2
12
1
3
1
Too much and not enough, no middle here.
I understand why fans of "Bed Friend" were angry about "The Middleman's Love". This might be set in the same universe as the dark-ish "Bed Friend", but the genre couldn't be more different. What's more, the series isn't even very good as a stand-alone comedy.
If you have read enough fanfics, you might be familiar with a specific type: A fan decides they want a fluffy feel-good happy-ending with some elements of crack for their "fav charrie" -- and why not throw in some cross-over characters or OCs in there as well? -- and then to their own astonishment the fic suddenly has plot? And they don't quite know what to do with it, so they decide to throw in another few comedy scenes and a sex scene or two and call it a day.
This is what "The Middleman's Love" feels like.
We get the OOC scenes of a ghost hunt and a "company sports day" with children's party games; we get the catchphrases and the OTT humour, we get a lot of snacks, we get a "workplace" that is a joke and has no bearing at all on the story, and so on and so forth -- and then, suddenly, character backstory and angst? Which breaks the style and the established rules of the story.
What doesn't help is that director Cheewin Thanamin wasn't able to create a vision from the mess of a script. He re-uses elements from his previous dramas; for example the animation from Why R U? or the over-acting from YYY or Toh's character design from Secret Crush On You or the background music from Bed Friend, whether it fits or not. But he does not manage to make it a cohesive whole. In the beginning, he chose to use elements of parody and over-done narration, like when Jade and Mai "ride" in the obviously parked car or in the day-dream sequences, as well as the use of the "mandee" logo for the company. But then he switches the style to that of an average rom-com later on, while he still tries to keep Jade's over-the-top character.
That the sex scenes neither have any kind of narrative function nor round out the characters' relationship dynamics (on the contrary, they break them completely) is only the over-ripe cherry on top.
I wish that both the screen writers and the director had committed to one singular vison and style for this drama. Either go completely overboard with everything and make something unique or follow the title of a "คนกลาง", "a middle/mediocre man", and make Jade really an absolutely ordinary, unremarkable and middling man. The latter also would have had its own potential for a good and special story, be it comedy or serious drama, in its own right.
One positive thing that can be said is that Yim, who plays Jade, does his utmost to fill the role. He doesn't hold back and obviously is not afraid to look ridiculous, which is a must-do for his role. Unfortunately, he is neither directed with good vision (see above) nor coached well enough to use his whole body for the comedy; and it does not help that (for whatever reason) he doesn't move all his facial muscles to the extent needed, so his Jade doesn't reach the kind of physical comedy that would have been required for the series to work.
There is not much to say about the other actors -- none of the roles required much acting skill, even for a romance.
Was it good?
It had some good elements for a crack fic or a parody but didn't dare to go all the way. Both the script and the style of direction muddied any potential vision.
Did I like it?
I didn't think of dropping the drama, so it wasn't that bad for me. But I also would not say I enjoyed most of it.
Who would I recommend it to?
I wouldn't.
If you have read enough fanfics, you might be familiar with a specific type: A fan decides they want a fluffy feel-good happy-ending with some elements of crack for their "fav charrie" -- and why not throw in some cross-over characters or OCs in there as well? -- and then to their own astonishment the fic suddenly has plot? And they don't quite know what to do with it, so they decide to throw in another few comedy scenes and a sex scene or two and call it a day.
This is what "The Middleman's Love" feels like.
We get the OOC scenes of a ghost hunt and a "company sports day" with children's party games; we get the catchphrases and the OTT humour, we get a lot of snacks, we get a "workplace" that is a joke and has no bearing at all on the story, and so on and so forth -- and then, suddenly, character backstory and angst? Which breaks the style and the established rules of the story.
What doesn't help is that director Cheewin Thanamin wasn't able to create a vision from the mess of a script. He re-uses elements from his previous dramas; for example the animation from Why R U? or the over-acting from YYY or Toh's character design from Secret Crush On You or the background music from Bed Friend, whether it fits or not. But he does not manage to make it a cohesive whole. In the beginning, he chose to use elements of parody and over-done narration, like when Jade and Mai "ride" in the obviously parked car or in the day-dream sequences, as well as the use of the "mandee" logo for the company. But then he switches the style to that of an average rom-com later on, while he still tries to keep Jade's over-the-top character.
That the sex scenes neither have any kind of narrative function nor round out the characters' relationship dynamics (on the contrary, they break them completely) is only the over-ripe cherry on top.
I wish that both the screen writers and the director had committed to one singular vison and style for this drama. Either go completely overboard with everything and make something unique or follow the title of a "คนกลาง", "a middle/mediocre man", and make Jade really an absolutely ordinary, unremarkable and middling man. The latter also would have had its own potential for a good and special story, be it comedy or serious drama, in its own right.
One positive thing that can be said is that Yim, who plays Jade, does his utmost to fill the role. He doesn't hold back and obviously is not afraid to look ridiculous, which is a must-do for his role. Unfortunately, he is neither directed with good vision (see above) nor coached well enough to use his whole body for the comedy; and it does not help that (for whatever reason) he doesn't move all his facial muscles to the extent needed, so his Jade doesn't reach the kind of physical comedy that would have been required for the series to work.
There is not much to say about the other actors -- none of the roles required much acting skill, even for a romance.
Was it good?
It had some good elements for a crack fic or a parody but didn't dare to go all the way. Both the script and the style of direction muddied any potential vision.
Did I like it?
I didn't think of dropping the drama, so it wasn't that bad for me. But I also would not say I enjoyed most of it.
Who would I recommend it to?
I wouldn't.
Was this review helpful to you?
