Giving hope for new types of BL
Century of Love drew me in right away with its interesting premise. Normally I prefer fluffy GmmTV stuff, but I sometimes watch other kinds. This was somewhat fluffy, but had a different setting. I watched the first 6 episodes on YouTube, but switched to BiliBili for the remaining episodes because BiliBili has English subtitles for episodes 7-10.What I did not like:
1. Some scenes were repeated over and over, like San getting sick and coughing blood. I fast-forwarded through many of them.
2. Too much graphic violence for me.
3. Kantapon (Vee) was not a good actor in the first few episodes, always smiling too much, partly because his character seemed to want to soothe everyone with smiles and good cheer. (Later he improved and showed a wider range of facial expressions. )
4. Songs were not translated.
5. Production quality was a bit low. They could have shown more outdoor shots, for example.
6. I shouted at the TV a lot because the characters were irritatingly self-sacrificing to the extent that the beneficiary was suffering more because of the "sacrifice". Also too many miscommunications.
7. I did not like some parts of the wife/husband trope -- Vee acting coy about physical affection, San getting down on knees to propose etc.
8. One-dimensional characters.
9. Vee's grandma's wig.
10. Leads' chemistry not enough to make me rewatch snippets.
What I liked:
a. Interesting plot premise.
b. Daou Pittaya Saechua acted well, showing a young-looking person with a grave side to his character. Even the kissing and love scenes were handled well in the later episodes, and were believable and not cringy.
c. Chu was a very good character, and the few het men who might watch it might enjoy her tight clothing.
d. No side couple just for the sake of having one, like some BL's have without adding anything to the story.
e. Everyone (good and bad) got what they deserved. The ending also had a good message presented without cringe.
f. One-dimensional characters -- you might notice that I put it in the dislike list also, because in a way I like simple characters who I can neatly classify into tropes.
g. I cried here and there, because the idea of losing people was presented very well.
Overall I felt that one hour could have been cut by reducing the repetition of coughing blood, feeding each other at the dining table, etc. But well worth watching once. I usually rewatch parts where the chemistry (not necessarily sex) is good, but this one doesn't have any that I want to rewatch.
This is my first review on mydramalist since I started watching BLs a few months ago.
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If you prefer something's cute rather then wild ?
I always believe the ratings on this website. Because every time I watch something above 8.0⭐️ it’s never disappointing. I cannot say it would be different with this bl, it’s good.Just my personal opinion is that it little bit cliche. For example when Wee was sh*t and San hold him I saw that so many times in bl stories. And also I feel like I already watched a similar bl with the “reborn” topic.
The story was definitely interesting , I’m just not quite sure that the idea was unique.
Anyways it’s worth of watching if you looking for a bl with higher quality in acting and storytelling, and if you prefer something's cute rather then wild 😜 (if you know what I mean). I do still recommend. Peace.
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Good series with great leads
First I would like to say that I really enjoyed this series quite a bit! I think the story was very interesting and they didn't completely butcher the execution like some BL series.Likes:
1. The chemistry between the main leads is absolutely amazing! I loved them in both series that they were a part of and you can tell that they have a lot of respect for each other. They feel like a real couple, which is something that I hold in high regard when it comes to LGBTQ+ content.
2. The story was very interesting and I love a good reincarnation/fantasy story and it was decently executed. The director and production crew executed the fantasy story as well as the romance story pretty well! I felt like every character had their place in the story and added something to the story.
3. The other actors did a really good job as well especially since a few of them had to play multiple characters with completely different personalities. I also just loved the majority of the characters even the ones that I have criticisms for.
Dislikes/critiques:
1. I thought some of the decisions made by the characters (especially San) were nonsensical. Especially when it came to basically accepting that the new Vad was the real Vad without any proper research into who she actually is (which they did with Vee), San giving the rock to the new Vad which is literally his lifeline, and San abandoning Vee after his grandmother died because he didn't want to cause Vee any more pain (even though it caused even more pain).
2. I wish they would have explored the shift from San basically hating Vee and treating him like crap to absolutely being so in love with him that he would end his own life a bit better. I get that San is over a hundred years old and might not be okay with being in a relationship with a man and I wish they would have explored that more.
3. I wish they would have explored more of the spiritual aspects of the show. Demon Vee was such a visual pleasure that I wish they would have explored it better.
4. I feel like when Vee got stabbed, he healed a little too quickly and with absolutely no scarring? Multiple stab wounds would take Vee off his feet for a least a few months and would most likely leave pretty big scars.
5. Horrible CGI... I know that Thai companies don't have the most money but most of the bad CGI could have been practical effects and would have been 10X more successful.
Overall, I really enjoyed this series and I think the actors did a great job portraying the characters! I would definitely watch this series again or recommend this series to a friend.
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At first, I thought this series would be about reincarnation, a theme we see from Thailand every year. However, I was surprised by how they steered the story into something more cultural (or religious) rather than just reincarnation. I wish I could understand more about this concept, but even though I didn't fully grasp it, I still enjoyed the series very much!
Daou's acting was great! This is the first time I’ve seen him in a series. Does anyone know more about him? I skipped Love in Translation last year, so I didn’t have any expectations for him. Nevertheless, Offroad really needs improvement, which is one of the reasons I couldn’t give this show a higher rating.
I might say this is the best Thai series of the year so far! I hope there will be another Thai series that shines this year.
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A Refreshing Watch!
This was different from a regular BL because Century of Love watches like a drama! The overall experience is better; you aren't constantly forced to watch characters behave like jealous children or see adults overreact to every situation they're placed in. This could've been marketed as a love arrow between a straight couple, and much of what happened would stay the same. It feels superfluous when talking about a queer drama, but I hope Century of Love can start some real process towards BL and queer media that isn't solely focused on the gayness of its characters.Big props to the casting crew, all these actors made their roles come alive! There was never a part of me that felt a plot point or a character was too outlandish or simply not believable. It was so funny watching Daou be called Grandpa and Great Grandpa while looking 25; his way of dressing was hip yet modest, and his old man ways of thinking, he sold San's energy to me.
Those kiss scenes 😏. The romance of San and Vee was just -! It was a joy to watch them overcome and conquer their fears/insecurities together and separately.
This is such a solid BL! It should be way more popular with this stellar cast and sweet romance! Plus, the soundtrack!
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Love the drama, wish the prologue was fleshed out more though
I loved the premise, and it was overall enjoyable. It had the ingredients of something great, and delivered on that, but I feel like this drama really could've benefited from 1 or 2 more episodes that fleshed out the plot more. I would've loved to see more developments on the mystical parts, like the story of the Stone and the goddess. The story the first savant told about the stone was very basic, and I would've liked more development around the mystic-ness of the stone or the goddess.The whole show starts with the savant helping San with the stone because of Vadfah's request, but it's never explained why the savant so willingly helped them, showing a random noble woman something so powerful, going as far as to crush a thousand-year-old stone for them, that he's supposed to protect. Also, San would not be dying from a bullet in his arm!!! Like, at least put it in his stomach or something, build up the tension yk. A deeper look at San's internalised homophobia, or at least coming to terms with the fact he loves Vee would've been great as well.
My only complaint is that the prologue in ep1 was not developed as much as I would've liked. Other than that, the actual story was developed and paced wonderfully.
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It takes a century to learn to live in the present
I had been meaning to watch this one ever since it started airing, and I'm almost upset I waited so long to watch it. This drama is beautifully done, the acting is excellent, and the chemistry even better. While there may be a few plot holes and some annoyance at characters not being able to figure things out, it was overall a wonderful drama that is definitely worth watching.After losing the love of his life in the 1920s, San (Daou) uses a magical stone blessed by a goddess to live in his current form for 100 years to find his true love's reincarnation. With only a few months left, San is getting desperate - he needs to find her in order to break his century-long curse. Luckily, the keeper of the shrine has determined where this reincarnation will be, and San is ecstatic; that is, until he finds out this reincarnation is a man named Vee (Offroad). Thoroughly convinced this was a mistake, San is determined to find his real true love, all while slowly falling in love with Vee instead. San is left to wonder if Vee is truly his soulmate and able to break the curse, or if these 100 years of suffering will end with his death instead.
I really enjoyed watching this. The special effects weren't very good and there were some aspects of the plot that didn't really work for me, but for the most part I thought the storyline was excellent and the characters were developed really well. There's a lot of repetitive drama when it comes to the relationship, but it is still meaningful and executed well. In terms of the background lore of the goddess, I thought it was explained well enough to get the point across without unnecessary exposition, which was great. I do think fleshing out some of the side characters a bit more would've helped round out this drama, but overall it was beautiful and worth the watch.
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loving your reincarnated soulmate no matter what form they take <3
I went into this with no expectations but hoping it was cute since I love the concept of "guy loves his soulmate regardless of their gender" and then I was hooked immediately, watching the entire thing within 24 hours. I love how in your face the soulmatism is from the start - the red string scene made me laugh so hard, the way San recognized some qualities of Wad in Vee even while he was in denial about Wad reincarnating as a man, Vee feeling an immediate fondness for San even while San is being very detached and stand-offish. And maybe I'm just dumb but other than being like "Suchat has to be working with the villain" given how aggressively he tried to keep Vee away from San, I did not see any of the plot twists coming.My main criticism is things happened too quickly. Like, I can buy that Third and Vee hanging out and San becoming jealous as a result would prompt him to confess that he likes Vee and for them to start properly dating. But San is basically giving a love confession at that point and it's just like... how did we go from denial to a love confession in ONE episode??? And when San has spent 4 episodes desperately trying to avoid Vee because he's trying to escape the gay thoughts, so how is it love already? LOL. That said the chemistry between DaouOffroad is fantastic and by the time we're hitting maximum angst, you have no doubt that they love each other deeply and would sacrifice anything for each other. Also I love how soft and tender SanVee is!!!!!! No surprise, episode 6 was my fave - seeing San trying to pursue Vee and openly flirting, taking Vee on a romantic night out that culminated in their first time, San's dream where he relived a bunch of important moments he'd had with Wad but now he was seeing Vee in her place (sidenote: the editor went CRAZY HARD on this show and I love it so much). Ugh this was so good and made me so giddy and it has become one of my fave BLs. Will definitely revisit this one in the future <3
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An Excellent Drama That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
This series is an excellent example of a drama that manages to balance drama, romance, comedy, and angst perfectly. A lot of reincarnation dramas usually choose to lean heavily towards either extreme angst or extreme comedy and there is rarely a perfect in between such as COL.Let's start with the excellent stuff:
- Excellent casting, acting, and chemistry. This applies to all the characters and not just Daou and Offroad. Yes, the romantic chemistry is amazing. But the platonic chemistry between the cast is also crazy electric.
I honestly am in disbelief that this is only Daou and Offroad's second project because their acting and chemistry far surpasses their actual amount of experience. I also have to give a huge kudos to the child actor who played young San, Ms. Vad, and Dr. Third - they were absolutely amazing to watch. Everyone was amazing actually, no line delivery feels out of place or awkward which is a huge feat.
- Insanely funny in the midst of all the Serious. This is an actual laugh out loud funny series for me, which I absolutely did not expect just by watching the trailer and reading the synopsis. Not to mention, all the main casts have amazing comedic timing and a good amount of them are actually so good with physical comedy. Even the editing choice was excellent and insanely funny - there’s this one scene in the beginning where San was asking the first Shinse how long he has to wait, and then the next scene cuts to a picture of the memorial picture of the Shinse and I literally snorted.
- I loved how they wrapped up the story. I had huge expectation on how they were planning to go with the whole "who is the real reincarnation of Ms. Vad" and they wrote what I personally think is the best possible scenario that they could. They managed to convince me that San would still love Vee even if he's not Ms Vad's reincarnation whilst also not negating the enormity of San's love towards Ms Vad, which is a hard balance to achieve.
- They managed to make the age gap not creepy. Eventhough San is literally 100 years old, he learns from Vee as much as Vee learns from him. This really reduces the weirdness of the 100 year gap and any sense of power imbalance
- The characters are all well developed. I love that Vee is not a perfect angel - San knows that and loves him regardless. Although their whole world does revolve around their romance, it doesn't feel one dimensional because Vee has so many other fulfilling relationships in his life other than just San, and San is a literal 100 y.o man so he is allowed to just focus on Vee. I also love how we can clearly see why they fell in love with each other. Both characters are so lovable that its not that high of a reach that theyre madly in love with one another.
Now unto the room for improvement:
- They didn’t really allow proper time for angst. Almost all angst scenes have a comedic element to it which is not fully ideal if you're looking for a good cry. I don’t mind this though, I don’t enjoy crying that much anyways.
- Some scenes didn’t feel purposeful and intentional. I do not mind filler scenes, but I do recognize that this is a room for improvement.
- Plot holes? Or maybe I'm just stupid and didn’t understand. So there are two things I don’t think was explained: does five colored stone have the ability to extend anyone's lifespan eventhough it was literally bound to San and Vad's soul and what was the point of the dream scene where the Goddess cried after San thought that Vee is Vad reincarnated? For my first question, it was more because the mafia and Vee are both under the impression that consuming it will heal them and even San was saying that it has to be given voluntarily and has to be consumed on the birth day of the Goddess. However we saw that the initial healing was done by just placing the stone on San's chest and the consumption was actually to extend lifespan by 100 years. Idk if I phrased this well enough but I just found this part weird.
Anyways this is an excellent watch and I will continue rewatching this for a very long time.
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A fantasy romance we all wanted
If I start to pour out my feelings for this drama, I will forever keep on writing, So I will make it short for why to watch this drama:1. Offcourse, the Chemistry is top notch 😍 will make you fall in love and feel the love 💕 of the main leads. DaoOffroad 👏👏👏
2. Likable characters. Everyone in this series is likeable. Even the villains are likeable. The wheelchair bad guy and the uncle are also likeable because they put on the best villain essence and meet their end. Makes you not hate them. The hitchhiker biker Guns and Roses girl (Mr Wad lookalike ) is also likeable , she is cool.
3. Storytelling and pacing of the show is perfect, doesn't feel dragged, slow and boring even for a second. Well written script 🤌🤩
4. Amazing acting from every cast member. Never have I ever loved any women in a BL drama as I loved Chu. She is my favourite ❤️
5. Great end message 👏
6. Perfect comedic timing, without being cringe
7. Beautifully sung ost that fits the premise of the series.
Like any other series there were some loopholes points but they were not important at all since this series is amazing as a whole. I will still mention them
1. Visual effects
2. Predictable villains
3. Offroad not shedding tears ( I saw people complaining about it , but I don't agree with them since not everyone sheds tears when they cry, what matters more is the expression of felling and that was definitely there) .....
Overall: You'd regret if you don't watch it. 😍😍
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don't dwell on the past when you have the future ahead
If you don't want spoilers it was an okay drama, nothing that special besides the chemistry, but even that couldn't save this. Okay, spoiler time. I gave it a 7.85 out of 10, rounded down to a 7.5 out of 10. Okay, so I am writing this on Grammarly, because I have been doing everything on Grammarly recently, first and copying and pasting it over. I finished this in a 24-hour time frame which I haven’t done since Kinn and fucking Porsche which is INSANE, so let's get it I guess.Starting with my Instagram stories because they are still here because it hasn't been 24 hours and I was just bitching about how I would be mad if I waited 100 years for my beautiful wife and she was now a man. I am very woke but I would be so fucking mad I’d just accept my fate. I was also doing international relations homework. And then I made a joke about Seven Universe and that's it for that.
Okay, let’s do this by episode now. it was 2 in the fucking morning and I started this shit because I thought that Offroad was genuinely such a goofy name. The whole reason is started this show is because I am a fucking hater, insane. They had good chemistry and I am obsessed with Destiny/fate love stories, so they are cute. The first episode was the right pace until the end of the episode and that started the downward spiral of this show, but hey, then I continued my rant about waiting so long and it being a man.
Uh, I just talk about them not getting the stone, which made no sense but mostly the second episode was back and forth and filer shit, because they needed to drag stuff out instead of dragging the actual plot out to fit in the time frame so it doesn't cave on itself at the end, but that just my suggestion.
A lot was happening and a little at the same time, very confusing. it was just like what the fuck is happening? And of course, I was getting emotional with the grandma scene because I have a soft spot for grandmas and I can’t when old people are sick, it makes me sad. Save your grandma but at what cost? was the deepest shit I have ever typed in my 17 years on this sad earth. and then I said something just blatantly wrong about the drama because I was confused and like to lie when I am confused apparently no.
I was very confused because they were running circles around each other and I don't need that in my life. wait I am gonna sleep and finish this in the morning. It is now the morning. I also didn't know they were the main couple in love in translation so I am also going to watch that next. The show is good, it's just a little confusing because of the amount of cop-outs they do for plots. They tried to put too much stuff into one show and now are facing the consequences of their actions.
I have been complaining a lot and I am sorry but the memory change to Wee instead of Wad was the best thing this show has ever seen. It was really to show how much the characters have changed and it was nice to see that. And the transition was very smooth as well, it wasn't an over-the-top thing and that was very much needed. Also, peak San getting really aggressively possessive because Third showed up. Because that was so random, I feel like they should have developed that more. Because it felt very random and abrupt and I was a little confused. It was also finally getting interesting and there is some actual love in there but Wee's alternative plans were gonna fuck up everything and I was right. I mentioned that I wanted to see if they have other shows because they have good on and off-screen chemistry and now I am gonna watch Love in translation. Every time San does the screaming thing when he transforms I think of that one Lil Mabu song and I genuinely cringe so much. San had his slow redemption and Third was so sexy, like he was slowly growing on me. The way he was looking to the side at Wee, holy freak, he is bad as fuck.
Once again the memories now being Wee very cute and well done. They could have developed their love a lot more because it felt very empty and was a serious cop-out. Also was praying that San wasn't so shallow that he would leave Wee for some random girl who looks like a girl he was in love with 100 years ago. They wrote that part very well, and how she came in, was genuinely really good writing on their part now that I think about it.
I say that I think the girl is not actually who she says she is, got that straight on. Also, San dying for Wee was lowkey really deep because he is so willing to sacrifice his immortal life for Wee, that was very well done.
They had so many cop out plots in this it was insane, and there was more plot than romance and I was hoping they would do that in the final episode, side note they did not. And why didn't the uncle die, oh my god, him coming back like be fucking for real, just die.
Uh, a lot of stuff happened and then it started to slow down plot-wise. and I was like where did the girl go? but it was all part of the plot plan for greatness. Good job on their part, very nice to see. Other than that cop-out-ass episode, I was watching this shit on Daily Motion because the company refuses to put subtitiles on youtube videos. The part where San knew he was gonna die but still decided to give up his life for Wee was very sweet and I would fall flat on my face for a man like that. And the basic villian arc dying scene could have been finished earlier.
The ending was a cop-out but not the cop-out ending I was expecting. I wrote this part as I went so enjoy I guess. I really wanted them to fuck to fuse the crystals but I guess not. The crying was really good throughout the show but the end they were doing to much with the crying. It's not that deep. No, but if my man was dying right in front of me I would be jumping in his grave saying take me with you so me and Wee are synced in that way. Let's see this final part and hope they don’t cop out more. Whoever was in charge of outfits (no Chu's though, some of her outfits were so fucking ugly it was stressing me out more than the plot) and camera work needs a fat raise because that was really well done. And then we had a cop-out ass ending with the crystal gem shit. But did we ever find out who is the real Ms. Wa? Good overall message throughout though. don't dwell on the past when you have the future ahead. Banger line by me I guess. That's the new headline. r.i.p Have I run out of fate. For love being in the title, they didn't have enough love. Like they needed to do more with this love thing. I respect this cop out ending and this one only. The other cop-outs in this got on my nerves and were annoying. They trying to fuck on the balcony. He has been waiting 100 years for that I guess. Face cards don't decline with these two. The scene where Third is looking at San and Wee is giving Star in my mind with Typhoon and Dao and Kluen. Full circle moment I guess. So is Wee now immortal or what? How does any of this work? They have gotten married like 3 times, insane. and it's over.
Uh, that was definitely something and I have so many questions it is insane. I also have to average it now because I haven’t done that yet. And yeah. Well, it was nice getting back into dramas, I guess. This was an okay drama and it could’ve been done better. I wouldn’t recommend but do what you want it's your life, not mine. Okay bye!
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A LOVE STORY OF A MAN WHO CAN'T LET GO
This drama is just perfect for my taste and so far one of the best Drama I have watched this year !The story was all about a man who cannot let go of his lover and was willing to do everything to make his love beautiful, even sacrificing his life, thank fully and lucky him that there was a goddess like that who listened to his prayer, I actually started to become curious about the story of this goddess and is there were real five colored stone. In the end, we all who have seen this drama left without knowing who was the real Khun Wad, we also do not know if it were really Vee that was Khun Wad, it seems that everything in the end was a coincidence, maybe the goddess really wanted P'San to learn to let go and so she let him meet Vee, if she was really Khun Wad , we do not know
The Chemistry of Vee and P'San was really beautiful, P'San being grumpy and Vee who always throws himself to P'San it was so funny and I had butterfly ! The kissing scene was just enough , not too steamy and it seems that Daou and Offroad was really really confident and comfortable with each other. Chu ! She was my favorite Character here, I do not really know what would I do without her when I see episodes of this drama, she was such a memorable character , to behonest everyone was such a memorable Im gonna miss the squad but It will be Chu that will be my favorite.
I was literally impressed by the acting of Daou !! And also adding Offroad ! Man ! That was why I really wondered if they have acted many times , but I think it was not ! Everyones acting here was so nice ! Nd let me highlight the fighting scenes, usually some fighting scenes I have seen in Thai BL or dramas was not so convincing but P'San ! Excuse me ?! He looks like a chinese fighter 🩷 all in all everyones acting was so nice
I have 2 favorite lines in this drama the first was when Vee was talking to his grandmother, her grandmother said that , sometimes we need to accept that there is an end for everything , coz thats life , because if everything is forever, how can we value every moment we have .. and second was when the doctor of the Shrine said that we should let go of the past and live with the present
There were some parts at the end specially when the old man was trying to steal the five colored stone before Vee was shot, they were like playing HAHAH but it was okay and annoying at the same time specially to WadFah and that uncle of Chu who sided the sick old rich man who tried to steal the stone.
This drama was so beautiful , and it gives a direct message to everyone that we should let go of the past and live in the present through seeing the story of P'San .. we can only value the past but we should not hold on to it so that we can move one and face the more beautiful surprises life can bring
This drama is a two thumbs up for me, with its excellent writing probably one of the most memorable story I have seen so far, I hope that everyone in the world will see this drama, I have nothing to say against this drama all in all and Im gonna be missing the squad , P'Sans family waaa everything.
I am sure Im gonna be seeing this drama many times again in the future. Bye for now P'San, by for now Vee and Chuuu 💚🩷
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