This review may contain spoilers
Repetitive plot structure. Underdeveloped character arcs
The series presents a narrative with stagnant characters, Jack and Joker, who repeatedly fall into similar problematic situations without meaningful growth, despite initial hints of depth. Save's betrayal of friends, including an attempt to poison a grandmother, further highlights the series' shallow character development. While the talented cast attempts to elevate the material, the show fails to meaningfully explore serious themes like childhood poverty, instead using them as superficial plot devices. The comedy falls flat due to poor editing, and the relationships, though unique, lack emotional complexity. Ultimately, the series might appeal to viewers seeking unconventional romantic dynamics but falls short of delivering a sophisticated or transformative storytelling experience.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not a masterpiece, but interesting and worth watching for the acting and chemistry of the main leads
A bit of a late review, I only saw it recently and I watched this with no prior knowledge of any of the actors so I had no bias (tho I did know it had the same director as another Thai bl that i recently saw and loved, wc is I Feel You Linger in the Air), but thanks to this show I've sorta fallen into the YinWar rabbit hole lol.POSITIVES (for me):
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗼𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 without needing to be overly sexual. One of the main things that keep me watching a BL is if it can make me care about the main characters and their love story and I can kinda excuse plot holes, weak stories or low-budget production as long as the leads' acting are believable, compelling, and can convince me that they are indeed in love with each other. I don't need a lot of love scenes or kiss scenes as long as I feel their love or yearning for each other, if that makes sense. I saw it on this pairing. While they had a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance, it felt worth it when they finally got together and i was rooting for them (and tbh kissing/intimate scenes aren't my no. 1 motivation in watching a bl and i won't even freaking care if there's none or limited but omg the kissing/intimate scenes here got me silently screaming and blushing like goddeym i had to keep pausing not bc it's bad or i don't like it but i had to compose and calm myself lololol).
- The main characters had a moment of connection before the timeskip and main story happened (aka at the beginning of the show). Even a brief connection is fine, bc at least it made me feel that their attraction towards each other makes sense. Bonus points if there's a sorta "destined for each other" element later on.
• It doesn't follow a usual student or officemate couple that's typical in a lot of bls and instead 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳/𝗲𝘅-𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱-𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿. It also makes me more interested to watch bls that present different types of couples with no defined uke/seme or top/bottom "stereotypes".
• I also like that both of the 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 (whether those motivations can lead them to making good or bad decisions). For instance, Jack had his own dream of building a school to help the local children, while Joke is trying to change and make amends from his past as a thief and finds love/purpose along the way.
• 𝗝𝗼𝗸𝗲'𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀. I was looking forward to whatever character he became next. The acting for each of them were good as well, not overacted nor underacted.
• The 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵. I especially liked Aran, yeah he was presented as an arrogant and spoiled rich kid at the beginning but he did have some sort of development and I was looking forward to see more of him. The rest of the gang were fun as well, tho I had mixed feelings about Hope and Save.
• The 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀, especially the one at the hospital. I felt bad for Joke but can understand and feel Jack's frustrations as well. War and Yin are honestly good actors. The actors for the side characters also did well imo.
• 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮 (i kept on wishing she wouldn't die bc in stories like this you would expect one major family member to get hurt or killed for emotional effect). Bonus points bc she's a shipper like us lol and was helping Jack and Joke reconcile most of the time.
• 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 for a show of this type. And tho im not an expert in action scenes but they were believable enough for me.
• 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲. There's a lot of scenes that i have an urge to see again due to good acting and/or chemistry, good action sequences, or they're just plainly memorable to me.
LESS POSITIVE/MIXED FEELINGS (and some personal gripes):
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀. They are sometimes be a bit cartoonish/cliche, especially when they do the evil laugh lol. Also im not sure if we're supposed to empathize with the Boss at the end, like he's done lots of evil things, ignores his own son, and almost killed the MCs but now we're supposed to feel sorry for him cuz he misses his wife? Idk.
- Also what's with Jack and Joke making out right in front of Boss' salad during the hangman game lol? I get it was a quite emotional and meaningful moment since they thought it'll be their last time together but lololol i kinda chuckled why boss was just letting them do whatever when he's already itching to push that button and off them all. Like did he have a moment of humanity and let them have a final goodbye or is he secretly also a shipper like us and enjoyed that moment? Lololol just kidding.
• Related to the villains, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 at times. There are moments of telenovela-ish quality in plot and even in the dialogue. Tho tbh it didn't bother me much bc im used to watching local telenovelas with much worse plot lol.
- The whole fake engagement/dating(?) thing with Rose and Jack. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Rose, I thought she was pretty cool especially after Jack rejected her but the whole subplot could have been shorter i guess? Idk, i know this was slow burn and maybe i was just looking forward to see Jack and Joke finally get together and confess their feelings to each other.
- I also felt that Hope and Save were forgiven too fast/easily. First, hope was pretty much beating up joke/jack and the rest of the gang in the earlier episodes then the next moment they're working together? And save betrayed them by being boss' spy (tho he had his own reasons for doing so wc is pretty understandable) but by the end everything's alright. Idk, i guess this was where my generous suspension of disbelief came in handy.
- I can't say much about the missions thingy bc im dumb but I've seen some people complain how they were a bit childish. Idk, i thought they were fine for a bl, i mean i wasn't expecting some next level, 4d chess type of mind games. But i guess they could be better?
- Speaking of mind games, the whole idea of the ring being a trick/deception by the four horsemen was a bit ??? Idk if i find it unrealistic or that those rich a-holes are just really that twisted and wicked and powerful to pull it off. I'm not even gonna delve into the details of how and when they even started pulling it all off (like did they already know boss will plan to steal it? Or did they start when it was already stolen? Eh? Another use for suspension of disbelief i guess 😅
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
An interesting watch with good acting and chemistry from the main leads. Some plot points might need suspension of disbelief and some characters and dialogues can get a bit stereotypical or cliche sometimes, but overall if you're not hyper critical about such stuff and just want to get a different experience and see a not so typical pairing with good chemistry, interesting side characters, some good enough action scenes and nice production values, it's worth watching. I gave it a 9 for the main couple and the overall atypical premise, but if the acting and chemistry was less compelling, it might be an 8.5.
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is it good? no did i have some fun? yeah
started out as promising but it got so messy and goofy halfway through that i wish they would’ve just focused on the romance & rest of the characters. i like plot, especially when it’s good and well written, but this drama’s plot was so bad it kind of pissed me off, which is a bummer cuz i liked the romance (slow burns are my thing) but even that wasn’t enough to save this entire mess. not to mention the special episode?? what the hell 😭😭😭 what even was the point??ps. i wanted just a bit more of arun & tattoo, but i’m also okay with what we got.
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The supporting cast shines brightly, enhancing the overall narrative. Each character contributes meaningfully to the story, with standout performances that enrich the plot. Notably, the character of the grandma adds a layer of warmth and wisdom, providing a grounding presence amidst the chaos of the heist. On the other hand, Zorzo's portrayal of Rose is a point of contention. While every character has the potential to add value to the story, Rose comes across as overly annoying, detracting from the overall experience. There seems to be a disconnect in her performance, and it feels as though she could have brought more depth and nuance to the role.
Overall, the series presents a compelling story that intertwines themes of justice and morality through the lens of an unconventional partnership. While the narrative is engaging and the supporting characters are well-developed, there are areas that require attention. The contrast between Yin's strong performance and Win's disappointing portrayal of Joker is particularly striking. Additionally, the character of Rose could benefit from a more refined approach to make her less grating. In conclusion, despite some shortcomings, the series is enjoyable and thought-provoking. It successfully captures the essence of its premise, though certain elements need to be addressed for a more cohesive viewing experience. If you're a fan of heist stories with a moral twist, this series is worth a watch, but be prepared for a few bumps along the way.
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Recycled Series, but the actors kept the flame alive!
Alright, I just finished this series (well, I'm waiting for the last line of the episode to stop loading "Is this") LIKE IS THIS WHAT?!! Nevermind, my screen just turned black because the episode freaking ended.Y'all, I have so much to say about this series. I stayed up two days in a row 'til 5 AM binging this. At first, I wasn't sure, because when I watched a previous series with them, Love Mechanics, it was lackluster and just repetitive. They were good actors, of course – that's what everyone loves about them – but they give them such awful storylines and plots.
So yeah, I was unsure whether to watch this, but the first episode was enough to hook me in.
I think because I started loving War so much after he hung out with Suho from EXO (I liked him already because he reminded me so much of Baekhyun!), and like I said, he's a wonderful actor who can portray any emotion and just connect with the viewers.
So here's what I think of this series. First off, is episode 13 a part of the series or a special episode? I'm assuming a special episode because on this platform they're seperated, but on my streaming platform they put all 13 episodes together.
Okay, enough of that.
TO BEGIN, WHY THE HECK WAS HOPE (PEE) BEATEN UP EVERY EPISODE?! LIKE WHAT IS WRONG WITH Y'ALL?! EVERYTIME HE HAD SCREENTIME, IT WASN'T FOR A CUTE MOMENT WITH SAVE (I THINK THAT WAS HIS NAME), IT WAS TO SHOW HOW HE WAS BEATEN UP!
Okay, that was a problem I had with this series. They didn't focus enough on the other existing couples or those that were yet to be.
Additionally, I felt the series didn’t do justice to the other existing couples or the potential relationships that were hinted at but never fully developed. There was so much opportunity for growth and connection that was sidelined for the sake of the main plot that was so predictable in many circumstances.
However, once again praising the main leads, their chemistry is actually super good, and that's what kept me watching. You can feel the push and pull between them, how they slowly go from reluctant partners to totally smitten lovers. There are genuinely sweet and soft moments that really hit hard because you've seen them go through so much craziness together. It just shows how great the actors are that they can make even the wildest stuff feel real and emotional.
However, the whole plot with Joker's family and their weird inheritance games often just felt like an excuse to create crazy situations instead of a real story. It's not about things making sense, it's more about throwing two people into a blender and seeing if they fall in love. For me, Jack and Joker's charm totally made up for the confusing plot. They really made the show worth watching, even when the story made no sense.
And again, It felt like the writers had so many cool ideas for other characters and their relationships, but then they just... ignored them. It's super annoying when you see hints of good chemistry or interesting backstories, only for them to get pushed aside for more of the main story, or even worse, just showing Hope getting hurt over and over lmfao.
So based off the ending scene during the special episode, they might either abandon the series and just leave the viewers curious, or they might have a possible season 2? Which I'm here for!
Anyways this was a great watch, I actually thought Joke had died, and the subtitles for the special episode were SO BAD, like oh my Lord. I can't even speak Thai but I know those translations were wrong asl.
The subttitles for the other episodes seemed okay and reliable, probably some mistakes here and there, but the SPECIAL EPISODE WAS JUST AWFUL.
Anywho, I liked this. I had given it a 10/10 first three episodes but as it progressed it kinda lowered the standards and expectations for me a bit.
BTW, the other actors were fine asl, the main people anyways. Like Yin is so freaking hot. At first I didn't really care too much about him but his charisma on camera, WHEW-
And War was just born to act, he's really good.
Anyways, I recommend this series, evem if it's kind of recycled and just threw some amazing actors who deserve better. 8.5/10 for me!
(just writing this here too in case some of y'all wanna see my yap session)
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best cast eva
this cast is literally so perfect i love everyone so much every one is so insanely likeable i loved this show so much ill miss them together sm 💔besides that i really like that this show focused on the plot a lot more than most dramas, and mind u the plot is actually addicting so you already know i held out til the kiss in ep 9 like i forgot we even were waiting for that
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One of the best BLs, Great production value and never left me bored
I wish I had watched it sooner 😭 The story and production value are on KinnPorsche level! Some parts may even be betterLoved how they handled all the characters, none of the characters' development felt rushed or unfinished. Especially with characters Aran and Hope, their redemptions felt meaningful. It didn't just feel like "power of friendship" cliché; they actually proved themselves and showed how they were victims of the situation.
The show never felt boring or predictable, the balance of action, romance and comedy is done very well. They have their first kiss very late into the series, but the tension and chemistry never made me feel bored. Idk if this can be considered slow burn but all that wait actually led up to the best climax, DID NOT LET ME DOWN. The nc scene didn't feel rushed, nor did it feel unsatisfying.
One of the reasons I said this has one of the greatest production values is because of how many characters it has, and how well they are handled. But the main reason is that they didn't play by a formula, sad to say but after gmmtv started with their 12 ep formula with 11th curse, a lot of other companies followed in their footsteps, which made a lot of other really good dramas feel incredibly predictable. The story felt well paced and every episode left me wanting more without feeling overwhelmed. Each episode was great even stand alone.
Some people had qualms about the dog scene but tbh I don't have a problem with it 😂
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Good story, War deserves an Oscars
I was really impressed by:They’re acting. I think War is one of the greatest actors of all time. And I taking into account actors from all the big-budget countries like the US, Korea, etc. I can’t even begin to express how talented he is. His level of acting isn’t something you can learn in school. It’s something innate, combined, I’m sure with insurmountable dedication and hard work, that stands above all else. I hope War can get international recognition and be allowed to branch out in genre and … co-stars. I know this is a thing in Thailand, and I’m not saying Yin’s a particularly bad actor. He’s just ok (and War’s acting is so good, he shines simply by being in its vicinity. Good acting helps other actors get into character and respond realistically to situations. War is definitely the type of actor who can lead his co-stars into the best performances of their lives.
Also, the fighting abilities of the two main actors. You could tell that they never (that I could see, and I looked) used stuntmen. They were the ones doing the high kicks and flips that take many people years to learn. I would even rewind and slow down some scenes, especially the one where they get cornered in an empty restaurant. And I’m not usually one who cares about fighting scenes.
It also takes a stab at corrupt people and the corruption of power, juxtaposing it with an uplifting, inspiring drive to make one’s community greater despite all odds and a past that has only shown you a future of more pain and suffering. I feel like Thai shows have been making a point of dealing with societal issues all while making some riveting romance dramas (I’m saluting you, Not Me) – something we don’t see from other countries. I love this about Thai dramas, and I think they are uniquely placed to bring up these issues and make international audiences reflect on issues they normally wouldn’t consider. Please keep up the good work.
The only thing that I didn’t like, surprisingly, was the forgiveness arc of Joke’s family. Joke’s father had treated Joke like $hit since the very first episode, and this obvious disgust towards his own son and how he was an absolute a$$hole towards his son was one of the main things that drove him to become the Joker. I would have had no hope of reconciliation. This demeaning and hateful behavior would have stoked a hatred and hopelessness that would overshadow the little boy’s desire for love and acceptance, as well as the belief that either could ever happen. So when characters started to say that Joke missed and wanted to go back and live with them/reunite them (the grandma when they were talking about letting Joke stay, and then again in the hospital a couple of times), I thought it was a mistake. There wasn’t an impetus, and Joke’s father’s absolute a$$holery made these comments feel baseless and like an invalidation of all that he had gone through at the hands of his father.
Along this line, based on his prior behavior, I felt totally unconvinced by the father’s sudden agreement to support Joke. There was no indication he loved Joke; if anything, he hated Joke with a burning passion for not only not fitting into the mold he wanted, but for going out of his way to be exactly what his father might hate most. The father had still been saying Joke wasn’t his son with absolute disdain up until this point, when suddenly others were saying things like “we can tell he loves you.” It rang so false to me. Were the directors hoping for us to believe this just due to the fact that he was a father?
All that to say, I did love how the magically post-a$$hole father accepted, embraced, and encouraged his son’s relationship (and with another man at that), and how, in fact, Joke’s choice of man was part of why he started thinking better of his son - and then the addition of the adopted daughter was just majestic. I love this found family narrative, and this depiction of his utter acceptance of, not only his son’s identity and his choice to live his life out loud as gay, but also his acceptance of someone he would have felt below his son’s status earlier in the show. It was so cute when he called their not-yet-but-soon-to-be adopted daughter his granddaughter without prompting and continued to do so even when Jack and Joke weren’t present – indicating his whole-hearted acceptance of this state of being. It was truly a world where homophobia had never seen the light of day.
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Exploring Jack and Joke's Character Dynamics
The story of Jack is a typical story that we have witnessed many times. He is an impoverished boy but capable of going to great lengths. Jack lives with his grandma and is in huge debt. Regardless of his poor state, he still aspires to stay a civilian. He aspires to help other children in his community. Unfortunately, he encounters Joke which makes him care for this unknown guy named Joker. People might say that it’s fast-paced. As a viewer, it is something that can not be described just by looking. It’s something that is far beyond the concept of feelings which we have approached in typical form. They are two lonely hearts wandering in this immoral world. They are looking for a ray of hope to revive their youthful lives again. But destiny didn't grant their wish and they ended up in the vicious cycle of hiding and chasing. The character of Joke is twisted but partially not guilty. His childhood story revolves around him being the legendary thief known as Joker. Why is it legendary? Have to look ahead to this series.Was this review helpful to you?
Jack and Joker: U Steal My Heart* – Beyond BL, a Thai Drama for the Ages
Jack and Joker: U Steal My Heart* is not just a high-quality BL series but an exceptional Thai drama with rich character depth, excellent acting, and captivating story development. Released in 2024, this series has been touted by many fans as one of the year’s best and potentially one of the most memorable Thai series to date.**Plot and Story Development**
The storyline is brilliantly crafted, offering a suspenseful and emotionally resonant plot that goes beyond typical BL fare. Jack (played by Yin Anan) and Joker, aka Joke (War Wanarat), represent two men from different worlds whose paths continually cross in the most unexpected ways. While the plot may feel slightly slow in parts, this deliberate pacing allows the characters to reveal their complex motivations and personal growth, creating a deep, layered story.
**Outstanding Performances**
War’s portrayal of Joker is particularly notable—he captures the character's wit, charisma, and hidden vulnerability with skill that sets him apart as one of Thailand’s finest actors. Yin also delivers a strong and nuanced performance as Jack, balancing his character’s reserved demeanor with a magnetic intensity that draws viewers in. Together, War and Yin’s chemistry is electrifying, adding an authenticity to their evolving relationship that feels natural and compelling.
**Beyond Romance**
While the romantic tension between Jack and Joker is palpable, the series dives deeper than the typical romance arc. It explores themes of loyalty, justice, and moral ambiguity, especially through Joker’s “Robin Hood” persona as he navigates a world of crime for a noble cause. This multifaceted storytelling makes the series feel both refreshing and mature, offering an appeal that resonates with a wider audience beyond BL fans.
**Top-Notch Cast and Production**
The supporting cast, including actors like Prom Ratchapat and Mark Siwat, enhance the story, bringing vibrant performances that ground the main plot. With Tee Bundit Sintanaparadee at the helm, the production quality is stellar, boasting beautifully shot scenes and well-coordinated action sequences that elevate the viewing experience. Every detail, from the set design to the choreography, adds to the show’s high standards.
In summary, *Jack and Joker* stands out as more than just a BL drama; it’s a testament to the power of exceptional storytelling, a talented cast, and the dedication to creating a series that resonates deeply with viewers. It's a journey through love, sacrifice, and the struggle between light and shadow—making it a must-watch that will undoubtedly leave an impression.
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drama of the year goes to…
Another highly anticipated drama that thankfully I can say is delivering! It is even going over the delivering and serving to me on a nice silver platter... let me explain..So I have been going through a BL drought. Heck, a drama drought. K-dramas at this time have sucked the life out of me with their uninteresting and predicable plots, poor execution, and the fact that I watch and wonder.. why does something like this need to be made? What purpose is there other than to make money? Have famous leads in it to lure people in to end up being a total heaping pile of garbage.... so.. this drama COULD have been that. I mean the lead couple is famous and have starred in another successful project. The plot is darker and a bit of a niche in the BL industry. To do something outside of the classic romantic comedy genre of high school or college. Let me just get this straight. This drama is one of those that I think serves a purpose. I am glad it is made wonderfully and it clearly isn't pandering to its audience with chalked up fan service. So this drama is one that deserves to be made, it also is respectful to its audience and that is clear with the production level.
Other than that, production is one thing. Plenty of dramas look good but don't have the story to back it up. This one has witty dialogue that is just smart. Each character is written differently and it is believable they are different people. The people behind the screenplay are amazing, as even in scenes of just talking, the actors are giving the script to play off each other to look like they are having fun portraying their given roles. Some of the drama is a little unbelievable, but not to the point it is distracting or god awful. The plot gives it room to have fun, and the fact that there is a romance hidden somewhere in here leaves room for intrigue. I don't really care about the technicalities here, because the story just hasn't been done before. It is completely brand new to me as I have maybe read some concepts here and there that are similar to the story, but as a whole I haven't watched anything like this.
To keep it short I just have to praise the main leads, their acting capabilities, the camerawork, direction.. nothing is out of place. The camera work is shot beautifully that even when a set isn't too extravagant, the lighting goes a long way to bring atmosphere to the scene.
War is the standout actor here for me. He has so much charisma and is the guy that looks like he's having the most fun with his role. What a fun role it is too. Joke is by far my favorite characters, and his counterpart isn't lacking anywhere by the way. Jack is more reserved and Yin plays that wonderfully as well. Their dynamic is not only fun, I can sense some desire between them only a few episodes in. It makes me want to see them get to know each other and have a fallout and all that drama. I can't wait to watch it all unfold...
Getting back to this I must say, I am really aw struck by everything this drama has to offer. Knowing that the leads invested their own money confirms the fact that care is put behind this. THAT is why it is special. The people behind the show clearly care for the end result and have done it for their fans. Yet the show doesn’t flash fan service or pander, it is smartly written and honestly fantastic. I am enjoying all aspects and that definitely includes the comedy. All the way around this drama it has something to offer. Complain about it not being what you expected or not, but Yin and War offered the end result as a love letter to fans and you can tell they are having fun doing so. I can’t believe those who criticize such an honest effort. Like seriously, if you want a serious dark drama, go watch a kdrama. The humor adds to the story and it literally is a part of Joke’s character and his inability to take his own life seriously. The guy literally believes all he is good at is stealing.
You can really tell competent people are behind this with all the attention to detail and foreshadowing. It’s not a drama that forces things at you and tells you exactly what is going on. The actors portray their feelings to get across an excellent slow burn with amazing action scenes. Seriously the choreography is beat for beat as well as knowing the actors do it themselves. The time and energy behind this work is insane and I was interested to read up on it to confirm the fact that Yin and War really cared for this project and their fans. More than a love letter it is an amazing drama.
What this drama is good at is everything. I enjoy it all with earnestly and look forward to each episode. That is a gift to me; as this isn’t a cheap product made for money. It is a great drama even. I will go on and on when I can type to my hearts content.
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Give it a try, especially if you liked KinnPorsche but thought it was too emotionally draining
I loved this show, the actors did an amazing job, it was my first time watching a drama featuring YinWar and they did not disappoint. Their acting skills are really up there, especially considering the standard set for BL actors.This is less a BL and more an action/drama, with some of the best supporting characters I've seen.
You either hate or love every person you see on the screen, ranging from morally gray to straight up morally black characters. You become invested in them.
Lastly, just from a production standpoint, a stunning piece of cinema, from amazingly choreographed fight sequences, to wardrobe choices, to the shots that are just simply pretty to look at, despite being set in the slums.
Just great!
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