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Moody, Sensual, Messy & Thought-Provoking
When this story starts, it presents itself as social commentary with a side of romance. 10 episodes later, and this is, in fact, romance with a side of social commentary. It is a slower type of romance as a large part of the story is spent on Jira trying to pick between the two men, Pheem and Koh.The Characters
🎨Jira - He's indecisive in the romance department, stringing two men along for far longer than it was necessary IMO. On one hand, there's Pheem. The seemingly good guy, who, according to the synopsis, is physically Jira's type to a T. On the other hand, lies Koh. An unapologetically capitalistic arsehole, who, if you listen to Ing, is Jira's type, personality-wise.
Jira is also an artist down on his luck and broke. He wants to keep doing art in a world that is slowly being taken over by AI. And worse, he now works for a tech bro whose world is AI. He hates the tech bro for his values, which clash with his own. He's also attracted to tech bro but tries to deny it
💻Pheem - The seemingly good guy. While he may look like the better option at first, he wasn't the right choice for multiple reasons, the biggest being that he's fake AF. He only pays attention to what Jira likes because it'll increase the likelihood that Jira will sleep with him. He's also in a one-sided beef with Koh, which didn't do him any favours, if we're being honest.
💼Koh - The unapologetic asshole with debilitating social anxiety. He's unlikable, and I think that's the point. I don't quite think that we, as the audience, are meant to really like him. Only Jira is, and so we like him or give him a chance because Jira likes him. And because, as the story progresses, he changes parts of his life to make space for Jira. Does he become the perfect man? No. But parts of him are softer because of Jira.
Ing & Mawin also made rather interesting side characters and friends to both Jira and Pheem
The Relationships, Specifically the Romances
🌹🥀PheemJira - The chemistry between the characters was undeniable, but they'd have never worked for multiple reasons. Noteably,
1. As previously stated, he's fake - From changing his taste in music to getting that new tattoo on him. He never fell inlove with the things Jira liked enough to make them his own. He simply co-opted them to make himself look good in front of his conquest.
2. He's very pushy, especially in the sex department - All he knew how to do was flirt and insinuate that the two should sleep together. A note I wrote in ep 5 stated as follows 'Almost all their interactions end with him suggesting that they go home together. Jira is sometimes willing n other times doesn't seem into it. Like in ep 5, I feel like he took him home coz Pheem asked. Had he not, I don't think he'd have brought it up.'
3. He never made a good muse - Remember when Jira finally asked him to sit so he could paint him, and the man couldn't do that. He kept moving around and once again, resorted to flirting with Jira. I don't paint, but that seemed disrespectful AF to me.
I was never quite convinced that Pheem loved Jira. Even in that emotional and very well done scene in ep 7 in the rage room. Pheem only seemed to care that he won Jira and Koh lost him. Eventually, in all his scheming and jealousy, he fell in love, but it was too late.
🌹🖥️KohJira - I like to refer to love stories like theirs as 'the heart wants what it wants.' They shouldn't work. Actually, they'd probably thrive better if they went their separate ways and never crossed paths ever again. Yet, they choose to remain together. To try and forge ahead even when their circumstances and even values show that they likely will not work long-term.
Something keeps pulling them together. Such love stories always scratch a very special itch in my brain. I love them. They are human in such an interesting way. It's like they scream at you 'Hey, humans and love aren't black and white. They are very much shades of grey.'
They fall for each other partly in the bickering and partly in the silence. I think that Koh made a more interesting love interest because
1. Jira actually liked him. - I found it most interesting and hilarious how Jira was always so physically unresponsive to Pheem. However, with Koh, the man just needed to look at him, and bro would be hard. Jira would try to transfer those horny feelings to Pheem, but it never worked.
He looked like a ragdoll every time Pheem kissed him. So stiff with little emotion across his face. However, with Koh... Refer to the bedroom scene in ep 1, the painting scene in, I believe, ep 8 in Koh's house with the flowers, and the kiss scene on the rooftop.
2. Koh willingly changes to better suit Jira - Not fully, of course. But where Pheem's changes felt manipulative and held an ulterior motive, Koh felt genuine. And the changes were never extravagant.
Simple things like going to get him from his house coz he knows his commute is long, getting breakfast in the morning when Jira slept over, even if he himself said he never liked breakfast, or even braving that club environment to go get Jira.
All these were sincere, and I think they speak to romance better than a tattoo.
3. A clash in values vs attraction - Koh has the personality of a lemon. He's also a ruthless capitalist who only cares about the bottom line. Jira thinks that everything should be above board and humans should care for each other. Koh is also a pro AI fellow, and Jira is an artist at heart. Jira cares about human-made art, and his main source of income is being threatened by the very thing Koh is pushing for. Bruh, when I heard 'input Jira preset' in ep 9, I died. I simply passed away.
However, despite all this, they continue to be attracted to each other. Jira fell 1st, although he tried to deny it, but Koh fell harder. But Koh doesn't seem quite interested in changing. How the hell does such a relationship survive? I like that their relationship ended on a 'happy for now' note, because honestly, I wonder how they'd survive long-term.
🎭🧑🏻🎨The Social Commentary⚙️👨🏻💻
The story posed an interesting question in the AI vs Human debate. I think once on Twitter, I saw Nunchy say that they weren't really looking to answer if AI was good or not. Whether it should be shunned or remain. Rather, they were asking the audience to ask themselves if and how these two things can co-exist side by side. The story doesn't give us a conclusive answer. If you think about Koh as the 'AI' and Jira as the 'Human', you see them work together, clash, diverge, then come together once more.
They end on an uncertain future at the end of the plot. Can the two truly walk and work side-by-side?
I think this is an interesting and real position that reflects where society and technology are today. You cannot escape AI, no matter how much you want to. While people online are loud and angry about AI, the tech bros are still making strides to incorporate it in everything. Job postings are demanding that applicants have the knowledge and willingness to use AI. Many people are also losing jobs to automation. It's maddening, and a lot of fields feel uncertain, especially the creative ones.
Just like Koh and Jira don't know if they can truly work, neither do we, the general population, know what the future holds
💭Random Thoughts💭
a. Some BL ships work incredibly well in darker, moodier stories, and OffFun are squarely on that list. FirstKhao are another. Both excel in grittier plots that make you think, confront feelings and emotions you'd rather not face, and push the envelope in what human relationships are.
b. I find their (OffGun's) fade-to-black NC scenes rather interesting in the BL landscape. I've watched this ship in 4 stories: Not Me, The Trainee & Burnout Syndrome (I dropped Cooking Crush, so we're not counting that). They always have such good chemistry, and their kissing is so good, but their NC scenes are always so short.
I don't quite follow ships outside of TV shows, so I often wonder if this is something they've chosen for themselves. To always go with fade-to-black scenes. I'm not saying they should adopt the scenes in shows like 'Don't Say No', 'My Stubborn', or the currently airing 'Peach Lover', but I'd like more. Unless they don't want to do it, in which case, I'll respect it
c. I'm glad the show introduced me to Dew both as an artist and an actor. I added 'Mr. Kill' to my 'plan to watchlist' because of him. A show I'd originally ignored since bromance is not my jam
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The Best GMMTV Show So Far
this has to be anucha's magnum opus and one of the best shows that came out of gmmtv's slop factory. burnout syndrome is a complex and unfiltered character study of three individuals who are all desperate for human connection, inspiration, and salvation from the tolls of capitalism and artificial intelligence.what truly stuck with me was the show's refusal to whitewash its characters and view them as monolithic. despite its political themes, its creators did not feel the need to make jira an untainted representation of an artist who will not "sell out" to capitalism and AI despite the looming threat of poverty. once faced with the scarcity of employment opportunities, he eventually caved to the chance of financial stability despite its questionable sources.
similarly, koh was not given a stereotypical character arc; instead, he turned out to be a capitalist through and through. love, if you can even call it that, did not redeem him in the end. despite jira's complaints, koh will continue to inflict harm on the world, uncaring of the artists and workers he stole ideas and job opportunities from. even jira, the only person he truly trusted, was not spared from this.
on the other hand, pheem's character subverted the "second lead syndrome" by casting dew, an undeniably attractive actor who knows how to weaponize his looks to garner empathy from the audience, while masterfully portraying the concealed sleaziness of pheem, who, 1) frequented the burnout bar to have sex with people at their most vulnerable; 2) studied all of jira's interests and claimed them as his own to impress him; and 3) expected sex in return for all of his unsolicited efforts and had a (honestly terrifying) reaction when he did not get what he wanted.
despite their questionable characteristics, the show did not deprive us of their humanity and gave us plenty of reasons to care for these characters. for example, jira is the most relatable out of everyone. like most of us, he is just trying to stay afloat as the job market becomes less and less stable. at the same time, he is trying to keep his spirit alive by doggedly pursuing whatever can ignite the passion and creativity that capitalism tries to stamp out, regardless of its consequences.
meanwhile, koh perfectly portrayed the soft underbelly of an otherwise deplorable character. a capitalist and an ai investor was also the very same person who had to steel himself when going to public places; who cried when he saw jira's paintings; who let pheem win a race to make him feel more comfortable and honest; who grew a garden of flame lilies in memory of his lover; who, despite his attempts to protect himself, cannot help but to let jira in his life. these things did not make him a better person, but they helped me see the human behind the machine.
lastly, pheem had the best character arc of all of them. starting as an individual who refused to face his lack of identity by wearing the skin of a perfect employee, friend, or lover, he eventually underwent the painful process of transforming into a human being capable of vulnerability, selfless love, and freedom from validation-seeking behaviors. at the very end, his embrace with jira finally felt real— devoid of any expectation, performance, or pretense.
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full of symbolism that leaves a lasting impression
The entire concept of this series was a hit imo, I'm genuinely surprised some people rated it so low.To start, Dew was everything. I loved his acting I loved his character and I loved how symbolism followed the story from start to finish. I was rooting for both pairings at different points, while knowing full well that OffGun was the end game.
Pheem totally deserved better and there is no argument that could convince me otherwise, but he *was* obsessed with the idea of Jira. I think a lot of people can relate to that, idealizing someone without fully understanding them.
Each character had their flaws without them being brushed over or excused, and I *loved* Emi's character for keeping it 100% real with Jira when he was being indecisive, self loathing or ready to stay stagnant in his sadness.
The episode where Dew's character destroyed things in the rage room was so raw that it felt borderline red flag-like, but it was such a contrast from the Pheem we saw leading up to that point and that in and of itself felt so poetic.
In my opinion, as a former art student, the entire series was a work of art. There were so many comparisons to be made, and the controversy that comes along with AI art was well executed. Jira had every right to be furious and heart broken over Koh doing something so carelessly, but it gave a very real insight to what our current and future will be. AI isn't going away any time soon, and while that's no excuse for anyone to utilize AI to take over the real-life blood, sweat and tears that artists put into their work--it is unfortunately something we have to work a compromise with. At the end of the day AI is us, and what we put into it it will spit back out, as much as I hate to admit.
The constant contrast between machine and flowers had me over the moon, but I might be biased as I love contrast and seeing things that are opposites mesh together.
The art Jira (did gun really paint these? bc ohmygod) made was absolutely beautiful, and very much up my alley, I would spend hours at a showing looking at this form of art. My favorite piece was 100% the piece of Pheem from the rage room, it was almost heart breaking to look at and the edges of the painting reminded me of wings coming off of him, which tied back into one of the first pieces Jira painted of Koh where the angel is coming down to kiss him.
Also the music for the series was chef's kiss, I don't think any series has made me save as many songs as I did with this one.
All in all I think it was a fantastic series and I can't wait to see Dew in more complex character roles.
I forgot to mention the whole concept of "burnout syndrome" was so extremely well done as an active theme from start to finish--I cannot praise that detail enough.
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This series is not about burnout.
STORY - 5/10"burnout
- extreme tiredness or mental or physical illness caused by working too hard or trying to do too much"
I genuinely think that none of the characters in "Burnout Syndrome" are actually burned out. At least the story doesn't portray them that way. Overall this series tries so hard to make complex, morally grey characters but fails because they aren't given enough screentime by themselves. Nobody feels fleshed out or even remotely likeable. You'll be stuck in a loop of endless, useless drama. The love triangle tries to look more like a Bermuda triangle, tbh. The ending is terrible. None of the previous issues were addressed or fixed. There's surprisingly absolutely no character development. Instead, there's just a time skip where we are meant to assume that some reflection has happened. Forcing this ending was the worst possible outcome for this show.
In the beginning I was intrigued by all the themes that the show wanted to address, like, e.g., burnout, AI, toxic selfishness, art, and a lot more. But in the end none of these issues were discussed thoroughly in a way that is satisfactory. The story wanted to be character-driven and at the same time address all these bigger issues and in the end failed at both aspects. I'm really disappointed.
Pheem and Jira never clicked for me, even though they did for others. They just felt kind of awkward to me. Koh and Jira were better (especially in the beginning), but Koh was being really toxic, and that's why their relationship also didn't seem quite right to me.
I hate Jira because he was just a little indecisive bitch the whole show and basically the root of all his own problems and the suffering of all the other characters.
There were a couple of things I liked, though. Especially in the beginning, I really liked Jira's relationship to Koh as art and muse. Other than that, I also appreciated that Koh could only sleep when Jira was near him. The aspect with the burnout bar also was really interesting to me. Generally the show had a lot of really good and interesting ideas with lacking execution.
ACTING/CAST - 7/10
This show was also Dew's first BL, and he did an excellent job at acting (as Pheem), which I hope to see put to good use in another BL in the future (maybe as the main lead (not in a love triangle)). Other than that, I didn't like how some characters sometimes hold these somewhat longer monologues, which kind of sound like a lecture to me.
MUSIC - 7.5/10
I liked the music, but it was nothing special.
REWATCH VALUE - 1/10
I will never watch this again, and you should not either. The story is way too messy and annoying for that.
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When Art, Love, and Ambition Burn Too Close
Burnout Syndrome isn’t your typical Thai BL—and that’s exactly why it hits so hard. This 10-episode GMMTV series (Nov 26, 2025–Feb 4, 2026) is a raw, character-driven drama about emotional exhaustion, creativity, power, and desire, set against a sleek but suffocating modern urban backdrop.After Not Me, I’d been waiting for Off Jumpol and Gun Atthaphan to return to something this emotionally dense—and Burnout Syndrome absolutely delivers. The mock trailer sparked excitement, the official trailer raised expectations, and the addition of Dew Jirawat into a volatile love triangle made it impossible to ignore.
Directed by Anucha “Nuchy” Boonyawatana (Not Me) and written by JittiRain and Ben Sethinun Jariyavilaskul, the series follows Jira (Gun Atthaphan), a gifted artist reeling from burnout after losing his job. Numb and creatively blocked, he drifts into a quiet bar where he meets Pheem (Dew Jirawat), a seemingly gentle, grounded IT specialist who offers comfort and emotional safety. Then enters Koh (Off Jumpol), a brilliant but reclusive tech entrepreneur who hires Jira as the public face of his company—pulling him into a messy collision of work, power, attraction, and compromise.
What unfolds isn’t a simple love triangle, but a slow, painful study of flawed people making selfish, human choices. Koh appears cold and calculating, yet hides a fragile, needy core. Pheem presents as soft and caring, but harbours manipulation, jealousy, and rage beneath the surface. Jira may look innocent, but he’s self-aware, morally stubborn, and quietly in control more often than he lets on.
This series is heavy—emotionally brutal, messy, toxic, and deeply affecting. Off Jumpol excels in roles you love to hate, and Koh might be his most infuriating yet. Gun Atthaphan once again proves he’s in a league of his own; his performance is layered, restrained, and devastatingly real. Dew Jirawat delivers his best work to date—volatile, wounded, magnetic, sexy —and honestly feels like the MVP here. Emi Thasorn is rock-solid as Jira’s no-nonsense confidant, while AJ Chayapol finally gets a role that lets him shine.
Visually, Burnout Syndrome is stunning. The contrast between cold tech spaces and warm, organic art is deliberate and loaded with meaning. Flowers, rooms, paintings, and even silence are used as symbols. The cinematography lingers just long enough to unsettle you, while the music choices are impeccable—never intrusive, always emotionally precise.
At its core, this series isn’t just about romance. It’s an allegory about art versus technology, capital versus creativity, and what happens when artists are forced to survive in systems that consume them. Its critique of generative AI is sharp without being preachy, and its portrayal of burnout feels painfully current. No one here is purely good or bad—and that realism is what makes it so powerful.
If you’re expecting fluffy romance or neat resolutions, this isn’t for you. But if you’re open to discomfort, symbolism, moral ambiguity, and queer storytelling that treats its audience like adults, Burnout Syndrome is essential viewing.
Bold, intelligent, emotionally punishing, and unapologetically human, Burnout Syndrome is one of the strongest Thai series of the year—BL or otherwise. It lingers long after the final episode, like art that refuses to let you look away.
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This series completely took me by surprise. In the BEST way possible.
This one is not just a BL, it’s a story about art, desire, creation, ego, insecurity, and the exhausting need to be seen and understood. The acting is phenomenal: OffGun deliver raw, layered performances, Dew shines, and every character feels painfully human. Add to that the beautiful cinematography and sharp dialogues, and you get something far above the usual GMM comfort zone — which really surprised me, considering GMM managed to deliver something this good with Burnout Syndrome.One of the strongest aspects of this series is how it talks about art. Not as something decorative, but as something visceral. Art as pain, as desire, as frustration, as obsession. And the way the series connects art and sex is simply brilliant. Not in a vulgar way, but in an intimate one. I mean, some dialogues between Jira and Koh are far more erotic than any nc scene could ever be. Desire here lives in words, glances, silences, and unfinished sentences.
Jira and Koh’s relationship is messy, toxic at times, but honest. Koh is a jerk and never pretends otherwise. He doesn’t hide who he is, doesn’t try to mold himself into something more acceptable — and that’s exactly why Jira falls for him. Their relationship is about friction, confrontation, and growth. They hurt each other, but they also see each other in a way no one else does.
And honestly? The true "villain" of this story isn’t Koh — it’s Pheem.
Pheem is terrifying because he’s realistic. He comes disguised as the “good guy.” He changes the way he thinks, speaks, and behaves to become what he believes Jira wants. He builds a perfect version of himself expecting love in return. And when that love doesn’t come, he implodes. Emotional manipulation, guilt-tripping, entitlement... all wrapped in kindness. And that’s exactly why it works. We all know someone like this. Probably more than one.
The series also delivers a powerful message about valuing the artist over AI, creation over replication, emotion over perfection. And the final episodes elevate everything. That monologue where Jira talks about seeing the 277 times Koh slept in his car, fantasizing about waking him up, but instead pouring all those unspoken emotions into his painting — that broke me... when Jira said: “I kept all these emotions and put them in each of these flame lilies.” and seeing the painting after hearing that? Devastating. Beautiful.
Burnout Syndrome is mature, bold, uncomfortable, poetic, and deeply emotional. It doesn’t try to please everyone — and that’s exactly why it works.
This is art. And art isn’t supposed to be comfortable.
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This BL is Toxic and That's the Point
The plot of Burnout Syndrome is incredibly unique and refreshing. The first episode, where Jira struggles to find a job, really hit me hard. Although he is quite selective when it comes to work, it’s understandable—there are people who choose passion over jobs that don’t align with who they are or don’t allow them to express themselves. Jira is a perfect example of this, as he is deeply passionate about his art.The series is also very brave because it portrays the complexities of relationships and how people can become confused at times. We’re not perfect, and the love triangle between Jira, Koh, and Pheem reflects that reality. Unlike many BL series that sugarcoat stories and show almost perfect relationships, Burnout Syndrome doesn’t shy away from the messy and uncomfortable parts.
If you’re not into toxic storylines or shows that involve a third party, this might not be your cup of tea. The storyline is undeniably toxic—and when I say toxic, I mean all the main characters are toxic. Jira keeps entertaining Pheem, gives him false hope, and even lies. Pheem is obsessed with Jira, while Koh is overly dependent on him and fails to understand how important Jira’s passion for art truly is.
The ending isn’t my cup of tea either—not because it’s bad, but because I actually didn’t want a happy ending. I wanted them all to separate, just to break away from the usual happy-ending formula. It would’ve been refreshing, honestly. 😅
As for the acting, everyone did an excellent job. We all know Gun is a versatile and outstanding actor, but I was also impressed by Dew. His acting felt very natural and effortless. This series feels like a piece of art—well executed, with strong direction and beautiful cinematography.
If you’re into toxic, realistic, and emotionally messy shows, you might actually enjoy this one.
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Gently toxic
One interesting creative choice in this series is that none of the three main characters is likable. They’re all toxic to varying degrees, which gives a certain charm to their interactions. The story strays a bit from the beaten path to explore emotions that are less conventional than usual. The three actors know their craft and deliver strong performances; it’s good casting.That said, even when the show surprises (in the script, the narrative, etc.), it never really takes risks — as if the viewer always has to stay on familiar ground. That’s somewhat unfortunate, because the series loses depth because of it. The ending is a good example: very conventional, and inevitably a bit disappointing. A little more boldness might have turned this good series into a very good one.
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In this drama, I mainly see two different friends getting caught in a situation involving a money-hungry, feminine boy. That feels like the core conflict of the story. Personally, I’m not blaming Koh for what happens. For me, the worst person in this drama is Jira. I feel like he is playing with the feelings of both boys, and he’s actually very good at manipulating people’s emotions.Even though Koh comes off as rude and emotionally distant, he is actually the most sensitive person in the entire drama.🥹 And yes, I am sad for Pheem too 🥺 I really felt bad for him. He’s such an innocent guy—honestly, truly innocent. A big part of this drama revolves around emotions and art, which gives it some depth.
One of the funniest parts is when Jira paints on a shirt using wine and calls it “art,” a so-called wine-stain shirt. Honestly, if anyone else did that, it would just look like a mess. But when a boyfriend does it, suddenly it’s art. I guess love really is blind.
Overall, this is not a boring drama. It has a storyline that keeps you watching continuously. The actors are also very talented—they express emotions incredibly well, especially through their eyes and facial expressions. However, I do get irritated when Koh is always wearing sunglasses because I can’t read his eyes properly. Other than that, the drama is decent
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Gritty, Raw, Emotional & Real.
This series covers so many emotions and shared experiences from just being human. There is a darkness coupled with bright and light themes. Some of it feels raw, gritty and dirty bordering on forbidden. While some of it comes across as sweet, gentle, loving and fragile. All of this is reflected in the at pieces used.Dew, Gun and Off did such an incredible job delivering their roles and putting exactly right emotion into each scene. It was powerful when needed and it was delicate in the appropriate places. Emi & AJ's characters also fit into the story perfectly. They added extra flavor and allowed the main characters to express so many more feelings without coming across as "extra", superfluous or repetitive.
This series also touched on AI art and how human artists often feel about AI generated art. They also presented the programmer's view regarding AI generated pieces, which was interesting. I was able to see both sides with a little more understanding, though I admit I am still firmly in favor of the live artist's side as it's portrayed here.
In terms of who I would recommend this to -- if you are a big fan of the actors then it's a "must watch" for them. But, I also believe that anyone who enjoys looking a bit deeper into character motivations, people who enjoy art and deciphering what an artist is trying to convey and those who want series where the meaning is much more than how it appears on the surface then this will be the perfect series.
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Acting Chops!!!
It truly was the acting and tje complex wanna-be artsy story, showing extremely intricate characters, that reeled me in. I wanted to watch their acting as I love Gun's acting beyond anything. He is a marvellous actor and super cute to look at too. That cutie really did play some truly antagonising characters, but his character, Jira, in this show, was so complex and so less understood. The show becomes one of the more mature storylines for me. Not as reckoning as Shine but still, not a fluffy cute drama, and actual story. Dew's acting was too good as well. Plus, I was constantly rooting for PheemJira because Dew's chemistry with Gun was on fire. Shows how great actors they are! I think it deserves a watch.Was this review helpful to you?
