I feel like Ready, Set, Love 1×03 did such a good job at focusing on the ridiculousness of this entire show that I forgot we were in a dystopian kind of hellscape. Because yes, we got serious moments like the wives discovering a possible problem with their child and the whole chilling intro of what Son went through. Then we swerved really hard into this racing game with some of the best comedic timing that I’ve seen in a really really long time. And in the midst of all of that, Ready, Set, Love managed to give me a healthy dose of romance between the main couple of Day and Son and then the rest of The Gentleman in 1×03 “Racing to Love.”
By far my favorite thing from “Racing to Love” were the interactions between Day and Son. Son is definitely still going through it after what happened to him and his dad. And he sees Day being in the competition as an opportunity to connect with his past. Connect with something before this became his life. And for Day, despite how much she is annoyed by him, she wants him. And it’s not just because of the competition or for her sister. I think in the subtle ways that she was looking at him and acting around him, the rest of the world is starting to fade away and she’s starting to see him. Playful Son. Honest Son. And it’s changing her as much as it’s changing him.
I’m even more surprised that “Racing to love” decided by episode 3 to have Day find out that she knows Son on a date with Almond. If he has that necklace then he is the boy that she saved when she was a kid. And I’m really hoping that as the season goes on they keep diving into that and really cement the journey that Day and Son are going to be on. But again, other shows would drag something like this until the very end. And I think revealing it now shows fundamentally that this show is completely different from other shows that we’ve seen. But it also shows that they’re not afraid to take risks and set their couples on a different trajectory from all the other shows you’ve ever seen before. That in itself is really refreshing.
It’s also important to note that I really like the subtle moments that I’m getting with the rest of the contestants and The Gentlemen. In small moments I’ve seen that Chanel is feeling the weight of the world to get married to Son. But we’re also seeing that Bovey loves her best friend, even in the hard times. And we’re even seeing how this is all affecting Max, how smart and level-headed Bovey is, or how Day’s other friend that’s investigating everything has a stake in this game herself. Taking the time to make sure all of the characters have a journey of their own, overall enriches the experience of Ready, Set, Love. And this is all by episode 1×03. If this is the standard set by Thai dramas, this being the first one I’ve ever watched, then I can’t wait to see what else is out there.
Then there’s the ridiculousness of it all. I talked about it a little bit earlier in this review but I wanted to circle back on it. Because again, there are so many serious things going around and the story itself is set in a serious world. But we had this truly ridiculous scene of Son and Max racing before ripping off their jacket or top to race to the finish line. And when they were flying through the air, it was the right decision to make it slow-mo. I appreciated it and I could not stop laughing or asking myself, “Am I really seeing this?!” The same thing goes when Day said “no” and held out her hand so she didn’t have to go with Son and he just rebuffed it like nothing. It feels like in many ways Ready, Set, Love is taking this story seriously but also taking the time to show you that they can break the fourth wall.
Overall, I’m really enjoying Ready, Set, Love and have slightly higher expectations than expected for 1×04. That could bite me in the butt if the quality of the upcoming episodes goes downhill. But I’m optimistic to my own delight and surprise and can’t wait to see how Day reacts to seeing Son after learning the truth.
And before you go, don’t forget to read our review for 1×01 and 1×02.
Ready, Set, Love season 1 is now available on Netflix.