Project 7 – Series Impressions

If I didn’t know better, I would think another director was in charge of this production. I double-checked MyDramaList to be sure that New Siwaj Sawatmaneekul directed these episodes. He did. Then I sat down to write my review. The first thought that popped into my head was, “mediocre.” Not to say there weren’t good moments, but the project as a whole didn’t fit together smoothly. Some actors and actresses had improved since I last saw them, and others were so off I did a double-take. Since each episode is a separate story loosely woven together, I will talk about each account individually. Each episode has a song that accompanies it. It reminded me of Truth or Dare sung by Ton Thanasit that had a short story video that continued the story in the music video. This series impression will contain spoilers, so stop reading if you mind spoilers or haven’t watched the series.

—Edited by TheFNGee

Story 1: Would You Be My Love?

(Earth) Katsamonnat – Ozone

(Santa) Pongsapak – Sun

Earth is a veteran actor, and this is Santa’s first acting role. The episode begins with the introduction of two new students added to an all-boys boarding school. Immediately the school bullies start to ask if they are boyfriends before they have even had a chance to sit down in their seats. The teacher ignores the bullies and begins the class. I don’t know if this is a past story or not, as I’m not sure of the time here. But I live in a culture where kids get in trouble for harassing others, especially like that.

The school bullies write all kinds of homophobic slurs on Ozone’s desk, and Sun is kind enough to scrub them off. Thus begins their relationship dynamics of Sun rescuing Ozone from those who would hurt him. So it continues, and the two boys form a friendship that blossoms into feelings.

The bullies in the bath scene caught my attention in a way. I can’t imagine going into a large area with everyone in their underpants and using bowls to scoop out water to wet themselves and rinse themselves. In the USA, we have showers that are sometimes slightly partitioned where everyone gets naked and bathes. Also, they sleep in an arrangement similar to a boot camp or orphanage, with rows and rows of bunk beds in a single room. Boarding schools here, you either have the space to yourself or share with a single person. There doesn’t appear to be any privacy in these boys’ lives, making the worst sorts of behavior commonplace. When unsupervised, the strongest will lead, and that is not necessarily the kindest.

The kiss was cute. The chemistry was great. The ending was predictable. So here is my issue with this story. Coming from Earth’s performance in Until We Meet Again, I wanted more substance. His character in this story is flat, frail, and a bit of a sensitive crybaby. I know Earth has excellent talent, so it seems a waste not to use him to stretch his acting range. Please don’t come at me for this opinion, but he portrayed the stereotypical effeminate gay boy. He could be more, and I think the story didn’t let him. So I hope the next role given to Earth is not a schoolboy but an adult with real-life challenges. At the very least, make him a college student.

Santa did well for his first role. He and Earth have established a good rapport before filming, and it shows. Some people gave Earth a hard time because Santa was 17 at the time of filming, but as there is only one kiss, I don’t see the issue. The age gap between Earth and Santa is only seven years. There are other bl that have a more adult storyline with a more significant age gap. I haven’t seen anything that I believe is over the line. I am not going to debate the age gap in this article, just mentioning it had been a concern for some fans online.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Story 2 – Rhythm of My Heart

Sood Yacht – Rhythm

Maya Chanitcha – Pimdao

Aomsin Waratchaya – WaWa

Tae Weerapat – Note

I enjoyed this episode. It had some unique characteristics that I was happy to see. Rhythm owns a record store. Tae is his friend and employee. He has a love for a band whose records he proudly displays on the walls. One day a cute girl, Pimdao, an actress, wanders into the store after leaving her friend. Side note: As the friend, WaWa, leaves Pimdao, she reaches out and kisses Pimdao’s hand. Pimdao looks confused. After she enters the store, she meets Rhythm. She’s waiting on her father.

Herein lies the unique pieces to this story. This tale is considered heterosexual because a boy and girl end up together. However, given Pimdao’s attraction at the beginning for WaWa, it appears that she is bisexual. She is attracted to WaWa but unsure if her feelings are romantic. Then WaWa pushed a kiss on her, making her feel uncomfortable because she had already developed feelings for Rhythm. WaWa atones, and in the end, seems to be in a flirty relationship with Note. So is it a heterosexual story if bisexuality is discussed or referenced? It’s a bit of a gray area for me.

Also of note is Rhythm’s condition, for which he wears a heart rate monitor watch. Later, we find out that he has a social anxiety disorder and uses his watch to monitor his symptoms to adjust his behavior accordingly. Others don’t pity this disorder. Acceptance from the characters is refreshing to see.

The connection to the first and third stories is the friend group at Pimdao’s college. Pimdao, Ozone, and Proud are good friends. They are there to listen as she talks about her feelings. Overall a cute story.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Story 3 – Remember

Samantha Coates – Proud

Pineare Panin – Jaidee

Ryu Packphum – Tac

We begin this episode with Proud (Sammy) looking at her boyfriend’s picture. The scene shifts as we go back one year. She is sitting in the bed with her boyfriend, Tac. They are comfortable lovers in a long relationship. They are sitting in bed watching a show on his phone. He receives a text on his phone, which she checks. It is hearts followed by a picture of the morning after sex with the boyfriend on the bed and a female shoulder with a tattoo on it who is taking the video. It’s not Proud. They fight. He tries to come up with excuses, but with her heartbroken, she kicks him out. We move forward in time. Proud dropped out of school to heal her broken heart for the semester but went back to school, still sad about her ex-boyfriend.

She meets Jaidee, who sits beside her in class. The two click as friends. Tac runs into Jaidee and Proud, and you can see the tension between the three. Without exchanging words, the girls brush past Tac. Jaidee warns Proud away from Tac, saying she’s heard he’s a bit of a playboy. Neither girl tells the other of their connections with Tac.

He is a bit of a creep. Tak keeps cornering Proud, actually trying to grab her to make her listen because he wants her back. Jaidee doesn’t know their history either, but she is there to help Proud when the ex-boyfriend shoves Proud. Jaidee makes Proud laugh again. The two girls grow closer. Jaidee and Proud fall in love without really talking through their feelings for each other. Their closeness culminates in a scene where the two girls decide to give in to their desire. Unfortunately for Jaidee (Spoiler), Proud discovers the truth of Jaidee’s role in her past by the tattoo on her shoulder.

This next section of broken-hearted angst makes me annoyed. Instead of talking about the issues, Proud once again throws a fit with Jaidee and Tak. She is finished with both of them. And the/ story ends broken-hearted for all of them. Can’t our poor bisexual girls get a happy ending Pineare and Sammy do an excellent job at making us feel their chemistry but once again, girls’ love doesn’t resolve in their happiness together. I am tired of lesbians and bisexual women getting a bad ending.  Also, it’s listed as a girls’ love episode, but they are both bisexual characters. Does that negate calling it a girls love? Or can it be classified because the central pairing is a woman in a romantic relationship with another woman? What is your take on it?

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Story 4 – Once Upon A Time

Boun Noppanut – Mek

Prem Warut – Balloon

Nink Verithorn – Jinny

Fairy Kirana – Tonkhao (Rainbow – little sister to Balloon, still in high school)

Earth Kattsommonat- Reprising Ozone (younger brother of Balloon)

I’ve always been a fan of Boun and Prem. They have great onscreen chemistry. So it’s nice to see their acting has improved since the earlier days of Until We Meet Again.

This story begins with an older Mek looking at a picture of his younger self and Balloon. It’s evening, and he’s in a reflective mood, so he tells the audience how their relationship developed. At this point in the episode, you aren’t sure if it is a happy or sad ending.

We see Mek steal a kiss from Balloon in front of Balloon’s house. Balloon walks in to hear his father chewing out his brother Ozone for being gay, claiming he’s a disappointment. After Ozone heads upstairs, their father tells Balloon not to be like his brother, marry a girl, and be normal. I hate the dad already. Asshole. And Balloon goes upstairs to comfort his brother. He shows his good nature by telling Ozone there is nothing wrong with following your heart. He receives a call from Mek, so he steps out to take it. We understand he is stuck in a challenging position.

He is in a relationship with another man. His brother has come out to their father while he is still closeted. He chooses to show the dad he’s straight so that his brother can be out and open. The younger sister is cute but a bit oblivious. You can see the story tension as Mek is ready to share their love. He’s tired of hiding it. And in comes Jinny, who is in their friend group. She has a crush on Mek, but he doesn’t realize it. The push-pull story of their love story unfolds where no one is a villain. Everyone is sympathetic and likable. Given Boun and Prem’s performance here, I’m excitedly waiting for Hemp Rope.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Story 5 – BreakUp Zone

Plan Rathavit – Ryu

Nink Verithorn – Reprising Jinny

Maya Chinitcha – Pimdao

The player or Casanova, Ryu, among friends, decides to pursue the pretty famous actress he sees in their college, Pimdao. He is known for loving all women and never taking relationships seriously. His best friend since childhood is Jinny. She is like a sister to him. And he is the annoying brother that Jimmy wants to slap upside his head. Both of the best friends are crushing on other people who don’t return their feelings. Broken-hearted, both do something they regret. Jinny pursues Mek despite knowing he’s not interested until the day she finds out he is gay and gets her heart stomped on. Ryu tries to date Pimdao but is friend-zoned. He sees her in WhaWha’s car and sees the kiss. He snaps a pic on his phone in a moment of anger.

You can guess where this leads. Both drunk. Not a hookup but a sharing of secrets and being kind to each other. This development leads both to start looking at each other with new eyes. As for the Greek restaurant with plate smashing, I’ve been to Greece, and I’ve never encountered it, but maybe it’s done sometimes? It was a strange scene. But I think when you are upset, smashing plates is an excellent way to take out your frustrations.😁. The kiss, I’m sorry, Plan but you need some practice. Once again, the chemistry was ok, but the kiss was awkward. Overall this storytelling was mediocre at best, so it’s getting a mediocre rating.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Story 6 – VS Love

Peak Peemapol – Tonnam

Boom Krittipak – Phupha

This story is another happy reunion of Peak and Boom that made me smile. They have great chemistry. It was lovely to see them in different roles this time. Tonnam is a transfer student to an expensive private school. He is a scholarship student who got into the school so his little sister would have a good educational opportunity, as she was allowed into the school too.

This story combines the elements of appearances that can be deceiving and justice. Tonnam is not afraid to stand up for himself and soon comes to loathe the school “bully.” He hates injustice. He believes that people should speak up when they see something wrong. Interestingly, this story uses a small-scale justice within the school as a metaphor for Thailand’s justice system. With lines like “This is Thailand. Do you think justice exists?” “You gotta fight. Fight to the death. Even if you get nothing in return, but at least you get to fight for the right thing.” We learn that Phupha was once a model student, but after witnessing a cheating incident and bringing it to the principal’s attention, he learned that family ties are more important than truth. So the boys bond with each other, both revealing personal truths or secrets to each other.

The truth comes out because Tonnam decides to be a whistleblower. I love this. Even though it ended with him being expelled, the need for others to know of wrongdoings was stronger in him than personal motivation. Even though both boys are long past the days of wearing a boys’ high school uniform, I bought into it. Both Boom and Peak did a good job at developing characters in only one episode. They made me miss the days of Make It Right. Hopefully, we’ll get to see them work together again soon.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Story 7 – My Puppy Love

Perth Tanapon – Beam

Fairy Kirana – Tonkhao (Rainbow – little sister to Balloon, still in high school)

Mix Wanut – Boom

Beam is the typical artist, shy, withdrawn, and a little weird. He doesn’t feel that he fits into the typical student life, but he does have a few good friends. Boom is his friend who is a player in the school. He gets the girls to go out with him easily because he’s outgoing and charming. However, he is also never serious about the girls.

Tonkhao is a new transfer student to the school, along with her older brother Tonnam. Beam has a crush at first sight. He thinks she is pretty and sweet. So given the title, you see how things will develop. We have the playboy who thinks he can have a date with anyone, the shy artist, the cute girl and her friend who like art as well, and a friend who tries to mediate between the two hotheads. The unique point in the story is the artist spends all semester working on his sketch of her in secret. And he decided to leave her special snacks at her desk anonymously. It is a predictable story with a sugary sweet ending. Forgettable once it is over, I have to give it a rating in the middle of the scale. I would call it tepid. Perth is also too old to play a schoolboy. It felt strange to see these adults dressed in kids’ clothes, like Earth, Boom, and Peak. At least the others were allowed to play college-age students.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Overall, Project 7 felt like one long filler episode of a series that you might want to see, but it was mostly predictable and forgettable. The songs are fine. But I expected more depth from New and Wabi Sabi Studio.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]