The Sign Review – Two Plots Smashed in One
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Thai drama “The Sign” starts off with an intense rescue mission for trainees looking to become special investigators. There’s guns, goons, fights, violence, rivalry, bad-blood and even bombs, so episode one immediately pulls viewers into its well-woven world powered by ambitious young men and adrenaline. But at its core, it’s a grand love story, one that ties the lead couple through several past lives, with tragedy tearing them apart in each one.
Based on the novel “Premonition” by I-Rain-Yia, “The Sign” is directed by A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod and comprises 12 episodes. Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool makes his acting debut in this series, portraying protagonist Tharn Wansa Raksil, a sensitive young man with an uncanny ability to foresee the future accurately. Tharn becomes entangled with fellow officer Phaya Kamolwipak (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard), who frequently dreams of a mythical creature resembling Tharn. As the story unfolds, it reveals that the two are star-crossed lovers from warring factions, with a formidable adversary determined to harm Phaya and keep him away from Tharn. Alternatively, the two also become special investigative officers, working on a complex drug case, which poses them a lot of danger.
“The Sign” delves deeply into Thai culture and folklore, weaving a narrative rich with mythological elements. It explores the age-old rivalry between the Nagas, divine beings of half-human, half-snake lineage dwelling in water, and the Garuda, a revered winged creature of myth. Phaya is depicted as Naga royalty in his previous life, entangled in a forbidden love affair that triggers cataclysmic repercussions. In the present day, Phaya and Tharn navigate the complexities of both their past lives and their current investigative responsibilities. However, the series struggles to find a compelling balance between the allure of mythological connections and the demands of their professional lives.
Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard delivers an entertaining performance as the confident and dashing Tharn, who boldly pursues Phaya romantically. However, Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool’s portrayal of Phaya is inconsistent, often breaking during scenes which require emotional heft. One scene in particular, where one of them hits the other (no spoilers here), is unsettling. Thai creatives should understand that depicting violence between a couple, regardless of gender, is not acceptable.
The rest of the cast support the main lead well, and Phaya’s friend group serves up some of the most fun scenes in the show. Gap Jakarin Puribhat endearingly plays Phaya’s childhood best friend Yai, who is always there for his buddy. Tack Phongsakorn Sukiang and Poom Nuttapart Tuntistinchai play the secondary couple Khem and Thongtai, who are quite clingy, and their subplot ranges between cute and cringey. Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun as the primary antagonist Chalothon is often reduced to a caricature villain from a children’s comic book, who huffs and puffs and doesn’t get to be more than the one-dimensional baddie scheming to kill the hero.
Visually, “The Sign” is often riveting, although some of the special effects were sub-par. Given its modest budget, I didn’t have any major complaints with the fantasy scenes; they were adequate for a show of this scale. The background music works to complement the plot for most parts, often helping maintain suspense in key scenes.
However, for a 12-episode series, “The Sign” quickly becomes challenging to watch due to its fragmented focus. The series should have either been a straightforward story about star-crossed lovers fighting evil or about romance blossoming between two special investigators as they solve dangerous cases together. Mixing fantasy-romance with action-thriller elements makes the series an awkward, messy mash that ultimately becomes both too boring and predictable to follow. It’s not like genre-bending shows don’t work, they do, just not in this case.
Rating: 5.5 on 10.
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