Hidden Agenda

Your Expectations Are Accurate

I'm one of the few people that isn't tired of university dramas. I know that we've seen similar love dynamics thousands of times, that we can predict every single move these boys will make. I'm okay with that because just because it plays into common tropes doesn't necessarily mean it'll be bad. What determines quality is how the show executes those tropes.

Unfortunately, Hidden Agenda doesn't do anything revolutionary, and having seen so many GMMTV shows, I don't know why I expected any different.

My main issue with Hidden Agenda, and many other BLs in general, is that the plot is nonexistent. Even if a show has so much potential, the writers complete the entire plot in the first three or four episodes and then drag out the characters actually getting together for far too long. It's fine to have scenes where characters are being lovey-dovey for the safe of being lovey-dovey, but that can't drive a plot.

And it seemed like the writers understood that because then they started throwing plot points at the show hoping one would stick -- an evil ex-friend, a stalker, disappointed parents, a debate competition! But all of those would be resolved fairly anticlimactically in an episode and a half each plot point. So what was the point? To show that their love can withstand all? I'm not really believing it.

There was a surprising amount of depth and complexity to Jeng and Pok's relationship - hiding their relationship when one clearly longs to be public. It was actually so much more interesting than Joke and Zo's plot, and because the writers were taking their time in building out their exposition, I had hope that Jeng and Pok's relationship would be the redeeming factor of the show.

But of course, like all plots in Hidden Agenda, it was completed too soon, too hastily that I was left to wonder if I was imagining the potential their story had.

And then in the last three episodes, the show decided to finally show its worth with an actually substantive plot. Zo is stressing over the upcoming debate competition as he believes it's his one opportunity to make his mom proud, and we find out in the last episode that Joke is the black sheep of the family and he struggles with gaining their acceptance. The latter is criminally underdeveloped and cobbled together and concluded in just two scenes, and sadly this is where we see the best performance by Joong. Despite horrifically awkward writing where we get whiplash by the grandpa who in basically less than five minutes both cuts Joke down a few notches by practically calling him a degenerate in front of the whole family AND THEN asks Joke for a hug and tells him he's proud of him, Joong manages to move my heart with his tears.

I knew going into this show, I probably would be disappointed. And I was, but not nearly as much as other shows, and in fact, it almost became fun since I was hate-writing pages full of notes. You get what you expect and nothing more. I need to stop expecting GMMTV to blow me away with an underrated gem because that hasn't happened in a long, long time.

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Not the best, not the worst

Unlike it’s title Hidden Agenda is pretty fluffy. Hardly any angst. If you’re looking for an easy watch that doesn’t take a lot of brain power this is the one. Joong’s acting is stiff and Dunk’s acting is awkward, especially when he has to act frustrated. Thing is when Joong and Dunk are together they’re pretty good. Probably because they’re comfortable with each other.
I would say my only problem with the writing is the little angst they do have feels like the writers were stretching it. I thought no one would actually get this upset over something like that. If you’re looking for a fluffy and easy watch then try it out. Don’t look for an interesting story with this one.

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I'm sorry, but no

This series is supposed to be romance but the script makes it feel like horror comedy, I had to cover my face due to its cringey-ness and I laughed because some of the scenes just don't make sense

Look, I'm trying to finish this series but after 4 episodes it didn't get better, it just got worse... Joong and Dunk might be not the best actor out there but even this is not about their acting anymore. This is not the case of good story bad acting, it's more like decent acting horrible story. I don't even understand the story progression, suddenly they're here, suddenly they're there, suddenly this happened and boom! they fall in love even harder with each other. It just doesn't make sense, there are so many plot holes and the story feels like a fever dream. It's all over the place. It feels like you're trying to piece a long script from scraps of scenes, it has all the tropes that you would find in a cliche romance story, but even doing all that didn't bring anything to the table. Sad. The dialogues are cringe, their gestures are cringe, their acting are cringe, at this point I feel like this is not JoongDunk's fault, it's just the story and directing is bad. Which is sad because GMMTV had produced better series, and THIS NOT IT!!!

It's actually disappointing because I love Joong and Dunk, I also feel like they deserve better movies because they had the potential as a couple, great chemistry, and both are good looking. They have all the equations to complete the formula to be a big BL couple. But sadly they somehow always ended up doing movies with a bad script. I thought they would get something better after Star in My Mind (which I liked), that's why I am anticipating Hidden Agenda. It has the same story outline like 2gether but somehow this fails miserably. Hopefully, they will got better projects in the future. Good luck Joong Dunk!!!

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A Good Bad Series

I enjoyed this series a lot. It made me fall in love with JoongDunk.

HOWEVER:

1) Imagine if they used "the struggle to make someone proud of you" as a theme throughout the series! It had so much potential, but they chose to use it only at the end of it. WHY?
The wrinting wasn't good. Unfortunately, this has become a recurrent thing in many GMMTV shows.

2) I love JoongDunk's chemistry and I want to see it again in future series, but PLEASE give Dunk more acting class! Chemistry alone cannot carry a series by itself. In some scenes, his acting wasn't good enough. And I was sad to see it. It felt like it got worse since SIMM.

3) WHY THE HELL JengPok had so little screen time??? It's not bad writing, it's a crime at this point. So many series benefit from giving screentime to a second/side couple, but not this show. WHY? Their storyline could be a series by itself.
Moreover, Boom (Pok) acting was so good that it surpised me. Give him a main role!
Another wasted potential!

Despite all the flaws HA has, it was an enjoyable show. It also made me cry here and there!
If you are looking for a series where you don't need to use your brain, I suggest to watch Hidden Agenda.
Especially if you like good kissing scenes ;D

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This is the story about Zo & Joke. As MDL told us, this drama begin with Zo that decided to pursue his long-time crush Nita before graduation. In order to pursue her, he approaches Joke, Nita's ex, for dating advice. In exchange Joke ask for a place in the debate club. Or, at least, that's what he tells Zo, cause like the title said, Hidden Agenda.

What I like:
+ Zo is good man, weird sometimes but good. He bothered to explained his feeling to nita before moving forward with Joke.
+ Joke & Zo have problem with their parent. I like how they help each other to deal with their parents, Zo help Joke & Joke help Zo. And how everything solve & be better in the end.

Now what I feel strange about this drama:
- The plot feel weird. I don't know, it feel like jumping from place to place. It feel like there's something missing, but they don't include it in the final cut. It's like when Zo said he gonna enlisted in military during vacation, but we never see him join military. Or when Zo's dad get into hospital, he just make space with joke, yeah he explained it later but before that feel like there's missing scene...
- The chemistry between Dunk Natachai Boonprasert & Joong Archen Aydin themselves feel strange. It feels like they uncomfortable with each other. It feel like the actors is not gay but force to play gay man & had to kiss a man make them uncomfortable.

Overall this just another drama on my list

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To be honest, I am not a fan of the plot itself but I love Joong so I decided to give it a try.
The story is not too promising; there was no exact scene that I would love to go back watching. The acting was not really phenomenal but it was good and could have been improved.
I was really expecting more from the other love team because they actually look good and their story made more sense to me than the leads but they unfortunately up until the last episode, they did not dwell on that. They even had an emotional scene.

Hoping for more projects with better plot this year for both couples.

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it is so bad, I want to give you a 0, but that's not possible, so I give you a 1

I really don't care if there's a kiss, bed or whatever scene, I only care about a good story and acting, but the main couple it's just so boring and their acting is bad, not even a good ost 😭 tbh I got so bored that I just skipped every single episode and the only parts I watched were about pok and jeng bc their story is more entertaining even with the little screentime and the fact that they're not the main couple. Just give them a own show pls their acting is better and chemistry is insane.

look, I understand that there are bls to just have fun and don't think too much while you're watching it, I enjoy those bls too but this is definitely one of the worst I've watch, not entertaining, script and acting is bad (for main couple) there are things that don't make sense or that are just out of pocket, etc.

I don't recommend watching it. if you're interested in the other couple just watch a compilation and don't waste your time.

also, I hope the main couple gets a better bl and acting classes.

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A subpar level of an average BL lovely dovey-ness overload

So this one is a bit enjoyable at least for me. I know y'all be so down bad to treat this but I think for me it's okay. Nothing special. Good for those who wants lighter series or starting out on BL genre. The show fell short way too much.

The chemistry was there but the well-written script and plot were definitely HIDDEN. I think the plot serves no AGENDA and it's all just a lovely dovey-type fluff series. It failed to captivate me that much nonetheless I was entertained which is the bare minimum of a series to do to keep my attention.
The running time is way too long, just about any average BL produced in GMMTV. The plot also can be told and narrated in just this much eps, like just 5 eps is enough to deliver the missing plot.
The plot felt like something that when pointed out then what happens next kind of thing. I felt like, ok after pursuing Zo and they got together and Nita is out of the picture then what now?? Are there something that needs to be tackled about that's interesting?? Also they didn't reveal their relationship to both of their families. I get it that in the last ep, the show tried hard to give inner chaos inside freaking Zo and Joke respectively but such last minute problems are what I'm not a fan of. I never understand why producers would introduce a problem in the last ep when it should be addressed prior to the ending. Other aspects that didn't make sense if we were to talk about the plot are: Nita's stalker, perceived dishonesty of Louis's character, JengPok's love quarrel and the club's mentor's trouble one-sided love.

There are more flaws in this series that understandably failed expectations of many audience including me. For a JoongDunk fan like me, it's disappointing that GMM didn't give them a worthy series with convincing plot to take us anywhere but 55555 being wasted away with the same formula used in most BLs.

Overall, this was okay but lackluster, pretty entertaining though so yeah........

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Hidden Agenda is Mid

So basically after I finished watching I realized how bad it was. Now I love Joong and Dunk but the plot sucked really bad. Some scenes didn't really connect and I sometimes didn't know if a scene was a flashback or real time. Some issues were slightly unrealistic and Dunk's character was poorly put together. The chemistry in the show made me feel like I was watching a hallmark movie but worse. Also some characters were straight up assholes and didn't fit in with the plot. others seemed like they were thrown in last minute. Now I know that Aou and Boom are not the main couple but they had too little screen time for me to really grasp the point of them being there.

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The Hidden Agenda Is Behind a Glass Wall

It seems like we have been hit with a lot of GMMTV BL’s that start with one lead attempting to swoon another person but eventually falling in love with their “surprisingly” attractive male counterpart. We saw this with Fish Upon the Sky, then currently with Be My Favorite, and now with Hidden Agenda. It’s not that I don't like it, but it is losing its impact, imo. (but go watch BMF anyway, it is amazing.)

The first episode starts off with a story read by Zo (Dunk) in a recording studio. Joke (Joong) and him get into a small fit as Zo went overtime by 5 minutes, which now makes him “owe” Joke something. I am not wild about this first interaction, especially how strong Joke came off (he backed Zo up to a wall and…idk for a first impression it didn’t hit bc I knew how uncomfortable I would feel if that happened irl).

They see each other next on a bus ride when Zo’s friends talk about his crush on Joke’s ex aloud — not knowing Joke was a few seats away. He offers his help to Zo and he turns him down. Again, not totally wild about this interaction and it supports my worries of liking the original trailer more than the newest.

When the original trailer came out seven months ago, I liked how mysterious Joke seemed. He was quiet, respectful, but there was a passion to him (honestly like Khabkluen). I felt it balanced well with Zo being the eager and friendly person he is. However, in this new rendition of their story, Joke is a bit more aggressive. For example, their first meeting when he backed Zo up to a wall, and 25 mins in when he said Zo has “no spine.”
Joke is a bit unserious and I don’t particularly like this route. For instance, I liked how in og trailer, Zo approached Joke to help him date Nita, and Joke is quietly happy because he likes Zo, and it just ends up being super cute and wholesome. Though, in this version, Joke seems mostly forward to help Zo, and it doesn’t hit the same, imo.

Random Ramblings:
• I want to add that I don’t like how Zo’s “unattractive” phase continues the “glasses make you less cute” trope. Bit of a bummer, tbh. Like, Dunk is clearly societally attractive anyway. Just because you style his hair down and put plastic rims around his eyes, we can still see his features so why not just have his other look to begin with?
• I hope I don’t get annoyed with Zo’s friend group and I hope they actually give him good advice/are there for him when he needs them. I’m a bit iffy of them as of the first ep. especially since they left him drunk.
• Music is what it is for GMMTV. You’re gonna get those random soundbites and fading in and out music.
• Thank GOD we have a character that plays the guitar!! I have no clue what I would do without that! /j
• Happy Joke was able to be there for Zo when he got sick in the bathroom, but the scene after, when Zo was confronting Joke, Joke said he wasn’t making any sense when all Zo was saying was sense?? But then, Joke’s comment that, “If you think you don’t stand a chance with Nita, just give up,” was very right.
• The flashback from their freshman year at ~39 minutes had me very confused- it came out of nowhere.

On to more positive things:
• I really hope they add more to Nita’s character! She seems so sweet and I’d love for her to be deeper than your love-interest turned non-love interest. I also like how they made Joke and her friends even after their breakup <33
• Yay, for JoongDunk getting a drama with 10 eps! I hope their chemistry continues to grow and I am happy they seem comfortable with each other.
• I like how the plot’s environment is centered around a club. I don’t believe we have seen that from GMMTV yet and it is nice to see a new aspect than your typical college classmate.
• On a similar note, I like that it is a debate club. I think they can implement some great moments of tension from their personal love-life which then seep into the club debates.
• The college’s campus seems pretty.
• Favorite line: “Why should I hurt my hand by punching you?” (ep. 1, 35 mins.)
• So far, it's better than Love in the Air, but that bar is pretty low!

Pinterest plug: https://www.pinterest.com/ed3nelle/drama-hidden-agenda/

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The concept was better than execution

From the first episode Hidden Agenda felt like a improved version of Star In My Mind with some elements from Fish Upon The Sky, but it showed some potential having a lot of the situations being solved with dialogue what is something that you don't see happen a lot in those type of stories where misundertandings are the base of the plot. But soon the series became too much talk and little to no story.

The pacing was weird, some things were dealt with too fast and others too little too late, multiple arcs coming and going without a really satisfying conclusion. It is like the writers were rushing in to put all the elements that they had planned without worrying if it would add or not the the overall plot.

They carried the parents approval arc until the very last minute, making it the core of the story, but still were not able to build it up as they should. Introducing Joke's father on the second to last episode felt like there was little thought before writing, making the resolution fall flat and out of place. Zo needing two different talks with his mother to finally accept and understand his feelings for Joke and his mother's feeling for him, looked as if they had wrote two different version of the same scene and in the end decided to keep both instead of bothering to write another one.

Acting wise, it is clear that there was some improvement, Joong had some solid acting moments even if his character was underdevelopted and with little to no space to shine in more dramatic scenes. Dunk would favor himself by taking some acting classes that could help him control his expressions better to learn how to emulate the characters feelings without so obviously struggling to do so. They do have good chemistry what makes me believe that if they were given a better script with better directing they would do much better than they have been doing so far..

The story was all over the place, the second couple was criminally forgotten, the third and possible couple that actually seemed to have something interesting going on were left as a foot note and Nita was there to serve as a type of foil to Zo's character, once as the objection of his affection and later as his rival.

In my opinion the story managed to walk well for the first four episodes but after that it started to go downhill, on the last two episodes it was nothing but a shadow of what it could have been. I can safely say we are tired of this type of story being told and retold thousands of times in the laziest way possible. It's time to write different characters in different sets with different plots and then maybe we can get something good out of it.

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