Never Let Me Go – Series Review & Ending Explained

Nueng is a teenager from a privileged upbringing. His father runs hotels, casinos, and several illegal businesses. As the only child, Nueng is set to inherit everything from his wealthy family. On his 18th birthday, he celebrates with his parents at a private restaurant. As they head home after dinner, an assailant suddenly fires a gun and kills Nueng's father. Pipop dies that night, leaving behind his devastated wife and child.

Weeks after Pipop's murder, Nueng's mother steps up to run her husband's companies. She only plans on being the authority figure until Nueng is old enough to take over the operations. Tanya's leadership has ruffled feathers with Kit, Pipop's younger brother. Kit wants more control over his late sibling's hotel businesses. However, Tanya refuses to give him any real power. She only allows him to manage the casino, an unpleasant line of work. Kit resents his ruthless sister-in-law and believes he's entitled to ownership over the family businesses.

Nueng is in his final year of high school. His classmates resent his privileged lifestyle and constantly bully him around campus. After Nueng's father dies, the other students become brazen in taunting him. Nueng, who loves playing the piano, retreats to the school's music room as his sanctuary. He meets Ben, the student council president, who seems interested in befriending him. Unlike the others, Ben is kind and compassionate. However, Nueng wonders about his friend's intentions and whether he can be trusted.

Chanon is a chauffeur, security guard, and assistant who works for Pipop. He is a subservient man who feels indebted to his boss. After Pipop's death, Chanon remains loyal to Tanya. He recruits his teenage son, Palm, to work as a personal bodyguard for Nueng. Before being hired, Palm was a fisherman from a poor rural background. Tanya has offered to enroll him in the same elite school as her son. In exchange, she wants Palm to go undercover and protect Nueng from any danger around campus. Palm accepts the assignment.

Despite his mom's secrecy, Nueng figures out Palm is meant to be his personal bodyguard. He resents having a follower trail him everywhere around campus. Nueng acts rude and sarcastic toward Palm, who accepts the abuse. He doesn't dare to defy his employer. Palm is diligent in his job and protects Nueng from school bullying. Over time, the pair's relationship improves. They grow closer over school assignments and companionship around the house. The lonely Nueng is glad to befriend Palm. In fact, their connection may go beyond mere friendship.

Never Let Me Go is an ambitious BL series with an epic plot. The main characters go on wild journeys filled with threats, twists, and tragedies. While the early episodes involve school bullying or scandalous photos, the conflicts escalate to gunfights and abductions. Amid extraordinary circumstances, the young protagonists overcome the odds to develop a romantic connection. Never Let Me Go is impressive because it balances exhilarating drama with a delicate teen love story.

Sadly, the series is bogged down by too many ridiculous plot holes. It's impossible to overlook the lack of logic in this series. For example, why does Nueng's wealthy mom only hire a chauffeur and a fisherman to protect her son from assassins? C'mon, you can afford a better security detail! There are numerous other occasions where the story doesn't make sense, from irrational behaviours to outrageous inconsistencies. The absurdity worsens in the second half. Once the narrative moves away from the school setting, Never Let Me Go goes off the rails and turns into dumb nonsense.

Beyond the laughably unrealistic events, the lead character is a pompous jackass. Despite Nueng's sympathetic predicament, I can't stand his delusional arrogance or patronizing spiels. He makes ugly elitist statements about Palm, acting superior due to class differences. Calling Palm "a running dog" is a nasty insult that causes irreversible damage to their romance. Nueng's privilege crosses into the uncomfortable territory of prejudice. My dislike is so extreme that I prefer the female love rival over Nueng. Yep, I'm Team Maggie! At least she treats Palm as an equal.

I'm troubled by Palm's subservience to Nueng, producing a lopsided power dynamic. Their romance resembles a master and his loyal servant than two mutually supportive partners. With that said, I appreciate the complexity of their relationship, which evolves in an exciting arc over the series. In addition, the leads display an undeniable chemistry. They deliver juicy BL content with intimate kisses and passionate physical affection. In contrast, the secondary couple seems awkward together. Ben and Chopper's frigid interactions don't evoke a strong response.

Both leads showcase versatile emotions in poignant exchanges or intense encounters. Palm's actor (Pond) portrays his role sensitively, exuding a natural warmth with genuine smiles and tender expressions. Also, Pond's ripped physique makes a memorable impression. This modern Adonis flaunts his muscular arms, a chiselled chest, and washboard abs that ripple with every move. His costar (Phuwin) conveys an air of class and elegance, embodying his character's affluent upbringing. However, Phuwin overacts sometimes and can benefit from showing more restraint.

Never Let Me Go dazzles with stylish visuals. It exhibits a unique vintage glamour, from retro decorations to old-fashioned garments. I also love the breathtaking landscapes, capturing the beach scenery with majestic grandeur. The polished production enriches the story with a regal flair. However, I can't enjoy the artistry when the plot takes a preposterous nosedive. The last few episodes are powered by campy shenanigans and cartoonish villainy. Never Let Me Go is a sloppy melodrama that fumbles its sophisticated storylines and fails to achieve a sensible narrative.