The writer, director and producers spent several years researching the Thai legal system to get the details accurate. They are able to call on the expertise for a wide variety of film making skills.
"The Evil Lawyer" is realistic in that it delves into the justice system that is far from pure. We meet Jettri in a case where she seems to be defending the indefensible and wins. We learn she discredits opposing witnesses and recruits co-operative witnesses among other underhanded strategies. Mek is disgusted. He is concerned about a client who confesses, but Mek determines it is to protect someone with power.
By the first episode we learn his girlfriend, Ang broke with him without explanation. He is invited to the home of a boyhood friend, the son of the police chief, Anan. He wants Mek to drop the case with a (false) confession. A Burmese servant woman is forced to accompany the two men so they can compete with a golf club. The woman is abused and at one point strikes the police chief's son with a golf club and kills him. Gun shots attracted attention, blood flows and the woman flees. Shortly after, an official shows up. Mek is accused of murder and it turns out the case is politically very delicate. He feels political forces are against him and turns to Jittri.
Part of the deal is that Jettri, although not charging him, demands he help her on some other cases. One is of a verbally graphic sex assault in which a guilty man gets off. Mek begins to see that life is unfair and to get justice it pays to use tricks.
The situation gets more complicated. Ang comes back and wants to help. She is very concerned about justice and makes some big decisions of her own. Politics, unions, illegal immigrants from Myanmar all seem to be linked.
There is a stunning, I mean for you my reader shocker at the end, on more than one count. I am looking forward for a possible (likely?) second season.
Many people contributed to this success of this series. Here are a few. I recognize the names are difficult for Anglophone ears, but they are well worth knowing more about.
Nottapon Boonprakob was the director and a writer. He has studied for a Master's degree in Social Documentaries at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Nottapon has 5 directing credits, 6 for writing and 4 for camera and the electrical department including "Mad Unicorn" (2025). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/mad-unicorn-exciting-series-fromthailand.html
Sopana Chaowwiwatkul was one of the writers. Sopana has 10 writing credits including "The Notebook" (2019) and "Analog Squad" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/12/analog-squad.html
Songphon Jantharasom was the producer. Songphon has 3 producing credits and 6 for assistant directing including "Bad Genius" (2017) and "Mad Unicorn" (2025). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/06/bad-genius-out-of-thailand.html
Siwat Homkom was the composer with 9 composing credits.
Koi Boonyanush Kratheg was the cinematographer.
Supawit Buaket was an editor. He has 9 credits for the editorial department, 3 for editor and 1 for visual effects including "Thai Cave Rescue" (2022), "The Believers" (2025) and "Send Help" (2026). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/09/thai-cave-rescue.html and http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/04/the-believers.html
Rhatha Phongam plays Jittri the "evil" lawyer. She is a trained ballet dancer, singer and has modeled. Rhatha has 36 acting credits and 1 for soundtrack including "Only God Forgives" (2013) with Ryan Gosling.
Nat Kitcharit plays Mek. He has 18 acting credits.
Atchareeya Petipipittanakorn played Ang, Mek's girl friend at one time and political activist. She has 14 acting credits.
Sarinrat Thomas played Atchara, Ang's mother and the head of a progressive political party. She has been a television hostess in Thailand and became inspired by some of her guests advocating for mental heatlh. In 1997 she went to the United Kingdom to learn a variety of mental health therapies with the Health Professions Council (HCPC), graduating in 2000. She is a psychotherapist, a drama therapist, acting coach and workshop facilitator. Sarinrat has 10 acting credits including "The Impossible" (2012), "Bad Genius" (2017) and the very popular "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" (2024). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies.html
Songait Roognophakunsri played Anan, a police chief. He has 58 acting credits including "In Family We Trust" (2018). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/09/in-family-we-trust.html
Phollawat Manuprasert played Mek's father, a well respected judge. He has 34 acting credits including "In Family We Trust" (2018).
Nopoachai Chaiyanam played Kosol. He has 30 acting credits and 9 for directing including "Analog Squad" (2023) and "Hunger" (2023). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/05/hunger-interesting-movie-from-thailand.html
As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen. They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time and if you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.
"The Evil Lawyer" is available subtitled or dubbed on Netflix. You will find the series very engaging.
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