From the authorship of Sammon, the prolific Thai novelist of works of the BL genre, two magnificent suspense, mystery, medical-forensic, police and romantic dramas captivate the viewer.
Both have communicating vessels in terms of themes, styles, almost absolute pre-eminence of the hospital space as a dramatic epicenter, the rural environment, treatment and organization of information, ambiguity of the characters, script approaches, and interweaving of the respective investigative processes with their respective social contexts. However, they will not be one and another copy and carbon copy, since both have notable differences in their plots and the characteristics and behaviors of their characters.
Both titles – caustic, not at all complacent with their socio-historical surroundings – provide suggestive insights into homosexual romance in the midst of a criminological investigation, the eternal struggle between good and evil, police investigations that turn investigators and others involved into victims of powerful dark forces, moral double standards, the return of the narrative hero to the small provincial town where he was born after several years, already converted into a professional, the hatred of those who are different and the polarity of a Thailand divided into ethical, civic, human, cultural and religious issues.
These series are 'Manner of Death', directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul and Aum Natthphong Aroonnet, and 'Spare Me Your Mercy', by director Worawit Khuttiyayothin; the two adaptations, the first of the novel of the same name, while the second is of the work "Euthanasia", both written by Sammon.
The romance, mystery, suspense and police drama by Chookiat Sakveerakul and Aum Natthaphong Aroonnet recreates the investigation of a homicide carried out by a forensic doctor, who will be joined by the main suspect to, together, follow clues and find the real killer. The investigative process will lead them to discover illegal abortion practices, human trafficking, political, police and administrative corruption, sexual abuse against minors, human trafficking, illegal drug use, among other topics; Meanwhile, the two young people will discover they have feelings for each other.
Worawit Khuttiyayothin's crime-thriller-mystery-romance drama follows a police captain's investigation into the strange deaths of several terminally ill patients in a small provincial town, and with the death rate rising Among the patients, everything seems to indicate that each tragic outcome is part of a series of crimes in which the Palliative Care doctor who cared for the patients on the eve of their death, including the sub-inspector's mother, may be involved.
Worawit Khuttiyayothin, whose work expresses interest in strong, mysterious and complex homosexual male identities ('Century of Love', 'Laws of Attraction', 'To Sir, with Love'), finds in the construction of the characters of the police captain Thiu Wasan and Dr. Kan Kantaphat Akkharamethi, and in the defense of the characters by the actors JJ Krissanapoom Pibulsonggram ('#HATETAG', 2021), and Tor Thanapob Leeratanakachorn ('Hormones', 2013), respectively, four allies of notable weight.
The suspicions that Kant, a highly respected doctor, admired and loved by the other members of the medical team as well as by patients and families, is involved in the crimes, arise as a barrier to the romantic relationship he builds with Wasan, a prestigious police officer whose career is based on ethics and moral values, always dedicated to defending those most in need. As a police officer, you must be the one who defends justice. As a lover, you sincerely hope that the man you are in a relationship with is innocent of all charges.
Thiu and Kan are owners of a fascinating personality that does not leave anyone around them indifferent.
'Spare Me Your Mercy' has a procedural format with cases in which we will learn about each of the initial circumstances that lead the patient and his family to require the services of Dr. Kan and the clinic where he works, and with the subsequent death of said patient. in mysterious circumstances.
With the complicity of screenwriter Sirilux Srisukon ('Trab Sin Dind Fah' 2008), the director uses both the unusual psychological profile of the police officer and the doctor, the former for his sagacity in the area of ​​criminal investigation, and the latter as suspected of being involved in the crimes, as well as the ductility of both actors, to model two very attractive characters who circumambulate between determination and the veil, courage when confronting to all types of crimes and inspire distrust, sensitivity and coldness, the precise and the ambiguous, light and shadows, life and death, truth and lies, good and evil.
Like any police investigation sub-inspector, Thiu works in tandem with another police officer, in this case the experienced Lieutenant Kawin Kongthong (Phuak Pongsatorn Jongwilas), a man who shows seriousness and good sense when using the language and skills of the police officer to find culprits in a provincial city where a criminal act rarely occurs.
To highlight the performances of Fresh Arisara Wongchalee as the nurse On, Aim as "Boss" Chanchai, the pharmacist; Gandhi Wasuwitchayagit as Somsak La-amornchai, the hospital director, and Prim Atchareeya Potipipittanakorn as "Rin" Suphaphorn, the medical examiner, among other actors and actresses.
Worawit Khuttiyayothin observes the compass taken by directors of great police and suspense dramas (John Huston, Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Pierre Melville, Martin Scorsese, William Friedkin and Brian De Palma, among others) in the way of peeking, putting on the screen and follow the evolution of the process of following the clues, identifying the culprit, eliminating suspect by suspect from the list of possible criminals, but personalizing their authorship to the time to put together your dramaturgical composer, to which you add the factor of romance and mystery.
His series, ascetically formal and with meticulous narrative rigor, makes his organizational arts an identifying mark. Each small compositional fragment gives it a unity of meaning that configures sizes and ultimately explains the tapestry of each scene.
The series captivates the viewer from the first scenes, both for the announced romance, the chemistry of the two protagonists, the perfect mix of exciting and mysterious murders, sensuality, intrigue that manages to attract even the most passive viewers and leave them glued to the screen, wanting more. A magnificent puzzle that, while making many dream of kissing and sex scenes starring Thiu and Kan, challenges the audience to join the clues to unravel some meaning at the heart of the story.
Some of the strongest things about this series are the element of mystery and the dichotomy between good and evil, between light and darkness.
In this sense, Worawit Khuttiyayothin also establishes a lucid correlation between the murders of patients with terminal illnesses, the high cost of hospital fees and charges, and the loss of family interest in protecting and caring for their patients at this stage of the illness being exhausted and suffering in the face of a situation that has no satisfactory solution, the search by some sectors of society for the decriminalization of what is also known as "mercy killing" as a driving effect on the development of palliative care, while another part of society opposes, crime and assisted suicide, since in Thailand euthanasia is not expressly allowed, but it is not expressly prohibited either, when religious, ethical, scientific and legal issues intermingle in the debates in around the legalization of "death with dignity."
While the initial appeal of 'Spare Me Your Mercy' for many people will probably be enjoying this new BL couple in action, since no one at this point can argue about the chemistry and complicity that exists between these two actors, I think the story as a whole is what really keeps the audience hooked and expectant.
So I ask the reader, as you follow each clue and test your intuition: Can you get to the bottom of the case, or will you fall into the trap? Can you anticipate the twists and turns the story may take, or do you think you have it all figured out from the beginning?
And I ask myself other questions: Will the young doctor be able to prove his innocence or is he really the one behind the crimes? What can happen when the patient is willing to undergo euthanasia but the law does not yet support it? As a doctor who saves lives... would you agree to take the lives of your patients? Will Thiu choose love or duty? Will Thiu be able to decipher the mystery of the murders, be faithful to the law and avoid falling into the temptation that the doctor represents? Could it be that fulfilling the mission of providing a dignified and suffering-free death to clinically terminally ill people when their condition will inevitably end in death could not be considered an act of mercy? Do you think Thiu and Kan will end up making 'Spare Me Your Mercy' the best BL of 2024?
Too early to write a definitive review. I will continue updating it as the next episodes are aired until the end.