Oh. My. God. This show is so ridiculously bad, I'm not even mad anymore.
What's worse is that I think I actually may have enjoyed it instead.Game Rai Game Rak, like almost all Lakorns comes with its fair share of bullshit. You've got an old Island crone whose eyes turn bright blue everytime she sees the future (which ofcourse is completely irrelevant to the plot), you've got a one-dimensional villain, a nasty insecure bitch of a relative who basically destroys lives left and right but somehow has a change of heart in the last ten minutes of the show, wins everyone over and sets off in the sunset without ever having to pay for her crimes.
You've got a selfless and highly forgiving damsel in distress who's constantly being sexually, physically and mentally harassed by our main lead who misunderstands her because of trusting the lies his worst enemy fed him.
Not the brightest tool in the shed, I tell you.
Ofcourse there is always that one guy who is like a brother to our heroine (however always conveniently having waaay more skinship than normal siblings have) who inspires jealousy and possessiveness in the male lead who then proceeds to humiliate the heroine by calling her a slut and whatnot. We also can't possibly forget the one or two or in this case, three other guys who're interested in the female lead and are so insignificant, they might as well be invisible.
Everything is overdramatic and over the top. Rape gets romanticized like nobody's business. People get shot and catch bullets on the daily. Corny dialogues flow out like bad breath everytime someone opens their mouth. Obnoxious music starts playing every ten minutes; effectively swiping away any sincerity that the show managed to portray. Scenes are constantly repeated and the plot-line soon gets derivative.
In short, it's an honest to God definition of a hot mess.
But then again, nobody watches Lakorns for a solid story, well developed characters or a good plot with lack of loopholes. No, people mostly watch Lakorns because they're the classic guilty pleasures and because they get the chemistry between characters spot-on.
Game Rai Game Ruk is no different, which is why despite everything, I still watched it to the end.
This is the third Thai drama starring Yaya, that I have watched and unsurprisingly she impressed me once again. Her acting is always a 100% genuine and the characters she brings to life are so hard not to love.
Game Rai Game Rak is very very similar to Kleun Cheewit; having an almost identical feel at times, but where Jeerawat was a fierce and fearless woman, Fahlada radiates innocence. She's pure, delicate and basically the classic good girl- all the while, successfully staying far away from the 'kind but dumb' category everybody hates.
However, as adorable as she is, I feel that if you don't like YaYa you might not like Fahlada either. In Kleun Cheewit, I started to love the actress because of the drama and her role in it but in GRGR, I liked the drama only because I loved the actress and if I had seen this drama first I might've never adored Urassaya as much as I do now.
After watching this drama I finally understand why Yaya and Nadech are such a big deal in Thai entertainment industry. Their chemistry is absolutely electric and while I did feel that Nadech has a short emotional range as an actor, I believe this was one of his best roles.
From start to finish, it's impossible to hate Saichon. Even when things get ugly and he acts like an ultimate creep by smelling Fah's hair when she isn't looking, taking pictures of her when she's unaware, spying on her with a telescope, tying her up again and again and degrading her, (there's always the unforgivable and romanticised implied rape and all the other times he makes her cry and do things without her will) the reason you can't hate him is because of their sweet as hell moments in the island and the surety that no matter how rotten he acts he still deeply loves Fahlada.
The ultimate on-his-knees groveling session at the end and the fact that Fahlada hits him quite a lot all the time really does help his case furthur and to be honest, even though I am highly unforgiving of assholes there was never a moment where I didn't root for them to be together.
So all in all, Game Rai Game Rak is the kind of show that you can only watch while being extremely lenient 'cause the moment you start to notice all that is wrong with it, you'll start hating it. While I reccomend this for a good time-pass, personally, I skipped and fastforwarded a lot of scenes because, as the show progresses the episodes begin to be filled with more of the same thing. So even if it is skipped a bit, it won't effect the over-all watching experience.
Your classic bad boy-good girl story that you'll love to hate and hate to love and unfortunately do both by the end.
Enjoy!
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Okay Talking about Game Rai Game Rak its filled with everything you want to see in a Lakorn, Beautiful star, Fire Chemistry, there is Violence, Love, Purity, Sexual tension, Fun, Evil and Obsession.
Saichon/Charles is one of the most romantic Hero, Ive ever seen after Ken Theeradeth Wonpuapan, Nadech slays this role because he is Cute, innocent and so beautiful to look at as Saichon and Sexy, Suave, Evil, Obsessed, Thrilling as Charles. He nailed his roles, His Love and devotion for his love was coming out and we felt that emotion. We cried with him, Understood his actions and Supported him in everything and Still love him. Now, That is Power of his performance, I've never seen him acting this intense with any actress, But with Ya its as if that personal longing and desire and Love opens up all the doors of this heart and We fans feel that connection and chemistry.
Nang Fah/ Fahlada was a delight to watch, A sweet, innocent, baby like and so cuteeeeeeee in Nag Fah and Beautiful, charming, stubborn and emotional as Fahlada. True Angel in appearance and such delight to watch her performance. Yaya makes me so proud of her every role. She slays it. This was one of the best performance.
Her trust and growth as Fah and her love for sai was epitome of this drama.... The best est phrase.... And her distrust and Hatred for Charles was understandable because, she had a very solid reason to do so. If I were in her shoes, I would have killed him.
Dumb Docter but what could be do? At one point I was rooting him with Fah hahahha lol... as I could not take that heavy obsession of Khun Charles. It was heavy.... WOW.
Evil Sister .... Beyond redemption .... Such a sorry writer who could have shown us her punishment but did not. HECK!
All Min islanders .... I wish I was there ... Enjoyed the land, water, people and whole atmosphere.
In last this drama is REWATCH value, Ive seen it many times.... The Love which comes in Nadech's eyes is just awesome ..... and the way yaya responds is not that deep as Na but ADORABLE. I see why THAILAND is in love with this two KOOJINS ..... THEY ARE SMOKING,
JUST GO AND FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS KOOJINS.
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Sweet Beginning, Constant Torture Follows
I can't believe how this lakorn glorifies rape and abuse. Just shocking. Saichon raping Nang Fah?! Abusing her, harrasing her, uses his power to make her miserable for only beliving a lie which he could clarify in five minutes. What kind of a loser writer wrote this shit? These are all out of the character of Saichon. He would never make her wife cry or make her upset these willingly.Morover, that annoying evil sister's screentime is more than Yaya and Nadech. I skipped all her scenes to not have to see her stupid acting. What an annoying voice she has, omg. Like most of these kind of series, evil sister who made people miserable with lies, attemted murder, torture, abduction ect, has no punishment. After all those episodes of misery to the viewers, you expect to see something happens to a criminal and you got literally nothing. Even she is awarded with love, haha. Why Thai writers trying to encourage being evil? You're being forced to see that whore to the end, you can't escape her, she is nearly in every scene. You have just last 5 minutes for joy and sweetness without worrying for anything after waiting to see if they ever be happy and you got just 5 minutes thats all.
A fine start, very sweet first episodes, it was really promising. Of course it's all odd there is an island not under a government rule, no school, medical care or anything and the people not bother to call any officals when they find a person with no memories. But lets forget these for the sake of watching Yaya and Nadech in some romance. And you see that fun scenes but after 5th episode everything gets worse. You should skip to 18th episode from there. Believe me you won't miss anything. Between is just Saichon becomes mad and barbaric for no reason and rapes and abuses Nang Fah, and hours of evil sister's evil looking face (which people who can endure that disgusting face and voice should get awarded.)
This lakorn with Nadech and Yaya is a complete disappointment after Dujang Akanee (2010) which was mediocre but mostly sweet and moving at least.
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This review may contain spoilers
rape is not romance
In 2016, the first ethical regulations for Thai television channels regarding the media portrayal of gendered violence in soap operas was published - sparked by series "Game Rai Game Ruk" watchers in Thailand organized and lobbied to ban such violence.https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3047227/metoo-bangkok-thai-tv-soap-operas-rape-and-sex-attacks
I left Game Rai Game Rak unrated at zero for a long time - And, not because I was put off by all 3 parts; beginning, middle and end. It was the criminal toxicity of one male lead and his equally abusive side-kick, the female lead's sister for two-thirds of it. But, how do I account for the first-third - the beginning? After thinking it through, I was inspired to finally rate it. I came to accept the male lead's character was a rapist, and nothing more. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Without a rape - I would still rate it a one. Avoid.
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One" https://mydramalist.com/list/389deQR4)
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There were funny moments that you seriously question such as during the island she has amnesia but she acted like a stupid, she asked questions about pregnancy, she wanted to bath naked with Saichon, she wanted to sleep with him lol.
After gaining her memories she fall into the sister's traps.
Saichon / Charles continuously pursued her, brain surgeon fiance of the sister, needs the idiot of the year award, as he believes and trusts to the devilish fiance.
She had to go loads of painful treatments to gain back her memory, but the last therapy she has forgotten her times on the island.
But the most beautiful part of this drama is the parts they had on the island.
Yes we do have a happy ending, but I'm not gonna talk more or even give clues if she's ever going to recover her memories.
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Despite the good ratings I gave for this lakorn, I can't say that it is one of the best ones out there. If this didn't do the thing I love about lakorns so well, then I'd definitely say that it's just your typical lakorn. You have weird, cartoony sound effects. You have music that is not only overplayed to death (to the point where I had to turn off the sound near the end because the constant playing of the music almost drove me insane) but also played in inappropriate situations (romantic music plays after Charles threatens Fah) which makes the scene less serious than it actually was. You have the second female lead Prae who is the worst sister ever to Fah as she not only doesn't care for her well being, slut shames her, manipulates, almost kills her and is just selfish to the core. Then she somehow makes a miraculous realization that Fah cared for her all this time (girl had to take a damn bullet at that point like wth) and gets away with all her crimes. Of course the male lead believes everything that she says over common sense. Second ML Por takes the cake for being a doormat and just waaaay too forgiving to Prae. Villain is one dimensional, and most of the side characters are there for comic relief and don't add much to the overall plot.So why did I enjoy this so much you may ask? To the point that I've rewatched this more than 5 times and have lost sleep over it? It's because of the sweet, crazy love between Fah and Saichon/Charles. This tackled my biggest weakness when it comes romance dramas and gosh did I revel each minute of it.
What made this love story work for me was how I saw the progression of their relationship, starting from when they were on the island. I got to know the manly Saichon and the innocent Nang Fah. I saw their relationship develop with so many cute moments and how they were just so right for each other. I still liked Saichon a lot even though he was so mean as Charles, because I knew he always loved Fah and most often when he was hurting her, he hurt himself as well. I also have to commend Fah for sticking up for herself when she could and not cower over his actions. Also Charles as the possessive ML was just hot! I almost feel l bad for saying that bc it usually is a turn off but here it was my guilty pleasure! Their chemistry was already sizzling when they were in the island, but it was just off the roof when they came back on the mainland. It was this where I understood why Yaya and Nadech are paired together all the time.
All in all, I would 100% recommend this if you are big on romance and can tolerate a lot of bs haha. Now I just want a season two (though I know it'll never happen! But a girl can dream right?).
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The first half of the lakorn is shot on the same beach (I guess in Phuket?) where they shoot ALL the beach scenes in all lakorns, this time it's supposed to be some fictional island to where the viles of civilization haven't yet fully reached. Everyone is open and honest here and in all that naivety they attempt to create some kind of blue-lagoonish romance between the two. Then the reality strikes.
Alongside with that comes Mint Natwara in her usual nang'rai role (but wait, lately I have watched several of her earlier nang'ek roles, and she redeemed herself with me, she CAN do both:) where she can break her neck in trying to get the main guy while all the time there is Pope Thanawat (once again more decent acting/looking than the lead) devotedly waiting for her. You could say: what the...? But, you know how it is in lakorns.
After that, there's loads of drama, of course. Not working on me, of course: as I need to feel for the characters and their emotion/humor, first. Never mind, this lakorn just joined my average forgettable material.
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This story had SO much potential but it just fell flat in the second half, like most memory loss dramas. The first half was adorable, sweet, and quite intimate if you think about it.
The second half was unfortunate for the most part. Too many misunderstandings and too many second chances given to the evil lead to do the right thing.
FL gets flashes of her time with ML but never recovers her memories, she just falls in love with ML all over again.
There is a rape scene but during it, she stops struggling which I suppose is meant to mean subconsciously, she remembers him but afterwards she feels dirty and gross and hates him and herself.
Could’ve been better.
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Yaya and Nadech? Yes, please!
Overview:I first watched this drama in 2011 and finally decided to write a review about it. This was my first lakorn I watched of Yaya and Nadech and became a huge fan of them. The first time watching this drama, I skipped around after the first 12 episodes when things went downhill, but after nine years, I finally rewatched the drama again. But if you are into the typical sweet, yet sour love stories, this might suit your taste.
Story (with a few minor spoilers):
Saichon is an orphan who was the eye candy of Min Island. Everything about him is perfect. He's hot, young, sweet, strong, etc.. Then comes in Nai Fah who was found washed ashore after a storm. Nai Fah lost all of her memories so the best choice for her was to stay on Min Island. Saichon eventually becomes the caregiver for Nai Fah and they slowly fall in love. Figures out, Nai Fah is a rich girl from the city and her older (adopted) sister, Fahlada, is trying to find her. The first twelve episodes focuses on how Nai Fah and Saichon falls in love and eventually gets married, while Fahlada is trying to find her sister. After that, when Nai Fah was forcefully taken away from Saichon and back to her sister, who happens to be evil, jealous, and selfish (typical villain traits), everything goes downhill. I skipped around because Saichon literally became a different man; plus he became rich after he saved a rich businessman (and that change of hairstyle really caught me off guard). When Nai Fah returned to the city, she went through surgery and regained her previous memories while she lost her memories from Min Island. Therefore, Saichon just thought that Nai Fah was faking everything and regretted her time with him on the island. He then proceeds to gets angry, possessive, jealous, and he literally sexually abused Nai Fah. Those were the main parts I skipped since I'm not a big fan of Thai dramas fantasizing rape. The ending was okay. The sister didn't really get what she deserved, she got more than what she deserved. I think it might just be me, but I was kind of sad that Nai Fah didn't regain any memories from Min Island. However, I did find it sweet how she chose to believe in Saichon's love for her. Overall, this was a pretty good storyline up until episode 12.
Acting/Cast:
To this day, Nadech and Yaya are still one of my favorite actor/actresses. Their acting has improved since 2011 so if you want to check them out more, definitely do! Their acting really shines in Leh Lub Salub Rarng. Their acting in this drama was pretty good, but you could tell they were still was developing. No major complaints though from this drama.
Music:
Two songs were repeated throughout the whole series. It really played with your emotions, like sometimes the song makes the scene really sweet, but sometimes it was just overplayed. It's really hard to not miss the background music but I think it could've been toned down at some point of the drama.
Rewatch Value:
Knowing that it took me 9 years to finally re-watch this drama, I would say rewatching it was not as thrilling as watching it the first time. I would definitely rewatch the first 12 episodes again, but not the last 9 just because it was not my cup of tea.
Overall:
Overall, this was a good drama, minus the last half of the show. The first half was a extremely good yes, but the second half was an eh. If the second half of the drama wasn't so extremely long and draggy, I think I would put this drama in my top 10 favorite Thai lakorns. But as of right now, it'll have to sit in my top 20's.
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