EDIT: Just reread your comment and had to rewrite my reply. Lol. I agree with poorly written scripts. No matter how popular the main leads are, nothing can save a bad script. However, I think the plot for this isn't so bad. It's a slap/kiss full of slap/kiss. Lol. It's just that Dome and Janie portray their characters to make it seem super crazy. I've seen many lakorns crazier than this, but the actors' acting were phenomenal so it was more entertaining than disturbing. Thai lakorns have a lot of plots similar to this but it takes the right actors to make it good to watch. I never favored Dome or Janie's acting as a weakling. That's why I skipped her in Raeng Ngao. However, as said before, Dome isn't as bad as he was before so I can bear him now. Haha. Janie on the other hand, is still the same with her weak roles. It's not convincing enough for me, but she does cry beautifully so she's talented in that department.
I'm sensing that you guys aren't Thai or Southeast Asian. It's a cultural thing. Lol. Thai's don't support rape or sadism. Lakorns are not meant to depict reality. It over-exaggerates life. That's why when people compare them to reality, I scratch my head because it doesn't work that way with the obnoxious n'rais (villains) and stupid pranangs (main leads). Although, I would really love it if they started making them more realistic so that they wouldn't tick us off as much. Actually, they have been making them more realistic. If you want to watch realistic lakorns, tune in to Kuan Gaan Tong Gub Gang Por Pla Lai (Spinsters vs. Casanovas) or Dao Kaew Duen (The Star Circles the Moon).
Slap/kiss is one of the genres that is far from reality. That's why you see all these crazy things happening including rape, which tends to be a turn off for those who didn't grow up watching Thai lakorns. For the Thai audience, it's entertainment and like SarN said, a guilty pleasure. Thailand is a very conservative country. They frown upon public display of affection. That's why lakorns back in the days had scenes where the main leads locking eyes or accidentally touching each others' hands would make the audience blush. They never did real kisses before, but the angled kisses and "R" scenes pulled in ratings because those are the only moments where n'ek and p'ek physically come in contact, "breaking the rules" which is an exciting moment for the audience. It's kind of an oxymoron. Women are supposed to save themselves for marriage, so if there's a willing, it'd make her look like she sleeps around vs. an "R" where she was unwilling. Weird right? I know. In contrast, today's lakorns have become more westernized. Thai's are now open to seeing real kisses and willing scenes since sex before marriage isn't so much of a taboo anymore, but "R" scenes are still popular because doing something that society frowns upon is still exciting, only in lakorn world though! Lol.