Memoir of Rati

Aouboom saved the heck out of this!

I won't say much. I'll only say that the plot was not anything much at all. The storyline was pretty basic and boring. The main couple bored me to death. GMM had the perfect opportunity to make a period WWI drama, make it heavy and emotional and forbidden romance typa style but they completely did not grab the chance and instead gave me diabetes of how overlt sweet and cheesy (in a bad way) Thee and Rati were and how every obstacle they faced was faced as if it was not of great importance (oh yeah, your grandma forces you to get married. Let me tell you to get married like 5 times, then let's talk about never breaking up like 5 time and then let's not talk for 5 years. WTF?!)

On the other hand, I ADORED AOUBOOM! They are the reason I did not drop this thing. They were amazing! Sweet as much as they needed to, funny and the chemistry was overflowing! Their storyline was also really much better and had more depth (I would want to see more heavy stuff tbh (Dech's father beat the shit out of Mek (great acting by Aou btw) but they passed it off pretty easily). I would say that I woudl only recommend this show only for them. Just skip Theerati,, you ain't missing anything.

Overall, I feel like the show lacked some seriousness. It was and overly sweet, suppy romance.

(BTW, the French were atrocious!! And mind you I'm not even French but I couldn't stand the way In was speaking. I get it that you cannot get fluent in a language that quick but he could have tried harder...)

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Nice but boring

Just those two words, nice and boring.
Nothing to write home about ~

It's a nicely done series, but it was so slow and boring, I wish it only had like 6 episodes with everything happening too fast, it would show everything perfectly and wouldn't be as boring.

Cast is nice, if you like the two leads you will definitely like them here, I enjoyed watching Great, I like him but his character here was too pushy and
pliable

Story is by no mean an original, you have seen it a billion times before, and this time isn't one of the best versions either, I'm even surprised the show is over 8 but anyway ~

I won't recommend it tbh, but I don't really regret picking it up, despite skipping a lot in the second half of it ~

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Mek & Dech Saved The Show

I'm a big fan of historical dramas, so when I saw the trailer for Memoir of Rati, I immediately added it to my watchlist. I’ve also seen Inn and Great in other projects, and I love their chemistry—it’s really something you can feel.

Now that I’ve finished all the episodes, I can say I have mixed feelings about the show.

The Characters:

Rati is a translator who teaches French to VIPs in Siam. His character is modest, soft-spoken, and gentle. Then there’s Thee, a marquis from the Ministry of Education. He’s instantly drawn to Rati from the moment they meet and keeps finding ways to be around him. Even though his grandmother is pressuring him to get married, he starts falling for Rati and clearly wants something else for himself.

Mek and Dech — the side couple — honestly saved the show for me. I really loved their storyline. They went from strangers, to enemies, to friends, then lovers. Mek went through a lot because of Dech’s father, but seeing them end up together was such a joy. They're not super expressive with their feelings, but you can feel how much they mean to each other. Their dynamic added a lot of heart and depth to the story.

As for the overall plot, I liked it, but I can’t say I loved it. There’s something missing that I can’t quite pinpoint—it felt a bit bland at times. That said, what kept me watching were the stunning costumes, the great chemistry between both couples, and how visually beautiful the entire production was. The story of Mek and Dech especially brought the whole thing to life.

I’m also happy that AouBoom were given decent screentime—their acting was solid and added value alongside the main couple.

We all have different tastes, so I’m not sure if Memoir of Rati will be your cup of tea. But if you're into historical BL dramas, it's still worth checking out—just don't expect it to be a masterpiece.

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Historical elements were wow-- but the story was lacking. Secondary Couple is a must watch!

Overall reflects my subjective enjoyment. Objective? 6/10.

Great and Inn had that initial chemistry, but I'm not really a fan of instalove-- why did they fall in love? Idk maybe I'm just a slowburn lover. Anyways, once the initial chase was finished, they just weren't that compelling to me anymore. It was just so boring... I'm not sure why myself. Everything was so low stakes, and there wasn't much conflict to get me hooked at all. The villains were just so. agh.

However, I did love the secondary couple in this show-- played by AouBoom. Mek and Dech have my whole heart! I would have watched a 6-episode miniseries just dedicated to them. So freaking cute! And wholesome! And their story is much more compelling than Rati and Theerathorn's, as they started out as friends, eventually falling in love and making a future where they could stay by each other's side.

I would only rewatch this for scenes with Mek and Dech. I spent a lot of time post ep 5 just breezing though the main storyline and directly skipping to their scenes lmao

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It's good but could be great if GMM-TV had some nerve

It's excellent to see Great and Sarin in a series that truly showcases their talents. Memoir of Rati is a series that truly deserves more recognition. It's a very interesting story but unfortunately something is missing.

I love the chemistry between Great and Sarin and they're excellent actors, but the characters are very shallow here.

For a story with the depth and impact of a romance between two men from different nations in an era where such a relationship would be scandalous, to say the least, the script never manages to create the tension or the feeling of a forbidden romance.

The characters lack personality; they're there but they barely add any impact to the plot. They begin and end the series the same way. Rati could be a spoiled and arrogant boy sent to Siam as punishment by his father. Thee could be a man full of charm and dreams that conflict with his image and what his grandmother wants him to be.

But what we have here is a very subtle romance, a very peaceful narrative and characters who simply accept their status quo. Thee has an interesting arc and I like the conflict between him and his grandmother but there's no interesting development there.

The supporting couple works well and while they don't have any big moments, it's great to see Aou and Boom get more screen time and decent development.

It's a fun series, it's light, it has great moments but it lacks emotion. It's all very dull and I miss a greater depth. It lacks conflicts that take the characters out of their comfort zones, it lacks more elaborate cinematography that captures the beauty built there, it lacks courageous direction that can bring out more expressive performances that embody emotion.

Rati's departure for France and his return five years later is an example of this. This should be an impactful and moving scene but it's so boring and predictable with weak dialogue that doesn't convey any feeling.

And I'm really tired of GMM-TV's pattern of adding time jumps at the end of its series and its lack of courage to tackle more serious topics or create more impactful stories.

It's certainly much better and superior to Wandee Goodday and is far from being a bad series but unfortunately, it's a series that borders on forgettable and lackluster.

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Another Great & Inn drama. Of course I will watch it…

The story follows Rati, a young man who was born in Siam (now Thailand) but raised in France as the adopted son of a French diplomat. He returns to his homeland as a French interpreter for the Ministry of Education.

In Siam, he meets Thee—a warm and friendly young man who quickly offers companionship. At first, Rati appreciates the kindness, unaware that Thee is no ordinary man: he is, in fact, a high-ranking nobleman. When Rati discovers the truth, he feels betrayed and distances himself, upset that Thee didn’t reveal his status from the beginning.

But fate pulls them back together. Rati is asked to teach French in Siam, and Thee’s father appoints him as the one responsible for overseeing Rati during his stay. Thee uses this opportunity to make amends.

Rati, still hurt and stubborn, tries to ignore him. But all his resistance crumbles when Thee is injured. Panicked and overcome with concern, Rati rushes to his side, marking a turning point in their relationship—a bond that soon blossoms into something deeper.

Meanwhile, Rati faces challenges within his Siamese family. Though officially adopted by the family’s daughter, he was originally the son of a maid in the household. This makes him the target of constant disdain from his adoptive mother’s brother, Ruj, who belittles him. Even as a pointed teacher, Rati receives no respect from Ruj. Thankfully, his grandfather remains the head of the family—and unlike Ruj, he shows respect toward him and values both Rati and his French father.

Rati’s cousin, Mek—Ruj’s son is very different from his father, Mek is kind-hearted and open-minded. He befriends Dech, a working-class man who treats him as an equal, unaffected by titles or status. In Dech, Mek finds honesty and warmth—and soon, their friendship blossoms into something deeper.

Now the questions:
? With the societal expectations of the time, how will Thee and Rati handle the pressure—especially with Thee’s duty to carry on his noble family’s name and bloodline…
? What will happen to their relationship when Rati must return to France…
? Can Rati find peace within his Siamese family? And will Ruj finally face the consequences of his demeanor…
? And what will Ruj’s reaction be when he discovers his son Mek’s special relationship with Dech…

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers. Now what I like and don't.

What I like:
+ Great & Inn chemistry never a miss.
+ Although quite different than I Feel You Linger in the Air, at least this is a finished story…
+ Jaem & Kui are a funny couple.

What I don't like:
- A little too perfect story…
- Unnecessary drama at the end of the story.

Overall this is quite a good drama.

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A Polished Period Drama That Doesn’t Quite Deliver

Even though the series has good actors and looks beautiful, Memoir of Rati doesn’t really reach the level I hoped for. It has some nice moments, but overall the story feels weak and a bit too simple. The series is about a Thai nobleman and a French translator with Thai roots who meet during a difficult political time. Their relationship grows despite cultural and historical differences, and they are forced to make hard choices between love and duty.

I really wanted to like this show, especially because I usually enjoy series from this production company. And with Great and Inn in the lead roles—two actors I really like—I expected something much stronger. The acting is actually one of the better parts of the show, and many other viewers agree. The music is also well done and adds emotion in the right scenes.

But unfortunately, the story didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s hard not to compare it with I Feel You Linger in the Air, which also had a kind of Romeo and Juliet feeling but was much more emotional and believable. *Memoir of Rati* felt more like a Disney production—pretty to look at, but too simple in both story and characters. The costumes and locations were nice, but also a bit too clean and soft, like the show was afraid to show anything dark or real.

I also think the characters didn’t feel very real. Their choices didn’t always make sense, and I never really felt their connection in the way the show wanted me to. It’s sad to say, but I don’t think the writers managed to make the characters truly believable.

Still, if you’re a fan of Great and Inn, I think it’s worth watching. Just don’t expect too much. There are a few good scenes, and the actors do their best with what they’re given. In the end, Memoir of Rati had the potential to be something more, but it didn’t quite get there. Beautiful on the outside, but missing the depth it needed to leave a real impact.

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Something is missing

Something is missing in this series, and I am not actually sure what exactly. The thing is, it didn't hit me like "I Feel You Linger in the Air", even though the story is quite similar. I like that it's a historical drama — some of the political and historical stuff makes it refreshing compared to typical GMMTV productions. I fully appreciate that they're trying to explore different types of stories.

What I didn't like was the second couple's story, despite the fact that I like both actors. What is not working here for me is the lack of realism. And I am not talking about having a happy ending — I am fully supportive of that. But the relationship between them is not deep enough to make me feel like they actually care for each other.

The first couple has more realism in the way their relationship is portrayed. However, it's still not super believable that from the very first moment they saw each other, they had this spark in their eyes, like they had already fallen for each other. Where is the tension building here?

Plus, I think the actor portraying Rati could also work more on his expressions. He always seems surprised or startled.

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Beautiful love, bad French accents.

This drama follows Thee and Rati's love story in a time and place where their love is not accepted. Their chemistry is very strong, and Thee treats Rati like a beautiful flower. Honestly the two are very charming and had many fun moments as well. Their kisses were quite flat, and definitely could have been a lot more emotional or intense.

The length of the drama is a bit too long for my liking, 6 or 8 episodes would have been enough for a strong story. The story revolves around France and Siam, and Rati has to teach French to people in Siam. Unfortunately, everyone's French accent is terrible and so is Rati's. It would have been better if someone did a voice-over for Rati's French dialogue since it took me out of the experience.

Mek and Dech are a nice addition, and they were much cuter than I had expected. Their intimate scenes were strong albeit a bit short.

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Still a good series, but was expecting something more

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

I finished this series last week Friday (05/09/2025), and I am now writing a review for it today (11/09/2025). If you know me, you would know that I and period dramas – we don't mix. Doesn't matter whatever country – I just can't get behind them. For me to give a high score in a time period means that there has to be something very extraordinary and outstanding from the series. I unfortunately did not feel it with this series. And the sad thing was that the main characters were actually good and the storyline sounded promising – but this was just not for me. It started off well, but I personally feel like it was not able to get its footing for it to become an excellent series.

I felt that the secondary characters were the ones who stole this series. I did adore the secondary couple, as I felt that they added more excitement to the plot with their storyline. I do look forward to seeing Aou and Boom in their first starring BL when it comes out. The character who played Great's grandmother was actually good, as I did hate her character and wished her nothing but bad things to come her way. Also, the three characters who played the help added the humour to this series for me as well.

All in all, it was still a good series, but I just felt that something was missing from it for it to be a great series.

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