"Bad Guy My Boss" is a 2024 Thai BL drama that intertwines corporate intrigue with complex romantic entanglements. The series introduces Pat, a diligent secretary who finds himself enamored with his stern, mixed-race boss, Elyes. Despite the hierarchical boundaries, Pat grapples with his growing affection, while Elyes's aggressive advances further complicate their professional relationship.

The narrative attempts to explore themes of power dynamics and forbidden love within a corporate setting. However, it falters in execution, presenting a storyline riddled with problematic elements. The portrayal of abusive behaviors, including physical violence, manipulation, and boundary violations, is particularly troubling. For instance, a character commits murder, yet the storyline inexplicably expects viewers to support his romantic endeavors shortly thereafter. This normalization of abuse undermines any potential for meaningful character development and sends a concerning message to the audience.

The plot is further bogged down by an overabundance of love triangles and rivalries (which is a plot point even in the last episode), which dilute the main storyline and create unnecessary confusion and drama. The frequent use of flashbacks and flash-forwards disrupts the narrative flow and leaves viewers disoriented regarding the timeline. Daydream sequences are poorly distinguished from reality, adding to the overall confusion.

Character motivations often lack coherence. For instance, a character devises a convoluted plan that involves acting antagonistically without any subsequent growth or redemption. Production missteps are evident, with mismatched musical scores, awkward camera angles, and jarring 360-degree shots that detract from pivotal scenes. The antagonist is portrayed in a clichéd manner, epitomized by scenes of him sipping wine on a black couch in an empty warehouse—a trope that feels outdated and uninspired.

Logical inconsistencies plague the storyline. Characters make baffling decisions, such as failing to communicate crucial feelings or choosing to harm unrelated individuals instead of directly confronting their primary targets. The depiction of authority figures is unrealistic; a CEO commanding doctors and police officers without plausible justification stretches credibility.

And the worst of it all is, in my opinion, the acting. If the acting was good and the actors managed to portray the character's emotions acurately, this show wouldn't be nearly as cringey as it is. Unfortunately, both leads are horrible, hearing them talk feels like listening to someone reading off a script. They couldn't even portray anger or surprise acurately. This only makes the whole thing unwatchable. I did not like the main characters and their personalities and the actors do absolutely nothing to make these characters more endearing in my eyes. Truth be told, you don't even have to watch the whole thing to see how cringey the acting is. Just watch a scene in an episode where the characters have to display emotions and then you can decide if this is for you.

In summary, "Bad Guy My Boss" squanders its potential by romanticizing abusive relationships and presenting a disjointed narrative. Despite its attempts to offer a fresh take on the BL genre, it ultimately reinforces harmful stereotypes and delivers a viewing experience that is both frustrating and disappointing. The characters are unlikable, the acting horrible and the story lacks the charm that comes with a trope like this (think a Boss and a Babe).If you have any standards when it comes to BL, don't watch this (or you just skim through it if you are afraid of missing out).