Filled with unnecessary plots and is an overly long show that shouldn’t be
I was dying waiting for this series to be finished because it looked so promising, but I ended up a little bit disappointed. Don’t get me wrong , I’m not going to talk all bad about this show. There are a lot of elements that deserve to be praised, and I’m here for that too. First things first, let me start with the elephant in the room.
The main problem with this show is that it drags on for way too long. By the time I'm writing this sentence, I’m on episode 8 and the storyline leading up to this point should’ve only taken about 4 or 5 episodes. Not to mention, each episode is over an hour long , episode 8 is almost two hours! I feel like most of the screentime in each episode is just filler. At first, I thought I’d get a story firmly based on the culture of shamans and mediums, as well as countryside superstitions. But that plot ended way too early , just by episode 3 ,and was barely included in the later episodes. It would’ve been great if they had focused on that storyline instead. It would’ve made the show much more interesting and given it a stronger climax, rather than focusing only on the characters’ intimacies. I just wish they had explored more stories about shamans and their culture, because there was so much potential , especially with such long episodes. Don’t get me wrong , I definitely enjoyed it until the end and liked the background story. I was just frustrated because the screenplay wasn’t what I expected.
Another thing I wish had been better is the makeup. I know the genre is BL, which often relies on fan service , leading most production companies to focus too much on making every character look flawless all the time. But since this series was nearly perfect and detailed in most aspects, I also wish the makeup had been more subtle and natural-looking.
Especially Keng’s character, “Master.” He’s young, stylish, and very attractive , someone who is found attractive by both genders, which explains why he has to wear glasses whenever he goes out. (Though that plot reveal didn’t quite fit the situation perfectly, but let’s move on from that.) Still, as a shaman or medium living in the countryside, I can accept the fact that he dresses well , but his hair and face always looking perfect, even in life-and-death situations, is something I just couldn’t accept.
I first noticed Keng in Paradise of thorns, and he caught my attention there. He didn’t wear any noticeable makeup in that film , which perfectly suited his character ,and he still looked incredibly attractive. That’s why I genuinely think they should’ve toned down the makeup in this series if they truly value their production quality.
Besides all that, I actually liked the show and got along with it quite well. One advantage of having such long episodes that focus mostly on the characters’ intimacies is that I felt very familiar with them and genuinely grew fond of the show.
The production quality is the main aspect that deserves every bit of praise. The production design, setting, and lighting are undeniably above standard. The acting is also worth praising , especially for a BL series, where acting and directing are often the most noticeable weaknesses. None of the performances were perfect, but they were still better than in most other BL series that are filled with cringey moments and awkward acting.
I’m also glad the production team decided to change the character “พ่อครู” from how he appeared in the pilot teaser. The current version, with a more serious personality, feels much more appealing to me. And the performances of all four main actors have improved significantly compared to the pilot teaser.
Another great thing about this series is the music. Offering such a generous number of soundtracks , enough to make up a full album , is something you rarely see in BL series. All of the songs fit perfectly with the show’s theme and are genuinely enjoyable.
To be honest, I wasn’t very impressed with Keng’s singing ability in Paradise of thorns , maybe he was still inexperienced or easily got nervous at that time. But now, the soundtrack “Mantra” has become one of my current favorite songs, and Keng’s vocals are truly impressive in it.
The main problem with this show is that it drags on for way too long. By the time I'm writing this sentence, I’m on episode 8 and the storyline leading up to this point should’ve only taken about 4 or 5 episodes. Not to mention, each episode is over an hour long , episode 8 is almost two hours! I feel like most of the screentime in each episode is just filler. At first, I thought I’d get a story firmly based on the culture of shamans and mediums, as well as countryside superstitions. But that plot ended way too early , just by episode 3 ,and was barely included in the later episodes. It would’ve been great if they had focused on that storyline instead. It would’ve made the show much more interesting and given it a stronger climax, rather than focusing only on the characters’ intimacies. I just wish they had explored more stories about shamans and their culture, because there was so much potential , especially with such long episodes. Don’t get me wrong , I definitely enjoyed it until the end and liked the background story. I was just frustrated because the screenplay wasn’t what I expected.
Another thing I wish had been better is the makeup. I know the genre is BL, which often relies on fan service , leading most production companies to focus too much on making every character look flawless all the time. But since this series was nearly perfect and detailed in most aspects, I also wish the makeup had been more subtle and natural-looking.
Especially Keng’s character, “Master.” He’s young, stylish, and very attractive , someone who is found attractive by both genders, which explains why he has to wear glasses whenever he goes out. (Though that plot reveal didn’t quite fit the situation perfectly, but let’s move on from that.) Still, as a shaman or medium living in the countryside, I can accept the fact that he dresses well , but his hair and face always looking perfect, even in life-and-death situations, is something I just couldn’t accept.
I first noticed Keng in Paradise of thorns, and he caught my attention there. He didn’t wear any noticeable makeup in that film , which perfectly suited his character ,and he still looked incredibly attractive. That’s why I genuinely think they should’ve toned down the makeup in this series if they truly value their production quality.
Besides all that, I actually liked the show and got along with it quite well. One advantage of having such long episodes that focus mostly on the characters’ intimacies is that I felt very familiar with them and genuinely grew fond of the show.
The production quality is the main aspect that deserves every bit of praise. The production design, setting, and lighting are undeniably above standard. The acting is also worth praising , especially for a BL series, where acting and directing are often the most noticeable weaknesses. None of the performances were perfect, but they were still better than in most other BL series that are filled with cringey moments and awkward acting.
I’m also glad the production team decided to change the character “พ่อครู” from how he appeared in the pilot teaser. The current version, with a more serious personality, feels much more appealing to me. And the performances of all four main actors have improved significantly compared to the pilot teaser.
Another great thing about this series is the music. Offering such a generous number of soundtracks , enough to make up a full album , is something you rarely see in BL series. All of the songs fit perfectly with the show’s theme and are genuinely enjoyable.
To be honest, I wasn’t very impressed with Keng’s singing ability in Paradise of thorns , maybe he was still inexperienced or easily got nervous at that time. But now, the soundtrack “Mantra” has become one of my current favorite songs, and Keng’s vocals are truly impressive in it.
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