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The Review Geek
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Knock Out – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 Knock Out Episode 8 returns us to the hospital where Pakorn appeals to Thun. Then in walks Keen, overhearing Pakorn call him his son. After Pakorn leaves, Phuwish tells Petch that he'd like to visit him at the gym this evening to talk about the academy. As the two walk out, Keen is noticeably frosty with Thun, who still hasn't explained himself. Back at the gym, Thun tries to take Keen's hand, but he pulls it away, saying he's tired. When they get to their room, they find it's been ransacked, yet nothing seems to be missing. Everyone comes running but Win notices Ait's absence and checks his room to find his locker empty. READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews As the group discusses Ait, they hear noises in the gym. Fight mode snaps on and the team battles the loan shark lackeys who'd come to collect. They continue to rail on Win as he hasn't yet paid his debt. Thun promises to fight to pay off the debt but that's not good enough to deliver the money now. Just in time, Phuwish and his guys arrive. Finding out that they owe money, Phuish says he wants to meet the boss and agrees to pay the debt before hearing it's 1 million Baht. He hands over a check, telling the gang he'll drum out corruption in sports. After the thugs take leave, Phuwish asks the favor he'd come for – he'd wanted to buy the academy from Petch. But now he says he'll call it an even exchange for the debt. Thun suggests they talk it over first. All together, Keen suggests they sell and put it all behind them. Thun notes that White Tiger Gym has made an offer too. He'll buy the academy and pay off all the debts, claiming he'd like to do the right thing as a father. In response, Keen demands a private chat, believing Pakorn may have set everything up to reach this end. Thun explains that he hasn't seen Pakorn as his father in a long time, ever since he abandoned him. As Thun takes Keen's hand, Keen accuses Pakorn of killing his dad. Talking it out, Keen shows him the evidence from Klao, noting that Pakorn wasn't wearing his pin in the hospital. Thun agrees to support Keen no matter who committed the crime. Just as they start to cuddle, Win throws open the door. He suddenly knows who drugged Thun. Could it be Ait? Flashback to the dressing room where Ait does the deed. His mystery caller is the loan shark boss himself, Sia Thep. At the hospital, Ait suggests that Sia Thep may be trying to get to Phuwish. Originally, it was the boss who suggested going to Phuwish for help. Ait takes the blame and apologizes to everyone and Petchak immediately forgives him. Later, Ait thanks Win for cheering him on and returns his confession. Feeling guilty after Phuwish paid the debt, Petch signs over the academy to him. Phuwish instantly hands Keen a promo for another fight. It's tomorrow and he'd love them all to participate. Even though it's last minute, they feel they have to agree. Klao stops by and checks out the Ring Rage event with Keen. She also tells him that she now believes the pin she found may have belonged to Muay. She's also noticed that several bigwigs have that same pin. Could it be a club? As they discuss possibilities, Thun watches from afar. Incensed, Thun visits his father to find out if he killed Keen's father. But he'll only answer if Thun gets in the ring with him. He somehow manages to KO his son, which Typhoon spots from the doorway. At the gym, as the team jumps into a van to head to Ring Rage, Keen receives a message that Thun will meet him there. Meanwhile, Pakorn apologizes for being late, saying he had some trouble with a 'new product.' He shows the other man – it's Phuwish – and calls him Sia Thep (yes, the loan shark). The 'product' is a trussed-up Thun. The Episode Review Nice one, Dad. Well, I figured Phuwish had something to do with the loan shark when he handed over a check so easily. It certainly felt like the jaws were closing when he tried to rush them into a decision. I didn't guess, however, that he and Pakorn were on the same (evil) team. And that Pakorn would hand over his son, presumably shot up with Hulk juice or soon to be. Now that Klao has caught on to the idea of a 'club' of greedy adults, she'll be able to help Keen figure out what's happening. Hopefully, before they do something horrible to the fearless Thun. Anyone else think there's a chance that Typhoon will help? He and Thun were friends once… Wait a minute… this is the second time Keen's home has been searched. What could they be seeking? Likely something from his Dad, no? Who else is getting sucked in? Is anyone watching Knock Out? I'd love to hear your take. Drop-kick those ponderings into the comments below. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I hiked my country's highest mountain in these Keen summer boots, and right now they're $55 off ahead of Prime Day
I know what you're gonna say: 'do you live in the Netherlands? Is your highest mountain like 320 meters?' No, as much as I love me some lowlands, I live in Wales, U.K., and we have some pretty respectable hills. The highest of those is Mount Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa in Welsh, at 1.085 meters / 3,000 feet. Hardly Rockies-level climbing, I know, but steep enough to present a challenging hike, and changeable enough to present some risk. The other week, I climbed its hardest ascent, Watkin Path (listed as 10/10 difficulty), to test out these lightweight Keen Hightrail hiking boots, currently $55 off at Keen. These are quickly becoming my favorite outdoors gear, and in my opinion are some of the best hiking boots you can buy for summer trails, especially at this low price. Here's why. I've worn a lot of hiking boots in my time, and none of them have been this comfortable out of the box. After 25 miles, I've not had a single blister, and there's plenty of toe space. Grippy, supportive and with solid waterproofing, these lightweight hiking boots are perfect for summer adventures. At $55 off ahead of Prime Day, they're a bargain, too. Alas, the women's model is not on sale. However, I can still heartily recommend these lightweight boots for summer hikes. They're super supportive and grippy, extremely comfortable, with no break in period. The waterproofing holds up well against water ingress. I've hiked most of my life. When I was younger, family holidays with my parents consisted of going to the beautiful Lake District here in the U.K., ascending mountains and dipping our feet in tarns. I've worn a fair few hiking boots in my time, including boots from Merrell and On, and I'm not messing around when I say I've never worn a set of boots this comfortable. I've hiked around 25 miles in the Hightrails so far, so I'm around halfway through testing for my upcoming review of these boots. I haven't had a single blister, and there's been no breaking in period. The internal padding is super comfy and you can literally put 'em on and get walking straight away. This is especially true if you have wide feet, like me. Something we've noted in our other Keen reviews is just how much toe space the brand builds into its shoes. I normally experience cramped toes and blisters from narrow boots, but again, no problems to report with the Hightrails. I have a form of immuno-arthritis which affects my legs and feet in particular. My anterior tibial tendons are common flare-up points, and inflammation there often also causes acute plantar fasciitis. The padding in the soles of the Keen Hightrails has been good enough to help cushion a recent flare up, although I definitely wouldn't say these are the softest boots I've worn. That's not not to say these boots don't perform. They're comfortable and soft, yes, but very supportive. I need a lot of interior ankle support as my gait tends to roll. For that reason, I always wear a mid boot. Not all mids are created equal though, and I've really enjoyed how much support the Hightrails give me there — there's an ankle strap on each side of the boot, which is pulled taught by the laces, allowing you to slacken or increase ankle support. They also provide strong levels of grip. As I mentioned earlier, I hiked the hardest trail of Wales' highest mountain, Watkin Path, which gets very steep and involves a good amount of scrambling. I never once missed my footing in the Hightrails. The boots' waterproofing is also decent, and fine for spring and summer hikes. Up at the top of Snowdon, mist and rain rolled in, and my feet stayed totally dry until the water runoff from my trousers started to seep into the top. I also took these boots walking recently on a hike through Monmouthshire, Wales, along a river path. I stepped into puddles and rivers and my feet stayed dry. That latter hike was on a 29C / 84F day, and my feet stayed totally cool — in fact, they were probably the only cool part of my body that day. If I were looking for a new set of lightweight/summer boots, the Keen Hightrail Mids would be on my shortlist, no doubt. At $55 off (that's a 35% discount), I'd say these boots are too good to pass up.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Can shoes be made in the US without cheap labour?
For companies like Keen and Oka, making shoes in America requires patience, investment, and innovation. The question is whether they - and others - can scale production under the protectionist policies now in place. Mr Harward says there is definitely more interest in local manufacturing because of tariffs, noting that the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic also spurred greater interest in reshoring. But he is sceptical that tariffs alone will drive a wholesale return. "It would probably take 10 years of pretty high tariffs to give people incentives to do it," says Mr Harward. Even then, he believes the industry might realistically see only about 6% of production return to US soil. As for Keen, plans that began over a decade ago, are coming to fruition. It is the kind of patient investment only a family business can afford. "We are a private, values-led company," Mr Perumal explains. "We're able to do these types of decisions without having to have to worry about quarter after quarter results." Still, even for companies who are already making shoes in America, the reality of modern manufacturing is that it is difficult to simply reverse decades of globalisation. Keen's new factory is not a signal of a return to the past, but a glimpse of what the future of American manufacturing might look like - one where technology and tradition intersect.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Can trainers be made in the US without cheap labour?
In a corner of Kentucky just outside of Louisville, family-owned shoe company Keen is opening a new factory this move fits neatly into the "America First" economic vision championed by the Trump administration - an emblem of hope for a manufacturing renaissance long promised but rarely beneath the surface, Keen's new factory tells a far more complicated story about what manufacturing in America really looks like just 24 employees on site, the factory relies heavily on automation -sophisticated robots that fuse soles and trim materials - underscoring a transformation in how goods are made today. Manufacturing is no longer the labour-intensive engine of prosperity it once was, but a capital-heavy, high-tech enterprise."The labour rates here in the US are very expensive," says Keen's chief operating officer, Hari Perumal. Compared to factories in Asia, American staffing costs run roughly 10 to 12 times higher, he a reality that forced Keen to come up with a solution back in 2010, when rising costs in China pushed the company to begin producing domestically - a decision which today offers it some buffer against Trump's tariffs. But it's far from a straightforward like many industries, remains tightly linked to sprawling global supply chains. The vast majority of footwear production is still carried out by hand in Asia, with billions of pairs imported annually into the make domestic production viable, Keen has invested heavily in automation, enabling the Kentucky plant to operate with just a fraction of the workforce required overseas."We are making products here in the USA very economically and very efficiently," says Mr Perumal."And the way we do that is with tons of automation, and [it] also starts with how the products are designed and what kind of materials and automation we utilise." The challenges of reshoring manufacturing go beyond Keen. Major brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour also attempted to develop new manufacturing technologies in the US around a decade ago — efforts that ultimately Keen only assembles 9% of its shoes in America. It turns out that making shoes in a new way, and at scale, is complex and story of American manufacturing is one of dramatic rise and gradual decline. After World War Two, US factories churned out shoes, cars, and appliances, employing millions and helping to build a robust middle as globalisation accelerated in the late 20th Century, many industries moved overseas, chasing cheaper labour and looser regulations. This shift hollowed out America's industrial heartland, contributing to political and economic tensions that still resonate has become a symbol of these changes. Approximately 99% of shoes sold in the US are imported, mainly from China, Vietnam, and domestic footwear supply chain is almost non-existent - only about 1% of shoes sold are made in America. Pepper Harward, CEO of Oka Brands, one of the rare companies still producing shoes in the US, knows this challenge well. His factory in Buford, Georgia, crafts shoes for brands like New Balance and sourcing affordable parts and materials in the US remains a constant struggle."It's not a self-sustained ecosystem," Mr Harward says. "You kind of have to build your own. That is extremely challenging as vendors and suppliers sometimes come in and out."To source the foam and PVC for their soles, Oka Brands tried tapping into the automotive industry's supplier network — an unconventional but necessary workaround. For companies like Keen and Oka, making shoes in America requires patience, investment, and innovation. The question is whether they - and others - can scale production under the protectionist policies now in Harward says there is definitely more interest in local manufacturing because of tariffs, noting that the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic also spurred greater interest in reshoring. But he is sceptical that tariffs alone will drive a wholesale return."It would probably take 10 years of pretty high tariffs to give people incentives to do it," says Mr Harward. Even then, he believes the industry might realistically see only about 6% of production return to US for Keen, plans that began over a decade ago, are coming to fruition. It is the kind of patient investment only a family business can afford."We are a private, values-led company," Mr Perumal explains. "We're able to do these types of decisions without having to have to worry about quarter after quarter results."Still, even for companies who are already making shoes in America, the reality of modern manufacturing is that it is difficult to simply reverse decades of new factory is not a signal of a return to the past, but a glimpse of what the future of American manufacturing might look like - one where technology and tradition intersect.
The Review Geek
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Knock Out – Season 1 Episode 6 Recap & Review
Episode 6 Knock Out Episode 6 lands us at the dinner celebration, now that they have the money to put on their own event. Petch suggests that Thun accompany Keen to speak with other boxers about joining the lineup. On the bridge, Keen discusses his nervousness at handling such a large event but Thun isn't worried, they've made it through difficulties before. He surprises Keen with a couples' necklace to cheer him up. The next day, the guys head out to set up some matches, finding it much easier with Phuwish behind them. Watching a young boxer and his trainer, Thun tells Keen that his first coach was his father, who introduced him to the sport. But he told him to quit when he left him and his mother. But Keen is happy he didn't give up. READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews That evening, the guys announce their success but one person isn't so happy. Win seems to feel outdone by Keen, even though he's the owner's son. Later he takes a few hits at the bag, venting his frustration to Ait. Just as they lean in to kiss Petch arrives to find out why they're still exercising at such a late hour. They quickly part with Win giving Ait a knee in the gut to cover up their intentions. Finally fixing the scale, Ait tries to cheer Win up listing his talents. Deciding they can't be caught in the open, Win and Ait take it to the office, quickly undressing each other. The promotion work continues at a photoshoot for all the boxers. Klao shows up to support Keen and chats with Bung as well. Mai can't help but tease her as she speaks to her crush. In front of the camera, Yut and Thun manage to pull out their fiercest faces. They promote the event with a press conference, including noting Hero Fight merch. Even with high social media engagement, they've still sold less than 20% of the tickets. Mai is sure he can help with some influencer content. When Phuwish calls, Keen is afraid to face him. To try to make up the sales, he's got no choice but to accept the interview Phuwish has set up for them with Sport Gossip. But the show needs Keen to come up with some sort of gimmick. Back in the car, Thun aims to cheer him up with a message from their kangaroo plushie. Preparing for Sports Gossip, Mai creates clips of everyone getting ready. When Yut arrives, he brings treats for everyone but Thun laughs and Keen accidentally spills water on Yut when he gets a little touchy. Noticing the laugh, Yut doesn't look too happy. On set, Mai tries the mechanical punching bag, reaching a high score in one shot. When the show begins, Keen notes that the theme nods to a rivalry between Thun and Yut. Then they head to the punching bag for a little warm-up. Ait gets a surprisingly low score and Yut beats Thun with the hardest hit. They end the segment with closing words from Yut as he puts his arm around Keen. When the host ships Yut and Keen, Thun loses his patience, pushing Yut. Keen quickly plays it off as part of the show. As Thun drags Keen off-set in a rage, Keen can't understand why he couldn't let it go for the sake of the event. They argue until Keen proves who he's interested in, pulling off Thun's pants. While outside, Ait sweats over getting a lower score than even Mai but Win comforts him. Post-show, social media influencers stoke the fire over the rivalry between Thun and Yut, clearly over Keen. The chatter helps to drive sales to the point of selling out. Everyone congratulates Keen for an amazing job, at the same time, noticing that he and Thun are a couple, both smiling proudly. Watching them, Ait still seems discomfited. In their room, Keen confesses that it's the first time he felt part of the gym's family but Thun insists he's been a part for a long time. As they kiss and cuddle, Thun tells Keen he'll always be his match. The sweetness turns to heat as they continue to touch each other. A quick cut to Yut shows that he's taking the same drug that Typhoon did, looking just as aggressive and ready for a fight. The Episode Review While the pairs seem to be getting stronger, issues are popping up everywhere. No more on Ait's mystery boss, yet he's clearly not himself. Not just the punching score and his dive into under-confidence but the look of jealousy as Thun and Keen come out as a couple. Win doesn't seem anywhere near telling his Dad. Are we both thinking of that moment when Win said he would take care of Ait? Now that Win's dependent on the gym to pay his debt, that care and ability to be free is not looking likely in the near future. Ait was right – Win should've sold his truck and taken responsibility for his debt. As Keen and Thun continue to work together and get closer, they unwittingly fire up some jealousy in both Ait and Yut for different reasons. Once again, we see Thun lose control of his emotions detrimentally. How many outbursts will it take for Keen to have fewer stars in his eyes over Thun? Now, this last little glimpse of Yut taking the drug – who could be driving that move? Is he simply very competitive or actually trying to win Keen's love? Is it Pakorn who's the supplier or the boxing-loving Phuwish himself? Was Yut's 'quitting-boxing-to-do-charity-work-and-not-hurt-people' story all a ruse? What are your thoughts on Knock Out? Knee-block those views into the comments below. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews
