I want to re watch it!
I love this film! I really like sad ending stories, like I said before, but this got me so much. I didn’t expect that at all and, from the beginning maybe a bit that was the idea of a sad ending, but I didn’t believe much in it. The actors were fire! I don’t know them very well, but I know for sure they will have a bright future.Also this time I was alone at home, so when my parents returned home, they were worried because they saw me crying on the sofa again!
I explained a bit the story to my mom but she didn’t understand it very well, so I want to watch it with her because I think she would like it. ( I also showed her Khemjira, she has taste, believe me)
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Well done and deserves a chance, but it’s definitely not for everyone. Quite the opposite!
Don't start this drama if:- You are unfamiliar with the Republican era genre.
- You lack basic knowledge of this historical period. The setting isn’t explained, making it hard to follow—especially for Western viewers—without some background context.
- You want a sweet story with classic, wholesome C-drama characters. Here, they are deeply flawed, obsessive, and border on abusive.
- You expect a traditional Western-style happy ending.
- You are looking for something strictly historical or realistic.
- You have read the novel and expect a faithful adaptation. While some key elements remain, the show takes major liberties and will likely disappoint purists.
SO, WHY DID I START IT?
I was curious. I’ve followed Zhang Linghe since his debut, and the massive marketing campaign started over a year ago caught my attention. I usually avoid Republican-era dramas because they tend to be overly idealistic, gritty, and almost always end on a bittersweet note.
WHY DIDN'T I STOP?
Despite its flaws, I found it novel and unique.
The story is sharply split into two parts:
- The beginning: It mirrors the recent wave of successful short-form dramas in this genre (like Maid's Revenge), offering a refreshing change of pace.
- The second half: It shifts into a more traditional narrative structure.
I appreciated this approach. In traditional dramas, sometimes i found the idealism and grand heroism a little forced. Here, those elements exist, but the story feels much more human. War is present, but it creeps in gradually and silently, changing everyones life before you even realize it... until you are forced to make a choice.
Also the drama cover many themes:
- revenge
- AI Integration: The series attempts to integrate artificial intelligence elements.
- Dark & Complex Themes: It tackles obsession, human trafficking, abuse, and fake charity.
- Female Empowerment: It features women helping women. It is one of the few dramas to include a foreign female character and explores unique types of family trauma.
- Psychological Depth: It portrays philophobia (the irrational fear of falling in love and feeling undeserving of affection), as well as persecutory delusions, extreme projection, pathological denial, and gaslighting aimed at manipulating reality.
- Strong family bond: good ones and bad ones
Despite these heavy themes, all the characters progress and grow for the better. I really like this underlying positivity.
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I loved it!
So I really like this film because it talks about gay marriage before it was a thing in Thailand, also I didn’t expect Keng and Jeff to act together as a couple but I really liked it. They did very well. Also the story is amazing. I watched it when I was home alone and I really like films that end bad like in a sad way, and I thought maybe I could try to watch something happy and I watched this, ehhehe.. And I didn’t expect a sad ending at all but I cried so much.When my parents got home they were worried so much because they saw me crying on the sofa lol.
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Again and again I laughed out loud and this time we have a new supporting character in the story as another bodyguard, wink wink. (No spoilers, don't worry).
In this story, we focus more on Peach and Thee's relationship, and we also focus more on Romeo and Mok (although I think they were there briefly, which is a shame because I really enjoyed their parts :( the same thing every time Perth and Santa showed up).
I also really liked how cute it was made. It was really exactly those 4 episodes that you will say aww every time. I especially have to mention the change of actors at the end, it was great. I didn't think they would put so many gmmtv actors in one episode, but
I was very happy to see them there.
I think the series is great for beating boredom and if you really want to laugh. Don't expect some serious mafia romance, it's more of a cute comedy where you'll really fall in love with the characters and you'll have something to do to keep from crying at the REAL END (in my case I already miss them hahaha)
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I love the way it's done. I couldn't stop laughing from the beginning and JJ played his part really amazingly (as did the other actors). I also think Kim stole the scene the most because from what I watched, everyone from him and Latte were done (no wonder, Kim is gorgeous and their chemistry with Latte is amazing, they deserve a proper series where they play the main roles).
As for the rest of the series, I have nothing to criticize. The endings are nice and always fit into every situation and make it more emotional than it originally is (I won't lie, I had tears in my eyes at the end). We also had a few surprises, a plot twist and some really sweet scenes at the end. I think that Love Upon a Time deserves a much bigger response because it's really well-crafted and thought out. I really liked the series and I recommend it to all lovers of BLS, history, reincarnation and especially romance.
I can officially rate it as one of my fav BLS.
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best series ever ?
One of the best series 2026 ai girl I love it ❤️🩹😭 and the ending was painful I can't take this anymore 😭😣 by the way thank you much for giving us beautiful series.........................................................................................................................
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This review may contain spoilers
# ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10/10 — Brutal, Brilliant, and Unforgettable
There are dramas you watch, dramas you enjoy, and then there are dramas that stay with you long after the final episode ends. The King of Pigs belongs completely in that last category.
I honestly don’t even know where to begin because this drama is so much more than a revenge thriller. It is a devastating exploration of childhood trauma, bullying, friendship, guilt, violence, memory, justice, and the scars people carry long after the people who hurt them have forgotten what they did.
And somehow, despite how incredibly dark this story becomes, it never feels dark simply for the sake of being shocking. Every horrifying moment has a purpose. Every character feels like they are carrying years of history behind their eyes. The past isn’t simply something that happened to them — it has shaped who they became.
What makes The King of Pigs so powerful is the way it forces you to ask uncomfortable questions.
What happens to a child who is repeatedly told they are worthless?
What happens when nobody protects them?
What happens when the adults who are supposed to intervene look away?
And perhaps the most painful question of all:
What happens when the person who was once the victim becomes capable of becoming a monster themselves?
This drama doesn’t give you easy answers.
It doesn’t simply divide everyone into heroes and villains and tell you who you’re supposed to sympathize with. Instead, it makes you uncomfortable. It makes you question your own feelings. There were moments when I found myself understanding the rage behind certain actions while simultaneously being horrified by what that rage became.
That is incredibly difficult storytelling to pull off.
The portrayal of bullying is especially brutal because it doesn’t feel exaggerated or cartoonish. It shows how cruelty can become normalized when people see the same person being humiliated over and over again. The psychological damage is just as important as the physical violence. Sometimes the worst wounds aren’t the ones that bleed.
They’re the ones that follow you into adulthood.
And that is what makes the story so heartbreaking.
These characters aren’t simply trying to escape their past.
Their past has never actually let them go.
The friendship at the center of the story is another part that completely destroyed me. There is something incredibly tragic about friendships forged through suffering. When two people survive the same nightmare, they can become bonded in a way that is almost impossible for anyone else to understand.
But what happens when they survive that nightmare differently?
What happens when one person tries to bury the past while the other person decides to confront it?
That emotional conflict is the heartbeat of this drama.
The acting is phenomenal. The performances feel raw rather than polished, and that’s exactly what this story needs. The characters don’t always say what they’re feeling, but you can see years of pain, anger, fear, regret, and resentment in their expressions.
There is so much communicated through silence.
And I absolutely loved that.
The cinematography also deserves recognition. The atmosphere is cold, heavy, and unsettling. The drama creates this constant feeling that something terrible is lurking just beneath the surface. Even during quieter scenes, there is tension because you know the past is always waiting to come back.
The storytelling is equally impressive.
The way the story moves between the past and present slowly reveals pieces of the puzzle, allowing you to understand not just what happened, but why these people became who they are.
And that distinction matters.
Because The King of Pigs isn’t really a story about revenge.
It’s a story about what revenge does to a person.
It’s about how hatred can become an identity.
How pain can become anger.
How anger can become obsession.
And how, eventually, someone can become so consumed by the desire to punish the people who hurt them that they lose sight of the person they once were.
There were moments where I had to pause because the emotional weight was honestly overwhelming.
This is not a comfortable drama.
It is not something you put on when you want a lighthearted escape.
It is disturbing.
It is violent.
It is heartbreaking.
It is psychologically exhausting.
And somehow, that is exactly why it is so incredibly good.
What I appreciated most is that the drama trusts the audience. It doesn’t constantly tell you what to think. It gives you the information and lets you sit with the discomfort.
You are allowed to feel sympathy.
You are allowed to feel anger.
You are allowed to hate what someone does while still understanding the pain that brought them there.
And that complexity is what makes the characters feel human.
By the end, I wasn’t simply thinking about the mystery or the revenge.
I was thinking about children who are failed by the people around them.
I was thinking about how easily cruelty can be dismissed as “kids being kids.”
I was thinking about how one cruel moment can become a memory someone carries for decades.
I was thinking about how sometimes the person who looks completely fine on the outside is carrying an entire lifetime of pain underneath.
And most of all, I was thinking about how important it is to recognize that you never truly know what someone has survived.
That is the kind of drama that deserves to be remembered.
The King of Pigs isn’t beautiful because its story is pretty.
It’s beautiful because it is honest about ugliness.
It looks directly at the darkest parts of human nature and refuses to look away.
It asks whether justice and revenge are really the same thing.
It asks whether someone can ever truly escape their trauma.
It asks whether forgiveness is possible when the damage is permanent.
And it leaves you sitting with those questions instead of handing you a convenient answer.
That is storytelling.
This drama made me angry. It made me uncomfortable. It broke my heart. It made me question characters I thought I understood. And by the end, I felt like I had watched something far more meaningful than a revenge thriller.
I watched a story about what happens when children are left alone with pain they were never equipped to carry.
And honestly?
I will be thinking about this drama for a long time.
10/10 isn’t enough.
⭐ 10/10 for the writing.
⭐ 10/10 for the acting.
⭐ 10/10 for the atmosphere.
⭐ 10/10 for the psychological depth.
⭐ 10/10 for the emotional impact.
⭐ 10/10 for making me uncomfortable in exactly the way great storytelling should.
If you’re looking for something light, romantic, or comforting, this probably isn’t it.
But if you want a drama that will get underneath your skin, make you question morality, break your heart, and stay in your head long after you’ve finished watching it — watch The King of Pigs.
Some dramas entertain you.
Some dramas make you cry.
Some dramas make you angry.
And then there are dramas like The King of Pigs that make you sit in silence after the final episode and think:
“What the hell did I just watch?”
And somehow, you know you’ll never forget it.
Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely devastating. Absolutely unforgettable.
🐷👑 The King of Pigs — 10/10. A masterpiece of darkness, trauma, revenge, and the terrifying consequences of being forgotten when you needed someone to care the most.
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Nothing refeshing
It looked refreshing in first episode and later it was monotonous.Nothing new , same story of school campus the 10-12 year life span of high school to after college life. Onscreen chemistry was Zero.If HU YI TIAN is there you don't expect much. Rest of the cast was just fulfilling the job given to them.Non of the onscreen couple had chemistry . It was a disappointment.Was this review helpful to you?
Neat and Simple
Just finished a rewatch of this series as i'm hearing good things about the new one and this was one of the first Thai drama's i watched so i wanted to remind myself what happened.If you like slow, no drama, and simplistic stories then this is definitely a must watch for you! There's nothing bad about the story it's just very slow, predictable, and honestly, nothing really happens. I love Earth and Bas and i've seen all these actors in other shows and know they are brilliant, but i found the friendship chemistry stronger then the relationship chemistry. Relationships seem to go from hate/indifference, to 'can't live without you' in a single scene, it doesn't feel realistic, which is great for anyone wanting to just escape realism!
Although all relationships are pretty much green flags, i'm sorry but if my partner had some of these reactions, or had done some of these things, i'd be pretty uncomfortable, as one's slightly stalkerish and controlling, and the other is awful at communicating, and also treats his partner like a child.
It's definitely a 'I watch for the cast not the plot' series for me. My favourite episode is probably 16 where there are some good interactions, and without spoilers i love the fainting scene, felt like the reaction is on point, just wish the aftermath were more fleshed out and at least dragged out for rest of episode.
Not a series i'm desperate to re-watch, like i said, only done this time for new season, but it is well acted, some fun moments, and very much an easy watch when you just can't stomach tension. Although there are a few scenes i will replay as they are cute and funny. Also i want North's duck! That duck is actor number 1!
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Cozy and fun watch!
This was a really great show and honestly so funny. I mean you definitely are getting exactly what is advertised with this show. I will be honest and say that besides Thee trying to get Peach to fall for him I did not feel like there was a whole lot of plot, but it was not a bad thing. This alowed the show to be cute and cozy for the most part. I was happy with Pond’s and Phuwin’s acting I felt like they really embodied these characters and had fun making this show. I was also impressed by Pond playing Thee, Thee is a unique character and I feel like most actors would have leaned to much into the overexagerated parts of him, but Pond managed to balance the goofiness and didnt make the character feel out of place. Also Est was a joy to watch as Mok, I loved everytime he was on screen and his reaction to what was going on was great. Plus the interactions between Mok and Rome were great, I can’t wait to see more of them in “Peach and Me”. I only have two complaints about the show. First I thought that Thee’s mom and dad were a bit wierd, I dont know if they chose to act their characters the way they did or if they were directed to but they really stuck out as odd, plus it was weird to imagin them as the heads of a mob family. My last complaint is a bit of a spoiler so all I will say is that the way that Perth’s and Santa’s storyline went was so annoying and as much as I thought they were good in the show I would have liked a better story line for them or even more screen time to make their story make sense.Was this review helpful to you?
realistic drama and chilling cases
at first, i thought this kdrama was gonna be boring since the serial killer stories were very basic, but then I realised its based on a true story and it's inspired by the first Korean profiler and the cases he helped solving and I think that's really cool. I like the way they acted about the serial killers and the way they studied them. it does get boring in some parts but nonetheless I enjoyed it. Loved the ml and I also loved the cinematography. it gave off memories of murder. also loved the music too.Was this review helpful to you?
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Touching. Meaningful. Realistic. Worth watching and be inspired
Story is super touching with many small plots here and there to bring a deep meaning to the show, cried alot . Talked about really sad and triggering things but very realistic. Same time also very inspiring and worth watching. Its centres around a football team who all have their own struggles and how each of them are supportive and healing for each other. There is also light romance but more for cute touch.Their expressions really match their characters
But certain hug scenes can be better and certain scenes do feel extra like why ?? But okay.
Overall still very worthwhile to watch
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Good slow burn series
This was a good series, i enjoyed watching it. It had a good story, it was well produced. The visuals and music were very good.It was a slow burn, had a bit of ex and rival drama, but not too much. And we even got some suspense moments.
The acting was very good.
Both couples had good chemistry and kisses.
I recommend watching.
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The pig has to fall down on its back to see the world differently.
Well some of the reviews say that the mother was abusive and it was not right to show her like that somehow. First of all guys this series some how is an empathetic approach to these mothers. Mothers that carry their own complex and trauma when they are raising their child. Being a child raised by these mothers really puts weighs on the children lives. It is hard for the children to feel satisfied in life because they are always seeking parents approval. But the think this series pointed out is because this mother takes care of you you can't not love this person. Even though you go through very hard times in life because of the way they treated you at the end of the day you can't not forgive them. Because there is this love that you don't understand why it's there even when you are hurting because of it.Last but not least the writer definitely showed that the mother had problem and showed through the letter that the mother finally understood and recognized how he hurt his son.
If the accident didn't happen not only kangho wouldn't be able to see the new world in fact the mother also wouldn't recognize how harmful her behaviors were.
The pig has to fall down on its back to see the world differently.
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The definition of a modern masterpiece
"Payback (Uncut)," which I have had the privilege of viewing in full, I pronounce a masterpiece of the highest order. It is a work of surpassing genius, and a jewel in the crown of modern storytelling. Not a single moment passed that did not contribute to the whole with purpose or delight. My eyes were fixed upon the screen, so thoroughly was I entranced by itThe narrative, in its unflinching and refreshing candour, made no pretence to conceal the carnal expressions of love shared among men, whether the soft press of lips or the deeper covenant of the flesh, nor did it withhold from them the grace of a joyful ending. Indeed, the erotic reveries in the 8th and 9th episodes were framed with such exquisite artistry and delicate sensibility as to command admiration. The gentlemen (ToptapMinlee) who assumed these vulnerable roles are to be lauded for their courage. They consummated their bond, undaunted by the regime of thought that stigmatizes the public espousal of non-straight/non-procreative desire
I will revisit "Payback" time and again to honor its brilliance anew
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