worth a good binge.

We are built by our history, and sometimes someone else's lie can affect how the world views us. That one moment creating everyone's scapegoat for a lifetime. And, as cringe worthy as the writer made the female lead to cover up all those hurtful scars from that past - You will end up wanting to protect her, be her bestie, and cheer her on.

Full disclosure; the female lead can be obnoxious, and clueless. But then, the villains in this are stuck in high school, but now with lethal intentions. Cringe happens, and the drama does stumble in the final episodes, giving into the expected cliches. Despite that, "My Queen" is not atypical Lakorn. It is funny, heartwarming, and worth a good binge. Recommended.

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rape is not romance.

Shades of sexual assault. A traumatic past rape of the female lead, with someone trusted. Later, kidnapped by one of the most toxic male lead characters ever created; She is then chained, imprisoned, and raped by him. Who incidentally, just happens to be the female lead's first rapist's brother-in-law (ML). What kind of karma is that? In this drama, the romantic choice would have been 'second male lead syndrome' - it doesn't change the outcome by yelling this at the screen though. I tried. Obviously, rape in all its shades of criminality is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

note: Avoid this original, watch the remake.
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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rape is not romance.

This was a train-wreck in degradation by everyone to the female lead. The first rape by the male lead horrific, and a violent introduction to the most cowardly and vicious group of characters ever to grace a drama. And, we haven't gotten to the bad-guys yet. Misunderstandings do not account for the silence, outright lies and sanctioned treatment spilling over into everyone's bad behavior toward her. To the point; no matter what the female lead did, she was never going to be human. And, in her moment of escape - Real family and friends turn-on-her to judgement. Using their influence to bring it home; her life is ruined because she's pregnant by her abuser. The last act of cowardice of all these unrepentant characters - A surprise wedding with her rapist, the psycho male lead. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. I hope this never gets remade. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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Brutally horrible drama ahead.

The salacious nature of the bondage plot-line is supposed to be the titillation to draw watchers into this drama. Unfortunately, it was just another cringe-trending moment, to mask a really badly produced drama. There should be hate, joy, love, and lust among the mains triangle, but, with no chemistry to speak of between all three mains. The characters couldn't rub a real feeling moment between them if they'd tried.

Everything, was flat, even the side characters appear to have no lasting purpose. The editing was off; the story was all-over-the-place; the characters made no sense; leads had no chemistry; so brutally horrible I stayed for the bad-drama cult-film aspect. Will I recommend it to the rest of you? Certainly, not. If you proceed under the guise of 'bad cinema' - Deities help you.

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rape is not romance.

Jao Sao Prissana and its male lead character, was old the day it finished filming. But, a drama-teaching moment in the depths of apathy, that can be found in a male lead personality. The male lead is nothing, if not apathetic and momma's boy. The male lead doesn't care who he marries, because, there is a hostess bar waiting for him somewhere. Or, how many, illegal as that might be, as long as mom says to. Marrying his step-cousin, was like watching paint dry. Yes, that apathy was maddening. If an emotion crossed his face that I believed, those rape scenes wouldn't have made me confused, but angry. Confused, in what(?) just happened, with a rewind to confirm. There was no reason for the male lead to rape the female lead (twice), nothing. But, then laying all the sins of this plot on the female lead was just as cringey. 'Rape culture', doesn't belong in any story, much less this one. The underlining revenge plot without a rape, would be worth a remake. But still; Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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Mystery, crime, and romance not so much.

"The Kinnaree Conspiracy" has little romance - It is a crime investigation series that happens to have a low-key romantic triangle playing out in the background. The series is respectful to the customs of the time, and the underlying baggage of the characters involved. Bickering being the glue, that binds this investigative team. "The Kinnaree Conspiracy" does not skimp on seasoned support actors, nor the telling of a good mystery. The forest scenery, period costumes, and historical settings are a backdrop to good performances from the entire cast. If you are looking for a modern romance, this drama isn't it. If you are looking for a historical crime-series with dark underlying currents, then this might be for you. Highly recommended.

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Let comments be your guide.

I wasn't going to review it, but this happens far too much lately in modern dramas. The story leaves the synopsis and wanders into the territory of a production wanting the ultimate reveal with jump scares, cliffhangers and titillation. Not thinking that the reason you watch a romance tag, is to follow your mains through a love story. Bitter, or sweet. We can take it - it's love!

What I can't take, is what they did here. Screen-time for our mains was nonexistent. Do, we want to watch the mains in a platonic relationship, or watch the male lead confess his love to the second female lead? Probably not, romance remember. From, what I can gather from other sources; most of the main couple's romance was edited out of the actual series. But, available in promotional vids, and stills on twitter posted after in protest. And then, that hug just before the end.

I will always remember the second female lead (the ex) and that tearful gripping hug with the male lead. Just before the beach scene where she hugs the son she had with someone else; right after leaving the female lead for dead on the mountain under the less than attentive male lead's attentions. Who left his maybe girlfriend laying unconscious to pursue his ex (SFL, the female lead's step-mom) down said hill to be available for that hug. All, within 15 minutes of the closing credits. Life is good in Meena Land (fear that name) - But, leaves a bitter aftertaste. Not recommended.

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rape is not romance.

It's all in the mind. The second male lead kidnaps and attempts to rape the female lead to prove she's a virgin. The male lead as angry-stalker, saves the female lead - Only to rape her later himself, to prove the she isn’t a virgin. A paradox, in stupidity times two. When, the female lead tries to escape afterwards, the male lead goes so far, as to threaten “a repeat of last night” if she defies him. Both delusional and sanctimonious, and the female lead damned if she did, and damned if she didn't. I prefer this version over the 2020 remake; it is a train wreck in female and male cliches in dialogue. But sadly, it included an unneeded rape scene, where a real intimate moment should have been the first choice. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One" https://mydramalist.com/list/389deQR4)

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rape is not romance,

Rape as a tool to rage against your enemy, to make them "die alive" as the saying goes. Instilling fear and control, the male lead kidnaps his enemy's sister; the female lead. Repeatedly raping her, and then going so far as to try to kill her numerous times. On returning home, the fear and abuse doesn't stop for the female lead. Because, boundaries have now been completely broken, a victim has been created, and the male lead, the in-house rapist still lives down the hallway. And, with that shift from heroic female lead, to demoralized victim - societal judgement rules. Though, the supporting characters are clueless; the shaming dialogue toward her begins now, and will last until the end of the drama.

Sawan Biang is revenge, pure, and simple, but, the redemption arc, is writer-self-serving. This is when, family and friends find fault with the victim (FL), forgiving her abuser, and wheedling a happy ending for themselves. Shaming, works. Though, it usually sucks the life out of any story. While, the second female lead's motives and support are just as self-serving. Please. She, sends a rapist (ML) after the second male lead's love interest (FL) by convincing him (SML) it is all for the best. Please, again. And, don't get me started on the second male lead that forgives the rapist (ML), before the victim (FL), shames her for not accepting her rapist's love, and finds a girlfriend in the process. Even, the female lead knew 'second male lead syndrome' was less than sincere. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

redemption:
FL: "Stubborn?
I'll tell you something.
The feelings I have for you now, are many hundreds of times more than stubbornness.
I feel scared. I feel hatred.
All the times, I've looked back at all the terrible things you've done to me, and there is only painfulness.
So, you think that looking for me for a few days, can pay for all the evil things you've ever done to me?"
[EP 10: 1:02:00]

romance:
FL: "Since, I have known Kawee, my life has only met terrible things. Many incidents, make me cry every time I think about them.
Every time I close my eyes. It's like a nightmare that keeps haunting me over and over.
Kawees's every deeds and every words. I can't erase it from my heart. I try to forget it, but I can't forget.
Until I have a baby, Kawee comes back to be good to me. He has done the good thing, Very good. But, it's like a dream that cannot happen. The more Kawee tries to be good to me. The more I feel bad.
What do you want me to do?
When I close my eyes, I see only nightmare.
When, I wake up, I see only the dream that can't come true.
I can't live my life like this.
I really can't live like this."
[EP 12: 1:25:00]

I leave those final words, from the victim.
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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rape is not romance.

I found it interesting there were three concurrent mistress arcs playing out inside; aftermath (ML's parents), resolving (SFL's parents) and current (main couple). And, please - This is a drama, visuals, and details matter. The moment the main couple legally married, the second female lead became the mistress, and her role began.

With its ramped up vicious 'team second female lead' - Rape did nothing to move this story forward that a 'real-romantic-moment' wouldn't have done. Even, a drunken one-night-stand for the newlywed couple would have been easier to accept. The male lead does acknowledge he 'assaulted her' - Underwhelming, as that was.* Do notice, the word 'rape' was omitted (by the writer) and he didn't admit it to the female lead. Just, acquiesced an apology to his mistress and her toadies. This had all the elements for a crazy, socially dated, but fun character-driven series. But, that one moment of rape culture, voided it. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

*note: When responding to the second female lead and her minions screaming accusations of purposeful seduction for pregnancy:
FL: "I was sexually assaulted by him."
SFL & team: "minutes of FL shame throwing."
ML: "Pehn (SFL), I'm sorry." (underwhelming,)
[ep 23, 36:48]
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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rape is not romance.

Both versions of Tang Parn Kammathep (2015, 2001) have very little romance between the leads. In this plot-heavy insanity, there just isn't enough time. But, unlike the remake in this original, the male lead rapes the female lead. Initially, disbelief was my reaction. Because, even immersed in all that revenge, kidnapping, and family stupidity. The abusive male lead, didn't cross that intimate line (yet). And, what I thought was going to be the same script as the remake, wasn't. In fact, this melodrama, was the better and least angsty version. Why included? I blame production for perpetuating 'rape culture' - Shame, on them. Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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abuse is not romance.

In both versions of "Wong Wien Hua Jai" (2009, 2021) the female leads are verbally, mentally, and physically abused by the male lead, her family, his family and friends. So toxic, so venomous, it is torture to watch. This version even took the male lead's heroic saving of the female lead from a drugged and-attempted-rape by a stranger, and nullified it. Regurgitating it later, on a drunken evening at home in the bath. Where it is now okay for the male lead to take advantage of her inebriated state - all to avoid that 2009 sexual assault tag. Sadly, they could have avoided that in both versions, by making that first meeting not about saving, but a one night stand. Or better yet, skip the drinking entirely and go with the less toxic and more understandable 'I love you' scenario. But, they didn't. Not recommended.

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rape is not romance.

No visible rape tag- That hidden designation comes into play. I went in trusting. So, toxic. So, insane. The gossip-mongers, misunderstandings, betrayers and jealousy burying the maligned female lead until the male lead planned the rape and executed it. The rape is off screen. That is until the director used the full version as fond memories in later episodes as flashbacks. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

Note; there are two rapes in this series - The female lead's bestie and the female lead. Let me point out, sexual assault was given weight in the story between the women, but in the end both ended up in a relationship with their criminal attackers. And, what was supposed to be a strong female lead was essentially dumbed down to absolution of sins (undeserved) by her rapist in the last moments of the finale. Black, turns to pink? Please.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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Uneccesary remake, of a dated story-line.

The settling of a debt: the sins of the father laid upon one child. One punishment for having jerks for parents? Selling off your child and future grandchild in an all-in-one human trafficking moment. But then, both families were 'a piece of work' in both versions (2001, 2015) of this drama.

I do appreciate they toned down little sis' need to be the male lead's mistress in this version. Though early cringe moments can be heard as inappropriate shadows, left in dialog. As for the 2001 original rape scene; 2015 same scene, slightly consensual context (FL touches ML's back in fadeout), & same outcome. A bad remake, of a dated story-line. Not recommended.

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rape is not romance.

This is the original, and the more down-to earth version; with seasoned actors, and better chemistry. Sadly, this original story is also the perpetuator and source, for the kidnapping and rape, of the female lead, by the male lead in the remake. Even the forced cuddle and dialogue between the rapist (ML) and his victim (FL) were regurgitated intact.

ML: "Are you still angry with me?"
FL: "I'm not angry. But, I hate you."
[2002, EP 11, 44:28]

ML: "Are you still angry with me?"
FL: "I'm not angry. But, I hate you."
[2015, EP 10, 55:56]

Both versions are filled with angst driven drama, hateful characters, and a revenge plot you never quite knew, if it rang true, in the end. But, most importantly for this review, in both versions the male lead, raped the female lead. It's maddening to think 'rape culture' was still being scripted, by screen writers in 2002. If it wasn't for the rape, this would be a drama that I would recommend. But, rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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