This review may contain spoilers
Until We Drown
I don’t need to overthink a title for this review, the title of the series already encapsulates its core themes perfectly.
I went into this short series with fairly neutral expectations and ended up enjoying it far more than I anticipated. While I’m generally not someone who gravitates toward sad endings, I usually try to understand why a story chooses that route and come to terms with it. In this case, I can honestly say I prefer this ending over a far crueler alternative, one where the characters turn against each other and the main character dies believing he was betrayed by someone he trusted and loved. Compared to that, this ending, while undeniably tragic, feels purposeful. The series frames sacrifice as an expression of love, and in that sense, the tragedy carries meaning. If love must end in pain, I would rather it be a love rooted in selflessness than hatred. The story establishes early on that this is not a light watch, the visual palette leans heavily into dark blues and greys, reinforcing the somber tone and emotional weight. At its heart, the narrative argues that fate cannot be escaped; if you attempt to defy it, it will simply find another way to assert itself. If one did not die, the other would have. That inevitability is what defines the story. Despite the sadness, I found it to be a beautifully tragic experience. The chemistry between the leads was genuinely compelling, and the cinematography elevated the emotional impact throughout. I also couldn’t help but notice how much the second main character, the “brother”, resembles First Kanaphan Puitrakul. From facial structure to even the placement of moles near the chin, the resemblance is striking, almost uncanny. One character I felt no sympathy for whatsoever was the man obsessed with the main character. He was, without question, the primary source of destruction in the story. I would like to believe that after everything he did, literally across two lifetimes, he was ultimately caught by the police. Anything less would feel undeserved. I do wish this series had been longer, as the story had real potential to be something even more impactful with additional development. I’d also love to see the two leads reunited in another series someday, ideally something lighter and more hopeful. Unfortunately, no actors are credited, so if anyone has information on who they are, I’d genuinely appreciate it. One technical issue that significantly distracted me was the dubbing in the first and last episodes. The timing was often off, either delayed or rushed, and it pulled me out of the story entirely. At times, it felt almost like an AI-generated dub forced into place, which is unfortunate given how emotionally grounded the rest of the series is. Overall, this is not a series for everyone, especially not for viewers who strictly prefer happy endings. But for those open to tragic romance and reflective storytelling, it’s a worthwhile watch.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
I went into this short series with fairly neutral expectations and ended up enjoying it far more than I anticipated. While I’m generally not someone who gravitates toward sad endings, I usually try to understand why a story chooses that route and come to terms with it. In this case, I can honestly say I prefer this ending over a far crueler alternative, one where the characters turn against each other and the main character dies believing he was betrayed by someone he trusted and loved. Compared to that, this ending, while undeniably tragic, feels purposeful. The series frames sacrifice as an expression of love, and in that sense, the tragedy carries meaning. If love must end in pain, I would rather it be a love rooted in selflessness than hatred. The story establishes early on that this is not a light watch, the visual palette leans heavily into dark blues and greys, reinforcing the somber tone and emotional weight. At its heart, the narrative argues that fate cannot be escaped; if you attempt to defy it, it will simply find another way to assert itself. If one did not die, the other would have. That inevitability is what defines the story. Despite the sadness, I found it to be a beautifully tragic experience. The chemistry between the leads was genuinely compelling, and the cinematography elevated the emotional impact throughout. I also couldn’t help but notice how much the second main character, the “brother”, resembles First Kanaphan Puitrakul. From facial structure to even the placement of moles near the chin, the resemblance is striking, almost uncanny. One character I felt no sympathy for whatsoever was the man obsessed with the main character. He was, without question, the primary source of destruction in the story. I would like to believe that after everything he did, literally across two lifetimes, he was ultimately caught by the police. Anything less would feel undeserved. I do wish this series had been longer, as the story had real potential to be something even more impactful with additional development. I’d also love to see the two leads reunited in another series someday, ideally something lighter and more hopeful. Unfortunately, no actors are credited, so if anyone has information on who they are, I’d genuinely appreciate it. One technical issue that significantly distracted me was the dubbing in the first and last episodes. The timing was often off, either delayed or rushed, and it pulled me out of the story entirely. At times, it felt almost like an AI-generated dub forced into place, which is unfortunate given how emotionally grounded the rest of the series is. Overall, this is not a series for everyone, especially not for viewers who strictly prefer happy endings. But for those open to tragic romance and reflective storytelling, it’s a worthwhile watch.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
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