Rain will help to water this dry storyline, but too bad, it rarely falls.
To summarize my review of this title in one sentence, I use this famous line, "Ah, they could've done better." They have everything they need, such as good casts, good cameramen, lovely sets, catchy soundtracks and long slots (16 eps). It turns out all those resources don't match their passion. I feel like this series lacks of passion. The main lead, Khim, seems to be bored and angry all the time. So, it is hard for another main lead: Sun, to light the show alone. Khim and Sun interactions seem to be forced. After 14 eps, they still don't have a complete discussion where they can completely discuss one in-depth topic. Both Khim and Sun hardy have a finished sentence to say to each other. As a result, their chemistry fails to take off due to bad writing for their characters.While the main leads fail to nurture the show, Rain comes to the rescue as a supporting role. From the beginning, every time Rain falls, he solves the problem and issues of other characters in the story. His present offers a warm and calm atmosphere that engages audiences fully with him. However, the director takes him out entirely in Ep 13-14. Consequently, it brings the series down. The rating goes down, and critics go south.
As a fan, I won't give up on this series until the finale. But I do hope BL creators keep improving their work in the future. So no talent and resources are being wasted.
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FRESH - he has solutions to all the problems he faces.
Some dislike this series because it changes the direction from the original source material, shifting from BL to Bromance. From a copyright perspective, the author/creator of the story allows for this change; without the creator's permission, it wouldn't have happened. Well...I have not read the original source and have no plans to do so. Therefore, my comment is based solely on what I have watched from the series so far. From my observation, the series is well-made and fresh. Although the story isn't particularly new, the cast is perfect. They have found the ideal male lead in Yoon Chan-young, who not only matches the role physically (very athletic) but also delivers strong acting performances. Chan-young is on point throughout, and his co-stars help him shine. For example, his interactions with Se-kyung (Yiheon) stand out, showcasing his masculinity and alpha qualities, which are satisfying to watch because they give the sense that he has solutions to all the problems he faces.
When this series ends, I am going to miss it completely.
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This review may contain spoilers
A story of cry baby boy with his tough prince charming
I might be a bit ruthless in this review, but here it is. He Jia Hao is portrayed as the youngest, a weak boy, and a crybaby. He is a die-hard fan of his tough "prince" brother, He Jia Shu, who is actually the only child of his uncle. One day, the weak boy has an accident that leaves him in the hospital. From this incident, it is revealed that Jia Shu is not blood-related to his uncle or the He family. The sudden death of Jia Shu’s uncle causes Jia Shu to be kicked out of the He family.Now a teenager, Jia Hao is still obsessed with Jia Shu. This obsession stems from his guilt, as he believes he was the cause of Jia Shu’s expulsion. The tough prince returns to town, and the crybaby Jia Hao cannot let go of him. He tries everything to win the prince's heart back.
Guess what? The crybaby wins the prince’s heart by showing just how weak he is. The title The Way Home seems to symbolize the tough prince's journey back to the He family. BL fans are now hoping and praying that this “way home” will lead to Jia Shu being officially part of the He family—if he marries the crybaby boy, they will share the family name, right? And everyone will be happy.
NB: Somehow, it's hard for me to sympathize with the crybaby character. As for the tough prince, it's funny how he does boxing in jeans in the early episodes. Thank goodness they realized it and changed his costume. The prince is super handsome, though, with a hairstyle that looks like he just came out of a salon in every scene.
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Enjoyable to watch
There’s nothing particularly new about the story. This type of narrative has been told many times before. The themes of love, friendship, loss, and loneliness are also quite familiar. However, the strengths of this anime lie in its execution. The setting, editing, voice acting, and overall production are solid, making it an enjoyable watch.What concerns me, though, is the potential queerbaiting in this anime. The author has stated that the manga is not intended to be queer, yet the interactions and language exchanged between the two boys often suggest a relationship that feels deeper than mere friendship. From a marketing perspective, choosing to make Hikaru a boy instead of a girl was a smart move, as the BL/queer fanbase is large and loyal. So, while the author denies any romantic connection between the boys, it still seems like the story intentionally plays into queer subtext to attract a specific audience.
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Because the depth of field is pretty shallow ...
"Because the depth of field is pretty shallow. So this kind of blur actually becomes a unique feature."Alright, who is the depth of field here—Konno or Hayakawa? My first impression is that it's Hayakawa, as he seems to have lost his focus, while Konno appears to know exactly what he wants next. This kind of dynamic is typical in Japanese BL: one character is well-rounded and grounded, while the other is more uncertain or emotionally shaken. It creates an organic chemistry that feels fresh to watch.
Konno is extremely good-looking—the kind of dreamy boyfriend everyone wants. Hayakawa, on the other hand, is a fresh take on the BL archetype. He has a lot going on internally and approaches his reality with awareness and agency. He’s not a boring character by any means. He definitely won’t just take a hit—he’ll strike back, as we see at the end of episode two when he tests Konno’s limits by confronting him directly. His intention is clear: if Konno can’t handle it, then so be it—Hayakawa is ready to move on and sail in whatever direction he needs to.
This twist is something I hope younger viewers take note of—having the clarity and courage to assert your position in a relationship, especially when it counts, is powerful and necessary. You reveal your emotions and get real, the only way to find out a real relationship sometimes.
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Drama of the first gay young love. Does it hurt?
I've followed this BL closely. I had no idea about the time setting until episode 4, where they watched Love of Siam (2007). So this series setting could be in 2007-2008. Love of Siam was popular at that time in Thailand, baiting straight audiences into thinking they went to the cinema to watch straight romance. The movie marketing techniques focused on showing boy-girl couples, but then boom, it was boy love. Love of Siam, indeed, is one of the best BL movies Thai ever had.Back to My Only 12%. In ep 5, Eiw shared his feeling with his sister Hom. This scene would be powerful, noting Earth was really trying hard to pull it through to make this scene believable. But, his co-actor, Hom, was not at the same level; she was a bit flat. Hom failed to show the deepness of her sympathy and cares for her brother. Maybe because she is still new in the industry, I hope she gets better.
Rin is still being kept. We have not seen her, only one or two scenes so far. But she already created conflict by indirectly affecting Eiw and Cake relationship. Rin made Eiw realize that one way or another, there will be people coming to their small happy relationship. Rin is new to Cake, and Cake seems hard to manage his priority. But, I don't blame Cake because I think for Cake, Eiw is just a really close friend or like a little brother. Most teenagers will go for his/her love interest over their friends, and most friends will understand if their friends bail on them because they are catching a girl/boy. This is a long series (14 eps), so, I think we will see Rin more in the future to contest Cake and Eiw's relationship.
We just knew Sand from ep 4. Sand is still a mysterious guy. So far, he seems to be a perfect boy in terms of his attitude. There are two routes for Sand. One, the director and writer play dirty on him by twisting his behavior to turn to be a bad boy. And somehow, Cake will be a savior for Eiw from Sand. If this route will be chosen, the implication of Cake and Eiw's relationship will be Cake, the boy who stays with Eiw because Eiw is too vulnerable to be alone in this cruel world. The second route is, Sand stays a good boy with very clear about what he wants by showing his love interest to Eiw. We've seen this route from Bas (ITSAY). In this story, Sand's job is to challenge Cake to win Eiw over. Even though (from the title) he won't win, he needs to complete his purpose. I think Sand is a perfect opponent for Cake. If they choose Sand to be a good boy, it will be interesting to see how far Sand can go and how his presence can impact Cake's emotions.
Lastly from my note, while the story keeps intriguing and developing, the production seems backward. The color tone becomes inconsistent and visual assets for the location become too redundant. I hope they will manage to up their production quality game like the earliest eps because we still have like 9 eps. Overall, I am happy with this series. Keep up the good work, guys.
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Who is the Doctor?
This is a good crime drama with a well-written plot and characters. The overlap between characters flows nicely, so it does not feel forced. The pacing is also smooth and well-controlled, preventing the series from feeling slow or boring as the audience learns new things and sees developments in each episode. To me, this is an A series; I give it a 9.I assume I'm not dropping spoilers since what I'm writing here is my guess, as this crime drama plays with a detective theme. To answer my headline question, I'm guessing the 'real' or the 'first' doctor is already dead. Now, who is playing the 'Doctor'? (whom I call the new Doctor). The new Doctor seems to care more about money above all, rather than maintaining control and power. It could be the prosecutor, the widow, the loyal secretary, or the narcotics chief.
While from enemy to friend story is cute and heartwarming, friend turning into an enemy is devastating. In this crime drama, I particularly enjoy the exploration of a friend becoming an enemy, as in this story, they were classmates in high school.
Lastly, Jae Kyung seems to be one step behind. Although it's a bit blurry, someone appears to be reading his moves. Let's see if the writer or director isn't too shy to push this narrative. I believe someone in the Narcotics Team is involved, my bet is on the lady boss. If it's not her, then the head of the Anhyeon Police Station might have something to do with it.
Final note: I understand that it takes a really smart writer to pull off a crime detective story where the culprit is someone close and well-known to everyone. It requires well-crafted settings to cover the tracks without flaws. Otherwise, it will result in plot holes. It would be safer if the writer used a side character, who the main lead is not very close to, as the main culprit.
So, let's see!!!
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Enjoying this perfect cast action drama
So, for those looking for a mature action series, Mercy for None is for you. The story is straightforward and easy to follow. It prominently features a tall, good-looking Korean man in black suits. The fight scenes are harsh and brutal, and they’re delivered well—with strong acting, solid choreography, and impressive technical lighting that sets the mood. Overall, I enjoyed watching this series, and I recommend it if you're looking for something to watch this weekend.Was this review helpful to you?
The dentist guy won my heart
I give it 9 out of 10 because this series is simply entertaining. All casts are full of pretty boys. Eps 1-3 I mostly felt nothing, I started paying attention to ep 4 and 5. Even though they have inserted Bai Land's backstory, Bai Lang as a character seems to be forced and his whole personality seems not to make sense. The dentist, on other hand, at the beginning his character seems to be boring and one-dimensional but it comes out he's more believable than Bai Lang. So, the dentist guy won my heart so far. He doesn't contain many expressions and manages to be like a real 'dentist.' He shifts little by little to make people love him and be the soul of this series.Was this review helpful to you?
I am here for these BEAUTIFUL BOYS!!!
"I have been living like this for 5 years already.... I will continue living this way...." Hiro said in his head. The loneliness bait caught me off guard; I wondered how somebody be so young but so lonely at the same time. And Kai enters the scene out of nowhere. Kai, as kid when he was like, maybe 10-12 years old, promised to marry Hiro. Here, you have a story of Perpect Propose.Hiro and Kai are beautiful boys!!! And they will have a beautiful story indeed. The opening sequence has a beautiful song.
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This is a good series
This is a good series. I haven't watched the original La Mante (the French version), so my whole opinion is based just on this Korean adaptation.Even though I’ve seen tons of shows and movies in this genre, and there’s not a lot that feels new or original in terms of the story, I still really enjoyed it. The cast is probably the best part of this version. The queen absolutely owns the role—she brings everything to it and really brings this “mantis” character to life. She actually reminds me a bit of Sarah Linden from The Killing, but from a very different angle.
Fans of Mindhunter and The Silence of the Lambs should definitely give Queen Mantis a shot. The queen has a moral compass kind of like Dexter Morgan, but set in a world that feels more like Hannibal Lecter meets Edmund Kemper.
I really hope the son develops into more of a Clarice Starling-type character. But honestly, it’s a bit weird that he seems to be falling in love—feels super out of place given the dark family history. Personally, I don’t think he’s capable of giving or receiving love. But maybe the writers are setting this up for a twisted climax, like the ending of Se7en.
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A guilty pleasure -- Let's enjoy this soapy drama
Even though this will be a long ride (28 episodes), four aired episodes took off to set a direction for where this ride will be. Maybe there will be a plot twist, but we know a big storm ahead for the central conflict of the series, as the curse has been spelled at the beginning of the series.Thian, as a leading source of the conflict, will need to make difficult decisions in the future. The firstborn prince in the family, Thian's fate wanted to be set by both his mom and his dad. As perfect as he seems, he admits that 'nobody is perfect.' His smart mom acknowledges Thian's shortcomings. What his mom, Lady/Madam Li, does not know yet is that he has already met his freefall; a guy who sells candy: Jia.
As the leader lady in the house, Li might outsmart Jan by endorsing Thian and Yang's relationship. Yang's innocent and warm personality trait has bound to Thian, he gives his loyalty to his brother. By far, this is precisely what Lady Li wants. What Lady Li overlook is Thian's big love for his brother; he sees his brother as capable of running the family business as well as his brother could be his escape to the position he never wanted in the very first place.
In this messiness and hungry for power, we have Bua as an ally for Thian and Yang. Soon, Yingphin will join as an ally. As a Ying, she will be perfectly perfect for her Yang. Thian and Yang's brotherhood will be contested in the future. I assume Yang's faith in Thian will never be broken as long as he keeps him on his side. Their relationship test will be my main interest to see in this series and how it will be unfolded.
I enjoy the soupy acting by Lady Jan(chan/Yang's mom) and her maid. These two should win the best couple award. They will be the source of humor in this show; no matter what they have done, people will forgive them because of their comical silliness.
They also have a really good set, a solid interior set. Thanks to the production and creative team for making this historic style into scenes. It looks fresh and lovely.
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The top saves the day
All good for this short series. However, I have to mention, Jiwon is quite unconvincing as a gymnastics medalist, mainly because of his posture. You can be small and look soft as a gymnast, but your body won’t lie; it should reflect physical competitiveness and toughness. The top, on the other hand, is incredibly attractive. His dominant presence and perfect appearance really save the day for this series.Was this review helpful to you?
Enjoy the comedy
The body is always a sensitive topic. Audiences might feel overwhelmed when the central theme is about being too skinny, too fat, or even just average. So, this series probably isn’t for everyone. The way the male character is portrayed may come across as too extreme for some viewers, especially in how he talks about and reacts to body image. It might feel too harsh for people who struggle with body issues. However, this characterization of the gym instructor works for me—I was actually worried they’d go with a sugar-coated personality to address the idea of working out. Instead, I think the male character is being honest and genuinely wants his trainee to achieve their goals.I like the female lead because, even though she seems like an old character who has never been lucky in love and struggles with body image, she still sets high standards for herself in other areas. For example, in the workplace, she knows she’s good at her job, so she’s confident, capable, and stands her ground against co-workers who might try to take advantage of her.
The best part of this series is the comedy. I'm here for the laughs, and I’ve really enjoyed and been entertained by it. I hope they can keep the humor going until the end of the series. For me, it’s a solid 9 out of 10
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Taking the tour
While Big Dragon (BD) offers nothing new, it's still worth watching for BL fans. The attraction and cinematic volume for Big Dragon have been explored in KinnPorsche. The hate-to-love relationship story presents in almost the BL series. Handsome and beautiful faces are a basic requirement to be in the BL. And well, after many stories revolving around Engineering program and its students, now, the Thai BL era has entered the BL stories in the Architecture program (Bad Buddy, Big Dragon, etc.).Why is BD still worth watching? My question is as a BL fan what is to expect from the BL series? If you are expecting to see handsome faces, a bit of soft-sexual touch man-to-man, chemistry, a bit of humor and a good production; BD has those all. So, it is worth watching. BD will insert some imaginative stories into the fiction world of BL about very attractive university students who have no barrier in acting to have sex and love between M2M. The question left to answer for the main character Mangkorn and Yai is only, do I love this guy? if yes, what does it take to love him? Answering this question will be the tour of this 8-episode series. I am taking the tour because even though I am not expecting something new from the tour, I am still looking forward to how they will unpack the journey of this tour.
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