A Boss and a Babe

So many unanswered questions..

When will these writers realize that if a plot point is important enough to put into the show as a conflict, it should dang well get a resolution?!

There were so many ideas introduced into this series that just didn't get the attention or closure that they deserved. The ones that did got an off-the-cuff comment and that's it. I understand that the focus is on the main couple but as a viewer, we also became invested in Jack, Time, Thian and Thoop, just to name a few of the side characters who were used for drama but then discarded with no regard to their storyline.

Especially Thian and Thoop.. like seriously.. that's some serious stuff going on there and we don't know what comes of it. Did the stepfather go to jail? Did the mother leave him? If so, why did it take her until her son went to jail for one night instead of doing something about her daughter being attacked and driven to suicide?! WTF

And poor Jack.. nothing is done about the video game and his mental illness is kinda washed aside with a fleeting mention that he doesn't have to take the pills anymore.

I really wanted to like this series but there was just too much left out while there was too much introduced without going anywhere. The love story actually had a decent arc and I really liked that they were older in the work force instead of the typical high school/university students. The acting was good within the main cast and it was fun seeing Drake in a role other than "one of the firends."

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Unnecessary drama/mishandling trauma

Listen I loved the cuteness, I think Cher childishness and Gun’s serious demeanor really made for some cute moments, but that’s pretty much it. It would be just an average cringe but still enjoyable show if it weren’t for all the drama and random trauma sprinkled in. Any and all conflict that happened was so easily avoidable if Cher would just stop being an idiot and talked about how he was feeling. This show would be just fine if not good if none of it happened. I think we forget that shows don’t have to serve a purpose or have a meaning for its existence, it can literally just be cute and nice to watch and that be it. And it really irritated me just how dumb Cher was. If you let every comment a person makes affect whether or not you wanna be in your relationship then the relationship is gonna fail. That’s honestly nothing compared to what they did to Tian tho. This character was nothing but a backstory for Cher. And nothing even came of it. He had a few outbursts because of what happened but everything just goes away at the end. Even to the point where it’s seemingly forgotten that Tian was raped?? In the final episode Cher asked her brother (forget his name lol) if he’s talked to his mom lately and he said yes excitedly. Nobody out of the three of them seem to acknowledge that she literally sat there and let a man rape her daughter until she committed suicide. They were even happy to talk about her. Like they were talking about a good friend. Drama is used as a plot tool all the time and it’s usually not a huge deal because at the very very least it serves a purpose and the show acknowledges how much it affects the characters mental health, here there’s just nothing. The “court case” never even goes anywhere. I can’t even remember if there was one and I just finished the show not even 20 minutes ago. Everything is forgotten. I don’t just find this unnecessary I find it downright disgusting and disrespectful.

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So much better than Enchante

this is so much better that Enchante
the plot is more realized and the acting a lot better
the pacing is good too however, there plenty of loose ends
most subplots were not resolved
feels like the wristers just lost control along the way and ran out of ideas or had limited time to flesh out everything and put it together in 12 episodes
-They could have shown more of Jack's depression how it affected him and how it affects the job
-What is Time so angry about?
-Tian's mom is complicit with her her abuse by her own step-father, to the point of suicide and only said sorry about it and hugged it out
- Thup knew the truth all along, then why is he rude to Cher the entire time? Why is he so mad and just communicates when he needs money?
- the supporting characters were really entertaining but they were not doing anything in the last 4 episodes
- the whole side-plot of the gossiping employees went nowhere

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Potential ruined by the plot, again.

My overall suggested is at 6.5 but I shall keep an additional .5 for Book Kasidet as Cher successfully made us smile.

His character honestly gave me hopes, so did the plot until I realized it started off and it wasnt going anywhere.

I mean before anything, anything, I hoped for a couple of episodes where we witness a sweet build up between the leads. The story had potential, but it could not wait. We're not talking about a fast paced show here, we are talking about how we get almost nothing at the beginning.

Force is a fine actor, its an opinion no one can change but the plot made it look like his character was confused, circling around same scenes over and over again. While Gun's strong presence could be used as a core, he had nothing to tell us. While Cher could continue being the comfort character he was, his side had a dark storyline no one expected.

There isnt much to remember, plenty to question. But I did not entirely dislike it and its because of Book first of all, as i mentioned before. The cast was actually nice Id say, they tried their part as they could. Those little moments too which made me giggle over how loving they were being but dear GMM please dont make it look like the writers just went ahead with anything available until they were done.

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Went off the rails a bit there

It’s like the crispy onion spicy salmon roll I get from Hannafords. Is it the best sushi? No. Do I still eat it? Of course, I love crispy onions and salmon…

Acting:

Cute and silly, but not like great. Probably in part due to the writing, directing, and a touch of Book not being the best crier. I fear I need more pain in his expressions sometimes and the ability to get teary-eyed. Force was pretty solid, but the story didn’t really ask for much from him tbh.

Writing:

I genuinely can’t believe that this is based on a book that someone planned, wrote, and published. It has that thrown-together drama script vibe to it rather than something based on an edited piece of published literature. It started off good but then she went off the rails a bit. I wish they did more with the whole streamer situation instead of whatever the heck they decided to go with here. They threw a lot of different things into this soup and it made it hard to distinguish what it was exactly. They needed to focus in on a central issue instead of having so many because they did not hace the time to get into everything enough to do the plot points justice.

Chemistry/Romance/Kissing:

Force and Book obv have chemistry. They are very sweet very cute. But like, okay. So I don’t know if it’s the writing or directing or the actor’s boundaries or what. But, they lack a like intimacy which is odd because they have this crazy chemistry that alludes to a crazy amount of intimacy. Idk if that makes sense..? Like I don't care whether things get explicit or not, like whatever, that isn’t what I mean. But just, something is missing and I’m not sure how to put it into words. A kiss on the neck or stomach and then a look into each other’s eyes, maybe? Like just a hint of intimacy between two lovers in their twenties. This was an okay romance, pretty standard romance plotline. The kissing was fine, nothing to write home about.

Editing:

I have to point out that there were definitely some issues with the editing of this show. Why are there seconds-long black screens between scenes where it doesn’t fit the vibe/mood of the story. Why are we cutting together sentences at random points where it doesn’t make sense. Did they not get the shot they wanted? Did the script change after they shot the scene? I don’t know, man. It was just a bit too thrown together.

Music/SFX:

Typical corny drama romcom stuff. SFX were fine.

Meh

Now, for some highlights from my notes:

- Oh, Book, my favorite actor for a boyfailure-type character
- My boy, Force, looking sharrrppp
- The Book smile, the Force smirk
- The ASMRtist x fanboy trope combined with intern x boss and gamerboy x game developing company CEO tropes a lot going on here
- Sad gay boy gay boy sad
- Sad bi boy bi boy sad
- Ah yes misunderstanding #1 coming in right on cue
- “Things are going great right now” ahhh so things are going to become real bad real soon, thanks for the warning, Boss
- Shy gay boy gay boy shy
- “If your happiness is me, it won’t disappear.” is cuuuuute
- Jack for sure should have talked to Boss Man and not Cher
- Sad bi boy bi boy sad
- Kiss that sad bi boy
- Angry gay boy gay boy angry
- Girl, just go tell him the truth
- D.U.M.B. Shit
- Not the regular coffee order
- Ouch
- Good girly girly good
- Weeeelllll that is certainly a bit of a lore drop there. Kept that one to yourself for a while there, aye, Thoop
- Jeeeeesusus CHRIST, brother
- JEEESUS CHRIST
- I see why I saw someone say it was unexpectedly dark now, not too out of the ordinary. But like, still…
- FUCKING HELL, brother
- Not the “I love you, peace out” act
- Dear Mrs. Boss’s Mom: *… Uh-huh… I don't fuck with you. You little stupid ass-bitch I ain't fucking with you. You little, you little dumb ass-bitch I ain't fucking with you. I got a million trillion things I'd rather fucking do. Than to be fucking with you. You lil stupid ass*
- Lowkey that last message is for you too, Cher
- Dumb
- Not the regular coffee order
- *Thinking 'bout us, what we gon' be. Open my eyes, yeah, it was only just a dreeeeeeeam*
- You just wanted to… graduate…?
- I’d slap bi boy, fr
- No shot that mother is forgiven like that for not intervening or doing literally anything about her daughter being raped and forcibly impregnated by the stepdad. Baby killed herself over that, like wtf are we talking about 0/10
- Is baby wearing a WORCESTER shirt????????????? THAT’s MY BOYYYYYY
- Romantic gay boy gay boy romantic

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This was so incredibly boring, but I would do it all over for Forcebook

This took me, no joke, 900 days to finish; it was so boring. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. Yeah, this was a hard watch, so let's get into it. What I like, what I didn't, and then overall.

Hard watch or hard while watching? I feel like these two always get shity plots (besides perfect 10 liners, twas gas, so gas I haven't reviewed that either lmao), but that does not make their chemistry any less good. These two have so much fucking chemistry it is overwhelming. I like that they played their characters well because I didn't like them lmao, so good acting. Their sex scenes were good, very good acting and good chemistry, it felt FANTASTIC. I also liked the outfits in this, and I don't really know why; they were basic, but I still really liked them. The start had a love at first sight trope, and I also enjoyed that, and I thought that was very cute, I can't even lie. Yeah, I don't have anything else nice to say about this show.

What I didn't like was everything, next fucking question. Starting right off the bat with the intern and boss plot, it is overdone, and it is always done terribly, and this was no exception. You can't do this trope well because it is weird; it gives way to terrible power dynamics and just terrible everything. Going off the power dynamics, they were so bad in this. I feel like, Cher, I think the name is, whatever book's character is geniuely acted like a child, and that is fine, until it's not. He felt very infantilized and incompetent, and that pissed me off. I can't really explain it, but it gave me this weird vibe. And the fact that Force's character was his boss made this so much worse, because he gave more of daddy energy, which I loved, but not paired with the vibes of Book's character. That was not fun. Also, the lore with the pregnant girlfriend, holy moly, that was so boring, like it was okay, but the way they did it was terrible, and the fact that Cher is just supposed to move on from that and get with his boss was such terrible writing I can't lie. Oh my god, and the annoying ass fucking younger brother, like he is going out of his way to take care of you, you are so annoying, I swear. The irrelevant gaming and ASMR plot LIKE WHAT ARE WE EVEN DOING? I know they are a gaming company and all that, but they could have connected everything better because they did a terrible job doing that, and it just felt so fucking boring and made this a hard fucking watch. Yeah, just overall the plot was boring and just the same overdone thing that we have all seen one million times, so annoying. RANDOM ASS SIDE COUPLES, HOLY FUCK CAN WE GET ANYMORE BORING, YOU GUYS JUST NEED TO SHUT THE FUCK UP I SWEAR TO GOD. Also, did we ever get lore for the boss or just for Cher? I don't remember, so probably not, wasted opportunity, I fear. THE THING WITH THE MOM. You got them apart for about 5 minutes on screen, and then they got back together. Why did you even show up? That does not make any sense, my god, just wasting my time, I swear to god. Okay, yeah, a very hard watch, I can't even lie.

I had accidentally started this, but the first episode was good, and I liked it. They have such good chemistry, and the tension was crazzyyy. "It's not a Thai drama if someone can't drive lol, That's usually how they get trapped lol." So true me 900 days ago. They were going really fast at the start. I was watching this on my mom's brand new TV...that she has had for like 2 years now, so that says a lot for how long this took me. I was raving over Forcebook, but the show was boring. The phi gun shit was gnarly, I can't lie. "This show is mentally a lot lol." I need Force to play a really crazy villain because he has the face to do that. The only reason I stuck out the show was for their chemistry, and I would do it one hundred times over. Also, you know you have been watching them on screen together too long when they start to look like siblings, lmao. "Brought to you by Force and his evil, sad eyes." "Hey, I know your mom just told me to stay the fuck away, and you are now in a massive scandal for helping my dead exes' younger brother, but let's have sex." "Force would look so good in some sluty winged eyeliner on g."

Hard ass watch, but I would give my life for Force and Book. Would I recommend? No...but watch it if you want, I really don't GAF tbh. Okay bye!

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That dark twist fooled tf outta me!!

This supposed to be fluffy lovey dovey series turned 180 in the worst way possible. That dark twist, nah, we shouldn't do that! That's such a mess dreadful enough. I didn't like that stepfather SA'd her stepdaughter then that dead-herself turnout. All that twist is a bummer. They really messed this up big time. We should have stayed with that JoongDunk type of series. Dunno why it had to be like this. The love I felt in those previous eps felt estranged to me. ForceBook, being there, just saved the series somehow. Another nega for this series is the problematic sonofabitch character which just spews negativity whenever he's on-screen. He's just there to borrow huge shitload of money from Cher then that imprisoned situation is just ick. Mind u he exposed his stepdad as the suspect of SA. I don't think bringing him in the series show any impact. It's just a burden for my little mind to bear let alone my eyes witness his behavior.

All I really hoped was bring the softness cute series back and undo that twist and those negas. Their just unnecessary burden for viewers. I was like wanna watch a light series but bruh this is not what I expected. Expected that bad.

The cast were alright. Again this series should have been short and light with few casts here and there. I'd prefer it that way. Idunno I think that's just a popular opinion. Sorry. Without those negas, I think this is decent or fair series to catch up on after serious deeper BLs out there.

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MUST WATCH!

Alright so, I watched this last year, I don't remember much, but I still want to write a review anyway!
- Story? was very cute and fluffy. It's a one you could re-watch for days.
- Actors? Even more cuter.
- I just wrote a review for 'My Stubborn' while i was watching it and it reminded me of 'A boss and A babe'.
- Both stories have the same aesthetic
- Talking bout' aesthetics. This whole series was so aesthetic and colorful.
- The side characters are all great, especially Ohm's character! he was playing a very cute and very kind role!
|| Overall. Amazing plot. Amazing actors. Amazing aesthetic ||

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Strong beginning but slowly lost its touch

The story started well with both Cher and Gun having depth to their character with a sad and messed up past. Along the way, things got out of hand when they didn't give enough focus to side characters.

Thyme/Time and Thoop were 2 neglected pieces in this story. Till the end, they never showed what went wrong between Gun and Thyme, which means it was a lost friendship that could have actually made the story more interesting. As for Thoop, we don't know what happened with the drug charges, and neither do we know what happened to his stepfather.

The biggest plot hole was when they showed Thoop reconciling with his mother who knew all along that Tian was getting raped by her stepfather. That's a very insensitive way of showing forgiveness. As far as I know, legally, the mother should also go to jail as an accomplice since she never intervened even though she knew that a minor was getting assaulted.

We also don't know why Thi was so hell-bent to win the gaming competition. I mean I understand that he wanted to win but his reaction when they all won't have time to practice made us think there is some backstory or maybe a dream. Instead of focusing on that, the series only showed the cheezy romantic part of Thi and Zo's relationship.

So, overall a good one-time watch if you want to enjoy a light-hearted romance and have a laugh.

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Wholesome & cute show, but conflict was poorly resolved

In BAAB, it’s clear that Force and Book have chemistry. In fact, BAAB was a smoother watch than Enchante. But on the whole, I didn’t really feel emotionally invested or connected to the characters.

Plus points for the show: Easy to watch, very cute, and filled with wholesome interactions. The show makes perfectly meaningful points on how people may not be who they seem, and how love is really about accepting someone for who they are beyond the surface.

Iffy points: The boss-intern trope wasn't done so well here. This boss-intern tension culminates in a baffling and also somewhat lame resolution. In order to tie up loose ends, the conflicts resolved themselves in rather superficial ways.

Overall, was this a perfectly enjoyable show? Absolutely. But was it GMMTV’s best in terms of writing? Nope.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/05/25/boss-and-a-babe-2023-review/

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Not unpleasant to watch but lacking in consistency

The story is quite simple but not uninteresting. The subjects are quite modern: acceptance of homosexuality, sexual violence, depression, work relationships. The actors are quite convincing.

Unfortunately, these good points are not enough to erase the problems of this series:
1/ Cher's character is really irritating, especially at the beginning: talks too much to say everything that goes through his head, does too much, takes up too much space. He calms down afterwards but as we had difficulty to get attached to him at the beginning, it remains complicated to be captivated by his story. On the contrary, Gun is very bland. The contrast between the two leaves a strange impression.
2/ Most of the subjects, quite modern, are only skimmed over. We would like to know more and understand the resolutions.
3/ The love story is badly described. We don't understand how they fall in love and especially so quickly.

In summary, this series is rather pleasant to watch but will not leave an imperishable memory.

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