Mafia Luerd Mungkorn: Hong (2015)

The Swan piece of the Mafia multi-series opens with a female version of the (by now familiar) title song. There is a female gang leader for the first time. For such role, they cast Janie Tienphosuwan, which frankly would not be my choice, but at least she is not 37-year Andy Gregson acting like 17-year old. For the 1st time, I see Jason Young cast in role that befits him perfectly (his character is killed in 1st episode). There is Toni Rakkaen, and Pharunyoo Rojanawuttitham in smaller roles. Boy Pakorn reprises his role - in which he looks rather wistful - in more spotlight, this time.

However, his character's name doesn't seem to be "William", as listed here on MDL. Everyone calls him "Ah'Long" (EDiT: I can now see this was corrected). Also, he doesn't appear to be leader of anything (EDiT: I can now see this was corrected too, from "leader" to "important player under Luead Mungkorn Gang"). And I can say that Hong (her name means "Swan") has it far worse than just "not being accepted by some members as their new leader". It's her own dad (Nappon Gomarachun's acting is beyond praise and the long hair make him look even more impressive) who calls her a misfortune. Evil. Not worthy enough to repay the plague she brought, even if she died. Such things he tells her to her face. So, to describe Hong's character as "depressed" wouldn't give her justice. She cannot even cry and kill herself in remorse.

Then the synopsis states Hong did catch William's eye and he intends to make her lady of his gang. It's not what we actually see in the series. It begins with Ah'Long (never being called "William" by anyone) being down, alone. He lost everyone he loved and in this world, now only the person whom he hates remains. And it's apparently Hong's loved one...

I won't spoiler what happens next, I just wanted to point out the story is opposite than the synopsis says (or said, because apparently it was changed some time after I wrote this review). If anything, it looks more like Hong's the one taking a liking in Ah'Long, than the other way around. Also his character is the quiet one. He barely shows anything towards Hong other than inner melancholy that he must do what he must.

But, the two share good chemistry (Boy Pakorn has expressive eyes). And after watching many lakorns, I somehow enjoyed watching "nang'ek & pra'ek" who don't yap at each other and don't engage in furious slap/kiss approximately 5 minutes after they have met each other.

To get accepted as new leader of her gang... It's an emotive thing for Hong (her father's death scene in episode 6 was heartwrenching, which is what made BeatingBoy16 write that review) as everything in 'Mafia Luerd Mungkorn' is actually about love and loss.

Very satisfying role for Boy Pakorn, whose character - after very slow build up - proves in the last episode of the last series as both the most badass fighting and most romantic hero of them all, sacrificing himself for Hong, so she can have her glory.

Chai Chatayodom got an exceptionally fascinating villain role in the whole 'Mafia Luerd Mungkorn' universe, but it doesn't make sense. Didn't he have his epiphany already 2 stories back (the Bull)? Why does he still keeps acting this way? Also, in the other stories Hong was already introduced as a Swan Gang leader, even if this series only ends with her being finally crowned the new head. So I suggest the audience doesn't need to follow the supposed watching order and can save the "Bull" (best part, in my opinion) for last.

The only thing speaking for watching this story as the last one is that it features scenes of all the 4 male gang leaders coming together, though it also showcases their weaknesses. The "Tiger" leader is supposed to be the handsome one and he's not (there's huge wart right under his eye), the Red Eagle Gang leader is supposed to be the funny one, and he's not (I think I described it in my "Rhino" review enough), the Lion Gang leader is supposed to be the charismatic one and he's not (morelike, he's boring) so my expectations met only the Bull Gang leader, which is ironic as he's actually the fake one (you need to watch the "Bull" story's plot to find out). So, their group scenes somehow funny summarize everything that in 'Mafia Luerd Mungkorn' did not quite work out.

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