Jack and Joker (2024)

I’m seated.

sometimes you just forget what good quality is when it comes to Thai BL shows. I’m not trying to knock other shows, and of course there are some great quality Thai BLs out there. But sometimes everything just falls into place in a way you weren’t expecting.

so, I’m not one to write reviews before a series is over; however, Jack & Joker knocked my socks off. not just with storyline, but quality as well. in the first episode we are getting back stories of the MCs… or shall I say their villain origin stories and honestly I. AM. HERE. FOR. It. I might be the problem, but I love a good red flag, anti hero story and even though we are only just starting this journey I believe that’s what we are going to get.

I’m seated. this to me is KinnPorsche level quality, and I am foaming at the mouth wanting more.

oh Joker, the anti hero we didn’t know we wanted has becoming something we need.

I can already see this being my top Thai BL of the year which is wild since I didn’t think anything would dethrone my stand in, yet here we are.

Leia Mais

Raw, Real, and Riveting

Okay, let me just say: this show? Absolute fire. From the jump, it pulls you in with this perfect mix of drama, romance, and action that leaves you hooked after the first episode. It’s rare for a series to nail so many different vibes but this one does, and it does it flawlessly.

The acting? Out of this world. YinWar are in the lead, and if you’ve seen them before, you already know they’re going to deliver. But here? They take it to another level. Their chemistry is off the charts, but it’s the way they embody their characters' raw emotions and internal struggles that’s truly mind-blowing. You can *feel* every moment, every glance, every touch. It’s rare to see acting that feels this authentic and intense, and they absolutely crush it.

Now, let’s talk about the heart of this show, the characters. They’re written with so much complexity, it’s impossible not to get invested. At its core, the show explores two characters from completely opposite worlds. One comes from a life of privilege but is emotionally starved, while the other is trapped in poverty but surrounded by unconditional love. It’s the way these characters navigate their struggles and ambitions, trying to prove themselves and find their place in the world, that really hits home. The contrast between their lives is beautifully done, and it’s through their differences that the show tackles some heavy themes, like family expectations, class divides, and self-worth.

But what really sets this show apart is how it balances the *real* with the *relatable*. It’s not just about flashy storylines or dramatic twists; it’s about real, human experiences, dealing with love, pressure, and the feeling of never quite being enough. And it’s all wrapped up in this stunning visual package. Every shot, every scene, feels purposeful and rich, from the luxe life of the rich to the gritty realities of the poor.

Leia Mais

what we needed.

i think this is such a solid start. following yinwar from their beginning and the ups and downs since the FIRST love mechanics, they deserved this. it’s a serious plot with some funny moments, and the script is IMMACULATE compared to other thai bls rn.
this drama deserves to get recognition like other darker theme bls rn, i’m so excited for the rest of the series to air.
the difference between this show and love mechanics is exactly what yinwar needed to show their talents. everyone knows they have the chemistry, but their acting has gone unnoticed when i believe they are one of the best acting pairs in the thai lakorn world rn.

Leia Mais

Honestly, ignore the rating!

I’ve been awaiting this series since it was announce! I have no idea where that rating is coming from, but that first episode was perfection. It perfectly set up the dynamics between the characters as well as the plot. The acting was PHENOMENAL! War and Yin’s acting, chemistry, and passion are unmatched. The action sequences in the first website were well
planned and actually looked like real action sequences. Each character has an awesome back story that I can’t wait to see how they’re developed. War is going to be so fantastic in this role since he has the emotional range to play this complex character. Yin is truly going to shine in this role as well, he is the perfect choice for a
character that wanted to be good but due to circumstances out of his control he can’t be. I cannot wait to see what is it come in the next episodes.

Leia Mais

Joker, the antihero we didn't know we wanted has become someone we need.

The world has always been a place full of light and shadows. Regardless of the stage in human history, crises have often led us to think that we are living in the worst times. However, the economic situation, racial tensions, the resurgence of fascism, genocide on defenseless peoples, hunger and hopelessness have always been present in our history.
In a world where money and power guarantee that athletes, some without deserving it, take a place on the national team of their sport..., in a world where the poor, including children and the elderly, live in misery and have to work sun to sun to try, without success, to pay their debts and be able to put a crust of bread in their mouth..., in a world where being rich certifies that you cannot go out on the streets at the wrong time, because they can kidnap you for ransom..., in a world that shows the most cynical face of economic power and the amorality of the media, political and economic universe..., in a world where the oppression of the individual prevails at the hands of an alienating system, inhabit the characters of 'Jack & Joker U Steal My Heart!'.
It is in this world where Joker, a master of disguise and a skilled conman, emerges as a rebellious political and social subject. This is how he decides to lead a double life. Boastful and gifted at conversation, he is secretly a notorious thief wanted by the police. Using his exceptional disguise skills, he steals from wealthy oppressors and redistributes their wealth to help the weak and needy.
Joker is, in short, an antihero. The figure of the antihero has reigned in cinema and television series since modernity. Far from the stereotypes of good and bad, these multi-dimensional characters are more attractive to the public than heroes and villains. The antihero presents more humanity, therefore more contradictions, and this can make viewers come to love them in a matter of seconds. And this precisely happens in this 12 episode drama produced by Dee Hup House.
We are facing a transgressive series that distances itself from the bombastic epic and expansive narrative of superhero stories. We are facing a series whose main character reminds us at times of Walter White from 'Breaking Bad', an antihero who represents criticism of the American dream, who brings to light the limitations of the American middle class and the neoliberal health system; Jack Sparrow, the famous pirate who brought chaos with him and was not afraid to lie and take advantage of others, while trying to help his friends; Loki, the well-known "God of lies", who has a tendency to betray his family, but at the same time provokes laughter with his actions and phrases full of egocentrism and who was finally able to redeem himself and become the favorite antihero of the Marvel films; or Deadpool, a popular antihero thanks to his black sense of humor, high-sounding language and sarcasm who, due to his originality and lack of fear of saying what he thinks, breaks the mold of those who were considered a Marvel hero and, for this reason, everyone likes him wants.
The main character of 'Jack & Joker U Steal My Heart!' It reminds us, without a doubt, of Joker, the character created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, and introduced in the first issue of the comic book "Batman", in April 1940, published by DC Comics, becoming one of the favorite characters for their originality, and, he is equally, or more popular than his archenemy Batman. Let us remember that his cruel past causes him to explode violently and, in the end, he manages to accept himself as he is, with all the evil, thirst for power and tireless fight with the Batman.
The chain of suffering and melancholy that drags the Joker of the Thai series by director Tee Bundit Sintanaparadee, recognized for directing the BL dramas 'I Saw You in My Dream' (2024), 'I Feel You Linger in the Air' (2023) , 'Hidden Agenda' (2023), 'Step by Step' (2023), 'Lovely Writer' (2021), and 'TharnType' (2019 – 2020), among others, is so palpable and shocking that the viewer has no other choice. The only way out is to identify both his family and society as the true villains of the show, in addition to allowing us to empathize with him.
But it will not be in a Gotham City inspired by New York in the 70s, for many, the darkest stage of the American city and where hope seemed to be lost, but in Bangkok in 2024, just as dark, violent and corrupt than that.
This is the perfect setting to tell a story that deviates somewhat from the original and twists its path of explaining how evil arises in the world, to reflect a beautiful love story between two boys, with which many people can feel curiously identified.
In this way, the sordid world of Joker, a high school student who is pressured by his parents to enroll in medical school, will turn upside down when he meets Jack, an 18-year-old taekwondo player who decides to leave the sport when he becomes discouraged the road, all in the effort to help his elderly grandmother, the only living relative he has left. The dreamy, reasonable and kind Jack, who likes to help others, will be forced to become a debt collector.
His and Joker's lives will change abruptly and unexpectedly when they find themselves involved in a complicated situation, giving way to a love-hate relationship.
The Joker of the audiovisual of the Southeast Asian country is liked and exudes a controversial charm for the population in general and the LGBT+ community in particular. And this is basically due to two things, the first is that as a viewer we manage to empathize with the human being and not just with the character. In this series, and due above all to the sublime performance of the actor who brings Joker to life, we are presented with a very human and sensitive person, despite the dramatic events that have led him to be who he is.
Second, one thing is obvious: their misdeeds are not fueled by the desire for money, personal ambitions, or other material goals. Their motivations are ideological and philosophical. It is the darkness rebelled after a dark childhood and adolescence, despite living in a wealthy family; it is the Shadow that emerges after the impact of a society that attacks and excludes, that ignores the weak, that feeds itself on its own corruption.
The character represents the Shadow that is in us. His actions remind us, without a doubt, of the concept of Shadow that Carl Jung told us about. Adverse impulses live within us that we must accept and bring to light to heal them and proceed to healing. The psychological profile of the Joker shows us, as can be deduced from the trailers, that the character lets his Shadow escape to give way to a healing process thanks to love.
What will happen when Joker's actions affect the needy and vulnerable he aims to help? What will happen when the innocent are punished for their actions?
It is not the first time that Joker, who perhaps represents that part of us that longs to break the rules and react, is represented on screen. We remember the character played by Jack Nicholson ('Batman', 1989 - Tim Burton), who brings us a gangster, that of Heath Ledger ('The Dark Knight', 2008 - Christopher Nolan), who gives us an agent of chaos, that of Jared Leto ('Suicide Squad', 2016 - David Ayer), a true sociopath, or that of Joaquin Phoenix ('Guazón', 2019 - Todd Phillips), who draws a famous crime clown and the most villainous multifaceted character of the world of comics, which transcends even the limits of his own personality and offers us a clear warning sign and a direct invitation to reflect on current societies.
However, the cunning Joker, played by the young Thai actor and musician War Wanarat Ratsameerat, remembered for playing Than in the short film 'Because I Love You' from the series 'The Right Man', in 2016, which marked his debut acting, he is a very human and vulnerable character, which is why we empathize so intensely with him. It is impossible not to put yourself in his shoes when you see how, upon discovering that his actions affect others, he without hesitation tries to correct them, even if this means admitting to his family his failure and true identity, as well as paying with years in prison.
Very plausible solution is how we can feel sympathy for a character who tries to outwit his authoritarian parents and a brother who seems to enjoy his failures as a student, and reveals himself to the shortcomings of a society incapable of assisting and giving an effective response to those who need it.
Despite coming from a privileged family, Joker suffers from a lack of affection. Unlike Jack, he does not find affection in his family life, and this has turned him into a lonely being, hungry and thirsty for love. However, we are not dealing with a person with antisocial or sociopathic personality disorder characterized by committing violent and bloodthirsty acts.
For his part, although he comes from a cosmos in which poverty, lack of material goods and the absence of his deceased parents prevail, Jack has a sweet and generous grandmother who understands and supports the young man in his daily conflicts. Much of Jack's sweetness and nobility, undoubtedly, comes from the upbringing given to him by this noble being.
Adrift from their lives, trying to find their place in the world, both of them, with such different and contrasting personalities, meet and their universes collide. And this serves to address other topics, such as memory, absence, maturity, the process of growing up, self-esteem, family expectations, the feeling of never being enough in the face of the complexity of life, discovery, acceptance, recognition…
'Jack & Joker U Steal My Heart!' It also stands out for reflecting the pressure cooker state of urban centers, and is an undisputed daughter of its time. That a stranger in a collar and tie robs a bank after being previously considered its manager, or that a young woman is chased by three violent thieves, portrays the convulsive city and its suffocating system.
The series also works in its effort to make queer people visible. Its creators know that the LGBT+ community is growing rapidly: one in six members of Generation Z in the United States identifies as part of this human group. The data also shows that LGBT+ audiences have an increasing need to see LGBT+ characters in series and films with which they feel identified.
In all this endeavor, War, in a monumental role, does not carry all the dramatic weight of the series. From the first minute, "Yin" Anan Wong, the Thai-Hong Kong actor who plays Jack, stands out in his role as a reasonable man who believes in solving problems without the use of force and has the conviction that "The strength one possesses should be used only to protect the weak," but as a debt collector he will have to impose an intimidating presence, far removed from his personality.
The chemistry between the two main actors goes beyond the physical realm, but is emotional, psychological and completely satisfying. It turns out that these two actors know each other well. They have been lovers in 'En of Love: Love Mechanics', 'En of Love: Tossara', 'En of Love: This is Love Story', all from 2020, and 'Love Mechanics' and 'Love Mechanics: Director's Cut', 2022, BL series in which War plays Mark and Yin plays Vee. They are also the protagonists of 'The Best Story' (2021), in which the former plays Best and the latter plays Dew.
Their performances, authentic, vivid, intense, are sublime as they masterfully embody the raw emotions and internal struggles of their characters through words, silences, looks...
Screenwriters Myminorh Sarun Kaensap ('Peaceful Property', 2024), Pacharawan Chaipuwarat ('Shadow', 2023), Yui Athima Iamathikhom ('Wannabe', 2022), and Anawat Kitchawengkul ('GGEZ', 2018), combine perfectly the genres of action, romance, crime and drama, to deliver a coherent, complex and uncomfortable story that works as a great mirror of contemporary society.
On a technical level, it is important to highlight that the series has an impeccable setting, raw photography and a beautiful soundtrack that take the viewer through sensations and moments that make this a journey into the depths of human despair and the need to stay afloat, especially thanks to love and nobility.
With a masterful performance, a forceful script and a clear social discourse, 'Jack & Joker U Steal My Heart!' it's not just a boy's love story. It is a necessary work to understand that today there are issues that cannot be ignored. Violence, political corruption, social class contradictions, poverty, and evil have origins that must be faced and despite how dark the present may seem, crises do not last forever. Better times will always come, if people like Jack and Joker come together to do the right thing.

Leia Mais

Story is unique but there are so many odds

I really liked the story because it is no the usual thai school or college romance.
But after watching first and second episodes there are so many odd things that don't match with the scenes at all. I know it is a drama still I think it's better to watch these things.
1. Jack is so poor that he even can't affort to pay back his loan but he is wearing adidas tshirt.
2. Joker just got out from jail but he still have tattoos in his hand as well as in his body.
3. The bank is so big, but when joker got into the office there is no cctv camera.

I am really enjoying this drama....but I just pointed out some things that got really odd in my eyes.

Leia Mais

First Impression: Jack & Joker

Overall: even though the first episode was set up, I'm already hooked on a plot/tone we rarely get in BL. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/jack-joker-u-steal-my-heart-episode-1-l2dlqwi91c?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: theft, past death, violence, blood, bullying, attempted kidnapping, coercion, manipulation

What I Liked
- unique premise
- fight/action sequences
- grey protagonists
- how Jack called out his coach

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward
- nonsense thing: the door wasn't locked but people chasing right behind didn't enter the room right away

Leia Mais

Stealing all my attention...

Another highly anticipated drama that thankfully I can say is delivering! It is even going over the delivering and serving to me on a nice silver platter... let me explain..

So I have been going through a BL drought. Heck, a drama drought. K-dramas at this time have sucked the life out of me with their uninteresting and predicable plots, poor execution, and the fact that I watch and wonder.. why does something like this need to be made? What purpose is there other than to make money? Have famous leads in it to lure people in to end up being a total heaping pile of garbage.... so.. this drama COULD have been that. I mean the lead couple is famous and have starred in another successful project. The plot is darker and a bit of a niche in the BL industry. To do something outside of the classic romantic comedy genre of high school or college. Let me just get this straight. This drama is one of those that I think serves a purpose. I am glad it is made wonderfully and it clearly isn't pandering to its audience with chalked up fan service. So this drama is one that deserves to be made, it also is respectful to its audience and that is clear with the production level.

Other than that, production is one thing. Plenty of dramas look good but don't have the story to back it up. This one has witty dialogue that is just smart. Each character is written differently and it is believable they are different people. The people behind the screenplay are amazing, as even in scenes of just talking, the actors are giving the script to play off each other to look like they are having fun portraying their given roles. Some of the drama is a little unbelievable, but not to the point it is distracting or god awful. The plot gives it room to have fun, and the fact that there is a romance hidden somewhere in here leaves room for intrigue. I don't really care about the technicalities here, because the story just hasn't been done before. It is completely brand new to me as I have maybe read some concepts here and there that are similar to the story, but as a whole I haven't watched anything like this.

To keep it short I just have to praise the main leads, their acting capabilities, the camerawork, direction.. nothing is out of place. The camera work is shot beautifully that even when a set isn't too extravagant, the lighting goes a long way to bring atmosphere to the scene.

War is the standout actor here for me. He has so much charisma and is the guy that looks like he's having the most fun with his role. What a fun role it is too. Joke is by far my favorite characters, and his counterpart isn't lacking anywhere by the way. Jack is more reserved and Yin plays that wonderfully as well. Their dynamic is not only fun, I can sense some desire between them only a few episodes in. It makes me want to see them get to know each other and have a fallout and all that drama. I can't wait to watch it all unfold... I'll clean this review up later I just had to rant because this drama finally brought a spark back for me.

Leia Mais