Zii3

(I rate vertical dramas on their own sliding scale. General spoilers only.) Okay for one watch if looking for a sweet, gentle romance. Way too much time with the excessively annoying and delusional SML. Who wouldn't give up until 9 minutes before the end!!! Ugh. You could fast-forward his scenes without missing much (he's the same as many other vertical shows; completely predictable). The actor wasn't terrible, but he didn't have the acting skills to squeeze any feelings of pity from me.

The leads are very sweet to each other. The FL grows comfortable and then falls in love with the ML at a good pace. The ML is kind, thoughtful, trustful, and encouraging. The FL is thoughtful of him and his feelings as well.

There are couple of good kisses and hugs, though not a lot, even after they profess love to each other. There was something new for their first time sleeping together: the leads held a condom between their lips (together- one on each end) to rip it open. First time I've seen that.

Both leads fit their roles well. But neither had many layers. The ML actor does not have micro facial expressions (I've noticed this in his other dramas too) so he always comes across a little flat.

The subtitles weren't great so I did not understand what business maneuverings made the ML so worried about the FL changing her opinion of him once it was found out. Even so, the couple of tense emotional moments they had because of that in the last 1/4th felt contrived, especially since they were both deeply in love, had professed and showed each other that, and had zero other issues. But it wasn't drawn out or blown out of proportion so it didn't annoy me.

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Too much focus on unhinged antagonists.

(I rate vertical dramas on their own sliding scale. General spoilers only.) I really wanted to like this more than I did. I really liked both leads and loved them together. It was a fun twist that the ML this time around became the air traffic controller because of his secret crush on the FL, while she was a top-tier pilot (there are multiple shows with a similar set-up but with the roles the other way around).

BUT there was way too much time spent on thoroughly annoying and deranged people; three of them: the SML, SFL, and the SML's mother. The show is only 2 hours long and the first half is all about the FL learning about her boyfriend's affair and detangling herself from him. Which was fine; the FL is good and got me invested in her.

However, I was looking forward to the focus shifting off of the SML in the second half. As most of the other shows with a somewhat similar set-up put a lot of focus on developing/building the relationship between the leads, I was expecting this to happen again. But nope. The SML's side of the story (and the people related to him) continues to get as much screen time as the "ML" (in quotes because overall the SML definitely got more screen time).

The relationship between the leads suffers depth because of this. There's definitely magnetism, and it's obvious how much the ML respects and cares for the FL. But there's not enough time for the FL to fully heal from her last relationship, and not enough time with the two leads doing everyday things together. Many of their interactions happen arround the antagonists approaching/interfering with the FL.

It felt like the screenwriters thought, "You know, the audience knows the ML has loved the FL for 7-8 years and is a good guy. We all know they will end up together, so we can just take that for granted and not spend so much effort developing their love story. It's more fun to write obsessed and unhinged people anyway."

The writers also decided to overlook common sense, laws, security, hospital privacy, and airport regulations. So many things happen that just defy reality. Nothing stops the antagonists from going anywhere they want to at anytime, and that includes any area of the airport and it's offices. Restraining orders also don't exist in this world, apparently. And it's the first time I've seen an antagonist put many dozens of innocent people in peril just to take out the FL. Yeesh.

My favorite scene was around the middle of the show, early on in the lead's interactions. The SML comes to get the FL to agree to get back together when the ML is dropping her off. The ML stands away, not interfering. He only steps in to force the SML to let go of her hand/arm after the FL has told the SML to let go. Then the ML steps aside again and lets the FL continue to handle things however she wants to. This happens a couple of times in this scene, as the SML doesn't want to listen to reason, and I just really appreciated the respect for her autonomy and mental strength that this kind of back-up support shows (instead of deciding to take over and try to "fix" things for her without being asked).

So far, my favorite show with a pilot and air traffic controller (that is more realistic and focuses on building the romance) is with Wang YiRan and Hou ChengYue:
https://kisskh.at/779096-san-wan-ying-chi-de-an-lian
Personally, I recommend watching that one instead.

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A different take on this plot premise.

(I rate vertical dramas on their own sliding scale). General spoilers only.
Has the same starting premise as a couple other shows (example Professor Qi Borrowed A Marriage) but a noticeably different take on the story from there.

Things that are different:

The FL did not have a toxic/abusive relationship with the SML.

Both the FL and ML are serious, dignified, and capable. They are not hesitant, soft people.

It is apparent to the FL pretty quickly that the ML has liked her for a long time and had designs on her.

The FL is a bit cold but it came across as guarded and jaded. She knew her godparents coveted the money her parents left her, and also knew once she got her grandfather's inheritance upon her marriage that it would be a target for any family she married into. (Similar to the other shows, she starts to show more warmth and some liveliness as her relationship with the ML progresses. She also starts to smile more, and more widely, as she falls for the ML and enjoys their relationship.)

The FL can fight back well enough to protect herself from sexual assault; doesn't need to be rescued. Yay!

The ML is a bit eager and pushy in progressing the steps of their relationship (in everything, but doesn't over-push sexually at least). He is possessive and a bit shameless. But he is also a good communicator, admires the FL as she is, and does his best to support and protect her. He is also quite lustful.

The SML does care about the FL but even though they are about to be engaged to be married, he feels like she's too cold. So he gets drunk and pretends to hang with another girl while saying disrespectful things about the FL. He was hoping to force a reaction from her to show that she cared about him. So his endless pursuit of her after she breaks it off with him makes more sense than the shows with the cheating guys who do a complete 180. He's still not likeable, but he's not a bad guy either.

Other notes:

There are lots of realistic kiss scenes, though most are quite brief. As their relationship progresses, the kisses become mutually passionate. There is also some flirting and sexually charged dialogue along with moments of romantic and sexual tension. There was enough sweetness to have me smiling at times.

There are some dramatic plot elements, but it felt like most of the focus remained on the leads.

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Good twist on rebirth plot.

Vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale). General spoilers only below.
Okay for one watch, especially if a fan of one of the actors. The most interesting thing to me was the plot; it was different and intruiging to have both step-sisters reborn and retaining their memories! The leads are cute together and have some sweet moments, but the chemistry is a little flat and there's barely any physical closeness. The ML did a better job showing affection and some desire with his eyes. The FL felt like she was smiling at a good friend, but didn't quite reach an in-love feeling before the show ended. The show is only 65 minutes long though, so the screenplay did a fairly good job balancing all the plot elements given the time constraints. Ending is a little rushed, but it's complete and happy for the leads.

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Fun bickering dynamic but romantic progression was lacking.

A vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale). General Spoilers below.
Okay if a fan of the lead actors because the dynamic between their characters is uncommon and interesting. They kept me watching through annoying characters, tropes, and ridiculous plots.

The lead's disgruntled, impassioned bicking was mostly fun and it was endearing to see them transition slowly into seeing each other in a new light and caring about each other.

However, the romance ended up not being that satisfying because:
1) The last 1/4 focused on ridiculously crazy plot shenanigans instead of the growing feelings between the leads.
2) The interest felt lop-sided. Fairly early on the ML starts showing interest in the FL, softening towards, then being attracted to her, and wanting her to like him too. The FL's progression takes a lot longer to start, and it doesn't go as far. By the end, I only believe she's starting to be fond of him but not that she loves him. She shows no desire or physical attraction to him either other than stating that he's handsome. She doesn't even look tempted when the ML tries to kiss her.
3) There are no fully consentual or sweet kisses shown (like it's okay to show a kiss being forced on a woman but not okay to show her wanting a sweet kiss for herself). There are some sweet moments, but very little intimacy overall.
4) The ending is super rushed. Both grandpa's reveal the truth separately, there's plot craziness, and then the short ending scene.
5) The important last tender moment between the leads is ruined by the background sound. It sounds like someone over a loudspeaker giving a Christmas day speech. It's distracting and makes it difficult to hear the ML clearly as he professes his love.

It's a missed opportunity that the script doesn't have either character grapple with the confusion and possible internalized guilt for starting to love someone other than their childhood love. As a result, things (emotions and character logic) feel shallow. Also, the kids seemed about 6 years old when they met in the mountains, only had a short time together, promised to marry each other, haven't seen each other since, and yet are adament about staying chaste until the other can be found. It's not a believable set up at all.

The FL is overly competent except when the plot needs her to be a "regular girl". Example: she's a medical genius and a martial arts master, yet she can't shake of the ML when he makes a couple advances on her that she doesn't want (he doesn't push too far though).

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A decent watch for fans of the actors.

A vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale). General spoilers below.
This was an okay one-time watch because of the lead actors. It felt a little long and suspension of disbelief is required. The leads do have some fun interactions and there's a good stretch of sweetness before the happy ending, which was nice. An easy watch with nothing that memorable. A couple lip presses, a few sexual tension moments, and some sweetness. Despite misunderstandings, the ML does support, protect, and pursue the FL.

Story includes: mistaken identities, misunderstandings (that go both ways between the leads), amnesia, druggings, attempted rape, kidnapping, 3rd wheel wannabes, and both horrible and loving family members.

Expansion of general synopsis:
The ML is a CEO and has insomnia and psychological erectile dysfunction. The FL is a nutritionist and her family blackmails her with her mother's health to do what they want (the mom is in a coma and under long-term care). Two years ago, the families arranged a marriage but the FL's step-sister had heard negative rumors about the ML and (with her mother and father) made the FL sign the marriage papers instead. The leads did not see each other when submitting the paperwork. In present time, the leads are set up to meet in a hotel room with the ML drugged and they sleep together. The FL recognizes the ML as someone from her past, but the ML doesn't remember her. Afterwards, the ML mistakes the FL as a sex worker and then humorously misinterprets her interactions with nutrition clients and her efforts to land more contracts. Since he can both perform and sleep soundly with her, he ends up offering to hire her himself if she's so desperate for money. Eventually it comes to light that the FL is a nutritionist, and later that she needs money to ensure her mother's care. The ML continues to try to get a divorce from his wife, not realizing she's actually the woman living with him that he feels drawn to.

Side note: this has most of the same plot as another vertical drama with different actors, but I can't currently remember or find which one. In that one, the FL is an architect and the leads do not have a past history.

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The leads are very good and kept me watching and rooting for them even though the plot got a bit repetative and drawn out. The couple of kiss scenes were electric with passionate, realistic embraces and kisses (with small to big movements).

A vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale).

General Spoilers below:

A high level of suspension of disbelief is needed for this story but it didn't really annoy me. There's multiple mistaken or missed identities. There is also a deranged 3rd wheel wanna-be who pretends to be the person the drugged ML slept with 3 years ago to pressure him into "being responsible for her" through marriage.

The ML's mother prompted the marriage between the ML and FL after she saved the FL one night. The ML doesn't really want a divorce but feels obligated to the SFL who he thinks lost her virginity to him and thinks was poisoned and sick for the past 3 years because of that night (she's faking it to manipulate his sympathy and guilt).

Unlike some dramas with a similar set up, the ML remains mostly likeable because he obviously cares about the FL but is conflicted and torn between what he wants (her) and what he has promised the SFL. He's frustrated and jealous that the FL has other men around her and just can't stop caring about her. The divorce gets signed but is never officially turned in.

The FL is smart, talented, and has a backbone. She pretends to love the ML to stay with him and cure him (hiding her medical genius identity for that never really makes sense, you just have to roll with it). After they part, she starts wishing the ML would put her first over the SFL, but is not a pushover and rebukes/rebuffs the ML when he can't commit to her fully. It seems both leads grew more feelings for each other than they realized while married.

Both the ML and FL have a couple of likeable friends.

There's some great karma for the coniving SFL (who twice drugs the ML in an attempt to sleep with him, luckily she's thwarted both times).

Happy ending with a brief kiss.

ML (not on MDL at the time I wrote this) is 張輻韜 Zhāng Yùn Tāo or Eric Zhang.

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Sweet and Fun

A vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale). This is a fun, sweet, lighthearted watch with a couple laugh-out-loud moments. Definitely good for one watch in this category, though I doubt I'll rewatch. Story is slightly different than many.

The scum and his fiance are also on the dating show, which leads to some fun drama, especially as the leads work together against them. There is also a third couple on the show who become friends with the leads (they are very likeable and have some great reactions). The ML's friend is the director of the show and helps the ML set up scenarios to further his wooing of the FL.

The leads are very sweet and cute together and have a healthy relationship. It is a gentle love story, not a steamy one. Kisses are mostly head-blocked and they never become fully comfortable with each other's bodies (space when hugging even after the characters are together for a while). Still, the acting is quite good by both and it is believable that the characters love each other and are very happy to be together.

No totally crazy shenanigans, low violence, and there is a nice extended happy ending.

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Romance Is Believably Grown And Sweet.

General spoilers. (I rate vertically filmed dramas on their own sliding scale.) Good for one watch and the screenplay is better written than many vertical dramas, I just don't see myself re-watching it. The whole cast is good and there is melodrama but it's approached in a more grounded way than most. There's no excessive yelling, no violence or abuse, only one character that becomes mentally unhinged by the end but isn't a constant part of the plot, there are 3rd wheels but they eventually become respectful and wish the lead couple happiness, and the fiance and father of the mean-spirited girl are actually able to see her for who she is and distance themselves from her.

There are a lot of clichéd plotlines in the script, but none of them are dragged out and the focus remains on the romance of the two leads and how they get through things together. There is good chemistry between the leads, though I didn't find it electric, and a lot if sweetness. The way the two characters fall in love with each other as they spend time together is believable. There are multiple lip-press kisses with feelings (some shown, others head-blocked). The relationship is healthy and supportive, with the leads acting like adults, and once they get past a few initial jealous insecurities, they are trusting of each other.

Possible emotional trigger warnings: there were multiple chunks of time that the screenplay focused on mother's with incurable illnesses, head tumors, and grief.

SPOILER ON THE ENDING:

... ... ...
It is a happy ending with a short wedding.
... ... ...

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Constant Insults Equals Love, Apparently.

General spoilers only. Not sweet to me. The ML calls the FL an idiot, stupid, useless, hopeless, incompetent, a hag, etc throughout the ENTIRE show. He insults, demeans, and belittles. He shouts at her and berates her when she asks for help. He has a very small character arc at the end that was not enough to redeem him in my eyes.

The SML, however, was sweet, sincere in his interest, earnest in his love, encouraging, supportive, and accepting. The FL even says he made the world seem like it could be a nicer place!

It was so frustrating that the FL instead fell for the emotional abuse with crumbs of care (and cooked meals) that the ML dished out. It seems love is through the stomach after all (sarcasm). A lot of the FL's insecurities even stemmed from how the ML treated her at their previous job when she was a subordinate that he was nasty to. His excuse for treating her like sh*t is that he was unhappy forcing himself to work at a job he didn't like but was good at. Poor him (sarcasm). I don’t think that justifies the extent to which he behaved badly.

At least the FL grows a bit of a backbone and starts bickering back to the ML. I didn't feel romantic chemistry from that however.

I kept waiting for a turning point in the ML's behavior and an increase in romance, but the change was miniscule. The few kisses were dead-fish-kisses and one of them was 100% non-consentual (FL kissed ML while he was sleeping, which I find creepy).

This felt unsatisfying and a waste of time; I wish I had dropped it partway through instead of hoping for improvements in character growth that never came. The actors did a good job with what they were given, I just really disliked how the screenplay was written.

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Gentle and Genuine Strangers to Friends to Loves. Comfort Show.

So sweet, thoughtful, and heart-warming in such a gentle and earnest way that it's 100% smile-inducing without being saccharine-sweet or cringworthy. There are multiple thoughtful messages explored with the story and a couple poetically worded lines.

Very slice-of-life with low angst that does get resolved. Yutaka and Minoru (with Tane) positively effect each other and Yutaka and Minoru show growth in other parts of their lives because of it. They are very caring and supportive of each other.

There is a lot of care and love in this friendship that grows into more. It's gently and realistically romantic. This is *not* a spicy BL, and it wouldn't fit the story well. The desire of the leads to be in each other's presence and the appreciation they have for having the other in their lives is the focus, and it is palpable. And it is not just platonic; fairly early in the story Minoru is aware of his growing feelings for Yutaka and that he yearns for more than friendship. The actor, Hiroki, is so expressive with his face and eyes that his emotions are easy to comprehend.

There is not a lot of skinship, but when it happens it is meaningful. Later in the story, the hesitancy and awkwardness in direct touches is completely in character, especially for two inexperienced 23 year olds. The desire to connect despite their nervousness is there, and it's romantic in a soft and heart-warming way.

Every actor was perfect. I loved the family dynamics and Minoru's Dad is the best! He gently and deftly encourages Minoru to follow his heart but let's him handle things on his own. He genuinely just wants his son to be happy. The younger brother was written his age and the actor was very natural. Every character was totally lovable yet very distinct.

While there is a lot of eating, it's more about the company one eats with than the food itself. Food appreciation was done much more naturally in this than in other food-focused JBLs; people actually take a moment to taste the food before saying it's good, and while there is enthusiasm, it's not over-the-top.

The gentle pacing, to me, was perfect and every episode felt satisfying while holding my anticipation for the next one.

This has become one of my go-to comfort shows, and it would be a good one to see with other people too.

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General Spoilers below. Bittersweet and open-ended but well done 11min short.
Very good acting and great nuances in the different tensions ebbing and flowing between the two leads. It was very believable that they had a history (though it's not explained in detail) and had complicated feelings.

I really want to go further into the story of these two. The ending is maybe, possibly, slightly hopeful- despite many years passing, they both seem to still be a bit stuck on each other. Just as the dish they made didn't "taste quite right" without the lemon, they are still missing each other in their lives.

I probably won't re-watch (unless they happened to film more of this story, then I would definitely keep watching).

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Story has potential as a psychological thriller.

General spoilers at the bottom. If you want more specifics on the ending, I've added a few hidden spoiler comments to the posted review. Direct link: https://kisskh.at/profile/Zii3/review/327061

A good stopping point for a happy and hopeful ending is at 55 minutes & 55 seconds in! Or watch until 58 min & 58 seconds AT THE LATEST, though an underlying tension that leads to the ending starts to become more apparent.

I'd say this is more an M/M story, or even a psychological thriller, than a BL. If you like BLs but are not familiar with darker Japanese dramas, you may have a very hard time enjoying this (any appreciation likely requires a bit of a masochistic mood).

I'd say only watch if you're in the mood for something weird and likely unsettling but intriguing and with some bits of sweetness. While there are sexual themes and lots of shirtlessness, there isn't much physical intimacy shown by the camera. Some things are implied, but even the kisses are head-blocked (so lips aren't seen). Which, honestly, I was thankful for as the two brother characters are under 18. Some situations were unsettling enough without actually watching through them.

The plot and it's multiple twists is interesting and clues/explanations are revealed at a slow but even pace. In that regard, I thought the film did a good job. It kept me mentally engaged.

It's not a great film but it will linger in my mind for awhile. Yet I don't feel mentally scarred by it, unlike I was by The Shortest Distance Is Round, for example. I almost wish a longer remake of this was made because the foundation of the story is strong and has a lot of potential for a gripping psychological thriller if things were fleshed-out and if the production had a higher budget so more could be done with cinematography, lighting, sound, and costumes.

GENERAL SPOILERS below.

I knew the ending was going to be disturbing because everyone says so. I even knew the basic plot point of why it ends tragically. Yet I was STILL shocked by the final minutes and the ending tableau, lol! Wow.

The ending is tragic and creepy and there are Machiavellian characters, though who exactly is the driving force and for what reasons are revealed slowly. The audience doesn't get all the puzzle pieces until the end.

The acting was better than I expected. I was rooting for the main couple and happy when they reconciled. I wasn't deeply emotionally invested though, which helped me watch through the end without being depressed about it. It did tug at my heartstrings a bit though.

I thought the screenplay and the director did a fairly good job with symbology and tying together visual repetitions. For example, Sho's favorite color is white. Ritsu held a white towel around Sho's head in the past to dry his hair. In a present scene, white cloth is held around Sho's head that Ritsu will turn into a shirt for him. Later, Ritsu holds up the shirt as he waits for Sho and we can imagine Sho's face there. The camera then shows that Sho's face is indeed surrounded by white, but someone else has subverted the sequence.

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Adorable, well acted, & feel-good short film.

An easy, adorable, feel-good, 60 minute film. Actors are comfortable with each other and skinship and intimacy are believable. I won't rewatch often, but probably will at some point.

The three uknown, young male actors are really impressive; they are natural in line delivery and interactions and convey emotions convincingly. At first, Sun seems rather flat as a typical happy puppy-dog personality, but the script does give the actor a few more layers to work with further in.

All the boys are convincing in the attraction they feel and it's completely believable that Earth and Sun are falling in love with each other. The make out kissing scene is really realistic for teenage characters. Both sweet and passionate.

I was pleasantly surprised with the whole production. It has some weaknesses, but over all it's very smile-inducing.

GENERAL SPOILER about the parents:

The biggest thing that didn't work for me was Earth's parents; they were written and acted flatly, as caricatures. Their complete turn around in how they interacted with Earth was SO not believable. At all. My annoyance with how the screenplay handled this situation is continued below.

Earth's responses and growing frustration/resentment WAS realistic and believable though!

SPECIFIC SPOILER about the parents:

...

Also, it was probably unintentional, but the film seemed to promote running away from home to make parents change (they not only said we'll let you do guitar, but we'll let you do "whatever you want", and Earth even got a car shortly after). The result was very unrealistic, thus, not a great message for kids stuck in a similar situation. Sometimes moving out early is necessary for one's own preservation, but there are other things to try first. And a severely controlling parent is more likely to crack down harder at a large sign of "rebellion" (like running away for a couple days) than they are to become unconditionally supportive.

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Good For 1 Watch. Missing Some Emotional Stepping Stones.

Very general spoiler on the ending only. Definitely good for one watch but I may not rewatch as it wasn't very emotionally engaging for me. The fight scenes are great, intimacy is fairly realistic and there's more of it than the average Korean BL, the acting is strong (9.5/10 for the two leads, 7-8/10 for everyone else), and the plot-twist is surprising. I was glad I watched it but didn't feel completely satisfied afterwards, even though the ending is happy.

The review by Rent343 on MDL puts into words some of what I was feeling (my own notes are below this quoted excerpt): https://kisskh.at/profile/Rent343/review/63835
"...I dunno, it felt like I was reading a sparknotes summary for a great novel. I got all the big facts/ plot points but the delivery took little to no time to make those facts emotionally significant..."

MY NOTES:
That's what I felt too- like it was the Sparknotes to a greater story. I missed the romantic build of the connection between the characters (both by text before they met and then after) so when conflict came, the stakes didn't feel as high as they could have. They still felt like a few-dates-old crush. I mentally knew they were in love because the audience was told so, and they were certainly cute/sweet to watch, but I didn't feel it emotionally. I was rooting for them and the plot-twist scene did tug at my heartstrings, but I kept feeling like too many chunks of the story were missing/skipped to feel fully connected and satisfied.

It didn't help that there was absolutely no sense of time. It felt like they had only known each other for a few days, which is why their love confessions didn't feel that strong. It's possible multiple weeks passed, but who knows!

Some side threads are annoyingly left in the air, like the reason behind the plot-twist. A character says they will tell another everything but the audience never gets to hear it!

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