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Love And A Lot Of Drama
Personally, I had a feeling I wasn't going to enjoy this story as much as I wanted to when I noticed how quickly everything was progressing from the very first episode. I'm not particularly fond of BLs where the main couple is already dating or gets together within the first few episodes, because, more often than not, what follows is an endless cycle of drama, misunderstandings, and emotional agony. And unfortunately, this series was exactly that. After the initial episodes, the story became increasingly focused on conflict and back-and-forth developments, which simply wasn't what I was looking for.
I've come to realize that dropping a series I'm not connecting with is something I constantly consider but rarely follow through with, so I've made a promise to myself to stop forcing watches that aren't doing anything for me. I knew going into this that the characters were former lovers who had been separated, but I still wanted to give it a chance and see how the story would unfold.
However, I don't want this review to come across as me claiming the story is bad, because that's not necessarily how I feel. Putting aside my personal preferences and the way I would have liked the narrative to develop, I can recognize that this is a well-made story within its respective genre. I have watched "I Feel You Linger in the Air", which I absolutely loved, and this series reminded me of it in quite a few ways. Maybe it's simply the way that particular story was written and executed that resonated with me more, because despite the similarities, I never quite felt that same spark or emotional investment here.
One of my biggest issues was just how quickly the relationship progressed. I understand that their love had already been established long before the events of the series, and we were essentially witnessing them at the height of their relationship before everything fell apart. However, even after approximately 11 years apart, they seemed to fall back into each other's arms almost immediately. Maybe it's because I'm particularly fond of yearning, emotional restraint, and that slow process of two people gradually finding their way back to one another, but I felt like the story lacked that entirely. There wasn't much hesitation, denial, or internal conflict surrounding their feelings, which was something I personally would have liked to see explored more.
Additionally, considering the historical setting and the social attitudes surrounding queer relationships during that period, I sometimes found the characters' openness and acceptance of their feelings a little too convenient. I understand that the story doesn't necessarily have to revolve around societal prejudice, but there were moments when the characters felt almost too modern in their outlook for the time period. It took away from some of the historical realism for me.
And then there was the drama. A LOT of it. LOL.
Overall, I thought the chemistry was decent, the acting was good, and the cinematography and soundtrack were enjoyable. However, the overall storytelling felt a little too much like a lakorn or even a telenovela at times, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it might just not be my preferred style of storytelling.
I really want to emphasize that this is entirely a matter of personal taste rather than a criticism of the genre itself. I'm sure plenty of people enjoyed this series, and I can absolutely see why others might find it entertaining. If anything, this experience has made me realize that historical BLs with this particular approach to storytelling might not always be my cup of tea. "I Feel You Linger in the Air" remains a major exception, which I rated a 9.5/10, so maybe it's simply a matter of execution and the particular elements a story chooses to emphasize.
Regardless, I'm glad I gave this one a chance. I tried it, realized it wasn't for me, and dropped it without feeling guilty about it. No regrets! If this is the kind of storytelling you enjoy, definitely give it a try. You might have a much better experience than I did!
Overall: 7/10
I've come to realize that dropping a series I'm not connecting with is something I constantly consider but rarely follow through with, so I've made a promise to myself to stop forcing watches that aren't doing anything for me. I knew going into this that the characters were former lovers who had been separated, but I still wanted to give it a chance and see how the story would unfold.
However, I don't want this review to come across as me claiming the story is bad, because that's not necessarily how I feel. Putting aside my personal preferences and the way I would have liked the narrative to develop, I can recognize that this is a well-made story within its respective genre. I have watched "I Feel You Linger in the Air", which I absolutely loved, and this series reminded me of it in quite a few ways. Maybe it's simply the way that particular story was written and executed that resonated with me more, because despite the similarities, I never quite felt that same spark or emotional investment here.
One of my biggest issues was just how quickly the relationship progressed. I understand that their love had already been established long before the events of the series, and we were essentially witnessing them at the height of their relationship before everything fell apart. However, even after approximately 11 years apart, they seemed to fall back into each other's arms almost immediately. Maybe it's because I'm particularly fond of yearning, emotional restraint, and that slow process of two people gradually finding their way back to one another, but I felt like the story lacked that entirely. There wasn't much hesitation, denial, or internal conflict surrounding their feelings, which was something I personally would have liked to see explored more.
Additionally, considering the historical setting and the social attitudes surrounding queer relationships during that period, I sometimes found the characters' openness and acceptance of their feelings a little too convenient. I understand that the story doesn't necessarily have to revolve around societal prejudice, but there were moments when the characters felt almost too modern in their outlook for the time period. It took away from some of the historical realism for me.
And then there was the drama. A LOT of it. LOL.
Overall, I thought the chemistry was decent, the acting was good, and the cinematography and soundtrack were enjoyable. However, the overall storytelling felt a little too much like a lakorn or even a telenovela at times, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it might just not be my preferred style of storytelling.
I really want to emphasize that this is entirely a matter of personal taste rather than a criticism of the genre itself. I'm sure plenty of people enjoyed this series, and I can absolutely see why others might find it entertaining. If anything, this experience has made me realize that historical BLs with this particular approach to storytelling might not always be my cup of tea. "I Feel You Linger in the Air" remains a major exception, which I rated a 9.5/10, so maybe it's simply a matter of execution and the particular elements a story chooses to emphasize.
Regardless, I'm glad I gave this one a chance. I tried it, realized it wasn't for me, and dropped it without feeling guilty about it. No regrets! If this is the kind of storytelling you enjoy, definitely give it a try. You might have a much better experience than I did!
Overall: 7/10
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