The greatest production of the highest quality BL with the most intriguing storyline - Shine
I am at loss of word on how to review this masterpiece. I am remember seeing a comment in MDL calling it boring and that just made me realize a series with depth, artistry and whirlwind is not for everyone.The storyline, the plot, everything about this made my head hurt. The stripped down display of corruption of the system, the homophobia, the conflict of ideologies and lastly how little to no value human life holds to those in power. This was downright the realest political drama I have watched in a while. Kudos to the script writer and their amazing mind for linking real historical events so naturally to the timeline. The moon landing of 1969, and then the next year Thailand sending Ms. Thailand for Ms, Universe and lastly the Coup Detat of 1971 and the student protest against Military junta. The amount of research went is commendable. The conflicting opinions throughout the series from various characters made this drama amazing, and it's a rare characteristics to hold because we mostly end up with one sided support that yes only the student revolting is right, the other side is wrong. The characters were given so much of depth and dimension and they upheld ideologies that were closer to reality than fiction. I loved how romance was the sub focus of the storyline while focused more on philosophy and politics. The characters goes beyond the box of good, bad, red flag, green flags etc. They were true people whom I loved, got frustrated on and had my eyes twitching.
I usually don't have much to say on cinematography but this deserves a dedicated paragraph. The color grading made it 100x times better because it truly felt like watching a period piece from the 1960s with the grainy filter. The use of music and ost is immaculate, it elevated the entire scenario. The OSTs alone deserves a column. The styling felt exactly at the right place. The direction was good however at the beginning in some places it felt the cuts were not tying up properly. Still it is one of the greatest production of all time.
The amazing actors and actresses who brought the characters to life, my kudos to them for their incredible job. Mile made me belief he is not the same guy from KP. Apo absorbed his character so well that he truly felt like the man who just came back from France to Thailand. Son did amazing as Colone. Euro showcased his emotions accurately as the angry journalist and I might have a celeb crush on him. I wish we had more of Bump, Fuaiz, Mio and JJ but even with little screentime they made me remember their scenes. Truly such amazing young actors. Senam's first series and I am already rooting for her. Now lastly, Peter as Victor was revolutionary because there is no way this is first series and he made me go through a roller-coaster. The actress playing Moira is so gorgeous. The entire cast is stunning.
This drama cannot be confined as just a BL production. It goes beyond that. It is a true queer media upholding multiple dimensions, that will make you pause, think and realize. Truly the masterpiece.
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A newer version of the legendary series
While Hormones 3 had a different cast and different storyline overall it still managed to capture the essence of teenage life very well.The storytelling and plotting style is different from the first 2, might be due to the change in director. However it still manages to carry forward the original vibe of Hormones, highlighting struggles of teenage lives in different ways with different characters. The plot heavily focused on social justice, gave a miniature form of political corruption, stigma, social acceptance, STD, exploring sexuality substance misuse, parental issues, family and what attention deficiency can do. Each characters lives showed us the different struggles. Contrary to popular opinions, I think this season was more structured and planned. The characters never felt all over the place. The romance has always been a great well executed trademark of hormones and here they didn't fail to make me loose my mind.
The direction was good. In the beginning it did fell off for me a bit when the pace felt slightly monotonous but after they picked it up real quick. It was overall really satisfying.
Acting wise it was good. I don't see any flaw in anyone. Even the side characters were doing amazing. I especially loved Oil (Frung) and Boss (Pea) acting skills. They truly nailed that.
It might be different from the first 2 season with the change in casting but I definitely enjoyed every bit of it.
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Cooking show on Netflix say yes
I loved every bit of the show and this was no less than a thriller.I am ecstatic to see cooking show / show about chefs being broadcasted in platforms like Netflix for the world to see. As a chef myself this was a proud moment for me. The show is something I have never seen before. It goes beyond a cooking competition. It's ruthless, it's exhausting, it makes you anxious. It makes you feel like you are there cooking and your life is at stake. Pulling something on this level with a cooking competition is insane. The first 2 episodes had me hold my breathes every time chef Ahn or Ched Paik came to judge the food. Each round were filled with a surprise. You thought it's over and they will come up with something even more jaw dropping than last time. The editing of the show made it even more enjoyable and thrilling, Not a single skippable moment. Koreans truly know how to make a show interesting.
What made this show even special is how all the competitors got to show a little bit of themselves along the lines which gave them a true identity. It was a wonderful watch and I hope this showcase more about culinary world.
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Brought something new and intriguing to the table. A horror BL, say no more
While I am very much aware of the loopholes / drawbacks etc. with everything aside I personally enjoyed the show very much. A show is good when you randomly start thinking about it while being engaged in something else. That is what this BL did to me.The plot was intriguing, scary, it made me hold my breadth for a long time. The way the writer had put horror, mystery, black magic and romance in one series made me astonished. The pace was amazing. The ending could have been a lot more better as they did leave a lot of point unresolved. It was rushed but taking that into consideration the rest of the series and plot was really well made. The way the case slowly unresolved itself was much better than I expected. I loved how the romance is not the main focus of the series however the actors delivered solid chemistry and it is definitely makes a big part of the plot and integrated well with the whole horror theme. It is definitely on the scarier side but at the same time the plot managed to keep a suspense in it that didn't make the 13 episodes feel boring.
One of Change's best direction and cinematography. It wasn't over the top but it truly brought the scary element in it. There was a lot of hard work that went behind to create all the scenes. The dummies, prosthetic make up, props and everything else that made this drama a sold horror thriller, I want to give my kudos to the crew for arranging them. In behind the scenes I saw the cast going through different trainings like forensic equipment usage to familiarize themselves with everything. That's true dedication.
A big round of applause for the cast. I can see tremendous improvement in everybody. Pavel literally became Singha. I thought I will have a hard time getting used to Babe as Singha but he looked so hot and acted so well as the inspector. Pooh might need some more experience on the voice (Change please give him a voice coach), his expressions were definitely on point. Honestly in Pitbabe for mee PoohPavel's chemistry didn't stand out much but her I fell for them. Topten and Michael came so strong this time. I was so stunned with how much they were into their character throughout. Lee is such an underrated actor, I loved every scene with him. My first time seeing Otto and wow he absolutely killed his role. Rest of the cast also did fantastic job. The actress playing the female ghost was fantastic, deserves more appreciation.
I think this is definotely one of the most well made dramas with a great plot and acting. I wished the ending were better but it's Change so. Even with the rushed ending the world building, plot progressions and acting was so on point I gave it a 10/10.
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I need a season 2 do you hear me DMD?????
Here goes my poetic headline. Honestly I wasn't expecting it to be this good especially as the title felt a little campy. There were elements in the show which I absolutely devoured. Definitely there were some things that could have been different but overall it's a much watch.Plot wise it was quite interesting. They had the typical start of a Zombie apocalypse universe and how it all started with one biochemical test but as the story went they added some new elements to the Zombie verse. The idea of Zombies having emotions and how they were repeating their course of action made so much sense. As usual there will be annoying characters and some really made me wanna slam the screen. What I loved the most about this show and what in my opinion sets it apart from other zombie shows I have watched is how it is not just a bunch of Zombies hurling at humans and them just fighting and trying to survive. They have enough time to elaborate and depict the whole situation that was going on as well as letting the main characters having a background story and space to develop. The ending made me loose my mind but I am glad they left the door for a potential s2.
The acting was definitely great. There has not been a single moment where it felt dull. I loved Boss's character so much (I am just in love).
Props to the crew for such amazing arrangement. The budget was there and they utlized it well. The zombie makeups were done with so much of care and I loved how much attention they pay to everything.
This definitely came as a surprise to me from DMD. What started as an interest to see my favorite cast turned into a rollercoster of emotion and trauma.
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This is what Thai BL needs
This is the type of drama I signed up for. This is exactly what Thai BL needs. A no nonsense, zero plot hole drama with marvelous acting , no cringe and having an actual valuable message about the world. feel MOD came out too early. It would have been a mega mega hit if it came out +in the present time.Plot wise this is one of the best BLs I have seen, A crime thriller highlighting social injustice and crime against women spiraled with a love story between 2 men set in the amazing city of Chiang Mai. There were almost little to no plot holes. The story was intense, interesting and engaging. There were no dull moment and it kept me hooked even till the end. The mystery element is definitely done right but what truly hit me is the social problems that it showcased. I truly hope this drama leaves an impact in every viewers heart. Kudos to the writer for such an amazing script.
The direction and cinematography caught the color of a crime thriller. It was well directed for that era. The scenes were intriguing and it managed to showcase each emotions well leaving no space for confusion. The action scenes were well done.
What truly captivated me is the quality of acting from everyone including Max, Tul, Great and the reset of the cast. Each character did a splendid job in portraying their character. They put a lot of efforts carrying out each emotions and every action scenes. A big round of applause for the cast and crew.
Pulling off a crime mystery thriller in a BL is tough and that's why most people avoid doing it but MOD is a great example of how well written script, meticulous direction and impeccable acting can turn the ever so generic BL dramas into highly immersive and qualified drama.
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A feel good show
I have mixed feelings about the show. Some parts I LOVED it while some scenes fell flat. It was a character driven story with very minimal character development and plot however the acting, script, jokes and great showcase of friendship made it enjoyable.The plot was simple and basic. No twists, no toxicity, just story about a pretty big group of friends. What I loved his the showcase of the bond. It felt very real as if I was watching the a video journal of a group of friends in their university time. However the biggest drawback would be how there's little to no plot and barely any character development. So when the group is not together and we get scenes with the couples it falls flat. It was cute but that was all it was. I wish it was explored on the character development side.
Cinematography was fantastic. I think this is what helped make this a slice of life comfort show. They successfully captured all the moments of the university life and friendship. The little jokes and the dumbest moves of a group boys is kind of fun to see.
Acting wise they all truly captured the essence of their individual characters well, especially Phuwin who I never thought would do good in comedy but I think this is by far his best acted show yet. The rest of the cast were absolute pleasure to watch. Satang as Toey was surprised me in the best possible way. They truly felt like a group of friends.
It's a show you need to watch with breaks. 2 episode a day while having meals is the perfect way if you want to just relax while watching something. It did gave me moments of comfort and overall it's a nice show.
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Fairly investing and brilliant acting
All of their acting exceeded my expectations. While there were plotholes the acting and story progression made me watch till the end. It was more character centric than plot centric, which I expected it to be the later.The plot showed the how very clearly. How they are dying, how they are meeting, how they are separating and how to stop the curse of Leap Day but it would have been even incredible if it showed a why. They only focused on fixing the problem. I was wishing they would keep some theories on extraterrestrial elements and phenomenon as to why 2 people born on the leap days are sharing such cruel faith. This would have given more depth and clarity on the plot making it even interesting to watch.
I was fairly surprised with the acting. Gun is as good as he is, I shouldn't even say anything about him. Dew truly surprised me with his acting. Pond was different from his other roles. Pahn being new did a fantastic job. It is a heavy emotion drama and they did awesome.
The cinematography was flawless. Except the scenes of ep 12 I liked everything they did. The green screen could have done better. I loved the way the cameras showed different sides making us see the whole thing and everyone's emotions.
The plot could have gone deeper and explored more on the theories of physics, psychology, illusions, paradox and human mind. It felt too character centric but it was well made and very intriguing. It truly showcased how life, death and loved ones are all tangled in this world. Did tear up at some point towards the end
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High school BLs are not mature? Watch this
Putting aside my fangirling self on the young and new faces, this is one of the best BLs of 2025 fight me. The acting, considering this is the first series or at least first with much more screen time (except Chokun) and they did THIS well in terms of acting. The drama exceeded my expectations on everything, plot, acting, direction, cinematography and character development.The plot is quite simple of high school boys falling in love but what sets this part is how they tackle certain situations with utmost maturity and sincerity. I like how this is the most non-toxic yet least boring series I have seen. The characters has flaws, they aren't perfect but at the end of the day they talk to sustain a healthy relationship. This is the closest I have seen characters being to the real life people. All the characters with their worries and flaws and trying to rectify, learn and grow is such a great sight to witness. Another great part of the story is how they do not solely focus on romance. They showcased the teenager's high school life so well. All the worries about future and their love and studies and everything. It made it so real.
The cinematography and direction gives me butterflies. Not a single boring moment. Whoever did the color grading did a fantastic job. It's so Narak and fluffy. The minute details in the plot and in the direction sets this drama apart from all high school BLs.
The actors, while being young and little experience did a splendid job. The crying scenes were so well done. It felt very real that it brought my emotions out. The behind the scenes are an added bonus. These 6 cuties are so cute. Special mention to Papang and Podd for delivering once again. Never knew I would love romance between teachers in a high school drama so cute.
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One of the best acting I have seen in Thai BL
Every time an emotional scene came I couldn't breath. It was as of they were taking me in into their world. The emotions were that intense. Possibly one of the best Thai BL in terms of acting, cinematography and direction. The meta acting and character changes were amazing.The series was very much character oriented with not much going with the plot. However the chemistry and acting truly shined the most. It showed the life of an actor, the industry and what he faced. The direction was mesmerizing. It was slow paced but every moment made me stop my breathing. The cinematography was very unique, something I have never seen in Thai drama before.
Boom is a phenomenal actor. I cannot praise him enough. His acting, every emotion, every face expression, I could feel through the screen. He conveyed everything so well I felt Akin wasn't a character but a real person. Smart is so talented. I wondered what took them so long to let him shine. He truly adapted himself to Jin.
I wish there were a little more thrill apart from the thrilling NC scenes. However the show goes deeper than it seems. As an actor myself I can say this series showcased the art of acting so well.
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Combining comedy, action, mystery, thriller and social issues in the best possible way
When starting the drama I thought it might be about high schoolers being notorious and how the main lead will handle them but I never thought it will have so much depth in the plot.The characters were well thought and everyone's arc was showcased amazingly. The plot is well thought and kept me going for more. Not even a single dull moment. If it's not action it's comedy, if it's not comedy it's thrill, if it's not thrill its emotion. They really kept the pace beautifully. The idea of studying used as a metaphor to do right thing, bring justice and get rid of corruption. The idea of study group is righteous people coming together to beat the sh1t out of corrupted people.
The actors did a spectacular job. Minhyun was the best fit for Gamin. AND oh my Cha Woomin is a brilliant actor. The entire cast did an amazing job. The actor playing Sun Cheol was really a show stopper. The cinematography and direction was perfect fit for the mood the drama was carrying. The way through silliness they brought up really big subjects. Since the mood was little silly and comedic the exaggerated fighting scenes never felt like that. Overall it was a good show that left a lot of impact on me.
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Ticked off all the boxes for me for a great series
What an underrated gem from GMMTV. The plot in MDL doesn't do justice to this. Never thought a show written and directed by males could be so progressive. This touched up sensitive and undiscussed topics in such a playful way and left with great morals. I not only enjoyed the show but felt great comfort while watching it. Very few shows can make you feel part of it. This did.It touched topics of sexuality, gender identities, inclusions and diversity. It showed female empowerment and also gave so much knowledge on STDs and STIs. It touched the topic of beauty standards and body shapes and sizes. Also about a very rarely discussed topic of various sexual desires and likes and dislikes of sexual positions. I love how not everyone is involved in a romantic relationship. It celebrates women being single and independent. It showcased the very tough topic of pregnancy and abortion and how the society forces/ expects women to keep the baby abandoning their dream.
Truly a gem. The actors did spectacular job. I love how each and every character got to shine in their own way. Everyone's story mattered and it was all threaded marvelously into the entire polaroid camera thing. It was playful, fun and at the same time ran way too deeper than most dramas ever did. Truly deserved the 10/10.
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Not just a BL but an actual mystery thriller
I came to watch this series without much expectations. I knew the actors were newbies (except Ta and Barcode but considering their roles in Kinnporsche they have little experience) however they showed great skills. I would specially like to mention Mio, Fuaiz and Bump for their incredible acting on their first series and that too such a heavy themed one.The mystery element of this series is what kept me going till the end. I like how they unfolded it one by one. All the characters had a very profound and relevant back stories. The showcase of past and present scenarios should have been played a little differently as it killed the thrill at the middle for me when we went back in time for the first time.
Overall it was worth watching. They truly showed great acting skills. I appreciate the highly written storylines and cinematography. They really made them work hard, whether in the emotional aspect or doing physical work. This is not just another BL, it really showcased so much more than that.
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Series of 2024
I was putting this up in my watchlist since the drama cane out because I was new to YinWar. But oh gosh this was one hell of a roller coaster.The acting was everything. The scenes were done without any rush so you will get time to take it in. It looks very cinematic. The kiss scene was one of the best I have ever scene and it made me blush like anything and that's a rare site.
I really liked the portrayal of the social imbalance and what people in power do. It was very realistic portrayal about how money and power can change so many things. The series didn't have any dull moment. Every scene was worth watching and will make you excited. The action scenes were done right and all were done by YinWar and the other actors. They really put so much effort. YinWar has great chemistry.
I loved the both Jack and Joker's character. Joker is one of the most unique characters I have seen in Thai dramas. He is not a red flag, not fully a green flag, not an anti hero, neither a morally grey character. He is charismatic but at the same time a wreck. He is someone everyone can relate too. Jack portrayed the common people who suffers because of people in power.
They put so much effort in the details. The outfits were so well done I have to mention it. Probably the best set of outfits I have seen in Thai drama. It really showed each of the character's characteristics. The attention to the smallest of things made this drama one of the finest I have seen.
It was a great watch, definitely gave me a hard time but a good time.
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Never seen a BL like this before
If you are reading this before watching the series then I would suggest please do not watch the series just because it's a BL. Trust me before watching it I have heard this plenty of times that there's mo series like NOT ME and there really isn't. This has few heavy topics to deal with. I have never seen a BL like this before. It was not jist focusing on romance between two guys but much mkre than that. It showcased the corrupted society, oppression of common people, misuse of power, injustice against the weak, the relationship between parents and their kids and definitely the rise of youth. And in between them these boys find true love, true love that gave them the strength to fight. This showcased the rebellious side of youth and how of united we can overcome anything. I want more people to talk about just how impactful this drama is on youth, encouraging us to fight against corruption. The amazing acting served by Off Gun Mond First and Papang gabe this series a new height. The editing, direction and plotting is well made. I have to say Not Me probably has the besy soundtrack collection in the entire BL industry. If you are watching it good luck you are in for a ride.Was this review helpful to you?
