Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! (2024)

I’m seated.

sometimes you just forget what good quality is when it comes to Thai BL shows. I’m not trying to knock other shows, and of course there are some great quality Thai BLs out there. But sometimes everything just falls into place in a way you weren’t expecting.

so, I’m not one to write reviews before a series is over; however, Jack & Joker knocked my socks off. not just with storyline, but quality as well. in the first episode we are getting back stories of the MCs… or shall I say their villain origin stories and honestly I. AM. HERE. FOR. It. I might be the problem, but I love a good red flag, anti hero story and even though we are only just starting this journey I believe that’s what we are going to get.

I’m seated. this to me is KinnPorsche level quality, and I am foaming at the mouth wanting more.

oh Joker, the anti hero we didn’t know we wanted has becoming something we need.

I can already see this being my top Thai BL of the year which is wild since I didn’t think anything would dethrone my stand in, yet here we are.

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Raw, Real, and Riveting

Okay, let me just say: this show? Absolute fire. From the jump, it pulls you in with this perfect mix of drama, romance, and action that leaves you hooked after the first episode. It’s rare for a series to nail so many different vibes but this one does, and it does it flawlessly.

The acting? Out of this world. YinWar are in the lead, and if you’ve seen them before, you already know they’re going to deliver. But here? They take it to another level. Their chemistry is off the charts, but it’s the way they embody their characters' raw emotions and internal struggles that’s truly mind-blowing. You can *feel* every moment, every glance, every touch. It’s rare to see acting that feels this authentic and intense, and they absolutely crush it.

Now, let’s talk about the heart of this show, the characters. They’re written with so much complexity, it’s impossible not to get invested. At its core, the show explores two characters from completely opposite worlds. One comes from a life of privilege but is emotionally starved, while the other is trapped in poverty but surrounded by unconditional love. It’s the way these characters navigate their struggles and ambitions, trying to prove themselves and find their place in the world, that really hits home. The contrast between their lives is beautifully done, and it’s through their differences that the show tackles some heavy themes, like family expectations, class divides, and self-worth.

But what really sets this show apart is how it balances the *real* with the *relatable*. It’s not just about flashy storylines or dramatic twists; it’s about real, human experiences, dealing with love, pressure, and the feeling of never quite being enough. And it’s all wrapped up in this stunning visual package. Every shot, every scene, feels purposeful and rich, from the luxe life of the rich to the gritty realities of the poor.

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what we needed.

i think this is such a solid start. following yinwar from their beginning and the ups and downs since the FIRST love mechanics, they deserved this. it’s a serious plot with some funny moments, and the script is IMMACULATE compared to other thai bls rn.
this drama deserves to get recognition like other darker theme bls rn, i’m so excited for the rest of the series to air.
the difference between this show and love mechanics is exactly what yinwar needed to show their talents. everyone knows they have the chemistry, but their acting has gone unnoticed when i believe they are one of the best acting pairs in the thai lakorn world rn.

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Honestly, ignore the rating!

I’ve been awaiting this series since it was announce! I have no idea where that rating is coming from, but that first episode was perfection. It perfectly set up the dynamics between the characters as well as the plot. The acting was PHENOMENAL! War and Yin’s acting, chemistry, and passion are unmatched. The action sequences in the first website were well
planned and actually looked like real action sequences. Each character has an awesome back story that I can’t wait to see how they’re developed. War is going to be so fantastic in this role since he has the emotional range to play this complex character. Yin is truly going to shine in this role as well, he is the perfect choice for a
character that wanted to be good but due to circumstances out of his control he can’t be. I cannot wait to see what is it come in the next episodes.

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a comedy caper

Overall: the tone swings between comedy vs some serious moments, which is a bit jarring. 12 episodes about 1 hour each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/jack-joker-u-steal-my-heart-episode-1-l2dlqwi91c?lang=en_us

Content Warnings: theft, past death, violence, blood, bullying, attempted kidnapping, coercion, manipulation, punch, kidnapping, past suicide, blood

What I Liked
- unique premise
- fight/action sequences
- grey protagonists
- how Jack called out his coach
- coach apologized and got his karma

Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward
- I don't laugh at most of the jokes
- when you think about it, it doesn't make any sense why a character was so angry at another character when the result would have been exactly the same
- the food poisoning/farting
- nonsense thing: the door wasn't locked but people chasing right behind didn't enter the room right away

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Yin & War will steal your heart

The best way to sum up this show is to say it's a breath of fresh air. I know we've gotten quite a few action based BLs ever since the Kinn Porsche hype, but none of them really held my attention for long. This show, on the other hand, has me squealing, crying, and more invested in the lives of fictional characters than I probably should be.

It's not a perfect show, but it doesn't really matter because it has one major thing going for it: the acting. Honestly, everyone is great in their roles, but the stars of the show are undoubtedly Yin and War. I knew they were solid actors with decent chemistry, but in this they're phenomenal. They both embody their characters so well, portray emotion in realistic ways, have so much charisma, and fantastic comedic timing. But what's even more impressive is their chemistry. It's been quite a while since I've witnessed that much chemistry between two actors. There aren't just sparks, no. These two could burn a house down. And the best thing is that they don't even need scenes that rely on physical intimacy to portray that. All they need is talking to each other (or well, fighting with each other because damn, they were just flirting), and sparks are flying left, right, and centre. It was obvious from the first scene they had together (their conversation at the bar), persisted through the scenes where one hated the other (without the chemistry diminishing the conflicting emotions), and is still going strong now that we're halfway done.
Another special mention goes to Pee as Hope. I assume they'll give Hope some redemption arc, but so far, he's been horrible. And I want to hate him, I really do. It's just that Pee makes him so charming and charismatic that I can't. I call this the Vegas dilemma, because Bible made it impossible to hate that guy, too.

I will say, if you're looking for a BL with a lot of romantic scenes, you won't find it here. At least not at the start. Because they go through a journey from instant infatuation to hatred to trust and love, there aren't many "fluffy" scenes in the first few episodes. Episode 6 then makes up for all that by giving you all the domestic wholesomeness, and I was eating it up. I do hope that in the remaining episodes, the show will maintain a balance between romance and action because I generally don't care about action all that much. But even if there won't be as many cute scenes as in a campus BL for example, it doesn't really matter, because Yin and War make every scene they share together electric. So I'd rather have a few really solid romantic scenes than drawn out, washed out, lacklustre scenes with zero chemistry like so many other BLs tend to deliver these days.

Another thing to love about the show is its characters. Specifically them feeling like actual people with actual feelings and lives, not just walking stereotypes. Jack and Joker are obviously the most fleshed out, but most of the side characters also get more than just one defining trait. It's also refreshing that most of them are morally gray. This makes the whole show more emotionally complex, and makes the viewer think about some moral dilemmas. It's not the height of complex characters, but if you compare it to the standard most BLs have, it feels like these people are deep as the Atlantic Ocean, honestly.
But not just the characters, also their dynamics are interesting. Of course there's the whole forgiveness arc between Jack and Joker, but there are also interesting parent-child and friendship dynamics. I also really liked the dynamic between Jack and his coach.

If you're a lover of action in shows, I'm not sure whether you'll like this. The heists they pull are fun to watch for me, aka someone who doesn't really care about the ins and outs of robbery etc. But even I realise that a lot of things don't really make all that much sense. There's a severe lack of security cameras and guards, for example. The show also uses Hannah Montana logic, because apparently if someone is wearing a wig and sunglasses, you won't recognise them anymore. For me, it's easy to look past that because it's entertaining, but for some it might be really bothersome, so I figured I'd mention it. There's also the problem that severe injuries are treated as minor ones. Characters who get beaten black and blue move with ease the next scene. That sort of robs you from a bit of suspense, because you know when someone gets smashed up, they'll be fine the next day.

I've seen many people discuss whether the humour of the show is a good or bad thing. Personally, I enjoy some of it but it does get a little too cringe at times (like manic, evil cackling). Personally, I like when an otherwise heavy/dark show throws in enough humour to lighten the whole thing up a bit. I appreciated it about Kinn Porsche, and I appreciate it here. However, some of it does clash a little bit too harshly with the otherwise grittier vibe. For example, I think that Arun is a bit too over the top, kind of like Tankhun from Kinn Porsche. It does seem like they're giving him a more serious storyline now, though, so hopefully that'll get better. Speaking of Kinn Porsche, Vegas' dad would definitely get along swimmingly with Arun's dad. Maybe Arun and Vegas could start a support group for children of abusive mafia fathers.
When I talk about the "grittier" vibes, I mean the show not shying away from depicting the reality of poverty and other social issues. Obviously, it's a bit extreme and sometimes very unsubtle, but it feels nice to get a more realistic depiction of the world than all the perfect utopias many other BLs create for their characters to live in. Seriously, the worst thing that can happen to most BL leads is a bit of rain that leads to a cold. Which would lead to a homoerotic sponge bath, and who would want that, right? Speaking of sponge baths, this series doesn't rely on old, tired BL cliches and tropes which also makes it feel unique and fresh.

Another positive is the beautiful styling and cinematography. The series is shot beautifully, and the editing is on point, too. No needless flashbacks for once, which I appreciate. They started the story where it needed to start, then flashed forward to where they needed to be, instead of filling the whole damn thing with flashback after flashback (I'm looking at you, First Note Of Love). There are some fun twists in there, and the show moves at a pretty decent pace, though sometimes it is a bit fast for me, and I would like some more downtime for the characters to just build their bonds.

That's all I have to say thus far. I'm thoroughly entertained, and each episode, I fall more and more in love with Yin and War. They were always on my radar, but this show has catapulted them to be my second favorite BL ship currently (only second to FirstKhaotung, because they are my one true loves). All in all, I'm having a great time with this series, and I hope it keeps the same energy up until the end, maybe with a bit more time for the romance to fully shine. It's not a perfect show, but in the sea of the same stories being told over and over again in Thai BL, this feels different enough to stand out in a positive light. And since I'm a very chemistry driven BL watcher, this one is a massive treat. Bravo!

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Great Relationship Dynamics!

Writing
I like the way the writers have developed the relationship. Very believable. Its not easy to write complex relationships with depth and weight.

Normally writers use flimsy and shallow disagreements to create the enemy relationship so they can also use flimsy and shallow writing to create the LoverTurning Point. Creating the familiar Enemies to Lovers Throne.

But that's not the case with this particular series The writers took the time to create a real reason for one character to be angry and the other character's desire for redemption.

The writers also did a good job defining the character traits of each lead. They are both kind people that displayed kindness, compassion, understanding and forgiveness .

Good writing makes thier relationship dynamics believable and enjoyable to watch

Acting
Both of the male leads and the supporting cast acting is good. But Joke is really carrying this series.. Joke is a multifaceted and dimensional character. It takes substantial acting skills to portray characters like the Joke.

Production
High Quality. Well done. The production quality of BL dramas has improved dramatically.

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Unique and passionate

I found this drama very unique compared to other BLs. Typical BLs are usually based in an office or a uni or a friendship circle and I think that is gradually getting repetitive and uninteresting. This is the highlight of this drama. Rarity is very significant in a drama, especially BLs. As we are modern day by day, we see different things. We tend to find uniqueness everywhere and that's what it makes something interesting.

Firstly, the story.
This is the key highlight of this drama. We favour to believe that BLs are classic and cringe as we see a lot of unusual romance in it. Well, typically that's what makes BL different from other genre's. But, I think it is crucial for a genre to stand out. Furthermore, this is the perfect example.

As of the music, I feel it is usual and that is fair.

Casting would be my favorite. A cast of a drama is as much important as the story. They should perfectly fit into the story. I believe that every single actor of this show fits in that criteria.

Finally, the rewatch value. As I explained through my review, this drama has a great potential and it makes the viewer curious which is perfect. I hope to see the next episodes good as the same. The drama has been great for now.

Overall, I loved it. Looking forward for the next episodes. Susu na ❤

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