Big Dragon (2022)

Misunderstandings galore

I had this on hold for a long time as I found the first episode (especially Yai) really annoying. I finally got back to it and it's still a little annoying.

There were some genuinely funny scenes (often with P'Park and P'Pong) but also scenes that didn't make sense. I know it's a drama, but some of the behaviour was ridiculous.

What I liked: often, the way that Mangkorn (Mos) looked at Yai (Bank) - so full of love - touched me. The comedic touches with P'Park and P'Pong was sometimes hilarious. Some of the NC scenes were so erotic, but paradoxically, beautiful and they highlighted the way new lovers would behave. The ending, although predictable, made me teary.

What I didn't like: how many times can an adult pout? Quite a lot it seems - Yai needed to stop it. It was tiresome to watch. The lack of communication between Mangkorn and Yai was irritating...and when they did communicate, it was at the last minute. I know there was a reason, but please!! P'Nine was so cute, but really couldn't read the room. I felt sorry for him, but also surprised by what he did. Read the room!!

Overall, the fact that it was short was in its favour. I don't think I could have watched any more episodes with all that pouty miscommunication.

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Plot development is an essential skill, but, unfortunately, the author turned out to be clueless when it came to that.

Ok, I will start with the good things.
I liked every location in this show. It was aesthetically pleasing. I got bored and started rummaging in my phone many times during this series, but I could notice some graceful transitions, special effects and lights that made my eyes pop out and thank me for watching this.

Bank and Mos are invincible! I am enchanted by the chemistry between them, it’s a pity, that is was wasted.

I don’t usually pay attention to music in Thai dramas, because I’m fond of metal and 1970-80’s rock and pop, so I don’t really think that their music can be satisfying for me, BUT: I liked the music in this show. Bank has an amazing voice.

Also, I liked Pank and Pong, they made me burst into laughter for a couple times. Love them!

I have watched lots of dramas consisting of 8 (even less) episodes lasting an hour. Big Dragon episodes last approximately 50 minutes each and have some unnecessary and irrelevant scenes that could be replaced so as to contribute to the development of the main couple. There were enough storylines to make a great show, but…Failed. The whole show is in the last two episodes. They tried to place all the cute and lovely moments they could have together in a jiff, so there would be something to remember and cry for when Mongkorn left. The moments were really captivating, hot, full of warm, but I think they were not enough. In my opinion, either there have to be more episodes to give actors more time to develop (their relations, characters and so on) or the episodes have to last longer than 45-50 mins. I understand, that there is the second season. Bonk and Mos’s relationship as a couple will be elaborating in the second season, but the first one misses the starting point (which is also significant to me), because the plot was a mess. They were not even in a relationship, but managed to break up, because Yai was not ready to handle Mangkorn’s problems…I don’t get this. Without the last two episodes there would be nothing to remember but the one night stand.

There is an abundance of important topics that were brought up. Yai had family issues: He lost his mother and his father couldn’t give him enough attention, because he was to busy working. The house was empty after his mother’s demise, although he didn’t want his father to try to fill the emptiness due to another woman. Besides, heart to heart talks between him and his father were missing. The only matter of importance was work. Alas, those kind of issues are widespread nowadays.

A person has to be a sex addict to deal with his rival in this way…To me, the reason for shooting a sex clip for discrediting someone, was not that serious. Am I diving too deep? Should I stop being so demanding when it comes to the plot? Idk.

It is worth watching if you are seeking for spicy scenes with really handsome actors in them, but if plot matters, you will most likely be disappointed. 5/10.

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It's not what you expect...

I wanted to give this show a slightly better rating than it usually gets as the show, and characters especially, were very good, but it's not quite what you expect.

This show has, by far, the most passionate scenes of intimacy I have seen in any BL drama so far, and that's quite exciting, though in other parts of the show it gets almost cute between Mangkorn and Yai (that's the unexpected part) - basically, the 'rivalry' that the synopsis is based on doesn't last long.

That isn't to say that the show doesn't have any plot at all as some viewers have commented: the plot is the relationship between Mangkorn and Yai and their (rather speedy) journey from rivals to lovers. If the show had been a few episodes longer there is a lot more that could have been explored between the two leads, but unfortunately there just wasn't time for that, so you'll have to fill in the blanks for yourself. However, on the plus side, that meant that the faster pace kept boredom at bay as we got to see all the most important parts one after the other.

The actors were terrific, and I especially loved the supporting characters P'Park and P'Pong. Though they represent the 'comedic' side of the drama (that you never expected to be there) they are one of the best parts of the show and I thoroughly enjoyed every one of their scenes (and their suits and slicked-back hair and are just a visual feast for the audience)

In summary, anybody coming into this drama will just need to adjust their expectations and they will still be able to enjoy it despite the synopsis dressing it up as something that it's not. I honestly hope there will be a season 2 because I will definitely be coming back to see what's next for these wonderful characters!

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fast & somewhat messy

If I'm being honest, I had the urge to watch this was because of KinnPorche. The synopsis and the trailer was intriguing. The first 3-4 episodes was rather quick but it has it's humour side, which I love. They act it well. But then as things got heated up, the humour completely disappeared.

I couldn't get the two main characters chemistry with one another. They didn't managed to portray it enough. Since there is going to be a season 2, let's hope they overcome that awkward stage.

The story line is nice actually. The bittersweet moments, the happiness is there. However was jumbled here and there, and I feel like it jumps quickly for one scene to another. What's more, the ending did not have enough sparks of being together, loving each other.

One thing I love was the opening song. Dancing with the Devil. It was nice. The music was catchy and matches with the storyline.

Let's hope a good outcome for season 2.

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It already fails with the most used and easiest love trope – the love triangle/corner.

This was a mess. Completely all over the place with no depth or any development.
It felt like the director & writers wanted to make another KinnPorsche, but then realized in the middle they're better at making another Lovely Writer.

Was it even directed by one person? It genuinely feels like every 10 minutes someone else directed it with a script from a different writer, and these different teams didn't communicate between each other. Like, "oh yea, let's all make short films about these characters, every team will work on another time period of their story, and then add these shorts all together to have one full series. Oh, and also, we won't tell each other what exactly we're gonna put into those scenes – who needs communication, when you can surprise each other." Basically. That's what I imagine the producers said to the team working on it.
If not that, then it felt like the director(s) (& writers) never watched a movie before, never did anything in that field, never even read a book or consumed any type of story.

I'm convinced that a kid, who watches nothing but "baby shark" on Youtube all day, would make a better director & writer than this team did.
At least for the overall plot.

There were scenes here and there that I did like, where it really seemed the team has actually put some effort and passion into what they want to show, and then really flourished to prove to everyone what they're capable of. Particularly episode 7, at the end, had beautiful shots; also props to the camera and color grading team for that.
Generally, the cinematography was mostly beautiful and great. The camera team are definitely professionals; at least they knew what they were doing and put their passion into it, despite the awful writing and probably also directing.

~

Episode 1 starts off with a rather "dark" tone, talking KinnPorsche or generally mafia vibes. As far as I know, Yai's family is not mafia, just very rich. That already felt out of place, because while they were going for the dark tone, there was no dark plot whatsoever.
Yai seems to be into BDSM and drugs people a lot apparently, but that's it. It's like Yai listens to too many of those "POV: you're a mafia boss" music playlists on Youtube and tries to make it his personality, but the problem is that nothing in his life suggests to be dark or even fit the mafia vibe – except for being rich and having bodyguards.
He tries to be that dark playboy/womanizer, who doesn't let anyone close to his heart, but ends up failing every time he puts up the facade. Manipulated by TikTok into wanting to be the main character so badly, wanting to be this hot and dangerous mafia boss, and refusing to give up, even though he knows it's not his personality.
Well, it was never said that being a playboy was just a facade, but if it's not, the story would make even less sense, and my brain is just trying to fill the gaps.
The Yai at the beginning and the Yai at the end, especially episode 7, feel like two different characters.

As said earlier, there was never any development. No transition between scenes, plot points or character personalities. It was constantly jumping. In one moment he's that dark rich kid and in the other he's that shy kid, who lost his mother too early, and just needs to be held by someone. If my "theory" about his personality is true, then it would definitely make a little more sense, but the thing is it was never addressed in some way or the other.
In ep1 he’s basically a mix of Kinn & Vegas (from KP), and the rest, especially the second half, he's like Gene from LW.
But it's not only him. In one moment, Mangkorn is that hot womanizer, who makes out with another woman every day in the back of some shady bar, and the other moments, he's like Nubsib (from LW), who just wants to finally get together with the crush he had for so long, but doesn’t know how to be honest or make friends.

The only characters, who stayed the same from beginning to end, really were only the bodyguards, Pong and Park. Goofy, awkward, clumsy, comedic reliefs without being funny (at least for me the comedy felt forced and out of place), and horrible at their job.
Why does Yai even have bodyguards? First off, Yai's family doesn't seem to be hated or anything, there was never any dangerous situation in the series, where they were needed. Secondly, they're so horrible at their job, that, if there really were a moment where they'd be needed, Yai would die sooner than they can blink or even realize that he's in danger.
At this point I think these two are cousins of him and just needed a job, so the dad made them bodyguards, even though Yai doesn't need them. Just so they have some kinda job on paper and get legal money from that.
Or Yai was just lonely, so he hired them to basically keep him company.

Also, the rival thingy. They're supposed to be these two rivals, who aim for the same women, hate each other and apparently also want to make each other’s life miserable, instead of focusing on getting the woman.
And apart from that, the woman they're fighting for, didn't even seem interested in either of them. Like, if you do the rivals trope, at least show that they are in fact rivals.
What are rivals? Two people who have an equal chance of winning. All they had was an equal chance of losing, because if you'd asked her, she'd reject them both. Edward & Jacob, those are love rivals. But Yai and Mangkorn? They may hate each other (for no reason, because they've never actually met before the moment at the bar), but you can't call that rivalry.
How did they fail at making a love triangle/corner, when it’s the most used trope in the romance/YA genre? All they needed to do was to actually just make the woman be interested in or at least attracted to them. Show that she’d pick at least one of them. How can they be rivals, when the prize they’re competing for isn’t even in their reach to begin with? It’s like as if two runners were arguing over who of them will win the next marathon at the olympics, but they both forget to actually sign up for the olympics.
Especially because as soon as they slept with each other, they completely forgot about the woman they were fighting over. Rivalry gone in like two seconds and suddenly they're not interested in her anymore, and make out with other women.
Sure, it's hinted that Mangkorn never actually hated him in the way Yai hated Mangkorn, and just played along with his game, pretending he's into the woman, to make him jealous. His intentions would make sense, after you find out the backstory.
But Yai? He got drugged by his own bodyguards (accidentally), slept with a guy for the first time, who happened to be that guy he hates and wanted to ruin his image with a tape (by filming how a woman rapes him, which is another part I don’t get… if he’s a womanizer, surely everyone knows he sleeps with lots of women. How would a video, where he sleeps with a woman, or, well, is getting raped by her, ruin his image?), but instead that guy figured him out and stole the tape (which had footage of the two guys making passionately out), and then threatens to post it, if Yai doesn't do what he says. So, from Yai's perspective, their relationship is based on a threat, which would surely make anyone hate a person even more. Yet, when Mangkorn asks him to be friends an episode later, Yai seemed to have forgotten their hateful relationship and agrees. And then suddenly they’re really lovey-dovey, talking about deep feelings, as if they’ve known each other for years.
What? Did I miss something? Was there a whole episode the producers had to cut? Seriously, either the writers have no idea how to write smooth transitions and make realistic developments, or there actually were some more scenes, but for some reason didn’t make it or were forgotten. But it feels like they skipped a whole season.

I started this drama mostly because of the "rival to lovers" trope but got deeply disappointed in that aspect.
Later at the end, there was another rival relationship, with Mangkorn & Nine. Now, these were real rivals. I actually wanted them to hook up, so that the teased "rivals to lovers" trope could finally be fulfilled, because that would've worked. Not that I ship these two, but a make out session would’ve been cool.

And then there are the sexualities. Since they were both womanizers before, and after having slept with each other, you'd think they're both bi/pan. Well, apparently not.
Mangkorn seemed like he knew he was bi, considering he knew what he was doing in ep1 and the fact that he had a crush on Yai for far longer. But aside from that, we've never seen him hooking up with a man. If he knows he's into a guy and doesn't mind it, why does he only make out with women then? Is it easier to get a woman or was he not ready to explore his sexuality? Or is he "only gay for him"? Questions that are never answered or even hinted at.
Yai too was supposedly that hot playboy, but we only ever see him make out with a woman once – except that short BDSM scene with a call girl, who he often calls. Don't get me started on this, because the whole scene was just awkward – they wanted BDSM but didn't know what to do with it; the girl was just basically hitting his leg, trying to get him in the mood, but he didn't seem like it and wasn't even naked; then they talked about him being down and she leaves… and the BDSM aspect is never explored again.
He's also never slept with a guy before, given his butt was hurting af after their first scene (typical trope you find in college BLs) and he didn't know what to do about it. He does have a kiss with another guy, though, but never with a woman again, making it seem like they pulled the trope "I was hetero before but he turned me gay", forgetting that bi- or pansexuality exists.

Oh, and the lesbian couple. GL asian dramas are rather rare, but even rarer it is to find them in a BL drama. I was thrilled when their relationship was confirmed, but at the same time just confused, considering they didn’t seem like a couple at all. I did ship them, but they seemed like good friends, who might have a crush one another, yet aren’t even close to the point of confessing to each other. And then it turns out they’re actually already together and have been maybe dating for a few years (they talked about marriage)??
They were cute, but ultimately didn’t seem like a couple. I thought for a sec they could be an aro/ace couple, but considering how non-modern and non-2023 everything else was, there’s no way the directors/writers have even heard about the aro/ace spectrum.
And then they had a somewhat kiss, and oof, was that awkward. It was just a kiss on the cheek, or, well, that’s what it was supposed to be, but her lips didn’t even touch her cheek. Why? Isn’t it common for women to kiss each other on the cheek, especially for heteros? There’s no way the actresses were uncomfortable with that, unless kissing friends/family on the cheek isn’t a thing in Thailand.

And they throw an arranged marriage trope in there. Huh? In 2023? Apparently it was only a plan between the dads, the mothers had no saying in there and the kids didn’t even dare to talk with their fathers, even though they both didn’t agree with the marriage.
Can parents even force their children to marry someone nowadays? Lawfully speaking. Why did the kids seem like their world was shattered, when technically it shouldn’t even be a problem? Dude, it’s 2023! If your father forces you to marry someone, especially if you’re a son, you can just laugh at him and give him an updated calendar.
But even then, why were they so afraid of talking to their fathers? They didn’t seem to be abusive in any way. At least they could’ve shown a scene where they once tried to talk to them and since then know it’s useless, but with what it is, the audience is basically clueless.
Weird thing is, that, in the last episode, the mother of one of them was like, "oh, I finally talked to your dad and he’s okay with you not marrying her."
Huh?? So it was easy after all?? All it needed was one talk?? Wtf? The marriage proposal was made so dramatic, that it seemed like the kids would rather die than marry or talk to their dads. Dude!

~

You can’t tell me that 8 episodes is too short to flesh all of this out on its own. Each episode is around an hour long, that is more than enough time. Considering there are kids shows with 8 episodes, each only 10-20 minutes long, and somehow can develop things perfectly.
Sure, there were definitely too many plots thrown in there, but even then it isn't an impossible task to write connections between the plots and give it a somewhat depth.

The high rating really just comes from episode 7. The last 15 minutes were beautiful, truly art. Episode 8 was way too dramatic honestly, but also had good shots, with the director finally realizing what they’re good with: filming static, emotional/intimate, slow scenes.

Technically you could watch ep1 and skip to ep7 right away. You wouldn’t miss out on any development, because there was none. You’d also have more fun, because then you wouldn’t need to sweat through those unfunny & forced comedic scenes, as well as the unrealistic moments (like the one at the doctor's office or Yai chasing Mangkorn at uni).

Oh, and btw the OST is amazing, particularly "Dancing with the devil" by Isbanky. Only that the song doesn’t fit the series at all – it’s like what they wanted to be, but miserably failed in trying. (The song would fit PeteVegas from KP pretty well, though.)

There's also no homophobia or dramatically realizing they’re into the same gender (looking at you, SOTUS), so that’s a plus. And Mangkorn’s mother was also really supportive and mature – saying that she doesn’t care which gender he likes. 

The two main actors had beautiful chemistry and I got butterflies during each of their intimate scenes or even when they were just holding eye contact for long. The other male actors were overall also good, though not as good as the two mains.
But the women… mostly just awkward. Well, not really the actors itself maybe – this is probably just another mistake by the writers.
Especially Yai’s stepmom. She was too dramatic, and it didn’t even make entirely sense.

Overall it basically seems like the writers first wrote the hot scenes between the main couple, and then realized they actually will need some kind of plot, but had no idea how to write „normal“ plots and especially never heard of smooth transitions (only jump cuts), let alone what development is.

-07.01.24

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Different and interesting

A series starting with an NC scene and ending with a cute scene. What's in between was, well, interesting. The story is layered, with flashbacks, family scenes and character development. Sometimes things are a bit confusing or choppy, and the inexperience of the actors shows from time to time, but Mos and Bank have great chemistry together. They make a fantastic couple. The NC scenes were not the best, but the cute scenes are amazing. The banter is just right and the looks they give each other would melt a gletcher.

I am looking forward to the 2nd season where we will see what happens when Bank finds out they knew each other when they were kids and they come out to their families. And who's that boy at the door?

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Your dream is my hapiness

I finish this series with a lot of affection for them. But the plot is really questionable, I want to understand and watch more, I hope the second season brings all that good feeling and makes sense, the ost is amazing, I like it. The main actors shine bright and the story is amazing, I really like to point out some mistakes but I think the mistakes will be resolved in the second season. The acting was pretty good, I don't remember watching these two in other series so for me it is they debut and they rock it. I really want to watch others' stories with them and I'm looking forward to the next season.

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Waste of a great art team

Uhmmm, so much to say...

About the plot and story: LORD HAVE MERCY what a lousy plot, the idea of a sex tape and revenge porn and everything it's horrible, but it's fun how after all THAT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER. It's strange, rushed, and you don't even understand how the fuck they started to be friends and eventually fuck. It's very very very weak as a series.

But, if something it's on point, it's their chemistry. Mos (Mangkorn) and Bank (Yai) have insane chemistry. The fact that they knew each other before the series probably helped a lot. But their acting... ermmm. They are both mid, especially Mos, they really have to improve a lot. But I think that they are going in the right way.

I have things that I liked a lot in these series, but in the end of the day, it doesn't help very much in my opinion about the series:

- OST: Very good, I loved Bank voice in the main soundtrack. Added to my playlist.

- Photography, filmography, and colorimetry: INSANE. IT'S FUCKING BEAUTIFUL the color scheme for the characters and their relationships and feelings are FUCKING BEAUTIFUL. Yai has a warm color scheme, normally with red and orange, and that says a lot about his personality too. While Mangkorn has a cold color scheme. When they are together, the colors merge in beautiful scenes. It has beautiful shots too, and the way that they play with the symbolisms of YinYang and the four sacred animals of Chinese mythology it's great. The YinYang scene on the floor that appears in the opening is one of the most beautiful shots that I have ever seen in a Thai production.

Unfortunately, that beautiful photography is wasted with VERY POOR screenwriting. Very. Poor.

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chaotic good

that wasnt my fav, too much enemies to lovers for me. i just found the main couple to be too quick with shifting from absolute hatred to lovey dovey, considering that they literally blackmailed eachother lmao. there were almost none side plots, and for me the acting was not it (even the children seemed to be better than some of the main cast). still though, its a nice series. the soundtrack was cool (isbanky♡), the traditional aesthetics were really pretty, and the main couple had few cute moments. my biggest pain tho... WHY NO PROPER KISS SCENE IN THE LAST FUCKING EPISODE? i think their dynamic after their reunion was totally not it, comparing to the screaming crying throwing up when they were separating. that was geniunely touching, but the absolute upresence of any fucking emotion in the "one year after" meeting made the whole scene so flat... well, hoping for the season 2 ig

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"Love is like choosing a pair of shoes..."

It was when these words were spoken that I realised this series won't be entertaining anymore.
This was a hotchpotch of all the different ideas or tropes that you can imagine a generic love story can have. And the same ideas were contradicted by subsequent scenes.
1. Rivals to Lovers: The series starts with showcasing how the two protagonists (Mangkorn and Yai) are womanizers and are eyeing to get the same girl. They meet and try to one-up each other leading to a drinking competition and ending with spending a passionate night together a result of spiked drinks. Strangely the glasses of both the leads were spiked which made me wonder is it still rape when both are under the influence of drugs albeit due to the clumsiness of one of the male lead's bodyguards? After coming to their senses, Mangkorn keeps annoying Yai by bringing up that night and the recording that he possesses. He practically blackmails him to be his friend and in no time they fall in love. But in the later episodes we are told that Mangkorn liked Yai for a long time. So there was no reason for antagonising Yai.
2. Female Love Interest: Mangkorn's dad wants him to get married to his friend's daughter Hong. This plot is introduced while Mangkorn is trying to win Yai over. It made for an intersting twist as we now have a potential love traingle. This plot is later destroyed when we are introduced to Hong's girlfriend. So there was never a love triangle to begin with and Yai losing his mind over this was for naught as it could have easily been explained to him.
3. Male Love Interest: Yai has a friend Nine who returns to Thailand and starts showing interest in Yai while he and Mangkorn are having a bit of a misunderstanding. They also show Mangkorn and Nine fighting over Yai's affection. But in the final episode we find Nine actively helping Mangkorn to stay with Yai. No reason for Nine to give up on this pursuit. But now he is helping Mangkorn and it appears that the love rivalry had no reason to be presented other than extending an episode. BTW the second season has been teased to run on the same plot of another male love interest of Yai. If its anything like what they had for this season then please have mercy.
4. Multiple couples: Other than the 2 main leads we are shown a relationship between Hong and a girl student. They have a few dialogues in the penultimate episode and then we dont see them again. Their relationship is mentioned in passing and looks like they were introduced just to resolve a minor misunderstanding between the 2 leads. They also tease us with a potential budding relationship between Yai's 2 bodyguards. But nothing comes of it and for a good number of episodes we dont get to see them on-screen at all. May be they will using this as fodder for season 2
The story needed a lot of working on to make it more coherent. Instead of the mandatory 3rd act break-up being about Hong, they should have rather concentrated on Mangkorn's plan to travel to New York for 2 years for his Master's degree. This would have helped in showing the budding romance between the 2 leads and a genuine concern of losing each other.
In conclusion, the acting by the 2 leads and the supporting characters was great. If you are a fan of enemies to lovers genre then you should go for this series.

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Some promising story arcs but not well executed

The series is enjoyable enough in parts. Some of the acting is good. Some of the interactions between the leads are credible. The story has its moments. Overall though the series suffers from lack of continuity or arc. We come to undersand Mangkorn's motivation to some extent (an early crush), but Yai's transition from rivalry and disdain to sexual dependency to affection is just bizarre. We aren't given enough story to make sense of it, nor are the actors given enough of a story to build believable emotional arcs on.
Some moments are interesting and generally well done, e.g. Yai's flashback to his childhood while eating with Mangkorn's mom.
Too many of the scenes suffer from manneristic acting where more realism is required, and most of the story suffers from lack of depth.

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A Mediocre Mess

Everything about this show is meh. It was promoted as a steamy BL but does not live up to that promise whatsoever. The plot is completely lost after the first like 3 episodes and scrambles to add another drama which is obviously just added in to give an excuse to have more episodes. The chemistry between the two leads is the best part of the show. Mos and Bank do have a great off screen relationship with each other that does transfer into the show’s more romantic scenes. However it is not enough to make up for the shortcomings of most other parts. So while I don’t view it as the absolute dumpster fire that other reviewers think it is, it is definitely lacking in many ways that I hope the next season can improve upon.

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