Celeste

It’s been a few weeks since I finished the series and I wanted to share my thoughts. First, I want to talk about the plot. For me, the concept is interesting because it revolves around a monarchy, which isn’t something you usually see in a BL. But the execution, or how they delivered the story, felt a bit meh. They really should have added more depth to Ramil’s story, because honestly, his arc was more interesting than the main couple’s. Early on, I actually thought Prince Rachata was the villain. And I get it, it is a good twist if the true villain is someone who has no heir. But they should have explored Ramil more. Instead of focusing only on Prince Rachata wanting to bring power back to his kingdom, it would have been better if they showed him pushing Ramil harder in training to redeem his loss in the previous royal competition, since it is a tradition. And we already know he lost that competition because Khanin’s grandfather became king. That angle could have made his final conversation with Ramil so much more powerful.

For the cinematography, some of the shots were genuinely impressive and you can tell they had the budget for certain scenes. But other moments didn’t match that quality at all. For example, the scenes where they travel to different kingdoms and the parts where Khanin is shown exploring the area feel very tight and confined. You can clearly sense that it was filmed in a studio, and it makes the world feel small instead of grand. The atmosphere doesn’t give the illusion of a large kingdom with bustling people. Instead, it looks like there are only a few extras walking around, which makes the setting feel empty and less immersive. If they had expanded those scenes or filmed in wider outdoor locations, it would have helped the story feel more alive and the world more believable.

As for the main couple, they ended up being the least interesting part of the series. There is no deeper story behind them and their relationship moves too fast. Charan is supposed to be a royal bodyguard, but his fight scenes are so underwhelming. I have watched a lot of action movies and series, so I know what good choreography looks like, and honestly, his scenes made me question whether he is really meant to be a royal guard. And their NC scene was also disappointing. A lot of people online were hyping it up, but it felt bland to me. Maybe it is because they are in love, I am not sure. I actually liked Ramil and Paytai’s NC scene more. The main couple was basically just kissing while naked and there was nothing special about it.

My favorite part of the series is the ballroom dance scene. It was so magical and the song made it even better. I have actually had that song on repeat for the past few weeks.

Overall, The Next Prince had a lot of potential, especially with its unique monarchy concept and a few standout moments like the ballroom dance scene. But the series struggled with pacing and character depth, especially when it came to the main couple. Some characters deserved more development, and some scenes felt rushed or underwhelming. Even so, there were parts I genuinely enjoyed, and I still think the story could have been something great with stronger execution.