This review may contain spoilers
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.
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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