A 20-second stair fall? Glass casket as a dining table? Thai viewers can’t look away from ‘The Hidden Shadows’

Screengrab from the famous staircase scene from Thai drama ‘Raeng Ngao’, known in English as ‘The Hidden Shadows’, that has the internet in stitches.

First Published: Sunday, 01 Nov 2026 12:33 PM MYT

BANGKOK, Nov 1 — There’s nothing like a few tight slaps to a mistress to get viewers riveted to the soap opera-like plot but even this is perhaps too much.

The first episode of Thai actress Baifern Pimchanok’s new drama, released on Oct 23, left netizens amused with its overdramatised scenes, and one in particular is going viral on the internet.

The 34-year-old plays the double role of twin sisters in the Thai drama The Hidden Shadows, also known by its native title Raeng Ngao, based on a novel written by Nanthana Weerachon.

The story follows Munin, who finds her twin sister Mutta’s body in a stream. She assumes her identity to uncover the truth behind her death and seek revenge.

Spoilers ahead.

The viral scene, a flashback, shows Mutta being restrained outside a building by a man while powerful politician Nopnopha (Benz Pornchita) trash-talks and slaps Mutta multiple times for seducing her husband.

A crowd, fearful of Nopnopha, stands by and watches with occasional dramatic exclamations.

One last slap sends poor Mutta rolling down the stairs, but just when you think she’d come to a halt, her body continues tumbling down multiple flights of stairs and landings before she hits the ground.

The crowd screamed and did nothing to help for the entire 20 seconds.

Netizens in the comments section of the episode uploaded on YouTube laughed at the melodramatic scene, adding commentary on the entire episode as a whole.

Screengrab from the famous 20-second staircase fall from Thai drama ‘Raeng Ngao’, known in English as ‘The Hidden Shadows’, that has the internet in stitches.

“It’s like watching a cartoon — so many scenes are just pure fantasy. It’s honestly an insult to my intelligence, but I’m still watching it because I want to see Baifern act,” said one netizen.

Another remarked: “Are people really okay with this kind of plot that completely disregards logic and reason?”

One left an angry rant: “I’m annoyed by those who say it’s just a drama. Stop it! I know it’s a drama, but don’t viewers have the right to question the quality and realism of it? Why not just make the heroine sprout wings and fly, then say it’s just a drama?”

Another scene also drew attention for being “creepy”.

In it, Munin hides Mutta’s corpse in a glass coffin and uses it as a dining table.

“Could it get any more over-the-top? The stairs are so high, yet she didn’t break her neck falling. She’s so tough!” one sarcastically remarked before adding: “And she used a coffin as a table to eat at. This isn’t a drama, it’s a comedy, right?”

Despite the exaggerated scenes, it appears some have found it to be “fun” to watch.

One of the top commenters wrote with a laughing emoji: “Ever since I saw the teaser, I decided that I’ll just watch it for fun, without nitpicking.”

Others felt the same way and said they “let it slide” and “turned off” their brain while watching it.

Indeed, the data published by the drama’s broadcaster One31 TV showed that the first episode attracted over two million viewers in Thailand. — AsiaOne