Kidnap (2024)

OhmLeng Deserved Better

I was genuinely hyped for this show. With Ohm in the lead, there is always a promise of natural chemistry, especially with a new face like Leng. The trailer painted a picture of darker themes in my head, I mean, a kidnapping subplot? Intriguing, right? It seemed like this could be one of GMMTV’s more serious or emotionally grounded series, maybe even a hidden gem but I was wrong.

➬ Plot and Execution

To put it as nicely as I can, it's a dumpster fire. It feels like they pulled random ideas out of a hat and slapped them together without any thought lmao. I think they cater to a 12-year-old audience while simultaneously throwing in themes that should never be anywhere near a show for kids. A kidnapping subplot? Really? How do you take that and mix it with juvenile humor? It’s embarrassing and that's not to say a show can't be dark and funny at the same time but it has to be well done which isn't the case here. The storyline is not only predictable but it’s also shallow as fuck, there is no substance whatsoever.

➬Tone and Pacing

This is where things went completely off the rails. The tone oscillates wildly from (attempted) intense drama to cringeworthy + over-the-top humor which makes it nearly impossible to get emotionally invested. One moment, I was watching a serious “kidnap” scenario that should be thrilling or tense and the next it’s as if the characters are filming a skit lmao. This back and forth annoyed me a lot. I’m not sure what they were aiming for but whatever it was, they didn’t reach it and the pacing is equally disjointed which makes the show feel like a mishmash of scenes rather than a cohesive story. Important moments are rushed while trivial scenes drag on smh.

➬ Character and Performance Analysis

Ohm → is as talented as ever but even he struggles to shine under this weak script. I can see he is trying his best but with stilted dialogue and poor plot development, there is only so much he can do. It’s disappointing to see an actor with his range stuck in a story that doesn’t even let him showcase half his potential.

Leng → For a first-time lead, Leng isn’t doing a bad job but he does need improvement. He has potential, his charm comes through and he has an innate sweetness that works well for his character but again the plot leaves him stranded. Even with great chemistry with Ohm, the weakass dialogue makes it difficult for him to deliver anything memorable.

➬ Chemistry and Romance

Ohm and Leng have a good on-screen chemistry which is honestly the only reason to keep watching. But even that suffers due to the poor writing. Romantic scenes that should feel sincere instead feel forced and hollow and this is mainly because of the misplaced humor. With a better script, these two could have delivered a very good romance.

➬ Overall Production Quality

While the show looks pretty decent, the direction is inconsistent with no clear vision guiding it and don't even get me started on those damn cakes they keep shoving on my screen, I know sponsorship isn't new to GMMTV and this is something that has always pissed me off because there are show's that make the Ads very subtle and then there are other's who shove it in my face, like this one.

➬ Final Thoughts

Watching this has been frustrating because GMMTV has access to talented actors but instead of capitalizing on that talent and creating good stories, they are more focused on quantity over quality. This series feels like a product made for the sake of staying in the game, rather than any real effort to push BL forward.

Why I am watching? → Out of respect for Ohm and Leng because they deserve so much better. I hope GMMTV takes note of the show’s shortcomings and reconsiders their approach in the future but I have no hopes lmao.

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romance at its core

Overall: I gave this a 9 because even with plot holes/nonsense stuff the romance remained strong throughout and I enjoyed the series. 12 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala in: US, UK, Germany, Australia https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4709/kidnap-2024-e01 ; Netflix Asia http://www.netflix.com/us/title/81927 ; YouTube in some countries https://youtu.be/KhSyfKC06J4

Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, blackmail, violence, kidnapping, mental health struggles/trauma, past death, blood

What I Liked
- an engaging intro that for once wasn't a flashback or a flash forward
- clear and unique premise
- subverted meet cute
- tension
- supportive sibling/sibling relationship
- sweet/caring moments
- characters were aware of their own and other characters' feelings
- ongoing physical intimacy
- a character went to therapy and their partner was extremely supportive
- that the villain had consequences (though I would have preferred it had happened differently)

Room For Improvement
- the beginning scene needed a little more light
- why did the guitar have to make an appearance in episode 1
- a ton of nonsense stuff (ie had all the lights on when going to sleep, being in the rain led to colds, doing villainy in broad daylight, talking about illegal plans in a public place, a character didn't run away with another character in the past, and a lot more)
- "comedy" sound effects like the quack noise didn't make things funny
- the trailer made it seem more of an action series when it's mostly a romcom

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Maybe getting beaten up has knocked all braincells out of Min

I went into this show very cautiously. GMM struggles to write even simple campus BLs in a sensible way, so my faith regarding a high stakes story was very limited. It's not as bad as I feared, but it's also far from being good. So naturally, I’ll go on a rant.

As expected, Ohm is doing really well as Min. He’s as always a pleasure to watch and his emotional delivery is great. Leng, though, is really struggling. He has solid moments, but he would’ve benefitted from gaining some experience in a side role first. Q is a very emotionally demanding character, and I wonder what the creators were thinking when they cast a newbie. While Leng does have good moments (the kidnapping in ep 11 was a highlight), he struggles with many scenes. Especially in romantic moments, Leng often has this confused, irritated look on his face, like when Min covers Q's ears in front of the TV. He does get significantly less awkward in the later episodes, though, and I do have faith for his future. Leng’s a hard worker, so I’m hopeful he’ll improve quickly.

The chemistry is hard to separate from the acting. I do think they have really solid chemistry but Leng’s stiffness is severely taking away from it. In moments where Leng’s acting is at its best, their chemistry really shines. In moments like that awkward ear covering scene, the sparks are nowhere to be found. So, my conclusion is that once Leng feels more comfortable in front of the camera, their chemistry will become even more apparent than it already is. Behind the scenes, Ohm and Leng have a ton of chemistry, and they look visually stunning together, so I’ll give them time. Especially since they do have cute moments that had me giddy in the later episodes. Unlike other GMM ships (cough PondPuwin cough), they also have solid kissing chemistry, and I do like that the show actually allows them to kiss a lot. I'm tired of them treating kissing between two adults like some sin that can only be done on very special occasions.

As far as characters go, I’d say this is one of GMM’s better shows. At least when it comes to Min, who’s very caring, protective, brave, and doesn’t shy away from doing morally gray things to make a living. Despite having a playful side, he’s very serious when it comes to things he cares about, and he has clear motives (at least in the beginning). Since Ohm portrays him, he also gets a ton of natural charisma.
Q doesn’t get nearly as much. He's defined solely by his trauma and the difficult relationship with his father. He’s supposed to be a spoiled rich kid, but that goes flying out the window as soon as he enters Min’s house and only comes up again in ep 11 when he fails to cook. Q's also incredibly stupid, which I don’t think is done on purpose, making him frustrating to watch. I do like his strong desire for someone to care about him, but other than that, he just feels too much like a stereotype. Like every other BL character, he suffers from nightmares, has daddy issues and likes to sing/play guitar. He also likes to play keyboards that aren’t plugged in. At least his actual job is producing music, so him serenading Min feels in-character for once. That doesn’t make it any less cringe, though. On top of all that, Q doesn't really grow or mature until the very last episode. Viewing himself as a burden is his whole stick, so you'd expect that to change gradually over the course of the story, but he's stilly pouty about the same thing in episode 11. It feels like we've gotten the same scene of Min reassuring Q seven times over.
The side characters don’t get a personality. Mhen is the sick brother, Yada’s the evil villain, Jeen has a crush on Min and Mhen, and Q’s dad makes no sense at all. The acting is overall solid. Whoever decided to cast the two Ohms as brothers deserves a raise. They work so well together, and their dynamic is my favorite part of the story. The way Mhen ships Min and Q is adorable (and a nice change since usually, it’s the girlies in BL who are the crazy shippers), and the relationship Mhen and Q develop is cute as well. They make a sweet little family.

In terms of the romance, I’m conflicted. Firstly, the whole thing feels pretty Stockholm-syndrome-ish. Since Min is the worst kidnapper in the world, though, and since I’ve seen a lot worse, this doesn’t bother me all that much. What bothers me more is how their arc moves very quickly and gets way too intense way too fast. By episode six, they are both ready to die for each other. The unclear time frame makes it hard to understand how much time has passed since they met, which doesn't help the case. I’m willing to forgive the fast intensity for a few reasons though:
For Q, it makes sense to get attached so quickly. His entire personality is basically wanting someone who takes care of him, loves and protects him. Min is doing exactly that, so it’s understandable Q would fall hard and fast. It also makes sense that he’s willing to put his life on the line for Min since he doesn’t really have anything to lose. When it comes to Min, a sense of responsibility might come into play. He had a hand in Q's original kidnapping, thusly starting the whole thing. So he might come to care for Q very quickly because he feels responsible. Paired with him being naturally protective and caring adds up. Also, the initial kidnapping and everything that followed was traumatic for both of them, so they're trauma-bonding hard which would obviously intensify their bond.

So, my main issue isn’t necessarily how quickly their bond is growing, or how easily they both risk their lives for each other. My issue lies in the depiction. Outside of the bad guys being after Q, and Q’s mental health issues, they hardly bond. It doesn’t feel like these two actually know much about each other in the first place. I mean, it isn’t until episode 6 that Min learns what Q’s job is. I really would’ve liked for them to have more conversations about who they are as people. The show does this a little too late with Q realising he doesn't know anything about Min, and starting to make a list. I always understood he likes Min for his caring nature, but I still kinda struggle to understand why Min likes Q.
Also, it often feels a bit too one-sided with Min taking such great care of Q, and Q basically just existing and getting into stupid situations. I did appreciate that in the end, Q went to see a therapist about his struggles. Love cannot heal you from your trauma, and I'm glad we finally get a show that sends that message instead of Min being what heals Q. Love can help with healing, yes, but it is no cure. I'm not a fan of how quickly Q apparently no longer needed his therapist, but this is a promising start in a more accurate depiction of mental heath struggles.

While I do love the amount of kissing, I do have a bit of an issue with their first kiss in particular. After all these BL kisses where it looks like they don't want to be kissing at all, I appreciate how their first kiss was very passionate, but it felt like such a stark contrast to the rest of their relationship. The sudden horniness felt very out of character for both of them, and I was incredibly taken aback. It just didn’t seem fitting, especially after they’ve both just had such a rough day. Personally, I would’ve opted for a gentler, sweeter approach. I would’ve had them kiss in bed for the first time since this is where the major part of their relationship has taken place (because 70% of their bonding scenes were nightmare based). I think that would’ve been more fitting and meaningful. The kisses that follow are fine for the most part, apart from a few stiff lip-presses like in the aquarium. But I assume that's a thing about directing since Ohm and Leng have proven that they can kiss with passion in other scenes.

All in all, I think this show would’ve greatly benefitted from a side-couple. I know there’s the storyline of Mhen liking Jeen, but that doesn’t count. Maybe have two of Yada’s guards fall in love or something. Anything to get a bit of a breather from Min and Q, because especially Q can get a bit insufferable with his constant pouting and self-pity.

While I do like that there’s always something going on, I do think the show moves a bit too quickly for what it is trying to do. There’s a severe lack of downtime for Min and Q to just hang out in the first half, aka where their bond was supposed to grow most. I think this show has an identity issue. It’s not sure whether it wants to be an action show or a romance show first, so it's doing both half-heartedly. The romance feels lacklustre because of all the action, and the action plot makes little sense. Then suddenly, the action takes a complete halt for a few episodes, just to pick up again in episode 11 with a veeeery rushed kidnapping and resolving all lose plot threads (like the relationship between Q and his dad which was so broken that it should've taken them years to fix...). Everything happening so quickly and being wrapped up in a neat bow just ruined any stakes that could've been build. Why not drag this out into your final episode? Or why not start that whole thing sooner when you previously had two episodes of fluff and honeymoon phase that made the show feel like an entirely different one?

Now for the major issue with this show: potholes and characters acting incredibly stupid to further the plot (specifically in episode 6 and 7)...

First off, Q is an idiot. I know he has little to live for, but is it really necessary to put yourself in danger all the time? He wanders around the streets while he knows someone’s out to kill him. He follows Min into an abandoned warehouse, knowing he’ll meet the guy who wanted him dead. He just follows suspicious and dangerous people around, hoping it’ll go well. The boy acts without thinking, thus doing things that put both him and Min in very dangerous situations. It makes him feel like a complete idiot, and it gets increasingly more frustrating to watch.
He’s not the only one suffering from being dumbed down, though. In episode 6, Yada threatens Q’s father, Q, and by proxy, Min and Mhen. Q’s dad says he needs to get his son to a safe place, and offers Min money to keep his distance. Min turns down the money, but why in the world didn’t Q’s dad just send all three, Q, Min and Mhen, to safe place together? Min is a gifted fighter, so he could act as Q’s bodyguard. But nope, when Min turns down the money, Q’s dad just leaves. We don’t even see the end of that conversation, but I just assume he was like "Well, it was worth a shot. Guess I’ll go now.“ Also, he’s a police officer who just walked in on a crime scene where Yada’s men clearly beat Min black and blue. I’m pretty sure he could’ve arrested them, or at least taken them to the office for interrogation.
Then it’s Min’s turn to act like a prick. Instead of grabbing Q and Mhen, and travel somewhere far away, they act like nothing happened. Like their life wasn’t just threatened. No packing suitcases in a tizzy and frantically trying to get away. Nope, this is the perfect time to play guitar and follow Q to his music studio where they have a make out session. Thus leaving Mhen alone at home like he didn’t just get very frightened. It makes Min feel inconsiderate and goes against everything he stands for. His motivation for everything has been to protect his brother. But now, he just leaves him home alone, and puts himself into dangerous situations to save Q, which could result in Min’s death and leave Mhen all alone — sick, without money and family. The three should’ve ran away together. Q is a rich kid who has a job and probably a whole ass trust fund. He could’ve afforded a hotel for all three of them. But instead, they ruin all sense of suspense and ruin Min’s character in the process. Honestly, when Q told Min "You're stupid" for wanting to be with him still, I couldn't have agreed more. Maybe getting beat up really knocked all the braincells out of Min... If they just ran away, Q nearly getting beaten to death and Mhen panicking in the bathroom in episode 7 could've been avoided. I'm glad that by the end of the episode, they finally came to their senses and Q agreed to go to Vancouver. However, the breakup was unnecessary. Apparently both Q and Min are the type to "go all in", but a long-distance relationship isn't even crossing their minds? Not that they needed to do long-distance because Q never ends up going to Vancouver and their whole break up happens for useless and confusing reasons that I still cannot fully explain. If Q was just sitting around at home, why didn't he try to go see Min sooner?
I might have been a bit too harsh on Q, because it seems like he’s inherited his stupidity from his mother. In the flashback to the two of them getting kidnapped, Q’s mom successfully frees them both. She then proceeds to tell her son to run away and call for help while she stays behind. What the hell is the logic in that? Clearly, when the kidnappers return and see your son gone, they’ll take it out on you, and kill you. Sorry, woman, but getting shot was pretty much your own fault. If you ran with Q, you would’ve at least had a chance at living.

All in all, I find the show entertaining and it has its fair share of sweet moments. From episode 5 on, the quality goes down the drain — from unplugged keyboards to characters acting stupid and somehow, everyone's motivations go flying out the window. I'd say episode 5 to 7 and Q's constant back and forth about wanting to be with Min but then realising he's a burden that follows are the most frustrating things to get through. If you make it past that, most of their troubles just disappear for a while and it feels like you're watching an entirely different show where there aren't any stakes at all anymore (they pulled the same thing with Never Let Me Go, so I already saw it coming). It’s sad to see yet another GMMTV show suffer from bad writing, but I’m not surprised at this point. Though the series feels at least somewhat original, it’s dragged down by checking all the tired BL clichés. Trips to the ocean and the aquarium, sponge baths, nightmares, wiping food off each other's lips — you name it, it's all there. And of course we need to shoehorn in a stupid jealousy storyline with zero purpose at all because that's obviously more important than spending time on Q's relationship with his father or something otherwise important. To conclude, this is not GMM's worst, but it's definitely not its best either.

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OMG, this show is only for braindead people...

As usual with GMMTV and most thai shows this year, this show begins with a good premise, but the story and execution fall flat on the belly, like when jumping from a 10m tower.

I am speechless how bad this show is and how many people dig this. It's not the worst show this year, but it comes close. The story is boring, partly childish, all over the place, very predictable and of course both MLs have mental baggage to deal with... And everything will be resolved easily... There are some good moments, there is some production quality but overall it's bad. So it's the same story more or less then any other Thai show and the kidnapping only plays a role for 3 episodes. The actors are underutilzed, most characters are very one-dimensional and I feel sorry for them to have to do such a crap production with bad and lazy writing.

Let's talk about the portrayal of the Thai Justice System: When you watch this show, you think Thailand is the worst. Yes, there is always some corruption anywhere but come on... If I were working in that system I would be pissed about the show. The "bad" woman in this show kidnaps and tries to kill one of the leads and his dad, but the next scene shows, that she goes free for ANOTHER trial. How would that happen in real life? It would not! You would still be in jail for the OTHER thing you did. If you have been catched @ attempted murder, you will not get a free of jail card!!! Period. This was ridicilous! What are the writers and director thinking? The wrote in that she goes free and is murdered by a victim!

And don't let me start with all the product placements... GMMTV does get a cut from the actors for every ad they do, but they still have to fill up nearly every show with overbording product placements. It's so annoying and people (fangirls?) still reward such shows with a high ratings. 🤷‍♂️ So for me, this was a disappointment.

I can only recommand to watch this, if you are really really bored, otherwise most shows from Korea, Japan and Taiwan in 2024 are much more worthwhile to watch and have a consistent, well written story and good acting (because the script is well written).

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It's a cute , funny and good story

Finally GMMTV back with another good BL series after a long time . Definitely Ohm nailed again . Just try one time , no regret .

Story - The story is simple , cute , funny and natural . Ohm who played the character Min , took a job as a kidnapper for his mother's medication and kidnapped Q , played by Leng . Then he took Q to his house and hide him from the criminals . They were living in a same house and slowly fell for each other .

Acting - Ohm always acts awesome but there are some rooms for Leng to improve his acting skills . Every characters are professional in this series .

Chemistry- Their Chemistry is so strong, natural and smooth like butter . They don't seem like they are collaborating first time .

Visuals - Always top tier .

Cinematography - Outstanding cinematography from GMMTV .

Music - Background music is not that much good . GMMTV should improve this point .

Should or shouldn't watch - There are so many haters of Ohm, they always try to pull down him and his carrier . So don't listen to anyone , just try to watch two episodes then decide .

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They kidnapped the plot

The only positive aspect of this series is that we get to see Ohm again in BL. Period. GMMTV strikes again with its next action-pacted series, which typically turns out to be another repetitive rom-com flop.
This series is becoming less watchable with every episode. Where has all the premise from the teasers and trailers gone? Where has all the suspense of the kidnapping gone? and finally Where has the plot gone in the second part of the series? I'm oficially out. Every week I struggle to get to an end of the episode (which by the way is 3/4 shown in the preview after each episode) looking for something intriguing, but there is nothing. I don't know why but this series painfully reminds me of the tragedy of the series called "Dangerous romance" but with slightly better chemistry. I like Ohm and started watching this series mainly for him like many other people, but we have to face the facts and realise that this series has nothing more to offer in terms of plot, which of course has to be absurdly stretched to prolong our suffering as well. And don't even make me start about PRODUCT PLACEMENT... I haven't seen such unsubtle product placement since Vice Versa. Unforntunatelly, all that was kidnapped was almost 9 hours of my life.

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My most fav series from GMMTV in 2024

First of all, I'm so happy to see Leng as Ohm's new partner. Their genuine friendship and chemistry had made their acting look so natural.
Actually I didn't have any expections after watching Ep 1 ,I thought Leng's acting is kinda stiff and the plot is uninteresting. BUT AFTER Ep 2 and 3, the story became intense and the romance of the main characters MinQ had my hopes high. Leng's acting was unexpectingly better and better every episodes. He in my opinion has best chemistry with Ohm (I followed Ohm since his very first old series).
And the Kidnap plot being dfferent from most typical GMMTV series,is what made me loving it.
Honestly, Kidnap is one of the two series that I'm currently watching, the other series is Every you every me.
When I compare the two series, Every you every me has perfect directing,editing and smooth transitions.
But both series can't be denied to have good natural acting, tension and chemistry, even the choice of ssoundtracks.

Today is final episode, I don't wanna say goodbye to MinQ, Mhen, Jeen, James and Suea. It will remain as one of the best series in my heart.

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Hey, You, Stop, I'm Not The Problem Here.

I must be doing this whole Poor thing wrong, cuz why Min out here complaining about being dirt poor, but homeboy have two mansions, expensive looking fashion clothes, and went to kidnap someone and got himself a super rich boyfriend? If that was being poor, then may this level of poorness locate me, please. Also, the moment Min zoomed into the picture of Q, I went... 'Peoples, we've lost a brother, his arse ain't gonna kidnap nobody, he looking for a husband.' Min was the worse kidnapper ever. He sucked. Mfer was a glorified babysitter.

Listen, the premise of this show was interesting, a handsome boy who looks like a 90s heartthrob Hollywood star, goes to kidnap someone and ends up falling in love. You know, typical case of Stockholm syndrome, but like the bl edition. I was sold, cuz Ohm is a good actor, and him and Leng seemed to have a good chemistry. So tell me why, halfway through the series, my bored arse was ready for it to be over?

And don't even get me started on that cringy Mary Jane and Spider-man scene. Was it cute, probably, but I was cheesing the whole time. One thing about that scene though, it made me realised one of Min's mansion was like in the middle of water or something, or was it a pool. Damn, to be so richly poor must be be hard.

In all honesty, this series should have been 8 episodes long at most. Even so, it should have ended at episode 11, cuz it was slow paced and dragged on. Half of what happened could have been cut and we'd still would have had enough to make the same show.

CHARACTERS
First off, that one man in the credit opening scene, who apparently was the one who hired them to kidnap Q. That man was in the drama for like two episodes, at best he was like an extra, so why the eff was he in the opening? I was so confused.

Anyway, Yes, MinQ had good chemistry, and they gave the best they could with the script they were given. The acting was good, though gonna be honest, in some crying scenes with Q, I went, 'Dude is you crying, laughing or sniffing glue?' Lol, but other than that, good acting and chemistry. Mhen was a good character as well, really liked him and looking forward to his new series with Mark. As for the secondary characters, they didn't have enough to stand out. I'm still wondering how that one friend went from working on movie sets to knowing people looking for a hitman.

Also, I just watched Q's father in that drama where he was cheating on his wife with her son, so whenever he was on the screen being a policeman, my brain automatic went, 'shouldn't you put yourself in jail' lol, but yeah, as a father to Q he sucked in the beginning, but towards the end he did change, which was good, I guess. Though, seeing how the woman he kept putting in jail always came back like a boomerang, what was the point of him putting Q's life in danger for?

VILLIANS:
The bad guys in this show were like Houdini, they disappeared most of the show, then bam, they back doing some stuff. Like that woman was in and out of jail so many times, she might as well have made it her vacation home. And also what the hell was happening with episode 11 stand-off scene? This woman had a gun in her hand, instead she just pointed it real hard at Q's dad, doing nothing until Min showed up, not even from behind her, but in front, to kick it out of her hand?? WHAT EVEN? And after all that, Min got shot in the stomach, and that director want me to believe it was just a glaze that left no scars?? LITERALLY, what even are we doing here?

The end to that big bad villian was laughable: What even happened? They sent her to jail, then suddenly she is out with a vague reason, and then some random person shot her dead?? Listen, if the son of that one man was going to get revenge, we needed to see something. This woman is the big bad, so her demise should at least make some sort of sense, but it all felt so rushed and flat, it became irrelevant. They made space for Q's dad glancing at his uniform, but couldn't let us such an important part of the plot.

Finale:
Damn, they really threw everything but the kitchen sink into that finale huh? And the episode seemed to go on forever, I doze off like more than four times, and had to rewind. Still, nothing interesting really happened though, no follow up on that random dude who shot the big villain. This drama should have ended way before it did. As it is now, it just drags with not much interesting stuff going on.

Anyway, as their first series, Ohmleng did well, The script could have been waay better than it was, but personally, I think the premise of the plot was interesting, except the production team did not execute it to its full potential and ended up given us a somewhat boring, convoluted show that let many of us rather underwhelmed.

I'll still recommend this to everyone, it's good for a one time watch. I am looking forward to Ohm and Leng's next drama, hopefully, they get a script worthy of their capabilities.

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Kidnapped kidnapper

An unusual love story captivates the audience in each of the episodes of 'Kidnap', a Thai series directed by actor, musician, singer and filmmaker Noom Attaporn Teemarkorn ('Midnight Museum'), known for his distinctive style and captivating narratives, in which it presents us with an intense plot where there will be no shortage of violence, kidnapping, intrigue, hand-to-hand combat... and romance.
Pawat Chittsawangdee (Ohm) and Thanaphon Usinsap, who after appearing as a guest actor in 'The Folly of Human Ambition' (2021) plays his first leading role in this series, are in charge of giving life to characters that have even become a trend on social networks, because every time they appear on screen their romantic approaches monopolize the throne of Instagram and Twitter.
Ohm Pawat Chittsawangdee is a young actor who got his start in the entertainment industry with the lead role of Frame in the 2016 series 'Make It Right', which was followed by 'Make It Right 2' and 'Make It Right: On the Beach'. BL lovers remember him for his performance in the film 'Dew', a performance that won him the Best Supporting Actor award at the prestigious 28th edition of the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards in 2020.
His character of "Pat" Napat Jindapat in the series 'Our Skyy 2' (2023) and 'Bad Buddy' (2022), and that of Khemachat Dhamrong-rattanaroj in 'The Shipper' are also treasured by his fans.
The link between Ohm and the director of the series is not recent, as both had already worked on the drama 'An Eye for an Eye', from 2021. On this occasion, Ohm played the secondary character called
Nawa.
Ohm plays Min, a young actor and stuntman who agrees to work as a kidnapper to use the money from the kidnapping for the expensive medical treatment of his sick brother, as well as to pay a debt owed to gangsters.
However, when her employer asks him to kill Q, him young, spoiled, rich co-star whom he has kidnapped, Min can't bring herself to pull the trigger. Instead, he tells them the job is complete and takes the boy home to hide him.
What we will see next takes the viewer through a wealth of emotions, from despair to hope, from insecurity to love, with Min and Q trying to outwit their pursuers to save their lives and those of their loved ones.
In this way, the two boys create a loving bond and discover that they have a strong and undeniable connection with each other.
Although the relationship does not begin as "Cupid's rules dictate", with the lover arriving with a flower in his hands to give as a gift, this love seems very logical to me because Min never exercises violence on the kidnapped person, while Q He finds in the kidnapper a strong and kind being who can protect him. His protector is always there for him.
Stockholm syndrome is one of the reasons that moves Q, a feeling that grows in his chest when there is an emotional bond towards the person who has kidnapped him. After experiencing something like this, people are not the same. Q is an innocent boy. His only "crime" is that of being the son of Khacha Yuenyongwisut (Lift Supoj Janjareonborn), the incorruptible police officer who is carrying out a criminal investigation in which those who hire Min to carry out the kidnapping are involved.
Let's face it, developing a strange bond with his kidnapper is not original, as it has been explored before. Films such as the British 'A Life Less Ordinary' (1997), by director Danny Boyle; the American 'Kill Me Later' (2001), by Dana Lustig, the Indian 'Highway' (2014), by Imtiaz Ali; and the American gay film 'The 24th Day' (2004), by Tony Piccirillo, have addressed the issue from various perspectives.
The Thai film 'Bangkok Love Story', by director Poj Arnon ('Tell the World I Love You'), from 2007, tells us a tumultuous relationship between two strangers who become close, but deep down there are no points of coincidence with this series, because in the film there is not a kidnapping but a rescue, while the mission entrusted to a cold hitman is not to kidnap, but to physically eliminate a police informant.
The difference that I appreciate between the previous films and the series directed by Noom Attaporn Teemarkorn is that Min is not the typical predator or the obsessive character with psychiatric problems represented by Ricky (Antonio Banderas) in the Spanish film 'Tie Me Up!' (1990), by Pedro Almodóvar, or Massimo Torricelli in the Polish '365 DNI' (2018), by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, to name just two examples.
'Kidnap' does not take lightly a criminal action such as kidnapping, with the legal implication to which the kidnapper is exposed and the trauma it causes to its victims.
What drives Min not to commit a crime is his kindness and love. This is what causes Min to not execute the order given by the employers and instead save the person he must kill. Together, the two young people will experience a traumatic situation in the best way they find possible.
Ohm and Thanaphon Usinsap represent a couple in the story with ups and downs, and Lima syndrome is also present in the plot, since the kidnapper responds to the victim. Since these syndromes exist, which in this case for me is true love, not a condition, there is this way of addressing it in the series. To tell a story this extreme, you also need a lot of delicacy and a lot of respect for the subject.
On the other hand, the strong chemistry between both roles is also partly due to the prior teamwork that the actors do before each scene, bringing to fruition sequences that are out of the ordinary, between kidnapper and victim.
In this character of Q, the actor who plays him comes out on top, combining strength and defenselessness, with a happy and noble character, which does not lack sensuality.
For his part, Ohm continues to stand out in his career in the complex role of Min with a difficult balance between the boy in need of money to save his brother's life and even his own in the face of the bullies who demand payment of a debt. and the nobility and innocence that hides in his heart.
It is not credible to me that a criminal network would entrust the mission of kidnapping and murdering a person with no prior experience. However, this is understandable, since it favors the development of the plot.
Ohm Thipakorn Thitathan, Min's younger brother; Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk (Papang) as Suea; Chelsea Napapat Sattha-atikom, in him acting debut, as Khanomjeen, Min's friend; Pym Pympan Chalayanacupt as Yada, Suea's boss; Title Kirati Puangmalee as Min's senior James, among other actors and actresses, bring a range of intense and complex performances.
Obviously this conflict arouses the interest of the public who loves to see the two main characters together, and also those who follow the other Ohm in his role as Min's brother, who left me wanting to see more of his artistic work after discovering it like August, in 'Last Twilight', and Zo in 'Our Skyy 2' and 'A Boss and a Babe', all from 2023.
By reading the comments on MDL one can see that the majority of the audience really enjoys every scene, every situation that these characters present. There is annoyance, but also a support that makes the audience who finds the series fascinating complicit.
Except for the rookie Nontachai Vinyousupornchai, the other three screenwriters, PingPong Suwanun Pohgudsai, Chalermpong Udomsilp and Sornpanath Patpho, have extensive experience in writing scripts, especially those in the BL genre, having written the scripts for 'Never Let Me Go ' (2023), 'Cherry Magic' (2024), 'Remark' (2016), 'The Gifted' (2018), 'ThirTEEN Terrors' (2015), 'Vice Versa', 'The Eclipse', among others, which demonstrates his commitment and vision in the development of the series.
In summary: 'Kidnap' offers a moving vision of the protagonists' journey as they deal with their growing attraction and the development of a beautiful romance, while searching for a sense of belonging in a world that is hostile to them.
I'll come back to the review to update it.

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Stockholm Syndrome takes a sharp turn into meet-cute territory

Plot

The story of Kidnap is delightfully straightforward—Ohm’s character, Min, kidnaps Leng’s character, Q, after a plan goes sideways. Naturally, instead of simply dropping or offing Q off with a "sorry for the inconvenience," Min fakes Q's death and hides him in his house. As you do. Now, one might think that Q would be somewhat grateful for the effort—after all, Min did just save him from certain doom by helping him vanish from the mortal coil. But no, instead of gratitude, Q decides that escape attempts and general mischief are the order of the day. It really makes you wonder why Min didn’t just finish the job and save himself the headache. I mean, putting his life and his family on the line for someone who’s as useful as a chocolate teapot is, frankly, a questionable decision.

Then, in a twist that would make any rom-com enthusiast nod in appreciation, Q eventually returns to his family only to voluntarily "kidnap" himself again. Yes, you heard that right. This time, it’s less "dragged into a van" and more "leisurely stroll back into the arms of his captor," signaling the true start of a typical GMMTV rom-com—where Stockholm Syndrome takes a sharp turn into meet-cute territory.

Acting

Well, it’s got Ohm. Ohm can act. And let’s be real—he has chemistry with pretty much anything, probably even with inanimate objects if given the chance. The problem is, Ohm shines brightest when paired with someone who can really push him to the next level. Unfortunately, Kidnap doesn’t quite deliver on that front. The dynamic is a bit lopsided, with Ohm doing most of the heavy lifting.

As for Leng, this is his acting debut, and while it’s certainly not the worst one I’ve ever seen, it’s clear he’s not quite ready for a lead role. You can tell if you pay close attention—there’s a certain stiffness to his performance, as if he's still getting comfortable in front of the camera. But hey, everyone’s got to start somewhere, right?

Production

Episodes clock in at just under 40 minutes, often closer to 35 once you subtract the intros, outros, and the occasional "let’s pan across this scenic view for no apparent reason" shots. For a GMMTV series, that’s on the shorter side. And the plot? It feels, shall we say, a little… choppy. Watching the show, you get the sense that we might be missing 10-15 minutes of content per episode. It’s like the director realized halfway through filming that Q (Leng) might not be able to handle the more demanding scenes and promptly restructured the entire show to minimize his screen time. The result? A series that feels very Ohm-centric with Leng as side character thrown in to keep the plot moving.

In short, Kidnap is a fun little adventure, but one can’t help but feel that a good chunk of it was left on the cutting room floor—along with whatever deeper character development or intricate plot twists were sacrificed for some mystery reason. If you’re here for Ohm, you’ll get plenty of him. If you’re here for a complex narrative... well, you might want to lower those expectations.

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