Rahut Rissaya Episode 1 Recap

[dramasoliloquy]

So it's here finally. If anyone's been keeping up with the teasers I've released, this is what it's about: Rahut Rissaya. This lakorn is available to watch at jdramas and AM-Addiction. I've spent massive amounts of time on this project, and hope to finish in a month or so.

For now, here's the first episode recap of Rahut Rissaya..

(Siva, Palai)

MAIN CHARACTERS

Noon Woranuch as Palai – our heroine, newly orphaned, educated overseas. It takes a long time for Palai to warm up to others and she doesn't trust people easily. Like her aunt Rasika, Palai is single-minded and strong willed. She doesn't mince her words and has a strong rivalry with Junjarang.

Paul Pattarapol as Siva – He's vice president at the hospital and is primarily in charge there . His steady girlfriend is Junjarang, who he's been dating for years. Siva grew up in a well-known upper class (high so) family and is considered an obedient son.

Rasika – the villain. She takes control of Palai's house and company after the deaths of her brother and his wife. A scheming, self centered woman, Rasika is always looking to increase her profits and will use any means necessary to do so.

Arisa Will as Junjarang – Although Rasika brought her up, Junjarang doesn't have Rasika's or Palai's strengths, and is hot tempered and spoiled. Junjarang has always resented Palai and the things Palai has that she doesn't, namely parents and wealth.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Meena – Once the trusted secretary to Palai's mom, she now works for Rasika and knows the in and outs of the company much better than anyone else.

Thana – Palai's friend since childhood, he and Palai share a common bond in that they've both lost their loved ones.

Officer Veerakorn – (not pictured) Thana's friend, he's a cop who is now is investigating the corruption case involving Palai's parents.

Nichada – (not pictured) Siva's ex girlfriend and now best friend. She's a doctor who works at Siva's hospital.

SERVANTS

(Pang - Palai's servant, Vieng - Rasika's servant and Thoi - Siva's male servant)

EPISODE 1

Rahut Rissaya begins with our Pra'ek (Thai for main hero) striding into the hospital and we learn  that he's vice president there. He's told he has a visitor, Palai, who's the nang-ek (Thai for heroine).

(The first meeting)

There's a flashback to what is presumably the first time Siva saw Palai, at the funeral of her parents and as he gazes at her, cuz she sure is pretty, his girlfriend, Junjarang (Palai's cousin) and Rasika (Palai's aunt) tell him how Palai's basically a bad daughter. And we see another main character Thana (though we don't know his name yet), at Palai's side, trying to comfort her. Palai's  weeping, but she turns a cold glare towards her aunt and cousin. (Gosh, I love this. Setup of five of the main characters in one blow in less than a minute? Beat that!)

Palai gets down to business immediately, framing her proposal to Siva around his relationships to her cousin and his father. She tells Siva she wants to marry him, and when he asks why, she has this to say.

"This marriage is not because of love but an exchange for your father's horrible secret.
This secret can ruin your family in just a blink of an eye.
I got your number... I'll give you one day to make your decision."

Palai gets home, only to be meet by servant Pang, who tells her Jun is ransacking her room. Palai finds Jun doing exactly that, with the help of her servant Vieng and tells her to stop. But Jun floors her by saying it's her room now.

Aunt Rasika comes in and confirms it. Palai's dad, Rasika's brother, owed Rasika money due to his gambling debts. Palai can't believe it, and later on vows revenge to get back her family's property and honor. She wipes away tears, vowing to never let anyone see her cry again.

Siva asks his mom about Palai's father, and she tells him he was thought to be a good man, but then a scandal broke out that he was cheating the company and he had huge gambling debts. Siva's father started an investigation of Palai's father, but before it ended, Palai's father was dead.

According to Siva's mom, Palai was no better either, academically or otherwise. Siva asks if there's are any issues between the two families, Palai and his? But this arouses his mom's curiosity, so Siva backs down.

(Shred, baby, Shred. "Obstruction of justice!")

Not satisfied with throwing Palai out of her home, Rasika's at the company now, shredding papers. Meena, the secretary there, tries to intervene and then Palai shows up. She demands to know what's up. But, it turns out that Palai's mom gave Rasika the company in exchange for her debts and gives her the documents showing this. Naturally, Palai can't believe this (who would?). So now Rasika is president, Jun's vice president and don't worry, Palai, they have a spot for you also... secretary.

Taking the documents her Aunt gave her to lawyer friend Thana, he confirms them as being legal, much to Palai's disbelief. Thana tells her he'll have them investigated by a friend of his. He goes on to tell Palai she needs to take a break since she's been on the go since she came back. But as they watch a press conference on tv in which Siva's father talks about Palai's father saying there definitely was corruption involved, Palai asks rhetorically, how can I rest?

She calls Siva, setting a date for tonight, texts Thana with a message saying they'll get their revenge soon.

At the meeting, Siva declines her proposal.telling her he feels sorry for her. He gives her a check for 300,000 bahts and Palai gives him a bunch of shredded paper back as she tells him she doesn't want money, but to be part of the family. She goes on talk about his father's crimes,  illegal abortions, murders, etc., and tells him she has all the info on a website only she has the password to. If he marries her, he'll get the code, if not the tv stations and newspapers will get the code. Siva gets a marriage deadline, tomorrow or else.

Siva goes home to discuss these rumors with his mom. But she becomes increasingly distraught and denies it all, saying it's lies made up by his father's rivals and collapses.

The doctors visit Siva's mom, and his pretty doctor friend Nichada warns him, telling him he knows his mom has heart problems and that he needs to be cautious.

(Jun doesn't like Palai's cooking and Siva meets Palai to discuss marriage.)

In Super Bee mode, Jun wakes Palai from her bed in the servant's room, telling her it's no more Miss Nice Guy. Palai has to work hard for a living. (Just like you, Jun??) Palai fixes her breakfast, but it turns out Jun likes to waste food. Palai tells Pang later that it's just to lull them into a sense of false security, thinking everything's going their way.

“Siva!” On his way to work, Siva is stopped by his father, who's apparently learned Siva's been asking questions. He basically tells Siva to stop, since they're lies anyway, but Siva tells him he would rather know then not know.

Siva arrives at the courthouse with a document in hand. He'll agree to sign the marriage license, but there are conditions:

1) No marriage ceremony,
2) Marriage must be kept a secret (here Palai injects with if someone manages to find out on their own, it's not her problem)
3) Palai can't trouble his family, especially his mom,
4) She has no rights over his wealth and lastly,
5) She must give him the code immediately after marrying him.

They go inside and start sniping at each other, confusing the official who's handling their papers. Marriage done, Siva wants the code, but Palai makes him wait. Finally, she gives him the code, or rather one letter of the code, a “Y”, much to Siva's fury. She tells him he can earn the rest of the code by letting her live with him.

Junjarang's throwing a hissy fit about Palai not showing up for work. But when Palai finally arrives, it's only to resign and Palai mentions her husband doesn't want her to work. Palai goes to inform Meena of the news and cautions her to be careful with her gone.

Aunt and niece ponder over Palai's statement, thinking it must be Palai's boyfriend Thanakorn she married. Aunt Rasika mentions she's notice Siva hasn't been coming over lately and says:

"Jun, you know that I'm a business woman.
When I invest in something, I never lose profit.
The only reason I kept you around for over 20 years since your parents died,
is because I think you'll make a profit for me.
And your life will be better too. So, don't disappoint the both of us."

Siva gets an idea of where Palai can live, the Orchid House, apparently an old and dilapidated guest house that's separate from the main house. He looks over it with Thoi, his male servant, with humorous results.

Next, Siva tells his Mom she's going on a trip, a vacation to Japan with a friend. Tomorrow! Mom's confused, but agrees at the urging of both son and husband. Palai is also clearing up loose ends, and she calls on Thana to ask him to forget her because they can only be friends.

Goodbye, goodbye – Siva sees his mom off, Palai and Rasika exchange barbs with each other and it's hello time as Palai comes to Siva's house. The way he glowers at her is quite fetching. And I love their conversation as Palai requests that Siva, and only Siva buy some things she needs. Palai tells him,

"This is just the beginning. If you were reading a book, you would still be reading the first page."

(Come to me, my pretties!)

Siva's incensed at having to play the errand boy for her and tells her he'll get back at her. He begins his quest for revenge when he sees underwear on her list and proceeds to buy the most colorful and sexy ones he can find, along with flamboyant dresses. Meanwhile, it's clear Palai just wanted him out of the way as she makes her way unseen into the main house. She finds an office and searches it swiftly, and seems satisfied to find pictures of her aunt Rasika and Siva's father together which she takes.

Palai is predictably aghast at the clothes Siva brought her, but Siva wonders why does it matter since he'll be taking them off soon anyway.

"You think acting like that would scare me?"
"Someone like you is probably afraid of nothing, or else you wouldn't be here."

Outside, he finds Thoi spying and sets him on guard duty, Palai doesn't go out, and no one goes in, including his father. Pang arrives at the house after Palai calls her. Siva hears about Pang's arrival and goes to confront Palai, telling her she broke the agreement by letting their marriage become known.

But Palai denies it, and when Pang's questioned, she tells Siva he's the one who told her, just now. Haha! Pang leaves, and Palai makes it clear she asked Pang primarily to protect herself from Siva's amorous advances. Haha some more. Siva tells her that won't keep her safe and to expect him tonight.

(Siva finds Thoi asleep on guard duty and sends him away as he tries to get to his lady love.)

Night falls, and Siva makes his way to the Orchid House, only to find it... locked tight. The next day, there's a smug Palai, and (should I say this?) a frustrated Siva, who drags Palai into the shower and orders her to shower, dress and come with him. Palai refuses with,

"Are you crazy? That hurt!"
"You can get hurt too? I thought that you're not capable of human feelings".

Pang and Thoi have been flirting like crazy as she prepares Palai's breakfast, but when she goes to take it to her, she finds Palai and Siva are on their way out. And the reason why Siva's taking Palai out becomes known, the servants are to unscrew all the locks of Orchid House.

(Siva hiding from Junjarang.)

At the restaurant, Siva continues to be a douchebag by ordering for Palai and following her to the bathroom. She calls Meena and tells her to phone Junjarang and tell her Siva wants to meet her at the restaurant. So Siva is surprised by a call from Junjarang asking him where's he's at, since she's here already. Palai slips out and greets Junjarang and they have this conversation where Palai makes all these veiled references to Siva being her husband, but clueless Junjarang doesn't get it.

Foiled again, Siva later confronts Palai, but she warns him if he continues with his behavior, he'll never get the code. If I were Siva, I would see red at her smug tone of voice and her little flick of his shirt collar.

(Rasika warning Meena, who informs Palai of Officer Vee's visit.)

Crocodile tears flow in abundance as Rasika is questioned by Officer Veerakorn about her brother's death and the events behind the alleged corruption. She tells him she doesn't want to believe her brother acted so, but the evidence seems to be clear.

Officer Vee then asks to speak to Meena and attempts to question Meena, but she won't respond to his questions about the corruption case, casting nervous glances at Rasika, so he tells her they can talk later and asks for her contact info.

Here, Rasika intervenes by telling him he can contact Meena through her as they'll both be together when Meena is questioned. He leaves and Rasika tells Meena she knows she was a fan of her old boss, but she's in charge now and she hates people who go behind her back.

Meena relates all to Palai, who warns her to be careful. Palai gives her the name of someone who knows Officer Veerakorn phone number and asks Meena to get in contact with him since she trusts Officer Veerakorn.

A depressed Thana has a visitor, Officer Veerakorn and he tells Vee what happened with Palai, saying when he called her house, they said she had left with some guy, who wasn't him.

MY THOUGHTS

This episode is almost two hours, so rest assured, I didn't go into all the details. I also wasn't able to adequately cover the many wonderful comic moments in the episode, but they're abundant.

This isn't a romantic comedy, but because the comedy is so expertly played by Paul as Siva and some of the servants like Thoi, it can be freaking hilarious at times. It's not like the humor in some dramas, say Drunken to Love You which devises all these ridiculous scenarios to provoke laughs. Instead, the laughter here comes naturally from the characters and situations they find themselves in.

And Palai. "I'm willing to do anything, just for my revenge." Wow, just, wow. What can you say to that?

Let me talk about Siva while I'm at it. Over and over again, Siva has been rendered impotent by Palai. He's been blackmailed into marriage by her, forced to be at her beck and call, while she's manipulated him at every instance. Siva's actually played fair with her, following her rules, but when she shows she's not willing to follow them herself, then it's gloves off, no holds barred.