SarahD

Fabulous ‘kids break up and fall in love again as adults’ drama

I really enjoyed the chemistry between the Fl & ML though I will admit I find Tang Sonyun a little bit mumsy but the ML is totally ‘Mr tall, dark and handsome’.
The plot follows 2 kids that meet and fall in love at high school (he’s the school heart throb and she’s just miss normal and sweet). She has a stable, loving middle class family and his is unstable, difficult and working class yet despite their backgrounds they fall deeply in love and when they meet up again 10 years later they realise they never got over their romance and just pick up where they left off.
The plot is sweet and at times absolutely hilarious (the marriage proposal of his best friend was priceless and the reaction of the SWAT team really memorable) and the support cast really add extra dimension to the whole plot.
I need to visit the place they went for their camping trip.
If you want a feel good storyline then I can’t recommend this one enough.

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Great story but can’t see the chemistry

Great story and some of the supporting cast have better acting skills (chemistry) than the main characters.
Xu Kai acts his little cotton socks off as usual but I just can’t always see the chemistry between him and Tan Songyun though there are plenty of sweet, intimate moments that are on point (the shaving scene for example).
The struggle to build a strong fledgling business is really obvious and the team the FL has around her are brilliant, especially the actors He Rui Xian and Tang Zhen Chao and you feel their struggles with both their private and corporate lives.
Cute little story but doesn’t pack a punch (for me) the way some of Xu Kai’s other work does. Perhaps it’s because it doesn’t run through all the emotions we often get in a c-drama or perhaps it’s because I just didn’t feel Tan Songyun was as good as he was.
Would I watch this again? No

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What’s not to like about this drama

Took me a while to find it but I did so on UK’s YouTube channel ‘kk cdrama’.

The story follows four icons of the student body at MingDu University and international champions of the bridge card game, who call themselves collectively F4. A bookish, slightly autistic and very talented musician (Hua Ze Lei), a playboy with a hidden past who loves tea (Zi Men Yan), a fun and flirty boy with cute looks and a penchant for older women (Feng Mai Zuo) and the most drooled over of them all, a bad boy who is very protective of those he cares about with a monster for a mother (Dao Ming Si). Life is an easy one for these guys - all over 6 foot tall, with brains, big hearts and even bigger bank balances - until they cross paths with a female pint sized whirlwind (Dong Shan Cai) and her motley crew. She’s not impressed by their fan base or their aloof attitude and turns the world of at least one of these young men on its head.

There are twists and turns, high and lows, laugh out loud moments and tears aplenty in a story of how a pairing of complete opposites go from absolute haters to a couple so deeply in love that they are prepared to sacrifice themselves for each other.

The story takes us from the uber rich elite lifestyle of Shanghai to the impoverished one-step-above-the-breadline daily grind of musicians in London, from the lower working class areas of Shanghai to a sleepy little fishing village in rural China and the beauty of the best of London landmarks. (However the London pad of the Daoming dynasty was probably shot in rural Surrey but let’s not let the facts get the way of a good story).

The production values are first class, the songs beautiful and appropriate to the scenes and the actors utterly brilliant though I do think that the scriptwriter could have given sister Yu more of a backbone and thus a more interesting part to play in the drama.

Would I watch it again? Absolutely as the chemistry between the characters and the ‘will they, won’t they’ plots of the main characters and their love interests was so well written.

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Delivered everything I was hoping for

It was refreshing to see a different side of Ester Yu and she was paired brilliantly with He Yu who was the reason I came to this drama.

I knew from what she said at the outset on the plane that this was going to be good. Everything she described him as was so polar opposite to what she found and this drama did not disappoint as they clashed and crashed their way through their mental and emotional issues to seek out their happy ending which was great to see in a plot that made me laugh, cry and want to bash their heads together. Perfect Romcom

Would I watch again? Absolutely

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OMG! This story was absolutely incredible, powerful, heartbreaking yet with a silver lining.

The opening scene should have made me realise that this was a one in a million story as we watch two bright young lives destroyed by suicide.

It is the companion side plot to the Between Us drama starring Boun Noppanut as Win and Prem Warut at Team and I’m glad I watched that one first as although their characters feature in this they are a very, very minor sub plot in this drama and watching them the other way round would not have worked so well.

The story centres around Pharm (played by Fluke Natouche) and Dean (played by Ohm Thitiwat) who are students at the same university. Dean is a final year student whose world is turned upside down by Pharm, a first year, when they meet for the first time and his lifelong search is finally over as he recognises his past in this new kid on the block.

Approximately 40 years earlier two young lads - Korn (played by Kai Noppakao) and Intouch (played by Earth Katsamonnat) fall in love in a world filled with homophobia and fathers who cannot accept their love. One fateful night (Intouch’s 18th birthday) during a heated argument between the fathers and the sons, Korn grabs his father’s gun from his waistband, tells Intouch that he loves him then blows his brains out. In, seeing his boyfriend’s body lying in a pool of blood rushes over and amidst a grief filled sob fest grabs the gun tells him that he loves him then proceeds to kill himself too.

As the drama unfolds we realise that Dean and Pharm are the reincarnation of Korn and In as they begin to have more and more flash backs letting them into to the lives of the two deceased men.

There are sad bits, funny bits and every emotion in between and Fluke and Ohm do a fantastic job of making their confused past believable. In the final scenes Fluke broke my heart as he has a mental breakdown over what happened to Intouch in his last few moments of grief before committing suicide too.

This story is a testament to the strength of love that knows no boundaries set in a world of homophobia and the tragic backlash of the double suicide that leaves the remaining family members guilt riddled and broken. This really makes the viewer stop and think about the devastating results of people’s prejudices and how utterly horrendous the fall out from suicide really is.

That said, in the final scenes there is forgiveness and the laying to rest of ghosts that paves the way for Dean and Pharm to commit to each other and this understanding of what happened and what the future could be turns this plot from a terrible tragedy into a story of redemption and hope.

Bravo to the actors and script writers for such a powerful story.

This is my favourite drama ever and I sobbed so much and so loudly through the last two chapters (to the point my husband who was in a different room thought I was laughing) as the ramifications of the actions first of Korn and then In became apparent.

Would I watch this again? Totally, absolutely and inevitably

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Bound by fate, kept by love, strengthened by never giving up…

In my top 2 stories.

This is so much more than a BL story. Yes there are a few scenes that contain NC, but they are extremely gentle and few and far between so if you’ve come here to watch some incredibly beautiful actors get dominatingly passionate or down and dirty all the time then this is not one for you. (Though the young adult actors are really very beautiful I will admit)

The plot follows a 20 year old called Khemjira and his closest friends as they try to undo a curse laid on his family that dooms male heirs to die before they reach 21. Along with a group of university students he goes on a summer camp to a distant and rather mystical village where he meets Master Paran with whom he shares deep and heartbreaking love in a previous life as fiancés as Khemmika and Wat. Meeting up in current day Thai Shaman duties and impending doom initially make it difficult for them to admit their feelings so there’s a lot of ‘will they, won’t they?’ creating additional tension for quite a few of the earlier episodes.

The second leads Chan and Jet were also lovers in their previous lives where coincidentally they were friends of Khemmika and Wat and they too remember their past but will they have the courage to pledge themselves to each other in this life? The other main characters namely Grandma Si, Yos, Chai, Thong and Ek all have a vested interest in Khem’s welfare, are brilliantly cast and add depth and dimension to an already well rounded story.

The actress Green who convincingly plays Rampueng, the bad guy who is determined Khem will not survive to be 21, is fabulously rounded as an out an out baddie but is she just venting her anger at the treatment and loss she suffered nearly 300 years earlier? The back story to Rampueng’s curse is so unfair and you will really feel for her as we get to understand why she does what she does to the people who wronged her and why she cannot let go of her hate.

This BL story is not your traditional ‘boy meets boy who get hot and heavy together and then live happily ever after’. It’s about love, revenge, hate and forgiveness and has a FANTASTIC plot line that will have you empathising with and rooting for every one of the main characters and sobbing as you get closer to Khem’s birthday. You will roll your eyes, jump as things go bump in the night, clap at little wins, smile and cry as the resolve of the main characters is put to the test in the roller coaster of a ride set in a very beautiful, spiritual and traditional Thai environment where spells, incantations, monks, Mo Phi’s and a shaman protect against evil forces.

There is nothing to dislike about this story (even though traditional Thai love songs are a little jarring to my western ears) and I would thoroughly recommend watching this.

The script is incredible, the acting terrific and believable, the buildings and backdrop on point and the fact it is set in such a stunning and cultural location adds value to the plot. Chef’s kiss level.

Would I watch again. Definitely. Absolutely

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What incredible chemistry and a brilliant plot line

I put off watching this drama as I didn’t like the photos of Mark Chao’s character (yes I know, super shallow) but eventually, due to the amazing reviews it’s had I thought I’d have a go.
I was a fool to not watch this sooner.
The characters, the acting, the costumes, the production values, etc… utterly brilliant. The baddies were so well played that I wanted to boo them off my screen as I ranted in frustration. The main couple had so much chemistry they were so believable. The child who played Ah Li was mesmerising. I could go on but you get my drift.
I loved Ye Hun, even when he was being pathetic in the Celestial Palace. He has such an adorable, dorky smile and telegraphed each and every emotion perfectly from frustration and authoritative commandant barking out orders to love struck puppy.
Yang Mi acted her little cotton socks off and I felt every bit of her despair, heartbreak, love and devotion both as Su Su and Bai Qian. I really enjoyed every aspect of her journey except for the last few episodes when I wept and wailed like a heartbroken teenager.
The rest of the cast were excellent even if I didn’t always agree with the plot lines they’d been given. The two main baddies played their parts so well that I wanted nothing more to stab them with a hairpin- both thwarted in love but the outcome of their situations was so different.
Would I watch it again? Very likely.

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Great chemistry but a story that just goes on and on

There is so much to enjoy about this drama but equally lots that frustrates.
The ML falls in love with the FL very quickly but as they are both pretending to be someone they are not and as they are both bound by social and familial restrictions it takes a while for them to realise what they mean to each other so slow burn is an understatement.
The ending is very rushed as some of the plot that winds its way through this story just fizzles out without any real understanding or resolution. A great example is the copper box and gold keys which are integral to the story for 75% of the time but we never really find out if anyone managed to collect all the puzzle pieces and successfully open it.
Yang Zi and Qin Jun Jie act brilliantly together and his long lingering looks could set a room on fire, it’s just a shame that her character is too focused on her mission to see it and reciprocate until the last couple of episodes and by then it’s too late.
The production values are good, the costumes and cast excellent and if they could have cut out a whole pile of irrelevance this would have been even better than it was. I did find it quite repetitive at times.
The final scene is gut wrenchingly sad and my heart broke as the words of the grandmother came true. Nuff said, I won’t spoil it any further.
Would I watch it again? Probably not as the brutal editing of the ending leaves too much to the imagination with no clear outcome

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Clever plot line - all is not what it seems…

This drama is well acted with great production values, costumes and a slow burning romance.
The first few lives the couple lead are fairly straightforward and although the FLs character tragically dies in one of the scenarios there are amusing moments and a slow but steady move towards love. Each time they venture into the next tribulation they discover more and more that they like about each other ans they start to uncover the truth which leads to the ML starting to thaw out his once dead heart. The ML and FL start to fall in love and it’s not just about personalities and chemistry, it’s also about trust which adds depth to their story. Their chemistry is so believable and beautiful.
The bad guy isn’t who you’d expect at the outset but before he reveals himself you get hints that turn into red flags and then you can really see the depths of his selfishness and depravity. As with all the actors he is so believable and brilliantly cast.
My only criticism would be the royal guard costumes that seem to have been fitted to giants and then worn by normal sized actors - like they’ve been handed to a younger brother. Small detail but soooo annoying when you consider how amazing all the other costumes are.
Will probably watch again at some point

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They get the happy ending they didn’t get in TTEOTM

This is a feel good rom com that is very light and fluffy and I love the dynamic of the male and female lead. Their chemistry is off the charts with some very steamy moments (you’ll need your fan) and a few twists and turns which all make this drama a joy to watch.
The plot is simple but never boring as the FL and ML get closer and closer. The second leads have more drama but this does not spoil anything for BL and LYX in fact the two couples compliment each other.
There’s a bad guy who just won’t quit both emotionally and business wise but in the end he sorts his life out and redeems himself. The jealous female support character also moves on with her life so it’s happy, happy, happy all round (but won’t give you cavities)
Eminently rewatch able, in fact I already have.

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In my top 5

If you want a nice and easyfeel good story with a good laugh, great plot development and fabulous acting then story is for you. There is something for everyone in this drama and the phrase ‘karma is a bitch’ definitely comes to mind with at least one of the bad guys.
Ding Yuxi and Ester Yu work really well together and although I often find her characters a bit too sweet somehow it works for this plot. The ML & FL have great chemistry even though at certain points it’s clear that none of the male characters really know what they’re feeling or what to do about it. The female characters are a bit more emotionally mature… Don’t worry though it all works out in the end.
The support actors are excellent and as usual initially there’s a love triangle to add to the chaos caused by emotional immaturity.
What’s not to like

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Great story, great chemistry

Bai Lu and Dylan Wang have great chemistry in a well rounded plot that starts off with a slow burn but delivers a great story.
FL is a financial reporter that is determined to get an interview with ML who is elusive and reluctant to be interviewed. After a while there is an undercurrent of mutual interest that morphs into something more.
Both actors really bring their characters to life in a believable way and their love story is supplemented by great acting from the other main and support actors. As their characters grow together they bring out the best in each . She is fun yet dedicated and he is powerful yet playful.
There is plenty of genuine and powerful emotion but this what I’ve come to expect from Bai Lu as she definitely makes whoever she acts opposite bring out their a-game
Rewatch? Absolutely

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Roller coaster ride that deserves to be watched again and again

Despite its large number of episodes, this has to set the gold standard for period dramas in terms of both plot and character development. It is very loosely based on facts and real characters from the Qing dynasty.
Wei Yinglow enters the forbidden city to try and find out what really happened to her sister and then to avenge her death. Boy does she do this wholeheartedly and very effectively.
There is plenty of drama, love and heartache as well as some extremely brilliant baddies and manipulative behaviour and that’s just in the imperial harem. This is not light reading and there are plenty of tears and lots of heartache but some lighthearted moments too.
Throughout the whole thing the FL stays true to her goal but meets some incredible people along the way.
Xu Kai, Nie Yuan and Wu Jin Yan lead an impressive cast where even the supporting cast hold their own magnificently.
Have watched this twice already and will probably watch it again at some point (if nothing else but to see Fuca Fuheng in action…)

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Utterly brilliant writing leads to a mesmerising experience

Set against the turbulent times created by the Japanese 21 Demands, you will be sucked into this story from the get go.
On the second time of watching (for me), my daughters and I cackled, sniggered and outright belly laughed during the first episode and then like me they were hooked though they weren’t very amused at some of the plot twists.
The pairing of Xu Kai and Bai Lu is brilliant as they navigate their way through from hateful roomies to besties and beyond and their characters (like all the others) are well rounded and well acted. Little nuances help make the characters even more believable (Xu Kai looking at his watch as the CO droned on about the rules and regulations in the first episode for example) sets the tone for the characters.
There’s love, laughter, poignant and gut clenching moments throughout the plot and the set is incredible.
Bravo
Rewatch value? 100%

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