Thanuwat

"A Hopeless romantic finds her true love"

Translated into English:
"𝐇𝐞𝐫 (𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠): 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.
𝐇𝐢𝐦 (𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟): 𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”

This single moment captures the soul of Tawanchai Nai Marn Mek — emotional, romantic, and heartfelt in the simplest way. The story revolves around Tawan, a hopeless romantic who dreams of writing a beautiful love novel and unexpectedly finds her own love on the way. What begins as a journey to reunite with her first love, Thee, leads her into the home of his brother, Mek, where she cross-dresses as a boy and builds unexpected bonds with Mek and Thee's little son. Instead of trying to summarize the whole plot, I want to focus on the things that truly touched me.

One of the strongest points of this drama is its characters. They are thoughtfully written, with strong personalities and realistic decisions, especially the second leads. I loved that Yut, despite knowing Ava likes him, never lets himself get swayed or confused — he stays firm and respects her as a sister. Meanwhile, Ava eventually realizes the feelings of Kheng, the friend who has loved her quietly from afar and supported her through everything. Their pairing grows naturally and feels mature, refreshing, and emotionally satisfying. Seeing both second leads stay true to their hearts rather than falling into forced drama was one of the highlights for me.

What I initially disliked was Mek breaking up with Tawan after she revealed her past feelings for Thee and the real reason she came to the house. She was honest, and at first it felt unfair for him to walk away over something long gone. But even then, I already sensed the real reason behind his reaction — and the drama later confirmed it through Mek himself. Thee’s wife, Fah, was once his own girlfriend who cheated on him with his brother, who married her without knowing the truth. That past trauma made Mek insecure and terrified of history repeating itself. When the misunderstanding was cleared, his feelings made sense, and I appreciated that the drama handled both sides realistically.

The comedy in this drama is genuinely enjoyable. Tawan’s disguise leads to so many funny moments with Mek and King, but the warmth never fades. The dynamic of Mek stepping up as the father figure — loving the child silently, without revealing the truth until the right time — was touching and beautifully portrayed. The young child actor was phenomenal, bringing sweetness, innocence, and humor to every scene. Watching the three of them together felt like watching a small family being born before our eyes, and it was comforting in a very gentle way.

I also appreciated the lack of unnecessary toxicity. Even Fah, the ex, lives her own life without being a typical drama villain. Tawan’s parents support her dreams and her love life wholeheartedly, which was refreshing to watch. And in the end, Yut, Ava, Kheng, and Fah all come together to help the main couple reunite — which felt warm, genuine, and family-like.

The soundtrack deserves a special mention. The voices, the music, and the lyrics were beautiful and perfectly matched the emotional tone of the drama. There are no overly intimate or steamy scenes here, but the love still feels authentic and deep. This drama carries a family-like scent — full of warmth, humor, softness, and the quiet sincerity of growing love.

Overall, the ending was sweet, fulfilling, and left me smiling. Tawanchai Nai Marn Mek (2012) is a light yet meaningful drama that shows love not only between a couple, but between a family built through trust, healing, and understanding. If you enjoy heartwarming romances with humor, emotional depth, and zero toxicity, this drama is worth every minute.

Read More

"They Named It Right – The Best Couple"

This was my first Chinese vertical drama review, so keeping it a bit short and straight to the point than usual.
The story revolves around a mafia gang leader and a doctor. Yeah, the romance plot is a bit predictable at first glance, but the sudden twists involving death and hidden identities gave it a darker edge, which I honestly didn’t expect. It’s not a rom-com — this one's heavier, with revenge, deception, and emotional weight.

What stood out most was the chemistry between the leads. I’ve seen them together in two other dramas and they never disappoint, but in this one? They nailed it. The tension, the loyalty, the slow shift from mistrust to trust — really good.

The revenge angle had potential. I liked the overall setup, but if I’m being honest, the FL’s plan felt a bit weak. She’s shown as strong, but her naivety tends to overshadow that strength, which made some of her decisions feel shaky. The ML, on the other hand, starts off setting traps to kill her, but he soon realizes his feelings and shifts from enemy to protector. I liked how he didn’t just fall in love blindly — he still had his edge while helping her get the revenge she needed.

There were misunderstandings (mainly due to FL’s fake identity), but what I appreciated was that despite that, they never truly disconnected. In fact, they used each other’s pain to fuel their revenge plans — risky, emotional, and messy, but believable.
It did have a few plot holes, sure. But considering this is a Chinese mini-series, I’d say it’s solid. After watching so many verticals, this one finally felt like a good watch again.

Read More

Under the Spell of the Moon (Lhong Ngao Jun)

"ลูกเอ๋ย เอาชนะความโกรธด้วยความสงบเสมอ - ยายของพิม".
"My child, always overcome anger with calmness." — Pim's grandmother.

Honestly, this saying stuck with me after finishing the drama, Lhong Ngao Jun.

To start with, I really liked Pim’s personality. She’s such a good, loving person. She was a rare kind of female lead I’ve come across in dramas, someone genuinely caring and hopeful rather than typical or cliché. Some might say she’s a bit naive or even stupid, but I think she’s just too kind and patient. She wants a complete family and is waiting for everyone’s love — that’s pretty relatable.

The way their love grew gradually was something I enjoyed. The male lead did repent for what he did, but I still feel like he has more to atone for. The whole revenge thing over Pim’s brother Thip’s death caused by Khem’s breakup letter and the drunk driving accident was intense. But Aae going after the girl named Pim like that? That wasn’t fair. The false identity problem caused by Khem pretending to be Pim at the club led to much of the suffering Pim endured. Even Khem doesn't need to suffer for that particular reason when looking through facts. But despite everything, Pim’s character stayed strong and hopeful for love and family unity.

One thing I hated was Khem’s mom’s screaming- she just made my ears hurt every time she yelled! 😂

Compared to the newer version, I think this one did better with clearing up the misunderstandings and showing their love. The ML got his time to grieve and repent, which made sense. I also liked the ending where Khem got better, and everyone came together like a family. That felt real and satisfying. Stephen as "Aae" and Kob as "Pim" really brought their roles to life. Great acting.

After Pim, my favorite character was her grandma. She was amazing — her teachings and the bond she shared with Pim were heartwarming. The childhood scenes where Aae, Khem, and Thip rode bicycles along the road reminded me fondly of my own childhood. The hospital setting with Pim’s friends who are nurses was also nice to watch. Among the male characters, my favorite was Kimhan, Aae’s friend, who was portrayed as the intelligent and calm one throughout the drama.

Overall, this version of Lhong Ngao Jun stands out for me as the better adaptation !

Read More

A Best light hearted watch

I really thought this would be so cringy and stupid after watching the first episode but I was wrong. This was a cute mini drama.
If this was a 1hr episode drama, I might not watch. The favorite thing about this drama was the main roles.

I didn't hope the 2ML would starts loving her after the 4th episode. I always saw ML as an immature person but when he starts motivate her at her old home made me realize he became a mature one.
I was amazed after seeing the Chungdam heaven. It was a fascinating place like a fairytale, they indeed chose a suitable place to film the drama. The bar and resting area was marvelous. It was my first time watching a k drama where FL confess the ML first about love.
I like how the FL understood her faults and be with her family. 2FL is so over the fashion. The second bullying sister was not someone I like at first but she finally turns to be good.

The storyline was a good one and the ML's chemistry was on top

Read More

"When Two Broken Souls Find Each Other"

As Chen Ling says in one of the most memorable lines:
"𝐖𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐭. 𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐰𝐞’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩?”

This wasn’t your typical romance drama. MARS deals with heavy, tragic pasts and how two broken people find comfort in each other.

At first, I didn’t really like Chen Ling (the ML). He came across as way too much of a playboy, more than any drama ML I’ve seen before, especially when he started liking the innocent FL. But what really stood out was the way his character changed after meeting her.

The FL had her own battles with her tragic past involving her stepfather, while the ML carried his trauma of abandonment from his mentally ill mother, his identity struggles, and his brother’s suicide. These were two people who truly understood each other’s pain. Watching them slowly guide each other toward the light, to a kind of happiness and beauty they never thought they’d experience, was very moving.

There were miscommunications, but they felt natural — like layers that eventually peeled back to reveal a deeper understanding. I genuinely felt their emotions; I even got angry when they had to face their past again and deal with it. To me, a drama is better when you actually feel for the characters, and MARS definitely made me do that.

Another aspect I liked was the theme of chasing dreams, which became a way for them to move forward from their painful pasts. The villains were solid — Tong Dao was especially creepy, but the actor nailed the role. The supporting cast was good overall, though I didn’t like the 2FL at first (switching from being ML’s girlfriend to his best friend’s felt messy). But as a character, she had good development despite my personal bias.

I also appreciated how some classmates went from enemies to friends — it gave a fresh touch to the story. There were a few confusing moments here and there, but overall, the story buildup and the ending were really satisfying. It was a classic, but an underrated one.

This drama wasn’t an easy watch, but I enjoyed its depth and the emotions it brought out in me. It’s the kind of story that stays with you !!

Read More

"Where Loyalty Whispers to the Heart”

This drama carried a nostalgic feeling from the very moment I started it. The houses, roads, furniture, and fashion completely transported me to the 90s — even to a time before I was born. Maybe the low-quality version I found helped enhance that nostalgic mood even more, but honestly, it felt comforting in a strangely familiar way. Rather than giving a full detailed summary, I want to talk about the things I genuinely enjoyed in this classic.

One of my favorite elements here was the way the story flowed. The grandmother was the coolest character — sharp, wise, and always able to read people clearly. I loved how she handled her own daughter-in-law and slowly made her reflect on her actions. Lek (FL) protected her dignity, cared deeply, and stayed loyal to her friend Duenchai despite her own growing feelings towards ML. Yes, she could be annoying to the ML with all the bickering, but honestly it was reasonable since she wasn’t interested in him at first, and she was just trying to keep everything professional. And I like the fact that Poom (ML) stayed firm of his feelings towards Lek.

The contract marriage plan wasn’t the most logical thing in the world, but I liked it in a dramatic sense. The ML’s mother was extra with her temper. Her reactions were dramatic, chaotic, and sometimes hilarious, especially when her own schemes backfired on her. Still, I’m glad she eventually turned good. ML himself was a playboy, but not in a toxic way which was more funny, light-hearted, and harmless. It was refreshing to see Aanan Boonnak(Padthai) in his younger days; he’s one of my favorite father characters now, so seeing him here felt nostalgic in a way. He was a good character, and so was Duenchai.

The whole situation with Duenchai returning from Japan and discovering her best friend had unintentionally fallen for her boyfriend felt dramatic but believable. What I appreciated most was how she handled it — she was sad, but she didn’t turn into a villain. She let the ML go and chose Padthai in her life, the man who had been loyal and genuinely loved her all along. Padthai understood her pain and helped her through that phase until she slowly opened her heart to him. That part was really the best.

FL’s self-control also stood out. After realizing she had fallen for ML, she distanced herself because she could never betray her friend. She kept all the pain inside, protected ML from a forced marriage, and only agreed to come back to him after Duenchai personally gave her blessing which finally eased her heart enough to accept the love she truly wanted.

Honestly, I don’t have any strong dislikes in this drama. It’s a very family-oriented romance with humor sprinkled throughout. ML and FL didn’t have the kind of intense chemistry that modern dramas show, but their connection felt understandable, pure, and heart-level. I enjoyed ML’s foolish playful acts and all the chaos Padthai had to witness because he was the only intelligent one capable of untangling the situations. Prakaifah helped her mother’s schemes, but thankfully she didn’t go to extreme villain levels, which kept the tone lighter.

And once again, grandma was the best. Her scenes with the household helpers were wholesome and fun to watch.

I also watched the newer version Jao Sao Sapor Kit before this. The new one leaned more on humor, while this 1998 version carried a raw emotional depth that the newer one didn’t fully capture.

Overall, this drama gave me warmth- a simple story with heart, nostalgia, clean romance, light humor, and a family vibe.

Read More

A classic watch after a while !!

Fai luang is the old version of the Behind the Revenge (2023).
As I watched the new version prior to the old version. There were differences in background character writing even though the storyline was the same.

It had the same enemies to lovers plot which was the sensation back those days. I like Yotien's character played by Khun Tao. Yotien is an innocent character but gotta say she's brave more than the new Yotien in the new adaptation. I felt sad for the Ponwalai here than the one in new version. I like how the family conflict all solved step by step.

It was really nice to watch those actresses/actors here in their younger days, who play father/mother roles in now dramas.

Khun Willy and Khun Tao had a good chemistry. Khun Willy is indeed handsome and Tao is charming. Even though, I found the episodes with bad quality; It was worth it. The supporting characters did well too. And I don't agree with all that toxic behavior in there, but I'm happy that ML finally accept his wrong deeds, did everything to correct them and made a good relationship with her side of family as well. I quite like the story here than the new one. And this seems less heavy than new version.

Overall, I like this one. And this a favorite on my classic list :)

Read More

The best mini drama I watched so far in this year

This mini series was really a best one. It's like watching a rom-com at the beginning. I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm not that of K drama watcher, but this didn't disappoint me. This was recommended by one of my friend, Sakshi in MDL, and I found this lovely drama thanks to her.

ML was an eccentric at first and the way he plans on having the FL by his side was surprising. I kind of felt FL's acting was quite an average though, maybe because she plays a naïve character . BEST ACTING GOES TO ML & Section chief HEO.
Even though it was hilarious, there were some scenes that made me emotional, specially how ML treats and cares for her. He took a long time to confess but it's clear that his mouth speaks the opposite of his heart. I felt FL was dumb at times but then maybe because he never said a word about what he felt for her

The studio and the surrounding they shoot was beautiful. The story was good, the music also as well. The acting cast were brilliant. I loved ML's, Section chief Heo's and psychiatric' s acting. In my opinion, they carried the show. The last episode where Heo waits on the rain while giving a time to FL and ML to be alone ignoring the fact he's being in rain even without an umbrella was something that took my mind. Section Chief Heo was a real best friend.
Gave this a 10/10.

Read More

"Revenge over hearts"

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞" - A good-hearted person slowly turning into a revenge-driven soul. This drama is dramatic, chaotic, and full of angst, so it’s best suited for those who can handle over-the-top lakorn intensity. A mother creating an entire fabricated story just to use her son for revenge was actually new for me in Thai dramas. Since I enjoy heavier revenge plots and I like the Gypsy x Indy pairing, I decided to give it a go.

For what I liked: I genuinely enjoyed the characters of the ML’s brothers, Yang and Fu. They always supported each other and even helped the ML, despite him treating them badly because of the lies his mother fed him. I liked the female lead too — I only wished she had been stronger at resisting the ML’s pull, but I’m glad she never approved of his actions. The cast did really well, and the acting felt solid throughout. I especially liked the plot twist revealing that Srijan, the ML’s mom, was the mastermind who twisted the real story just to push her son toward wealth. The soundtrack during the main couple’s moments was beautiful, and seeing that Bie and Indy are father and son in the drama as well which is in real life made it even more interesting. I also liked that the ending where main couple finally got together once the ML recognized his true feelings for the FL — a love based on sincerity rather than possession.

What I didn’t like was the ML’s character itself. If he wanted revenge, he could have done it with man of dignity — but greed turned him into someone who manipulated people’s hearts, whether men or women, using their feelings to reach his goal. He broke those who loved him and took advantage of their emotions, so I expected a stronger, longer repentance arc for him. He faced some consequences, but I wished he personally apologized to the people who truly cared for him.

The pacing also dragged, especially because the drama focused more on the side couples — Yang & Phimrak, and Fu & Nike. Their stories were okay, but I really wanted more screentime for the main couple. The ML’s mother was ruthless, cold, and shockingly evil. The way she used her own son for money was beyond imaginable. The plot follows a familiar revenge-lakorn structure, but with a slightly different tone this time.

It’s also the first time I’ve seen a male lead playing with both men’s (Eknarong) and women’s (Chatwarang) feelings at the same time in pursuit of revenge. I disliked the ML, but since characters like this do exist in real life, I can’t call it bad writing or lower the rating out of pure frustration from the early episodes.

Overall, “The Demon” was a dramatic ride — messy, emotional, and heavy, but with its own storytelling. The rating I gave was based purely on the cast, acting, and the theme, which I really liked. However, the score dropped because of the weak scriptwriting, especially around the less screentime of the main leads and pacing.

Read More

"Heart Over Heritage"

Even though there is a 2017 version, I like to watch the 2000s version because of my love for classics. I feel like this couple fits the roles written for them really well, even more than the cast in the newer version.

The story is about the Rattanamahasarn family and how Massaya, a half-Malay woman, struggles to find her place in a strict, high-class family. I liked how the story flowed smoothly without too much dramatic exaggeration. The endings with all the couples were satisfying and felt just right.

I also liked how the sibling bond grew stronger and helped the main couple get together. The grandmother, as the head of the family, felt sad and guilty about the past, and change her principles for the betterment of his grandchildren. It was nice to see how acceptance was finally reached.

The storyline is unique, especially with the focus on Massaya's mixed heritage and how it shows different perspectives among the races. I also liked that there were no typical villains trying to break up the main couple. It made the story feel more genuine.

The military setting was interesting since Lak is a soldier. It reminded me of my childhood dream of becoming a soldier. This was my first drama with an army soldier as the male lead. My favorite character was Prince Sadayu. I always like characters named Sadayu, They always come up with good 2ML in lakorns and the fun fact is, it's always a Prince name.

That said, this drama doesn’t have the strong emotional or intense moments I usually look for — the kind that keep me fully engaged. So at times, I felt a bit distracted. But since it’s a classic, the slower tone, slow burn romance and simplicity match its style well.

Buachompoo Ford as Massaya was so beautiful. She has a natural elegance that fits the role perfectly. Andrew is one of my favorite actors. He always nails his parts and brings his own charm to dramas, whom known as the "Prince Charming' in Thai Lakorns. The smiles of the main couple made the drama even more beautiful.

Read More

A Sweet Romance

This version of Torranee Ni Nee Krai Krong was the oldest.
The orchard, farming and the love for the nature was well portraited by the main cast. Andrew and Pock had a great chemistry
Auntie Kaew is hilarious. This indeed a slow burn romance. And Never thought this would be a great lakorn.

I really couldn't find any thing to dislike in this lakorn. The way they solved the problems were logical at most. They bicker a lot at first but they end up in love at last. I like how Darunee's character developed from mischievous to a calm, mature person. I first wasn't intended to watch because of the farming male lead as it's not my fav genre, but now I love it. This made my love for watching older lakorns more and more.
THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LOVES AGRICULTURE

Read More

"I'd still love her even if she was a guy"- Nakatsu

This drama was not that much of a reality but I love how they portrayed friendship and harmony in here
The school is so beautiful and love that nostalgic feeling. The dorms and the landscape was so beautiful. The rain which was there at the scene ML's father got into the taxi after being discharged from the hospital was beautiful. The different personalities among the students are wonderful.
Like the way the school principal does events to make students compete as a team. The last episode broke my heart when all the students bid farewell to the FL. The doc is quite a funny, weird guy and the hole show was hilarious

I loved Nakatsu's character (2ML) and always wanted him to be paired up with Mizuki (FL)
He was very gentle with her and was there beside her when she needs moral support. In my opinion, Nakatsu stole the show with his energetic personality and the way he tries to hide his feelings after being dumped by FL made me really sad
A beautiful J drama I watched recently even though it's 2007, I enjoyed every bit of this

Read More

The karma was unbelievable

This was a heavy story line. The main fact I love was the NORA dance. It's beautiful and carry on watching for that reason mainly. FL and ML's romance was filled with more misunderstandings but it was a good romance at overall. I loved the outfits and specially the OST that's sung by the lead couple.

There were lot of choas within the FL's family but the gentleness of Pimpa (FL's mother) made it a less chaotic. I like how the romance build up between them gradually and P' Waipoj is indeed a good brother.
The karma all the villains faced was literally surprising but I hate the Gang rape thing and it was too much.

As I said earlier, The NORA dance was the best thing in here. It was so beautiful and the end that they insist on keeping the tradition without letting it dying was emotional

Read More

Emotional rollercoaster

I decided to watch Jealousy Incarnate because of Gong Hyo Jin. The thing I love was the topic of "Men having breast cancer" that was rare to be talked on a show. I was giving my attention towards it and In my opinion, it made the drama look beneficial and unique. The doctor and Nurse was the two characters I loved after Main Leads. I love all the characters, songs and the news workplace. Even though Hwa Sin is an actor in real life, He nailed being a news anchor here.

The Ppal Dang's moms were annoying to me at first but I felt happy seeing how two of them got along. Chi Yeol reminds me of myself at times. Pyo Nari's one sided love to Hwa Sin for three years and then the life becomes messy just because of Hwa Sin realizing his true feelings to her lately was frustrating.

I was hoping Pyo Na Ri to be together with Jeong Woon, but I realized her true feelings were always with Hwa Sin and I changed my perspective towards Hwa Jin then. The love triangle happened just because of a one small mistake and they suffered long cause of that. The fact that got my attention was the friendship and love battle. It was good to see Jeong Woon and Hwa Sin finally realizes the value of friendship and went back to be best friends.

Although this would be a too much at the beginning, I loved the theme and message this gives out.

Read More

This could've done better as a drama

I like Ji Jin Hee from the jewel of the palace (2003) and gave this a try.
This could have a more potential if this is a drama. The two episodes with the lucid dreams were a new concept, but the love between these two in the present life was really fast.

So the romance was lacking. If the ML and the FL had a kind of a long storyline than this, the plot would be better.
Maybe anybody would think the same. The moment he knew it was her and wants to be with her was so sudden even though they were lovers from the past. The tags were all good but holes in storyline.

This was a 2hr one but I watched with 1.5 speed at mostly.

Read More