My Stand-In: Uncut

Amazing, unique storyline

The story is so interesting and entertaining. Emotional damage in every episode, but it was so worth it. The acting was top tier, the chemistry was amazing, the character depth was there, the spicy scenes were well done. Ming *was* a red flag but he was so well-written and you could really understand his position as the series progressed. I felt like the actor for Tong was a bit weak, but otherwise a top tier show. So worth watching. I especially loved Poom as Joe. Pepsi also once again did a great job as a director.
My only real criticism is how they wrapped up the plot in episode 12. The ending felt weak, with all conflict resolved very fast and not incredibly logically. But given the rest of this amazing show, I am so willing to excuse this weak point.

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THE REVIEW TO END ALL REVIEWS

YOOOOO, BESTIES Buckle up, because this is going to be a ride. Today, we’re talking My Stand-In—the series that had me cursing at my TV and questioning why I keep watching these damn shows. Spoiler alert: it’s a toxic rollercoaster, and yes, I loved every messy second of it.

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Joe: The Human Doormat (But We Love Him Anyway)
Let’s talk about Joe, played by Poom. My mans is literally the definition of “too pure for this world.” He’s sweet, sensitive, and just out here trying to live his life. But let’s be real—he’s also a little TOO naive. Like, babes, why are you letting Ming treat you like a Dollar Store replacement for Tong? WHERE IS YOUR SELF-RESPECT?

And the sneezing during climax thing??? WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HELL? Who thought that was a cute character quirk? It’s giving “quirky rom-com protagonist,” but instead of being endearing, it’s just WEIRD. I was cringing so hard I almost dislocated my jaw.

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Ming: The Gaslighting King of Red Flags
Oh, Ming. Sweetie. Honey. You are THE WORST. If there were an Olympics for being a toxic piece of shit, this man would have the gold medal, a sponsorship deal, and his own Wheaties box.

Ming is rich, spoiled, and obsessed with Tong—who, might I remind you, is HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW. Yes, you read that right. BROTHER. IN. LAW. Like, sir, go touch some grass and find a hobby that isn’t creeping on your family. And when he couldn’t have Tong, he decided Joe’s back would do. GURL, WHAT???

Every time he gaslit Joe, I was SCREAMING at my screen like, “JOE, RUN. THIS MAN WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE.” But did Joe listen? Nope. Instead, he kept going back to this walking dumpster fire like it was his life mission to be emotionally destroyed.

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Tong and May: Certified Hot Messes
Tong, sweetie, you’re not off the hook either. This man married May for her money but couldn’t keep his damn hands off the gambling table. Like, sir, you’re already a clown—do you have to be a broke clown too? And let’s not even get into how he weaponized Ming’s feelings for him. It’s giving manipulative AF, and I hate it here.

But MAY? QUEEN SHIT. She said, “You’re trash, and I’m recycling myself out of this marriage.” Honestly, the moment she left his sorry ass was the highlight of the show. May, you deserve the world and a man who doesn’t gamble away your savings.

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Joe x Sol: THE SHIP THAT SHOULD’VE BEEN
Sol. Oh, my sweet, sweet Sol. This man left his career in Korea to help Joe, and Joe repaid him by… RUNNING BACK TO MING. Make it make sense, y’all. Sol is a walking green flag, and Joe said, “No thanks, I like my men toxic and emotionally unavailable.”

Every time Sol showed up, I was like, “Yes, king! Save this dumbass from himself!” But Joe? Joe said, “Nah, I’m good. I’m gonna go ruin my life some more.” At this point, I was rooting for Sol to just pack up and leave Joe to his bad decisions.

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The Plot: A Mess, But Make It Entertaining
Okay, let’s break this down. Joe is Tong’s stand-in because Ming can’t have Tong, so he settles for Joe’s BACK. (Yes, his back. I can’t.) Ming spends the entire first half of the show being a possessive little shit, gaslighting Joe into staying with him. Meanwhile, Joe is just out here like, “Maybe he’ll change!” Spoiler alert: HE WON’T.

Then, out of nowhere, Joe dies. Yup, just straight-up DIES. But the plot was like, “Joe, you’ve suffered enough; let’s throw you into a completely new identity to spice things up,” so his soul gets transferred into another actor’s body. And now he’s trying to navigate life as someone else while STILL dealing with Ming’s bullshit. The drama is so extra it gave me whiplash, and honestly? I loved every second.

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The Action Scenes: Chef’s Kiss
If there’s one thing this show got RIGHT, it’s the action scenes. Poom SLAYED. The punches, the kicks, the choreography—it was all perfection. He looked so badass I had to pause and question if I was in love or just in awe. Poom, my dude, you need to star in an action movie ASAP.

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Steamy Scenes: Meh.
Alright, let’s talk about the steamy scenes. Were they hot? Eh. Did they make me feel things? Not really. It was giving lukewarm tea, not boiling water. And seeing Up as a top still feels wrong to me. Like, I’ll accept it, but I won’t LIKE it.

Also, can we PLEASE get more realistic passion in these series? I’m tired of this soft fluff nonsense. GIVE ME LUST. GIVE ME DESPERATION. MAKE ME FEEL THE CHEMISTRY. This was just… fine. And fine isn’t good enough.

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OST: Who?
The OST? Forgettable. I couldn’t even hum a single tune from it if you paid me. Moving on.

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Final Thoughts: Chaotic, Toxic, and Weirdly Addictive
My Stand-In is a hot mess of a show, but damn, it’s an ENTERTAINING hot mess. The characters will piss you off, the plot will confuse you, and the drama will leave you questioning your life choices. But you’ll keep watching. Why? Because it’s like a car crash—you can’t look away.

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you like yelling at your screen and questioning your taste in men. Would I rewatch it? Hell no. My blood pressure couldn’t handle it.

Final rating: 10/10 for the chaos, 0/5 for the logic. Watch it at your own risk.

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A ride or die love story.

Imagine, finding out that the person you are extremely in love with uses you as a substitute of the one he is obsessed with; you die with that grief and reborn and again face the same predicament?

Now imagine, using the person who loves you unconditionally as a substitute of someone you had a crush as a teen only to cause his death and realize the one you really love and had the crush on is actually the one who also loved you; but died because of you and never gonna come back and no matter how much money, influence and power you hold you cannot bring him back so you have to settle with another substitute?

Ming and Joe are both extreme lovers. They are so much in love all the humiliations, betrayal, lies, wait and even death can't tear them apart. Is that we call star crossed lovers?

Ming is a complex character, embodying both shadows and light. He had powers and knew how to wield them. Joe is our golden retriever. Due to his parents' early death and him raising himself has made him more mature and empathetic toward people around him. He was the only one who could tolerate Ming's arrogant personality and childish temperament. Ming used to be so docile with Tong but with Joe he showed his real emotions- happy, flirty, angry, desperate and even abusive.

Joe from the beginning was mesmerized by Ming's beauty and was simping over him, which gave Ming power over Joe. Joe was the sole investor in the relationship. He kept trying and trying. Pursuing and coaxing Ming, but still couldn't shake his heart. If Joe hadn't died would Ming still realize his feelings? If Sol weren't in the picture, would he realize his fear of losing Joe?

Ming took Joe as a substitute. He wanted Joe's full commitment even though he was obsessed over Tong himself. His condescending personality will definitely get on audience's nervers. He acted like he owned Joe, and in front of his willfullness Joe's feeling are not valid.

When Ming went to Joe's condo for the first time, he understood the meaning of home. Their love blossomed in that condo. Ming who could afford any luxurious mansion did not want to let go of that old, small condo where Joe and he had so many memories. This is why, even a proud and arrogant person like him didn't leave the condo despite being repeatedly told to. But I think he was a little confused because it was Joe, not the condo, that was his home.

Ming knew Joe liked him for his good looks, so when he met the pretty boy Sol, who also pursued Joe, he lost his mind. He became possessive and territorial toward Joe, like a cat. I guess he was overall like a cat—not good at conveying emotions. He felt jealous towards everyone who was close to Joe (And the jealousy award of 2024 goes to... drum roll!). He wanted Joe all to himself but also infatuated with Tong at the sametime.

Ming came from a dysfunctional family and was very young, never having loved or dated anyone before. Joe's kind and mature love was foreign to him. It was also his first time being loved by anyone unconditionally. Which was why he hid his background from Joe. Because, he wouldn't want Joe to treat him like others did.

Ming and Sol's fight over Joe was hilarious. It was like two black cats fighting over a golden retriever. Ming especially trying to rip Oppa's hair was a sign that he was jealous of Sol's good looks. He was so blinded by jealousy he could not apprehend how humiliated Joe felt after realising that he was used as a rebound. Ming dumped all the blame over Sol as if Joe was bewitched by him. He just knew he can't let go of Joe. He tried every method to keep Joe- by baiting him with a better career and by locking him up.

The one thing I will never forgive is how he treated the new Joe and his distorted way of coping with grief. With the typical sexual jealousy and frustration of losing Joe, he acted like a madman and released all his frustration on new Joe. The same thing he did with Joe when he was alive and Ming was obsessing over Tong. That kind of behavior should already put the audiences off. The author should have sent him for therapy before their reconciliation.

But, I really wanted to see Ming cry in ep 9 when he caught Joe red handed. I enjoyed those chapters from novel where he cried and begged Joe to get back together, felt anxious that Joe might leave him again. But no. He was as insidious, cold blooded and scheming as ever. He didn't shed a single tear when he realized Joe is still alive. He was promising Joe to make him famous in exchange for staying with him. Like bro! He died because of you. Try harder to make amends.

I personally believe Joe's lack of boundaries made Ming think that no matter how he treated Joe, Joe would never leave. Joe should have prioritized his needs when he was cohabiting with Ming. Ming was arrogant, selfish, and self-centered. But he suffered greatly after Joe's death. That was his punishment for what he did to Joe. But I hoped to see a better redemption arc.

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Joe. Joe, Joe, Joe . . . WHY?

Ahem. This is actually the first review i've ever written. Honestly I LOVED this drama. BUT. Some parts made no sense.

When Joe got a second chance I thought he would leave. Like, fly to a different country, change his name and start selling coconuts or smth. But NOOooo instead he goes back to the fvcking SAME place with the SAME toxic-ass people. Almost every single decision he made was stupid.

1) He gave his virginity to a guy who was so drunk he could've slept with a freaking bag of chips.
2) He was called a "stand in" because ming is in love with a guy who looks like a deflated balloon.
3) He is then KIDNAPPED and his entire career is fvcking destroyed for TONG. Like? HELLO???

He freaking DIES because of Ming and then GOES BACK to the SAME person to be a stand-in. AGAIN!!! But at this point, hes literally like a stand-in bitch FOR a stand in bitch. I cant even be mad at him because his entire character is so sad. I know he went through a lot but it was depressing to watch him. In every ep, he looked either sad, confused or conflicted for the entire thing. (But Poom is actually SUCH a good actor. His eyes were so expressive)

I was PRAYING that Joe would get himself together and freaking stand up for himself. He was getting pushed over by so many different people. THINK FOR YOURSELF!!!! Not people who want to get in your pants!!! (Sol, Ming, looking at you) And when he finally did, he then proceeded to try and get out of a MOVING CAR. GURLL . . .

Other than that, the drama is so good. If youre thinking of watching it, then do it

(I'll add more later maybe, im too lazy for this)

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Ming WAS a red flag.

the total conversation was about Ming. lemme tell you. Ming was a rich brat, UNTIL he met Joe. he def mistreated him. he was unecceralily possesive over him. he do shit without even thinking. BUT im telling you, he changed. well, im not siding with him cuz he is a shit. he mistreated Joe, just to feel bad about it after his death. i mean Joe is a whole green forest. he took care of the other Joe's mother as if it is his own mother. i thought he would do some revenge shit, but he was calm. Ming meanwhile changed. the only Ming i loved was in the last episode. even tho, the whole series had some toxicity in it, it was good. some time, i would wanna just smack Ming but some time, i would feel sorry. mahn, I would've killed that guy, if I was Joe. he manipulated his dad to ground him,faked being sick, well he didn't fake it tho. and at last but not least, he didn't even try to tell his while shitting plan to Joe. bruhh. i was like, where's my slippers?

the amount of toxicity in the series is crazy. but i kinda loved it. the ost was not ma fav tho.

the chemistry of Up and Poom is just 🔥.

im looking forward for more series in the future.

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2022 is seared into my brain. I hear that reused tracking Pepzi and Khom

Rated= 7.5 ~ 29.5/50 ~ 5.9
Scene // Mage fighting hard in the Crumbling Castle with a Battle Axe

Ahh Hello Thailand, we finally meet again. Ever since KinnPorsche I've been extra vigilent around Thai BL's. My review still exists as a testiment to how much I did not like the KP experience or the crew surrounding the production.

This is not KP, thankfully. I really enjoyed this one. But God has a sense of humour and I swear, I heard about 3 to 4 different backing tracks that were also in KP. I've only watched a few Thai Bl's in total so reusing tracks is common there? I don't know.

(Having said that, I've just learnt that one of the directors and screenwriter from KP were involved here. Ahhhh. So that's why most of the characters are abusive f**ks)

But moving on, this show has a very interesting concept which pretty much goes unexplained. It's hinted that it's perhaps a karmic slapback and since I consider myself a spiritual person, I kind of like the idea.

Joe is a stunt man for super celeb, actor Tong because he resembles him from behind. Where Joe is sweet and professional, Tong is lazy and narcissistic and it quickly becomes apparent that Joe is the reason that Tong is so famous. All of Tong's most famous scenes are because of Joe's talent but as a stunt man, he's only ever seen from behind and we find out later, he's also never credited either.

The series opens with Joe's stunt scene that goes wrong, resulting in his death. He wakes up two years later in the body of another man, also called Joe. After this initial set up, we have 3 or 4 episodes of a flashback, how he falls in love with Ming, and Ming pining after Tong, and the abuse and injustice he faces that leads him to taking on the deadly job that results in his death.
I don't mind flashbacks as long as it's done in one go and thankfully, this show did that. We got our story set up, the flashback, and then back to the present to show us the progress and conclusion.

This creates an interesting karmic impact for me. Joe didn't want to die. He was forced into a dangerous job with no one willing to protect him only control him. His voiceover thoughts are shown to be even angry about his situation. Joe 2.0 however did. We discover that Joe 2.0 also worked in the industry as a model and attempted suicide on the day of Joe's death after being used by his boyfriend. Alone with his mother, his body was in a coma for 2 years while his ailing mother took on loan sharks to pay for his bills. Joe was a lost soul and here was a body the owner didn't want but who's mother was doing everything to keep alive.

When Joe returns to the land of the living, he quickly finds himself back in with the group he wants nothing more to do with.
Also interestingly for me, his lover Ming feels an instant connection to him whereas his friend just accept it's another guy called Joe. But it's his friends that quickly accept that this new Joe is still the old Joe and it's Ming who needs a little more convincing.

Ming is pretty obsessed with Joe. I feel like Ming is the sort of character that might push people's buttons. He's obsessive and controlling, at first. But as the relationship develops his need for control over others softens into taking control of his own situation and proving to Joe that his feelings are real and Joe will always be first in his life. This may not be agreeable to some people. Much like how I feel about our next character.

Tong is not a likeable character and although he does get his comeuppance, at the same time, there's almost a forced forgiveness arc at the end. I didn't want to pity him but I did anyway. I would have liked to have seen him quit his job or recognise Joe in his past works as an act of penance but we weren't shown that so I'm still left a little reluctant to forgive the character for his meddling and bullying. What he did was not exactly something you can just brush over with, don't do it again and all is well. I prefer to see real actions that give me a reason to feel comfortable with this character much as I do with actual people.

That we are shown at the end of the 'light' never being truly on the first Joe's work, left me feeling sad that even though Joe was able to rebuild his life with Ming by his side, his first life was still left as a tragic story. I dont feel comfortable with that kind of ending and knowing that Tong is the reason for it and never being shown a correction, just makes me feel pouty about it.

Then we have Sol who honestly, for me, just felt like a slimy creep. He was that guy who's crushing on you but doesn't know when to back off. And to top it off at the end, he tells Ming when he found out that Joe was gay, he thought Joe was taking advantage of him and only realised he liked him when he went to Korea to be an idol. I LOL. What a jerk. And then he walks off all rejected into another potential pairing,, you know, like a 'stand in'? No. Go sort yourself out first my friend.

Always wanted to be with someone who would use me to get over their heartbreak and, fingers crossed, they fall in love with me instead.

Overall I did enjoy it. It was nothing too intense. I felt pretty relaxed through most of the plot. Perhaps more of a refreshing reprieve from the 40 long anxiety ridden torture that is most c-dramas LOL

I unfortunately didn't feel the chemistry between the leads but that may just have been me. They were one of those couples that I find cute together but don't feel any heat between them, despite the sexual tension in some scenes. They gave their all in those sex scenes though. Thought the sneezing during orgasm was a bit silly but I guess the writers needed something that only Ming would know lol

I think what dampened any kind of enjoyment between the pairing is just simply, most of the characters in this show are assholes and Joe is that really sweet character that's just persistently walked over. He does get angry but he never shows it so at the end, I can feel the 'sweetness' of problems being solved but I feel reluctant about.

I at least didn't get the visceral rage I felt with KP and it's crew but I can't say I agree with their world view that seems to be coming across in their work.

Overall, it's a short enjoyable watch but not sure I'll be rewatching it.

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Guilty pleasure : highly entertaining despite its flaws

A very entertaining guilty pleasure BL series : I found the premise pretty interesting and there were some crazy developments that really kept my attention all along the show.

One of the main lead was a pretty gentle stuntman with not any survival instinct, the other was a rich heir with a crazy side, full of red flags. Their relationship was quite toxic, with an intoxicating push and pull factor between them. It was not healthy, frustrating at time, but mostly highly entertaining. The last quarter of the series felt a bit more tame and I wish the ending would have been a bit less "easy" on some character, but overall I'm satisfied by the wild ride the scenario took me on.

The acting could have been better, most of the support roles were not as well acted as I would have wanted...With the exception of Porsche, the actor playing Sol which managed to make his character endearing to me all along the series despite the repetitive aspect of his role. The two main leads Poom and Up had a good chemistry between them but I still think it is not the most sizzling I have seen in a BL and that their acting in some of the more emotional scenes felt a bit lacking at time.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for an exciting and wild BL. There are some bonker elements in the story and it is a very fun ride. I feel the story lost a bit of steam in its last quarter and that acting could have been better for some part. Nevertheless, I have no regret to have watched it : it is a good guilty pleasure show !

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Simple, Yet Intense.

I just completed this around a year after starting it, and I have to say, I probably would've rated this much lower had I finished it back then. Keeping it aside for a while managed to bring about a gap in understanding the characters’ actions. (I had stopped at EP8.)

When a humble stuntman named Joe accidentally encounters Ming, the brother-in-law of the famous actor, Tong, whom he performs for, sparks fly instantly.
Unbeknownst to him, Ming is secretly disgruntled and upset about being inadvertently ignored by Tong, whom he had a crush on. He takes the chance to bait the easy going Joe as a distraction and soon strikes up an ambiguous relationship with him. However, the lonely Joe's life is brightened by his presence and he falls deeply for Ming. Things turn dark when the truth is out and Joe is cornered and forced to pay with his life.

He wakes up in the body of another man named Joe, who had had an accident the same time as him. Now, with a new body and an ailing mother to take care of, Joe decides to start over his life and quietly assumes the identity of the body's owner. However, Ming once again re-enters his life.

☆ My Thoughts:

I remember several discourses going on in the comment section of the drama while it was still on air. Particularly of the ‘red flag’ and the characterization of Ming.
He might also be a difficult character to portray as he doesn't really talk much at all – always bottling up his frustrations and hiding behind a wall. Which is why most of his actions (some which he did purely due to his confidence in the power of money, a “very strong” theme which is scattered all over the show) come off as almost sociopathic.

While it might not be clear to some viewers, it's evident that he was using Joe as a distraction from sadness right from their second meeting. The trouble was, Joe was too humble minded and open hearted to see this. To him, Ming was someone who would return home to him; wait for him at home, cook for him and abate his loneliness.

For a guy who could get anything with a snap of his fingers, Ming doesn't realise the damage he was doing to someone like Joe.

Which is why, him going after Joe a second time annoyed me to no end.
Mr. Pinky aka Sol was right in several instances. Though, I have to say his care for Joe stemmed more from regret rather than actual emotions, I am glad that he was literally the only level headed character who could meet Ming head on.

Both the leading actors were really,really good. Like… I could find no chinks in their armour. The production value for this show seems to be rather high. So, I guess that this was a serious project. Also, Ming's wardrobe was particularly noteworthy. Heck, some of his outfits didn't even look as if they'd be considered normal outside of the runway (that pyjama style set), but he managed to pull it off.
The lighting and camera work were apt and not overdone. The aesthetics were also pleasant so, it was easy on the eyes without going overboard.

I particularly liked how the relationship between families was portrayed. And how important it was to their relationship. Though, I have to say, Ming didn't get punished enough for his thoughtless actions.

Also, the theme of the power of money and how people are ultimately forced to bow to it. This is a sad reality of life. Joe and his coworkers would always be underlings to the mighty and rich. It reminded me of the recently released movie where the main message was how the main character was ultimately not respected even as a basic human.
For example, there is one character in particular who got off scott free. But, it was going to eventually happen anyways.

☆ Final Thoughts:
I wouldn't call this drama a master-piece or something out of the box. The story is very simple and straightforward, but the conflicting emotions it manages to bring about is definitely something. So, kudos to the writers for that. Also, the cast and crew has put in A LOT of effort to bring their vision to life, so this is a must-watch if you are looking for something simple, yet intense.

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Watch if you like questioning your own morals

It’s been a while since I’ve been this invested in a series and the weird thing is I don’t even know what exactly I think of it.

I love hated almost every minute of this. Story was new and entertaining. The actors were absolutely brilliant. I don’t think I was a big Up fan before but I am now. This man made me love hate him (his character) the way only Damon Salvatore has managed to before…

Not much to say honestly… watch it if you enjoy: what, wtf, why is this happening, what is happening, arrgggghh and naked backs.

The ending was a bit too “happy end” imo, but that didn’t take away much from the whole thing so I still enjoyed watching. And I don’t remember the last time I wanted to rewatch something right after finishing it…but I do kind of want to do exactly that.

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Another take on the Dark/Toxic romance BL genre

Ming is Extremely toxic at the beginning of the drama which is difficult to watch as you know the main leads will end up together anyway. Despite this and the fact he uses Joe for his own benefit and claims ownership over joe instead of loving him as a person. Somehow the Drama manages to turn this all around by the end part and show us people can can make mistakes, even toxic ones that have serious consequences and still be able to turn things around. I am not going to defend Ming, he is a strange individual with many privileges that allow him to get what he wants but still is able to come across as sexy and complicated, leaving you wanting to understand him.

Joe is such a sweetheart and experiences many unfortunate events but just wants to be loved, look after his mother and maintain a stable career and relationship. He has a heart of gold and luckily is able to break into Ming's cold exterior.

The show is exciting and thrilling to watch nonetheless. Both lead actors are brilliant in their roles, showing maturity, complex emotions and believable romance scenes. I will defiantly watch both actors in other dramas.

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Damn. I've not watched a series quite like this since only friends and Kinnporsche. It definitely had us on a rollercoster from day one.
Ming that everyone agrees is toxic whether from his background being rich so always gets want he wants but this time he doesn't as he gets the next best from. I don't believe he truly loved Joe at all as when Tong says jump he says how high, he is in love with Tong
Unfortunately, Joe fell for the wrong person and didn't get the support he needed as no one made it clear how toxic their relationship was toxic and how to get out. He was sexually and emotionally abused constantly.
I generally quite liked Sol but at times he was being extra when given the second chance.

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