Nueng Nai Roi (2024)

A Modern Day Lady and Her Gentleman

Anong, our spirited FL, was a modern-day girl navigating the fine line of tradition in Thai society, during a time of rigid gender roles and cultural expectations. Born into a wealthy family, she grew up surrounded by four protective brothers and two delightful aunts, old-school in their values but refreshingly open-minded. Thanks to their support (and a dash of their unconventional thinking), Anong got to study abroad and eventually took charge of the family store, a rarity for women in her community. Unlike most, she embraced modern ideas, daring to challenge what was considered "proper" for a woman of her background.

But life with four brothers? Oh, boy. While they adored her, they were also walking, talking ego machines — proud, opinionated, and chauvinistic. Naturally, they wanted Anong to marry a man who’d elevate the family’s social standing. Sompong, the eldest, took it upon himself to search for her "perfect" husband, mainly because he wanted the best for Anong but also to compete with his other brothers for the most suitable brother-in-law. In his efforts, he roped in Wichai, our ML, to help vet potential suitors. Little did Sompong know that this mission would spark the beginning of a love story that no one, least of all Anong and Wichai, saw coming.

Wichai, who was a judge, should have been the kind of guy who could make heads turn and hearts flutter—a true gentleman through and through. Handsome, charming, and armed with old-school values like honesty, principles, and unwavering consistency, ir was no surprise that Anong noticed him and fell for him hard and fast. However, Wichai came with a tragic backstory and a harsh upbringing courtesy of his strict, selfish snob of a mother. He thought of himself as being boring and, worse, undeserving of love. Talk about a tough nut to crack!

Yet, Anong was no quitter. She took on the challenge with flair, determination, and a sprinkle of mischief. Watching her "chase" Wichai was an absolute delight. She was flirty, fun, and effortlessly adorable, pulling off every playful move with charm. Not once did her antics veer into cringey second-hand embarrassment territory, and her attempts often involved her MVP brother, Prasit, the ultimate wingman. Honestly, one couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.

Of course, Wichai eventually fell for Anong—how could he not? But being the self-doubting, emotionally constipated guy he was, he convinced himself that he was just a fun little challenge for her. Cue the "will-he-won’t-he" phase that tested not only Anong’s patience but ours too! The frustration we felt increased when a generous helping of misunderstandings was added to the mix.

Luckily, perseverance paid off, and Anong’s unwavering belief in her choice was proven right. When Wichai finally committed, he leveled up in every way possible, becoming even more swoon-worthy as the male lead. It was such a delight to see Wichai break out of his usual proper pragmatic self to do something purely based on emotions and his love for Anong. Together, they were pure magic — a couple that was not only endearing but also rock-solid, inspiring relationship goals.

Yaya absolutely nailed the role of Anong, bringing to life a fearless, norm-defying lady who wasn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers. She didn’t just play the part—she owned it with flair, sophistication, and just the right amount of sassy confidence. And let’s talk about that vintage glamour — chef’s kiss! It wasn’t just her look; it was her whole presence. Honestly, half the fun of watching each episode was waiting to see what she’d wear next. Every outfit? A masterpiece. Every scene? A runway. She didn’t just walk onto the screen; she strutted, serving looks that had me bookmarking mental Pinterest boards each time. Total icon energy!

The show hit the jackpot, pairing Tor with Yaya. I mean, visually? They were an absolute dream, and they had awesome chemistry! Tor didn’t just rely on his good looks, though; he brought his A-game to the role, nailing the part of the gentlemanly judge like it was tailor-made for him. His facial expressions were spot-on. You could practically see the tension and restraint when he was holding himself back from Anong, all stoic and reserved. However, when he finally let his guard down, his face turned soft, heart-meltingly sweet.

As for the second couple, I was not too interested in them. Their romance just didn’t have that spark and it felt like something was missing.

Other than the main leads, the rest of the cast played their parts very well, with each actor bringing so much to their character. Special shout-outs to Peterpan as Prasit and Kik, as Wichai's mother, whom everyone loved to hate. The show’s aesthetics were another plus point! The cinematography was well done, and the attention to details of that era, including the styling and set design, was superb. Add to that a well-executed plot, great dialogue, and, best of all, a proper, satisfying almost-full-episode ending that wrapped things up beautifully.

In typical Thai style, redemption was the ultimate answer for the nasty antagonist, the mother. Even though very few would find her redeemable, the fact that Wichai, who valued his family very much, was able to keep them together was like the cherry on top of the cake!

This show deserved way higher ratings, no question about it! The glowing comments and reviews say it all. This gem is an absolute must-watch.

Lire davantage

Jane Austin Ambiance, pdone right

This is a piece of art! The rewatch value of this show surpasses everything. By the time the last episode aired, I had rewatched it twice. The first watch was not that impressive as I was watching it with my regular lens , forwarding every slow boring scene. When I gave the show a second chance, I learned the beauty of it. It is a masterpiece and can only be enjoyed if you are ready to hear all the dialogues and see the character development of not just our awesome leads but so many of the side characters. The writing has a flawless rhythm to it. Small plot lines like where Wichai asked Anong to collect compliments given from ppl's hearts and then they can marry, even with all the admiration Wichai had for Anong, giving Anong full decision power to accept him or reject him, the natural progression of relationships e.g Anong with Wichai's sister and niece, Wichai with Anong's brothers, Wichai's servant and his back story... etc etc makes this show a classic to be cherished forever. All plots are connected and add to the depth of story.
Not only the characters are well written but the cast is beautifully depicted, yes I have always been in love with Yaya and Tor but Anong's eldest and youngest brother, Wichai's sister, niece, brother & his wife were all amazing actors.
I must admit, Wichai's mom is one character who was too pathetic and her scenes had to be skipped. She was the only one that fit the normal evil Lakorn character profile.
Display of some physical romance is what I crave for. I must admit I don't do well where there are fish kisses or none. This one had a beautiful mix of physical intimacy. Natural kisses that made you believe as if the leads are truly meant for each other but never going over board where u get grossed out with explicit scenes.
I live in States, wish they had a meet and greet with cast and crew. I would love to give them endless comments. Yaya and Tor looked so handsome in every take. Their costumes added to the beauty of the scenes. The lush greenery and perfect sets made this show a gem to be cherished.

Lire davantage