1
Something More Than What Poster & Synopsis Tell You
First, I felt uneasy looking at Cha Seung Won, he was such a repulsive bad in Athena, LOL. Seriously, the main problem was that the 1st episode cast (the mother, the son, the girl) was hundred times more likeable than the cast we got to watch for the next 19 episodes. And that cast had Lee Seung Gi. Enough said...As for the "police procedural" side of this. You'll forgive me if once I again I'll focus strictly on the fun element in the series, as there is no basic logic in either episode 1 (how was the single woman supposed to be protected if no one protected her?) or episodes 2-20 (what good is to have whole group of rookies who equally know nothing?) so this NEEDED to have a LOT of good scenes to make up for it.
Episode 1 was excellent. Simple and powerful story, great characters, superb acting. It was funny, thrilling and emotionally engaging even though one could smell the ending from a mile off (as mentioned in the paragraph above). It was like a fresh run, with no stopping and waiting, or skipping a single 1 minute with an annoying side-character or side-scene you wanted to pass.
Episode 2 starts limping. Not only is the purpose of several rookies joining 1 station nonexistent, all of them are annoying. Usually I like Lee Seung Gi, but he's trying to be all hardass here and I would prefer to keep watching the 14-year old actor. Scenes you partially want to skip begin. Scenes you generally want to skip begin. I haven't watched korean drama for a while now, so everybody shouting loud enough to shatter glass approx. 50% of all conversation and general over-acting was something I had to get myself atuned to again, since the second episode...
Though I had to abandon the high standard expectation set by episode 1 to stay with the series further, I did at least appreciate the basic premise. The story of a new rookie - joining in hope to get revenge on a person whose mistake cost his mother dearly, only to discover himself how easy mistake is made even with the best intentions - IS enjoyable. There is a price to pay for each rookie to become a really good cop. The price is paid by an innocent civilian. The debt is then re-paid by the cop giving back to society by doing their job better next time, and the next time, and the next (this often becomes the true motivation to stay in the job, not the promotion, not the salary). That's the cruel truth each rookie should be aware upon joining. They should never join lightheartedly. But, of course this cruel truth isn't something that can be openly said to them on recruitment...
We watch Lee Seung Gi's character gradually understanding this. Now he's becoming a detective himself, he senses how the cruel circle works. That without committing a mistake that WOULD seriously harm someone really innocent, the detective will NOT go through the necessary personality change, after which he/she becomes really good detective. Then, realizing the price which was paid for them to become good, they are obliged to dedicate their skills in risky job, helping as many other victims as they will be able. They know that crying and committing suicide won't help anyone. Money and resources were spent in their training and they did learn hell of a lesson on a top of that. What they now have to do is give back for the rest of their lives: that is, if they are moderately decent/moral people. Unmoral people are NOT uncommon so naturally police forces don't solely consist of members thus depicted, there ARE those just seeking career and power:) Not all people go through the same story or the same magnitude. But he now realizes such people ARE indeed present in the force's backbone.
Cha Seung Won's character is an example of such a backbone member of the police force. So, his dislike of naive, greedy & incompetent rookies has reasons deeper than just annoyance. As I've previously pointed out, him handling a whole bunch of rookies at the same time has not much sense. Just for the dramaturgy purpose of this drama, where we get to watch him as a mentor figure of the contrasting members and their difficulty/camaraderie, I accept it.
Knowing this background of the story, Lee Seung Gi & Cha Seung Won's scenes are way more intriguing.
No matter the silly side-characters, their conflict IS dramatic. And if there is something I enjoy about k-drama despite the annoyances I mentioned, then it is DRAMA:) Luckilly, there were both dramatic and funny moments in this series.
I was glad we got something more squeezed out of the - at first really unimpressive - characters of the rookies. I must praise the music, too (it's amazing, and the track called "Justice For All" turns your blood cold). And I enjoyed the bits of romance, the more they were set into something meaningful.
In the end, I really enjoyed this and grew to like all the characters. And I did NOT like any at the beginning (except Lee Eung Do, perhaps:) Not even the lead girl. It was great that no one was just one-dimensional good guy/bad guy here and we were able to move past the initial conclusions about the characters. At 3/4 of the series it was all nicely settled in and I was enjoying all the funny group-scenes with them all together. Despite - or maybe even because - each of the characters knew great pain, loss or heartbreak. Then we shifted from the "case of the week" more to the main story final drama, and it was VERY enjoyable.
Everything and everyone had more than just one layer and there were many moral questions. Which is what a good drama should have. On the other hand, it was tight on one central case and did not try being hundred things at once, that's why it was so good (that's why most of "procedural" crime series are). Music was stunning (I mentioned:) The characters went through so much. Like Cha Seung Won's character. The actor has my respect. He completely transformed before my eyes. His character (and not only his character, there were others who had quite poignant fate) went through so much pain in many levels, and in the end there was still a funny side to him. This was admirable. Perfectly represents the whole 'You're All Surrounded' show, which by the look at title or the the poster (or the synopsis) might not look like much. This was SO dramatic, yet no one overplayed it to melodrama, and it was perfectly balanced by humour. It was ENJOYABLE.
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Good cure for romance junkies
This show delivers what it advertises in it's title, you really won't find romance here. Watch it for 11 episodes or less and you won't even wish anyone's romance to succeed: I'd say it's a good cure for romance junkies lol. It's a funny watch because girls are SO beautiful here yet no one yearns for them romantically and all the hot hookups lead nowhere and the adorable Best Nathasit is no longer cute here and even sweet Singto (who got assigned gay love of course:-) goes around most of the screentime wearing a face that's nasty as f**k and nobody gets a happy ending. Funny.Oops: EDiT! Someone decided IN LAST EPISODE, that we should after all somehow make all the characters "happy". So, everyone kind of gets a... good ending? Something like that. It's pretty rushed and apart from the doctor, who I believed sincerely cried in remorse, nothing looked believable and things in the last episode didn't happen organically with the previous parts of this series. So, forgive me but maybe I'd have more respect for this show if it at least did STICK with what it was?
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The main couple reunited in episode 15 out of 30, but again we could see only hug a hand kiss, tops. If we progressed to as much as kiss on the cheek, it got interrupted. Also, praek's rich family was fighting the girl by allowing her to marry pra'ek under the condition that she won't register her marriage, and thus prove she's not with him for his money. Both pra'ek and nang'ek happily agreed to this as a "proof" of their true love. While in fact they could just exclude her person from all the wills, if pra'ek really loves nang'ek he WOULD register their marriage to give her the right status, if nothing else then for the sake of their future children. It was clear the family just wanted to keep the chance for another woman to step in. Of course the stupid moron sister didn't quit it, either... The number of people lining up to break-up the main couple started getting ridiculous.
As a wedding gift, pra'ek gives some property to nang'ek, which nang'ek's father previously owned and lost. Pra'ek's father is furious. At nang'ek place, I would say I'll return the property but I want the marriage registered. But no. Nang'ek can't speak for herself. It's actually her who should be bloodthirsty after her dad committed suicide because of financial distress caused by pra'ek's dad. But no, it's the pra'ek's dad who shall make a life hell for his new daughter-in-law...
At least after the "wedding", nang'ek starts being healthy possesive of her pra'ek. Finally she speaks out. Seeing this, pra'ek smiles from ear to ear. Second couple line starts to be cute too, after the younger sister starts being more sensible. It's good to see her personality got better due her stay at the second pra'ek's house and good people in it. So despite the mismatched cast, I started to cheer for this couple. Sometimes people grossly incompatible with each other can actually be right for each other. I am for true love no matter what;)
Meanwhile, pra'ek's dad employs nang'ek in his office, where he lets her be as harrassed and bullied as possible. Luckilly she is shot in some stupid "crime action" sub-plot and gets a sick leave. Things get interesting again after nang'ek learns about the measure of pra'ek's dad evil doings towards her dad. She finally starts feeling vengeful towards him, this colouring even her relationship to pra'ek sour.
Her character, which kept resilient against bitterness, finally touches the dark side. Since then, the crazy secondary female is no longer needed, lol. Yeah, immediatelly Mo Amena's scenes felt surplus... But now, nang'ek starts being offensive even dealing with HER. I just hoped this won't turn into usual henhouse fight. Nevertheless, it's good that nang'ek finally speaks for herself, after she got abused, almost raped & killed, all for a guy who didn't as much as register marriage with her (now she simply makes him do that, when not thinking of their love anymore). Kinda sad she had to turn "mean" to get her basic human justice. But yeah, we are in a lakorn world, lol.
So, at least this is not boring for all the 30 episodes. In the end, the boredom of this show got only prevented by one sister to quit being mean, and the other sister to quit being nice;) Now that she hates her pra'ek, she discovers that she's pregnant with him, of course... Circle thus closes.
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Isn't Eye Kamolned kinda old for this?
I found it maybe a bit awkward pairing Eye with August Vachiravit, even though she kept wearing her girlie hairstyle and backpack.Then there's this complicated sci-fi time-travel plot involving simple dating. That is never good sign. This can hardly be a romance, because it all gets turned into some kind of "project" in the hands of main girls's best friend Sonia (31-year old actress portraying a student), who basically handles her love life for her. Also, as one other review here pointed out: If the messages from the future shows things are perfect, why should be there a need to try and do something about it? Just sit back and let it happen, eh? And that's just one of hundred reasons why I don't like anything supernatural.
I love watching relationship naturally developing (well, as naturally as it is possible in scripted drama... the better the script, the more natural the relationship development seems to viewers, of course). Which is precisely the thing we are denied here. It's one of those attempts to be original by making a weak script actually an asset. Yeah, good scriptwriters were always scarse. Drama producers WOULD try any kind of experiment. In the end, it's actually rare to find simple good romance...
First episodes, the notifications showing things being ideal and ROMANTIC alternate with actual events being clumsy, mishap and far from developing a relationship. The heroine tries hard each time to make the "prediction" come true and it either doesn't or does in non-romantic way. Then her friend even goes as far as telling the heroine that she has to make sure the thing in notification happens on the given day, else "the future will change". Huh? All I can say is the "magic phone" gets broken at one point and I just thought: Great, let's leave it that way.
Also, there is "Best" Nathasit in his "best friend" role. Suddenly, there are also notifications about the main girl ending up with HIM. While I honestly think Eye more compatible with Best than with August Vachiravit, his character shows ZERO signs of feelings beyond friendship at first. Then the script suddenly changes. Then, the script plays with a possible death of his character, which is too dark a theme for a girlie romance thing, making it actually a worse script once again. The author of this really doesn't seem skilled in writing romance. Someone on the production team could draw cute drawings, that's one thing for sure, else...
At 1/2 of the series, there is a scene in which the best friend Sonia pushes the main girl so hard towards the boy portrayed by August Vachiravit, that she bumps into him violently and his nose starts bleeding. I thought this little scene very symbolical. It depicts the kind of annoying meddling characters, the level of humour, and the "romance" best.
The relationship development is forced and laborious, the two main actresses Eye Kamolned & Meen Chayanee clumsily stylized into someone 10+ years younger look like bad cartoons, and it is all underlined with sequences of actual cartoons. Jomjam Suphitcha brings something bit more into this, and so does Best Nathasit. The ending of each episode belongs to Best and it's... best, LOLz. Cuter than any drawings!:)
Episode 5/8 is another revealing moment to note. When the notification keeps changing from one boy to the other each 2 minutes, it only underlines how credible such "romance" was from the start. Whom does the girl actually want to date, obviously that doesn't really matter to makers of this series, who set the whole episode in manga con, un/conspicuously pushing gay culture. The scene with both boys in gay-looking get-ups, who hug each other or hopefully even kiss gets the most screams.
I say the last episode is the worst. We jump from the fluffy silly romance comedy to something like 'The Lake House' with Sandra Bullock. But, here I didn't believe the main girl WOULD choose her FRIEND (no matter the hidden deep feelings) over the ROMANTIC looking boy BEFORE living through the experience of having a relationship with him and LOSING forever the one who'd really make her happy. She would have to travel back in time with her OLDER mind. Therefore, the only scene that can be counted is AGAIN the post-credits ending one. "Did you break my model?" "How do you know?" "I am watching your live video.":DD
So, the only thing I must praise the authors for is SEEING that the character portrayed by Best Nathasit was so adorable there's no way girl would not actually love him more than August the pretty boy. On the other hand, I didn't see the need for him to have to die so the girl would regret. Or us, the viewers to suffer the "mobile notification" plot for the whole story. We learned in the end that if was for a good cause, but the form it took was just silly. Logically, you cannot win with time-travel stories no matter what. As entertainment, I think I already described it above. ALL the five rating stars I give this are for the video-makings scenes.
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This won me over despite my aversion to both the plot and the cast
Okay, I was not especially looking forward to this one. Bua Nalinthip's previous roles were all in lakorns I DROPPED. I don't like Alek Teeradetch. Krating Khunnarong is not really my type, either. But mostly because I glanced at the synopsis which mentioned exchanged bodies, meaning exchanged souls, meanimg exchanged characters, in fact. That is not a (romantic) story I should enjoy (if there is confusion about who is actually having romance with whom, then I don't find it really romantic).First, there are scenes with Bua Nalinthip. She portrays doctor, seriously dating a pilot. Just to see her with someone else than Pon Nawasch IS a plus, but only till you take a closer look on this guy who also isn't very compatible with her either, AND (like Pon Nawasch) is younger than her. In episode 1 their relationship is not working, they might be close to a break-up. I know! After the soul exchange, the new "guy inside" would work better with her. Wow, what an "happy end"... as I currently watched also 2018 'Nakark Kaew', I was annoyed with this kind of "romance"... But I was in for a completely different ride, this time.
But first, I watched early scenes with Alek Teeradetch (I prefer Ken Theeradeth, lol), whose character is an actor and a "bad boy" (first we see him in bed scene, but I don't find him attractive) because he sleeps with girls on the set and does drugs and falls asleep during filming. Then tells everyone that HE doesn't need to care. I don't think that's how a really bad and wild guy looks like, that's how stupid guy looks like. Moving on to Namtarn Pichukkana's runway model, stealing clothes from her own fashion show. They probably date each other (though not exclusively, at least from the guy's side) because they are similar. So, after the body swap, this girl shall receive more intelligent guy if nothing else? Obviously this guy will have massive trouble to be a plane pilot after exchanging. Shall he kill his passangers?
So, first couple are both capable professionals. Second couple shares more frivolous an occupation & personality. I wasn't really looking forward to the change, it seemed to me these people deserved each other as they were. Also it suited me the actor I don't like portrayed the unlikeable character. I felt bad for the pilot waking up in the actor's body, having to answer for his stupid deeds like drugs & money stolen from someone who shoots first and asks later, all the while receiving an earful from his mega stupid girlfriend. What wrong did he do? The other guy doesn't wake up. But when the pilot receives a punch to his new actor's body, even the pilot's body starts bleeding. Which is even more stupid. I seriously wondered why lakorn scriptwriters keep coming up with such cr*p instead of simple good relationship drama...
At least when the decent guy was stuck inside the douchebag's body, and his girlfriend acted how she was used to with him, he was all shy and that was funny:) The other couple didn't interact yet, but I'd expect it would be the same only reversed. Each new "couple" dynamics should get stirred by each of them receiving a partner way more wild/stuck-up than they were used to, and it should bring fun and intrigue into their interactions...
But, then the actor wakes up in the pilot's body. The pilot's girlfriend (the doctor) is all over him, emotional and tearful... While he obviously just finds her hot:) After he remembers everything, he realizes he needs to hide: and where hide better than in someone else's body? So he just sits back and enjoys everything the pilot's got in life. It's emphasized the guy doesn't have much coinscience and also he is kind of, let's say... primitive. So is the girl (the model) by the way. So, both the (new) counterparts are in shock from their behavior:)
Plus, as if the supernatural element was not stupid enough, there's yet another shocking surprise waiting in both actor's and pilot's family home: their father. The pilot's father who seems well situated is actually boss of the underworld kingpin who is looking for the missing drugs, while the actor's father hates his son so much he tried to kill him twice already. The actor left his home (and his education) in 9th grade. Yeah, that might explain A BIT the kind of personality he had... There's yet another connection between the two (seemingly completely strange) families, where we face the classic "who is actually whose son" plot, because obviously this story was STILL not over-embellished enough.
Also, watching more of Krating Khunnarong, I like him even less than Alek Teeradetch and that's something. And with such stupid material, it would really help if there was at least some eye candy. No such luck... Then, why I kept watching? Perhaps it was the scenes where the right guy in the wrong body was desperately trying to make up with his (untrusting) girlfriend. Or scenes where the guy could not help but feel moved by the actions of (not truly) his girlfriend. Namtarn Pichukkana did a good job (this is 1st lakorn I praise her for, and I've watched her in 3 others already) portraying the simple girl: as coarse and lazy as she was, there was something endearing about her dynamics with the guy, she was truly thankful for any show of affection from him... Also, she appreciated his cooking skills a lot:) One could tell he was not completely immune to her compliments, though he was still reserved, but it was so cute:) If was funny that both the original couple people were wery prudent, while the other ones were like super horny:) The character switching made quite a stir. Though, it was getting quite clear that there was hardly any romance expected for the actor character, he was not sincere to neither his old, nor "new" girlfirend. Perhaps he was not capable of it.
So, if all the stuff I called "stupid cr*p" was there to serve as a base for having the endearing Alek & Namtarn scenes, I say it was worth it. Not so much for scenes of Bua & Krating, there were morelike scary, as the guy was practically sociopathic, not caring about feelings of anyone in the family he covertly slipped into. While I sometimes laughed loud during the scenes of one of the switched couples, I felt creepy watching those of the other. I could relate to one of the switched guys both feeling moved towards the other guy's girlfiend, and being scared for his own girlfriend. So basically both the relationship lines worth watching were the ones involving the character (soul) of the pilot.
We don't abandon the other guy's character background and further development, though. Even "bad guy"'s behavior always has some reason. At least here the scriptwriters did not betray the audience and tried to provide more than just the lakorn usual "action - loud yelling - action" shallow stuff to fill the episodes up. So, even the actor's character wises up and attempts to make something better of himself. Perhaps he saw something in "his" new girlfriend that inspired it. Despite the 31 year old Bua Nalinthip looking kinda ridiculous as a maiden saving herself for marriage, lol. If at least her character can make the actor be sincere to someone, then their line might start being worth watching.
Both guys' story actually has the parallel in learning to work patiently with others.
Aom Piyada Akaraseni has a funny cameo as "herself", a lakorn producer. Well, that's who she is today, lol. She is present on a set, where the "new actor" comes into. He promised "his" new girlfriend he'll do anything to get them out of their miserable situation, therefore he needs to take upon the acting job, now. He's to shoot an erotic scene on 1st day:) It's a treat to watch the shy pilot's soul in the body of the actor, who was - by now notorious for unprofessional behavior - obviously hired for the small role just for his looks. I enjoyed watching... To be fair, I'm sure you noticed during my review's progress I stopped complaining about Alek Teeradetch:) True I never liked him before, but here he redeemed himself in this role and after watching a lot of Krating Khunnarong, Alek suddenly started to look good to me, he was certainly the most attractive guy in this lakorn, lol. Or, maybe it still was 45-year old Chai Chatayodom?:)
While the poor pilot is struggling with the acting job, the actor keeps lazying around (one would wish that HE would sweat, too... but then, he would probably crash any plane he would try to pilot, so let's not wish that). Anyways, trying to be a nice guy for the first time, he's got couple of cute scenes, too. Portrayed by Krating Khunnarong, awkward with Bua Nalinthip one head shorter & six years older than him, I didn't enjoy those like Alek & Namtarn scenes, though (those were really able to make me smile & laugh).
Pilot also has his childhood friend, to whom he confides that he switched bodies with someone. As the only person, he starts to believe him a bit. I liked this small bromance line tremendously and would have wished there was more of it.
So, with all these long previous paragraphs (wow), I only described why by episode 7, I was finally settled in and tuned into this series and started enjoying it. What I liked were the life lessons both the main guys received while being forced to live the life of somebody else. Even the guy who was a good person and didn't need much atonement, still he was used to some comforts in his well situated family and position. He needed to learn to survive without those. He discovered strength and loyalty in people he would before deemed unworthy (even I as an audience would deemed them so at first glance). Together with the childhood friend line and Alek & Namtarn chemistry I found enough good qualities in this lakorn to make it a decent watch... But! It had to end that soon? Instead of the childhood friend (as I hoped) it's the actor's girlfriend who, in episode 7 out 16, already learns the truth. And asks herself a question: "Who am I in love with?" LOL that's precisely what I asked at the end of my very first paragraph.
Her first reaction is to ask him to leave as she can't live with a complete stranger. But then she realizes her mistake and goes searching for him. I agreed: they HAVE already lived together and that itself proven this man was decent. Because when he was in her boyfriend's body he could allow himself to do anything with her but didn't, so if there was one thing she could be sure of, it was she was absolutely safe with him. It's clear she was actually in love with the new man inside, BUT he looked like her old lover. Would they work even if they switched bodies back? The old lover never cared for her this way, the new one had another girlfriend. So, either way she was heartbroken. And what is absolutely disarming about Namtarn's character is that she confesses all this to him, that she cries... I RARELY cry watching lakorns but this got me. Kudos to Namtarn.
Meanwhile, the thugs working as underlings for the drug lord come to harrass the characters every now and then, which was only an annoyance because I don't think "action scenes" were that important for this story. Episode 8 was first I enjoyed fake pilot & pilot's girlfriend scene. Because no matter the cast, it was intriguing to watch to which level would (not) the animal-like guy be able to feel truly sorry or touched by someone pure. She hugs him without any kiss or sexual hints, just to comfort him and we can clearly see that's a first he experienced such thing. It's definitely an asset that we can watch a simple dialogue and hug scene and be thrilled hundred times more than in usual lakorn. Namtarn & Alek are precious too, one almost wishes the pilot would not have such an integrity and would go for the actor's girlfriend. I have never thought there would come a time I'll find Alek Teeradetch cute but here it is, lol. Both him and Namtarn:)
Seriously, it's so cute both the guys needed either to smile more or be more serious in order to get closer with the switched girlfriends. When they tried to switch their bodies back, I believe the audience no longer wished them to succeed. I didn't. So, that got postponed and instead we had to deal with the fact that both the guys had totally psycho dad. Which WAS the most kitchy thing in this series, lol. Because no matter what, I found the body-switching occuring at every red moon STILL more credible than corny villain drug lords mixed with upper class middle-aged scorned lovers drawing their gun every time their bloodpressure went up. I say, next time writing a lakorn like this, suffice with the fantasy element and do give up on any crime themes once and for good. Less is more and enough is enough.
Crime does not belong in good lakorn, it was the truth 21 years ago and it's the truth today.
Still, the two guys staying switched while dealing with their deranged fathers brought something more interesting into this theme than usual. I admit that watching the "bad boy" dealing with the "good boy"'s scumbag dad was very satisfying. It was one thing he could do well - or better - in his stead. So, even this rough character was finally finding good use:) Amarin Nitibhon was an excellent pick for the role (I still remember him as a serial killer from 'Tunnel'). I also liked theme of parent-child love emphasized just as much as the lovers love. Also surprisingly, I did enjoy when both girlfriends knew the truth already. It was still very engaging a watch. I even started to root for the actor to redeem himself a tiny bit:) There's so much improvement in the characters just because they were given the right partner, so much I can now eat my earlier words that the couples were better off how they originally were. No. Each of their personalities actually benefited from the other, fullfilled exactly where the other was lacking and vice versa. Everyone learned to deeply appreciate something, be it friendship, hard work, family, or trust. In short, I really rooted for the CHARACTERS. No matter the body.
With all the main characters already knowing about the switch, next they were trying to uncover the birth secret, which I was not curious about AT ALL (yeah, classic lakorn plot:) and scenes with the stupid "drug cartel" were getting very repetitive. I watched on for the relationships development only. That did not disappoint me and I enjoyed all the new nouances in character's feelings tremendously. It was great each time there was a direct confrontation with the people involved talking things out, not waiting around for several episodes to drag it. No, this show was packed. And what could not be conveyed through words, even someone's facial expression was enough to deliver. What we could see now in the eyes of the characters was something that definitely was not there at the beginning of the series. The cast did really their best. Though it was certainly not smarter than others, still I found this very good for a lakorn, because it was so dramatically and romantically enjoyable. Even if I did wish it layed off a little with the crime line. Less is more, there was enough good in this show.
But I gotta admit that this lakorn made even with the corny crime line plus birth secret line an enjoyable enough "action climax". Everything was part of the journey for these characters. This was multiple mirror story not only of switched bodies, also of a switched fathers who mirrored each other, too (one evil at his "work life" but a loving parent, the other decent in professional life but an evil parent). The emotional rollercoaster offered here really was complex (well, you can see for yourselves how long my review got:) The more sensitive and decent of the guys was the one brought up by loving father, even if otherwise a cruel criminal. Irony? I don't think so. This is what I liked about this lakorn. This wasn't the usual loud-conflict-making-no-sense sh*t. It actually made sense on the emotional level and that's why the audience is able to connect even with such a crazy story as this one. The only mildly ridiculous thing was both fathers being so bothered when finding about the body swap. They have learned their biological sons were switched anyways.
I appreaciated the last episode... I won't say any more: you watch it.
I rate this high IN CONTEXT with thai lakorns. I did watch hell enough of them to be able to compare:)
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If this is not example of writer's failure, then I don't know what is.
I got a bit scared reading the synopsis, nevertheless their school years start in 1999, therefore it's not true the characters are "growing up in Bangkok in the 1980s", LOL. Actually, the drama starts with Bank Thiti's voiceover saying he's 35 now, but back when he was only 16, "everything around him was merry". Then follows the beginning of the story that starts with some good ol' school bullying. Merry.Pattie Ungsumalin's character enters the school, wearing their puffy school shirt, so that we don't get to see whether her waist is 20 or 40 inches (of course there's no doubt in Pattie's case, she's always been skinny to the point it's uncomfortable to look at) and acting all wooden (probably not Pattie's performance fail, just the character's trait). She first gets bullied for something she didn't even do, then after she still takes her bullies' side, they accept her among themselves. "Yay".
Nevertheless, she gets along best with the only boy that was not mean to her even in the beginning, and rather avoids Bank Thiti's character, who suddenly looks all jealous. He also keeps being annoying in class and bringing unasked attention towards Pattie's character, despite it's quite obvious that she is the attention shy type. She even more or less openly tells him so. Still, he doesn't quit it. Best Nathasit's character Yae is shown mostly doing silly fun stuff and laughing around, but he was laughing also when a girl was being bullied. Jomjam Suphitcha's character Khing is a girl who takes no nonsense. Now, she would probably be best person to set the Bank Thiti's character straight. Instead, the writers let her mostly hanging around Yae and challenging him in his antics. Victor Chatchawit's Cheaw keeps clinging to Pattie's quiet girl, offering help and support to her ceaselessly. Which only results in Bank Thiti's character targetting her the harder. The circle thus closes.
Things are not black and white all the time. Actually, both of the boys prove to have good feelings towards the same girl in question, but that's a problem, too. They might be in 1999 but I am not: I find it tiring that when there are 2 boys interested in 1 girl, they always have to be best friends (and if not, then they are brothers, of course). Then the reason of Pattie's character's extreme quietness is revealed. It's quite a tragic one. I really didn't get the "merry and carefree atmosphere" the high school timeline was suppposed to have... when it was quite full of bullying and fighting and jealousy and tragic deaths? It's true the characters keep on spending plenty of time just hanging out and laughing, no matter what they just dealt with. Maybe we should do that even after we finish school and get a job? Is that what this show is trying to tell us?;)
All the characters were dealing with considerable stress (one bordered on suicide attempt). The main couple shares one fake kiss, the second couple shares an awkward tussle, the odd guy out shares a night with his absentee mother. There's nothing to be enchanted with. Should the "college years" be better? I waited for many episodes... It draaagged, I seriously began to be annoyed even by the opening credits. Why all the nostalgia? This series was far from portraying some "unforgettable story" (if there was any story at all). I tried and waited and waited and waited for the university part to FINALLY begin (seriously, it was like the high-school would NEVER end, that much it dragged) so I would find out what was the point of this "drama"?
There was still yet one more episode almost entirely dedicated to the guys packing their stuff and visiting the empty classroom one last time to sit there with teary eyes. I understand the scriptwriter was having huge nostalgia attack while writing this. Still, seeing the supposedly teenage characters acting deeply moved by completing high school attendance was kinda ridiculous to watch. Oh, there was also Khing being finally asked to date the guy she had the unrequited crush on, followed by the worst onscreen kiss ever (then she almost got gang rap*d... aw, the idyllic school days).
Then another crisis hits with one of the friends going to jail... I wondered whether we were still in the "idillyc" timeline. This was probably the first time the show wasn't boring, but we suddenly move by sharp edit to university (with the group of 5 friends now reduced just to 3) without this being resolved (or it just got "resolved" by him dissappearing into prison, just like the other boy disappeared abroad).
Then the university life happens, which is quite horrifying experience itself. You get uprooted from safety of your home (if you did have that kind of home), bullied by seniors and their "initiation games" to no end, and forced to LIVE with strangers: apparently one cannot choose their roommates, but they might choose to bully you, too. We now concentrate just on our first couple + Khing (as we lost the 2 other friends). Fang, after spending years in anxiety that she won't get into the same uni as her boyf, is clearly going to have a taste of "be careful what you wish for". She doesn't get to live with Khing, but with ruthless rival targetting her boyfriend, who got popular with ladies instantly. She comes to their dates all moody and refuses as much as to kiss him. You can see her losing him before it actually happens.
There is also a new suitor for Khing, who is about as funny - the writer obviously thinks Khing NEEDS to date a "funny guy" - as Yae, BUT doesn't look like Best Nathasit (who perhaps got another acting gig by now and had gone in other show, because suddenly we can't see even a visit scene with him). The college life really doesn't seem an improvement... Oh, there is one new girl getting closer to Win, and she is likeable. She is actually too likeable for the character portrayed by Bank Thiti, and of course more likeable than the girl portrayed by Pattie Ungsumalin, which doesn't even need the mention.
As we no longer have 5 people, we lost the scenes featuring the group camaraderie. Mostly we are forced to watch the very slow breakdown of the relationship of Win & Fang, who has the disadvantage that she's not compatible with him in bed. The two of them are on different timelines kind of, too:-) She needs to wait for years to be ready, ideally for a wedding. He has the hormones (pun intended) screaming to him NOW. Even if he sincerely loves her and intends to marry her, there are years stretching ahead during which he'll need to deal with the body's needs somehow. Ideally such couple should be separated for this, and meet again after studies. Then this awkward discrepancy should not be mentioned:-)
So, people who should have stayed together got separated. People who should get separated stayed together. Thus begins the university part of the series.
When Win hangs out with the likeable girl, we can see it's not just the unfilled body needs. He's also bored out of his wits (one scene he falls asleep while being with Fang alone). And the new girl is interesting and fun to be with. But at least he can relax with his roommates. Boys are not as cut-throat as girls, so he's friends with them. Fang has to live in as hostile an environment as ever, but it's safe to say one can understand Win's view. Even writing an e-mail (THAT's what he's supposed to do when he misses her) to her is uncomfortable.
Suddenly we skip 1 year ahead, which is manifested by Bank Thiti's hair growth to uncomfortable length (I'm not sure if it was his own or they've given some crazy wig to him). Pattie Ungsumalin's character spends couple of nights knitting him a cap, to cover the hair. She also keeps being badmoody because she is jealous, unfortunatelly she acts the way she's practically pushing him to be with somebody else. I must say after watching this couple from the beginning, I am tired with their storyline. On the other hand, Khing has to strive for several episodes to be able as much as see Yae, of course. All the while being pestered by the annoying new guy, whom I just wished to step back to group background cast. If this is not a sign of a writer's failure, then I don't know what is.
Best Nathasit finally reappears, wearing even crazier wig than Bank Thiti, or if those were his real hair, then good for him. He appears, and nothing much else. The only comfort is the number of remaining episodes is getting thinner. This CANNOT drag AS much as the high school. Music does stand out, though. It's like stolen from some way different (and way better) series/movie. There's also interesting visual effect acompanying Pattie Ungsumalin's silouette leaving one scene, unfortunatelly I was focusing more on her unflatteringly skinny figure and weird shape of her bones (which we CAN see clearly, ya know:) so that aspect - along with poignant music acompanying banal events - also did not work on me.
It looked more and more like this whole show's only purpose was to portray the way full of doubts whether there will be an happy ending for the couple Win & Fang, the couple I didn't even care whether they stayed together. And all the other characters were, after all, also only there to add support to their "story" (they didn't get their stories properly adressed and finished). Regretfully, I found basically any side-character in there more interesting than Win, or Fang, or the acting of Bank Thiti, or the acting of Pattie Ungsumalin, who seems to be always cast in roles where we are obviously supposed to be in awe just looking at her, though I don't find Pattie Ungsumalin that all-sufficient.
The synopsis says that in the university "Win starts dating a beautiful girl, Alyn. Out of jealousy, Fang hangs out with a playboy." It is not even as "entertaining" as that. What we really see is Win dating Fang for even more years, despite that their dating totally sucks. Win hangs out with cool girl, Earn. After quite some time, their developed feelings just start to show more on the surface. Out of jealousy (because she of course happened to see the first GLIMPSE of something happening in between the two and then got instantly jealous... same like Yae, btw.), Fang first leaves the university (after mostly hanging out with Khing, who is not allowed to have her proper story) then suddenly is seen in some kind of study group where she doesn't protest loudly enough against one insipid looking boy attempting to get closer to her.
Another weirdly absurd scene is shown when there is a photo exhibition being held with many people attending, yet there is only Fang's face being shown on dozens of photos. It's like it's all happening in some bizarre reality where there is nothing more fascinating to look at than the face of Pattie Ungsumalin. Even if she really had that interesting a face, it would be slightly ridiculous. Her face is practically wallpapering the walls. Ironically, the girl who is - at least in direct comparison - interesting, just humbly sits there playing her guitar. It's Win who is author of all the photos, but he hugs the likeable girl, which we can UNDERSTAND even without words. Of course, Fang appears just the right second to see it (it's the 3rd time this gimmick is used in 1 same episode, therefore it gets so ridiculous I almost expected to hear added laughter in the background, like in sitcoms) and leaves jealous, YET AGAIN. I'm afraid that even though the college part of the drama is considerably shorter, I shall probably be proven wrong in thinking it won't manage to be as draggy as the high school. Yet another "achievement" of this shows's writer (please don't write more "dramas", please).
We touch the side-stories of the characters we COULD care about ever so slightly, but the most we dedicate to "drama plots" like Fang being stupid to go into the room of some loser guy who's obviously trying to make move on her and prepared his rape drug for her already... I kinda tend to ignore such plot devices in all lakorns/dramas as for me, they don't even count. Here, they have chosen to mix it with the first Win/Earn bed scene, which was kinda unfair to those characters. Maybe teenage audience might be impressed by such montage (pitty the editor did not put their professional skills to better use than this series) but I am not that easy to manipulate. This didn't change the way I looked at the characters. In other words, just because they mixed two unrelated things in one montage, or because she called his name in a drug haze, I will not think that Win was responsible for what happened to Fang. So, moving on, to actual final of this "Fleet" of time... Which felt like eternity, LOL.
Now, the most amazing about the final episode was that it actually came. What this show managed to do is produce the feeling that it might possibly NEVER end. LOL. At least I got busy writing this review during it, else I would probably eaten my ficus plant. But before the final, there is of course yet one more episode showing the "happy" reunion of the 5 friends, sitting at one table mostly with long faces, each trying more or less to supress. I couldn't help but smile. It's like they'd shown facial expressions of the viewers watching 19th episode (god) of this. They could probably look similarly "excited", lol. Especially knowing it is STILL not the last one... Loved seeing Khing & Yae together, though. Even if that was just somehow hastily put together near the end. Next time the group meets there are 6 people, sitting like 3 couples. Besides Khing sitting with Yae, Fang is sitting with Cheaw, which she probably should have done AGES ago (spare herself AND the viewers), but then Win brings Earn, which was a shitty thing to do. Though I agreed with the 3 couples, and I liked Earn, I would know better than to bring her with me when meeting my ex and OUR common old friends. And if I have enough brains to know this, then so should Win. But of course this show's great writer needed all the people gathered for the "great" final, which is not worth the bother of describing it here.
Overall, the sharp discordance of the music playing with the content showing was oscillating between ridiculous and bizarre. Plainly said, strong score was put over weak scenes. Better actors were serving background to lesser ones. Characters were dissappearing/recurring at random... But I wouldn't let myself to be mislead that made this drama something special. Uneven and dilettantish yes. Just because most of the creators kinda screwed up in their job, I would not sit here and wonder whether this is the best or worst story ever. Back to planet Earth... I'm giving this show the rating it deserves.
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I didn't really cheer for him to get her
From the beginning, this is a "clever" show. Of course, there is amnesia involved. A "famous" actress and small village teacher got switched and nobody knows, because Andy Gregson's character decided not to tell (guess the actress was not that "famous" after all). And he really lets her teach children when she has no memory (plus he knows she was not qualified for it even before) so I guess he cares about his workers' kids really a lot. Also nice, young, pretty girl dies in episode 1, and she was more likeable than the nang'ek. Wow, what a start.Tui Kiatkamol is in the side-role. I still remember him as a pra'ek (the adorable 'Keuy Ban Nok') and he's not older than Andy (actually, he's younger). But... Our Andy refuses to retire. Will this be better than his Mafia Mungkorn stunt?
Kirk Schiller is in the villain role. It's not supposed to be a comic relief... but, who knows?
Among this all, Bella Vanita (or Bella Ranee) acts very cute. I remember her performance from 'Pon Prom Onlaweng', she was always able to convey a different character in the wrong body:) This time, misplaced identity. No problem for Bella Vanita:) She is endearing and - in stark contrast to exasperated Andy - a fun to watch.
When Andy acts all moaning and shivering (his character is supposed to have some kind of trauma) it's even worse (I had to laugh in wrong places). 11 years older, still his acting skills are not tantamount to hers. Also character-wise he's not the fuel of the show.
Her character is funny at least. I actually enjoyed having that kind of a nang'ek:) For once, she refused to listen to anyone's cr*p. She refused to be everyone's punchbag. She usually showed no fear, her first reaction was actually to rescue others. She wasn't really bad when her personality got dissected by this experience where she "forgot" how spoiled she was. On the other hand, Andy's character kept lying to her, purposedly confusing her when she tried to recover her memory, putting her into position she was not fit for then criticizing her, and ocasionally just plain put her down or insulted her. He was having his revenge on how the "old" Mekala first treated him without properly knowing him. But by the time he was still doing that HE should have known her a bit better. It just didn't sit quite well with me he should be the one giving her constant lecture about good character. (All the while there is a character who drinks, steals, beats women & children and nobody is particularly lecturing HIM.) Also there is another girl only faking to be good and he can't see through it. Plus he meets the evil aunt & her daughter and never treats THEM that bad.
Mekala is actually not just lost in her amnesia but also alone in the world, as she's got no one who really cares. Her remaining family members are horrible and only care about money. Therefore I found it important she'd end up with a good guy, at least.
Despite being completely clueless, the "naughty nang'ek" spends only a short while living near Andy's character and her heartfelt wish is to run away. I kinda understood her. While even the evil characters don't take themselves so seriously (Kirk Schiller can't help himself) he's more of an annoyance. I must say the ecology activism of Andy's character had such unlikable form I would understand if nang'ek just sold the forest, LOL.
Things get to crumble with the whole amnesia plot when Mekala's relatives show up. Then the last straw of logic seems to dissappear, but then again there never was any logic to any amnesia plot to begin with. Why look for it here? At least here we have Bella Vanita who is both entertaining & easy on the eye. You might think it's not that much, but given everything, it was her alone who kept the show going. As without her I would have probably DROPPED the lakorn. I loved how she was developing better personality but never slipped into typical miss goody two shoes. No matter what, she didn't bore me.
During it all nang'ek & pra'ek grew closer, of course. Though I just didn't really understand her trying to win his good side after how he always treated her. And him, even if he believed she was not a good person, still many occasions I couldn't understand how could he treat that way a woman who was so beautiful (that too without wearing heavy makeup like a porn star, as the other, supposedly "nicer" girl... even pra'ek's mom make-up was too strong a coffee, btw.) Before she regained her memory though, they started having really cute interactions... They got together sooner than I thought possible. Bella Ranee's acting was adorable and so natural, again I must compliment her. The romance line progress is fast, he says he loves her in half the series already. Doing that, he's still calling her by a name of a different person, though (I wondered how he explained this to himself). So let's not forget he's still purposedly keeping her in the dark about her own identity. First he lets her believe she's humble country teacher and then when someone succeeds in making her believe she's a secret assassin, he supports her believing that, too. Just anything but the truth.
During this, the amnesiac heroine doesn't have any problem to marry Andy's character even while her memory didn't yet come back. She never seemed to have real problem with anything, actually. When she was told she is an assassin, she just started training to fight, without being told much as to how. She never seemed to have problem with being a teacher, either. She might train for her action scenes as an actress but she never educated children. Yet we never once see her asking what materials should she teach from, how should she grade tests... Without knowing anything, she just does the job. So when without knowing anything, she just gets married, it kinda isn't that surprising. After all, she's "in love". I just couldn't wait for her memory to (finally) come back and wipe the smile from Andy's face. And when she came back to her old self, I again appreciated the versatility of this actress (in huge contrast to Andy's "acting").
Of course among all the antics we see some human trafficking, just casually... It happens to be in every other thai series, we don't deal with it much, it looks like the thai tv would just like us to get used to the idea of this being common thing. Anyways after 10 episodes I was generally tired of this. The heroine found out the whole truth already and wished to have nothing more to do with the guy. And I could relate, I was also tired with Andy and his character. I just wanted things to end. Why so loong runtime?
In conclusion, this show's main failure was the choice of the guy Mekala got paired with. Not only her character rocked more, she was also too young and too pretty for him and I didn't really cheer for him to get her.
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I was looking forward to this one
So far, none of the previous 'Cupid' stories has received higher than average rating from me (some received lower). But this one I was looking forward to: cast is hot (he's the lead from 'Fatal Destiny') and also this girl's character got my attention since the first introduction at the beginning of the first story (she said falling in love & having a boyfriend was too EXPENSIVE, lol).Tono & Nychaa make kinda uneven couple as he is decade older. But Pear Pitchapa's nang'rai makes things unexpectedly interesting (and I am a kind of audience who is NEVER interested in having a nang'rai:) Also this nang'ek, who is capable of chasing a purse-snatcher on a motorcycle and then beat him with her helmet, just because he took her money, then replying dead seriously to the pra'ek who's kidding her that he would sign her up for next race on big money, that if the money is big she would do it, keeps things from boring. So you see, I had to wait for 6th Cupids story out of 8 to finally not be bored, at least. But their kiss was fake. So, I was not bored, but I was not pleased (there's something so hot about Tono Pakin, but it's wasted here). But, we see more and more glimpses of the final couple's story, which I suspect would be the best (Ken Theeradeth:)
In conclusion, this was a nice watch, WITH the exception of the skinship. It's a pitty as else the two of them seemed so natural, and they LOOKED super cute together. But when it came to a kiss, it always changed to rigid or awkward... Okay, there's a real, but stiff kiss in episode 6 (Nychaa is just too young and/or constrained to really go for it). And also with the exception of the stupid role of Honey Passorn Boonyakiat (and the whole side line which concerned her character) or the fact that another side-character goes way too much psycho for this kind of genre. It filled the final episode with amateur crime cr*p instead of romance and I seriously thought the death too much. Looks like (*sigh*) even this Cupid story won't make it over average rating.
Cupid Hut is a dating agency, this show was supposed to be about dating. Not about the agency to end up being sued for not doing enough background check and letting serial killers in. It's hard to think about romance after that. The producers of this should concentrate on one genre, preferably the one they ARE able to do in good enough quality (I am actually tired of pointing this out while watching lakorns:)
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There main couple here consists of Prin Suparat who looks funny when trying to look seriously badass (I think it was in 'Tawan Deard' where he best managed to not cross the thin line into getting ridiculous with the badass thing) and his regular onscreen/offscreen gf (they don't do a good onscreen kiss, though) Kimberley Anne Woltemas. Apart from them, we have 2 more.
The main villain is actually main girl's brother, who is a creepy guy on drugs.
Kom Faek's fighting style is very entertaining. Apart from it being actually funny at times, it mostly uses baton as a main weapon. It's a special baton of unique shape. It looks cool (just don't look on the poster, I don't know what's that there, but definitely not it:) The variety of things you can do with the baton seem endless. It also keeps the fight on the right level (not just fists, and not shooting each other to pieces, either) and out of stereotype.
Romance line is half-hearted, unconvincing and lukewarm - despite all the involved drama - for all 3 couples.
The main plot is about overthrowing the local mobster who is terrorizing people in small village and working with dirty cops cooperating with US army. Understandably I tried to absolutely ignore that and just concentrate on the individual fightings.
Though at times I had fun watching, I didn't really care whether Prin Suparat's character dies. And even if I cared I obviously didn't have to worry, as it seemed nobody is able to actually kill anyone, here. Had it not been like that, the main hero would not see the light of episode 2, and the same goes for the main villain, too (if nobody else, one of his not-so-loving lovers could take care of him while he slept). But things dragged and in the second half of the series, it all started to re-play itself.
By episode 9, my overall interest was gone. That time, someone started appearing there regularly turning into a smoke (as if this needed a supernatural element added) so I figured it was the best time to quit it... First, I dropped it, then I needed to rate it so I returned to watch the last 3 epis. And I ended up even lowering my rating.
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I liked the cast. The older actress looks gentle and kind and the younger is beautiful with cute smile. The cute guy is not far away, either. He is someone she briefly met when still old, not daring to dream. Now she is allowed to like him. First few episodes I was rather annoyed we still needed to deal with the "magical cat" who allowed Sumire to become young: that turned into a middle aged guy with eye makeup and black nail polish, who stayed in the heroine's house (and her story) which I did not find necessary. But I appreciated it when this character was able to bring more conclusion and then even an explanation why he was portrayed by middle-aged guy:)
See, I found Kiritani Mirei quite a decent actress, actually doing better job than Oikawa Mitsuhiro. I could tell she most probably spent some time with Matsuzaka Keiko and learned her facial expressions.
But what I honestly appreciated most about this drama were the characters. Each character had a meaning in the story and each was portrayed exquisitely including the small roles. Like Akimoto Sayaka, she was perfect and without her the character would not worked this much. The guy portraying the main love interest who got to date our young/old lady also could not been chosen better, his style of behavior could not be more compatible. And what I appreciated the most was the character of the main heroine. She knew GRATITUDE, not just attitude like all them leading ladies:) I really loved her and not just for being pretty, this time.
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Even short as it is, you need to wait till it starts happening, which is in episode 4 out of 10.
Gotta say, Nadech acting all girly-girly is finally a role fitting to him. As without much makeup, and doing male face expressions (actually better than real Nadech has) Yaya DOES look more manly than him. That was ingenious to make them do such script. I had great fun, especially with Yaya's acting as a guy (actually she surprised me as an actress, she was not just able to make me laugh by funny overplaying the different sex role: at times she was really convincing) because Nadech as a girl was somehow morelike... scary truth:-) I don't agree that this drama fell short in the romance department in the slightest. Nevertheless, I honestly wish for no more lakorns of this pairing. Yaya hopefully finds someone else to koo-jin with (though after this performance it's almost pitty to let her play "just a girl" again) and Nadech can move to Line TV or GMM25...
Action scenes were a treat and I usually SKIP those in lakorns!:-)
It was not just about the action, also the action's meaning. What it meant to be someone's buddy in arms (without words it explained perfectly why would Arkom lie for Ramin for so long, even at his own expense). I just can say, stuff that started happening in epi 8 made my jaw drop and I considered giving even the 10 rating to the lakorn.
It ended too soon. I wasn't keen on last episode and a half. But I think if they'd take the best stuff from epis 4-9, it would make a great oldschool fun movie, like they made years back:-) I also thought Arkom & NokYoong totally adorable, and didn't get the comments bashing NokYoong's character. If there was someone usufferably annoying here, then it was Bookko Thanatchaphan's character or Top Daraneenute's character, definitely not Ice Preechaya's! Same goes for criticizing the lead characters: had they be typical good boy & good girl, most humour scenes and the plot could not work.
Note: This has higher than average rating (also higher than any previous Yaya & Nadech lakorn rating) from me as I usually do suffer BOREDOM through majority amount of lakorns, and this was not the case (here, I had to fastforward the two unwatchable "managers" only). Also, my prominent dislike for Nadech Kugimiya can serve you as a good warrant that any lakorn with decent rating that has him as the lead really had to earn that rating. After all, this was about meaningful stuff about relationships. Not birth secret, family inheritance, forced marriage and amnesia like most lakorns:-)
Rewatch value: epi 4-9.
Most favorite scene: Ramin appears at Arkom's doorstep (in Petra's body), telling him categorically that they're both immediatelly leaving together because they need to rescue Ramin (actually helpless Petra:) and all that followed (actually Yaya & Tor scene;)
P.S.: Very interesting that name of the nang'ek was 'Petra'. Of course, everyone mostly called her "Peta", as thai have general problem with pronouncing.
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Andy Gregson is not acting... just acting out.
My. Andy is getting close to middle-age mark. Frankly, the more I find disturbing the level of "acting" he is at. If this was his "first work after a long hiatus", then perhaps the hiatus should have been shorter/even longer.His character here is a "playboy", who is shocked to be kissed (it's a fake kiss, of course) by a decade younger girl. More or less instantly he gets all giddy and confident they'll become a couple. She says such things like she would love to fly away and never come back. He never stops smiling from ear to ear, making funny faces (he is NOT that young anymore, so it looks kinda ridiculous) and grand romantic gestures to this completely strange girl he barely met. When she says that she shouldn't have been born, he finally notices that something is wrong, LOL.
As she is in quite strained life situation, he oscillates among how to help her/get her/get jealous. The more volatile the character, even more the job of its actor. Some of his scenes I just stared at the screen with raised eyebrows. In sharp comparison, Pu Montree rocks in his role. It's him who makes this show a fun watch. Only it gets a bit undermined by Andy's performance, who appears like he's featuring in a comic relief role, too. Either they didn't tell him that he's supposed to be the pra'ek in this, or he really cannot act. As result, his character appears like he's only joking, then the story continues in a way it's revealed that he was actually serious. My.
I was at loss as to how to rate this. It's not average, so I could give it 5 out of 10, like Tiger. It's not boring, so I could give it 2 of 10, like Lion (as I rate boredom VERY low:) It's just beside any kind of audience experience, as here Andy Gregson is not acting, just acting out. Should I give it 1 of 10? That doesn't seem fair to all the other people who worked on this besides Andy. Music is good. Other cast is good. I think I give it a 3. In a way, it's more scornful than 1:)
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So brave of Anne especially to show onscreen that many embarassing physical things accompannying real pregnancy and having a baby. And BECAUSE she was not embarrassed to play such role, the more cool she is. This is the lakorn I refer to when telling someone that Anne is comedy veteran. The scenes with her wildly eating any flowers in sight would make you pi** yourself with laughter and stick in my memory even it's years already since I watched: might enter some kind of lakorn golden hall of fame:)
Also Ken Theeradeth got a chance here, as we all know he's not only handsome, but versatile. Capable of being cute/sexy/crazy... Here it's his role to showcase his wide range of facial expressions, making him some sort of thai Jim Carrey.
So, why don't I rate higher? I don't really know... I didn't like the ending, that much I remember. I didn't want to re-watch this (and re-watch quality means TRUE quality to me:)
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The dull-doll-diana sends this even below average
I remember looking forward to this one, as I was among those - back then maybe not among that many - who cheered up for Pope to be a pra'ek, as I adored him in 'Tawan Deard', 'Buang', etc... What was my disappointment!Turns out it DOES matter who they pair him with. As 'Khun Chai Pawornruj' proved to be the weakest link of 'Suparburoot Jutathep'. 'Ruk Ok Rit' & 'Sapai Jao' drowned in lacklustre, too. But nothing compared to the effect of a completely lifeless doll by his side (she is pretty, but that's IT), called Diana Flipo.
After promising start, the story drags (the kind of story where the pra'ek LEAVES for years? really?) nothing can save this, not the period setting, not any attempts to enrich it with some sort of mission featuring Alex Rendell, not the antics of once again too-annoying-to-not-skip-all-her-scenes Tanya Tanyares, and least of everything: not the main couple. I wish I could get my hours wasted by watching this back. Enough said....
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This review may contain spoilers
That bod in that uniform is definitely something
Apart from that - without being stung with a figurative gun slowing your brain cells - this is difficult to watch without constant eye-rolling.Way trashier than other Love Mission series, and that's something, LOL. Which means it's actually LESS boring, but... Like I've mentioned above. Do YOU prefer boring or stupid?:D
There is actually no comic relief in this other than the blatant ridiculous cast of them all (the soldiers, the scientists, the terrorist) which gives you the constant eye-roll, or maybe even laugh. Else, if you watch these lakorns seriously, be advised that this "story" contains death of a small child. Not every viewer can process this and then smile over a light conversation in the other scene few minutes later. Or see yet another heart-wrenching death(s) in the same episode? As this is about terrorist group, you cannot escape of some scenes of, well... terror. So, even if the cinematography IS at the level of the release year of Top Gun (LOL), be advised.
This is the last story, so it offers closure for all four.
First, stupidity culminates in closing the 'Yeut Fah Ha Pikat Rak' story. Then it's all about the camaraderie among the 4 soldiers (that's way better*:) They even promised to look after each other's girlfriends, should one of them end up a widow, she gets 3 brothers to watch over her... But you can guess if in their universe THAT really happens, LOL:)
*All them hunks onscreen together:)
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