The greatest Korean BL is an average straight drama
İ had a theory when i started watching BL specifically korean, the reason why most of them are not that great is they had a huge label on them."The Queer label" i like to call it...
They have to be an art house or a personal experience instead of just being an entertaining show, they lack normal stories and natural acting, also i at some point started believing that its a quick pass to fame for some newcomers, or just to fill up some gaps in their resume because most KBL chose the least known actors or some idols from not very famous bands to act in them.
And this one here broke all stereotypes, it's a story-based show instead of relying on fan service they actually invested in the story, which was quite average story come to think of it. A detective, a prosecutor, and a crime. They connect the dots, solve the whodunnit mystery, expose the bad guy and happily ever after, actors were actually good, looks like they actually had a proper chemistry test before getting the roles.
A very very mediocre drama, the evidence started showing while watching, the person you kinda suspect ends up being the bad guy, obviously, and the mystery is easily solved with less drama.
So why am i sitting here trying to understand why everyone are so amazed and impressed by it, because it's the first KBL to have the common sense to be an straight drama, just remove one of the leads and put a female and voilà, you cracked the code! Congratulations!!
Was it a good show? Yeah it's entertaining and enjoyable.
Am i impressed by it like everyone else? Not really, it's very average, i usually judge the show as a whole, and this was an average one, a well made average drama ~
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The chronicles of butts
It's a known fact that BOC has ass fetish, so you know you are going to see some bare butts when you watch this.The reason I didn't want to watch this is I didn't like the story, it's not really my cup of tea but I saw too many edits for the second couple which made me intrigued.
And as I expected, I didn't like it very much, and I ended up with too many things that bothered me
1-where is the comedy? This is supposed to be a romcom as far as I know, yet it's all about politics and power games, if it wasn't for the second couple i wouldn't even dare to call it romantic, well I mean it has romance but not satisfying one, the whole comedy part is put on Mile's shoulder and my man isn't even that funny, I dare say his character was annoying to some extent.
2- what is the role of tanwa? Tanwa is supposed to be the main lead character next to Trin, right?? Nope!! That's not the case, all he did was live a happy go lucky life, seduce a - supposedly - straight man, and piss his dad off. Aside from that he can be completely removed from the cast and the series would still be the same, he contributed nothing to the story aside from being the love interest of Trin and he can easily be replaced by Victor.
3- why isn't Victor one of the main characters? That guy was fantastic, he nailed his role which was big btw, he even appeared more than Tanwa - until you know what happens - he was a better person whose conversation is up to bar with Trin's, and there is a fairly good reason for them to be together, also he and Trin both try to make the other person a better version of himself.
4- the way the solved the whole lert situation! A video? Really?? This has to be the most unreasonable and unrealistic way to prove someone is innocent, better make the bad guy surrender and admit to all his crimes, I wasn't really invested in the riot part but I was waiting to see how will they solve everything and tie all the loose ends.
5-happy end for the wrong couple!! I wish they did the second couple the same courtesy they did the first, alas they didn't and they opted to only keep things fairytale-like for the first but very very realistic to the second, I was fine with the end I wasn't disappointed or anything, this was late 60s so what else can I expect? Happy end for homosexual couple? Don't be ridiculous!
I believe that sums everything up, on the bright side, you can enjoy what BOC can do most, great cinematography, and nice direction, story and character, probably not so much.
I believe after 4mins and this, I won't have any high expectations from BOC anymore...
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Crappy scenario but great at everything else
It was fantastic, a really well done show. Everything was spectacular but if it wasn't for the weird scenario and some questionable behaviour from some characters I believe it would be a 10/10 show.I have a lot that I hated and also liked about it so I have many mixed feelings after I've finished it.
Cast:
The two leads were magnificent, they really did justice to their roles, they were amazing and their chemistry is top notch, I love Peterpan since sunshine night, and Pond since 180 degrees.
Did I ever pictured the two together? Never, which is why this was a pleasant surprise. They really have great harmony.
Characters however, were slightly off, Armin is very self centered, after coming back he acts like a child talking about the future like a crazy guy not caring about how people will think of him and for someone who is chasing fame it's kinda silly, I didn't get his contradictory behaviour sometimes ( won't say much cause spoilers) but he kept taking every support from TD without even caring enough to know who is he and why why why he is doing all that!?
And Tada, I didn't understand at first why he did all that but after a while I kind accept the reason for everything he kept on doing but seriously, I couldn't understand one thing, how was he able to completely accept Armins shenanigans about his death and the future calmly, the first thing I'd think of would literally be " oh sh!t, I fell in love with a crazy man"
Story:
Here ... We really need to talk!!
Story by itself is great, nothing original and done a billion times before, still solid! And enjoyable if done well, everyone loves a great revenge story, right?
That didn't happen here, the way the scenario goes is just weird, First few episodes were all about Armin coming back and wondering why he keep meeting people he met in his first life .... Wow! I wonder why? Because it's your freaking life, bro!!! You are supposed to cross path with them, why do you think that because you repeating your life that it would be different? And if so why do you keep talking like "in the future this will happen, and that will happen" like an expert yet be so freaking surprised to meet your ex again!!!
Also, he was so stupid regarding Yada, how couldn't he put two and two together and get that he is TD.
It's not the proof is in the pudding moment, you just have to use 2 brain cells to get that.
There are a few other things that I also didn't like, like how the bad people are only threatening everyone without actually doing anything, maybe Ren did something about Thiwthit at the end, that's just messy writing.
Now I myself am confused, did I like this drama or not, I believe I did, it's just like, eating your favourite dessert after being in the fridge for a while, you know there is something wrong with the taste but still enjoying it 😂😂 weird comparison I know but you get my point.
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A watered down version of the manhwa
I believe we all kinda expected that, it's not as smutty nor explicit as the manhwa (for a good reason) it only focuses on the dramatic side of the story and completely ignores the other parts, specially the parts the manhwa is famous for xDSomehow it's not worse nor better, I believe it's more adaptable like that, i don't like that they dropped big chunks of the manhwa and even changed some parts but it's a short vertical drama so that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
I think acting is ok-ish, they still relies on camera angles and lips touching - in a smutty manhwa adaptation, mind you - which got me scratching my head while watching, i know it's tuned down but at least have some decent kisses lol.
Judging as a drama only, I wouldn't really recommend it, I've seen much better vertically filmed shows and this simply doesn't have the spark! But judging as an adaptation, if you like the OG and want to see a glimpse of the story as a live action, go for it, it's more "family friendly" and less traumatizing show!!
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Surprisingly not boring
That was cute and lovely drama, I like it when MLs, who usually look tough or act a lot as cold CEOs/rough characters, act in a more softer or funny stories, like this one, I sometimes find these slow shows boring but this one wasn't because of the two leads and their BFFs.The FL here is super cute and in some scenes funny in an adorable way, and the ML was too innocent and pure which is a first for me cause I've never seen WKM in such a role and I really like them together.
The story is very simple love story, I don't think it's slow burn per se, they fell in love pretty quickly but act upon it later maybe, that's why ~
What I didn't like the most is way the FL's ex and his GF appeared everywhere and all the time, as if they have no life, they just follow the leads around, and I don't care about his delusional behaviour, that's how he is supposed to play, but the way he was everywhere is slightly too much ~
Aside from that I don't have any complaints, it's a very nice vertical~
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Dumb and dumber in love
The way they kept their identity secret almost all the way to the end is so stupid.İ was facepalm-ing and rolling my eyes the whole time watching, however it was fun.
İ wanted something light with easy on the eye cast and short to waste a couple of hours and this show gave me exactly what i wanted so i got nothing to complain about.
The story has tons of flaws and some silly moments but it was nice.
Be as it may, there is nothing to write home about so if you like the leads, give it a shot ~~
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İt didn't make any sense
İ came across it through recommendations, i only knew the ML (vaguely, mind you) so i just went for it.İt's pretty short, less than 2hrs which means there is no boring and unnecessary scenes, However, i didn't understand what was going on.
Characters were very vague, and i didn't know what was the FL trying to do most of the time, i didn't get the ML character either, what is his relationship with his dad and grandparents and what is the company thing that the FL kept convincing the ML to do!!
What is going on? i was so lost, also the ML was weird, like is he a toxic CEO type of character or just a sick weirdo.
İ don't think the execution was good, i only enjoyed some scenes despite not understanding them and i couldn't see any chemistry between the leads sadly, also i don't understand if the FL actually like the ML or not.
The end was abrupt too, not sure if the version i watched was cut or if it ended like that but there is no hint whatsoever about the FL outside the novel or of she is going to stay in it or what ~
Definitely not recommended, i can't see anything that would attract anyone to watch this, there are a billion other show that are better than this ~
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Messed up characters in a messed up story
I've mixed feelings about this show, but I have to admit the most perplexed shows I've ever seen were Taiwanese ones, something about their storytelling makes me feel intrigued and appalled at the same time.Story: a total mess up, you can't predict anything because it doesn't end the way it started, and weirdly enough the couple who you think will end up with are just on good terms, and the other couple with the most complicated start, ends up with an even more messed up end, you don't know what is going on and you can't just focus on characters with this much happening, for example: the Second Main FL, she started as this poor unlucky woman, and ends up the second hand for the "president"... like, you can't simply expect the story to turn that way, it's explained in the show but I mean you don't see anything coming.
Characters: I don't really agree that all characters are messed up, the only character I don't understand is the ML (the psychiatrist) I mean, how did he even become one? A lot of questions surrounding him in a way that makes it harder to come up with a personality for him!! What is he like? You don't really know, you can't expect his actions because you can't even predict them, he acts in a way that is completely random and messed up.
The main FL, is a normal woman with a traumatic past, the second FL is just too unlucky, the second ML is just a dreamer with mommy issues.
All can be understood despite the weird things happening to them throughout the story.
Music is insignificant and direction was ok, the only thing that bothered me was the unexpected everything, and I end up not knowing if I actually liked it or not, I'm just glad managed to finish it and I don't even feel good after finishing it, hence a barely acceptable rating ~~
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A bit redundant for a back story
The story was interesting but by no mean an original idea, I kinda expected everything right from the beginning, it's like an open book, the thing that made me want to watch it is 1- I wanted to see the revenge part, 2- I didn't know where Chou Pin Yu fit in this whole story.First, there was no revenge here, I believe they kept that for the second part, which is what I have to watch now to understand everything, and secondly, I still don't know how PinYu knows what she knows?? And what's her relation to all that!! Also the new character right at the end raises some questions which is smart in a way to make the audience watch the second season.
That's probably why I couldn't understand the high rating here, yeah sure the cinematography and the acting is phenomenal, but story-wise this lacks a lot, it's not even satisfying, it's literally the annoying and disturbing part of the story, now I don't care about romance or whatever, I just need to see blood being shed and people getting tortured then killed, and I'm going to enjoy every single second of it!!! And if I don't see that in the second part, I'll be very, very disappointed!
I hope the second part won't be as redundant and stretched as this one ~~
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Absolutely not
Am I the only one who feels repulsed by the idea, I don't think it's romantic at all, utterly disgusting if I may say.The whole switching souls mystery was too obvious me, I expect it and I kinda expected the end, the only thing that surprises me is the mother, and her character is my favourite in this.
The FL is the real victim here, I don't feel sorry towards the ML at all, he choose that life, a life full of deceive and lies, and he wasn't fair to the FL, he built this fantasy world for her and she choose to believe the lie and live in the dream, because she isn't strong enough to accept the truth.
For me I don't think it's a sad end, a very very terrible one nonetheless, because I can see a future full of complications and problems ~~
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That was sweet
I fully understand why they keep pairing Wang ge with Hao Nan because they fit together like lock and key, I saw him in other dramas with other FL and I -sadly- only was able to focus on either his heavy makeup or just the plot holes.I love their interactions even if this, by all means, is not the most romantic story, the beginning is quite different from the end and that's kinda odd but it's a vertical drama so it's ok I think ~~
I ended it feeling that I've probably missed something, like what was the whole story is about anyway?
But, the good chemistry and some fun scenes covered up those weird storylines.
I think I have a new favourite pair now and I wish they would pick a better story, more romantic with proper storyline next time ~~
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This is the cutest story ever! The two leads were adorable, the FL was super cute!!
It's a simple highschool crush story with two very lovely leads, and I totally understand why this is the favourite story for most people.
I think this one of my top 3 in the whole love track stories ~
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This has no business touching my heart like that
This was so beautiful... So beautiful.The story is very simple and touching, and the two leads done great job, specially Akisawa Kentaro, he plays a deaf character and he managed to express all his emotions perfectly.
I don't know why this isn't popular! It's one of the best Japanese short movies I've ever seen.
Short, simple, heartwarming and beautiful.
Highly recommended ~~
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The best thing about it, is that it didn't only show gay people's problem, but also tackles other issues like families, dreams and accepting your own self.
At the end of it I wanted them all to live together in one place with each of them being in his own flat but all come together during evening and have meals together, maybe talk together about their days and what happens in their lives.
And I mean anyone, except maybe for the father, he is terrible and I hated his character.
I wanted the show to keep going, I didn't want it to end which is a first, probably the only show this year that I watched without skipping a scene and wanting to see even more of it.
The cast carried their characters well, heavily focused on gay issues so if it's not your cup of tea don't watch it, this isn't really a BL, it's about gay people yes, but you won't find any romance or lovey dovey moments, however I had a good laugh in some scenes, not because they were funny but because they were very awkward or odd.
The characters are unique and very very weird, all of them are like that, you won't find one normal character here and that is what makes the show more interesting ~
Highly recommended if you like slice of life dramas about belonging and family and friends bonds~~
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And this fits the category, a cute noona dongsaeng relationship, i wasn't that skeptical about the grooming idea being explored here because I didn't think that much of it, and I decided that I'd simply drop it if it wasn't good.
However this was done very well, the story is consistent and nice, the relationship is natural, no grooming at all, the ML was slightly too obsessed which is something I didn't like much but I could understand it considering that his whole world was revolving around her.
Side couple were my favourite, I loved the idea of a girl chasing the guy in an adorable way, nothing tacky about it, and the guy was so lovely, a little tsundere type but minus the aggressiveness.
The last 6ep were slightly redundant imo, the alteration between the past to the future was good till they spent a lot of episodes finishing the story in the past which wasn't the best way of segmentation since I kinda forgot what point of the relationship they were at in the present.
But all was tied up nicely I couldn't ask for more ~~
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