LonelyTranslator
Better than I thought from reading the comments and reviews here
Just finished it after being put off by the negative comments surrounding it - I only really watched it because my friend (who knows nothing about Thai shows) just randomly picked this one out of a list of things to watch (I'd randomly put this on the list with no intention of actually watching) ; and having finished it, I'm glad they did.
TL;DR: Don't let negative comments stop you from watching this: It may not be for everyone but it could be for you. The chemistry is great, the story is like that of a classic lakorn containing business and family rivalry chock filled with romance and messy interpersonal dynamics stuffed with the occasional 1/4 episode of modern GMMTV romantic cheese, the cinematography is worth the watch even if you don't like the story, and the soundtrack is great [even if there are some moments where they play Christmas music at really weird timings (like 3 at most)] . It's worth the watch, and I can guarantee it will subvert at least one, if not many of your expectations for a show like this. Whatever plot you think they're pulling, I can guarantee you won't guess them all. It's a solid 8-8.5/10. You won't even realise the show is over until it is, it's that addictive.
Story:
Honestly, I was gripped. Yes, it was a bunch of teenagers acting like adults, but it honestly didn't matter too much to me. It felt like they were just kids forced into shitty situations by their heritage and their parents, and I didn't mind the cheesy typical modern GMMTV vibes it had interspersed with the intense lakorn-style drama. It was a breath of fresh air in what was otherwise a dramatic romp. The action was pretty well scripted, and the show was tense when it needed to be. A bit cliché at times, and it was a little predictable at moments, but it was made up for by the execution of it all. And hey, who ever said a bit of cliché was a bad thing? They're clichés because they work. Additionally, there were some scripted moments that weren't perfect, but if you don't think too much it's not enough to ruin the watching experience. The story was engaging enough for me to lose track of time completely and binge it all the way to the end in 2 sittings, with a break for lunch. Once you're into it, the story is an absorbing watch, even if it isn't the best in the world.
Acting and characterisation:
Holy cow has the chemistry between the leads improved since FUTS: that show wasn't anything special to me and I didn't really connect with the chemistry there, but here, that chemistry was as thiccc as a trifle with a set custard and mud cake, I felt like it was actually able to be cut with a knife - that was great. And the side characters were so good. It made the show feel more real, their motivations were complex, and there were some characters where I just couldn't tell what their deal was from the beginning. I enjoyed the portrayal of pretty much everyone. Phuwin's character felt like a kid who got thrown into the deep end of a shady goings-on, because that's what he was. Pond's character felt like a pining kid who got thrown into the same situation but from the opposite perspective, because that's what he was. Perth's character -- well I'm not giving any more spoilers beyond the basic premise of the show, but let's just say the acting was great. (except for some of the crying here and there but what can you do -- anyways that's only enough to knock off a single point from my acting rating.)
Romance:
IDK what people say, I think it felt pretty nice and natural to watch - flawed characters making stupid decisions, an imbalanced power dynamic that slowly becomes more and more blurry, and dissolving when the romance really starts to kick off. It's also refreshing in some senses that will make more sense if you watch the show, but I really like how they handled Ben's arc with romance.
Music and soundtrack:
Just. Listen to it. It's perfect.
Mostly.
Just ignore the Christmas music. It only happens like 3 times I promise. (it's kind of subtle too so don't worry about it becoming an annoying thing)
Cinematography and editing:
I have multiple message exchanges with my friends gushing over how pretty the lighting is. That should explain enough.
But seriously, so many of the camera choices made were really great, and props to the editor - the music and the scene really did match well (even during the overly dramatic bits). I only wish THAT beach scene was a bit longer to allow for the emotional damage to sink in, and there was like one or two scenes where I noticed the audio act funny, but honestly those are my only complaints.
Rewatch Value:
Honestly I won't be rewatching it soon on my own, but if I make friend watch it (like a 6/10 chance) I probably will.
Overall:
Watch it and judge for yourself. This show isn't perfect by any means, and the quality isn't on par with Bad Buddy or Not Me, but it isn't that far behind. It's dramatic, there are wholesome moments, and the characters feel like actual 3-dimensional people with real motivations. If you enjoy the drama, if you enjoy cinematography, or if you like the actors, just watch it.
Peace.
TL;DR: Don't let negative comments stop you from watching this: It may not be for everyone but it could be for you. The chemistry is great, the story is like that of a classic lakorn containing business and family rivalry chock filled with romance and messy interpersonal dynamics stuffed with the occasional 1/4 episode of modern GMMTV romantic cheese, the cinematography is worth the watch even if you don't like the story, and the soundtrack is great [even if there are some moments where they play Christmas music at really weird timings (like 3 at most)] . It's worth the watch, and I can guarantee it will subvert at least one, if not many of your expectations for a show like this. Whatever plot you think they're pulling, I can guarantee you won't guess them all. It's a solid 8-8.5/10. You won't even realise the show is over until it is, it's that addictive.
Story:
Honestly, I was gripped. Yes, it was a bunch of teenagers acting like adults, but it honestly didn't matter too much to me. It felt like they were just kids forced into shitty situations by their heritage and their parents, and I didn't mind the cheesy typical modern GMMTV vibes it had interspersed with the intense lakorn-style drama. It was a breath of fresh air in what was otherwise a dramatic romp. The action was pretty well scripted, and the show was tense when it needed to be. A bit cliché at times, and it was a little predictable at moments, but it was made up for by the execution of it all. And hey, who ever said a bit of cliché was a bad thing? They're clichés because they work. Additionally, there were some scripted moments that weren't perfect, but if you don't think too much it's not enough to ruin the watching experience. The story was engaging enough for me to lose track of time completely and binge it all the way to the end in 2 sittings, with a break for lunch. Once you're into it, the story is an absorbing watch, even if it isn't the best in the world.
Acting and characterisation:
Holy cow has the chemistry between the leads improved since FUTS: that show wasn't anything special to me and I didn't really connect with the chemistry there, but here, that chemistry was as thiccc as a trifle with a set custard and mud cake, I felt like it was actually able to be cut with a knife - that was great. And the side characters were so good. It made the show feel more real, their motivations were complex, and there were some characters where I just couldn't tell what their deal was from the beginning. I enjoyed the portrayal of pretty much everyone. Phuwin's character felt like a kid who got thrown into the deep end of a shady goings-on, because that's what he was. Pond's character felt like a pining kid who got thrown into the same situation but from the opposite perspective, because that's what he was. Perth's character -- well I'm not giving any more spoilers beyond the basic premise of the show, but let's just say the acting was great. (except for some of the crying here and there but what can you do -- anyways that's only enough to knock off a single point from my acting rating.)
Romance:
IDK what people say, I think it felt pretty nice and natural to watch - flawed characters making stupid decisions, an imbalanced power dynamic that slowly becomes more and more blurry, and dissolving when the romance really starts to kick off. It's also refreshing in some senses that will make more sense if you watch the show, but I really like how they handled Ben's arc with romance.
Music and soundtrack:
Just. Listen to it. It's perfect.
Mostly.
Just ignore the Christmas music. It only happens like 3 times I promise. (it's kind of subtle too so don't worry about it becoming an annoying thing)
Cinematography and editing:
I have multiple message exchanges with my friends gushing over how pretty the lighting is. That should explain enough.
But seriously, so many of the camera choices made were really great, and props to the editor - the music and the scene really did match well (even during the overly dramatic bits). I only wish THAT beach scene was a bit longer to allow for the emotional damage to sink in, and there was like one or two scenes where I noticed the audio act funny, but honestly those are my only complaints.
Rewatch Value:
Honestly I won't be rewatching it soon on my own, but if I make friend watch it (like a 6/10 chance) I probably will.
Overall:
Watch it and judge for yourself. This show isn't perfect by any means, and the quality isn't on par with Bad Buddy or Not Me, but it isn't that far behind. It's dramatic, there are wholesome moments, and the characters feel like actual 3-dimensional people with real motivations. If you enjoy the drama, if you enjoy cinematography, or if you like the actors, just watch it.
Peace.
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