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“He’s like a vicious dog, I’ll probably need to get a rabies shot before going near him!”
This has to be the funniest line from Episode 1 of the GMMTV series (also on iQIYI) The Heart Killers, starring Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan and Joong Archen Aydin as brothers Bison and Fadel. By day, they run a burger joint; by night, they’re contract killers. Tattoo artist Kant (First Kanaphan Puitrakul) spots Bison at a bowling alley, and the two end up having a memorable one-night stand. A few days later, in an incredible coincidence, Kant is tasked by a cop to get close to the gunmen brothers to uncover who they work for, in exchange for having his past criminal record wiped clean. To get the necessary intel from Bison, Kant must deal with Fadel, his moody, overprotective brother. So, he enlists the help of his handsome best friend Style (Dunk Natachai Boonprasert) to seduce Fadel and keep him distracted. But getting close to the brothers is no easy job.
Directed by Jojo Tichakorn Phukhaotong (Only Friends, The Warp Effect, Never Let Me Go), the 12-part series kicks off with brothers Kant and Bison killing a mafia boss, establishing themselves as hired killers. While the opening minutes of The Heart Killers, depicting the murder, lack intensity and conviction, the rest of the episode is engaging—especially the casual, ‘meet-cute’ between Kant and Bison at the bowling alley.
Khaotung and First Kanaphan Puitrakul, who have been delivering stellar on-screen chemistry since their lead pairing in The Eclipse, once again shine in The Heart Killers. Even in the pilot episode, their dynamic is probably the strongest element. And unlike other slow-burn GMMTV romances, viewers do not have to wait until at least episode 8 to watch the lead pair lock lips. All sorts of action happen in the very first episode—murder, sex, accidents, and some too-convenient coincidences.
Joong Archen Aydin (Hidden Agenda/Star In My Mind) is perfectly cast as the cold, angst-ridden older brother with major trust issues. If nothing else, he totally nails the “handsome guy with attitude problems” vibe. On the other hand, Dunk Natachai Boonprasert plays Style, a mechanic, and the goofy one of the four leads—the guy who, according to Kant, “has no shame and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants.” In episode one, Style’s flirting style totally borders on cringe-y, depending on the kind of viewers, it might be funny, or simply annoying.
Can Style and Kant win over the brothers’ hearts and get them to spill their secrets? And when they do, can they really walk away without tangling up their own hearts in the process? Sure, it’s not too hard to guess where this is headed, but The Heart Killers is off to an entertaining start!
You can watch episode one of The Heart Killers on YouTube. It’s also on iQIYI.
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