WingedBean

For the first six weeks, I spent days thinking about this show. Wishing that Wednesdays would come quicker so I could press play on the next episode. I was this show's biggest hype woman (yes, in my head, but it counts). Then episode 7 happened, and I started worrying. I was right to worry because the foundation of this drama, the mystery aspect, flops at the end

Before I rant further, let's talk about the good

🧛🏻‍♂️The overall concept - Nour can be closely linked to vampires. They drink blood, have supernatural speed and strength (more on this later), and heal easily, sometimes without bleeding after being cut. Now, a vampire who has been trying to die for centuries finds love and the answer to his dying wish almost simultaneously... what a deliciously angsty idea.

🧛🏻‍♂️Chemistry - I think both couples play off each other well. They can create beautiful romantic tension together

🧛🏻‍♂️The first 6 episodes - I think these were done rather well in terms of both relationships, but largely with the investigation

Now for the letdowns

🧛🏻‍♂️Sacrificing the Mystery for the Romance
The backbone of Nour is the criminal investigation. The romance plays a support role. However, in episode 7, the switch-up happens and some way, somehow the writers forgot about the investigation, and its pacing. We're supposed to be chasing what seems like a serial murderer, and yet the cops in question waste time on a rainbow and declarations of love. They are investigators, yet they don't act like it. It's infuriating *insert flashback to Dare You to Death here*

After ep 7, we spend most of the time watching them be in love and cry. Someone was kidnapped; they found out who the killer was and... nothing. The investigation side takes a backseat, with cops showing up out of the blue when the script demands it (they take their sweet time btw) with no explanation as to how the operation was planned or how they tracked the suspects. What?!?!?!?!

🧛🏻‍♂️Little to No Character Background
I love a good explanation. In my review of Khemjira, I praised how the 12 episodes gave us enough history and character connections to make the ending feel cohesive and loose-end free. Nour has just as much lore and an even bigger mystery, but leaves the audience completely in the dark.

Some glaring examples

» How was Ken turned? They tell us you need to be bitten in the chest, but in ep 10, in the scene when Ken is supposedly turned, we see a hand go into a chest and something that looks like a specter after he wakes up? What was that? Who was that?

» What is James? In a world where only the supernatural have powers, what is he? How did he end up with said powers?

» How does the cryptic poster relate to the drama? Specifically, what was the history between James and Ken? The poster insinuates there's more to their story, but the drama insinuates that they don't have any history but might be aware of each other's true nature.

» The Nour case was buried, but how? How did the higher-ups do it? Does the command to just shut up about it and never bring it up again work in the police force? Is that how things work? Idk any police officers, so I can't ask

» And how long was Ken away for? He says the cops had been watching him (for him?), yet somehow goes back to the same town during the day and seemingly stays there?

» Say James lives till 70, what happens to Ken? He lost the one thing that could help him die. Is he supposed to live in loneliness again? After watching the person he loves die (AGAIN?!?!)

» All the Nour we saw die died at the hands of another through some supernatural fire. So, what was James going around stabbing Chita and trying to stab him in the chest for? His knives didn't look special in any way, so...? What was the end game?

» How many true loves do these Nour get? At first it seems like they only get one, but they are out here turning their boyfriends so? Eh?

» How was Jirat's death explained to his brother? The brother says the mother took the information better than he expected. So what did he tell her? Simply that he died, or how he died and what he had turned into before said death?

🧛🏻‍♂️Inconsistent Superpowers
As mentioned above, Nour are shown to be incredibly fast and strong. But this only works half the time. An example is in ep 7 (again), when they see Chita burning Prae; there was only a flimsy gate between them. I'd have thought the Nour would break it to reach and try saving her, but nope. They simply stood there, looking shocked and shouting at the murderer and victim.
There's also an issue with how fast they heal. Sometimes it's immediate; sometimes it takes time. Yet no one explains why it happens this way

🧛🏻‍♂️Badly Choreographed Fight Scenes
The combat scenes were rough. If you doubt it, go rewatch the James vs. Chita fight in episode 10. Just... no. To be fair, this is a broader issue within the Thai BL industry—believable action scenes are rare—but these were exceptionally bad.

🧛🏻‍♂️Pointless Side Plots & Rushed Romance
» The College Subplot: What was the point of those two college boyfriends/non-boyfriends? The writers seemed unsure how they fit into the plot, dropped their angsty romantic subplot, only to throw in a bland, mutual confession at the eleventh hour.

» The Main Romance: I know this sounds contradictory since the chemistry is great, but two things can be true at once. Ken and James went from confirming Ken's identity straight to the bedroom, and then immediately to being attached at the hip, promising eternity. They desperately needed more conversations and emotional conflict. I wanted to see Ken genuinely battle with the choice between a new love and the sweet embrace of death.

» The NC Scenes: Sue me (actually don't), but the main intimate scenes were way too tightly framed. The extreme close-ups just felt disorienting.

🧛🏻‍♂️Final Thoughts🧛🏻‍♂️
Despite loving the premise, the decent acting (some were great; others need more work), and the chemistry, I am disappointed in what this could have been. Most of what we saw from ep 7 was not it. As much applaud the bravery to bring something new to the table plowise and as I would have loved to love this, the rushed ending and mountain of unanswered questions leave me incredibly disappointed.