Play Park (2026)

The star of the show goes to Baby Donut.

When it comes to the GL series from Channel 3, I learned that having expectations is not an option. You just need to prepare yourself for whatever they might throw your way. It could be anything - either a weak script, poor execution, inconsistent plots, rushed pace or just an average series. In the case of Play Park, it's the last two.

In my opinion, Play Park is not really good, but not entirely bad either. Out of all Ch3's GL series released so far, I personally think Play Park has better story and character development. Although the development is not very significant, it's still something worth noting that the whole story has a structure instead of having a bunch of random subplots. At least the plots are cohesive. However, some scenes feel quite rushed and shallow.

Acting-wise, Yada carries this series pretty well even though it’s not her best performance to date. And Tan Duangkaew, starring in her first-ever series, I genuinely don’t think she’s bad at all. She has her own charms, but her acting still needs a lot of work. Being paired with Yada, one of Ch3’s leading ladies known for her versatility and big acting range, it's easy to notice the unmatched acting ability and nitpick the flaws. With more practice, Tan can definitely improve in the future. And I want to give a shoutout to the star of the show, BABY DONUT. He's the scene stealer and you'll just melt every time he appears on screen. So yeah, Donut definitely adds excitement to this series not only with the cuteness, but how natural he acts on camera. People can hate the show, but never come to my N’Donut. I’ll fight you! 😁

Now, the chemistry between Tan and Yada is quite enigmatic to me. There are scenes when the spark ignites, but in other scenes, it feels muted. The inconsistency doesn't help elevating the flat storylines. But honestly, I wouldn’t compare them with other Ch3 GL couples given that they’re the only pair out of 4 couples who started off as strangers and are now working partners, while the others had known each other for years prior to being paired for their GL series. I believe that every couple has its own appeal on-screen, and it's not just about executing love scenes. Chemistry isn't just about romance; it is about connection.

Overall, Play Park is far from perfect, but at least, it has better story structure and execution. It didn’t turn out super messy like other Ch3’s GL series. Is it worth watching? It really depends on what you’re looking for in a series. If you want a great story, outstanding performance and explosive chemistry, you won’t get it from this series. But Play Park can still be considered to pass time.

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Promising Premise, Unsatisfying Execution

The series starts with an interesting and promising premise, and especially in the first half it shows real potential. The early relationship development feels believable, with natural awkwardness and a convincing dynamic between the leads. There are also a few genuinely strong emotional moments that suggest the story could have become something much more impactful.

However, after that point, the series begins to lose direction. The story feels increasingly unfocused, as if it no longer knows where it wants to go, resulting in a weak and inconsistent progression. Plotlines are introduced but not properly developed, and conflicts often lack depth or clear resolution.

Many side characters are one-dimensional or frustrating—the assistant constantly misunderstands situations and reports everything to Lin’s father, making her more annoying than helpful. Guy, the child’s father, faces little to no real consequences for everything he has done. Lin’s father is portrayed as manipulative and controlling, while he shows slight development, he ultimately remains too one-dimensional and more irritating than compelling.

Instead of delivering strong emotional payoffs or meaningful confrontations, the show often holds back. It feels like a more powerful story is there beneath the surface, but it is never fully explored or allowed to unfold. As a result, the narrative ends up feeling flat, even though the themes and ideas clearly have potential.

While the series introduces interesting concepts—particularly in terms of representation and relationship dynamics—it ultimately fails to fully explore or resolve them. The premises are set up well but remain unsatisfied, leaving the overall story feeling incomplete and underwhelming.

But, there are still some wholesome moments throughout the series, especially toward the end, which provide a bit of emotional warmth—even if they cannot fully compensate for the overall weaknesses.

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