Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! Special Episode

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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For people who hate

Tbh I was really scared after seeing all of these spoilers. I've watched this and I am pretty sure we will get season 2. I saw a lot of people being mad about their weeding scene but for me I think that it was good. I mean y'all know how much Jack love Joke so him not being able to forget about him and accept that he is "dead" was a great part of the episode. Just imagine loving someone so much and You were about to get married and then he dies. If I were Jack I also wouldn't be able to accept this and I think I would also go tell everyone that he's alive. Another think I saw people hate on was literally the whole plot. i feel like it was necessary because right now we know that Carbon is dead and won't try to hurt them anymore. He's from a rich family so the whole prison thing was really possible. I am really curious who was the person that Joke saw in the last scene but let's talk about the things I liked right now.
-Tattoo and Aran cute moments
-Jack and Joke being clingy and calling each other teerak
-It may sound weird but Jack's suffering
-Fight scenes. In many dramas fight scenes look like it is easy to beat a grown ass man but here fight scenes feel more accurate
-Whole acting
There were some things that I may not liked but All in all this episode was great to watch and had be crying for over 30 minutes

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Hear me out…

now special episodes in bls are set for cutesie moments between the couples but i think deciding to turn this special episode into a deep dive of emotion laughs and story was the best decision for them it really does set up a possible story for season 2 and leaves you with so many questions! everyone’s acting was amazing as well yinwar really know how to tug at my heart strings and i absolutely love aran and tattoo hope they explore their relationship further in s2 (if their is one i beg plzzz make another season) say what you want about this special episode but this was an absolute masterpiece of media in my opinion!

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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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I Feel Bamboozled

What actually was that episode!? BOLD choices were made for that special episode and none of them were good. Why would they include an entire new plot and death scene of a main character in a special episode?? It was a bold and wrong move, I feel. That rocked me and I was in shock the rest of the episode just waiting for it to resolve but it just...never did. I am all for a bold plotline but it should feel purposeful and earned. This felt like it was thrown in after a perfectly good ending of the series. We gained nothing from this plotline and I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry the entire episode so I just nervously chuckled throughout and scoffed in frustration after finishing it. All in all I really hope we get a second season or another special episode otherwise it feels like everything Jack and Joke had accomplished and fought for up until that point was for nothing. I will just continue on with my business like I hadn't watched that.

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you killed an mc in a special episode ?wtf

i dont acknowledge this episode to be canon. you killed an mc in a special episode ?wtf I totally get your frustration. Killing off the main character in a special episode? That’s just a bold move that can leave a lot of fans fuming, and honestly, I’m right there with you. The idea of sidelining or eliminating the character we’ve been following and rooting for is always a massive gamble in storytelling. Especially when it's done in a special episode, a one-off or a bonus story. It’s like they’re trying to make it “more important” by doing something shocking, but in reality, it can often feel like a betrayal to the entire narrative.

Main characters, especially if they've been with us for a long time, are often the heart of the story. We invest so much time, energy, and emotion into them—so when they get killed off suddenly or for shock value, it can feel like the writers don’t respect the journey we’ve been on with them. And when that happens in a special episode, it’s even worse. It makes it seem like they didn’t even think the main storylines through properly; it’s just a random plot device that doesn’t hold any real weight in the grand scheme of things.

Worse still, if there’s no real emotional build-up, no foreshadowing, or reason that makes sense within the context of the character’s arc, then it just comes off as lazy writing. Killing off a main character for the sake of being edgy or “surprising” feels less like a meaningful decision and more like a cheap attempt to shock viewers. Fans feel robbed when the payoff doesn’t match the emotional investment.

Ultimately, I agree with you. That episode doesn’t feel like it should be part of the official story. It undermines everything that made the character worth following in the first place, and as fans, we deserve better than a random, out-of-place death in a special episode.

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No, they need to fixed this right NOW!!! Give us another Ep or season!

I was really looking forward to watching this... especially since they were getting married!!! 😍 It was to be the story to finish off a great story, though...

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO disappointed...

What the hell is this? Are the writers just being mean ass holes to us or what? 😠 If we are not going to get any more J&J as I keep hearing/reading 😭, then what the hell was this all about? This is not how you make a episode special or not, and have an ending like that and not letting us have more. If only I could give them a pice of my mind!

⚠🚫 Spoilers after this part... so if you haven't seen it yet, Stop reading now... you have been warned!! ⚠🚫

This was more of a messed up sequel then a special, Specials tend to be happy, fuffly and al the nice cute fun thing you want to see at the end of it all, but this one, no they just had to fuck it all up.

At first it was just Jack and Joker like you would expect it to be, but later on when it was getting to the end and even the end they just done fucked it all up..

Oh god the wedding, what should have been one of the happest days of thier lives turns out to be nothing of the sort. Jack is not in his right mind because Joker is not there. It was so messed up how he still went throu it all seeing the real Joker, but only having a made up body and picture for a head walk doiwn by a friend. It was so messed up, but sad as hell because Jack couldn't cope with the idea of Joker not being there with him, I couldn't help but cry seeing how Jack was.

Everyone at the wedding just watching it all, letting Jack kiss that made up copy of Joker and bring "him" home... I didn't see the point of all of them going along with him and letting him have the wedding. I get he wasn't in his right mind, and it's not easy to handle losing someone you love, but come on that whole wedding was just uncalled for, though making it out like Joker died was uncalled for aswell.

Making it out like Joker died, even though they never found the body in the water, up till the end and Jack seeing Joker telling him to pertty much move on, stop thinking he is still there was just to much... I cried way to much for like the last 30 mins of this...

Oh and the very last after the credots where we see Joker is really not died, but with someone who scares the crap out of him just makes it all the move fucked up for an ending!!!! 😡

I so want another season or something, so this so-called special is not the end. It's just not right... I need the happy ending with them getting married and being lovely dovely with each other!!!

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head-scratch special

fresh off watching the special, and the only word that can encapsulate my feelings right now is WHY. because, why?! what was the point?!! i went into this completely blind, expected an action rom-com with some angst, yes, but not MCD??? well alright, i can accept that. but what bothers me is the way they went about it. if you're gonna kill of the guy whose name is in the title, atleast give it the proper treatment?? they killed him, then had jack pretend he was alive and marry a piñata version of him, and then dine with him AND THEN he comes to his senses??? and all this in like 15 minutes, mind you. i just had the worst case of whiplash throughout. i think mcd should come with sufficient depiction of grief so you can truly drive the point home, and the show waffled on this bit for sure. and that post credits scene. damn. all that whiplash, and for what?!

all in all: an excellent special if one ignores the final 20 minutes

highlights: "teerak" and the smooches every five seconds, the totally spiez style gadget reveal, and the whatever the fuck is going on between aran and tattoo. may these two never figure it out.

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Only watch this episode if a second season has already been confirmed

It’s a very well-made special, just like the rest of the series, but completely unnecessary since it makes the story sadder. What surprised me was that I thought it would be impossible for them to take this direction. But since they had the courage to do it, why the post-credits scene? A second season? What guarantee do we have that it will actually happen?
If they’re going to mess with the series like this, it would have been better to just leave it alone.
And at this point, that secondary couple still isn’t making any progress—it’s getting tiresome.
And seriously, what was that cardboard cutout? It completely ruined the emotional weight of the scene. During the wedding, was he actually holding onto the cutout? At this rate, next season he’ll be in a mental institution.

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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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