LightHouse74

Well, at least it was interesting.

Overall, this was just O.K. It was interesting, but didn’t have the same horror magic as the first movie. The first one had the perfect mix of horror, comedy, and drama with an underline meaning. This sequel did not have this and added a weird romance element too it. This also had a slow start and could have done a better job with recapping all the information from the first movie. Although it got better 30 minutes into the movie, there were many aspects that didn't make sense (like the island). However, I do appreciate it was not a complete copy of the first script and they tried to change some aspects. I just wish the script was a little more fleshed out because I felt like I was not getting the complete picture. Another problem is we did not get enough backstory of the characters to make you care about them. I understand time is limited and I’m not asking for complex backstories, but some of the characters were just there. The main positive aspect was the excellent cast. They did a great job with their characters with what they had to work with. Other positive aspects include the amazing cinematography, special effects, CGI, and FX make-up.

Random Note:

Warning: There are gory scenes which were not that bad, but I do have a high tolerance level of gore.

Only watch this if you really want to know the meaning behind the very last scene in the first movie. If you are cool with movies with an ambiguous ending, you can skip this sequel.

The newspaper picture of the little girl used in the very last scene of the first movie is different from the one used in the beginning of this movie.

There is one more scene at the end of the credits with a a hint of another sequel which I’m going to pass on.

Read More

How was your summer?

Warning: Do not watch this if you are offended by the suggested use of drugs. Opps, I mean the use of “herbs”.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this was an entertaining series. It had a great story concept, but had a few missed steps with the execution. The script did a great job at grabbing my attention. It also did a nice job setting up the storyline and characters which made me want to know more. I especially loved the storyline involving Pheng and Wut. Unfortunately, the script was lacking in some areas and had a few plot holes. Although I liked the unexpected story components, there was a missed opportunity with one of them. The script also went a little off track at the end. For me, episode 9 was mostly wasted screen time because of a cliché plot twist that was not fully resolved. However, it did head back into the right direction with the last episode with one exception. The entire cast did an incredible job with their characters. This had a nice sound track, but had some odd background music choices.

Random Note:

I wish we received a tad more scenes and information about Wava/Davin’s world. We get a few random scenes that gave us very little information. I also felt like this aspect of the storyline was forgotten at times.


******Potential Spoiler Alert******

I was expecting the usual prince with amnesia storyline, but then we get the overthrowing the royal family storyline. I was pleasantly surprised at first, but became frustrated because it was not utilized very well. This could have added more interest to the series.

I really loved the storylines involving Pheng and Wut, especially because they were an established couple. I liked how it not only addressed the issue of dating someone that’s not out yet, but issues that many LGBTQ+ individuals face when they are out.

Am I the only one that wondered why Lava and Wave did not question the resort staff that Wave stayed at?

The cliché reverse amnesia in episode 9 was such a waste of screentime. This was a perfect time to incorporate more about the royal family. This was also not much of a plot twist.

Of course we had to get a time jump, at least it was only a year and we get a happy ending.

Read More

Family and Personal Growth

Overall, this was a great series. The script was heartwarming and inspirational, but had some weak aspects to it. There were a few underdeveloped sections to the story, but this was only a minor thing for me. The main annoying sections for me involved the character Kaede because she was very unlikable in the first half of the series. However, this character changes by the 7th episode. I was tempted to drop this due to this character but continued because I was very invested in the mystery and family dynamics. This had a great cast which did an incredible job with their characters. This also had beautiful cinematograph and excellent editing.

Random Note:

The brief opening credits were awesome.

The main underline theme is the importance of communication. However, there were so many other little lessons incorporated into this series.

The established family bond between the two brothers and the bonding development between the other characters was great.

Read More

Just because we can do it, should we?

I placed potential spoilers at the end of this review.

This series asks the biggest ethical question (not just in Thailand, but worldwide) about the drastic advancements involving science and technology. The great part about this series is it more like a compilation of sci-fi movies. You can skip one section with no worries because none of them are linked together. Overall, some sections were better than others.

Story Section Breakdown (Don’t worry, no spoilers):

Black Sheep
This was very interesting section. This one had serious tone to it. I did not see the story twist coming, but realized they did give subtle hint throughout the script. There is a small reference about a vaccine in one scene which may be foreshadowing the last section (Octopus Girl). The script did have a few weak elements, but was still good. The cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I would rewatch this section.

Paradistopia
This was a bizarre, but interesting section. This started off with a comical tone that drastically turned very dark. I apricate the different visual approach of the future in this section. They used what sci-fi movies of the 60’s/70’s depicted what the future would look like in the sense of technology, décor, and fashion. The cast was incredible, but the cinematography style was a little off at times. I think they were trying for a mock documentary, but did not do it successfully. The one problem is it switched to the mock documentary style at very random times. However, the special effects and make-up was awesome. I don’t see myself rewatch this section.

Buddha Data
This was also a very interesting section. This one had a more serious tone. The script was well written. As with the other sections, the cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I would rewatch this section.

Octopus Girl
This section was, well something. I guess they wanted to end this series with a comical note. This could have work, but the script did not have the right mixture of comedy and drama elements. At least the cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I don’t see myself rewatch this section.


******Spoiler Alert******

Just my thoughts about the endings:
Black Sheep – The ending was very bittersweet, but kind of happy.
Paradistopia – Like the rest of this section, the ending was very bizarre.
Buddha Data – The ending was too ambiguous for me.
Octopus Girl – This section made a complete 180 in its tone. Most of it had a comic undertone, but the ending went very dark out of nowhere.

Read More

Stick with the series version!

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Again, it was bizarre that I had to wait over 1 ½ years to do a comparison review.

The series: This had a cute storyline. I like that the script was simple and not overly dramatical, but it may be too simple for some people. However, the script had some weak elements. On the positive, the cast did a great job with their characters. I enjoyed watching the development of the friendship group throughout the series. I also liked the additional scene that was added at the end of most of the episodes. It had inconsistent sound quality/volume throughout the series.

The movie: The main problem with the movie version is the editing. I know they probably had to cut scenes for timing purposes, but many of the cut scenes somehow made this cute, simple storyline bland. It didn’t affect the overall relationship development, but slightly effected the story progression. The cut scenes also added more context. By cutting one scene in the beginning, one of the scenes in the end made no sense. They did a decent job editing it into a cohesive movie. There were only a few times the editing was choppy. As to be expected, they cut out the opening credits and additional scenes from the end of the episodes.

Random Notes:

I strongly recommend watching the series version (on Viki if you can).

The movie’s English subtitles on GagaOOLala were not bad, but I prefer the ones with the series on Viki (I did not take points off for this).

(Added on 6/14/2025): The movie version is available on Viki in the U.S. The English subtitles for the movie are definitely better on Viki than on GagaOOLala.

******Spoiler Alert******

The kissing scenes were actually not that bad for a change. Yes, the actors still looked awkward but they at least showed some emotions.

Read More

Beautifully Decorated Cake That’s Missing Flavor

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

Overall, this series was ok. Although it’s not a new concept, I still appreciated the attempted. It failed with the executed and something got lost in the mix. One problem is the pacing was a little off. There were some sections that felt rushed and disjointed. This caused some scenes to make no sense. Then we get sections with long useless scenes that are there as filler screentime. One example is there were too many flashback scenes in episode 5 and 6. There were also some weird scene placements which added to the story disconnect. Another problem is the script has many weak elements. Once again, there were one too many story elements/conflict scenarios for a 6-episode series. All the storylines were messily incorporated and received half-baked out-comes. Considering most of the cast is still relatively new, the acting was ok. I normally don’t single out actors, but Ohm unfortunately didn’t do a great job with his character. He didn’t show that much range of emotions with Shin. The cinematography and locations were stunning. However, it had some poor background music choices which did not match the mood of the scene.

Random Notes:

The two opening credits in episode 2-6 was weird.

Product placement was ok with one exception. In the middle of the 4th episode and during a very important scene, it turned into a Toyota commercial. This killed the overall significance of a scene between Shin and Peach.

If you are new to my reviews, I’m fascinated by seeing familiar location used in different series. The location for Peace’s house was also used in the series “Shadow” (Dan’s childhood home), “Sing Again” (Piano’s childhood home), “Mama Gogo” (Annie’s house), and in “21 Days Theory” (Q’s house). Yes, I acknowledge I'm a nerd for this.

******Potential Spoiler Alert******

On a positive note, this had a happy ending. However, it was rushed with everyone forgiving each other.

I wish they had just focused on one- or two-story elements that showed the character backgrounds, relationship development between the main leads, and friendship developments between all of the characters.

Read More

Edited on 7/18/2025: This is an updated version of my original review to match my current writing style for BL series that were edited into a movie version.

I placed any potential spoilers at the end of this review.

The series/movie: This series was ok. It was not as good as the first season, but I still enjoyed it. The general story idea was good, but not the execution. The script had many weak aspects and was confusing at times. There were times the script was on point, but then felt rushed in other areas. However, the acting was very good considering what they had to work with. My main problem is they used a completely different cinematography style from the first series. Especially during the scenes involving the color rush. I knew it was going to be hard to compete with the first season, but it felt like they didn’t even want to try. However, this was probably due to production cost. There were also some audio/sound problems with both versions.

The movie: They did an incredible job editing this into one cohesive movie. There were some nice added scenes in the movie and only one scene was cut short. There is one scene that involves Choi Yeon U and Kim Se Hyun talking which uses completely different camera shot size/angle between the series and movie. The series has this scene played out in a long/wide shot while the movie has it played out with a close-up of the two talking. There were also some scenes that’s missing background music.

Random Note:

The series has a hint of a possible 3rd season at the end of episode 8 after the closing credits. Interestingly, the movie didn’t include this scene.

The synopsis of the series/movie on Viki and MDL is not accurate. It’s a butchered mix of information from the first and second season with a splash of completely wrong information.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******

They did their best explaining why the character Go Yoo Han was missing.

The last scene in the series hints reintroducing the character Go Yoo Han possibly being played by a different actor.

Read More

Short and Sweet

I placed any potential spoilers at the end of this review.

I’m usually not a fan of the step-brother storyline, but this one was a feel good and sweet one. The cinematography was also very beautiful. I also thought the acting was very good. My only criticism is the beginning is a little weird for me. See the spoiler alert at the bottom if you want more info.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******
For some reason they had the two main characters act like they were strangers when they supposedly were raised together. However, this is only a miner detail. The series does get better after the first two episodes.

Read More

Pleasantly Surprised

This has a unique story concept. It has a strong beginning, but then the script gets a little off track. Episode 1 does a great job providing you the backstory of Kuea and Lian’s family, and how their friendship started. The storylines become a little hazy by episode 4. However, the last episode does end with a very uplifting message. The cast was great and did a great job with what they were given (the script has some problem areas with character development). The songs were great, but there were times they used music that did not fit the scene’s mood.

Random Notes:
I was pleasantly surprised with this series. I was a little hesitant before watching this because I did not like Mandee’s last series (Why R U).

Lian’s house was used in the Baker Boys Series. Once again, I get a kick when I see a familiar location used in different series.

Read More

Comfort and Love

Warning: If you are looking for a fasted paced and overly dramatical BL, this series is NOT for you.

Overall, this was a great series. The script was good, but had some minor weak aspects. It’s always nice to watch a mature BL series that involved adults that act like adults, well most of the time. The first episode was creative and did a great job with giving us Neil’s backstory and setting up the storylines. The script also did a good job interweaving both throughout the series. I also felt the relationship development between both BL couples had just the right pacing for the number of episodes it had. One of the minor problems is the script didn’t fully develop various aspects of the story. The biggest one was Sea’s backstory. We receive bits and pieces but not a complete picture. All of the actors did a great job portraying their characters. Just a heads up that the character Orca is Thai which introduced a language barrier component to the series. However, the portrayal of the language differences between Orca and the other characters was more realistic than the last series I tried to watch. It also helped that the actor, Jame Kasama, did a great job interacting with the other actors. The cinematography was great with the exception of the time jumps. Most of them were ok, but there were a few that just happened with no visual cues. The music/songs they used were very good which helped make this series, about the music industry, more believable.

Random Notes:

Don’t stop watching after the picture montage in episode 3 and 12 because there is an additional scene afterwards.

The accidental kiss in episode 1 was ridiculous and unnecessary. The ending was good, but it had a lot of flashbacks.

I’m slightly confused on the age difference between Neil and Sea.

It seems that GagaOOLala received some funding from the Thai production company Star Hunter which explains why three of their actors were in the series (1 had a supporting role and 2 had cameos).

Read More

One Amazing Agent

This was a very fascinating series involving a paranormal theme. The script was well-crafted with the perfect blend of comedy and drama. The beginning of the series did a great job introducing the world and characters. It also did a great job grabbing my attention and making me care about all of the characters. The entire cast did a wonderful job with their roles. This also had amazing cinematography, special effects, and CGI.

Random Note:

There is a bittersweet ending with one of the characters

They were successful creating an ending that’s both a perfect ending to a series and keeping the door open for another season.

Read More

You are going to need tissues by the end.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This was an outstanding series. The script was incredible and very well written. It really knew how to grab your attention from the very beginning. It also did a great job setting up the story, introducing all of the characters, and integrating the comedy and drama sections together. There is not much else to say without giving spoilers. My only minor critique was there is a slight problem with the editing/directing choice. Again, it’s only minor and didn’t really affect the incredible storyline. The entire cast was incredible. I really enjoyed how each one portrayed their character. This also had beautiful cinemaphotography to help convey the different moods of the series.

Random Notes:

I don’t say this often, but this a must watch. Especially for anyone that had to go through similar situation of taking care of a parent.

Wallace Huo should be listed as a support role, not guest role, on MDL. His character was seen throughout most of series. Hopefully someone will fix this.

I’m 100% positive that Aaron Lai had a guest role in episode 3. It was cool that his character was also an actor.

I’m not 100% positive, but I think Huang Chun Chih had a cameo appearance in episode 6 (the bike guy in front of the hospital)

******Potential Spoiler Alert******

The similarities of Le-le’s parent’s relationship story and her own relationship story was genius.

As for my minor editing/directing critique, there were no indications on how long Le-le and Chang Kai dated and how long they were married. Again, this was only a minor issue for me.

Read More

Don’t watch with a BL mindset.

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This has more of a coming of age/slice of life vibe involving an ensemble cast. Yes, there is a BL storyline but it’s not the main focus throughout the series. People will probably be very disappointed if they go into this with a fixed BL mindset. That being said, this was not a big deal for me. Overall, this was a cute and enjoyable series. The script was good, but not perfect. Although it was cool to see the different aspects of having a crush, the script introduced many various story elements without fully committing to them. They introduce a lot of random things in which was ignored and conveniently reference it to only forget about it again. It was a little annoying but it’s only a minor problem considering this is a 10-episode series. However, there was one big aspect that became my main source of frustration. Especially during the first section of the series (see spoiler below if you want more info). This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I really liked all of the characters. The one good aspect of the script was it made me care about them. This was also thanks to the cast. The actors did a great job with their characters. This also had great music and cinematography.

Random Notes:

This was an enjoyable and easy watch. If you’re looking to watch a series that’s not overly dramatic and comforting, this one is for you.

As I note in my profile, I do not read source material for series. This is probably why I enjoyed this series.




******Potential Spoiler Alert******

The main source of frustration for me was watching how clueless Hui Su was with Seung Won’s very obvious hints about his feelings towards him. Either the script or the director could have made this aspect more subtle to make it more believable that Hui Su did not know it in the last episode.

I understand that this is an adaption of a webtoon with the same name, but they should have given this series a different name. The main common theme with each episode involved astronomy and really had nothing to do with Hui Su giving advice at school.

Read More

A nicely written puzzle

I placed spoilers at the end of this review.

This was a fascinating mystery/crime series. It did a great job grabbing my attention within minutes of the first episode. Overall, it had a great script that successfully connects multiple elements and characters together. All of the characters were well written and had interesting backstories. However, it had a few weak elements. The main one is the ending was a little predictable. All of the actors were outstanding and did such an incredible job with their characters. The cinematography was outstanding and visually stunning.

Random Notes:
I loved that the opening credit was different for each episode and gave a little glimpse of that episode.



******Potential Spoiler Alert******

There is minor romance element between Dalah and Sarath, but it’s not overpowering.

The surprise twist at the end was not much of a surprise for me.

I was not a fan of the hinted love relationship between Risa and Kris.

Read More