BLISS RATING: ★★★
“I read my books 10 times and I can never remember anything. I see your face one time, and I will never forget.” – Quote I Will Knock You
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? It is rare for me to start a review with this subdivision first. But I wanted to recognize what I think is astonishing acting by three people before I get to the actual review of this series. I tip my hat to the newcomer Tar Saengtien as Noey Watphlu. He frankly is astonishing to watch. Having only been 17 at the time of this production, he displayed a natural ability to act that I became completely mesmerized by his performance. His range of emotions, his solid performance, his complete comfort in being Noey was brilliant. He was quirky, honest, straight-forward, vulnerable, tough, tender, full of youthful passion, and most of all completely and totally true to the character. He is young but captured the old soul spirit. The character’s taste in music, hairstyle, movies, and life was a throw-back to the 30s and 40s. And he did it with such conviction. I completely believed in his portrayal. His gentle composition of his performance matched his stunning handsomeness and beauty and it all felt so natural. It is unfortunate that the other roles did not support his or come anywhere near the degree of effort and commitment as him, save one. And that was Satita Sinsamnao as NidNhoi, the sister to Noey. Her dead-pan performance with shades of sarcasm and brutal honesty was a thing of beauty to watch. The connection between brother and sister was unshakeable and the bond earthshattering strong. She worshipped him and he her. Rarely do we see such a strong sibling connection with intensity, but this series did it with complete honesty and commitment. This series is worth watching simply for the performances of these two individuals. Simply outstanding. An honorable mention award needs to go to the young kid who was always present, sweeping, and knowing what was going on. He is uncredited, but he stole my heart with his Cheshire-like cat movements and always being a force to knowing things. There but never underfoot. His shenanigans were pure joy. Well done to him for simply being a young kid and taking joy in being so.
If this series had ended like it had started, I would be leaping with joy and proclaiming it one of the greatest. It sets in motion that Noey, being an old soul, with the charisma of a gang leader. There is something so endearing and charming about him that I think if I was his contemporary, I would also follow him. He seemed strong yet vulnerable. His trying to woo a girl named Pam is a thing of legends for teenage boys. And then when he turns to wooing Thi (Bom Uthaiktwanit), it had a flair for seemingly so natural and almost inevitable. It was so charming and endearing, that I became vested in him wanting to actually have Thi. His efforts just seemed so sincere and honest and a sense of total commitment to him became obvious.
Noey spends so much time, energy, and fosters a complete commitment to wooing Thi that it felt like a Greek tragedy. Noey sacrificed quite literally everything for Thi and this series displays that with great tenderness and realism. Yet, after the initial bumbling attempts by Thi to break away from Noey, we know that Thi enjoys the company and attention of Noey. And he is obviously attracted to Noey.
Starting out quirky, then funny, this series loses itself in the middle and then finally lost its direction at the end. Which was so sad.
What pushed me into disliking this series is the complete lack of growth of Thi. I get that he was a studious individual who is in some sense the opposite of Noey. But Noey showed him life, love, and how to be himself. To take the shackles off from simply living an ordinary life. But Thi never grew in this series. That I found so sad and unfulfilling. Thi, throughout this series, never fully, directly, or even indirectly, showed, said, or even conveyed the same depth of love to Noey as Noey did for him. I know. I know. He was only 17 when he made this series and the connection had to remain cute and acceptable. But all that did was hinder Tar from fully blossom and showing his range of acting skills.
I can only respond in two ways. One, do not use performers under the age of 18 for such roles where they might be put into more adult-like themes. Or two, throw the book away and allow for some connection through words, gentleness, softness, tenderness that Thi was more than just a laconic sap incapable of expressing his desires. The ‘elephant-in-the-room’ was the fact that Tar (Noey) was underage. Then be honest, open, and deal with it. Noey, from all points and perspectives, tells Thi he is in love with him and wants him. Deal with it. In an adult fashion. Wait for him to be 18. Tell him how you feel but we cannot act on it, and more importantly will not act on it until then. You are too young, and your life is still ahead of you. Something! Anything! The passivity and wooziness of Thi almost drove me to stop watching this series. The adult in the room was NOT Thi.
Three issues drove me somewhat apoplectic. One, the lack of taking appropriate action against what happened to Noey’s mother. I feel as if these series, as a public service and a message conduit, must show and do the right thing. More appropriate action should have been taken rather than glossing over as just another incident in a gang war. Sure, it resolved itself at the end, but the right action was to call the police.
Two, I was incredulous when Thi’s father beat up Noey and threatened him to stay away from Thi. And Thi was silent. Nothing was said, done, or dealt with from a story point perspective. I found that appalling, disguising, and absolutely unacceptable. Not once did Thi even seem outraged that his father would do such a thing. Thi’s lack of response to his father’s abusiveness was beyond the pale. This would and could have been a teaching moment that such behavior, from anyone, was unacceptable and for Thi to finally ‘grow up’ and become an adult. It was Noey who takes the high road.
Three, Thi’s character was enraging to me. I could not stand his passivity, his inability and unwillingness to get involved, and his complete cowardness in showing anyone he has strength. I am a pacifist and also terrified of conflict and will do almost anything to avoid it EXCEPT run away from it. To see the person he supposedly loves, struggling with other gang members beating him up and doing nothing, is an act of betrayal. I saw absolutely no growth with Thi throughout this series.
Noey poured his heart and soul out to him. Gave up so much. Sacrificed so much. Yet, Thi except for platitudinal responses, just smiled blanketly, and passively and said nothing or hugged him. Utterly disappointing and shows inadequate screenwriting that the writers could not find a way to make this love connection acceptable for the real age differences between the two actors. That hindered showing us how a relationship like this would work or could work. I was so disappointed in the only way to handle this was by making Thi a milquetoast, passive, and weak individual along with one-sided unrequited love proclamations, and the seemingly inability for the writers to come up with any story line that could show love between the two of them that was sincere, honest, and real.
This series had the potential for breaking ground as a love story that could have been told with sensitivity to the actors’ ages yet provided a depth of love that we could still sense, feel, perhaps even see without everyone losing their minds over an age difference. You had a story of an immature individual showing all the signs of maturity falling in love with a mature individual who showed nothing but immaturity.
This series is worth watching simply for Tar and Satita. Both these performers should have great careers ahead of them. Tar is a phenomenal actor at so young an age. He IS the story. Indeed, so is Satita.
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