Great potential and fairly decent execution, yet suffering from unnecessary complexity.
Let me elaborate.Acting Performances:
The majority of the cast consisted of newcomers. All of them, old and new faces, did great! Ta, Mio and Us particularly stood out but it was Barcode who truly stole the show. He was a cutie in KinnPorsche. However, here he was as complex as a character could be and he performed it perfectly.
Storytelling:
The beginning:
The few episodes after the first one were hella boring and confusing. There was a missing part that wasn't hinted adequately to the viewer. While somewhat passable, this highlights the need for better-written hints and suspense in future mystery projects to enhance the stories.
The middle:
You’ll find the most interesting events of the series here. The moment Non came to the screen, the narrative underwent a significant evolution. I couldn’t help myself but to root for Non’s character, even when he was doing things that I’m usually very against. There was a decision of his I wouldn’t understand if I missed WHY he would do it. I feel clarifying the reason behind this decision could have enhanced the understanding of character motivations and justified Phee's future actions more effectively.
The ending:
While the last few episodes were interesting, the shock value could have been dialed back. Certain elements felt unnecessary and overly complicated, leaving loose ends and unanswered questions. The final episode felt rushed, and boy, I would have loved an alternative to it.
Chemistry between Characters:
Plenty. At one point I didn’t know who I was supposed to ship with whom, because every pairing had quite the tension between them. There were some really good spicy scenes too. Unfortunately, almost none of them were plot driven, but were there for... Well... You know.
Overall Impressions:
Despite its flaws, this series clearly aimed for a level of effort and quality often lacking in Thai BLs. The dedication of the actors, screenwriters, directors, and crew is evident throughout. This seems to be the beginning of a new era for Thai BL series, with higher standards and more refined storytelling. BoC's willingness to push boundaries is something I appreciate greatly, and I would love to see what else they can give us, especially with Sammon on board (*cough* 4 minutes *cough*).
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a thriller/horror turned into an examination of how awful people can be
Overall: I struggled with how to rate this as there were parts that really worked for me and others that didn't. I was also disappointed but not surprised when some viewers victim blamed the character Non. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI. Production company is Be On Cloud which also produced KinnPorsche.Content Warnings: murders/death, blood/gore, decapitation, animal death, vomiting, bullying, manipulation, coercion, mental health struggles, suicides, attempted suicide, parental abuse, beaten up, grooming, teacher/student, non con sex, non con recording/sharing, cyberbullying, drugging
Thoughts on Victim Blaming Non
- consent is multifaceted, one part is non-coerced and Non was definitely coerced, he was groomed by someone he had respected and felt he owed that person, Non did not deserve the terrible things that happened to him
- for people who said "why didn't he just switch schools", we don't know the cost/transportation difficulty with doing that, also I think Non was an abuse cycle with the friend group, Jin was the little bit of sweetness that made Non hope for things to get better and then when they were terrible it was difficult to break free, viewers also forgot that Non had been lied to/manipulated and believed the first thing was his fault and that he was mainly responsible for all of the awfulness happening to him (update in episode 11 around 7 minutes Non says "if you didn't see me as a friend I could have moved to another school" which confirms for me that Non would have left if all of them had been terrible all the time but Non had glimpses of kindness an that kept him at his current school)
Watch Notes
- if you like horror/thriller (and don't want to see a ton of bullying/people being awful), watch episodes 1-4, then watch the beginning recaps of episodes 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 which are all flashback, watch episode 10 thru the end
- if you like sweetness, watch the first 5 minutes of episode 7 and watch episode 11 33-41:25
- if you like spiciness, watch the scene at 26 minutes of episode 9
What I Liked
- mystery aspect
- the NSFW/intimate scenes in the first episode and episode 9 were well done
- character actions sometimes felt realistic
- that they talk about not splitting up like in a horror movie
- sweet moments beginning of episode 7
- fleshing some characters' backstories out
- flawed characters
Room For Improvement
- slowly paced for being a thriller, flashback episodes 5-9 provided important context but they also interrupted the thrilling part of the series, they could have condensed them or interspersed with the thriller part in the present
- there were 9 main characters and it took me quite some time to figure out who they all were and their relationships to one another
- Jin got off the hook way too easy for something absolutely terrible that he did, it felt unrealistic and was disappointing
- episode 10 was an exposition dump/reveal with some scenes (wandering around the woods) that dragged
- one character did not deserve what he got (wish there had been some kind of twist with this character)
- ending felt rushed and too much fantasy (no way would hallucinations have been exactly like that), wanted more/different twists and then the 31 minutes onward didn't work for me
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A Great Series (Skip The Last Episode)
Normally I review around episode four or five, but I really wanted to let this series show me everything it had to offer first so I'm writing this after episode 11 and will come back after the finale. Dead Friend Forever is a work of art. I normally am irritated by mystery series because it frequently feels like all the answers are just being handed to you, but not only did this show not do that, it also didnt make me want to guess. I just wanted to keep watching, I wanted to see the story unfold, I was continuously entertained.The characters are infuriating, Non included, which is what would typically make me tap out, but they also ensure the watcher has enough sympathy for Non and hatred for the rest to create a good, watchable balance. Regardless of what I thought of Non (or rather, Non's decision making skills), I was extremely invested in him getting justice. I didnt care how, I just felt in my heart of hearts that pretty much every other character should end up dead. To make a character so sympathy inducing that every other character becomes irredeemable is a feat on it's own, but to have Non's existence not end up irritating me in the long run is a miracle. This is spectacularly written. Awful people flock to a vulnerability and exploit it for all it's worth, and while each of them has their reasons, none of the reasons justify their actions.
This was an immensely fun watch. I'd watch it again right now if I was that type of human, but I'm more likely to leave it alone for some months to years to digest. The sheer amount of awful is really fun but also really, really sad.
Ugh, i just watched episode 12. Im not really sure how to rate this now. I wish theyd spread out the justice across more episodes intead of all at the end. I wish the ending wasnt open. I wish I never had to see Phee or Jin smile again. I wish New had a better ending. I wish they'd had the balls to end it decisively instead of some "did they, didn't they" bullshit. This was a 9.5 for me before episode 12, so I'll only dock two stars for this shitshow of an ending. The rest of this series was good, as far as I'm concerned, this has 11 episodes and the ending we all wanted is what happened, just off screen.
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fantastic but only after the fourth episode
I would never have thought at the beginning that I would give DFF such a high rating. Because the first 4 episodes were pure guilty pleasure for me. This mixture of 90s slasher parody seemed like pure trash to me, but at least it was entertaining.But then came episode five and the tone changed so radically that you thought they had replaced the director. From pseudo-horror in an abandoned house, it became a sad psycho drama about an outsider whose bullies took it too far and he had to suffer terribly as a result.
It's not always nice to watch and often gets under your skin, but it's always coherent and comprehensible.
Overall, DFF can be seen as a revenge thriller and in this respect it is completely convincing. Even if the start was very bumpy and even later, when the abandoned house takes center stage again, the whole scene seems a bit chaotic.
In terms of acting, you have to differentiate a lot here, as there are mostly newcomers at work, which you really notice at the beginning and the whole thing degenerates into total overacting. But fortunately there are exceptions, Barcode, whose performance as Non is really so believable, hovers over everything. A little too weird, a little too weak, he is simply the perfect victim and his ordeal simply gets under your skin.
But other actors also have their moments Ta as the main protagonist, who is also rather morally gray on the road, and JJay as the emotionally cold young killer are quite convincing.
The rest of the cast are mostly convincing in the quiet moments, while unfortunately they don't always get the horror moments across well. Jet in particular seemed rather annoying to me throughout the series, which wasn't necessarily just due to the role and he should urgently take a few more acting lessons.
Conclusion: if you get through the first four episodes, you'll discover a dark and unsparing gem. The fact that DFF is so uncompromising and shows the emotional horror so well is its great strength and sets the series apart from others. Even if the acting is not always top-notch and the final episode is quite controversial, I would recommend DFF to anyone who wants to watch something other than the typical BL Rom Com
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DFF BEST DRAMA
Be On Cloud's "Dead Friends Forever" is a gripping series that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, horror, supernatural and drama into a thrilling narrative.One of the standout features of the series is its strong and well-developed characters. Each character is intricately crafted with their own unique personalities, motivations and secrets, making it feel authentic and relatable. As the story progresses, we see how past trauma and unresolved issues come back to haunt them, adding depth and complexity to the overall plot.
The supernatural aspects of the series add an interesting layer to the narrative. Mysterious events and unexplained phenomena keep viewers constantly wondering what will happen next. Supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into the storyline, creating a sense of unease and tension that permeates throughout the series.
In addition to an interesting storyline, "Dead Friends Forever" also offers impressive production values. The cinematography is stunning, with atmospheric lighting and moody visuals that effectively set the tone for the series. The soundtrack complements the on-screen action perfectly, enhancing the overall mood and atmosphere of the show.
Additionally, the series does an excellent job of building suspense and suspense, keeping viewers hooked from start to finish. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger, making the audience eagerly await the next episode. The pacing is tight and well executed, ensuring there is never a dull moment.
Overall, "Dead Friends Forever" is a must-watch series for mystery, supernatural and drama fans. With its lovable characters, engaging storyline, and atmospheric setting, this film offers a captivating viewing experience that will leave you wanting more. Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for an interesting and in-depth story, this series is sure to satisfy.
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Bad Ending ruined Best Drama
To be very honest, i liked this series very much till the episode 10, everything was so perfect story, direction, moral values, characters, their acting everything. All was on top and so thrilles and excited. But then they messed up with the story writing. I last episode the ending was worst. If i see it only on the baises of direction and acting it was good. But the story and ethics are dead somewhere. It seems some rushy to end the series.They killed the story line, the justice, the kindness, morals, goodness etc. They killed all good values in the last episode. The person who was victim. I didn't thik this was the right justice to him. A person (white) who was purely innocent, got dead just because he fallen in love for wrong person. I think now he is also a victim. People who were real culprits (Tee, Jin) are shown to get out and alive and People were just involved in bully they all got killed. And the person who said, he loved Non very much, is in love with the person (jin) who ruined his boyfriend's life completely. And now he is seeing happy future with Him. Wow, wonderful, bravo. And lastly. A borther who loved his brother and seeking revenge for his borther, he got killed. I am not saying his way was good to take revenge but i don't think he deserves to get killed. He lost his whole family brother, mom, dad and last his own life. Very disappointed drama. As per the series if Phee, Jin and tee deserve to be alive for there doing and i don't think others (fluke, Por etc) deserve to die. Specially white. A part from this story writer if i talk about acting all the actors played very good and amazing job Specially Non ( barcode). Best actor in the drama. But i am really so disappointed with the writer. He runied everyones efforts with last 2 episodes. Due to this rating is decreasing. This series deserve a better ending not this. I hope writer will adhere it for future.
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Must watch if you are into bls with plot not revolving around ships
I love this series, especially after ep 5 , the first 4 eps can be underwhelming especially for the genre (horror / thriller) but after ep 5 the story starts to pick up in very in ways that is very investing , i personally loved it , warning tho No character is full white or black all of them are grey the series make it very clear , if you are not into it better not watch it . Also some scenes of great importance to the plot can be rather underwhelming but it's realistic ig .The level of production, cinematography is really good as expected from Be on cloud .
The acting of Barcode, Bump & Mio is really good and this is mio & bump 's first series too
IN CONCLUSION WATCH IF YOU ARE MORE INTO PLOTS THAN SHIPS AND NEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM TYPICAL BLS
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Messy and Gory Fun!
I will be the first to say that this drama was downright confusing af at times, and it often felt like they were digging their heels in down to the last second, trying to come up with ways to fill the runtime. But for someone like me who is not a Horror fan to like a Horror drama and a gory Thai one at that? That is an accomplishment.This was all kinds of fucked up with a confusing-ass final "twist." But I kind of loved it? They had me biting my nails, covering my eyes and peeping through my fingers, and shouting at my screen, "You dumbasses!" every week. And you know what, it was fun not to have high expectations nor be bored but simply just be entertained watching things get messy, more shit be revealed, and how impressively realistic and nasty the effects could get.
Amid all this, I do think there is a message to be found here. I didn't see it until the end, though.
These teenagers did objectively terrible, even "evil," things to another teenager. A difficult truth to accept, though, is that evil people, or those who do something evil, are not evil 100% of the time. A serial killer can have saved a puppy from getting hit by a car. Does this now make them a good person? No. This just goes to show that people are complex creatures who cannot be boiled down into simple black-and-white categories, as much as we would like them to be.
I absolutely recommend this chaotic disaster of a drama. Mind the gore, though, because there is gore. And face stuff! Watch out for the face stuff!
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Focusing on the ending and ending only.
Okay, as a literature major with a passion for psychological thrillers and horrors, I’m gonna be completely honest and very unhinged in this review so be warned, also I’m writing this from memory of the last few episodes so sorry if I forgot or misremembered anything. This is going to be a VERY long review of the final episode including what I though about the fate of every main character (except for Non).Every character had an ending that corresponded to their role in Non’s death, but I feel like the symbolism could have gone further.
Por- Por was the creator. He oversaw the short film and was the director who wanted to create the film and took over Non’s script as his own. The camera was also his too. Everything technically started with him, he created the situations that caused Non’s downfall, so he was the first to die. He wanted the money back for the broken camera, and in the end he died by Top’s hand, the person who really broke the camera. I think that was a fantastic way for him to go, death by his friends hand without his friend even knowing what he was doing. I was very satisfied in that moment when Top pulled the branch out.
Fluke- Fluke was the observer. He saw and knew everything that happened around him, had he ever spoken up everything would have been different. He saw Top break Por’s camera, he watched Jin record Non and Keng, and yet he continued to stay silent. In the end, he stabbed his own eyes and took his vision away, he can no longer be the observer. But I wish they took it even further, I wanted him to cut out his own tongue or something equally as symbolic. Fluke never spoke up for fear of losing his future as a doctor, now without his sight he cannot become a doctor anyway, and would therefore have no reason to hide anything else. But if his ability to speak was taken away, it symbolises how it is too late, you don’t get to fix things after they already happened, he lost his chance to speak up so now he never gets to speak again. As graphic as that is, I wish they went for that route instead of killing him, I think him staying alive with no real future would have been the greatest punishment for him.
Top- Top was the destruction. He destroyed the camera, he knew about Tee dragging Non into the horse accounts, he knew about Non getting money from the teacher. He was the one who spread the news and picture of Non supposedly running off with Keng that caused Non’s mother and later his father to kill themselves. I’m glad his story ended in his death, but I would have loved it if his death was self-inflicted. Because of the pain he caused others, I wish in those visions he could have taken his own life instead of going down with Fluke.
White and Tee- For me, as much as White’s death broke my heart, it was the perfect punishment for Tee. Tee was the catalyst, the one who put the blame of the broken camera onto Non, who manipulated Non into earning money through his uncle, and who was unwillingly the cause of Non’s death. Tee brought Non into this situation then, despite his best efforts, Non ended up dead. This creates a parallel with White, as Tee brought White into this situation at the house, then unwillingly was the reason White died. Tee, the cause of Non’s suffering, lived. But now he’s stuck with the trauma of killing the one he loved most. But honestly, as much as I’m glad he didn’t die because I think living with the knowledge of what he did was the best form of revenge, they had an amazing opportunity to create a parallel with Tee and his dad, and I’m kind of angry they never took it. I wish, instead of showing Tee lying in his bed and calling out for White, they could have showed him in the same situation we saw from Tee’s dad. Walking along the street, grabbing people and asking for White, destroying people’s property and demanding they bring him to White. Showing that he completely lost his mind, just like his dad, would have been the perfect ending for this show in my opinion.
New/Tan- There were 2 potential endings I wanted to see from him, the first was that he got his revenge and killed everyone in the house before taking his own life, and the second was him living having never got the full revenge he wanted. It’s hard to tell what ended up happening with that open ending, all I know is that whatever happened, I loved it. An open ending to this kind of psychological horror is the perfect way to end this series (but we better get a season 2 or I’ll loose my mind lmao.)
Phee and Jin- I knew from the beginning I wanted everything to end with them. Phee was the main one I wanted to walk away from this mess, not because I like his character, but because I wanted him to live with his own actions. He couldn’t see what New was planning until the last moment and things were taken way too far because of his inaction, people are dead because of him. Regardless of whether they deserved it or not, their blood is also on Phee’s hands. I also kind of wanted Jin to survive as well. If Tee was the catalyst, then Jin was the final straw, recording and uploading that video was Non’s breaking point. The original ending I had in mind was for Phee and Jin to have walked away from the house and gotten to safety thinking everything was over, only to discover that things aren’t always what they seem. Generally speaking, BOC managed to create that ending for me which I loved, but I’m still not completely satisfied. If they are still at the house, why would there have been a 2 year time skip? I don’t understand where they were going with this, and I wish Phee and Jin walked away with more obvious and permanent injuries. Something like a lost hand, or large scar on their face, something that they will carry with them wherever they go and remain permanent reminders of everything that happened, reminders of Non and his fate. Truthfully speaking, I thought this would end with Phee having secretly been the mastermind behind everything so it’s difficult to comment on how else I imagined the ending when I really thought Phee might be the one to kill Jin.
My final thoughts were that the theories for this series were better than the actual ending, and either the open ending was in preparation for a second season, or BOC really just didn’t know how to end this series. Either way, there was a lot that could have been improved but I’m very satisfied with this series overall and I’ll definitely be rewatching this at a later date.
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Not a thriller, but a terror with a lot of gore
As a thriller/suspense book lover, I would say, "If you are looking for a solve the mistery, people planning smartly to behave partners or a cativating story, that's not the one."First of all, Barcode did an amazing job. It was my first time watching him, and I could understand how hard his role could be making a fast comparison with his colleagues' same vibes scenes. You'll get what I mean if you watch it.
But, besides the romance in the beginning, witches I consider too shallow, I didn't really get the warmess of everyones relationships because they keep skipping time to expose the story to you.
All you have to do is accept, it might be shocking, it might not. But you must endure all the blood spilled on your face and feel bad about things they don't even let you know yet. I understand why the production chose to show this way, but I can't stop thinking that they could do better.
Changing every time who's the guilty one made me hate every character and see that much self-harm just banalized the end of the story.
At some point, it doesn't matter how it is going to end because everything could happen since nothing did once go well for them. They don't even care for each other, don't look like friends. That's all on exposure's back.
As my review the series isn't clear, isn't relevant.
Just a reminder: That's my opnion, I would love to watch more Thai Horror Series in future. Support always the cast, they deserve love (not only the one who I praised, they all worked hard) <3
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an interesting project that got lost in the woods
Oh boy, what to even say. When I started watching Dead Friend Forever, I was having such a wonderful time. A fun, if not particularly original, concept, a familiar cast (for those who watched The Hidden Character), and the promise of lots of bloody, vengeful violence promised a great time. I had a whole murder board of clues going and did weekly recaps with my friends. For a while, this was one of the best titles on a line up of five or six actively airing shows! And then.... it really went wrong. DFF feels like a major case of "bit off more than they could chew" from every department.-The Full Review-
STORY:
While there were a few high points, the story for Dead Friend Forever was incredibly uneven. Some characters, like Non and Tee got beautiful and moving individual story arcs that really explored the depths of their guilt, anger, and pain. Some characters, like White, Fluke, and Top barely manage to scrape their way out of the second dimension. The writers never quite managed a competent ensemble, and most characters had little to no connection to each other despite being friends for years through extremely traumatic events.
On a grander scale, the plot was... even worse. The authors had a horrific over-reliance on flashbacks. The worst example being a detailed flashback after a "Previous Episode" segment that contained most of the same clips, forcing the audience to watch them Twice in a Row. I hate this device because it creates one certain history (as opposed to allowing characters to lie/misremember) and denies the audience the more interesting scene of getting to watch the characters argue it out and react to the various betrayals and shocks.
Finally, I won't spoil the details of the ending, but a single prop/plot washed out so many of the intriguing clues and mysteries with a singular (and pretty stupid) answer. I used to look forward to rewatching this series to see the little pieces and exchanges I missed, but it slowly became clear that... that wasn't really going to be a concern anymore. Most of those "clues" are just red herrings for the audience to chew on while they wait for the grand reveal.
ACTING:
Let's start with the good! Barcode is a phenomenal talent, as always. Non proved to be a monster of a demanding, tragic role, and Barcode handed him very ably despite his youth and relative inexperience. While some of the "horror" scenes got a little repetitive (mostly due to the authors), all of the most emotional and raw scenes were really beautiful. He's a joy to watch. JJay and Ta were powerful acting partners for him, rising to create some truly genuine interactions that carried the heart of the story. Fuaiz and Bump continue to improve as well.
The rest of the time.... Yikes. Despite an over-reliance on flashback (as opposed to watch two characters have a difficult conversation), the acting still managed to be largely melodramatic with a lot monotone shouting and unnatural flailing. In some of its worst moments, it was difficult to tell (even broadly) what emotion a character was supposed to be portraying. I never did decide if some of these relationships were genuine? Friends with benefits? Revenge? It was that unclear (in the acting). I think that the stakes in this show were simply too high and too distant for a largely rookie cast to grasp effectively.
PRODUCTION:
For the most part, Dead Friend Forever provides its usual level of quality expected by a Be On Cloud production. Lighting, set dressing, costumes, and props all look great (with a few minor continuity errors that we mostly found because we were looking so hard for clues!)! It was a joy to pick out little details around the set that enhanced the story and provided clues. I don't have an issue with the quality of the show here. That said, editing could have used some work. I know this genre deliberately obscures, but time and distance became so unclear that it genuinely began affecting my understanding of the story.
INTIMACY:
:/ I was not a fan of the way intimacy was handled in this show. Most of the NC scenes did not connect smoothly with the plot (Why did we need a Tee/White sex scene?) or the choices being made for specific characters outside of their NC scenes (Phee is... different in the sheets, I guess?). I don't think this story was the appropriate place for "sex for sex's sake" intimacy, as it was NOT a romance, and I don't know that they adequately justified (most of) the NC scenes they did choose to include. I would have liked to see more thought and work go into connecting these moments to characters involved and the relevant plot.
In all, I have actively withdrawn my recommendation of this title to most of my friends. I will definitely not be so hasty to recommend an unfinished show from this team again.
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exciting yet disappointing but somehow good idk
This was something very new. I love some thriller and dark stuff but they rarely make scary or dark themed BLs so I was really happy when this came out. The mask that haunted them was ACTUALLY scary. The whole plot of seeking revenge was so exciting. My problem with the show was the fact that they made me hate Tee, Jin, Top, Fluke and Por [since they were pieces of shit and were responsible for Non's miserable life and death] so all I wanted was revenge, just like Non and Phee and Tan did. And I was loving everything, because I thought the show was going in that direction until the end, but then they started throwing some flashback so we would feel sorry for Tee and started putting Phee and Jin together, like... No. Jin was actually one of the worst among all of them, but I guess the public will forgive him since "he did it because he loved non" haha lol gross. At the end I hated everyone but White and he was hurt so I got mad. I wish Non was still alive, but that won't be possible. The ending was interesting because they probably never left the house, but I'm too mad to think of a new season that could probably not even have Barcode.About the acting, Barcode did everything. Honestly he deserves an award, he was absolutely spectacular. I have no words to describe how good he was, cause he just delivered the most crazy character of BeOnCloud.
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