Jun 14, 2026 2:45pm IST
‘The Evil Lawyer’ Review: Thai Legal Drama on Murder, Morality and Mentorship Is Edgy and Engrossing
“Mad Unicorn” director Kai Nottapon Boonprakob returns with “The Evil Lawyer.” And wastes no time in establishing his main characters, attorneys Jittree (Rhatha Phongam) and Mek (Nat Kitcharit). The former is considered a shark in legal circles for her absolute decimation of the opposition, while Mek holds idealistic views about upholding justice.
Due to a sudden turn of circumstances, Mek is forced to hire Jittree to keep him out of prison. The two are up against the head of police, Anan (Songsit Roongnophakunsri) who has charged Mek for the murder of his son. Soon, Mek becomes a legal counsel for Jittree realizing how the world of law goes beyond the courtroom.
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As the series progresses, Mek gets acquainted with how Jittree weaponises legal techniques to get her clients acquitted in the worst of cases. The series, which has a total of eight episodes, dives into the world of organized crime, misuse of power and how moral conflict is a baggage you carry all along. Mek quickly discovers that Anan is Jittree’s main target. As they join hands to dismantle his empire of crime and terror, viewers are treated to some fine performances from the duo.
Phongam lifts up the series with her no holds-barred performance. She is ruthless, sassy, vulnerable and snarky in equal measures. In a world dominated by men, she makes her mark with her unscrupulousness. As the series progresses, viewers understand why Jittree believes being a predator is the right way of going about things.
Kitcharit matches her intensity in every frame. He plays a young man with daddy issues blaming his father for the horrific murder of his mother. Working with Jittree questions his moral compass every single day and he is terrific in these court scenes where his eyes and body language convey his deep sense of disgust and guilt. These two have the maximum scenes together and are a joy to watch.
In the supporting cast, Roongnophakunsri as Anan dominates the screen as pure evil backed with power. Viewers will recognize him from the blockbuster Thai BL series, “KinnPorsche.” Actress Prim Atchareeya Potipipittanakorn is seen as Ang, Mek’s girlfriend. On the other hand, Two Popetorn Soonthornyanakij is seen as Chanon, Jittree’s partner who provides her some relief after moments of deep guilt and anguish.
“The Evil Lawyer” has the angle of Burmese refugees in Thailand and the heinous crime of human trafficking. It discusses how lives of the poor can be utterly dispensable to suit the needs of a few. It also acknowledges how humanity can thrive even in the worst of situations.
Screenwriters Kai Nottapon Boonprakob and Sam Jakkarin Thepvong make every episode pacy, dramatic and thought-provoking. The writing of the show is consistently good with healthy doses of dark humor. The courtroom scenes stand out mainly due to Phongam’s formidable persona. The dialogues are hard-hitting and thought-provoking in equal measure. Keeping with the dark theme of the legal thriller, the palette of the show is black, grey and blue. There are no extra frills to distract us as we focus on the actual dialogues and drama. The only gripe of the show is its occasional lack of novelty. The sting operations, vendetta and overall plot feels predictable.
“The Evil Lawyer” is an ambitious attempt in the world of Thai dramas and deserves a watch. Phongam’s performance is the icing on the cake.
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