The best one so far

The episode starts with a 27(!) minute part one that could have been a whole episode in itself. Pleng takes note of the bruises on her hands having to take of the dishes and washing her own clothes. She feels ill-equipped for this new reality, and she feels like a burden to Wans family but even more to Wan. She initially plans to earn some extra money with her music (“the thing I’m probably best at”), calling it the only thing she loves - but that’s not entirely accurate – she loves Wan as well. Wan is still full of love and admiration for Pleng – but then Pleng finds out that Wan is actually better in school that she herself is and has only been pretending to be untalented to not compete with Pleng. Pleng then overhears a conversation between Wan’s parents – the father wants to kick her out as soon as possible, or get what little family money she has left – and storms off.



Wan, having witnessed that, wants to calm Pleng down – but she’s not actually angry about them, she’s angry at Wan for lying about her talents. Wan tries to explain it, that she feared they couldn’t be together if she was as or more successful than Pleng, but Pleng rightfully points out that this is not loving behavior. Wan desperately pleads with Pleng to forgive her, and Pleng finally agrees, but adds to it that her feelings have irrevocably changed.



Pleng now knows that she has to leave Wan, or she will always put Pleng before anything, including her own career. She plans on moving to a relative of the late mother’s – that is at least what she claims when talking to Aunt Wi. She also wants to give them money for her stay with them, but Aunt Wi refuses (much to the dismay of her husband). She leaves at night while Wan is sleeping and – almost – kisses her; she leaves a note for her, though.


Then, the story moves forward one year – we see Pleng crying alone with her guitar apparently earning a living with playing in bars at night, while Wan has moved on to university and is studying medicine. The estranged not-quite-sisters both look at the constellation Gemini at night thinking about each other.


The story moves forward 13 years – only 20 minutes of the 1 hour+ episode have passed – and Pleng is apparently still living in the same flat, when she gets a call from the landlady saying her “boyfriend” (that caption actually says girlfriend, and translation error) – she’s apparently sick, but goes downstairs to meet a shady guy named Ta, who claims to love her – but that’s revolting to Pleng, because Ta is married, and made her his mistress (without her knowledge) – where did I hear this complaint last time… ? He abandons his quest to get Pleng back when the landlady threatens to call the police – but Pleng collapses in the lobby needing a doctor.


She wakes up in a hospital bed; she immediately wants to leave, but the nurse catches her and tells her that she has contracted influenza and must stay for observation. This puts a strain on her already dubious finances, so she tries to sneak out, even though she is I no condition to leave. While at the front desk she overhears someone calling Wan’s name – and yes, she is actually in the hospital where the now Dr. Wan works and just happens to pass by. Pleng collapses in her arms again.


Pleng wakes up in a hospital bed again – and is scolded by Wan, who hasn’t seen her in 13 years, for disappearing without a trace back then, and for not taking better care of herself in the meantime. Pleng notes that Wan doesn’t smile like she used to, and Wan say: “Someone took it with them”, clearly accusing Pleng. Wan leaves, and Pleng gets a call from her landlady saying Ta causes troubles again. She leaves a note for Wan and once again sneaks out of the hospital, but this time, Wan follows her and defends her against the love-sick Ta.


Later, Wan scolds Pleng yet again for running out, and now she admits she can’t pay for the hospital. Wan says she’ll cover the cost, but Pleng will only accept a loan. Wan relents but doesn’t want to leave Pleng again, saying she hates the notes she’s leaving. Clearly, she hasn’t recovered from Wan leaving all those years ago. Wan wants to know what happened to Pleng; she recounts that because she didn’t finish school, she never found a job other than playing in bars which pays for her cheap room, but not much else. She’s doesn’t write songs anymore, as she doesn’t have time for it. Wan asks about her boyfriend, but she doesn’t want any help from that adulterer. Wan blames herself for Pleng’s fate, but Pleng doesn’t want that burden on Wan.


Wan offers Pleng to stay with her, as she’s living alone (and clearly doesn’t want to lose her again). Her apartment is nice - and full of things that Pleng liked, like a piano, or a guitar Pleng used to like, even though she doesn’t play any instruments. I could not imagine a clearer “I love Pleng” shrine. Pleng likes the apartment and Wan has no chill, offering her to stay for life, asking to not leave her again, as she couldn’t live with it. Wan reveals that not a day has passed by without her missing Pleng. Pleng then finally apologizes for leaving her 13 years ago, saying she didn’t think it would hurt her that much. Wan half-jokingly says he forgives her if she takes a shower with her, then hugs her. So, we’re doing the gal pals dance again.


The next night, Wan wakes up a 4:00 am, in the morning, saying it’s her usual time, but clearly, she’s harboring some emotions. Sometime later, they engage in some light flirting over a cup of noodles, Wan reveals that she’s really become the bike-riding doctor they saw in “City Of Angels” all those years ago. Wan teases her about collecting her reward for becoming a bike-riding doctor later this evening, but Pleng claims the has nothing she could give her, but she will wait for dinner with her. Wan ask if they can skip dinner – she’s rather be eating something else? Pleng, do you really not understand what Wan is going one about with the “cheeky” talk? SHE WANT’S YOU!!!


In the afternoon, she’s leaves the apartment – probably to buy some groceries for the dinner that Wan does not want to eat – and runs into Ek in the lobby. I assume he’s the reason Wan has changed her last name – but first we get a flashback to Wan encountering Pleng’s goodbye note 13 years ago, where the reason for her waking up at 4:00 a.m. is revealed.


That was the longest, and also the best of the four episodes by a mile, and I assume we’re almost at the point where episode 1 started now. Clearly, Wan’s life with Ek has not been happy. But I’m curious to see what the second half of the season has in store for us. This episode was exactly as melodramatic, wistful, and heartstrings-tugging as I hoped it would be.

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