My Romance Scammer has released its final episode on April 19, and my heart is in backflips, and my brain is struggling to comprehend how audacious this plot is. GMMTV actually gave us a Sunday treat that is a warm hug, enchanted in a fever dream. In case you have not yet gotten to this Thai BL, you are missing out on the most addictive trope of the professional liars that I have experienced in years. It is sloppy, it is noisy, and it is brilliant.
The BL revolves around the lives of two rich brothers, Pai (Mark Jiruntanin Trairattanayon) and North (Poon Mitpakdee), who are, in essence, the number one targets of any conman with a good look. Then come two fraudsters, Tim (Junior Panachai Sriariyarungruang) and U (Ohm Thitiwat Ritprasert), who have no connection whatsoever to each other, yet they choose the same family at the same time! There is nothing like viewing them go about their business in their respective “assignments” as they stumble over their own emotions.
Tim and Pai: The Mature Duo
Tim and Pai are the definition of a strong, adult relationship. Tim is a revelation. He brings this seductive, cunning vibrancy to it so much so that it is entirely natural that Pai, who is normally so closed and practical, collapses like a lawn chair whenever Tim is in the room. The scam that Tim is involved in is a slow burn, which is based on years of planning and a wedding that is so real.
Mark Jiruntanin puts a faultless touch on Pai as a weary elder brother and hopeless love-stricken romantic. The gradual deconstruction of his walls in favor of Tim is beautiful and heartbreaking since we, the audience, are aware that it is constructed on a lie. They are natural and sticky-sweet, and boast a top-tier pair. When at last they reached that “after-noon delight” scene, the tension was through the ceiling.
U and North: The Duo You Will Cheer For
Where Tim and Pai are the mature part of the coin, U and North are the fluffy, chaotic part. Om Thitiwat as U is a breath of fresh air. It is a relief to find him portraying someone who is naughty, playful, and expressive rather than the stoic roles that he is known to play. A scam he uses is his secret marriage to North, which is a dark one, but the show makes it better by making fun of it in the most appropriate manner.
The only person who could play North is Poon Mitpakdee. He is able to turn gullible and naive into something cute instead of irritating. Episode 4, when North discovers the fake marriage, was a complete shocker since it took place so soon! Peak comedic moments were seeing North torture U by having him sleep in a literal giant dog pen- metaphorical dog house. U wait around North’s apartment like a puppy waiting to get the owner, and you cannot help but want them to work out.
Spoilers: The Lies That Bound Them
The BL ramps up in the second act. It was crazy to find out that the scam was far more than a mere cash grab. I had not anticipated the twist of the family expectations and the inheritance of the brothers.
The heartbreak of Episode 8 was well deserved. It was hurtful to see North come to understand that his marriage was a contract, and Pai handled the consequences of the marriage. The BL does not slow it down, however. It does not take us too long to languish in angst before a ridiculous plot twist (such as Tim in an actual accident when attempting to fabricate one) throws us back into the fun. It was the perfect end with a last-minute wedding, even though we are all still in awe of how a child like Da Zhan was able to plan half the guest list!
The Cracks in the Scammer’s Mask
I am not gonna lie, at times, the editing in this show is a mess. Other scenes were so abruptly cut that I had to wonder if I had missed a chapter. As an example, the shift of the so-called gecko scene in episode 7 totally ruined the angst momentum. It was also a missed opportunity that we never really got a clear explanation of how Tim and Prem, the lawyer, got to be friends.
The volume mixing is also variable. It is all romantic strings, then the next minute, someone is hitting another with some high-intensity music, which does not really fit in the scene. The grandpa and the rest of the Jiramongkolthanun family are also intended to be antagonists, but occasionally are cartoonish in comparison to the down-to-earth acting of our protagonists.
Why You Should Press Play
Despite the editing hiccups, My Romance Scammer is a gem. It is a mature rom-com that does not belittle its viewers but, instead, provides all the fluff we need. It does not save the main plot to the end of the two episodes as most other dramas do. Rather, it allows us to witness the couples going through the what comes next stage of their relationships.
It’s the ideal fluffy watch. Acting is high-quality on all fronts, and the clear contrasts between the two characters in pairs ensure that you will never feel like there is a waste of screen time. When you want a show that is a brain-rot, but does have a heart and a plot to keep you wondering, then this is it.
Drama Info & Ratings
Drama Info
- Title: My Romance Scammer (Rak Ching Lang Taeng)
- Episodes: 12
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, BL
- Cast: Junior Panachai, Mark Jiruntanin, Ohm Thitiwat, Poon Mitpakdee
- Where to Watch: GMM 25, GMMTV YouTube, Viu
Ratings
- Overall Score: 8.5/10
- Recommendation: Highly recommend this for anyone who loves the “scammer falls first” trope and wants a mix of high-heat romance and laugh-out-loud comedy.
- Rewatch Value: 7.5/10. The chemistry in the TimPai scenes is worth coming back to alone.
- Story: 7.5/10
- Acting: 9/10
- Chemistry: 10/10
- Emotional Impact: 8/10
Check Out: Thai BL “Duang With You” First Impressions
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