axelcarlisle

The pace on the show is actually perfect compared to the novel, and I feel they’ll do a great job of wrapping it up in 3 episodes if the key important facets of the novel are retained.

The novel had a huge structure / pacing problem where it pretty much had its major climax around chapter 22 or 23, then there was another 9-10 chapters of wrap-up, verbal revelations (as opposed to show-not-tell, particularly around the motives of the killer), and an entirely tangential sub-plot about Bunn’s ex that really made the novel structure seem lopsided on pace (and partially on tone towards the end).

So I’m glad it looks like they’re placing the climactic moments analogous to chapters 22/23 around episodes 11 or 12, just prior to finishing the series. And it honestly would make most sense.

It also makes me glad they cut out the Bunn’s Ex subplot that really would have not fit into the series. It was just so tonally off in the context of the main premise of the novel and would have fit better as an entirely different novel.

However, I am rather sad that they cut out Bunn’s brother as I felt they could have fit him somewhere on the show. But I guess with several new characters and plotlines, it did make sense to cut Bunn’s brother out, too, because it’s already a pretty packed cast.

YEAH lol even having read the novel, I am kept guessing what they plan next because there have been enough changes that I really don’t know what will happen on the show, and the changes have been great and keeps me on my toes

Episode 10 was so awesome, and even though I’ve read the novel, they’ve modified enough things to still keep me guessing WTH really is still up and what’s going to happen next episode.

And at the same time, they’ve managed to keep the key arcs and sequences in the novel that it’s not an “unrecognizable” adaptation - it still is very much in the spirit of the novel.

It’s great to see how they’ve balanced adapting the novel and its key beats and arcs and story trajectories while injecting it with improved and new things that can still keep you on your toes and keep you guessing.

It’s very rare IMO to see an adaptation that is both faithful to the source material while making cinematic changes that are better for a visual and serial medium.

This is an adaptation that actually enhances the novel (rather than be a word for word copy) while keeping true to it (rather than deviating so much that it’s not even the novel any more).

Ok , so I’m glad my hope that they had a sensible reason for keeping Thad alive came true as of Episode 10. They’re using him as leverage to manipulate Tann in lieu of his mother who was in the novel but not in the series.

It makes a lot of sense and it really gave a great dilemma for Tann who has to choose between Bunn and someone whom he practically raised and considers an “adopted brother,” so to speak.

And I’m glad it wasn’t a plot hole.

I thought I was the only one. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great series, and Billkin (Teh) did a good job acting over-all. But yes, there was something off-putting with some of his facial expressions.

I’m guessing he grabbed this one because it’s a leading role. Which is sad because yes, he was awesome in DBK and even his short role in 3WBF showed great talent.

I think GMMTV’s problem is that they know people will watch their BLs no matter what, so they produce as many as they can without thinking of quality any more because it’s cheaper. More returns for a lower price - they don’t have to make any effort or invest in more innovative and better material, just repeat the same formula over and over again. It’s basically just like any product that starts selling really well, so they mass produce the same thing at lower costs despite deteriorating quality.

The sad thing is, we know GMMTV can do way better.

They did “He’s Coming To Me” and “3 Will Be Free” (the latter not quite BL, but had a strong polyamory and gay aspect). And though not BLs, “The Gifted” and “Happy Birthday” were well-crafted shows that even received a lot of critical acclaim and awards.

So we know GMMTV is very much capable of quality series. They just don’t want to do it for most of their BLs now because there’s a market that will watch these no matter what.

So far, I think their only really good BL director is BackAof. At least Backaof knows what he’s doing.

Here you go. Tul Pakorn himself sang it.

ความรัก ความลับ (From "พฤติการณ์ที่ตาย Manner of Death") - Single by ตุลย์ ภากร

https://music.apple.com/ph/album/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A3-%E0%B8%81-%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5-%E0%B8%9A-from-%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A4%E0%B8%95-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93-%E0%B8%97-%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2-manner-of-death-single/1546212853

“He had a daughter who was married, why the heir has to come from the son and not from the daughter?”

I definitely disagree with the father’s mindset on this,... but just to explain why he has that (stupid) mindset: it’s cultural in our region, specifically in some old-fashioned East and Southeast Asian families. The daughter’s child would not have his surname. Tonhon’s child would carry his surname. It’s a patriarchal thing. They want heirs that are male to carry on the family name.

Yes, it’s very backwards, but that’s the explanation.

Jennifer Kim and Ngek Kalaya are way too good for this series, and I have zero idea why they (or their agents) thought it was a good idea to have them join the cast.

Though I did appreciate that at least Jennifer’s character (Chon’s mom) was one of the few positive things we can say about this series. I can’t say the same for Ngek’s character (Tonhon’s mom) - she was actually a good and open-minded character, too, but she was just so much in the background that it was a huge waste of Ngek’s talent. Why bother casting an actress of Ngek’s calibre for... this?

And also: how they treated Miriam’s character ultimately. Like it was implied that if she wasn’t a virgin, she would not have been chosen by Tonhon’s father? There’s an undercurrent of slut-shaming women here, and it’s disappointing because Miriam was more or less a positive female character that’s not common in BLs.

Like I commented before, I had high hopes for this series because I felt the first 2-3 episodes showed a lot of promise, and I really liked those first few episode despite some flaws and problematic portrayals, but it just continued to deteriorate and get worse every week, and episode 10 was just a real trainwreck.

You can watch this video for a comparison. Warning: you’ll even be more distressed when you realize how much GMMTV deviated from the novel and basically effed the series up.

https://youtu.be/JWsr-ztRris

It’s common here in Southeast Asia. Bringing food to newer people, especially if you know they don’t have much family around, is fairly common, neighborly, and considered hospitable.

I definitely agree with you regarding why Nam doesn’t seem to have parents or other guardians or family members looking for her, just Sorrawit.

As for leaving the hospital, I thought about that also but decided to handwave it off with the explanation in my head that the congressman pulled some strings to get her out of there. He’s been shown as having such power etc.

Yup he was referring to Nong Thad, not P’Pued as mentioned here :)

It’s for sale. I did buy it myself.

It’s available on MEB Market. They have a website and also an app. Most are in Thai, but there are a few offerings like Manner of Death where there’s an English translation available.

https://www.mebmarket.com/

I liked it in the first few episodes despite the flaws already pointed out, but the last few episodes have just shown absolute deterioration in the writing and overall quality.

Even if we ignore the problematic characterization of Tonhon, even basic writing and development have taken a hit. Also, a lot of these tropes have become repetitive and ultimately nothing new - especially the toxic ex-girlfriend trope (and taken to a whole new level).

Maybe if they had stuck to making it a direct comedy / satire as opposed to suddenly becoming drama, it may have been better.

And then, after seeing reviews/videos about differences between the novel and the show, it will make you wonder why they even bother to adapt the novel if it would be so unrecognizable.

I think the ultimate issue with Tonhon Chonlatee is that it is generic and brings nothing new to the genre while letting the writing deteriorate. If it was well-written, maybe being generic BL wouldn’t be so bad. But the last few episodes have shown they just decided to drop the ball there.

No, those with VIP has one episode in advance. So this week, for example, Episode 8 is what is “officially released” to non-VIP viewers, but VIP subscribers get Episode 9.

Trace this back to week 1 when Episode 1 was released but VIP subscribers like me already had 2 episodes mades available. This is how WeTV VIP works.

For a BL, it’s fair enough and unique and worth reading if only for the premise. It’s simple and yet intriguing enough.

For a book “in general,” it’s average. It needed improvement on story structuring, some character and plot development, and “show not tell” situations. The series is doing a good job, though, of fixing the latter part.

It also has an issue on balance/focus - the subplot regarding Bunn’s ex (Tarr) feels super out of place and probably could have been an entirely separate novel. It’s wise for the show to completely ditch that as ultimately it has no bearing to the main story or even any of the other interconnected side stories.

I did enjoy it regardless and felt it was engaging enough despite the many flaws.

Tann was never sending people out to look for Pued., He was sending people out to look at the drug connections to Jane’s death.