Charming and unique little series that is virtually unknown to everyone

This charming little two-episode comedy is one of the four stories of the Drama For All project, each a modern take on a societal issue or change that had rarely received media attention. Among the four, this one probably gets the least attention, as it's probably the hardest for viewers to follow, due to the use of Likay traditional performance and numerous cultural references specific to the Thai society. But it is quite well-written and hilarious if you are willing to learn about the culture.

Story
A failed movie screenwriter enters a Likay troupe, believing that he could make quick bucks only to find out that the troupe is struggling and may have to be disbanded soon if they can't attract more viewers. The goofy screenwriter comes up with outlandish ideas for the troupe, such as blending K-drama, Japanese manga, Star Wars and the Chinese story of Journey to the West with the traditional Likay performance. By revamping the whole show (and seriously flirting with the lead actress), he seems to be giving them even more trouble than what they already have. But they are desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Writing
While extremely silly at the surface, writing is quite clever and there are multiple layers to the story and each of the play they perform. The humors are very Thai in style.

Acting
The leading actor is convincing as an eccentric writer. He is charming and good with comedy. The lead actress and a few actors are probably Likay performers in real life, as they feel authentic in all the Likay scenes.

Production
Nothing fancy. It's not a high budget series. But at least we get to see Likay performance, which is an opportunity many viewers don't have in real life.

Conclusion
You might not understand everything and some meanings are lost in translation. So it can be hard to follow. But this series is so unique you won't find anything like it. So, yeah, go watch it.

Citeste mai mult

Bizarre and crazy, this is quite a rare gem

Malee is all out crazy. It's so bizarre, eccentric, ridiculous and hilarious. Each of the characters in the story is competing to be the weirdest. I usually don't find Thai comedies funny, but this series is very different. It has its own style of humors which I love. Unfortunately, despite being a rare gem that it is, this series is being quickly forgotten as it is not available on more popular platforms (and when it was put on Netflix, people didn't even notice).

Madame Mod, an eccentric personality who is known for her crazy drag fashion, no doubt is what makes this series unique, with her playing the central character of Malee, the mysterious girl with magical abilities. The series isn't shy at using her personality and ability to the fullest and everything is designed to support that.

Cookkai also truly shines as the serious and ambitious nerdy protagonist and this is perhaps the only work of hers that we truly see her performance. March is probably a miscast for his character but at least he's cute.

But the true show stealer for me is Sununta Dewa who plays Haruka, a self-proclaimed half-Japanese half-Udon Thani girl. She is by far the funniest and many of her lines and delivery are so good. She's like a manga character who came to life in a live action. At the end of each episode, there is usually a special short side story of her quest to win the heart of a handsome boy in school, and this is also a hidden gem. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, her name is missing in MyDramaList credit.

Citeste mai mult

Frustrating.

This is one of the most frustrating Lakorn I have ever watched. The main issue of this series is the writing. Each character, especially the female and male leads, keeps making a decision or responds to a situation in a way that raises eyebrows. They rarely learn anything, so do the viewers. By the end of this series, I questioned myself why I kept watching it to the end which wasn't rewarding in any way. Perhaps that is what the screenwriters intend for the viewers. The lesson is that you need to know when to quit or you will prolong your suffering to an unsatisfying end.

The premise of the story does have potential. They could have dug deeper into the psyche of the characters, especially Pok's, and explore it, and perhaps add thriller to it. And that would actually make the story pretty interesting. But unfortunately, that didn't happen.

That being said, I think Pok is a great actress and is able to keep the attention of the viewers, despite the storyline that keeps giving us more and more frustrations that will never get resolved.

The directing seems to be problematic, as the female and male leads both have the same expressions throughout the whole series in whatever situation they are in. I don't think they are bad actors, so it's probably the director to blame.

The production is generally fine.

Citeste mai mult

A heart-warming mystery series that will make you cry buckets

Story

A teen boy finds out his older sister who committed suicide on the day he was born is still lingering in the house as a ghost. They bond quickly, giving each other a lot of love and warmth that they both needed so much. But there is a big mystery about her death and why she is still around. And the incident had huge impact on various characters in the series, including their family members and her boyfriend, and this will propel the story forward.

Writing

Superb. Thai series typically have less than stellar writing that doesn't feel so polished. But this series shows another level of writing quality. It's amazing how different pieces of the truth are given to us at different times and are tied together to give us the big picture later. They also dig deep into the different emotions and desires of humans. While it's essentially a story of life and death, it's also a psychological study of the human mind.

Acting

No doubt it is some of the best for Thai series. Both Mind (the sister) and Pluem (the brother) are stellar. You cry when they cry. And I think Pluem won an award for this.

Production

It's nice but nothing fancy, nothing high budget. The music is pretty good and goes well with the emotions of the characters. Editing is good, it flows well.

Conclusion

This series gives us a lot of heart-warming moments, buckets of tears and some shocking twists the writers dared to put there for us. This is a highly recommended piece for those interested in Thai series, especially if you love drama. But be warned of the heavy contents, including abuses, suicide, and other things. They feel real and brutal.

Citeste mai mult