Jao Sao Ban Rai (2023)

If you can forgive the repetitive plot in the middle, it's overall a decent watch

TLDR: Starts off good, makes you scratch your head in the middle and picks up again towards the end. Overall, it's worth watching for the acting, the cute scenes between the lead couple and the twins, and the love story between the leads

It’s going to be a long review if you’re up for it:

The Good:
Namwhan and Denkhun are just so adorable as an onscreen couple! They were the reason I even started on this drama.

Namwhan. God, every time Pim cries, she gets me. Namwhan is crazy talented in acting, especially in emotional scenes. I love the fact that Pim is so different from Min (her role in Doctor Detective which was airing concurrently).

She visibly matures over the course of the drama, especially as she starts caring for the twins. Not that her entire persona revolved around becoming a motherly figure but it was relatively important. The only thing that kept me watching during the middle was just her scenes with the twins.

Denkhun. Another gem, I swear. His body…I mean, he’s doing really good as Saran too. The way he stares at Pim like she’s the most precious and sweetest thing on earth but also the bane of his existence one second later. Nothing about him being Saran feels fake.

He really was the constant in Pim’s life after her grandfather’s death and gave his all to protect Pim from Tin. His love for the twins and decision to take responsibility for them was indeed touching.

Mafeuang and Mafai. OH MY GOD. They are literally the cutest living creatures in this entire drama. Whenever the plot goes haywire, the twins appear to save the day. The way they scream “Daddy” and “P’Pim” just melts my soul. They’re wise beyond their age and know when to speak up for Pim and themselves, which just makes them even more endearing.

The twins have never doubted Pim’s love for them and it’s obvious that they really love Pim as their mother. They shower her with kisses and hugs that can melt anyone’s heart. Not to mention that they break into the most American-accented English here and there.

The helpers in the family. Seriously, every helper is so aware of the family dynamics and how much an ass Orn is, I love it. The comedic element they add is always on point. The older couple, the younger couple and the nanny are all big Pim fans, which is just perfect.

Lada was the only one from the spoilt rich gang that I loved wholeheartedly. She loves Danai but never loses her sanity from that. She cares genuinely for Pim and knocks sense into Nai when he gets blindsided.

The Bad:
Pim is 19-20 years in this drama so it might be good if you avoid going in expecting a really mature FL that knows what’s up. She may be a little frustrating at the start with the way she doubts Saran but given the fact that she lost her parents and grandfather and that her brother sold her to some thug, she’s doing the best she can.

For a good 10 episodes in the middle, she just gets herself kidnapped and needs Saran to come save her from Tin. And even when it’s obvious that her brother is just a selfish jerk and Saran is the actual one caring for her. For the love of sheep, it made everyone watching really frustrated.

That brings me to Saran. Make up your mind, Sir. Either you treat Pim like the girl you really love and cut Orn off totally or you don’t get mad when Danai comes in. You don’t save Pim from Tin all the time and then scream at her for flirting or running away. Orn thinks she had a chance because you don’t make things clear. He’s trying to play the ‘bad boy’ at the start with Pim, acting all tough but fails to realise that Pim is 19. If you keep letting Orn hang onto you like a leech (in Mafaueng’s words), of course Pim isn’t going to trust you as a contract husband.

If he didn’t wake up and treat Pim properly, I would have been the one hitting him.

Aunt Chuda. Your typical aunt/rich madame who is blinded by the ‘nice, rich girl’ that you want for your nephew. It was tiring to see her keep trying to chase Pim away just because she’s poor and from an ‘unknown’ background. Thank goodness she saw how much Pim and Saran loved each other at the end.

The In-Between:
Orn and Thinnamai. Your usual antagonists are doing decent Actually, I think they make a pretty hot ‘thug couple’. It’s obvious that he’s in love with her and will do anything that she asks…until he decides to take advantage of her when she’s drunk. I hated Orn but when Tin threatened her, I couldn’t help but feel pity. I’m glad that these two had some kind of closure, even though it was just a convenient plotline.

Danai. I thought he was just an innocent guy who genuinely liked Pim. But he kind of lost his innocence half-way and when he joined hands with Tin to target Saran, it was just disappointing. Him offering to take Saran’s place when Pim had nowhere to go was an eye-roll moment as well. Lada deserved better (to some extent) but I’m glad Lada managed to steer him back in time.

Overall:
A few eye-rolls here and there for the repetitive plot but it was a nice story that covered a few areas like Pim’s growth, her love story with Saran and just her finding a new family. The writing could have been tighter but nonetheless, the last few episodes were pretty good and the ending was beautiful.

I may be a little generous with the ratings but the drama did pretty good in terms of local ratings so I guess that's a win.

Lire davantage

Total waste of time

This lakorn annoyed me so much I'm writing a review about it.
As someone who has low expectations for lakorns, that watches and loves them for the drama and the messiness, someone who embraced the nonsense and toxicity, I hated this one more than I can express with words.
I can't believe the writers wrote this with their eyes open, seems like they used a spinning wheel of tropes and bullspit to put it together, that would explain why more than 10 episode are a copy/paste thing.
I can't believe the director and producers looked at this and went "yep, air it", like...how?
Not a single enjoyable character (maybe Tin, yes, the r@pist villain, the bar is that low), not a functioning braincell in sight.
No logical development, no character growth (just random forgiveness).
The comedy is comeding, the chemistry between the leads no where to be found and this their second drama together...
If you want to suffer do it for something that's worth it.

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Buckle Up while I take you on a journey

Let me take you on a journey through the highs and lows of this drama, where emotions swirl like a tempest, and characters leave an indelible mark on our hearts.

At first glance, Namwhan and Denkhun appear to be the quintessential onscreen couple, poised to captivate us with their chemistry. Yet, as the story unfolds, that spark we long for seems to flicker and fade, leaving us yearning for a connection that never quite materializes.

But fear not, for amidst the murky waters of disappointment, there shines a beacon of hope in the form of Pim's journey. As she traverses the tumultuous terrain of love and family, we witness her evolution from a naive young woman to a nurturing mother figure for the adorable twins. Oh, how those scenes with Mafeuang and Mafai tug at our heartstrings, their innocent love for Pim radiating like a beacon of light in the darkness.

And then there's Saran, the steadfast pillar of support in Pim's tumultuous world. His unwavering dedication to both Pim and the twins speaks volumes, even if the origins of his love for Pim remain shrouded in mystery.

But it's the twins who truly steal the show, their infectious energy and genuine affection for Pim melting even the coldest of hearts. Their American-accented English adds a unique charm to the drama, a delightful surprise amidst the chaos. But what truly astounds is their flawless command of English, spoken with an American accent, a rarity in the realm of Thai lakorns. ( I mean kids as young as the twins) Their bilingual prowess adds a layer of enchantment to the narrative.

Despite the trials and tribulations Pim faces, she finds solace in the unwavering support of the farm workers, maids, and babysitters who become her makeshift family. But amidst the sea of kindness, there lurks the shadows of betrayal, embodied by Pim's own brother and the nefarious Thinnamai.

And let us not forget Aunt Chuda, the epitome of societal elitism, whose relentless pursuit to thwart Pim's happiness serves as a stark reminder of the class divisions that plague our world.

In the end, while the journey may have its pitfalls and detours, it is ultimately a tale worth experiencing, if only to witness the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. So, grab your tissues, hold onto your heart, and prepare to be swept away by the emotional rollercoaster that is this drama.

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