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Raw & mostly well-paced Mafia drama full of plot twists but with a poor romance
We’ve all been burnt by mafia/gang dramas that end up being the watered down version. “The Bangkok Boy” is an exception. It’s gritty and violent, and gave us great fight scenes that usually are rare in Thai dramas. Caution though, this is not a standard BL and don’t go in expecting sweet, cute or a fluffy romance. This is a mafia drama first, and romance is a small part of this. Actually, I felt that the romance is the weakest part of this drama.There are twists and turns, and you thought you figured everything out for a standard mafia drama about gangs fighting for the turf. But there’s more to “The Bangkok Boy”. Add some revenge, in-gang fighting, drug dealing, questionable alliances and a Romeo-and-Juliet type romance, there’s a lot to handle here. I found the pacing of the drama done pretty well up until the last 2 episodes. In the first 10 episodes, there’s a good balance of everything to keep me interested (though there were minor plot holes here and there). But then, when the drama is coming to an end, all the twists and secrets are revealed, especially in the last episode. Even though certain elements were hinted at, it was a lot of info and revelation dumped on the audience in the last hour. This drama can benefit from another episode of two, so that these plot twists could be better executed. Now, it just feels rushed especially with how the drama ends.
The acting is decent. I was surprised to see that this is many actor’s first serious roles and many are quite new to the industry. This goes for Cho Si Hyeong (Peace), Choi Seung Ho (Jung Ho), Phoom (Tim), Aon (Aim), Phee (Ji Hun), Dom (Nap), and Hwang Jun Su (Seong Hun). Our protagonist, Sun (played by Tape) is more experienced than the other young actors, and it shows. He has the most scenes and is the best of the bunch. Unfortunately, Cho Si Hyeon (Peace) couldn’t act at the same level. As a first-timer, he’s not bad and actually has flashes of good acting in some scenes. He obviously acts better when he’s speaking Korean than Thai. For a drama with so many newbies, “The Bangkok Boy” delivers pretty decent acting from the whole cast (trust me, I’ve seen worse in Thai BLs). None of them really stood out as awful. The only acting performance I dislike is probably from Madame Yao.
Let’s talk about romance. It’s not good and I already knew romance is only a small part of the drama. However, there’s no chemistry between Sun and Peace at all. Viewers have to wait for a couple episodes for them to be on the same screen. I actually thought their initial encounter at the gallery was pretty good. The little date/outing wasn’t bad either. But starting from the near kiss in ep 6 and to them sorta officially being together, that’s when it fails. The drama no doubt gave us a pretty raw and emotional sexy scene. Given what just happened to Peace and Sun, this NC scene isn’t bad. There are other pretty good kisses, but the emotion and chemistry are not there. The secondary romance is just as bad. No sign of affection from Mei at all, and then they just got their sexy on and became a couple??
I do applaud the actors for training hard and fighting. I was very impressed with the action scenes. The fighters don’t look so ‘professional’ that they either win all the time, or get beaten up all the time. The action scenes are hard-hitting and well-choreophraphed, and the actors don’t look like they are thinking about the next move. Most of the actors have good punches and kicks. I am not sure if Choi Seung Ho (Jun Ho) was a taekwondo black belt, but his kicks are high and strong!
Another thing I like about this drama is that it’s a pretty good Korean/Thai collaboration. There have been quite a few of these lately, but aside from the cringey English dialogs in the beginning, the switch between Thai and Korean feels pretty smooth. I don’t speak either language, so I don’t know how good the actors' pronunciation is. To me who is reading subtitles, the switch between languages when talking to different people is done right. Of course, except for English, but I’ll look the other way.
Overall, I had a good time watching “The Bangkok Boy”. It doesn’t shy away from the violence that should be in a mafia drama. The pacing is good but the plot twists get too overwhelming in the end. The romance and the chemistry of both romance storylines are disappointing though. If you are looking for a typical BL or romance, this is not yet. If you don’t like fighting, abuse or violence, then stay away from this drama as well.
Completed: 9/30/2025 Review #628
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Elements of an epic drama but individual Arcs fail to weave together for greater impact
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“Love in Pavilion” has all the elements of an epic fantasy xianxia that can move me to tears, especially when it has such a strong focus on romance. I LOVE romance. But as I am approaching the last quarter of the drama, I realized why it didn’t hit me with all the feelings as much as “Moonlight Mystique” (MM). I finished MM not too long ago and even though the plot is different, there are some similarities. I love MM and felt its strength is the weakness of “Love in Pavilion” (LIP).
MM is able to weave each individual supporting character’s arc beautifully and harmoniously into the overarching plot. The most important part is that MM introduces all characters in the earlier episodes and allows viewers to start caring for them individually early on. When such an affection is established, what happens to them later on affects me deeply, because I already fell in love with each and everyone of them.
Unfortunately, I have not developed such an affection for the supporting cast in LIP. Although the actors did a fine job acting wise, and their stories are heartwarming and heartwrenching, it did not arouse the same emotions compared to MM. After one arc is over, I just move on to the second one, and so on. It’s not until the last few episodes during the final battle do I really feel for the characters. At that point, I already knew the ending and though sad, it didn’t gut punch me as hard.
However, I can’t deny loving the guest roles and the small supporting roles of some big stars. They often are scene stealers and overshadow the main cast. Ding Yu Xi is especially outstanding as Zhang Zheng. His eyes really shine the brightest with the different emotions. I would have liked to see him introduced sooner and start building his sideplot and not wait till the second half. I also enjoy Charles Lin’s portrayal of the Demon Jiu Huo. He was deliciously charismatic compared to Zhang Yun Long as the main lead. The rest of the supporting cast did well individually, but it lacked chemistry as a group/duo/trio.
To be fair, Zhang Yun Long actually did a pretty good job. I think it’s the writing of his character that is the problem and it makes him pale in comparison to the aforementioned actors/characters. I miss seeing Wangquan Hong Ye when he was powerful, manipulative and a little cunning in the first few episodes. But once he falls in love and the drama focuses so much on his romance, he becomes an adorable loverboy. I also find Zhang Yun Long and Liu Shi Shi’s chemistry to be only decent. Liu Shi Shi always gives me the impression of a graceful, mild-mannered but standoff-ish beauty. Their love is too mature and too calm as a river for the most part. I am missing some underlying sizzle or angst (except the few scenes when FL was being a seductress). Oh, their kisses are disappointing. In fact, almost all the kisses are disappointing except for one of Ding Yu Xi’s.
I watched quite a number of xianxia in the last couple months, and unfortunately, this one is one that I didn’t enjoy as much, and I really wanted to. I don’t deny the fact that I might be having a xianxia hangover/fatigue. Therefore, I can’t really say whether I can recommend or not recommend this drama. I didn’t watch the prequel (Red-Moon Pact) and that didn’t affect my understanding of the “Love in Pavilion”. But I do plan to watch the sequel (Sword and Beloved) to follow the next generation’s story, well, unless the reviews are as bad as Red-Moon Pact.
Other Random Observations:
I am disappointed that everyone is dubbed in this drama.
But, I do think Zhang Yun Long’s real voice might not match the voice of Wangquan Hong Ye. The voice actor sounds better.
CGI is bad in the beginning but seems to have improved in the second half. There’s a lot of CGI fighting (as in other xianxia dramas).
Not enough happy moments to balance out the sad moments.
I like the costumes and accessories, especially the guest roles.
ML’s mask is too hilarious. I can’t blame Liu Shi Shi for not being able to keep a straight face.
Completed: 5/17/2025 - Review #577
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Great for Macau Tourism, but drama lost its focus on the leads in the last quarter of the drama.
As a Macau native myself, I was really excited to see that a drama was set in Macau and starring the sexy Elvis Han. Of course, I’ve got to check it out. I believe this drama was made in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau’s Handover back to mainland China from Portugal.If the drama’s main goal is to celebrate and promote Macau to attract tourists, “Begin Again” scores a 10/10. It showcases the beautiful sceneries of Macau, both the modern Las Vegas of the East full of world class hotels and resorts, but also Macau’s Chinese and Portuguese cultures and influences. There are many food scenes of delicious and expensive-looking food, and local delicacies with neighborly and familial love. After watching this drama, you would definitely want to visit Macau.
However, if I judge “Begin Again’ strictly as a drama, then I am giving this an 8 out of 10. Despite excellent chemistry and acting performances from the four main leads, their romantic stories were not executed perfectly. This is due to the drama’s lack of focus on the main leads especially in the last few episodes. The drama wasted time on characters such as Casey, her family drama and the piano boy. Their friendship is unique and could have been fun if they had their own drama. But in “Begin Again”, their storyline feels out of place and takes away time from the leads. Additionally, too much time was spent on Howard and Jia Jia, and Jia Jia’s parents’ relationships. I fast-forwarded some of their scenes.
On a positive note, I really enjoy the collaboration of Chinese and Hong Kong actors. I was so glad the Cantonese wasn’t dubbed over into Mandarin. It’s just not the same as the Cantonese jokes and slang would be lost in translation. As a Cantonese speaker myself, I enjoy the Xu family scenes immensely - their banter, argument and nosiness. The Xu family brings out the warmth in a slice-of-life drama. I just need them, I don’t need the other side characters.
But as for the main reason for my watch, of course it’s for my big crush on Elvis Han, especially after seeing him in “Fake It Till You Make It”. I was glad to see Elvis in a different role. He’s a little shy and not the confident playboy that he was in the other drama. He’s actually quite adorable in his cute flirting and pursuit of Josephine/Chen Jia Hui. Elvis and Zhong Chu Xi have great chemistry together, though their romance peaks too early. I thought the flirting and the push-and-pull will last longer but I guess since they are mature and know what they want, they went for it. Nevertheless, they are a visually beautiful pair.
The other romantic pair is the more adorable couple of Mai You Ge and Xu Jun Le. Their opposite attracts romance develops a little more slowly from friends-to-lovers. They also have great chemistry, but not the sizzling version as the other pair. And like most viewers, I am more invested in them. Unfortunately, they seem to have disappeared in the last quarter of the drama. After the confession, I was expecting a little more of them as they navigate through these emotions and reality. Instead, they gave way to the other minor characters who took up way too much time in the last few episodes.
The leads careers also play a big part in the drama, especially when romance seems to have helped each of them grow and impact them in some of their life decisions. I enjoy scenes of their professions. I may not be a fan of car racing, but watching Elvis race (he’s actually a race car driver and has a license) is a pleasure. I was glad the drama did not gloss over the Grand Prix scenes as those were actually quite exciting. The Grand Prix is a big deal in Macau, so I actually doubt they would cut those scenes. Afterall, the drama wants to promote Macau.
I would recommend this drama if you are interested in learning more about Macau and are thinking of it as a future vacation destination. It’s also a good drama to watch if you are fans of the leads and are looking for something quite light-hearted. However, I would not say this is a must-watch.
Completed: 4/14/2025 - Review #566
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I came in with low expectations because I am not a fan of over-the-top comedy. I heard about some of the second-hand embarrassment and seen posts about them. However, I like Landy Li and also want to see Tan Jian Ci in a comedy, so I am giving this a try. Despite what I worried about did come true a little, I had a good time watching the drama, especially in the second half (minus a few episodes).
Comedy
I might drop this drama if I came in blind and knew nothing about it. The second-hand embarrassment comedy really isn’t my cup of tea. Luckily, it tones down after episode 6 or 7. There are actually many funny moments and dialogues that I enjoy and the drama does not need to resort to the overdramatic and crazy stuff. The cast has great comedic timing, the drama has a great message, and the plot despite it being a ‘fantasy’ is sincere. But this is all very subjective. I recognize there are others who enjoy this type of humor or are in need of it at the moment.
Pacing/Plot
As I mentioned, I actually liked the second half of the drama more. I think the arc with Su Miao lasts too long. I was getting impatient and wanted to know when the truth is going to come up and when the leads can start developing their relationship. Fang Jin and Quan Sheng Tang’s arc is a little shorter and I believe when the real Fang Jin showed up that I started to really enjoy the drama. It was during her arc when the message of loving and respecting oneself first truly shines. I also feel back for our poor ML. Not only was he lied to many times, he had 3 traumatic experiences because of the Filter. It was just too much for anyone to endure. I thought he should be angry for longer! I also wish the drama didn’t spend so much time on Gu Yu and Lin Yuan in the last 3 episodes.
Main Leads -Tang Qi (ML) and Su Cheng Cheng (FL) are both flawed by very likable characters.
Tang Qi (Tan Jian Ci) - It’s nice to see Tan Jian Ci play a nerdy scientist/researcher who has never been in love, yet questions his own character when he falls in love twice within a short period of time. Tang Qi has some ‘red flags’ as well. Maybe due to his profession, he is persistent and won’t give up until he gets his answers. His stalkerish and overbearing behavior towards Su Miao and Fang Jin could be alarming. They clearly wanted to avoid him, yet he won’t give up. But you can’t deny he is sweet, caring, considerate and thoughtful. When he’s with Su Cheng Cheng finally, he’s the perfect boyfriend. He is nerdy shy yet assertive, caring and thoughtful, and supportive in the most calming and mature way.
Su Cheng Cheng (Landy Li) - I applaud Landy for wearing minimal makeup for most of the drama with pimples here and there. But it’s quite a stretch to say Su Cheng Cheng and Landy Li are unattractive. She’s so pretty! Poor girl has gone through a lot her whole life despite trying to work hard and be the best that she could be. Who could have faulted her for falling into the slippery slope or opening the Pandora box of the Filter. Su Cheng Cheng is a female lead that I root for from beginning to the end. She’s hardworking, smart and observant, who when given the chance, excels in her work and doesn’t have to rely on any guy.
Romance
Tang Qi and Su Cheng Cheng really tested my patience. It took a very long time for the truth to be revealed and a chance for them to be together. I would have liked another episode or two of the courting, and then another episode of them being cute together. But once they are together, the drama rewards my patience with their sweet interactions. I love an adorkable nerdy ML, and Tan Jian Ci delivers big time. Whenever I see them together, I grinned like an idiot with a big smile on my face. It doesn’t hurt that their kisses are spaced out well (not feeling forced or like fan service) and they are not dead fish kisses.
Gu Yu and Lin Yuan are also very cute together. I enjoy the development of their romance from enemies to lovers. They have great chemistry and just take up enough screen time for me to care about their storyline without taking too much time away from the main leads. However, when the reason why Lin Yuan was hesitant to date Gu Yu was revealed, I have a feeling that reason is going to cause some trouble in the future. And I was right. They took up the last 3 episodes of the drama, and I wish that time was devoted to our leads instead. That little bit also doesn’t jive with the general theme of the drama, but it’s more about them. But they have great chemistry and it doesn’t hurt to see another green flag boyfriend on my screen.
Acting + Supporting Cast
The four main leads did not disappoint. I’ve seen them in many other dramas before and know that they can act. Tan Jian Ci was excellent playing this nerdy and adorkable male lead. It’s a big contrast when he’s the professional developing the next big item, and when he’s in love and acting all inexperienced. Landy Li’s role also demands her to have a range of emotions, and she delivers. The rest of the supporting cast did well with a mix of veterans (FL’s super supportive parents) and child actors (younger versions of the leads).
Production
I find it interesting that I don’t like the makeup in this drama, especially the men” Tan Jian Ci, Gao Han Yu and Wang Hong Yi. Compared to when I saw Gao Han Yu in “Dine with Love” he looks less handsome with a pale and gaunt look. Is it just me thinking that? Landy Li with her minimal makeup looks so much prettier than some with the white cakey foundation. On the other hand, “Filter” has an interesting and eclectic OST. I don’t think we can find another song in any other drama that’s about an alpaca. Too bad I can’t find the full OST on Spotify. It is always lovely to hear Tan Jian Ci sing in his drama.
Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. I would recommend this if you are looking for something lighthearted and funny, and don’t like some over-the-top comedy. Fans of Tan Jian Ci and Landy Li should check this out as well. “Filter” has a good message and it’s more than loving and respecting oneself. In the last episode, when the 'final touch' product was introduced, the leads spoke of a very important message to convey. I believe that’s the main moral of the story/drama. I don’t want to spoil it, but will put that in the comment section. Because this was a slow start for me, I can't give this a solid 8.5+. But it's on par to how I feel about "The First Frost" and "The Best Thing" - an 8.25
Completed: 4/6/2025 - Review #564
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Decent short Vertical drama with Good Romance and Chemistry
Saw a fellow MDL friend recommended “Evening Star for You” as a pretty good vertical drama. I was in need of a quick romance fix. Here we are, 100 episodes later (which is only about 3.5 hours long), I got my fix.It’s true that it’s pretty good for a low budget production. I watched the compiled version on YouTube with muted music and sound. It was a little annoying, but it’s to be expected. The romance is developed nicely and quite sweet. The acting of the leads is solid and they have good chemistry together. I am a fan of contract marriage, and their relationship is healthy with good communication. Even if there’s some misunderstanding, the issue is resolved quickly and just helps to build a more solid foundation of their love. If you need a quick romance fix, this is a good one.
But of course, there are still some plot holes here and there. We have a couple irritating ‘villains’ but no one so despicable that ruined my viewing pleasure. You’ll see characters recycling their outfits and some are super cliche and laughable. But it’s all in good fun and I guess part of vertical dramas’ charms?
Completed: 11/23/2024 - Review #519
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Strong leads chemistry but not enough to compensate for uninspiring fantasy plot
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“Eye Love You” has so much potential yet the writing and execution did not live up to the high expectations after a very lovely start. The adorable Chae Jong Hyeop carries the show on his back with a little assistance from his co-star, female lead, Nikaido Fumi.
The best part about “Eye Love You” is the chemistry between the leads. They are so adorable together: from their initial encounter to Tae Oh assertively courts Yuri. Chae Jong Hyeop has such a cute, puppy face that when he smiles, he lights up the screen and there’s no way anyone can say no to him. Nikaido Fumi is beautiful with big round, emotive eyes. Together, they are a beautiful pair with good chemistry. However, there are some frustrating moments as well. Tae Oh might be a tad obsessive and pushy, while Yuri is quite wishy-washy and indecisive.
The show knows viewers would love their romance, thus, might have intentionally or unintentionally dedicated more than 60% of the screen time on their cat-and-mouse romance. I was watching this for a unique fantasy romance, but what I got was a slice-of-life drama with the sole focus on the romance and nothing much for 6 - 7 episodes. When they finally got to the mystery of the special power, it was like child’s play. Why and how did she get the superpower? Is it really because of the accident? For such a serious consequence for being in love, everyone just believes in whatever that person says? The last couple episodes were rushed and the ending is just OK.
I would also love to know more about the business operations of ‘Dolce and Chocolat’ and how two environmentalists would team up and open a company together. That initial one or two liners description is not enough. There’s a lot more potential to give the business plot a little more light.
Nevertheless, I can’t deny the fact that I enjoy the main leads’ romance (to a certain point) but not the secondary romance. That one is weird and seems like an afterthought. I’ve loved Chae Jong Heyop since “Love All Play” and I was happy to see him in “Eye Love You”. I am not sure if he’s fluent in Japanese, but he made me believe he is. It also doesn’t hurt that we have a lovely second male lead who is very handsome.
I would only recommend this drama if you are a fan of the leads, and if romance is all you need but nothing else.
Completed: 5/13/2024 - Review #439
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Interesting Plot but Annoyed with all the slow-motion scenes
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75“Hard to Find” is a mid-length drama that actually has a very interesting and attractive plot. With 28 episodes and about 20 minutes each, I would not consider this as a mini-drama, like most of the dramas that male lead, Zhao Yi Qin, is known for. There’s a lot to like, yet quite a few areas that annoy me.
What I Like:
General Plot - I really do find the general plot/story of this drama interesting. I especially enjoyed the first half of the drama when the leads reunited, up until she regained her memory. The story is easy to follow, yet not overly simple. It has a good mix of romance, fantasy plot, mystery, revenge and a little bit of palace politics.
Shen Yu Jie (FL) - Shen Yu Jie plays the female lead, Feng Yuan. The costume designer and hairstylist got brownie points from me for dressing her up so beautifully. Her acting is also the best of the cast. Checking out her profile, I realized she’s only 22 years old but has been in quite a few bigger budget dramas. I thought she is also one of those mini-dramas actresses. I see a lot of potential in her.
Great visuals & production - For a lower budget drama, “Hard to Find” is beautiful to watch. Not only is the whole cast good-looking, but some of the scenes are shot beautifully. Costumes, hair accessories, set designs and props, all look pretty good and not cheap. I also enjoy the songs played, even though they are overplayed.
Wang Ze Xuan - Without spoiling too much, I just have to say I enjoyed his acting in the last 5 episodes of the drama. He looks so ‘pretty’ and portrays the character in a dramatic fashion, but not over-the-top. I’ve seen him in “A Familiar Stranger” and I guess he’s got a knack for playing the bad guys convincingly.
What Bothers Me:
Slow Motion Everything - This is very personal, but I generally dislike the use of slow-motion in dramas for extra dramatic effects. I especially detest fight scenes that are sloooow moving and have actors posing during a fight. The first comment I wrote down in my notes is slow mo fighting (yuck!). There aren’t even that many fight scenes, so to not be able to enjoy a few good ones is disappointing. Not only the fight scenes slow, there are sooo many scenes that are shot like that. I get more and more annoyed towards the second half of the drama. It also drags down the pace as well, and I lose my focus slightly in the second half because of that. Additionally, they also change the voiceover to this slow echoey voice, and add in non-stop background music during these slow scenes.
Zhao Yi Qin (ML) - I have seen Zhao Yi Qin in quite a few mini dramas and have generally enjoyed them. For some reason, he seems to be trying very hard in this drama and appears overly dramatic. When he’s acting angry, he looks exaggerated. He frowns more than I’ve seen in his other dramas. For some reason, his acting is just not clicking with him. He’s a good-looking guy, but if I have to compare what he looks like in his MDL profile picture and him in this drama, he looks a little gaunt and exhausted, even during the honeymoon phase of the romance. Is he overworked?
Over-the-top Dramatics - Not only is Zhao Yi Qin’s acting a little over dramatic, there are many elements in this drama that are like this. The drama is trying too hard to stand out, yet comes across as trying too hard. I think the drama would be so much better if it is a little more grounded and tones down on all the dramatics (constant background music playing, shining light on faces, wind blowing at hair, etc.) The drama has a solid script but lacks perfect execution.
“Hard to Find” has such a strong start and I was willing to give it an 8.5 rating, until all the slow motion scenes accumulated and annoyed the heck out of me. The second half also loses some steam and the pace slows down. Unfortunately, in the end, I will have to give a lower rating of 7.75. I might rate this lower if this is a bigger budget production. “Hard to Find” is still a decent drama if you want something short with an interesting plot. But this is definitely not a must-see.
Completed: 5/5/2024 - Review #436
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A Sweet & Fluffy Romance but Not a good Sports Romance Drama
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25If you want a fluffy romance, then you are at the right place. The romance between Lin Yi Yang (ML) and Yin Guo (FL) is the central plot, and everything else is to support their romance. They have excellent chemistry together. If you are looking for a sports drama, you will be bored in the ⅔ of the drama, but a little more delighted in the last third.
Main Romance
I am personally not a big fan of love-at-first sight, and it’s even harder to believe it happens to Lin Yi Yang, a guy who is too busy to think about love. But nevertheless, it happens to him in the most unrealistic way, and the rest is history. ML is the perfect boyfriend - smart, caring, considerate, loyal, only has eyes for FL and ignore all suitors, and most importantly, loving through actions and not sweet-talking. Luckily(?), he’s not as perfect as the ML in “Love Me, Love My Voice” (LMLMV). He actually has a personality and flaws, which makes the romance a little more interesting. There are plenty of loving and longing gazes, and Leo Wu can melt anyone with his eyes. The romance is cute and fluffy, and really does make me smile. However, after about 15 episodes of nothing but sweet romance, I got a little bored. There are a few episodes that were soooo slow and draggy that I wish FL would just go back to China already. They really only knew each other for a very short period of time, and they fell fast and hard. A week of dating and you’re already telling each other how much money/assets you own? There are quite a few of OK kisses, definitely not as extended or passionate as in LMLMV, which is a little disappointing. What’s more disappointing is FL constantly blocking ML’s kisses and rejecting him. Some say ML is a little horny. But I’d say you have limited time together and you see each other once a week, of course he wants to kiss and hold his girlfriend as often as possible before they are separated. The constant rejection becomes rather annoying and repetitive. I’d rather FL kisses back shyly than turning her head away. Having said that, this is a lovely romance from start to finish. They met as shy young adults, and grow to support each other unconditionally. I love how FL expresses to ML that she would be behind him 100% and be his safety net.
Other Romance
Well, basically non-existent. There’s plenty of time to shower us with more scenes of the smoking hot Wang Xing Yue/Meng Xiao Dong and his romance with Lin Lin. They obviously had a very interesting past and I’d like to see a more smitten Meng Xiao Dong. I want to see how they could break up 3 times, yet still are very attracted to each other. What a lost opportunity! If the drama has spent less time in the first half of the drama on a super slow-paced romance, there will be time left in the second half for this romance, and other more interesting plot.
Snooker/Billiard
Watching this drama reminded me of watching my dad play snooker at the snooker hall when I was little. And this is one of the reasons I want to watch this drama. Rarely do we see this profession being spotlighted in a drama, let alone an idol drama. I enjoyed all the competitions and friendly battles. The drama does not really describe the sport, so if you know nothing about snooker/billiard, you might be bored. There’s a lot of strategies involved in the sport, but this drama is not trying to educate the public. The camaraderie of the players reminded me also of e-sports. You can be friends off the court, but respectful competitors on the court. In the end, China just can’t shy away from this national pride, and the writers have to insert international competitions into this drama. I actually would have liked to see how Lin Yi Yang transforms and modernizes the club. I want to see the process and the result of his new ideas, but that plot is short-changed.
Healing
Before I watched this drama, I read that viewers dislike ML moving back to China for FL and giving up his original plan. I disagree with that. ML did not give up his dreams. Instead, FL is the catalyst and the push that he needed to really pursue his dreams. He longs to go back to China and correct what he’s done. He longs to go back home. He wants to see his Teacher again. Meeting FL and seeing how passionate she is about the world he left behind, is the best thing that could have happened to him. The second half of the drama focuses on ML’s journey home and to reconnect with those that he left behind. It was really touching when ML and his teacher reconnected.
Brotherhood/History
There aren’t enough scenes of the 3 brothers in this drama. As much as I love romance, I really wish there’s more time spent on the past and present friends/brothers/frenemies between Lin Yi Yang, Meng Xiao Dong and Jiang Yang. The three men have so much chemistry together and are so fun to watch their sarcastic comments to each other. I also wanted to know how ML lived his life from when he retired from age 16 to 27.
Acting/Supporting Cast
I enjoy everyone’s acting, especially our leads, Leo Wu and Zhao Jin Mai. Leo can play a lovesick puppy so well. I don’t think anyone can be immune to his gazes to FL. He has some very emotional scenes when he speaks with his eyes, as Lin Y Yang is a man of few words. Leo did a pretty good job. Zhao Jin Mai/Yin Guo appeared quite mature when she was first introduced. But as she started dating, her youth shows and she acts a lot younger than ML. However, once she’s in competition-mode, you can see the calm maturity and fierceness in Zhao Jin Mai’s eyes. The rest of the younger cast did a fairly good job. Of course, the veterans are great, e.g. FL’s mother and ML’s teacher. There aren't any annoying characters in this drama. Instead, we have loving families and supportive team members and competitors.
I recommend this drama if you are looking for a cute and fluffy romance. Mind you, there are times when the plot is a little slow in the first half but if you just want romance, then this is good. However, if you are looking for a well-balanced sports romance, then this is not a great one. Too much focus is spent on romance and not enough on the competition or other interesting sports plot. Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time watching this.
Other Random Observations:
1. I know all eyes should be on Leo Wu, but Wang Xing Yue is so smoking hot in suits.
2. People in Finland only speak English and Chinese? I don’t think I hear any Finnish at all.
3. I like a FL who is just as amazing professionally as the male characters. FL looks so cool.
4. Pestering a player about his love life and forcing him to confess his love during an international tournament is so UNPROFESSIONAL!!!
5. How can a player who just had surgery be selected to the national team???
Completed: 3/3/2024 - Review #413
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A worthy Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor
Enough praises have been showered for this amazing thriller, and no wonder it’s a Baeksang winner for Best Drama and Best Actor. I feel that it’s even more amazing when this drama has an original script and not an adaptation of a novel or webtoon. Adaptations seem to be so common these days that original ideas from screenwriters have run dry. This genre is not usually my cup-of-tea and I was hesitant to watch even though I know it’s a masterpiece. I’m so glad this was assigned to me during a challenge and ‘forces’ me to witness the amazing acting of the whole cast.Shin Ha Kyun’s award for Best Actor is so deserving. As a veteran, and mostly a movie veteran, he was perfectly casted as the “crazy” cop who was desperate to find his murdered sister’s missing body for over 20 years. Being accused of killing his sister and living a really hard life, Shin Ha Kyun was able to portray all the emotions of grief, guilt, regret, hate, and being loved by his found family. I was haunted by the evil grin and eyes he showed from time to time, but also cried for him when he’s been hurt so deeply by people close to him.
On another note, Yeo Jin Goo held his own playing opposite the amazing Shin Ha Kyun. He has grown so much as an actor and continues to amaze me whenever he’s in a serious drama. I first loved him as the young crown prince in “Moon Embracing the Sun” but really acknowledged his acting in “The Crowned Clown”. Although he is probably best known for his role in “Hotel del Luna”, I think with him being in “Beyond Evil” and playing with so many great veteran actors must be a very enjoyable process. Yeo Jin Goo’s character, Han Joo Won, might not be as multi-layered as Shin Ha Kyun’s character, Lee Dong Shik. Joo Won could be a little more emotionless but Yeo Jin Goo’s micro expressions and subtle yet emotional acting shines through. I might be more impressed by this young fella than the veterans.
But honestly, the whole cast from the found family of friends, to the villains who cause troubles, they are all amazing. The group of friends who hung out at the restaurant after work each night brings warmth to my heart. They care for and love each other, yet each harbors a secret that you will discover one by one. The villains are not cartoonish. They are so well-written that you don’t feel like you can hate them outright.
The friendship/partnership between the leads is fun to witness. Do they really trust each other as partners? Are they just using each other for their own purposes? Do they really care for each other? Is their next move to protect the partner? This drama keeps me guessing and I love both of them. I really want them to want to die and sacrifice for each other, even though you will never hear them say that out loud.
Lastly, the drama keeps me interested and engaged throughout. From my novice eyes, I love the plot and twists. I thought initially why they let me know the murderer so early on and then I realized, there’s so much more to the story. Different side plots seem to all intertwine into the main plot. It keeps me guessing but not guessing. It’s like you know who the big bad wolf is, but you wonder how the drama is going to show you. I enjoy the showing and not telling approach. There are some pretty intense scenes and a few pretty grueling visuals (after all this is about murders).
If I am going to be nick picky, there are a few minor questions I have about the storyline. Why would Ha Joo Won pick that certain someone for the sting operation? Why her? How did he know she would be chosen? What's the commonality of all the murder victims? Is there a reason to the madness? I would have loved to know more about the backstory of the murderer and what drove him into this madness.
I am really glad I watched this, even though I might have fallen asleep watching it because I was too tired from work. It’s not the fault of the drama, but it does require my focus and attention 100% because each scene and each facial expression is important. I strongly recommend this if you are a lover of this drama, or if you are a novice like me and want to start with something amazing.
Completed: 3/1/2024 - Review #412
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Not as bad as the rating but also Not a masterpiece. It's OK.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75 ( a little bump to up the rating)The English title, “Hide from the Rain” sounds so much more romantic than the other title “I Keep a Gigolo”. Yet according to Google translate, the translation of the official Japanese title “Watashi ga Himo wo Kau Nante” is “I Can’t Believe I Paid for It’. Three different titles and meanings, yet they all describe what this drama is about.
As a romance-at-heart, of course I like “Hide from the Rain” more. It gives us the background story of our female lead, a smooth transition of Soichi (ML) into her heart & life, and strength to move past a traumatic event. Rainy days no longer sadden her, as her memories were replaced by more pleasant ones.
It is not wrong that the other title talks about a gigolo. After all, ML is one and you will find out about it in the first episode (so, technically not a spoiler). However, I might think of him more of a sugar baby instead of a gigolo.
Throughout the drama, Soichi (ML) gives off a very mysterious and weirdly uneasy vibe. He's definitely not a very likable ML.
As viewers, you knew from the beginning he’s not what he appears to be, yet you don’t find out his secrets until about ep 7. I wasn’t expecting the secret to be like that, as it sort of came out of nowhere. I won’t say the execution is done very well, but it’s definitely quite surprising.
The acting is decent all around. I’m glad Sumire (FL) is not the typical naive and super shy girl. Yuri is pretty and elegant, but her philosophy of lingerie went over my head (let’s just say I don’t think too deeply about the meaning but I’m sure others are touched by what she had to say). Morio is usual friendzoned best friend, no surprise there. I’m surprised to see Izuka Kenta in a supporting role as Ryo. But why does he look older and older each time I see him these days. None of the characters annoy me, yet I also don’t love any of them either (including the leads).
Even though this is not a masterpiece, it definitely doesn’t warrant a low rating of 6.7. Maybe the drama is not cute or fluffy enough? Or maybe it’s not mature and angsty enough? Or the leads are not likable enough? I am not sure but I would rate this 7.0-8.0 (finalizing at 8 to increase the rating a little). It’s short and easy enough to binge.
Other Random Observations:
1. Kotatsu is such a cute robot! I thought we would see more of its function but am disappointed.
2. FL's fashion changes for the better throughout the show. Though not my taste, but I enjoy seeing the different styles, cuts, designs and combination.
3. Triendl Reina is so pretty!
4. Three cameos/guest stars that don't really add anything to the drama.
Completed: 2/17/2024 - Review #404
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Friends-to-lovers: Simple, Repetitive, Nothing new.
The title, “I Cannot Reach You”is so accurate. Yamato spent the whole drama trying to reach Kakeru. If that’s the type of drama you enjoy - shy, awkward, unsure, simple teen romance - then this might be for you.However, to me personally, it takes too long to reach Kakeru. Nothing much really happens and the drama can be summed up into a few points:
Yamato couldn’t control his feelings for Kakero anymore but doesn’t want to jeopardize the friendship (repeat this every episode).
Kakeru is confused about Yamato’s actions and his own feelings (repeat this for 70% of the drama).
Yamato and Kakeru are constantly being interrupted during pivotal moments (repeat this for 70% of the drama).
I also find the acting below average. There’s a way to act awkward, shy and cute. But I find Yamato too awkward (especially in the earlier episodes) and Kakeru acting way too cute. Maybe I am too old for this drama or I’ve seen too many already. This drama doesn’t bring anything new. However, this could be a gentle and easy watch for someone who just needs a breather. I might have liked this more if the acting is better and if there are more cute and fluffy moments.
Completed: 12/25/2023 - Review #387
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A Buffet of Romance Stories
This anthology-style drama consists of 10 romance stories that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Except for the last episode, you can watch the other 9 in any order, and you wouldn’t be confused. For me, I just watched it from the beginning. Even though these are stories of love, they are not necessarily all cute and fluffy. But it does give us variety and viewers will probably like some more than others.“At the Moment” has a star-studded cast. If you watch enough Taiwanese dramas, you will recognize or have seen all of them in other dramas. It seems like the whole cast was in the “Light the Night” series, some as main/supporting characters, and others in guest roles. This is probably because director Lian Yi Qi also directed all 3 “Light the Night” dramas.
The acting is pretty good and the stories are interesting enough. I do have my favorites.
Ep 1 - Scripted Love - this is an interesting and not a bad introduction to the drama.
Ep 2 - Price for a ‘happy ending’ - this is one of my favorite ones. Love the actors and it’s funny!
Ep 3 - Blinded by love - not one of my favorites as I don’t like the female character that much. The male lead is quite good-looking though.
Ep 4 - ET phone home - this is quite weird to begin with but I like the interesting twist (thought somewhat predictable).
Ep 5 - Dodgeball - not one of my favorites because I don’t like the portrayal of the sudden change of feelings.
Ep 6 - Let’s try again - this one is OK, even though I like both leads.
Ep 7 - Hot and sexy revenge - there’s just something about Chris Wu that makes him so damn sexy, even though he’s not the typical pretty boy. Watch this for him. LOL
Ep 8 - Role Reversal - this one is different from the others. A very ‘normal’ relationship but it’s actually really sweet to see how the couple supports each other.
Ep 9 - Badminton never dies - a pleasant surprise to see the portrayal of such a relationship.
Ep 10 - I’m sorry Jie Jie 姐姐 - gotta include this trope within these 10 episodes. It was nice to have a quick recap of how everyone’s doing.
Completed: 11/21/2023 - Review #379
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The two adorable kids and this new family are worth your time.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25I wasn’t expecting much when I started watching “Please Be My Family”, but I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. This drama does not have any top idols or popular actors, so not many watched it. The drama centers around a marriage of convenience between two single parents and their children. Together, they formed a loving and happy family, and of course, the parents slowly fall in love with each other. But a family secret looms over our male lead throughout the drama. You will have to wait till the last few episodes of the drama for that secret to come out of the bag.
What I love most, and probably other watchers as well, are the two adorable kids. Chen Chen (ML’s son) and Xuan Xuan (FL’s daughter) are just too adorable. The acting is great and their spoken lines are even better. There is no way you don’t come to love them. They have the most scenes in the first half of the drama, and I miss their presence in the second half. Each kid is adorable in their own way and together, they are a dynamic duo. They are not overly mature like the adorable child in “The Love You Give Me” but act more like 5-year olds.
Their parents are pretty likable characters as well. Song Hao Yu (ML) might appear cold and calculating. But that’s because he was hurt in the past and of course, is waiting for the appearance of Qi Si Le (FL) to bring him out of his funk. I have to say, Qi Si Le is a great character. She’s not perfect, but it’s hard not to root for this single mother. She’s independent, mature, will defend herself and speak up and is not afraid to openly communicate when something is bothering her. She is a great role model for her daughter. Together, Hao Yu and Si Le, are great parents to the kids. They also have great chemistry together and actually try to talk it out when there is a misunderstanding. I was glad to finally see them have some cute and fluffy scenes as a couple (kisses are OK, not great).
The supporting cast is lovely as well. The secondary leads are also very likable and have good chemistry together. Their romance doesn’t take up too much screen time but enough to tell their own story. But there are two other funny and interesting characters - Grandpa Song and President Tong Luo Qi. Grandpa is the best wingman and Luo Qi is the best frenemy out there. They are quite the scene stealers. The unlikely trio of girlfriends - Si Le, Li Xin and Luo Qi - are really fun to watch.
The general plot of the drama is not too unique or unpredictable. You can guess the family secret early on, but do need to wait for all the details to be exposed in the last couple episodes. One can also guess Su Le’s reaction once she found out the secret. If I have to say something is unpredictable, it is the way Si Le reacted to Hao Yu’s past romance and ex-girlfriend. I was so thankful to see a female lead who is mature enough to not get sucked into the ex’s drama and the bullshit spewed out from her mouth. She’s able to trust her man, see through the schemes and respond like a normal person.
My biggest criticism would be the villain’s story. I knew the evil scheme had to do with the family secret. But all that happened in the last few episodes were too dramatic and not quite logical for my taste. Oh another minor criticism would be the professional success that Su Le has after being in advertising for so many years.
Overall, I had a great time binge watching this drama. The kids and the female lead are worth my time, and the romance is satisfying. The acting isn’t bad and nothing too cringey or irritating.
Completed: 10/15/2023 - Review #367
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Sweet, Cute and Low-Stress.....but doesn't quite set itself apart from other youth dramas.
China is the expert in producing youth dramas like “When I Fly Towards You”. Therefore, it’s really hard to have another youth drama that stands out. “When I Fly Towards You” is rated really high at 9.0 and receives glowing reviews from many. But is it really worth such a high rating? To me, not quite. It’s a good drama, but it doesn’t set itself apart from many of its predecessors.Having said that, I have a very enjoyable time watching this. I do think the strength of this drama and what makes it different from others, is the characterization of our main leads. Su Zai Zia (FL) is bubbly and cute. She’s not naive and will fight back against injustices and those who are unkind to her. Zhang Miao Yi plays a very lovable Su Zai Zai. It’s so easy to cross the line of being cute and bubbly, into annoyingly cute and fake. Luckily, I find Su Zai Zai very easy to root for and very adorable. I enjoy all her pursuit of Zhang Lu Rang without being stalkerish.
On the other hand, Zhang Lu Rang (ML) is adorably shy. Who can resist his dimples? I’m glad to see he’s not the typical arrogant, cold genius. He’s actually just quiet and introverted, and is never mean or unkind to Su Zai Zai. In fact, he always responds to Zai Zai neverending questions and comments, though with short phrases. The contrasting personalities and family backgrounds make their romance sweet and romantic. Because of Zai Zai’s loyal and unconditional love for Zhang Lu Rang, he’s able to heal and believe in himself. In the last episode, when he is on stage answering questions from the panel, the answer/confession he made sums up their love story perfectly. Zhang Lu Rang is another Mr. Green Flag.
The friendship of the 5 friends is sweet and cute as well. However, I’ve also seen friendships like this in many other youth dramas. Each friend is given their own spotlight to tell their own (short) story. “When I Fly Towards You” is a very easy watch. It doesn't really go into any serious issues that high school students tackle such as bullying, extreme family pressure or poverty. If that’s what you are looking for, this is the perfect drama. The secondary romance is also nothing special. It’s a story that we’ve seen many times before. However, the characters are fun and very likable.
Another minor criticism I have is the pacing of the drama. In 24 episodes, we follow the characters from when they’re 16 to being adults and getting married. That’s a span of 10 years in 24 episodes and the majority of the time was spent in high school. I feel that the drama is trying to cover too much and would benefit from stopping somewhere after college. Or if they want to adequately tell 10 years worth of stories, the time spent in high school should be shortened. Otherwise, it feels like the drama is rushing through the college and adult days.
There are a few characters that need to cause some trouble, but not to the extent of them being overly annoying. There’s not enough time for the drama to dwell on these characters anyway. In fact, it’s so lovely to see a caring and lovely grandmother, supportive parents, good teachers who really care and classmates that are generally sweet.
I recommend this drama for those who are looking for something sweet and cute, without angst or misunderstanding. Everyone is really cute and fun. But if you have seen many youth dramas before, this drama might not impress you. It’ll make you smile though. 🙂
Other Random Observations:
1. Zhang Lei (FL’s father) - He is in SOOOOO many youth dramas either as a parent or a teacher. I’ve seen him in “With You”, “My Huckleberry Friends”, “Skate into Love”, “The Best of You in My Mind’, “Lovely Us”, and “Forever Love”.
2. Every time I see a lovely grandparent in a C-drama, I worry if anything bad is going to happen to them. I always wish C-dramas don’t kill them off. You never know!
3. So many snacks in this drama. PPL for the win!
4. As much as I love the leads, I have enough of hearing FL calling ML “Rang Rang” a billion times.
Completed: 9/6/2023 - Review #350
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When you are away from home, your Sisters are all that you have.
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25Stumbled upon “Sisterhood”, probably saw someone posted on the Feeds. It’s not an idol drama and the plot is probably not too enticing to many watchers. But I wanted to watch something different, and was glad to give this a shot.
This is an underrated drama about the “Sisterhood” of the Red Scarves ladies, who moved from Sam Sui (China) to Singapore for work. Not many dramas focus on the stories of women moving away from home. The drama focuses on the life and challenges of these Red Scarves ladies, and their career first in the construction industry and then branching out to others.
We follow Ou Yang Tian Qing (FL) through her career as someone fresh-off-the-boat to becoming the team leader of the Red Scarves ladies. Tian Qin is easy to root for but can also seem a little too ‘can do no wrong’. I enjoy her journey of growth and how she works closely with those she met in Singapore, especially her benefactress, Nan Lan. However, at times her words of wisdom and encouragement can seem a little preachy to me.
Romance is a side plot but enough to keep the romance lover in me satisfied but not wow me. I did not fall in love with male lead, Kuang Hai Sheng, immediately as he seems a little stalkerish in the beginning episodes. But he grows on me and I’ve grown to really like his character. He’s caring, sweet and supportive of Tian Qing’s career. Verbally, he might tease Tian Qing a lot, but deep down he was never pushy with his feelings. I wish the secondary romance didn’t happen but it’s also to-be-expected. 2ML fell in love again rather quickly.
The pacing of this drama is good. There are enough mini-climaxes throughout the drama to keep me interested in all 40 episodes. At times, I am a little confused about how much time has passed. A lot could have happened on screen and then I realized only a day or two went by.
Acting is good all around, including the supporting cast. Veteran actresses Yue Li Na (Nan Lan/benefactress), Xu Fan Xi (2nd Madam Lu), Xie Cheng Ying (Miss Qi) and Zhang Xi Wen (Sister Ling) are all amazing and shine brighter than the younger ones. There are also enough irritating characters in this drama that I want to strangle. I had to fast-forward some of their scenes. I think the one I dislike the most is the 2FL, He Xiao Chan (FL’s best friend). I dislike FL’s mother as well. I actually don’t dislike the villain as much as those two.
What I hate the most is the HORRIBLE English spoken by so-called foreigners and native English speakers, except for Police Chief Hunter. There are quite a few English dialogues and each time I hear the English spoken, my ears bleed.
Overall, I had a good time watching this drama. It’s something different for me personally. I would recommend this if you enjoy stories of women empowerment and sisterhood.
Completed: 7/11/2023 - Review #333
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