How do you solve a problem like Wanida? part 2

[dramasoliloquy]

I must say, deep in thought again as I head into episode 12 of what might be an episode 17 show. I'm still unsure why I keep watching. Actually, I usually watch at night and it puts me right to sleep. It has such a simple plot that it's easy to keep up with. Wanida married Prajak, she because of her family wishes, and he to save the Mahasak family from the debts incurred by his brother (who's skipped town). He marries Wanida in episode 2 and so far, there's been a pretty simple formula of Wanida and her posse of servants standing up to the antics and tricks of Pisamai (Prajak's girlfriend) and Prajak's mom, who considers Wanida a commoner, to keep Wanida and Prajak apart.

 

 
One of the things I like best and hate the most about Thai lakorns is the condition and treatment of servants as the lower class citizens, often shown as almost slaves who seem very stereotyped and servile.

There is definitely a class divide in most lakorns and I applaud them for showing this often hidden part of most cultures around the world. This divide between social classes still exists today, in America, Europe and most if not all countries around the world, yet dramas rarely talk about this. In Thai lakorns, the servants are there to bring comic relief, and to side with one group or the other. Rarely are they seen as individuals, or as competent human beings. It reminds me of the way African Americans are portrayed in older movies especially.

This is, of course, what I hate most  about Thai lakorns, the overwhelming view of servants as less intelligent, competent beings.  Witness the frightened servants cower in fear of ghosts, while the brave Wanida goes forward. When Wanida takes care of an older servant who's sick, who until then had been her main harasser, the servant is thankful to a really absurd level and immediately becomes a Wanida slave, singing her praises to anyone who'll listen. It was painful to watch. But then, most servants have an almost slavish allegiance to their masters in these lakorns.

 

But having said all of that, some of the servants are truly funny, with one in particular pictured above. I don't know the name of the actor, but he plays his role with an edge to it, like, almost poking fun at the role he is playing. Hard to explain. And the other great performance would be Wanida's dad, Dao, who plays his role as the uncouth rich man with lots of gusto and bravado. He's seriously awesome and funny, the best part of the lakorn.

So, the story is lame, and repetitive, (how many times can the bad people plot against Wanida), the acting is nothing to write home about with the exception of a few servants and Wanida's father (the baddies, Prajak's mom, Pisamai are both unbelievable in their motives and their acting gives no extra zip to their roles), so why watch?

 

Well, I like the music, taken from the old lakorn so it sounds different from the music of today, and the main couple has a romance I would probably love if the main character wasn't played by Aff. I think she's so wrong for this role. She's sleepwalking through it and seems to have only about four or five different emotions to express throughout. The romance between Wanida and Prajak is a slow one filled with lingering looks, and small gestures, such as a touch on the cheek. Usually, I would eat this up and I still like it, but a different main actress would have made me love it..

   

Still, why I continue to watch this is a bit puzzling. It's pretty, beautiful house, lovely dresses, look at that pink dress in the picture. Stunning. Well, I guess, maybe, I still need to think about it. Meanwhile, I'll just post some random pictures I have to round out my post.

(By the way, you solve a problem like Wanida by turning her from an incompetent spoiled brat who can't drive, always gets into accidents, self absorbed into someone who cooks heavenly, takes care of the sick, plays the violin, dances traditional Thai dance, graduates at top of class. and so on.)