This show deserves more love, like Jade

I believe this show deserves more love and credit, in the same vein that a person like Jade deserve love and appreciation.

Look, it definitely came out at a time where BL shows with very textbook/likeable lead characters, plots beefed up with twists and steamy scenes were appearing left and right— and therefore there is the risk for the audience to undermine the simplicity and humour of The Middle Man’s Love.

What this show attempts to tell is that even a slightly off-beat guy, who masks his insecurities with his positivity and denseness, is deserving of a person who will love him and will see his “flaws” as a part of what makes his character charming and loveable.

I’m sure there’s a person out there who can resonate with Jade or knows someone like him, and we’ve often misjudged this person as not capable of finding love or attracting someone “out of this league”. I think the writers did well in making Jade’s character close to reality as an awkward human being, with some slight exaggeration to match the comedic approach of the show. One might say he’s an anti hero, but I saw myself rooting for Jade after ep1.

I also appreciate Mai’s character immensely, he complements Jade’s personality and continuously communicates well with him. He’s genuine, honest and patient, without toxic traits, which is exactly the kind of person Jade needs to surround himself with.

The show also lightheartedly tackles the theme of how insecurities and past relationship trauma can impact the way we deal with emotions. These moments appear in the most common situations, which we can all relate too.

The office dynamic is also cute and comical. It doesn’t try too hard. No toxic boses, no abusive or predatory behaviors. Intern/mentor ships are not uncommon in the BL world (even in the real world), so let’s not pretend to be holy beings here by calling that out.

Don’t get me wrong, the show is not perfect, but it’s not bad at all and does not deserve so much hate. The first time I tried to watch it, I was indeed overwhelmed by the hyperactivity of episode 1. But after giving it another chance, I started understanding its intentions and appreciating its approach and what it brings to the BL world. Eventually, I got used to Jade’s volume level and understood why that’s part of his character, as someone who tends to overcompensate.

The plot is not the thickest but it also doesn’t try to be that show. It doesn’t force crazy subplots nor introduce unnecessary characters nor overcomplicate situations which we often see in some Thai BLs. It rather focuses on the height of people’s emotions, how one would overthink and make conclusions, and situations that I honestly was able to relate to on a personal level. I’m an avid BL watcher but I’ve not written ANY reviews except for this one as I feel the need to defend it.

I’ve dropped a number of shows in the past and this one made me stay and I wish people will also give it another chance.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Middleman’s Love and the TutorYim ship. They did a fantastic job as a love team.

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