On Cloud Nine (2022)

A most beautiful journey into the unknown

This review will be short, because I'm not going to spoil the plot here. Only this much about the story: It is mysterious, philosophical, confusing, absolutely unique, and it is not being told in a linear way, but even if you don't understand what's going on in the earlier episodes, it will glue you to your screen. At the end of every episode it felt like torture having to wait a whole week before getting more hints – this series is a masterpiece of suspense.

Like the three ”Once in memory” short films which were produced by the same production company, MindTrio, ”On Cloud Nine” is another example of what a small company can achieve with creativity and dedication.

What makes this series so outstanding is the fact that all elements are amazing. The cinematography is just great, the writing excellent, the directing very good, the editing with only very few flaws, the settings in Chiang Mai and the mountains of Northern Thailand are breathtaking sometimes, and the atmosphere which is created by images and music has made me indescribably happy like no other Bl series before.

And then there are the actors. Rossi Nonthakorn as Mon/Mork is simply brilliant – other actors won't be able to express with all their body and face what he can express with his eyes. Meen Nattakrit as Tiew comes across a little superficial in the beginning, but that is deliberate, because he shows his full acting skills in the later episodes. New Saharat as Wise, the angel-like character, plays his part so convincingly that he gave me goosebumps.

If you want to watch another BL series similar to the dozens or hundreds of high school or college drama you've watched before, this is not a series you'll enjoy. But if you are willing to open your mind, to be surprised, to wonder, to look for hints, and to let a completely unusual Bl series put a spell on you, you will experience a most beautiful journey into the unknown, and the happiest sad ending of all times.

Mind Trio have announced that there may be a season 2 if they find sponsors. I hope and pray they will.

Leggi di Più

The allure of confusion...

STORY:
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This is definitely not a linear, progressive story-telling... Or is it?

Confused? That is the general approach in its story-telling. It will not serve you all the details in a silver platter, the build up is a deliberate messy like from episode to episode just when you have a theory in mind, it gets thrown off the window on the last scene of each episode. You will get that feeling that you know what is the story but somehow it does not fit watch you are watching and yet you keep watching it?

That is the allure part. At the end of episode most probably you will be scratching your head. You might been tempted to watch episode 1 again to check you are watching the very same series. It just makes no sense, and you will be left wonering: Have I been click-baited? But that is the beauty and originality of this series.

This is a jigsaw puzzle where pieces of it are given to you in terms of what is being said, how they dressed, and even the hairstyle. It is all in the details.

Episode 5 is the big reveal. If you are patient enough and reach that episode, you will get an idea what has been happening all along. Both Rossi and Meen raised their acting level skill here, especially the former. Been a while since I felt what they are feeling. Watch out for that runny nose and teary eyes!

Alas! The finale. It will not only play with your head but also with your heart. But after that roller-coaster episode 6 ride, your heart can take it easy.

ACTING/CAST
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Rossi as Mork - His main asset is his eyes, there are moments that as if they are the ones talking to you. This is not his first project with MindTrio and if you got the chance to watch "Once In Memory". There are 2, each short movie showing one side of the characters. Rarely I watched those kind of series/movie. It is such a breath of fresh air.

Meen as Tiew - Don't be fooled with this classy clothes, captivating smile, as it can break your heart in an instant! He started in Calculating Love a 2020 project of MindTrio and when this aired, he also appears in Oh My Sunshine Night. Honestly, I can not remember his part in the 2020 series either his role was not this significant or I was too focused on Quin and

New - got to watch this fellow also in Calculating Love, the curly hair, imperfect teeth, who acts awkwardly and yet you can feel his confidence does not scare to bare it.

MUSIC
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Nothing significant that could stick to the mind

REWATCH VALUE
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For a mystery type of story, once you figure the answer, then it is no longer a mystery. You might watch to check if there were hints and pieces that were given away early on. But I generally do not re-watch.

Leggi di Più

Lovely masterpiece

While not every element of this series is a "10", it all comes together in a way that "10" is the only possible rating.

This is not a straightfoward or linear story - a lot about it is puzzling, and you won't really get the last piece and see the whole picture until the end. The writing is beauiful and well-thought-out - there are no superfluous loose ends, and you should feel you got the full story in the end. The dialog is sharp, and the playful power struggle between the characters makes you feel like you're watching two boys intereacting naturally.

The acting is superb. Often in a BL when characters engage in a long mutual stare, you roll your eyes and wish they could just get on with it already. Here, you're sorry it's over - the range of subtle emotion that runs over Rossi's face could keep me enthralled for hours. In the first couple of episodes, Meen feels like he's over-acting and superficial, but it's deliberate - he's playing Tiew as cocky & teasing. When Tiew is being sincere Meen's acting is powerful and subtle.

The directing is wonderful, with the best performances pulled out of the actors, neither too reserved nor OTT. The cinematography is artful and always serves the stories, and never degenerates into pretentious artiness, and takes full advantage of the beauty of Chiang Mai and the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains.

You'll be able to tell from the first episode that this isn't going to have the usual BL ending, but fear not, it's not sad. Or at least you will walk away feeling happy.

I can't recommend this highly enough - but if you're looking for a fluffy BL with a straighforward story, this might not be for you, although there's enough fluffiness to make just about anyone happy.

For non-Thai speakers, there's a note below under spoiler to explain something in Ep 2 that's confusing due to translation issues.

Leggi di Più

Ambiguity Made Beautiful

This series left more unanswered questions than revelations, but I'm fine with that. I usually cannot stand open endings, unanswered questions, etc., but in the case of this series, it's wonderful. I still do not completely understand this story and home some events happened, but when the strong storytelling and acting, I found that I was satisfied with this. The leads, Meen and Rossi, did a fantastic job. I highly recommend this series. I hope they do not try to make a prequel or sequel, because sometimes less is more. I do not want to spoil the plot, so I will just say that sometimes, we do not need all of the answers to still feel a story is complete. On Cloud 9 does this for me.

Leggi di Più

What a wonder

All I have to say is WOW??the story telling is so beautifully done. The cast and production team are both outstanding. A standing ovation is in order.

I would still like to know how they died and whether it was Mork or Mon. This does not, however, diminish the brilliance of this brief series.

Actually the final was filled with tissue box scenes but I was so captivated I didn’t even cry? If this series doesn’t win any award Imma start throwing hands!This series is a totally surreal experience. It's like being trapped in someone else's beautiful dream.
I absolutely loved this dream with its ending in eternal love and beautiful imagery throughout. For me, it’s an art achievement, very well done indeed. I am grateful to have witnessed it. Thank you for this creation…

I do wonder, though, how many people will absolutely hate it, 'cause it ain't exactly traditional storytelling by any stretch of the imagination.

Leggi di Più

The only appropriate word to describe this is "wonderful"

This is such a beautiful series I would give my kidneys to watch it again for the first time. it might be confusing but the clues to understanding the plot are all there since the first moment. Breathtaking views with an aesthetic so beautiful and meaningful you cannot stop watching. The situation the main characters are in is so tragic to the point of it being poetic yet it breathes in an atmosphere of acceptance calmness. the moment I understood the plot I couldn't stop bawling my eyes out. A sweet story full of mystery and wonder. Today it ended an it left an empty space no other series will ever fill. Reminiscing of an old tale of soulmates in the streets of Chiang Mai. If you open your heart and your mind to pick up the beautiful details you'll be, literally, on cloud nine. Don't let this series go under your radar. It'll make your heart shiver in emotions unknown.

Leggi di Più

interesting premise, confusing execution

Overall: I enjoyed that this had a unique premise but there were just too many plot elements thrown in and they were not able to explain or wrap everything up well. Watched on YouTube.

Content Warnings: there is one (which we actually never see and I wish we had) but I'm going to keep this spoiler free

What I Liked
- gorgeous country/mountainside setting
- a bit of mystery/more of a unique premise
- cinematography and music
- the actors did a good job

Room For Improvement
- there was just not enough screen time to fully develop the multitude of plot points and it ended up being too confusing i.e. the two "games", jumping back and forth in the timeline, the scene on the bridge - what was he apologizing for???, the repeated bridge scene, the twist (I would have cut that whole element/character out), how was it so coincidental with the timing with them ending in the place from the first episode, what exactly happened with their relationship?
- I would have preferred that the first episode content was cut down into 5-10 minutes and then they moved into how they met/their relationship, shown (not told) what exactly happened to land them there so close in timing and then have the final episode in the place we saw in the first episode
- it's fine to have plot twists and mystery elements, but in the end, the audience should go 'ah haaa' like in The Sixth Sense and I was left with 'uh whaaat?'

Leggi di Più

Strange and Lovely

When you watch the first episode you will be confused. It’s bizarre and pretty. It doesn’t quite connect in the ways you think it should. It’s like a sentence with only a predicate. That’s how the first episode left me.

The second episode makes more sense but feels out of place contrasted with the first. You realize here that the story you’re watching isn’t going from point A to B. You may wonder, as I did, if there were unusual
parallels happening between the stories in the two episodes.

Depending how your mind works, how much you immerse yourself in the story being told and how much you ponder what you’re seeing, you may start to put together pieces and hypotheses as early as episode three (perhaps two but I think there’s a higher chance of you hitting on the truth in three - one and two almost feel like an adjustment period to me).

The episodes are short, roughly 25 mins, and there are only six of them. If you can stick it out through the puzzling confusion, the feeling like the ground is tilting under you when nothing looks like it’s moving, then you’ll be rewarded as the threads weave themselves into a tapestry you can begin to make out the picture of.

Rossi and Meen are phenomenal in this! They both show quite a bit of range in their skills and exhibit a subtly and nuance in their physical expressions you don’t get the pleasure of witnessing often. (It’s similar to the experience watching Pond and Nike in 180 Degrees Longitude, except that was a much heavier story so their work is on an entirely different level from what you see here.) There are a couple scenes where the emotions running across Rossi’s face, through his eyes and through his body speak louder than any dialogue ever could. Meen displays such tenderness in his gaze, the kind that makes you truly believe without a doubt that Tiew is in love.

As others have said, this is not for those looking for the sort of surface-level stories and fluffy, formulaic romance you get in the BL industry. There is nothing wrong with wanting that, I watch plenty of it myself. This series simply is not that. This is a thoughtful, quiet romance that happens to take place between two young men. Their genders and other works are all that coincide with the BL genre.

If you are up for it, however, you should come watch them fall in love. Experience their heartbreak and happiness. It’s genuinely beautiful.

Leggi di Più

Captivating and beautiful

From the first episode, I knew something about this was different. Maybe it's because I experienced a similar life changing event recently that is why I got hooked into the story from the start and could relate. To love someone wholeheartedly without expectations is a beautiful thing. Your life and your love for that person becomes so intertwined that you cannot separate it not even in death. The joy and happiness you feel when you are with them leaves indelible memories. I adore the actors in this series and found the acting to be spot on. Although I have more questions than answers, I am OK with it. I would love a prequel to give the back story....just saying.

Leggi di Più

Beautiful and uniqe

It will be short and I will go straight to the point.
I was scepcital about this series. Thought it was something boring and short for one evening. Turned out it's one of the best series I've ever seen.

Let me say this: Don't give up after the first episode. I know it's confusing and you may think it's just a low production series with very weird plot, but I promise, it gets better and everything makes sense at the end.

I loved the story, it moved me to tears. If you pay attention to details, you won't be very confused, because there's a lot of things that wasn't said out loud and you had to detect it during the show. I can't say it's a show for everyone, some may not like it's outstanding form, very different from typical thai series but it's definitely worth watching. It may be a low-budget production with little technical flaws in some moments, but overall it's a well done series with stunning views and shots. It has great vibe and atmosphere, very calming and comforting.

The cast is wonderful and has gorgeous chemistry. Their little touches, looks, smiles, it all matters. I just loved this combination and the tension between them.

I think the music was fitting and outstanding too. It prfectly reflected the mood of the series and it felt magical.

I loved everything about this and it has a great potential. I highly recommend.

Leggi di Più

An imperfect, puzzle-like mystery

If you are bored of watching cookie-cutter BL's where everything is easily explained and chronological, you should try this show.

Every episode felt like putting a puzzle together in my mind and I would often think I had the right solution only to be thrown a curveball that would completely change my theories.

The show is far from perfect. There are many questions left unanswered by the end that I wish had been explained. There is still a lot of confusion in the earlier episodes which leaves you scratching your head. But if you have an itch that can only be scratched by a beautifully shot, mystery that keeps you guessing all the way to the final few episodes, this is might the show for you.

Leggi di Più