Jack and Joker (2024)

Did I go in with too high expectations?

When I watched the first couple of episodes of this show I was absolutely sold. It's the most excited I've been about a show in a long time. I felt like it had everything: action, chemestry, production value, excellent performances.
Unfortunately for me, around episode 3/4 the story/writing started falling a little flat for me. It didn't focus enough on building the relationship and tension between the leads and instead focused on what felt like kind of random plotlines. The changes in tone also mostly didn’t work for me.
That being said, I really loved most of the performances. Grandma alone might have added a star to my rating. And the actor who playes Joke is a revelation. I really hope I get to see the main actors again in something with a story and writing more to my taste.

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Entertaining Joke.

Let me precede this by saying I liked this show; it was fun to watch, and I've quite enjoyed it. It was entertaining, but not the masterpiece some opinions made me believe it would be.
I do appreciate the effort and work put into this, especially considering it was a passion project of War and Yin, and for that they really deserve a lot of praise. 
They both delivered amazing performances, but the show lacked properly built intimacy between their characters. For the record, by intimacy I don't mean NC scenes. The script spent so little time on building the foundation for their relationship that it just didn't work as a love story. In all honesty there was less screen time allocated for them being together and communicating than some unnecessary although fun thievery.
I really appreciate the accurate portrayal of people living in or near poverty levels. Most dramas show us beggars in designer clothes, living in spacious homes or apartments and driving new Toyota. The show portrayed economic struggle and social issues, lack of opportunities, education, and the necessity of going into debt really well. Thanks to this, the motivations of the characters entangled with these problems were easy to understand.
That being said, the plot, though interesting, was very uneven quality-wise. After a relatively long period of establishing the environment, there was a lot crammed all at once into the second half of the show. As a result, the pacing was all over the place.
I'm not one to nitpick on the "realism" of action shows, but some choices in this script just didn't make any sense. The prime example being the whole "ring of power" premise for the Four Horsemen. 
I try not to take things too seriously if the show itself doesn't, but these last 2 episodes? They've lost the plot completely. Playing a game of Monopoly to decide the level of influence? The collars? What in the squid game is this? The big bad boss ended up being a very one-dimensional villain considering how much time was allocated for establishing his presence.
It was simultaneously too much and not enough to make this show great for me. I would call this the case of putting form over substance or maybe a show that fell victim to its own ambition.

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I wish it didn’t crash, but it did :(

I was actually looking forward to the show seeing all the hype and the 1st episode delivered perfectly, I had tears in my eyes at the end but was salivating for more. And the next 3-5 episodes were very good, I didn’t mind the slow burn at all as it made a lottt of sense for the characters to build their relationship after the unfortunate betrayal and incidents. Even though the thief heists after the jewellery one was bleh, I took it as camp and ignored my brain trying to point out how stupid the plans were. (The only highlights were Joke’s disguises LOVED THEM ALL).

But it truly started falling off the rails with the boss and the 4 horsemen playing weird games, gambling kidneys(?), having Joke act as a dog, the ring of random power etc. Tbh, I get the concept of portraying the ultra rich playing with the lives of those in poverty but the genre shift from the first few episodes to THIS felt very unnatural. The show got me back in its clutches with Joker’s breakdown (😭) but then it went completely BONKERS with the bomb collars. Still, they somehow scrapped this shit ending with it all being ANOTHER game to fool the boss.

So many characters don’t really go anywhere after the mid point, their stories weren’t written that well. Boss and the religious cult lady’s backstory had potential but we got 3 lines. Arun and Tattoo had so much cute 2nd couple potential but it was never developed properly.
But I did love our little family with Jack, Joke, Grannie and the little girl. Let’s hope for a better script next time YinWar!

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a touch of something different but with incredible chemistry

Am I rating this a bit higher than it probably deserves purely because YinWar's chemistry is just so dang good? Why yes, yes I am. But to be honest the two of them are the only reason I tuned in to watch this show in the first place and their performance did not disappoint. Alone they each carried their characters with strong masculinity and incredible depth of emotions that brought the two men to life and made you as the viewer root for each individually. But man together, those two delivered so much magnetism where even scenes where they were fighting felt like flirting. The show is tailor made for them and their acting ability shines in these two roles that portray them in more mature characters than they have done in the past. The emotion they carry in their eyes and their ability to really make you feel what they are feeling. I am in love with these two actors and this show will be popular purely because of them.

Now for the plot and other characters. The show begins really strong with the presentation of their respective backgrounds and initial meeting. The first episode is one of my absolute favorite among any shows I have seen. At the end of the first episode you see what led the two characters in the directions they went and are greeted 5 years later in the second episode where the remainder of the show takes place. Joke, who accidentally incriminated Jack after making a bank heist immediately sought to rectify his mistake by turning himself in. After five years in prison he comes out determined to make it up to Jack by apologizing in any way he can. Those five years have not been kind to Jack however and he is now a debt collector for the shady Boss of his home town where he must do things and behave in ways that goes against his character.

The explosive first meeting between these two after five years begins to crack at Jack's facade and cement Joke's determination to help bring back the gentle Jack he met many years before. This determination will lead Joke to another heist to try and free Jack from Boss. And this is where that saying "the best laid plans' comes in to play. Where no matter the effort there is bound to be problems.

The show makes an effort to highlight different aspects that you don't see in other dramas right now. The portrayal of extreme poverty and the toll it takes on people and community. How it snuffs out dreams and will undoubtedly lead to behaving in ways they may not have chosen if given any other option. Like Tattoo who despicably cheats his friends in order to get himself out of debt not once but twice. His desperation to leave his situation is seen in most the characters of their community. And then on the complete opposite side you have the Four Horsemen or the wealthiest families that lord over the common folk and treat them as pawns in games they invent. Their over the top behaviors showcase their complete lack of humanity because of their wealth and privilege. And then there is Boss who is the main antagonist in this story. Greed being his driving force that makes him lose touch with reality and continuously become more and more unhinged.

As an overview and understanding of what the writers wanted to portray I do get it but I also think that the show was not completely successful in actually doing that. Most the characters have no real character growth (with the exception being Rose who began to see her privilege through her interest in Jack and started to change as she was exposed to their world). Many of even the supporting characters also felt cartoonish and over the top making the heavy subject matter not hit as well as it could have such as Hoy and Lompran. These two characters were practically the same just on different sides. Hoy is the uneducated and dopey for the commoner side while Lompran is ridiculously overconfident and silly for the elites.

Slight spoilers below:

The plot holes also become very apparent the further you get into the drama and by episode 11 you are rolling your eyes a bit. While the show touches on serious subject matter it tries to do it lightheartedly with silly humor which felt forced and cheapened the story a bit. I think by removing some of the more ridiculous storylines towards the end then this would have been an absolutely brilliant drama. The harm of a child and the sidekick friend groups plans A through E were used as plot devices to create tension and then give comedic relief but both scenarios could have completed the goal if done differently. Exposure of Joke's betrayal by stealing again could have already created the division the plot wanted between the two main characters without Toi Ting and the sidekick scene could have been removed all together in lou of an actual well thought out plan from Jack or Joke with them instead that would have felt more realistic and flowed the story better. Boss's power play also felt very immature for a supposedly lucrative crime boss that had been at it for many years.

All those things aside I still enjoyed watching this show and applaud Yin and War on their performances and will probably rewatch many of their scenes throughout the drama. While there are plot holes and over the top storylines this is still a better drama than many others I have seen both from BL and from Thailand even with its low budget. Kudos to the whole production for that.

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This was fine.

I'm so angry with myself for not liking this as much as I hoped! I was so damn sure "Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!" was going to be a winner 2024.
I’m on the fence as to how to grade this one. The plot is good, the characters are appealing (I really liked Jack, Joker and the cast of side characters) and the ending was pretty satisfying too, and I was happy to see how everything wrapped up.
If you’re in the market for a socialconflict, dramatic romance with a lots of intrigue and slight comedy, then perhaps Jack & Joker will work better for you than it did for me.
The series is full of hot, flirty fun between Jack and Joke while also diving into lots of schemes and secrets. There are crushes, trickery, honou, amily dynamics and quite a bit of insight into the debt collectors.
I think I'm just not the right spectator for this series. There were definitely aspects I enjoyed. There were lines that made me grin and some plot elements I really liked. Unfortunately the way it was presented I never felt fully engaged. Even the plot points that I felt excitement over never fully grabbed me, partly because of the pacing and partly because of my expectations.
7.5 stars
I can't bring myself to only give this 7 stars, because I liked the characters and their relationships.

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As I was finishing the series, I initially thought about not writing a review. However, the actors delivered such outstanding performances that it would feel disrespectful not to acknowledge them.

I enjoyed the storyline up until around episodes 7 or 8. After that point, it started to feel rhetorical and repetitive. Jack and Joke's love story was so brief, it left me wanting more. The fighting scenes, on the other hand, felt excessively long and dragged out.

Another missed opportunity was the introduction of love stories among some characters that were never fully addressed. It’s disappointing because the series had so much potential to be truly great.

That said, the cast was excellent. This was my first time seeing Yin and War, and I can confidently say they were fantastic.

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everyone should see this series!!

I just have to say this series is so amazing. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a good one, and this one is so good.
I’d rewatch it over a hundred times.
The quality is absolutely incredible. so many series lack this level of quality, but this one? Its amazing.
The storyline never gets boring, it’s always interesting. I also love the acting, they’ve done a great job.
Each actor has done such a great job making the emotions feel real and relatable and the chemistry between the characters is so good.
I can already see this series becoming one of my top 3 favorites.

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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.

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Exploring Jack and Joke's Character Dynamics

The story of Jack is a typical story that we have witnessed many times. He is an impoverished boy but capable of going to great lengths. Jack lives with his grandma and is in huge debt. Regardless of his poor state, he still aspires to stay a civilian. He aspires to help other children in his community. Unfortunately, he encounters Joke which makes him care for this unknown guy named Joker. People might say that it’s fast-paced. As a viewer, it is something that can not be described just by looking. It’s something that is far beyond the concept of feelings which we have approached in typical form. They are two lonely hearts wandering in this immoral world. They are looking for a ray of hope to revive their youthful lives again. But destiny didn't grant their wish and they ended up in the vicious cycle of hiding and chasing. The character of Joke is twisted but partially not guilty. His childhood story revolves around him being the legendary thief known as Joker. Why is it legendary? Have to look ahead to this series.

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Jack and Joker: U Steal My Heart* – Beyond BL, a Thai Drama for the Ages

Jack and Joker: U Steal My Heart* is not just a high-quality BL series but an exceptional Thai drama with rich character depth, excellent acting, and captivating story development. Released in 2024, this series has been touted by many fans as one of the year’s best and potentially one of the most memorable Thai series to date.

**Plot and Story Development**
The storyline is brilliantly crafted, offering a suspenseful and emotionally resonant plot that goes beyond typical BL fare. Jack (played by Yin Anan) and Joker, aka Joke (War Wanarat), represent two men from different worlds whose paths continually cross in the most unexpected ways. While the plot may feel slightly slow in parts, this deliberate pacing allows the characters to reveal their complex motivations and personal growth, creating a deep, layered story.

**Outstanding Performances**
War’s portrayal of Joker is particularly notable—he captures the character's wit, charisma, and hidden vulnerability with skill that sets him apart as one of Thailand’s finest actors. Yin also delivers a strong and nuanced performance as Jack, balancing his character’s reserved demeanor with a magnetic intensity that draws viewers in. Together, War and Yin’s chemistry is electrifying, adding an authenticity to their evolving relationship that feels natural and compelling.

**Beyond Romance**
While the romantic tension between Jack and Joker is palpable, the series dives deeper than the typical romance arc. It explores themes of loyalty, justice, and moral ambiguity, especially through Joker’s “Robin Hood” persona as he navigates a world of crime for a noble cause. This multifaceted storytelling makes the series feel both refreshing and mature, offering an appeal that resonates with a wider audience beyond BL fans.

**Top-Notch Cast and Production**
The supporting cast, including actors like Prom Ratchapat and Mark Siwat, enhance the story, bringing vibrant performances that ground the main plot. With Tee Bundit Sintanaparadee at the helm, the production quality is stellar, boasting beautifully shot scenes and well-coordinated action sequences that elevate the viewing experience. Every detail, from the set design to the choreography, adds to the show’s high standards.

In summary, *Jack and Joker* stands out as more than just a BL drama; it’s a testament to the power of exceptional storytelling, a talented cast, and the dedication to creating a series that resonates deeply with viewers. It's a journey through love, sacrifice, and the struggle between light and shadow—making it a must-watch that will undoubtedly leave an impression.

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