This 2019 TV series is a Thai remake of the Korean drama Secret Garden (2010). Titled "Secret Garden", it is commonly referred to as "Secret Garden Thailand" to differentiate it from the Korean series and the Chinese film adaptation. The series consists of 20 episodes (~45 min ea) and is available at AsianVote
with English Subtitles.
Thanat, is a CEO and the president of the largest shopping mall in the country. Yet, he is troubled by things he can't remember from his past that appear to him in flashes, and he is claustrophobic and socially awkward, which he compensates for with extreme arrogance. Vina, is working stunt double living in the poorest part of town. She is wrapped up in her career, has no living family, and no real social life. Thanks to a mistaken identity, the two meet and find themselves both fascinated with and repelled by each other. Thanat tries, but cannot stay away from her. Vina pushes him away, yet still finds excuses to meet with him. The two wind up in Japan, where they find a restaurant open late at night. The restauranteur gives them a bottle of water for the road. They miss their train, and sleep at the train stop. The next morning, they wake up in each other's bodies. There was something in the water, and hilarity ensues. Suddenly, they are forced to learn a new understanding for each other as they try to manage each others' lives. They stay in Japan at first, in order to deal with the swap without the added complication of passing for each other with their friends and family. But, Vina gets a job offer, and one of Thanat's relatives stirs up trouble at the company. So, they go back to Thailand, where Thanat's cousin Ray stirs up trouble on Vina's set, while Vina's boss conflicts with Thanat (now really Vina), and Thanat's mother makes it clear she will not stand for Thanat and Vina to be together.
The series contains the following trope examples:
- Adventures in Comaland: Vina winds up in a coma. Then, of course there's a body swap and Thanat is in the coma ...
- The Art of Bra Removal: Inverted and discussed when Vina (now in Thanat's body) shows Thanat (now in Vina's body) how to put on a bra.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: Both the Thanat/Vina couple and the Ray/Ida couple are fighting through much of the series.
- Beta Couple: Ray and Ida. Despite some plot specifics, you can't help but like both of them.
- Big Fancy House: Thanat lives in a large house that sits on a golf course. His closet is the size of a small house.
- Chekhov's Gun: Thanat's claustrophobia, and Vina's father was a firefighter who died on the job. Turns out that her father died saving Thanat.
- Claustrophobia: Thanat has severe claustrophobia, to the point he takes medication for it.
- Control Freak: Thanat, who can't stand anyone messing up his plans. Kae, who must control Thanat's life.
- Convenient Coma: Thanat/Vina snaps right out of one.
- Easy Amnesia: After the last time he comes out of the "Freaky Friday" Flip, Thanat forgets everything after the accident when he was 21. Piled on top of Convenient Coma.
- Elevator Failure: The cause of Thanat's crippling claustrophobia is an elevator failure accident.
- Evil Matriarch: Thanat's mother was completely vicious with Vina.
- Flashback: Many times with Thanat, Vina, Ray, and Ida.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: Thanat and Vina switch bodies after drinking water from a vanishing restaurant.
- Gender Bender: there is something in the water. This Thai remake of the Korean television series Secret Garden (see above) has a CEO and a stuntwoman have their bodies switched after they are given a bottle of water "to go" at a restaurant in Japan. This is a complex love story with plotlines beyond the Gender Bender trope. The gender switch happens three times after they drink the water at the end of episode 6.
- The first switch lasts from the beginning of episode 7 through episode 11.
- The second switch that occurs for the last half of episode 17.
- The third switch lasts the last half of episode 19, when Thanat sacrifices his own life so that Vina can have one.
- Homoerotic Subtext: Tons of this when Thanat and Vina are in each other's bodies.
- I Have No Son!: Thanat's horrible, horrible mother reacts this way.
- If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...: Tong and Can are both protective of Vina with Thanat.
- Impossibly Cool Clothes: Subverted as Thanat frequently wears tacky sparkly tracksuits.
- It's All About Me: Ray, Thanat, and Ida.
- The Little Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday: The small restaurant where they obtained the water bottle was gone the next day, replaced by a shrine.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Thanat.
- Lovable Alpha Bitch: Ida is a bit of a bitch, but she actually grows on you.
- My Beloved Smother: Thanat's mother Kae has his life all planned out for him, including who he'll marry. The situation is similar with Ray's mother Grace.
- Oblivious to Love: Initially, Thanat is drawn to Vina, and he has no idea why. Similarly, Vina keeps finding excuses to see Thanat, yet truly thinks she can't stand him. Also, for much of the series, Ray is in denial about still having feelings for Ida.
- Pair the Spares: Beta couple Ray and Ida get paired up again at the end. Gamma couple Mook and Chai are also paired up.
- The Prima Donna: Anna, whom Vina stunt doubles for.
- Reverse Harem: Vina has something like this with Thanat, Can, and (to a lesser extent) Ray.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Thanat uses his money instead of making lunch for the stunt boot camp. When it is implied to be a sort of cheat, Thanat has an "I'm rich, so sue me." attitude.
- Second Prize: Well, third prize. When it is time for the Mall's First Prize winner to go to Japan, it turns out she's pregnant. The second prize winner is too old for the trip. So, the third prize winner (Vina) getst to go.
- Second Place Is for Winners: Sometimes, even THIRD place is for winners. Despite only winning third place in the contest, Vina gets the first prize trip to Japan because both the first and second prize winners can't make it.
- Show Business: Ray and his music/acting career, the Can Do Stunt School personnel, various characters as casting directors, song writers, etc.
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Stunt Double: Vina is employed by the Can Do Stunt School. - There Is Only One Bed: In Japan, there is only one room available with only the one bed.
- White Man's Burden: Thanat decides it's his duty to help out Vina with her hospital expenses.
