Final Review!!! Sigh. I know we've discussed it all throughout the lakorn, the pros and the cons, but I took the time to just compile it all into one statement. So here are my overall thoughts. I'll make it short and simple.
Storyline
Pros: First of all time traveling and soul switching is nothing new to Thai lakorns, but time traveling AND soul switching in one single lakorn is definitely a first for me. I didn't look forward to that, but I definitely looked forward to the idea that the nang'ek is actually a nang'rai and the pra'ek is her betrothed! We already know that there won't be any other crazy nang'rais and any opposition towards their relationship. Also, the fact that they use Karma and Destiny as their plot device makes it all the more intriguing!
Cons: Mai mee!!!!
Rating: 9.8/10
Script
Pros: What is so different about the script here compared to other lakorns is the pra'nang gets the focus 95% of the time. Literally to the point you start begging for the appearances of other characters. When does that ever happen?? Usually we would complain that too much focus is on so and so, but in this case we get spoiled with a ton of our pra'nang!! Major thumbs up!!
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Cons: Very unbalanced. Not per scene, but per episode. Towards the final half, a few episodes become primarily focused on the political aspect throwing off what had been done the whole time which is slow and steady. By doing so, important scenes that would otherwise show a good transition from one scene to another gets cut off. No one wants nothing better than a good flow and smooth transition.
Rating: 9.1/10
Music
Pros: The background music is insanely beautiful. The timing, the composure, everything is breathtaking. No kid.
Cons: Lydia. I'm sorry if only the song was sung by someone else maybe I'd like it more. The dramatic music that comes on also ruins the mood at times.
Rating: 9.5/10
Cast/Characters
Pros: Where do I even begin? Lets start with the supporting cast. Needless to say this show has got to have the BEST supporting cast ever. You can't put anyone else in their place at all. Not even chicken. The characters are not annoying and the actors and actresses that portray them are amazing even with their minimal screentime/dialogue. I can't pinpoint who my favorite supporting character is. Juang? Prik? King Narai? Luang Sorasak? Kosa Lek? Kosa Pan? Phra Phetracha? Joi? Pim? Yam? Joi? Jumpa? Khun Loong? Chicken??? They all have that special something that you can't decide. Actor/actress-wise Ning definitely earns the top spot. He always kills his roles good or bad. It's that dominating screen presence that he carries so well. Playing the big Khun Loong gives him that vibe as well. Also I will add, definitely Big and Witsarut earned themselves a big fan! Big plays Phra Phetracha to absolute perfection. His voice, his posture, his expressions. Why haven't I noticed him before?? Witsarut is just cute, even with the black teeth. He makes Joi such a loving character even though all he ever says is "Thaan kularp."
Now for the second leads. Wow. I can't express how satisfied I am with the choices. We see a lot of miscasts for Boran set lakorns, but not in here. Louis, Susie, Panjan and Prang can't be any more perfect for their roles. Prang is beautiful and her demeanor is very fitting as the hi-so Janward of Ayutthaya. Her counterpart Panjan does well as Reung, but is even more charismatic as Reungrit. Susie, Pope's crush, does just her part as the strong yet soft Malee. As for Louis, he should really be given the best supporting actor award. He gave his all as Phaulcon and showed us both his evil side and pitiful side. They do not get that much screen time, but each time they do, they leave a very deep impression on you. That is the power of BPS's support system. They leave an impression on you yet they don't overpower the leads.
Speaking of the leads, Pope and Bella can't be anymore perfect for their roles as Karakade/Kadesurang and Date. Not only do they emerse in their roles, they bring their characters to life. Their chemistry is comparable to Num and Kob as the they say. They play off eachother and communicate with eachother very well even though there are little intimacy involved. I will not mind seeing Pope and Bella in another lakorn, this time in a modern setting.
Cons: What are the cons???
Rating: 100/10 (that extra zero is no misspelling)
Overall
I'm so in love with the lakorn that I'm willing to buy the CD and the DVD boxset even without English subs. . . I have never done this before.