So, here’s the tea. This is my first YinWar series. I came in fresh, untainted, with no expectations except for the ones the trailer gave me. AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT TRAILER BAITED ME LIKE A FISH. I was ready for a sleek, sexy, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers heist drama, and instead, I got… whatever this is. My soul is bruised, my heart is heavy, and my standards? Betrayed.

————

Plot: A Straightforward Disaster

When I saw the trailer, I thought we were getting some Ocean’s Eleven meets KinnPorsche type of fantasy. You know, a slick thief (War) and a hot, brooding cop (Yin) constantly outsmarting and chasing each other until their hate turns into sexy love. In my head, I imagined War being this clever, mischievous thief always one step ahead, Yin playing the serious cop obsessed with catching him, and eventually, a forced partnership to pull off a high-stakes heist.

But NOPE. What we got instead was a thief who couldn’t steal a pencil case without messing it up, a cop who looks like he’d rather be napping, and a plot that was more “connect-the-dots” than mind-blowing twists. The pacing was all over the place—one moment, they’re at odds, the next, they’re basically dating. GURL. WHERE’S THE BUILD-UP? WHERE’S THE SLOW BURN?

————

Character Breakdown: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF

Joke (War’s Character):

Joke is supposed to be an infamous thief, but let’s be real—he’s more “infamous” for his mess-ups than his successes. He steals exam papers, gets caught slipping at food stalls, and somehow, we’re supposed to believe this man is a criminal mastermind? Please.

Don’t get me wrong, War acts his ass off. He’s charming, funny, and carries this chaotic energy that makes Joke somewhat likable. But the writing? TRAGIC. Joke has no consistent personality. One minute he’s impulsive and rebellious; the next, he’s sensitive and emo about his daddy issues. Oh, this man is textbook “my family sucks, so I’m gonna act out for attention.” Therapy is expensive and stealing shit is cheaper. And don’t even get me started on the lack of character development. He goes to prison, but does he come out stronger, wiser, or cooler? NOPE. He comes out the same chaotic mess he was going in.

Also, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room: WHY DOES HE LOOK EXACTLY LIKE BAEKHYUN FROM EXO? And his voice sounds A LOT like Bible.

————

Jack (Yin’s Character):

Jack is the serious, logical foil to Joke’s chaos. At least, that’s what he’s supposed to be. Instead, he spends most of the series looking like he forgot his lines. Yin, sweetie, I love you, but your acting here was flatter than my bank account after Black Friday.

Jack’s backstory is solid—he was a soft, hopeful guy until tragedy turned him cold and logical—but the execution? Meh. Yin’s blank stares and lack of emotional depth didn’t sell it for me. And the “cold, brooding” vibe he’s trying to pull off? It feels more like “tired and mildly annoyed.”

Also, can Jack be meaner? Please? I wanted him to ruin Joke’s life, not half-ass his cold-guy act. Be toxic. Be cruel. BE A BASTARD. Instead, he’s out here trying to save his grandma like he’s in a Disney movie.

The only saving grace? His chemistry with War. These two somehow make their mismatched mess of a relationship work. When they’re not awkwardly navigating their feelings, they’re serving chaotic, dysfunctional boyfriend vibes, and honestly, I was here for it.

————

Side Characters: The Real Stars of the Show

Aran (Mark’s Character):

OH. MY. GOD. Aran is the drama, the moment, the queen we didn’t deserve but desperately needed. He’s spoiled, bratty, and absolutely iconic in every scene. Mark ATE this role, left no crumbs, and slayed so hard I wanted to throw my wig at the screen. Every line he delivers is dripping with sass. “Sorry, I don’t speak broke.” Like, who gave him the right???

But the writers did him dirty. His storyline starts off strong—daddy issues, a disownment arc, and a slay-tastic fall from grace—but they didn’t give him the redemption he deserved. Why is my man knitting sweaters with Tattoo when he should be rebuilding his empire, walking into boardrooms, and telling his dad, “I’m rich, bitch”? Justice for Aran, you cowards.

————

Tattoo (Prom’s character):

Tattoo started as a selfish, money-hungry backstabber, and honestly, I respected the hustle. But after betraying Joke twice (and somehow getting forgiven TWICE?), he finally became a semi-decent human being. His dynamic with Aran was GOLD. The tension, the subtle moments of care—ugh, I wanted them to kiss so bad. But no. Instead, we got crumbs. CRUMBS.

————

Hope and Save:

These two are giving “pick-me couple” energy, and I hated it. Constant PDA, zero depth. NEXT.

————

Romance: From Enemies to Lovers to… Meh?

This series wanted to be enemies-to-lovers, but the transition was so fast and forced it felt more like “mild acquaintances to boyfriends.” Where’s the tension? The slow burn? The longing stares across a crowded room? Instead, we got, “I hate you,” followed by, “Actually, let’s date.” The fluff scenes felt like they were written by someone who’s never been in a relationship, and the one sex scene? If yall a loyal subscriber of IQIYI, you should know that anything that have ‘Uncut’, the sex scene will be SPICY AS HELL. But then…. Ugh. Don’t even get me started. It started off spicy, but then it went soft and awkward. Like, bro, are we watching GMMTV-lite now?

————

Action Scenes: Weak AF

Also, why was the action so weak? War knows how to throw a punch—props to him—but Yin? Sir, what are you doing. His moves were stiff as hell until the last episode, and by then, I was too over it to care.

————

The Theme: A Missed Opportunity

And can we talk about the theme? The whole Jack and Joker thing is cute in theory, but why the hell are they using tarot cards instead of playing cards? Like, make it make sense. Joke should’ve been leaving Joker cards behind after every heist, not pulling tarot readings out of his ass.

————

OST: WHERE??

The OST was so forgettable I legit thought they forgot to include one. The opening theme is just a tune, and the background music? Nonexistent. Give me a bop, a ballad, SOMETHING.

Final Thoughts:

This series had potential but ended up being a hot mess with occasional glimmers of brilliance. War carried the show, Mark served face and drama, but the weak plot, flat acting from Yin, and lack of emotional depth left me unsatisfied. Final score: 7/10. Will I rewatch it? Hell no.

BL directors, if you’re reading this, call me. I’ve got better ideas and a lot of sass to spare.