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Aesthetically pleased but at the same time, Im appalled.
The series was great. They casting was perfect, the actors did a great job. In theory, this was a 10/10 watch except the story decided to add an element that they were never planning on addressing.Yes, the AI part of the series didn't make much sense to me. You're telling me, Jira, who rejected a job because the company prefered to use AI ended up with a guy who basically stole his paintings to train his AI which he then proceeds to sell and earns profits. Make it make sense?
Koh never had an eye for art, much less for Jira’s. He didn't care about Jira’s painting he only cared about what his paintings provided him.
A cure for his insomnia and a means to train his AI. Koh was preety transparent about the fact that he didn't give a fuck, yet Jira ends up choosing him in the end.
I don't understand why jira decided to even “break-up” over the whole AI issue when it's clear this didn't matter to him at all.
Yes, if it wasn't koh who made the AI, someone else would've. All this would've still affected jira as an artist however I don't think that's the point. The point is the personal connection koh and jira had that koh decided to sabotage for his own gains.
Jira quite literally under-reacts when he finds out the truth. I absolutely hated that bit. The revelation was devasting to watch, I can't believe they gave us a room temperature reaction. Nobody seemed to care about the fact that AI taking over art is a big issue. Why undertake this theme if you had absolutely no intention of giving it a suitable conclusion?
The series would've been better off without a “happy ending” and it would've been even better without the whole AI concept.
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burnout syndrome was promised to be messy and it was, kind off. i really liked the series and the elements they portray, but at the end i think they rushed a lot of things so it became even messier and tangled. ten whole episodes weren't enough to convey what the story could possibly mean (i'll probably try to read the full novel later). think koh, for example. his whole character and feelings for jira turned a full 180º in such few minutes i still think he's faking it.
acting wise, the whole cast is one of the best ever put out by a gmmtv show. not a single miss in any scene of any of them. it helped me to get really hooked on the series.
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i loveee offgun ??
I literally loveeee this so much Made my Thursday so much better and ofc since it’s offgun it’s going to be perfection The acting was amazing not only the main characters but every single character in the show Dew did such an amazing job with executing pheems character sooo wellll Anyway the way I thought that i would be on jiras side the whole way through from the start but jira surprisingly made me hate him sooo much over the episodes 💔💔 Anywho burnout syndrome is peak and offgun ate once againWas this review helpful to you?
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Jira should have ended up with the other.
I really liked this. Especially for its maturity, like it certainly had some sexy scenes. recently, the uni student shows get a bit same same, so a mature series is always a nice break from those. i thought the plot was cool. but ultimately … im not that obsessed with how it went. i went into this show knowing offgun will end up together bc they’re a working pair. however.. ive always liked dewgun. even if i didnt, i still would have wanted their characters together. because they were the couple that got together more naturally. they had such good vibes together. koh and jira felt so forced as koh was eventually forcing himself into jira’s space. so then their relationship started feeling forced and unnatural. (plus koh was toxic vibes from the start. pheem was an overall lovely character). and it was really off putting. i just think the show went too far in the direction of jira and pheem being a genuinely lovely couple, that i then struggled to be content with koh and jira.. it just became an annoying series 😭Was this review helpful to you?
aciLL review
sebaik baiknya mah ya jangan sama anak it (gw anak it). krn ya bjir kagak koh kagak pheem redflag semua fak, tp mending pheem #IZIN wkwk serius dikit tapi engga juga, soalnya kadang keliatan pinter tapi urusan perasaan oon anying, bete gw. cmn ya si jira jg BISA GAK CARI COWO LAIN AJE ANYING,, yah koh ceo sih ya,,, gk menyangkal,,, krn gw jg mau sama ceo,,, CUMAN YG BENER AJA LAH ANYINGGGGGGG. #IZIN ya jira mending cabut dan pergi ke psikolog karena menurut gw kita semua butuh psikolog menghadapi orang IT yang redflag ituWas this review helpful to you?
New Shape of Masterpiece
As a BL enjoyer, witnessing Burnout Syndrome is like watching a masterpiece breathe. This series transcends the boundaries of the genre, weaving the raw ache of modern exhaustion into a cinematic work of art. The way Director Nuchy captures the heavy fog of a tired soul through moody, neo-noir visuals is nothing short of poetic.Off and Gun’s mature, electrifying chemistry—now beautifully complicated by Dew Jirawat’s soulful presence—creates a vibrant canvas of healing and rediscovery. Every frame feels intentional, every silence feels charged, and every performance feels like a heartbeat. It isn't just a drama; it’s a breathtaking exploration of how we lose ourselves and, more importantly, how we find the courage to begin again
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A Mature and Addictive Love Triangle that Stands Out from GMMTV this Year
So many GMMTV BL series are airing right now, but Burnout Syndrome truly feels different. This is not the usual university BL. It is a more mature story built around a captivating love triangle between Off, Gun and Dew. I already love OffGun from Not Me and the addition of Dew brings a fresh dynamic that fits perfectly into the plot.I absolutely love height differences in this BL! Gun being 168 cm, the shortest artist in GMMTV, paired with Drew at 190 cm, the tallest artist, is already giving me butterflies. This love triangle with Off is going to be so much fun to watch! I’m so happy it’s airing on Wednesday nights because my Fridays and Saturdays are already packed with BLs.
The few first episode delivered a strong start. The plot is engaging, all three characters have presence and the dark bar atmosphere with its sensual music pulled me in instantly. Burnout Syndrome is shaping up to be one of the standout GMMTV BLs of the year and I cannot wait for the next episode.
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Red Flags and Green Flags
I really love the style of this show—the cinematography, the characters, the complex chemistry, and the darker themes. I enjoy a wide range of dramas, from cute and funny to realistic and dark. To me, a good story isn't defined by its genre, but by its ability to make you feel something and draw you in completely. This show does exactly that.If you like cinematography that tells a story and characters that have layers of psychological gray areas, watch this. It’s not just a romance, it’s a story about what it means to be "true" versus being "perfect" and so much more.
Spoiler:
It starts with what seems "obvious" but quickly begins to flip your emotions (at least for me). At first, I could totally see what Jira sees in Pheem. Pheem appears to be the perfect person to "heal" Jira’s burnout and low self-esteem. Jira feels like he is on a chaotic, stormy ocean, and Pheem looks like a stable rescue ship, someone who is calm, logical, and reliable. He seems like the "good guy" opposing the "bad guy."
However there was something that did not feel quite right, upon re-watching some scenes, I clearly noticed the actual "fake green flag". Pheem is essentially a persona with no real personality. He goes to the Burnout Bar to "heal" people at their lowest point, but in reality he just wants to sleep with them, masking his selfish desires and ego behind a "noble healer" costume. Pheem doesn't actually want Jira to get better he wants Jira to stay in a bad state, so that Jira needs him. To Pheem, Jira is just a challenge to his own superficiality.
On the other hand, Koh is an obvious "red flag," but he is (mostly) honest. He is transparent about his flaws, which gives people the choice to "take it or leave it". For me, one big point is, Koh sees actual value in Jira’s art. This gives Jira the perspective and self-esteem he was lacking. While Koh is toxic, he doesn't pretend to be someone he’s not. He shows moments of true vulnerability and slow growth. His "bad personality" feels more like a defense mechanism that softens over time.
In my eyes, that is the biggest difference: Pheem is a (superficial) finished drawing who wants to keeps Jira in his position, while Koh is like an unfinished sketch (imperfect and raw) that gives Jira the desire to grow and create something real.
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The music playlist was my taste , it carry most of the storyline which is bad . I wanted to see passion , longing but they fail to deliver . If it was a book I would have enjoyed it more .
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Did not disappoint! The itch I needed.
I was really looking forward to binging this once it was over, and it definitely did not disappoint. Such a good watch! It’s complicated, and honestly, I couldn’t see it ending any other way. Not all relationships are roses and flowers, and this show captured and delivered that so well.The heart wants what it wants, unfortunately.
I was honestly so shocked discovering it was a GMMTV production… which, in hindsight, is silly because the artists are all GMMTV actors lol. It’s so good!
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Going into Burnout Syndrome, I had high expectations. I loved director Nuchy’s previous series Not Me, which had the same main leads, and that show felt like it had so much to say: socially, politically, and emotionally. In comparison, Burnout Syndrome feels like a quieter, less confident project. Not bad, but definitely underdeveloped.That’s not to say I disliked the story. I actually appreciated the different perspectives the characters had on AI and the very real fear that it could replace artists, people who already struggle to make a living doing what they love. That theme had a lot of potential, but it never quite reached the depth it was aiming for.
Jira is a deeply flawed but understandable protagonist. Most of his questionable decisions stem from insecurity: about his talent, his future, and who he wants to be. He desperately wants to succeed as an artist and be admired for his work, but reality keeps reminding him how unforgiving that path can be. He’s extremely passive, especially in his love life, and there were many moments where I wanted to scream at him to just make a decision already and to get his shit together. Still, that indecisiveness felt very real, with the constant battle between what feels right emotionally and what seems logical or safe.
Koh is one of the most underdeveloped antagonists I’ve seen in a long time, which is a shame because Off gives an absolutely phenomenal performance. This is easily one of his strongest roles. He makes Koh both infuriating and strangely compelling. You can’t help but love and hate him at the same time. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t always support the performance. The show hints at his upbringing, especially his relationship with his mother, but it’s so vague that it’s hard to understand him, let alone root for him. He remains an asshole for most of the series and doesn’t improve much by the end. Because of this, his relationship with Jira feels unearned, even though you already know that Jira will end up with him anyway. I’m sure the novel fleshes him out far better, but within the series, it doesn't work as it should.
Now, I love Dew, and I really liked Pheem as a character, but I genuinely need people to stop wishing Jira would end up with him. They would never work. That said, Dew is excellent in this role. The lack of chemistry between Jira and Pheem felt intentional, and I found that fascinating. You can clearly see that Jira wants to want Pheem, but his heart just isn’t there. Their dynamic was uncomfortable in a very realistic way, and it's one of the things in this series that I loved the most. The rage room scene, where Pheem finally explodes and smashes everything while yelling at Jira, was toxic, but also raw and emotional.
Ing and Mawin, played by Emi and AJ, were well-acted but painfully uninteresting. I love both actors, which made this even more frustrating. Their characters existed almost solely to give relationship advice and act as emotional outlets for Jira and Pheem. It felt like such a waste, especially since there was clearly potential to do more with them.
On a technical level, the series does well. I really liked the soundtrack, and the cinematography and overall aesthetics were pleasing. Also, kudos to the artist who painted all those paintings. They were amazing. Unfortunately, the story itself felt rushed and underdeveloped, even though it's still a slow-burn. It lacks momentum and emotional payoff. Burnout Syndrome has good ideas and some genuinely strong moments, but it never fully comes together.
It should’ve been better — but I still enjoyed it for what it was.
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Dark and Gritty.
I saw that the angst in this one put some people off it. Yes, sometimes this series was very depression especially since all 3 main characters: Koh, Jira and Pheem were red flags. Sure, some don't consider Pheem a red flag, but I do, esp with how he considered Jira a sex object in the beginning until he started really having real feelings for Jira. As for Koh, he was a user etc and I hated how he did it to get what he wanted. He uses Jira right until the end, then repents because he loves him although he never really repents for sending Jira's paintings into AI (sigh). Jira the last red flag in how he was also using Pheem when things went south with Koh. I'm glad that in the end he breaks it off with both of them until it's time to reunite with Koh, Plus, to my acknowledgement the love triangle lasted too long. Jira always wanted Koh so I did feel like they dragged it out a bit there.OffGun and Nuchy are always a winning team. She knows how to get the best out of them and they do it every single time. Their series don't disappoint. Even though Burnout Syndrome is not as good as Not Me, for me it's OffGun's second best. Sometimes, I love series like this: dark, gritt and angsty. OffGun are always at their best in series like this too. Their chemistry is somehow more intense and passionate which is why i can't wait to watch Gunshot even though I feel like that will be even darker than this one.
This one I give 9.5. There were some moments I didn't like at all but overall I pretty much enjoyed it and will be watching it over again.
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