YinWar’s tour de force
This has been a roller-coaster ride and I enjoyed it immensely. Since I went for a non-spoiler review, I’ll focus on issues that are not plot-revealing. I thank YWPB (which stands for a company established by Yin, War, Prom and Bonz) for this gem of a BL, this brainchild of theirs and wish us all more shows like that.Let’s start with the script. If you go to the MDL comment section (which I don’t advise) you’ll see that the script of J&J received criticism from various angles and positions - for what’s in it as well for what’s not in it/what’s (supposedly) missing. Was I fully satisfied with the script? No. Did it matter to me? No. I enjoyed the show despite of things I myself might consider script-related. Without going into detail: I appreciate many things included in the script or resulting from its execution, like character development (and character consistency), plot twists and revelations, mostly successful attempts to combine serious issues with comedy, as well as some general ideas spanning across the series, like involvement in criminal activity and dealing with it or various aspects of social injustice.
The story is not short on crazy, which I also enjoyed: it’s often a metaphor and a fairy tale with larger-than-life villains, brave heroes willing to sacrifice themselves, artifacts, powerful symbols and some good old mysticism, bordering on magic.
I also liked that – in many cases – the story isn’t straightforward; there are nuances, tweaks, not everything is as it appears, not everything is resolved as one would want and some issues remain unresolved entirely.
All of that, however, is but a canvas for the main plot: a story about the titular characters, their journey – sometimes together, sometimes separately. Side note: I find it safer when a show is named after the main characters. Other names often lead to confusion (see “Hidden Agenda” with a not-so-hidden agenda which became unimportant halfway through the series, or “Dangerous Romance”, which was not dangerous at all); “Jack & Joker” is a great title (“U Steal My Heart” – also very good and to the point). As this series has faced plenty of criticism for that too, let me list the following:
1/ this is most definitely a BL, not a bromance,
2/ the main characters are portrayed by Yin and War only, not by other cast members (sorry PromMark fans),
3/ the show is first and foremost about Jack and Joker, not about side characters,
4/ Jack and Joker are, at the same time, the main characters and the main couple – the series is about them as individual characters (hence it’s not just them spending all on-screen time together) as well as about their relationship.
The above are not just features of this show, they are also creative choices made by the producers and I agree with them.
The show’s music deserves at least a brief mention. The three main songs are very distinct and very good. “แค่ยัง…(มีเธอ)” by Tattoo Colour perfectly illustrates the action aspect of the show, “ทำไมต้องเป็นเธอ” by Dome Jaruwat is the romantic theme of the series, while War’s “ร้อยวิธี” is a love letter drowning in tears and the emotional core of the soundtrack. A special mention goes to the opening credits theme and it’s dark rendition used at the end of ep. 5. What did surprise me a little about the score was that Bonz was not it’s composer (as an actual musician he’s more than qualified for that) and that Prom (another cast and crew member perfectly capable of doing that) did not perform any part of it.
The shows biggest asset is the cast. It’s core is mostly young, consisting of YWPB and their friends, associates and frequent cooperators, first and foremost Mark Siwat. This core team was bolstered by seasoned and experienced artists, including GMMTV’s own Jennie Panhan. However, the show was on another level due to what YinWar did to it and in it. You’ll find it in most of my BL reviews and I keep repeating it: a good ship will save a BL while the lack of chemistry will doom it every time, regardless of how good other elements of the show are. Thailand has several top tier ships; YinWar are a powerhouse among them – that’s basically the stuff dreams are made of. Both actors have grown, matured and honed their talents to hijack our imaginations on that crazy roller-coaster ride I mentioned at the start of the review. Both are superb and outperform the rest of a very good cast; War, in particular, shines with his versatility, and both he and Yin are visibly enjoying themselves. Their powerful performances and chemistry elevated the story, covering for all of its flaws, plot holes etc. I have not seen this level of acting in a BL before – simply amazing.
Engaging, emotional, ambitious and very well acted, “Jack & Joker” is the best BL I’ve ever seen.
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everyone should see this series!!
I just have to say this series is so amazing. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a good one, and this one is so good.I’d rewatch it over a hundred times.
The quality is absolutely incredible. so many series lack this level of quality, but this one? Its amazing.
The storyline never gets boring, it’s always interesting. I also love the acting, they’ve done a great job.
Each actor has done such a great job making the emotions feel real and relatable and the chemistry between the characters is so good.
I can already see this series becoming one of my top 3 favorites.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story is unique but there are so many odds
I really liked the story because it is no the usual thai school or college romance.But after watching first and second episodes there are so many odd things that don't match with the scenes at all. I know it is a drama still I think it's better to watch these things.
1. Jack is so poor that he even can't affort to pay back his loan but he is wearing adidas tshirt.
2. Joker just got out from jail but he still have tattoos in his hand as well as in his body.
3. The bank is so big, but when joker got into the office there is no cctv camera.
I am really enjoying this drama....but I just pointed out some things that got really odd in my eyes.
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Overrated
Idea of the plot is okay execution is tragic.Story is all over the place and many times doesn't make sense. They started tons of topics and didn't explain half of them. I don't know who wrote script but some scenes seems as if they were recorded without it. It's neither good comedy nor action or romance. If you want to watch something with more romantic scenes then don't waste your time.
Music and editing doesn't match scenes and don't create any type of atmosphere.
Cast is handsome but because story is so badly written acting to it must have been hard so sometimes acting is also boring to watch.
I planned to drop it after 3 episodes but I waited till 9th because I thought it would get better. It didn't and I feel like I wasted time on this.
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BEST BL OF 2024
ok hear me out people who didnt like the show or just left cretics for this show you have legit no taste on bl shows like it was one of the best ones i have watched so far also you shouldnt listen to other people here on mydramalist when it comes to watching a show as everyone holds a diffrent opinion of their own watch it yourself if your interested and make your own view about it sometimes shows are actually really good but people dont end up watching it because others critisize the show here on mydramalist so best not to listen to themm lolllllenglish aint my first language so if i make any errors sorry bout tht
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Whatever it served perfectly for me
◾Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!"Jack and Joker" is a Thai series that breaks the usual mold.The depth of emotions wrapped by incredible acting with great visuals. Even though there's really some plot holes but the production quality is great, with beautifully crafted sets and thoughtful cinematography(not overall just camera angles were pretty smooth)that enhances every episode.The soundtrack, too, deserves a mention; it perfectly complements the narrative, evoking the right emotions at the right times. Two protagonists (Yin anan & War wanarat)overflowing with talent, masculinity, and beauty, it takes us on a roller coaster ride that's hard to recover from.The chemistry between YinWar is inevitable, making every scene they share both compelling and emotional.
🔻There's a severe lack of security cameras and guards, the bank is so big, but when joker got into the office there is no cctv camera. Fighting scenes and action scenes are poorly written and executed. Even though Jack & Joker characters are well written still there's merely any character development. Tattoo,Hoy,arun for them I don't see any future cause they actually can't do anything to bear their living costs. Near the end, it gets weird and silly. They try to fit so many aspects into one show like 'catch me if you can ', ' mission impossible' but actually people will really wonder why people there consider him a "legendary master thief".
📍They had low budget and they did thousands times better than many big budgets Thai bls. So no complaints against anything related to budget. The way the held gun exactly perfect👏🏻.As thai shows (and honestly BL in general) go, this is not even close to the unrealistic writing I have seen. But the emotions they delivered which made my satisfaction lv ♾️.
🫠: For me the the Plot was YinWar and it severed absolutely outstanding . So, it's 100/10 for me anyway.
📌Joker didn't rob jack of anything except his hopes and dreams, incidents with Toi Ting,their forehead touch was brilliantly executed and my most fav scene among all.
Overall, I would describe this show as exceptional thus far, and it has certainly set a high standard for future series in this genre. They started an opening which will always be iconic forever..
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Entertaining Joke.
Let me precede this by saying I liked this show; it was fun to watch, and I've quite enjoyed it. It was entertaining, but not the masterpiece some opinions made me believe it would be.I do appreciate the effort and work put into this, especially considering it was a passion project of War and Yin, and for that they really deserve a lot of praise.
They both delivered amazing performances, but the show lacked properly built intimacy between their characters. For the record, by intimacy I don't mean NC scenes. The script spent so little time on building the foundation for their relationship that it just didn't work as a love story. In all honesty there was less screen time allocated for them being together and communicating than some unnecessary although fun thievery.
I really appreciate the accurate portrayal of people living in or near poverty levels. Most dramas show us beggars in designer clothes, living in spacious homes or apartments and driving new Toyota. The show portrayed economic struggle and social issues, lack of opportunities, education, and the necessity of going into debt really well. Thanks to this, the motivations of the characters entangled with these problems were easy to understand.
That being said, the plot, though interesting, was very uneven quality-wise. After a relatively long period of establishing the environment, there was a lot crammed all at once into the second half of the show. As a result, the pacing was all over the place.
I'm not one to nitpick on the "realism" of action shows, but some choices in this script just didn't make any sense. The prime example being the whole "ring of power" premise for the Four Horsemen.
I try not to take things too seriously if the show itself doesn't, but these last 2 episodes? They've lost the plot completely. Playing a game of Monopoly to decide the level of influence? The collars? What in the squid game is this? The big bad boss ended up being a very one-dimensional villain considering how much time was allocated for establishing his presence.
It was simultaneously too much and not enough to make this show great for me. I would call this the case of putting form over substance or maybe a show that fell victim to its own ambition.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my all time favourite bl. why? let me explain. (my opition)
the story was so good with humor but with also serious page. the acting is 10 out of 10. THE ACTORS. HEAR ME OUT ... Yin and war played their role so good that i couldnt tell if it was acting or real (not even kidding) i saw around 45 asian dramas and 80% of them were either boring, actors that couldnt play (not trying to hate) or they were so weird i couldnt stand them. In this bl.. i was waiting for it every. single. monday. and i dont regret it. I love this bl so much and also the actors, this drama is one of 4 bl dramas that made me cry. i recommend watching it :DWas this review helpful to you?
Reason why you must watch this series
The series is absolutely incredible! From the storyline to the production quality, everything is top-notch. The performances by the actors and actresses are beyond exceptional—truly captivating. And don’t even get me started on the OST; it’s a masterpiece that perfectly complements the narrative. It’s highly recommended—an action series with comedy, perfectly reflecting YinWar’s unique charm. Overall, it’s a flawless gem in every aspect! Huge respect to YinWar and the team for making this series happen with their personal budget. I’ll always support YinWar and truly hope they’ll have more projects together in the future!Was this review helpful to you?
Great chemistry with a story that tried to do too much
Am I rating this a bit higher than it probably deserves purely because YinWar's chemistry is just so dang good? Why yes, yes I am. But to be honest the two of them are the only reason I tuned in to watch this show in the first place and their performance did not disappoint. Alone they each carried their characters with strong masculinity and incredible depth of emotions that brought the two men to life and made you as the viewer root for each individually. But man together, those two delivered so much magnetism where even scenes where they were fighting felt like flirting. The show is tailor made for them and their acting ability shines in these two roles that portray them in more mature characters than they have done in the past. The emotion they carry in their eyes and their ability to really make you feel what they are feeling. I am in love with these two actors and this show will be popular purely because of them.That is not to say that these characters are not without flaws though. While acted well with the script they were given these characters also were not exactly what was expected. Joke was not a master thief, he was more a troubled kid that was rebelling against his father and is good at disguises. He loses all mischievousness after the first episode and becomes very soft and emotional throughout the rest of the series. Jack was also not the hardass the trailer made him out to be. He is cowardly and sheepish throughout the series.
Now for the plot and other characters. The show begins really strong with the presentation of their respective backgrounds and initial meeting. The first episode is one of my absolute favorite among any shows I have seen. At the end of the first episode you see what led the two characters in the directions they went and are greeted 5 years later in the second episode where the remainder of the show takes place. Joke, who accidentally incriminated Jack after making a bank heist immediately sought to rectify his mistake by turning himself in. After five years in prison he comes out determined to make it up to Jack by apologizing in any way he can. Those five years have not been kind to Jack however and he is now a debt collector for the shady Boss of his home town where he must do things and behave in ways that goes against his character.
The explosive first meeting between these two after five years begins to crack at Jack's facade and cement Joke's determination to help bring back the gentle Jack he met many years before. This determination will lead Joke to another heist to try and free Jack from Boss. And this is where that saying "the best laid plans' comes in to play. Where no matter the effort there is bound to be problems.
The show makes an effort to highlight different aspects that you don't see in other dramas right now. The portrayal of extreme poverty and the toll it takes on people and community. How it snuffs out dreams and will undoubtedly lead to behaving in ways they may not have chosen if given any other option. Like Tattoo who despicably cheats his friends in order to get himself out of debt not once but twice. His desperation to leave his situation is seen in most the characters of their community. And then on the complete opposite side you have the Four Horsemen or the wealthiest families that lord over the common folk and treat them as pawns in games they invent. Their over the top behaviors showcase their complete lack of humanity because of their wealth and privilege. And then there is Boss who is the main antagonist in this story. Greed being his driving force that makes him lose touch with reality and continuously become more and more unhinged.
As an overview and understanding of what the writers wanted to portray I do get it but I also think that the show was not completely successful in actually doing that. Most the characters have no real character growth (with the exception being Rose who began to see her privilege through her interest in Jack and started to change as she was exposed to their world). Many of even the supporting characters also felt cartoonish and over the top making the heavy subject matter not hit as well as it could have such as Hoy and Lompran. These two characters were practically the same just on different sides. Hoy is the uneducated and dopey for the commoner side while Lompran is ridiculously overconfident and silly for the elites.
Slight spoilers below:
The plot holes also become very apparent the further you get into the drama and by episode 11 you are rolling your eyes a bit. While the show touches on serious subject matter it tries to do it lightheartedly with silly humor which felt forced and cheapened the story a bit. I think by removing some of the more ridiculous storylines towards the end then this would have been an absolutely brilliant drama. The harm of a child and the sidekick friend groups plans A through E were used as plot devices to create tension and then give comedic relief but both scenarios could have completed the goal if done differently. Exposure of Joke's betrayal by stealing again could have already created the division the plot wanted between the two main characters without Toi Ting and the sidekick scene could have been removed all together in lou of an actual well thought out plan from Jack or Joke with them instead that would have felt more realistic and flowed the story better. Boss's power play also felt very immature for a supposedly lucrative crime boss that had been at it for many years.
All those things aside I still enjoyed watching this show and applaud Yin and War on their performances and will probably rewatch many of their scenes throughout the drama. While there are plot holes and over the top storylines this is still a better drama than many others I have seen both from BL and from Thailand even with its low budget. Kudos to the whole production for that.
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Jack and Joker says it alll!!
Wooow..What a nice story..I just finished watching the drama. First of all this drama has a different and unique story compared to many Bls released during this year. I would say that this is one of the best Bls so far in 2024!Apart from the storyline, actors did a good job in acting including all main and sub characters of the story. Omggg the romance was sooo good and especially the main cp chemistry was gooddd..The story had some comedy touch in to it and was also romantic and emotional at times..
Music was nice and the type that makes your heart flutter..All in all the whole drama was goodd and I don’t think there’s much negativity to the drama..Unless you just find some parts cringey..That’s all..Enjoy!!
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