Thai Drama Weekend: Sud Pai Paan (2013)

Sud Sai Paan (2013)

What a weekend! What a drama! Want to read more on what had to be the hardest drama in a long time to watch that literally eclipsed the Chinese 2011 drama Sealed with a Kiss and the Chinese 2013 mini-drama Le Jun Kai easily!!??

Stars
Toomtam Yuthana Puengklarng as Thitit Suriyakan
View Wannarot Sontichai as Gandaowasee/Gandaomanee Girinisuan
Nat Thephussadin Na Ayutthaya as Wasan
Guy Ratchanon Sukprakob as Wit Asawagrai
Ann Alicha Laisattruklai as Urai
Apple Aitanik Intarasut as Nareerat
Pukhai Pongsiri Bunluewong as Brapun
Fang Pitchaya Srithep as Ying Kai Napa

Plot
Tithit (Toomtam Yuthana Puengklarng) meets Gandaomanee Girinisuan (View Wannarot Sontichai) in Phrajoit and falls in love with her. Unbeknownst to Thit, Gandaomanee is using her elder twin sister’s name, Gandaowasee, for herself, therefore tricking him into thinking her real name is Gandaowasee. She later leaves him when she grows tired of him and finds out that he’s the poor son of a merchant. Thit is heart-broken and tries searching for her unsuccessfully.

One year later, Thit meets the real Gandaowasee Kitrinisuan at a banquet and is ecstatic upon seeing her. But Gan claims she doesn’t know him. Thit is confused and confronts Gan about their relationship. He assumes she doesn’t want to remember him because he’s poor, therefore denying ever knowing him.

My Thoughts
Not since Sealed with a Kiss; no, not since Le Jun Kai; wait, there is more, not since Sanaeha Sunya Kaen have I NOT wanted the main couple ever to get together! I almost wanted to disown my bestie and drama twinnie after watching this (it was her suggestion)! But alas, after I gave it some thought and the fact that the mindlessness of watching this drama was actually a good thing, it grew on me! Great suggestion, twinnie!!

The utter ruthlessness and stupidity of Tit’s character drove me insane! First he loves her, then he doesn’t, then he does! His split personality would drive any sane person insane! There were moments when your sympathy for Gandaowasee (the good twin) was so high that every time Gandaomanee came on the screen, you just wanted her to die! The amazing thing about this drama was the acting! It is hard playing one character in a drama but to have an actress play 2 distinct and totally different characters was amazing to watch!! My respect and love for View (Sonthichai Wannarot) is now ten-fold! I loved her in Dok Ruk Rim Tang as she played a woman hiding as a man but this role put her on my drama map!!

I can truthfully say that I was never on the Tit/Gandaowasee ship! When he so effortless abandoned his then wife for the woman who left him because he was poor and he even knew this, I was floored. Gandaowasee was always the better woman from the beginning to end. She was even willing to let him go once Gandaomanee resurfaced. Such a woman was she. She made me proud of her many times throughout the drama. Many times!!

Now, onto Gandaomanee. This had to be the sickest woman in the history of a drama! I’ve watched a lot of dramas with evil characters. Hell, I thought Jitree, from Dok Ruk Rim Tang held this title but Gandaomanee has usurp the title. All Hail Crazy Queen! Gandaomanee’s body count was legendary! Starting with her mother, Gandaowasee’s step mother, step-father; no, I’m not finished. She killed so many people, I had to remind myself this was a woman! Her attempt to murder her one true friend was just amazing! I never understood her friend’s loyalty! Never!! What was not understood was why she was like this. At first, you thought there was abuse from her step-father but that man had nothing but pure, fatherly love for her. I guess it was all because of her mother’s decision to split up the twins and being jealous of Gandaowasee who was raised with wealth. Her jealousy was the worse I’ve seen! Absolute worse! Okay, there was one time that I sympathize with her character. When? I’m not going to tell you!! You will easily figure it out!

Can I simply say that I LOVED Tit’s grandmother!! She was smarter than her grandson when it came to recognizing the goodness and genuine love that a person has! She recognized it immediately in Gandaowasee and saw through the evilness of Gandaomanee. She was sweet and understanding but tried hard to bring her idiotic grandson around and away from the dark side. But obviously, the old adage of “absence makes your heart grow fonder” really came into play when Tit finally made his decision of who he truly loved. But it was getting there that made this drama a “hard to watch” drama.

So, the question is did I love this drama? Absolutely not! Did I find it entertaining from beginning to end? Absolutely. I never stopped watching it from episode 1 until the end. I was riveted. I kept asking myself, can it get worse? Can it? It did. Many, many times. The level of abuse that Gandaowasee experienced was legendary! By half way through the drama, I was deeming her a “saint”! Her utter love for her sister despite everything she would do to her and her love as well as sacrifice for Tit was amazing!! So, the big question is would I recommend this? Maybe. If you have been familiar with other dramas of this genre, you could easily watch this and think nothing of it. But let’s just say, I’ve sworn off watching any more “evil” twin dramas forever and ever! Thanks, Gandaomanee, for the cure!!

I’ve now added Channel 5 as one of my favorite purveyors of Thai lakorn dramas! Right next to Channel 7! You both ROCK!!