Mhom Ped Sawan

The story of closeted lesbians in ancient history

Unlike many historical dramas that dive into politics and betrayal, Mhom Ped Sawan takes a refreshing turn of exploring the issue of เล่นเพื่อน, or ‘len pheuan'. This term translates to ‘playing with friends’ that refers to the intimate female companion or, in easy words, the lesbianism. Set in the 18th-century Rattanakosin era, this series follows a typical template of Thai historical drama with some politics, strong misogyny and sexism, but with a sapphic and gay twist. For those unfamiliar, ‘Mhom Ped Sawan’ is an ancient story penned by Khun Suwan, a well-known poet from that time.

The series takes a wider look at how same-sex relationships were perceived and accepted in that time period, along with the complexities of love across different social classes, particularly within the palace walls and its social circles. It also highlights the presence of LGBT allies during that era. While the series is more focused on drama, it still has some interesting moments of romance and the tension that come with it. But with 30 episodes, some plots are a bit draggy and repetitive.

One worth noting feature of this series is its skillful incorporation of Thai culture throughout the plots. The elements of poetry, literature, dance and play, cuisine, and palace etiquette are beautifully represented through the characters and their arcs.

When it comes to acting, all the cast members did a fantastic job. If there's one problem, it's Film and Tubtim’s chemistry. While their individual performances are good, their on-screen chemistry isn’t strong enough. Some scenes come off as a bit detached and lack the warmth you'd expect from lovers. In contrast, Princess Vilas and Khun Suwan's chemistry stand out more. Their companionship is endearing, and even though they’re not romantically linked, their dynamic is way more fulfilling than Mom Kham and Mom Sud.

This series has a good production quality and stays consistent from the first episode all the way through. But one drawback, in my opinion, is the use of camera angles and certain framing for the kiss and intimate scenes between Mom Kham and Mom Sud rather than showcasing the real kiss/performances. I wonder if this was done for the actresses' comfort, perhaps due to their inexperience with such scenes, (which I doubted that was the case), or if it was the director's choice or the channel's restriction. But regardless, it really detracts from the authenticity and believability of their relationship and undermines the emotional depth of their characters.

Despite its LGBTQ+ theme, it’s quite noticeable that this series is crafted through a hetero lens. But taking into account the cultural context, the time and place setting, and the target audience of ThaiPBS, the overall execution is quite good. While certain aspects of the storyline may falter, it’s still a good drama for those who like historical drama with less complicated palace politics.

Read More

Historical drama at its finest

I adore this drama.
The decision to showcase a lesbian relationship in the 18th century, set within a royal court and based on an ancient poem by a real poetess about real historical figures was *chef's kiss*

My only complaint is that there are still no english subtitles which is a tragedy. Such a well thought out and high quality show deserves international love, especially with the growing interest in GL.

I was able to watch and enjoy without the subs but I am very familiar with the historical time period and I also searched out information on social media pages to help me when i felt lost which was quite a bit of work even though i did it out of love of the show.

There is a focus on traditional thai dance and a sweet little romance between a male dancer and a policeman and well as two wonderfully portrayed female love stories.

The show, being based on real historical figures, some of them royal, references a number of actual historic events as well.

There is beautiful attention to costumes, locations, music and dance.
It is a history lovers dream and hands down one of the best thai GL stories to date.

Still hoping it will eventually get subbed so.i can rewatch and more people can appreciate this treasure of a drama

Read More