Thai Lakorn Series Review – The Gentlemen of Jutathep (2013)

Six plus weeks later, I can report that I didn’t waste my time watching what turned out to be a great series! Sure, it is questionable whether I liked every single one of the stories, but where one may have failed, the other one made up for it in spades!

Follow me as I talk about each drama; its strengths and its weaknesses.

The Gentlemen of Jutathep series aka Suparburoot Jutathep was a five part series of five brothers. The series consisted of five dramas for a total of 55 episodes. The dramas were Khun Chai Taratorn, Khun Chai Pawornruj, Khun Chai Puttipat, Khun Chai Rachanon, and Khun Chai Ronapee.

Each drama featured the love story of the siblings who were part of a promise to the Taewaporn that their father had made that one of the sons would marry into the family. The drama chronicles the pairing of each of the daughters of Taewaporn royal family with the sons except for Khunchai Ruj who was exempt because he was the son of a commoner wife (kitchen maid). As I watched these in order, I will talk about each one in order.

MDL Rating refers to mydramalist.com website where you can track your drama watching progress as well as get information on current, past as well as upcoming dramas.

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Khun Chai Taratorn (2013)

Stars

Grate Warintorn Panhakarn as Khun Chai Taratorn/Khun Chai Yai
Pream Ranida as Mom Luang Raweerumpai/Maprang or Prang/Tawan
Mint Natwara Wongwasana as Katesara Taewaprom or Kate/Kongkirt
Deaw Suriyon Aroonwattanakul as Chinnakorn
(I won’t list the brothers over and over again, too tiresome!)

Running Time: 10 episodes, 1 hr. 50 min. each

Synopsis

Khunchai Taratorn is the cautious archeologist dealing with love that he must choose. He is the eldest that looks after his brothers after their parents have passed away. He has the pressure of his promised fiance from another family on his shoulders. He is very focused when it comes to studying historic sites, yet not knowing that this time he will also discover his own heart too. This is a story between two people who has fond feeling for one another ever since when they were children. Love will appear in the middle of an antiques robbery in which it was when those two get a chance to prove their heart.

My Thoughts

I tried really hard to garner some interest in this, the first of the dramas; however, as hard as I tried, I really couldn’t get that interested. There were moments when it was interesting, especially the interactions between Khunchai Yai and Maprang but it really failed to hold me. As far as Katesara, she remained the only decent person in the Taewaprom family! I only wanted her to be happy; from the beginning to end. I found hers and Chinnakorn’s relationship more compelling. By the end of the drama, I was more on the “whatever Katesara wants, she should get”. Why? How in the world has she survived as an angel in that house full of demons!!? Just saying! I don’t have much to say on the romance, I blame my boredom on the story. I really wish I could say more on this drama but unfortunately it wasn’t memorable.

MDL Rating: I dropped it midway. Maybe I better go finish it.

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Khun Chai Puttipat (2013)

Stars

Jame Jirayu Tangsrisuk as Khun Chai Puttipat/Khun Chai Pat
Bella Vanita as Krongkaew/Kaew
Noey Chotika Wongwilas as Marathree Taewaprom
Got Jirayu Thantrakul as Dr. Yosawin
Patsachon Soopree as Khun Ying
Running Time: 10 episodes, 1 hr. 50 min. each

Synopsis

Khunchai Puttipat…a young doctor with his love without any distinction. His mother was the daughter of a rich Chinese merchant. The handsome doctor must forget all the rules that he had followed his entire life when he met a commoner woman who holds the title of “Miss Sri Siam.” He uses his own heart and decides to rescue her from becoming a powerful General’s concubine. Thus, it was led to a fake marriage where the two will hide their hearts simply because neither understand the feelings. But in the end, this young noble will discover that this commoner girl is more precious than any diamonds and gems in the world.

My Thoughts

I was told this was a better drama so I skipped and watched it next. Yes, the story was definitely more interesting because you had a man, Khunchai Pat who really didn’t care about love or believed in it at all; however, it took one glimpse of a beauty queen AND to realize her future fate with the evil and sadistic General that changed this man’s life. And that is what made the story a little more interesting! Every time the General would try his tricks, I was always glad to see them fail. What added to the interesting storyline was adding a seriously crazy-azz woman by the name of Marathee! I’m still new to Thai lakorn dramas, so I’m working my way through crazy women! Marathee, with her crazy, possessiveness of Khunchai Pat was eery! Throughout 1/2 of the drama, I blamed that solely on Khunchai Pat and his Grandmothers! But enabling crazy and making her think that she was destined to be the next Jutathep daughter-in-law was simply fodder for a sick mind. Kaew, you just had to love her and sympathize with her. She was sweetness from the beginning to end who was trick (damn near sold) for her beauty but still remained a true heroine! Khunchai Pat was such a stilted character. It was actually interesting to watch as his demeanor and way of thinking changed. Not only was the transformation fun to watch, it was also fun to watch the other brothers constantly make fun of his slow burning love! Needless to say, even Marathee noticed the changes which made that woman even more crazy! Romance between the characters was just…okay. The chemistry with James and Bella was passable; not compelling. Overall, this was a drama that had its ups and downs when it came to being interesting.

MDL Rating: 7.0, crazy women are always fun to watch!

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Khun Chai Pawornruj (2013)

Stars

Pope Tanawat Wattanaputi as Khun Chai Pawornruj/Khun Chai Ruj
Mew Nittha Jirayungyurn as Khun Ying Rasa/ Than Ying Wanrasa
Bovy Atma Chewanitphan as Waddao
Nong Thana Chatborirak as Pakorn
Petch Rattanarat Aurthaveekul as Noo Aai
Ploy Rattanarat Aurthaveekul as Noo Aeuy
Running Time: 13 episodes, 1 hr. 50 min. each

Synopsis

Khunchai Pawornruj…a young government employee working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a bright future and love that one could only dream of. He’s the second eldest that escaped his fate of marrying a royal woman only because his own mother was just a concubine(?) in the palace. As luck would have it, he meets his true love while traveling to Switzerland for work. Amidst their romance, the couple will endure a blizzard on top of a mountain and other emotional storms from reality. Will those two make it pass all the obstacles?

My Thoughts

This drama was beautiful to watched. It was filmed predominantly in Switzerland. It was like a travelogue of the country as we got to visit many cities and see many sites of the countryside. Okay, so you are saying, what about the drama? Of the 2 dramas before, this became my favorite! Rasa was already in love with Khunchai Ruj but was so afraid of him finding out about her real identity as well as the fact that she had a fiance. Now Ruj’s little fiancee, Katin was pure comedy! Not only wasn’t the girl interested in being married to Ruj but brought her hometown boyfriend with her! Don’t get me started with that hunk of a man! Not sure who the actor was but it sure was nice watching him shirtless!! The romance between Pope and Mew was above decent. I enjoyed watching their love together grow as well as the conflict that began once he learned her true identity. As he felt beneath her (I’m still learning these royalty titles, if you are reading this, give me a good reference to read), I loved watching their love work itself out. Of the three older brothers, this was my favorite story. Also, I learned a valuable lesson from this drama: romance can be shown through a touch, kiss on the forehead and hug. Yeah, I was satisfied with just that little bit. Good job, drama! On making me appreciate real romance again!

MDL Rating: 7.5 It would have been higher but the side romances became tiresome at times.

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Khun Chai Rachanon (2013)

Stars

Bomb Tanin as Khun Chai Rachanon/Khun Chai Lek
Taew Nataporn as Soifah
Top Jaron Sorat as Chatchavee Teawaprom
Ploy Pattrakorn Tungsupakul as Janta
Toey Pongsakorn as Joi
Pimthong Washirakom as Sininoot Teawaprom
Running Time: 11 episodes, 1 hr. 50 min. each

Synopsis

Khunchai Rachanon…a young engineer that believes in controlling his own destiny. He has the same mother as khunchai Puttipat. When he went to Isaan to oversees a construction he met a female forest dweller. Their love proceeds in the midst of prejudice, jealousy, and envy from the people around them. But in the end, this forest dweller is actually the princess of the neighboring country. And khunchai Rachanon plays an important part in his love’s, the princess, return to her rightful throne.

My Thoughts

What do you get when you put a semi-boring actor with a damn good actress? Wait, top that off with an adventuresome story line and you get a damn good drama! This drama was very exciting to watch! I felt that I got a chance to learn a lot about the culture even though the neighboring country was fictitious, I really felt that I learned a lot. Even though Bomb is a handsome guy, his actor was kind of weak in this drama. What carried the scenes between Bomb and Taew was Taew herself! As Soi/Soifah, she was tremendous!! I loved her as the jungle princess!! She was one tough cookie who didn’t take any crap from anyone! Okay, the only man in the whole drama that could control her was her father, Poyhai! This was also the first drama that I became very invested in the second romance! The romance between Janta and Chatchavee was amazing! His story alone was amazing! As Chat dealt with that crazy and conniving step mother and slightly dumb step sister, you couldn’t help but sympathize with this gentleman who was truly loved by his father. This also was the first drama with really interesting side characters. You had Poyhai, the gentle King who had to run from his country after the military coup, his field marshall and his son, Joi who followed Soi around like a puppy dog from one dangerous situation to another. Mother Daraneenoot and daughter Sininoot were stone cold trips in their pursuits to be the “Teawaprom daughter in law” as well as their cold and nasty attitude towards poor Chat for most of the drama. I can understand why this drama had the highest ratings of the five! The romance between Soi and Lek was cute as Lek did most of the wholehearted pursuing in the beginning. From beginning to end, the drama was very well put together. It became my second favorite of the series.

MDL Rating: 8, for two decent romances to watch and a great adventure.

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Stars

James Ma as Khun Chai Ronapee/Khun Chai Pee
Mint Chalida Wijitwongtong as PiengKwan (Kwan)
Jack Methus Treerattanawareesin as Yod
Pop Thagoon Karnthip as Aut
Jern Warunya Charoenpornsirisuk as Pim
Esther Supreeleela as M.L. Wilairampa/Rampa Taewaprom
Running Time: 11 episodes, 1 hr. 50 min. each

Synopsis

Khunchai Ronapee…the daring pilot of the Royal Air Force with love that transcends customs. The youngest of the five, Khunchai Taratorn’s younger brother. His mother is the First Wife. Who could believe that this noble pilot will meet a female celebrity? It was like a dream! She fell right into his arms during an accident on a film set. These two will break the traditions, and go through the barrier of nobility so that everyone will be certain than she is a dancer who loves him as another common pilot, not because of his nobility bloodline.

My Thoughts

When Khunchai Pee first saw Khwan, he was entranced. As a woman, when I first saw Khwan, I was entranced! And that is basically how I remained for the entire drama! Blown away! That is what I was when this Kinnaree angel drifted down from the waterfalls, I literally didn’t move for the 2 days, 22 hours that it took me to finish this drama. Sleep? I didn’t! This was the first lakorn that I tried several times to turn off and kept telling myself, I’ll watch just one more episode…one more…one more. As the second highest rated of the series, this personally was my favorite one! It almost knocked out my all time favorite Thai lakorn to date! That ladies (and gentlemen if you are reading) is hard to do. They always say that the old “playboy” falls the hardest, Khunchai Pee fell…and fell..and fell! What was really sad was I couldn’t see how he was going to get out of this “Taewaprom daughter in law” promise. As the last of the sons and the youngest who had been tied to the youngest ML Wairampa since childhood AND the Grandmothers had made it said from the beginning that Chai Pee was the one who WOULD fulfill that promise, there was no way, no how he was going to get out of this!

The story was simply fantastic! Khwan was a woman with a sad history after her father tricked her mother into being his second wife, she grew up in a household of women who just didn’t put too much trust in men; and with good reasons. Khwan was also a woman who people lied about all the time. Why? She was beautiful so they made up stories about her to people. Chai Pee was the first to believe all of these stories but he slowly learned that all that was said about her was untrue. Chai Pee also took stalking a woman to an entirely different level!! When his original purpose to get his fellow airman friend, Yod away from Khwan, his duties were done but the angel that was Khwan, he couldn’t forget her. I loved how she was the first woman that held no interest for him and because of that, he follows and follows her everywhere, just like a puppy dog!

The romance. The best. I think I tweeted somewhere around the middle of this drama that a real romance doesn’t have to have not one kiss that a truly well put together romance can be portrayed with a simple kiss (head or cheek), a touch, a look, a hug and again be satisfying! I admit, to me, Chai Pee and Khwan sizzled on the screen. When he would look at her, there was no question about the love he felt for her. It also didn’t help that he was a man willing to risk his life not once but three times for “his woman”. This was also the only time that not one brother “came to the rescue”! Poor Chai Pee was left to tackle his own “fate” almost until the end!

But let’s talk about the women in this drama. ML Rampa was what I had deemed “smart evil”! This girl would do things so subtle and never get found out! She was a great planner and a manipulator to the tenth power! Where Marathee would screech and holler, Rampa would cry and act all hurt for the eyes of the Grandmothers which would instantly make poor Chai Pee look like the devil. Esther did an AWESOME job in portraying this character! If they give awards to the best evil character without looking evil, she gets my recommendation: HANDS DOWN!! Mint as Khwan has to be my favorite character portrayal so far in a Thai lakorn. She oozed the character. Her beauty was insurmountable on the screen. Again, even me, a woman was entranced when she was on the screen! There was no question in my mind why all of the men were falling over their feet for her but poor girl, she wasn’t having it. When Khwan cried; I cried. When she smiled, I was happy! The scene where she finds out Chai Pee’s secret, I was boo-hooing like a fool! The lines from that scene has become one of my favorite! When she said “I’ve never been more humiliated in my life than at this moment”, I totally agreed and cried for her. Even her relationship with her father, I understood. Her mother, Naptha had every reason to disappear and refuse contact with her father.

I would be remiss in not pointing out that for this to be some of James Ma’s first acting roles, I bow to you! I was convinced he was seasoned until I saw that this series was his first work. Impressive! His casting as the youngest of the “Lions of Jutathep” was perfect! Such a handsome young man to watch! He would have been 20 years old at the time of this drama’s release. His name is duly noted.

The side romance between Khun Jun and Khwan’s brother Aut was cleverly done. Jan was your typical tomboy who didn’t recognize when a man was “interested” in her. But the best was her father, Pumpui! He was hilarious! I loved watching him tease poor Aut and basically giving his approval for him to pursue his daughter!

I could talk about this drama for hours; literally. I lost sleep watching it but for me, this was the best of all of them. What can I say bad about this? Nothing. I was disappointed that it wasn’t longer! A drama with great romance, action and okay cheesy CGI but forgetting that, there really wasn’t many boring moments! If there was, I sure wouldn’t have lost sleep!!

MDL Rating: 9, because it just didn’t get any better than this!!

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If you’ve seen this series, please take a moment to let me know what were your favorites. I’m curious to see your opinion. As you can tell simply by the amount of time I wrote about it, Khun Chai Ronapee was my favorite!

So, I’m curious, which one was yours?

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