Chibi

Ugh, I was worried Bright and Thailand doesn't get Domyouji's character. He's too silent, too predator-like, too menacing, too calculating, to play the ML. His evil-sarcasm is TOO on-point, and his worldly-awareness of how a rotten system functions, seems to profound for a character like him, who is a ditz that gets even simple proverbs wrong. He seethes in anger, instead of immediately acting out, which is very different from an untamed & wounded, 'big-dog' energy that he generally radiated.
But I'm loving this interpretation. He is THAT much more scary and hateful in this version, than being a simple rich boy who's wronged by his mother, and has rage-issues as a result. He's more layered in 2021, and I'm living for it!

Ps. Ren's as crazy as it gets. We readers only saw him from Gorya's lens, who's besotted with him as he is her first savior. Not even her own family is that dependable, and she's often fending for herself. But yeah, I hope they do his character justice. I dislike him too, just a tad less than Thyme (who I LURVE, but also looooove to hate! It's complicated, I know!) xD

Tsundere-Thyme? I think more like Smitten-Thyme? Or wait, is smitten-boy AFTER Tsundere? xD

Hell yeah, say it louderrr! <3
Thyme made ME blush, gosh, he was so turned on at that moment. I think he may have a defiance-kink! 🤣
I wish they gave Thyme wild-curly hair, because the one scene where he does straighten it in the Manga, Makino genuinely goes heart-eyes. Till I think he gets a some water on it, and it poofs back! Such a hilarious moment! xD

Yeah, don't do LA if you don't have the money... although I would say MDZS and TGCF and the likes are getting decent adaptations. But compared to the animated donghuas, I'm sorry for all the fans here, the LAs JUST don't hold a candle! 😅
Ps. I hope one day, they have tons of money and give you a good adaptation for Shin Angyo Onshi. I really wanted Fushigi Yuugi to be done, but alas, EVERY country has its own set of problems, and as of 2022, I don't see it happening! xD

More awake! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Maybe this one did overcome his 'autism' by some Hollywood miracle? xD

Ah yes, he was positively turned-on by Warrior-Mode Gorya, he looked at the 'little girl he gave the red card' to, incredulously as she had done something nobody dared to do. While she's screaming on top of her lungs in defiance, he looks like he's inches from grabbing her and planting one on her, right then and there. Beautifully done!

Bright has powerful eye-acting I must admit. His scary-eyes sometimes were laughably cartoony, but he does 'smitten-eyes' almost to a perfection! <3

Ps. Count me in on your unpopular opinion! The campy humor of the Chinese version didn't land very well with me! xD

Yeah, exactly, makino is very much her own person outside of Domyouji and his existence. She has zero co-dependecy issues, so I really don't know why this debate is still ongoing? 🤣

I love how they show how humans and the system is rotten to begin with. It doesn't take much to bring out the monster within them. I'm liking the social commentary this one has! Thyme doesn't need to lift a finger to do anything, the school-kids are so addicted to the violence, that Thyme and his money no longer matter really!

Yeah, it seems Stockholm-ish at first, but Makino fell for Domyouji much after he redeemed himself. Now I'm not denying he isn't toxic, and doesn't assault her (which he does, and multiple times in the Manga)... but it's long after he's changed that she begins to consider him as a potential love-interest.
I think it's so long after he leaves his identity as her abuser, that it can no longer be considered Stockholm.

And no, Stockholm isn't limited to only kidnapping cases.

I LOVED Tu's interpretation of Gorya: even the brave and plucky one has moments of being down, and it takes others to nurture her back to her courageous-self. She isn't always 100% on her 'brave-warrior' mode, 24/7. TBH, that's unrealistic. I love how she musters up courage to tearfully stand up to Thyme, instead of the comical turn it takes in every single adaptation. I can get convinced how Thyme falls for her, right at that moment.

Bright's interpretation is lovely as well. Dark, wild and menacingly scary. In fact, it is wildly acknowledged among global readers that his character is somebody who would be a terrifying bully, HAD it not been for his prickly nature, mood-swings, general irritability with laughably bad social-skills along with the fact that he is the biggest ditz! Yes, he has some serious problems, and I'm happy the adaptation isn't shying away from it. And Mommy-Thyme isn't just a sardonic woman who emasculates him with her insults and caustic words. She practically goads and eggs him to do the stuff he does. And it's only MUCH later Gorya peels away his exterior, to reveal a fluffy goofball. He has fangs, and bares them often :)

Okay, I have this theory post ep-1. Based on their styling, visuals and character interpretation, EACH of the main-cast resembles their earlier counterpart, but from different productions. It's the casting-director's way of paying a tribute.

-MJ (Nani)= Vanness Wu's Mei Zuo (Taiwan, 2001)
-Kavin (Win)= Caesar Wu's Xi Men (China, 2018)
-Ren (Dew)= Kim Hyun Joong's Ji Hoo (Korea, 2009).....
& *drumroll please*

-Thyme (Bright)= Matsumoto Jun's Domyouji (Japan, 2005)

Bonus:
-Gorya (Tu)= Makino Tsukushi from the Manga-verse.

What d'you think? :D

Don't you think Win resembles Caesar's styling and visuals quite a lot in this? ^^

Yes, I LOVE the main title-track for Koi wa... <3 They do this typical old-school Japanese thing, where they start playing the outro BEFORE the credits start rolling out. I have been a FAN of this style! The most reminiscent is still Fushigi Yuugi's anime, where the ending song started its instrumentals much before the end-credits appeared! :) Ps. I still hum 'I Love...' to this day!

If you're looking for a j-dorama to watch, more than Chugakusei Nikki, I would rec this year's Kikazaru koi ni wa riyuu ga atte... I spotted it on your PTW list. 'Fushigi' by Hoshino Gen was SUCH an earwormy and feel-good track! Be warned though, the drama leans very typical japanese slice-of-life. I watched C-Nikki because I wasn't really getting into the currently airing Melancholia from S. Korea!

SD1D is a wonderful drama, there is a reason why it's so highly rated on MDL, and getting a korean remake. I won't say anything further, because you should go in as blind as possible for fully enjoying it! Since OSTs make a special place in your heart, there is NO WAY you're going to finish SD1D without having Wu Bai's Last Dance stuck in your head... such a special piece of music! ^^

100%. :)

Right? I'm glad we're on the same page. My heart broke with the wasted potential! :'(

Re:4- Gorya's family actually has a narrative purpose than being just plain (cringe) comic-relief! xD

Uhh, I meant the bullying thing; he got the system to do it for him, and got kicks out of it. Yeah, there are plenty of other instances where he's doing the violent stuff.

It has always been a 'Beauty & the Beast' story with the leads. Recent versions have tried to sanitize him & make him TOO fluffy, but I like how we're going back to the roots. His exterior was always that of a hateful, violent prick who had major anger and violence issues because of Mommy-dearest. I like how we are starting with that instead of jumping right into him being a goofball and also a little dumb?
One thing I remember clearly, was that he never usually got his own hands dirty, he used the system. In fact, it took a lot to push him and get him to use his fists!

Yes, it happens in ALL versions!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5yzp6gAdqo
Here's a compilation of all 6! <3

Ps. My favorite is Thailand, after reminiscing about all the prev versions. Thyme seems to have fallen in love with Gorya at that point, and I love that little touch! :')

Between us being in love with Ren, to understanding Ren & falling out of love, and finally accepting Ren for who he is.... HanaDan Readers all grew up! 😭🥲😇❤