18
114
5
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
Good balance of families, romance and drug trafficking, but with a mother I want to beat up (LOL)
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25
“Dehvvaprom: Kwanruetai” is the second drama of the series that I watch, with “Dhevaprom: Dujupsorn” being my first. The setting and the plot of these two dramas are so different, that I don’t subconsciously compare the two. Ok, maybe except for the fact that I found Kongthap (in Dujupsorn) so much more good-looking and charismatic than baby-faced Mikey (in Kwanruetai). It’s ok to watch the series out of order.
Plot/Pacing
The drama is set in Chiang Rai and gives a very rural/village feel, which I like. I found the drama has a decent balance of family relationships/drama, romance and drug trafficking. One doesn’t take over completely for a chunk of the time, but intertwines into the general plot. Family plays a very important part in this drama. You will see a combination of loving relationships that make you smile and those make you want to strangle someone. The biggest challenge I have with this drama is the FL’s mother. Gosh, I know Thai mothers could annoy me in lakorns but this one takes the cake (worse than the crazy mother in Dujupsorn). My blood boils whenever she opens her mouth, and I don’t find her character development believable at all. She deserves a bad ending!! I binged the first 7 episodes in one day without rest and found the pacing to be done well. The second half is when I struggled a little bit more and I also see a higher frequency of flashbacks. The last 2 episodes are when I struggled with the slow pace, especially after an exciting drug dealer battle. There are plot holes here and there, and I question some of the actions (or non-actions) taken by the characters. Overall, nothing too bad.
Romance
This is surprisingly a slow-burn romance, especially compared to “Dhevaprom: Dujupsorn” which hit me with a flirting ML right from the start. The leads actually don’t have that many scenes together in the first quarter of the drama. Chat (ML) is shy and adorable. He’s the first to catch and show his feelings but the couple doesn’t really get together until the second half. Looking back, did they even officially confess to each other when they’re supposed to be a couple? Their romance just flows naturally throughout the drama (which I do like) but I would have loved a few cute and fluffy scenes when they first started dating in the middle of the drama. Mikey and Yada have decent chemistry (not amazing) but they are both best at acting coy and shy, and adorably longing for each other. But the romance-lover in me craves for more skinship and better kisses (they are disappointing). Even though they are supposed to have an age-gap, Mikey just looks too young and baby-faced and Yada definitely doesn’t look like she’s 19. The secondary romance is cute as well and doesn’t take up too much screen time. Their romance also develops naturally with how the plot moves. I also would love more skinship and kisses.
Acting/Characters
Yada as female lead Tai, is probably the best out of the young cast. She plays the outgoing and loud-mouthed tomboy well, and her emotional scenes are well-done as well. Compared to the less experienced Mikey, Mikey needs more seasoning. Luckily, he is not supposed to be a big army character, but a more quiet and less-imposing army doctor. Nevertheless, his face looks pretty but does lack some emotions. The rest of the supporting cast is good enough. They’re not amazing but no one actually is too over-the-top according to my preference of lakorns. But as mentioned, FL’s mother is a character I could not stand. Actually, there’s another mother who surprisingly did something utterly unforgivable in the end. This is not a drama for good mothers. All the friends are supportive and I enjoy seeing them together.
Production
I have to say, I was quite impressed in the drug dealer fight scenes in ep 12? They went hardcore with each other, and the actors did a great job to make it believable. Thai fight scenes can look quite cartoonish at times. As I said previously, I really enjoy the setting of the drama, being not in Bangkok or any high-tech big city. It might cut down on production cost, but then it gives me beautiful Thai dresses/costumes, and modern looks such as Ket’s. Those in uniforms seem to be in uniform a lot. Tai (FL) probably dresses the worst but that’s because that’s how her character dresses.
I had a good time watching “Dhevaprom:kwanruetai” and would have liked it more if the romance is better written and has a tiny more focus in the middle of the drama. The bad mother and the slow pace in the last 2 episodes might have affected my viewing pleasure but overall this drama keeps me interested in checking out the rest of the series. I am rating this 8.25, same as “Dhevaprom:Dujupsorn”, but I like the dramas for different reasons.
Completed: 7/25/2025 Review #606
“Dehvvaprom: Kwanruetai” is the second drama of the series that I watch, with “Dhevaprom: Dujupsorn” being my first. The setting and the plot of these two dramas are so different, that I don’t subconsciously compare the two. Ok, maybe except for the fact that I found Kongthap (in Dujupsorn) so much more good-looking and charismatic than baby-faced Mikey (in Kwanruetai). It’s ok to watch the series out of order.
Plot/Pacing
The drama is set in Chiang Rai and gives a very rural/village feel, which I like. I found the drama has a decent balance of family relationships/drama, romance and drug trafficking. One doesn’t take over completely for a chunk of the time, but intertwines into the general plot. Family plays a very important part in this drama. You will see a combination of loving relationships that make you smile and those make you want to strangle someone. The biggest challenge I have with this drama is the FL’s mother. Gosh, I know Thai mothers could annoy me in lakorns but this one takes the cake (worse than the crazy mother in Dujupsorn). My blood boils whenever she opens her mouth, and I don’t find her character development believable at all. She deserves a bad ending!! I binged the first 7 episodes in one day without rest and found the pacing to be done well. The second half is when I struggled a little bit more and I also see a higher frequency of flashbacks. The last 2 episodes are when I struggled with the slow pace, especially after an exciting drug dealer battle. There are plot holes here and there, and I question some of the actions (or non-actions) taken by the characters. Overall, nothing too bad.
Romance
This is surprisingly a slow-burn romance, especially compared to “Dhevaprom: Dujupsorn” which hit me with a flirting ML right from the start. The leads actually don’t have that many scenes together in the first quarter of the drama. Chat (ML) is shy and adorable. He’s the first to catch and show his feelings but the couple doesn’t really get together until the second half. Looking back, did they even officially confess to each other when they’re supposed to be a couple? Their romance just flows naturally throughout the drama (which I do like) but I would have loved a few cute and fluffy scenes when they first started dating in the middle of the drama. Mikey and Yada have decent chemistry (not amazing) but they are both best at acting coy and shy, and adorably longing for each other. But the romance-lover in me craves for more skinship and better kisses (they are disappointing). Even though they are supposed to have an age-gap, Mikey just looks too young and baby-faced and Yada definitely doesn’t look like she’s 19. The secondary romance is cute as well and doesn’t take up too much screen time. Their romance also develops naturally with how the plot moves. I also would love more skinship and kisses.
Acting/Characters
Yada as female lead Tai, is probably the best out of the young cast. She plays the outgoing and loud-mouthed tomboy well, and her emotional scenes are well-done as well. Compared to the less experienced Mikey, Mikey needs more seasoning. Luckily, he is not supposed to be a big army character, but a more quiet and less-imposing army doctor. Nevertheless, his face looks pretty but does lack some emotions. The rest of the supporting cast is good enough. They’re not amazing but no one actually is too over-the-top according to my preference of lakorns. But as mentioned, FL’s mother is a character I could not stand. Actually, there’s another mother who surprisingly did something utterly unforgivable in the end. This is not a drama for good mothers. All the friends are supportive and I enjoy seeing them together.
Production
I have to say, I was quite impressed in the drug dealer fight scenes in ep 12? They went hardcore with each other, and the actors did a great job to make it believable. Thai fight scenes can look quite cartoonish at times. As I said previously, I really enjoy the setting of the drama, being not in Bangkok or any high-tech big city. It might cut down on production cost, but then it gives me beautiful Thai dresses/costumes, and modern looks such as Ket’s. Those in uniforms seem to be in uniform a lot. Tai (FL) probably dresses the worst but that’s because that’s how her character dresses.
I had a good time watching “Dhevaprom:kwanruetai” and would have liked it more if the romance is better written and has a tiny more focus in the middle of the drama. The bad mother and the slow pace in the last 2 episodes might have affected my viewing pleasure but overall this drama keeps me interested in checking out the rest of the series. I am rating this 8.25, same as “Dhevaprom:Dujupsorn”, but I like the dramas for different reasons.
Completed: 7/25/2025 Review #606
Was this review helpful to you?
