Dramas watched in 2025

02/02/2025

As much as I love for directors to give creative freedom to actors, they're called directors for a reason: they're supposed to choose a certain direction and not resort to improvisation whenever a scene requires intimacy. Yes, Thomas and Kong have amazing chemistry but they could be so much more than that. The plot and the script of this drama gave them nothing to rely on. Sometimes, I didn't feel like watching Teerak and Muenfah but Thomas and Kong and that's something I wasn't really comfortable with. It's already hard enough for some fans to not mix real life and acting together but when the directing purposely blurs the lines... I don't like that.

Thomas and Kong do shine together on screen and I liked how they played with their micro-expressions to make the love between their characters feel so real. Thomas is great at modulating his voice and softening his gaze. Kong did a good job at embodying Rak’s liveliness and optimism.

However, I find it hard to assess their skills as actors. I feel like Kla, the director, gave them so much room to improvise that they couldn't really get a grasp of the characters they were playing. Hence the very uneven portrayal of their characters which makes it easy to spot when the actors are told to improvise and when the scenes are fully scripted.
Their line delivery was also awkward at times. They talk slow and it's as if they're not listening to what the other is saying. 

 I'm finding myself hoping that their next project will have a better script and a more “present” directing. I truly believe there is potential in their acting but they need a solid script to let it out as well as guidance.

Babe and Dom's relationship felt the most natural. Can't give it to the gays this time. Although there were two other side couples, Babe and Dom and their two seconds of screentime made them more believable. Babe was the real highlight of the drama. Older sister for the win. 

17/04/2025

Thoughts are loading. Tears are streaming. Feelings are overwhelming. 

Update: Thoughts have finished loading and I was able to write a review! I'm not super proud of it but it's been so long since I've written one so I guess that counts :(

My review didn't touched upon the plot and its execution although there are quite a few things that could be said. Some elements lacked development and I feel the drama would have worked even better had it had more episodes. 

10/06/2025

I loved a lot of things about this drama. I loved this drama actually. However I wished it had been longer so that it could have better addressed the ethical issues surrounding MRI. Maki clearly struggles with it and so does Aoki and Otabe at some point and everyone working in the Ninth I'm pretty sure and yet there are so little moments when doubt is shown lingering in the back of everyone's mind. It could have been really interesting to delve deeper into that topic. 

That said, if this drama can pass the trial of time (i.e. if I still think about it after a few months) then it might very well become one of my favourite dramas of all time. Maki is the kind of character I adore and the dynamics between the characters were both complex and authentic and that's something I love.
In "Beyond Evil", every side character was fleshed-out with their own story and struggles. The characterisation isn't as strong in "Himetsu" for most of the side characters aren't as fleshed-out as in "Beyond Evil" which  is a shame because I would have loved to get to know all the members of the Ninth. Otabe's developement was great although quite fast.

I'm being unfair here because all that I can articulate are the elements I think could have been improved. What I can't articulate is how invested I was in this drama, how devastated I was after that call in ep 9, how freaking cool Miyoshi is, how selfless Aoki is, how torn Maki is, how loyal Otabe is, how the MRI technology made me think about a lot of things, how amazing the score is, how emotional the ending song is... I could go on and on and I will hopefully. Once my thoughts have been sorted out. I love dramas which don't shy away from complexity and nuances. I love those so much. Yes show me that ugly truth, don't give me plain answers, leave me with questions and doubts, embody those emotions I can't find the words to describe, make each song resonate in my heart, demonstrate how kindness is brave. 

16/06/2025

I hadn't expected it to be so funny ><

I found the whole idol-arc pretty boring though (that's basically the second half of the drama); even Meguru didn't seem that into it. He was always presented as a stylist at the beginning of each ep which weakened his seemingly wish to start a new path.

The drama tries to tackle some social issues in a light-hearted manner which is rather commendable. However, more often than not, it's too on the nose. I still appreciated the fact that they did their best without being offensive (except going for the pink/blue combo with Meguru and Wako. It's not offensive per say it just annoys me).

The styling in this drama bothered me although I seldom pay attention to it. It felt as if they put on whatever on Meguru just because he's pretty enough to pull it off each time.
They used quite a few clothes more than once which felt weird.

Loved the ending title!!

It was fun comparing Rihito's acting in Himitsu and in this drama. It's crazy how he modulates his voice here. It's truly impressive. Edit: Actually, he sounds closer to how he usually speaks here so that means he modulated his voice in "Himitsu" and he did great!! 

19/06/2025

Actors can act but you can tell it’s a low-budget production: the editing is choppy and the plot remains superficial. The potential was definitely there which made this drama enjoyable despite its lack of means. Nonetheless I’ll probably forget about it in a few days. 

26/06/2025

What is there to say... Wrote a rant post and then deleted it for no reason but I stand by what I said.
This was bad, the last two eps especially so. Some of them can act but with such a poor script, what can we expect of them? The pacing was terrible. The editing too. I should stop watching these tbh. 

27/07/2025

I loved this drama!! That was such a nice manga adaption. Loved Usa and Hirano’s performances: such detailed micro-expressions and gentle gazes. Everything I like most. The ost was great too. I was pleasantly surprised by this drama which I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did.