Omit this show from LingOrm's résumé
Understandably my lowest rated GL. I only finished this because of my love and respect for LingOrm. The lack of love and care can be seen throughout the show. I'm disappointed in CH3 for giving this to LO, thinking that their popularity will just carry it. I don't even want to get into the details of the actual show because it'll be too long. All I can say is I'm glad that's over and I hope CH3 learn from this and do better for LO next time, because this was unacceptable.Was this review helpful to you?
Love Design's Love Review
One of the most well-paced, engaging, visually stunning, expertly acted, balanced shows I've seen in Thai GL media so far. It's the best case scenario for a simple story.Love Design is the perfect title for this show because they did a great job intertwining the characters and their relationships with their careers as designers. Aokbab’s love for drawing is tied to her trauma and ultimately becomes part of her healing. Rin and Aokbab grow closer, and eventually fall in love, through the process of designing a house for a couple, drawing inspiration from that couple’s own love story. Their shared passion for architecture is not just part of their backstory but the basis for the characters and their relationships to grow.
The characters, story, and conflict may be simple, but the masterful storytelling is what makes this show stand out. Every aspect of the story is paced effectively throughout the show — Aokbab’s journey of healing from her trauma, her developing relationship with Rin, the process of designing a house for their client, etc. The plot points and conflicts are introduced early and developed through episodes. Nothing is introduced out of nowhere or wraps up abruptly. The show uses its time wisely, delving into the characters’ backstories and the gradual development of their relationships, allowing the audience to truly invest in their journeys and feel immersed in their emotions.
In terms of the acting, you can feel the fact that Kao and Jane are talented veteran actresses. They're so masterful at filling up the in-betweens, resulting in no awkward or uncomfortable moments during their scenes together. They beautifully portrayed two people at different points in life, with different histories, falling in love at their own pace. The cast as a whole was an ensemble who pulled their own weight. The side characters are written as full-fledged characters with their own personalities and motivations, and not just a pawn to move the storyline along when the main plot runs into a wall.
It’s rare for a show to use cinematography and sound not just to create something aesthetically pleasing, but to actively tell its story. The use of camera angles, time of day, lighting, and even the architecture and scenery in Japan adds to the portrayal of the characters’ relationships, emotions, and state of mind. The score is one of the biggest contributors in the overall feel of the show. It is composed solely for the show and you can feel how it elevates the scenes. It's more than just playing the OST as background music. It breathes with the scene.
Set design, hair, makeup, and styling were excellent. Every space and outfit felt believable and reflective of the characters in it. Jinta's office was an actual architectural firm's office, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the show. The contrast between Jinta’s bright, colorful office and Mind Space’s dark workspace, where the team is always dressed in black, serves as a constant visual reminder of their rivalry.
Overall, this show is an easy watch that is extremely well made. All the moving pieces behind the scenes, director, actors, writers, editors, composers, cinematographers, etc., came together and pulled their weight to make a seamless, complete, and satisfying final product.
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This review may contain spoilers
I've never felt so single without feeling bitter
Us is a top-tier GL show. They had a vision and executed it well. The show explores themes of family, trauma, and loss, with each character contributing to the theme through their own perspectives. Notably, Dokrak and Kawi's differing coping mechanisms in response to their toxic home environment: Kawi internalizes blame and continues to let his father control him, while Dokrak takes action to remove herself from the situation and find peace. Another example is Pam and Nene, who both initially sought revenge against Khem for their parents' death. However, Pam's openness to others led her to find happiness through her connection with Dokrak, whereas Nene's unresolved grief over her mother's loss consumed her, allowing bitterness to define her life. The show does a great job of examining its themes through the contrasting responses of its characters, each with different values and personalities.The story keeps it moving through a clear three-act structure. The first act sets the stage, introducing characters and their relationships. The second act explores Pam's turmoil as she grapples with her desire for revenge and her blossoming romance with Dokrak. The third act puts their bond to the test, presenting challenges where they must support each other and the people around them. Although it rushes through certain events in the last two episodes, the show is well-paced and engaging throughout.
Bonnie is the heart of the show as Dokrak, the embodiment of positivity. She convincingly portrays Dokrak's patience and empathy, making her a compelling lead. Emi also delivers a standout performance as Pam, skillfully conveying a wide range of emotions, from sorrow and anger to joy, even in scenes with minimal dialogue. The rest of the cast is equally impressive, with Sing and Mim making lasting impressions in their characters. The entire cast had great chemistry and is well-suited to their roles, with each actor bringing their character to life in a believable way. Bonnie and Sing were born to play siblings, while Nid and Emi portrayed a loving grandmother-granddaughter bond. Romantic chemistry was created in 2024 when Emi and Bonnie walked on set for the first day of filming. If you want to feel bad about your love life but feel so fulfilled at the same time, watch EmiBonnie as PamRak.
From 10 Years Ticket to Home School to 23.5, and now, to Us, the more I want to kiss the ground P'Fon walks on. She adapts her style to suit each story. P'Fon and her team use production not only as a backdrop for the characters but also as a device to tell the story with them. The show looks and feels warm and heartfelt, like Pam and Dokrak's story, but shifts to cold, blue tones when the scene calls for an intense atmosphere. The sets are well-crafted, reflecting the characters who inhabit them - from Khem's stark, oppressive mansion to Grandma Bua's cozy and lively home. Hair, makeup, and styling are appropriate and believable for their characters and situations.
The sound design is exceptional, with music choices that perfectly capture the emotional essence of each scene at just the right time. Episode 7 in particular, Pam sang one of the OST songs to Dokrak and it made the song a character in its own right. It helped to tell the story in a way that's more than just existing in the background.
Overall, good soup. Highly, highly recommend.
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LookmheeSonya and Change did it again!!
The story was expanded from the novel to include more of the business aspect, which is great. Good integration of the business and romance plots to make an engaging story with clear conflicts. They give a decent amount of backstory, even for the side characters so you're invested in everybody. FIRE SOUNDTRACK!! Multiple songs with different vibes and they were sprinkled well throughout the series. Lookmhee and Sonya pulled through once again, but also very satisfied with Lilly and Belle's performance. The main 4 actresses had great chemistry, not only within their respective pairs, but with each other.DO NOT recommend this to anyone that is looking to start their GL journey because their standards will be set too high lmao.
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