#joemingjoe

[aliceisathome]

I am completely invested in My Stand In - specifically I am invested in Tong being completely and utterly humiliated, destroyed and left with nothing.

OK, of course I'm invested in Joe and Ming but every time I see Tong's smug face I want to punch it. Hard. Why yes, I'm literally only 3 minutes in, why do you ask?

Ooh hello Mike, long time no see. When are you and Secretary Jim going to be getting some action eh? It's ep 8 already - go get your man! Or am I imagining things and there is no second couple? Pfft.

Ming is so confused ('you're so like Joe. Joe's not dead! But are you Joe?') that he's finally agreed to meditate with Mysterious Shaman. In the meantime Wut and Sky take the less tree-based option and stake out OG Joe's parent's grave on what I'm presuming is a significant date, catching New Joe in the act. I loved Wut's anger - such a real response both to Joe's ignoring his advice which lead to his death and to him not trusting him enough to tell him he was back. He's a good man. And argh - Sol's so nice, I wish I could be on his side but I'm afraid, much like Joe, Ming's got me in his grip. I blame Up's acting and lovely little face.

Plus he spent at least 18 hrs sitting on a branch in search of the truth. That's some dedication right there.

And blimey - we get Mike twice in one episode. I do love the fact that the fact that Ming meditated is what's made him and Jim anxious. Not any of the other (frankly bonkers) behaviour he's been displaying.

Also MIKE'S MING'S BROTHER!!!! Did we know this? I just thought he was the shaman's disciple. Has he been mentioned before? If he was I was probably too focussed on Joe's torso to notice...

I kinda love that despite saying the feelings for Ming died with his old body, our boy Joe was so thoroughly ploughed into the mattress that his new body also sneezed on orgasm. And Ming's completely unsurprised - look at that face. He knows. Also, let us all mourn the complicated sheet origami that is denying us even a hint of hip, thigh or butt in this otherwise excellent scene.

It looks like Joe, Ming and I were all hoping Joe's original body was in a coma somewhere but it seems we are doomed to disappointment. This is going to be traumatic for everyone.

[aliceisathome]

Time for My Stand In - I'm ready with things nearby to grab depending on how traumatised/angry/sad I am. Currently we have a G&T, some chocolate, a punchable stuffie and some ice cream within reach. There's tequila in the kitchen if none of these work.

So here we are, new house and helper for mum to be paid for by spending a year doing whatever Ming demands, which is immediately sex of course. But Joe doesn't realise that Ming's concentrating on his back not because he's trying to replace Tong now, but because he's trying to replace Joe. Joe's a stand in for himself the poor sod.

It's interesting that Ming can't bring himself to have sex with New Joe though. It's guilt, yes, but also because he never really had sex with Old Joe - in his mind he was always having sex with Tong . In trying to get New Joe to stand in gor Old Joe, sex isn't going to work - what he misses and loved is , well, JOE. it's the companionship, the cooking together, sleeping together and just being together. It's the lights on when you get home and the smell of cooking. Does the spoilt, manipulated prince realise that yet? He might be getting a clue this episode though.

Also my brain hurts

I like Ming's green bedding. In fact I like all the green teal in his condo - the man's got good taste in furnishings if nothing else. Did he get them to redecorate his hotel room to match? Wouldn't surprise me - he's the sort of person who'd put that in his rider. I must go and see what @respectthepetty says about the colours in this.

So - Ming isn't going to realise that New Joe is Old Joe because he thinks OG Joe is still alive but he's suspicous. It could be that Ming won't let go of the fantasy that old Joe will come back to him until they find the body* Wut might guess soon though. And Sol, if Ming hasn't ripped his head off after he sees the music vid.**

OH they pretended that Tong did his own stunts for that first movie in all the press. OK, I get why Ming didn't put two and two together now.

Enter the bastard Tong. Man, he's a piece of work - jealous of Ming paying attention to another man (AGAIN) plus now he wants money from him as well. Don't do it Ming! Loved that he was too distracted by Tharn & Joe to listen properly. Still, I think he's beginning to see through Tong - especially when he won't acknowledge his culpability in Old Joe's death/disappearance. Loved his slightly weary dismissal of him as well.

Tharn - nope. Don't like him one little bit. He can join Tong in the Pit of Despair. They are both manipulative bastards.

All the flashbacks made me sad, especially the watch. And now I'm feeling sorry for Ming even though he's been a bastard and a fool because, well, he was twisted into that by Tong.

Gah - I can't wait for next Friday. The preview implies that the psychic might let Ming know that Joe's soul is in a new body but I think it's Sol's voice at the end. I don't think Ming knows enough to stake out Old Joe's parent's graves. This is why I try to save to binge watch.

Anyhow, the stuffie took some damage points whenever Tong or Tharn were on screen and the gin is gone. Could be worse, and I'm sure it will be at some point. This bloody show has me in its grip.

*I get it Ming, I hope his comatose body is being looked after and worshipped by jungle creatures and he'll get it back. Mainly because Poom's SO cute.

**for the love of the sweet baby jeebus if you're going to cast someone as a Kpop star at least get someone who can sing or use someone else's voice.