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Can I have more, please? Pretty please?
Softly, gently swimming in the river of life and avoiding obstacles with determination and intelligence.....A few days ago, I started watching Midnight Motel but the dark themed series left me wanting for something else, lighter and nicer so I decided to watch an episode of Moonlight Chicken. Next thing I know, I was finishing episode four, it was like 3AM and I was trying really hard not to watch anymore. I succeeded even though it was so hard.
This series gripped me from the beginning with its music first and then the slice of life story. I am a sucker for a good slice of life romance and this one was almost perfect. Now I just want to rewatch it!
The story is deceptively simple: in a diner in Pattaya, different people meet and forge relationships. Uncle Jim is the owner and one night he meets drunken Wen: they end up spending the night together and Wen falls for Jim who does not want to continue this relationship. Jim's nephew, Li Ming is wrongly accused of breaking a valuable bottle during a delivery and has to work to pay it back. There he meets the house owner's deaf teenage son and they become friends.
This drama deals with some important everyday, mundane issues: work, money problems, redevelopment of areas, unrequited love, unwanted pregnancy and so on but it shows friendship and love and family with a minimum toxicity. There are no forced and invented problems and issues: everything is very quickly dealt with by TALKING. Well, that was quite refreshing since most of dramas thrive on misunderstandings and lack of communication. Not the case here.
Rarely seen as well, is a deaf character. The description of a handicap and the way the boy's family struggle to accept it (by hiding it) is shown in stark contrast with Li Ming's attitude of "there is nothing wrong with being deaf! Let's communicate and be friends!" Their story was beautiful. It showed young people completely unphased by adults' fears of difficulties and rejection.
And then there was Wen. He is a troubling character. He is still living and sleeping with the ex boyfriend. Their relationship is toxic and problematic and spills over into the new relationship he is trying to start because he seems stuck and unable to make a clean break. His ex, Alan, tries to hold onto him and as a result they are both unhappy.
Moonlight Chicken, with all its lightness, managed to touch upon and deal with a numerous life problems, small and big but realistic.
As for the cast, they were hit and miss. Firstly Earth was miscast: he is supposed to be almost 40! He does look older than the rest of the cast but not that much! And also, somebody should just tell Earth (playing Jim) that e cannot act and that he should remain a model: he's a handsome guy but has a single expression throughout the series wooden eternally surprised expression. Frankly that bothered me already in 1000 Stars! He shares no chemistry with Mix, who played Wen and I found their interactions, when they were lovey dovey, stilted, unnatural and unconvincing! Mix, on the other hand, is a king of microexpressions, his eyes tell a thousand stories but what happened to him? He looks like he is made out of putty, all soft and pudgy and soft, maybe too soft. But he has great chemistry with First who plays his ex Alan. I must say that First was a revelation! He is an amazing actor. Unexpectedly so since he did not leave a lasting impression after The Eclipse.
And then there are the two hottest BL stars of the moment, hot on the heels of their huge hit My School President. Gemini plays the deaf kid Fourth as Li Ming befriends. And they are just perfect§ Playing a daf character is not easy since you are not allowed to react to sounds all around (there was a scene where he unwittingly turned his head when a note was pushed under the door he was not looking at!Just a minor flaw!). They were the right measure of cute and serious and fun and real, just like every teen is nowdays! Open, with surprising maturity and without prejudice. And, by the way they were much better here than in MSP!
Finally there was Kaotung who has mastered overacting. Some of his scenes were hard to watch because of his grimacing face!
The producers should stop repeating actors' couples from other series. Earth and Mix as well as First and Kaotung were wrong here! That did not stop me from enjoying this series a lot but some moments were rather cringey especially scenes between Earth and Kaotung (who plays a chicken stall owner with a crush on Jim!).
The cinematography was stunning: the colours were in the brown, dark and warm tones. Everything felt soft and gentle. And the lighting and the colour palette corresponded the characters.
The music was so right for this series! The old taiwanese song the six main actors sing is giving me goosebumps and spills something warm inside my soul.
And in spite of all the flaws, I loved this series. It was just perfect for me at this moment in my life when I was looking for a serious story but with no toxicity. And I need more of all of them!
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stayed for heart and li ming
They stole the show for me. It got to a point where I skipped everything just to watch their scenes together because their chemistry is insane! The way the two of them had me blushing and kicking my feet every interaction ! Thank you to the actors for portraying their characters so beautifully:) I do feel like they always give their all in every single role they play so you never have to worry about them slacking.Oh, and the second couple close to the end, I would have liked to see that progress, I think they had potential.
Final opinion: The second couple saved the show for me.
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So different for GMMTV!
I have watched so many GMMTV BL dramas and this by far was the highest production value by far. But I don't think that was always beneficial. With a higher budget they were able to do so much more, but the longer episode run time made some episodes feel like they were dragging the plot out. And for there only being 8 episodes in the series they didn't really plot out the pacing correctly so by episode 8 it felt like a rushed conclusion. The acting by the leads of Earth Pirapat Watthanasetsiri and Mix Sahaphap Wongratch was really beautiful, however their love story felt like it was never going to happen as a result of the drag out. As per usual GMM has produced another side love story that was almost an "Eclipse" of the main story (pun intended.) The performance we were given by Fourth Nattawat Jirochtikul and Gemini Norawit Titicharoenrak was absolutely heart warming, and they left me wanting more. I do feel like they were done a grave disservice however because their one and only kiss was completely obscured by the camera angle.On the whole this was a really good series with many high points. The higher production value was a great enhancement for the cinematography. The only down side being the long run time being a disruption from a properly paced story line. If it was a 12 ep series then I think they could have done a lot more.
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slice of life, struggles, other side of the tracks romance, great side dishes
I enjoyed this complicated little show, even though it’s spectacularly messy gay with lots of shrapnel and authentic pain (normally not my style).I thought EarthMix turned in their most compelling performance to date, yes better than Thousand Stars.
But it was GeminiFourth who stole my heart. What a wonderful side romance that was!
That said, the most interesting central relationship was that of Jim & Li Ming, their father-son angst mixed with evident affection made me tear up. This was more slice of life than it was BL, but it ended happily so I’m not mad at it.
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Not quite as advertised
Kudos to P'Aof and GMMTV for producing an adult* (grumpy sneer) series.That being said...
Too many plot threads surface skimmed, ended ignominiously. or utterly dropped and forgotten, so the Gemini/Fourth teen/barely legal story could overtake the show. And the hearing impaired storyline - SO much wrong, infuriating and insulting. Almost dropped the series. (Did plenty of fast-forwarding instead)
While I do like Earth and Mix as actors, and both did a solid job in this series - Mix stepping out with some subtle and effective character subtext, yeah!) just as with ATOTS and the dumpster fire of CLW, there is no sexual tension between them, at all. From the shag at the beginning to the kiss at the end, dry choreography.
Khaotung, as he demonstrated in "The Eclipse" is a good actor, but you really shouldn't notice that he's acting, and in all emotionally heightened scenes, aka crying, boy, he's acting his heart out.
First, as always, is divine, one of the finest GMMTV actors. Could speak volumes about his character building and in the scene's moment skills. Would watch him in anything.
The cinematography in the first few episodes excellent, framing, angle, and movement, dynamic and interesting. By the end of the show that magic had, sadly, lapsed into BL static average. Sound issues galore, however. Should really find better placement of mics in scenes where hugging is involved. Pleasant opening sequence, if too long, could have used some of that screen time for additional story time.
Finally, a thank you to cast, admin and entire production crew for bringing this series to life., for seeing the worth and wealth of the working class adult* story. May this be the first of many, and many more.
*should have been exclusively
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an emotional rollercoaster portraying everyday lives
"Moonlight Chicken" is part of the "Midnight Series" alongside "Midnight Motel" and "Dirty Laundry". It is the third and last series released from these three. First of all, I have to agree with many other opinions; it is the best entry out of the three series. One of the reasons is probably the longer runtime which results in allowing to have more place to fully develop a background story and giving characters the ability to grow.The story tells a lot of different aspects of life; losing a loved one, falling in love, financial problems, the problems and prejudice towards deaf and hard-of-hearing people have to face... but these are only a few exampled of the many aspects it portrays. Especially the inclusion of a deaf character (Heart) as one of the more important characters gives this series a special place in my heart.
This is where I will have to talk about the acting. Heart (Gemini) is portrayed extremely well, without using much speech, only expressions and body language, he is able to show all his emotions without it feeling like too much or too little. Acting-wise, Heart (Gemini) and Li Ming (Fourth) probably steal the show. The actors are able portray the feelings that teenagers have while trying to find their own way, in a natural, convincing way, probably due to the fact that they are the same age as their characters. But every other actor (and actress) in this series does their role justice, making "Moonlight Chicken" a natural, convincing (and emotional) experience.
The soundtrack is beautiful. Starting with a great intro song, the series is able to use the soundtrack in a way that it completes every scene in perfectly, making the experience for the viewer even better.
Therefore, while I recommend watching all three series of the "Midnight Series", "Moonlight Chicken" is the one that will leave the biggest impact on the viewer.
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The familial love is the highlight
I really enjoyed this show. There was so much to dig into and it was a real pleasure to see a BL with such mature themes, nuanced characters, and complex morality. By far my favorite part of this show was the care and attention shown to familial love, especially the complicated relationship between Jim and Li Ming. Heart’s storyline was also a highlight, and he and Li Ming had a very charming teen romance.That said, it was not a perfect show for me. I think for a show with only 8 episodes aired over 4 weeks, Moonlight Chicken tried to do a little too much. In particular, I thought they resolved the major conflicts too early on, releasing a lot of the dramatic tension in the story and leaving us with a slower pace and fragmented focus. I enjoyed all the characters and themes, but I’m not sure it all came together as one cohesive narrative engine.
The biggest flaw in the show was in the casting. The actor playing Jim was simply too young for the part, and it became a distraction. The romance between Jim and Wen was also missing something as a result. I think a better casting choice for Jim would have strengthened the show a lot.
Even still, I do recommend watching. It’s a beautiful show with a lot of warmth.
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it is one of the best, not only bl but also thai drama out there.
this is hands down one of my favourite thai shows. everything about it is just so real and hits all the right spots. totally worth a watch. it is not that over the top fancy shows but here we see some real emotions. i genuinely recommend it.Was this review helpful to you?
This series addresses real life issues. An unexpected and possibly unwanted pregnancy. Discussion of abortion. Parents unable to accept their child's disability. Mother leaving her young son to be raised by someone else. The fallout effect of a husband leading a double life. The anguish of losing a business that you built from the start. Class distinctions. Financial struggles. Loss of a beloved mother. Letting go of the past to move forward into the future. The emotions associated with the razing of a historic district to make room for a parking lot for a developer's project. The integrity of not taking advantage of someone's kindness for your own self interest. And the list will go on.
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Too much sighing...not enough story
The unfortunate thing about this show is that it had so, so much potential, with a brilliant cast, a beautiful setting, a great soudtrack. But the main story between Jim and Wen just didn't give...almost anything. Jim is a boring and stunted character, and Earth just wasn't given much to work with. He was literally sighing for 50% of his screen time. And it was never entirely clear why Wen after him THIS hard when Jim kept pushing him away time and time again. The characters' chemistry didn't measure up to the actors' chemistry. Heart and Li Ming's story on the other hand was much, much better handled, and Fourth's acting blew me out of the water. Incredible stuff all around!!!!!! Gaipa was a sunshine character, and Alan and Wen's relationship was portrayed well. The chemistry between FirstKhao is out of this world and I truly wish we could get a glimpse into their future together as AlanGaipa, but nevertheless, their scenes together were wonderful. Khaotung delivers every single time. Overall, I literally skipped most of Jim and Wen's scenes because nothing was happening. But the show does leave you with a distinct found family warmth that is hard to shake off. I'm really grateful to the whole cast for all their hard work.Was this review helpful to you?
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I feel that something is missing.
I have been waiting for this series for such a long time. And now it has done. While I do love this series, I felt that something is missing from this series for it to be perfect for me.Pros:
❤️ Beautiful cinematography
❤️ Excellent acting from not just the main actors but from all of the actors (looking at Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan. While I didn't really like 'The Eclipse', he got my attention with his acting there. In this series...he impressed the hell out of me).
❤️ Time jumps did not actually annoy me
❤️ Getting to see Earth and Mix again in another series, where they did not disappoint me as well as watching another series from Aof.
Cons:
💔 I felt that something was missing. I really can't explain it better than this. I guess that I had extremely high expectations and it just wasn't able to reach it. Because the series did start off good and... something just went off. But it was able to get back on track by episode 7 and 8. Please note that this is my personal opinion.
In the end I give the story an 8, the acting a 9.5, the music a full blown 10 and the rewatch an 8. Overall, I give this series a 9. I honestly thought that this was going to be my first 10 BL for this year.
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It's Really, Really Good. I Wish It Was Great.
This is probably the best Thai BL I've ever watched. It was like a regular show and I didn't feel the need to give it a pity grade(look, we all do it).That being said, it's still not very great. Good. Not great. Writing still lacks in the pacing department. And, yeah, that makes a difference. I imagine that for some reason an editing department doesn't exist or maybe they think it's unnecessary to have one but, whew, watching fifty different angles and facial expressions as they repeat how sad they are is--it's less impactful not more. And it takes a solid 5 to 8 minutes of additional runtime. Now, imagine this is the worst example but certainly not the only one.
The story is solid. The actors are good. Earth really shines here. And so does the actress who plays Gaipa/Kaipa's mother. And it's egregious that she doesn't have a casting photo or even a blank one on the cast list. She's important dang it! For several of her scenes, I forgot I was watching a genre of television that gets shafted(don't laugh) when it comes to the writing room. And, boy, did this one ever.
I won't go on to complain because that's a bit unfair. The cinematography in the opening shots and the consequential ones were beautifully done. Lighting. Perfect. Set design, environment, and casting, so far as appearances go, are spot on. When Jim and Wen met, I was ready to love this. This was going to be the BL to end all and be all.
But, it suffers from a lack of editing necessary for proper pacing. And it was really only the times involving Wen. Which is unfortunate because I enjoyed his backstory. The funny thing is that for all that time spent on camera angles and repetitive conversations, it would've been better spent on Wen's internalized feelings blossoming into something real. I would've liked to see the differences in Wen's behavior compared to at the start of the drama when he was being flirtatious but lacking all experience in that form of confidence to when he learned to own his confidence completely. Instead, I watched Wen appear to always be confident from beginning to end except during his backstory parts--where he was a normal human being.
I have the typical issues with unnecessary relationship drama(not Wen) that could've been better set off as something that happened prior to the start of the drama and then tying off loose ends in the actual drama. It probably would've cleared up the pacing to make room to focus on Wen. Just saying. I wanted more Wen character-focused backstory but whatever.
I legit have nothing to say about Heart and Li Ming's portion. I think Heart's story is pretty interesting and it seems like it's been done very well. My isolated experiences with the deaf is that I was raised near the Maryland School for the Deaf. And I've probably see more deaf people than others have. It really doesn't give me an idea of what's proper or not. Add on the cherry that Thai sign language is a different form of sign language altogether--it seemed legit.
But yeah, maybe that should've been my headline.
The entire show.
It seemed legit.
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