Khun Chai Taratorn is the first part of the very popular Suparburoot Jutathep series. It’s somewhat an exclusive Thai way of making dramas where three, four or five plots are connected by a main thread. In this series’ case, it’s the story of the five noble brothers, set in the after-war times in Thailand.
The first part of the story started in a promising way, it gets extra credit because it introduced us the main characters, their relationships and the general atmosphere. The premise of the plot seemed interesting; antiques robbery, cross-dressing and so on. However, the writing didn’t manage to keep things captivating. I think that’s the main issue with most Thai lakorns, they usually have interesting topics and characters but they tend to mess things up in the middle and near the end.
I found too much Indecisiveness to tolerate. Many main characters kept avoiding the obvious for the longest time that’s why the lakorn could turn out to be a little boring. Of course, the bromance moments between the brothers surely kept my interest, the way they eavesdrop on each other or plot against each other just for fun was priceless. I believe that’s the main strength of this series.
This may have been the non-interesting brother as some may call it but I surely liked Chai Yai’s character, apart from his indecisiveness of course. He was calm, caring and well-worthy of the eldest brother’s title. The acting was, not bad is all I can say. As many of you would know, Thailand doesn’t contain the greatest actors out there but they can be good enough. Grate did well with the character, at least more convincing than Preem’s acting. You see, beside Grate and Pope (playing the first and the second brother) who are well-known actors from Channel 3, Jame, Bomb and James (playing the other brothers) are newbie actors who made their breakthrough with this series so they deserve encouragement.
The female department was nice; I especially liked the two grannies. The triangle was also good, at least there’s no evil second female lead that you would gladly throw in hell. She had your average next-door neighbour girl feel into her despite being in the noble class. She was also a great friend of the female lead (something you would rarely see in lakorns or in Asian dramas in general). It’s her two sisters that I am worried about when Chai Pat and Chai Pee’s stories come; they will be the obnoxious type for sure. The second male lead in this part was also very nice and no, he wasn’t friend-zoned since he never grew a crush on the female lead in the first place.
Watch if:
-You like Thai lakorns.
-You dislike slap/kiss lakorns and prefer the other genres.
-You like good chemistry.
Do not watch if:
-You’re looking for something great.
-You’re not familiar with Thai lakorns; I wouldn’t recommend this as your starting point.
-You’re very impatient for developments to happen.
Khun Chai Taratron love story wasn’t that great to be honest, but as usual the chemistry in Thai lakorns is something you’d gladly watch. I am looking forward to the rest of this series, hoping that the other brothers’ stories will be more interesting than this.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good start to Suparburoot Juthathep series
●HOW I CAME TO ITI came to tick this series off my PTW and also for James Jirayu, but little did I know that he is a supporting character in this series. And also I wanted to go with the series sequence in case there is any important stuff mentioned which I might miss.
●STORY
The synopsis says quite a bit and there is more in the series but that might take up a spoiler tag.
●PLOT VIEW
Set in the ’70s or 80’s I expected quite a lot but I was very disappointed with this series as the plot was relatively lacking. I didn’t get what the writers were trying to show, they wrote a lot of the archaeological stuff and unnecessary side character stories(am not talking about brothers) instead of giving time for the main lead's character development.
The leads Chai Yai and Maprang had a brotherly-sisterly bond since childhood, kind of gave a very incestuous feel but then I shrugged it off. Their story felt flat and they fell in love when there is a serious event takes place. as the leading pair's chemistry, I won't deny at times their relationship felt awkward, as they were unable to take up their decisions.
The cross-dressing was so dull, that I laughed hard at what Chinnakorn went through when he saw Katesara. They literally stole the show. Their story was more convincing and amusing than the leads considering they were supporting characters.
●ACTING/CAST
The series introduced the brothers which is the excellent part but at the same time, these 5 actors didn’t look like brothers at all, not even a pinch. The characters were surface-level. They could've been more but everyone was mediocre at best. My problem lies with dialogues and execution. The first is childish and repetitive, the second is average. I can see that the actors are good-looking, but that's the extent of their charm which lacks in the aspect of acting considering they are the leads.
Maprang (Preem) had a good storyline but I don't feel like she evolved she had that same expression from the first episode till the last episode.
Khun Chai Yai (Great Warintorn) was also not convincing. He felt as if he had a lot of pressure working on this. His character has no real development, he just goes with the flow of other characters' wants not what he wants, which is why I didn’t like Chai Yai.
Now I am going to talk about my fav Katesara and Chinnakorn. I have seen Katesara(Mint Nutwara) in many supporting roles but this character had the depth of emotions, goodness, and charm. She just nailed the role as Kate and Kong very convincing in her mannerisms.
Khun Chinnakorn( Deaw Suriyon), I saw him a villain in some series and couldn't believe that he could pull off this role with ease. His confusion, his care, romance were in proportion creating an entirely new person for me to see him.
●MUSIC
It was plain and simple. With that one song going on and on for the whole series.
●REWATCH
I won't rewatch it, rather complete the Juthathep Series first.
●APPRECIATION
The culture and mannerism in the ’70s is so elegant
●FAV SCENE
Chinnakorn Confession all
●RECOMMENDATION
I would recommend it to those who like family drama. It absolutely has more of a couple-dramas but still a good family story.
Also if anyone wants to watch the series, watch it in sequence, it is more satisfying considering am starting onto episode 1 of the series Khun Chai Pawonruj.
●AFTERTHOUGHT
The basic of series that the Juthathep family had to tie a knot with the Taewaprom family in the form of marriage. I kind of feel it is going to drag as there are two more clingy sisters.
Was this review helpful to you?
1st installment of 'Suparburoot Jutathep'...
...but I watched it last:) Well, as I've seen all the parts of 'Suparburoot Jutathep' separately, there was no real need for me to keep the watching order. I've seen 'Khun Chai Pawornruj' first and practically slept through with boredom. And that's the one with Pope Thanawat(!), who not only looks the oldest of the brothers (it was a bit confusing that in the story he was not), he's like the dullest thing in here. That wasn't promising. When I watched 'Khun Chai Rachanon', it was the same, only worse (way more stupid and annoying to watch). So, you can imagine that 'Khun Chai Puttipat' being completely average was actually quite an improvement. I had to wait till 'Khun Chai Ronapi' to see sparks of something worth watching... Oh wait, I forgot I haven't watched the 1st part. So, 'Khun Chai Taraton', here we go.Ugh... What to say. The lead couple actually share a brotherly-sisterly bond, they know each other since childhood. Kinda tricky to turn that into love without looking too incestey, but that's not even the main problem of this show. Never mind the "antiques site" where the whole location consists of exactly 1 spot (they always arrive to "another" temple, resulting of them standing precisely in front of the same place as before) I know it's low budget. Never mind the "logical" story, yet again (so we're like the guardian figure, so we bring two girls we care about into highly risky situations?) It's the cross-dressing. I just find it just as far-fetched and idiotic as any supernatural with cgi ghosts grinning there at the characters.
Yet... I enjoyed watching Deaw Suriyon in this one. So cute:)) It was annoying he was not able to see Kong is a girl (which clearly he COULD see) but he was just adorable in this. What was also funny was to see Pream Ranida had more acting talent already than her co-lead, 11 year older (so, they were supposed to play along as kids, yeah?) veteran Grate Warinton. I was impatient skipping all the ballast featuring bleached-blonde Oliver Pupart (not only unwatchable by looks, but also acting "skills") alongside equally ridiculous-looking and just unsufferable James Kitkasem, to get to the bit where the truth will finally be revealed. It dragged so much!:)
So now, I've seen the stories of all 5 brothers. Sincerely, I don't get the idea of 5 actors that are physically so different types playing brothers, they're not very convincing...:) Also I had to keep thinking of their mother. Poor woman!:) Having 5 kids so close of age. Whenever they stand there all 5 of them it looks so ridiculous. Not only that, there is the unbreakable promise that at least 1 of them marries a girl from certain family. If each of them prefers to marry someone else but there are still other brothers left, only with the last brother this story starts to be interesting.
In the end, the thing that is absolute best about the whole 'Suparburoot Jutathep' project is the song "Lom Hai Jai Tao Nun Tee Roo” by Be Peerapat. You see, there is a quality to be found in anything:)
Was this review helpful to you?
Loved IT..Worth watching... First Part of the Suphapburut Juthathep" series
This drama marked my initiation into the captivating world of Thai dramas. Its rich cultural tapestry, vastly different from other international dramas, immediately intrigued me.
Welcome to the thrilling world of the "Suphapburut Juthathep" series! This drama kicks off the saga, serving as the captivating introduction to the epic tale of the five Juthathep brothers. With five parts in total, each installment delves into the unique and enthralling story of one of the brothers, promising intrigue, drama, and excitement at every turn.
What set this particular drama apart was its storyline—a journey back to a bygone era where family status determined one's place, and the virtues of women were held in the highest regard, akin to ancient codes of honor.
Amidst this backdrop, our male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) shared a bond since childhood, with the ML treating the FL as his own sister, their lives intertwined within the confines of an aristocratic society. The ML, a meticulous archaeologist and esteemed history professor, and the FL, a student at the university where he teaches, both hail from aristocratic families.
When the ML, found himself drawn into an unexpected expedition, accompanied by none other than the FL. However, the presence of a second female lead (SFL), prompted by the ML's impending marriage, added a layer of complexity. To safeguard the FL and SFL in this male-dominated expedition, both women were disguised as boys, a secret known only to the ML. As chaos ensued, the ML's protective instincts were put to the test, forcing him to confront not only external threats but also the stirring emotions he harbored for the FL.
Meanwhile, as the SFL embarked on her first adventure, she found herself wrestling with conflicting emotions regarding the ML and his burgeoning affection for the FL. Would she allow jealousy and rivalry to consume her, or would she rise above, becoming a steadfast ally in their shared journey? As for her own love life, the SFL's path seemed uncertain. Caught between duty, friendship, and her own desires, she grappled with the complexities of her heart. Would she find love amidst the chaos, or would she ultimately choose to walk her path alone, embracing the independence that lay before her? Only time would tell, as she navigated the twists and turns of fate in this captivating drama.
Amidst the twists and turns of this enthralling drama, the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood among the actors shone through, adding depth to an already captivating narrative. With its blend of drama, love, respect, responsibilities, action, deception, and a touch of comedy, this drama promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats—a true thriller in every sense.
Link to watch : Kissaasian : https://www.kissasia.cc/seasons/khun-chai-taratorn
Was this review helpful to you?
