ajuniceee

what's with all the AI??!!

The story has not progressed far enough for the rating to be accurate yet, but what's standing out to me the most at the moment is the abhorrent and obnoxious use of AI. The entire intro is ai, they use ai for clips that they could just film, such as people walking and rain falling. Like come on! If you want to make a tv show why not actually make it yourself, not just run it through a computer. Its incredibly distracting and just a bit unattractive. To me, it makes it feel like no passion was put into this show, that it is completely half assed and no real effort or consideration was put into the making of it. Ai is a disastrous and ridiculous tool that has absolutely NO place in the film industry, rather ruining the show for me from the beginning.

However, despite of this, I have decided to continue watching it. From the beginning I will say that they are not shy, with a fiery and strong physical relationship established almost immediately. I think this show will be a hit with watchers who prefer smut and passion to deep and emotional connection. I can sense a toxic and unhealthy relationship developing, but I don't think that's particularly a bad thing in this show.

From what i can see in this show, there is little to no plot outside of the smut, choosing to completely neglect plot lines or developed characters outside of their sexual dynamics. I understand that this is a show for the smut enjoyers, but even just a little plot would do it some good, but instead each episode is 20 minutes of pure sex, with a few lines of dialogue here and ther. It just feels empty and incomplete, rather a waste of time.

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I don't think i will ever get over this drama.

I adore this series with everything in my soul. The characters, the plot and the emotions are so well developed and nuanced, creating such an interesting and riveting watch. The characters and relationships within this drama are so incredibly complex and well thought out with almost all of the main characters being brilliantly fleshed out and developed. The characters are so lovable and complex, creating interesting and new dynamics which are incredible to watch. Even the villains are incredibly developed and nuanced, creating a deep and emotional watch. The amount of emotions i felt whilst watching this show (all 6 times) are astounding, with the ability to draw such profound emotions from the characters. The actors are phenomenal and play these characters with such passion and vigour they felt more real than the actors themselves. They create such incredible relationships and show the more real and brutal side of teenage life. The only reason this series is not a 10 is because i felt that, unlike season 1, whc2 plays too into the webtoony and dramatised side of this show, taking away from some of the depth and more gritty aspects of the show through unrealistic and over dramatic plots, making it seem almost cartoonish at times, as cool as it may be. An example of this being Baku punching the bully off a fast moving motorcycle, something that just seems over the top, however the aura he gained from it may make it up for some people.
The relationships between characters, such as baku and beakjin or sieun and suho, are so profound and emotional that it is a goldmine for shippers and non shippers the like, exploring bonds and friendship and the struggles that come with them in a (imo) more deep and emotional way than season 1, which mainly focused on sieun and suho as a pair, and the other characters more individually. Which isn't to say that whc1 doesnt create deep and meaningful relationships, i just think that whc 2 explores more and different kinds of friendships and relationships.
One thing i will say is that i wish it had more developed female characters, as the only one who is actually mentioned in season 2 is sieuns mother, who is throughout the show depicted as neglectful of her sons emotions and needs and overall not a very enjoyable character.
Apart from that this show is one of the greatest shows of all time. I genuinely think it is a must watch for everyone on the whole planet and that more people need to tap into whc and the actors other works, as they are genuinely such an incredible cast. No notes.

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An all time favourite and absolute classic. So adorable and sweet, a must watch of any jbl.

This story is a sickly sweet and incredibly humorous, with a fun plot and genuinely interesting and enjoyable characters. The series not only brings themes of fantasy and comedy, but of office drama and romance as well, which is not something you can say for most dramas, yet they combine so naturally and enjoyably that i cannot help but rate this series a 10/10. Not only is it light hearted and cute, but also introduces themes of the struggles of being homosexual in a professional environment, as well as japan as a whole, and the pressure put on women in society to eventually find a man and settle down. It does this so effortlessly and seamlessly, creating a series full of different emotions and interests. Adachi is so adorkable and lovable, being a perfect mix between cute midlife crisis and a genuinely well rounded and thoughtful person, making it almost impossible not to fall for his adorable nature. Kurosawa is such a charming and respectful character, whilst also being a love-drunk fool who loses his composure at the very sight of Adachi, making him such an appealing and perfect love interest, who is completely devoted and head over heals for his love. The actors have incredible understanding of their characters and portray them in such an appealing and superb way, giving the characters so much more depth and personality. I could not have chosen anyone better to play them myself, as it is a phenomenal act from them both.
This series is so wholesome and adorable, whilst being able to touch into more serious topics, whilst still keeping it lighthearted and cute, something not a lot of dramas do successfully. My favorite jbl of all time, and definitely up there in my favourite bls of all time.

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A subversion of expectations

The very start throws you rather headfirst into the plot without giving much context, but luckily it is easy to figure out what is going on and what the characters roles are. However it takes some time for some characters to be established fully and concretely, with kim jeongha being a fairly ambiguous character through his motivations and relationships until around episode 3 or 4.

The story is one of desperate connection and the need to be wanted and desired, with lee hyeonjae clinging so desperately onto han giu despite obvious drawbacks within their relationship. It brings up the topic of unhealthy or unfair power dynamics and abuse of authority, however, it is (in my opinion) one of the reasons why this story is so captivating, as it explores those topics in a way i haven't seen before, with the character in the typically vulnerable position actually being the one to initiate and curate all their interactions and tension, creating a nuanced and interesting dynamic that is not very often explored in media. I would not go as far as to say that it is one sided or manipulated by the younger, as they both become intertwined in each others life in a way they should not be, however the student is far more active in their explicit relationship, for example letting himself get hurt so that the older will patch him up, whilst the teacher lets himself be approached by the student, for example letting him stay at his apartment and giving into the kiss, when it is obvious they both desire each other and what the other makes them feel. Besides their relationship is entirely legal, with both characters being over the age of consent, and even with a considerable age gap of 10 years between them, hyeonjae is still noticeably an adult. The series is dark and passionate, and the tension and atmosphere creates an exciting and engaging story filled with serious topics and morally grey characters/ relationships which are nuanced and complicated. It's a bit messy, and that is fun, it introduces forbidden and sensual relationships that draw this drama together very nicely.

However this drama is not all dark and passionate tension, what really resonates with me is how they both seem to be on similar and equal planes of existence, they are both trapped or stuck in life and seem to find a comfort and relatability within each other which naturally draws them to each other and breeds that desire and almost dependence on the other. Hyeongjae is trapped in a life of invisibility that he did not choose, stuck between people who either fear his father or respect him too much to question his authority, forcing him into a stagnant and melancholy existence. Yet Giu gives him a luxury no one else has ever afforded him before, visibility. He establishes that he wants to help hyeongjae, not because he is the chairmans son, but because he sees that he needs help. On top of that, Giu lives a dull and lifeless life, with no real human connection or secure job in place. Hyeongjae introduces a purpose into his life, something to show him that he is still alive and capable of real emotion again, after having been told he is a dull and boring person. They both grant each other something the other had never been granted by another person. This is why i find their relationship so entrancing and fascinating, that despite the power dynamic put between them, they are still able to live through each other as equals.

The acting is rather stand out as well. the actors are good at portraying the ambiguity and complicated nature of the characters and their emotions, with the lead couple having good chemistry and understanding of the complex emotions experienced throughout the series. Only 4 episodes have aired so far, but its new and interesting premise, alongside the good acting and palpable tension make this series one which has stood out to me this year, and i am excited to watch more and see what comes next!

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