10
17
1
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This review may contain spoilers
Another staple in K-drama romcoms, filled with cliches, but I mean that as a compliment!
Plenty of cliché-filled shows are outright bad, while others fall into the usual cliched patterns to hit certain required emotions without packing any punch. "So I Married an Anti-Fan" stood out because it managed to work within its confines, made the best of what it had while maximizing its potential by using certain tropes in a fresh way. It is so nice not having to sit through tedious and frustrating misunderstandings!For me, I'm down for all romcom cliches as long as there's fantastic chemistry between the main leads, and I find their romance believable. Even better still if I can see passion, and that was where this show hit the sweet spot for me. Watching Hoo Joon's gradual change of heart towards Geun Young and how their relationship shifted into high gear after he realized his feelings for her was an incredibly cheeky, fun, and "feel good" ride for me. Choi Tae Joon showed how he can kiss a woman, and there was this intensity every time he as Hoo Joon kissed Geun Young. The way he held her neck, caressed her face, and pulled her in for intimacy. It's like a fierce "this is no accidental kiss, woman" vibe. I enjoyed Tae Joon's portrayal as Hoo Joon - an idol who rose to fame, fell from grace, and triumphed again but in a much better way. His character growth was well-written and well-acted, and that was one of the show's strong points. I hope Tae Joon continues to get lead roles since he certainly has the charisma, looks, and skills!
I liked Choi Soo Young in "Run On" and she did pretty well in this drama. Her acting was not as strong as Tae Joon's, but it was still fine. As Lee Geun Yung, she displayed a certain vulnerability underpinned by a quiet strength. No matter how low Geun Yeung felt, she always bounced back, and she was resilient to move on by herself. She was neither a pushover nor a strong, stubborn woman. I simply love how Geun Yeung gets all girly with Hoo Joon, and their moments together were always sweet and smile-inducing.
The best part, though, is the ending. So happy and lovely to relish! There was forgiveness and redemption, reflection and discovery of new purpose and direction, reconciliation and progression. Absolutely gratifying!
The OSTs were great and varied, but for a show that focused on the music industry, it would have been better if the music producers were more prolific. I enjoyed the songs and instrumental pieces since they lent a romantic and charming tone that underscored the show. Some songs, however, were overplayed and, at times, were not fitting for some scenes. I always like it when the actors contribute to the song tracks, and Choi Tae Joon sang two songs. For posterity, I have included the songs that I like the most below.
So far, I have focused on the positives, but there were flaws as well. Like the toxic relationship of the second couple, JJ/Choi Jae Joon and Oh In Hyung, which I have no doubt will infuriate many viewers. The story did provide enough details and background information for me to sympathize with JJ and In Hyung, although I did feel more for JJ than In Hyung. Ultimately it will all work out, though!
Overall, I hope that people will give this drama a try. It provides more of an emotional roller coaster ride with a good-looking cast than the run-of-the-mill romcom. Echoing some commenters, it would be great to have season 2 filled with more of the main couple's chemistry and kissing!
"So I Married an Anti-Fan" OST:
Pop Star - Choi Young Jae (GOT7)
Pop Star - Choi Tae Joon
Bittersweet - Choi Tae Joon
네가 분다 (When U Blow) - Kwon Min Je (권민제)
It's You - Moon Kim (문 킴)
이보다 더 좋을 순 없어 (As Good As It Gets) - Lee Shin Seong (이신성)
봄날 (The Spring Days) - Onew (김온유)
들리나요 (Can Your Hear Me) - Onew (김온유)
작은 아이 (Small Child) - Chae Myoung Joo (채명주)
Starlight - Ro Min (E'LAST)
Be lost in thought - Lee Cheol Won (이철원), Park Min Woo (박민우)
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A simple, adorable, with almost no melodrama rom-com
I think the show deserves a higher rating on MDL, but I can understand why it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Despite being a period drama, there was a modern feel to it, which I enjoyed, and it was the perfect show to binge watch.What I liked the most:
* Slapstick humour and use of comedic cartoon effects: Instead of being annoying, the visual effects managed to hit the right notes during the comedic moments and added to the hilarity.
* Cheesiness and fluff.: This show was definitely fluffy, but I was looking specifically for a show that was all about the romance and less about the melodrama. The simple, light-hearted plot was perfect for a binge session.
* Endearing romance between the leads: the "hate to love" romance between Tan Lingyin and Tang Tianyuan was adorable. The chemistry between Zhang Hao Wei and Zhang Ruonan was palpable, so much so that even little innocent kisses between them were enough to make me smile. There was just so much sweetness in their interactions.
Zhang Hao Wei stood out as the very handsome, intelligent, savvy magistrate who was the perfect counterpart to the female lead who was more rash and reckless. Typically the rational and calm one, Tang Tianyuan was also very consistent in his love for Tan Lingyin. He may tease her a lot, but it was obvious that he cared for her and constantly supported and encouraged her. He never gave up on their relationship, even during the rough patches. Zhang Hao Wei's acting was good, and he emoted well. You can see his love or pride whenever Tan Lingyin showcased her smarts.
Zhang Ruonan portrayed the mischievous, plucky, and cute Tan Lingyin perfectly. I liked that she was a strong female lead who was determined to be recognized and respected despite the social expectations of women at that time. Tang Tianyuan, as Lingyin 's childhood idol and inspiration, was a nice touch to the story.
* It was not all about love: The show did focus on the romance between the main and secondary (Zheng Shaofeng and Zhou Ruyi) couples, but there were mini-arcs about the supporting cast that drew me in. Unlike many c-dramas, which lose steam and get draggy towards the end, I was still engaged as the show drew to a close. Also, I appreciated the consistent portrayal of the female lead, who did not give everything up for love. Tan Lingyin remained steadfast in her desire to achieve her own goals, and Tang Tianyuan went up a level of swoon-worthiness when he promised to to respect her wish and come back to her.
* Awesome supporting characters: It was a good-looking cast for sure, and there were a few characters that added the extra oomph to the show. The bromance between Tang Tianyuan and Zheng Shaofeng was used effectively to highlight the different approaches the two men took to pursue the women they loved. Other characters I liked: Qing Chen - Tan Lingyin’s adopted brother whose character tempered her rashness; Duan Feng - the dashing bandit whom I would have shipped with the female lead in a heartbeat if Tang Tianyuan was not such a charismatic male lead; and Zhu Dacong which I thought was going to be the annoying second lead but ended up being one of my favourite characters because of his earnestness, his love, and respect for Tan Lingyin.
* Great OST – there were only 3 main songs that I believe were highlighted in the show but I liked all of them. Fortunately I was able to find them on YouTube music. The songs were memorable and the show used them effectively during the poignant scenes between the main and secondary couples.
My main gripes would be that
* The plotline about the ‘gold case’ was not that exciting, and the villains were rather one-dimensional.
* The second couple had more steamy kisses than our main leads. I noticed that lately in most dramas (be it Chinese, Thai or Korean), the main couples were always more restrained compared to the secondary couples.
Overall, I enjoyed the show and would recommend it to anyone who just wants to unwind or binge-watch over a weekend.
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Totally recommend it for a quick binge when you are craving more fluff than usual
I enjoyed this drama a lot more than I expected. It is a web drama, much shorter than the normal ones, and it is definitely not a drama that you watch for quality. However, it is one that you can binge-watch for the fluffy romance, good kisses, and hilarity.I quite like the plot where a non-human or, in this case, an herbal root immortal, Song Lan, was somehow transplanted into the body of Jiang Qingyun. There is the usual cliche of a past connection to the male lead, Chu Zhimo, but it fitted well into the story. The pace was good, and even though it was mostly light-hearted, there was some angst and noble idiocy. Overall, the story was not the best with an odd villain, and I did not quite get her motivation. Still, I am glad that I watched it.
Ding Yi Yi was cute as Song Lan/Qingyun, but I did not find her particularly attractive. Acting-wise, she was ok, limited to what she was supposed to bring to the character. However, I often wished that she would stop shouting so much, and that they used a better dubbing voice for her. I found her character quite annoying at times, and I have to remind myself that she was supposed to be ignorant, being a plant deity with no awareness of the human world and behavior. I made it to the end mainly because it was really quite funny, and Yan Xi was a huge draw for me. That man can kiss, and he looked good, like a character out of a manhwa or manga. I don't know if Ding Yi Yi is just so petite, but the height difference between them added to the charm of their romance. I have to admit that I am totally biased towards Yan Xi, but if I judged his acting objectively, I think he did better in 'About is love".
Another character that caught my eye was the SML - Xiao Zi Ming. In a way, he was a more complex character who could be considered as the bad guy but, at the same time, also the good guy with his devotion to the FL and his family. To me, Leo Yang gave a slightly better performance compared to the others, but at the same time, I think all the main actors showed their inexperience. I also love the FL's father - he was just so protective and quick to over-react! Liu Yu as the City Lord really reminded me of another actor - Huang Xing Yuan from Oh! My Sweet Liar.
All in all, it was an interesting and fun watch. Totally recommend it for a quick binge when you are craving more fluff than the usual c-drama.
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This is the cutest rom-com to hit our screens in a while!
Imagine all possible tropes: false identities, gender bender, weird sickness, forced cohabitation, noble idiocy, lots of leaning in, arm grabs, accidental kisses, cringey near miss kisses but all done so well! I love every fluffy, cliche-filled episode! Despite the cheesiness, this lighted-hearted and hilarious show drew me in with its focus on the romance and friendship between the characters. For me, it's a perfect break from heavy melodramatic wuxia or xianxia shows. A few highlights for me:1) The show is so easy to watch with no angst, major plot twist and no villains. There truly are no bad guys, not even ones that I would consider annoying. Even the mum starts off stern and forbidding but is a softie who loves her son and ultimately supports the OTP all the way.
2) The ML finds out that the FL was a girl in disguise very early on in the show!!! That makes the plot more believable as the ML plays the silent protector role and helps the FL out of awkward situations. That said, it still makes me laugh how most of the other characters do not seem to notice that this petite, lovely feminine person is not really a boy. What makes it even funnier is how obvious it is that Sang Tian is wearing lipstick, even when dressed as a boy.
3) Eye candy galore - my favourite are Darren Chen (my favourite flower boy - Hua Zi Lei in Meteor Garden!) and Li Jiu Lin whose chiseled look won me over after he played Dylan in You are My Destiny. However, the rest of the ice hockey team (seniors and freshmen) are very easy on the eyes as well, including Xiao Xiao, who's more adorable than handsome. He has the dimples to win one's heart. Even Shen Qiao Di with his unsmiling face, is icy attractive! Of course, Sebrina Chen as Sang Tian is pretty but makes the most adorable boy. I actually prefer her in short hair. Then we have Zhang Yu Xi, who's absolutely gorgeous, as well as Vivian Sung, who looks so much prettier here than in Lost Romance.
4) Great OST - the songs are well-selected and fitting for the scenes. I even downloaded YouTube Music so that I could add the songs to my playlist.
5) Meteor Garden throwback - "If apologies worked, would the police be needed?" - LOL I couldn't believe that Darren Chen as Wen Bing, actually quoted Dao Ming Si!
Acting-wise, the two leads nailed it! It is almost as though the parts were written for those two actors, and they have great chemistry together. Darren Chen played Wen Bing well with his haughty demeanor that outwardly shows arrogance and narcissism but inwardly is meant to hide his illness. As a confident, swoon-worthy, tsundere, heart-of-gold male lead, Darren really got his micro-expressions on point, and his soft gazes towards Sang Tian are just so meltingly endearing. Wen Bing can be quite the tease, and at the same time, he is not immune to the green-eyed monster. Between Sang Tian and him, there are many hilarious misunderstandings and hijinks that guarantee lots of laughter. Sang Tian, with her positive outlook and naiveté, is just too cute for her own good. She is quite the scatterbrain, but she is not your typical weak FL. She is brave and loyal, and she has no problem standing up to Wen Bing and Shen Shao Di. It's not surprising that she won over her ice hockey team-mates, coach, and everyone else. I love that Sang Tian does not try too hard to be all-male and is just rolling with it. Sebrina Chen is fabulous, playing the dual characters in both looks and attitude. What's impressive is how different she looks as the pretty boy compared to her real girl self.
Also central to the story are the secondary romances that are fun to watch. The drama also showcases the friendship among the team members. The entire cast did a great job, and there is definitely great rapport among them.
I would re-watch the whole show since I love swooning over the super-cute OTP and giggling at the antics of the team members and Sang Tian's brother.
Overall, this show is very easy to binge-watch! It is the perfect pick for when you want to relax and feast your eyes on beautiful people.
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Following One's Heart
I stumbled upon this drama after getting hooked on My Cherie Amour and, lucky me, found all the episodes fully subbed in English! Like My Cherie Amour, it’s set in the 1940s, and wow, the outfits were stunning! Think full skirts, cute tops with capri pants—the kind of vintage glam that never gets old.I was totally drawn into this story of a contract marriage between two polar opposites. The character growth for the leads (and a lot of the side characters) really kept me invested. I enjoyed watching Prajak, the male lead, struggle between his gentlemanly principles to honor the promises he made and his heart’s desire. Sure, his reasoning for ultimately choosing what he wanted felt a bit flimsy—he justified it by saying others didn’t keep their promises to him, so he didn’t have to honor his. But hey, it led him to follow his heart, so I was all for it!
The chemistry between Prajak and Wanida was just chef's kiss. They were perfect together, though I could see some might feel badly for the second female lead, Pisamai. She had her own struggles, but honestly, her snobbish attitude and "noble blood" nonsense made it hard for me to root for her. Wanida outshined her in every way, making it an unfair fight from the start.
Prajak was such an attractive male lead - super handsome, principled, had much to offer but he definitely had his flaws. His jealous fits often clouded his judgement and he had a very sarcastic tongue. His sense of fairness was both his best quality and a negative trait in some sense. He respected his mother but refused to mistreat Wanida based on others’ gossip, which was refreshing. Yet, he kept trying to be fair to Pisamai and hurting Wanida indirectly by paying attention to Pisamai even though he’d clearly lost interest in her.
Another big plus for me was Prajak’s respectfulness. Unlike some Thai dramas from that era, Prajak was a true gentleman. There was one surprised forced kiss, but even that felt like an outpouring of his pent-up feelings rather than a predatory, boundary-crossing moment.
Wanida was a total star—gorgeous, talented, and smart. She wasn’t some damsel in distress, either; she could give as good as she got. Raised a bit spoiled with a mischievous side, she could be impatient, quick to judge and unreasonable. Her unconventional interests like horse-riding and car-driving clashed perfectly with Prajak's old-fashioned values which deemed such activities as male ones. By the end, both of them grew—Wanida became more grounded, and Prajak opened his mind.
Some viewers called Prajak a "cheater" due to the emotional tug-of-war with Pisamai, but there was no physical cheating. The skinship was mostly arm-clinging and hugs from Pisamai’s side. But Prajak and Wanida's mostly accidental physical closeness—the longing looks, the unplanned touches—created all the romantic moments I needed. There was definite chemistry between those two and the way Prajak gazed and stared at Wanida was quite swoony.
The one downside? The background music. It felt out-of-place in many scenes, dated and, at times, way too loud, but that could just be the version I watched. The OST wasn’t quite my style either, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.
Overall, this drama was worth every minute. The leads’ back-and-forth dynamic had me entertained from start to finish.
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A Good Choice For When You Crave Something Light
If you can deal with the inconsistent behavior of the FL and the somewhat forced and uninteresting side stories of the 2nd and 3rd couples, you will likely find this fluffy rom-com highly entertaining. I found the pace towards the end a little draggy, and they had to spoil the fun ride of romance for me by deploying the noble idiocy trope. To me, some melodrama felt more like filler episodes for the FL to do her noble sacrificing and then for the ML to do the same. I am not a fan of angst-filled scenes that last more than 2 episodes when it comes to a rom-com. Still, the angst factor is very low overall.Plot-wise, there's nothing new - independent, plucky FL ending up with a ML who started as an emotionless machine but discovered his human side as he fell in love with the FL. However, this particular drama did feature a super adorable child whose acting deserved high praise and added the extra oomph to a run-of-the-mill story.
The best part of the show was the chemistry between the lead couple. They played off each other well, and their relationship's progression was delightful, despite the numerous disruptions from external factors. I like how the ML came to realize and become sure of his true feelings for the FL. How the FL fell for the ML was also nicely done. The development of skinship looked natural, and the kissing scenes were good. Nothing super steamy but nothing awkward either.
Miles Wei, who plays He Qiao Yan, the ML, once again did not disappoint as the lead role. Besides being so fine-looking, he also showed a good acting range, especially when it comes to his facial expressions. He is also a fantastic singer, and he sang one of the OSTs, "Obviously Like You" for this show. So did Hu Yi Xuan who sang "Sunny Date".
Hu Yi Xuan as the FL, Qin Yi Yue also acted well, and she cried so prettily. However, I did not like the FL's inconsistent behavior and lack of professionalism as a child psychologist. There were scenes where the FL behaved too childishly for someone who should know better, especially in that profession.
As for the second and third couples, I felt that the setup and their relationships were unnecessary. Having the 3rd female lead together with Ning Fang seemed like a consolation prize for Ning Fang, who was the second ML. Something was lacking, not enough chemistry perhaps, plus I felt that Ning Fang was suave and matured enough that he would have stood out on his own without needing a partner. Wu Chen Xu, who portrayed Ning Fang, is another one to keep an eye on since he appears to have the looks and talent. I first noticed him in the Long Ballad, and I thought he did well here.
Another high point for me was the OST. The song choices were great, very fitting, and evoked my emotions. The theme song was fun and reflected the cute tone throughout the drama. I have listed my favorite ones for posterity at the end of this review.
Overall, this is an endearing drama with a heart-warming ending, good-looking actors who can act and laugh out loud moments. I would recommend for light watching.
OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCymajl_8I
Ding Ding (丁丁) - It's You
Wei Zhe Ming (魏哲鸣) - Obviously Like You (明明喜欢你)
Tian Dan (田丹) - Circumstances Change With the Passage of Time (时过境迁)
Hu Yi Xuan (胡意旋) - Sunny Date (晴天约会)
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Adorable Main Couple and a Super Cute Elephant!
It's been a week and I am still missing the main couple, Lookkaew and Saran. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them together in this Lakorn, and their chemistry was palpable. There were many sweet and cute moments as their relationship transitioned from hate to love. I have seen Tita Chayjaroen in Thong Ek, her first Lakorn, and I am glad that she got the leading role despite being new to Dramaland. There's something about the way she, as Lookkaew looked at the male lead, that got to me. It's not your typical deep stare but rather a more soul-searching gaze like she was genuinely trying to understand Saran, probing to determine if she can trust him. Likewise, with Saran and how he responded to her looks. Just using his eyes, he can emote so much care and invite trust. Phet Tawanpong was truly perfect for the male lead role. Not only does he have the tall, dark and handsome vibes, but he also has charisma. It was unfortunate that their skinship did not go beyond hugs and nose sniffing - haha! Lookkaew was an awesome female lead, smart, brave and confident but also had her flaws which were tempered by Saran's maturity and calmness. As for Saran's character, he was a strong, intelligent and prideful type who transformed into this adorable guy after he finally confessed to Lookkaew.I cannot really get into the storyline since the synopsis is pretty general with no spoilers. The Lakorn itself was pretty good and overall quite entertaining with the plot twists. That said, there were loopholes and "convenient" moments, and at times, the story became quite predictable. Still, the villains did a great job raising my blood pressure and kept me engaged. There were a few selfish bitchy characters, a couple who screamed a lot but is almost a norm in a Lakorn :)
I have to say that the most useless character was Natty. Janis Phomphadungcheep played the annoying character well, but I think Natty's character development could have been better. In contrast, the show's hero has got to be P'Thanu, the most selfless, understanding second male lead. I was actually shipping Thanu and Lookkaew together initially, but I am glad the plot played out the way it did. I like Judo Tharinpirom and have seen him in a couple of Lakorns. Hopefully, he will get more male lead roles in the future.
Also, a lot of drama happened for drama's sake which can be frustrating at times. Some viewers like me might feel that certain characters deserved more punishment, but as with many Thai dramas, there was a strong focus on forgiveness and karma. Minor spoiler - it's a happy ending...for most characters. There was a secondary couple, but their progression was more towards the end and was not super exciting.
There were not many songs played in the drama, but two were memorable for me. The theme song was fun and reflected the saucy tone throughout the drama, as indicated in the title. The other one is the song that played during the romantic moments. As expected, it heightened the romantic experience for the viewers. For posterity, I have listed those two here:
OST Kaen Kaew | แก่นแก้ว
1. อย่ามอง Don't Look - ปาล์ม (Chilling Sunday)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A4zNmc5tyI
2. ตอบกันได้ไหม Ost.แก่นแก้ว Can We Answer That - ว่าน ธนกฤต (Wan Thanarit) (03:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdEcuMliQvw
Will I watch it again? Yes, but mainly for scenes of the main couple. On the whole, I do recommend this Lakorn. It's fun and entertaining with a happy ending. If nothing else, perhaps the good looks and the side character of a super cute elephant would be enough to keep you watching.
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An emotional roller coaster ride worth getting on!
Intriguing mystery, sweet glimpses of romance, and amazing chemistry between the leading roles are some of the reasons you might consider watching this lakorn. For me, it is also the great acting by Bua Sakulongumpai, Pop Karnthip, and Kem Chuaykua that makes it a highly recommendable show.The main narrative centered around betrayal on multiple levels, from childhood abandonment to adulterous spouses to inter-family backstabbing and rivalry. The writer did an excellent job weaving the various subplots into the primary storyline, one so filled with twists and turns that it kept the suspense up in every episode except for the predictable ending. However, it was predictable in a comforting way because it gave me the proper closure I wanted after experiencing this emotional roller coaster ride. Seriously, if you want to experience frustration, joy, laughter, sadness, anger, and heartaches, then my friends, this lakorn may be just the one to give you that.
In her quest to find the culprit who failed to murder her twin but left her disabled, Sina, our FL, had to pose as Siriya, her sister, throughout most of the show. Playing identical twins is not easy for most actors, but Bua pulled it off to great effect! The tone of voice, mannerism, attitude, and the way of speaking - the differences were subtle but effective, and her portrayal of the two characters was believable. I appreciate that there was no over-acting from Bua to contrast Sina's confident, straightforward, no BS character against Siriya's, who was softer, quieter, and timider.
Due to Siriya's entanglement with Pipop Sutharak, Sina found herself (acting as Siriya) in a cohabitation/contract marriage situation with Athirat. Pop was excellent as our ML, a nuanced and complex character; charismatic and generous but emotionally shuttered due to being abandoned by his mother at a young age. Even though his father's family accepted him and raised him well as part of the influential Sutharak family, being the son of a mistress also added to his emotional baggage. Pop was really on point with his expressions and body language; one could tell when Athirat was angry, disappointed, or happily in love. Even when he was torn between doing the right thing versus following his heart, you can see the conflict on Athirat's face. Speaking of "doing the right thing", the characters in this show were all about doing things correctly/properly; so much so that I added a new word to my Thai vocabulary - อย่างถูกต้อง - Xỳāng t̄hūk t̂xng.
Kem Chuaykua deserved a shout-out as Khun Nat, the primary wife of Pipop. Kem did a great job building up Nat's character and how she slowly lost her grip on reality as she silently but gracefully bore with the humiliation of being betrayed by her husband, especially under the scrutiny of gossipmongers. Nat's fashion, by the way, was GORGEOUS and drool-worthy. I lusted after her every outfit!
In general, I find the characters well-written, and no one was one-dimensional - all good or all bad. The good character had flaws, and the villains had a backstory that made them relatable and their actions understandable. Sina, for example, was a great FL, smart, sassy, and skilled in fighting, but she had her reckless and rash moments. Many commenters found Siriya too weak, but I saw her to be a good complement to Sina, tempering and slowing her down. Athirat was deeply loyal to his family, but he always chose justice and fairness over family bonds. I did find Darika's obsession with Athirat rather extreme, but she was not the worst nang rai I have come across in the lakorn world.
Romance-wise, there were more heart-fluttering moments due to accidental skinship, deep stares, longing gazes, and near kisses compared to actual love scenes. There were some bonus moments when Athirat was so flirty with Sina even when he was suspicious of her. Our two couples had to deal with the challenges of forbidden love, so it was not surprising that viewers had to wait until the end to see our couples finally being together. Bua's chemistry with Pop and Judo Tharinpirom (who played Kritt, the SML in love with Siriya) was fantastic, but ultimately, it was the push-pull relationship between Athirat and Sina that kept me rooted to the screen. That said, I did find the show somewhat draggy in the middle and felt that they could have gotten to the big reveal sooner by cutting out some unnecessary twists. Still, I did like the way the show executed the final showdown with the villain - it was a touching scene, well played by the actors.
The other criticism I had was how the show mostly failed in using fitting sound effects or background music. What I heard did not match the mood appropriately, especially in the first part of the show. Although, it did seem that the music producers/editors got better towards the end. Also, I did like the featured songs listed below:
อยากจะรู้ / Yak Ja Roo (I want to know) by Arnon Saisangchan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnBCtvuPJ6k
อย่าวัดด้วยสายตา / Yah Wad Duay Sai Dta (Don't measure me with your sight) by Beam Jaruwanna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjW7D7Xnh74
Overall, this lakorn was highly entertaining. It's packed with drama and action with multiple murder attempts, actual murders, love obsessions, betrayals, and secrets galore, with a good amount of underlying romantic currents and comedy to balance things out.
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Movie equivalent of comfort food
This show is nostalgically soothing with a high-sentimentality quotient. Set in the 90s, it serves as a perfect time capsule for that decade. The fashion, food, music, and everything else are showcased perfectly and meticulously. Personally, it takes me back in time on two fronts - my high school experience and my first love.Sure, the show is not perfect, but it is good comfort viewing that hits much more than it misses. The characters are likable and simple, the plot dynamics easy to follow, and the laughs are just what one needs sometimes. The central romance is so pure and sincere, with a bit of teen angst that everyone can relate to. Vivian Sung and Darren Wang are so sweet together, and their acting as teenagers going through the emotional roller coaster of first love is on-point. Plus, I love that Andy Lau is featured so prominently. With a sweet ending, the show is unfailingly heart-warming. Also, the music has exactly the right tone and emotion for the scenes.
The only thing I don't understand is why the show has to use different actors for the adult version of Truly and Taiyu. I like Joe Chen and Jerry Yan, but the ending would have been more poignant if Vivian and Darren continue playing as their adult versions.
I would re-watch this show. It is deserving of its high rating and it serves well as a distraction from the anxiety of real life.
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Be prepared for all the feels
I'd recommend this lakorn for those who are looking for an emotional roller coaster ride. It is definitely a drama with angst, self-sacrifice, and deep meanings. I cried a river, but I also cheered for the main couple, relished their happy moments and appreciated the ending. I'm not too fond of sad endings, so not having watched the Taiwanese version, my heart was in my mouth during the last few episodes.For me, the show was well-directed and well-written, and it did a nice job delivering the message about how true love can overcome all obstacles, including death. Any superfluous characters were there for comic relief, and I like that there were depth and complexity to the main group of characters. Unlike the one dimensional villains in many lakorns, the protagonists here had backstories, and I ended feeling sorry for them as they were more victims of manipulation or expectations than anything else.
Not surprisingly, Esther did a great job portraying the sweet, kind, and selfless female lead, Jane. I think she plays this kind of role best and she looked really pretty in the show. This is the first time I watched Pong, and I thought he was cast well as Wynn. It's refreshing to see an appropriately aged lead who was supposed to be a company CEO, plus Pong acted superbly, with his facial expressions on point. Perhaps I am biased because his smoldering gazes won me over. Overall the cast did a great job, and I felt what they were emoting. I did think that the actress playing Jane's best friend, Pat could have done better. For some reason, she seemed to be shouting throughout the show, which I find annoying and distracting.
Music-wise, the songs were good and fitted the scenes well, evoking the right emotions. I was happy to find the theme song on youtube, but sadly, I could not find the others. There were some scenes when the background music seemed off or too campy, but that's an issue that I find in most lakorns, so I cannot really hold it against the show.
I would re-watch many scenes, especially Pong's ones with Esther, but I don't think that I will re-watch the whole thing, mainly because I've cried enough the first time.
I hope that more people will watch this series and think it is under-rated for a well-executed show. Also, a big shout out to the subber(s) - I watched it on Dramacool, and it was not obvious who subbed it.
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A nice twist to the 'Overbearing CEO' trope
Love, love the female lead! Not only was she smart, confident, sassy, and influential, Lu Fang Ning was also attractive, and I lusted over her outfits. Her character was the first to draw me in and kept me vested in the show, and the presence of Ling Rui, the male lead, enhanced my watching experience. Zhou Yu Tong and Simon Gong have great chemistry, and they look so good together. This is the first time I watched Zhou Yu Tong, and she has the air of a female lead. Simon Gong has improved a lot since his role in the Love Equations. He emoted well and portrayed the brilliant, calm, reserved but charismatic Ling Rui perfectly. The two leads complemented each other so well, and it was endearing to see their consideration and care for each other as their love deepened.I enjoyed the character development for the leads, and interestingly, there was a role reversal towards the end. What I appreciate was that Fang Ning did not lose her spunk. She was calmer and more matured but did not lose her fighting spirit despite having suffered adversities. Ling Rui, on the other hand, charmingly became more overbearing and demanding, motivated by his fear of losing Fang Ning again. I liked how he strategized and anticipated Fang Ning's moves so that he can compel her to stay with him, but he did it so smoothly and in a non-creepy way.
The supporting characters were precisely that, nothing more but to keep the story flowing. Most were likable, though, and the whole cast had a great rapport with each other. It was interesting to see Ling Rui living and surrounded by three female relatives. Fang Ning's family story was heart-breaking but provided an opportunity for a heart-warming ending. I did not suffer the second lead syndrome, but I did sympathize with Lu Yi Yao. He would have been a good match for Fang Ning, and I can picture them as a power couple in the business.
The show was well-written, and the comedy was on point with amusing soliloquies from the leads and the creative scenes when their imaginations ran wild.
Another plus point was the OST - so effectively used in the poignant scenes, and each song evoked the right mood and heightened my watching pleasure.
Why I could not rate it a perfect 10:
1) I detested the second female lead character. In a show that featured a strong female lead, I did not understand why there had to be a character so simpering, self-absorbed, and totally unworldly wise. She was so into romance novels, blinded by the thought of romance instead of acknowledging actual feelings. She did redeem herself a little towards the end, but I fast-forwarded through most of her scenes.
2) There were some plot holes, and some scenes felt "shallow" like there should have been more development of those storylines.
3) Lu Yi Yao's sudden change of affection to the second female lead - I didn't see the chemistry, nor did I see any reason for that transition other than his fear of aging.
Overall, a recommended watch for the amazing leads, good dialogue, well-delivered comedy, and sweet romance.
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Great acting and intense chemistry between the lead pair
[Spoilers ahead!]I found this gem while looking for lakorns with strong female leads, and this show did not disappoint. I don't know how I managed to miss out on the talents of Ken Theeradeth Wongpuapan and Nune Woranuch Bhirombhakdi until now. Still, after seeing them in Ra Raerng Fai, I believe the claims that they both have been labeled as the royalty of Thai dramas. To me, Nune is the doppelganger of my favorite Korean actress, Park Min Young, especially how she looked in this show. Ken and Nune are so good-looking that I found it hard to take my eyes off them whenever they appeared on the screen. The chemistry between them was off-the-charts. Even though the kisses were fake, both actors were so on point with their expressions and body language that I did not need obvious gestures like kissing to see how well they played off each other. They have a unique dynamic that made it so interesting to watch them.
I truly enjoyed this revenge lakorn. I don't understand why the rating is low since I thought this was a pretty well-executed plot, and the pacing was good. Nevertheless, a lakorn would not be a lakorn if it did not include some tropes like entrapment, gold-digging and scheming stepmother and daughter pair, and physical dominance over women (wrist grabbing and pulling, almost rape). NOTE: Absolutely no rape scenes. There was definitely melodrama and angst, and I found my heart wrenching or my blood pressure rising numerous times. However, throw in the happy and satisfying scenes and you get an addictive drama that kept me binge-watching it. Yes, 14 1.5 hour-long episodes in 2 days.
I appreciate the maturity reflected in how Yada and Chakrit communicated. There's no yelling. Both so cool and collected but boy did the sparks fly when they get into a verbal-sparring match! I love that Yada was not like the typical screechy female character, with tons of crying. Yes, Yada's eyes were often shining with tears, but she never dissolved into a complete mess, especially not in front of others. She always tried to portray a strong front, and in front of Ken, she never wanted to appear weak. Indeed, Yada was like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Plus, she was also intelligent, quick at decision-making and resourceful. It was no wonder that her family looked to her as the household head after their dad. Nune portrayed Yada with such elegance and grace, and she can really emote with her eyes. The only complaint I have was how filial Yada was towards her father and how that blinded her to the truth for so long. I felt so much frustration for Chakrit during those moments.
Ken was perfect as Chakrit - a man described as a scoundrel but at the same time, was so charming, charismatic and attractive that I wanted him to get away with everything! Hell-bent on seeking revenge for his father, Chakrit had done some bad things, but at the same time, as Yada noted, he was truly a good person in his true self. I was so invested in his attraction to Yada. He did not know what hit him when Yada appeared in his life, and I liked watching how his attraction to Yada developed into full-blown feelings. He was drawn to her strength and iron will, but also to her vulnerability that she tried so hard to hide from him. Yada was never part of his revenge plan, and he really wanted to marry her because he was falling for her. One of my favorite genres is when the ML falls for the FL first, and it was cute how Chakrit smoothly expressed his feelings to Yada. Like when he told her that this would be his last marriage and her first and only marriage. Or when he told her that he did not wrestle with women (rape), and that he would wait for her to run into his hug. I have nothing but praises for Ken's acting in this show and have added his and Nune's other shows to my watch list.
The couple has gone through so much that I am so grateful that the writers gave us a satisfying ending that was not rushed. There was a bit of turmoil even in the last episode, but at least the couple reunited properly before the last episode. I was so worried that they would have Yada continue being obstinate and letting her pride stop her from accepting Chakrit back. It was also nice that there were no true love triangles.
I loved the female characters' outfits, especially Yada's and Khem's! The production designer deserved a shout-out for such excellent choices.
The supporting cast was good, but I was not very interested in the second and third couples' relationships. I just did not like Khem, and even though P'Na was the sweetest gentleman, I could not see them as a couple. Trai and Nee were cute together, but again, I was not particularly drawn to their relationship. The two characters that I could not stand were the stepmother and her daughter. They were such devious, money-grubbing hustlers that I think their characters were more to provide comic relief. I found myself fast-forwarding through their scenes quite a bit so that I did not have to deal with their stereotypical over-acting. There was no overly evil villain; in fact, the character that I would consider to be the worst was Yada's father. His refusal to acknowledge his mistakes and the wrongs he inflicted upon others really irritated me. He was a good foil to Chakrit who acknowledged that he was the bad guy but the father was one who thought he was the good guy when he wasn’t. Good news - all the "bad" guys did get their karma.
I did not find the soundtrack memorable, but I did like the theme song, and there were a couple of instrumental pieces that were fitting for the scenes.
I gave a high rating for the re-watch value since I am already re-watching many of Chakrit's and Yada's scenes. I think this is one OTP that I will have a hard time getting over.
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Kept me coming back for more!
Wow - what an emotional roller coaster ride this Lakorn has been for me! I really wanted to rate this show higher, especially after watching Donut Dejpongwaranon deliver some excellent acting. Additionally, the story was pretty well-written, particularly the plot centering around how Paul/Poramee exacted his revenge.However, I did also spend all 18 episodes feeling extremely annoyed for the following reasons:
1) A female lead that was all looks and very little brain. Nai, for most of the show, came across as weak and overly naive. She was either crying, fainting, or choosing to sacrifice herself for her so-called family's happiness. I found myself cursing at the screen many times during scenes with Nai in them. I understand that Nai viewed Khun Net as her benefactor and therefore was unwilling to go against her wishes. Still, one can reasonably expect Nai to at least have some common sense with her interactions with other people. There were a few times when she redeemed herself a little by showing some intelligence or backbone, but those moments did not last long. It was during the last episode that she finally toughened up. Better late than never, I guess.
2) No respite from the villains always having the upper hand. Seriously, the villains in this Lakorn seem to get all the breaks. It would have been better if there were more triumphant moments for the good guys. I had to wait until the last episode to see the bad guys get any retribution.
3) Noble idiocy at the last minute, causing the ending to be less satisfying for me. After everything that the main couple has gone through, I thought I could at least have half of the final episode dedicated to their happy ending. But nope, the show had to throw in another twist, another reason for separation.
Ultimately, I still gave this show a pretty high rating, mainly because each episode kept me at the edge of my seat and kept me coming back for more. I ended up binge-watching this show because I really wanted to see what happened to the main couple and the villains.
The chemistry between Donut and Prapye Theerapat was great, and undeniably, they were a visually striking couple. Prapye is gorgeous; it is too bad that I was not too fond of her character for most of the show. I don't have much to say about her acting skills other than she nailed the crying scenes and looking pretty during them. Throughout the show, she tended to have this wide-eyed look, displaying shock, confusion, innocence, sadness, or happy sweetness. Donut, on the other hand, did a fantastic job with a wide acting range. His micro-expressions were on point, and he emoted so well during the crying scenes. Plus, he's got a killer smile!
Unfortunately, the main couple did not have that many romantic scenes. Despite the near-kisses and longing stares, Paul and Nai only got together towards the end. As for the supporting cast, they also did a good job. Not surprisingly, there were some over-the-top acting for comedic effect. I enjoyed watching the development of the second couple's relationship. Kachane was such a blockhead, so focused on loving Nai, and I have to admire Pat's tenacity in getting her guy. I liked that Kachane was a gentleman all the time, secretly and then finally openly loving Nai but graciously retreated after finding out that Nai loved Paul.
I enjoyed the music selection; between the love songs and instrumental pieces, each one fitted the scene/mood well and evoked my emotions. I was glad that I found the main ones on YouTube.
Probably not a re-watch for me since I don't think I can afford to get my blood pressure up that high again.
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For me, this lakorn is fun-filled, full of comedy and slapstick humor. The show has some twists and turns but nothing angsty and the issues get resolved within an episode. It is not perfect, but I still enjoyed it a lot and binge-watched all 17 episodes in 3 days, which was quite a feat considering each episode was almost 2 hours longs. I am picky when it comes to lakorns because I am uncomfortable with some more acceptable themes in Thai dramas. So I am glad that I came across Sapai Import and felt compelled to write a review. Min Peechaya, as Lisa is absolutely gorgeous from her hair, face, and clothes to her strength and confidence. She's the complete package when it comes to a smart, strong, and independent female lead. Admittedly, she is a little too violent, beating/hurting the ML and, at times, too shrill for my liking. Still, it is tolerable for me, knowing that this is a lakorn, and most female lead characters are usually portrayed in an extreme way. This is the first time I watch Mik Thongraya, and he portrays a rather fine-looking Don. I like how Don constantly teases the FL, and Mik plays the ML well, switching between an adorable and sweet guy to a moody, sarcastic but clueless dork. Mik is a triple eye candy threat with his looks, height, and sex appeal, and in general, he is a great actor. That said, I am not so sure about his facial expressions in some scenes when he seemed a little stiff. However, it could be due to the video and sound quality on dramacool. The chemistry between Min and Mik is amazing, and they have many cute interactions throughout the show. There are a few funny transitions where romantic scenes suddenly become ones where Lisa is beating Don up. It's also especially funny how Don becomes hornier and tries to get more intimate with Lisa after they acknowledge their relationship! I do wish the kissing was better, though; at least more than just locking lips and staying frozen for ... minutes.
The supporting characters were just that, the supporting characters I didn't find them that remarkable but a shout out to the amazingly supportive mother-in-law and sister-in-law!!! At least we don't have to deal with an evil scheming MIL; instead, we have a mean grandmother who is bent on Don married to Ratree, who's absolutely psychotic! I feel terrible for Ratree, and ideally, the show should have had her getting treatment. Unfortunately, that was not addressed. The other villains are just so annoying and I did skip through some of their scenes because I simply could not tolerate their greed.
I can't say much about the OST since the videos' sound quality was not great, and I probably would rewatch if I can find another platform with better quality.
Overall, I rated this show pretty high because it kept me interested and entertained despite having to deal with not the best video quality.
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I started watching this show after finishing Chef Fang (another show that I highly recommend), and I really enjoyed it. This show is uncomplicated and endearing with messages of staying true to oneself as well as emphasizing familial bonds. Bear in mind that this show has a low angst factor, so do not expect an emotional roller-coaster. In fact, my favorite thing about this show is how I am NOT STRESSED watching it, although at one point, I got worried that the writer was going to throw in a huge melodramatic plot twist and ruin it for me. Fortunately for me, that did not happen!
The chemistry and believability of an OTP can make and break a show, and in the case of Chef Hua, the two leads shone! The pace of their romance is good, and even though the show is conservative (i.e., no steamy scenes), the interactions between the OTP are so sweet and romantic. I love watching how Meng Yi Huai gradually falls in love with Hua Xiao Mai, who already has a crush on him, and how they stay steadfastly true to each other throughout the show.
Despite being set in a historical period, this show feels contemporary with a smart, competent, and independent FL, and a male lead who respects and supports the FL's ambitions. This is the first time I have seen Yang Kai Cheng, and his low-key looks won me over. I have to point out how impressed I am with his posture - his stance so tall and imposing - he looks really good in his outfits. As the multi-talented Meng Yi Huai, he portrays every girl's dream man who is decisive, strong, and protective and at the same time, gentle and sweet when it comes to his lady. You can practically feel the love and admiration he has for Xiao Mai, and I would say that Yang Kai Cheng did a great job emoting, and his microexpression is on point.
Tang Min is perfect as the bubbly, optimistic, quick-thinking Xiao Mai. She is quite lovely, and I hope to see her in more dramas. I like the FL's character; despite being young, she is steady-minded and confident, especially when it comes to cooking. I thought it was brilliant how the scenes of Xiao Mai cooking competitively against others subtly shows this - for example, how her competitors would constantly look over to check out what she is doing, while she focuses only on her own cooking. She can be quite bumbly when it comes to her beloved Yi Huai, but she quickly grows to understand and complement his character well.
The supporting cast does a great job as well, with a special shout out for Yi Huai's mother. What a great character - traditional and fierce, but loving and supportive of Xiao Mai and Yi Huai at the same time. There is some side story development, but except for a couple of key supporting characters, there is not a lot of focus on the other characters. I guess some could complain that certain plot lines are left unresolved. However, I myself do not mind the open endings left for them. For the OTP though, what a satisfying ending!
I cannot sing enough praises of the OST. Niko Sun has the perfect voice for those period songs, and I am happy that I found the whole soundtrack on YouTube music.
I rated the re-watch value above average but not a 9 or 10 because I probably won't watch the whole show. However, I have already re-watched the delightful scenes of the OTP. Yi Huai can say the sweetest things at times :D
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