I got excited for nothing
I hate the feeling of being disappointed in the outcome of an anticipated show. An example of this is Jazz for Two who did pretty well during their promotions but the quality of the drama itself was below average. K-BL always has this standard of embellishing the visuals from the casts to its cinematography which became their trend and branding. It was satisfying but not good enough to save the whole show.Where did they go wrong? It was from the pairing and acting of the cast. They’re all good-looking but lack the right amount of chemistry needed to sustain the romantic vibes of the story. I felt nothing but emptiness despite seeing two handsome men kissing each other. Weak character establishment can lead to failures in catching the viewers’ attention.
It was a good start but that’s it! The next episodes were mediocre with inconsistent tension and phasing from the main leads. Seeing Shin Yechan back in his BL role, even though it was only a cameo appearance, was the best thing in the show.
Did someone remember the psychiatrist on EP04 talking to Han Taeyi? I am annoyed by his way of sitting like a mafia while communicating with his patient. The little details are also important factors that need to be polished now and then. I was also a bit unsatisfied with Seo Do Yoon’s love interest with his senior Jooha, the victim who fell in love with his bully. Is it considered masochist or is it something that occasionally happens with teenagers’ romantic aspects in life?
Nevertheless, it was obvious that the side couple had better chemistry than the main couple. Kim Jin Kwon’s delivery of his role as the main lead was too frail. His role in ‘To My Star’ was lovely. I believe he can do better especially since he is the front liner of the show. Han Taeyi and Seo Doyoon have a better onscreen appeal with decent chemistry; they are my ghost ship.
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A bright shining star that slowly loses its spark
They almost got me. I was so indulgent during the first few EPs and feel like this drama will climb itself to the top of my fave BL shows but lacks the consistency of offering the same kind of excitement.The flow of the story is enjoyable; lesser cringes and cliche scenarios, no overdramatic plots, loveable characters, and something that can make me attached to the romance. It’s a glorious show since it can make me thirsty for the next EP.
GMMTV’s actor squad in a BL that can pull the show. It’s nice to witness a good-looking cast that can live up to their title as actors. Joong and Drunk are worthy to be the main character for their exceptional on-screen chemistry. The thing I adore the most is their exquisite facial expressions that definitely carried out their roles as Khluen and Daonuea. Two thumbs up for the creative names from them; Dao means Stars and Khluen means Waves.
Maithee and Sean are wholesome. Their flirty moments are always a minute of giggles. The comedic personality of these two surely makes me laugh a lot. The mesmerizing sensor of Sean that always detects Khluen’s affection for Dao, and Maithee’s cute and frisky personality that liven up the mood. Had a great time watching them as an extra-fine addition to the drama.
Phoon, the character who fell to the badly-written ending. Ever since his first appearance on the show, this boy caught my attention for his handsomeness. It’s clear that his role is going to be the usual male second lead that lifted up the drowsing courage of the main couple to admit their love for each other by him being the source of jealousy. Phoon’s direct personality is admirable. He can verbally confess his feelings without hinting any sense of disruption. However, the turn of events in his story is unacceptable. The show ruins his character; a side role that needs to do something awful just to justify the romantic development of the main couple. I hate this kind of twist.
Phaphaeng, the girl who also fell for Daonuea, is such a cutie too. I sincerely felt sorry for her after the rejection she endured from being in unrequited love. This has a different vibe compared to some girl roles in a Thai BL that mostly played as the wall to the love story of the main character. It's a real sadness to experience the deep pain of the heart from one-sided love.
So where did the drama go wrong? Personally, I feel extreme boredness the moment that Khluen and Dao finally reopen their feelings for each other. The enjoyment and thrill aren’t the same in contrast to them being all fluffy and jolly in the past. The scenes after the confession didn’t generate an impact on me. Khluen’s constantly stealing kisses from Daonuea aren’t romantic. I always feel uncomfortable when Khluen shows a fondness for Dao without making a clear conclusion about his relationship with Gia, in which people around them thought that they were dating.
Another drama that has an outstanding start but failed to be consistent. The ending is simply an average ending to me, contrary to my expectations. Despite this, it was still better than the usual university love story that I’ve seen from most BLs. Lastly, Joong singing the OST of the drama is ethereal. His voice is like a flowing river of mixed sweetness and sexiness.
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Arisu versus Borderland, the rematch
Honestly, I think the majority of us can agree that them clearing up all the games from the second season was already a great conclusion to the story. Yet, knowing that a Joker card does exist in all card decks, I am loving the way they utilized this as the final season of the franchise. Do they manage to pull up a good season? Yes, but compared to the prequels, this season was obviously the weakest. Still, we can’t deny the fact that they showcase another banger story; however, with less impact on the viewers.The one thing that I hated the most about this show is how all the survivors from the games lose their memories when they come back from the real world. As a viewer, I wanted them to be reunited with the memories of them all fighting for their lives inside the game, and creating new memories living their second lives in the real world. This is also the reason why the rulers managed to bring back old players to participate in a rematch game of survival under the Joker games.
We only have very limited games this season, but they are more than enough to carry out a dramatic and creative execution of stories. Meeting new players and alliances, Arisu once again led the team with his compassionate and strategic mind with enhancing the capabilities of his teammates. As in the previous seasons, Arisu will never survive without the help of other players.
Here is my ranking of the games from toughest to weakest presentation.
Semi-final game: Kick the Can
With a limit of ten chances to survive, this is a team fight with straightforward instructions that involves speed and power. It became a relay game for everyone. This is the game where they showcase how Arisu and his alliances deeply bonded over the short amount of time they shared from the previous games. At the end, they managed to survive, with three teammates unfortunately died.
Second game: Zombie Hunt
A card game with the twist of zombie, shotgun, and vaccine. Inside the Institute of Virus Research facility, players must survive by either becoming a zombie or healing others back to their humanity. It is a cool twist that needs a clever way of convincing other players. Arisu being a zombie since the beginning was good, but it needed to present more context after the revelation.
First game: Fortune of Luck
This may seem so basic at first, but this tested the players’ intellectual strength. Solving scenarios and equations that involve actual numbers in a limited time was such pressure for everyone. Knowing that a random fire of arrows may strike out depending on the margin of errors was truly terrifying.
Semi-final game: Tokyo Bingo Tower
Endurance, balance, and tough strength until hitting the bingo. It was fine that players needed to climb up the Tokyo tower and hit the button all around the corner, but I feel like the metal balls falling from the sky were so random. We don’t even see them when Usagi is climbing the peak of the tower.
Third game: Runaway Train
This is a game where Arisu and Usagi finally get a glimpse of each other, with such a dramatic train situation. Yet the game itself was tough luck, and you needed to think outside the box or literally think outside the train. Stay, and you will breathe poison gas.
Final game: Possible Futures
Nah. This game was kind of a meh for me. I was expecting a full-blown championship game. But similar to the last game they played before, this is a game of testing one’s desire and temptation in securing his own future. The take from this game is that an alternate reality was too much of an option if you think about the logical reasoning to at least survive the game. Hailing Arisu as the winner was kind of breaking the game's rule that they set for the players, since the rest of the players were finally able to exit from the digital double rooms. Taking place in Shibuya was too amusing.
Side game: Dodging Lasers
Intense yet feels too much for the wheelchair man manages to survive this with the help of Usagi and the people he used as a human shield.
Think. Think. Think. As Arisu always says when he faces an oddly life-and-death situation. The games are the major charm of this series. But the players themselves are the reason why the audience loves the show. Ending the finale season with Arisu interviewing all past players we fell in love with from the prequel seasons was heartwarming. Everyone is living their life to the fullest. Such a nice way to finally conclude the franchise.
My wishful thinking is that Arisu and Usagi celebrated the birth of their first child with the presence of all the people that they met as co-players inside the alternate world. With them having the memories from the past and securing their futures in the real world with the support of everyone.
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Trapped in a short yet captivating story
I swear, if the government of China lifted the BL censorship, they would be a total powerhouse. Almost every BL show I watched from this country, including the bromance films, is so good.The production quality of this mini-series was already that high despite the limited budget. It has so much potential, and I can visualize several plots already from our main characters. Filming it in the four corners of the wall, with one scene from the ocean, was impressive. With Osaka as the shooting location, I think they are somehow free from the Chinese restrictions or some sort.
Chen Xi is so freaking handsome and sexy. His charisma consumed me. Along with the fragile debt collector, Hao Yu, they are such a cute and perfect pair. Chemistry is great. I want more from these two giant cuties and hotties.
This show deserves a huge audience, and I just wish that we could see more from these actors. Upon seeing the replies of the official YouTube channel of this series, I can sense that they can give us at least a bonus EP if this gains deserved popularity. I can already tell that they are getting popular enough since I keep seeing a lot of their clips on social media.
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Heesu’s epitome of slow-burning romance
Cutesy and feel-good BL drama with main characters who are so sheepish about love. I was invested in Hee Su and Seung Won’s story more than anyone from the series. One is oblivious and the other is too shy– my soft boys.As a fan of Lee Sang Jun since the beginning of his acting career, I remember how happy I was when he was announced to star in a BL show. His physique and masculinity are so far from the Kim Seung Won that we know, but he still managed to be the cutest and performed a well-portrayed character.
It was another series of one fall first, but the other one fell harder. Just watching them to be clingy at the end was enough to fulfill all emptiness and drought from the very long pacing of the slow-burning romance between them. The confession scene connecting the dark environment to Heesu’s love for astronomy was lovely.
Despite the lack of an exciting kissing scene, the holding hands was mesmerizing enough. It brings me back to an episode where they were lying after walking too long, then their hands slightly touch one another, and the atmosphere became too tense. That was one of my favorite scenes from the two of them. As well as the overnight camp trip and their little school-to-home interactions, to name a few.
The love I have for the BL couple was too high, to the point that I feel too tired watching other pairs being executed in the show. Choi Ji Yu was okay for me, however, Ju Chan Yeong was a literal meh. Even the stories from Heesu’s three sisters were underdeveloped to the point that I feel like it was a nuisance to be added to the story.
I’m glad that I still watched this show despite the early criticism it received from the fans of the original story. As I also get where their emotions are coming from, as Korean filmmakers love to play with the original story, turning BL into something such as bromance, or for the sake of a clout chase
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A downgrade sequel
Oh My! I was so excited when I heard that Marry My Dead Body was confirmed to have a sequel, but the outcome was a disappointment. I love Greg Hsu and the movie version but this is not enough to save the show from being a flop.For a bunch of police officers, they’re all lame and idiots, which was also mentioned by the killer of the story. I understand that all of these are for comedy purposes but they overused it so much that it became annoying.
I finished watching it all because Greg Hsu participated in this. The only time I got super happy was when he mentioned his deceased ghost husband on EP05 when he apologized for mocking gays during his statement with the psycho teacher. Nevertheless, I think that Marry My Dead Body wins my heart all because of the chemistry between the two main leads and not for the comedic parts, which were unrecognizable from this sequel.
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The cutest and almost perfect 2024 BL -If only they stick with the school-based concept
It was one of the cutest BL series this year that made me feel the butterflies, not until the downfall happened during the last few episodes. Despite being rookies, Sea and Keen played their respective roles very diligently. Kang and Moo are indeed a couple of babies that are too fluffy and loveable bringing another set of sunshine to the audience. I also love their distinct personality; Moo is too direct and confident while Kang is too caring and mature.Almost everyone in the show is likable except for one. Potae is not hateable that much but he is my least favorite character. It would be more acceptable for me if Payos ended up with Jang and not the other one around. Despite this, giving everyone a partner at the end was unnecessary but ain’t that feel too pushover. I am happy to see Shone having his endgame during the last episode.
As I said earlier, I sincerely enjoyed the show during its earlier episodes. The time skip and chasing of dreams was too rushed for me and the sequence of scenes kept getting boring. The plots are too common with no sign of uniqueness from other shows. It does affect my overall rating from a high rate to only landing an average score. Nevertheless, Only Boo felt like another youth romance with a perfect start but with a bad wrap finale.
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Marking my favorite idols
Casting idols to play as former idols is a good choice and having both Xiumin and Hyungwon in one project is a blessing. Been a fan of these two ever since the peak of their careers as KPOP stars and seeing them together makes my heart beep with happiness. They are my bias in their respective groups and I loved the bond they formed even after the filming of this drama. It is funny that their role contrasts with their real-life personality. Shin Tae Ho being grubby and unorganized is very different from Kim Minseok aka EXO Xiumin as he is the most obsessed idol I knew when it comes to becoming neat and clean. As well as with Jo Yi Joon who was tagged as a fashion terrorist yet Hyungwon from Monsta X is the best dresser in the group. Furthermore, the two of them did not disappoint me as they executed their characters very well with the right amount of acting skills and threw their lines with perfect emotions.The rest of the cast did pretty well as well and I like each of their characters’ establishment from the story. Eun Young Min, the butcher catches my attention since he is the only actor I didn’t know from the show and he is extremely cute too. I think the downfall of the show for me is how they give us a plot that is too unlikeable. The villain, who turned out to be the cousin of their deceased friend/member, is too hateable. His acting is believable and I wanted to punch his face whenever he showed up on the screen. Having him the redemption of the mart and his reconnection with his auntie and uncle at the end isn’t just as good as it seems to be.
Thunder Boys is such a cool name and I wish they also show us more of their journey when they are still active idols. Yet, the ten episodes are good enough to deliver everything that the story has to offer. I enjoyed it but not as much as I expected it to be. It is all thanks to the perfect set of casts that the drama seems to be more interesting.
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Okay, he’s yours!
Cliche but still entertaining. The over-used office romance as the setup of the story kinda feels typical nowadays. Yet, the good thing about this show is that despite each character's norms and basic portrayal, the overall impression it has on me is average to beyond average. The romantic scenes are bearable but create an impact during the kissing scenes, in which, the main characters deliver intimate acting that makes you believe their characters’ perseverance in staying and growing together.Leading the show with eye-candy visuals of the cast has always been one of the main reasons for a drama's success. I like both actors and how they executed the personality of their characters. The supporting actors, from the vice-president to the rest of the secretaries, also did a great job.
I don’t have much hate about the show and I like it the way it is. However, one can’t argue that it is not the best BL out there but the important thing is they let the viewers enjoy their project and make us feel light from their short yet cute love story. Although the ending feels rushed, I am already satisfied with how it ends -the two of them becoming one and having been accepted by the people around them.
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Ain’t that lovely at all
The cast but not the characters -the sole reason why I added this drama to my watchlist is because of the actors playing it. I am a big fan of Kim So Hyun’s acting projects and Hwang Min Hyun’s idol career. And yet, the drama itself is a total disappointment. The human lie detector seems a unique concept to talk about but somehow the story got too attached to the main character that it gets draggy towards the end. It has the cliches and norms from the usual Korean Drama and the storyline is boring.Kim So Hyun’s charm of having the second-lead syndrome continued on this show. Yet. they let the police officer be excluded from the romantic vibes and let him focus on doing his job as a police officer. To be honest, I like him more than Kim Do Ha. The police also have a tear-jerking past that is not as scandalous compared to Do Ha but still breaks my heart.
As I said earlier, I love Hwang Min Hyung as an idol but his acting skills in this drama are not that remarkable. He has a handsome and innocent face but fails to deliver a more emotional facial expression as Kim Do Ha. I would like to give him another chance in his future projects but with different characteristics of his role. His performance isn’t what I want from a main character.
Side characters aren’t helping to save the show either. Almost all of them got their toxicity presented in the story and failed to give them character development. I just finished the drama mainly for the reason of completing all sixteen episodes.
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Light BL with seducing lead(s)
This drama slays and serves well with alluring actors to play the lead roles. It boosts the fondness of the viewers to continue supporting the show; all thanks to the sexual tension and eye-candy visuals of the cast. The story alone is obviously too bland and feels too rushed with how they emphasize the romance between the characters. They introduced us to Lee Jun and his three suitors which eventually led to the two of them being matched in the end.I also feel disappointed that the production did not utilize the concept of scents in relation to the main couple’s journey of love. Yes, they implied this in some of the scenes but I feel like it is not enough. Despite the slow progress, I am happy with the two Jun’s chemistry on each other. These two can literally act unlike some of the BL actors out there.
There are some complaints I have with this show but you can tell that Jun & Jun is actually a fun light BL drama with a luscious cast to fill up the gap in the story execution. I fell in love with the manliness of Manager Jun and team leader Hyun Jae. Looking forward to their next project/s in the future and hopefully, another BL-genre!
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Nothing seems new to me
The thought of a fluffy and lovely show washed away because of how cliche the characters are. I am a fan of cute office-based setups but the story doesn’t light a fire in me. It was so plain and uninteresting.I like Moon Ji Yong in his leading BL role in Once Again, however, his character here is annoyingly out of touch. The same with his manager, who keeps stealing kisses whenever the intern is drunk. It wasn’t dreamy and romantic as they tried to emphasize it, instead, it was corny and too naive.
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Soulmates done right with its astounding storytelling performances
Bestowed by the beauty of this extraordinary show: The prosperous production quality, creativity of the story, outstanding acting performances, realness of props and settings, admirably blend of genres, unpredicted plot twists, attachment to the characters, powerful execution of fight scenes, and the effective conveyance of impact to the audience. This, without doubt, is one of the best Chinese series I’ve ever seen.Martial Arts, as the source of power and skills of the individuals in this story, is cleverly written and gracefully fits well into the traditional set-up along with its magical-fantasy clashes of sects and clans. The several factions that they introduced were my favorite thing about this. It began to click my interest the moment they started bringing those different groups of tribes such as the Ten Devils of the Ghost Valley, Five Lakes Alliance, Four Scorpions, Window of Heaven, Four Seasons Manor, Four Sages of Anji, Beggar Gangs, and the list goes on. They also gave them a unique naming with a meaning connected to either their beliefs or their contribution to the world.
The chemistry between the main leads is powerful and entertaining. It’s an inventive pairing as both of them are just like the two sides of the same coin; Zhou Zi Shu, the leader of the prominent Window of Heaven, and Wen Ke Xing the leader of the hated wicked Ghosts. Their personalities also differ, with one being all flirty and vengeful while the other one is a man of virtue who seeks only the goodness in humanity.
Aside from them, the rest of the cast also left memorable roles that feel like they're in one big family. Chen Ling is the couple’s son and acts as the bridge of reconciliation whenever the two need one. Ah Xiang is the daughter who is showering with a ray of sunshine around her. Wei Ning is their son-in-law who is very loyal to the one he loves. Ye Bai Yi is WKX’s mother-in-law who behaves like he hates the existence of him but in fact, he loves teasing him. Liu Qian Qiao and Xi Sang Gui are the trusted and ever-supportive aunts. And the rest of the cast are either their ally or enemy. The only antagonist from the show that I feel more sympathy for than hatred, is the Scorpion King who only wanted to feel genuinely appreciated by his foster father. It’s also a good bonus that he is cute despite having a dark characterization.
Personally, the Longyuan Cabinet Journey is my top pick of episodes from the show. The number of traps, mysteries, and the uses of mechanical arts was stunning. It somehow reminds me of Percy Jackson’s Battle in the Labyrinth, in which they found out that the minor-god Pan, is already dying while secluded inside. The same scenario was with the head of the Longyuan Cabinet who was brutally injured by his son. This is also the time when I hold a firm grip on the whole plot and past of the stories. There’s nothing more satisfying when you finally understand what’s going on. The feeling is amazing to be driven by the creative flow of the story.
The more I’ve watched the Word of Honor, the more I can feel the similarities it has to The Untamed, which I considered to be the best traditional-fantasy storytelling. Both shares the same genre, a bromance in drama (yet it doesn’t feel like a bromance at all since it is pretty obvious that they’re showcasing more than that) but a BL in the novel, a pilot episode that left you in awe of confusion, has an antagonist that can pass as the greatest pretender (Nie Huisang ranks first then followed by Zhao Jing), both most love hetero-couple died, and the two dramas explicit a rarity in providing top-class stories.
For the ending of Word of Honor, one should watch the special/epilogue episode to fully satisfy themselves by getting a happy ending since the last episode (36) looks like one of them or worst both of them died in the end. Nevertheless, it is pretty clear that they once again set the standard high for the next series you’ve ever planned to watch. I loved the overall impression that this series has given me. They’re indeed soulmates who are destined to survive all the odds in life. In addition to the story, it will never be as good as it is without the pleasing soundtracks that deliver clarity of emotion from each character.
Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing acquired their happiness in the end and I’m grateful for it. Soulmates increase one’s hope to live longer and to be able to feel the warmth of affection from the other person for a long period. May we all hopefully lead to this kind of gratifying part of life in the future. Believe in the power of bliss that honors our whole existence in life, along with that one word, love.
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This review may contain spoilers
A reality
A calm yet tremendously heartbreaking movie that talks about escaping the world full of homophobic individuals to finding a certain place that someone will welcome you despite your gender identity. A small family that showcases that love and acceptance can make one person's life happy. Very realistic approach to tackle a life of a gay man who suffers from the harsh feedbacks of those people who's only good on commenting about other people's life. This drama is an impact; from the tragedy of the nanny, the breakup of the couple, to Seol being lost, and the ongoing life of the rest of them from the farm are such a ride.Was this review helpful to you?
A DECADE WITH EXO
Happy 10’th Anniversary to my home, EXO!A decade full of love and comfort. Thank you for being my ultimate source of joy. You’ll always be there for me, keep inspiring me, motivating me, encouraging me to keep pursuing my dreams, and most importantly you’ll always be the group who sends me the warmth and affection that’s been a big part of my life now.
EXO’s Travel the World in a Ladder in Namhae is a precious gift for us. A show that brings too much joy in our hearts despite the incomplete number of members presented. It just shows that EXO is EXO no matter who the members presented. They’re always the cutest, happiest, and funniest idols when they are one-sitted in the same room. The whole 12 episodes are short yet enough to satisfy us.
A roller coaster of emotions for the past 10 years. I knew EXO since their debut but became an avid fan way back in 2017. It was that day when I heard Growl once again after years of its release. I felt nostalgic until I found myself indulging not only in the group’s song but also the members themselves. It’s been five years now since joining the fandom, the family called EXO-L. I met several people both online and in real life, all because EXO created the bridge for us to become friends.
KPOP is not a phase when it comes to EXO -the group that introduced me to KPOP and the only reason why I am still into KPOP. To Xiumin, Suho, D.O, Kai, and Sehun, thank you for the efforts to give us content every now and then. To Chen, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol, we only wish for your safe and healthy returns. To Lay, who bid farewell only to SM but not to EXO, I am so happy that you’re finally free from the company. You’ll always be in our hearts and no one knows more than EXO-Ls how much you treasure EXO in your life. JIU is a precious song to us, the song dedicated to Lay’s one big happy family, the solid brotherhood formed by EXO. Forever grateful for these nine incredible people.
Looking forward to more group and solo activities from them. So proud to spend my youth stanning EXO. Congratulations, we made it so far and more years to come. WE ARE ONE! EXO SARANGHAJA!
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