Stunning series
This is simply beautiful, kind, and definitely not too much!All I can say is that it has been long since I watched a simple, pure thai romance, and this is it!
I love the way how there is always a bit of chemistry, but never too much, the slow development of the characters and the storyline was a great choice, this is what makes this series so precious.
They couldn't have chosen better actors either. All of them suit their role, I'm so proud of this team.
First you would think this is a typical back-to-the-past type of story, but there is so much more to it. Everyone is way too clean for a servant, but otherwise there is some truth to how they lived.
The acting never made me feel that anything would be unnatural, so they did a great job with the cast!
The music is pretty, sometimes classical, sometimes mixed with thai sounds. Only complaint that it reminds me of the music of another series, like they used the exact same.
Overall there is nothing I would say that's so bad. I'm just waiting for a good ending, not a perfect one.
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This review may contain spoilers
Time travel/ reincarnation
The actors are excellent. The story is awesome even though it is sad. The cinematography is great. I like how it is a period piece set in the 1920's. The chemistry between the male leads is great.The actor who plays Jom made me cry in the first and third episode. In some respects the script could have been a bit better in some places but there were some scenes that just reached out and grabbed your heart and the sentiment they express are hauntingly accurate for anyone that has been in a failed relationship and broken up because the other person wanted to. In episode 5 when Jom realizes how a servant is treated that was really well done. { I love historical fiction. I think it is easy to forget how good our current life is compared to how it was in the past. }
Here is a brief list of some of the very powerful scenes in the series without being overdone. The writers have done such a great job. ( i"m sure there are other scenes that could be added to this list but these are the ones that stood out at first watch.)
1. Episode 1- the "What did I do wrong" scene with Jom and Ohm, brought tears to my eyes.
2. Episode 2- the "You have lost your spirit" scene on the porch with Jom and Yai.
3. Episode 3- the store scene when Jom is punching Khamsaen ( who he sees as Ohm) and asks " Why are you so selfish ? What else do you want from me ? Can you blame only me? " At this point he is talking as if to Ohm even though he is with Khamsaen.
4. Episode 3- there are two very similar scenes of "What did I do wrong? " ( This seems to be a recurring theme.) Scene one was in the ally with Khamsaen and his mother and the other scene was on the dock with Jom and Yai , The dock scene made me cry. I loved how YAI was supportive while Jom tried to make sense of everything.
5. Episode 5 -when Jom and the other servant are being punished and she makes the comment "the life of servants is like this we are not the owners of our own lives."
6. Episode 6- I like the realism in this episode . There are two scenes that stand out. One is in the bar when Jom is talking to James about Nuey. The other scene is in the bedroom when Jom and Yai are talking. I like how Jom is not just following emotion and asks Yai if he realizes that if they get in a relationship that it could create problems. I also like that finally Jom and Yai are coming to an understanding.
7. Episode 8- The scene in the tub when they are talking about the Plumeria flower whose Thai name means misery. I won't spoil the scene but I think it shows how Kun Yai is not afraid to like something that other people may not.
I am really liking this series. I hope that it continues to be this good. I have already re-watched some of the episodes.
Spoiler Alert:
I found the official pilot on you-tube that is 9 minutes long. It is really good but it shows that this show probably is going to have a very sad ending. Have your Kleenex ready. I generally don't watch sad shows but I had watched 3 episodes before I found the pilot. I'm invested and can't quit now.
I also found the music video on you-tube for the theme song and it is so good. I love how they have put clips from the series in it. If you don't like spoilers don't watch it but I thought it was very well done.
Update: after episode 5: I just finished watching episode 5. I love how they are putting the supernatural into it. The episodes are continuing to be excellent. It is interesting to see the past in Thailand in the 1920's. That servants were treated as slaves. It is history and makes me appreciate more the freedoms that I currently have and take for granted.
Update after episode 8: This series is continuing to be so good. I will say it - it's about time for Yi and Jom to get together.
Update: for Episodes 11 and 12 have the Kleenex ready.
Possible endings:
1. They could stay together in the past. I kinda hope they finish it like they did in Phetra Nuerimet where they let the two leads stay together in the past. but from seeing the pilot I don't think that will be the ending.
2. Main Male lead from the past is reincarnated and meets up with the main character in the future. This would be an ending like Rooftop Prince. Where the person from the future meets the reincarnate version of the Prince. The Prince goes back to his own time and is able to find the truth and punishes the guilty. He is alone but can be at peace because he knows what happened and justice has been served. Two people get happiness and the third gets justice.
3, Love interest from past comes into the future like what happened in Ruk Laek Pop.
4. It could just have a sad ending where they are separated for all time like what happened for the main character in Mr. Queen.. The main characters feel better for having met each other and having loved each other at least for a little bit. The old saying "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.." The male lead from the future he didn't get a romantic happy ending because he went back to the future but he wound up making a good difference in the past and becoming a better man in the future. He was able to be happy but he was separated from the king for all time. Both leads lives were better because of the experience. The king got his original queen back but he missed the male lead from the future.
I have listed the possible options but for me personally, I WANT A HAPPY ENDING, { but like in real life that's probably not going to happen.] Number 4 is probably the ending we are going to get where they are separated from each other, so have the Kleenex ready. I' ll just have to wait and see how the writers choose to end it. My choice would be for Yi to be reincarnated and remember his past life. I could see Yi being the owner of the house and they meet after Jom get's back to the present day. It would make sense that episode 12 would be set in modern day. But we will have to wait and see. It would be good to have a scene at the hospital withe Jom and Ohm. But there again it's just speculation on my part.
I am really enjoying the show. I hope you will give it a try.
Spoiler Alert:
Soft spoiler alert- it has a happy ending although it is a little abrupt and leaves some questions. Writers- thank you for the happy ending a;lthough it was too abrupt. What you needed was a special episode that focuses on the modern day Kun Yai and how he got to the present. I hope they do a second season this was so good. Actors thank you for doing such a great job.
In the episode 12, I watched it was 1 hr 18 min and 36 sec long. At 1 hr 14 min and 52 seconds there was another scene setting up possibly another season. I really hope they do, this was such a good series.
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A Masterpiece!!
I’m loving it so far cuz it really satisfied what I’ve been imagine after read the novel. Nonkul really portrayed Jom really well. I can feel the pain when he cried. Bright also delivered the emotion with his eyes so well. Other casts did a great job too. Ming such a cutie ❤️❤️ Even the Uncut version is 1 hour, still not enough. I want more ??? Waiting for 1 week is long enough. I always check other BL fan reaction video on YT. So glad, all of them loving it so far. The frame looks like we are watching a movie.Was this review helpful to you?
Confusing but somewhat charming
This BL had quite a strong start for me, I was intrigued with the hallucinations Jom had and was curious about the characters in the beginning. However, the drama is too long and too much of the runtime is spent on side characters. While it does make the world feel more real, it communicates to me more an atmosphere of the time rather than the strength and depth of the love between Jom and Khun Yai. The acting is quite strong, and the couple looks good together, but I think it would have been better if there was no time skip and it was set fully in the past. I always think Thai BLs spend way too much time on side characters and never make 20 minute episodes, so I usually end up fastforwarding through the later episodes. This BL does the same thing for me. While the inclusion of the lesbian couple is good and refreshing, the lack of other interesting side couples make the majority of the rest of the cast feel like padding.Over all, there were enjoyable moments, but this BL is by no means a showstopper. Watch it if you are intrigued but maybe lower your expectations.
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Perfection
If there's anything like a perfect BL series, this is the one(atm). The storyline, the casts, the romance and the CHEMISTRY ?.They don't want to be caught but they PDA everywhere except where they won't be caught ?.
I haven't been so engrossed in a BL series after The Eight Sense and i just see myself waiting for Friday just to watch IFYLITA, that's just how good this BL is. The sensuality and the gentle approach to romance is one of the reasons i like it so much. It's been so long a BL gave me such approach to romance.
Don't sleep on this drama, you will be missing a lot.
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This review may contain spoilers
Time Travel Love Story
My Opinion:- Plot: This show presents a fairly predictable tale where our protagonist inadvertently time-travels and entangles himself with the scion of a wealthy family, sparking a clandestine love affair. The narrative centers on the evolution of this relationship, but despite a promising premise, execution leaves much to be desired. In the initial episodes, the focus drifts away from exploring the nuances of their relationship, opting instead for high-stakes family drama and the protagonist's struggle to adapt to his newfound temporal surroundings. While there are interactions with the love interest, the lack of palpable flirtation or romantic chemistry weakens the emotional resonance. Then, out of the blue in the final episodes, a confession emerges and is reciprocated (but there doesn’t seem to be much joy from the protagonist), yet the absence of substantial buildup dampens its impact. Post-confession, the portrayal of genuine, mutual love remains elusive. The core source of tension arises from societal non-acceptance and the uncertainty of the protagonist's return to his own time (and when he finds out when he has to go back, he doesn’t look all that distressed about it). Despite facing challenges due to their respective situations, the portrayal falls short of convincingly conveying the depth of their emotional connection, leaving audiences questioning the authenticity of their feelings. Intimate scenes are notably tame, primarily featuring subdued moments of kissing. In the end, the show's potential for a profound exploration of love and adversity is overshadowed by its failure to authentically capture the emotional bond at its core.
- Relationship: This narrative takes the slow burn approach, with the central relationship unfolding only in the closing episodes. While some interactions between the couple carry a certain charm, the absence of emotional buildup in preceding episodes leaves the romance feeling less than heart-stirring and hardly prompts the desired squeal-worthy reactions. The show introduces subtle details that prompt speculation about the depth of the characters' love and raise questions about the durability of their relationship. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, watching their relationship becomes more draining than heartwarming. The excessive drama eclipses the potential warmth, making the overall experience feel tiresome. Instead of evoking a sense of joy, the narrative leans heavily on dramatic elements, leaving viewers yearning for a more emotionally resonant and uplifting connection between the characters.
- Acting: The acting in this show is undeniably commendable, with the lead characters exhibiting fantastic chemistry that adds a compelling layer to the narrative. Their performances contribute significantly to the overall appeal of the series. However, the same cannot be said for the supporting cast, as their acting varies. While some moments showcase satisfactory performances, there are instances of awkwardness that prevent the overall ensemble from reaching the same level of excellence as the lead actors. Despite these inconsistencies, the strong chemistry between the main characters remains a standout feature, elevating the overall viewing experience.
- Music: Forgettable.
- Rewatch Value: The depiction of their love in the writing doesn't quite resonate with me, and despite a promising concept, the lack of memorable scenes makes it unlikely for me to consider revisiting this show anytime soon. While the idea behind the storyline holds potential, the execution falls short of leaving a lasting impression, resulting in a lack of compelling moments that would draw me back for a second viewing. It’s simply too dramatic for me.
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one of the best series this year.
the storyline, the acting and the ambiance everything is so well done, this is literally one of the best series released this year for sure. The way the actors portrayed every character’s feeling was truly amazing. Even if you’re not a big fan of times period series (i’m not either) i can guarantee you that series is worth the shot. I need that second season and special episode like RIGHT THIS MOMENT. i need my khun yai & jom being happy and lovely together in every time period and in every universe.Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful love story unlike regular BL's
This portrayed a very beautiful love story , never felt like i was watching 2 men but saw two lovers on screen.They gave me butterflies in my stomach, such a lovely series.
I was'nt really into the story of other characters was just interested in the main couple's story, i felt like few very charismatic characters like James went to waste and they just left the characters in middle felt like they got unfinished ending. For me the endig of the series was a bit bizarre and had no logic but this cant make me forget the beautiful journey of our main couple.
Felt like the writers had full faith in the story that they gave up on steamy scenes which made this standouy from the rest of the BL's thesedays. I am sooo glad that they kept this seried very clean and focused on the romance. Like tehy were literally just staring into each others eyes and i was sqealing like a whale with excitement.
I look forward to the future projects of these two.
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this show is criminally underrated!!
Everything was perfect! the story line, the scenery/setting, the music, the cast! it's just Stellar!!! And the chemistry between Yai and Jom is simply off the roof!!! definitely recommend it!!This is my first show with Bright and I wished I had known about him sooner!! He did such an amazing job at portraying Khun Yai, especially in the last episodes!!
Nonkul is one of those actors I only knew about but not actually watched any of his shows apart from his appearance in GoyNattyDream. I have just started watching Find Yourself and found him interesting so decided to watch this show. Now that I have finished this show, I'm simply impressed by how he was able to portray Jim's character so well!
100% recommend!!
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the best romance dramas ever!!
I've been watching this since the day it started airing when I accidentally found it on youtube and I am so glad I decided to watch this. It's really the best and now my mind is completely filled with thoughts about this. Each and every episode was so good that every week I was not able to watch anything else after watching this. I couldn't even sleep properly because I kept thinking about this just like now. Whether there's a season 2 or not this is still the best drama I watched this year. And I really loved the ending because even if there's no season 2 I already saw Yai and Jom meeting in the modern times. But I do want to see Jom travelling back to the past and also see how Yai was in that life.I really love love stories where the love lasts through several lifetimes or for hundreds or thousands of years. So Yai's love and dedication to him in all his lives is really beautiful to me. And I feel bad for him because he had to live a lifetime missing and waiting for his love. Just thinking about how strong his love for Jom is to live with so much pain just to keep his promise is making me cry. I don't know when was the last time I cared and felt this deeply for a character. He's so beautiful, kind and romantic that I can't help but love him. Also he's like the definition of romantic... everything he does or says is romantic. When will I ever find another character like him?? After writing all this I realise Yai is what I loved the most about this series. But I do love all the other characters too... especially Jom. He went through so much in his life so I'm glad he found Yai... in the past and the present. Also another thing I loved about this drama is that the supporting characters and their stories never felt boring to me. I loved each one of them. It gave me a better understanding of how life might have been during that time.
Another thing I loved about this drama is the acting. Everyone acted so well and it never felt awkward or bad. And the chemistry between the main leads was the best! Bright and Nonkul's acting and their chemistry made me believe in Yai and Jom's love.
And the OSTs are really the best! I've been listening to the OSTs by ASIA7 and COCKTAIL on repeat ever since I found them. And now I have two more beautiful songs to listen to.
The more I think about this drama the more I want a season 2. I thought I would be okay without one but now I feel like I won't be. Also I want it so that I can finally read the novel in peace. Anyway this drama is definitely one of my most favourites ever.
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There are so many things to love about this series, but I especially adored how real every moment felt: the politics,love, friendships and strict parents; hope and happiness.
Overall, the visuals in this story were really well done, the story was powerful, the main characters was lovable and tragic, and the side characters were interesting enough to each have their own part. Most importantly however there was towards the last of the drama where I literally jumped up and said, "What" outloud, which is always a sign of an exciting twist.
I absolutely adore this series and I cannot wait for more!
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Casually good for a historical BL but felt bored from the lengthy episode
Not a big fan of time travel as the root cause of everything in a drama but seeing a historical Thai BL for the first time ticked my interest. Especially when a beautiful couple of handsome guys play the main characters. They have the right amount of chemistry and they did a pretty job of portraying their roles.The overall distribution of the whole drama package was just a neutral rating for me. Yet, they created a memorable scene wherein they drive their uniqueness in flourishing the olive oil massage scene with matching orchestra music in the background. It gives a sensational and erotic feeling towards the time traveler guy.
With all these, I am happy to see them end up together in the present time. But with the special clip shown during the credit roll, maybe a second season is possible which will be going to focus on the more distant past and letting the audience witness once again, another historical love story from the two. Yet, I am not sure if I will watch it or not because honestly, I hate feeling so bored watching a specific show, which I felt during the airing period of this drama.
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