Princess Hours (2017)

so far (14/20).... it's quite similar to the Korean version, with of course, it's original twists...

I've read some of the Goong manhwa, and I wont complain and say the Prince (Inn) is just the same jerk as Goong (both the manhwa and the Korean adaptation) .. he kinda HAS to be in order to stick to the original manhwa...

but I will say... its cute, it has it's nice moments, and the evil Queen (holy guac, that lady should be asked to play a Disney villain) she's so great for the part.. but doesn't fit in with the rest of the characters... her acting stands out the most, it's too forced, and too wicked, not to mention her makeup always looks flawless!

Other than this observation.. I have found the series so far.. (14/20) to be kinda super extremely slow pace, but maybe I'm not being patient enough.

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The story is a ten because it is a remake. The cast .....as the series progressed I thought to myself, others could have done better. The music was so - and -so doesn't give you LSS feels and the rewatch- nope I am not gonna watch this, I would rather watch the lengthy Goong than this.

This had a promising start but this drama turned out to be a disappointment. It was such a waste because it was obvious that they had spent a great deal of money for the production. I managed to watch the first few episodes with much expectation but as the series progressed I couldn't watch any further. At times I did try to pick it up but it just got too stale for my taste. As a remake it was a complete disappointment. Most of the weight of its failure went to the actors and how the plot was executed. The original Korean showed character depth and development, but here the series is almost done but still they act like a bunch of elementary kids. I am also uncertain if there was a non kissing clause in the main female lead's contract but if it turns out to be true then it is a disappointment. There are some drama that have no kissing scenes but still managed to deliver but this one just went around the bush, it is not even a push and pull. This drama failed me so much, It failed as a romance genre because the main leads are just too cringy to watch with all those fake kisses. The villains are just plainly annoying. This drama will go into the archives that I assure you. Hey it is just my opinion.

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To be honest, this version was way better than the original character wise. The Thai version was way more believable than the original and less stressful in some areas. Some of the characters were re-written in the Thai version because for me the original was just unbelievable for anyone to watch. Which I did watch the original and it was hard for me to watch,but I managed to finished. But certain characters was so annoying and needed to be portrayed differently. Also, the Korean was way exaggerated for the character which Koreans tend to do.

In: In's character is less annoying as suppose to Shin in the original. He still has the jerk character,but he doesn't say really hurtful things to the heroine as to Shin. Who basically called Chaekyung a gold digger not knowing how much her parents struggled to give their kids a better life. Then, he got along with the heroine a little bit quicker than shin did which was more realistic because he had a job to do and he couldn't get certain things done without her. Furthermore, because In got with her quicker it caused less misunderstandings unlike the original. All in all, Shin was just unbelievable as a character and completely unlikable and also all that he put Chaekyung through was uncalled for.

Kaning: Her character was more appealing and real compared to Chaekyung. Who would be face with some much pain,but she wouldn't express it as much as suppose to Kaning. Their is a certain point that some one can take when someone doesn't treat you right or do not try to understand you. So... I liked how she expressed her feelings more and was more believable. Then, she also tried her hardest to please the royal family even when they got on her nerves. She also tried to also please In no matter how difficult he was as well. She also just brighten up the mood in the drama when things got bad as supposed to Chaekyung.

Nakhun: Their is not really a difference between him and yul's character. They both love the heroine and wants the best for her in the end.

Minnie: She is more of a tone down version to Hyorin. Hyorin's character was really unbelievable besides Shin which got on my nervous. She is not suppose to be a likable character,but I could deal with her as suppose to Hyorin. Who was just really annoying and was so desperate for shin's love.

As for the story, it was not that different than the original as some people make it out to be. Also, their is things that Korea can offer to the plot because Korea is a more rich country than Thai. So, the story would be different in other aspect like the scenery and some of the things the couple do. The main character had excellent chemistry and it was more believable to the audience.

P.s- I really enjoyed the perfume concept. It gave the tradition of the royal family some more meaning. Which made the original a little dry on that part, they could've gave us something we didn't know about Korea and Incorporated into the drama. So, it would make the the audience either want to come Korea or educated on Korea traditions a lot more even if its made up or something.

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Goong is one of my favourite Asian dramas and that is why I watched this one. In Goong you feel the love between Ju Ji Hoon & Yoon Eun-Hye. They had a fantastic chemistry and I have re-watched it many times. But, in this Thai remake you get to see a fake country called Bhutin. All actors were having flower bows. It made them look funny.(That is what I felt). There is no chemistry between the lead pair and you get to see fake kisses - Even though the lead guy and the second lead girl had real kisses - Now, I don't know why it was like that. To summarize I felt this is really a pathetic remake of Goong.

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Where to begin...
I can't fault (most) of the actors. They had very little with which to work. The script is almost nonexistent. There were so many directions the writer could have taken to make this an interesting remake. Instead the producers decided that the names of actors, pretty scenery, and beautiful costumes were enough to justify this horrendous piece of work. The director didn't help matters with his choices (again, sorry actors.) Editing was sloppy and use of music was even worse. I don't expect a masterpiece when watching any drama but I do hope that out of respect for those watching, those involved would strive for excellence and not just ratings. Very disappointing! This definitely goes down as the worst drama ever watched!

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I really enjoyed the original version of this drama, and I have to say that I didn't expect that I would come to love this remake.

Do not read further if you hate spoilers. You've been warned. :)

There are quite a number of surprises in this version that only a true romance writer will notice and appreciate. The story is fresh in the sense that it didn't limit itself to what the original version could offer.  It's more gender sensitive--with the Princess's younger brother suffering from an identity crisis about his sexuality. The Prince was not given a chance to cheat with his old flame (or at least, they were not given an intimate-only-us-in-the-room-with-a-gecko-moment)--this part was bestowed upon the Royal Couple! And kudos to the writers for that. I quite "envied" that send-off/goodbye-ex-gf-gift scene in the Korean version (for the Princess, of course). I believe that the scenes here are more... cohesive or to use another (if not a better) phrase, more seamlessly glued.  Like that part where the Prince knelt down to put a shoe on the Princess's foot. They did it in a school play, and what better fairy tale than Cinderella? Yeah, yeah, we all know that modern ladies don't wait for Prince Charming...  Btw, the ex-gf here was an archer. Cool.

The part I liked most was the anointing of the perfume--a scent that the Princess especially mixed for the Prince. This scene matched if not surpassed the original in terms of maturity, reality, and romanticism. Clap, clap . Full marks. So I went back up there and gave the story rating a 10. I wonder if this is a "real" tradition somewhere...

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It's being shown here in Philippines as of this moment. I actually had no plans of watching it, dismissing it as an ordinary series, given that I stopped watching any series since Scarlet Heart: Ryeo broke my heart (I badly wanted a part 2 of that). Then accidentally, I watched a bit of it on the TV, on the scene Khaning told something to Inn while he was "sleeping" with his headphones on, and she was interrupted when he suddenly woke up, and later found out there was no music on his headphones. That was so funny (I still remember that scene in the South Korean counterpart), so I decided to look for episodes. And from watching Episode 6, I'm hooked. I understand why people here complain about the story but I have a different point of view. I really love the story in the sense that it's the same story line but different from the South Korean Goong. I find the chemistry between Tao and Pattie very strong, that I wish they would get married for real (but I know it won't happen). I love how they act out the romantic scenes - gave me pure joy despite the fake kisses between both of them. I can relate to Khaning's prudishness, and her being like that made the romantic scenes cuter. I love the look in Prince Inn's eyes when he teases her. Nah, I love ALL their scenes!

I also love how Prince Inn emphasises that Khaning is his wife though the writer makes him forget that fact on the early period of their marriage when Minnie is present. Really liked how in the later episodes, he shows Minnie that he lost interest of her already, and is smitten with Khaning. (I don't remember such sweetness on Prince Shin in Goong, or maybe because I forgot Shin's sweetness because I saw it several years ago!)

I am fond of reading between the lines that's why I don't complain much of the lackings of the script, and as a result, thoroughly ENJOYED watching this story. From Inn's script (and actions), I found him questioning himself to whom he's really in love with being realistic. There are scenes where he feels concerned with Minnie, but you see in his facial expression and actions that he's apparently in love with Khaning, which he just denies so as not to feel more confused. I find that realistic because he acknowledges the fact Minnie has been his girlfriend for a long time so he must be more concerned of her, and for him to fall in love with Khaning very suddenly just because of their arranged marriage is unbelievable. I can see he is trying not to hurt Minnie, at the expense of Khaning's and HIS REAL feelings. Who would forget that scene where Minnie noticed Inn's been wearing the boxer oil scent FREQUENTLY? Hahaha, the look of envy and suspicion in Minnie's eyes. Inn's script tells him to say the line he spoke there, but his eyes say something else. Nah, that's just my interpretation of Tao's acting throughout the time he's been denying his feelings for Khaning. I clap at his performance.

As for their voices, I find it ok because that's what their script requires. The story and how the cast act it out matter to me more than the shrillness/childishness of Khaning's voice. Give this drama a chance in spite of that.

I find the pacing of the story just right. I only find it dragging on the parts between Lady Krissana and Minnie's uncle. The OST also doesn't matter to me. Though it's not as easy to memorize as the South Korean OST's, they go well along with the story.

I will rewatch this over and over again til I get sick of Inn and Khaning xD I actually enjoyed this more than I enjoyed Goong. I found the 24 episodes of Goong very slow. That started wonderful but went downhill towards the end. This one I enjoyed most, though I don't get it why the writer made a really big deal out of the issue of Khaning being pictured and video'd with another man when obviously she wasn't acting flirtatiously in the photo and video. My complaint is I wanted the ending to be better, with Khaning pregnant and Inn assisting her as they walked at the seaside. Can satisfy my imagination that they really were in love to make a baby, like what Khaning told grandma Queen and Queen Rachawadee the morning after their "botched homework" xD

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I pushed myself into watching this drama because it was one of the recommendations in my YouTube. I expected too much from the writers and the cast and made my self regret everything about this drama. It started out as a good Lakorn but as the story progressed the drama becomes more scripted. I thought they could have done much better than this. And the kiss at the end was undeniably cringeworthy. The kiss looks scripted and gives me the chills. The only thing I like in this movie was the cast but overall I wouldn’t recommend this movie. I still think that the original Princess Hours did better than this Thai remake.

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I did watch Goong, I did rate it above average even if the plot about becoming a princess is not my cup of coffee, and I did enjoy parts of it: but it was a LONG watch and I was glad it when it was over.

Was I curious to see thai version? Not really, LOL. But you can see I really am willing to give the chance to anything:)

This started with only a low expectations, as they've written everywhere that Ungsumalin had no-kissing clause in her contract, or smth. See, there are 2 options. Either the romance story can do without kiss scenes entirely and still be totally romantic (I know such ones:) Or it does have kiss scenes, and those can be powerful tool when used well or various ways. Now... Unfortunatelly some of asian countries came up with the 3rd option and that is to have something stiff and fake as a half-way. I say either stick with one or the other. Because even very good drama can become ridiculous if a passerby must knock or car must loudly pass or flowerpot must fall each time the characters are about to kiss. Repeated for the 20th time, it can change the piece's genre. Awkward, or plain scary looking stiff "kisses" can damage the intensity or purity of feelings the characters are supposed to portray. Attempts to use hands, objects or camera angles to hide the kiss "surprisingly" don't work either, as a kiss takes the audience's attention to the lips and nowhere else. Therefore if someone is against lip-kissing, either the script or the cast has to be changed.

Would I like Princess Hours without Ungsumalin? With someone who would dare to kiss Tao Sattaphong? That's a question. If this is a "meh" drama/lakorn, which even the hottest kiss cannot save, then I say it probably doesn't matter. I watched 7 episodes out of 20 and realized I don't care whether: she falls for him/ sleeps with him / falls for the cousin instead / dies. When it's like that I think it's pointless to count the series virtues or flaws. I'm not even that far in the story where the kisses could come and I could care whether they're true or fake. I need to get hooked, first.

And did I get hooked? See, I didn't drop this because of - for a lakorn - VERY short episode runtimes. While even THAT proved sneakily tricky: see the 3rd paragraph from the bottom, or if you care you can read as my further experience followed.

First. Tao Sattaphong is hot and can be quite expressive with his eyes, but what of it, if there's such a lukewarm atmosphere between him and Pattie. He kisses the other girl, but she is not the nang'ek.

Jab Benyakul and Sunsanee Wattananukul are great cast, they are doing a good job. It's just I am really not interested in whatever is happening. It's either my fault or the script's. .

At episode 11, pra'ek shares REAL kiss with the second female. Nang'ek is watching this kiss. She is deeply upset... maybe she knows that thanks to her character's actress, SHE would never kiss him? LOL. Now. I always say the marriage dramas do fascinate me as they span to so many episodes of dragging things the leading couple is still not capable to talk through, despite sharing the SAME ROOM the whole time, LOL. Here, the prince returns in the small bedroom and finds Pattie sulking on the bed. She refers to him being in love with someone else, she mentiones the kiss... there is no mistake of her being hurt (she is crying right in front of him). So there's obviously no way to drag this further as a misunderstanding. He does understand. As it was actually the old girlfriend who initiated the kiss, and as he is clearly stirred by his new wife crying about it, his reaction flashes right there. He goes to kiss her... er, wait. It's Pattie. He can't really kiss her. So he does something near to her ear. Now I don't know how we are supposed to feel as the audience. Should we imagine the kiss? Say to ourselves, that magnificent actress as Pattie is, is worth watching a thing like this? Then he goes to sleep with her on the tiny bed. There really is nothing else to watch in such scene. We don't have a light getting dim and cut to the scene of the next day. No, we're still there. That's why I mentioned if the actress can't kiss, then the SCRIPT has to be changed accordingly. It cannot leave us linger on the point where nobody shall deliver.

There's still half of the series ahead. It will be all about them living in very close proximity (as I remember, the Goong had hardly much else in the story), getting closer and closer... Not sure to what, in this remake's case. It's funny to see prince teasing nang'ek about the kiss and intimacy they DIDN'T share. We could clearly see it. We have camera! LOL. What was caustic in the korean version, is only mildly ridiculous in the thai one. Do I dwell too much? So what, there's no real kissing. But is there anything else to wach? The whole show is concentrating on this. There's no second couple, or side story. It's all about the main couple. And the stupid fictional kingdom stuff (I tune that out). There is the cousin... Jealous both in the love and title. That's about the most interesting thing this show has to offer. Or, is it the comedy? Scene of Pattie hiding under the Prince's bed was able to make me laugh. She's so clearly a comedy actress.

Next episode... The comedy continues. With combination of the jealous cousin/ex-girlfriend (he's cute, but she's got a face like a horse, hardly a competition for Pattie). As the childish playing with lipstick clown marks on a face is about as childish as jealous-games are, this definitely is immature show. Then, there comes slap/kiss scene. A big one. They use the fake kiss 3x in a row. Then they move onto bed. There's concentrated anticipation. There's like noo way they can complete this with another fake one. So in the last second, he doesn't do it and leaves. SORRY IF THIS IS A SPOILER but I think it's better you know what you've signed in for with this "romance" series:))

This then becomes just as draggy as Goong. EXCEPT you don't get the rare occasional meatballs in the loong string of sauce. The sauce got better, though. And it makes the whole thing WORSE. Because I kinda got hooked on Ungsumalin/Tao chemistry. They ARE cute together. They are supported by good production values (the palace, costumes... everything looks good) and side-cast. It's only sad I'm starting to see how sweet this lakorn COULD be. But in everything we're gonna see, no matter how funny/cute/romantic scene, there will be the scaredy-cat jumping around the "no kissing!" clause...

It's indeed getting serious since epi 14. There are finally some scenes with them sorting the feelings out. There are some hugs, at least there is no clause forbidding him to touch her. Yet another almost-kiss, repeated twice (it's like this in every episode that follows) LOL. Really, this needed to be re-shooted. Either with some time to grow-up for Unsgumalin, or with some other actress. OR the producers need to learn either shoot the proper thing, or not shoot at all.

Not only the romance line goes in circles, so does the "royalty" plot. There are no real problems between the couple besides them being prince & princess, targeted by the dethroned part of the family. Solution is plain simple. Let the cousin, raised in jealousy for the title, get the title. Let pra'ek get his private life back. Both sides happy. See? I think everyone watching can see. But we're going to tiptoe in circles around it for... how many episodes? Do we get to resolve this? I don't even remember how it got resolved in Goong, as EVEN GOONG bored me to death.

I lowered my rating even lower than at the beginning (the beginning that was NOT promising) as the number of episodes makes this MORE than overdragged. AT LEAST 5 last episodes could be, and SHOULD BE squeezed into ONE, tops. You like CONSTANTLY have the feeling that the show is NEARING the very end. Then it like, re-starts again... With completely the same stuff... It's like brain damage.

In conclusion, I won't even spoiler you how the ending was. As I also don't know. Because I did not CARE enough about it. Watching this show, I spaced out. I simply don't remember the ending. Same as with Goong. Only it's not because it was 2006 when I was watching it.

And I think THAT reveals more about this series than any spoiler.

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Not Worth Watching

What a disappointment. I was not in favor of the Korean version but this is worse then the Korean version. I can stand that the lead female character is so stupid and naïve. She had no chemistry with the other characters. Both prince got on my nerve. The crown prince to me wanted his cake and eat it to. He had terrible chemistry with the lead female character and the 3 kiss they had with each other could not have been more fake. Maybe the director should have done a better job if these actors did not want to kiss. He had a better kiss with the 2nd female lead. Maybe they should had made her the female lead. The second prince had such a goofy look. I wonder were he learn his acting. The extra kept saying how handsome they were but I did not find neither of the prince handsome. Maybe because there characters were awful. There was so much overacting that made the story even more fake. Now I feel that the Korean version was actually not that bad after watching this drama.

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