The Gifted (Thai: The Gifted – นักเรียนพลังกิฟต์; The Gifted – Nakrian Phalang Gift, lit. The Gifted: Students With Special Powers) is a 2018 Thai television series starring Korapat Kirdpan (Nanon), Wachirawit Ruangwiwat (Chimon), Ladapa Thongkham (Lilly), Harit Cheewagaroon (Sing), Methika Jiranorraphat (Jane), Atthaphan Phunsawat (Gun), Pattadon Janngeon (Fiat), Napasorn Weerayuttvilai (Puimek), Chatchawit Techarukpong (Victor), Chayapol Jutamas (AJ), and Chayakorn Jutamas (JJ). Based on the 2015 short film The Gifted and the novel The Gifted by Dhammarong Sermrittirong (SandOtnim), the series follows a low-class student who is accelerated to an elite, secretive program where students are trained to discover and develop their supernatural abilities.
Produced by GMMTV and Parbdee Taweesuk, the series aired on One31 and Line TV from 5 August 2018 to 4 November 2018, and received highest ratings among that year's teenage series in Thailand. Its sequel, The Gifted: Graduation, premiered in September 2020.
Contents
Synopsis
Pawaret "Pang" Sermrittirong (Korapat Kirdpan) is a struggling, ordinary tenth grade student in Ritdha High School. Here, a classification system is strictly implemented wherein students are divided into classes based on academic excellence. Pang is in Class VIII, the lowest level, and has no hopes of rising up the hierarchy.
But everything turns haywire for Pang when he unexpectedly sees the school's Placement Exam, which gives low-class students a chance to step up in their game. Adding to the mystery, he is accelerated to the "Gifted Program," the highest and most special class in school where only a handful of students are accepted. As he goes through their first sessions, Pang starts to feel something strange about the Gifted Program. Soon, he and his Gifted classmates unleash their long-hidden potentials: supernatural and superhuman abilities that stem from their personalities and behavior.
What lies ahead of Pang and his fellow Gifted is a thrilling journey of developing their potentials, discovering the horrible secret behind the Program, and breaking down the system that has been torturing students for generations.
Cast and characters
Main
Korapat Kirdpan (Nanon) as Pawaret Sermrittirong (Pang)
Head Student of Ritdha High School's Gifted Program; the drama's main protagonist. Pang was once a struggling student from Class VIII who is soon to be accelerated to the Gifted Program — and become the very first Gifted student from Class VIII — through the school's Placement Exam. Through the Gifted Program, he discovers he has the power of mind control, in which he can compel someone to do whatever he wishes through physical contact with the subject and feeling their heartbeat. He becomes the Gifted Program's Head Student when Director Chueamanee removed Wave from the position after the class' midterm exams. He is close with fellow Gifted students Namtaan and Ohm. He is a subject of Wave's enmity, but later he became partners with him in fighting against the Director.
Wachirawit Ruangwiwat (Chimon) as Wasuthorn Worachotmethee (Wave)
A student of Ritdha High School's Gifted Program from Class I. Through the Program, Wave discovers his power of technopathy, the ability to control and manipulate electronic machines through contact, a gift associated with his advanced skills in mathematics, computers, and programming. He was the Program's Head Student upon Punn's resignation but was ousted by Director Chueamanee after their midterms. He is apparently rude and arrogant, and hates when other students seem to overshadow him. Wave is particularly hostile to Pang, but later he became partners with him in fighting against the Director. His over-competitiveness was triggered by his bad relationship with his former teacher and crush Ms. Nara, who groomed him and took advantage of him by stealing his thesis and framing him for plagiarism.
Ladapa Thongkham (Lilly) as Chayanit Prachkarit (Namtarn)
A student of Ritdha High School's Gifted Program from Class I. Namtaan discovers her power of psychometry, the ability to see or hear associated events on an object through contact, a gift associated on her character of being nosy. Namtaan has primary hypertension which limits her in using her psychometry in its full extent. She is close to Pang and Ohm.
Harit Cheewagaroon (Sing) as Wichai Sai-Ngern (Ohm)
Production
The Gifted is based on Dhammarong Sermrittirong's thesis short film of the same name, which was originally shown at the 2015 film festival of the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University. Dhammarong also adapted the film into a novel, writing under the pen name Sandotnim, before it was picked up by GMMTV and production affiliate Parbdee Taweesuk. Dhammarong directs the series along with Patha Thongpan, Waasuthep Ketpetch and Jarupat Kannula. The series was announced by GMMTV on 1 February 2018, as part of its lineup for that year.
Release and reception
The Gifted originally aired on Sundays, at 22:00 ICT on One31, from 5 August to 4 November 2018. It was also available through online streaming via LINE TV, following each TV broadcast, at 23:00 ICT. A rerun of the series was also broadcast on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:45 ICT on GMM 25 starting 25 February 2020.
The series received popular responses online, consistently becoming the top trending topic for Thailand on Twitter during its broadcasts. It achieved ratings of 0.7, which was the year's highest among Thai teenage series.
Two original songs were released as the series' soundtrack: "Lutphon" (หลุดพ้น) by Q (Suveera Boonrod) and "Mai Mi Khamsanya" (ไม่มีคำสัญญา) by Chart (Suchart Saeheng)
It was announced on 15 October 2019 that the series will be having its sequel, The Gifted: Graduation, wherein most of the main cast will reprise their roles. It premiered on 6 September 2020.