Kannadin

On episode 6:

Still very much enjoying the show but WHY are MAME's antagonists always so cartoonishly evil?
My God, this woman can't write nuanced character to save her life. I know we need a bit of drama to put some additional obstacle for the main couple, but the mother from hell is just ridiculous.
Hope we don't see too much of her for the remaining episodes though.

I don't mind her because it's a MAME story, we're gonna get our happy ending whatever happens but I do am annoyed at how one-note she's been written.

Stayed away from Thai BL since "4 minutes" ( or rather started a couple of them but dropped them due to sheer mediocrity... though I've yet to watch the most popular ones that have aired these past 6 months) and 3 episodes in, and I' m currently enjoying myself.

I don't know if it's because I haven't watched a single Thai BL for more than 5 months ( Well I went as far as episode 6 for a show I won't name which I dropped but it just SUCKED from episode 1 I don't even understand why I stuck that long with it) or due to my love for BossNoeul overall - they have the best chemistry and kisses period - but I find this show pretty nice.

Sure, as usual my standards for ratings BLs, particularly Thai ones, will always be lower than what I'm expecting from straight romance ( at least until the standards set by KinnPorsche, 4 minutes, Not Me or My Stand-In become THE standard) but at least there's some form of plot and the pacing is ok.
I was REALLY afraid after I've been burned by the disaster that was "Love Sea" but so far, while "Love Sea" was pretty horrible from the start in my opinion, this one has a good start.

There's some reaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy cringy scenes ( the cloud comparisons for the secondary couple in episode 2 or 3 made me die from embarrassment seriously. WHO SPEAKS LIKE THAT at University?) and pretty cringy lines as well ( including from our main couple) but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the series ( though WTF with these lines? It's neither funny, nor romantic, it's just CRINGE AS HELL).

MDL rating is pretty low though but I usually don't pay attention to those unless the show has finished airing 6 months prior. I wouldn't call it a "masterpiece" but it terms of enjoyment value, I'm currently at a solid 8.5 though again, I've only seen 3 episodes so that may change in the future.

Also my shallow self who loves well-built bodies does enjoy Boss's muscular built. Yes, sue me.

My only regret is that Noeul doesn't have the same look as his profile picture. He looks gorgeous with these dyed hair it's too bad they didn't go with that look for the drama. Well, the black hair suits him and he looks cute but that look on the profile picture is so much better in my opinion.

I don't think it's Viki's fault. All dramas I've watched recently on Viki were available literally only one hour after it had aired.
There must be some legal reasons why they can't make this show available faster because I doubt it's a matter getting translators given the anticipation behind this show.

Youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5zlmPDtwbw

Last trailer looks hilarious. CAN'T.WAIT.

Your comparison just doesn't work. Also they have so much makeup and filters, who knows how they actually look. As mentioned by Sukuragir, his point was about being credible as a warrior who wears an armor. But ok. I won't argue with you further, I'm no fan nor anti fan so I don't see the point. You've given your opinion I've given you mine. Cheers to you too.

Well we'll agree to disagree then. I still maintain he looks underfed.. like most of these actors though and I don't live in a country with an obesity epidemic.
Of course he's got some muscles, he still need to be able to function, but the commenter mentioned that the actor didn't look credible as a soldier, and I have to agree. All of these armors were extremely heavy, no idea how much, I suppose it depends on the country, but I read once it could go up to 30kgs. Even if it wasn't that heavy, they still need to run, mount a horse and move a heavy sword on top of all of that. None of it is possible with a such a small built.

Also if you're referring to the usual calculation weight (kg)/ height (cm)²... This actually doesn't really say nothing. Doesn't take individual morphology into account.
For instance, black people have on average denser muscles and bone density so for the same height, they naturally weight more. A 5ft 2 Asian woman weighting 50kg would be considered a pretty normal weight when a black person at the same height would look too borderline too thin... even if you still would see a pretty fair amount of muscles on their bodies and that's making a generalisation since there's also individual differences. Bodybuilders according to that scale are considered overweight even when they have literally no fat and so on.

Anyway, that's a subject that would be too long and useless to argue but I very much agree with the original commenter on that particular issue.

They weren't huge for sure, but they were ripped. Lin Yun Rui looks sick, It's pretty obvious he doesn't like look like this because it's his natural built but rather because he's underfed. There's a difference between being slim and being a pack of bones. I'm not blaming the actors though. I think Chinese have gotten so used to see actors with anormal weight that when they see someone who is already slim that person looks "fat" in comparison. But honestly all these actors albeit for a few exceptions should eat some more. I find it painful to watch at times.
This being said, this is a costume drama, they have more layers of clothes so it's not as obvious compared to modern dramas but still.

Just saw it on Viki!

SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY I can legally support this series!
Gah! They really waited until the last minute to announce this one but I'm just SO HAPPY. That's the only drama I'm currently really looking forward to.

Read this comment weeks ago. I wouldn't say it's "below-average" drama...BUT I do agree with the "these squabbles, gossip, betrayal, typical soap" part and the "great warrior weighing forty-five kilograms" (this being said Chinese have an obsession with looking slim so not the actors' fault, I'm sure they all want to eat more than three leaves of salad a day, just sayin'. I'm also not a fan of actors and actresses looking like their bodies are about to be blown away by a gust of wind either).

Anyway, not a question of gender. It's just a matter of if you like "soap" or not. I personally HATE THEM, but this drama was recommended to me as a great romance. Well the romance is not romancing, and all the " squabbles, gossip, betrayal" are tiring me out. I've got 4 episodes left to watch at the time I'm typing this...
Took more than 2 months to finish. Dragged my feet because I thought it would get better...

It didn't. Not because the show is bad. It's good in what it does... But I just hate the "makjang" genre which is basically "typical soap".

So. I'm thinking of a rating of 6 so far, because I didn't enjoy this show though I think it's unfair to say the show is bad. There were some good moments here and there, but not enough to make me like it.

Wise choice, I kept telling myself that but I'm a sadomasochist... I "NEED" to have that additional "complete" line on my MDL list. I know it's stupid. Can't help it though.

Rating is ridiculous for only 2 episodes aired but even more ridiculous are reviews written when the series hasn't even completely aired.

I guess the novel is probably better and I would guess with a bittersweet ending. They wanted to give a happy ending in this drama to the cost of consistency. I personally really started to feel the drag from episode 7 but I hate to drop shows when I've passed the half-mark >_< But I should have done like you and listen to my instinct.

MarazulOx ==> Blocked

That person won't see my message but doesn't matter. It's cool some people liked the show, people like me who didn't like it are not bullying other to dislike it, likewise if you enjoyed it, great for you, that doesn't give you the right to bully others. No amount of bullying is gonna save the ratings of this show.
I personally never rate shows I dropped - it's a personal policy - but whether people dropped it or not doesn't matter, the majority disliked it and that's final. Might go up in a couple of months... But honestly I doubt it will pass the 8 ratings mark.

Now if you're reading this comment and you're on the fence about trying this show. I suggest you read some reviews from people who liked it AND people who disliked it and saw ALL episodes before writing said reviews ( too many people writing reviews without watching shows in their entirety these days) before wasting your precious time.

It's "only" 12 episodes, but 12 episodes can feel very long when the story is a drag. But again, that's my personal opinion. Some people enjoyed it and there's also positive reviews so take your pick. Or you could give it a try for 4/6 episodes before making your opinion... But if you dislike the first 4 episodes, well, drop it. It's not gonna get better trust me... And I'm somebody who enjoyed the show up to episode 6.

Well you're harsher than me lol. I personally never was irritated by Kang Hee but you do have a point when you wrote: "she's stubborn to a point of actual stupidity and so weak when it comes down to the moments where she actually needs to be strong"

Though we're on the same line... You could have given 1 for the cinematography though 🤣

Glad for you. If you don't like it, don't read it.

FINISHED IT.

Even wrote a full RANT about it: https://kisskh.at/profile/Kannadin/reviews/429774

Final rating 3.

Now I want to forget this show.

But just in case you're wondering... My problem with this show, is not with the characterization of the FL.

I personally never hated her at the beginning and still don't (episode 11) or rather I don't know if I hate her or not. While I understand why she behaves the way she does... How can I put I... SHE IS SOOOOOOOOOOO FRUSTRATING TO WATCH!

I feel SO SO SO SO drained by all the repetition of the same cycle over and over and over again. At 1 episode from the end seriously, still behaving the same way as episode 1 is just ANNOYING AS F***

I feel as tired as all of these characters.
Current rating personally at the middle of episode 11: 4
Because this drama sucks my energy dry.

Will see if it goes up or lower but I don't think the last episode will make me change my mind. If you frustrate your viewers too much, there's just a point when they no longer care even if you give them a satisfying ending.

LOL. Of course you're happy to finish this:

1. The relief of FINALLY getting rid of one of the most frustrating watch of the year ( probably but the year is long).

2. Seeing your watching list , you seem to belong to the same category as I am: The type who keeps tracks of things and keeps a meticulous up to date list ( which is not necessarily what the majority of members on this website does, most lists are pretty messy).

And so I'm assuming you also get a weird satisfaction for having completed a drama and adding a line on you "watched list". I know I endured lots of shitty dramas because of it just because of the "feeling of completion" no matter how weird it is.

Anyway good for you. Just finished episode 10 this morning and I think I'm going to end the day with Love Scout. Took me 3 days to finish episode 10 due to quote "many breaks out of sheer frustration with the FL".

Can't watch more today so, I'm leaving episode 11 for tomorow morning BUT definitely finishing this show TOMORROW because I can't bear to keep this longer on my list.

The character study was interesting but MY GOD the execution was poor. No beautiful cinematography could save that script.

SOOOOOOOO
Interesting characters. Messy situations. Poor execution. Exhausting watch. I've been feeling tired since episode 6 and some people had already dropped it at that point. The whole new love story with Yeon Soo's mum... is ridiculous. You can already tell her "love interest" is a crook from the start and the mother believing this sh*** just goes to show how naive... or rather STOOPID she is... which means that people cleaning her mess are just doing her a disservice by supporting her STOOPIDITY.
But you know why it's here?

Might be wrong, but I bet Kang Hee is gonna save this woman's ass by episode 16 and all the years of prejudices will be swept under the rug because Yeon Soo's mum is going to forgive Kang Hee for existing I guess. Daddy's gonna die for the same reason. Nothing better than your impending death to get forgiveness for your misgievings.

Also seems like the affair wasn't even an affair. They sure went out together, maybe finding comfort in each others' company but it doesn't mean it went any farther than this. It's again that whole village overall racism towards that Kang Hee's mother that played a role in the rumor. Thank GOD her mother wasn't black, that would have turned WAY uglier.

It's OKAY. I'll finish this one two... But my current rating... based on episode 10 is... a 6. Will it get any lower? Here is the question...

Ah yeah no spoiler tag because I don't care any more. Since this drama is going round in circles, I'm not spoiling anything.

Just like Check in Hanyang, this one had the ingredients for something good but completely failed but at least Check in Hanyang has a plot behind. This one is a melo hence the only thing going for it is character progression, but these characters have been going round the same circle over and over again since episode 1.

Btw is it just me who think they had better chemistry when they weren't together?

THANK GOD, Study Group is currently airing. At least I can cleanse my poor frustrated brain with some well deserved fun.

Ok. Finally wrote that review. I almost gave up doing it but since I had said I'd do it, I did it. Couldn't put even a 10th of what I wanted to say... But I think it's a story interesting to discuss with people IRL because on paper it would probably require a 50 pages essay ^^