I Will Knock You – Series Review & Episode Guide

Thi is a university undergraduate who lives alone and focuses on his studies. He works as a high school tutor, coaching various students. One of his pupils, Pam, recently draws the attention of Noey, a local street thug. Noey is a teenage gangster who leads a pack of troublemaking hooligans. Their gang has a distinctively retro style, dressing and behaving like they are from the 80s era. Known for causing violent fights, they have an infamous reputation around the community.

Noey and his underlings have ambushed Pam outside of school. He presents a lotus flower and confesses his love to her. However, she rejects him, tosses away the flower, and storms off. Nearby, Thi witnesses the embarrassing rejection. He pretends nothing happened and tries walking away inconspicuously. However, Thi accidentally steps on the flower that Noey gave Pam. He's intimidated by Noey's gang, who claim he destroys their leader's sentimental gift. Feeling nervous, Thi grabs the lotus and runs away.

Later that night, Thi has the bad fortune of encountering Noey on the bus. The young gang leader confronts him about the stolen lotus flower. Unfortunately, Thi has thrown it away. Noey is furious and makes him search for it in the middle of the night. Nonetheless, they can't find the item. Noey threatens Thi and gives him a day to retrieve the missing flower. Otherwise, be prepared to face the wrath of Noey and his gang.

The following day, Noey bullies Pam's friend O into helping them. O brings Pam to a warehouse, where Noey serenades her with an old-timey love song. However, Pam rejects his love confession yet again. Noey's gang wants to take out their frustrations by hurting O. Thi heroically comes to his rescue by confronting the pack of gangsters. It's a gutsy move. He is alone and has no other reinforcements. Thi expects to be attacked, but Noey reacts with a surprising tenderness around him. Noey lets Thi and O go away without any violence.

Thi meets Tim, a restaurant owner who hires him to tutor her teenage child. He accepts the job, believing the student is her daughter Nid Nhoi. The sarcastic Nid Nhoi doubts his abilities. However, Thi is confident and promises to be a dedicated teacher. Thi is shocked after discovering the truth. Tim has actually hired him to tutor her other child, Noey. They cross paths again due to coincidence. Noey is rebellious and refuses the lessons. Thi must confront the teenager and instill a passion for learning in him.

I Will Knock You is a silly, lighthearted comedy with goofy characters in wacky scenarios. The protagonists are lovable oddballs who deliver eccentric punchlines, give absurd reactions, and get involved in outlandish antics. The jokes may be ridiculously dumb, but they make me laugh anyway. In fact, the humour comes primarily from unabashed stupidity. I Will Knock You embraces its lack of common sense, leading to zany plots and playful mischief. The foolishness can be endearing.

I Will Knock You has undeniable charms. The quirky BL drama exudes individual flair, showing a colourful personality. I love how it's committed to a distinct retro style. The protagonist dresses and behaves like a bizarre mascot of the 80s. He stands out due to his old-timey tastes, such as crooning, waltzing, or vintage films. In addition, his teenage gangster persona is hilariously odd. This pubescent boy swaggers around town, leading a pack of street hooligans on cheeky adventures. They come across as intimidating yet comically immature.

Despite some funny moments, I Will Knock You feels overly childish. Maybe I'm not at the right age to enjoy this juvenile BL drama, which appeals to a young demographic. After the initial novelty wears off, I'm frustrated by the inane storylines, exaggerated events, and constant frivolousness. I want depth and sophistication, yet the series delivers dumb jokes and silly shenanigans. While the later episodes contain more meaningful plots, they aren't substantial enough. I Will Knock You resembles light entertainment instead of an insightful series.

Initially, Thi and Noey meet over a foolish misunderstanding. Thi fears the menacing gang leader and becomes coerced into tutoring him. This hostile dynamic continues for a long time, only improving in the last few episodes. Most of their relationship involves Thi acting scared, nervous, or awkward around his love interest. I don't feel convinced when he suddenly develops an inexplicable attraction for his antagonist. Noey is also physically aggressive and emotionally abusive toward Thi. The series excuses his harassment, which I don't condone.

Once the romance heats up, I don't sense genuine sparks between the leads. Like the rest of the story, the immature couple suffers from excessive childishness. Noey and Thi behave like kids around each other. Their relationship scenes feel juvenile, ditzy, and superficial. Furthermore, Noey's flirting is so corny. From his schmaltzy gestures to his syrupy pick-up lines, he gives an exaggerated interpretation of love. I understand his cheesiness is a part of the character's earnest personality. His dorky behaviour may be funny, but it doesn't translate to good BL content.

I Will Knock You has a happy ending, highlighting Noey's rehabilitation. I appreciate the sentimental themes behind his personal arc. I also enjoy the performances of both leads (Bom and Tar), who handle the comedic material with delightful charisma. The enthusiastic actors immerse themselves in their larger-than-life portrayals. However, my overall opinion remains unfavourable. I'm emotionally detached from the flimsy story, the mismatched couple, and their idiotic nonsense. I Will Knock You is a hopelessly childish BL series that doesn't appeal to my adult sensibilities.