I believe Director Jojo has said this was inspired by 90's Lakorns and it meant to feel more like those than some kind of mafia drama. The point of the show is watching Palm and Nueng fall in love and damn if they don't look amazing while they do. Perth and Chimon are kind of wasted after episode 6 but they were good for what they were needed for. Phuwin does a wonderful job establishing Nueng as vulnerable as he is bratty. I watched FUTS and Pond had a lot of moments there of obvious "acting" and there is none of that to be seen here. He is quiet, intense, in a lot of ways he reminded me of Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain in that he is feeling so much but doesn't have the words or the position to say them.