Good Heavens! I’m a Goose not a Swan: Saving an Ancestor-in-Law

Introduction

It has been a while since I watched a historical lakorn (Thai drama), so when Good Heavens! I’m a Goose not a Swan was announced, I was ecstatic. I also like the leading actor and the leading actress, having watched some of their dramas in the past. The drama is enjoyable to watch, mainly due to the Female Lead’s antics in the eyes of those ancient people, trying to navigate through her strange life and gender inequality. The drama also incorporates historical information during the reign of King Rama III, such as the sugar trade, the Burney Treaty, historical figure Dr. Bradley, and the Thais’ association with the British, Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese people living in ancient Thailand.

The quirky drama title Good Heavens! I’m a Goose not a Swan comes from the novel title under the same name. The first part of the title, คุณพี่เจ้าขา (Khun Phi Jao Kha) is a polite and respectful way of addressing someone older in Thai. It’s translated to “brother,” although the native title itself is gender neutral. Since “kha” indicates that the speaker is a female, the phrase is most likely spoken by the Female Lead Jeed towards the Female Lead Boonta. In Episode 20, Jeed self-talks to Boonta: “Do you think I’m a Wonder Woman or something? You made me a prostitute.” Her complaint is coined in the second part of the drama title, “I’m a Goose not a Swan” because in ancient times, she is a courtesan, a low status in society (a ‘goose’), not of a noble status (a ‘swan’). Although Jeed is a ‘goose’, she manages to navigate Boonta’s treacherous life and in the end, she realizes why she goes back to the past: “You needed someone to reveal the truth and acquit you”, hence my article title “saving an ancestor-in-law”. I will explain this part of the title in the Spoiler section at the end of my article.

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Drama Info

Drama title: Good Heavens! I'm a Goose not a Swan 
(Native title: คุณพี่เจ้าขา...ดิฉันเป็นห่านมิใช่หงส์ )
Alternative title:  Khun Phi Jao Kha... Dichan Pen Han Mi Chai Hong
Genres: Historical, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Aired: Jan 22, 2025 - Apr 9, 2025
Episodes: 23  |  Duration: 60 minutes
Director: Paajaew Yuthana Lorphanpaibul ( ยุทธนา ลอพันธุ์ไพบูลย์ )
Screenwriters:  Mai Suphawan Thongklib ( ไหม ศุภวรรณ ทองขลิบ ) and 
Muanfhun Chaonua ( เหมือนฝัน ชาวเหนือ )
Adapted from the novel "Khun Phi Jao Kha... Dichan Pen Han Mi Chai Hong" 
(คุณพี่เจ้าขา...ดิฉันเป็นห่านมิใช่หงส์) by Fan Oerahoei (ฝันเอ้อระเหย)
Where to watch: Viu and Netflix
Trailer:

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Synopsis

Through a dream-like incident, Nithra travels back in time to the era of Rama III into the body of Boonta, the top courtesan at Mae Faeng House. This is real life, though, and Nithra has to save herself from being forced into sex work while coping with an unfamiliar time period. At the same time, she somehow gets involved in a murder case, along with Luang Thukkharat, or Chai, who works for the police department. (Source: MyDramaList)

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Characters

Main Characters

Supporting Characters

People Around Boonta/Mae Faeng House

People Around Chai

Other Characters

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Review

Story and Plot

I like the historical drama Good Heavens! I’m a Goose not a Swan because the story is not about the royal families or the nobles. Yes, Chai is a nobleman, but his occupation deals with the commoners and foreigners. Boonta is not a noble lady, not even a fallen one. She’s a merchant’s daughter, sold as a slave, then sold again as a courtesan.

The romance is a slow burn. Chai actually fell for the original Boonta at first sight, when she was still the merchant’s daughter. However, there was no way to get close to her. Boonta is quiet and reserved, knowing well they’re of different status. After he arrested her mother for illegal sugar trading, she didn’t even want to look at him. Therefore, when Jeed wakes up in Boonta’s body and doesn’t know him, Chai is confused. But Jeed is daring and straightforward, and soon he’s eased up with her outgoing personality. In the past, it seems that once a woman seemed to accept a man’s approach, he would immediately propose to her. Chai watches over Jeed all the time to protect her, but she perceives what he does as stalking. Jeed, from modern times, also prefers the chatting phase when they communicate to get to know each other on a deeper level before they start dating.

As for the crime case, in my opinion, the plot is well-paced with a built-up mystery of the wrongly accused Boonta and the murder case that involves both Chai and Jeed. The climax of the story happens in Episode 19, in which Boonta’s case and the courtesan’s murder case are resolved, and the bad guys are punished. Afterwards, the last four episodes should wrap up the romance nicely. However, a lot of new stuff happened in the past during the last four episodes that I feel the drama rushes toward the ending and creates some loose ends.

Characterization and Acting

Bow is the star of this drama! Jeed complains a lot when facing all the difficulties adjusting to the ancient life, but she’s also persistent and resourceful in overcoming those difficulties. Her self-talk is hilarious, and the modern-day-to-day phrases she uses while talking to the ancient people suddenly become amusing as those people don’t have any clue what she talks about. I feel bad for Chai, lol, who tries to understand every Jeed’s unknown words by repeating them back wrongly!

Chai is calm, quiet, and polite, according to the past nobleman’s status and behavior. As a police officer, he respects everyone regardless of their status and deals with everyone according to the law. He is so respectful towards Jeed that he only kisses her on the forehead, and of course, the modern-day Jeed kisses him back on the lips. Many times, he is a silent supporter who secretly helps Jeed. However, I prefer the modern-day Chad who looks friendlier with his charming smile. Pon is a feast for the eyes, handsome with a good body.

Bow and Pon have a sizzling chemistry, when they were Jeed and Chai or Jeed and Chad. Unfortunately, we don’t see much interaction between the original Boonta and Chai. I want to see them pair up again in a modern lakorn, because in the final episode when their characters meet again in the modern day they look so good together!

As for the supporting characters, I love to see the sismance between the courtesans. “Mother” Mae Faeng is strict, especially in the earlier episodes; she is mean. Her original mission is to protect the girls to free them in the future, but somehow, down the line, she forgets her mission. Although there are some girl fights in the beginning, most of the time the courtesans are in unity. They work together and care about each other as the drama progresses. Almost everyone has a back story of how they ended up at Mae Faeng House. Most of them are sold by their parents or husbands to pay debts.

The Visuals

Thai lakorns are usually very colorful in their costumes, makeup, and props. I love the traditional costumes in this drama. The courtesans always show up very pretty and wears bright colors. I’m not a fan of the wigs or toupes put on some characters, but they usually have that kind of hairstyle in historical Thai dramas, especially in the Thai kingdoms era.

As an actress from her own world, Jeed incorporates modern fashion into ancient times. To earn money herself, she works with an Indian merchant to sell fabrics and mix-and-match colors, and works as a manicurist, introducing women to nail polish. Below is her printed design, using leaves, for the couple’s outfit for the traditional Thai New Year Songkran.

Betel Chewing in Old Thailand

Betel chewing has been a part of Thai tradition since the 1200s. Thai people chewed betel primarily for its stimulating and social effects. It also facilitated social interaction, as chewing betel was a common activity among friends and colleagues, and also for its association with beauty and tradition. The practice was also used for medicinal purposes and as a way to freshen the breath.

This centuries of lifestyle declined since the national campaign in 1940 to encourage citizens to quit the habit of chewing betel quid, followed by cutting down all the betel trees throughout Thailand. This was to promote modern society and clean up the city because the people would spit red residue out onto the streets, which stained the cities and roads, which was seen as dirty and unhygienic. Chewing betel nut also increases the risk of multiple forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Although some supporting characters are spotted with red stain on their teeth from betel chewing, luckily, the pretty courtesans don’t wear them. Chai chews betel for a short time, until he overhears Jeed telling her colleague that although Chai is handsome, she doesn’t like him since his teeth are black from betel chewing. Upon hearing that, he goes home, brushing off the stain, and since then, he looks way better without the betel nut stain!

Original Sound Track

In Thai lakorns, it’s common for the leading actors and leading actresses to sing the theme songs. Below are the two OSTs sung by Bow and Pon.

The singing and dancing songs:

Funny note: At the beginning of the drama, when Boonta/Jeed shows up at her first performance at Mae Faeng House, she starts rapping the tune, which confuses her colleagues and the guests and angers “Mother”. The video above is cut at the scene before she starts doing a hand spin on the floor, lol.

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Conclusion

Good Heavens! I’m a Goose not a Swan is a Thai historical fantasy romcom that fits for beginners as well as lakorn watchers. The historical part is unique because the story doesn’t focus on the typical palace dramas, thus there is no political or power struggle theme. However, since the time set is during the reign of Rama III, it focuses on the social conditions of the era, specifically the gender inequality towards women that is represented by the Female Lead Jeed, a modern actress who time-travels to the past into the body of Boonta, a courtesan. Her romance with the police officer Luang Thukkharat (Chai) is sweet and spans two lifetimes.

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Spoilers

Does Jeed really time travels?

Yes, the goose carving inside a pouch is proof. Chai gave it to her in the past. After she wakes up at the hospital in the present time, her manager gives it to her. She says it’s not a filming prop, so it must be hers.

Does Jeed work as a courtesan/prostitute or sleeps with customers?

Nope, thankfully not. When she is forced by the first customer, Chai saves her. Later, Captain Johnson, who is smitten by her, gives “Mother” a downpayment to buy her freedom, so she doesn’t work as prostitute anymore but has to find her own earnings.

Is it a happy ending?

Yes, both in the past (Chai and Boonta) and in the present (Chad and Jeed)

Spoil me the details of the ending

The villains get their punishments, and some are redeemed. Chai and Jeed get married. There is a boat incident, and Jeed falls into the water. She wakes up at the hospital in the present time, the story picks up after she falls from the boat in Episode 1. She acknowledges some familiar faces from the past in the present people, lol. Most importantly, her savior is Chad, the descendant of Chai and Boonta, who is also her new neighbor. In the end, they get together.

Is the real Boonta dead or alive?

She is alive. When she falls into the water at the beginning (it’s believed she wants to kill herself, but someone pushes her into the water), Chai saves her. Jeed wakes up in Boonta’s body. Chai also tells Boonta/Jeed that if she’s gone, he will not remarry. Then how does Chai have Chad as a descendant if he doesn’t have children after he fails to rescue Jeed from the water, and he remains single? So, I believe he saves the original Boonta out of the water in the last episode.

What about the article title “Saving an Ancestor-in-Law”

As I believe that the original Boonta is still alive and lives happily with Chai, Jeed’s time travel saves her ancestor-in-law. Without the modern Jeed taking over Boonta’s body, Boonta will not get the justice she deserves because of the accusation. In her life, Boonta will also be confined by the societal norms and views about low-status women. She will be a courtesan for the rest of her life, Chai and Boonta may not marry, thus Chad won’t be born.

Is Chad is the reincarnation of Chai?

As I wrote in the above spoiler, Chai saved the original Boonta in the last episode. They live happily and have children, he passes down the ring to his male descendants. Chad’s mother gives the ring to her son. He wears it because he feels attached to it, and he subconsciously is also drawn to Jeed before he ever met her. Chad is the reincarnation of Chai. As Jeed’s final monologue, she gets to love the same man in two lifetimes.