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Hua Jai Sila thai drama review
Completed
Hua Jai Sila
0 people found this review helpful
by 8392225
Jul 30, 2022
27 of 27 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 4.0
Story 3.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
I watched 2007 version first. I rated it 5.0 perfect average, and told myself the "story" was definitely not a material worthy of dragging to THIRTY ONE episodes. And that Bie Sukrit was kinda lame in such role (but then, which role he wasn't? lol). But I thought: with Tor Thanapob, newer soundtrack, and generally more sass this might be way juicier. So, before seeing a single minute of it, I was sure that 2019 version MUST be better;)

Now, I seriously consider the opening credits and the title song interesting... Sadly, probably more than the lakorn itself:-p Tor Thanapob is considerably better actor than Bie Sukrit. Nevertheless, the Sila role is a bit ridiculous all the same, as he still looks kinda like a brat (even in a tuxedo) who is younger than his mark: the sophisticated hi-so girl he is supposed to seduce.

There is also the young and pretty nang'ek, but it's Noon Siraphan who steals the screen presence for herself and has a special spark with Tor Thanapob. Sadly, she's to play his aunt... But I do remember Tor from his older girl & younger guy romance on Club Friday, so I can't help seeing it here;)

I know I sound like I'm contradicting myself, but it's just how it is: Tor looks lame when trying to impress 2 years older girl, but works well with 12 years older woman. Such is the truth:) As for his "chemistry" with the lead girl, first kiss is right in episode 5, and it's not a good kiss. But no worries, nothing can be worse than 'Hua Jai Sila 2007'. At least, here we can listen to a good song, lol. Episode 6 repeats the kiss at exactly the same "quality", only wet version:) The water adds more dramatic effect to the kiss that uses grand gesture and camera angle to hide there's nothing much to it.

The story is draggy, because usually this kind of story is that the little girl who was nasty to the little boy when they were young is his target when he grows up and wants to get even, but then he falls for her. Instead, we have two girls. So it has this kinda double, surplus feel (same as the old version). With the nang'ek who was just his friend and who has nice mild personality, they hardly share much exciting dynamics... Still, they keep having these kiss scenes that look uncomfortable and unconvincing. The girl is pretty, but also pretty uninteresting. One could wish he would go for the "mean sister" instead, for it to be more exciting: but when at episode 12-13 we get to see that, it sadly doesn't make a better watch. Clearly that actress didn't want to do onscreen kiss much either yet her character was supposed to be the one to take initiative and to be aggressive in bed, which makes the "passionate scenes" look even more awkward.

What IS enjoyable is watching the side-characters, especially those who come from the dubious world of prostitution. They are ironically the most respectable characters far and wide. Already mentioned Noon Siraphan portrays hell of a woman, who brought pra'ek up, but the mention deserves also Pai Sitang and others.

Tor & Noon scenes are the best. Tor & Fern scenes, or Tor & Raviyanun scenes absolutely cannot compare. So, more than the romance line with the two sisters, I enjoyed their love line (love ties are stronger than blood ties:) of adopted relatives.

As I watched this already, I remember that even though the main guy got in bed with both the sisters, I somehow didn't find it that important. Same in this version. Generally, again I just found the whole "drama" about nothing much (what is there to drag it for 27 episodes?), even though Tor Thanapob definitely is this show's asset and gives his best into his role, he cannot save the whole thing, not with the partners he's got. Chemistry with the good girl is clumsy, chemistry with passionate badgirl cold as Siberia. Only interacting with his "aunt" he seemed real... I am repeating myself on that count. But, if some good producer watched this, they would definitely cast him and Noon Siraphan in romantic drama that would not need 7 extra faces on the poster;-)

I wished this version would at least wrap things up faster (or less slow). 16 episodes tops would be enough for this lakorn. Despite all the drama it gets tedious. Though it should not be so difficult for it not to be this way. Like, just as soon as Ben Raviyanun's character got practically zero screentime at one episode, it was notably better watch. Which confirmed best that one girl would be enough for this story. Less is more, enough is enough and it gets ridiculous when there are too many crazy people. But of course, next episode she's back with full force.

So, similarly to the older version, about the most enjoyable portion of the story is watching the lead guy having his vengeance, slowly taking over what the bad guys of his past treasured most: their material possessions, their pride and status. He deals with the evil mother and son in very entertaining way. Then, according to the old version, only when the girl who is his true love gets into the crossfire does he stop. Which is romantically satisfying. And now with better actor, it should also be more enjoyable... This version does not go for the main romance line the same angle, though.

Noon Siraphan, to be mentioned yet again, also has her own badass scenes, which are so over the top I would have scorned them anywhere else, but I just loved her. So if you ask whether the 2019 version deserves to be rated higher, the answer is her name only. Ann Siriam was not a bad badass either, though inevitably slightly ridiculous with her being middle aged.
Apart from this, to judge overall acting, no other cast member's could actually touch Noon Siraphan's. The character she was able to portray was just precious to me and I completely forgot about the main story. I bet I wasn't alone among the audience;-) While I can't even recall what exactly happened with the character in the older version.

Soundtrack is full of themes from other lakorns (probably some kind of shared tv music library). Sometimes it emphasises the scene too much (girl is entering a room acompanied by epic music like majestic ship is entering a port). I couldn't help but cringe over some of intimate Tor/Fern scenes. I admit the young actress is hot. But I found both their restrained bedscene (she ends up giving him humble gesture of respect like in a temple) and their emotional bedscene ridiculous. Perhaps it was the music, which sounded like some epic marine scenes. Or that rappy song that played after. I had to smirk. Since Noon Siraphan's departure, last several episodes dragged and felt surplus. I came back to my original average rating. This wasn't better than the 2007 version in the slightest. Maybe despite the praised Tor Thanapob, it was worse. Again, I cared for a secondary character, like Pai Sitang's, hundred times more. Even having their sweet moments, Tor & Fern looked somehow awkward together.

Last episodes, viewers were obviously supposed to be worried about the last characters who remained on the main villain's hit list. A villain wanted by police, who no longer longer cared about trying to hide the intention to kill everybody. If I won't mention I found it a bit far-fetched, I can say my general feeling was the story filled itself already and I honestly no longer cared about anyone's fate. Including the main couple's (I really never cared for this couple from the beginning). The more crazy "crime action" this series featured (it couldn't be more stupid even if there were ghosts or aliens), the more the characters were in danger to die, the more I realized I would actually not mind those annoying characters to really die. And that the characters who were annoying by then... were practically all those who were left. And so, while almost everyone on the screen was involved in gun/fight, I found the number of remaining episodes (and my precious time) more important than the number of bodies. Send my compliments to the scriptwriter.

I seriously cannot rate this higher if the last 8 episodes I watched with practically 0 interest and wished the series ended already.

But! Rating for Noon Siraphan: 10. LOL.
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