179
424
12
1
4
8
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1
18
12
4
1
5
31
1
15
2
1
8
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19
9
17
27
A summer drama that looks better than it feels with paper-thin plot!
This is one of those dramas that walks in looking like a vibrant summer postcard and then quietly hands you… a plot that feels like it’s still on vacation. The set-up was promising. Lava, a moody teenager with emotional turbulence, is shipped off to an island to “reform” while living with his uncle. He meets Wave, a mysterious nan who was washed up on the shore and is memoryless.
Honestly, the drama has all the right ingredients. From identity secrecy to trauma and a prince in disguise, everything that you need for a good romance but somehow it lacks any depth and the emotional payoff is scant at its best.
Lava as a character, was one of the stronger elements, at least initially. He was prickly, resentful and lonely without fully admitting it. His moments with Wave were nice. But once the novelty of their connection settles, Lava’s characterisation hits a plateau. He reacts, he broods, he protects but he doesn’t evolve in any meaningful way. The script seems afraid to let him feel anything sharper than mild irritation or vague affection, which is a shame because his backstory had real potential for emotional bite.
On the other hand, Wave is introduced as this gentle enigma...vulnerable, soft-spoken and tender in a way that contrasts nicely with Lava’s volatility. But somehow the shallow writing doesn't give him anything. He feels like he was written to be more pretty than complex. And when I say complex, I don't mean complication, but to have a personality. Somehow, his entire personality revolved around being Lava's boyfriend. Remove that from the equation, and we barely know him. A prince stripped of memory should have been an emotional goldmine that could have been banked, but he was the least developed character of them all.
Their chemistry is… fine. But it lacks the intensity that would make their relationship compelling. Because the writing doesn’t challenge them enough, their bond feels like it’s floating instead of anchoring the drama. The drama seemed to be content with stolen glances, soft touches, and scenic silences. They were definitely beautiful but not necessarily meaningful. It’s the kind of romance that looks great in screenshots but feels lighter than expected when actually watching.
Another thing after the one-dimensional character was the pacing and conflict resolution. Some dramas try to reach for depth but this felt like it didn't even try. Every time the story tries to approach something heavy, it quickly backs away, scared and cuts to another scenic shot of the ocean hoping the view will distract us. The amnesia angle is treated similarly. It could have offered emotional depth, intense internal conflict and even moral dilemmas, but it’s used more for cute moments than meaningful character exploration. It almost works too, because the drama is visually stunning, just not enough to mask how hollow the narrative can feel.
There is a difference between calm storytelling and lethargic repetitive storytelling and this often tips into the latter. Conflicts appear out of nowhere and resolve themselves even faster.
Another missed opportunity was Wave’s royal background. This could have easily added layers of conflict with power dynamics or social pressure or the weight of public expectations, but we never truly delved into any of that. It did come but very late and seemed a little too convenient and last minute.
As for the second couple… I did enjoy their love story. The closeted uncle Pheng and Doc Wut. I loved how gentle and understanding Doc was of Pheng and his circumstances. Their relationship had real ups and downs that actually made sense for who they are and it all felt genuinely real instead of forced.
Acting-wise, I have mixed feelings about the leads. I have seen them in their previous dramas, but somehow the charm was missing. I don't know if writing was the problem. I hope we get to see more of Winny and Satang but with a better script. Mond and Ryu were a nice surprise. Neo was also very "himself" here. Never a dull moment when he was on screen.
Production and cinematography were the biggest strengths of this drama. It was visually gorgeous. The beach scenes, the atmosphere, the warm colour grading just matched the overall vibe and elevated in what ways it could...everything was crafted with such aesthetic care that it’s almost frustrating how little emotional weight the story carries.
Overall, while this is an easy watch where you can keep your brain aside and just watch, it doesn't stick. It gets cute, sometimes comforting but it feels hollow. I know the review sounds harsh but that's how my watching experience was. I binged the first 8 episodes, so I can't even recommend binging. Maybe weekly watchers might have a different experience. Not terrible, just underdeveloped.
Thank you for reading my review!<3 I hope you enjoy/enjoyed it more than me.
Honestly, the drama has all the right ingredients. From identity secrecy to trauma and a prince in disguise, everything that you need for a good romance but somehow it lacks any depth and the emotional payoff is scant at its best.
Lava as a character, was one of the stronger elements, at least initially. He was prickly, resentful and lonely without fully admitting it. His moments with Wave were nice. But once the novelty of their connection settles, Lava’s characterisation hits a plateau. He reacts, he broods, he protects but he doesn’t evolve in any meaningful way. The script seems afraid to let him feel anything sharper than mild irritation or vague affection, which is a shame because his backstory had real potential for emotional bite.
On the other hand, Wave is introduced as this gentle enigma...vulnerable, soft-spoken and tender in a way that contrasts nicely with Lava’s volatility. But somehow the shallow writing doesn't give him anything. He feels like he was written to be more pretty than complex. And when I say complex, I don't mean complication, but to have a personality. Somehow, his entire personality revolved around being Lava's boyfriend. Remove that from the equation, and we barely know him. A prince stripped of memory should have been an emotional goldmine that could have been banked, but he was the least developed character of them all.
Their chemistry is… fine. But it lacks the intensity that would make their relationship compelling. Because the writing doesn’t challenge them enough, their bond feels like it’s floating instead of anchoring the drama. The drama seemed to be content with stolen glances, soft touches, and scenic silences. They were definitely beautiful but not necessarily meaningful. It’s the kind of romance that looks great in screenshots but feels lighter than expected when actually watching.
Another thing after the one-dimensional character was the pacing and conflict resolution. Some dramas try to reach for depth but this felt like it didn't even try. Every time the story tries to approach something heavy, it quickly backs away, scared and cuts to another scenic shot of the ocean hoping the view will distract us. The amnesia angle is treated similarly. It could have offered emotional depth, intense internal conflict and even moral dilemmas, but it’s used more for cute moments than meaningful character exploration. It almost works too, because the drama is visually stunning, just not enough to mask how hollow the narrative can feel.
There is a difference between calm storytelling and lethargic repetitive storytelling and this often tips into the latter. Conflicts appear out of nowhere and resolve themselves even faster.
Another missed opportunity was Wave’s royal background. This could have easily added layers of conflict with power dynamics or social pressure or the weight of public expectations, but we never truly delved into any of that. It did come but very late and seemed a little too convenient and last minute.
As for the second couple… I did enjoy their love story. The closeted uncle Pheng and Doc Wut. I loved how gentle and understanding Doc was of Pheng and his circumstances. Their relationship had real ups and downs that actually made sense for who they are and it all felt genuinely real instead of forced.
Acting-wise, I have mixed feelings about the leads. I have seen them in their previous dramas, but somehow the charm was missing. I don't know if writing was the problem. I hope we get to see more of Winny and Satang but with a better script. Mond and Ryu were a nice surprise. Neo was also very "himself" here. Never a dull moment when he was on screen.
Production and cinematography were the biggest strengths of this drama. It was visually gorgeous. The beach scenes, the atmosphere, the warm colour grading just matched the overall vibe and elevated in what ways it could...everything was crafted with such aesthetic care that it’s almost frustrating how little emotional weight the story carries.
Overall, while this is an easy watch where you can keep your brain aside and just watch, it doesn't stick. It gets cute, sometimes comforting but it feels hollow. I know the review sounds harsh but that's how my watching experience was. I binged the first 8 episodes, so I can't even recommend binging. Maybe weekly watchers might have a different experience. Not terrible, just underdeveloped.
Thank you for reading my review!<3 I hope you enjoy/enjoyed it more than me.
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