Thai Lakorn Review: Wanida (2010)

[dramasoliloquy]

I've written about Wanida before, but decided to do a proper review. I enjoyed watching it, although it has its flaws. You know those dramas that you watch until the end, but can barely remember? Yeah, this was one of those.

Looking at scenes and pictures for this review was surprisingly pleasant. I guess I enjoyed it more than I thought I did.

Drama Title: Wanida
Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Comedy, Marriage, Period
Original language: Thai                                                        Year: 2010
Episodes: 16                                                                        Pacing: Some filler, Too long
Director: Yuthana Lorphanpaiboon & Hathairat Omtwanit    Screenwriter: Panathee

Cast of Characters: Tik Jesadaporn  as Major Prajak Mahasak, Aff Taksaorn Paksukcharoen as Wanida (Nid)

In Brief: Set in the 1940s?, this lakorn revolves around two families, the old and proud, but money poor Mahasak family and the newly rich Wongwiboon family.

Prajuab Mahasak had borrowed money from Dao, the coarse but rich head of the Wongwibbon family. When he can't pay it back, Dao offers to marry Prajuab to his daughter Wanida (Aff), in exchange for the debt. (He wants his daughter to have the social standing that the Mahasak family's name will provide.  No one in the Mahasak family likes that proposal and so Prajuab goes into hiding, and his older brother Major Prajak Mahasak (Tik) tries to negotiate with Dao.

What Dao wants remains unchanged, however, and he gladly accepts Prajak in his brother's place. To save his family's honor as Dao threatens to sue, Prajak marries Wanida, although he has a girlfriend, Pisamai, and against his mom's wishes under the condition that he'll divorce Wanida when his brother gets the money to repay Dao.

There's also a little story about the connection between Wanida's grandmother who was chased from the Mahasak family home, but not a lot of time is spent on it. This is a remake of a very popular lakorn in the past.

Reminds Me Of: There are a number of lakorns with the theme of arranged marriages, but this puts me in mind of another unwanted marriage lakorn, Ruk Nai Marn Mek.

Favorite Scenes: My favorite scenes of the lakorn were any scenes in which the couple gaze into each others' eyes, which happened a lot.

There was also a scene in which Wanida gets hurt and Prajak takes care of her.

Pet Cliches (Pros): Marriage of Convenience, Older Guy, Younger Girl

Pet Peeves (Cons): Annoying Relatives, shallow characters, Trouble-making Relatives, Love at First Sight?, Someone Lets the Stupids In.The Evil Other Woman, Noble Idiocy

Skim Through: The last three episodes were very skim worthy.

Smiles:I enjoyed the costumes and settings in Wanida. They were all so colorful and unique. I also liked the music, which really seemed like a step back in time.

Wanida's father Dao was played by a great actor and he had a number of amusing scenes as the rich, but raffish character.

Another plus for me? Tik. It was great to see him after his absence from dramas for years, while he made movies. He's so charismatic. I don't think he's a great actor, but he's charming and easy on the eyes.

Frowns: Aff, Aff, Aff. I really couldn't get a clear concept about what her character is. Aff is Wanida, the main character, who's a spirited girl of 22. At first, she's shown as this klutzy sort of character, but later on she's portrayed as this highly accomplished young lady. I'm not sure if it was the director, or the script, or Aff, but something seemed off. (I think it was Aff.)

To continue with character inconsistency, look at Prajak's mother's, who behaves totally out of character at the lakorn's end.

Why You Might Like It?:If you're looking for a pretty lakorn with pretty people, great costumes, music and sets, this is a good one to fall to sleep to (I usually watched it before going to bed.)

Parent's Rating: PG

Where to watch this?: Online at wishboniko's youtube.

MY BIAS:Tick tock, tick tock.
Final rating:                                           Mediocre

If this was just about how a lakorn looks and sounds, this would be an Excellent rating. Everything looks good, it's gorgeous and the leads are beautiful people. But the inconsistency of the characters really palls on me.

(Evil mother-in-law, right down to the wart, and evil other woman.)

Plus, it's so unoriginal, (yeah, I know it's a remake, but still!). From the scheming mother-in-law, interfering girlfriend, to the comic relief servants, well, you've seen it before if you've watched lakorns at all. Still, an enjoyable lakorn.