We take on a romantic resonance in this episode, where our patience and persistence pays off big time. In the relaxed and sparkling backdrop of the city, our Inspector and reporter come to an understanding of what their relationship will be like. The character and relationship development is done with such a wonderful, slow burn that I am swept up with the moment. And that settles the first half of our episode, while the second half brings Suntih and Mee eye to eye, and sets our story to overcome her next dangerous case, leading us to the final act of the story. Who wants popcorn? Or would you rather facial tissues?
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Episode 6 Recap
Following the explosion at Koh Yanok, where Waree has a close call, Mee and the editor are having a hard time getting a hold of her. The editor is up to his head fed up, not realizing that Waree is hurt, so he unintentionally tells Mee not to have a boyfriend, because apparently he thinks that Waree is off cajoling in the sun with Khun Sama? Because ladies get distracted when they have boyfriends and can’t remain professional? Pfft!
Much to their surprise, they get a call from Khun Sama indicating that Waree is hurt, but unfortunately Mee cannot tend to her friend at Koh Yanok because she has her own case loads and the editor wouldn’t let her. So nice to see Sama again! Mee tries to relay the news to Matt, but she is too busy trying to get an interview.
Mee phones Sarawat Heran instead, telling him she misses him but only because of work, ha. But Sarawat takes what he can get and reminds her of their dinner (date) tonight. They go as a family, mom dad and son (Suntih), Sarawat shares his sentiment with her, that they feel like a family unit. Mee just shyly looks away.
Suntih is excited to be going out for dinner, he was tired of eating school meals every day, so Sarawat tells him to practice cooking. Perhaps he could be good one day and be a renowned chef. He can open his own restaurants and be very successful, like Sarawat’s older brother. But that kind of work doesn’t appeal to Suntih (who’s still very much misogynistic) so he says he wants to be a cop like Sarawat. It’s cool and you have the authority, people will fear you. But Sarawat retorts on the other hand, that its tough work and even the villains can come after you. But at the end of the day, you have to think about what you are exchanging to look cool- to Sarawat- being a cop means he can be a value to society and do his part to help the world. Suntih is decidedly going to be a cop now. Mee couldn’t help but ask the younger man what makes him think that Sarawat is a good cop? To which the boy replies, “Otherwise you wouldn’t love him so.” Omph. The two adults look at each other shyly. Heeh.
While having dessert, Sarawat interests Mee with another case he’s working on- the case of the missing black pearls from Japan. The perpetrator is a Thai man who has stolen them and using them to cover up his human trafficking ring and illegal drugs. We already know who is responsible as well as the end result because this case ties up with part one, Maya Tawan, Mr. Chane Cross. Mee is interested and phones her editor to get permission to cover this latest case.
The following day they meet at a press conference, but one of Mee’s fellow reporters had bumped into her while she’s cleaning her glasses, causing it to break. So now Mee is walking, like a blind bat, and Sarawat offers to help assist her, he says that either way, she can’t live without him. They are so cute.
He meets with Matt finally, and watches the girls tease each other. Sarawat asks after Matt’s boyfriend, KhetTawan, which causes Matt to blush profusely.
That evening, Mee and Suntih have dinner with Sarawat and his mother at their home. Suntih is being so helpful, taking the dishes back to the kitchen. Mee mentions that he doesn’t do this at home, so mom advises her to do it herself first, then ask him to help- complain that she’s tired, anything. Once he sees how tired she is, then he would offer to help- but don’t order him too. Apparently kids have an affinity against being told what to do.
Mee accepts the advice and will try to use it. Sarawat could only smile at his mom and says that each kid in his household gets conned into doing what his mom inevitably wants them to do. Sarawat thinks his mom has powers. Lol. That’s a smart lady. Suntih is turning into such a cute and sweet boy!
The climax of Maya Tawan (part one) comes to a head. Sarawat spots Matt going into the car with Chane Cross and he alerts Mee to phone KhetTawan, his gut tells him something is wrong. If the cop’s concerned, I would be concerned. And he’s right, Chane has kidnapped Matt- and we remember how this ends right? Action, gunshots, blood. Sarawat’s instincts save the day! (I’m not fully recapping this few scenes because it’s a repetition from both Maya Tawan and Mon Jantra. Feel free to go back and read them.)
That was an easy case for Sarawat and Mee to resolve, it is quite sad though, so many women discovered hidden in the company’s secret rooms. Mee tries to go to those rooms with Sarawat because she’s concerned about her sister, while Sarawat is concerned about her. Aw. He takes her hand and tells her to wait here so he doesn’t get distracted.
Sometime later, Sarawat dresses in his evening tux, with a splash of maroon, looking handsome for the Embassy event (in honor of Thai’s assistance with finding the black pearls for Japan.) His mom and sister tease him for trying so hard, once they get married, he can go out with her to all sorts of events. Hehehe. Sarawat hopes it is the case because he had to use his work event just to get her to go out with him. Wan advises for him to change out of his fancy tux, lol, because Mee isn’t the type to overdress, so he dons a more subtle suit. Both mom and sister are shipping Sarawat-Mee. Glad to see some family continuity for once in lakorns, god forbid, we already have enough drama on our hands!
Devious Suntih is playing a little trick on his auntie. She is all dressed up in an elegant evening gown but her glasses have gone missing. She knows that little rascal had something to do with it. Suntih takes a gander at her long, flowing gown and pretty face, he’s gone slack jawed. Conveniently he doesn’t want her going to a fancy event with her glasses on, lol. Auntie and nephew arrive at Sarawat’s house, he’s guiding her in because she can’t see clearly.
I don’t even know why this scene is so darn cute, but Sarawat takes a good look at her and finds her beautiful, but asks Suntih to return her glasses (aw, he likes her exactly for the way that she looks!)
He beams brightly at her and says, “let’s be on our way.. Miss Beautiful Spectacled (lady).” Omg, Sarawat.
Due to the traffic congestion, Sarawat doesn’t think they would make it to the event in time, but it’s quite alright because Muat Dao and other officers are there as their representatives. So.. Sarawat wants to have a dinner with her instead. (I thought they said he wasn’t cunning? Sounds pretty brilliant to me!)
They eat at a local food stall in their pretty frocks.
“I wanted you to remember this: that Sarawat Heran is quite something! He brought you to a local food stand to eat ‘kao man gai’ (chicken in rice) in your pretty gown,” says Sarawat, making her smile.
They take a turn around downtown.
“I’m still upset over the girls who were deceived to be sold- that day we helped Matt,” Mee says, as cars pass by them. “I must be a bad reporter, I can’t seem to remove my feelings from my work. But do you know how many of those girls who will be sold again?” She speaks as if he is unaware of the situation surrounding these human trafficking crimes.
“Probably about half of them,” he surmises, speaking from experience. “I may be an undercover cop, but I can gauge these things.”
“I’m sorry. But the majority of the people out there don’t know. And for those who do, they turn the other cheek. Other people just get angry when you talk about it.”
“Prostitution is a serious issue. Many people prefer ignorance. But there are still many people who are willing to accept that we have a grave problem on our hands, and try to find a solution. Our job is to persevere and do our best,” Sarawat says.
“I know you’ve mentioned this to me before, but every time I encounter these cases, my patience goes out the window,” she admits, because it hits so close to home.
They make it to the bridge when Mee says, “there has to be a way to bring awareness to the majority of the people.”
“You’re already doing it,” he says.
“But it doesn’t seem enough,” she starts. She wants to do more, something fierce.
He smiles at her.
“I’m sorry I’m bringing up only serious issues. Are you tired of them?” she asks.
“No. It’s hard to find a person who likes to talk about the same issues,” he says.
Mee tries to change the subject, that it’s time they head back, Suntih is probably waiting for them. Sure, use the kid as an excuse.
He turns the question on her, “and you- are you bored being with me?”
She doesn’t answer, only looking at him, like a doe caught in the headlights.
“You are bored, aren’t you?” he figures.
He’s always so good to her. The least he deserves is her honesty. She starts to tear up, “I’m afraid.”
“Why?” he asks.
And she says so poignantly:
“Today, you’ve taken me on a far walk, further than I’ve ever walked before,” and she’s not referring to it’s literal meaning. She’s referring to the headway he’s making on her emotions, and she’s scared stiff. “I don’t know where you will take me tomorrow. And then what if I am willing to go there with you- albeit slowly and carefully- but then one day, you don’t walk with me anymore? I don’t know if I’m capable of going back to the same place again.”
He looks at her face and watches her eyes getting misty, his does too.
And he offers her his hand, “then take my hand and guide me. You will be the one to take me there. You can take me anywhere.” Omg. *tear*
Mee starts to cry, what is not to love about this man? He’s giving her the full reign, the power.
“I just ask for one thing,” he says, “don’t let go of my hand.”
Sarawat Herannnn!
Mee walks in front of him and offers him her hand. He takes it.
So much has exchanged between this unspoken moment -the understanding, the mutual agreement, and the feelings.
That is the sweetest, most romantic thing I’ve seen, and they don’t even need to hug or kiss. A simple touch of the hand, a misty look in each other’s eyes and a full on understanding of the path that they will be walking on.
Re-energized for her next task, Mee asks the editor to take on the case of women who has been tricked to sell their bodies (human trafficking, of the prostitution sort.)
The editor says that she’s already writing about these things, but Mee retorts that the source she writes about come from interviews, data given to her from charity centers, etc. She wants to write something with a first-hand account. She wants the article to be real so that people can fully understand the grave issue society is dealing with.
The editor could not stop her, but he gives her a word of advice, no news is worth the life of a reporter.
Mee chats with her friend who works at the social facility, but her friend remarks that this is a dangerous undertaking, disguising as a woman to get sold. She advises Mee to stay with the cops and work with them, going off on her own to get a first-hand account is risky business. I concur.
But Mee is made with stern stuff, she wants to risk it, because she wants to shock the readers. She asks for her friend’s help, in getting her trained and ready to spy. Bua, the friend, finally succumbs because if Mee goes about this alone, she will be in more danger.
Sarawat is on a current undercover case. They try to bust into a home but baddies are aware of their intrusion and gunshots are exchanged. They are outnumbered. One of his men was shot dead. The news that a cop died on the scene reaches his parents.
Suntih waits for his auntie that evening to report to her that a few cops passed away during the fire exchange, and they don’t know if Sarawat is one of them since they haven’t heard from him. They pray that it’s not him.
Mee and Suntih go to the hospital anyway to see if they can get some information. They watch in dread as men are rolled out from the emergency room, covered in cloth.
The idea that she may never see him again brings her to tears. She slowly turns and sees him standing there. He’s ok, which brings more choking tears to her. He walks to her and embraces her closely.
Everyone with me: Awwwww!
They haven’t so much as hugged or get close, so this is such a beautiful moment.
We flashback to the gunfire exchange, it was a close call for him. He tells Mee that without Muat dao saving him, he’d have been dead. Now Muat Dao is being treated with a gunshot wound. He wonders who called his family about this, he didn’t want them to be concerned.
Mee pays a visit to Muat who is in good spirits. She figures getting shot would give her some much needed rest. Ha. But Mee gets a call from Bua regarding her starting point. There is a restaurant that is a cover up for prostitution. The owner has opened these kinds of restaurants all over the provinces. The cops are unable to catch her because they don’t have any evidence, which Mee volunteers to be the one to get it. She will disguise as a poor, desperate student. She would be the one to seek out Jinda (the owner.) Bua says this is not a walk in the park.
Mee thinks that the other girls are more afraid than her. She knows she can find a way out if shit hits the fan. She makes Bua promise to keep it a secret. I don’t like where this is going! She even lies to her editor that she’s going to visit her mom.
Things are going her way because she soon learns that Sarawat will be heading to America for a week. Yes, that must be dread forming in the pit of my stomach.
Sarawat notices that she’s been out of it and wonders if anything is going on. When he starts questioning too much, Mee asks him if she’s his suspect now? But Sarawat is only concerned- in which Mee tells him that his concern (like hers towards Suntih) can come off as being an interrogation.
The day that Sarawat leaves for America comes sooner rather than later as he bids goodbye to his family, Suntih and Mee. He warns Mee to stay away from risky news until he gets back, ha. She sarcastically replies that he can call her tonight to tell her that again, make it the hundredth time. He looks hesitant to leave.
Mee reminds mom not to tell Sarawat that she’s leaving Suntih in her care. Mom makes sure that the case she’s following isn’t dangerous, which Mee of course tells her what she wants to hear.
Mee goes shopping for the necessary equipment, clothes for her investigation.
Before she leaves she warns Suntih to be a good boy, it seems they are still having trouble communicating and relating when alone. She fears that they are growing distant, like people who are merely roommates. He doesn’t accept her calm touches, nor do they have that familial affection that he has with Sarawat and Sarawat’s family. They are at an impasse. And she doesn’t know how to get closer to him, but she will try. She doesn’t want to be just roommates (the way she has felt when she lived with her auntie.) She wants to be a family to Suntih.
Suntih rummages around his room searching for something. It happens to be a letter from his teacher that he was hiding from his auntie. He thinks it’s bad news, but Mee tells him otherwise, his teacher is merely complimenting that Suntih is doing better in school and playing well with his friends. He breathes a sigh of relief.
“You said you had to speak with me?” Suntih asks, as he takes a seat by Mee on the front porch.
“When you first learned that you will move to Bangkok, what went through your mind?” she asks.
“Well I didn’t (want to come.) Who would? I didn’t know who you were, and grandpa scoffs about you every day,” he replies.
“I didn’t want you to come either,” she confesses, “I’ve never seen your face. Your grandpa hates me and I- dislike what he did to your grandma, your mom and aunties. But grandma wanted you here, and I thought that you are definitely going to be a burden. But I still took you in despite feeling displeased. Have you heard the saying, ‘when you can change someone?”
“Maybe.”
“Then have you heard that sometimes things don’t always turn out the way you expect or hope for them to?” she asks.
He nods his head.
“It’s similar to the bond between people. Sometimes we think that we can’t spend our life with a certain someone, but when we live with that person, we become attached to them and it makes us think that we may have judged that person too soon. Our prejudice makes us blind, when sometimes that person can be cute, he might have something that makes you accept him and love him,” Mee says.
Suntih looks away with a shy smile, “so even if that person is not great, you would still accept him?” Perhaps he too is looking down on himself?
“Yes (I can accept him,)” Mee replies, “If he can control himself and try to be a good person, I can accept him and love him.”
She is looking at him the entire time.
“Honestly living here is not too bad. And the school is not as bad as grandpa dictates. Auntie’s house is livable and sometimes you can be nice to me too,” Suntih offers.
“Sometimes you can be a good kid too.”
Aw.
Sometimes the adult has to take that first step forward to make peace.
Suntih flashes back to a moment ago when he read the letter in her trash bin. She had written to her auntie in Europe, but decides against it. Suntih learns that his auntie is worried they will be strangers.
She invites him to eat out and Suntih halts her. He puts her arms around his shoulders and say, “if you hold me this way, it makes me miss Uncle Heran less.”
Aw.
I love how they are both trying to improve their relationship.
The next day arrives and Mee proceeds with her plan, her disguise. Bua introduces her to Dtor, a man who takes care of the facility for young ladies who are “recovering.” He questions her whether she is really serious about doing this undercover story, because it’s really dangerous. (Ok, all this talk about being too dangerous is scaring me! Don’t do it Mee!)
Mee dresses in her student uniform and she works on creating a believable story for her cover. Looking so gorgeous!
She enters the restaurant. A older lady spots her beauty as she’s chatting with the other girls. She makes her way to Mee’s table , it’s Jinda, who is curious about her life and offers empathy. Mee tells her story and Jinda pretends to be the nicest person on earth. She gives her a new name Mimi, and so for their first encounter, she’s in.
Will she be able to get out of trouble as she has so confidently promised? We shall see. And Sarawat, hurry back!!
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Thoughts:
This show is making leaps and bounds as far as investing us in the vulnerable relationship between Sarawat and Mee. I like their poignant, honest and metaphorical conversations. The fact that she is terrified to fall in love, afraid that one day he would no longer be in love with her, and that she doesn’t think she could go back to being the same again. But by Sarawat telling her to take the lead, that they will go wherever she takes them, gives her confidence in his leap of faith, and that they are in this together. So flipping sweet. Their emotions and facial nuances really evoke so much understanding and meaning between the two, and no further words are necessary. Their love takes time, and I like the subtle push and pull.
I also like that the climax of Maya Tawan has propelled Mee into action, seeing those girls who were being sold affected her first hand. She feels the desperation to make things better, it deeply bugs her and she wants to do something about it. So this drives her to go undercover, to write the biggest column to move people. Frighten people. Make people do the right thing. Kuddos. I like a tough girl who doesn’t go running to the pr’ek to help her. She will do this on her own. And if he so happens to find out, and comes to see if he could help, then that’s on him, right? But I do hope he gets there soon!
In regards to sex slaves and human trafficking, it is so true what Heran implied, that some people choose to be ignorant because it doesn’t affect them. That’s why Mee wants to bring this column right to their breakfast table. Our main characters are not the ones to sit around and accept that this is the way it is.
For so long, Mee doesn’t dare let him hold her hand or touch her. But when she fears that she will never see him again, she went into his arms. By withholding the touchy feely scenes, and to finally giving it to us, it’s quite beautiful to witness! Not to mention the development between auntie and nephew. I’m glad to see that the two could take the next step forward to being a real family. I do wonder how they will close out the drama with her family- namely Suntih’s father and grandfather.
I don’t know where this drama is going to take us, and I don’t know whether there is a twist or turn, or how poignant the relationship between Inspector-Reporter will fare, but I’m going to take a page out of our inspector’s book, and just let this show guide me. They can take me wherever they want, I shall sit back and watch. After all, our Sarm Taharn Seua Sao is really, coming to a close soon.
I’m glad you decided to continue recapping this series, it has really turned into something quite beautiful and different from your typical lakorn. I am just loving the metaphors and relationship develop, whether romantic or familial, from all the characters. I hear its ending soon, probably next week I think. Another series ending.
How will Sarawat react toward Mee go undercover thing, that is the whole different dilemma! He will be piss that she did not listen to his warning not to do something so dangerous.
How I love this pair ! Boy and Matt have nice chemistry here. Love their characters and the development of their storyline. Pleasant. Please writer keep being good !
and did I say Matt Peranee is gorgeous ?
when is this drama ends ? approximately how many episodes ?
We haven’t been given the exact date yet, so hang in there 🙂