An opportunity wasted
I expected so much more from this series. Having watched Jazz for Two, i thought this would turn out to be a Taiwanese version of that bc of the similarities in the plot. However, 5 episodes in and each one feels like I'm being forced to keep my eyes on the screen. I am disappointed. Poor storyline, too many flashbacks to one thing, no real chemistry between the ML and the music isn't even great. This was an opportunity to showcase how music can truly help one heal and how love finds you even in your darkest moments but it failed, abysmally. I have zero positive takeaways from this one and can only hope Taiwan does better.Was this review helpful to you?
Simply Just Not For Me
I told myself at the beginning of this year that I wouldn't force myself to watch anything that doesn't immediately catch my attention or interest. Unfortunately, First Note of Love did just that.Let's Dive In.
I think this is just one of those series that just isn't for me. I cannot handle the long drawn-out singing scenes, or the fact that none of them look like they can actually play an instrument. I feel like in my watch of just 3 episodes, I did more skipping than watching, and that says a lot.
There are also some characters that appear on screen way too much for me, like Neil's managers or workers or whatever the hell they are. They have their own scenes, but they feel so irrelevant and added just for timing purposes. I can't sit through series anymore where the main focal point of the series is taken away just for the added functions of nuanced characters.
I feel nothing for Neil and Sea, just purely nothing. I think Sea does shyness pretty darn good, and Neil is good at acting like he doesn't give a fuck, but together, I'm just not feeling it. Which is sad, cause I love age gaps, but they didn't spark anything out of me. The ending scene in episode 3 though was actually pretty cute, just not enough for me to keep watching.
I feel like this series in itself isn't bad, it's just simply not for me. I felt like I even forced myself to watch the first three episodes, and I don't want to do that for the remainder of the series.
Ratings:
Story: 6/10 - honestly, a decent plot about a band that falls apart after the death of one of the brothers. The story seemed like it could've really gone somewhere with the growth of Neil as he processes all of it, but it's not enough to keep me watching, Too many irrelevant characters get too much screen time, which is a no-no for me. The romance, from what I've seen in three episodes, does absolutely nothing for me.
Acting: 8.5/10 - Great, no one looked like they couldn't act. If anything, it's this series' strong suit. But they should've done some rehearsing on how to fake-play instruments.
Music: 5/10 - Skipped through it all. A personal problem of mine, not the series.
Recommendation Value: 5/10 - If you like singing, this series might work out for you. Otherwise, no.
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Musical BLs are my weakness
Let's start with the headline.This BL is what it is supposed to be. A musical BL, and it is stellar in this sense.
What got me frustrated though was the unnecessary Thai subplot, but we can live with that because both are hot. I think that they should have some Thai here and there and have both talk in Taiwanese, since the BL is mainly Taiwanese.
The plot is awesome, but the child playing that part felt rather odd, the songs, the acting, the settings are beautiful done.
I cried at the end and cried here and there so if you love musicals this is another one to fall in love with.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Sweet Tune to the Heart
First Note of Love is a 12-episode Taiwanese BL (Yaoi) series directed by Shiue Bin Jian, streaming on GagaOOLala from August to October 2024. At its core, it’s a story about love, healing, and the power of music, told through the connection between Neil (Charles Tu), a well-known guitarist still haunted by the past, and Sea (Michael Chang), a gifted young composer who’s secretly been his fan.Six years after losing his brother and bandmate Matt, Neil is struggling with grief, anxiety, and stage fright. Enter Sea—an unpolished but passionate composer invited to collaborate with his idol. What begins as a rocky partnership, with Neil dismissing Sea as undeserving, gradually turns into something tender and transformative. Sea’s honesty and love for music slowly chip away at Neil’s walls, promising a heartfelt journey of growth, understanding, and healing.
The series shines in how it frames their evolving relationship. From awkward clashes to becoming a harmonious duo—in both music and love—their slow-burn romance feels genuine and deeply human. Supporting characters add colour too, especially Sea’s cheeky friend Liang and Neil’s colleague Mei, keeping the tone fresh and playful. There are also clever twists that subvert expectations, keeping the narrative from falling into clichés.
Visually, the production holds up well, with thoughtful cinematography (though a few time jumps could have been clearer). What really elevates the show, though, is the music. The soundtrack isn’t just background—it’s woven into the storytelling, with lyrics that echo the characters’ struggles, hopes, and dreams. The performances from Tu and Chang bring maturity and nuance, and even the subplot with Orca, a Thai character navigating a language barrier, is handled with refreshing realism.
In the end, First Note of Love hits all the right notes: a moving story of love and loss, grounded in music’s power to heal. With its heartfelt themes, well-drawn characters, and a soundtrack that lingers long after the credits roll, it’s a warm, soulful watch that will resonate with anyone who’s ever found comfort in both love and song.
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A fun light hearted series.
This series was a lot of fun. The lead characters have good chemistry and strong connection. The storyline is touching and emotional. Love the 2 leads and how they pair. Sadly I was not to much of a fan of Reese and Orca it felt off and needed better chemistry. The orca character felt off and lacked interest, should have gotten a better actor. There is depth and growth in the story and characters. I really enjoyed the showing of emotional baggage that death can have and the fact of being strong enough to go forward in life. I love that at the end of the day they just want to finish his concert and see where life goes for them. That's all that matters. There is a lot of hidden meanings and messages. Wish it did a bit more with showing the relationship growth more but it was still cute and fluffy. Love the English parts they are so cute and fit beautiful especially with the music complementing each other. Ocean, Neil and Reese were great, loved all the side characters to they were fun and had me laughing helping push the love of the main pair. Wish the series was longer too. The music is amazing and so are the voices.Was this review helpful to you?
too shallow by any standards
So, we have these nice actors, both young and good-looking, but the plot is hardly there. To give a final blow to the thin plot, the director added a lot of flashbacks/ memories of the past, that honestly are just garbage. The "lost" brother gets more screen time than some characters who are - thankfully - alive and well. The actors did their part flawlessly, the problem lies with the script, which is totally useless.I wouldnt recommend this to anyone who values their time.
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SheCo
Pensa numa história simplesmente incrível, tudo se conectando muito bem, de forma bem suave. Foi incrível assistir essa série e olha que eu enrolei por não dar nada por ela. A história dos dois irmãos com a morte e como o luto afeta ele, ainda mais por não só conviverem juntos como irmãos mas também no trabalho com a música na banda e a falta que ele faz pro irmão, doeu demais. Chorei muito no penúltimo episódio com ele supersndo a dor e se despedindo do irmão no carro na mesma cena em que acontece o acidente, poético! Os dois casais lindos e não me pareceu nada forçado as relações então é um saldo positivo.Simplesmente incrível, recomendo demais e dou uma nota 9/10!
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Tão sensível!
Como a média geral desse BL não é, no mínimo, 8?A história é linda, tão sensível. Os atores são ótimos, e o desenvolvimento é muito gostosinho de acompanhar. Definitivamente um dos melhores achadinhos do ano.
O enredo gira em torno do Neil, que fazia dupla musical com o irmão, o Matt. Depois de um acidente trágico, o Matt falece e o Neil simplesmente desaparece da mídia por anos. Ele só volta à ativa porque, se não lançasse um novo álbum em um ano, perderia o contrato com a gravadora. É aí que entra o Sea, um jovem produtor que posta seus trabalhos online e acaba sendo descoberto pela mesma empresa do Neil, a Echo Music.
O destino une os dois de forma inesperada: na noite anterior à reunião que selaria essa nova parceria, Neil salva a vida do Sea, sem saber que eles já têm uma conexão do passado. Sea era apenas uma criança quando Neil, ainda famoso, o ajudou em um momento muito difícil da vida dele. E, mesmo anos depois, o Sea continua sendo seu fã… só que agora está vendo um lado do Neil ferido, fechado e ainda preso no luto pelo irmão.
Eles vão ter que aprender a conviver, a trabalhar juntos, e de certa forma a se curar juntos também. É uma história sobre dor, recomeços, música e afeto. Me deixou feliz, melancólica, tímida… me fez chorar também.
Neil e Sea sempre vão ter um espacinho no meu coração. 💖
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Uma Boa História, Mas Que Só Surpeende No Final!
Que BL Taiwanês que me surpreendeu totalmente em sua reta final, com toda a sua carga emocional e delicadeza, transmitidas em cenas inesquecíveis. Mas confesso que incialmente até o episódio 09, ele foi mediano, mas bom. A história de Sea e Neil é realmente uma jornada de cura, amadurecimento, autodescoberta, aceitação, transformação e amor, mas o desenrolar dela até os momentos preciosos e de virada da história, foi tipicamente como uma boa tarde de domingo com um cafezinho e um bolo. Foi divertida, despretensiosa, leve e sem grandes emoções, mas gradativamente ela conseguiu me carregar aos momentos dignos de uma obra prima do gênero. A partir dos três episódios finais, sofri uma avalanche emocional de primeira qualidade, desde a impecável cena da primeira vez de Neil e Sea tanto quanto a tocante cena de despedida dos irmãos Neil e Matt. Foram experiências únicas, pitorescas, sensíveis, líricas e puras de sentimentos como o amor, a paixão, o desejo, o luto, a solidão e a saudade. A fotografia, iluminação e detalhes nos enquadramentos das cenas, foram os grandes responsáveis por transformarem momentos comuns, em algo extraordinário. Impossível não se emocionar com a maestria do enredo e atuações nesses episódios finais, me tocando profundamente com tanta sensibilidade, doçura e afeto, sejam em momentos tristes ou de felicidade. Destaque para o casal principal Neil e Sea, além do casal secundário Reese e Orca, que além da beleza me deram atuações primorosas e memoráveis. Destaque também para os personagens secundários Matt, Xiao Mei, Ting Fei e Chen Han Liang, que trouxeram a irreverência, alto astral, suporte e dinamismo para a série. Outro destaque, são as Osts que estiveram em praticamente todos os episódios, até por parte da temática da série ser sobre música. Elas deram o tom emocional em diversas cenas e me transportaram para as vivências de Neil e Sea. E por último, destaque para a beleza surreal e atemporal de Taiwan, com a modernidade e a tradição do país em pleno equilíbrio. Minha nota vai ser um 07, é uma história boa, coesa e sem furos, mas que entrega e impacta somente nos episódios finais. E por si só, esses episódios merecem nota 10, simplesmente pela obra cinematográfica de qualidade que são.Recomendo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Lebih menekankan background story dibandingkan musik.
Series bL ini menurutku punya cerita yang unik, dengan latar belakang konflik yang bagus. Walaupun begitu menurutku pribadi ceritanya disajikan terlalu sederhana, beberapa resolusi konflik mungkin terasa biasa saja. Dari segi looks aktor, menurutku ini dapet banget ya tapi ini soal selera. Vibrasi dan romansa di series ini kurang begitu terasa, slow-burn dari series ini menjadi ciri khas. Dari segi warna cukup baik, ini memang drama tentang musik, namun tidak menunjukan suasana musik yang kuat ( jika dibandingkan dengan my school president series ) series first note of love lebih menekankan kepada latar belakang cerita utama dibandingkan dengan musik yang ditampilkan. rekomended? yes.Was this review helpful to you?
