This review may contain spoilers
It is surprisingly enjoyable.
Bad Guy My Boss is a BL series from Thailand and it has 12 episodes and 1 special episode where only good things happened. In reality, this is just what I want to have literally in every show. Unfortunately, this is not what I can say about the entire show. It is not the most inventive story but it is pretty decent. I actually enjoyed watching these stories be revealed to us. The story follows a CEO and his long-term secretary that he is trusting everything to but, of course, there are some hesitations as he is someone who is known for having multiple sex partners. I am not sure how he is getting so much time to have sex with people since they are always busy but here, he is having sex with so many people but he has one person that is like a regular and he already formed a friendship with him. This will set the conflict in the story and a lot more will be happening as some past relationships might come into play. So, yes, this is a vey stereotypical love story from BL storylines with possible unnecessary storylines in between but I am a bit surprised with myself because I feel like I am enjoying the show. I am really liking what I am seeing here and I do think that the characters are actually interesting. There is something about James Prescott’s Elyes that just makes me fall in love with the character. I think it is the charm. The acting is not superb but the acting is okay. He does not have the typical six-pack toned abs that we see on tops in BL series but I feel like he is still so hot. The confidence and the dominating feel to his character is so sexy that I wanted a man like him ASAP. Like seriously, he was hot and there are so many times in the show where what he is doing is not okay or supposed to not be okay like tailing Pat when he is out with his ex-girlfriend, power tripping, or having extremely personal relationship with his employee but it somehow felt okay for the character because they have known each other for a very long time and they have shared so much space together that there is a certain level of comfortability that is unknowingly established between the two of them and I respect that. I mean, we all have been like Pat with our work but we did not get the handsome CEO or the other perks of the job. I also felt like Pat is a part of how the company was built already. He is a workaholic and they always have things to talk about despite having been together the entire day. I am seriously not mad and I so in love with the love story of these two. I know that there are some red flags here and there especially him having other affairs that he knows but he they were not together at the time and he did not have sexual relationship with Kim anymore when he decided to pursue Pat. He showed that he is serious but he had a hard time committing which is surprisingly more normal now than before but I get that. I don’t think that it is a bad thing as long as they are on the same page about it. Again, respect begets respect. If what they want is different or none would like to adjust theirs, they don’t have to be together. I think that in this one, they decided that the relationship that they have would be more important than anything else and that they decided to be together and I don’t see a problem in that. There are other hindrances like the corporate fight but that added to more scenes for them to be together and it is not a well-written storyline but it is not too bad at all. It is watchable at the very least. Again, I actually enjoyed watching the show. James Prescott is hot. The love story of Elyes and Pat is pretty sweet now. The special episode was necessary for me.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
JAMES, GO GET ACTING LESSON PLEASE.
When I tell you I had to PAUSE multiple times to process what I was watching—LIKE, HELLO??? Is this a BL series or an acting school dropout project?? Because BABES, I AM FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE TRYING TO FINISH THIS. But you know me, I’m a loyal hoe. So, I sat through all 12 + 1 special episodes, and now I have THOUGHTS. So, I hit play on episode one, and IMMEDIATELY, I knew something was wrong. Like, girl. WHAT IS UP WITH ELISE’S FACE? James (who plays Elise) is out here looking like the sun is in his eyes 24/7. No, seriously, bestie. James (who plays Elise) is trying SO HARD to give us “sharp, intimidating CEO” but ended up looking like he just walked out of the eye doctor’s office after getting his pupils dilated. THE CONSTANT FROWN. THE EMPTY STARE. BABE, ARE YOU GOOD??? I KNOW THE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT, BUT DAMN._____________________________________
1. Plot
Bestie. I’m not even joking. NOTHING HAPPENS. Now listen. I love me some messy drama, but this plot? It was cooked with NO seasoning, NO oil, and left to burn in a microwave. Like, yes, things technically happen, but not in a way that makes SENSE. These two are just giving each other the most mild push-and-pull energy, but we don’t even know why. THERE IS NO BACKSTORY. THERE IS NO REAL CONFLICT. JUST VIBES. BAD VIBES. So we got Elise, a mean CEO and Patt, his good secretary, who been working for Elise for five years but never once questioned his life choices??? WHY IS HE EVEN STAYING? IS HE SECRETLY IN LOVE? IS IT JUST A PAYCHECK? GIVE ME SOMETHING, BITCH. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I’M LOST. From the very first episode, they’re giving push and pull energy, but instead of being spicy, it’s just confusing. Like, do they hate each other? Do they like each other? Did they accidentally sign a lifelong work contract and now they’re stuck? No one knows because the series refuses to give us a backstory.
AND THEN. THENNNNNNN.
THE RANDOM SEX SCENE IN EP 2. Bestie, I almost THREW my laptop across the room. BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? It was a DAYDREAM SEQUENCE. AND GUESS WHAT ELSE? They don’t even tell us WHOSE DAYDREAM IT WAS. Like, was it Elise? Patt? The audience? BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, I AM HALLUCINATING TOO.
And then, of course, we get all the 2013 BL TROPES:
- Jealous CEO but won’t admit he likes his secretary? (yawn) ✅
- Messy love triangle for DRAMA? (double yawn)✅
- Somebody faints and the other one takes care of him? (BFFR, IT’S 2025, FIND A NEW TROPE) ✅
- Possessive ex-lover trying to ruin everything? (SNOOZEFEST)✅
The drama is SO forced. Elise gets jealous whenever Patt talks to someone else, but instead of COMMUNICATING like an adult human being, he just stares in agony like he’s in a shampoo commercial. And THEN, the ultimate 2013 wattpad drama moment arrives: Elise sees Patt with his third-party love interest, gets mad, and goes "fine, I’ll fuck someone else then." Sir, that is a grown man, not a lost puppy. GET A GRIP.
BABE. NEXT!!!
_____________________________________
2. Characters & Acting
Now, bestie. Bestie. I have been NICE so far. But I NEED to talk about James.
- Elise (James) – WHO CASTED THIS MAN??? WHO LOOKED AT JAMES AND SAID, “YES, HE’S OUR LEAD”?????? I swear he’s reading his lines off a teleprompter. His face does not move. He’s supposed to be this dominant, brooding, sexy CEO, but he looks like a freshman drama student trying way too hard. The few times he tries to smile or look smug, I just start laughing. And don’t even get me STARTED on the scene where he FAINTS. BRO. IT WAS GIVING Sims 4 low-energy animation. IT’S PAINFUL. Every scene, he looks like he’s either about to sneeze or like he’s holding in a fart. THE LACK OF EMOTION. THE AWKWARD LINE DELIVERY. THE WAY HE STANDS THERE DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN CRUCIAL SCENES.
I kid you not, bestie—there is a scene where he walks in on his ex cheating, and HE JUST STANDS THERE. NO REACTION. NO ANGER. JUST… VIBING. LIKE, HELLO???? DO SOMETHING. THROW A GLASS. SCREAM. LEAVE. I’M BEGGING. There is hesitation in his moves and he seems being calculative in the next steps that he wants to take. Maybe because he is scared of getting hurt in the action scene by the stunt man or whatever but tbh, i am hating this guy even more LOL.
- Patt (Kad) – Ok, at least he’s trying. His acting is okay-ish, but there are moments where he looks like he’s internally screaming because Elise is giving him NOTHING to work with. Like, how do you act with someone who looks like they’re a walking mannequin?
- Run (Fam) – Babe. You need to control your EYES. The way he overacts with his facial expressions had me fighting for my life. Like, we get it, you’re the sneaky side character, but why are you looking so guilty before you even do anything?
Fei Long (Nick) – The only one who understood the assignment. He ate up every scene and left no crumbs. The villains in this series have better acting than the leads. That should tell you everything.
_____________________________________
3. Steam/Sex Scenes
…sigh.
GURL, I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
So, first sex scene? Awkward as FUCK. I EXPECTED DESPERATION. NEED. RAW, ANIMALISTIC LONGING. But instead? I got two dudes who looked like they were doing community service for each other. IT GAVE NOTHING. AND THEN. THIS MAN—ELISE HAD THE AUDACITY. TO TREAT PATT LIKE A STRANGER RIGHT AFTER BECAUSE HE HAD A DREAM ABOUT HIS EX.
EXCUSE ME?????
SIR. YOU JUST PUT YOUR DICK IN THIS MAN, AND NOW YOU’RE ACTING LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW HIM?????? CALL THE POLICE.
_____________________________________
4. OST
It’s… fine?
Nothing special. Nothing memorable. Like, if you played it for me right now, I wouldn’t even recognize it.
NEXT.
_____________________________________
5. Overall
I am gonna be so honest. This series felt like a job. I was CLOCKING IN every episode, just PRAYING something interesting would happen. The pacing? SLOW. The character development? NON-EXISTENT. The acting? DEAR GOD.
BUT.
Would I finish it? Yes. Because at this point, I have invested too much time, and I NEED TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE.
Would I rewatch it? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Final score? 5/10.
And that’s me being GENEROUS.
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Worse than the title suggests
I truly don't want to write a review of this, because it can essentially be summed up this way.IT IS TRASH.
But here we are. And I will write an actual review because I need explain just how bad it is.
Imagine a bad What's Wrong With Secretary Kim knockoff. Now imagine it's nothing like WWWSK except for the fact that there's a boss who doesn't want his secretary to quit. I haven't watched the K Drama, but I've been told that's the basis of the story and it's the same here, and that's also where the similarities end.
The story is horrible, the characters are even worse. It's like a power struggle between all the characters, it doesn't matter what kind of relationship they have, it's a relationship where one person is trying to one - up the other at all times. That's basically your story and an overview of the characters. You have your usual beach trips, your jealousy, your Stockholm Syndrome, and gun wielding businessmen. The usual. Characters come and go, the story shifts from one storyline to another abruptly and they're all trying to outplay each other all the time. Whether it's two people in a romantic relationship, work rivals, exes, whatever. We get to watch the world's most boring chess match where no one is even following the rules.
And the characters..
I've watched a lot of dramas where every character is beyond horrible. But there's at least one, just one character, who you can root for. And even if all the characters are utter trash, they're entertaining. You can see where I'm going with this.
All the characters in this series needed therapy, that's what they needed. A ton of therapy and no contact with any of the other characters.
I would've dropped this like a hot potato if it wasn't for me not being able to drop dramas, but if you're stuck in the middle or if you're stuck in the first episode, or stuck deciding if you should watch it, toss it. It's like that pile of laundry just sitting in your room, waiting to be washed. Toss it. Not the laundry.
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This review may contain spoilers
Not So Good, Not So Bad
“Bad Guy My Boss” started off as an interesting and provocative watch, however, as it progressed, it became quite monotonous and resulted in a tedious show that lost me as the audience. While the story of a situation-ship between a boss and their subordinate is titillating, and the progression of the relationship dynamic can be interesting, the way in which the show tackles the relationship and the characters was subpar, and with little to no character growth, the story seemed to be stuck on the first half of the series, and the relationships did not grow organically, but the growth was moved by outside factors pertaining to the business, instead of internal factors affecting the relationship.Read the complete article here-
https://theblxpress.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/bad-guy-my-boss-series-review-ep-4-to-12/
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Casting problems
I know James is new to acting and this shows on his work. I think new actors shouldn't be casted as main characters. He needs a lot of practice. I liked the story a lot but James' acting was so weak i almost couldn't finish the series. My overall rating is 7/10. Kad and the other actors did a pretty good job.Was this review helpful to you?
Lack of chemistry
A simple plot.Should do well with all BL lovers , however :
- there is no chemistry at all between the two main characters which makes the topic of an eventualiteit romance between them very hard to consider.
- the acting is poorly done like you’re watching a pre-take rehearsal reading in stead of the real episode.
- the only actors with some potential in acting are Prescott and Suthisawan, the others seem to be there just to read their lines, without any depth.
If you don’t expect much from a BL besides an occasional (half) naked body this could pass, otherwise better watch some Korean or Taiwanese BL of the moment.
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Terrible (Affectionate)
This show is perfect. Is the acting good? Not really. Is the story good? No. Everything about it is over the top, melodramatic, and ridiculous. I still have no idea what any of these people do for a living, nor do I care. The boss, Elyes, is indeed a bad guy. Pat could and should do better, but he's not going to and I was at for it.The side couple was a delicious toxic mess. I'd watch another 12 episodes about their dysfunctional romance.
If you unironically love constipated, unavailable men who violate every HR rule in the book to sleep with their subordinates, this show is for you. If you grew up on soap operas or telenovelas, this show is for you. If you like to see beautiful people behave terribly, this show is for you. Our kink is ok. 10/10. No notes.
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Ridiculously Frustrating: I don't know how I finished this
I don't write review but...This was awkward yet hilariously ridiculous—so predictable, I swear!
Patt’s obsession with the company is baffling—why is he so worried? Just let it fall apart already! He is just too delusional, and Elyse has been nothing but a jerk. Can someone please give Pat some common sense?
For a few episodes, I was somewhat okay with them as a couple, but then Boss refused to label their relationship, and Patt (understandably) got mad. However, after Patt's accident, suddenly everything was fine? Patt’s behavior is so inconsistent—it’s frustrating.
And the worst part? Boss let Kim kiss him for several minutes, in Ep 11, but claims he’s in love with Pat? Make it make sense!
This is probably the only show where I was rooting for the villains to break up the main couple, LOL.
On a positive note, I absolutely loved the office worker lady. Fei and Run’s chemistry also stood out, and I couldn’t get enough of them. I wish to see more of them in a special.
As for the actors:
James, who plays Elyse, felt so NPC-like and awkward at times—it really pulled me out of the story.
Nick (Fei), Fam (Run), Marc (Chon), and Perth (Thiti) are absolutely majestic and decent actors; I hope to see them in other series soon!
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just read the book
The book was much better than the show, because Pat and Elis's storyline had minimal drama—mainly just Pat running away to the beach when his feelings for his boss became overwhelming, knowing they wouldn't be reciprocated. The book's only other dramatic element was the Fei Long and Run kidnapping subplot that they later on added on into the show (I mean til like the very end). While the special episode somewhat made up for it, what we really wanted was a sweet office romance between the two, not unnecessary drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Truely bland
The main problem is the production and direction, no idea about the acting as they way they were directed boiled down to roughly two facial expressions per character.
The plot is basically a version of What is Wrong With Secretary Kim, but without any humor, or proper direction.
Its starts with how it is colour graded, bland costumes, looks like most of the scenes were shot in a disused modern railway station, there is a lot of walking.
The screenplay and script, There was a story but unfortunately the dialogue was sparse and the silences filled with one of the two facial expressions. A couple of the usual tropes. Perhaps if this was edited to about 8 eps, cut all the repetitive shots, and the making faces like they were sucking lemons, it could have some pace.
My score is for in horse dressage score terms is 5, sufficient, you just went through the motions.
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Drop The Entire Man
Pat needs to leave Elyse and Run needs to leave Fei Long. Every time Elyse stung Pat along or refused to admit his feelings, I wanted to shake that poor secretary and tell him to run far away. And, the Stockholm Syndrome in Run with Fei Long had me just throwing my hands up in defeat by the end. Like, good luck with that man, bestie: you're going to need it.Was this review helpful to you?
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It is worth A Watch
I always come to MDL for review before I watch a show and for the majority the people doing the reviews are on point. I have skipped shows because you guys said it sucked. But on this one I am sorry I have to disagree with the low ratings. No, it is not the greatest show or even a show that is worth a rewatch ( unlessyou are absolutely bored) but it is worth a watch.From my point:
Story: Elise is a boss who I think his ego ( not his heart) got hurt when the man he was dating, Run, cheated on him. So, he stepped into a friend with benefits relationship with Khim. Then he meets Pat, who stirred his heart and brought out his true feelings of love but he is scared of putting his heart out to Pat because he dont know what to expect from Pat ( who is madly in love with him). He know what to expect from Khim ( comfort and a booty call) and from Run ( got cheated on). So when Pat told him he like him he became overly protected ( jealous and annoying) but still reserved because he stopped sleeping with Khim but used him for comfort, which Khim allows because he is also in love with Elise.
Pat on the other hand is a man who is in 5une with his feelings and self worth but is also a mon who is madly in ove with Elise and knows only what he sees the relationship is with Elise and Khim, so when Elise give him an opening he steps in and bears his heart and when Khim comes around he step back because he feels that's what Elise wants and he wants to be happy for him.
What makes Elise the bad guy is, he knows he love Pat, and Pat loves him but because of his ego he shows him instead of telling him which confuses and hurt Pat. Elise's actions are confusing especially when he hangs out with Khim (just eating and drinking) and Pat dont know what they are doing and Elise does not clarify, until he almost lost Pat.
The overall story is typical and the other characters are people who just don't understand the word "No".
But the show is an ok watch, they are worst.
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