Não Me Abandone Jamais (2022)

NEW Take On 18 Yr Old, Bodyguard, Rich-Kid-Poor-Kid Story!

Overall 8.5 rating. Story 7.5, Acting 8.5, Chemistry 9, Music/Audio 9, Cinematography/Lighting 9, Rewatchability 6.5, Secondary Characters 9, Suspension of disbelief required is moderately high, Emotional angst level (mostly resolved) 9, Character emotions & psychology make sense.

Not a typical highschool, bodyguard, or rich kid poor kid story! The dynamics and interactions between multiple characters really kept my interest and the script was mostly written well. What didn't work for me is mentioned in the "general spoiler" section at the bottom of this review.

I really liked how they showed the class divide between Nuengdiao's world and Palm's through everyday examples; in both big and subtle ways. It really ties into the psychology of Nueng and Palm and their actions/decisions throughout the series stay true to character and are believable (especially for 18 year olds in love).

There is a definite magnetism between Nueng played by Phuwin and Palm played by Pond. There is a lot of great physical tension between them as they fall for each other, then a lot of skinship and some very emotional kisses.

This series had a fantastic secondary cast. Both of the moms are wonderful (yet very different from each other), Uncle Kit is an antagonist who feels like a real person (not just a one-dimensional "villain"), Chimon as Ben is charismatic, and Perth as Chopper is phenomenal with inner conflict and emotional depth.

I especially loved the dynamic between Chopper and his dad (Uncke Kit). They were both completely emotionally convincing in some very high-tension scenes.

Sound and silence were were utilized really well to enhance emotions and tensions. There were 3 songs I loved and have added to my playlist. Many of the songs have English lyrics so it was easy for me to tell how well they fit the scenes. What was odd is that there were 2 or 3 times (brief) where instrumental Christmas carols were used as background. That seemed really out of place to me and mentally took me out of the moment each time.

Pond and Phuwin are strong actors and easily had me invested in their characters quickly. They felt a little bit flat or not quite comfortable, however, in scenes that required panic (of which there are a couple). It wasn't a big detraction, but it was noticeable to me.

I really appreciated the little scene about gun safety that was added in as the young adults were training.

I will likely rewatch this at some point. I'll probably view episodes 1-8 and 12 the most frequently.

GENERAL SPOILERS below

My biggest issue with the story was how unrealistic it was about some very common-sense things. Some examples:
A very wealthy family has members who are injured or threatened yet no professional bodyguards are hired, at all? But then late in the series they are? Things pertaining to safety come up multiple times so this had me rolling my eyes.

When various people are shot the first, second, and third instincts are NOT to apply pressure on the wound to slow bleeding. Facepalm.

Palm refuses monetary payment or assistance multiple times yet later in the series is somehow able to obtain what he needs when he needs it.

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Objectively not good but I mostly enjoyed it anyway

I gave this a low rating because honestly the drama just isn't very good? The writing was nonsensical with huge plotholes and the acting was um....well... I'll go with shaky. Pond has the acting range of a brick and Phuwin has zero ability to pretend to be a teenage mafia mogul. But for some reason I enjoyed a lot of this anyway. For one thing, P&P are gorgeous and have good chemistry. They definitely had some very sweet moments in the first half and when they are hiding out with Palm's mother at the beach (shoutout to the actress who portrayed mom, she was great). I teared up when Nuengdiao dances with Palm in the hotel room, that was lovely. Also the actors who portray Ben and Chopper are very good and shout out to the director for having Nuengdiao's first kiss be with Ben and not the OTP, that killed the stupid I'm only gay for you BL trope. The cinematography and OST are also good. But the drama's second half is flat out terrible, like cover your eyes and cringe bad. I hope P&P get acting lessons and better scripts because I do enjoy watching them but ultimately this drama was just not it.

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AFTER I FINISH WATCHING THE DRAMA
When I started watching this drama, I had really high expectations for it. However, after a few episodes, my expectations began to decrease. I noticed more and more shortcomings. Also, constantly leaving each other despite declarations of love was unnecessary and irritating in my opinion. It was more of a time filler than an interesting element of drama. Overall, I'm disappointed with the shortcomings of this drama, but I liked the colors and the music until the very end.

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AFTER I WATCHED 10 EPISODES
Rating: 7/10
I watched ten episodes, there are only two left and I still can't decide fully how I feel about this drama. It's such a love-hate relationship for me with a rollercoaster of negative and positive things.

I see how much the trends in Thai bl dramas have changed in the last few years. I also noticed that Phuwin's acting has improved since his role in "'Cause You're My Boy". He is quite good at conveying positive emotions, but when it comes to negative ones, in my opinion, he lacks a lot. And in this drama, there are quite a lot of scenes where the actor has to show, for example, sadness or anger. Sometimes audio sounds unprofessional and the timing isn't always clear. I also don't like how it felt like we got Nueng's character development and then kind of regressed to his earlier behavior a moment later. I guess it's not established yet or it's just a little bit of poor writing.

Of the very positive things about this drama, I like the overall plot idea. Therefore, for now, I feel a certain disappointment and dissatisfaction with the shortcomings that have appeared. In this drama, I really love the color selection most of the time and the music is really well-matched.

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This is a Chopper Fan Account✋

I like this show for its characters and it’s plot; especially Chopper. The plot was interesting and engaging and watching Nueng’s development as he opens up and lives on the island was so emotional. Palm is a simp and I love him for it.

Ben never felt fully developed to me and kind of on the sidelines the whole time, and I think Chopper should’ve had a bigger ending to his character (possibly even dying); I think it would’ve made the show feel more realistic and given it more grandeur, but he is an angel and my favourite part of the entire show.

The first 4 episodes dragged and I almost dropped it but I did enjoy it once the plot got going. And then I wasn’t a big fan of the last two episodes; the editing felt weird in episode 11, and everything felt quite rushed. And episode 12: the conflict was resolved way too quickly and easily, only for there to be unnecessary conflict because Palm decides to run away… something Nueng had done two episodes before. I guess it just felt like plot points were repeating themselves just with different characters.

Anyway, I’m excited to see them again in Our Skyy 2!

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its not as bad as many people are trying to make it look like

now, if i saw the comments before i watch id be avoiding this but what happened now is that i checked the comments when i already watched it, things like that make me realise to not avoid shows just because someone said so, so whenever you will end up liking this serie or not i advice everyone to just check out and to not get so influenced by the comments, because sometimes you can end up liking something that someone else didnt.

as any show of course there is things that i liked and things that i disliked so thats why i put spoilers warnings
things i disliked:
i do agree that in the middle (halfway through the eps) it was a bit slow ,"just a little bit" then the pace pick up again, there is times when i felt bothered about how much selfless palm is (that could be a charm as well) but i think of it as no, someone like palm will get hurt a lot in a world like this, i also didnt like the obsession of meeting only one time in a year (they were kinda of forcing that idea in the end) and the last drama of palm leaving was a bit unecessary tbh, i also think they should have shown palm's dad after hiding ,because thats the last we heard about him,
there is few things that they could have added too, i wanted to see palm and neung openly telling their families that they are dating (we never saw that), i wanted to see chopper/ben kiss but im not complaining as seeing them confirming their relationship and holding hands was heartwarming (we were saved from a high five lmao) and the chemistry is good, i find myself giggling about their interactions
but one thing i want to complain about, i wish they got more sceentime, we have seen a lot about palm neung and about chopper dad, but i wanted to see how ben is living and how he is dealing with his homophobic dad and his struggles ,there is a lot to explore there

things i loved:
-i loved when palm's friend told him that he should stand up for himself and that he should love himself, because he needs to hear that ,he looks like he always put others before himself
-i loved how he also praised neung and told him how good he did when he took over his mum, i love seeing a supportive boyfriend who is always there for his boyfriend and who make sure his boyfriend know he did great
-can i also talk about the music? its so gooood, gmmtv killing it with good songs i discovered a lot of good songs because of them.
-i liked seeing the grief part when palm was dealing with his mum's loss, the steps of process, first he pushed nuengdiao harshly then come to the realisation of what he did, then drinking and asking nueng for a dance, it was touching to see nueng comforting him as much as he can i'd say thats my favorite part.
-passive top and dominant bottom? yes i love to see that (as much as i love seeing switch couples etc) so i love to see how neung confessed first and how he asked palm to be his boyfriend, i love that just as much as he lean into palm's protection, he also take care of palm when he should, i love how honest he is even if some people think of him as a bit rude, it only show how human he is so he is not flawless just because he is the main character
note: i think from now on ,everytime i see a couple dancing id think of palm and neung because its their thing

another note about how i judge if a serie is good or not: i'am having good time watching or not? what i cant stand are slow plots with nothing going on, as nothing turn me off like feeling im about to sleep when im watching
about this show? i never felt that im about to sleep when im watching which is the opposite of few other series , so it was entertainning , i was interested enough to watch and enjoyed watching . so im not saying this show is perfect but i dont find it as bad as some people said. if you want to check it out just check it out, preferences are different from one person to another

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Nominated for an Award for a Reason

This is a drama that improves upon rewatch; you can't always make that claim. P'Jojo's homage to the mafia lakorns of his youth blended with his passion for telling nuanced stories that transcend genre limitations mix for a sometimes stilted but always earnest exploration of class and queerness in contemporary Thailand.

This is more than just a BL/Series Y, but it's not playing the game of being above its genre the way The Eighth Sense strives to be something more akin to SKAM than I Told Sunset About You. Do not come into watching this drama with any preconceptions set by 3 Will Be Free or any other of P'Jojo's works or you will be disappointed. This is not as polished perhaps, but only because he's trying to push his own stylistic limitations and the growing pains around the edges are to be enjoyed rather than admonished.

Do give it an earnest try with an open mind and cautious heart. You may be surprised how many tears your eyes can shed.

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awful, but perth carried

This is my first review on MDL but I feel so strongly about this series that I felt the need to do it…

My advice: If you’re gonna watch it, do it for Perth , it will save you time and be somewhat actually enjoyable.

First few episodes were bearable; as the characters are introduced you feel like it somewhat makes sense (in a thai drama way, the teenager son of the driver for a rich family having to be the untrained bodyguard of the rich heir…)

Acting is also somewhat okay for the leads at the start, as they discover their feelings, have some regular teenager high school drama with jealousy and miscommunications, etc.

But then halfway we get to the turning point that is, one would have guessed it, the beach trip!
Both leads… escape to a remote island in fears of getting killed by the rich heir’s uncle all the while leaving behind his mom who’s just been shot and is in a coma in the city (very much at the mercy of the murderous uncle but we don’t talk about that)

Ensue pretty cute scenes ngl, but all very tone deaf considering the seriousness of the situation the leads are in (since when playing in the sea, rolling around in bed, going shopping for gifts at the market a priority when you’re both wanted for dead?? Was calling the police ever considered???)

Anyways, at one point they’re found and have to come back to the city, on their way the rich heir drugs his boyfriend he just promised he’s never gonna leave behind and gets back to his mansion unscathed, then pulls up in front of his uncle barehanded. Makes one wonder why they ever left the city at all if it was that easy to confront the bad guy…

At this point the whole story turns to complete nonsense, it’s plot holes after plot holes and Phuwin’s crying scenes become unbearable. Both leads in that matter have a very hard time acting, and you can’t attribute that entirely to the writing as Perth and Chimon did incredibly well considering the atrocious plot and so little screentime they’re given…

I honestly did not bother watching this at regular speed after episode 8, the writers trying to make us believe that a highschooler could suddenly manage a multi million dollars hotel business while wanted dead by his own jealous uncle who tries to corrupt the teenager bodyguard into killing his boyfriend’s mom for good, then when this doesn’t work tries kidnapping the heir (why was this so easy, are even his professional bodyguards that incompetent??) and being stopped only when his own son shots him…. anyways y’all understand IT WAS A COMPLETE MESS!

TL;DR: painful to watch, both leads can hardly act and the plot holes make it even worse, PerthChimmon had an actual cute and believable relationship but they were robbed of screentime, watch it for them if you’re convinced on wasting your time with this show…

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It's perfect to me

This show is in a unique boat for a couple of reasons. Possibly the most noteworthy reason is that I felt endeared by the characters regardless of the quality of each actor's performance. I managed to not recognize Phuwin until the end of the show, and when I realized he was the annoying kid from The Gifted: Graduation it made his performance in NLMG funnier. He has an animated way of speaking that's over-the-top for a more serious drama like this, but it adds dimension to a character that would otherwise be too boring if he was less dynamic. Nueng is a great character, and Phuwin was a great choice to play him. I'd never seen Pond act before, and my first impression is that he kind of sucks, but I can also give him the benefit of playing a character like Palm that doesn't require much effort. Compared to Phuwin, he seems more convincing on the surface, but his character makes him stand out less. He is, however, extremely and unwarrantedly good looking. Him and Phuwin are as perfect a visual match as one can hope for.
Chimon by default is a better actor than the two leads, and he plays a likeable character (unpopular opinion) which makes for an overall likeable performance. I won't flatter him though, everyone knows he's a decent actor already but he completely lacks any romantic potential. Luckily the character of Ben didn't really require it. Perth acts circles around anyone he shares a frame with, and putting him with the other most competent young actor in the show was a good choice. It's honestly a pleasure to see him.

As actors, the two leads aren't amazing. But together, they balance each other out in a way that showcases good chemistry. Phuwin might not be fully convincing in a serious role, but he carries a scene wonderfully when it's lighthearted and you need to smile. There are still gems in his more serious performances, like his facial expressions during their slow dance in episode 9, one of his best moments in the show. Pond's performance was almost completely one dimensional, but there was no question his character was in love. What he lacks in line delivery, he makes up for with his eyes. Any good director being keen to to this, Palm was a character of few words. Putting these actors' strengths together allows a viewer to cruise through scenes with differing moods without feeling awkward. The main couple's synergy is at its best in scenes like the ep. 8 beach scene where Nueng explains Plato's origin of love to Palm, a scene that is just genuinely so nice and cute and un-awkward that I thought "that was beautiful" after I watched it. I cringe at absolutely everything, but I hardly cringed a single time watching this show. That's a fucking miracle.

Ben and Chopper's scenes after the main couple's retreat honestly slot perfectly into the rest of the show. They aren't just a side couple off on their own mission, and they don't take anything away from the main couple. Credit can definitely be given to the superior talent of these supporting actors but I also found the story itself satisfying. It's a small redemption arc for both boys, and serves multiple purposes, of which my favorite is the simple yet effective showcase of character growth and the power of friendship.

I'm not joking when I say that the display of good communication, good morals, good friendship, and good actions are what make the show perfect for me. It is absolutely a fairytale, and that's obvious in every part of the show. Mafia vibes but set in high school? A fellow teenager as a bodyguard for your millionaire son? Fleeing to a picturesque beach? The show takes itself seriously, but it doesn't need to be taken suuuper seriously. NLMG is most obviously appealing to an audience of young adults and teenagers, and I think it's the right amount of seriousness for that audience. If your perspective is based on this being comparable to KinnPorsche, then you're already approaching NLMG from entirely the wrong angle. Lighten up and think of it as something sweet for the fucking kids. That's legitimately what it's supposed to be.

I've never seen characters in a show talk to each other and explain their feelings as clearly and directly as in this show. Whether it's stating a boundary, expressing emotions, asking for permission before kissing, etc. NLMG is a case study for good communication. I could pull quotes to use as examples but there's so many I wouldn't know which ones to choose. Not just counting the four boys, but the exploration of mother-son relationships made the show even stronger. The relationship between Nueng and his mother is absolutely comforting, and although Palm and his mother lack a relationship, she's still able to talk to him and express her situation in a way that provides some sort of peace between the two of them. Yes NLMG is completely idealistic and no one in real life communicates as smoothly and effectively as these characters do, but if depravity in fiction is green-lit then I see no reason why incorruptible characters should be a setback for shows like NLMG.

NLMG is also super low-stakes and low-stress. That's a buzzkill for a lot of people, and understandably so. But I'm serious when I say it works. I don't like romance and I like watching things that are scary or miserable or both. NLMG holds your hand the entire time you watch it, while showing you endearing moments between a young couple. It's actually insane that I loved this show so much, and that speaks to its comforting quality.

I have to also give flowers to the music in the show. It was corny and cheesy and it fit the show perfectly. You really have to appreciate the first kiss scene on the rooftop, classical music is just too good. It's crazy that scene was just minutes before the scene with Nueng and his mom where she expresses her support for him. I think I saw another comment about how the music is too cheerful in that scene, and honestly it does resemble Roblox obby music but I was too busy crying for it to affect me negatively!

I really loved this show which is why I give it a 10 overall. I'm always overjoyed when I come across a show that provides both comfort and good examples for its audience. Not suffering is really fun sometimes. NLMG is now officially one of my favorites.

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Why?

The question that will run through your head the whole time: why?

Neung is just the most annoying person on this planet: he's spoiled, rude to Palm since day 1. And that's fine, we all love the character development. Yet, he just act childish all the time: you can't say why he does most of the things. Why getting back to the house where people want you dead? I'm still in shock about Neung putting drugs on his DRUNK BOYFRIEND BEER. How can someone do something like that and still think it's safe?
Palm has the vitality of a plant. When he realizes he got drugged by Neung he just shrugs it off. He has no point in life, he doesn't have any passion, he just like survives doing and living other people's dream. I'll save my comment about his behavior in ep 12, but he's no better than Neungdiao.

The whole show is about pointless violence scenes, incoherent behaviors, people having the most artificial conversations. It's like when you read a bad fanfiction and the characters keep on suffering without any sense. I don't know what the writers were thinking while making this drama, but they got to ruin two amazing actors' chemistry.
What a waste.

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EPIC!!

Don't believe the low rating reviews!! This series is the best of 2023! If I were to describe it in one word :Epic! It has everything :romance, action, beautiful scenery, entertaining plot, fitting soundtracks, the best bl actors❤️
Watch it and you'll find out why is hard to let go...
10/10
It some how reminds me of Your name Engraved herein, but with a happy ending! The way they continued the story in Our Skyy2 it's just WOW! Young, talented actors, Pond Naravit and Phuwin Tangsakyuen ...I can't picture anyone else for this series.. The roles were made for them! I can't wait for their future projects! I didn't invested much feelings into BL series , until now. They bewitched me!

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