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This review may contain spoilers
One of the Few Times Where the 2nd Season Beats the 1st
Unlike in the 1st season, where I felt the middle falter, this season kept my attention from start to finish. Nothing dragged, and the acting was much improved from the 1st season. The people behind this story have my respect because not only are the characters interesting and nuanced, but the overarching plot constantly holds your attention.
The stakes are bigger, the villains are worse and more powerful, the world is bigger and has more characters, the tension is more palpable than before, and yet, nothing falters. The pacing is great and the storytelling impeccable. Every arc, every character, every new twist adds to what this story is. It was utterly fantastic
The Characters
Win - I continue to find him wholly unlikeable. A genius, yes, but I would hate to call him a friend. Or have him as a boss, for that matter. But the story hinges on him and his past, so he's not going anywhere. The only thing I want from him is for him to open up a bit more.
So far, he's like a slow-blooming onion (if that makes any sense). We know he's angry, always brooding, and has an emotional support water bottle, but not much else. I want him to talk for once. Talk to his mother, and for the love of Christ, talk to Game. Their friendship is one of the most confusing situations I've ever come across. Does Win even like Game? Coz I don't think so
Game - In all fairness, I'd be afraid to have Game in my close circle of friends. Throughout the 1st season, I kept referring to him as 'the weak link' in my head. And now, 8 extra episodes later, that statement remains true. He walks through life with his emotions first, thoughts later. Quite the opposite of Win, actually. Perhaps this is why they clash so much.
I, however, would love to see his familial story explored a bit more. If the 3rd season were to happen, I wonder if his family would come into play. Not only are they rich as hell, but the game would now be played at a national level. I think it'd be interesting to use them.
Dear & Dol - I knew they would likely not go to the US, but I did not expect or anticipate the reason why...ðŸ˜
In the 1st season, Dear always had one leg in the scamming and another out, trying to forge a life outside the mess with her 2 friends. I loved that we got a chance to see what her life would've been like if she had left them behind. Her ending was really heartbreaking, though. I know the good guys cannot always win without taking a loss or two, but this one.... This one hurt.
Dol, his senior monk, was right. The world outside monkhood is truly where all the temptations and crap lie. From realizing that he has zero skills to survive in the world, to getting scammed by his coworkers, having his hope about his love for and with Dear reignited, to finally losing her in the end. Bruh... the man has been through it. It is no wonder he went back to being a forest monk in the end.
It was lovely seeing these two together, though. The slow burn and subtle tension between them was delicious and a much-appreciated break from the mess that was Dear's two other friends. I do wonder, though - for the 1st season, Dol has always been connected to Dear. Now that she's gone, what are the chances of us seeing him in another installment?
Ae - I love an interesting villain. I appreciated that we got to see her backstory. She's no angel. Ae is a corrupt politician to the core. But getting to see her family life shed a light on why she's partially who she is today. Why she goes as far as she does. That man she unfortunately calls a father and her liability of a brother, both of whom never appreciated her, undermined her, and stole from her, really did push her to be who she was.
PS. I clapped when she shot her brother.
I do have questions about her, though
a. I believe she managed to leave the country. Will she return in the possible third season? I suspect she ordered the hit on Dear. Will she ever pay for that? The lawyer who conned the 3 in the 1st season went scot free, so part of me doubts she'll get what she deserves
b. Will the law manage to hold her father? There is overwhelming evidence against him, but if money can grease hands that much within religion, can we expect the already shitty, corrupt system to look the other way?
Ekkachai - He continues to prove that he's a snake and more dangerous than we think. The season ends with him finally getting the Abbot seat that he wanted. But things are not rosy. He's being bullied and blackmailed. However, rather than feel bad for him, I want to tell the other monks to watch their backs. He's slowly been gathering public support, and he's not afraid to kill.
We know he killed Father Kiw in the 1st season. I highly suspect he personally killed the woman who was trying to blackmail him, and had the deputy abbot who'd have taken his place killed. Now with his proximity to the unseen minister in the end credits, the hospital project likely proceeding in his name only, and his history, I believe he will be a lot worse in the 3rd season (if we ever get it). Those blackmailing and bossing him around will regret it
PS: I desperately wish I understood the meaning of the art we see at the beginning of the episodes
The stakes are bigger, the villains are worse and more powerful, the world is bigger and has more characters, the tension is more palpable than before, and yet, nothing falters. The pacing is great and the storytelling impeccable. Every arc, every character, every new twist adds to what this story is. It was utterly fantastic
The Characters
Win - I continue to find him wholly unlikeable. A genius, yes, but I would hate to call him a friend. Or have him as a boss, for that matter. But the story hinges on him and his past, so he's not going anywhere. The only thing I want from him is for him to open up a bit more.
So far, he's like a slow-blooming onion (if that makes any sense). We know he's angry, always brooding, and has an emotional support water bottle, but not much else. I want him to talk for once. Talk to his mother, and for the love of Christ, talk to Game. Their friendship is one of the most confusing situations I've ever come across. Does Win even like Game? Coz I don't think so
Game - In all fairness, I'd be afraid to have Game in my close circle of friends. Throughout the 1st season, I kept referring to him as 'the weak link' in my head. And now, 8 extra episodes later, that statement remains true. He walks through life with his emotions first, thoughts later. Quite the opposite of Win, actually. Perhaps this is why they clash so much.
I, however, would love to see his familial story explored a bit more. If the 3rd season were to happen, I wonder if his family would come into play. Not only are they rich as hell, but the game would now be played at a national level. I think it'd be interesting to use them.
Dear & Dol - I knew they would likely not go to the US, but I did not expect or anticipate the reason why...ðŸ˜
In the 1st season, Dear always had one leg in the scamming and another out, trying to forge a life outside the mess with her 2 friends. I loved that we got a chance to see what her life would've been like if she had left them behind. Her ending was really heartbreaking, though. I know the good guys cannot always win without taking a loss or two, but this one.... This one hurt.
Dol, his senior monk, was right. The world outside monkhood is truly where all the temptations and crap lie. From realizing that he has zero skills to survive in the world, to getting scammed by his coworkers, having his hope about his love for and with Dear reignited, to finally losing her in the end. Bruh... the man has been through it. It is no wonder he went back to being a forest monk in the end.
It was lovely seeing these two together, though. The slow burn and subtle tension between them was delicious and a much-appreciated break from the mess that was Dear's two other friends. I do wonder, though - for the 1st season, Dol has always been connected to Dear. Now that she's gone, what are the chances of us seeing him in another installment?
Ae - I love an interesting villain. I appreciated that we got to see her backstory. She's no angel. Ae is a corrupt politician to the core. But getting to see her family life shed a light on why she's partially who she is today. Why she goes as far as she does. That man she unfortunately calls a father and her liability of a brother, both of whom never appreciated her, undermined her, and stole from her, really did push her to be who she was.
PS. I clapped when she shot her brother.
I do have questions about her, though
a. I believe she managed to leave the country. Will she return in the possible third season? I suspect she ordered the hit on Dear. Will she ever pay for that? The lawyer who conned the 3 in the 1st season went scot free, so part of me doubts she'll get what she deserves
b. Will the law manage to hold her father? There is overwhelming evidence against him, but if money can grease hands that much within religion, can we expect the already shitty, corrupt system to look the other way?
Ekkachai - He continues to prove that he's a snake and more dangerous than we think. The season ends with him finally getting the Abbot seat that he wanted. But things are not rosy. He's being bullied and blackmailed. However, rather than feel bad for him, I want to tell the other monks to watch their backs. He's slowly been gathering public support, and he's not afraid to kill.
We know he killed Father Kiw in the 1st season. I highly suspect he personally killed the woman who was trying to blackmail him, and had the deputy abbot who'd have taken his place killed. Now with his proximity to the unseen minister in the end credits, the hospital project likely proceeding in his name only, and his history, I believe he will be a lot worse in the 3rd season (if we ever get it). Those blackmailing and bossing him around will regret it
PS: I desperately wish I understood the meaning of the art we see at the beginning of the episodes
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