Kaen Kaew (2021)

Adorable Main Couple and a Super Cute Elephant!

It's been a week and I am still missing the main couple, Lookkaew and Saran. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them together in this Lakorn, and their chemistry was palpable. There were many sweet and cute moments as their relationship transitioned from hate to love. I have seen Tita Chayjaroen in Thong Ek, her first Lakorn, and I am glad that she got the leading role despite being new to Dramaland. There's something about the way she, as Lookkaew looked at the male lead, that got to me. It's not your typical deep stare but rather a more soul-searching gaze like she was genuinely trying to understand Saran, probing to determine if she can trust him. Likewise, with Saran and how he responded to her looks. Just using his eyes, he can emote so much care and invite trust. Phet Tawanpong was truly perfect for the male lead role. Not only does he have the tall, dark and handsome vibes, but he also has charisma. It was unfortunate that their skinship did not go beyond hugs and nose sniffing - haha! Lookkaew was an awesome female lead, smart, brave and confident but also had her flaws which were tempered by Saran's maturity and calmness. As for Saran's character, he was a strong, intelligent and prideful type who transformed into this adorable guy after he finally confessed to Lookkaew.

I cannot really get into the storyline since the synopsis is pretty general with no spoilers. The Lakorn itself was pretty good and overall quite entertaining with the plot twists. That said, there were loopholes and "convenient" moments, and at times, the story became quite predictable. Still, the villains did a great job raising my blood pressure and kept me engaged. There were a few selfish bitchy characters, a couple who screamed a lot but is almost a norm in a Lakorn :)

I have to say that the most useless character was Natty. Janis Phomphadungcheep played the annoying character well, but I think Natty's character development could have been better. In contrast, the show's hero has got to be P'Thanu, the most selfless, understanding second male lead. I was actually shipping Thanu and Lookkaew together initially, but I am glad the plot played out the way it did. I like Judo Tharinpirom and have seen him in a couple of Lakorns. Hopefully, he will get more male lead roles in the future.

Also, a lot of drama happened for drama's sake which can be frustrating at times. Some viewers like me might feel that certain characters deserved more punishment, but as with many Thai dramas, there was a strong focus on forgiveness and karma. Minor spoiler - it's a happy ending...for most characters. There was a secondary couple, but their progression was more towards the end and was not super exciting.

There were not many songs played in the drama, but two were memorable for me. The theme song was fun and reflected the saucy tone throughout the drama, as indicated in the title. The other one is the song that played during the romantic moments. As expected, it heightened the romantic experience for the viewers. For posterity, I have listed those two here:

OST Kaen Kaew | แก่นแก้ว

1. อย่ามอง Don't Look - ปาล์ม (Chilling Sunday)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A4zNmc5tyI

2. ตอบกันได้ไหม Ost.แก่นแก้ว Can We Answer That - ว่าน ธนกฤต (Wan Thanarit) (03:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdEcuMliQvw

Will I watch it again? Yes, but mainly for scenes of the main couple. On the whole, I do recommend this Lakorn. It's fun and entertaining with a happy ending. If nothing else, perhaps the good looks and the side character of a super cute elephant would be enough to keep you watching.

Lees verder