10 things I enjoyed about Khemjira
I needed a week to gather it all, but here are my very biased, serious and not-so-serious thoughts before I forget.
-> It starts and ends with a friendship.
Khem - Jet - Charn bond is at the core of the whole story. Yes, romance is an important, essential part of a plot, but for me, the true heart lies in the way this trio stands the test of time. And multiple lifetimes! And karmic enemies! And curses!
-> It understands the power of the community.
One of my favourite scenes is the one where village representatives come to Paran offering support, even though seemingly he does not have the ability to help them or play the role that he played before anymore. Many other small moments also reinforced the idea that you are not alone with your struggles. Khem was never truly alone, even when his guilt-ridden self wanted to make it that way.
-> It seems to embrace the culture in a respectful way.
All the context from the show itself, additional materials, and the works I read in the tag ( @hinmotion 'Khemjira Must Know' posts & others were great companion pieces) made me actually learn something about the region's religion and culture, and I appreciate that very much.
-> It assembles a diverse cast of characters and gives each of them a satisfying arc (or at least one that makes some sense)
As stated above, even if I didn't quite like some of the characters' motivations or choices, I didn't have to make mental gymnastics to understand them. I think I was most impressed with how swiftly and unproblematically the potential Khem - Paran - Pong triangle was resolved. Also, our two couples' dynamics being so vastly different yet complementing each other in pacing and humour, making the story quite balanced - that was niiiice.
-> It has one hell of a beautiful soundtrack
Some of you may know that I can get overexcited about sounds, songs and music in shows in general. For this one, I even did a little meta post as part of a @dramalove247 challenge. The sound design, mixing, and the background music itself made for a truly immersive experience. It made me google Thai traditional instruments, singing techniques and all that. I never got bored with the main themes woven into the story; even the original songs were ones I could put on repeat (Mantra will forever be my beloved).
-> It gave the make-up & costume department an ability to prove themselves, and boy did they deliver.
Whoever made them naga boys look like that deserves a raise. Whoever paid attention to historical accuracy (the teeth!) deserves a raise. Whoever decided that Paran needs plunging necklines deserves a raise. Whoever designed all the dead people deserves a raise. And I could list stuff here all day.
-> It brings depth to characters that might have only served as comic relief if done wrong
How easy would it be to make Jet a proper group's clown? Yes, the show is called Khemjira, but if there was one character that held the show together, it was Jet. He was the kindest, funniest, and unapologetic person out there. If he had been written or performed the wrong way, the show wouldn't have endeared itself to me as much. And what about the kiddos? Yes, they always made me laugh, but their fierce loyalty and their own sacrifice (though it would have come sooner or later) were very moving.
-> It's just so beautiful to watch
Let's be honest. The actors serve such visuals that it should be illegal (They put Net and Keng in one frame for me to lose my mind over). And the cinematography makes me want to book the first plane to go and visit the region (not doable atm) or just pause and print a random shot to hang by my bed (more doable).
-> It's the one show that called me by my name
Is this a perfect show? Of course not. There are a few problematic moments I will always have some reservations about, and shortcuts that couldāve been handled better. Still, this was the first show in a long, long while that I diligently tuned into each week. The emotions it stirred in me were kind of unforgettable, the communal watching experience was beyond enjoyable, and I'll remember those 12 weeks very fondly.
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