rhidawn

For a show to have me in a chokehold as a story. For it to have me researching not only history but also Jean-Paul Sartre and his works on existentialism and his attempt to connect existentialism with Marxism, which led me down a path of philosophies and ideologies and perspectives, just to have me then go back to continue on with the show through a new lens with new knowledge was just so absolutely impressive. To explore freedom and freedom of choice under different circumstances. And, I know. This is not the experience of all viewers. But, I can’t stress how this show highlighted the importance of communication and debating and understanding other people. How it showed perspectives from different members of both the working class and the ruling class. How it exemplified criticism of perspectives on both what is a better society to each character/class/age group and how to we get there. How it expressed ideas like the oppression of the oppressor. How it explored media as being manipulated by the ruling class and political agendas (media as a superstructure highkey). How it explored queerness within a historical context. How it expresses the pain of loving someone but struggling with doing what is right for yourself and/or others. How it explored an attraction to freedom and desire outside of what you thought you knew thus far in life. Internal conflicts. External conflicts. The insanity of dealing with both of these at once. It shed light on the greater society as well as individual experiences and showed how those two things are intertwined. Maybe it’s the sociologist within me speaking, or more aptly, yelling. But this was a god damn work of art.

The romance between Trin and Tanwa is not necessarily integral to the main plot. However, it is an extremely important piece in understanding Trin and his internal struggles and desires. It’s more symbolic than anything in my interpretation. Tanwa is not a huge piece of this, but his perspective is also both important historically as well as symbolically. He represents a group in society, as well as an ideal of freedom, in a way that reminds me, somehow, of a manic pixie dreamgirl. So seemingly unencumbered. So free. Embodying the idea of “damn, I wish I could live like that”, “I wish I could have that”. When in reality, there is depth, there are mental struggles, and there is a level of mental illness and/or anguish. There is a certain level of idolization and romanticization of what Tanwa symbolizes. Tanwa is both underestimated and overestimated. His character is not seen as just a person; it’s seen as an idea. To be judged in a way that is separate from others. I think many people have the same view of his archetype in history, and this story sheds a bit more light on it.

Acting:

Yeah, so… that was fantastic. I think everyone did a fantastic job in their roles all around. Just such solid performances from this cast. Them as individuals, them as representations of cultural subgroups, them as representations of members of different classes and their struggles. So good.

Writing:

Phenomenal for the VAST majority of this story. I already kind of went over the points I loved earlier, but I can’t stress enough how beautifully this was written. The only faults I have is the last like 5 minutes of this relatively long series and the fact that I was just left to accept that Naran and Krailert would never be. I hate that for them and I hate that for me… That being said, it is far more realistic than a grand reunion and happy ending for them, unfortunately. Just, wow. The historical and political plot here had me going insane. The symbolism in the (ig) main couple and literally EVERYTHING about the storyline of the “second” couple. Insanity. So good. BRAVO.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

Was there a grand, electric chemistry between Trin and Tanwa? No, not really. Do I think there was supposed to be? No, not really. Their story was much more focused on their individual journeys than it was on their romance. But Naran and Krailert… AHHHHHHHHH WOWOWOWOWOW I can’t. The chemistry was INSANE, the romance was INSANE, I was INSANE. The romance aspect of this plot works, for sure. The kissing was obviously not a big part of this because, like, 1969-1971, ya know. But the kisses that were in this were great.

NC Scenes:

OOOOH boy umm… I said it in my notes, and I’ll say it again. THIS SHIT RATED PORN. I can’t with Naran and Krailert. I simply cannot. That was insane. Ya’ll really went for it. The scenes were written and executed to be full of passion and intimacy and it was soooo well done. Bravoooo. Trin and Tanwa’s was good, nothing wild, but their story didn’t really call for wild passion like Naran and Krailert.

Music/SFX:

Music was absolutely lovely all around. Nothing threw me off, just solid shit. SFX weren’t even noticeable, so good job there.

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this. This was a phenomenal series. Argue with the god damn wall if you disagree with me. I don’t care. I’m struggling with where to place this on my tier list, which is different from my rating system here. On the one hand, there are 3 or so series that hold a super special place in my heart and rating. On the other hand, this was such a damn masterpiece of a series, I’m all out of whack. BRAVOOOO


Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- OKAY INTRO
- My beautiful mennn are so beautiful eeeee
- Hold up, gotta go read up on the 1969 Thailand election and subsequent civil unrest/protests
- I find it interesting that the two genres listed are comedy and romance when shit is this serious so far
- A tragic Parisian romance
- The straight-laced dapper fellow at the hippie soiree
- Bro is out of his element
- Smoke that dank my guy, smoke ittt
- *Promiscuous boyyyy*
- The passion between these two hidden writers eeee
- Chopin’s Nocturnes MENTIONED my LOVE Shoutout to my boy CHAD LAWSON tho
- PLEASE listen to Chad Lawson’s variation on Nocturne in F minor Op 55 No 1, arranged for piano, violin, and cello
- *Release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin*
- I’m LIVING for this back and forth through quotes at the library
- This shit.. This shit rated PORN LMAO Jaw on the FLOOR, brother
- *Then came the dawn, and you were gone. You were gone, gone, gone. I had too much to dream last night. Too much to dream. I'm not ready to face the light. I had too much to dream last night*
- *Get faded when I wake up. 'Cause everything is too much*
- Forbidden love everywhere
- *Wrapped up in my white silk sheets. Sleeping with the enemy. Keep on the lights, don't close your eyes*
- “Or are we just falling in love with the idea of being loved?” It’s giving sad ending and I’m not ready for it
- A vers couple?????? Love to see it
- Tanwa is a professional dissociater, and as one myself, I can confirm it is hard to be around
- “Gulping like this only makes the whiskey lose its taste.” Okay, girl
- Put your clothes back on, lil guy
- The piano vs typewriter scene is insane. The dichotomy of expression and choice between the working and ruling class, all wrapped up in a tense forbidden gay romance oof I’m eating it tf up
- Oh shit, not the boy, Jesus christ
- This can’t have a happy ending for everyone, no shot
- Only ONE episode left????
- Tanwa tried to warn him?? Honestly shocked my boy went out of his way
- Oh, Krailert… My oppressed oppressor
- LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOO KRAILERT
- “The voice that no one has heard, if the voice that does not exist” AHHHHHH
- CHOSEN?? What he has CHOSEN??? What a WORD to use
- OOH DEAR LORD not this I mean yeah sure it makes sense but NO
- IS SHE PREGNANT??? I’m gonna KMS
- Why does she look CONTENT rn???
- The dulling of colors???
- Bro is in Paris chillin, serving looks, giving aura
- “I finally understand that choosing, in itself, is what truly matters, regardless of the outcome. It’s still better than not choosing at all”
- Jesus, Mama Tanwa, the tortured poet
- ONLY 20 MINUTES LEFT
- Trin so dramatic, reading that letter by the Seine
- Victor’s last wish :(
- 7 minutes…
- PICK UP THE FUCKING PHONE YOU FUCKING HIPPIES
- WHERE are my Krailert and NARAN
- Tanwa in PArissssss
- Lackluster reunion, can’t deny it, can’t pretend
- I cannot express the heartbreak I feel for Naran and Krailert in words rn