Anusaya

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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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.

Seduction, jealousy and lies take our female lead from overseas homecoming and traumatic cheating fiance, into the clutches of conniving sister and insane brother act 'toxic team entitled'. Where bystander silence masks inhumanity, male lead anger justifies sexual assault, and female lead family-stupidity unconscionable results. Abused mentally and physically by the male lead, both lead's families, friends, and employees - The female lead spends most of this drama being everyone's scapegoat, punching bag and misjudged victim. The male lead's words below, clinched this review. Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

ML: "Or do you want to rape me too? Just like how I did to you is fine." The male lead says smiling, trying to get the female lead to take him back.
[ep15 51:03]
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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One of the best Thai dramas of 2021.

James and Mew, have a fun playful quality as actors. Both strong in their humor, they play off other actors' emotions so well. As, one of the sweetest pairings to date; these qualities they bring to the characters of Squinty and Pum.

I never doubted for one moment that the mains weren't in love. The chemistry between them is refreshing. This romance is non-toxic and natural. Misunderstandings are voiced, and worked on together as friends first and then as a couple. With multiple characters, a second couple, three if you count the parents - it's quirky and fun. This is really an ensemble cast with everyone (even the non-living) having multiple stories played through, and resolved. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a little more than sweet, but without that bitter aftertaste of some dramas. Enjoy.

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rape is not romance.

The settling of a debt; the sins of the father lay upon one child. One punishment for having jerks for parents - rape. Or, as in the remake; A slightly different context, & same outcome. A romanticized, albeit outdated and cautionary, human trafficking tragedy.

Both families were 'a piece of work' in both versions. Both little sisters, being half of a strange and surreal tag-team. In this, both of their roles were well defined. The male lead's sister; the brothel-enforcer (same character in remake) redirects the second male lead's hopes, to protect the family's unpaid (Dad embezzled) baby machine (female lead). While, the female lead's sister; the wannabe brother-in-law's mistress (changed in remake) moves in with the mains, trying to initiate wifely duties. The series is depressing, characters questionable, and motives having nothing to do with 'love at first sight' (see discussion). Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

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

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rape is not romance.

Rape and the self-righteous man. Born in the obsessed 'holier-than-thou' male lead's mind, everyone's sins, and misfortunes lead back to the female lead. Unfortunately for the female lead the male lead's punishments of choice; mental abuse, verbal attack, physical and sexual assault. While the female lead's only saving grace is Stockholm syndrome, a plucky personality, and vivid daydreams. It takes a very screwed-up village (in story & discussion) to rush to judgement over 'a synopsis' that declares; a virgin man-eater, and her rapist; a handsome up-right and a religious (in story) pillar of the community, and not, the violent criminal that he really is. Rape is not romance, and it doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

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

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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://kisskh.at/list/389deQR4)

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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

In 2016, the first ethical regulations for Thai television channels regarding the media portrayal of gendered violence in soap operas was published - sparked by series "Game Rai Game Ruk" watchers in Thailand organized and lobbied to ban such violence.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3047227/metoo-bangkok-thai-tv-soap-operas-rape-and-sex-attacks

I left Game Rai Game Rak unrated at zero for a long time - And, not because I was put off by all 3 parts; beginning, middle and end. It was the criminal toxicity of one male lead and his equally abusive side-kick, the female lead's sister for two-thirds of it. But, how do I account for the first-third - the beginning? After thinking it through, I was inspired to finally rate it. I came to accept the male lead's character was a rapist, and nothing more. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Without a rape - I would still rate it a one. Avoid.

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

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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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Lovely - Highly rexommended.

Tags, be damned and watchers drawn for whatever reason. However you got here - It is all good. This series was brilliance in, and of itself. The story was well written, the actors up to the task. And all, without demonizing the characters, with that typical Victorian mindset, and ending that is used far to often.

"To Sir, With Love "could have gone the way of so many of these Thai stories, but the production respected modern watchers. Giving us a historical reality, in the guise of a world we could navigate unscathed, and still mindful of content. The story of a family, a culture - Where the beginnings of change are better seen in hindsight. A story where viewers, become privy to a character's personal experience and can relate. Where, the writer understood true romance, and didn't try to take the easy way out. Highly, recommended.

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rape is not romance.

Rape and the final plot twist, or how to destroy a heroine (female lead) in 15 episodes, and not less. The female lead is a doctor with a moral compass, strong will, and a good heart. Stop there, a doctor. That profession usually denotes intelligence, empathy, being employed, and paying her own bills. Enter, the aging playboy male lead, and his toxically entitled family, along with a neighbor of the doctor. Where, karma and sins roll off, all of them, like the golden children they think they are. Stop again; sarcasm ahead. That doctor persona (according to ML family) just bleeds; gold digger, man eater, and promiscuity. I blame both the writer, and the director. Toss in a final hour rape and holding the female lead hostage - You now have one of the weakest and pathetic male leads I've ever encountered. There was no reason to rape the female lead. It did not belong there. Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

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

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rape is not romance.

Rape, as torture, to instill fear and punish the male lead's captive, the female lead. A revenge, born in the insanity of a grief-filled mind - The male lead blames the female lead, for a car accident that killed his at-fault wife. The male lead approaches the female lead and her sister, indebting them to him. He then pretends to court the female lead, until she believes he has feelings for her. But, after intimacy, the male lead bursts into that reality, by revealing it's all been for revenge. Now, the male lead is in control. Putting her in personal danger; with physical harm; under mental and sexual attack. All done in the name of white-cold-rage; calculated to bring the male lead's victim, the female lead closer and in his torturous control. The 'rape to romance' story-line was a stupid choice from the start. This, was a straight up revenge plot that should have had some criminal consequences. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

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

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rape is not romance.

Repeatedly raped by the male lead, the female lead is abused and undeservingly deprived of dignity by most characters in this drama. That is not an understatement, and even when her pre-abused life, crashes in, the taint in the story remains. Some friends have no loyalty; family acquaintances, bizarre motives; the entitled, never held criminally responsible for any of their actions. It is a hard watch, and to think the male lead, is a hero from her childhood. No. That story line never goes anywhere, except for misdirection as the male lead tries to get information via email, from his victim's (FL) mom.

This could have been a better drama, but for the physical and sexual assaults by the male lead. If that 'rape culture" scenario was removed, the underlying story of an obsessed man, insane step-mom, and the suicide of a stepbrother and son, it could be a good melodrama. But, rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

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

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