Reviews

Getting back on the fence…it’s a balancing act

After falling off the fence in Episode 2 and remaining somewhere on the ground through Episode 3, I think NOUR may finally be handing me a ladder…although I’m not quite ready to climb all the way back up. I can certainly relate to James itching to get closer to Ken and finally have something resembling romance. But apparently Ken’s idea of a romantic date is a cup of coffee over a cadaver during a forensic examination. Really? It immediately brought me back to my anatomy classes in pre-med school. Surrounded by cadavers and that unmistakable smell of formaldehyde, I can assure you…romance was the last thing on my mind.But perhaps there is something revealing about Ken in that moment. Here is a man who has lived for more than 200 years, has spent much of that existence wanting to die, and seems far more comfortable around death than intimacy. James, meanwhile, is almost the opposite. He is impatient, physical and increasingly determined to break through Ken’s walls. For the first time, I’m beginning to understand what the writers may be trying to do with these two polar opposites.Unfortunately, understanding it and feeling it are still two different things.Meanwhile, Jin and Chita continue quietly becoming the relationship I find more interesting. Their intimacy feels less manufactured and more organic, but there is something underneath all that tenderness that makes me uneasy. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but I sense darkness looming…and I have a feeling their relationship may eventually carry much of the emotional weight of this story.Then we arrive at that final scene.James pushes himself onto Ken almost as if he needs to prove the intensity of his desire. Ken initially resists, then notices the blood on James’ lips…and suddenly everything changes. Desire? Hunger? Instinct? Perhaps all three. Conceptually, I understand what the writers are trying to suggest. But once again, the execution left me scratching my head though I feel James knows at this point when he backed off. In broad daylight? At the bend of a road? Beside a temple? Really?This has been my recurring problem with NOUR. The series has interesting ideas, but sometimes seems so determined to create a moment that it forgets to ask whether the circumstances surrounding that moment make sense. Chemistry cannot simply be created by romantic music, beautiful scenery or physical intimacy. The audience needs to understand why these two people are being drawn toward each other.Still, Episode 4 gave me something the previous two episodes struggled to provide…movement. Ken’s emotional walls are beginning to crack, James’ attraction is becoming more consequential, and Jin and Chita are quietly pulling me deeper into their story.So yes, NOUR…you finally brought me a ladder.Unfortunately, after that scene beside the temple, I checked the ladder first to make sure all the steps were there

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i gave Jane Patrick the benefit of the doubt,…

i gave Jane Patrick the benefit of the doubt, but the most damming scene was his manipulating & tempting little Jane's younger brother - like WTF was that. why would u offer a devil's deal to someone that's close to the person u r trying to woo?!? that was diabolical. regarding the rest of the people crying that he's the "big bad wolf" - they made me roll my eyes, cause they in the same breath admitted that they asked for something & then just couldn't stand it when it was time to pay the debt they owed - like cry me a river. same with Put, he might be talking out of concern for little Jane, but his way of conveying the messages, is whack & most of the time he just looks angry at little Jane - not concerned. so don't get why i should care about him or appreciate the fact that he worries - like plz... sell this sh*t to someone that's buying - i aint. ***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************but Jane Patrick is a very shady character, i don't know what his true "face"/nature is, why is he putting on a show for little Jane & to what end?!? the fact he manipulated him a couple of times, diverting his attention or taking his focus off of what he wasn't ready to get into, making little Jane forget what was bothering him in the 1st place. that was very evident & worrisome IMO. cause little Jane really is too trusting, innocent & inexperienced to fall for an expert manipulator like Jane Patrick - recipe for heartache & the nut house if u ask me lol...

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Good enough but missing the wow factor

After Episode 9, I’m really struggling with Mr. Kill. I wanted to like this series because the premise had so much potential…an artist whose drawings eerily mirror the work of a serial killer should have made for a dark, intelligent psychological thriller. Instead, the writing keeps asking me to suspend not only disbelief, but sometimes common sense.The acting isn’t helping either. Dew, whom I know can act, isn’t convincing me as this constantly vulnerable and almost helpless character. Tee, as the tired and increasingly frustrated police officer, and Off, as the manipulative newscaster, should bring tension and intensity to the story…but neither performance makes me fully believe the character. Dew fares better, but overall the performances often feel like actors playing their roles rather than people actually living them. Even the supporting characters feel fragmented…much like the storyline itself.Nine episodes in, the mystery should be tightening its grip on me. Instead, I find myself questioning the writing more than questioning who the killer is. A thriller can mislead me, surprise me and even make me believe the unbelievable…but it first has to create a world believable enough for me to get lost in it.GMMTV…please do better. You had a killer premise here. I’m still waiting for the series to actually kill it.

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The symbolism of the red line

So, Ken is a Nour who is looking for a special type of Nour that can kill other Nours... I finally got it... phew. 😅 I really thought James would see the Nour and it would also be white/grey like Ken and he would put two and two together. But maybe that colour is not a Nour thing, but just Ken's. 🤔I really like the symbolism of the red line illustrating how the relationship between James and Ken changes. With every episode, it frayed bit by bit until now it is torn completely. No borders anymore, perfectly showing how close they have become and how much James has managed to get into Ken's space, meaning into his heart. 😌However, I don't really enjoy how much the story relies on physical intimacy. I would be perfectly fine with their love being shown through their eyes and body language rather than intense kissing in every episode. 🫣 And I must add that hearing all the kissing noises during those scenes is a little distracting to me. If they add background music (which they did), they could easily remove all the sound effects of saliva exchange. 🤨

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