Ready Set Love (เกมชนคนโสด) is a Thai romantic comedy-drama series released on Netflix on February 15, 2024. It is created by Yanyong Kuruangkura and co-directed by May Apizsara Praisin. The screenplay is by Rangsima Akarawiwat and Tee Phuwanit Pholdee. There are 6 episodes in the series with a runtime of about 60+ minutes.
In the series, Men are considered ‘ national treasures ‘ in a world where females outnumber them due to a pandemic. Women compete in a government-sponsored competition called ‘Ready, Set, Love’ to win their affection. Day enters the competition by chance and meets ‘Son’, the most popular guy. However, together they uncover a conspiracy that threatens their love and the world they know.
The cast of the series includes Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen, Kemisara Paladesh, Nichapalak Thongkham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Panadda Wongphudee️️, Trisanu Soranun, Jaytiya Naiwattanakul, Neennara Boonnithipaisit, Anongnart Yusananda, Tharathorn Bhumirat, Chayapak Tunprayoon, Kunchanuj Kengkarnka, Ryota Ohmi, Nalinthip Phoemphattharasakun, Nipaporn Thititanakarn, Amanda Chalisa Obdam, Jarnnawut Jarnyaharn, Nichapa Saesow, Phutharit Prombandal and Shahkrit Yamnarm.
Ready Set Love Review
The show starts with a small boy running away from armed police officials but is saved by someone, as the questions rumble in our minds, the answer is presented on the screen. Due to some pandemic in 1974, there has been a decline in male births, so much so that they hardly constitute 1% of the population now. Thus the government took it up to itself to protect the remaining ones and the next-gen, sending all the males to live in a place called ‘The Farm’. It has all the luxury and best services available, to ensure their well-being.
Once they come of age, the ‘gentlemen’ must appear on a government-funded dating reality show to meet their spouse. Women who want to marry them must win their affections on the show called – Ready, Set, Love. Usually, girls from rich families are selected to match up with the men, and for the first time, they decide to give every girl a chance. Anyone could win a spot among 50 ladies by scanning a code on a milk pack. Although Day aka Darika Chokwithee isn’t interested in it at all, being busy making a living. Her sick sister, May, does all she can to get her sister onto the show.
Beating all odds, Day actually bags the last spot and finds herself reluctantly participating in this contest. Also, if she wins, she could provide the best healthcare for her sick sister. Among the five bachelor gentlemen – Max, Son, Jin, Paper and Almond, her sister likes Son the best. Thus, being subjected to Son’s pursuits the most, Day finds herself leaning towards him. At first, they start on the wrong foot, but gradually, Son takes a liking to her and finds a missing link that he had been searching for. Despite the pop-coloured world they live in, slowly the reality of it all starts creeping in, revealing the unknown dark underbelly.
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If the surrealistic story of Ready Set Love makes you feel like checking out the show, then humour, flashy and vibrant set designs might pull you in completely. Most Thai shows, as we know them have some slapstick-style comedic elements that might look silly but are funny to watch, nonetheless. Similarly, in Ready Set Love, such elements are cleverly used so that they look natural and make you laugh. Along with it, the use of vibrant colours assigned to certain characters, like each gentleman has a signature colour and mostly wears that colour clothes only.
Adding that poppiness into the set design makes it visually appealing and grandiose looking. On the reality show, the ladies have to compete with 50 others in survival-type type games and instead of CGI, each set seems to have been built. They can be said equivalent to the ones we saw in Squid Games but make it girly pop. It’s like a mixture of different worlds – if you put The Elite (Novel by Kiera Cass) and The Bachelor in a blender.
But it’s not just about the ‘odd-hardworking-girl-winning-the-heart-of-the-most-popular-guy’ but there’s also a layer of mystery and conspiracy while exploring topics such as freedom and feminism. The world in which the characters live looks bizarre and dystopian. However, in a way, it’s just like the contemporary world. If only we replace gender with wealth, it will become our reality where the elite few get to live their best lives, in a gated and government-protected society. While others have to struggle every day for a single meal.
Yet they will make you believe that everything they are doing is best for everyone and try to distract you from the concerning issues – like broadcasting a rigged dating reality show. The word ‘freedom’ often comes up, showing how behind the flashiness of having it all, their self-will is not their own. And from a dating show, it slowly transforms into a mission to break away from the false sense of freedom. Also, what does freedom mean to different individuals? – This question is like a driving force of the plot. Behind every action, there’s a motivation for freedom, from expectations, economic, sexual, stereotypes et al.
In terms of characters, it’s highly appreciated that the creators didn’t make ‘that one rich girl’, a completely evil antagonist. There’s some level of depth to each one, there’s no entirely good or bad and their development arc adds a layer to the story. On an entertainment scale, Ready Set Love would definitely be highly scored, although there are a few low points, here and there. Overall, it’s a perfect show to binge-watch, with a unique mix of romance, commentary and mystery thriller.
Rating: 4/5
Ready Set Love is available for streaming on Netflix.
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