Multilicus

Tattoo needs a sort-of redemption arc (or coming clean) too - if it wasn't for him, the whole necklace problem wouldn't exist. I guess Joke doesn't hold a grudge against Tattoo, Jack kinda has no clear reason to do it, but Aran and Hoy both do.

You wrote "The one star I gave this show is...". I'm gonna nitpick a little, but is it even possible to rate a show lower than with 1.0 in each category (on MDL)?
I agree with a lot in your review (although I disliked the opening credits theme right away), probably won't write my own on this show, watched it (technically still am, as ep. 12 is yet to air) for Krismon Thanawat Sutthijaroen (whom I enjoyed in "Love in the air" - even though it was the smallest possible role), didn't enjoy it too much, but still gave it a 6.0 (so slightly above the average on a scale from 1.0 to 10.0).

I liked that at the end of ep. 5 Rose got something of her own theme - a slower, darker, foreboding version of the opening credits theme.

YinWar scenes in ep. 5 were awesome - the silly, the serious, the touching and the freaking parking lot one that got me all teary. Though it's the onions from my sandwich (it's supper time in my time zone), but no - YinWar. Bastards.

I think it's mutual - that's why in ep. 1 they were so drawn to each other and that's why Jack felt so bad. He felt betrayed, but not by a random stranger, by some criminal who crossed his path and decided to rob the bank on the same day he came to ask for a loan - he felt like he was betrayed by someone he knew and wanted to know more/better.

They could use that in one of their ads. Their reaction videos on YWPB House channel on YT include funny, improvised ads.

I want to know more about that "Ghost" remake. Would War play the part of Molly (originally played by Demi Moore) or Sam (originally played by the late Patrick Swayze)? In "Ghost" Molly was the potter. And would Yin play the other half of the couple? If so, the "pottery scene" remake would be criminally good - regardless whether it would be played seriously or for laughs.

Depends on what you like. It's a rom-com with elements of action and some darker and more serious undertones, as well as some lighter (at times goofy) stuff. There'e a lot of things happening, but in its core it's a BL rom-com with quite interesting characters. Most of the performances are solid, the cast consists of YWPB and their usuall collaborators, and was bolstered with experienced veterans from all over the industry (including an appearance of GMMTV's Jennie Panhan). Yin and War are extremally good in this one, it's a true tour de force of both of them. If you're not convinced by other aspects of this show - try it for YinWar being at the top of their game.

Judging from the preview she'll be there because she's rich (which allows her to participate in the illegal/black market auction) and knows Aran (I think it's her who calls him "Aran Rat Teeth"), so she'll be there as someone who can expose him - as well as make life harder for Jack. She was set up in ep. 1 as a rich girl detached from reality, but wanting to know what real life looks like. That will pay of later, I think, as in the series trailer we see her opening some reach out centre and talking with Jack about her motivation. Not sure how sincere she really is.

Happy birthday to Mr Wong!

Ep. 4: I didn't mind the goofy stuff nor the convoluted side plots - I loved the Jack and Joke moments (even the scene with the coach was one of those moments), how serious and touching they were.

I watched "The Best Story".

Wish there were more Mondays in a week...

Hard to say, as all we have are a few glimpses from ep. 4 previews. Aran/Arun (not sure which version of his name is correct) will try to find the necklace, maybe replace it with a fake to hide the theft from Boss, and will - sooner or later - bump into Tattoo; not sure whether Hope or Jack will have anything to do with it. The only ones who can link Tattoo to the necklace are Hoy, Joke and the pawn shop owner - only the latter seems like someone who could actually get in touch with Boss and spill the tea.

Fully agreed. And they wasted him in "My Love Mix-Up!"; he deserved better.

Don't think they've exited the show or are about to do it. A short clip used in the official trailer shows Hoy and Tattoo (with Aran next to him) giving a surprise welcome to grandma (flanked by Jack and Joker) at her home. Given where all those characters are now this is probably set much later in the show.

BTW: I am a little surprised people say "Jack and Joker" isn't dark or gritty. I'd say it's very gritty - looking at home and living conditions of Jack, Tattoo and Hoy (as well as their neighbourhood), which are in stark contrast to homes and apartments usually seen in BLs: big (or at least spacious), clean, full of light, well furnished and located either in city centres or suburbs. Joke's family may be considered middle class, but Jack, Tattoo, Hoy and basically all debtors of Boss are poor or even below that and have to fight for survival - becoming victims of loan sharks and their henchmen. If that's not dark enough, how about this: in ep. 3 Jack's grandmother calls him to ask when he'll be coming home. He replies that he's still at work. We know what his work is about, but this time while we see him having this conversation with his granny we also see Hope scolding and beating up his subordinates - that's what kind of job Jack has. Regardless what Jack thinks of this situation or how the audience perceives this scene (scumbag grunts getting beaten up by a higher-level scumbag), the juxtaposition of that seemingly normal, business-as-usual type conversation, Jack's calm demeanor and what's going on right in front of him - that's dark.

I guess people have their reasons to dislike a show, feel disappointed by a show and rate a show lower than others. When someone says they expected "Jack and Joker" to be darker and more serious than they perceive it is - it can't really be hepled, as it's all about their expectations and perceptions. If they feel mislead, if they consider the show to be mislabled etc., but you don't agree with that - that doesn't really change anything, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
That being said I do agree with a lot what you (but also Pincolino) wrote about trailers and MDL tags. The "actual romance with a plot, not plot with with romance sided in the back" part of your comment is something I agree with wholeheartedly, as I have expressed the very same attitude about various BLs I've watched over the years. BLs are first and foremost about romance, that's what the story should be about - and not about the setting of the romance. This does not change the fact that other viewers might (for whatever reason) expect a particular show to be about something else, to have a different tone etc.

MDL rating is all about enjoyment: you like the show - you give it a high rating; you dislike it - you give it a low rating or don't rate it. Reasons for those ratings - like the reasons for enjoying or disliking the show - are individual and subjective. There is no correct answer and you can't be right nor wrong about it (same for other people rating the show), as all you follow is your feeling, your own, very personal preference and reception. There's really no point getting upset that other people rated the show differently or that the MDL rating is different than your own (I gave "Jack and Joker" a rating of 9.0 and wasn't worried about the initial low MDL rating - nor am I worried about the current rating, which is still lower than what I gave the show) - your rating is the only one that matters.

P.S. No idea how long the cut versions are, but here's the length of uncut episodes for reference:
- ep. 1 - 1:16:11
- ep. 2 - 0:56:56
- ep. 3 - 1:09:52