Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! Special Episode

"I love you, Teerak"

Pretty sure just by the title of this review, I really spoiled it all.

Ive seen a lot of people do a bad review on this special episode but what can I do? we all have different tastes when it comes to a series, some likes tragedy, some likes it messy, some likes it logical, some likes it to be happy, some likes it straight to the point.

but to me, as a angst reader/watcher/writer, I really liked this special ep, they made us smile and hope for a wedding to happen on the first minutes but when the problem arrives, in short Carbon they made us stress about it.

-I really like when Joke was led to a room with Carbon and he threw a flashbomb and Hopesave understood his command immediately.

"Hope, Save, close your eyes"

-I really liked the fighting scenes but I really knew Carbon is gonna overpower Jack and Joke cause I've seen Carbon injure Tattooaran, His mans be beating Hopesave to death.

So let's move on to the couples:
-Yinwar:Were not gonna talk about that cardboard, yeah it looks funny but when you're grieving and hallucinating, do you think thats funny? people would actually go that far if they're grieving you know?

War-MAN, HES ALIVE.

2nd couple-Hopesave:MY LOVESSSS, They be acting cute on this ep, YOU KNOW THE SCENE WHEN THEY FOUND THE LOCATION? MAN THEYRE SO CUTE, I NEED MORE SCENES OF THEM IM CRYING.

3rd couple-Prommark:I really love them, Is it casual when Aran hugged Tattoo first and looks worried about him, The way they look at eo is that casual? Anyways, I love them.

for my opinion:
-If you like Tragedy, Romance, Action you should watch the series first then this.

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That cardboard/standee ruin the moment!

I just came back from watching thai BL and I didn't hesitate to watch this series because I knew how good yinwar is when we talk about acting. I think it is safe to say that this series is good but there's some part of it that ruin the moment just like the ugly cardboard of joke that shows up in their wedding, they could have done better but they didn't even try(?) did they even put some effort in making that, wtf.

Well, the story is kinda predictable but they can and they did deliver the emotion well, I felt the sadness when they are already talking about Joke's death, although I thought that they will finish it with joke showing up somewhere and they reunited again then another wedding will happen but I was shocked when the outro plays.

Nevertheless, It is still worth watching, will definitely not disappoint you and will make you look forward for the S2!

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You're going to be left without any tears

This is definitely an episode that can make you cry to the point where you won't have any tears left.

This episode (or should I say a movie) was definitely too short or maybe they tried to include too many characters. Everything happened too fast in this neary 2 hours runtime making it for me, really chaotic.

Main plot felt really forced, especially seeing last couple of minutes of the episode. It felt like they first created the ending and then tried making plot around it.
As Jack and Joke get engaged and start planning their wedding to live happily together, someone steals debtor's data from Save's office. Everyone tries to pinpoint where hard drive with the data could be and end up finding weird invitations to some party that ends up being trap to catch them all.

First of all, making villain of someone who pretty much did nothing in the first season felt really forced. Carbon didn't seem to have any special motive to devote himself to catching all of them other than the fact that he's an asshole for no reason.
This whole plot was just to kill villain without a motive that we saw for 2 minutes on the screen.

Second of all, between Carbon stealing hard drive and all of our characters finding out about the party, creating a plan, changing up and beating up everyone, a lot of time has passed. Yet when they arrive at Carbon's place, hard drive is still uploading data. Maybe it's just nitpicking but it feels really unreal, though Xiaomi Mi Bands in the necks in S1 also didn't feel really real.

Interactions between Yin and War felt really good as always. They just have amazing vibe between each other in every show they perform together. The only thing that was lacking is the screen time. I felt like we didn't see their best performance because we just had too many characters. The last scene of their fight when they lie together holding hands was something that made me cry instantly and I think from this point, this episode gets better.

After Joke goes missing, we see how Jack starts coping with the feeling of losing his partner just a day before their planned wedding. It's not only that he can't accept that Joke won't come back, he also believes in the promise they made. That Joke will always find him. I think seeing his fight with losing his loved one is the best part of this episode, even though it's also really, really sad.
What surprised me the most was reading people's opinions about wedding and the fact they laughed at the doll. For me, this was the saddest part of all of this episode. It should have been the happiest day of their life but what we see is sad people in the audience looking at person griefing in front of them and trying to accept the reality by spending the last moments thinking of his loved one that he won't ever see again. This wedding was like last goodbye. We also need to remember that what we saw on the screen was only imagination, it doesn't mean that in real life Jack was slurping face of a doll in front of everyone, though even if he did, it's completely understandable.

After this tragic moments, Jack goes for the journey and accepts that Joke isn't anymore in this world this time saying his final goodbye.

Last seconds of the episode kind of ruined it for me. Only then I 100% felt like this whole episode was made just to fill space between first season that had completed plot and second season that probably if it even airs, will be about new plot with our tragic couple.

To sum it up, it was a nice watch. It wouldn't be as good if we didn't have Yin and War on the screen. Not only because of vibe between them but also because of their acting. They just absorb you in the story even if it's not the best. Jokes in this episode were pretty okay though it was pretty crazy ride between Jack and Joke slurping each other and Hoy getting killed upstairs.

Should you watch it? If you aren't scared of cliffhangers and sad moments then yes. We have A LOT happy endings so this is a nice change.

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Joke

Twas a joke.
I'm the joke.
What did I just watch?

I cannot believe I spent two hours on this, I am pissed and I did not think Yin and War could disappoint me like this. I mean, I would watch trash for them because I've come to expect that they will always deliver something brilliant. Even if it was just for the nostalgia of watching all my favourite characters from Jack and Joker on screen again, isn't that what special episodes are for after all? But what was this?

I thought the first hour and a half was not bad. Nothing brilliant either, I just wanted a few more romantic moments between Jack and Joker than we got in the twelve episode series, maybe some actual movement between Tattoo and Aran, some family bonding moments for the Deck of Cards..
They decided to double down on the plot though, which okay, again not the worst thing, expectations don't always pan out.

They continued the plot from the original series seamlessly, so points for that, and we did get a few romantic and really cute moments! Sure, the story felt a little stilted and rushed, but I convinced myself that that's what happens in specials! Sure, the fighting felt extremely staged and the mystery wasn't exactly mystifying, but hey! It's a special. You don't need a brilliant story or a massive plot, you need good continuation and a ton of moments between the couples that we didn't get in the series. And for the first hour and a half, we got all that, and it was not bad.

It can only go up from there because special episodes don't shock you by adding unnecessary twists and turns, it's supposed to be a happy episode, correct? WRONG
Oh boy was I wrong, and how..

The last half hour ruined it all. Just ruined it. I spent those thirty with my mouth open and just repeating the words "please let it all be a dream, please".
I think we can infer the direction the episode took from that sentence. I'm not even going to say anything about those thirty minutes because I am furious right now, absolutely furious. Of all the things they could have done, this was the worst possible one. One scene at that hour and a half mark led to scenes that got worse and worse and I kind of want to cry now thinking about how badly they ruined it.

Yin and War's chemistry was great, so was Mark and Prom's, everyone in the cast acted their hearts out as they usually do, but ugh! I would like nothing more than to forget this exists because it feels like an insult to the actors and the audience if I'm being honest. The full length series was actually good, and I refuse to acknowledge that this special episode is a continuation of the series. I don't care if they've set it up for a sequel, I don't care, as far as I'm concerned, episode 12 was it and any sequel continues from there, even if the story doesn't make sense.

Oh I'm so angry.. it physically hurts to give it such a low rating but I cannot physically rate it any higher either

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Special episode more like special trauma

After completing the whole series in a day I was looking forward to watching the special episode with a smile on my face and a full heart I began watching it. My smile began to fade as the minutes passed closer to the end. The last few scenes had me screaming, crying in a chokehold. My heart genuinely clenched itself and I was so distraught, all of that to then read another review and find out I hadn’t fully completed the episode and that Joke was still alive. Whoever made this episode doesn’t deserve peace but I hope there will be a second season if not a second “special” episode.

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I Will Cry, Don't Test Me

Bro, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, like why them? Why do they have to do all this like can't we just have a normal cute special episode, these days special episodes are not special anymore, they're more like torture episodes, either super boring and unnecessary or crazy and dramatic and this one is crazy and dramatic, they didn't have to do all that, like killing Joker and then making it all sentimental and shit, then putting that hideous cardboard version of joker and marrying Joker and Jack like that shit doesn't look goofy asf and out of a mental hospital, like be so fr. And then to top it off they add this cliffhanger at the end like stop edging us and give us a second season, which btw they probably won't even do, they'll AT MOST give us another episode or some shit and call it a day, and make it as confusing as ever. Because IVE PLAYED THESE GAMES BEFORE. AND IM TIRED. I LOVE THESE 2 AND THEIR PLOT, I LOVED JACK AND JOKER BUT WHY IS THIS EPISODE SO ASSSSSSSS. It wasn't horrible, I liked the action, still waiting for the day Aran and Tattoo realize they LIKE each other and start dating!!!!! BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. And I need that peaceful happy ending for those 2, LIKE THEY CAN'T GET A BREAK! UGH! So yeah petition for season 2 because I won't rest until we get Aran and Tattoo together, and happy ending for Jack and Joker. Who's with me? Based on these reviews I think everyone. I'm done here (for now), I shall be back soon. Once season 2 or whatever is released.

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Some questionable plot points, not as good as the main story

I usually don't take special episodes as seriously as their parent series (as most of them are usually fun bonus side stories or re-imagination of the main stories) so while I have some mixed feelings about this special being a sort of continuation, it didn't have a big impact on my enjoyment of the main story (and I can just pretend the special isn't the ultimate "ending" unless they don't make a second season 😢).

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱

POSITIVES (for me):
• With a returning cast, the 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, tho i think the main series is still stronger in that aspect.
- I think Yin (Jack's actor) was able to show more of his acting chops here, especially in one particular scene of him crying alone (i honestly teared up a bit bc i felt bad for him, and i don't cry easily most of the time) as well as during the face-off with Carbon. War (Joke's actor) is still effective as usual, as well as most of the side characters (especially Aran, Tattoo and Hoy)
• 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 in my eyes. While im no expert in that regards, judging as an ordinary viewer i didn't have any complaints.
• 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 (yay!). I'm a simple bl watcher, I love seeing bl couples being lovey-dovey with each other no matter how cringe or silly they may seem. I needed this sweetness amidst all the action chaos lol.
- I loved that scene with Jack and Joke in the bar, kinda parallels their first time meeting.
- I also like that Jack's family (esp his dad) seem pretty chill about their relationship and all, avoiding unnecessary "disapproving parent" trope.
- I also liked how despite the fortune-teller's not so good prediction about their wedding/relationship as well as some unfortunate events that did end up happening, their love remained strong. Might be cheesy for some, but ugh i love it when bl couples have an unwavering love like this. It's fiction after all and who doesn't like to see a "til death do us part" type of love in their romance stories?
• The 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿. If you stopped watching the episode before the credits, then please watch it again! It gave me some relief after that scene. At least it means this isn't the real ending of it all (right? RIGHT??? Please I hope it's the director/writer's way of telling us "yes we'll make a season 2 cuz we won't let it end that way" 😭)

LESS POSITIVE/MIXED FEELINGS (and some personal gripes):
• 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 (𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲) 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. I mentioned in my review of the parent series that im kinda used to questionable, melodramatic or cliche plot points from my local telenovelas so those don't bother me too much. But I still couldn't help notice some of them here:
- The proxy(?) wedding. I can see how the idea of using a cardboard Joke for the wedding might look a bit silly for some, but not for me. Without giving too much details, i have seen birthday parties where a life-sized cardboard representation of a deceased loved one is displayed and interacted with as if it was them. It allows those left behind to somehow feel as if their loved one is still there. (for context, im from asia and while it's not some sort of cultural or spiritual norm/tradition, i personally seen this applied irl so it didn't seem too absurd for me).
- However, the event in the episode is a wedding and im not sure if this idea is appropriate for the mood of the occasion. Similar to some comments I've read, im wondering how the "you may kiss" part was done, like did Jack also kiss the cardboard? Or is the whole sequence just an imagination/fantasy/depiction of how it'll look if Joke is present? If i apply enough suspension of disbelief tho, it's quite a touching gesture of their undying love. But I believe not everyone shares the same amount of suspension as i do 😅
• 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 aka the secondary(?) villain. While I hate his character since the main story, I honestly liked the actor's performance and I don't mind a one-dimensional psycho *sshole villain as long the actor did a good job playing them. However he felt a bit too over-powered and stereotypical for me. Like does that guy even have any weaknesses? Unlike the boss for example, his own greed and overconfidence led to his downfall. I would have liked if we saw a bit more of Carbon as a character, but he ded anyways so eh moving on.
- Speaking of Carbon, I kept wondering if Jack would have been able to save Joke when he and Carbon fell on the water. Unless there was strong currents, couldn't he have dived down to save Joke? How did Joke drown/disappear anyway? I don't remember it being showed in detail. Did he and Carbon struggle and he was overpowered and lost consciousness? (wc may then lead to him "drowning" but eventually being saved/washed away to dry land) Also, how did Carbon die? Compared to Joke, I don't remember him having a gunshot wound. Did he drown to his death? Was Joke somehow able to kill him while in the water? Was he eaten by piranhas lol? Or did I perhaps miss something? Hopefully we'll get some answers if a season 2 is made.
• Everyone (except Jack) seems to move on a bit too fast about Joke's "death". I think this was more of a limited runtime issue, like maybe they could have added more scenes of them mourning for him etc. especially Joke's family.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
If you want more of Jack and Joke's moments, consider giving it a try. When it came to the acting and production, this special somehow maintains the quality (imo). However, story and plot-wise some questionable decisions were made. And be warned that the ending may not satisfy you. But stay after the credits, there's some hope for a second season (i don't mind how long it takes as long as they improve or regain the quality from the first half of the main series. If it ends up being a sh*tty second season i also won't care as long as i get to see Jack and Joke have a happily ever after 😭 kidding i do hope they give us a quality second season). I gave this an 8 with consideration to my bias towards the main story and the lead couple. Without it, probs a 7 or 7.5

Unrelated side note and personal gripe (not necessarily on this page but an overall observation on MDL): Is it just me or are some MDL reviewers such wackos? Why give low ratings for simply disliking how a story went, having bias against a show/pairing or some petty inter/in fandom fights but not putting into consideration other aspects of a show/movie such as acting, production, music etc.? Is it really okay to rate stuff this way? At least give credit where it is due.

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I was so naive... so unprepared...

I went into this having only seen the poster of them getting married, so my naive, optimistic self popped a bottle of champagne and pressed play with a smile plastered on my face... Then I uncontrolably sobbed for SIX HOURS STRAIGHT

Not a review, I can't handle that right now. Just a venting session:

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK. WHERE IS THE REST. WHERE IS MY DIET DR MOTHER FUCKING KELP. I NEED IT. NOW.

I was NOT prepared. NOBODY prepared me. I feel slighted. I am inconsolable.

Even though I know my boy is okay, I AM NOT. That was painful. Even if I knew the drama logic of him definitely not being gone, I still felt it. I STILL FEEL IT.

Ya'll really had me thinking I was gonna get a lovery dovey wedding... YA'LL REALLY HAD ME YOU GOT ME ARE YOU HAPPY NOW????? DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELVES???? IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED????

Don’t touch me.

Shit was good, though. Not sure how to feel anymore.

Reaching a state of emptiness as I write this.

Do not contact me.

Leave me to my sorrows.


Update:

A good night's sleep did not help as much as I would have hoped. The silly little rom-com I'm watching is not helping as much as I would have hoped. GIVE ME THE REST OF THE STORY.

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