Wolf (2019)

The premise of the story is straightforward: Five people (Don, Ryo, Plan, Por, Mo) are chosen to play a game created by this person or entity known as Wolf. If they complete 5 missions, they win a sum of money.

There are several questions that remain unanswered. Firstly, the missions take place in many countries, but somehow Wolf is able to film the action, even in private places like people’s homes and hotel rooms.

Secondly, the action is broadcast, and people can watch the game. Why do so many of the people approached by the contestants seem to be unaware of the game and why do people not bother to tell them even though the game seems to be such a costly and major production?

Thirdly, Wolf seems like an omniscient, godlike presence who knows more than what any hidden cameras can reveal, but the characters are unperturbed by how Wolf has access to information about, say, one’s ex who has died ten years ago and the locations of people one has met years ago?

However, if we ignore these oddities, each of the five main characters’ stories can be interesting, particularly Don’s.
At the start, Wolf’s missions simply seem utterly unethical. However, it soon becomes clear that the missions help the players change for the better while also helping their targets learn something even if they learn a lesson (such as not to trust others too easily) the hard way.

Overall, the series is interesting and entertaining in its parts, but when there doesn’t seem to be anything more when the parts are added together. Apart from the intersection of Por and Mo’s stories, the other stories barely converge.
My favorite of the 5 contestant’s stories is Don’s story followed by Ryo’s.

Don’s story is well-developed, and the changes in his character are clear. At first, he seems to be the most callous person of the lot because of his willingness to charm an innocent girl into having sex with him by claiming to love her, but it is later shown that he has become like this because of a past relationship. By the end of his second mission, in which he has to stay with a girl without touching her, it is clear that he has changed. At one point, we see him ignoring Wolf’s message when he completes a mission to get a woman to smile again, which is a hint at how he is helping her sincerely and not to complete his mission.

Ryo, the youngest character, vacillates between exuding youthful innocence and developing toxic masculinity. Like the other contestants, the process of playing the game changes him for the better. His innocent crush on a schoolmate, something which he has kept to himself for a long time while boasting to his friends about his non-existent sexual exploits, remains one-sided, and he learns to accept rejection and respect women in the process of the game.

Plan’s story is good but somewhat predictable. He is shown to be a troubled character from the start. His preoccupation with money stems from the death of his mother because of the lack of money for her medical expenses, and it’s not hard to guess what lesson he has to learn. He starts off being someone who can be callous to others for the sake of money, but later becomes truly sorry for what he has done. Unfortunately, the reason for his change is not clear. The mission in which he forms a friendship with a lady addicted to shopping because of her emotional issues is more memorable than the other missions he has, and is probably the turning point in his development.

Por starts off being a playboy with no qualms about hurting the women he has relationships with. In the process of playing the game, he changes somewhat, deciding to be brutally truthful to an ex about his mission to make her fall in love with him again so that she would hate him instead of continuing to miss him. Nevertheless, the change in him does not seem all that deep.

Mo, an ex-girlfriend of Por, is still recovering from her breakup with the philandering Por. She learns to come to terms
with her feelings. She’s a likable character, but there isn’t much development.

Ultimately, the players are all winners—even those who don’t complete all 5 missions have undergone experiences that change them for the better. Their individual stories are at least quite interesting, but when put together, they don't quite give any extra satisfaction.

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A High Concept show starring Off Jumpol, Toni Rakkaen and Punpun Sutatta where the characters travel around Asia is the sort of thing I'd wish for. It nearly delivered. After a month or two of disengagement, I managed to finish this series.

Each character has their respective flaw—save Mo who is perfect—, setting you up to see them thus be overcome as their stories progress. Plan is fixated on making money, Don is a player, Por is an unrepentant cheater, Ryo objectifies women, and Mo perhaps holds herself back. They almost achieve this, but it's so sloppy and inefficient, you can't connect to it as the audience. It's a writing issue but also a directing issue as there was a complete lack of suspense.

The fast-paced nature of the challenge wasn't reflected in the pacing of the show, which had many a drawn-out and banal emotional scene. Where the show drew me in and motivated me to continue watching was in their lighthearted comedic scenes—particularly Off Jumpol's—and with the promise of an interesting conclusion. And the conclusion should have been good. Five disconnected contestants are competing on the same show with challenges that are sending them around Asia. Why did the narrative not bring them all together, connect them in some way? Completely squandered. What's more, the only connection among them, that of Por and Mo, is revealed offhandedly early on.

Such a fun concept; I wish I could've seen it meet its potential. I don't see this show being anyone's favourite, but it will entertain you.

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