Hidden Agenda (2023)

A re-do of Fish Upon the Sky without all the things that made it funny and amusing

At least FUTS was able to get a few giggles out of me (and the fact that it's somewhat self-aware of how ass its plot and writing actually is helps it immensely with comedic time).

I strongly dislike series with "white knight" love interests like Joke because they always give way more than their partners ever give back. Always makes the relationship feel extremely one-sided.

This series feels ANCIENT. It's so old-school i was actually shocked when i found out it was released in mid-2023.

If you came here from The Heart Killers, don't bother. Just wait for "Dare You to Death" next year. Seeing them in THK made me feel like this next series of theirs have immense potential.

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Basic Agenda

Ugh.

That's it. That's the review.

Tell me why it took me all of 3 months to finish this show. Was it because I was waiting anxiously for an episode to drop each week? No, all the episodes are out and I'm watching in 2024. Was it because I was too busy to watch? No, I have no life. Was it because this series was so painfully dull that it was like watching paint dry? Yes. But because I am a glutton for punishment I have to finish every series I start regardless if I like it or not.

So I will break it down by category:

*Story*: What story? The story/plot is so non-existent it's laughable. Zo likes Nita, Zo asks Joke for help, Joke helps cuz he likes Zo and wants to get close to him, Zo falls for Joke, yay. In all seriousness there was some potential for a cool sub-plot, like the stalker angle. The stalker sub-plot lasted all but 1 episode...ONE. What was the point of that? Also, the random scenario where Pat gives Joke all of Zo's information then Zo gets mad and stops talking to Joke? Again, what was the point because he just forgives him an episode later. It seems like all of these subplots last for a total of 1 episode with the exception of the debate.

*Acting/Cast*: Sigh. I love JoongDunk, I really do, I think their personalities are so fun but what in the ever loving f*** was this. JoongDunk have more chemistry off camera in their day to day than they do on screen. Joong had the same facial expression the entire series and Dunk was a walking f***ing bobblehead with that same goofy a** expression. GMMTV please put them in some acting lessons. I beg. I want the best for them, I really do because I do love them but this show just wasn't it. Main leads aside....now to the 2nd couple....let me say this with my whole d*** chest....AOUBOOM MAIN LEADS IN A SERIES WHEN??????!!! AouBoom were incredible, they actually made me feel something, anything, during this stale a** series. The scene where Boom was leaving Aou and Aou grabbing him in desperation not wanting him to leave had me clutching my pearls....or when they were both in the car and Aou tells Boom he had to leave his soccer team because he chooses him over soccer had me in TEARS. They were the shining light in this whole series even though they were in it for like a collective total of 20 minutes. And the supporting cast....they were, fine.

*Music*: OST was fun, Joong has a nice voice.

*Rewatch Value*: Nope.

In conclusion, I recommend this series if you are a fan of the following:
-JoongDunk or AouBoom
-Bobbleheads
-Debate
-Miscommunication
-Needy boyfriends
-Overbearing Mothers
-A million subplots that last an episode
-Crappy Screenwriting

If you are a fan of one or all of these things, Hidden Agenda is for you...if not...skippppp.

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When this series initially came out, I had no intention of watching it, because I'm not really a fan of Dunk's acting. But I decided to watch it, just for something to watch. I do think Dunk's acting had improved during this series compared to Star in My Mind. But I also think that it may just be the genre of BL that I feel seems off about JoongDunk or their acting. It's not that they don't have chemistry, it's that the storyline or genre isn't right for them. After watching their appearance in The Heart Killer trailer, it seemed much more of a suitable genre for them compared to university romances like Hidden Agenda and Star In My Mind. Hidden Agenda is a very much typical overused formula of BL - it's very predictable, but it is a series that may be suitable for first time BL watchers that are trying to get to know Thai BL, Though I believe it being 12 episodes is too long and should've been 10 episodes or less. But many scenes in this series was too predictable.

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Something happened, but idk what

I really wanted to love this show down bad. I just came from watching the first three episodes of The Heart Killers, and this would be my first JoongDunk BL ever after intensely watching their latest performance on said show. I'm absolutely in love with their chemistry, and it's no doubt it's there. But what in the duck was the plan? The agenda wasn't hidden, it was sitting on the coffee table with some donuts and booboo roses, there was no secret?Everything was highly predictable, and honestly so much could've happened instead nothing did. I wish the thing with Nita would've hit a little differently. Maybe Nita is still in love with Joke and kinda competes with Zo, maybe she does like Zo back but Zo realizes he doesn't actually like her and messes with Joke. Idk it could've gone so many ways but it barely stepped out the house. I definitely hope for some more JoongDunk series' because this just ain't the one that's doing it for me, y'all.

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Not so hidden agenda

The description of plot and actual plot in series doesn't have much in common since Zo pretty soon find out he idolized Nita instead of loving her.
To be honest; I enjoyed this series. At first I thought it's just silly lovey dovey romcom but at the end of the series we find out its not so glittery pink because both main characters have family issues which was showed in realistic way and as person who relate to Joke, ngl some tears escaped my eyes.
I also enjoyed second couple's plot, I think it's nice to see gay character understanding that they can't stuck forever in bubble and hide, especially when you're hurting your loved one.
Some scenes was unnecessary long; small talk between characters, characters standing in front of building for few seconds. I skipped some of it.
Going to characters and actors; I LOVE GRANDMA, she's absolutely my favorite. Also I fell hard for Joong and his smile... this man is so adorable and played Joke's characters so good especially when i have comparision to Fadel from THK where the character is much different. Joong really did great job.
In Dunk case; I think people are too harsh. It wasn't Oscar worthy performance but he wasn't bad, I can list at least worse 5 actors/actresses. He had better and worse moments. For example the first kiss scene was phenomenal. You can see all of Zo's emotions, I think its one of scenes which Dunk nailed.
I think the biggest flaw of this series is music. I'm also sick of BL characters singing and playing guitar. Just STOP I'M BEGGING!!!
There were also some threads without sense but in conclusion it's cute series. Did I like it? Yes. Will I rewatch it? Probably no.

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It did what it needed to do.

Honestly, al the low scores... I don't get it.
Was this the best show I've ever seen? No.
Will I rewatch it? Probably not, but then again, I don't easily rewatch a show.
Was the storyline the best thing ever written? No.
Does it have to be? Also no.
Did the actors have great chemistry? Yes, they did. Sure, there are couples with better chemistry, but I have also seen couples with zero chemistry. JoongDunk are solid, but I'm sure they'll improve the more they get to work together.
Are they absolutely adorable together? Yes, they are.
Did the show do what it needed to? Yes. It's a show you can watch and relax. You don't have to have to follow along every five seconds, otherwise you lose the plot. You can just sit down, enjoy it and breathe after a long day of work.
To me, this was a good show. Not perfect, but definitely not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

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Cute, but nothing more

I hadn't watched anything else from JoongDunk, so I wasn't sure how the pairing would be. I found the couple to be very fun and cute, and while the storyline lacked some substance, it was a very cute romance that was a fun watch. I will admit, as many of the reviews here point out, there was no "hidden agenda". There was a slight misunderstanding and that's about it.

Zo (Dunk) has a crush on Nita, a girl in the debate club with him. Nita recently got out of a relationship with Joke (Joong), but the two seem to still be hanging out a lot. Zo decides to approach Joke and ask him if they're dating - and if not, ask for advice on what Nita likes so he can ask her out. Joke decides to coach Zo on how to win over Nita by going on fake dates with him; however, it's clear from the beginning that Joke's real motive is to win Zo over for himself.

Based on the summary and the title, I expected a lot more time in the show before Zo and Joke ended up dating. The relationship pacing felt a little off considering the premise, but I really wasn't opposed to it. I thought the romance between teh characters was really nice and it was a light and fun story. I did that that towards the end, they tried to bring in too many family conflicts which took away from the relationship. I assumed the issues would revolve around them coming out to friends and family and maybe some other relationship troubles, but instead their issues were totally unrelated to the romance, and still for some reason affected their relationship. These conflicts should have either been brought up earlier, or framed in a way that directly impacted the relationship of the main characters. Overall I enjoyed watching it and thought it was a cute romance that could have benefitted from a bit more plot outside of the relationship.

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Yeah, that wasn’t it…should have stayed hidden.

Hidden Agenda was, unfortunately, one of the most underwhelming BL dramas I’ve ever watched. The storyline felt like a hard labor to get through—uninspired, predictable, and lacking the emotional depth that’s crucial for this genre. Every episode seemed like a chore, with the plot dragging its feet and failing to capture any real sense of intrigue or engagement.

The acting did little to redeem the series. It was more than underwhelming; it was flat and unconvincing. The leads lacked chemistry, and their performances felt forced, as if they were merely going through the motions without truly embodying their characters. Like the actors have more chemistry, out of the series. Emotional scenes fell flat, comedic moments felt cringeworthy, and there wasn’t a single performance that stood out as memorable.

Finishing Hidden Agenda was a true pain in the ass. I kept hoping for something—anything—that would redeem the drama, but it just never delivered. Even the production quality, while adequate, couldn’t distract from the uninspired writing and lackluster performances.

I rarely give such a low rating, but Hidden Agenda earned it. A 2/10 feels generous, and that’s solely for the effort it must have taken to put the series together. Overall, it’s a drama I wouldn’t recommend, and I’d gladly forget I ever watched it.

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Disappointing Tale with a Good Concept

**Brief Synopsis**
B (Student): Zo
T (Student): Joke

- Beginning: B is in love with a girl and would like to know her better. However, he doesn’t know where to start so he decide to ask T, the girl’s ex, to help him with wooing her. T agrees in exchange for help getting in to the debate club but it was obvious from the beginning he was only interested in B and not debating. To teach B how to date, T brings B on a date, help him dress better and generally be true to himself. During his date, B’s heart started racing, but he doesn’t know what to think of it. He still goes on a date with the girl who finally notices him, but for some reason, when he finally got to sit down with her, he finds the experience lacking and his heart stayed silent. He retells the experience to T who assures him that it was fine. But when T puts an arm around him, B’s heart started to pound again.

- Middle: B and T spends more time together, thanks to T’s efforts. They go on trips and they get to know each other better. B still treats T as a friend which T takes advantage of to get closer to him. Finally B notices that something is up because T is acting way too intimate with him and starts distancing himself a little. T finally confesses to B and asks him for a chance to woo him. B did not refuse even if he still doesn’t know what he is feeling. He is obviously not comfortable with the PDA but is not repulsed by it. And when T does things such as hug him or spooning him while they sleep, he makes a slight show to refusing and then seems to enjoy the intimacy. After a while, B finally admits that he has feelings for T and kisses him.

- End: But after they have gotten together, B finds T’s chat logs and realizes that everything he thought was fate was actually a lie because T has planned everything out including pretending to help him get the girl. He is hurt that their relationship started with a lie and runs away. T goes to B to apologize and tells him how he had fallen for him in the first place. B is touched and ends up forgiving him. The show ends with them graduating and B telling T that he wants to stay with him forever.

**My Opinion**

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
- I actually liked the characters despite how underdeveloped they are. That is normal because the focus was entirely on their relationship rather than them as individuals.
- I really liked how the actors looked. They are really good looking and fits well together. I really like how B looked after he had taken off his glasses and started dressing more stylishly.
- I actually like the fact that I could feel the romantic tension between them since the beginning. The actors did an okay job in portraying this state of mind.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT IT:
- The plot is practically non-existence. The story is cliche and predictable and does not have any memorable moments.
- There were some subplots but the other characters aren’t developed enough for me to care about their stories.
- Acting can get a little awkward at times, especially when strong emotions needs to be displayed. Reactions can get cringey and underwhelming at times. For example, when B admits to his friends that T is trying to woo him, the way they react is way too calm. Or when T meets the guy who was a jerk to B before. Scenes with only the two of them are fine but once there are other people, it feels badly acted.
- Dialogue can get a little awkward as well. It’s moments like this that reminds me this is just a cheesy rom com. There is absolutely no depth to this show and every time they attempt to add depth, it comes off as unfinished and not thought out. For example, there was something about a stalker but it was resolved so fast that it didn’t leave an impression, just felt it was to extend the run time.
- The intimate scenes are pretty tame but I feel that something is just missing. It doesn’t feel as passionate as with other shows.
- The angst lacks the emotional punch because it’s just so cliche and the characters themselves doesn’t look to distressed about it. The angst comes from lying to your partner to get close to them and then them finding out, which is also an overused trope.

**Conclusion**
It was frankly a rather boring watch as I feel nothing happened and there was no reason to cheer the main couple on. It was a good concept but it was badly executed.

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