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Satisfying, sweet, realistic
A leader and subordinate relationship that's healthy! Mutual respect grown from getting to know each other realistically. Good chemistry. And the way the social fall-out was handled was super satisfying! Not complex but very enjoyable. Left me smiling. Not a lot of physical intimacy (not surprising from a Korean BL) but it wasn't needed. Like many KDramas, the connection developed between the main characters is heart-warming and satisfying. While there's not much to the plot, the script is written well. Dialogue flows naturally.Was this review helpful to you?
Love OffGun But Losing Brain Cells.
You should be able to tell if this show is for you within two episodes. You may enjoy this if you love Off/Gun, want something light and easy to watch with some sweet/cute moments, and are in the mood for simple/silly humor.At Ep 9/12: My previous review of Ep 1-5 holds. I decided to give it a try again for OffGun's sake and watched Ep 6-9. Apparently the YouTube version is cut (in the USA). I switched to the uncut version via Telegram after Ep 5, but it didn't change my lack of enjoyment with the show.
Previous review: At Ep 5/12. This may not be a popular sentiment, but from my perspective, this show is a slog through simplistic boredom. Apart from Off & Gun's characters, most everyone else acts like middle-schoolers (around 11-13 years old) instead of university students. The 'humor' is extremely basic and simple. There's no cleverness in this screenplay at all. Most characters are more like caricatures and what little plot there is, is so far predictable.
I was so impressed with the series Not Me and Gun and Off were so fantastic in their roles. They acted with nuance, depth, and authentic emotions. The production of Cooking Crush is a huge downgrade for what their talent is capable of.
I'm watching the scenes with Off & Gun together at normal speed because they manage to elevate the generic material to bring some interest and depth to their interactions. For everything else I'm watching at 2x the speed to keep myself from dropping this show entirely.
I really want to support OffGun, but the screenplay is so shallow/simple/boring/predictable, and the secondary characters so annoying and often over-acted, that I really can't bring myself to rate this higher currently. If OffGun weren't a part of this show, I would have no qualms about rating it a 4 and dropping it.
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Well done and interesting dom-sub undertones between leads
(I rate vertically filmed micro dramas on their own sliding scale.)A strong production and a very different story (at the time it came out, it has been repeated multiple times since). I didn't fast-forward anything. A darker/grim story (the main male antagonist, aka SML, is involved in human trafficking for sex and organ harvesting).
To me there were some strong dom-sub undertones in the dynamic between the leads all the way through; it was captivating. ML has the air of a predator but he's not sadistic. FL could be considered a rabbit but she's smarter/sharper than most. There are multiple moments of sexual tension and intimacy. After their first time, the FL mostly welcomes his advances and participates a bit. Kisses are mainly lip presses to small movements but often intense.
Expansion on synopsis:
A student intern needs money to pay for her dad's medical fees and decides to sell some eggs. She accidentally dials the number for the ML doctor who has her come over and scares her into promising not to sell eggs or organs ever. Later they run into each other when she's serving drinks at a bar and gets sexually assaulted and the ML saves her. The ML keeps being drawn to the FL and continues to help her out. The ML becomes the color in the FL's colorless world.
General spoilers below.
It did get a little old that the FL was so strongly swayed by the words of SFL and the ML's mother, determining she wasn't worthy of him and giving up on them instead of listening to the ML who said his world/life meant nothing without her.
I was happy to see in a flashback that the leads actually planned and worked together near the end.
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Good For One Watch, Slow Burn, Mix Is Captivating.
Good for one watch if you don't mind it dissolving into unnecessary, predictable, and angsty melodrama for a while. Overall I'm glad I saw it (mainly because Mix is a fantastic actor and I really enjoy watching him in his characters), but I won't watch it again.Ten 60-75min episodes. Great (8.5 or 9 out of 10) then Ep 7 started to slide into some clichés and frustrating character choices. Then Ep 8 & 9 were full of clichéd plot lines, all so predictable in their character stupidity. People said things or didn't say things in unrealistic ways to force the contrived plot points aimed at emotional angst to work. The screenplay became so melodramatic. I started watching at 2x the speed, rolling my eyes frequently, and so annoyed that I stopped caring about the story and stopped feeling for the characters. I just wanted to get it over with.
In Ep 10 the stupidity died down a little and it became watchable again and Mix's acting managed to get me re-invested in his character. The second half of Ep 10 was great and satisfying. One of the best airport scenes ever! I usually find them cringworthy but this one was understated, heartfelt, and perfect, even with other character's reactions.
Earth is not my favorite actor but he was surprisingly more nuanced in this than in Moonlight Chicken.
All of the secondary and tertiary characters did great.
This is one long, major slow-burn! It stays pretty PG, but the hearfelt way Ep 10 was done made it satisfying nonetheless.
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Slow. Sky and NC Scenes Are Reasons To Watch.
The sceenplay is weak and slow. You could probably watch Ep 1 to get started then skip to Ep 5 or 6 without too much trouble because Ep 2-5 are repetitious and extremely slow burn. Ep 6 is when things start to get somewhat more interesting and emotional. I'm speed-watching about half of this and don't care that much about the two side couples.The screenplay should have spent more time on the backstory because there's not enough weight and reason behind the brief flashback we get to believably be the crux of Venus's fallout with Sky.
The actor Tod playing Sky is surprisingly good, noticeably better than everyone else once the script actually gives him something with some layers to work with. He's got micro-facial expressions and nuances in face, body, and voice, especially when things are more emotional. He successfully tugged hard at my heartstrings even though the script is not well written. He has potential and I would be interested to see him act again, especially with a better script.
Once Sky and Venus get together there's even less plot but they actually act like boyfriends (unlike a lot of BLs where one partner acts disgusted by anything physical). Sky is in love and horny and they have a lot of sex. And a lot is shown. Someone commented somewhere that the show could have just been called "Sky in Venus", lol.
The two actors are pretty comfortable with each other but the chemistry feels one-sided; Tod successfully conveys attraction and desire (outside of intimate scenes as well as during) but Cheque struggles with this.
Cheque as Venus is pretty flat. It kind of works for the character (who's cautious and has his defensive walls high) but it's obvious that he's a newbie actor. He's not awful, but because he's lacking nuances he gets boring.
I may watch the intimate scenes here as a bandaid of sorts after watching an unsatisfying BL series with disguised homophobia (any where the "boyfriend" thinks physical, or even romantic, intimacy is gross).
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Adorable And High Quality.
8 min 30sec short film. General spoilers only. Relatable because it perfectly captures a growing crush, nervously feeling things out, and awkwardly/cutely confessing. Naturalistic acting and good chemistry. A satisfying ending and I would easily watch more of this story or these two actors together. There's not much to it but it's well done and thoroughly enjoyable.The production value is really high for such a short work. The cinematography is purposeful, as are the music choices, and both visual and audio editing.
On Strongberry YouTube channel. I have to say they are very consistent with great quality content!
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A Tightly Woven Cute Story.
Eight 16-20min episodes. The whole production is very well done and happily satisfying. The only weak link is the music, which was meh. Would highly recommend, though I probably won't re-watch frequently.Tension is masterfully and evenly sustained as the present unfolds and the past is revealed (university and highschool). There's a lot of jumping back and forth but it was fairly easy to follow, especially once I recognized this visual clue: in flashbacks the boys wear a highschool uniform that has a blue and red pattern on the inside of their collars! If you see that, it's in the past.
The premise kind of felt like a Japanese BL; a fantastical take on something mundane that sets up a romance, almost like it’s fated. The feel of this series remains very Korean though; strong storytelling with great acting, lovely cinematography, and a well-written script with a lot of earnest and sweet moments. There is some angst but also communication (eventually) and a satisfying resolution.
The two leads have great chemistry and their yearning is tangible. Kisses are just pressed lips yet still manage to contain emotions and passion in their gentle sweetness.
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Great fun through Ep 4, then treat Ep 5 as a fluffy epilogue & stop!
For Ep 1-5 it's an 8.5/10. Great fun through Ep 4, then treat Ep 5 as a fluffy epilogue and stop at 38min. After Ep 5 it slides quickly into very poorly written, clichéd, repetative, annoying, plot-predictable, and eye-rolling ridiculousness with unnecessary melodrama (with unbelievable and poorly choreographed fight scenes).Ep 1-5: I was hooked within 20 mins. The premise was unique and the story was fun and interesting with relatable lead characters. There was great romantic tension and sweetness. Overall it was lighthearted and enjoyable. I eagerly looked forward to new episodes every week.
Ep 6-8 were a 3.5/10. I stopped looking forward to it and there was so much cringworthyness that I fast-forwarded more and more. I found the ending so cheesy that it wasn't satisfying.
After Ep 5 Kenji becomes the main antagonist. The actor playing Kenji is sooooo bad it makes any scene and plotline involving him lose steam and all seriousness. His over-active jaw movements make me cringe and laugh out loud at the same time. The part isn't written well to begin with, but the terrible, overly dramatic yet flat and shallow acting makes him the weakest link by a long shot and he dumbs everything down.
Some of the transitions between scenes are abrupt and the music is generic.
I can see myself rewatching Ep 1-5 at some point but I will never again force myself through Ep 6-8.
g_jun's review on MDL also sums everything up really well.
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Turn off your brain and feast your eyes!
(I rate vertical dramas on their own sliding scale. General spoilers only.) A sumptuous visual feast! A gorgeous gothic fantasy (but brought into modern times). The costumes, lighting, coloring, and sets creat a cohesive, entrancing mood. I kept pausing scenes just to take in the ambiance and the lovely hues created with lights and post-production coloring. And I like both lead actors, a lot. And did I mention the costumes?! Though, I felt like the ML's weren't quite as successful as the FL's. I have to say, that one outfit of the ML's with the red neck tie and hat gave me Van Helsing feels in a trying-too-hard cringy way that had me laughing out loud, lol. The biggest design miss, in my opinion.But the story? Ooophf. What a disappointing disaster. Beyond stupid illogic for how the ML treats the FL and lets misunderstandings stay in place for so long. I'm trying not to give away specifics, so I'll just say, if he really wanted to pursue her, all he needed to do was to correct what the SFL said the first time he's introduced to the FL. One sentence, right then, and he wouldn't have had an insurmountable barrier that made the FL despise him for his actions.
But, I guess that had to be in place so that the screenplay could make full use of the forced-seduction trope. Over and over. This seems to be the focus of the thin plot for most of the show.
Now, I love this trope, but it's a little lacking here because there isn't enough "seduction" to balance things well. And definitely not enough of the FL melting into her desires despite her misgivings. When it really feels like the FL doesn't want advances, at least on some deep level, then I start getting uncomfortable with it, even in a fantasy. The FL does have a couple of lines in voice-over about being inexplicably drawn to the ML, but not nearly enough of it comes through in the acting. Part of the burden of that fault lies with the director and screenplay, not just the actress, who in every other way was a good fit for the role.
Zhao Zhen Dong can do obsessive leads so well, but the screenplay let him down in this one, making the character consistently unlikable despite all of ZZD's charm and all of the palpable desire in his gaze.
The SFL is obviously only there to make things more difficult. The ML has plenty of other people he can work with, absolutely no reason for him to keep her around. He never does much about her. It's the FL who takes care of her 10 minutes before the end. [Eye-roll]
I know I mentioned a lot of cons, but is the show still worth watching despite its shortcomings? Yes, for the visuals! Especially if a fan of one of the actors. But only if you can completely turn off your brain! I just recommend watching it at a faster speed or fast-forwarding some parts altogether :)
Story-wise I would rate this a 4/10, but the production effort in everything but the screenplay is so good, and so unique, for a vertical show that I'm giving it a 6/10.
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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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Unrealistic plot but sweet, mature slow-burn romance.
(I rate vertical dramas on their own sliding scale.) General spoilers only.I enjoyed watching the leads fall for each other through mutual respect blossoming into attraction. Though their relationship started as boss and subordinate, they both learned they could trust and depend on each other.
The leads are both into the 1-month waiting period of their divorces before they start letting themselves entertain the idea of liking the other more romantically (not knowing that they are, in fact, each other's "long-lost" spouses). Things start out professionally and then they try to keep it that way for a long time. They are also aware that the other thinks their own spouse hasn't treated them well. So, their relationship didn't feel immoral to me in this specific context.
As for the plot, it's the same as many others, and it's one I'm a little tired of. But I started watching because of Yang Han and ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would, though I did employ fast-forwarding at times. Is the plot ridiculous, yes, but I liked the romance anyway! It's slow-burn and not that steamy. There are more moments of romantic and sexual tension than there are kisses (but there are quite a few of those moments!).
I did really like the ML's internal dialogue about not blaming the kid for his mother's "cheating" (misunderstanding), and their interactions were really nice. The kid is written more like an 8-10 year old (than a 5 year old), but quite cute anyway.
If you are a stickler for logic, this story will drive you nuts. But if you can shrug off glaringly obvious plot contrivances, then give it a try. Just imagine it's an alternate reality where people can't make calls or send emails or letters outside of the country they are in. Also, that a woman has absolutely zero contact with her own family or her husband's family without him. That's the only way to explain why the leads never communicated for 6 whole years while the ML worked abroad immediately following the wedding night when the grandma's drugged both the leads so they would consumate their marriage. And that would explain why the ML's grandmother, and he himself, never knew that the FL was pregnant and gave birth to his child. And that the FL appears to have no relatives at all even though she had a grandmother at the wedding. Lol.
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Clever and fun for most of the story.
(I rate vertical micro dramas on their own sliding scale). General spoilers only.I'd give the first 2hrs 10 mins a 9/10 and the last 30mins a 4/10. So... 8/10 overall because I think the majority of it is still worth watching as it's more clever than many vertical historical plots. Also nice to have a solid happy ending for a transmigration story; that's rare!
Consistently very good until the last 30mins (2 hrs 40 min total). Then everything was tied up so quickly and a bit ridiculously, the well-crafted tension dissipated, and the final culmination of the romance wasn't as satisfying as it could have been, in my opinion.
Too bad because the first 2 hours is full of smart people making smart plans. Plenty of mini triumphs for the good guys but still needing to navigate challenges because the bad guys were smart too. It was awesome how the lead couple worked as a team, with both of them coming up with ideas, but mainly the FL. And the ML obviously respected and admired her for her cleverness, and also for her kind heart. It was a slow burn romance and secondary to the plot, but the magnetism was always there. A couple lip presses with small movements near the end.
Some lightheartedness throughout nicely balanced with more serious moments. I liked that the FL was NOT infallable, and would have her moments of weakness and doubt, but ultimately was determined to not give up. She was easy to root for.
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Unmemorable age gap romance with rather immature characters.
(I rate vertically filmed micro dramas on their own sliding scale). May be okay for one watch for fans of the actors or the trope premise. I like age gap dramas, but there are other vertical dramas that have done this plotline better. I like these actors too, but prefer other stories they've done.Cute but after the beginning kind of boring. The actors are good but the characters are generic. The FL gets rather annoying; hot-headed, jumps to judgments, and whines and cries A LOT.
Some sexual/romantic tension moments but not much intimacy. Mostly green flag ML but he needed to use his words to communicate instead of trying to force kisses on the FL to express himself.
Found myself a bit annoyed multiple times. Overall unmemorable except for the funny scene at the hospital in the very beginning.
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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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For fans of the lead couple.
A vertically filmed micro drama (I rate these on their own sliding scale). Okay for one watch for fans of the lead actors, otherwise skipable. I love when these actors are paired together, but the screenplay certainly lets them down. The chemistry and push-pull interaction of the leads was the only thing that kept me going.Neither lead character is very likeable.
At first it seemed that the FL would have an enjoyable strong personality as she states, "I'll take care of my own revenge. That's the fun part." However, everything is so stupidly easy for the FL (awesome at everything and physically invincible) that it's very boring. She also doesn't have much personality unless she's interacting directly with the ML. The character's go-to demeanor is 'resting b*tch face'. She's completely rude to strangers (for no reason) and gets violent quickly.
The ML is very controlling and a little oppressive; some of the things he says rub me the wrong way. Ex: When FL is protesting to intimacy ML says "Don't talk. Be good." Also contemplates not letting the FL see her best female friend so often as he thinks she's a bad influence. But it's slightly balanced out later on as the FL starts saying the ML "had better behave".
Pros:
The romance is hot, the actors are very comfortable and natural with each other, there are multiple suggestive lines, and kisses are very realistic with small to large movements. Definitely more steamy than some of their past collaborations. FL's outfits also show a lot of skin. I'd call it cute-hot-superhero-punk style!
Other cons:
The plot has a lot of arguing with ridiculous people.
The ending is very short.
The use of duck-quack sound effects are copious and annoying, especially since things aren't that funny.
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