are a cold-blooded repetition of previous episodes—unnecessary info or recycled edits. The format is blatantly taken from HP4 and The Hunger Games; I’m still waiting to see a fresh take on any of it.It’s either the stupid part (old people and CGI) or the running-archery segment (the babies). At least the babies look good—costumes and colors-wise: green and black. Unlike the ugly yellow "old clapping" segment.Well. Bravo.An infodump through and through. The final shots are embarrassing. (For one, you either ensure the king’s safety or act like a lovey-dovey gum wrapper stuck to your adoptive son—doing both just cancels each other out.)Oh, I almost forgot: the CGI is ugly. Sticking it on castle is a crime.Nice take on main leads and another crime - fake-suggested death.Phew.0/10P.S. Besides. Sort your priorities. U were more concerned about youur shot servant than shot princess heir. WE were supposed to freak out, NOT the actors.
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Trust me.How are we supposed to trust you?Trust me. At worst, I’m just gonna get rid of the king — my grandpapa — no one wants him in this show anyway (except me, of course, I haven't read much of that... text, but I know my puppy is just hashtagMissundaztood, ňaf). And I’ll become the (keeper of clean air, but most importantly) tyrant and the king of this show… ehm, land.EMMALY, GOOOO!How to put this… this is a great example — a textbook case — of how idealism killed action.Really? If you really think so, why are you standing here doing nonsensical training to become king, instead of actually doing something?So: really, aye?…This is part of the reason why this oversweetened idealism doesn’t work in romantic shows or dramas.It’s just stupid. Stupid acting, stupid writing, stupid situations, stupid behavior… even though the idea was unquestionably nice.At its core.But really?TRUST ME, WHY DO YOU ASK?!!! AM I NOT SPEAKING RIGHT NOW? WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT MY ACTIONS AND NOT AT MY WORDS? AM I NOT (15th in a row) OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO THIS COUNTRY? AM I NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, STANDING, SHAKING, NEARLY CRYING (because that is what I do best — proven in episodes 1 to 3, and occasional occurrences after)? JUST TRUST MEEEEEE!!!! WHY DOES NO ONE TRUST MEEEE? 😭😭😭😭And now... move aside.We are doing tradition here.You’re in our way. 😈
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 10
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Trust me.How are we supposed to trust you?Trust me. At worst, I’m just gonna get rid of the king — my grandpapa — no one wants him in this show anyway (except me, of course, I haven't read much of that... text, but I know my puppy is just hashtagMissundaztood, ňaf). And I’ll become the (keeper of clean air, but most importantly) tyrant and the king of this show… ehm, land.EMMALY, GOOOO!How to put this… this is a great example — a textbook case — of how idealism killed action.Really? If you really think so, why are you standing here doing nonsensical training to become king, instead of actually doing something?So: really, aye?…This is part of the reason why this oversweetened idealism doesn’t work in romantic shows or dramas.It’s just stupid. Stupid acting, stupid writing, stupid situations, stupid behavior… even though the idea was unquestionably nice.At its core.But really?TRUST ME, WHY DO YOU ASK?!!! AM I NOT SPEAKING RIGHT NOW? WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT MY ACTIONS AND NOT AT MY WORDS? AM I NOT (15th in a row) OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO THIS COUNTRY? AM I NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, STANDING, SHAKING, NEARLY CRYING (because that is what I do best — proven in episodes 1 to 3, and occasional occurrences after)? JUST TRUST MEEEEEE!!!! WHY DOES NO ONE TRUST MEEEE? 😭😭😭😭And now... move aside.We are doing tradition here.You’re in our way. 😈
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 9
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It doesn't offend entirely, at the same time, it does not inspire. I found flaws even at places i dod not want to. It is attempting to follow success of Not Me - the social issues. Or it draws from Harry Potter references. By doing so we are lagging behind about stuff we really want to see, dragging things unnecessarily. Probably, who was not passioane about it before won't start now.The series is definitelly not ambtious in fiding those who did not catch at the beginnng. On the bright side, it gives it some basis and substance too, so I get this decision.1/10Oh well, I forgot: +1 point for not showcasing Emmaly on the Castle this episode.
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It doesn't offend entirely, at the same time, it does not inspire. I found flaws even at places i dod not want to. It is attempting to follow success of Not Me - the social issues. Or it draws from Harry Potter references. By doing so we are lagging behind about stuff we really want to see, dragging things unnecessarily. Probably, who was not passioane about it before won't start now.The series is definitelly not ambtious in fiding those who did not catch at the beginnng. On the bright side, it gives it some basis and substance too, so I get this decision.Oh well, I forgot: +1 point for not showcasing Emmaly on the Castle this episode. 1/10
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 8
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I just looked at them this episode… and I suddenly understood much better why it would be more beneficial—and easier—for both people from the royal family and ordinary people to seek one-night stands rather than deep, meaningful, long-lasting connections.That being said, and omitting the filler episode with the over-screamed opening sound layer, this series gets one more significant plus from me.Ah, despite this being a bit of a filler, boring episode, I praise the idea behind Prince Ramil's story—the execution this week was weaker, and the message wasn't delivered as clearly in some places (you could get more out of it). But then again, this is expected from The Next Prince genre; this storyline was bound to be far from perfect. Still, I appreciate its presence.
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I just looked at them this episode… and I suddenly understood much better why it would be more beneficial—and easier—for both people from the royal family and ordinary people to seek one-night stands rather than deep, meaningful, long-lasting connections.That being said, and omitting the filler episode with the over-screamed opening sound layer, this series gets one more significant plus from me.Ah, despite this being a bit of a filler, boring episode, I praise the idea behind Prince Ramil's story—the execution this week was weaker, and the message wasn't delivered as clearly in some places (you could get more out of it). But then again, this is expected from The Next Prince genre; this storyline was bound to be far from perfect. Still, I appreciate its presence.
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 7
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(🤣 WHAT WAS THAT? /coming soon/I would have never guessed thee will be a day when our dear fiery pigeons... are gonna be a highloght of an episode! You see? Never say never. Here we are, a week later! )*Reflections on the Series (Episodes 1–7)*Let’s divide this review into two major themes. First: the emotional journey and narrative pacing, and second: the technical and artistic aspects.We’ve now reached episode 7 — what seems to be a pivotal point — and while I can appreciate the “slow burn” setup, I still feel somewhat unfulfilled. The series presents itself as an emotional, romantic journey with deep royal undertones, but it often skips the genuine building blocks that make the main relationship truly resonate.The closeness between Charan (Zee) and Khanin (Nunew), the supposed emotional center, feels rushed. The show leans on aesthetics and certain intimate scenes to suggest depth, but the actual emotional and narrative development hasn’t earned it. It’s like we’re being handed the climax of a relationship that never got the space to properly begin.Yes, the idea is that Charan is more guarded, stern, trying to establish boundaries — while Khanin, the prince, is bold and determined, pushing forward without apology. That dynamic is compelling on paper. But in execution, there’s not enough interplay. There are glimpses — the tension, the teasing moments, the protectiveness — but they did let it simmer for too long for this to feel like a one night stand. Despite that, it still feels this way, lacking fully deserved payoff.*Missing Pieces: Emotional Development*The missed opportunities are striking. Take the scene with the butler — why not show him secretly following, discovering the truth himself, confronting directly? That would’ve been a rich moment to explore his - theirs - emotional depth or even his strategic side.Where is the conflict? Where are the disagreements between the main male leads, that aren’t just power dynamics or societal constraints? I wanted to see them disagree on values, on methods — something beyond the surface. Love isn’t just harmony, it's also tension and compromise. Right now, everything is too... smooth. Too easy. We’re told they’re connected, but we’re not shown how or why, not in a way that lasts = Zee's not having distinctive bcg story; he has it, it is deep, but his char. is strongly underdeveloped in comparison to Nunew's character. Without that, how can Zee's char. compliment NN's character? The chemistry is there — but chemistry alone doesn’t make a relationship. I want to see them challenge each other, support each other, grow through each other. Khanin’s character, in particular, needs more exploration. If he’s supposed to be the love interest, we should get more than just his devotion. What drives him? What are his weaknesses and strengths? What does he want, beyond Charan?*On Side Characters & Plot Distractions*Let’s be honest: the side characters are a mixed bag. Some of them actually do an incredible job in the limited screen time they’re given — you can feel effort and thought in their performances — the older actors are skilled with such limited time. But the writing? That’s where it falters.There are storylines that just feel like distractions. The young woman who likes the her female advisor? (Is this a GL too?) She’s completely unnecessary. She doesn’t pose any threat or contrast, nor does she push the plot forward. She's just there, and that’s frustrating when the main relationship is begging for more screentime. Even more unnecessary is the storyline of Nat (the actor). Came too late, was present too short, no contribution so far from this direction.In fact, much of the scheming and court intrigue that’s supposed to be happening in the background doesn’t feel sharp enough. I get the intention, but the execution is too drawn out and wordy. If you’re going to keep these subplots, make them show their impact. Use fewer words, more visuals. Let us feel the stakes, not just hear about them.*The Visuals: Gorgeous... until they’re not*Now, about the production: it's a strange mix of impressive and baffling.The set design? Honestly, it looks expensive — or at least it makes a good impression. Maybe it’s just clever camera work (sans detail / perspective takes that is), but it sells the fantasy. However, the CGI is... rough. Very rough. The pigeon creature, flags, erbs, the weird floating elements — they break immersion and scream low-budget. These scenes would’ve been so much better left out entirely.Then there are the costumes. The male leads mostly look great, but the female characters? Some of their dresses feel like afterthoughts. It looks like she has stolen Hermione Granger's 4h year Ball dress (but cheaper version), like someone wanted to do a quick job and be done with it. Which gives off the impression of a series trying to look high-budget while cutting corners in the wrong places. It’s frustrating because the contrast is so sharp — one moment you’re mesmerized, the next you’re pulled out by a bad accessory or awkward greenscreen shot.*What Could Be*The core of this story could be powerful. The series wants to be about loyalty, class difference, emotional restraint, and devotion. It wants to explore how a prince and his protector grow into something more. But it needs to trust that story more, and stop leaning on style and lacking tension to get there.I miss the early promise — when Charan seemed to be the stern guardian and Khanin the bratty prince who secretly admires him. That dynamic had so much potential. But now, their relationship feels underdeveloped. And by episode 7, we should be much further along emotionally than we are.Even the secondary couple — Jimmy’s character and his partner — somehow show more tension and growth than the main pair. That shouldn’t happen. The contrast just highlights what’s missing between Charan and Khanin.*Final Thoughts*What I really want is this: show me the characters’ flaws and strengths, but in relationship. Let them disagree, let them hurt each other and come back together. Show me how they navigate their roles, their loyalty, and their love — not just through longing looks, but through action, choices, and consequences.As it stands, the show has charm, but not enough substance. Episode 7 gave us a dramatic payoff that simply wasn’t earned. And unless that changes, the series will remain a beautiful shell — all style, not enough soul.
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I will add reviews to the previous two episodes later, as I’m having technical issues right now.- I don’t know, nor do I care why that is. The mist all over everything in the background is laughable, unserious, and… well, it looks like they’re masking copyright issues here.+ Royal Highness deliberate... well, whatever he’s doing here.- Issues with the camera angle again, and we’re only five minutes in?- Where are we again, with that cheap building name on the freaking castle? Is it a high school, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, or… oh, right, all of the above?+ The market’s color palette is actually nice, but—- Unasked-for product placement, not covered or packed in nicely (unlike the first scene, where it kind of worked... because you’re not taking it seriously).- I don’t really get the embarrassing need for Nunew’s character, Khanin, to wear royal attire 89% of the time—unless he’s naked, in a gown, fencing, or in another country, ideally doing sports.- I’m actually disappointed no one tasted the food for poison beforehand.o Oh yeah, let’s gooo—show me how a vanilla series does BDSM! That aside, I like the abbreviation. The (desperate, depressed, puppety, Slytherin-esque) foil in Jimmi’s hands, interconnected through the hand of his pet (his strength, his weakness) with the good side—that’s a good move if handled properly. And so far? Done well.- What were those two semi-transparent pigeons? Shooting material? A hallucination...? Asparagus Satanus. I thought—hoped—for a second it was just a stain on the film strip, but no. Oh no. They actually put the pigeon in HUMAN SIZE—again. And again. And again. And all over again. Thank goodness we have a skip button—and no fear to use it for idiocy.… Unwelcome flocking pigeons on the horizon again, Part VII.… “What could possibly go wrong?” —the memorable last words.… I could nitpick other things, but for some reason, I don’t want to. I’ll either do so later or not at all—depends.OK, Let's rant: the kiss. It was closing to be a good kiss. They dragged it for too long. If they wanted for it to look realistic(, which they didn't), waiting that long, Charan would contain himself and stop the kiss, because of (who he is, who Khain is) how long it took. I know why they did it this way, or why I wold do it this way in their stead, i know the trope this steams from, the craving nature of this type of scenes, but - no, it really could be a nice pretty kiss, why it was thrown.. drained.
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The Next Prince: Uncut Episode 6
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I will add reviews to the previous two episodes later, as I’m having technical issues right now.- I don’t know, nor do I care why that is. The mist all over everything in the background is laughable, unserious, and… well, it looks like they’re masking copyright issues here.+ Royal Highness deliberate... well, whatever he’s doing here.- Issues with the camera angle again, and we’re only five minutes in?- Where are we again, with that cheap building name on the freaking castle? Is it a high school, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, or… oh, right, all of the above?+ The market’s color palette is actually nice, but—- Unasked-for product placement, not covered or packed in nicely (unlike the first scene, where it kind of worked... because you’re not taking it seriously).- I don’t really get the embarrassing need for Nunew’s character, Khanin, to wear royal attire 89% of the time—unless he’s naked, in a gown, fencing, or in another country, ideally doing sports.- I’m actually disappointed no one tasted the food for poison beforehand.o Oh yeah, let’s gooo—show me how a vanilla series does BDSM! That aside, I like the abbreviation. The (desperate, depressed, puppety, Slytherin-esque) foil in Jimmi’s hands, interconnected through the hand of his pet (his strength, his weakness) with the good side—that’s a good move if handled properly. And so far? Done well.- What were those two semi-transparent pigeons? Shooting material? A hallucination...? Asparagus Satanus. I thought—hoped—for a second it was just a stain on the film strip, but no. Oh no. They actually put the pigeon in HUMAN SIZE—again. And again. And again. And all over again. Thank goodness we have a skip button—and no fear to use it for idiocy.… Unwelcome flocking pigeons on the horizon again, Part VII.… “What could possibly go wrong?” —the memorable last words.… I could nitpick other things, but for some reason, I don’t want to. I’ll either do so later or not at all—depends.OK, Let's rant: the kiss. It was closing to be a good kiss. They dragged it for too long. If they wanted for it to look realistic(, which they didn't), waiting that long, Charan would contain himself and stop the kiss, because of (who he is, who Khain is) how long it took. I know why they did it this way, or why I wold do it this way in their stead, i know the trope this steams from, the craving nature of this type of scenes, but - no, it really could be a nice pretty kiss, why it was thrown.. drained.
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