Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Let me start off this review of ‘Memoir of Rati’ by fessing up that I think Inn Sarin Ronnakiat and Great Sapol Assawamunkong are one of the best-looking pairs in GMMTV, the Thai TV production company that churns out gay romances by the dozen. The actors were adorable in the romantic-comedy ‘Wandee Goodday’, and that onscreen chemistry remains intact in their second outing as romantic leads too…. but the script is so slow, and bland that it doesn’t do justice to their screen presence and dynamic.
Directed by Leejern Natchanit Jirarungroj, ‘Memoir of Rati’ ( จาฤกรติชา) is a historical romance drama based on the web novel of the same name by P. Picha. Set in 1915, the series spans 12 episodes and stars Inn Sarin Ronnakiat as the titular protagonist Rati Dière, the adopted son of a Frenchman, who comes to Siam and is employed as a French interpreter by the Ministry of Education. Great Sapol Assawamunkong plays Theerathon, a high-ranking official who falls in love at first sight with Rati and begins to befriend him. As they grow closer, several social barriers, including class differences and stigmas, complicate their blooming romance.
Aou Thanaboon Kiatniran and Boom Tharatorn Jantharaworakarn who were seen together in ‘Perfect 10 Liners’ and ‘We Are’, play the secondary couple Mek and Dech in ‘Memoir of Rati’. Dech comes from a wealthy noble family, while Mek is a poor rickshaw puller who moonlights as a Muay Thai boxer to make ends meet. Unbeknownst to his family, Dech also sneaks into the same underground matches, where he befriends Mek, and their bond soon blossoms into a forbidden romance.
Despite the actors’ strong onscreen chemistry, however, the subplot feels contrived. Dech’s attraction to Mek often reads more like an act of rebellion against his snobbish, classist father Ruj (Ronnadet Wongsaroj). And though minor, Mek’s gleaming perfectly white set of teeth felt oddly out of place for an impoverished boxer.
Ronnadet Wongsaroj’s Ruj is one of the major antagonists in ‘Memoir of Rati’, constantly targeting and humiliating Rati for being the son of a Thai servant in his household. Rati was adopted as a child by Frenchman Lutin Dière (David Asavanond) and his Thai wife, and largely raised in France. So when Rati is tasked with teaching French to Thai nobles, Ruj never misses a chance to belittle him. Unfortunately, Ruj comes across as an annoying, caricature-like figure throughout the series, with little real depth to his character.
Since Rati’s profession as a French interpreter is central to ‘Memoir of Rati’, Inn Sarin Ronnakiat delivers several lines in the language. But the creators should have either trimmed these scenes or coached him further, because it’s painfully clear that he struggles with French. His delivery feels evidently rehearsed each time, clashing with the idea that his character has spent years in France and is supposed to be fluent enough to teach classes. The contrast is even starker because David Asavanond, part-French himself, delivers his French lines effortlessly, making Rati’s stilted utterances feel more like a schoolboy parroting his homework.
Theerathon and Rati’s shift from friends to lovers has its charm, their romance is filled with tender moments, and they look stunning as a pair, especially in the historical outfits. But beyond that, the narrative falters. The sluggish pacing, forgettable soundtrack, and formulaic subplots undermine what could have been a far more engaging drama. If you’ve watched the Thai historical drama ‘I Feel You Linger in the Air’, you’ll find that ‘Memoir of Rati’ treads familiar ground without offering much that feels fresh in the primary pair’s tale.
This series should’ve been eight episodes long, but is instead dragged out for 12, without delivering any powerful twists or turns, or entertaining highs and lows. If Inn Sarin Ronnakiat and Great Sapol Assawamunkong are cast together again for a romantic drama, I will watch it, and will hope it’s a lot more entertaining than this series. If you’re looking for a safe, soft, formulaic romance, this might be a decent one time watch.
Watch ‘Memoir of Rati’ on YouTube.
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