Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! Special Episode (2025)

Jack & Joker: U Married A Standee

It's not even about how everyone sat in their fancy wedding outfits and watched Jack marry an ugly cardboard cutout standee with Joke's face on it, deep kissed said cardboard, or Hoy driving them to their honeymoon. No, my confusion was about my feelings. Like, was I supposed to cry or laugh at that scene? Yes, I felt sad when Jack kept insisting Joke was alive, but when Hoy walked that ugly cardboard standee down the aisle, I was laughing like a hyena, still, I couldn't help but go, 'Dafug is this? Throw the whole special away. As a matter of fact, burn it with fire. Yeet it into the sun, I don't want it.'

First off, these writers made us sad for nothing. We all saw the spoilers, so I was prepared, still, I dreaded that I was about to sit through 2 hours of back and forth just to get my heart broken. Even so, I did, cuz you know, we survived The Best Story, this would be another sad ending YinWar drama we forget and pretend it never existed. But then those few seconds happened and I'm like... then what was the point? Why you made me emotional for no reason? It was 5am on a Saturday people! The disrespect!

Unpopular opinion: I'd have been sad and angry if Joke died died for real, but I'd have accepted it. The concept of this whole drama is how harsh and unfair life can be, so it would have been on brand. Now, I don't know if I should rejoice that Joke is alive or not, cuz he looked so terrified when he woke up, so really, did we even win? And at what cost?

Listen, and I'm being serious here, so like, are we all going to collectively forget about Jack marrying that ugly cardboard cutout with Joke's face plastered on it or?? And did they just sat there and watch his man make out with a standee? Please, please, I need them to release a video of the real scene and not Jack's delulu version we got. You know, for science, and also I need more 'WTF am I watching?' that turns into laughter videos.

Frankly, I'm torn about that scene. On one head, I keep thinking, so everyone sat in their fancy dresses and watched Jack make-out with an ugly cardboard standee? Then Hoy drove them to their honeymoon all emotional like: 'I'm glad I was the one who drove them.' Brother What? HAHAHAHAHAHAH but then, the other part of me, the human one who saw Jack loose his mind to the point of insanity felt so bad. Cuz, that boy who'd been through so much and fought and came out on top was now hiding from reality, living in a make believe world just to get through the pain of losing someone who meant the world to him.

I am confusion. I'm caught between laughing like crazy or crying on top of my lungs. Yes, that scene where they were eating and sharing it with an invisible Joke made me emotional, when Joke's parents broke down I felt sad, but then I remembered how Jack hauled that cardboard standee into their married chambers and rolled with laughter. Why? Just why? Who wrote this?

PLOT:
Is it just me or that whole plot felt convoluted and unnecessary? I don't know, it came off forced to me, like they were scraping the bottom of the barrel just to find something to turn into a problem so they can destroy our hearts with Joke's death. I mean, bringing that annoying forgettable character out of jail just so he can lick his teeth, shut about whatever dafug he was talking about and kill our fav, was that necessary? All that for the fucker to die off screen without me even enjoying him getting blown to bits. Meh.

And why the hell these people never have a fully smart, worked out plan and contingencies for these things? Like they walk in there with a half baked plan, some gadgets Tattoo made, (he said he isn’t making any money so how useful and reliable are they even?) and expect everything to be sunshine and cookies. People, you're smarter than this! Be smarter than this!

This I liked:
- Tattoo and Aran playing gay chicken. I wonder who would win.
- All that teerak Jack & Joke kept calling each other. New, but adorable.
- How their friend group is still going strong, although it seems everyone is poor and they're basically surviving off air.
- Toi Ting's funny and honesty sass.
- Grandmama in that dragon suit to ask for Joke's hand for Jake. Hahaha, I love that woman.
- The sign for a second season.

What they could have kept:
- That unnecessary plot, I'm all for it if it's leading to a second season, otherwise what was the point?
- That one dimensional villain, can they please let him go already? He's so uninteresting that standee had more character.
- How these characters after everything they've been through always walks into danger with no concrete plan, thoughts of backup or even calling police for help. Like?? Are you all new here or something?
- Killing Joke and then doing a cop-out. Like if you gonna break our hearts just do it, don't make us cry and then give us hope that comes with a terrified looking Joke. If they kill him off again...
- I'm not sure I love or hate that wedding scene. It took me out of the seriousness of the story and now I can't stop laughing.

Anyway, all signs are pointing to a second season, so I am sat for it. I can't wait to meet the characters again and see if they finally get their happy endings.

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It felt like a bad fanfic come to life - disappointing but I still want a season 2

I literally made an MDL account just to write this review because I am tweaking after watching this special. Unfortunately, this was a chaotic, non-cohesive, and awkward mess. It felt like the writers lost the original vision of Jack & Joker, leaving us with flat characters, a convoluted plot, and abysmal pacing. Somehow, despite being two hours long, it managed to feel both too long and too short. Another reviewer said: “...Their friend group is still going strong, although it seems everyone is poor and basically surviving off air.” LMAO it is true and also applies to the energy of this special—barely holding itself together.

1. Disappointment Was Expected, but Not Like This:
Like most J&J fans, I saw the spoilers from the theatrical release and knew I wasn't going to walk away feeling amazing. I mentally prepared myself for disappointment, but even with lowered expectations, this special left me feeling incredibly off-put and cheated. I even PAID for an iQIYI subscription just for this, and the return on investment was painful.

Unfortunatley YinWar superiority was not popping off in this. Their acting in the first part was... rough... for example, When Jack proposed to Joke, neither of them cried or anything. Like this is a huge moment and they both just kinda looked at each other???? it was honestly an incredibly awkward scene to watch as both seemed to feel lukewarmly about the thought of getting married. The acting in the second part was better, they do well in emotionally charged scenes.

2. Who are these people???:
EVERYONE felt out of character. Jack and Joker’s relationship, which used to feel dynamic and natural, was suddenly overly affectionate to the point of feeling forced. The chemistry just wasn’t there the way it was in the series, and I genuinely don’t understand why T_T. They explored TattooAran and someone in the comments said one thing they really like about the movie was "Tattoo and Aran playing gay chicken. I wonder who would win." LMAO I agree it was fun bc like it was so unserious... but also... It felt more like an afterthought than meaningful development.

When they held the memorial for Joke, NO ONE CRIED LMAO LIKE NOT EVEN OUR GIRL TOITING... Joke's parents cried and so did Jack and Hoy, but no one else??? Really???? B for real guys...

3. What he heck did I just watch??:
The attempt to bring back the whole gang resulted in everyone being there, yet no one having enough screen time to feel substantial. Because of this, nothing felt properly developed and the pacing was super strange. Basically they have to break into a casino and steal a hard drive they go in with basically no plan and no forethought..Its like... did Joker lose his touch or did he stop giving ANY fucks?? Here are more things that made me do a double take:
---The tonal shifts were JARRING—the beginning was lighthearted, then it suddenly turned dark with no smooth transition.
---The fight scenes are now very stiff and fake looking.
---Bringing back Carbon as the villian was weird honestly I feel he is too stupid to make this plan himself so this whole set up felt OOC for him.

4. Now lets address the elephant in the room... The Wedding (we were pranked):
The biggest let down for sure since it was hyped in the trailer. It was one of the most uncomfortable moments of the film. Watching Jack break down was heartbreaking but it is offset by how stupid the 'wedding' was. The fact that they made a cardboard cutout-esque Joke to walk down the aisle at the fake wedding was both insane and tragic. Like.. it was sad but I couldnt focus on being sad and instead was like... logistically... wtf did the wedding guests see??? and why did everyone lowkey smile??? Erm.. did u guys like seeing Jack basically lose his mind in real time T_T?????????

5. The end (question mark?):
Then… that ending. I hate when shows pull this kind of cop-out. Joker is revealed to be alive, waking up in some unknown house with a shadowy figure looming over him. Based on his terrified expression, it has to be someone he knows—maybe Boss? Or someone he met in prison? While I’m glad they set up for Season 2, they could have done it so much better.

I don't wanna say everything was bad. The second part shined more than the first part for sure. Here are some special shoutouts:
---BONZ (Hoy) ACTED HIS ASS OFF LIKE BRO WAS HARD CARRYING THIS MOVIE HIS CRYING WAS IMPECCIBLE AND HIS ANGER WAS SO PALPABLE... Give that man an oscar RIGHT NOW
---JOKE'S 'final' goodbye to Jack on he pier was heartbreaking and I cried... War delivered it perfectly.
---Tattoo's tired and sassy eyes were back T_T they need to give bro a break fr his eyebags do be popping off and he looks done in every scene LOL

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