J-atty

Gangster whaaat?

It seems to be the mo to produce super short shorts with very little if any cohesiveness at all. Don't get me wrong, the story is good, the production is terrible. Added to this, the 2min, vertical viewing is a big deterrent. Then throw in one of the worst translated series. What do you get..... disappointment.

Plot:
Gangster meets idol trying to get away from someone trying to kill him. Upon meeting, he's attracted to him. He offers him money to be with him for 3 months. Yada yada yada, they fall in love. Now throw in a harem of guys willing to serve the Gangster. The idol getting drunk an passing out numerous times. The gangster's brother and father continuously at odds with him. An ex lover trying to kill him.

Instead of 70 × 2-min episodes, why not make a full length movie. The storyline is good. The acting meh. The production cheap. Jarring choppy scenes. If 10% of the translation could be believed, script needs major rewrite. Attraction between the mains, believable. There was just too much wrong for this to be salvaged. Had potential but was lost.

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Countdown To 2X

This felt like watching a small turtle wade through a pond of mud and the mud was on a low gradient hill. Then I realised the secret to making this more enjoyable: 2x which I did for ep 11. They moved and functioned at almost normal speed.

Although the pace was steady, a couple episodes of nothing could have been cut. I kept watching just to see if Minato's voice would ever raise above the hum of an idling car. It didn't. Even when rejected. Missed his calling as a funeral director. Seriously.

This could have been ep 6 and saved me 1 hr of mud watching. I won’t say they were bad but heavy and a little too slow. It was a pleasure seeing Grandpa still into Grandma.

Wataru took 10 ep to accept what he felt since ep 1. Why? Nothing stood in their way. No additional or external conflicts but himself. This was the very tedious part. Ep 11 cuteness made up for it. A little bit. Minato's patience should be studied.

Remember to 2x and it'll be fine.

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Wish I Could Like It More

Three brothers. Six Issues. All dealt with. So what were the drawbacks? The acting. The serious nature of the topics and how it was handled. The script. The unrealistic resolutions. This felt like an after school special.

Sailom refusing treatment unless he got the doctor he had a crush on.
Sailom instantaneous healing.
Sky's facial expressions that never held the gravity of the situation even when he was going through it.
Their 'perfect' mother.
The kidnapping.
Nava situation stretched but Tawan's resolved in fifteen minutes at the end like an afterthought.
Nabnueng still felt and spoke like a doctor to Sailom instead of lover.

The entire thing felt too superficial. I do like that topics usually bypassed were highlighted. There were some nice couple moments. I truly appreciated Nabnueng being direct with his ex girlfriend and that was handled appropriately. The reconciliation of Tawan and Dindin.

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Royal Pains

It was decent but ZeeNuNew storyline of Charan and Khanin was leaning to boring and pedestrian. The pomp and ceremony was there but one needed to check their pulse after ep 3. Their meetings for want of a better word was just as bland as Charan's expressions. Khanin's fire was a short match, the spark didn't excite any interest one way or the other. If darling sweet bubbly Chakri was not a part of their lives, one could ff and not miss anything.

What kept me watching?
Ramil and Paytai, Wasin and to a lesser degree, Calvin and Jay and Ava. They made the experience bearable. Their storylines were far more interesting and played well. Personally, I would have felt more satisfied if the king had died before seeing Khanin's win. The many lives lost over the years due to greed was disheartening. Keeping a father away from his child as a chest piece, this he should not be rewarded for. Ava, desiring her father's approval could have been done differently. She fought for a seat at the table for all womanhood and once she received his approval, she quickly reverted. Poor message.

The ending was too long with nothing worth that time. Possibly two clips of Ramil and Paytai enjoying a moment of true happiness and Prince Tharin meeting with Calvin and Jay to get a ground level pov on the environmental issues could have been added.

I wish the script would have been as rich as the royals were dressed. The action scenes could have been carried through the episodes to liven up the viewers experience. Overall, not bad but could have been better.

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Appreciate Now

It was enjoyable, chaotic, a bit far reaching but just right. Sure there were moments that felt a bit repetitive, the circle it ran in, just to get to the conclusion but it didn't feel too unnecessary. All the actors had character. They felt natural in their surroundings, even the supernatural ones.

Ultimately, a story about choices, good or bad, would have repercussions. Also, I liked the aspect of valuing yourself and never feeling a failure to who matter. Self and those who love you and those you love. Failing at something doesn't mean you are a failure. Show up for the people who love you.

What I loved about this was that each had a story interesting to be told. The cp's complemented each other well. The island life free flowing body movements were refreshing. Uncle and Dad were an easy watch. Wisdom without heaviness.

I knew Jed Chung could act and I was happy to view him here. His smile just makes the angst worthwhile.

Note to Sam Lin: I miss seeing you.

It was fun, lively and Taiwan redeemed their legacy..... a bit. It was more coherent than what we have seen in a few years.

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Red or Black, Fan Xiao is loved

I thoroughly enjoyed this series from the first episode to the last. This was truly entertaining, the main requirement of any production. Fan Xiao has set the standard for the most likeable villain. He plotted his way into Shu Lang's life and suffered for it. While his intentions were diabloical, he did free Shu Lang from the parasites of his life. Unfortunately, he in turn, became the main destroyer to his happiness and peace.

I felt no pity for Shu Lang's ex boyfriend and brother. They were both expertly played with and discarded. The fall out due to the duplicity from Fan Xiao destroyed his pride. He did say, "If you are lying, keep lying, don't ever let me find out." Ultimately, the bond between them would see them run through the gamut of emotions and whoever stood in their path. Fan Xiao's retribution was always sure.

The characters were beautifully brought to life by one and all. Li Hua showed himself to be the most loyal friend to Fan Xiao and was just as humorous. This would not have been the same without him. Yun Qi, Hao Yi Ran and Kou Wei Long did great. The 15 episodes each held a moment or moments that would make it not feel tedious to view. Some portrayals did border on melodramatic, but that's China. The budget and production was on a bigger scale than most which proved to be an asset. Script was a bit expected but not completely so. The deftness at which Fan Xiao smoothly schemed his way through needed to be told.

This should be viewed as a fantasy and not with morality to be enjoyed. They did well. Loved it and can't wait for the special.

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Who doesn't love good Honey

Jin and Akin have taken us on a roller-coaster ride, and I liked it but...... The true story was lost in the overdramatic acting at times. From their first meeting, Jin has had an agenda, and his purpose never shifted. How to bag Akin? How to be the one who can make Akin the happiest? I will say that after the first nc scene, he had nothing to worry about. Akin was giggling like a teen with his first crush. Racing heart beats, shy hesitant looks, and my man Jin made full use of the kryptonite, honey. I'm sure the demand for honey must have skyrocketed after that episode. We were served and, I must say, served very well. Jin's members (tongue, fingers and.......) should be framed and held in high esteem for eternity. The award winning honey should be glass encased. Viewed but never touched. A population surge, we do not need.

Jin gave new meaning to the term green flag. He came in every sense, he saw and he conquered. He knew that getting through to Akin would take loads of patience, perseverance, flexibility, and vision. He walked beside him, holding his hand every step of their journey. He gently drew him out of his shell and understood him. He allowed him to express himself, validate his feelings, and made him feel safe. His dreams always included Akin at the center. He teased the inner freak out of Akin and was up for the challenge. He was that good.

From being an high strung pampered introvert, Akin matured over time to be a strong, thoughtful decisive lover. Yes, he was a handful, but good actors usually are. Once the reality of his position in the acting world hit, he changed his agenda from ego to lover. Jin had quietly entered his world and gave his life the much needed assurance he craved. He was loved and would be truly loved for himself and not the adoration he had known as an actor. Akin's strength was bringing each actor he worked with to a higher level. It worked well with Jin as Jin loved him. Johnny, on the other hand, should have been left alone. Though, being a perfectionist brought him unwanted pain. He doesn't know how to do mediocre.

Two times Akin let me down. The night after the 'rape' scene and when he was going to be blackmailed with the picture. Firstly, the night after the 'rape'. Unless his anatomy was acting a role and disconnected from his body, he must have known if he was violated from recent activity. Drugged or not, a quick clench would let him know. Either way, confront Johnny instead of running away and continuing to act with him. I didn't like Jin saving him. A good kick to the groin by Akin was needed here. Secondly, why did he feel that taking on the blackmailer by himself was the best way to go? There are different levels of dumb. He chose the highest level. If he wanted to protect Jin, discuss with him what is the best option. But it did make for an anguished nc, which is good tv.

Best lines of the script:
"Did I mean so little to you?"
"You were never supposed to mean anything at all."

Johnny, being a royal pain, should have understood his role from the beginning. A clown will always be a clown, whether he wore fancy clothes or not. I did like his unknowing confession. He knew what he was and the lengths he would take to reach his dreams. Still, don't overreach your position.

What was a big plus for me in this series other than the chemistry and the benefits of honey, was the different difficulties being presented over the course of years. They were together but with the core nemesis still trying to break them as an ongoing thread. It could have become a hindrance if it became too convoluted. It gave the series a realistic passing of time. The secondary actors all did well enough to make it credible. I would have preferred that the series surrounded the battle of an aging actor vs a new actor replacing him. A neurotic Akin would have made must-see moments. Their interractions at this point was electric. Jin winning the award caused the best friction between them. Everything else felt lackluster.

Adding the multiple stories that were solved within an episode or two kind of made it less engaging. We would have still got the honey scene at the end when they got together and would end with a bang. In the other nc scenes, it felt like a decline. Didn't they know that you always save the best for last? Their character growth would be double and not more one-sided as it happened. Jin came in strong and stayed that way throughout. His sole purpose was to be at Akin's side. They way to do it was to become an actor to catch his attention and once that was achieved, follow Akins instructions. Akin is the only one shown to evolve.

The nc scenes aided a lot in the popularity and were done for adults. Boom's go-to crying for sympathy was becoming a little tedious. His baby girl antics, though cute but unrealistic, for a grown man. The ending unbelievable as the entire script felt like a soft breath leaving your lungs. No impact whatsoever. Smart has grown as an actor and adapted well to the script. Smart and Boom made good. This was enjoyable, a little too sweet and not enthralling enough. Should you go watch? Yes, if only for the sweet taste of honey.

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Different Kind of Happy

Very rare a series can pull off both stark grittiness and tender love as this did. This is not about a romantic tender love but of two people meeting at the worst times in their lives, needing what only the other could give and held on.

Chihiro stuck in a cycle of exchanging sex for being taken care of by whomever, all in the name of 'love'. He couldn't get past the betrayal he endured when his secret lover dumped him and got married. Aimless and jobless he sleeps around, not caring what tomorrow brought. Until he met Keito.

Keito, abandoned, abused and mutilated, mired in the sex trade by Maya, a drug addicted sex peddler. Maya keeps undocumented and forgotten youths hostage with the threat of violence due to his erratic behaviour. Keito, broken by his circumstances, doesn't have a desire to escape, until he overhears Maya agreeing with a customer that Keito can be killed if they wish. Here, the spark for life is ignited and runs away. Hired to retrieve stolen items, he meets Chihiro.

Their meeting is as voilent as their surroundings, but something attracts Chihiro to Keito and he is unwilling to let go. Keito is cold and blunt. Chihiro is still a bit niaive but completely open and honest. Somehow, they fit. Through unorthodox methods, Keito saves Chihiro by showing him how much he is worth. Chihiro, over numerous events, reciprocates the love through his loyalty and care.

The stark brutality is ever present and not for everyone. The scenes are graphic and Maya's offensiveness can be off putting. The series is still very beautiful for it's points of views and the telling of it. The actors did a brilliant job and truly embodied their roles. Even to the point of evoking sentiment where needed. The production was perfect with the depiction of the cold sordid environment to contrast their love as it blooms. Against all odds, love can grow even here.

Definitely worth the watch. Japan didn't disappoint.

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Where is the warmth?

This was good but I'm not too sure if this was good enough. The similarities between this and Love is Poison stops at: they are both eccentric successful lawyers with private investigators partners. Don't look for anything beyond that. Which I was grateful for. I enjoyed the format of one continuous story running concurrently with a new short story every two episodes. The differing reasons behind every divorce or separation were varied, thought provoking and harsh. The brutality of their resolve was not sugar coated and Hajime ensured his clients needs were met.

Then there was his sister. She was dying and enthrusted her daughter to his and his partner's care. The usually stoic and closed off Hajime began to thaw and let others in. Two of the most heart wrenching moments were because of her death. The daughter being present when it happened and his release in his solitude. The battle to gain custody of his niece began.

I can not find fault but still I felt something was missing. The acting was great. The stories interesting. The mannerisms suited to every character, tho the secretary can be a bit irritating. The ending as it should be. I think I didn't quite get Hajime and Kai's real connection. It was there but felt matter of fact. He felt more to be a helper than a helpmate. The focal point of the series was how and why divorces happen. I felt while watching them for the entiety that they interacted as already divorced but cohabitating. The lack of intimacy that would make their conversations precious. I'm not speaking of nc, but moments where they felt right together.

As I said, it was interesting. If you get your hands on a properly subbed version, go for it.

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Maturing beyond the moment

I love the maturity of the plot, how it was handled and the bravery of the actors to portray a different perspective.

Akira and Kanata bond over their ability to connect though polar opposites in every aspect. Their only similarity is that they are both great at deflecting. One with a smile and the other with cold silence. The glue holding them together is honesty, really listening and no judgment. Though Kanata says he doesn't understand what Kanata says most of the time, he usually gets it right. He sees beyond.

Both in pain, they react differently to past hurts. Kanata pushes the thought of playing football away out of fear. He has a supportive family, but jealousy and comparing himself to his brother, he pushes them away. Akira, retreats further inward from the fear of being ostracized for his sexuality and no one at home gives him the attention and reassurance he needs.

Akira being a loner doesn't speak about his situation to his family. His brother, busy with his life, doesn't connect with him. The only one who takes the time is the tutor.

From the onset my perception of the tutor was never a predator but someone who was lost as much as Akira was. At the beginning when their relationship developed, Akira was bullied and lost to his sexuality. The tutor changed that and made him accept himself. In ep 4 or 5, he asks Akira, what does he want. Akira chose to continue. Ep 6, he willingly steps back. Here he pushes the brother to act as one, admits his immaturity but Akira accepts the role he played because that is what held him together when he needed someone. Even at the end, he asks Akira if their meeting is okay for him.

The age of consent in Japan is 16. Senior high school age is between 15 - 18. Akira is moving into his final year. I'm supposing there is a 3-5 yr difference between them. I would have preferred that the actor used would have appeared closer in age physically rather than older. In his work attire he looks closer to 25-28.

The reality is that there are situations where this type of situation is not favorable and there are predators waiting to take advantage. Is this acceptable? No. The caregivers, parents, 'friends' who alienate the person to seek solace elsewhere should also bear the burden.

I was happy when Kanata took charge and steered their relationship differently. Kanata's acceptance of his football prospects, he comes to terms with his brother's superior abilities and chooses what's best.

The pacing a bit slow and the dialogue was mature even for their age group. Kanata's friends a truly supportive band. Their ending landing perfectly though a bit predictable.

It's a very rewarding watch.

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Nicely done

I loved every moment of this and then it lulled. Only one reason: length. Beautiful concept. Great acting. Humorous. Playful, light but emotional. It was good, not denying this, but carrying it to this length waned the enthusiasm. The broken phase lasted too long. This is not to say that forgiveness should be given easily but a bit more concisely.

I have no fault with any of the actors. The old and new cp did well. I will say the series benefitted with Louis in that role. He made the moments a bit more enjoyable. Poon has a way of being adorable even when he's not trying. Ohm a better fit for Poon but still he lacks the chaotic energy to make them perfect. Mark and Junior still good but I will like to see them 'youthful'. The dress code used here aged them rather than refined.

Storyline: I struggled to forgive Tim more than Yu. Yu tried his best to make North happy, giving him what he needed. Tim kept inserting himself in Pai's life without allowing him the space to heal or giving him reasons to forgive. Pai's love for him, as he met his emotional needs, was really the reason for their reconciliation. Yu became a scammer as he was trained to do so and out of necessity. Tim chose this as an easy out to keep his family home and bring his family back. Ironically, they didn’t want it. I felt his pain but I didn't feel the remorse.

The ending was nice without dragging on. A good watch

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Who's smiling with me ....

I was ambivalent. Initially I wasn't going to write a review as there really wasn't anything to say. Boy meets boy. Boy falls in love with boy. Boy stays with boy forever. Then they did it. I was smiling like I've never smiled before, looping the moon and back. I loved watching Thame and Po together. I loved Thame and Po together bcuz Thame was the person that made Po realize his true worth. Po needed to be loved entirely, fiercelessly and deeply. Thame had the courage for everyone and more than enough for himself. Their magic had me smiling. Grinning, actually.

Acting, which we know needs work but forgiven as newbies, was much better than expected. What tied this entire show together was the soft way Thame loved Po. Gently, they took the steps together and held each other close. The all night phone call and THE walk to and from the bus stop set the standard for future romantic moments in any series. Yes, the usual mistakes and misunderstandings happened and I will say this, those 2 episodes fell flat. The light of the series was missing. Thame.

The moment he entered again, the world brightened considerably. The glow in his eyes made us believe again in their love. The Negative Nellys and Horrendous Horseface easily forgot as I was blinded by the brilliance of their soft sweet love. The connection between Thame and Po is palpable. It's felt. WilliamEst/EstWilliam have IT.

Lykn did well. Est, one of my favorites, did great. William shone. With more practice, they all will be better as time goes on. Special mention here of Nut and his role. He aced every moment he was on the screen and proved to be the strongest actor of the group. Jun's cunning smile fooled everyone but the audience. He gave up his chance for happiness for Thame to have his. Signs of true friendship. The level of ease amongst the entire cast was refreshing.

The empty script could have been much better. The repetitive convos, Po's one word answers - Huh, a timeline of events that did nothing to move the story from one position to the next. Thame started sadly owing Oner and ended happily owing Oner. Po started in the tailor shop depressed and ended in the tailor shop happy. Ok, well the perspectives changed but a little change in finances would have been nice. I would have loved to see the fire in Po that was ignited in episode 1 carried through but he had to dim a little for Thame / William to become the star. I was left with a good feeling at the end despite all the glaring errors. This definitely should be rewatched time and time again. If only to let your heart skip a beat . 💓

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Only reason to watch.

Let's see:
Episode 9 - 32:54 to 36:01

That's it. No need to watch anything else.

Tutor and Yim have a connection. It is apparent. What is not apparent is why why why do they do shows that do not bring out the best in them. I'm reminded of Mos and Bank, but I digress. It's like they put a large amount of actors names in a bag and chose randomly.
Then in another bag they put a few mixed scripts and did they same thing. What is unfortunate is that TutorYim keep getting either the bad scripts or bad directors. I like them. I like them together. In and out of the fantasy world, they click. What doesn't click is the lackluster crap that eventually comes out.

A series such as this had too many couples to keep track of in and out of the fantasy world. I must admit after seeing Jack and Chat here, I lowered my expectations. Playboyy kinda left a wtf taste in my mouth. The only reason I watched was for the both of them but I was real about it. That was just to see how far they would go for shock value. Again, I digress. The erratic jumping between 3 worlds, coupled with the different relationships in each and writing alter egos proved to be too much. After episode 5, I found myself using this on a Monday to go to sleep.

If you like convoluted fantasy stories with a slightly erotic but more dramatic bed scene, refer again to episode 9, this is for you. The way Tutor looks at Yim alone will help get you through the episodes. Focus, Mark and Gems were decent enough. I was hoping for so much better, at least a better storyline, but that's just me. Others seem to love it. I will give them one more chance if they do another series.... because I do like them together.

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Good guys don't win

Two things irritated me. The vertical filming and the expected outcome. The narrowing of the screen would put a greater strain on your eyes to watch. Not a very good idea. Watching like this did not enhance the plot or the enjoyment.

The script tried to be introspective and cute. I said tried. Pa Rang sees Tae Min seduce a guy and just as quickly dumps him after having fun. Yu Bin, kind and friendly, openly shows Pa Rang he is interested but guess which one he chooses. No brainer. When will shows stop portraying the good guy as a loser? Is this supposed to make it more interesting? It didn't. All three had issues but it is Yu Bin who fully understands his and keeps trying without looking for pity.

The acting was done well enough. The 2 seconds that Pa Rang's mother was onscreen did more for the story than everything else. The despair, the pain, the words uttered before she jumped were portrayed very well. Tho the script had too many references about drowing and sinking and looking up from the bottom. Ok, we get it.

The expected outcome: Pre-planning to die on the same day his mother died, Pa Rang goes to jump. Yu Bin recognizes something is off and tells Tae Min, who instantly knows where to find him, he rushes to save him. Yu Bin - see what I mean about the good guy. Tae Min, who supposedly loves him so much, didn't know. Tae Min reaches in time, pulls him off of the box he stood on and tells him he loves him so much. No intensity, like standing on the wall, but a box next to the wall. Lazy writing.

The theme of Pa Rang planning his death could have easily shown to change by him falling in love with Tae Min and by seeing how Yu Bin keeps pushing no matter his limitations and finally facing up to his father about how he blamed him for his mother's suicide. As is, there was no electrifying moment that warranted the cost of paying to see this. It's now available on YT for free as a full length series combined but for how long, no one knows. I will not watch this again. The irritating background music was not to the show's benefit. Everything felt dull and monotonous.

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Their Magic Together

I missed them. The ease and flow between them is unmistakable. Like a warm blanket late at night, I held them close. Their previous work proved why I showed up every week to see them. Beautiful actors who can take me on a journey and leave me satisfied. I will miss them again as this is complete.

I was missing the old style where stories are told and acted well. Their immediate bond stood true again. Their eyes meet and all I want is just them, on a bike, smiling going anywhere. Their story unique to them. Not a simple one, but cute, funny and interesting to the end. Their kisses as it should be. Appearing at the right time without much preamble. I am happy they chose to give us another project together.

Ji Han's woeful eyes and Jeong You steady stare enrich stories without having to say anything more.

The things that I would change are the fillers. Too many. More plot, more activity needed. U Jin's last run around the bend when the car strikes goes unexplained. The ending too slow and drawn out.

Saying that and still wanting more seems contrary. It's just their magic together makes it all worthwhile. This was a nice nod back to the olden days when the characters were interesting, the acting good and the story left you with a warm feeling at the end.

Just like A Breeze of Love, I will watch this again.

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