#Man suang spoilers

[mileapo]

CHATRA & KHEM ManSuang (2023)

[womanonthehill]

Apo Nattawin as Khem in Man Suang

[morose-marble]

I can't stop thinking about Khem and his relationship to sex as power and where it lies in relation to his own experience of sexuality. I also can't stop writing rambly, unstructured nonsense.

As we know, there's no explicit indication as to how Khem identifies sexuality-wise, other than subtle hints that Chatra's positive attention pleases him somehow (the repeating of 'you did a good job today', the very slight smile and perplexed pause at Chatra's admission that he just wanted to spend time with him, and finally, his frankly reckless trust in Chatra in the tree). And of course, 19th century understanding of 'sexual identity' as a character trait was different from the present.

I would have been interested in seeing more of Khem's perspective of his own sexual identity, considering that there was a scene that addressed homophobia directly. The fight that broke out was essentially used as a plot device to get him alone with Chatra, so I'm intrigued as to why they chose to emphasise homophobic rhetoric, when it seems that it isn't really presented as the issue. In Khem's case, class always trumps everything else.

All instances of Khem's sexuality we see are completely predicated on exploitation, with no suggestion at all as to what Khem's experience is beyond that. He has sympathy for the courtesans, because he understands what it is like to be reduced to the value of the pleasure to be derived from one's body. The first encounter with Phraya Wichiendej and the Inao performance, combined with the opening scene of the film, establish (to me at least) that he is practiced at recognising men's desire to 'have' him in a sexual sense, but perhaps more importantly, to exact class-facilitated power over him (he isn't really in a position to refuse). The way he smiles up at Wichiendej upon greeting him, the tone of voice he uses, come off as deliberately deferential in a way he has learned strokes the egos of men who see him as lesser. He recognises that it is the only tool for security or potential advancement he has in that particular kind of social situation. Tragically, the delivery of his lines during their meeting also holds a sliver of tenacious hope for the compliments to really only be for his efforts and not a veiled assertion of dominance ("you please me and I have all the power I need to make you do what I want"). And who knows, this may well have been the case, as we aren't shown Wichiendej pursuing Khem in any way after the Inao performance. We get the flashback montage of Khem's history of being sexually exploited by what appear to be men and a woman. So, again, the sex part of this exploitation is primarily about power, to reaally drive home that Khem has never had agency over his body or in his life. It is his base trauma.

The fight is Khem being slut shamed to compound on the humiliation he already feels from having received a thorough and public dressing down from Kru Phikun. And to add insult to injury, not only is he a slut, he's potentially 'a gay slut' (D.E.B.S? anyone?). He's understandably frustrated and angry, because he has had no choice in the matter, like, ever. What we don't know, is how he feels about the accusation regarding the gay part.

We don't get to see him as a sexual being on his own terms, he doesn't do any explicit desiring at any point in the narrative. So, the question is, how are we to interpret Khem's reaction to the disparaging of sexual conduct between men specifically? That's a big part of the argument, even to the point of surpassing the accusation that he is performing sexual favours in general. In fact, his assailant makes sure to let him know that he thinks performing gay sex acts for profit is worse than being a female sex worker in man suang, because gayness is particularly disgusting. Khem demands to know who presented the claim and whether they have proof, and he does it in a defensive, aggressive manner, and understandably so. Rather than commenting on the gay part of the accusation further than denying it, he chooses to openly defend the courtesans, effectively aligning himself with them, negating any discussion of the gender specificity of the accusation, but implicitly confirming the sexual favours part.

Does he recognise himself as experiencing desire for men? Or anyone, for that matter? Can he, when the primary association he is shown to have with sex is power-driven transactionality, instead of pleasure? Clearly this has been going on for a long time, but how long exactly? How has this impacted his perspective on sex and sexuality?

I was actually quite surprised how much time they devoted to establishing this part of Khem's character, without it playing a more pivotal role in the plot as the story advanced. I was sure at the Inao performance that Wichiendej would be built up as some kind of lech whose downfall would lie in his classist underestimation of Khem as a person, clouded as he would have been, with lust and a sense of superiority.

That leaves it to be simply a building block of Khem's character background, with the purpose to elicit sympathy in the viewer and contribute to world-building. But how does he feel? What does he think??

I know that Apo mentioned in an interview that Khem is some flavour of alphabet soup (not sure how specific he was tho), but within the narrative, they leave us guessing on multiple levels.

My fanfic fantasy for this whole thing is Khem finally being given a chance to get to know himself and have agency in choosing what he wants. Emancipate the lad!!!

[heaven-is-in-your-arms-series]

Khem เขม

a look at his name

Khem's name was much trickier than Chatra's to pin down. (of course I did both of them)

It wasn't on any of the "name lists" you can find.

I did come across a "Khem," which means "needle," as in a sewing needle but it was listed as a girl's name. (a lot of Thai names are gendered.)

The closest boy's name I could find was "KhemKhaeng" which means "strong."

So I looked for "Khem," as a word and initially I found a khem which means "Dark" or "Strong," but it was spelled like this เข้ม which is very similar to Khem's Thai spelling but not the same.

Khem เขม Vs khem เข้ม

So I kept looking and eventually I found Khem, with the correct Thai spelling and it means...

Happiness / Comfort

(freedom from danger/trouble is also listed.)

Now, I am not a native Thai speaker so there could be something I've missed but I think this name meaning is quite fitting because we learn from Khem that he was abandoned as a baby, left in a cloth and nothing else.

He was raised by an old monk, so very likely taken in by a temple.

This monk must have given Khem his name and considering Buddhist values, I think naming an orphaned baby "Happiness/Comfort," seems quite plausible.

Khem has been taken in by the temple and under Buddha's guidance he will be happy and safe from the dangers of the outside world.

When he's not in danger / being objectified or bullied, Khem is quite a happy, carefree individual.

Apo has spoken about that in interviews, Khem retains an innocent naiveté, despite the darkness he is frequently surrounded by. An example is how quickly he reveals his real purpose for being in Man Suang to a visibly shocked Chatra.

He has a strong sense of justice and makes the best of his situation.

Khem is also a source of happiness for Chatra. We don't see Chatra smile that often in the film but when he does, it is usually at Khem and/or their baby Ruang.

[auseyre]

Halfway through Man Suang and just in awe of Tong serving

every

single

outfit

[fromperdition4]

Three lads, working together to solve mysteries 🥰

But why does this feel familia—

Oh

[crystallinemoonlight]

some thoughts about wan and his sister, and his relationship towards khem based on that trauma

this might sound very morbid, but i wonder if part of what further drove wan to his eventual breakdown was seeing his (only) friend be used and assaulted in a similar way his sister was? because the first panic attack/episode that we see wan experience happens when khem is being sexually exploited in the room right next to him.

i don't know if it was intentional or not, but i just think it must have been awful, to know that his friend is being used in such a similar way, to be directly in the other room from where it's happening but not being able to do anything because you've been taught that that's just how the world works and you can't intervene, because intervening will only make it worse for you both. i wonder if it might have contributed to his hatred and need for revenge, that it filled his head with conviction that certain groups of people were just bad and evil and were always gonna be, until he became convinced everyone had to die.

i do think the cigarettes had something to do with it (opium? maybe?) because it seemed to trigger his panic attacks when he smoked, but there was always something else too that set it off (blood, firework, screaming), and maybe it was the thought that after the man was done, he could walk in and find khem like he found his sister, and that makes me so so sad that he never found peace to the moment he died (by his friend's own hand).

[artpo]

Another Man Suang | KinnPorsche parallelism

Porsche laughing at Kinn singing 🤝🏻 Khem laughing at Chat's treasure trove story

[controversialhottakes]

I thought him throwing the glass at "filial piety" (xiao 孝) was a nice touch.

[iveneverdoneanythingwrong]

Liveblogging Man Suang

First things first - outrage at Not-Mile who dares put his hands on Apo. Who the fuck do you think you- oh good, he's dead. Though, this is obviously something Khem expects and is used to. The touching, not the murder.

Wan, leave that knife in. Wan, don't take that knife out. Okaaaay, he took the knife out. Khem, at least don't be holding the murder weapon when- *sigh* never mind. Jesus fuck, Khem and Wan are not the sharpest crayons in the box, are they?

"You were caught red handed next to my nephew's body!" Only literally! I mean, technically correct. And in this instance, not the best kind of correct. :(

I love the costuming

Ohh hellooooo. Also, girrrl what are YOU doing at the devil's sacrament?

You met him thirty seconds ago and you're already showing him your pussy? Chatra, you slut.

Hey. HEY! Lord Not-Chatra. Stop looking at him like that. I swear, Khem is to higher-social-standing men like Will Graham is to serial killers. Where's the Chesapeake Chatra when you need him?

Montage time!

Khem. Sweetie. Honey. You need to be more subtle if you're going to be a spy....

Apo is so pretty when he cries. 😭

YEAH YOU TELL HIM KHEM! Calling out the double standards! Also, that dude is totes jealous he didn't catch Lord Not-Chatra's attention...

Chatra gives you one warning and then it's a FIST TO THE FACE.

Are they on a date? They're totally on a date.

This is a very important secret. So I'm telling you, a guy I've spoken to four times, on our first date, at a table at the corner of an intersection with open doors and people all around. Very important. Top Secret.

I love the sheer disappointment and disbelief in Khem's voice. Khem: A treasure trove? Really? That's what you're going with? Chatra: Why are you laughing?

Khem, you're such a hothead. You got into a KITE FIGHT. But it is a great excuse for Chatra to grope your waist. Well done.

At least Khem tells his secret up a tree and not on a LITERAL STREET CORNER.

Can't rid yourself of being a lowborn? *looks at the camera like it's The Office*

Me: I'm laughing with Khem cause a treasure map is stupid. Me five minutes later: wait, you bought that??? Chatra: Wait, he bought that? Oh man, this pretty idiot desperately needs my help...

Me (And Chatra definitely): My god, look at his face transform into a smile... do it again! again!

Khem: I have something to tell you... .... ... I've invited Chatra to join our missionWAN:ARE YOUFUCKING CRAZY???

I love the reconstruction sequence. That's some good storytelling.

HAHAHAHAHA "If you don't believe me, feel free to search my rooms!" Wan: Oh...I don't think that's nec- Chatra: DON'T MIND IF I DO. "Maybe you need to search me. I'll undress" Khem: NO THANK YOU WE'RE GOOD.

Ok... do you think that's enough food for three people? I think we might need to get another table of food in here...

What.... what are you doing Chatra. Like... my man has to have a good reason to point a gun at Khem... but there are no good reasons to point a gun at Khem.... but my man has to have a good reason to....KHEM LET HIM EXPLAIN

Ahhh Hong, I knew he wasn't dead. I knew it! I did! Oooh an assassin's teapot. Nice.

Yeah, old man! I agree!

Goddamned Apo is so goddamned pretty.

Oh damn. Risking your life to save your friend... and ending up having to kill him yourself. What a gut punch.

Aww Chatra. I'm not crying, you're crying!

Where's the series? I need the series now! Where is ittttttt???? 😭😭😭😭😭 You can't leave my boys like this!! 😭😭😭

[mileapo]

CHATRA & KHEM ManSuang (2023)

[womanonthehill]

Apo Nattawin as Khem

[morose-marble]

Ah and the tragedy in Khem is really heartbreaking in the tree scene because of how subdued Apo's performance is

Here's a man with ambition and dreams, who knows that the two defining facets of his identity are his beauty and his social class, regardless of how talented or hardworking he might be. His humanity will always come second to those above him, and he is so jaded to this reality that stating it is a numb thing for him to do. He's acutely aware of the transactional value of his existence.

[heaven-is-in-your-arms-series]

Khem sleeping with his hands bound and pulled back to try and make up for the the years of proper training he never got 😭😭

[rainbowcolored7]

To start I am so happy I haven't been spoiled

This is how we're starting? With sex and murder?

The subs could use some help

Okay soKhem has been selling himself for a while not just at mansuang

The visuals THE VISUALS

Excuse me chat pulling khem behind the corner

TONG!!!!

Hello sir I see you eyeballing this man

Okay wan's got some stuff going on

Jfc apo is fucking gorgeous?!??!? The dancing the eyes the costume TH DANCING APPOOOOOO!!!!!!

Oh God this flashback... oh it hurts.

HELLO CHAT come get your traumatized man okay

"You did a good job today"

Fighting about gay sex in the whore establishment? Why?

Please stop the kinn and Porsche parallels are murdering me. The kite scene come on?!?!

[kinkajooou]

FOUND SOME MAN SUANG SCREENSHOTS GOD APO’S CHARACTER MAKES ME SO SAD

Spoilers Ahead!