Another GMMTV'S BL with unsual themed that interesting in a first glance but it work otherwise.
Overall for 5 episodes, i can say something thay maybe triggered the fandom of the artist but i'm not afraid of toxic BL stan. Cz i pay to watch this series and i have right to give my opinion towards it.Disclaimer, my takes on Kidnap is based on my preference in Thai BL genre; Suspense, Crimes, Drama, Mystery. If you only watch drama/series to see gay things and fethisizing it (only want to watch the intimate gay fanservice scene) don't read my review cz you will comment "get out from this series if you don't like it as simple as that you are just a haters"
Before we into Kidnap, i want to tell you that Thai BL series is lack of dark genre. I can only list few of them; Manner Of Death, Triage, Never Let Me Go, Kinnporsche, 4minutes, Laws Of Attraction, Dead Friend Forever. And my expectation is: Kidnap would be in this top list of Suspense/Thrill Drama.
And my expectation goes wrong.
Kidnap serve us with cheap romcom, which is (disclaimer) not my cup of tea. But this is Ohm Pawat, who doesn't want to see him on screen? So let's just enjoy him being sexy gay guy.
I will give you my opinion based on 5 important thing that should in a good series; Plot (script/dialogue/characters) Acting (micro expression/mimic/gesture), Cinematography (editing/grading/cut scene), Sound Design (music/ost/backsound), and Set (location)
Plot:
+ It was interesting for the first few time you watch it. Something irregular that happened in GMMTV's production (not a high school drama). The big idea is good, i can see the vision of the writers where they want this plot to lead the story until the end.
+ The story doesn't have too many characters in it. All the characters that present in this story is a plot driven. They don't waste any characters as fillers, means they focused only to the main/suppport characters that can develop the plot into something that leading them to the ending, i like this motivation of work.
- The dialogue was cheap and cheesy for some important scene. I thought the script writers can be more comprehensive to make impactful dialogue for the characters in the series. But it annoyed me when Q or Min's dialogue wasn't represent the feelings/emotions that should be present in the important scene.
- The plot filling with A LOT of illogical thing and a plot hole. I felt ike i can help the writers to make a well written plot and make it a lil bit logical. Also, the characters has no layers, it just feel bland and we can't empathy enough with the character's decision. They also push the romance roughly, like it's too illogical fot an illogical story. They could do better. It's too bland and too cheap for Netflix show, it's embarrasing to watch. Only Ohm Pawat the worthy thing here.
Plot rating 6.5/10
Acting:
+ Ohm as main lead can potray this thin layers of characters so well. His emotions can be felt by just seeimg into his eyes and his little gesture or micro expression. He can control the character so well and he give Min one of the bestest performance compared to his previous work Double Savage or Wednesday Club. He match with the directing style of p'Noom.
+ Yada, the Mafia Boss Woman. Her acting was good and neccessary, i have no complain about her acting as a villain. Good job
+ The acting chemistry between Ohm Pawat and Ohm Thipakorn was top tier. They really looks alike and Ohm showing that he is love his lil bro so much.
- Leng as Q was a forced doing. He can pull his ability to play simple romance comedy or slice of life type of series but idk why the company forced him to do something that below his ability. He is lack of micro expression, voice intonations, gesture and so many more. He is as a rookie not doing his best job, and i would like to blame the company to force a rookie like him to play a rough dark characters. This role are not suitable for him. I hope in next project he got a lil bit simple themed drama and not forced to be a main lead. He has the potential to grow.
- Ohm Thipakorn, Chelsea, Title, Papang was very, very mediocore. I hope them to be more 'act', not only a 'scripted act'. They can do better.
- Ohm and Leng awkward chemistry. Idk if it effect of watching YinWar Jack&Joker in the same time cz they have big BIG chemistry or i just can't feel the chemistry between them. They almost got the chemisty as a brothers, not a couple. All they do is just showing "fanservice" for intimate gay show enjoyer, nothing more than that.
Acting rating: 5/10
Cinematography:
+ The camera works are doing very well. It giving 'not cheap production' like other GMMTV's show. It so dreamy and looks so decent. Good job for that.
+ The composition scene are very good, they give so many good angle and unawkward panel.
+ Cut scene are VERY GOOD. The director has that sense to make a good cut scene. No awkward cut scene, all smooth and clean. It really give you satisfying feelings.
- The inconsistency of color grading. At first episode, it looks VERY GOOD. Not too dull, but not to bright/dark. But in other episode, the grading is not consistent, it's somehow a bit too dark, or too blue, or too white. What's wrong with grading team????
Cinematography rating: 6.5/10
Sounds Design:
- I don't have any plus on this. They are very BAD at sound designing. I blame the audio visual team to make a cringe sounda effect and irrelevant music to irrelevant scene. This is too annoying and makes me uncomfortable. The comedic sound are sooo annoying it better watch Kidnap without audio.
-The OST are not giving. Out of themed. Too soap opera music.
Sounds Design rating: 4/10
Set/Location:
+ They pick a cute house for Min and his brother to live, sadly they need to sell that cute homie home. I love the home, it feels homie.
+ Bar, restaurant, or anything related to other set expect home is good, it's believable, not really cheap and relevant to the themed. GOOD JOB!
Set/Location rating: 7/10
Overall rating for Kidnap was: 5.8/10
Are this series worthy to watch? Let me give you some perspective;
- If you searching for a series to kill your time and you are not in a period of watching other series, it is not really worthy. But if you want to see Ohm Pawat as a Hot Gay Guy, it's all worthy😂.
-If your preference are series that only contain a drama, lovey dovey, a gay fanservices scene, male love male intimate scene without too much thinking about the plot, it's might be worthy enough to watch.
-If your preference are high standard drama like 4 Minutes, Last Twilight, or anything that contain a huge plot with well written story, Kidnap isn't worthy at all. You might be mad to watch series that is not well written and so much plot hole😂
So this is all my opinion towards one of GMMTV's BL that airing in this Period. 🙌
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Fresh air in 2024 BL era. Looking raw outside, but actually not.
Jack & Joker might be a one of the most awaited BL for 2024. Yin and War will served us by their talent again on screen in this year and we all really anticipate with their another artwork.Disclaimer, i'm not in Yinwar fandom but i watch Love Mechanics and i don't really eyeing for that one. But Yin and War ability in acting is no joke and they are super talented.
I will give you my opinion based on 5 important things that should be in a good series. Plot, Acting, Cinematography, Music and Setting.
Plot:
+ Jack and Joke is a WELL WRITTEN characters. The characters has layers and depth of emotions, it makes both of main lead are shining. Jack written as a good boy with tragic background family somehow related to how fucked up background family that Joke has. It's all connected in interesting way, and ended being a good harmony of chemistry. The simple details of both Jack and Joke characters interwined their bond and make them super related to each other, like yin and yang, but in very human and realistic way. The wr⁸iters really put so much effort to make both of the main lead slowly building their bond without any rush. It's blended perfectly and smoothly, very satisfying.
+ The big idea? SO GOOD. A love story with slowburn paced between a very human characters and an anti hero. The main lead as anti hero is rare to find in Thai BL so this is very genius. Story paced are normal, not too rush, but not too slow. But there's a disadvantage of how the "Big Idea" will deliver in just 12 eps.
- THE PLOT HOLES. Holy shit this almost ruining the fun of the story. ALL OF THE THINGS that maybe important aren't included in the story and i feel very uncomfortable with this. I will give you some point:
1. The way the writers forgot to give us a clue how Joker IS A REALLY BADDY THIEF. Like they not showing the flashback story of Joker is A BIG thief in underground circle, and not showing to us how he managed to be that baddy. After he imprisoned, he just walking casually to that underground area and getting attention. He being super populer underground for being anti hero isn't highlighted in a few first episodes. It make me wondering why they cut how people in underground are "idolizing" him as anti hero. This is very important part. Yeah i know it presented by just a dialogue in the series, but it is not satisfy me personally. I want a compact flashback with flamboyant vibes to introduces "JOKER".
2. That little story of Rose, Jack and Joker. It's fucking cringey i can't help that it was too embarrasing to watch.
3. The way Tattoo and his friend introduced. There's a lot of plot holes and their characters are not strong.
There's so many plot holes in 1 to 5 episode i can't tell you more. An illogical story that could be better if they have more episode/budget to make the story more realistic. Also, the unimportant and irrelevant comedy with bad timing. Ughh.
Rating for story: 7.5/10
Acting:
+We all agree that YinWar is one of the most talented actor in Thai BL industry. The quality of acting that they served to us is incredible. I have NO complaint at all for their chemistry, acting, mimic, micro expression on screen. They ate.
-Unfortunately, the acting of the support roles are doing otherwise. I don't expect that Mark Siwat's act are super rough and not delivering. His acting was super cringe idk why i think he need more strict director to lead him to play this role. Some of his dialogue are deliverd in a weird way, and his voice intonations is like a rookie. I don't like his acting in this one, but i hope he can gradually improving in the next project or in the next episode. Other than Siwat, is a super standard level of quality. Somehow it annoyed me, somehow isn't.
Rating for Acting: 7.5/10
Cinematography:
+It's very Thai BL classic. Not disturbing but not impressive. They shoot a good angle and their cut scene is smooth, no awkward cut scene and the transition from scene to scene are clear. Satisfying enough for me.
+Grading was good. It's on themed, not too greenish/sephia looks, but not too bright. It makes the vibes of the drama are on point. Good Job!
Rating for Cinematography: 8.5/10
Music Design:
+Ok. Just ok, no loud or disturbing music.
-Ugh personally i hate comedic sound in every Thai BL series.
-The OST are out of themed. I personally don't like it.
Rating for Music Design: 7/10
Setting/location/property:
+Everything looks good and believeable. Jack house are my favorite. The mansion of Boss are classic and i love the interior. I love the outdoor space, the parking lot, even the bar that Jack and Joke met for the first time.
Rating for Set: 9/10
So my total score for Jack&Joker; U Steal My Heart!:
7.9/10
It's worthy to give it a try.
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