Secret Garden (2019)

Often when a remake of a drama is produced by another country many of the script changes are adaptations for the purpose of cultural and societal relevance to their country. However, this was not the case with the Thai version of Secret Garden, which I can best describe as misinterpretation that leads to a multitude of misunderstandings. Early on it was evident with their questionable casting choices for the lead roles and from there the drama continued to spiral downhill with a lack of attention to details; the omission of so many relevant scenes and shrinkage of the plot and subplots. Major plot points of the story became anti-climatic or glazed over and the humor is almost non-existent as a result of these omissions. Many of the important nonverbal and subtle nuance scene moments were removed from this version as well, which means they really did not understand their relevance or they just deemed them irrelevant. Character development for the leads never really happens because Ananda Everingham was miscast as the male lead and the lack of attention paid to the details of his character's anal arrogant OCD tendencies and nature; home and wardrobe made the situation even worse. Baifern Pimchanok was not properly trained and conditioned to play a convincing stunt woman, which was very evident and noticeable immediately. Otherwise, she and the remaining cast do manage to pull off acceptable performances with Chin Chinawut Indracusin as Ray (Thanat's cousin and Pop Star) and Chaoey Suthada Jungjaiphar as Mook (Veena's best friend and roommate) giving solid standout performances in their roles. The other real miscast was Vajrasevee Pimpatchara as Adia (Ray's Ex-girlfriend), she lacked the sage and sophistication to pull off the role. The original Secret Garden's OST is meticulous as part of a near-perfect drama and a tough act to follow; they could not possibly put together a decent OST because they clearly did not understand the symbiotic relationship between the music, the scenes, and characters, which is due in part to their disastrous misunderstandings of the original drama. When a great drama series is remade and misinterpreted to the point where its very essence is written out of the script and lost, it becomes painful to watch.

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ITS A GOOD WATCH. PLEASE GIVE IT A GO

I am doing this review bcuz of all the negative reviews out there. First thing it's not as bad as everyone says, its actually really good. The romance is amazing with lots of caring. The acting by the ML is superb. Another thing it shows true love in such an amazing way. Its hard to explain but the ML really loves the FL without reserves. Another thing is the ML actor looks a little like the American actor Robert Downey JR (Iron Man), i don't know if i am the only one noticing this. Please guys give it a watch, its not as bad as it says. I especially like the ML character, he is weird in a cute way. Its a little fun romantic drama and way better than a lot of dramas out there with high ratings.

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This drama is the Thai version of the Korean drama "Secret Garden". This adaptation is poorly written and, even though this version shows more romantic scenes between the leading couple, they lack chemistry throughout the entire drama. There's also the omission of the two other romantic side stories that gave depth to the drama and the omission of the great comedic tone from the Korean version. This production also lacks character development and the intensity of the relationship that the leading couple developed through their many interactions. The writer omitted a lot of important details and the action scenes were poorly acted.

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If you dare, please watch it and judge it yourself.

I honestly started without an expectation for this drama. I have dropped the original Korean version numerous times. It just wasn't the vibe for me but this one, I finished from episode 1 to 20. Some may say that this one under-performed compared to the original but I laughed, cried, and felt giddy with this drama. Maybe it's always about the perspective of the viewer.

I felt all the emotions that I should feel in all the right places. Yes, there were scenes from the original that I wanted to see her. I browsed through the original just to check if I would like it more than this but I really didn't. The leads here were great and I enjoyed them together. I would love them to have more dramas together.

I wish the story panned out a little bit more like the Korean one but this, this is just perfect for this also. I should not be that greedy anymore.

The OST was so soothing and I went gaga just trying to get an MP4 file of it.

If you dare, please watch it and judge it yourself.

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Ananda Everingham looks more gay than Nadech Kugimiya BEFORE the role requires it

I trust the korean original to be way better as simply korean cinematography is on higher level in general. But that's not it. If we talk about thai series featuring man & woman swapping bodies, I just finished watching 'Leh Lub Salub Rarng', which does have half number of episodes, PLUS does have Nadech & Yaya, and yet it's about 100 times more fun and kick-ass than this.

Here we have Ananda (girly name, LOL) Everingham with Fern Pimchanok (she's got dance training plus proven herself in 'Lhong Fai'... but that wasn't a cheerful show to watch) in quite different roles. While Yaya was a typical spoiled princess and Nadech had an occupation that was very manly, here Ananda Everingham's character is shown to be fickle like a woman. Keeps wearing colourful suits and heeled shoes and actually acts like a nervous (closeted) gay. And she, she is a stunt woman. Pretty tough. Therefore, these people should be way better prepared to switch man/woman role than the other two.

The "arrogant CEO" the synopsis depicts is someone owning a shopping mall (in such busy place, it looks kinda ridiculous when the employees stand in a row to greet him in the morning) who dresses like a metrosexual (eccentric, yes) and behaves in such a silly way one wonders all his business didn't yet bankrupt (CEO, hardly). Truth is, in 1st episode I kinda thought he had a woman soul in his body already and that was the reason of his manner. She is unspoiled, works hard for money, and also sad (she lost her father). So down to earth, never showing weakness, never complaining, even in great pain: she could easily pass for a man.

So I thought: if these two switch bodies, what shall actually change? The "CEO" could hardly behave more feminine than this. On the other hand, I was afraid the tough stuntwoman should turn into a crybaby. Their first meeting, he drops her on the hard ground as he is actually more scared of the sound of thunder than she is:) They made him wear sunglasses so she doesn't get startled by the wart right under his eye.

Second episode, he takes those off. She is a brave person, though. So she doesn't run away. He gets acquainted with her (actually treats her pretty much like a horse) and he's such a weirdo that at least he isn't boring. But there is a work boss and trainer of Vina (portrayed by Dew Seksun, not a good fit for the role) who has long term feelings for her and isn't enjoying another, strange guy getting close to her... And I could relate. On the other hand, when Vina & "CEO" started flirting and even went on sort of a date, it was puzzling. Considering him being so ostentatiously gay. Apart from knowing beforehand that these two were going to swap bodies, I had no idea what kind of plot the scriptwriters were going for, here.

Episodes 4-5 got completely confusing for me and I no longer knew what to expect. They were full of him making a fuss (bordering on bullying) over how she dressed, that it made him look bad and... unappropriate. Yes she was poor, but extremely beautiful. Her georgeous hair looked like from a salon anyways. It in fact didn't MATTER however she dressed, in case like hers. I got completely lost. When are they going to swap bodies? It's been FIVE episodes already. Is he going to make a point that when HE is a woman, he's going to dress better or what? What a "drama" plot. Anyways him acting like a clinic psycho didn't help anything. I asked myself what am I actually watching. I might not know the korean original, but just because of that it shouldn't be THIS confusing...

He's all over her next epi (did he turn straight? he's still wearing his shiny top with sequins). There's a scene with them sitting on the fence... Him sitting like a woman... Did I miss something, here? Maybe the point of this show is they DID switch bodies already, and the audience is to guess since when? Then I guess episode 1. Then it all would make sense. On this occasion, I could mention one thing about what kind of a viewer I am: Generally all I am honestly interested in is watching simple good romance series. Yet I keep coming across weird (and weirder) stuff.

Then episode 7 looks like they are reacting to being switched for the first time. Still I thought Ananda Everingham was overplaying it, as the stuntwoman didn't act all girly-girly like that. It was HIM who acted that way. What a mess! Basically they both behaved the same like before the exchange, MEANING they were not behaving the same. Oh, god. They should have re-shooted the whole beginning with them being really girly girl and manly guy else it doesn't make sense them acting like that later. Ananda Everingham doing loads of girly mannerism THE girl DIDN'T do, was annoying to watch AND had no sense! I just didn't accept what happened, that Vina was not Vina, now. She acted the same! SHE never acted like Ananda Everingham was now portraying.

Nevertheless. In episode 7, there starts really embarassing stuff. I mean I watched series about guy & girl switching bodies before, but some things were never discussed. Here, after several minutes they both need to use a BATHROOM. Now he/she starts freaking out she'll have to touch "his thing", LOL. A thing like that was never said loud in 'Leh Lub Salub Rarng'. It would be funny THERE. But, this show? Why was the guy acting like a girl since episode 1, if they only switched in 7th? Why was the girl acting so manly? Did they know properly what they were shooting? The whole cast was so unfitting to the roles and so weird. Secondary characters all b-grade "actors" like Chin Chinawut or Pie Pimpatchara... After first epi, I skipped all their scenes. Now at the 7th epi with even the mains being unwatchable, I debated whether I should quit this entirely. What's the point of this series?

If Ananda Everingham wanted to showcase he can act totally like a girl, he should have waited with it till the 7th episode.

And Fern Pimchanok looks all flirty-flirty right after the exchange. Even if the guy wanted to flirt with the girl before, would you flirt with someone wearing YOUR FACE? Was he in love with himself actually, or what? It was DAY 1, they couldn't get used to it, yet. I'm seriously not sure how long I can withstand watching this. Ananda Everingham LOOKS MORE GAY THAN Nadech Kugimiya. Never have I ever thought I would write something like this! And I never thought that I write this but now perhaps I can understand how homophobic people feel? They're afraid to look like Ananda Everingham in THIS series. LOL.

Fern Pimchanok is hot and looks absolutely georgeous. I would love to watch her in any regular boring role more than in this. Also I would love to watch her with anyone else than stupid looking Ananda Everingham, trying to make "girl" faces.

The reason I never watched korean 'Secret Garden', is that with korean dramas, I always read the synopsis first. And if it contains anything that doesn't interest me (like a guy & girl switching bodies) I never even attempt to watch it. But I watch every single available & subtitled thai series. Even if I should drop it after 1 episode:) So that's how I got into situation like this, I now understand the korean original was probably good despite the theme but this series definitely won't be the same case. But speaking about it, I've come across several attempts to make thai version of known foreign series already and I'm starting to think that perhaps thai tv should avoid this, to not bring the unflattering comparison. Let thai lakorns concentrate on thai culture and its original quirks and be - despite different level of cinematography - enchanting in their own right. Making 'O.C. Thai', 'Full House Thai', 'Goong Thai', 'My Girl Thai', 'Secret Garden Thai'... probably isn't SMART.

Dropped during 8th episode... It's not funny and watching the wart eye girl-man puts me off.

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