I thought, like any other sequel, this series could bring the same-usual-relationship-issues. But turn out, it was beyond better than any other sequel (especially if we compared to TT2).
Oh’s character developed amazingly, even though from the acting “department” bilkin is still number 1. But yeah, it helped PP’s performance on this series with his development.
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I remember very well how I used to wait for this comics routinely every time they released, and this comic was my the first comic that I bought using my personal money.
So it seems natural that I have expectations excessively.
In Indonesian:
Mungkin saya punya ekspektasi yang berlebihan terhadap film ini, sehingga jatuhnya saya cukup kecewa dibuatnya.
Saya ingat betul bagaimana saya dulu menunggu komik ini rutin setiap ia akan terbit, dan komik ini merupakan komik pertama yang saya beli menggunakan uang pribadi.
Jadi wajar sepertinya kalau saya punya ekspektasi yang berlebihan.
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Editing was annoying…..
I’m usually not someone who pays too much attention to technical issues, but I have to agree on one thing about this movie, the editing was kind of annoying. At times, it felt like I was watching one of those dramatic Chinese clips that randomly pop up on my Facebook feed.Other than that, I actually enjoyed the movie… even though I didn’t fully know what was going on at first. I arrived a little late, so I missed the first 5–7 minutes, which probably explains my confusion.
But one thing about Chinese movies, they always have amazing soundtracks. I was the only person in the room, and it honestly felt like they were trying to hypnotize me with those poetic songs… even though I didn’t understand a single word.
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A Pleasant Surprise
I’ve been wanting to watch this series for about a year, but life has been incredibly busy lately. I usually release my list of favorite BL series around this month, but I still have 3-5 more series to finish before finalizing it. 😅Honestly, I didn’t expect to love this series as much as I did. After watching School Trip and finishing Love in the Moonlight back-to-back, my mood toward BL series was a bit mixed. I wanted something light, but not as light as School Trip. And I guess Top Form ended up meeting that expectation.
I wasn’t familiar with Smart before this series, and I believe this is Boom’s first time as a main lead in a BL. So for me, they were practically a new pairing, and I didn’t have many expectations going in. But their chemistry? Way beyond what I anticipated. It really surprised me in the best way.
For the record, I didn’t realize the series only had 11 episodes, so I was genuinely confused during the final scene between Jade and Akin. I kept thinking there would be at least one more episode to explain what was happening. Maybe they’re saving it for another season? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
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School Trip: Joined a Group I’m Not Close To
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Their cuteness is absolutely top-notch, でも。。。。。。。。
Even though I was smiling through almost every episode like a crazy person, I couldn’t give this series more stars than it deserves. Their cuteness is absolutely top-notch, but that’s pretty much what the series offers from beginning to end. It feels like something important is missing, something essential that every strong series should have.What I truly enjoyed about this series (aside from their undeniable chemistry and cuteness) were the references. It felt like a blend of several other JBL series released in recent years. I think that’s one of the reasons it gained so much attention across different platforms.
I still hope they continue the story into their college years, but I would love to see something more meaningful, something deeper rather than just a season filled entirely with lovey-dovey moments.
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Peak at his Peak!
I am really glad they gave Peak a chance in a serious BL series. Following him since ten years ago has made me realize that he has improved a lot in his acting. It wasn't that bad in his previous films, but because he had never played this kind of role, we had never really seen his full capability.Honestly, this series would be empty without Perth. Her performance was truly believable. I usually hate the 'third wheel' role in every BL series because they are usually annoying, but we need to give her two thumbs up for helping Peak reach his full aura.
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My biggest fear in the future......
Watching No Other Choice felt like a two-hour-long panic attack. It’s a Park Chan-wook masterpiece, but man, it is stressful. Seeing the protagonist, Man Su, work so hard for 25 years only to get tossed aside like literal scrap paper was way too real. The way he tries to climb back up the social ladder by basically "eliminating" his job competition is some of the darkest, most twisted black comedy I’ve seen in a while. It’s one of those movies that makes you laugh, but then you immediately feel bad for laughing because the desperation is so palpable.As someone who is about to graduate and head into the workforce, this movie tapped into my deepest fears. I kept thinking about what the world is actually going to look like after I get my degree. The film shows this unforgiving, soul-sucking corporate system where you’re just a number, and honestly, it’s the ultimate "worst-case scenario" that I pray never happens in real life. Seeing the threat of AI and international acquisitions lurking in the background made the whole thing feel like a horror movie disguised as a thriller.
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Zombie Romance Got Me
I’ve been wanting to watch Newtopia for months, and honestly, I’m kind of glad I ended up finishing it in just a week. I thought it would take way longer, mostly because I really couldn’t stand Ji-soo’s character at first. She genuinely annoyed me more than the zombies did. But surprisingly, the show kept pulling me back. The comedy actually worked for me, which I didn’t expect at all, especially for a zombie drama. Somewhere along the way, I realized I was enjoying it way more than I thought I would.What really saved the series for me was how well it balanced its chaos. The romance itself is messy, no denying that, but it didn’t bother me too much. I didn’t mind waiting for Jae-Yun and Yeong-Ju to finally meet again, even though I was expecting (and kind of hoping for) a very different situation when it happened. The emotional payoff wasn’t perfect, but it was satisfying enough. And while the zombie elements weren’t groundbreaking, the mix of absurd humor, tension, and occasional heartfelt moments made the whole experience surprisingly fun to watch.
I’m not really a Korean drama fan in general, but I have to admit that zombie + Korean drama + romance is a genre combo that totally works for me. I didn’t expect to say this, but if more shows lean into this chaotic, emotional, slightly ridiculous formula, I’d definitely watch again. It’s not flawless, but it knows what it is, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it ended up being more enjoyable than I ever expected.
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Unusual bullying horror movies
We’re usually served horror stories where the bullied kids die and come back to get revenge on their bullies, but this movie twists that idea in a really unexpected way. At first, I was genuinely confused, because it didn’t feel fair at all to the victims. Even after the bullies died, the bullying didn’t stop. They were still being tormented, just this time by ghosts. That reversal honestly made me uncomfortable in a way I didn’t expect, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, the movie hit me with another twist that completely caught me off guard… including an extremely unusual fetish element that I never would’ve imagined 😭.The twists were wild enough to keep me hooked, and I can see why people are talking about it. It’s creepy, disturbing, and oddly playful at times, which makes it stand out from typical revenge-horror stories. I do feel like people who were bullied in school might really hate this movie, and honestly, I get why. If that’s you, I’m genuinely sorry.
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A Return Nobody Asked For
This show just keeps getting worse with each season. Season 3 feels completely unnecessary, like it exists only because Netflix didn’t want to let go. The first game actually caught my attention and reminded me why I liked Alice in Borderland in the first place, but everything after that went downhill fast. By the time we reached the final game, it was so dull and dragged out that I literally fell asleep. That alone says a lot. What used to feel tense and creative now feels recycled and overcooked, like reheated leftovers from seasons 1 and 2.One huge red flag for me was the return of characters who already died in previous seasons. That completely broke the internal logic of the show. Weren’t we clearly told that if you die in Borderland, you die in the real world too? Suddenly undoing that rule just feels lazy and confusing. Maybe the manga explains it better, but as someone who only watches the show, it felt like the writers were making things up as they went along. The emotional stakes were also weaker this time, especially with Arisu and Usagi. Their bond used to be the emotional core of the series, but here it felt sidelined and oddly unbalanced, which made it hard to care as much as I used to.
Visually and acting-wise, the season is still solid. The cast really tried their best, and some moments worked purely because of strong performances. Ryuji had potential, but like many new characters, he never fully got the space to shine. And don’t even get me started on the Joker, after all that teasing, it ended up being the weakest and most underwhelming part of the season. Overall, it’s not completely unwatchable, but compared to the first two seasons, it’s clearly pale and weak. If you’re already invested, you’ll probably watch it anyway. But if you’re new to the series? I’d strongly recommend stopping at season 2 and pretending season 3 never happened.
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Carried by Cast, Powered by Chaos
I couldn’t help but compare this series to Abadi Nan Jaya (The Elixir), mostly because I watched them back to back in the same week. And for me, Abadi Nan Jaya still wins. What surprised me, though, was seeing how much higher this show’s rating is in comparison. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. People aren’t watching this series to deeply analyze every detail or pick apart the writing, they’re watching it to be entertained. And in that sense, it works. It’s the kind of show you binge without thinking too hard, and I think that’s exactly why so many people rated it generously.The characters here are way more annoying than the ones in Abadi Nan Jaya. And weirdly enough… I didn’t hate that. The chaos, bad decisions, and straight-up frustrating personalities actually made the show easier to binge. I finished it in two days, mostly because I kept thinking, “Okay, what dumb thing are they going to do next?” This isn’t a show where you get super emotionally attached to everyone, but it keeps you watching through sheer momentum. It’s more about reactions than reflections.
If there’s one clear area where this series beats Abadi Nan Jaya, it’s the cast. Let’s be real, the casting is stacked. Mandee really said, “What if we put every BL actor people recognize into one zombie series?” and honestly, that move worked. Seeing familiar faces pop up constantly was fun, exciting, and definitely part of why the show got so much hype. The actors all did a solid job, and their presence alone carried a lot of scenes. That said, great casting can only take a show so far, it boosts popularity, but it doesn’t automatically fix storytelling issues.
I’d say this series had potential, strong production value, and a cast that did a lot of heavy lifting. It’s not something I’d praise for its depth or character development, but it is entertaining, fast to binge, and easy to recommend if you’re just looking for something fun and chaotic. I get why people enjoyed it, even if it didn’t fully land for me. I’ll probably still tune in for a second season. If nothing else, I’m curious to see whether they take the story somewhere more meaningful or just lean fully into the madness again.
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10 Things I Want to Do before I Turn 40
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my new source of existential crisis
Not gonna lie, the title alone gave me stress. Like, bruh… why remind me of my unfinished life goals? But anyway, I clicked play and ended up watching the whole thing. And honestly? It’s cute. It’s slow. It’s awkward. But somehow, it works (most of the time).I’ve seen tons of series in this vibe (Old-Fashion Cupcake, Cherry Magic, etc.), and while they’re all cousins in the “slow-burn gay office romance” family, this one has its own personality. The best part? They actually used the side characters! I loved that Utagawa got some screen time, finally someone remembered the coworkers exist!
Now… about Suzume and Keishi. I really wanted to love their chemistry, but it felt like watching two shy penguins trying to hold hands. Even Ossan’s Love made me believe in ridiculous love stories, but here it was a little stiff sometimes. Suzume’s “I’m too old for this” energy mixed with Keishi’s “I’ll do anything for my boss” vibe made things both cute and confusing.
That said, the show still gave me a cozy, slice-of-life feeling. It’s not about grand gestures , it’s about little moments, growing up (a bit late), and realizing it’s never too late to live or love again.
Would I rewatch it? Maybe while eating takoyaki and ignoring my own to-do list before 40.
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The Rooftop Where Music Meets Silence
Such a shame! Depth of Field could’ve been something truly special. The series is actually quite nice. It was soft, melancholic, and visually beautiful, but it just lacks the depth that its own title promises. This is exactly what happens when you rush everything into six short episodes.I genuinely loved the chemistry between the leads. Usa Takuma (as Hayakawa Shuichiro) and Hirano Koshu (as Konno Ryohei) delivered heartfelt performances that felt raw and believable. Their quiet interactions, the shy glances, and that emotional rooftop scene. All of it had potential to be something deeply moving. But because the story moved so fast, the emotional buildup felt unfinished. One minute they’re strangers, and the next minute, we’re already at the confession and kiss scene, with barely any time to breathe or see their relationship grow.
The theme itself isn’t new. There was a Japanese BL a few years back with a similar concept of emotional healing through art. Still, I wanted to give Depth of Field a fair chance. It had all the ingredients I love like music, photography, loneliness, and that nostalgic “high school rooftop” vibe where everything feels fragile yet magical. Unfortunately, the story never quite reached the emotional crescendo it was aiming for.
Visually though? Absolutely stunning. The cinematography is top-tier with the blend of ocean, sky, and rooftop scenes gives the series a poetic and dreamlike quality. Every frame looked like a postcard. You could tell the director wanted to express how art and love help people find themselves again. I especially loved how Konno’s photography mirrored Hayakawa’s journey back to music, both of them using art to process pain and rediscover who they are.
But for a show called Depth of Field, I expected more… well, depth. The pacing felt like we were flipping through beautiful snapshots rather than watching a full story unfold. I wanted to see them struggle more, heal more, love more. I wanted to feel the connection grow naturally, not just in the last ten minutes of the final episode. Even the happy ending felt slightly forced, ike they wanted to tie it up neatly instead of letting it breathe.
Still, despite its flaws, I don’t regret watching it. It’s a short and calming drama that’s perfect if you want something visually soothing and emotionally light. Just don’t expect too much plot development or deep emotional payoff. Think of it as a series of aesthetic moment, fleeting but lovely, like looking through a camera lens that never quite comes into full focus.
If there’s ever a second season or special episode, I’ll be the first in line. With just a little more time and storytelling, Depth of Field could easily turn from a soft breeze into a full-blown masterpiece.
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How Our Youth Captures the Fragility of Growing Up?
I still have a huge amount of tolerance for time-lapse or time-jump stories, maybe because I’ve seen much worse (yes, looking at you, “Reset” 😅). But honestly, Our Youth surprised me in a good way. My friends keep telling me I haven’t changed much in the past ten years, and maybe that’s why I connected so easily with the whole “time passing but people staying the same” vibe this series carries.First of all, the chemistry between the two leads is absolutely undeniable. Minase Jin and Hirukawa Haruki feel real and raw. Their dynamic moves from hostility to curiosity to something deeper, and it’s so subtle yet emotionally charged that I found myself completely drawn in. The acting, especially Minase, was just chef’s kiss. His eyes literally told the story before his words did.
What makes Our Youth stand out among 2024 BL series is its balance between tenderness and pain. It doesn’t romanticize trauma, but it doesn’t wallow in it either. Instead, it lets the emotions breathe. There’s this quiet sadness under every soft moment, like the characters know their happiness is temporary, and that makes it even more beautiful.
Now, I do think the series could have gone a bit further in showing how their relationship exists within the world around them. (This is the part I struggled to explain before, I meant how their love connects to other people’s perspectives.) We see a lot of their private, intimate side, but not much about how their friends, families, or classmates perceive them. I would’ve loved to see more interactions that reflect the challenges they face as a couple in a society that doesn’t always accept them. That external lens could’ve added another emotional layer and made their bond even more meaningful.
Still, everything else like the cinematography, the music and the pacing work beautifully. The use of water throughout the story as a metaphor for cleansing and connection was brilliant. And that final episode did not give us a fairy-tale ending, but something more grounded. A quiet promise of love despite the odds.
So yeah, Our Youth might not be perfect, but it hits deep where it matters. It’s poetic, tender, and brave in how it portrays queer love with honesty rather than spectacle. 💙
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A Fleeting Summer, A Lasting Impression
When I started this series, the first three episodes had me thinking: “No way I’m going to enjoy this.” It felt rushed, like we were thrown straight into the deep end with zero introductions or buildup. The pacing was so fast that I wasn’t sure if the story would even stick. But then episode four hit, and suddenly everything started clicking into place. I found myself surprised by how effective it was. Instead of dragging things out with unnecessary fluff, the show just went straight to the heart of the relationship and somehow that directness worked beautifully.What really pulled me in was how natural the connection between the leads felt. It wasn’t about flashy drama or overcomplicated plot twists. Their relationship unfolds in quiet, subtle ways through glances, moments of silence, and shared little experiences. It’s almost like the show trusted us to feel the emotions without spelling them out, and that made it hit harder. By the time the tension broke, I was fully invested, and it felt so rewarding.
My biggest complaint is the duration. It’s way too short. With just a handful of 7 episodes running under 25 minutes each, you’re left wanting more. There’s so much room for deeper exploration of the characters and their struggles. It feels like we only got a glimpse of something that could have been even more powerful if given more time to breathe.
Still, the brevity didn’t stop it from leaving an impression. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. The use of natural scenery (like orchards, sudden rain showers, quiet countryside roads) turns the setting into more than just a backdrop. It becomes part of the mood, reflecting the characters’ emotions. Those soft earthy tones and lingering shots of nature gave the whole thing a calming, almost lyrical vibe. At times it reminded me Call Me By Your Name, not in story but in how the visuals and atmosphere do half the storytelling.
I also appreciated the sincerity of the performances. Nothing felt overly rehearsed or fake. The awkwardness and messiness actually made it more real. The chemistry between the leads builds slowly, like a low simmer, and when it finally boils over, it’s so worth it. Honestly, I didn’t expect a short series like this to carry such emotional weight, but it did.
Of course, it’s not perfect. Aside from the short runtime, the pacing in the beginning might put some people off. And yeah, the subtitles could definitely use some work (I nearly gave up squinting at them at one point). But at the end of the day, what really matters is the heart of the story and that’s where this show shines.
I personally would say this series is like a small but beautifully wrapped gift. It’s not polished to perfection, but it feels genuine, heartfelt, and refreshing.
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