Episode 3

My Stand-In Episode 3 has Joe describing his perfect life with Ming, back in the beginning. Even then, he knew the dream wouldn’t last. On a shopping trip, he fawns over cute matching mugs but Ming quickly reminds – they aren’t boyfriends and Joe wouldn’t be happy that way.

At the apartment, Joe displays some of the cute pairs of things he’s bought including pillowcases with their names. But Ming sets them all aside. For the grand finale, Joe brings out a Akkrayotha Group brochure for a celebrity community, someplace bigger for the two of them to live. Ming crumbles it saying one bed is enough. In voice-over, Joe wishes he’d recognized the signs sooner.

With the guys at work, Joe talks about wanting to earn extra money. One guy suggests an international film call he’s seen on social – they’re seeking a Thai stuntman. But another reminds that productions like that are unlicensed and uninsured, not responsible should anything go wrong.

He’s called in by the director who explains that Tong must leave so they’re reworking the scene to use Joe instead. Tong is happy to let his stand-in take over while his manager is less so. Joe worries to Yim about all the ways he could lose his job in this situation, but Yim thinks it’s a great opportunity to build his career.

Later, Wut drops by noting that Joe stole the scene today. So, to save Tong’s reputation, they’ll reshoot. However, Wut sent the clip of Joe to other producers, hoping Joe will get a chance in another movie. Joe believes it’s better this way, thinking it’s a mistake to overstep Tong.

At the wrap party, Tong congratulates Joe on his scene but slyly notes he shouldn’t feel bad about having it cut out. When Ming joins them, Joe slips out to leave them to talk. Sol finds him outside, asking him out for Christmas, but Joe says he’s with Ming now. Ming spots them and drags Joe away.

And into the men’s room where he forces kisses on him, while Joe tries to calm him down. Ming says he doesn’t care if anyone sees them. But when Tong walks in on them asking for a chat, Ming tells Joe he’ll see him at home.

Joe returns to the party a lot less cheerful. But is celebrated as his boss has heard that he’ll be asked to join the director as a cast member alongside Sol in his next Tong-starring film.

The next day, things are still uncomfortable with Tong, even though Ming had said they’d cleared things. Tong is keen for Joe to remain his stand-in for stunt work. And notes a warning to Joe about Ming’s family who own the Akkrayotha Group. His veiled accusation that Joe is trying to move up in his career via Ming is punctuated with advice to stop his relationship before the family finds out. And a prize in that he’d let him be his stand-in forever.

That evening, Joe is curious about why Ming chose him and if he’s happy. Instead, Ming invites him on a Christmas date. Cut to the posh restaurant where Joe tries to ask questions but Ming volleys, commenting instead about Joe’s impending celebrity.

Joe gifts him a watch but it’s not as nice as his current one. Ming says he wants it anyway. And just as he’s about to give Joe his gift, Tong and May enter, inviting them to join them.

May asks awkward questions and Tong is more than interested to hear the answers. As they try to avoid admitting their relationship, Sol steps in saying he’s the friend Joe invited. Sol uses it to take Joe away, leaving Ming annoyed but quiet. Even Sol knows who Ming’s family is, warning Joe.

When Tong excuses himself to take a call, May takes the opportunity to make Ming admit that he likes Joe. She says she’ll cover for him if he wants to continue his date. But on the way out, Tong tells Ming he’ll propose to May. And Ming can’t stop thinking about first meeting Tong, as he makes his escape.

After crying and drinking too much he lands at Joe’s house. After taking care of Ming, Joe opens his gift, thrilled to have received the couple mugs he’d picked. Gazing at Joe’s back, Ming hugs him, crying to Tong about not choosing him. And Joe drops those precious mugs.

The Episode Review

Episode 3 is a lament with Joe voicing over to note that he should have known better. This is the one where he discovers the extent of Ming’s obsession with Tong. And that crossing Tong would be a bad idea. Whenever Tong speaks, there’s an undercurrent of something, whether confidence, a threat or even a flirt. Perhaps it’s his status as an actor or maybe it’s the way things have always been, but he certainly presumes ownership of people, situations…

Joe, a responsible and cautious guy (even as a stuntman), innately understand this. He’s not in this to hurt anyone or get in anyone’s way, just wanting to work, advance gradually and find a family of his own. 

Sol, on the other hand, is tough to gauge. His level of sincerity in uncertain although he doesn’t seem wrong in warning his friend away from Ming. Even without a potentially vengeful senior actor and a powerful family to stand against, Joe has got his hands full with Ming who’s a pro in psychological warfare.

How long will Joe believe? How long will he survive?

Have you fallen for My Stand-In? Let us all about it in the comments below. 

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