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This review may contain spoilers
brace yourself
Overall: I'm trying my best to see this through a fictional lens and the actors are doing a fantastic job, but I can't support the romance aspect. Adapted from the web novel “Si Mian Fo” by Su Erliang which I haven't read and I am reviewing this series based on its own merits. 15 episodes about 40 minutes each. Airing on Viki https://www.viki.com/tv/41277c-to-my-shore (Americas, Europe, Oceania, India, Middle East, Japan and South Korea); GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6027/to-my-shore-2025-e01 (not in the Americas, Europe, Oceania, India, Middle East, Japan and South Korea) and Heavenly in South Korea
Content Warnings: past (deaths, bullying, unwanted outing/homophobia); current (sexual assault, manipulation/intimate partner abuse, drugging, non con video recording, violence, self harm mentioned, PTSD/trauma, vomiting, self harm mentioned, intimate partner abuse, non con turned consensual)
Watch Suggestions (this will focus on sweet moments, but there are still visits to grave sites and might be other things)
- episode 5 watch 16:40-29:50
- episode 6 watch 3:30-15:35, 17:30-21:20, 21:35-27, 34:50-end
- episode 7 watch 6:10-10, 20-22
- episode 8 watch 7:40-15:30
- skip episode 9
What I Liked
- that they have a slightly more balanced power dynamic and one guy defends himself
- the obsessed chemistry vibe
- acting
Room For Improvement
- I cannot support a character in a romantic relationship, he basically emotionally tortured the supposed love of his life and is continuing to do so, he is putting his own happiness over the one he claims to love
- the crown was odd
- too much time spent on 1 character in the beginning
- odd music over a flashback
Content Warnings: past (deaths, bullying, unwanted outing/homophobia); current (sexual assault, manipulation/intimate partner abuse, drugging, non con video recording, violence, self harm mentioned, PTSD/trauma, vomiting, self harm mentioned, intimate partner abuse, non con turned consensual)
Watch Suggestions (this will focus on sweet moments, but there are still visits to grave sites and might be other things)
- episode 5 watch 16:40-29:50
- episode 6 watch 3:30-15:35, 17:30-21:20, 21:35-27, 34:50-end
- episode 7 watch 6:10-10, 20-22
- episode 8 watch 7:40-15:30
- skip episode 9
What I Liked
- that they have a slightly more balanced power dynamic and one guy defends himself
- the obsessed chemistry vibe
- acting
Room For Improvement
- I cannot support a character in a romantic relationship, he basically emotionally tortured the supposed love of his life and is continuing to do so, he is putting his own happiness over the one he claims to love
- the crown was odd
- too much time spent on 1 character in the beginning
- odd music over a flashback
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