I can't believe people are supporting a drama in 2024 that romanticizes rape...And to think that some of these…
I've read (on social media) many comments from people who still want them to end up together. Asking for or even wanting that after a rape seems crazy, even disgusting. I can't watch a series where one of the protagonists rapes their future partner. It makes me want to vomit. Rape should never be romanticized. They could have adapted the story without the rape... but no... they have an issue with that...
"Strangers from Hell" – I must say I was drawn in by the title and the themes it explores. It's a psychological thriller, which is what I love.
Usually.
Sadly, I'm coming back to you with a rating of 6.5/10. It's not a bad rating, but rather a mixed one.
So, why? While I appreciated the eerie atmosphere and the actors' performances, I found the episodes to be excruciatingly slow. It could just as well have been a two-and-a-half-hour movie or a short five-episode series...
That's if we keep the story as it is.
The storyline: Honestly, there are much better shows on the same theme, but we'll make do with this one. There are so many inconsistencies that I couldn't note them all...
Staying in an apartment where you know crazy people live? Never leaving? Sorry, but I'd rather sleep outside... He stays there so briefly that he could have just taken a week at a hotel instead... His girlfriend, sorry but what was the point? She never listened, never made the slightest effort. And worse, at the beginning, we were led to believe they were far apart, but it turns out they weren't at all... Our main character undergoes a complete personality change between episodes 8 and 9, with no middle ground. It's a shame because there was potential.
Story: Okay but poorly executed. Acting: Okay Characters: Could be better. Plot: Where is it? We know everything in the first few episodes. The only question we ask is whether the dentist is still alive... and that will be the only question.
I've watched the first two episodes. It's worth noting that my last BL drama was "My Stand-In", so I wasn't expecting this one to be at the same level, and I was right. The actors are good, but the fight scenes, on the other hand 😂. I'm waiting to see more, but clearly, I don't have that urge to find out what happens next, that anxiety I had with "My Stand-In".
First of all, I had a huge interest in the summary and the crime and power theme of this story.
The first episodes were really very interesting, I would say up to the fourth one. After that, the interest in the powers diminishes significantly, and the plot becomes so simple that everything is revealed in very few episodes. Around episodes 12 to 16, there is a resurgence of interest, but that means from episode 5 to 11, we are bored. Extremely bored... The drama could have been condensed into 10 to 12 episodes.
Overall, the story is very simplistic. The actors are good in their roles, but their ages do not match the ages they should have, or barely do. This was particularly striking when I saw the writer being almost the same age as Kai, when he should be in his thirties...
Apart from that, the actors were good. Special mention to Kai, the editor, the writer, Kang San, the police chief, and the writer's friend.
I would question the performance and character of the mother, as well as the policewoman, who seemed very bland to me.
Additionally, there was no romance. This usually pleases me, but for once, I really thought Kang San, who seemed very much in love with his friend, would overcome the age difference... but no. A little disappointing.
The story was good, the plot too, but everything was simple. This is a shame. The powers were not exploited enough, which could have added a real plus.
I hesitated for a long time between 6/10 and 7/10, but I'll give it a 6.5/10 because, for me, it's the deserved rating.
I just finished the last episode, and in my opinion, it's too "joyful" for certain characters. I won’t spoil anything, but those who have seen the drama will understand who I’m referring to.
Regarding Ming, I really liked his character even though I would never have been able to read the novel due to numerous additional scenes that, thankfully, were removed from the drama, making it more enjoyable. Up did an excellent job. The actor has a rather cold expression when he doesn’t smile, making him perfect for playing Ming, who, in his own words, doesn't like people. I found it brilliant that they had Ming say, "I don't like people very much," because Ming will never be the type to smile and be friendly with everyone. He doesn’t pretend; if he doesn’t like you, you’ll know it, if he loves you, you’ll know it too, and if he’s indifferent, it’s the same!
From start to finish, Ming retains his personality while evolving in how he shows his love. Yes, the character made mistakes that, in real life, would be intolerable for 90% of the population, but there are 10% who would be willing to give a second chance. 5% would be right, 5% wrong. Here, Joe was right. I just regret the lack of tears, but I think that fits the character.
Regarding Joe, he remains the same from beginning to end. He is a sweet, kind, and somewhat simple character. Let’s be honest, Joe isn’t very clever, but he has a natural gentleness that attracts the audience. The actor played his role very well; it’s flawless. He was perfect; Joe was Poom and no one else!
As for Tong, I hated his character from start to finish. Kudos to the actor, nothing more to add without spoiling.
The music is very well managed, the series is beautifully shot, and the roles and actors are perfectly executed. However, it lacks an "I love you" at the end. I was waiting for it...
I know they both show their love through their actions, but I would have still liked a little "I love you" to wrap things up nicely.
It’s an 8.5/10 for me. My highest rating of the year so far!
Why not a 10? Because I found some moments a bit slow, long, and uninteresting, and others too rushed and illogical.
Thank you to all the actors. Plus, I discovered a lovely YouTube channel. The actor who plays Ming (Up) has a YouTube channel if you want to check it out.
What about the clips no one cares about? Mike and Jim, okay, but it's not the right time—we'll see them in another series. They should just make a spin-off. Apparently, there will also be Sol and... Yim (?), and May forgiving Tong—are they joking? WHEN DOES TONG SUFFER? WHEN DOES HE GET HIS REDEMPTION ARC? AND MING AND MIKE'S FATHER WILL DIE IF HE FINDS OUT HE HAS TWO GAY OR AT LEAST BI SONS 😂😂😂 AND A THIEF SON-IN-LAW....
But right now, they're just taking up screen time from the main couple, who already don't have many cute couple scenes... and it annoys me. We don't need a second couple at the moment... they should have made a 20-episode series or a second season...
And to think that some of these are the same people who were complaining about Ming in My Stand-In, who in the drama, never raped Joe.
How can you equate him tying up Joe with rape...
"Strangers from Hell" – I must say I was drawn in by the title and the themes it explores. It's a psychological thriller, which is what I love.
Usually.
Sadly, I'm coming back to you with a rating of 6.5/10. It's not a bad rating, but rather a mixed one.
So, why? While I appreciated the eerie atmosphere and the actors' performances, I found the episodes to be excruciatingly slow. It could just as well have been a two-and-a-half-hour movie or a short five-episode series...
That's if we keep the story as it is.
The storyline: Honestly, there are much better shows on the same theme, but we'll make do with this one. There are so many inconsistencies that I couldn't note them all...
Staying in an apartment where you know crazy people live?
Never leaving?
Sorry, but I'd rather sleep outside... He stays there so briefly that he could have just taken a week at a hotel instead...
His girlfriend, sorry but what was the point? She never listened, never made the slightest effort. And worse, at the beginning, we were led to believe they were far apart, but it turns out they weren't at all...
Our main character undergoes a complete personality change between episodes 8 and 9, with no middle ground.
It's a shame because there was potential.
Story: Okay but poorly executed.
Acting: Okay
Characters: Could be better.
Plot: Where is it? We know everything in the first few episodes.
The only question we ask is whether the dentist is still alive... and that will be the only question.
The first episodes were really very interesting, I would say up to the fourth one. After that, the interest in the powers diminishes significantly, and the plot becomes so simple that everything is revealed in very few episodes. Around episodes 12 to 16, there is a resurgence of interest, but that means from episode 5 to 11, we are bored. Extremely bored... The drama could have been condensed into 10 to 12 episodes.
Overall, the story is very simplistic. The actors are good in their roles, but their ages do not match the ages they should have, or barely do. This was particularly striking when I saw the writer being almost the same age as Kai, when he should be in his thirties...
Apart from that, the actors were good. Special mention to Kai, the editor, the writer, Kang San, the police chief, and the writer's friend.
I would question the performance and character of the mother, as well as the policewoman, who seemed very bland to me.
Additionally, there was no romance. This usually pleases me, but for once, I really thought Kang San, who seemed very much in love with his friend, would overcome the age difference... but no. A little disappointing.
The story was good, the plot too, but everything was simple. This is a shame. The powers were not exploited enough, which could have added a real plus.
I hesitated for a long time between 6/10 and 7/10, but I'll give it a 6.5/10 because, for me, it's the deserved rating.
These episodes could focus on the secondary couples and the wedding of Ming and Joe.
The series left the ending open for two couples, which suggests the possibility of more. I think we could get some special episodes!
I just finished the last episode, and in my opinion, it's too "joyful" for certain characters. I won’t spoil anything, but those who have seen the drama will understand who I’m referring to.
Regarding Ming, I really liked his character even though I would never have been able to read the novel due to numerous additional scenes that, thankfully, were removed from the drama, making it more enjoyable. Up did an excellent job. The actor has a rather cold expression when he doesn’t smile, making him perfect for playing Ming, who, in his own words, doesn't like people. I found it brilliant that they had Ming say, "I don't like people very much," because Ming will never be the type to smile and be friendly with everyone. He doesn’t pretend; if he doesn’t like you, you’ll know it, if he loves you, you’ll know it too, and if he’s indifferent, it’s the same!
From start to finish, Ming retains his personality while evolving in how he shows his love. Yes, the character made mistakes that, in real life, would be intolerable for 90% of the population, but there are 10% who would be willing to give a second chance. 5% would be right, 5% wrong. Here, Joe was right. I just regret the lack of tears, but I think that fits the character.
Regarding Joe, he remains the same from beginning to end. He is a sweet, kind, and somewhat simple character. Let’s be honest, Joe isn’t very clever, but he has a natural gentleness that attracts the audience. The actor played his role very well; it’s flawless. He was perfect; Joe was Poom and no one else!
As for Tong, I hated his character from start to finish. Kudos to the actor, nothing more to add without spoiling.
The music is very well managed, the series is beautifully shot, and the roles and actors are perfectly executed. However, it lacks an "I love you" at the end. I was waiting for it...
I know they both show their love through their actions, but I would have still liked a little "I love you" to wrap things up nicely.
It’s an 8.5/10 for me. My highest rating of the year so far!
Why not a 10? Because I found some moments a bit slow, long, and uninteresting, and others too rushed and illogical.
Thank you to all the actors. Plus, I discovered a lovely YouTube channel. The actor who plays Ming (Up) has a YouTube channel if you want to check it out.
Happy ending ? (MINGJOE TOGETHER)
Sad ending ? ( Joe death.)
Open ending ? Joe alive but not with Ming.
Happy ending ? (MINGJOE TOGETHER)
Sad ending ? ( Joe death.)
Open ending ? Joe alive but not with Ming.
Thanks ♡
It's not a porn movie...
But right now, they're just taking up screen time from the main couple, who already don't have many cute couple scenes... and it annoys me. We don't need a second couple at the moment... they should have made a 20-episode series or a second season...