Impressions: Qi Pao ep 1&2
2 episodes into 'Qi Pao', we finally meet most of the players in this game of whodunnit and there are things I want to compliment the lakorn on but first allow me to get this off my chest.
Somebody please fire the person in charge of the music.
The OST and music effects may not seem like something significant in a drama but when used well, they are the perfect icing on the cake and help to create the right mood for special moments. On the other hand, when overdone, it can get extremely distracting and that's my one big complain for QP thus far. There's constantly some kind of background music or sound effects being played like a reminder in flashing neon signs of 'THIS IS A TENSE MOMENT', 'THIS IS A SAD MOMENT', 'THIS IS A CUTE MOMENT', 'THIS IS A SCARY MOMENT' and to make matters worse, the different types of music do not flow naturally into each other so a happy tune would jump abruptly into a tense one then 10 seconds later turn into a melancholic one. I was trying desperately to block them out mentally but I found myself getting even more acutely aware of the annoying music and omg, it drove me mad the whole of episode 2. Let's hope things improve in subsequent episodes or I may have to resort to watching QP without sound. :\
Now for the good stuff. In ep 1, I liked the vibe of our main characters, be it the stern Ming Tian, lively Paeka or gentle Maylee but it was only in ep 2 that I got a better feel of their personalities and want to know more about their stories. I never doubted Ann's ability to play two different characters in the same drama (which she already did 10 years ago in Rang Ngao) and she managed to project the different auras of Paeka and Maylee perfectly. The real surprise here for me is both Mart and Ming Tian. Mart's not known for his acting chops - even Ann comments that he's robotic in the BTS so hey, guess it's an open ent secret? Lol - which was why my mind was concerned about him being casted in QP though he had already won my heart in a few other lakorns. I wouldn't say he became an amazing actor but I do see improvements in how he emotes and he was able to convey Ming Tian's internal turmoil with subtle shifts in his expression when he is with Paeka. As for Ming Tian, ep 1 seemed to confirm my assumption of him being the standard cold, aloof p'ek but turns out he has a playful and mischevious side! The 'cold' type p'eks are often cold to everyone and only likes teasing the n'ek cos duh, she's special but that's not very convincing so I really liked how Ming Tian was a playful person in the past who enjoyed teasing and pranking his siblings. He became sombre after Maylee's death but his playful persona is led out again by Paeka and it was funny to see him trick Paeka into thinking a bug was on her clothes. Looking back at ep 1, it doesn't seem too OOC for him to tease Paeka at the hotel.
Unlike in Roy Mai where Suriyawong/Rerin are modern reincarnations of Siriwong/Maneerin, Paeka and Maylee are two separate individuals who happen to look alike but I actually love Ming Tian with both of them! Haaa. Ming Tian/Paeka are obviously the end game pair here and I love the fun and spice of their relationship but Ming Tian/Maylee's sweet, sad fauxcest love is also one of my favourite drama tropes, so yea, I get to enjoy twice the romance.
For now I think I'm slightly more fond of the Mteam, Ming Tian and Maylee. Sigh, aren't they so sweet and beautiful together?
Romance is not the be all and end all for this lakorn though and I find the politicking within the Jao family interesting to watch too. As the Chinese saying goes, a mountain cannot have two tigers and when a house has two mistresses, life will definitely not be peaceful. Thankfully (?) both wives are the intelligent sort who crosses verbals swords and engage in proxy battles through other members of the family instead of going for the straightout petty cat fights. Well, Jao Wern Yeuy probably finds that just as irritating to deal with but as a viewer, I appreciate it (suddenly thinks of the lame tricks played by Bua Ngern in RM. I sure hope the second wife continues to be a clever villian!).
All in all, a great start by 'Qi Pao' but lay off the music, kthxbye.
*both sigs credit to baidu lakorn forum*