This review may contain spoilers
The Best GMMTV Show So Far
this has to be anucha's magnum opus and one of the best shows that came out of gmmtv's slop factory. burnout syndrome is a complex and unfiltered character study of three individuals who are all desperate for human connection, inspiration, and salvation from the tolls of capitalism and artificial intelligence.what truly stuck with me was the show's refusal to whitewash its characters and view them as monolithic. despite its political themes, its creators did not feel the need to make jira an untainted representation of an artist who will not "sell out" to capitalism and AI despite the looming threat of poverty. once faced with the scarcity of employment opportunities, he eventually caved to the chance of financial stability despite its questionable sources.
similarly, koh was not given a stereotypical character arc; instead, he turned out to be a capitalist through and through. love, if you can even call it that, did not redeem him in the end. despite jira's complaints, koh will continue to inflict harm on the world, uncaring of the artists and workers he stole ideas and job opportunities from. even jira, the only person he truly trusted, was not spared from this.
on the other hand, pheem's character subverted the "second lead syndrome" by casting dew, an undeniably attractive actor who knows how to weaponize his looks to garner empathy from the audience, while masterfully portraying the concealed sleaziness of pheem, who, 1) frequented the burnout bar to have sex with people at their most vulnerable; 2) studied all of jira's interests and claimed them as his own to impress him; and 3) expected sex in return for all of his unsolicited efforts and had a (honestly terrifying) reaction when he did not get what he wanted.
despite their questionable characteristics, the show did not deprive us of their humanity and gave us plenty of reasons to care for these characters. for example, jira is the most relatable out of everyone. like most of us, he is just trying to stay afloat as the job market becomes less and less stable. at the same time, he is trying to keep his spirit alive by doggedly pursuing whatever can ignite the passion and creativity that capitalism tries to stamp out, regardless of its consequences.
meanwhile, koh perfectly portrayed the soft underbelly of an otherwise deplorable character. a capitalist and an ai investor was also the very same person who had to steel himself when going to public places; who cried when he saw jira's paintings; who let pheem win a race to make him feel more comfortable and honest; who grew a garden of flame lilies in memory of his lover; who, despite his attempts to protect himself, cannot help but to let jira in his life. these things did not make him a better person, but they helped me see the human behind the machine.
lastly, pheem had the best character arc of all of them. starting as an individual who refused to face his lack of identity by wearing the skin of a perfect employee, friend, or lover, he eventually underwent the painful process of transforming into a human being capable of vulnerability, selfless love, and freedom from validation-seeking behaviors. at the very end, his embrace with jira finally felt real— devoid of any expectation, performance, or pretense.
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