*Spoiler* Kawee and Narin's relationship in 'Sawan Biang'

I have never understood Why ’slap and kiss’ genre is so popular in Thailand... makes me feel uncomfortable to watch them... I never finished Sawan Biang (but for some reason I was able to finish Jam Leuy Ruk)... However , I adore Ken and Anne’s other  lakorn ’Sood Sanae Ha’ ^ ^ 

Anyways, Its nice you can see it other way around , but I will never understand why Narin fell for Kawee, he was TOO cruel to her. But shes an saint so...poor Narin, I felt so sorry for her =( 

I'm not really here to moralise about the rights and wrongs of the behaviour of the people in 'Sawan Biang', and I'm not saying that Kawee's behaviour to Narin in the first three-quarters of the show was right or acceptable. In fact, a lot of the behaviours of the people in this show are all of a twisted, selfish sort but, unfortunately, also too close to real-life to be dismissed. Which is probably why this show is such a divisive show amongst viewers. Its subject matter is very emotionally provoking.

However, I think what a lot of viewers may not understand (because they get too clouded and upset by the content), is that there are some things that the show is not, and some things that the show is.

What the show is NOT showing:-

1) Depiction of Stockholm Syndrome - as mentioned, the show makes it clear that Narin did not fall in love with Kawee during her kidnap period and even after. In fact, she had zero positive feelings for Kawee afterwards. She was constantly trying to avoid him, constantly trying to run away from him. She was scared of him and hated him. And she told him so to his face.

2) Romanticising rape - this show does not romanticise rape. There is no 'he raped her because he loved her' scenario. Narin was a tool Kawee used to vent his anger, his desire for revenge, his need to assert control and power over, maybe even his lust. But there was no love in it. 

In addition, the show clearly showed us the after-effects of Kawee's abuse and it's not coloured in any positive light whatsoever. Narin becomes silent and withdrawn. Her face is always serious and solemn. Her family and friends are worried. Kawee's dad confronts him and calls him out on his bad behaviour. Nobody in this show is saying that it's a good thing. Everyone's upset by it.

What this show IS showing:-

1) The abuser is the one who gets broken - he's the one who breaks first. He's the one who realises that his bad behaviour was destructive, hateful and unforgivable. He's the one who is sorry and decides to change for the better. He's the one who gives up everything he has in the end to prove his sincerity. 

2) The abuser is the one who tries to redeem himself - he takes active steps to make up for his bad behaviour. He humbles himself. He persistently does demeaning and menial things to show that he is working on removing his arrogance and pride. Some people might say that what he did was not good enough to earn redemption but the point is that he IS TRYING, and that he KEEPS ON TRYING. You've got to at least give him a bit of credit for that.

3) The abuser is the one who begs for forgiveness - he gets down on his knees in tears. He knows he is wrong. He knows he has no right to be forgiven. But he humbly asks for it anyway. 

4) The victim is the one with the power in the end - she is the one who holds the power to decide if she wants to forgive him and give him a chance. She is not being forced against her will. In fact, she is the one who has every material thing in the end, while he had nothing, not even a penny to his name.

5) The victim is the one who chooses to forgive and give a second chance AFTER she saw that Kawee had changed, maybe for real because it's not a change of the moment. Kawee worked very hard day-after-day for months to try and prove to her that he was a changed man. It is undeniable to even the viewer that the Kawee in the last one-quarter of the show and the Kawee in the first three-quarters of the show are very different people. 

Some people might say that Narin should never forgive Kawee or give him a second chance. Well, that's up to the person to decide isn't it? But you know what? Not everybody holds onto anger and resentment and unforgiveness until the day they die. No. Some people choose to forgive the unforgiveable, and some people choose to willingly give others a second chance at life. Is that right or wrong? Who can say. 

At the end of the day, I think this show is at least trying to say: "There are people out there who do bad things but some of them eventually learn that it's wrong and try to change. Let's be the bigger people out there and give them a second chance."

Like your analysis. I liked this show when I saw it years ago and had no idea why, given the content.

I agree with everything you said about Sawan Biang. Abuser falling for his victim...wow!

This was so well written I wish I could give it a thousand likes. It echos my understanding of their relationship as well; you put my incoherent thoughts into words. Thanks, MusicalVeggies.