Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘The Next Prince’ is all about larger-than life palaces, elaborate stunning costumes, ornate jewellery, royal rivalries, and forbidden romances. Or at least it seemed so in the first two-three episodes, before spiraling into a simpler, formulaic ‘clingy rich boy smitten with his bodyguard’, kinda like ‘KinnPorsche’, but make it a lot more bland, chaotic, rushed, and boring. Although, this Thai series is surprisingly a lot steamier scenes than ‘KinnPorsche’.
Directed by Aoftion Kittipat Jampa, Den Panuwat Inthawat, ‘The Next Prince’ stars NuNew Chawarin Perdpiriyawong as Khanin, a pro fencer living abroad with no idea that he is actually the grandson of the King of Emmaly, a wealthy nation divided into five regions and clans. Zee Pruk Panich plays Charan Phithakthewa, who is sent to bring Khanin back to the kingdom to participate in a prestigious competition where the heirs of the five royal clans compete, and the winner’s father will be crowned the new king.
Episode one opens in the UK, where Khanin is thriving in his fencing career, living happily with his beloved father Thatdanai Keerakul (Saksit Tangthong). His life changes when handsome stranger Charan arrives, revealing Khanin’s royal lineage and that Thatdanai is not his real father but a servant to the Emmaly crown. Shocked, Khanin refuses to return to Emmaly, until armed goons attempt to assassinate him. He reluctantly agrees to play the role of “The Next Prince,” driven by a need to uncover what really happened to Thatdanai, presumed killed in the ambush.
Lead actors Zee and NuNew already established their onscreen chemistry in ‘Cutie Pie’, a much simpler, modern romance, also directed by Aoftion, so they continue to look great in this show too. However, while the first few episodes are entertaining, it’s hilarious how Khanin nearly forgets about Thatdanai, and quickly becomes a smitten brat, spending most of his time being needy, clingy and seeking Charan’s attention at the palace.
Prince Khanin’s main rivals are Prince Ramil (Jimmy Karn Kritsanaphan) and Princess Ava (Kris Charintip Rungthanakiat). While both start out as intriguing opponents, they quickly lose steam due to underdeveloped subplots. Ramil, for instance, has a potentially compelling arc through his romance with his striking aide Paytai (Ohm Thanakrit Chiamchunya), but it’s reduced t o a handful of tame, supposed “risqué” scenes. Their dynamic hints at a consensual dom-sub relationship, with Ramil asserting power only in the bedroom, everywhere else, he’s constantly belittled and bullied by his father, Rachata (Bie Teerapong Leowrakwong). Jimmy and Ohm have great onscreen chemistry, but their their sub-plot isn’t handled with the complexity it deserved.
Interestingly, there’s lots of potential chemistry between Prince Ramil and protagonist Khanin in some of their earlier scenes in ‘The Next Prince’. And with Khanin’s romance with Charan turning dull, I found myself wishing the writers would shake things up by exploring some sparks between the two rival princes. Now that could’ve been fun. Who knows! And an entire tiring sub-plot involving Prince Calvin (Net Siraphop Manithikhun) should’ve been cut out altogether, to give other characters more screen space.
The cinematography for ‘The Next Prince’ is stunning, all the royal characters, especially Khanin, Ramil, Ava, look gorgeous through the show. However, with half-a-dozen sub-plots squished into a 14-episode runtime, with the primary romance losing steam quickly, the show becomes a snooze-fest. After about episode 7, I had a hard time keeping up my interest in the show, which is such a pity, because this started out with grand promise.
Rating: 4 on 10. You can watch ‘The Next Prince’ in on iQIYI
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Oh please, “And with Khanin’s romance with Charan turning dull, I found myself wishing the writers would shake things up by exploring some sparks between the two rival princes.” they are pretty much cousins at this point, no point in doing something so dull as the over use of romantic triangles.
Okay to not like the plot, but this interest of overused plots just shows that there is a huge lack of creativity from your side too.
The only potential lost for Khanin with Ramil is their frenemies thing that was better done in the novel. 100% platonic, because friendship exists too.
Oh I’d like to see a Thai BL romance about two rival Princes from different kingdoms falling in love. I didn’t know there were shows that already explored that trope. Can you name them? I’d definitely check them out.