Late but Loving It: My Thoughts on Counter-Attack & Revenge Love
Okay, I know I’m really late on this one, but I just watched Counter-Attack yesterday — and wow! I can’t believe I slept on this for so long.Recently, we already watched Revenge Love, and now it totally makes sense that Counter-Attack is actually the first part of the story. It’s like Revenge Love continues what Counter-Attack started. And honestly? That connection makes both of them hit even harder. It’s really nice.
I managed to catch some parts of Counter-Attack before the next episode of Revenge Love dropped, and I’m glad I did. Everything ties together so well. The characters, the tension, the way the story unfolds… it just works. Honestly, I want to call this a masterpiece.
If you haven’t seen it yet, please do yourself a favor — watch Counter-Attack first. It’ll help you really (really really really!) understand what’s going on in Revenge Love.
Peace ✌️💙
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Overall, this has no flaws. It was beautiful. The love between the main characters was honestly top notch, and I can't wait for season two (hopefully it comes out)
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Projekt jistě není úplně top, ale pobavil mě, někde malinko ztřeštěný, vtipný, lehký a roztomilý v tom, jak do určitého fyzického kontaktu včetně "ošahávaček" herci šli naplno. Herci - sympaťáci a ta přítelkyně tam hrála čtvrté housle. A ještě jedna zajímavost. Ty různé povídačky, jak je to s uncut verzemi, mám i ty střihy, ale jedná se o pusinky, mazlení. Seriál totiž byl snad poslední před známým zpřísněným čínským nařízením, a po něm si už projekty s BL a gay tematikou moc neškrtly ... velká škoda.
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A Decade-Old BL That Doesn’t Hold Up to Its Remake
After watching 4 out of 24 episodes of the 2025 remake Revenged Love (which I’m loving so far and is one of my favorites this year!), I decided to check out the original 2015 Falling in Love with a Rival to see how it compares. Let’s just say, it doesn't quite measure up.The series is much shorter than Revenged Love (8 episodes at 20 minutes each + a 10-minute special), and while there are no snake scenes like in the remake (which I didn’t mind), it still doesn’t hold the same charm. The plot was messy and felt like scenes were just cut and pasted together, with no real flow. 🌀
The rooms and sets were outdated for a 2015 series—honestly, Addicted (2016) had better visuals. While I liked the chemistry between Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei, some of their movements were awkward and didn’t feel natural at all. Even their uncut kissing scenes were poorly shot. 😬
The second couple had only about 2 minutes of screen time, which was a huge disappointment since Revenged Love really focuses on them. 😞
Overall, while I did enjoy a few scenes, the remake is definitely the superior version. If you’re curious, I’d recommend checking out Revenged Love first!
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The acting was believable and I loved the kisses. The actors made me swoon at certain points. The title song made me feel snug and warm on the inside.
Will be rewatching while I am in recovery from surgery. It's so short just imagine you are watching a movie and finish it in a few hours.
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goofy ML vs stoic/horny ML
Overall: this is based on the book Counter Attack by Chai Jidan which I haven't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. 8 episodes of 17 minutes of actual show (21 including intro/end credits). No official international release.Content Warning: non con touching multiple times
What I Liked
- the dynamics of both the main and side couples
- how one ML wasn't a damsel in distress, had some pluck
- showed that it wasn't a platonic relationship
- when the wig was gone
Room For Improvement
- made fun of a person with a disability in eps 1/8
- the side couple vanished
- plot was pretty choppy, guessing it was due to low budget and/or censorship
- the final episode didn't have one of the MLs in it which was strange
- (neutral) the friend, he was sometimes helpful but other times he was not
- 2 minutes and 20 seconds was too long of an intro for only 17 minutes of a show (didn't include the end credits), I didn't take off points for this
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Not bad.
I watched this today because i am watching Revenged love and wanted to see how much they are alike.The remake Revenged love is in big lines the same (i've seen 8 ep. now, waiting for new onces to air) but it's way more extensive than this version.
This version is not bad, I might have enjoyed it more if i hadn't seen the stunning remake.
The chemistry between Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei is good, the visuals are also ok.
The editing is a bit messy, a lot of scene's felt cut off.
Nice to have seen for one time, but i won't watch it again.
In comparison to the remake Revenged loved of wich i have seen the first 8 episodes already several times.
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Sweet concept. Doesn't do enough though.
TLDR; From sheerly the summary, this captured my attention with its simple charm, but sadly the delivery wasn't up to par with what can be read, to me at least.Fair disclaimer: I have preferences, which most would likely not agree with, and that is fine. As a subjective reviewer, I am not trying to down-rate this title or undermine the good reviews.
I do not think this was a high-budget or spectacularly prepared show, so obviously I will keep the quality comments to the minimum here.
With all that being said, here's my fleshed-out opinion dump on this very "mid" show:
STORY:
Unlike my overall review, I have given this quite a high rating because, while in idea the whole "trying to make your ex jealous, but it backfires and now you're in too deep with their new partner" isn't anything groundbreaking or new, it still is and will always be an interesting, possibly hilarious or heartfelt endeavour. In this case, however, I cannot say any of this was true.
ACTING/CASTING:
I had no problems with the casting. All-round good-looking and fitting people for what and whom they were chosen to portray. Handsome male leads, sweet side male character, and the ladies were greatly picked especially.
As for acting...
Overly goofy acting makes even the most intimate and/or slightly emotional moments wholly unrelatable and un-serious, which could work in standard comedy show circumstances, but to me, it just seemed too much at times here; comedy without tact or skilful application, if you will. While, again, I do concede this entire show is a low-budget comedy, it just simply doesn't justify its low-effort acting. The two main characters especially apply here: no chemistry, way too abrupt and unreasonably developed feelings for two strangers, etc.
I did like the actresses behind YueYue and the Auntie, though. I feel like they knew they weren't entirely the focal points of the show, but still managed to sell their characters and their behaviours to me, despite some instances of the storyline making us viewers feel no sympathy or relatability to them— they still kept it real enough and interesting.
MUSIC:
Rated this lowly purely because it was 99% stock music I've heard a million times in YouTube skits and videos all around the web before. Unless I missed something, there was little-to-no OST here. I understand it comes down to budget issues again, but the score remains, as I couldn't bring myself to give something so basic a high score out of kindness haha.
REWATCH VALUE:
I suppose if you're into schlocky comedies that don't necessarily grip you in any way, just casual watch to veg out on the couch for, it's decent enough. However, if you want a proper, well-put-together, interesting and still funny comedy show, I wouldn't recommend it, personally.
Once again, I have the need to apologise, as this is just a personal opinion much like most other reviews, but I just don't seem to see any bad things written about mid-to-low-tier shows, so I feel as if I'm a bad guy here for saying anything...
I do appreciate that better/good reviews will probably get bumped to the front as to recommend shows/films and encourage people to form their own reviews, but still. It's tough to write opinions out when they aren't good ones haha
<< OVERALL: 4.5 >>
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so disappointed
I was soo excited when I found out that this was a drama as I have read the book but I was soo disappointed when I started watching it that I couldn't even finish it. comparing this to the novel, this drama adaptation was a huge letdown. there was soo many elements missing in the drama adaptation that was relevant to the overall plot of the novel. so much so that it left holes in the drama adaptation of the plot that could only be understood if you have read the novel beforehand. and don't get me started on the relationship between the two male leads. the drama didn't catch the essence of the characters let alone any of the other characters. the drama also felt so rushed that the story left me feeling soo empty and the quality of the drama feels like a low-quality drama with very little effort put into it; like the drama was made because the novel had a large audience but the people producing the drama could care less about it. would not recommend watching it ever. you will be soo let down like your soul has left your body. I would recommend reading the novel instead.Was this review helpful to you?
Was it that it was an adult BL? I have been on this kick of teen BL admittedly. It all started with Love Sick. Not just teen to be honest, but also college (Sotus, comes to mind). After seeing Love Sick I think I keep looking for that sort of depth in a story line. The first story I ever had before Love Sick and I took a long hiatus since then was Addicted---I saw Addicted when it first came out (RAW).
I can watch adult dramas, it's clear the adult ones aren't a problem since I have watch HIStory ones that I will be reviewing that I love. I saw Advance Bravely and loved that one. I think the guys here are great. I think the men were stunning. I think the story was horribly written. I just think it was a really bad story and it made no sense.
The interaction of the characters made no sense. The Co-Pilot (doctor BF) role made no sense and his relationship with the other rich made no sense and I wasn't sure if maybe that was to wait for a second season. But I felt to always cover your base to have it in S1. I mean it was just sloppy writing and sloppy editing. Oy...mental reasoning to steal the guy made no sense and the Co-Pilot's advice made no sense. Lord have mercy.
The acting was on point for the trash they were given though. I have no idea how they managed that.
Was it Rom-Com that bothered me? <-- This might be the closest issue. I feel so far that I'm not so keen on Rom-Com BL's. Love Sick is not a Rom-Com BL. I know I dislike Make It Right <---Because it is definitely a Rom-Com and I can't stand it. I think I like it when boys seriously questioning their sexuality as something serious and not as a joke or the scenario as a joke. Don't get me wrong MIR does have it's moments of seriousness---but they do make light of it more than take it seriously. While Love Sick had it as serious, the issues of love man woman, man to man, and how that affects your relationship with other people. It's the same thing with Addicted, ditto with HIStory: Obsessed, A Round Trip to Love...and on and on and on and on...
Was it the revenge? <--- Yeah this too....stupid and pathetic. Let me get the boyfriend of my ex to fall in love with me even though I'm not gay but he might be. What?! Does that make sense? I'm poor and he's rich, but I'll work it out...WTF?! Yeah, when I say stupid. Just stupid. I mean I guess that means something.
I went to watch this by all the acclamaitions everyone put out there for this drama. I regret doing this to myself. Just horrible decision. The story didn't even have anything hot. Even the uncut scenes were lackluster. HIStory Season 1: Obsessed was hot; even Love Sick was hotter than this; definitely Together With Me was crazy hotter than this.
Was it the adult make questioning his sexuality? <--- Nada. I don't care if you're adult or youth. Questioning the title of straight or gay is always a plus in my book since I don't subscribe that one can be born gay, or straight for that matter. Nor do I believe that someone is gay, nor that someone is straight for that matter. You think you're one thing for a long time and then bam..you see this one person and you're like crap...I'm not. That happened to my Mayor's wife in NYC. She is an African American. During the 70s she wrote about being a proud African American LESBIAN feminist. She was an advocate for Lesbian rights and wrote several articles and on and on. Then she met our Mayor, DiBlasio (a man of course). Married him and gave him two kids <--- never looked back. She went from thinking she was born being a lesbian to being a person.
I would have liked this aspect of the storyline explored more...maybe an S2 might have given us that. However, that wasn't the premise of the story---so it was white noise and would never have been a focus. This was one of the kickers of disinterest and lowering the quality of the story for me.
I won't be rewatching this drama. The only sexual scenes are on the uncut scenes and to be honest I didn't care for them. There was nothing hot there. It again, wasn't like I was watching Addicted or Obsessed or A Round Trip to Love (they didn't show me anything the noise and shadow was enough). All I did was roll my eyes. This was utter crap.
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not easy to beat this one!
I came to watch this after reading several reviews, and they were totally right! Despite being a low budget short series, this is really a gem! The young actors are awesome, and serious topics are approached in the most genuine comedic manner. I wouldnt miss this one!I dont know where i should start pointing the qualities of this minidrama, it has got literally everything... in a sexual manner: revenge, love, gender dilemma, couple dynamics, friendship.... You name it!
Not sure abt rewatch, but it certainly stuck with me for some time.
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