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Hidden Agenda thai drama review
Completed
Hidden Agenda
0 people found this review helpful
by cthultystka
Sep 26, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 6.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
This review may contain spoilers

JoongDunk: The Series

Let’s get this out of the way: this is very much "JoongDunk: The Series". Everything else: the side characters, the plot, themes and conflicts, were put aside to make way for the main couple’s cuteness. And don’t get me wrong, they are cute. They have great chemistry and their intimate scenes are *chef’s kiss*. And although many people complain about the acting, honestly, I've seen worse.
Still, I wish the series was more.
To me, the biggest problem was that all the conflicts were thrown seemingly out of nowhere (unless you paid attention to a single line mentioned by an extremely side character a few episodes earlier), then solved immediately and never mentioned again. That made the series seem very fragmentary, with no overarching plot that would connect all the episodes into one coherent story.
I can’t help but think about Tee Bundit’s other series, “Something in My Room”. I watched it uncensored (70 minutes per episode) because the censored version had some really bizarre editing choices, with key scenes being removed to the point where the plot didn’t make much sense. I wonder if the same thing happened here, except we’ll never get the full show.

Here’s how I would make it:
As many people said, Jeng and Pok should have more scenes. Jeng coming up with excuses to avoid being seen in public, Pok being increasingly bothered by it, until he can’t take it anymore and tries to break up. Jeng with his football co-players (I can’t call them friends), witnessing their machoism and homophobia. Pok crying in Zo’s arms. And so on.
The debate club should play a bigger role. We should see more debates, preparing for debates, etc. The screenwriters could use this opportunity to discuss social issues, like marriage equality or queerbaiting in media (tee-hee). Also, the big competition should take at least half a season, not be mentioned twice, then thrown in at the last minute.
During the preparation, Wave’s distaste for Joke should become prominent. And mutual. Zo may have noticed and asked Joke, who’d say it’s not his place to say. Maybe he’d known about what happened between Trine and Wave, maybe he’d just known they had a conflict. In any case, Zo would have to do a bit of investigating.
While we’re here, I wish Nita would get more screen time, so we could get to know her as more than a “love interest”. Maybe give her a reason to want to win the scholarship? And us a reason to root for her?
James should show up earlier, stick around Zo, but always disappear when Joke or even Zo’s friends show around. Zo’s friends would notice there’s something off about the guy, so it wouldn’t feel like Joke’s just being paranoid.
Also, Zo’s mother should be more present, calling or texting Zo and putting pressure on him (even interrupting his dates). Maybe a scene or two of Zo scrolling social media and seeing her pose with her accomplished students? Also, the situation should be resolved with something more than it was (an apology maybe?).
Same with Joke’s father. I know it was meant to be a surprise, that Joke was going through the same thing as Zo the whole time, but the resolution we got left me feeling “wtf just happened?”. Joke’s father goes from 0 to 1 in a matter of seconds and for no reason other than “Zo told him to.”
To accommodate those changes:
The pointless faux-breakup in the last episode could be cut, it didn’t serve anything.
While Puen’s story was important in explaining Zo’s initial hesitation, the reconciliation could be cut. No one cares about him and he never shows again.
A lot of Joke and Zo's dates could be shortened.

Anyway, the series we got was a mindless fluff, something to switch your brain off and relax. I don't regret watching it, but I wouldn't do it again (although I will rewatch certain scenes, because damn).
If you really have to watch it, stick to the last parts of ep 4, 7, 8, and 10 and the beginning of ep 11. Thank me later.
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