Burnout Syndrome is finally here! Jira visits the Burnout Bar and instantly clicks with Pheem. After another failed job, his outburst grabs Koh’s attention and earns him a high-paying offer.
On November 26, Burnout Syndrome aired its first episode, showing Jira at rock bottom—broke, exhausted, and out of options—until Ing urges him to check out Burnout Bar. There, he meets Pheem, and they click right away. Later, after another job falls through, Jira’s outburst grabs Koh’s attention and leads to a high-paying offer. Remembering Pheem’s advice to trust his feelings, Jira follows his instincts toward Koh.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Reader discretion is advised.
Burnout Syndrome Episode 1 Recap: Jira is struggling to find a job and burned out
Burnout Syndrome begins with Jira working as a photographer. When their client, Mr. Thames, reviews the shots, he rejects the concept, complains that everything looks the same, and abruptly ends the shoot. Afterward, Ing tells Jira he needs to pause his photography career for now and won’t be able to work on his portfolio.
Desperate to earn money, Jira tells Ing he’ll take any job that pays and starts doing all kinds of work. Frustrated by how hard everything feels, he breaks down: “I’m freaking bad at everything. I can’t sell my drawings. I can’t get cast. Am I that much of a loser?”
Ing reassures him, reminding him of his talent and passion: “You need to find yourself and focus on something you really like. I think you need to heal first.” Jira pushes back, saying healing costs money—money he doesn’t have. So Ing lends him 150k baht and urges him to visit Burnout Bar, a place for people who feel completely drained.
Jira meets Pheem at Burnout Bar
Jira arrives at Burnout Bar, where the owner, Ben, greets him and prepares his drink, “Empty Pocket”—a cocktail made for people whose heartbreak hurts less than being broke. It fits Jira perfectly.
The bar has one simple rule: get your drink, receive a table number, and Ben will pair you with another burned-out customer for a “two-way therapy session.” Conversation starter cards sit on each table to help break the ice.
Soon, Pheem joins Jira. They introduce themselves, flip through the opener cards, and fall into an easy, natural conversation. Pheem talks about rage rooms—how he smashes things to let stress out but insists he’s actually gentle. “It’s cheaper than therapy and better for the body than alcohol,” he said.
Then he asks Jira if that counts as a red flag. “I find red flags… thrilling,” Jira replies. Pheem leans in, teasing him about being into bad boys. He then takes Jira’s hand and reads his palm, leaning even closer.
Their talk shifts to work, and Pheem shares that he’s in IT. He vents about a colleague who constantly disagrees with him, picks fights, and is difficult to handle—a complete jerk, but someone he can’t leave because they built the company together from the ground up.
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Jira finds himself in a sudden job interview with Koh
After another failed job interview, Ing calls Jira with a new opportunity—a well-paying dinner companion gig. She sends him punk rock outfits, and he puts on music to get into character.
At the job, Jira is told to eat a medium-rare steak, even though he can’t stand it. He forces himself to obey but ends up throwing it up. The client, unimpressed, calls him incompetent and unadaptable. Triggered, Jira snaps and yells back like a true punk rocker, screaming at him until the client storms off.
Jira’s outburst catches Koh’s attention, and Koh finds him intriguing. Not long after, Jira ends up interviewing with Koh. He tells Koh he’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn the pay. Koh then asks if Jira can pretend to be someone else to get a job done, and Jira says he can—as long as the instructions aren’t too extreme.
Jira got the job—but was also caught in tension
Koh feels the place isn’t safe to discuss the job offer, so he tells Jira to come to his house if he’s interested. When Jira asks about the pay, Koh offers far more than he expected. Still unsure, Jira remembers Pheem reading his palm—saying a new job is coming, tough and messy, but ultimately good if he trusts his feelings. That pushes Jira to run after Koh and follow him home.
At Koh’s house, Koh immediately strips and steps into the bathtub, making Jira think the job might involve escort work. Jira starts to undress too, but Koh quickly tells him to put his clothes back on and sit so they can talk properly. Jira tells what he does, and Koh finally shares his real name. When Koh steps out of the tub—completely unbothered and still naked—he tells Jira he got the job and that he’ll reach out when needed.
Later, back home, Jira releases all the tension he’s been holding and pours it into erotic artwork inspired by Koh. He thinks about Pheem’s words again—trusting his emotions might actually lead to something good.
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Burnout Syndrome Episode 2 Preview, Release Date and More
Burnout Syndrome episode 2 teases Koh finally telling Jira about the job he actually took—to act as Mr. K—as they move toward signing their contract. Meanwhile, as Pheem slips his clothes back on, Jira’s eyes land on his tattoo, sparking a moment thick with tension.
The episode will be released on December 3, and fans can watch it on iQIYI and the GMMTV OFFICIAL YouTube channel at 10:30 PM (PHT) / 9:30 PM (ICT). It also airs on GMM 25 at 8:30 PM (ICT).
Meanwhile, Off Jumpol and Gun Atthaphan released the series’ first official soundtrack, “My Forever.” The song tells the story of two people who feel destined for each other. They express a connection so deep and constant that they can’t imagine ever being apart.
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Follow Jira as he sorts through his feelings for Koh and Pheem in Burnout Syndrome, streaming every Wednesday on iQIYI and the GMMTV OFFICIAL YouTube channel.
Source: GMMTV OFFICIAL, GMMTV RECORDS, Burnout Syndrome X Account
