It would be this series. Ready, Set, Love is a Thai drama set in a dystopian parallel universe where males represent only 1% of the population due to a virus. To protect the men that exist, the government keeps all men in “The Farm,” a place where they are taken care of. As they’re hailed as “national treasures,” the government hosts a dating show where 100 women compete for the hearts of five men. The series follows Day, played by Kemisara Paladesh (Remember You), a woman who unexpectedly gets chosen to compete in the show. Here she meets Son, played by Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen (The Family), the most popular guy in the contest. But all isn’t as it seems, as their lives as they know it are threatened when they discover the conspiracy beneath the games. The series was produced by Get More Films Plus and had Yanyong Kuruangkura (App War) and May Apizazara Praisin as directors. Rangsima Akarawiwat and Tee Phuwanit Pholdee wrote the script. Ready, Set, Love premiered on Netflix on February 15, 2024.

A Bit Cheesy, Highly Entertaining

Ready, Set, Love has a coherent plot filled with great twists. While it utilizes familiar tropes, it’s a grand addition to the rom-com realm. The plot may remind viewers of classic reality TV shows focused on dating, such as The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The series tends to make satirical comments concerning these derivatives, being filled with commentary on societal expectations and gender dynamics. While Ready, Set, Love may seem like just a comedy-filled reality dating show, the plot has depth and is more than just a rom-com.

With six episodes with a runtime of around 60 minutes, the series has a solid timeframe to wrap up the plot even as it thickens. For a rom-com, the pacing is pretty slow. Ready, Set, Love doesn’t focus just on the rom-com part of the plot; if anything, the true love story is well integrated into the dark secrets associated with the conspiracy. The series is filled with vibrant visuals, from the settings to what the characters are wearing. There is rarely a scene that isn’t filled with cheery colors that remind viewers they’re watching a dystopian world.

A Blend of Characters

Paladesh and Tangwancharoen were great decisions for their roles. Paladesh is hilarious as Day, the over-the-top movements and lines fitting her character. She is the ‘everyday man’ in the series, being an outlier in the group of girls. She’s not there to win the guy but to get her sister, whom she has a realistic and sweet relationship with, the care she needs. Tangwancharoen portrays the at first aloof Son as a believable person, perfectly portraying how what he went through affected his character. Supporting Paladesh and Tangwancharoen is Nichapalak Thongkham (The Family), Trisanu Soranun (6ixtynin9), Chayapak Tunprayoon (Thank You, Teacher), Ja Natthaweeranuch Thongmee (Friend Zone), Phuriphat Jiramethapon (Angkhan Khlumpong The Series), Jaytiya Naiwattanakul (Bangkok Breaking), Neennara Boonnithipasisit (Mission Fan-Possible), Anongnart Yusananda (Letter from the Sun), and Ohmi Ryota (Oh My Boss).