Nothing can drive up the ratings of a TV soap opera like threats from the government to launch legal action against the show's producer. This truism was well proven by the case of Hai Rak Pi Pak Sa (Dare to Love), a TV soap airing on TV 3 Channel.
Ratings of the series, which started early this month, skyrocketed on Aug 12, according to an AC Nielsen ratings survey.
The surge of popularity came after public prosecutors complained the show misrepresented the work of prosecutors and the judicial process.
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) deputy spokesman, Prayuth Phetkhun even, said some of the content was "unacceptable" especially the episode in which a public prosecutor offers a job at the OAG to his ex-girlfriend, to woo her back.
The OAG is said to have contacted the producer to right the wrong. The producer is preparing to talk to the media to clarify the show's stance.
Apparently, the OAG's warning is proving counterproductive as it is driving people to watch the show. After the public prosecutors' complaints, an avalanche of viewers has been watching re-runs, notching up some 44 million views.
The series, now streaming on Netflix, also trended No.1 for the Thai content category.
Hai Rak Pi Pak Sa is a love story of workaholic lawyer Thichakorn, or "Thicha", aspiring to be a partner in a fancy law firm, "Ross & Harvey", that handles rich clients' civil cases: mainly tax, wills and prenuptial agreements.
Thicha is a dignified, sharp-witted yet idealistic woman. Handsome guys -- from a muscular younger intern, to her her boss and a public prosecutor, fall in love with her.
But the problematic one is Nara -- an ex-boyfriend, and hot-shot scheming public prosecutor who is not above playing tricks just to test Thicha's legal skills.
At some point in this melodrama, the public prosecutor invites her to join the team.
"We need staff. Think about it. A public prosecutor is a passport to opportunity. You can become a judge, a politician, help society."
Thicha shrugs off the offer. "No. I don't want to be public prosecutor," she shouts, leaving the hotshot prosecutor (who wears a James Dean-style haircut and tight pants) startled. Ouch!
Needless to say, the public prosecutor is presented in a less than favourable light. Critics, many of them lawyers and law students, have chastised the series for poor research and faiiling to get details of the legal process and courtroom right.
It is not the first time that a TV series has run into trouble with the authorities. A glaring example was Nua Mek 2 that told the story of a prime minister, his crooked deputy who is involved in a dubious satellite project and a sorcerer who performs black magic rites to manipulate political events.
In the Nua Mek 2 case, the series was removed from its time slot without a clear explanation. Unsubstantiated rumours said the show, produced by renowned actress Sinjai Hongthai, a major supporter of the yellow shirt political camp, had upset politicians in the government.
The fuss speaks volumes about the level of freedom of expression in Thai society and how Thai artists have to toe the line of censorship and state oversight. Several film makers have complained of having "controversial" footage chopped, or "obscene" and "morally inappropriate" footage of cigarettes, guns and alcohol, blurred out. Censorship has affected the competitiveness of the entertainment industry, an issue which goes deeper than criticisms related to national security, morality or the justice system.
It nips creativity in the bud, making our artists and content makers impose self-censorship even before the creativity process starts.
The outcome is homogeneous boredom and predictable content -- with far too many romantic comedies, action dramas and of course ghost flicks, and too few TV series and movies which challenge people to think about social and political issues.
So to find out how controversial Hai Rak Pi Pak Sa really is, I watched the re-runs on Netflix to find out what upsets our public prosecutors.
Does the series have a super rich kid ramming his supercar into a policeman, or public prosecutors dropping charges against him? Does the series touch on bribery in the justice system? After a few hours, I am left scratching my head wondering why our public prosecutors are wasting their time trying to regulate this soap.
Hai Rak Pi Pak Sa is cotton candy -- a romantic soap opera, not controversial.
Its worst mistake? A farcical script and unconvincing acting that make the legal profession look like a bit of a laugh.
But it's a big hit right now, thanks to our public prosecutors.
Anchalee Kongrut is Bangkok Post's acting editorial pages editor.
