My Magic Prophecy 1×01 Review: “Wheel of Fortune”

This is one of the GMMTV shows I’ve been most excited for, although considering how many of them I have on my “to watch” list, that isn’t saying much. Still, Last Twilight (regardless of how it ended) really sold me on JimmySea. So naturally I am sat for My Magic Prophecy.

My Magic Prophecy is the story of Inthu (Sea Tawinan), a fortune teller, and Thapfah (Jimmy Jitaraphol), an ICU doctor. In has been having dreams about someone dying in a hit-and-run accident. After meeting his best friend Dao’s (Acare Chompoopuntip) older brother Thap, he realizes that Thap is the man in his dreams. However, trying to convince Thap of the danger goes nowhere, as Thap has a deep scorn for fortune tellers.

“Wheel of Fortune”, as a first episode, does a fantastic job of setting the premise. Thap is introduced in his doctor role right away, and we can tell that he’s a very competent and respected physician. When Tara, the wife of a prominent hospital donor, collapses at a meeting, Thap is specifically requested. He even gets one of those slow-motion entrances, where he struts down the hallway and throws on his lab coat. Plus, he gets to look cool as he is immediately able to diagnose problems with the patient and effortlessly performs CPR.

In contrast, In is shown to be a bit accident-prone. The first time we see him, he has a vision of Thap being hit by a car (though he doesn’t know yet that it’s Thap), and promptly passes out. Later, he burns his fingers on a hot dish. He gets in a fender bender with Thap. Then he has to swerve to avoid another cyclist and falls off his bike, hurting his wrist. Still, the narrative makes it clear that when it comes to Tarot, he knows what he’s talking about. Even though he does downplay his skills.

When at Dao’s house to do a reading for her, In recognizes Thap from his dreams. Even though Thap scoffed at the knowledge that In is a fortune teller, In does still warn him that he’s in danger. Dao and her mother convince In to do a reading for Thap. With the first three cards, In is able to accurately describe Thap’s personality, much to Thap’s chagrin. The next set of three reveal that something about Thap’s work will put him in jeopardy.

Honestly, I think it says a lot about In as a person that he warns Thap even after Thap puts down his business. We learn later in the episode that In can be very self-sacrificing; when he’s leaving the hospital, after having gotten his sprained wrist looked at, he flags down two taxis only to let other people take them. Apparently, Dao calls him “soft-hearted”.

And while Thap seems abrasive on the surface – he’s arrogant in the way many people who are sure of themselves are – it’s clear that he’s much the same as In. Despite not respecting In’s choice of profession, he offers to pick up his meds for him, makes sure he gets in a taxi (and uses his hand to make sure In doesn’t hit his head on the frame of the door), and calls Dao to have her check on him.

Don’t think I won’t mention that little thing with the umbrella. I see you there, Thap. You’re not fooling anybody.

Thap may scoff at fortune telling all he likes, but it turns out that In is accurate in his prediction. During his treatment of Tara, Thap realizes that someone is poisoning her by giving her a higher dosage of her heart medication. After he convenes a meeting consisting of two fellow doctors and his police detective friend, he is nearly crushed by falling debris.

Later, In returns to the hospital and recognizes the circumstances as those of his dream. Just as Thap is about to be struck by a car, In throws himself at him, knocking them both out of the way. He is knocked unconscious. In a sweet bit of editing magic, the narrative makes it clear that In has done something that he shouldn’t.

You shouldn’t judge a series by the trailer. That said, in the trailer for My Magic Prophecy, there’s a whole bit about how In isn’t supposed to intervene in someone’s fate. It gave me Marry My Husband vibes; as in, fate cannot be changed but it can be transferred to someone else. The scene of In lying on the ground, intercut with scenes from his dream of Thap bleeding out in the same spot, seems to imply that whatever In has done has given him the same fate as Thap.

But we know they aren’t going to kill off the main character (at least not this early). So we know that In isn’t going to die from this accident. That means that fate will likely try again until Thap succumbs. Sort of like Final Destination. The question is, will Thap meet his fate even if they are able to identify who is poisoning his patient? Is fate really that set in stone?

This was a great first episode. In addition to setting up the premise, it also establishes the dynamic between In and Thap. When they see each other at Thap and Dao’s house, they have a moment – one of those long, deep stares that always seem to indicate love at first sight. But as we learn, it isn’t the first time they’ve met.

When In passed out after his first vision just before his graduation ceremony, it was Thap – there to watch Dao graduate – who treated him. And they were absolutely flirting a bit. So there is definitely a bit of, “oh, it’s you“, when they see each other again. And despite the fact that he hates fortune tellers, Thap can’t seem to leave In alone. It’s the same with In, who purposely goes to try and save Thap even though he isn’t supposed to do that. Which I love. I love this dynamic. I am so seated for annoyances to lovers.

There are also a few lingering questions. I’m very curious as to why Thap hates fortune tellers so much. He may have had a bad experience with one, or it may simply be that he’s a man of science and considers fortune telling to be bogus. I’d also love to know if In has had these type of dreams before; when he tells Dao about them, it sounds like this is a new experience for him. I wonder why he became a fortune teller, and if that had anything to do with his parents.

Jimmy honestly gets the best lines in this show. I’m not always a fan of Thai humor; I think it’s very different than what I’m used to, and I don’t always get it. But there’s no denying that Thap is funny. He has some great one-liners in “Wheel of Fortune”: “Is this a reading or are you roasting me?”, “Sprained your wrist from shuffling too hard?”, “Don’t you check your own fortune before you leave the house?”

I’m really excited for this show. I’m hoping that, even with the whole “someone wants to kill Thap” thing, this will be a little more light-hearted than Last Twilight. I don’t want to cry every week. (I’m already going to be crying over Memoir of Rati, I know it.)

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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