This review may contain spoilers
So when I first watched it, I was 14, pretty easy to shock and I had no knowledge of Thai dramas. The concept of slap-and-kiss was totally unknown to me. I both loved and hated it. I loved it because the slap and kiss was new and spicy to me, because the male lead was a great actor, because I loved to him scheming in the second part of the Lakorn and also being extremely in love with the female lead.
However, there were things that I hated : I was very shocked when he raped the female lead and although this is very common in Thai lakorns, rape is totally unacceptable where I come from so I had a big problem with it. Moreover, the female lead was too weak, took an incredible amount of slaps and I know a lot will disagree with me, but I think Aff is off to me. Nevertheless, this Lakorn hold a special place in my heart, probably because it was my first slap and kiss and my first thai dram.
And then, recently, out of curiosity, I watched the previous versions of this story (this is based on a Thai classic novel that is still extremely popular).
And now, this version totally lost its value to me.
In the original novel, there’s no rape between the leads, something that relieved me but also made me disappointed with the 2008 version because then, I don’t see why they added this unnecessary plot (and rape is unforgivable so they should stop presenting it as if it is). More importantly, in the original novel, Harit and Soraya come to really form a true bound and to fall in love much before he realizes her true identity so their love makes much more sense (he even releases her before knowing who she is because he wants her to go back to the one he thinks she loves : and she’s very sad to leave him but keeps writing to him so that they wouldn’t be completely parted)
However, here, this is just hate and torture and BIM ! he realizes she’s not Sansanee after raping and suddenly decides he’s in love with her even though we didn’t see much development in their relationship, and what’s more, this is even more senseless coming from Soraya after everything he put her through (and again, no development : I don’t see when or how she fell in love with him but BIM ! she says she loves him).
And finally, Soraya and Harit are smarter and more interesting in the novel : Soraya intentionally lets him think she’s Sansanee to protect her (something I can understand), being smarter and logical than this new Soraya who just keeps screaming she’s not Sansanee but burns a picture of the real one that might save her from Harit.
So, to put it simple (because I actually might go on for hours) : now that I have more experience in Thai dramas, I’d say that the 2008 version revamped the story in a way they shouldn’t have because the original material was much more interesting and consistent and now that I’m grown up, I don’t see why this had so much success. It’s nice to watch but it’s not epic
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Too many things did not make sense. I felt silly watching this - such a surprise for me, since I'm not very demanding when it comes to dramas.
Harit was a jerk from beginning to end. He went from crazy kidnapper to scary stalker and even something else in between that I won't tell.
Soraya frustrated me like no other, though I didn't exactly hate her. Just thought she was dumb.
I skipped all the scenes with Sansanee, only managed to watch the ones that had something to do with the main couple.
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This review may contain spoilers
rape is not romance,
Sexual assault in a revenge plot is a violent tool. Like any crime drama - No less than torture and degradation. In Jamloei Rak, the rape of the female lead by the male lead had nothing to do with love, and everything to do with hate and rage. It was a straight-up revenge tool for a dead brother. Guilt was immediate, and remorse came later. But, I still have to give it this. Rape is violence pure and simple, and not a segue into a relationship. Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")
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Here, in this "island lakorn", sweating on-screen, he positively looks dirty and... smelly. It's like you can almost smell it from the screen, LOL
This lakorn was an average experience for me so I rate it such. Joy Rinlanee gets your attention way more than bland Aff, but did her character really get any punishment? I don't remember. Forgettable lakorn for me...
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This review may contain spoilers
I had a lot of trouble writing this review, mainly because my biggest issue with this lakorn was the story. I read the synopsis so I knew what to expect, but what it came down to was that I immensely disliked how it was conveyed. I know Thai lakorns tend to get remade every 10 years or so, but I honestly can't imagine how this storyline could fit within this era where technology has gotten far and people are more vocal about being harassed. Generally I actually enjoy slap/kiss dramas but only if the ML is someone I can sympathize or root for. In this case, he was just someone I couldn't root for.So my issues with the story are this:
1. ML mistakes FL for her cousin. Sure it was done in rage so I guess that was enough to mistaken her, but I wonder why the FL's picture was in his bro's book in the first place. He was so in love with the FL's cousin and even painted a picture of her. They also paint the ML as this smart and compassionate guy but I'd think he'd do more research on her before he went as far as kidnapping.
2. Their love story - while I can see why the ML would like the FL, I felt like this came out of left field for me. I mean, he shows inklings of feelings for her then suddenly it's full blown I love you blah blah blah which made me backtrack a couple episodes to figure how it developed. I also don't see how the FL could possibly love the ML since he kidnapped, enslaved, trapped her on an island with no escape, r*** her and much more. Call it Stockholm syndrome if you will, but she should've just called the police as soon as she was let go.
There are other little things that bothered me (like the pearl bracelet) but those were the two main ones. Honestly, I think the FL was better off with her childhood friend who was the real hero of this story. He knew something was wrong when she went missing, was properly concerned and was the actual person who saved her when young. Her sleazy cousin, who had one of the worst haircuts, was terrible as per usual of any lakorn but I'm glad she got her comeuppance and the guy had enough sense to leave her. I actually remember the music in this lakorn, and there's one song that I really like so at least I got something out of this. Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend (unless you're bored) and wouldn't rewatch.
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This movie is well another typical Stockholm’s film. Our ML abducted the wrong female and literally tortures her by forcing her to do manual labor, locking her up into a cabin in the woods, nearly drowning her, making her cook and pretty much be a servant to him, eventually raping her and with that assault finally realizing he grabbed the wrong person.In between or after all of those things he realizes he loves her and confesses. After many episodes of pursuits she gives in. But not without him going in and getting his revenge against the person that actually committed the offense in the first place. To top it off we have our normal cliché event in which our female lead is willing to sacrifice her dysfunctional love and her safety to repay someone’s kindness/favor.
And our female lead lives happily ever after with a man who tortured her for months because she realized he wasn’t that bad after all. Insert eye roll here.
The one pro about it was that it wasn’t boring and there was always something going on. H the series wasn’t horrible but it could’ve been much better without that actual assault taking place and definitely if the female lead was a bit tougher. Hey series was actually OK but the concept/idea of a victim falling in love with their captor who essentially tortured and assaulted them is not what I consider I love story. If they had actually taken out the assault and made it a bit more humane have might’ve enjoyed it more.
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This review may contain spoilers
This series was no different from other revenge centric lakorns. The only saving grace for this series and what sets it apart is the remorse the ML feels after he rapes the FL. I am yet to see another Thai lakorn where the ML expresses genuine regret and remorse for raping the FL-whether it's marital rape or otherwise. The director gave some screen time to the ML to show his self reflection and regret. He doesn't justify it, doesn't make light of it but rather spends the rest of the series apologising for it. I don't condone such behaviour. But at least it was better than those other series where the ML continues to be abusive, toxic and unrepentant even after the incident. Was this review helpful to you?
Unadulterated hardcore angst!
A man deceived, a man with only vengeance in his mind, a man determined, takes on the cruel and arduous task of exacting revenge on the one who hurt him and his loved one such. Sadly the target of his revenge is very very very misplaced. The solace he searched for was not in the cruelties he delivered but in the forgiveness he received.This is a story about how a man becomes a psycho due to his misery and pain and how that psycho becomes a man again when confronted with love for another. It's a story of how feelings of 'hate and disgust' convert to 'devotion and care' when confronted with 'guilt and forgiveness'. Make no mistakes though, this story is filled with controversies. There is kidnapping, abduction, torture, assault, deception, obsession but there is also pain, sorrow, guilt, redemption, attachment, longing, care and ofcourse love.
If you can't stomach controversial tropes, don't watch, I warn again, there's a lot of them. If you can't bear with bad production, don't watch, the budget won't do this show any justice. If you're looking for an unusual plot with flawed characters, bad decisions, long misunderstandings but satisfying resolutions, this is your goto.
Our ML dishes out unbridled one sided torment to our FL. Our FL, who didn't do any wrong, just endures and endures and endures until our ML realizes the evil he has wrongfully done to one he actually started caring for. Rest is his journey to earn back the love from the one he hurt and to exact revenge on the rightful target.
I actually liked ML's overall decision making in this one, failing at first revenge didn't mean that he let go of the original perpetrator. Rather, he actually proved "Revenge is a dish best served cold". FL's character was that of a doormat for the whole show and irritating tbh. Their chemistry, though, was riveting. I would say their personality complimented each other very well.I skipped most, if not all, of the non main leads scenes in first half as they didn't contribute anything to the story. And ofcourse, I found 2FL/Villain absolutely annoying and irritating.
Overall a 7.5/10. I won't say it was something extraordinary or special, as is evident from my rating, but it was definitely quite unusual and a fun watch indeed.
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It's a Slap-Kiss Lakorn, but NOT for those under 18
It's pretty standard fare, as far as I can tell. The storyline wouldn't make sense in reality. But I don't think any Slap-Kiss lakorns really do; the whole revenge thing is pretty hard to get to make sense generally, but we watch it for the angst anyway.Just keep that in mind for your expectations. Personally, I don't mind dramas that aren't realistic. I thought it was a decent show. Not my favorite, but I liked the angst involved. I likely will watch it again after a year or so, as I tend to rewatch things, but it might not be one most people would rewatch.
NOTE: This show is for mature audiences ONLY. There is a rape. It's not shown exactly, but if you are under 18, I wouldn't recommend this. Please watch some lighter shows that are age appropriate.
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Summary: Housework on an island and life on a pearl farm
If revenge lakorns based on house chores on an island setting aren't your thing, I would suggest to skip this. The FL shrieks of anger were more irritating than feisty, and nor I am a fan of the ML Athichart. So that was three strikes for me against this lakorn. It was incredibly boring and draggy to watch indentured labour over and over again. For this genre, Game Payabaht (2017) did it better. Probably because Game Payabaht's story didn't consist only of the island setting. The FL and ML were more appealing too.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is the first review that I posted in the internet. Watch this drama if you are a fan of slap-kiss dramas and if you like to waste your time. Honestly, I was entertained watching this lakorn.
Story-
There's nothing much besides the revenge plot with the ML mistaking the FL for her cousin. Because of that misconception, poor FL has to suffer a lot from him. Not only from the ML but also from her cousin as well who is interested on the ML. I won't say much because the rest would be spoilers.
Actors/ Cast-
ML did well as the vengeful brother who at the same time is out for revenge and get the girl whom he likes.
FL is a screaming banshee on the first few episodes and might want you to skip some of the parts.
Music-
I have a weird taste for OSTs. I had an LSS with the opening and ending songs.
Rewatch Value-
I might rewatch some episodes but not the drama as a whole. I can't bear feeling frustrated again with the Soraya's cousin and aunt (who are bishes btw).
Overall-
I completely understand that this is an old drama so I'll just ignore the cinematography. The island setting was beautiful though.
Final Words-
Having watched a few slap-kiss dramas, I can say this one was really intense in the first half. Especially on the FL. She had to suffer a lot. It wasn't her fault that she suffered under the hands under the ML but as for suffering under her cousin was due to her own stupidity.
There is a limit to the extent that Soraya could owe Sansanee a favor. Even though if her cousin did a huge favor to her, it doesn't mean that she has To circle her life around her cousin ALL THE TIME.
Harit was abusive and he never redeemed himself until the last episode. At least in the last episode, he started to to improve.
Sansanee was the usual bitch queen rival that you can usually find in slap-kiss dramas. I get it that she is pretty but I don't why why would men in this drama would fall in love with her. She changes men like she changes dresses!
As for Soraya's childhood friend, he deserves a lot despite being in the background.
Watch this drama if you are a fan of slap-kiss dramas and if you like to waste your time. Honestly, I was entertained watching this lakorn.
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