Daughters: A Look Into Thai Society

Before I get started with my review, I just wanted to say that I'm Thai-American so there are cultural aspects that might not connect as much with international viewers. Nevertheless, Daughters is one of the only Thai dramas, if not the only, that delves into taboo subjects like teen drug abuse, family problems, etc. without sugarcoating the topics or romanticizing it. Another note, the native title 'Sia-Dai' means 'to regret' or 'what a waste', in reference to the teens in the story whose lives could've been so much more.

Story:
Daughters focuses on a group of teen girls who each have different familial problems. The story is well-paced as it digs deep into the background of each character and develops their character arcs over each succeeding episode. Every character is well fleshed-out and has their own individual traits and stories that make them all so compelling. The story itself is portrayed in a creative way where the main issue isn't really the drugs but rather the teens' surroundings and dysfunctional families. I was invested in every single character and there wasn't any character that felt dull or lacked depth. Everything was portrayed so realistically, with nothing seeming out of place in regards to the story. In terms of culture, you won't find any Thai drama like this as companies are hesitant to talk about these controversial topics that are quite reflective of Thai society itself.

Acting/cast:
Although many of the actors in Daughters were newcomers and had little to no prior acting experience, they all executed their role wonderfully. In interviews from the cast, each actor went through major workshops and preparations for their roles such as visiting rehabilitation facilities to ask people what it was like to go through drug withdrawal, do drug injections, etc. In every scene, each actor portrays their character super realistically and there was never a moment where I couldn't guess what they were thinking. Additionally, their friendship seemed very genuine and natural which made me feel more connected to the cast overall. Huge props to the four main actors, their acting is phenomenal!

Music:
This is probably a cultural aspect as most of what 'Sia-Dai' plays is 90's Thai music and the intro/closing songs are more traditional types of Thai music. Although it might not appeal to international audiences, the music is very accurate for its era!

Rewatch value:
The topics in 'Sia-Dai' are very realistic and dark so it might be hard for you to watch it again especially if you're uncomfortable with topics like suicide, drug abuse, prostitution, etc. For me personally, I would definitely rewatch it due to each character's intriguing personality and background. I also felt a strong emotional connection with the characters and wanted so badly for them to be okay in the end.

Overall:
'Sia-Dai' is genuinely one of the best dramas I've ever watched. The topics it discusses about are rarely talked about in the media, in Thailand or even internationally. It is a unique take on drug abuse as it doesn't portray the teens as bad but rather vulnerable and scared. You sympathize with them and understand that they take drugs not for fun, but to escape from their harsh realities. I highly, highly recommend it.

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