3 Will Be Free (2019)

I’m not going to spoil this by giving away much about the story. I will say that it’s a very, very good series! The story does get a bit convoluted at times but there’s enough substance in the two main plot lines and the acting is top-notch to carry the series through. Kudos to the director and production company to tackle issues of transgender and poly-relationships rarely seen in any series from any country. If you’re going to watch just one episode, make it Episode #5. That episode Is an A+ and on its own could be a short film. The final episode is also well done with an interesting end to the series.

The overall acting is solid! Joss Wayar finally gets a leading role in a series and he doesn’t disappoint playing Neo, the tall, dark, street-wise survivor looking for a place to land. Tay Tawan is equally as successful playing Shin, the shy, naive, gay, introvert son of a big time mafia boss. It’s great to see Tay show his acting range as he’s successfully played the strong, knows what he wants role in other series and he portrays himself as a happy go-lucky guy in the various reality type shows that he does. This was definitely a good departure from his usual. Mild Lapassalan rounds off the big three with a good performance as Miw the hapless trouble follows me girl. Honestly, not a huge stretch for her as she does the strong female character well. It was really nice to see Jennie Penhan finally get a significant role in a series, arguably she too is a lead in this series. Her performance here will hopefully lead to more significant roles for her in the future.

Overall, a worthwhile series to watch! Watch it for the acting and unique storyline.

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"You live by the gun, you die by the gun"... Is a typical expectation from a series or movie that a gang is involved. Is this in any way different?

STORY
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When three unrelated strangers, Shin, Neo and Miw, were forced to run together from a gang due an unexpected incident occurred. Is it luck that one of the three is the son of the gang leader (Shin) that is after them? Or will the other two (Neo and Miw) take advantage of the son of the gang leader to gain the upper hand? That seems to be the consistent theme all through out that will make you think, is the son will betray his new found "friends" to gain his father's approval? Or will he help his friends to eventually escape the gang who is after them? So how unrelated the three truly are when you learn that there is one person among the three that is common to the other two. Is it really that fate that jokingly put them together, or it is just a matter of time that the paths of the three will eventually crossed?

On the surface this would be a typical gang-related series that you took one of ours, then you should be eliminated. But that is not the case here. You will realize that each of the 3 has a past that is somehow connected to a family member that led to their current state of "misery". And as the saying goes, "misery loves company". All of them has this unspoken goal: to prove to the world that I am more of what is my past. It is through this misery that they find comfort and sees each other eye to eye. But will this bond be enough to get themselves out of the hole they are in? Or will this gathering will be their demise?

Truly, this is a series of crime committed after the other and seemingly unending violence, loyalty and standing your friends, making up for the mistakes you made with your family and achieving a dream. All of those inter-woven in a seemingly complicated plot. But once you were able to figure out what and where it needs to go, you will see perfectly created canvass of real life SURVIVAL.

After the violence and deaths that had happened, will there still be a happy ending for anyone? And will anyone be truly free from their past to build a new future? This what you have to find out.

I deliberately left out the sexual relationship among the 3 as for me, it is not that important than what was formed among them. And that is what I want for the viewers to focus on. The sexual tension is just an icing on top. To mellow down your adrenaline pump and redirect it into something equally exciting. Can it be left out? NO. As it serves the catalyst of the whole story, beginning for series of unfortunate events.


ACTING/CAST
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Let me start the review of the cast and their acting from MY most favorite to the least.

JENNIE as MAE - this is definitely a breath of fresh air. For the longest time I have been watching Thai series, may it BL, straight or mixed, this is a first that humanizes a trans-woman and gave some sense of dignity. Unlike what I watched before that a trans woman often gets ridiculed, a butt of jokes, mocked and treated like lower than a second class citizen. Here, you can see that a trans woman also have a dream, gets hurt, struggles, fight back when pushed against a wall... just... like... any... other... human. Jennie gave life to Mae, her chasing an identity she had dream for so long, the pursuit of what she thinks can make her happy, pay back the kindness of the people that shown it to her. Her character is one of the most develop in this series. She starts of with a meager job and when the unfortunate happened, she "man" up. As the series progress, she becomes tougher and tougher, often times at conflict with morality where is currently placed herself in. Can she attain "justice" by inflicting injustice to others, this the main theme of her character. And she has the most important role here! For that, kudos to the team behind this!

GUNsmile as TER - Is another character that transitioned well. From playing Prem in SOTUS with anger management issue, to a wacky ghost friend in He's Coming To Me, he is turning into one versatile actor. What helped his role here as Ter is his role as Prem. A no non-sense guy that is willing to do anything and everything to complete the task he was given. And how he takes care of Mae here, reminds me of how he treated Wad (Fluke of SOTUS) after both of them were engage in a fist fight. It started as a promise with a friend that eventually led to something more. His role turned a mere "baby-sitter" to protector to a support buddy. You can clearly see as well how he changed from a strong-willed gang member that nobody can changes his mind if he sets his mind to it, to being influenced in thinking things through with logic and sense of responsibility. And he is so handsome in the last episode, Gunsmile should smile more!

TAY as SHIN - If you have been following him, you most probably know that he is connected to New. And perhaps you seen his acting developed from to Kiss Me Again, to the Our Skyy special, truly he can deliver what is required in acting in a romantic role. But this time around, it is way different. Here, you can see a nerdy looking, naive, detest violence and to a degree, a gullible guy. If you watched him first here then watch him paired up with New, all of the characteristics of his role here is the exact opposite. And that speaks volume on how good an actor he is. Shin character here is torn between friends and a father. Often times you can see him struggles and even second guesses his decisions. One can also see the situation he is in, a normal life or a life of a gangster. Early part of the show, it is establish who he will chose between the two. But towards the end, you might think otherwise. It is only in the last episode that was clearly shown who he choose between his friend or his father.

MILD as MIW - I watched this girl first in Kiss Me Again as Sandee, you can see her assertiveness in getting a thing done. Bossy at times. But lack of airtime can make you wonder, "Is that all she got?". Then I watched "Happy Birthday the series". Oh boy! I was impressed how she transitioned her character from Sandee to Tharnnam. From then on, I know she is a versatile actress that dares not to be stereotype as far as a character that she can play. Her role here as Miw is an edgy, sassy and you can see also a vulnerable side of the character which she gives justice. Now as she reprise her role in "Dark Blue Kiss", personally, she sets up a high bar that she needs to overcome; but I don't mind being the good old friendly Sandee to Pete and Kao. It will speak the consistency of her acting. Miw here is constantly veering away from an ugly past, trying to prove to others that she more than what she was used to be. Often times, you would see her "battle" through to prove her worth, and in the end, she did. With her looks here is inconsistent in what she is trying to be. It is a demon that she is constantly trying to get rid off. Nothing but praises for Mild's portrayal of Miw.

JOSS as NEO - To be honest, this is the first series/movie I watched him act. And I am impressed as well. His acting as the leader of the group was done with credibility as he shows when to stand by his decision, when to level with his friends, when to be soft and caring. He is the perfect lead role an action themed series or movies as he got the looks of this bad boy image, the body and his height suits that kind of character. I hope to see him more acting with a similar theme like this one. What I like also about the production team is how they make Joss looks like, with little or no make-up at all. You can see numerous close-up scenes the blemishes on his face which makes the character more credible like who wears make-up in a gun fight, right?

TOPTAP as PP - For two series I watched him appeared, Water Boyy the series and SOTUS, you will develop a feeling of disliking the character. That is no different from this one. BUT WAIT! There is definitely more than being disliked. and sure enough, he can be adorable too! When a role demands to be hate, like Joffrey Baratheon, and viewers hate you, then you are doing a great job. But his angelic face does not really suits a role of an antagonist or to be disliked. He needs more role of a bubbly, adorable roles that when he smiles, one can melt easily.

PRAME as LUANG - When he appeared as Nack in The Gifted the series, it felt that he could have shown his acting more, only if he was given more airtime. But given what he has in that series, he was able to show a couple different side of the character. But for Luang, it is just a one layer character, it lacks diversity in his emotions even a back story is not that solid. Even when Luang is one of the important character that helped the 3 extensively.

MUSIC
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I really don't expect a memorable music or song from an action series, after all, the show needs to pump as much as adrenaline into your body and not a second to waste mellowing down, smelling the flowers on the roadside. However, how I wish they production team put more of the heartbeating background sounds that will leave you at the edge of you seat waiting what will happen next. There were a lot of gun pointing scenes, as expected from this genre of show, but you know already what will happen next since it lacks the suspense factor of a background sounds.

REWATCH VALUE
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It is really hard to rewatch something that there is a definite ending. All lose ends are tied up and when mystery that was set early was completely resolved. BUT, it doesn't mean that you will be wasting your time watching this.

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