Into the Unknown: A Review of “Girl from Nowhere”
Everything began when the girl appeared out of nowhere. The Thai television series Girl from Nowhere (Dek Mai) portrays a teenage girl who transfers from one school to another, exposing harrowing secrets and tales of hypocrisy. She might just be an ordinary girl; a new face amid the sea of students but her short presence will haunt you for an eternity.
She might be here one second and gone the next but she’ll definitely leave a mark on your body, mind, and heart. As soon as she marks her target, there’s no turning back.
The Girl from Nowhere’s Mission
Girl from Nowhere is a 13-episode television drama based on 13 true incidents. It narrates the abuse and exploitation of 13 teenage girls from 13 schools. One may interpret this as the Lucky 13 or the epitome of Friday the 13th but Nanno (Chicha Amatayakul) embodies both. This series presents different situations that may be harsh, brutal, or outright absurd; but is nonetheless epic. It features existing pretenses and stereotypes, as well as the realities of the society we live in. Nanno exposes the abuse and judgment teenage girls suffer in this patriarchal society. But fair warning, Nanno’s perspective is on an entirely new playing field; we are all but mere neophytes in her perfectly executed gameplay.
Set in a new school, every episode tackles a prevalent topic. Several issues come to light through the lenses of a teenage schoolgirl. For example, the show discussed topics like society’s toxic beauty standards, rape culture, social media frenzy, and bullying. Nanno also seeks to draw out the worst in people; their greed, envy, fear, and hatred.
Nanno emphasizes the need for accountability.
Meanwhile, this show also empowers women differently; showing girls that they, too, can speak up and fight the rotten system. Nanno is just a girl but she knows that accountability comes first, and revenge comes second. She shows the viewers that girls are not just little women trained for a life of domesticity and marriage. Girls are equipped with tenacity, grit, and gut; and are not just an ordinary force to be reckoned with.
Every episode also showcases the educational system’s weak points. The show acknowledges these malpractices exist, rubbing salt into the already massive wound. Fueled by real-life experiences, these stories are products of poor educational reforms, inhumane work conditions, and a lack of empathy. If these underlying issues keep on plaguing the students, schools will produce individuals who become robots in the working industry.
Even though Girl from Nowhere tackles these issues in a chaotic approach, it piques the viewers’ interest. Some episodes provide realistic resolutions while some lean on the Black Mirror-esque kind of ending. Nevertheless, each story never fails to deliver. Should it be terror or contentment, it’s up to the viewer to decide.
Humans have two sides according to Nanno.
I learned from this series that all people have two sides, both good and bad. It just depends on the person they’re dealing with and on what side they’ll show. Philosophers believe that man is naturally good, and there is just another evil mania that encourages us to embrace evil. Girl from Nowhere did a great job of showing us these evils brought upon by the different sectors of society.
Power can either be used for the greater good or evil. Although the issues discussed still continue, the show gives us reasons to fight. Women may be belittled on this playing field, but fighting for our rights will always give us a sense of purpose that no amount of revenge can possibly give.
What comes around, goes around. Whatever you did in the past, good or bad, will be a beautiful memory or a horrible nightmare years later. Girl from Nowhere urges people to be accountable for their actions and wise in making decisions. In physics, an object stays at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. Just like in life, life will remain stagnant unless acted upon by an outside force. And who knows, the mysterious force might be Nanno.
But the question remains: are you willing to let chaos enter your life? If so, Nanno welcomes you to her world. Want to read more articles like this? Click here.
