Century of Love (2024)

The chemistry between Dao and Offroad makes this series one to watch.  The story is unique and intriguing, and I’m living for the current batch of BLs with supernatural aspects.  This unique plot showcases second-generation Chinese immigrants versus the Thai aristocracy during the 1920s and tells the tale of forbidden love.  The twist involves 100 years of life, a contract with a goddess, a five-color magical stone, reincarnation, and a gender swap. I enjoy the setting, which includes a beautiful temple, a grand house, and a historic Chinese theatre.

Plot

(source: MyDramaList.com)

San is faithfully devoted to his love. He has spent his life waiting for his lost beloved, Wat, to reincarnate from her death a century ago. But when the darkness of the night looms, he will be forcibly afflicted by the power of the five shades of stone. If he fails to find Wat within this century’s time window, he will inevitably succumb to a tragic death for eternity.

The final year of the century is about to end before the stone’s power becomes his eternal curse. He meets Vee, a frivolous, charming adonis who seems connected to his life.

San is appalled by Vee at first sight, but this unrelated boy is actually his beloved Wat, whom he has been anticipating for almost a century.

Cast:

Daou Pittaya Saechua is San

Offroad Kantapon Jindataweephol is Vee

Cookie Yada Suwanpattana is Wat

Xiang Pornsroung Rouyruen is Ju 

Gumpuns Koravich Sarasin is Tao

Pond Ponlawit Ketprapakorn is Trai [Wat’s fiancé] | Third 

Tuk Deuntem Salitul is Jaem 

Jab Penpetch Benyakul is Mr. Chen 

War Jirawat Vachirasarunpatra is Chong

Kae Trungta Kositchaimongkol is Rat
Support Role

See Parattakorn Kaiyanan is Ton

Boss Natpongpon Suddee is Suchat

Directed by Wo Worawit Khuttiyayothin and Mi Thanawat Panyarin, who have a collective roster of 37 Thai Lakorns, Century of Love has a Lakorn feel. Thai Lakorns are like telenovelas in that they are usually enacted dramatically and feature the typical love, betrayal, backstabbing, villains, and protagonists.  Century of Love has all those elements, albeit a little softer. The characters and the story suck you in from the very first episode.

This story is not complicated; the villains are easy to spot, and the issues are clear from the first episode. But that becomes its charm. Century of Love has a fairy tale quality you can’t help but fall for. It is black and white, with very little grey, but the characters grow, and their story doesn’t feel too trite. It is just right.

I loved the setting. I didn’t know much about Thailand in the 1920s, so I did some research on it. There was a vibrant Chinese community of immigrants and second-generation Chinese Thai. The Thai aristocracy held contempt and hostility for people of Chinese descent, fearing an uprising that threatened their power.

When we first met San, he fought the Thai police using martial arts techniques and wore Chinese clothing.  When he’s shot, he runs from the police. He stumbles into an alley where he sees a lovely young Thai aristocratic lady. She motions him to hide under a basket while misdirecting the police in a different direction. Clearly, she thinks differently than the police. Miss Wad helps San by taking him to his local temple. Thus, our Romeo and his Juliet start to fall for each other.

The dramatic tension in each episode showcases good storytelling. The directors know what they are looking for in plot and performance. Each episode builds on the question of acceptance. Can San accept Vee is reincarnated Wad, or is there someone else out there who is Wad and is still waiting to be found?

We have the descendants of the shrine caretakers who call San Grandpa and Great Grandpa, which cracks me up. The comedy of the caretakers, who are in their fifties or sixties, calling San Grandpa makes me giggle whenever they say it. Juu, their daughter, calls San Great-Grandpa while looking only a few years younger than San.

Dao does a great job making San an old man with ‘old’ fashion values, even though he looks young. San feels like someone who has lived a long life, watching the world change and events unfold while remaining in his youthful body. Your mind ages, even if your body doesn’t.

Offroad’s Vee is charming and clever, with a smile that will melt your heart. Every time he smiled in a scene, I couldn’t stop myself. Vee thinks on his feet and survives by his wits. Despite being down on his luck for most of his life, he refuses to let it turn his cheeriness into gloom. He’s not a perfect character, but he has a big heart. He’s openly gay and has had relationships in the past. Vee is no shy virgin waiting for the wedding night. It’s refreshing to have a character who knows what he wants.

Unfortunately, San is infuriating for too many episodes. He constantly frowns and pushes Vee away. His stubbornness to accept that Vee is Wad is frustrating to watch. Also, he seems to have an issue with the gender of his beloved reincarnation. But deep down, the heart and body recognize Vee as San begins to dream of him. The kitchen table scene is very nice. 🔥

I suggest you try it if you want a sweet and spicy fairy tale. The villains are over the top, but that’s part of the charm, too. If you’re watching it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]