Bad Guy My Boss

Working title: Office vampires

The trailer was seriously deceiving. I was expecting an 18+ office romance but what we ended up getting was.. I don't know how to summarize it in a few words.

Things I liked:
- Pat's demeanor at work, always professional, no jealous outbursts.
- If you think about it, Elyse was actually a romantic. It's just a shame we didn't get a better explanation for why he kept a list of his FWBs and why there were so many.
- Kim, I really liked how he handled the breakup with Elyse and finally advised him to confess his feelings.

Things that were bad:
- the actor who played Elyse, I don't know what the problem was but the guy and his big, chubby faces were so off-putting and distracting.
- the constant sucking/kissing of necks, seriously, I was waiting for it to be revealed that they were all vampires.
- the character of Pat, for the love of god, one day he's hurt, insulted and sulking but the next day he spreads his legs as soon as he sees his closet. The guy never said no to him.
- too many repetitive NC scenes.

I watched it to the end just to know how it would end. But I definitely won't watch it again and I was glad it ended.

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Is there any worst BL in this universe, which can top this?

OMG, to my surprise i though Ming and Tong where horrible characters there is in the world of BL now i know they have a little brother named Elyes.
Writers
Listen, can you spare us with all these crichè in Bl of Ex who can take a hint? And those boring surprise kissing ,we are in 2025 ,and if you are into someone, when they kiss you on chick don't act like the sky in felling on you.
Actors here were not a good choice and they acting skills need more (a constructive criticism)
Toxicity of every character in this series is giving a spinning head, i just can't
Pat i just can't with you why do you keep on going to Elyes, why do you keeps on sleeping with him,knowing that he fuck around and yet cry that he have to treat you differently than those fwb ? By now you are one of them.
Have a decence to leave.
Run, my dear, you are suffering from Stockholm syndrome, that's not love my baby boy.
The rest of cast you all need therapy.

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Sometimes too much is just... too much

I will be completely honest here and say that I had to force myself to watch this show from the very beginning. It literally started out by assaulting the viewer with cliched, poorly-written, badly-acted, horribly overdone tropes that don't still need to exist in QL media in 2024. I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt (maybe my SSRI was working that day) and stuck with it.

Honestly, I will never doubt my instincts again. A spoiler-free pro-con list:

PRO:
- Chaos gremlin side character (always a welcome addition to any show)

CON:
- Pretty much everything else.
- It is deeply difficult to like most of the characters. At all.
- Speaking of unlikable characters, why are there so many? Did someone feed the Mogwai after midnight and their multiplying? No one needs this many villains in a BL; it's not Kinnporsche.
- The constant additions: characters, backstories, conflicts; why do we need so many?
- I made it through episode 8 without the slightest sign of character development from anyone. None. Mayflies go through more growth and don't they only live for a day?

The show would take the bullet train to the realm of "yeah, I'm done" and then suddenly have eight minutes where it looked like it was going to be interesting. The interesting aspects of the show, however, were few and far between (quite literally). The show seemed to rely on NC (and even that was mid - and I'm being kind here) and extraneous drama to cover the gaping plot holes and flat performances.

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Good Guy, My Loss

A Review in Two Letters

Letter 1. From James/Elyes to Me:

Dear Meng,

Forgive me for not writing sooner, but, something strange is going on. As you know, I left Auckland to take up a new position in Bangkok, and I was really looking forward to it. However, since coming here, my world has turned upside down. Completely. I fear I may have left the real world behind, and might now be the lead in a Thai BL. Is this a good thing? Or bad? Help!

Since I stepped foot in this beautiful country, people keep calling me handsome. It has never happened before. Men, women, children, pigeons... they all call me handsome. That was the first clue. I have also lost most of my body fat. You can now see muscles in my body that I did not know existed. Then there is my skin. You’d think that, even with sunscreen, my translucent skin would become more and more tanned, being this close to the equator. But, if you can believe it, I’ve become paler. I suspect someone has been applying a thick coat of make-up on me when I'm asleep, all over my body, and it refuses to come off when I shower. You’d also think that the humidity of Bangkok would mess up my hair into unmanageable frizz. But no, every strand perfectly falls into place, even when it's wet with lube or shampoo.

I am the head of a company whose name I do not know, and whose business I do not understand. I wear suits. It is 35 C outside and I wear suits. I do not sweat. For some reason, I also cannot button up my shirt. Every time I try, it keeps unbuttoning itself, sometimes down to my waist. I go up to my colleagues showing my nipples and navel. Is this sexual harrassment?

I have an assistant. His name is Pat. At this time, I’m pretty sure we have an abusive relationship. I think I’m still gay in this world, or at least bi, but I’m not allowed to say it. Everytime I try to, someone chokes my throat. Not sure who. (Also, all the men in this world seem to be gay, except for one friend of Pat’s. Who would have thought it? Gay friends are no longer the side-kicks, but straight men are. Progress?) Anyway, this assistant does not to do any company work. He just manages my sex life. Which, I think, takes up a good chunk of my waking hours. I know he’s in love with me, and I like him too, so it is only fitting that I treat him horribly, and make him cater to my every whim. I am obsessive, possessive, and controlling, and I'm pretty sure I'm gaslighting him too. I suspect I'll be stalking him soon, then abduct him, and keep him under house arrest. All very romantic. But he loves it... I think. Weirdly, I have this other fuckbuddy named Kim who’s much hotter, and way better in bed. Pat, by comparison, is stiff as a board, and resists me like a Victorian virgin. Yet, the BL gods have willed it that I must lust after this wet blanket.

I keep falling ill. Pat keeps falling ill. We both keep fainting, often from a cold, often caught from a single drop of rain. But we don’t go to the doctors. Oh no. We unbutton our shirts instead (in my case, there's just one button left), and we gently rub each other’s white-as-chalk chests -- and, weirdly, our knee-pits, which is apparently an erogenous zone here -- with wet towels. I suppose leeches and blood-letting are no longer sexy.

Am I the arsehole here? You don’t need to ask Reddit. I am. Yet I’m sure there’s a reason for it, and a past will be revealed which will perfectly justify my present behaviour. Until then, I’ll have to put up with everyone calling me a “red flag”. Which is fine, because I hate "green flags". Only, I’m not sure I want to stay here. I know, it’s a pretty cushy life I have right now. I'm rich, hot, immensely fuckable, and answerable to no one. Who’d want to give all that up? But it sits so oddly with the world of today, and the person I was, that my conscience might not permit it. We shall see.

I’ll write if I have any updates. Pray for me.

Love,
J./E.

*****

Letter 2. From me to Elyes

Dear Elyes,

You will notice that I'm no longer calling you by your birth name, because I've been waiting for a reply to my last three letters, and have received none. I must presume therefore that you have now embraced your new identity, and are completely of the BL world, with no access to reality whatsoever.

You lucky bastard. Couldn't you have taken me with you? I hate it here. You get to live in a world where homophobia does not exist, where the majority of men are gay, and where straight people exist just to support you. A photographic negative, in other words, of the real world. Worse, in your world, you are also apparently rich, handsome, and attractive to anything that can breathe, all of which makes me want to run to my GP and ask for a prescription for Ozempic and Rogaine. Only, I can't afford either, because, in this world, I don't even have a pot to piss in.

Admittedly, there is a Mephistophelean bargain here: you've been reduced to a mere stick figure without any psychological depth or complexity, upon whom is foisted the most boring of lives, and the most nauseating language. But who cares? I just want a happy ending -- in every sense of that word. So do you, and so, certainly, does the audience, most of whom will eat this up no matter how horrible you are, and no matter how "toxic" they find you. And when the show "redeems" you, which it doubtless will, all the people who once screamed "red flag" at their screens would now cheer for you and Pat. Where's the incentive then to be good or have a personality? Sod it. You do you, girlfriend!

I was, for a moment, sad for you, because you are now trapped within the confines of this world, and must live out the same segments of your new life over and over again. But I soon realised that's jealousy talking. You get to be perpetually young, perpetually rich, and perpetually happy, while others around you, including the man you supposedly love, get perpetually abused, insulted, or shoved aside. I suppose that that, at least, is a faithful enough reflection of the real world. But then, we *know* the real world is horrible. Otherwise, none of us would be watching Thai BLs now, would we?

That said, a large part of me is also quite angry. Not with you, necessarily, but with the writers. On the one hand, I have lost you as a friend, and that makes me sad. On the other, I'm angry that the writers have written you into this cheap, derivative, lifeless world, instead of creating for you, and for us, a fantasy that is more worthy of you, less demeaning to others, and had greater ambitions. But then the gods of Thai BL have decided that stories such as yours, which they keep churning out at the rate of one a week, is all that its audience deserves. And why not? We keep coming back, because, evidently, we are all masochists here, and we will put up with any amount of suffering to see an imaginary glimpse of happily-ever-after.

I don't want to end on a wistful note. I shall miss you, and I miss the best days of Thai BL. But I want you to be happy. Do us a favour though, will you? When you do get together with Pat, for the tenth time no doubt, have the decency to dick him down properly. I mean, dick him down so properly that he will never have cause to complain again -- except perhaps of having to limp to work. The poor lad deserves at least that, don’t you think?

Take care, my friend.

Love,
Meng.


Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Blame it on the Bossa Nova
DON'T SAY: What's HR?

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Terrible (Affectionate)

This show is perfect. Is the acting good? Not really. Is the story good? No. Everything about it is over the top, melodramatic, and ridiculous. I still have no idea what any of these people do for a living, nor do I care. The boss, Elyes, is indeed a bad guy. Pat could and should do better, but he's not going to and I was at for it.

The side couple was a delicious toxic mess. I'd watch another 12 episodes about their dysfunctional romance.

If you unironically love constipated, unavailable men who violate every HR rule in the book to sleep with their subordinates, this show is for you. If you grew up on soap operas or telenovelas, this show is for you. If you like to see beautiful people behave terribly, this show is for you. Our kink is ok. 10/10. No notes.

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Truely bland

The main problem is the production and direction, no idea about the acting as they way they were directed boiled down to roughly two facial expressions per character.

The plot is basically a version of What is Wrong With Secretary Kim, but without any humor, or proper direction.
Its starts with how it is colour graded, bland costumes, looks like most of the scenes were shot in a disused modern railway station, there is a lot of walking.

The screenplay and script, There was a story but unfortunately the dialogue was sparse and the silences filled with one of the two facial expressions. A couple of the usual tropes. Perhaps if this was edited to about 8 eps, cut all the repetitive shots, and the making faces like they were sucking lemons, it could have some pace.

My score is for in horse dressage score terms is 5, sufficient, you just went through the motions.

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I Watched It 16 Times. You Should Watch It Zero !

I’m fully aware that my taste in BL might be questionable, but one thing is certain—I’m extremely picky. I rarely give a drama a 9/10. I judge everything: plot, chemistry, acting, atmosphere, visuals. If even one thing feels off, I usually drop the rating without mercy.

This is only the second time I’ve given such an offensive score to a drama that honestly doesn’t deserve it. And no, it’s not because it’s good. It’s because of rewatch value—or rather, my own hypocrisy. I’ve watched it 16 times, not because it’s worth watching, but because nostalgia and bad decisions are powerful things.

To be very clear: this drama is not worth watching. Not even once. If you think this is genuinely good, then we clearly don’t share the same taste in BL—and that’s fine. I’m not here to convince you otherwise.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, annoying, or unnecessary. I’m just being honest… painfully honest.

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I lost count on how many times I said....

Yes I am one of those people who talks to the T.V./Computer why I am watching something. I don't know how many times I yelled at my PC why I was wayching his.... It was either Asshole, Dumb Ass, Moron, Idiot, Stupid, Bastard, Piece os Shit and there may have been more I don't remeber.

Now I knew I before I started this that the Elyes was an Asshole, but I didn't think the guy would be that stupid when it came to the Elyes for as long as he was....

Elyes's ex was a piece of crap as well for doing what he did to him. that was so totally uncalled for. Still no reason for Elyes to treat people the way he did.

I could go on about alot but I don't feel like it I want to get to bed.... I do want to say that the acting in this was pretty good, I can't say it was 100% but it was still pretty good. If you are wanting to watch this, it's not a bad watch, just remember you will get annoyed, maybe even pissed as you watch this. So fair warning before you start this.

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Bad Guy... Plot Went MIA

Bad Guy My Boss is a Thai BL drama that initially piqued my interest with its intriguing teasers, but unfortunately, it fell short of delivering the same level of satisfaction in execution. While it’s a consumable watch, it left much to be desired, particularly in terms of coherence and believability.

The series was, at best, a patchwork of ideas thrown together without much concern for narrative consistency. The story lacked clarity and often felt like a compilation of unrelated concepts mashed into a single plotline. This incoherence made it hard to stay invested, and while I did complete the series, it was more out of curiosity than enjoyment. The overreliance on sensual scenes to fill plot gaps was particularly noticeable, and though this may appeal to some viewers, it detracted from the overall storytelling.

That said, there were moments of believability, especially in the subplot featuring Thiti and Thiranai. Their dynamic felt more grounded compared to the main leads, whose interactions often veered into the realm of the unbelievable. Speaking of the main leads, while they were undeniably attractive (Pat without glasses, in particular), their chemistry and character arcs left much to be desired. Pat’s portrayal as a naive, often irritating protagonist showcased some potential but wasn’t enough to carry the series.

The premise of a "sexually induced bad guy" is a challenging one to pull off, and in this case, the execution fell flat. The actor’s lack of skill to embody this complex character type was evident, especially when compared to Pavel’s portrayal in Pit Babe, which, while not exceptional, was at least believable. The sensual scenes, instead of adding depth or tension, often felt gratuitous and misplaced, mirroring the disjointed nature of the plot.

The series reminded me of Unforgotten Night, another Thai BL drama with a similarly incoherent narrative. However, at least Unforgotten Night had a character like Phusanu, whose strong-willed personality added a sense of direction to the story. In contrast, Bad Guy My Boss struggled to establish a clear identity, feeling more like Guy with High Sex Drive Boss Became My Lover.

Overall, Bad Guy My Boss is neither bad nor good, it sits squarely in the middle, as a series that’s watchable but not memorable. While it might appeal to viewers looking for a light, uninvolved watch, it’s not something I’d rewatch intentionally.

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