This review may contain spoilers
Nice try, somewhat fun, but not really worth the time
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNT - Review
Man, what to say. It is like a split within myself, one side kinda linking it, the other sort of not. Let's break the basics down. The story about Prince a sort of star in a fictional country like Thailand. Now the assessment of who he/she is is difficult because Thailand knows a term called "Kathoey", which as far as I tried to find out has not 100% equivalent in Western terms. In the subs it is translated as "trans-woman", but kathoey seems to cover more, like the Thai "Ladyboys" who not so much are like trans people and all the way to entirely transitioning man to women. But then, read up the term. It just left me personally irritated that I didn't get what Prince/Worradej wanted to be. But then that's just me.
For western eyes, since we do not have the Kaothey culture, I cannot say how much his overacting as extremely stereotypical (some may say caricature) of female identity feels offensive or entertaining. And truth me told: I have no clear mind about it myself. Basically: it is pure cringe. Sometimes cringe can be fun, sometimes not. I can live with a lot of cringe, and that was not so much puzzling me here, when I take my brain out and enjoy the comedy side. On the other had, I DO feel irritated like: is this doing trans or queer or gay people a favor? And being honest, I think not. But then, a series doesn't HAVE to be realistic. Make of that what you wish.
The acting was ok-ish. I found none of it really great in all roles. Then going into a past of Thailand or Asia is always a problem, where does it go into a fantasyland far away from realism, and let's be honest: any attempt to turn a conservative, religions, slave-owning 1400s society into a modern, progressive Republic is... hogwash. Sorry, both as historian and as BL fan, this was just way too much to believe. Suddenly in the end everyone is happy and dancing, villians included, and of course nobody is really dead, despite "dying" many times. This was just... no. It was too much make believe. I heard the webtoon continues after this in the modern world, but then I most certainly have no interest to know MORE about this world.
Was I entertained? Yes, I mean it took much time and I had fun overall, despite the story being hilariously absurd and making no sense at all. Like there is an entire Kingdom, apparently made up of 300 villagers and everything else is "off screen", so politics, army all suddenly seem to play no role. The nobles go, the army vanishes and all end in some Disney-song ending. It was partially like a feaver dream. It felt like a far cry from way outdated slapstick times, but I understand it can be VERY divisive for reasons mentioned. I don't want to be too negative, but overall, despite being okay entertained, I can only rate this a "nice try"
4/10
Man, what to say. It is like a split within myself, one side kinda linking it, the other sort of not. Let's break the basics down. The story about Prince a sort of star in a fictional country like Thailand. Now the assessment of who he/she is is difficult because Thailand knows a term called "Kathoey", which as far as I tried to find out has not 100% equivalent in Western terms. In the subs it is translated as "trans-woman", but kathoey seems to cover more, like the Thai "Ladyboys" who not so much are like trans people and all the way to entirely transitioning man to women. But then, read up the term. It just left me personally irritated that I didn't get what Prince/Worradej wanted to be. But then that's just me.
For western eyes, since we do not have the Kaothey culture, I cannot say how much his overacting as extremely stereotypical (some may say caricature) of female identity feels offensive or entertaining. And truth me told: I have no clear mind about it myself. Basically: it is pure cringe. Sometimes cringe can be fun, sometimes not. I can live with a lot of cringe, and that was not so much puzzling me here, when I take my brain out and enjoy the comedy side. On the other had, I DO feel irritated like: is this doing trans or queer or gay people a favor? And being honest, I think not. But then, a series doesn't HAVE to be realistic. Make of that what you wish.
The acting was ok-ish. I found none of it really great in all roles. Then going into a past of Thailand or Asia is always a problem, where does it go into a fantasyland far away from realism, and let's be honest: any attempt to turn a conservative, religions, slave-owning 1400s society into a modern, progressive Republic is... hogwash. Sorry, both as historian and as BL fan, this was just way too much to believe. Suddenly in the end everyone is happy and dancing, villians included, and of course nobody is really dead, despite "dying" many times. This was just... no. It was too much make believe. I heard the webtoon continues after this in the modern world, but then I most certainly have no interest to know MORE about this world.
Was I entertained? Yes, I mean it took much time and I had fun overall, despite the story being hilariously absurd and making no sense at all. Like there is an entire Kingdom, apparently made up of 300 villagers and everything else is "off screen", so politics, army all suddenly seem to play no role. The nobles go, the army vanishes and all end in some Disney-song ending. It was partially like a feaver dream. It felt like a far cry from way outdated slapstick times, but I understand it can be VERY divisive for reasons mentioned. I don't want to be too negative, but overall, despite being okay entertained, I can only rate this a "nice try"
4/10
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