Was It a Love Spell… or Was It Bulan? | Khom Khlang EP 2–3 | Uncut Reaction

Episode 3 starts again with a longer version of the end of episode 2, with Peem waking up alone after her “kissing session” with Bulan, convinced that she has been put under a love spell and reacting evasive to Bulan’s offers to get her to eat breakfast; Bulan is taken aback by Peem’s reluctance to partake in the breakfast and eventually lets her leave for work, but hands her a tiffin carrier with food for the day, anyway, as she promises to cook some dinner for her. After the credits – and at the station – her colleague notices the tiffin carrier, and she hands it over to him again, once again claiming that she is single and doesn’t have a partner. She asks him whether black magic and the dark arts really exist, and he alludes to himself as the victim of such a spell – by his wife, who has been tattooed by the master, he claims, and explaining that superstars get tattoos from her, too. He offers to let her wife pull some strings to get her an appointment with the master, put Peem is good with what she has, but argues that Bulan must be rich from all the ritual fees. But her colleague claims that Bulan gets angry whenever someone wants to pay her, helped both rich and poor and should be a billionaire by now if she took fees. Peem wants to lease some accommodations for three or six months, and his colleague gives her some references. Meanwhile, Bulan has returned to the school to bring back the figurine. She tells the teacher – who report that the child is doing better but on leave for now – that they shouldn’t hold Peem interrupting the ritual against her and claims she only did her job. The teacher agrees and hands her back the amulet that Peem put on the child. Then, we get a silly little bit where the young Plaifah tries to hit on Peem at a street vendor and tries to get her IG number, but Peem claims she doesn’t have one, but she’s already with Stephan, a motorcycle-riding girl who soon arrives to get Peem away from her. Peem reveals to be a cop, and eventually confiscates Stephan’s bike for being illegally modified. Plaifah is delighted that she’s a cop, revealing her father to be one as well (I wonder who might that be…) but claims she doesn’t have a ride anymore, so Peem gives her a ride home… …which of course turns out to be the home of her colleague who is Plaifah’s father, and needs Peem’s help to get his wife to let him in again. They are dine out together, and we learn the Plaifah is actually called Priew but prefers her nickname. They talk about his daughter and her butch girlfriend, and Peem claims that they are probably a safe space for each other. She them asks him why he moved to Phop Phra, and he claims that he was a stray, and his wife gave him a safe space, a place called home, he claims, where the people whom he loves and loves him are waiting. He suspects she asks this because she started to like someone, and she claims that there is no one, but he thinks she’s just not sure, and as he wants to know where she is sleeping for the night, she asks him for a beer – with her colleague mentioning that she doesn’t drink – and empties a couple of cans quickly. She returns drunk to Bulan’s sanctuary, and Bulan is not happy about it, but treats her with a washcloth, anyway. Peem asks Bulan if she is mad about the morning, and claims that she was just unsure. She asks her if she’s avoiding her on purpose, and Bulan claims that someone like her doesn’t avoid others, but that she cannot share a bed with someone who is intoxicated, nor can she bind her life to someone of different morals. She does not wish to hold Peem against her will, with Peem apologizing to her for seeing this is hurting her so much. But Bulan claims that she loves, so she is troubled, and she doesn’t wish for anyone to brush against her, mortal or immortal. She yearns for her to be hers alone to claim, while remaining unclaimed herself, waiting to be claimed by her lover. Then, she leaves her claiming they will talk the next day and she will sleep in the prayer room. In said prayer room, Bulan begins to research the making of consecrated bullets. The next morning, Peem wakes up late, and finds the Bulan has probably left for her sanctum, but has left her breakfast again. We don’t see he eating it, though, as she is remembering her encounters with Bulan. At the station, she hands her boss some case files as she detect photos of Krating lying on his desk. He confirms that he has been hiding in Mae Sot (about an hour away from Phop Phra), but he hasn’t told her about this because she can’t be harmed, so he wants the local police to handle it. She is clearly agitated as she meets her colleague outside. He asks her what’s going on, and she reports that the chief intentionally hindered her investigation, probably because her family urged him to make sure she stays safe. But she argues that she came there specifically to investigate the case. Her colleague asks her what she is going to do next, and she is going to Mae Sot, and she wants to take him with her being well-versed in the area, or at least knows the area better than her. Her colleague agrees to come with her. And they start to question the local shop owners for clues about Krating’s whereabouts. They find a security camera and plan to liaise with the local cops for the footage of the previous two or three day, and for footage of the stores in the neighborhood, and Peem wants to meet his colleague Chon if possible. Her colleague admires her tenacity but thinks her own life should be her priority. He doesn’t think that “a life for a life” is the right way to go about it. She thanks him for his concern. Then, the colleague keeps looking at his watch, and thinks they could still make it in time if they leave now for her appointment with master Bulan. Her wife made an appointment for her to get the great charm. Peem claims that got it all wrong and she not trying to get anything done and she only asked him for some general information. But he claims that it’s already been booked anyway, and urges her to visit the sanctum. At the sanctum, Peem is hesitant to join Bulan, but she doesn’t want her to go empty-handed, so she asks her to join her so she can incant a verse upon her, and she can decide thereafter. Bulan asks if whatever clouded her mind has been warded off by the alcohol, and Peem promises not to cause her trouble like she did the night before. She holds her head and puts an incantation on her, then wants to know if she knows of the Sattabut lotus (referring, I have read, to a lotus tattoo she has on her body), then tells her colleague that the ritual she shall perform on Peem will last long, and he leaves. Bulan claims that as Peem scorns her rituals, she has never thought to trouble her with one. For someone like her, should she wish to have anyone enamored of her, her beauty alone would suffice. And they head into the sanctum making out (so, this is the kind of ritual she meant 😊). Bulan claims that at every sunrise and nightfall, she yearns for her, calls her her dearest, and claims that the previous night was such a torment. Peem claims that they should spend the night together, then, and wants her to let her be the one to pleasure her until she eases what torments her. Bulan lies down on the bed and Peem undresses her before taking off her own belt. And that’s where the episode ends, safe for another coda showing the next day, where Bulan claims to her dearest that what she needs is not something that may be done with ease, she warns her that perils will come her way for the very instant she seeks the sacred materials. Peem claims that she is not afraid of evil, and Bulan argues that should she be determined to make consecrated bullets, she should always bar in mind the virtues and faith in good deeds. Though she may not hold them close to her heart, she shouldn’t dare to desecrate them. Peem claims to be there to uphold justice, and though she can’t let go of all her vengeance, she would never want to desecrate anyone’s faith. She has faith in the teachings of Buddhism, and prays (to Buddha) that he will guide her good intentions to success. Bulan returns her necklace to her, asking her to not give it to anyone so readily again. She prays that may the sacred beings watch over her as she holds her face, util her good intentions prevail. Bulan claims that Peem neither embraces nor believes in what she is, so there’s no need to address her as master as the others do. But Peem thanks her, and calls her master anyway. And Bulan clearly enjoys it. ____ This was devoid of ghosts, and also devoid of much of the interactions between Bulan and Peem. I must admit that I didn’t care much for the silly bits by the sergeant and his family (as can be seen in my recap above), and frankly don’t understand why Peem got drunk when in the end she succumbed to Bulan’s charms anyway - perhaps she wanted to drink some liquid courage, but it backfired, but that was not clear to me. And the Krating case is clearly drawn out to fill the series with it. So, all in all, I enjoyed this episode the least out of the three, but I am still interested in how the case – and Peem relationship with Bulan – proceeds.

Episode 2 starts with a longer version of the end of episode 1, where Peem is introduced to her colleagues at the Phop Phra police station. Peem talks to her father, who promises to help her when she needs it and wants her not to worry about her mother. He claims her won’t stop her in whatever she is going to do, but warns her to take good care of herself. Peem promises to do it. Peem is introduced to her colleagues as a detective from Bangkok, who is temporarily stationed there to tackle a human trafficking case that crosses the local borders into other countries. She’s not only there to help the victims, but also to – in her words – eradicate the ones responsible, no matter where they might be hiding. His colleague makes a joke about her heart which gets the chief to scold him for it, for him getting into trouble with his wife again, and him claiming to just be playful. He tells Peem that her colleague is the guy to ask with any questions, and mentions that he relocated to Phop Phra mare than a decade ago out of love. If Peem wants to know anything or go anywhere, she should ask him. He expects her to adapt to this provincial district in no time. And he cautions her to be careful about the case that brought her there, arguing that every place has its own etiquette, especially when it comes to matters related to neighboring countries, which are even more sensitive. Her father instructed him to take good care of her – so, she shouldn’t put herself in danger (we’ll see how that one goes…). Peem mentions that she doesn’t need special treatment as she’s working of the case, but the chief doesn’t want any problems with her parents, and orders her to talk to him first if she finds out anything and not to act on her own. After the credits, Peem is shown to her desk by her colleague, who report that he will be going on patrol that afternoon, and invites her meet him downstairs after lunch if she’s interested. Just as Peem gets settled in, Bulan arrives at the station and looks at her with a faint smile, then goes to the chief’s room who treats her with respect and talks to her. Her colleague finds it odd that she is there because he’s seen her only at major merit-making ceremonies. The chief comes out and tells her colleague to welcome the master for him and get her some water. But Peem volunteers to bring the water to her herself. Peem asks Bulan if she came there to see her and has decided to help her with the bullets. But Bulan claims the she made her breakfast, but argues that she left in such a haste without eating it, so she brought lunch to her in a tiffin carrier. Peem asks if she came all the way there just to bring her this, and Bulan mentions that she made it especially for her. But Peem argues that Bulan knows how serious she is, mentioning her brother being at death’s door lying in a hospital bed, but Bulan is treating this as some kind of joke. If she doesn’t intend to help her, she should stop messing with her head. But Bulan argues that she isn’t there to play, and claims if she truly didn’t intend to help her, then why did she close the sanctum to come see her? She wants her to forget that she’s messing with her head, arguing that the restless spirits hounding her all the way there might soon madden her into oblivion. She claims that she has never regarded this as a debt of gratitude, arguing that had she not been someone she yearns for so deeply, she wouldn’t have let this cocky officer set foot in her sanctum. She made these dishes for her, but if she doesn’t care for them, she should throw them away. Peem takes one spoonful of one dish and tastes it, then claims she has eaten it. Bulan asks if it’s not to her taste, but Peem claims that she doesn’t eat breakfast or a heavy meal for lunch, but rather waits for dinner. Besides, she’s not in the mood to eat in peace. Bulan argues that if Peem doesn’t force herself to eat, how will she have the strength to arrest criminals? But Peem claims that’s not anyone’s concern. The chief comes in and takes the master away, leaving Peem alone with the food. Later, her colleague brings her some files, then asks if she has already left. Peem wants to know whom is he talking about, and her colleague claims he’s talking about her girlfriend, of course. Peem claims that she is single, but her colleague clams that he’s eagle-eyed and nothing escapes his sight. Peem thinks that he should put those skills to use at work, not on personal matters. Her colleague calls her sharp-tongued and wants to know if she knows the master. But Peem wants to go a patrol. Her colleague gives her – and us – a quicky recap of the Phop Phra region which borders Myanmar and contains people of many different ethnic backgrounds, arguing that there’s the Thai, Bamar, Karen, Chinese, Akha and Hmong. And there are also dark arts and black magic. They are sitting at a diner when a cook brings over some specialties for her colleague for dessert, and tells him to share them with this sugar, pointing at Peem. Her colleague claims that she’s a new officer at the station and he’s making him look bad. He hands the desserts over to Peem who claims to not really eat desserts and hands them back to him, who then loops his leg around the desserts, before opening them. Peem asks him what he just did, and he explains that no one can be trusted there, there are both magic and dark arts, and this is what he does to ward it off. Peem remembers her eating the food that Bulan brought her, just as her colleague makes yet another joke about being possessed to break the ice as he claims, and she scolds him for it. Someone calls the to the school nearby claiming that someone is possessed, and they both run to the school. Bulan is there as well, treating the pupil who speaks with a different voice, claiming that brat has desecrated her and she will bring death upon her. Bulan tells her to go and not harm an innocent child. The teacher reports that the pupil was playing with a figurine and breaking its glass cover by accident when she put it back. Bulan makes an incantation to ban the spirit, but Peem thinks she assaults her and interrupts the ritual. Peem taunts to ghost to take her and leave the child alone (clearly not believing the possession) as the pupil starts convulsing heavily and eventually bites Peem. Her colleague wants to know if Peem is okay, then tells her to let the master continue her ritual. Peem instead hands the mother her necklace asking her to put in onto her daughter. She does it, and the pupil then collapses into her arms, and is carried away to an ambulance. Bulan slaps Peem for interrupting, arguing that she has never minded it that she doesn’t believe it, but tells her not to interrupt her rituals as it is disrespectful to her sacred arts, arguing that when afflictions come her way, even she cannot come to her rescue. But Peem tells her to prove it to her, for she would like to know if she could really banish ghosts if they were real as she leaves the school. At night at the police station, Peem is cooling her cheek as she’s thinking about her encounter with Bulan at the school. Her colleague reports that the pupil is doing fine, then claims that it’s the first time he has seen her slapping someone this hard. Peem wants to know what the master usually is like, and her colleague claims that she’s real, legit, and the best in all of Phop Phra, arguing that she is beautiful and capable, and when it comes to the great charm Yantras, she is second to none, and that good. Peem wants to know if Bulan has any flaws, but he claims that she doesn’t, though she would only tattoo women because she dislikes men. He wants to take her to her sanctum when they are free, but Peem has heard enough about Bulan, and doesn’t want to hear about anything that can’t be proven, especially her arts. She wants to throw the food that Bulan made her away, but her colleague claims he will eat it, and she gives it to him. She asks him how can he believe in dark arts and black magic, and he claims that seeing is believing, and she has to witness it herself to realize it’s real. He eats the food then hands her the key to her residence in Phop Phra and asks her if she lives with someone, but she claims that she sleeps alone. He thinks that it serves her right and thinks someone like her will stay single for the rest of her life, as she can’t even compare to his wife, whom he praises with a few more jokes. Bulan is at the sanctum talking to her ghost again, telling it not to feign concern and let her see it for herself. Peem is looking at a whiteboard about the case she is investigating and remembering the argument she had earlier with Bulan, as someone is calling her name. She grabs her gun and goes to investigate, but suddenly, the room light goes out, and goes on again only after switching the lights on and off again twice. Peem realizes that a figurine has appeared on her desk and wonders where it came from. She goes out of her room gun drawn, but unbeknownst to her someone appears behind her bed. But when she turns around, nothing is there. She turns back around as the masked creature is grabbing her by the throat, the pushes her down onto the bed – and she is suddenly outside on the grass wearing a dress, with the creature claiming that she has challenged her, so she will bring death upon her. And she has her convulsing into odd poses in real life, until the creature makes her say that her eyes are filled with nothing but sorrow, and from this moment on, they shall never be severed. But suddenly, Bulan appears on the field, shielding Peem and dealing with the creature telling it to return to where it came from and claiming that whichever ghost dares to touch Peem she shall burn its spirit to dust. She does it with an incantation, burning both the spirit on the field and the figurine in Peem’s room. Peem gets back to her room covered in sweat and close to tears as Bulan turns her around to face her and tells her vital spirits to return. She claims she will return the figurine the next day as she is giving her an expensive fabric, telling her to not commit such desecration again, warning he again that she’ll be afflicted should she play a hero. Peem wants to know what will happen to the spirit, will it still wait for someone it loves. Bulan asks her how she felt at the time, and she admits that she felt heartache and sorrow. She claims that it would wait until it found joy, if only for a little while. Peem argues that Bulan seems to understand it so well, and is sorry for the chaos she caused. Bulan argues that from now on, Peem must keep her wits about her. Everything she has done for her, she claims, is for her own sake. Peem asks her why she must always protect her and perform exorcisms for people, claiming that she’s also alone. Bulan claims that she lingers there for her karmic soulmate. Peem asks where that soulmate might be, and Bulan answers the question by kissing her! Bulan calls her her dearest, and asks her to stay there with her, and Peem kisses her back. Peem claims that she’s sorry, but Bulan goes in to kiss her again. And that’s where the episode ends, safe for a coda in which Peem awakes the next day alone, remembers the kisses – and suspects that she is under the influence of a love spell, brought about by Bulan’s food. Downstairs, Bulan waits for her and has made her food, but Peem is fine, she claims and doesn’t want to eat it, claiming that she already told her she doesn’t eat breakfast. But Bulan tells her to just to have a taste, which alarms Peem. ____ The second episode didn’t deal with the main villain at all, but introduced us to the setting of Phop Phra, and to Bulan whom Peem still suspects of charlatanerie, even more so now that she thinks she’s been put under a love spell. Bulan needs to change her tactics if she wants Peem to trust her, and Peem needs to understand that there are supernatural things going on she doesn’t yet understand. I was surprised that Bulan kissed her in episode two already, and think that wasn’t the best move to make Peem come to her side. That wasn’t all that scary an episode, “Runaway” did scare me way more – so I’ll be back next week, as we return to the human trafficking case.

I am a member of 4 reactors channels. Was with 3 others but I left because I felt they were too pessimistic and expecting way more out of the GLs than what is happening. I just want to enjoy having these series to watch. 1 other reactors does Khom Khlang. She does all the smaller studio series so I get to see ones I cant find to watch. Luckily there are choices

Loved your reaction to these two episodes. Khom Khlang is such a great series so far and still way to underrated. Can‘t wait for EP 4. One important thing in EP 3: The ending. Keep in mind that Peem was not a big believer untill now. So for her to say that she believes in the teaching of Buddhism and paying respect to the statue is a big step. Also she asked Bulan how to call her, Bulan answerred by saying you neither believe in what I am or what I teach so you don‘t have to call me Mae Kru (Master) like the others. Then Peem goes and says „Thank you, Mae Kru Bulan“. It was like as if she‘s acknowledging and starting to believe more into the arts and the whole superstitious things. I think that‘s why Bulan smiled so sincerly at the end because it showed her that Peem‘s starting to have faith☺️