When last we left Prince and the Rebel, they had to set Somdet free or watch Chet die.
Kosol immediately moves to save his brother
But Bangjong argues that the death of one is acceptable in return for everyone’s freedom. Somdet taunts Kosol while Prince/Worradej pleads for Chet’s life. It’s heavy, but it would have been fun to explore these kinds of dilemmas more.
Kosol changes his mind and wants his brother dead. He gives a multi-layered speech about how he doesn’t have a weak brother who waits for others to help him.
This flashes Chet back to their childhood, when he used the skills Kosol taught him to fight off his bullies. This memory gives him the strength to prove Kosol right, though he can’t take everyone out before he goes down. Kosol fights off the rest and then cradles his unconscious brother.
Kosol takes careful care of his brother until the moment he wakes up, then he leaves. Prince/Worradej makes an excuse, but Chet knows his brother.
By the way, where’s Jade?
Oh, he’s dead. Stabbed through the heart while defending the King. Chet throws petals and flashbacks to the good times. But he doesn’t cry nearly as much as Jade did when he died. Poor Jade.
Chet thanks Kosol for giving him the strength to fight. Kosol doesn’t accept the thanks. ‘Cause Kosol.
Then Chet is back in that funny, oversized navy naval outfit. Does it have some kind of historic significance? In front of a crowd, he renounces his title and abolishes the nobility.
Prince/Worradej announces all laws interfering with love and privacy are gone! Then, when Banjong goes into the boring technical parts of it all, Prince/Worradej faints.
Time for Prince/Worradej to go home
Worradej thanks them for making his wish come true. Prince/Worradej is excited about the future they created. Worradej says they have to go through the forest portal to find out what it’s like now.
Meanwhile, Kosol is trying to wake Prince/Worradej up. Banjong remembers that Prince/Worradej says that if they fainted again, Kosol should kiss them.
Kosol tries twice. But Prince/Worradej gets cold, and their pulse fades.
In the forest, Prince/Worrdej seems eager to leave. But they pause, and remember how much Kosol loved and supported them and promised to stay with them.
In the bedroom, Kosol is grieving and won’t listen as Chet and Banjong tell him to look at Prince/Worradej, who is waking up. He doesn’t listen when Prince/Worradej tries to get his attention either.
Eventually, he notices and is pretty happy.
Remember how Jade died?
Nevermind. Turns out his heart is on the opposite side of his chest. So he just got stabbed through the chest. Someone helped him, and now he’s completely better. This is silly and pointless, but I’m happy Jade is alive, so whatever.
Because it’s election time!
Prince/Worradej lets Somdet and Noble Father out so they can compete. Their campaign speeches are exactly what you’d expect. Somdet offers to control everyone. Prince/Worradej offers freedom. No one is offering canals.
Kosol reports to Prince/Worradej that Somdet is bribing villagers for votes. He thinks they shouldn’t have let Somdet run, but Prince/Worradej thinks this was only fair. The system is flawed, but it’s a better system. If Somdet wins, then they’ll have to accept it, and so will the people who voted. And they’ll keep fighting.
Kosol is impressed and turned on by Prince/Worradej’s deep knowledge, which feels like it comes from another century. He’s inspired to become a better person.
Then they have sex while Somdet attacks the voting center because the villagers aren’t smart enough or educated enough or whatever to vote. Only someone like him can make decisions.
It’s icky because it’s… what people in power rally say.
They destroy the voting booths while Kosol wants round two
But Nisa and the other villagers stop Somdet, and the voting goes on.
In the end, Prince/Worradej gets 2,415 votes and Somdet gets 1. No one accepted the bribe, and Noble Father changed alliances when he saw how the votes were going.
Prince/Worradej gives their acceptance speech, and Kosol comes out with flowers. Kisssssssing! They are married! Or maybe they will be, I’m not sure! But good for them!
Everyone dances to “This is Me”, the new National Song, including Noble Father and even eventually Somdet. Worradej’s force ghost waves goodbye! More kissing!
The ending reminded me of Pit Babe Season Two
But I liked the silliness of the villains joining in better here. Our oppressed not only won the vote, but the villains came over to their side.
Outside of the election, the ending was weak. The way Jade’s not-death and Prince/Worradej’s nearly-returning-to-their-own-time were sped through made them anticlimactic. Also, Chet’s faked death and Prince/Worradej’s near-return to their own time last episode were more dramatic.
Going back to Pit Babe, that was a show with no message I could discern, so I could turn off my brain and still enjoy all the stupid, sloppy parts. With a show like this, that’s trying to say something, it’s frustrating to see it veer off course, contradict itself, and be shallow.
At its best, it reminded me of a favorite movie, But I’m A Cheerleader, which used absurd, over-the-top situations to make funny, satirical points about the absurdity of forced gender roles/sexuality. I wished this show had leaned more into its own satirical, campy moments. Like when the villagers thought Prince/Worradej was a goddess, Prince/Worradej had to learn to fight, or Banjong and Kosol became their own kind of women. More of that would have been great.
In the end, this was an okay show with a sagging middle, weak writing, some fun moments, and good intentions.
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