Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I really like the general plot of “Happy Birthday”. I was looking for a romantic drama but it ended up giving me more. There are themes of family relationships, regrets, redemption, making up, friendship and special bonds. If you are looking for just a cute and fluffy romance, this is not it since it’s a melodrama. But seeing the story unfolds and all the secrets slowly come out is great.

What I Like:

1. Good acting
I am pleasantly surprised that the acting is pretty good. I was expecting Thai over-the-top acting but I was given controlled emotions and very heart wrenching performances. This is my first drama of Push and I am an instant fan. Not only is he handsome but his emotional scenes are well-done. Mild did an excellent job as the female lead and is able to show a 17-year old innocence and confused emotions, but mature enough to be the big sister and a 30+-year old ghost. Looking at Pluem's filmography, it’s no wonder he did such a good job at a young age. He’s been in the entertainment industry for quite a while. The three of them really make this drama enjoyable. Adding to that is a cast of veterans.

2. Good Casting of Teenagers
Not only is their acting on par with their older selves, the younger actors deliver memorable performances. They also look like the adult versions. I can see the resemblance of Plustor to Push (both as Tee), and Chimon to Na (both as Phana).

3. Siblings bond
I enjoy witnessing the sibling relationship between Thannam and Tonmai slowly develop. They are both very likable characters and do look like siblings. They are fun together, yet also have many heartfelt conversations.

4. Romance
The main romance is definitely not what I anticipated. I thought I was getting a Romeo & Juliet-type story but it ended up being full of twists and turns. Finding out Tee and Thannam's history of when they were kids is one of the better parts of the drama.

5. Other special relationships
Tonmai + Tee and Thannam + Uncle Tai are two special relationships that might not have taken center stage, but are lovely and heartwarming. The mother/daughter duo of Chompoo and Noiha is also fun to watch (though they are super loud).


What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings

1. Slow Pace
Unfortunately, despite all the above-mentioned things that I like, the pace of this drama is slllooooooww. I know this is a melodrama but the characters speak really slowly, especially during crying or emotional scenes. I have to speed it up to 1.25x and then conversations would sound normal. I have to speed up 1.5x during the crying scenes, especially with Thannam, otherwise it would be intolerable. She speaks so slowly with long pauses in between phrases and sentences. This drama could have been 10 episodes long instead of 13, if everyone would just speak faster with fewer pauses. It’s really too bad because it greatly decreases my viewing pleasure and I can’t rate this drama 8.5 or higher.

2. Crying
There’s so much crying in this drama. Although I think the acting is great, it's just too much. You can bet someone is teary-eyed or cries in every episode.

3. Minor plot holes
This being a fantasy drama, I am not surprised there are plot holes. I still don’t know if Thannam can move freely or if she really needs Tonmai to open doors for her. She’s a ghost! She should be able to go wherever she wants, even if she can't leave this world. On a different note, I am not sure if a mother will really slap her son 10 consecutive times. That’s a bit over-the-top. So, why did Thannam choose to commit suicide on Tonmai’s birthday? I get why she wanted to give up and die, but on the day her beloved baby brother is born? Why?


I would recommend this drama if you are interested in a slow-paced melodrama. It has an interesting plot and excellent acting. I was binge-watching this and I don’t recommend doing that. A few episodes a day might be more enjoyable and you might not find the pace as slow. I’m glad I watched it and discovered Push and Plustor.


Completed: 8/23/2024 - Review #475