My Stand-In

This series has a longer run time than most Thai BL series. That made me worried if this series going to be long and boring like other boring series I've watched so far. But after I finished watching it, I can safely say that I shouldn't have such doubt. Right from the beginning to the very last scene, there's no such boring moments, no dull unnecessary long scenes. Every minute was integral for the plot. And even though I already knew that this series has a happy ending, I'm still hooked and made curious about the process to get there. Not to mention, the acting from most actors was decent. Take it from me, someone who has seen what bad acting looks like, so many times.

When I tell you this show had me hooked start to finish, I mean it. It was very, very entertaining. I cried, I laughed, and I yelled in frustration. It was a torturous cycle of emotions. Not at all what I was expecting either. I didn't understand the description when I read it, so I had no idea what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this. I could say so much about this show, but I won't, just that this story was executed perfectly. Lets applaud that ending for a moment, 👏👏👏👏.

Onto the controversial character; I'm usually pretty lenient with main characters in films- even the toxic ones- but Ming, man, he just pissed me off in the beginning. Even though I understood him, I hated him. I did start to like him though; it took a while, but I did- not entirely, but I did. Although he still wasn't perfect, he went through some serious development. I even found myself rooting for him. Honestly, my emotions towards Ming were all over the place constantly, but man he made me forgive him in the end. Still a brat, but I blame his family; I forgive him and love him. I love this show.

(I already wrote this whole review, but it disappeared, so here I am again.) When I first read the description of this show, I didn't understand it one bit, so I had no clue what I was going into, but I definitely wasn't expecting this. I laughed, I cried, and I yelled in complete frustration. It was a torturous cycle of emotions, and I loved every second of it.

There is the absolute sweetheart everyone loved, Joe, and there is a fairly controversial character, Ming; Joe stole my heart from the beginning; he is such a kind person with almost 0 flaws, while Ming, on the other hand, is filled with them. I am pretty lenient with main characters in films usually, but Ming brought out such a rage. I liked him, then I caught on and I hated him, then I hated him some more and more; he felt irredeemable. Nonetheless, I forgave him- he made me forgive him, I rooted for him, and in the end, I actually loved him. Were they toxic in the beginning? Yes, definitely, 100% but I think he really proved himself to be good at heart, despite others' opinions. This series is (my favorite saying) a must-watch.

My Stand-in is a very entertaining series, manages to capture your attention from the first episode and keeps you hooked until the last one. It's a story that departs from the usual, with suspense and romance, but also showing love from a darker perspective. The performances were quite good, with Poom Phuripan Sapsangsawat standing out. He's an actor I didn't know and who pleasantly surprised me. He has a lot of charisma and effortlessly conveys emotions. He carried the weight of the series quite well. Not to mention, he has a beautiful voice. I hope to see him in other series where he can continue to showcase his talent. I absolutely recommend it.

Initially, I wasn't sure what to make of it and almost stopped watching after the first episode because I thought it would be confusing. However, I'm glad I persevered, as the story eventually clicked into place. If you're tempted to drop it early, I encourage you to keep going.

One aspect I appreciate about this series is its portrayal of flawed characters, particularly Ming. While some viewers might find his actions hard to accept, I think it's refreshing to see realistic, complex characters. Ming's journey from a place of hurt and possessiveness to one of growth and self-awareness is compelling. Yes, he crossed a line by hurting and locking up Joe, and being a bad and insulting boyfriend at first. This made some of the viewers tough to watch. But what's admirable is how he acknowledges his mistakes, apologizes, and works towards change.

It's also heartwarming to see Ming realize his true feelings for Joe, distinct from his earlier infatuation with Tong. The character development and emotional depth make My Stand-in a worthwhile watch. If you are not into toxic story then don't watch this. Surely you can't handle this. It's a heavy series and not light.