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It’s okay…I guess?

Thanks to this series, I got to know War. Honestly, if it weren’t for him, I probably would’ve rated it lower.

Let’s start with the acting.
The one who stand out the most, no doubt, is War. It’s my first time watching him and he’s very impressive. His acting range is incredibly strong, He can portray the craziest character to the most beautiful one. Truly a great actors. Especially in the emotional scenes. He doesn’t just cry but he makes you feel the weight of the moment. His ability to act with just his eyes is something else. I’d give him a full 10/10 for acting.

As for Yin, he was okay. Not bad. He did his job well, but he didn’t really leave a deep impression on me. I can also give him 10 point too but as I said, it’s just that there’s really no scene that impressed me to the point of feeling speechless. So…9.5 maybe?

The supporting cast, though… honestly, the acting quality drops a bit. Some scenes felt flat, and certain lines didn’t land well. And as someone who understands Thai, I have to say that a few lines deliveries felt quite awkward so I’d give the supporting casts a 7/10 at most.

Now, for the story and writing.
To be honest, it’s not bad at all, but also not something I’d call brilliant. The heist plot felt kind of basic, nothing really mind blowing in terms of planning or twists. I kept waiting for a moment where Joker would show some true mastermind level brilliance, but it never really came. What did save those scenes was War’s performance, the way he portrayed the character made it feel like Joker had layers, even when the writing didn’t provide it.

I also found the whole human chess game a bit…umm mid? I guess. I just couldn’t get into it emotionally as it didn’t feel compelling, and I wasn’t invested in them at all. But that might be more of a personal taste thing as the plot is very unique, it can be written better though.

Also, I really didn’t agree with how Joker’s home situation was portrayed, especially with how his father treated him. The constant comparisons to his brother, the harsh words, the emotional neglect. I’m sorry, but he doesn’t deserve Joker’s forgiveness at all. That storyline didn’t sit right with me.

That said, I do want to give credit where it’s due, the social commentary in the script was nicely done. It wasn’t overly forced, and it actually added some substance to the narrative.

The romance plot is very mild (and I like this kind of vibes more than the romance one), still, it shows how Joke love Jack very well. But the thing is, for me the love level between them doesn’t match, there’s many actions of Jack that I understand but also don’t understand at the same time. And it gives the feeling that Joker love Jack more than Jack love him. Bug that maybe because their background is different, so it’s understandable, and their love was clearly show in the special episode too. So it’s quite good.

Overall, I’d give the writing a 7/10.

Now, production and music.
This is where I can wholeheartedly complement the team. The color grading is beautiful, the cinematography is excellent, and the overall visual tone of the series worked out well. I loved how the scenes were framed. The music also sounds good, it fit the mood without being overbearing. 10/10 for production.

Final thoughts:
Jack & Joker had so much potential, and while the writing didn’t always hit the mark, the visuals and especially War’s performance made it worth watching.

If I were to rate this series based on War’s performance alone, I’d give it 10/10 with no hesitation. But taking everything into account, I’d say it’s more of an 8/10. However, because I truly loved War’s acting here so much and I may rewatch this series for him, I just couldn’t give it anything less than a 9. So…yeah 9/10 it is.

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Touching story, worth to watch ⚠️ contain spoiler

It’s my first time writing a review because no one seems to does it, and this movie truly deserves more attention. I started watching for Karry Wang, but the young actor did a great job too. Both of them convey their emotions beautifully, especially Karry Wang—his eyes say everything, and he delivers a subtle yet impactful performance. Definitely worth a watch.

Life is hard, and some people really have no choice but to live the way Ma Liang does (though it’s not an excuse to do it anyway, and I appreciate that this movie doesn’t try to whitewash it but simply shows why he has to live like that). Ma Liang is trapped in a cycle of poverty, doing illegal jobs to survive, yet he still protects the small kindness in his heart. I love how, even while walking such a thorny road, he never wants Xuanxuan to follow the same path as him. Their relationship starts from a place of caution but gradually grows into something deeply tender. Even when the world gives him nothing, Ma Liang still chooses to give warmth to the little kid, who slowly finds his way into Ma Liang’s heart. Ma Liang himself never found a good adult to rely on, but he surely knows how to be one.

Their acting is so good that it feels natural watching their simple daily life. So simple, yet so genuine and filled with unspoken trust between them. Although some parts of the movie move at a slower pace, it never affected my view enough to lower my rating because the overall story is so beautiful, and every quiet moment matters. Even the supporting character gang, despite their limited screen time, have well-written relationships that add depth to the story.



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⚠️ Below here are some touching moment that I love. It contains spoilers, so beware:

The part when Ma Liang sings a lullaby to Xuanxuan is so sad; his voice genuinely broke my heart. And it’s the first time seeing him so vulnerable. He has to act as an older brother here, but the truth is he’s also a teenager that not much older than Xuanxuan and have to live such a hard life.

And the last scene—god, the last scene—must have been a very hard decision for Ma Liang, but he still chose to do it for Xuanxuan’s sake. The scene where he crouches down to tie Xuanxuan’s shoes at school is so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same times, because Ma Liang still smiling gently, giving the boy the freedom he deserves, even if he’s about to cut off his own freedom. Like I said before, Karry Wang’s eyes truly say everything.

Love this story, super beautiful.

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