iconic
may 1980
The plotline was quite predictable in some areas, yet it taught some lessons if you stepped back. I have not much to say on the plot because it is as the synopsis has it. That is it and nothing more.
Characters, now this is where I will expound on because it is what carried the show, really. Our ML, Ja, he is a piece of work, really. From the inception, he never loved our FL. He's outrightly a player and even when our FL, Thaet, did confront him, he chose to childishly admit and say that he has the freedom to sleep around. Jaron had poor character development, all up until the final three episodes. He often projected his infidelity to Thaet, and I would like you to understand what projection is and how it works. Because he was cheating, he often accused Thaet of cheating with Non, because he knows to himself that he is the one cheating and Thaet is in the dark about this fact. His jealousy and rage blindsided him and often times he never acknowledged Thaet's explanation if she did something without him knowing. When he did find out, the stupid and hard way (as Kong said), he would emotionally manipulate her. Even though he was in the wrong, he always said to her (who was in the right), "Why am I running after you? You did wrong." He never lived up to his mistakes and poor Thaet, she dealt with the blunt force of it all. I was so pissed at him when Thaet finally confronted him about Nok, Pang and Kaotu and he did admit, except he never accepted his wrongdoings. He had no remorse and no guilt at all. After their separation, only then Jaron really understood what his grandfather was trying to teach him along.
Our FL, Thaet, she is one strong woman I'd say. For the most part, she tried her best to make everyone happy and in that household, the only person that made her happy was Kong and not Ja. Kong has supported her 100 and it is honestly what motivated her to no longer take shit from Ja. Usually, viewers watching this would indirectly put the shoes on of the FL and view the story from her eyes, this is why many persons were upset with all the characters trying to come at her. In all honesty, they each taught her something valuable. Thaet is a gem. No, if or buts, and Jaron does not deserve, moreover Non doesn't deserve her either. I absolutely loved to see her fight back, Kaotu and even Woon (who, by the way, can I punch her eyes out?). She stood up to A'Ma as well, and further, her in-laws (who protected their son and hid all his flaws from her, who genuinely loved him).
Pang is honestly one of the most frustrating characters I have encountered in the world of lakorns. Her and later, Woon. If I could take some toothpicks and stab them ugh, they were so.. very angering. I believe Phet would definitely stable Pang and teach her to be a better mother. Pang is straight-up shameless. You can't expect her to get better, she just gets worse. When she was first introduced, I preferred her to Kaotu since she was more mature. But really, her greed for Ja is worse than Kaotu. Kaotu is, in all sense, problematic. She'd the one you can't wait for the FL to bitch-slap. However, in her craziness, she kept her distance from Ja in the most part. Nok was Pang's plaything and Woon? Woon isn't a mistress but she is Non's ex that actions showed her jealousy. Thaet had not done anything to her yet she turned Non's family against Thaet.
The two characters I appreciated most in this lakorn was Kong and Pa. They both had good intentions towards Thaet and even though Pa "used" her, she still helped to open Thaet's eyes to Ja's infidelity. Kong's teaching definitely makes you want to take it into consideration in your own life. Non also was a constant supporter in Thaet's life but, to be honest, I was still all for Ja repenting and coming back to Thaet.
The music, like most lakorns, isn't exactly outstanding but isn't invisible either. It's there but not impactful at all.
I say, if you are going to watch this lakorn, just prepare yourself mentally and face it through because it isn't going to calm your emotions nor give you satisfaction until you least expect it. It is going to have you rage at the characters and even wish you can reach through the screen to grab some of them by the hair. In all fairness, you can consider this lakorn about Thaet. I finished it for Thaet and stayed for Thaet.
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Story Line
The story line was perhaps a bit confusing, because it didn't immediately match up with the synopsis given, rather took some time to develop. Praew is an author and she goes to the island in hopes of getting inspiration for her new book. However, with her being an author, much was not expanded on. Only in the first episode, you really see her working on her book, as said but afterwards, it wasn't mentioned frequently. Rather than her job being the cause for her there, she actually had another reason.. which will be revealed once you started watching the lakorn.
Captian Jirawat, also known as Tonkla, performs his duty as a navy officer there. Tonkla is very charming and he instantly recognizes Praew, as they have some history together. As captain of the Whale Shark Team, Tonkla has a lot of responsiblties and yet he still tries to make time to pursue Praew. The main antagonists here are Sia Tup and Sergeant Yot. I really enjoyed all of the action and conflict between Tonkla and Sia. Apart from the main couple and the antagonists, we had Praew's friends which all had a side story going on, but nothing that dominated the focus away from Praew and Tonkla.
Acting/Cast
This is not the first time Aom (Tonkla) and Sammy (Praew) paired up to do a lakorn so they were pretty in tune with eachother. I thought they look absolutely splendid together and the characters were well portrayed.
Not only were the main characters well done, but the others were too! The acting wasn't outstanding but it wasn't bad at all. I would say it was commendable.
Music
Apart from the OST in the opening scene (that plays not only for this lakorn, but the other three too.) there wasn't an OST that I particularly remembered, or if there was at all. It definitely wasn't impactful and didn't leave any impression on any scenes.
Rewatch Value
I gave this an 8 because someday, when im actually out of lakorns to watch (prob never), I would consider it. However, I am in no sort of hurry to rewatch this as I have the other 3 lakorns in this series to watch first.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I would say that this lakorn is light and you really don't have to put a lot of thought into watching it because there is no major angst or drama that really makes you all worried or what not. I do remember fangirling when there was an apperance of the other 3 MLs from the series, so when the four of them teamed up, I died. I have a thing for men in uniform so I was really interested in seeing the four of them work together and it was definitely something I'll remember from this particular drama! especially when Karan, Khanin and Pur all started to tease Tonkla about Praew, when she was right there. The charming ML definitely make my heart flutter at times, but then again. which handsome ML doesn't?
In conclusion, if you are considering and really thinking about watching this lakorn, I would say go for it. Don't think too much about it but rather just watch and enjoy.
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