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So there won’t be a new episode tomorrow on account of New Years? Wouldn’t the holiday technically be over by then though being that it’s the 2nd? Or does Thailand celebrate beyond the actual day?

So true! Important to remain of objective. And you’re so right about GMMTV with their budgets. It really is all over the place. I hadn’t really noticed until I recently started watching more of their series.

The company who reps Smart and has always represented Smart - Grand Ivory Record - was supposed to co-produce Art Adore En under their old banner Yoma Entertainment, which on paper no longer exists but is literally Grand Ivory Record. This company has a long and well established history of abandoning projects and then changing their name and/or launching a *new* company in its place in an effort to hide away their messes.

It should also be noted that said company had no business or experience in production of any kind! They were an idol training "camp" of sorts that later pivoted into management but never really abandoned the idol training thing.

Top Form is like the 3rd or 4th series Smart and co. abandoned. Just prior to Art Adore En he was supposed to continue on with his Don't Say No character in the follow-up series Just Say Yes which would've seen his character go on to be the lead. Meanwhile, a month shy of DSN's finale airing, Yoma decides to cosplay as an amateur producer and enters into an agreement to co-produce Art Adore En, a series which at that point already had a filmed pilot trailer with a cast that kept announcing their departures from the project. Not long after Just Say Yes (which used to have a page here) is announced as being in the works Art Adore En decided to wake up from a dormant slumber and film a new pilot trailer with a bunch of new faces - including Smart. So naturally he could no longer commit to JSY (which at that point was still in the early stages of planning) on account of Art Adore En, so plans for JSY were effectively scrapped as a result.

There has been zero movement with Art Adore En since that 2nd pilot trailer with Smart was released. Yoma Entertainment was conveniently declared dead as soon as Smart booked TF and in its place Grand Ivory Record was born. Same company. Same personnel. Same shady moves. These are not professional people!

they really did him so dirty with that haircut, it's criminal 😭
we need Singha to arrest the hairstylist responsible for it

Yeah, it's a little dull right now but like you said not terrible, so I'm more hopeful than not. I was really disappointed last week because it felt like such a downgrade from The Heart Killers in so many ways - production, cinematography, opening credits, etc - but I felt better about today's episode. Ultimately if the storytelling proves strong I could overlook the rest. Well, except for the shaky camera... I'm gonna need them to chill with that 🤣

I think you're taking what I hypothesized about Keng solos *maybe* and/or *inevitably* getting annoyed by NP being the sole talker of the duo too literally. As stated in that very comment, I am not a solo fan of either and was just speculating on reasons for the divide as solos were being loud here in the days leading up to that remark. Keyword: speculating.

But let me rephrase my earlier comment since you seem really peeved by it - Namping should give Keng the mic every so often because extrovert (can't relate!) or not I'd imagine having to be the "on" one all the time must get exhausting - and Keng for his part should really stop hiding behind Namping. They are equally doing each other no favors in this regard, in my opinion!

As for Namping being committed to the ship - he is! That's not to say Keng isn't but we are seeing him venture out to do solo things (which is a very normal thing btw) while Namping has not taken on any solo gigs, at least thus far. But again, in my original comment about this very thing I'm pretty sure I speculated on why that could be and it was said and meant in NP's defense.

Hope that clears things up some.


Edit: just want to add one more thing which I'm sure you will spin into a whole other something but maybe someone else in your fandom will stumble upon it and take something from it... while this series was airing the most off-putting thing about it for me were the shipper fans here - to the point I removed their next series from my watchlist entirely. Then it shifted and the most unbearable lot appeared to be super fans of NP. To the point where I will never watch anything he is in ever again for no other reason than his super fans. I say this because it only just occurred to me that in all of that time spent here I have not once encountered anything negative from any Keng solo fans. And some of my earliest comments on this page were criticisms of him. If they saw those comments or anything I've said about him since they let it be. This is a glaring contrast to the behavior of NP solos. Again, I am no fan of either and thought they were both weak in this series but where I had once been eager to check for them in the future as a pair or otherwise just to see if they improved in acting and/or chemistry with different material I would now only be interested in a Keng solo project. Because as is and as has been encountering a NP solo in the wild is exhausting and never fails to result in a bickering match for no reason other than a difference of opinion. As NP himself had said, his fans are a reflection of him. Some of y'all might think your fierce defense of him is on his behalf and doing him favors but really you're more likely sabotaging his career in the short term when he is at his peak popularity. And maybe that is the reason we aren't seeing him booking solo anything... it wouldn't be the first time fans have burnt bridges and squandered away opportunities for their favorite artist on account of their toxic behavior. Just something to think about. Or not.

I think it's too soon to truly tell since there are only two eps out. But at the same time there are only two eps out so if you're curious enough then it's a relatively quick binge to both gauge your interest & effectively get caught up. Have you considered watching The Heart Killers? They were great in that!

Something about the way this was filmed still feels cheap to me, and I will personally never understand the appeal or stylistic vision behind a shaky camera shot when fig rigs exist but I know it's a thing so it is what it is I guess.

Dunk, they can never make me hate you!

+ THANK YOU GMMTV for including text message contents in subtitles!

Toey x Phoom look so good together!
Can't wait to see who Boom will be mingling with.

https://x.com/Tailai_ENT/status/2004054539805311147?s=20

he jumped ship to chase his t-pop idol dream

update: it's now official... Phoom will be in Akina!

I want to sue whoever made this.

I'm dreading watching the last episode. I hate finales 🙈 😭

I like this trio.
They need a full-length drama.

I was mostly kidding about that. I too read old commentary and will sometimes reply if it makes sense and/or adds to the conversation. It’s whatever, but as you probably saw in reading the original back and forth exchanges we were all penning thesis like responses in defense of our respective opinions on the matter so it’s a lose lose discussion.

Oh it’s definitely common sense, of that much we can agree, however Khemjira super fans who were here while the show was still airing were adamant that this series was a holy exception of sorts that would not go the way of any and all series before it. They insisted this page would remain popping with activity as though the series was still airing long after it stopped. So my deserted island remark was merely a nod to that absurdity. But I understand it wouldn’t have been understood by those who haven’t been here from the beginning. And on that note, I think it's well past time I ask myself what I’m still doing here 🫠

Initially I thought lousy writing is what plagued the Khem character but I’ve since come around to realizing that was merely me wanting so badly to extend the benefit of the doubt to the actor. This was his first acting role which in my opinion will always warrant some grace. Problem is, and as you somewhat lay out, Khem is a special character. As the literal namesake of the series the audience needs to feel something for Khem other than indifference. He is a character intended to be felt. Therein lies the issue, because acting is more than just line delivery. It’s emoting and facial expressions and knowing when, where and how to properly utilize them to help convey a story. I can’t help but think that those of us who were frustrated by the indifference we genuinely couldn’t help but feel towards Khem would’ve enjoyed the character more had he been brought to life by a more seasoned actor. For example, totally different company so it never would’ve happened but acting wise Gun from GMMTV is someone I could’ve seen in the role.

To put this in better perspective, I believe this series was the first acting gig for TLE and Firstone as well yet they seem to be regarded as the more favorable or tolerable characters of the series, despite being side characters. This isn’t to say they are better actors but rather that the characters they portrayed as first timers were far less complex than that of Khem’s so experience wasn’t as necessary.

Also, this is entirely the fault of Domundi. I have my feelings about the actor and believe he should take steps to improve on his skills but fact is he was given the role and can only do so much with it from there. It’s the company’s job to cast the right actors for the right roles, but as we all know they prioritize fixed cps over capability and whatnot.

You’re talking about something else which I agree is a separate issue and something I have noticed but my comment pertaining to Offroad was about acting specifically. Offroad still gets hate for other things. I never said he didn’t. But where his acting is concerned those previous criticisms have subsided immensely since his most recent series debuted.

I think there is a very big and wrong assumption being made here that all criticisms are hate driven and not to be taken seriously because they are either made by fans of the other half of the pair or fans of a different pair who I guess would be condidered a competitor to your preferred duo. Now, I’m 100% sure this petty brand of hating is a thing and that it does happen. I am in no way disputing that. But I’m also 100% sure it’s not the basis for ALL criticisms because there are a lot of casual watchers like me who aren’t affiliated with fandoms or fixed couples and watch purely for content, in which case things like story and acting tend to be judged more seriously as unlike you we are not watching simply because we are fans of whatever fixed cp are leads onscreen. Y’all would seemingly rather believe this particular subset of watchers is a myth as you’re so quick to write them off and dub them as haters when really they probably have the more unbiased takes being that they have zero personal investment, stakes, affiliation, etc. in or with cp/fandom business. They watch just to watch a good series!

Are you and Lilianna the same person or is it pure coincidence that you’re both currently replying to my month old commentary in defense of Namping? 🫠

I realize this page has become something of a deserted island in comparison to what it used to be but are we really so desperate to give it activity that we’re now infinitely scrolling to retort month old commentary? There are far more positive remarks about the series and/or actors yet you’re out here looking for something to be mad about. Literally. On Christmas no less.

Also, in case you hadn’t noticed more people disagreed with my opinion than otherwise and all was pleasantly cordial. I’m not into policing people’s opinions or discounting their POVs for not aligning with my own. People are going to have opinions and it would be weird if there weren’t any that conflict as no two people are the exact same in terms of their lives and/or experiences. Everyone agreeing with you 100% of the time would be akin to an echo chamber and I don’t know about you but I’m glad MDL is not one as I learn more from reading takes that differ from my own than those completely in alignment.

With that, you ask me (not a ‘BL fan’ fyi) if I’m okay over a remark you’ve personally taken to misconstruing but respectively you may want to ask yourself that question if you’re coming at me with duel accounts for a month old comment.

Happy Holidays! 🤍

Huh? Of course it’s normal. Who said it wasn’t? Not me! Opposites attract. We see it all the time.