What a surprise. A delightful surprise at that. I was expecting this drama to be yet another of the Thai production line - so quantity over quality. Hence why I find myself surprised.
Yes, it is cute and fluffy, words I absolutely abhor on this here forum, due to being massively overused. I prefer attractive and pretty and trivial or superficial. #JustSaying. However, this drama is bringing sexy to the mix, something rare for a BL from Thailand. I do find it sexy. Surprisingly, this really doesn't have bad dialogue. Our actors can actually act, together with our 2nd male leads and thank fuck, they do all have chemistry.
I do quirky. I love quirky looking men. First's mouth and nose absolutely captivate me. I stare. I stare a lot when he is onscreen. This man is my idea of quirky pretty.
Like many, I went into this drama with low expectations, however, an open mind. Surprisingly, I found myself captivated by many of the episodes and indeed the characters. I was drawn to this drama initially around the premise of food - as I adore eating out and cooking from scratch. I liked the idea of two strangers coming together and becoming friends through dining out. The rules were mature and quirky. No exchange of names. No exchange of occupations. No exchange of phone numbers. No exchange of anything in their personal lives (only past relationships). Prior to this, I also liked how the writer initiated their coincidental meetings. I thought it was done well. As a believer in destiny, this hugely resonated with me.
Kudos to the research team. I felt they did an excellent job researching psychotherapy and mental health. A lot of the dialogue around these issues made absolute sense to my brain and felt well researched and believable. In this regard, Lee Ji Hoon, seriously owned the role of Jung Jae Hyuk. From the outset, on his return, having been away from Woo De He for a number of years, I found myself astounded that one of his opening lines was: "Let's get back together." No begging apology. No falling to the knees asking for forgiveness. No explanation as to why he dumped her by text after 6 fucking years. Nothing. I was captivated by his character throughout the drama and really felt he delivered his role as someone with Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) brilliantly. He was my favourite character, as he pissed the fuck out of me throughout the drama, however, I couldn't help myself empathising with his delusional belief that Woo De He, not only belonged to him, but could only ever love him. The scene with his father in the hospital, actually made me touch my heart. Very sad indeed.
Kim Hae Kyung, ML, I really enjoyed his character development. Firstly, reserved and introverted, dogged down by his own issues, then finally brave and resplendent. In my brain, there's something seriously sexy about an intelligent, selfless man who oozes empathy for others. However, what sticks in my mind throughout the whole drama, is how he laughed so many times when with Woo De He and always when he least expected it, as their personalities were so opposite. For some reason, I adored these moments. He looked beautiful laughing.
Surprisingly, my least favourite character was our FL - Woo De He. I didn't enjoy how our writer depicted her story in dealing with Jung Jae Hyuk for drama sake. My brain was constantly shouting to Jung Jae Hyuk, "Fuck off. Fuck the right off out of my life or I'm going to report you for stalking and trespassing." However, I totally understood her love and protection for her first love. After all, the brain says one thing and the heart always overrules. I also didn't think she ever had Kim Hae Kyung's back until his accident. He was always there for her, but I never really felt, she was really there for him until the end. Coward springs to mind and constantly running away, which pissed me off.
Contrary to others, I really enjoyed the relationship and writing of the script between Nam Ah Young (CEO) and our homeless tramp. I love a fierce, wise, protective woman, who knows what she wants and goes out for it, while being direct about what she wants and telling it as it is. She was this. She was the Mother bear with our FL and her team. I found their story intrinsic to the narrative.
Honestly, I don't have many thoughts on Jin Noh Eul's character, as I've seen it a 100 times in K-dramas and it bores me senseless. Nothing different. Everything expected. However, I did like how she found resolve to move on.
So, it's a 7.5/10 for me. Mainly because we didn't get enough screen time showcasing the love and evolving sexual tension between our two leads. It tickled us with it, to be ultimately dropped with the 1-year time loop. What an opportunity lost I was left thinking. Too much time was spent on the issues surrounding our 2nd leads. Would I re-watch? Perhaps. Maybe. Possibly. However, only my best bits.
Iwanaga has to go down as the biggest prick tease ever! Everything about him screams a man who enjoys the chase, however, once he's had his fill of fucking you, you'll surely become yet another notch on his bedpost. Hence why I can empathise with how conflicted Miyata feels about committing to a relationship with him and why he wants to see him actively make an effort. Poor Miyata, he literally is "a lamb to the slaughter."
It's clear to me that Iwanaga absolutely knows how Miyata feels about him. He knows he feels insecure and subservient to his academic genius, success, beauty and from this episode, obvious prowess and experience in bed. I imagine Iwanaga has been licking his chops and salivating at the prospect of taking Miyata's virginity. He's taking narcissistic delight in not alleviating any of Miyata's fears. in fact, quite the opposite. He's feeding and revelling in it, while expecting Miyata to read his mind in terms of how he really feels about him. I think he's deeply in love with Miyata, always has been and wants to consume ever fibre of his being. It makes for refreshing and delightful viewing.
Shiraishi is the epitome of a jealous, bitchy gay. Love how his character has been written with so much sass. I always wait with batted breath for him to drop his bitch bomb. This week it was "Old Man" and "You're not the one welcome here." So bloody funny.
Japanese BL-s are the leaders in delivering believable sex scenes. They are so well choregraphed. The scene depicting the next morning, I thought it would have been hilarious to show Miyata walking with difficulty. I think they missed a trick here! #JustSaying. It did all feel rather cold and awkward. Yet, once again, I feel that's exactly what Iwanaga wanted - to leave Miyata dangling from a rope while yearning for more.
What I find myself enjoying most about this drama is the way the writer has written the dialogue between Na Ah Jung and Lee Ji Han. The lines are clever, so very direct and beautifully delivered. It feels like each of them are taken it in turns to sucker punch the other in the face, but, instead, they're doing it with words. It makes their limited on-screen time together incredibly engaging.
I think we all needed this episode, by way of our leads finally accepting and confessing their true feelings for one another. If the push-and-pull between them had continued into another episode, I don't think I would have found the script realistic, by way of depicting two adults in their 30's liking each other.
Like many, I find myself struggling with the writing of Lee Do Han's character. He comes across as an incredibly selfish and cowardly. Up-to-date, he's simply ran away, so why didn't he just stay in New York and continue his life, why come back?
As enjoyable as I'm finding this drama, there are a lot of unfeasible, unrealistic parts of the script, which leave me scratching my head. Lee Ji Han's obsession with his brother marrying CEO, Yoon Chae Won and taking over the company, when clearly he doesn't want either. Surely, it would have made more sense for Lee Ji Han to take over the company. I find this choice in the narrative, odd! Most distractedly, why does Yoon Chae Won's hair length keep changing from short to long? Why not make the narrative around hiding the fact that Lee Do Han is gay and has chosen to remain in the closet? Now that would have been really interesting to me and extremely refreshing for a K-drama.
Obviously, I appreciate we still have three more episodes to go, so looking forward to understanding more of the back-stories and witnessing our two leads finally being a couple, as they make for excellent on-screen chemistry, while owning their roles.
Ah, and so it concludes. Underwhelming was my first thought on finishing the final episode. What even was this? What did it want to be? Was it about two men from different regions of Japan, meeting and having amazing chemistry? Definitely not, but I feel the writer would like us to have thought so. Was it about two men although different, complementing each others personalities? I don't think so either. In not one episode did I believe that these two men were into each other. Quite the opposite. In fact, I found it clear to see they were uncomfortable as lead actors together and badly casted.
This drama literally limped to the finish line and I have to admit I'm glad it's over. I was dis-engaged by each episode, aside from the ones with Mizuki. Will I re-watch? Absolutely not. I'll have forgotten it by Sunday. It's a 2/10 for me.
Weren’t choosing rings for the couple that got married? I can’t watch it again, but I’m pretty sure. I would…
I honestly believe they were buying their own rings. It’s just too utterly personal and indicative to the people in question for colleagues to buy engagement/ wedding rings for someone. However, you could be right and perhaps I just find it too strange.
I just felt the 2nd leads relationship came out of nowhere, and then married after 2-months of dating. Implausible me thinks.
I’m English and live in the UK. Couple rings don’t happen here either.
Weren’t choosing rings for the couple that got married? I can’t watch it again, but I’m pretty sure. I would…
Ah, you could be right about the ring choosing. However, I’ve never seen this in an Asian drama. Surely, that’s too personal for someone else to do, irrespective of how close you were. This would never happen in my culture.
Excellent questions for the writer / director. But, I can’t imagine them being truly honest.
The FL actress should stick with villain roles since she is great at those and not at romcomI felt bad for Kang…
Bearing in mind how extremely unbelievable and non-existent the romance was in this drama, I’m actually led to believe that her contract says to keep it to a minimum. Haven’t seen her in anything else. May possibly check out when I get over this one.
I absolutely adored Kang Ki Young in Attorney Woo and he did a great job in this one, with what he was given. Would love to see him in a lead role again.
You must be new at Taiwanese BL. This is how they drop it. And those usually gets very high ratings except for…
I know right. Imagine coming onto a public forum to openly admit you haven't got the brain capacity to read two paragraphs. Astounding! Which also tells me an attention seeking, bored child is at play and I really can't be bothered with such a mentality.
Your War & Peace comment actually made me laugh out loud.
I too adore a BL where you have a lead who’s confidently arrogant. I find it incredibly sexy and entrancing.…
That's a really good point about where Iwanaga has been for 12-years. Do you remember when he said to Miyata: "You will only ever love me." I actually guffawed at his arrogance. With this mindset, I imagine he was waiting for him to come to him. It definitely wouldn't surprise me.
Yes, I have to agree with your thought process here, by way of Iwanaga's sincerity. He strikes me as a man who likes to manipulate others for entertainment and feeds off their desire and yearning for him, even though he has zero interest. He was also the most popular boy in school and not only for his looks but his academic prowess, so I think your Spidey-senses are spot on.
Yes, it is cute and fluffy, words I absolutely abhor on this here forum, due to being massively overused. I prefer attractive and pretty and trivial or superficial. #JustSaying. However, this drama is bringing sexy to the mix, something rare for a BL from Thailand. I do find it sexy. Surprisingly, this really doesn't have bad dialogue. Our actors can actually act, together with our 2nd male leads and thank fuck, they do all have chemistry.
I do quirky. I love quirky looking men. First's mouth and nose absolutely captivate me. I stare. I stare a lot when he is onscreen. This man is my idea of quirky pretty.
Looking forward to the next episode.
Kudos to the research team. I felt they did an excellent job researching psychotherapy and mental health. A lot of the dialogue around these issues made absolute sense to my brain and felt well researched and believable. In this regard, Lee Ji Hoon, seriously owned the role of Jung Jae Hyuk. From the outset, on his return, having been away from Woo De He for a number of years, I found myself astounded that one of his opening lines was: "Let's get back together." No begging apology. No falling to the knees asking for forgiveness. No explanation as to why he dumped her by text after 6 fucking years. Nothing. I was captivated by his character throughout the drama and really felt he delivered his role as someone with Obsessive Love Disorder (OLD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) brilliantly. He was my favourite character, as he pissed the fuck out of me throughout the drama, however, I couldn't help myself empathising with his delusional belief that Woo De He, not only belonged to him, but could only ever love him. The scene with his father in the hospital, actually made me touch my heart. Very sad indeed.
Kim Hae Kyung, ML, I really enjoyed his character development. Firstly, reserved and introverted, dogged down by his own issues, then finally brave and resplendent. In my brain, there's something seriously sexy about an intelligent, selfless man who oozes empathy for others. However, what sticks in my mind throughout the whole drama, is how he laughed so many times when with Woo De He and always when he least expected it, as their personalities were so opposite. For some reason, I adored these moments. He looked beautiful laughing.
Surprisingly, my least favourite character was our FL - Woo De He. I didn't enjoy how our writer depicted her story in dealing with Jung Jae Hyuk for drama sake. My brain was constantly shouting to Jung Jae Hyuk, "Fuck off. Fuck the right off out of my life or I'm going to report you for stalking and trespassing." However, I totally understood her love and protection for her first love. After all, the brain says one thing and the heart always overrules. I also didn't think she ever had Kim Hae Kyung's back until his accident. He was always there for her, but I never really felt, she was really there for him until the end. Coward springs to mind and constantly running away, which pissed me off.
Contrary to others, I really enjoyed the relationship and writing of the script between Nam Ah Young (CEO) and our homeless tramp. I love a fierce, wise, protective woman, who knows what she wants and goes out for it, while being direct about what she wants and telling it as it is. She was this. She was the Mother bear with our FL and her team. I found their story intrinsic to the narrative.
Honestly, I don't have many thoughts on Jin Noh Eul's character, as I've seen it a 100 times in K-dramas and it bores me senseless. Nothing different. Everything expected. However, I did like how she found resolve to move on.
So, it's a 7.5/10 for me. Mainly because we didn't get enough screen time showcasing the love and evolving sexual tension between our two leads. It tickled us with it, to be ultimately dropped with the 1-year time loop. What an opportunity lost I was left thinking. Too much time was spent on the issues surrounding our 2nd leads. Would I re-watch? Perhaps. Maybe. Possibly. However, only my best bits.
It's clear to me that Iwanaga absolutely knows how Miyata feels about him. He knows he feels insecure and subservient to his academic genius, success, beauty and from this episode, obvious prowess and experience in bed. I imagine Iwanaga has been licking his chops and salivating at the prospect of taking Miyata's virginity. He's taking narcissistic delight in not alleviating any of Miyata's fears. in fact, quite the opposite. He's feeding and revelling in it, while expecting Miyata to read his mind in terms of how he really feels about him. I think he's deeply in love with Miyata, always has been and wants to consume ever fibre of his being. It makes for refreshing and delightful viewing.
Shiraishi is the epitome of a jealous, bitchy gay. Love how his character has been written with so much sass. I always wait with batted breath for him to drop his bitch bomb. This week it was "Old Man" and "You're not the one welcome here." So bloody funny.
Japanese BL-s are the leaders in delivering believable sex scenes. They are so well choregraphed. The scene depicting the next morning, I thought it would have been hilarious to show Miyata walking with difficulty. I think they missed a trick here! #JustSaying. It did all feel rather cold and awkward. Yet, once again, I feel that's exactly what Iwanaga wanted - to leave Miyata dangling from a rope while yearning for more.
I think we all needed this episode, by way of our leads finally accepting and confessing their true feelings for one another. If the push-and-pull between them had continued into another episode, I don't think I would have found the script realistic, by way of depicting two adults in their 30's liking each other.
Like many, I find myself struggling with the writing of Lee Do Han's character. He comes across as an incredibly selfish and cowardly. Up-to-date, he's simply ran away, so why didn't he just stay in New York and continue his life, why come back?
As enjoyable as I'm finding this drama, there are a lot of unfeasible, unrealistic parts of the script, which leave me scratching my head. Lee Ji Han's obsession with his brother marrying CEO, Yoon Chae Won and taking over the company, when clearly he doesn't want either. Surely, it would have made more sense for Lee Ji Han to take over the company. I find this choice in the narrative, odd! Most distractedly, why does Yoon Chae Won's hair length keep changing from short to long? Why not make the narrative around hiding the fact that Lee Do Han is gay and has chosen to remain in the closet? Now that would have been really interesting to me and extremely refreshing for a K-drama.
Obviously, I appreciate we still have three more episodes to go, so looking forward to understanding more of the back-stories and witnessing our two leads finally being a couple, as they make for excellent on-screen chemistry, while owning their roles.
This drama literally limped to the finish line and I have to admit I'm glad it's over. I was dis-engaged by each episode, aside from the ones with Mizuki. Will I re-watch? Absolutely not. I'll have forgotten it by Sunday. It's a 2/10 for me.
I’m watching Wedding Impossible, so is Flex x Cop worthy of adding to my Watchlist? On looking, it appears to be getting a lot of love.
Ooh! I’ve just looked up on my Netflix Eye Love You, starting on Sunday, will definitely check out. Thanks for the heads-up 😀
I just felt the 2nd leads relationship came out of nowhere, and then married after 2-months of dating. Implausible me thinks.
I’m English and live in the UK. Couple rings don’t happen here either.
Indeed, on to the next.
Excellent questions for the writer / director. But, I can’t imagine them being truly honest.
I absolutely adored Kang Ki Young in Attorney Woo and he did a great job in this one, with what he was given. Would love to see him in a lead role again.
Your War & Peace comment actually made me laugh out loud.
Yes, I have to agree with your thought process here, by way of Iwanaga's sincerity. He strikes me as a man who likes to manipulate others for entertainment and feeds off their desire and yearning for him, even though he has zero interest. He was also the most popular boy in school and not only for his looks but his academic prowess, so I think your Spidey-senses are spot on.