tay

extremely real, extremely sentimental

family dynamics are incredibly powerful, especially when you're young. this series was phenomenal

this series is almost like a 2 in 1 - we get to see our main characters grow up together through their harsh reality, become each other's first real love, and also their adult lives, navigating the world around them. i cannot express how fucking cute these characters are. the awkwardness of not knowing how to approach eachother, make the first move, and the fear of being wrong are all so incredibly realistic and beautiful.

i have a lot of good things to say about this series. we see actual consequences, and an extremely convincing story unfold. consequences for being unable to reach, consequences for lying about a certification, and the consequence of choosing a first love over what's around.

the storyline was truly beautiful. i could see myself rewatching a good few times to really take the entire story in. i'm not a big fan of time gaps in general but this series might've changed my mind a little bit. we have to work for the happy ending - which means communication and answers.

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questionable

i watched some of this series back in 2022, but never came around to finishing it. after revising in 2024, it's still just as messy as when i left it.

some of the saving graces for this series is the actors. looks, yes. chemistry, yes. erotic (though unecessary) sex scenes, yes.

but. acting can't save a messy plot. honestly, towards the end, i was just asking myself, "what..?" i sat down and finished it in one sitting, because every new episode was crazier than the last. the entertainment value is there, but it's kind of sick.

kim and porchay. didn't like it, definitely didn't love it. but, i didn't hate it. it felt forced, rushed, untouched, and messy. they meet up, we see them on screen together maybe five times, and porchay asks kim if he loves him? kim's whole reasoning for being there gets revealed by other members of the family regardless, so it was all pretty meaningless. no tension, no chemistry. and this could be due to acting issues, but there was no room for them in this messy plot. i don't know whether their relationship was supposed to go a specific way, but they were robbed of any kind of happy ending. felt like angst just to be angst, no actual meaning behind it. the only time i felt convinced was when kim was kicking some ass for porchay without him being aware of it.

vegas and pete. jesus christ. what the fuck was that? others who are into that kinky idea, be my guest. felt like some sick form of stockholm syndrome, where love doesn't even look like it would fit. but somehow, that's where we ended? vegas is shot and he still gets to live? it felt really sick, i tended to fast forward their scenes.. but they still had more than kimporchay had to me, and yet they probably got less screen time. if pete truly feels he belongs as vegas' pet then hey, i guess i'll let them have their moment.

kinnporsch... well. it was the main couple, they started out great, and i was definitely into the idea of them. porsche is a loveable guy, handsome, and seeing him interact with a rich mafia boss? yeah, i was down. but it just got worse and worse, especially considering all the horrible things kinn did to porsch, and yet.. "let's start over", "i forgave you a long time ago." it wasn't awful, and their scenes together outside were actually some of my favorite. we saw kinn smile, they seemed happy, with no real expectation of eachother. but i still felt underlying sickness, and their relationship truly never got to a solid, reputable point.

this story is definitely erotic, but it got to the point of being too much. the ending was pretty terrible, but it left room for more. if there was another season at some point, i think i would watch out of curiosity. it's rare to see a series get the "mafia boss" persona right, but they built kinn up really well, and he embodied a lot of what other series try to be.

for everything this series did right, there were so many left turns and wrongs. it's not the worst one i've seen, but the storyline gets pretty gross at some points and simply brushes over some really important themes. i don't know whether id recommend it per say, but keep these things in mind when watching it.

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charming and well produced

i have a lot of good things to say about this series. its plot is well fit into the amount of episodes. i enjoyed the quick pace of the series; there was always something developing as time went on.

the acting was fantastic. i think everyone did their job excellently, especially considering the chinese censoring. the chemistry is undeniable and sweet. chinese "bromance" series' usually leave me wanting more, but this one had me full through until the end. the production is also really high quality.

the plot is a bit unrealistic; it's unusual for a wealthy man to take on someone as his son with good intentions. but that's what makes this series so charming. it's unique and i can't say i've seen anything like it.

overall, great series. i enjoyed it and i would rewatch it again over the course of the year. it gets to the point and i enjoyed every minute of it. i also enjoyed the product placement. it's hard to successfully promote a product without it being cringy, but this series pull it off quite well.

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this series had me coming back each week to watch more. the love triangle was done in such a satisfying way. no one couple overshadowed the other; both had good chemistry; and both made sense.

i enjoyed the acting, and i think the awkwardness fit into the series really well. i think it portrays the "first love" in a really raw, innocent way. you can tell that all the boys are inexperienced when it comes to love, but they find themselves along the ride because of each other. i think that's really sweet.

i don't enjoy the idea that the only female became the antagonist, but she did, and i can't change that. the way her character came off was very childish, and without namgung's guidance, i don't think there would be a lot of hope for her. i think society in general could've gone well as the antagonizing factor, but that's also overdone, and for that i'll give this series credit.

overall, it's nothing new as a story, but it sure is cute, and it's worth watching. it's definitely up there in my list and i recommend giving it a watch if you're into the kdrama scene.

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why finish? it didn't impress me past the first few episodes

this series unfortunately fell into a ditch after leaving the island. at least on the island, there was actual desire, exploration, and character development. Rak actually opened his heart to not only the island, but the people in it. it wasn't the best change-of-heart moment, but at least it was something.

the second these characters get to the city - i have no idea what i'm supposed to think. Rak puts an agreement forbidding love - sure...?
Mahasamut states his undying love for Rak - okay...?so, what's the agreement for then?

i had really high hopes for this couple from love in the air. i was obsessed with it, and when i saw the trailer for this series drop, i was pretty stoked.

unfortunately, good acting can't outshine a bad plot, and even in this case, Rak as a character just annoyed the shit out of me. he's super cold-hearted, but he's warming up to Mahasamut! oh wait, but now Rak won't talk to him... but then they have sex! now they're inseparable!

they portray the addiction of sex and the desire to be lusted after really poorly. i understand Rak's upbringing was bad, but i don't actually understand why he falls into the exact same trap, and the series never tries to explain it.

also, what even was the side couple? the impression that Vivi's flirting is explicit to Muk was really poor, and suddenly, after bullying the shit out of her, Vivi assumes they can live happily ever after. it was forced, and i never actually found myself rooting for them.

if this series was entirely set up around the island, i think i could get behind it. i continued my high hopes for a while, until i couldn't even stand to finish
it. unfortunately, nothing is motivating me to go back, and i definitely won't anytime soon.

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i like how easy this series is to binge. i'm big on sitting down and watching a show all the way through, so this series was really refreshing.

i like the historic timeline! i think it fits really well, and although i'm not very knowledgeable on the topics brought up, everything was fairly easy to understand. the acting was also fantastic. i never got bored of the story because i couldn't get into a scene. all of the actors are very talented and i'd love to see more from them, especially a season two. the series ends with a lot more questions than answers

i think overall, the storyline at the end was a little rushed. the last two episodes probably have the most going on on them. i wish it were more spread out, rather than all of these characters suddenly getting detained. the plot is quite unrealistic as well, so it can be a little difficult to relate, but i think that makes so unique.

i really liked the second "couple" and really wished they got more screen time. i think their chemistry was really cute; especially the target practice scene. i wish we got to see more of them, but i understand why we didn't.

i liked this series! i would definitely recommend for a quick watch. i'd love to see another season and get all of these questions answered! looking forward to it.

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short, sweet, simple

i feel it's rare to have a plot of characters able to admit to their faults. i honestly wish we had more of it! unfortunately, by the time we hear an apology, it's the last episode. though i can credit the series for being unique in a sense, i also needed more than what we got.

this series also heavily relies on the past of these two characters, yet fails to really convince me why i should care that they hate each other when coming back into the status quo. maybe that's just me, but i love a good enemies to lovers pipeline, especially a couple with a background. with more time, i think this series would've been really fantastic.

but! that doesn't mean i disliked it. it still makes sense to me how the relationship built with time. i loved seeing them interact, the small smiles, the hesitation, the looks, and the touches. small moments like sharing umbrellas or standing in the rain with each other were all really powerful. i loved them and the chemistry was evident.

another thing is the main aspect of the series: insomnia, and using other people to cure it. i feel the resolution to this was lackluster, as all we hear past the point of the apology is "oh i don't need you around to sleep anymore" which is bottom line unrealistic.

overall, i don't think i would rewatch it, but i don't regret viewing it either.

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this series was beautiful. i found myself waiting with anticipation for every episode. i love this series a lot; and it's risen to be one of my favorites from 2021.

i love the way the story is set up. i love the way the characters have background and meaning behind their actions. though some of the main couple's moments can feel silly, it never feels overly unnecessary at any time. i especially love how the female characters aren't written as evil; and i even love the ex and how he isn't necessarily the bad guy.

when it comes to acting, i think YZ and ZT have more chemistry. it could be because ZT is easier going in romantic settings, but their scenes are filled with emotion. it almost feels like the love YZ and SL portray isn't as strong (as much as i love them together). the ending didn't hit as hard as i wanted it to; the bed scene seemed sloppily added and i didn't love the proposal from ZG and SQ. BUT i understand why they happened and i do love a happy ending, even if it is rushed.

overall i recommend this. i have endless good things to say about it; good things that outweigh any of the bad. the slow burn feels so.. correct. it's done really well for a slow burn. if you're into that kind of thing, this is right up your alley :).

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the perfect bite-size story

this series is right up my alley. its main focus is that romantic tension and buildup to becoming a couple.

the story was really enjoyable considering how short it is. i was addicted from the first episode. the relationships are beyond healthy. thai dramas are known for their over-the-top editing, but this series was calm and sweet; really different from some of the other recently produced shows. i was definitely more into the main couples than Near and M; their story felt rushed and last second. though it was still entertaining, i wish they would've scrapped this third couple and spent more time on the other two.

i can't stress enough how happy i am that the female roles weren't obnoxious or in the way. all of the women were supportive; especially jeno's sister. i really liked their characters; they were all very unique and true to themselves. i didn't mind the fact they were loud or semi extravagant. i think it fit all three girls really well. they didn't fetishize or monopolize on any of the relationships in the story. they were there to support all of their decisions, and lead them to making the right ones.

i also love how nobody is afraid to own up to their mistakes. there's no beating around the bush with these couples; there's always something going on with one of them, and it keeps the story interesting with each episode. i really like how being gay and/or having crushes on guys isn't a big deal whatsoever. nobody gives it any special type of treatment. that's what makes it feel so natural.

i would absolutely recommend this series. it's sweet and healthy. it'll have you hooked from the beginning.

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character growth? communication? representation of mental health?

this series really shined. i have a lot of good things to say about it, but i'm going to get into my not-so-favorite thing about it first:

the music was really terrible. and i'm sorry to be a hater to this level but genuinely, the only song i found decent was the conan gray song. all the others were either cringy, or confusing. for the song choice to stand out that much to me, it had to have been pretty bad, as i usually don't even think about the music.

REGARDLESS! the rest of this series was pure art. the acting was phenomenal. we had extremely well-done and well-deserved character growth from JiHyun, we had JaeWon working though his problems with his therapist, and even EunJi had her moment of redemption.

after episode 9, i didn't figure we needed much else out of the series, so i was a little hesitant to finish out the 10th episode, but it really amazed me. we saw our main characters happy, being direct, communicating, and we also got closure from the rest of the cast.

this series was fantastic, and though it did drag a little in the beginning, it was definitely worth it to stick through it.

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undoubtably among my top 5 KBLs

holy shit - i was absolutely sat for this series

storyline: i've never seen anything like it. there was underlying mystery, anticipation, and a true belief in the main character to find the right answers. i'm not a huge fan of overall angst, or breakup scenes, but everything in this series just made sense.

i watched it in one go, and i have absolutely no regrets. the episodes are pretty bite sized, and even though i have a tendency to skip through some series filler, i stayed alert for this one.

acting: hands down fantastic. i felt their emotions, worry, happiness, all of the above. my ability to become immersed in this fantasy world was extremely guided by the cast of this series. everyone was phenomenal. the only gripe i have is forcing yeowoon to become extremely puppy-like, pouty, or at points overwhelmingly smiley. this is probably just cultural differences in expression, but seeing yeowoon in a world without myungha extremely nonchalant made me kind of miss it during the times they were really close. i think that's just a me thing, but overall, i absolutely loved the talent in this cast.

the end had me crying, and though i'm a big baby, this series definitely deserved my tears. it's a story about second chances, rewriting failed second chances, a story of desire, and redemption after giving up on the cruel reality of life.

absolutely recommend, like i said, among the top Korean BL's i've ever seen. definitely deserves its stars.

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