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Flashback Galore + Hot Guys with Hot Abs

Completed - 1/15/2022

The reason I picked this drama is because I want to watch a William Chan modern drama. Having seen him in "Lost Love in Times" and "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse", I am not convinced in his acting. I hope to see him in a different role (not the cold/bland type) and in a modern setting. I am glad that I watched "Only side by side with you" as now I have a small crush on him.

As for the drama itself, what the reviewers and commenters said about flashbacks are totally true. Let's address what I don't like in the drama first.

What I don't Like:
1 Flashbacks - You need the fast-forward button with you to watch this drama, esp. if you are binge-watching. For the first 12 episodes, the flashbacks aren't bad as they are telling the history of the two male leads when they're in military school. So, there's a purpose and I am fine with that. After that, the flashbacks happen every single episode multiple times. These are long flashbacks and sometimes what happened earlier in the episode. This drama is really testing the audiences' patience and it's the main reason I can't give a high rating.

2. Product Placement - It's been a while since I watched a drama with SO many products featured. Is it because it's an older 2018 drama? Or because they need a lot of money to purchase drones and create fancy white offices? I have no idea. Products include: face creams, insurances, mobile apps, delivery service, drinks (OJ and bottled drinks), different types of alcohol, and of course, Macbook Pro for everyone. But the worst product is the cold medicine. Because the medicine has a sticker, the characters are not necessarily taking the meds, but use them as sticky for notes, like post-its. I have to applaud how creative they showcase this cold medicine.

3. Secondary Romance - I am not quite interested in this romance. I do not like Rachel Wang's acting as Ou Yang Qi (pet store owner). I don't feel the chemistry between Ou YangQi and Hao Jie, no matter how much Hao Jie tries and tries. I also don't see a reason for this love-at-first sight.

What I Enjoy:
1. Nan Qiao (FL) - It's so refreshing to see a smart, sensible, hard-working, independent woman CEO in a C-drama. Oftentimes, CEO are portrayed either as super cold or super bitchy. Nan Qian might be a little nerdy in the beginning, but she's never rude or dumb. I enjoy her character being slowly revealed as more than a nerdy engineer. Even when she fell in love, her sensibility did not go out the door. She's honest and direct when expressing her her feelings to the ML. I enjoy Bai Bai He's portrayal of Nan Qiao. She's not particularly pretty but she gives off a genuine vibe that fits this role.

2. William Chan - As I mentioned, I watch this drama because of William Chan. I am so happy to see him in a role where he can flex his acting chops. Shi Yue is a character that has a fun side and a dark side. William is able to portray the funny, adorable and flirty side of Shi Yue. And then in another scene, he's boxing and fighting and turned into a boss. When he smiles, I melt. So much better than the blank look I get from watching him in Pearl Eclipse. And there are so many scenes where he's topless or showing his muscles. He also looks dashing in all his clothes, whether it's casual wear or a 3-piece suit.

3. Fashion - Aside from Nan Qiao's earlier dorky fashion, all the leads have a wonderful wardrobe. Even Nan Qiao dresses a lot nicer after the first 1/3 of the show. It's nice to see an office drama where people dress appropriately to their age, and their work environment. Both An Ning and Wen Di have sophisticated and fancy outfits throughout the drama, and both women look beautiful and smart. Nan Qiao's early dorky fashion eventually evolves to a more sophisticated office look and more fashionable casual wear when she's on dates and not in the office. Our two male leads look super handsome in shirts/pants, or suits, or casual sports wear. They are both tall and lean, and basically look good in anything.

4. Plot/Pacing (minus flashbacks) - If I take the flashbacks out of the drama, the story has pretty good pacing. Although there isn't anything too unpredictable in the plot (a couple common tropes), the story keeps me engaged. There's a good mix of drone engineering/romance/rivalries/dark pasts to keep me entertained. I was never bored or felt that the storyline dragged for too long. It's unfortunate someone decides to use so many flashbacks. This drama could easily be a 30-episode drama.

5. Dads Unite - ML and FL's fathers are so funny together! Individually, they could be overbearing for their children. But when they are together, they are hilarious. Their conversations, banters and attempts in getting their kids together. The scene at the dating show registration is so funny!

Other Observations:
1. The bromance is pretty good in this drama.
2. I feel the rivalry between the two MLs resolved too easily and quickly without much fanfare.
3. Watch this if you are a fan of William Chan and Li Xian.

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Leo Wu carries this drama...don't watch this for Sean Xiao

10/9/2021

As I continue to search for great martial arts dramas with amazing fight scenes, I stumbled onto "Fights Break Sphere". This is actually not a traditional wuxia/martial arts drama, but more of a fantasy drama. The drama ends with a small cliffhanger as to what would happen to our ML next. But don't worry, it has a good enough closure that I think it's safe to watch Season 1 and patiently wait for Season 2 with a totally different cast.

Leo Wu, not Sean Xiao - First, watch this drama because you are a fan of Leo Wu. His acting is great and carries the drama on his back all by himself. Do not watch this drama because of Sean Xiao, Li Qin or Xin Zhi Lei. This drama is all about Leo Wu's character and how he developed from a 15-year old without any great martial arts skills to be the savior of the world. Sean Xiao has a very small part in this drama. He's only one of the side kicks. Li Qin also has a very small role and only appears in a few episodes. I even find her character quite annoying and she appears a little too old to act young and naive, and definitely looks too old to be Leo Wu's love interest. Xin Zhi Lei's part is even smaller. I don't think she has more than 30 minutes of screen time.

Strong female cast - Even though all the female characters are only in the supporting cast, I am happy to see that they are all strong women with great martial arts skills. They are no damsel in distress and are not whiny and naive. They get stronger throughout the drama as they themselves continue to learn and develop their skills. Our FL supports ML in his fight and is always ready to come and save and help him.

Romance - Romance plays a very small part in this drama. I was hoping to see more developed between Xiao Yan and Xun Er. After the side story of Xiao Yan and Xia Yi Xan, I was waiting for Xiao Yan to realize that he truly loves Xun Er and not only sees her as a sister. I never get that satisfaction. Even up till now, I don't really know if Xiao Yan loves any of the girls. Maybe I have to wait for Season 2 to find out.

JianNan Academy/Hogwarts - Jian Nan Academy reminds me of Hogwarts (from Harry Potter). Students learn to fight, to cultivate and to make medicines from different teachers specializing in their crafts. Doesn't it sound like the different lessons in Hogwarts? They also have different colored uniforms, like the different Houses. JianNan Academy is protected by a seal cast by the Fight God, just like how Hogwarts is protected from enemies. There is even a marketplace for students to buy and sell, just like Hogsmeade. The snake that they fought against reminded me of Nagini, the sword that ML uses is like one of Voldemort's Horcruxes! Isn't the big bad guy Voldemort? Ok, maybe it's just me because I love Harry Potter so much.

Fighting/CGI/Music - I was excited in episode 1 when I saw our ML practicing his martial arts skills, the Fist Techniques. I was impressed with Leo Wu's movements and can see how much he's rehearsed. His movements are full of strength. I was cautiously optimistic that I found a good wuxia drama. Unfortunately, this is not it. The rest of the fight scenes are full of CGI and not actual fighting. The CGI is ok, nothing to write about. Music is not memorable. Well, except for the ending theme sung by X Nine. The ending theme is so upbeat and modern that it felt out of place. But then, the more I listen to it, and think about the drama about a bunch of teenagers trying to make it into the world, I start to enjoy it more. I then looked it up and realized 4 members of X Nine are the side kicks of our ML, including Sean Xiao.

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Training for mental toughness vs Abuse/Bullying - Amazing Acting

9/9/2021

I see Jung Hae In, and I am there! He's the main reason why I watch D.P., as such drama is usually not my cup of tea. Jung Hae In does not disappoint. His acting here might be his best yet. As much as I love seeing his adorable smile and his soft/romantic roles, I am happy that he's taking on more serious roles like this. I hate for such a talented actor to be typecasted only in romance dramas. We have seen a glimpse of him in a military uniform in "Prison Playbook" (I strongly recommend!) and our favorite second-lead syndrome police officer in "While You Were Sleeping". This role is more serious, more gritty, and raw. He did an amazing job, esp. in Ep 6.

However, the rest of the cast shines as well. Dare I say, at times, they outshine Jung Hae In. Every single actor/actress did an amazing job, no matter how big or small their role is. The acting in Ep 5 and 6 will stay with me for a while.

I don't know anything about Korean military service, and my knowledge all comes from watching K-drama. But it seems like issues depicted here are quite similar to what the US military deals with as well (knowledge from American shows/movies as well). What is the necessary training for soldiers to be mentally tough, so that they could fight in a war? What is going overboard with inhumane treatment and bullying? This drama tries to convey a more human side of the deserters stories. Aside from one deserter who left because of his grandmother, all others left due to mistreatment in the military. As they say in towards the end of the drama, someone got to do something about it.

One criticism - how could these guys be so beaten up and yet they don't die, and can get back up time and time again to run and chase? Isn't that a little too unrealistic? I guess they need to show all the violence and can't kill off anyone.

This drama is not for everyone. There is no romance. It's full of blood and hitting and abuse. But it's a great drama.

p.s. Oh.. don't miss out on the little epilogue in Ep 6, after the first song was played at the end.

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Everyone Frames WeiYoung + Beautiful Shades of Blue

8/22/2021

I really want to like this drama more and I am rounding this up to 8.5 (I debated to keep it at an 8). However, the repeated framing and dragging of the show prevented me from doing so. If this drama is about 40-45 episodes long instead of 54, the pacing would be a lot better. It has all the right ingredients: good general plot, great acting and characters (love strong, smart leads), beautiful costumes, decent background music and songs.

Negatives:

1 . Repeated Framing - The show is basically someone framed WeiYoung and tried to kill her, then she got out of the crisis due to her own wit or saving from others, then repeat again and again. I was bored from Ep 20-30 and lost my attention. It's so predictable that it's not fun anymore. It's unfortunate because I really like the general plot of the drama, but the pacing was off. This is my biggest critique of the show and why I did not rate it an 8.5, since I am judging it against other big historical drama.

2. Plot Holes/Plot - The writing is not very tight. There are also lots of convenient eaves dropping throughout the show by the villains. There are also some illogical/impractical plot holes and I noted down two incidents but there are more: 1) ChangLe tried to burn down the lantern shop but how could she walk in without anyone noticing? Where's the shop owner? Was TuoBaJun (ML) really so far away that he didn't notice anything until the store was half-way burnt down? 2) When WeiYoung (FL) and TaoBaoYu (2ML) were stuck in the secret room, why didn't FL shout out the location of the secret ring to open the door to ML? They apparently could listen through the wall/door with no problem. 3) How come all the doors of the rooms in the Li family are see through? Everyone can hear your secrets!! There's no privacy!!!

Positives:

1. Acting - I enjoy the acting by all cast members. Our main leads and secondary leads are great. You can feel their love and obsession, their pain and evilness. This drama has a large supporting cast and no matter they are veterans or the younger actors, they are did a pretty good job.

2. Romance - One minor criticism I have is that I want to see more scenes and romantic development between ML and FL before they officially fall in love. Their love story is so strong, romantic and heartbreaking that I wanted a stronger foundation or evidence. Having said that, I love their relationship - their undying love and trust. I love seeing their banter and their open communication. I was pleasantly surprised that ML is quite funny and outgoing, and not the cold-on-the-outside-but-warm-on-the-inside type. You can feel the chemistry between the two leads and believe in their romance. The other romance/obsession storylines are pretty well-developed (though a little draggy). It's so sad that in a way, none of the significant relationships ended well. I am not as interested in the romance between the Little Princess+Prince and the two bodyguards.

3. Costumes - Blue is one of my favorite colors and I LOVE the different shades of blue in the costumes. You see light blue, royal blue, navy blue, indigo, dark blue, etc. Most of the time, Chinese dramas are dominated in gold/red/white in the palace, and blue/yellow/pink for the ladies. I am so happy to see that it's different here. Aside from that, their costumes, jewelry and head pieces are elaborate. Not only does the royal family have elaborate head pieces, but the ladies have beautiful hairpins and flower arrangements that match each of their outfits. I love seeing the different designs and patterns on the male characters outfits. The ladies dresses are all beautiful and multi-layered. Aside from the color palette that I enjoy in "Legend of FuYao", this is the only drama that I am so obsessed with the costumes and really pay special attention to each outfit.

4. Music - I would like to praise the use of background music in this drama that did not overpower the drama itself. I've seen too many C-dramas where the music is so loud that I couldn't hear the dialogue, or the songs are played over and over again when a romantic scene occurs. The music in this drama complements the scenes and let the acting speaks for itself without the use of music to manipulate viewers' emotions.

Overall, I like this drama. I wish it had a happier ending after what the leads have gone through, but I am satisfied with it. If I watched this drama before the many historical dramas I've watched, I might have given it a solid 8.5 or higher and be less critical.

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A very lovely ending, though I wish these episodes are incorporated in the drama itself

Ep 1 - 7.5
Ep 2 - 8.5
Average - 8.0

There really is no good reason for breaking up these special episodes into such short ones, except for creating and prolonging the hype. And because it’s broken up, I’ll have to evaluate the episodes separately.

I was disappointed in the first episode and was concerned that it might undo the happy vibes and positive reviews I’ve had for the drama. Was it a bad episode? Not necessarily. Was it great to see a longer, more close up kiss? Definitely. But the episode of the game has no substance. The focus is on the latter part when the make out session happens. Yes, I like a longer kiss, but it was not a pretty kiss. It’s forceful yet not passionate. Therefore, I was worried it ended on a vibe that’s different from what the series gave me.

However, episode 2 restored my faith and what I like about the drama. It was cute and fluffy, the personalities of the leads are still there. Most importantly, the honest and open communication of feelings are still there. It feels that they have really grown as a couple and are more comfortable with each other. It’s nice to finally see Hioki hear Watarai’s side of the story, even though as viewers, we already know. Additionally, we got a little more skinship that feels romantic and passionate. Well, it's still a somewhat disappointing kiss to me. But this episode is so much better than the first one.

I wish the drama had incorporated these special episodes into the drama itself. If ep 2 was the ending of the whole drama, then I would say the drama ended on a high note. Instead, episode 10 ended on an OK note.


Completed: 1/6/2026 Review #658

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The power is in YOU to change your own destiny

After watching the first episode, I was wondering if my expectations were too high especially when a couple of my friends rated “Love Begins in the World of If” pretty positively. I’m glad in the end, I agree with them and I’m not disappointed.

I already know this is a drama about Kano’s growth as a person, and romance takes a back seat. But I have to say, I am very satisfied with the romance and how it all complements Kano’s growth. I am also a sucker for someone who cares and supports behind-the-scenes quietly, and guessing of those does-he-like-me-or-not situations.

Echoing many reviewers, I also really like the change in Kano. The way he’s being treated in the ideal world is a consequence of Kano's actions. It’s not just because it is the ideal world. I enjoy how Kano discovers how he could improve the current situation in the real world by taking actions upon himself in making that change. Not only that, my favorite part (being a romance lover) is Kano’s realization of real-world Ogami’s quiet support and care. Seeing the contrasting ways the two Ogami behave towards him and him realizing who is the ‘better’ Ogami is the turning point for me in rating this drama a solid 8.5 and not lower.

This ‘turning’ point also reassures my gut impression of the ideal Ogami. There is something about his smiles that seem fake and creepy to me, and I didn’t know why. I thought I was just not used to seeing this version of Ogami, especially when I quite like the cool and direct Ogami in the real world.

Because this is only a 6-episode drama, I’m glad the writers don’t spend the whole drama in the ideal world and not leave enough time in the real world. Would I have loved the drama to be a little longer? Sure! But I also feel that I am satisfied with 6 short episodes. The only part I felt a little weird about was the intimate scene (I can’t believe I said this! LOL). That felt somewhat out of place. I guess after everything is out in the open, it liberates them both, and Ogami needs to prove that he’s better than the overprotective salesman.



Completed: 12/26/2025 Review #656

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Overall decent plot but poor execution. Still glad to have found Pavel and Nut

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I wanted to check out this drama because I just finished watching Nut and Ping in “I’m The Most Beautiful Count” and really wanted to see Nut play a different role, and see if Ping was better in other dramas. Well, Nut did not disappoint. His role as Way in “Pit Babe” is so different from this role in the other drama, it shows he has really good acting range. Ping, unfortunately, is unable to prove me wrong as his role here as Pete is limited and couldn’t really convince me he’s a good acting.

Although it was Nut that attracted me to “Pit Babe”, it’s probably Pavel that kept me watching. Aside from Nut, he probably acted the best amongst all the young actors in this drama. Of course, he also is the best looking guy. I wanted him to look at me as lovingly as he looked at Pooh. His smitten look, smiles and expressions can kill me in a heartbeat! Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Pooh’s acting. This is my first time watching Pavel and Pooh, and playing opposite a more talented and good-looking partner, makes Pooh look even worse. It also didn’t help when I didn't quite like his character, Charlie, very much in the first few episodes.

I have not read the novel, and just reading the short synopsis of the drama on MDL doesn’t really prepare me for what I am about to watch. I have to say, I actually really like the general plot. In order not to get too spoilery (and it’s shown in the first episode, so I don’t count it as a spoiler), I didn’t know “Pit Babe” is an omegaverse. It was presented very early on that Babe is an alpha. I thought ABO Desire was the first live-action omegaverse drama, but apparently “Pit Babe” came first. But that doesn’t mean “Pit Babe” did a better job. In fact, there’s actually no explanation whatsoever aside from the special talents of some alphas. If you don’t use the term ‘alpha’, you could have fooled me and said these characters have gifts like in the other Thai drama, “Gifted”. Having said that, as I said, I like the general plot and discovering the real reason why Charlie wants to get close to Babe.

Unfortunately, the execution of the plot is not good. It lacks excitement to tell a story that could be so much more exciting. The action scenes are a mixed bag with a few good tight fights but more weak action sequences with delayed reaction from many. I was a little bored in the second half when I should be glued to my TV when the mysteries unfold. The car racing scenes are OK. You can tell it does cost a lot of money to produce this drama because of the non-stop product placements in this drama.

When it comes to romance, I am not buying it. It is hard for me to believe someone like Babe, who is mistrustful and just needs sex as a relief, will fall for someone like Charlie so quickly and easily. Charlie was quite a boring character. I guess his attractive traits are that he’s innocent and persistent? I wish Babe had put up a stronger fight and even if he starts to catch feelings, he doesn’t become a lovesick puppy so fast, as much as I love his loverboy sweet gazes. The other romance storyline is cute, I guess. Romance is supposed to sell the drama with these hot kisses and intimate scenes, but they aren’t that impactful to me. I won’t lie that I quite enjoy seeing Pavel kiss. He’s one of the few that actually moves his lips when it’s just a kiss on the cheek. I don’t mind the love triangle that much and probably because I like Pavel and Nut.

I had an OK time watching this. I did get what I was looking for, which is seeing Nut in a different role. Nut and Pavel kept me watching and I look forward to their future projects. But if you want a drama about hot car racing, this won’t quench your thirst. If you want a drama about omegaverse, “ABO Desire” is a much better drama. Want to watch Pavel and Pooh? I guess this is not a bad choice. But if you are looking for a quality BL with above average acting, engaging and exciting plot, and well-written romance, look the other way. “Pit Babe” is not what you are looking for, unfortunately.


Completed: 12/20/2025 Review #653

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Not as fluffy as I thought, and too short to execute well.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

First of all, I did not read the webtoon, but I heard it is a lot raunchier than this PG-13 drama.

I’m a little too old to have a bias and be as star-struck as our male lead, Na Ae Jun. But I can understand the surprise when your bias shows up at your workplace and you get to spend every day with him shooting a reality show. The premise of “My Bias Is Showing?!” is interesting and I am happy to learn more about this super fan’s world.

Personally, I do not find any member of the boy group attractive. The bias here, Choi Se Yeol, is also not giving me a popular idol vibe. I think this might be due to the acting of Kim Kang Min. I thought he was a newbie but he actually has a lot more acting experience than Kevin. Unfortunately, his portrayal of Choi Si Yeol is neither cool and charismatic, nor approachable and friendly. I just don’t care for him at all. His pursuit of Na Ae Jun is laughable. He has this nonchalant look on his face and always appears so disinterested.

Kevin, on the other hand, is cuter and the acting is better. I’m surprised to see that this is his first acting gig. His awkwardness is not cringey and I do like him switching to his teacher mode when needed. As a 29-year old teacher, he just acts really young. But I am going to chalk that down as being starstruck.

I would have liked to see a more enthusiastic courtship. I also needed to see more of how Choi Si Yeol slowly falls in love with Na Ae Jun. The short episodes do not give the script enough time to develop. The secondary couple also wrapped things up at lightning speed. They seem like an afterthought as well, when their story has so much more potential. Again, not enough time to fully develop all these interesting plotlines.

Additionally, I was looking for a cute and fluffy drama. I don’t think there’s enough fluff (maybe others think that’s enough). If the courtship was written better, they could have inserted more cute fluffiness and not only save that for the last episode.

Overall, “My Bias Is Showing?!” is a simple, short and easy watch. It’s not going to blow you away nor will it frustrate you. If the acting from the superstar is better, I might have enjoyed it more.



Completed: 12/11/2025 Review #652

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Disappointing end to the Dhevaprom series with boring romances and uninteresting characters

Subjective Gut Rating: 6.75

“Dhevoaprom: Poncheewan” is the last drama of the Dhevaprom series and it was a disappointing end as well. I’ve watched all but dropped “Laorchan” and out of the four I completed, this is the weakest in terms of romance, main leads chemistry, main lead characterization and plot.


Let’s start with what I don’t like:

Male and Female Leads
Unfortunately, I never warmed up to Saruj as the male lead and Cheewan as the female lead. Saruj is a very bland and boring character. The drama can’t keep on using the excuse that he’s a diplomat thus, he can’t show his emotions. You gotta give me a better reason. Besides, Kao’s acting is not helping either as he was unable to show any subtle expressions. He just has this fake, plastic, handsome look on most of the time. Female lead Cheewan is too over-the-top for me. Her character is very similar to Kwanrueai, female lead of “Dhevaprom:Kwanruetai”. They are both young teenagers attracting the affection of the older cousins. I’ve grown to like Kwanruetai, but that didn’t happen for me with Cheewan. I can understand she’s young, thus boisterous and hyperactive in the early episodes. But she continues to make dumb and reckless decisions, and doesn’t seem to have grown much.

Main Romance
If I don’t like the male and female leads and also don’t like their romance, this drama is guaranteed not to get a high rating from me. The romance lacks chemistry and any form of intelligent exchange or conversations. Both characters are wishy-washy, and the romance dragged on forever. It was repetitive with Saruj trying to court Cheewan, and she repeatedly pushes him away and being non-committal. On top of that, Saruj gives out mixed signals and can’t set clear boundaries with his ex. This is a very frustrating romance to watch. Additionally, the main romance has to share 50% screentime with the second female lead’s story. I guess that’s why the two female leads’ names are so similar: Poncheewan and Poncheewa…setting the stage for them to share screen time equally.

Secondary Romance
I would be more tolerable of Cheewa (2FL) taking up so much screen time if her romance is actually well-written. Even though what she has gone through is more interesting than what Cheewan has gone through, the romantic journey is lacking. I would have loved to see better romantic development between her and her two men. It’s especially disappointing when this childhood connection isn’t written well, and the change from being family to lovers feels awkward and out-of-place. Although I like Creamy’s acting better than PP, and Saint’s acting better than Kao, their romance still lacks chemistry.

Meddlesome characters
There are so many annoying and frustrating characters who are nosy and want to meddle in other people’s business. Veena is annoying and is the default evil female character in a lakorn. FL’s mom though isn’t as bad, but is still meddlesome and likes to stir up trouble and force her values on her daughter. FL’s family and friends don’t respect her view on marriage. Additionally, characters don’t speak up and defend others against annoying characters such as Veena. But I do have to say, compared to the other Dhevaprom dramas, this one does not have the absolute evil parent, just annoying ones.

Plot holes
There are so many incidents where the writers don’t make sense. Someone possibly got drugged, yet no need to go to a hospital or see a doctor. Just need someone to stay up all night watching over them? Do we need that many accidental kisses without adding much to the progression of the main romance? Sometimes everyone respects the noble family, other times they’re insulted and disrespected. You can have the water broken, but no contractions when about to give birth. Characters take matters into their own hands by risking their lives, making dumb and lousy decisions by putting others and themselves at risk. They could have easily called on the professionals to take care of the criminals, but no, they gotta take care of it themselves.


Let’s see what I actually like:

5 Monkeys + Significant Others
It’s great to see the 5 cousins together. Scenes of the 5 handsome guys are the best and they seem to have more scenes doing stuff, instead of just sitting around chatting. It’s also nice to see their lovely wives/girlfriends again. These women are all GORGEOUS! It’s interesting to see Kwanruetai all proper and ladylike, when she was a wild teenager in her own drama.

Switzerland
All the scenes in Switzerland or Europe are nice with beautiful scenery. It’s great to be out of Thailand and have the drama started in a foreign country. I wish the drama had spent more time during their college days in Switzerland before coming back to Thailand. I think if the main leads have more time developing their relationship, it would have a stronger foundation for what’s yet to come.

Venus + Nop
These two are so adorable. Venus is hilarious yet so dumb, but not as innocent as she seems. Nop is adorable and sweet. They are a very cute pair and I wish we had more scenes of them together.


I am quite surprised I did not drop this drama. I guess as much as I didn’t quite connect with the leads, their first impression was still better than the leads in “Laorchan”. I was watching the drama at 1.25x speed and 16 episodes of a dragged-out romance is too much. It doesn’t quite have an interesting non-romance side plot, compared to the other dramas of the series. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama. If you are going to try out the “Dhevaprom” series, I recommend “Dujupson” or “Kwanruetai”.


Completed: 12/2/2025 Review #649

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Weakest of the Trilogy...Lacks chemistry and execution in Romance and Bromance

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I previously watched “Dashing Youth” until ep 29 a year ago before deciding to drop it. But after watching and loving “Blood River”, it inspired me to pick this back up again to follow the other side of the story. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

Good: I gave “Dashing Youth” a second chance and rewatched it from ep 1.
Bad: I can’t help but compare the two dramas and “Dashing Youth’ failed in comparison (miserably).


Plot/Pacing
The general plot is actually pretty good. Two long lost best friends reunited and fought for their own future and recognition in the pugilistic world. They have different dreams, different backgrounds, different personalities and different paths. But, throughout their journeys, they remain true best friends who are loyal to each other till the end. Along the way, they meet new people who challenge them and/or help them grow. Sounds good right? Technically yes, but the execution was not great. If you have watched “The Blood of Youth”, you know that friendship and camaraderie is the drama’s biggest strength. Each of the main characters/youths has their unique and quirky personalities. I love that group. If you watched “Blood River”, the bromance and friendship between the two male leads, Changhe and Mu Yu, is their biggest selling point. They are always together and trusting each other. But what about “Dashing Youth”? Unfortunately, the first half of the drama focuses on Baili Dong Jun’s journey and the second half focuses on Ye Ding Zhi. They do not have many scenes together as they set off on their own personal journeys. Because of that, it was difficult for me to believe in their tight bond and the foundation is not strong enough for us viewers, to give me that emotional impact when their ideals collide. Additionally, the pacing is slow, especially in the second half. This is also an unfair comparison because I just finished watching “Blood River” and that drama is well-paced and action-packed. There’s too much talking and preachy lectures. The two female leads talk very slowly in the second half. When it came to ep 29, I realized why I dropped it the first time. The romances are not romancing, and I was bored.

Acting
The veterans are great in this drama. They totally outshine the younger crew. Neo Hou and He Yu did fine, but not amazing. Hu Lian Xin and Jiang Zhen Yu are beautiful but boring. My favorite actors are probably Zia Zhi Guang and Bai Shu. Their characters are my favorite. It says a lot when Xia Zhi Guang is in the same screen as Neo Hou and my eyes are on him. I love Bai Shu and his character Prince Lang Ya in this drama, as well as in “Blood River”. Wangyan Luo Rong (as Lei Meng Sha) and the little monk boy provided some comic relief. that little kid is hilarious and whoever dubbed his voice is just as funny. The rest of the young cast is fine. The lesser roles are average or below average, and this is a huge cast. Some of these characters showed up for a brief period of time and then came out again, and I have to think really hard to remember who they are.

Romance
I’ve come to the conclusion that either novelist Zhou Mu Nan sucks at writing romance storylines, or the screenwriters are bad in all 3 dramas of the trilogy. Chemistry is lacking, no matter how good they look together visually. Baili Dong Jun and Yue Yao are boring and have no chemistry. It was fun in the beginning when she was still in her fake identity and actually acts like a cool heroine. But I can’t tell when Baili Dong Jun actually fell in love with her. There’s barely any good romantic interaction except for a few slow-mo fake romantic moments. For the second half of the drama, Yue Yao acts as a sidekick or accessory to the male lead. Where’s the kickass girl in the earlier episodes? Does she have to dress, talk and act all princessy again? The romance between Ye Ding Zhi and Yi Wen Jun should be killing me with all that they have to go through. But all I get are childhood memories when they were soooo little that there could not be any romantic feelings at that age. Even when they reunite, they were together for such a brief period of time (and when Ye Ding Zhi’s identity is still a secret) when there shouldn’t be enough romantic feelings, or foundation built for me to believe the rest of what they had to go through. Having said that, I did cry a little in the last episode because their story is touching. It’s the chemistry and execution that didn’t work for me. Let’s not even talk about Sikong Chang Feng’s supposed romance. Barely there, even though he’s really adorable.

Production
If you are a wuxia fan and want to watch this trilogy, definitely start with “Dashing Youth”, not only because chronologically it makes sense, but because the action scenes are the worst. “Blood River” has far superior fight scenes with and without CGI. “Dashing Youth” relies solely on CGI fights and green screens. A true wuxia fan would be disappointed. But a CGI fan might love it. I do applaud Neo Hou to be the sole main character who uses his own voice. And Neo does that quite often. Is he excellent at it? Not really, but definitely better than Gong Jun in “Blood River”. The costumes and hairstyles are pretty good, but some of the accessories look really crappy. I saw quite a few fake broken swords here and there. Music is played quite often and loud. But I do like two sad songs, 《长风里》(Into the Wind) and《衍爱》(Love), and added that to my Spotify playlist.


I don’t regret taking this back out of my Dropped List and giving it a second chance. I had a fun time checking out the character/relationship maps of “Blood River”, “Dashing Youth” and “The Blood of Youth” from Baidu and figuring out who’s who. But if you are going to pick just one of the dramas to watch in this trilogy, “Dashing Youth” will not be my choice. I’ll pick “The Blood of Youth” for the fun group dynamics and friendship, or “Blood River” for the excellent plot/pacing and fight scenes. Just don’t have any hopes for anything good in the romance department.


Series Watch Order
1) Dashing Youth
2) Blood River
3) The Blood of Youth


Completed: 11/20/2025 Review #644

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Well-paced healing journey of two individuals you want to root in a beautiful setting

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

At first glance, “Falling Before Fireworks” seems to be just another healing drama of two lonely individuals who have very different personalities and lifestyles. But as you dive deeper, the way the story and tropes are a little bit unconventional in a good way. It’s not a perfect drama, especially the last arc (which I’ll write more later). But the drama has good pacing for a healing drama, a strong and independent FL, beautiful sets and scenery and cute puppies.

It took me a couple episodes to really like FL. She was introduced as a money-hungry, super career-focused individual who will do anything to get a promotion. But as you get to know her and think about the cultural difference in China and the Western world, you may start to like her, empathize with her and root for her success. I am glad that her focus and independence as a strong career woman remains true from start to finish. ML is a quiet craftsman living in a rural area surrounded by peace and culture. A very different life and experience from FL. But who doesn’t like an opposite attracts romance, especially when affection and understanding are developed slowly. It’s totally my kind of drama and romance, especially when we have a marriage of convenience on top of it.

Yes, there are misunderstandings but not too frustrating. I think it stems more from the upbringing of the main leads. They may seem very different, but what they long for is the same - to be loved and to have a home. Both are self-sacrificing, withholding the need to ask for help from each other, because throughout their lives. They had to in order to survive, fight and maintain affection from their loved ones. For that, I am willing to give the non-communication a pass. However, they are also super supportive of each other in interesting ways. Once they found out the other half was being mistreated (big and small ways), they seek revenge for the others. This brought us some funny and heartwarming moments.

The love triangle is unique in a way. I was worried that it’s going to drive me crazy but it didn’t (except I don’t quite like the voice of 2FL). OK, I did question why FL continues to remain friends with 2FL after her ‘open’ pursuit. She should be smart enough to see through her sly actions. The brother’s arc brought on some anxiety but I was pleasantly surprised by how that ended. The support cast is lovely, even those co-workers in the beginning.

I love the ML’s house and that quiet part of town. It’s nice to take a break from city life and see how simple people can live. That house is beautiful. Find me a bed and breakfast like that, I would love to stay there, especially when the host is as handsome as Chen Xin Hai. The drama also spends a lot of time showcasing Chinese arts and crafts from lantern making, to wood sculpting, to drawing and painting. I love all that except for the last business arc. I knew it’s coming and I dreaded it. I wish the drama has focused those episodes on FL and her parents and more couples. It's just a little preachy and nationalistic for my taste. But I also understand if I am not a foreigner, the local audience would love it. That’s why this drama has an excellent score of 7.7 on Douban, especially when it has no big name actors.

“Falling Before Fireworks” gave me quite a roller coaster ride of emotions. I’ve shed some tears (god bless you, grandpa), cooed at the cute puppies (they never seem to grow big but who cares as they are cute), grinned and smiled through a few cute and romantic scenes and gestures. I do want better kisses though.

It’s a somewhat low budget drama that went under the radar. I may not love the dubbing and the business arc in the end, but I had a great time binge watching these 23 episodes. If you are looking for a healing drama that’s not too slow-paced, with great scenery and lovely individuals, this is worth a shot.



Completed: 9/7/2025 Review #622

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Requires your full attention to follow along, but has Excellent acting by the cast.

Watching “Abyss Dweller” is all because I want to see Huang Xiao Ming again and it’s been a while since I last watched a somewhat serious Republican drama (those mini dramas and verticals don’t count..LOL). Halfway through the drama, I start to question if I have made the wrong decision. It’s not because it’s a bad drama per se, it’s just not my kind of Republican drama.

Plot/Pacing
The first couple episodes were jam packed with action when the male lead was introduced. We have a male lead who lost his memory and throughout the drama, he’s trying to figure out who he is. Liang Shuo (ML) was confused and I was confused WITH him. It was quite a disorientating process as he tries to navigate and remember where his allegiance belongs. It’s not until he was ‘discovered’ after being a superhero, do I feel like I got the grasp of what happened. Then the next 10 episodes were interesting and exciting. However, the action slows down with more talking and less fighting. Towards the second half, the pacing slows. I needed some action scenes to cut through the scheming and lies, talking and meeting. This whole drama requires all my brain cells to stay focused, especially with the back-and-forth switches of Mandarin and Japanese. Unfortunately, I became really bored in the last 7-10 episodes and really was just powering through because I want to finish it. The ending though…. That last episode was so unrealistic - the big event, the fights, the amount of people executing, the aftermath. The most unrealistic thing that can happen in this drama is that last scene.

Acting
Huang Xiao Ming did not disappoint. After a disappointing watch of his character (and ugly makeup) in “Alliance”, I am so glad to see him again in this role. He was awesome, as with everyone in the cast. The biggest selling point of “Abyss Dweller” is the acting, especially with such a veteran cast. I feel all of their emotions as they’re speaking their lines. Hey, no dubbing for the Chinese-speakers!

Romance
What romance? Don’t go looking for it! LOL. There isn’t even a slight romance. The characters are too busy focusing on the big and important task at hand and have no time expressing their feelings. I think this might be the only Republican drama that I can say there’s no romance at all, not even a small sub plot. However, that doesn’t mean Huang Xiao Ming does not have good chemistry with Karlina Zhang or Jian Ren Zi.

Other Relationships
Even though there’s no romance, the relationships/bonds between other characters are good. I enjoy the brotherhood between Liang Shuo and Cui Mo, the frenemies relationship between Liang Shuo and Lu Xi, and the chemistry between Japanese officer Ping Tian Xi Zi and Liang Shuo. Despite liking these connections, I feel that compared to other similar dramas I’ve watched, “Abyss Dweller” is not giving me enough ‘feels’ to care deeply about the characters as people. I also felt that I am missing the camaraderie between the officers. Usually, these are the bonds that stick out to me in a Republic drama, but it’s lacking here.

Propaganda
It should be no surprise that this drama is full of people dying for their beliefs and causes. It doesn’t matter if the character’s allegiance is to the Communist Party or Kuomintan, Chinese will sacrifice everything to fight the Japanese. If you don’t like this hero/martyr mentality, it’s best not to watch this drama.

Production
I am so glad that the actors are not dubbed (at least the Chinese characters). The experienced cast really brought their A-game and if this drama is dubbed, it would be a travesty. I am not sure how accurately the Japanese is spoken, but I do find them sounding realistic, especially with the accents switching from Japanese to Chinese and vice versa. The sets, costumes, designs look appropriate and natural. I can’t deny I really like seeing Huang Xiao Ming in suits. The fight scenes are OK. They are not the worst and not the best. There are a few green screens that are really obvious and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy “Abyss Dweller” as much as I had hoped for. The lack of romance (and I wasn’t even expecting much) and inability for me to care for the characters as people, are two big factors. I totally acknowledge this is a “ME” problem. If you enjoy historical events during that time and the political struggles, this might be the perfect drama for you.


Completed: 7/14/2025 Review #602

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Kongthap keeps me going, along with his big and happy family.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I’m trying to review “Dhevaprom- Dujupsorn” with my Thai lakorn lens on and not judge it as if I am watching a C-,K- or J-drama. I also need to keep in mind family values and responsibilities are huge in Asian cultures, thus, they are rarely going to give up or abandon one’s immediate family.

This is my first of the Dehvaprom series, and I feel OK and not too lost. It did take me a little bit to memorize who are the brothers and who are their parents. All the brothers show up as guest roles here and there.

“Dhevaprom- Dujupsorn” kicks off with a few very fun and flirty episodes to make me fall in love with the male lead, Petch. I don’t remember seeing such a strong flirt-attack from any male lead right out of the gate in a long time. Kongthap brought so much charm with his handsome face, that instead of finding everything cringey, I found him super adorable. Mint is a beautiful actress, so it’s not hard to like her. However, her acting is a little more inconsistent than Kongthap. I do like our female lead, Fah, but her more comedic moments in the early episodes take a little bit for me to get into. Mint and Konthap have great chemistry and the kisses are decent for a lakorn.

Unfortunately, happy times didn’t last long. After the first 3-4 episodes, the drama goes into the revenge/melo mode. I miss those fluffy happy moments and shy & knowing grins and secret smiles from Petch. This is the start of the unbearable mother who can’t stop going crazy and screechy. This is when I need to remind myself this is a lakorn, and it’s inevitable to have a character like FL’s mother. This is when I need to be patient and not scream at Fah to quickly abandon her mother and live a good life. I need to suspend belief that Fah is a smart woman and should be able to find support for her mother a lot sooner. These are also episodes of noble idiocy, sacrificing for your family and shouldering responsibilities. I was frustrated with the lead's action (or inaction) , misunderstanding and secrets, but I try to be empathetic.

On the bright side, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lakorn with such a big and loving family. You mean the older generation don’t try to kill each other and have many secret affairs? And the younger generation don’t try to scheme to be the Chairman of a company? They are actually supportive of each other and love to have breakfast with each other and great grandma every morning?? This is amazing!

The supporting cast is actually not annoying and quite pleasant. Their romances are not as satisfying and somewhat predictable. The love triangle is not bad. This is a good-looking cast with beautiful women and handsome guys. I’ve only known Saint, Kao and Gulf to be in BLs, so it’s quite interesting to see them in a lakorn.

Despite loving the first few episodes and having a nice crush on Kongthap who keeps me going, I can’t shake off the many melo/revenge episodes that are not too fun. The business part of the drama is OK. Nothing too exciting. The last couple episodes really get into the soap opera category. I’ve definitely seen worse dramas and this one is actually on the more enjoyable side especially when it comes to big Thai families. Therefore I am giving this a solid 8.0 with an additional 0.25 for Kongthap’s smiles.


Completed: 6/7/2025 - Review #588

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This 21-minute short actually has an interesting premise. I can definitely see this adapted into a movie or a short series.

The Sun family was broken ever since the eldest son disappeared. This short did not go into the details of how, when and why but straight to the effect of the disappearance. The mother suffers from mental health issue, the father left the family but tries to search for an adopted replacement son to fill the void. The younger son is deprived of a complete family and has to deal with 11 adopted brothers.

The adoption of the 11th brother is the center of this story. How does each family member react to him being a part of the family? Will he fit in? What does he really want? Does his action convey his true feelings? In that very last scene, I question his emotion, sincerity and approach to the younger brother. Was he desperate as well and wanted to fill the void of his loneliness? Was he being manipulative to appease the younger brother, so that he could stay longer in the family (as that's what he really wanted)? We would never know.

Rating this an 8.0 seems high but it's a low budget production, so should the rating and expectation should probably be adjusted accordingly. Besides, this short is able to tell a decent story in 21 minutes and make me think a little. I also feel that the male lead/younger brother's acting is pretty good.

Completed: 5/24/2025 - Review #580

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Bonding through Sexual Frustration

What happens when two sexually frustrated men find each other accidentally and open up honestly to each other? Sizzling chemistry and sexual tension!

Cheating is never the answer to the problem 99.9% of the time and we all know that. “When It Rains, It Pours” does successfully paint a sympathetic picture on our main leads for me (and probably most viewers) to not hate them, but to root for them to be together.

The acting all around is great. I am quite attracted to Muto Jun, and I’ve never seen him in any other drama. His portrayal of Hagiwara Kazuaki shows sincerity and he’s just so darn handsome. Hagiwara Kazuaki is a warm and kind-hearted person. Aside from the fact that he cheated on his girlfriend, he’s a sweetheart and a great boyfriend. His warmness contrasts with Nakarai Sei’s more guarded personality. Although the real life initial meeting is a little weird and awkward, the accidental emails are sincere and honest. I’m so glad that once the masks behind the emails were taken off, it did not dampen their honesty and chemistry. In fact, their scenes together are sizzling with chemistry. When they finally opened up to each other emotionally and physically, it was beautiful and sensual. The tenderness that Hagiwara shows contrasts big time with the jealousy that the boyfriend shows Nakarai Sei.

The drama is not without faults though. Due to the short runtime, there’s not enough screen time dedicated to the other halves of the leads. The drama is not making me sympathetic to them not wanting to get intimate. I needed more background story so that I could maybe feel more conflicted. But with how the drama goes, rooting for breakups is a no brainer. I also wanted a little more of the leads together in the last episode. They spent way too much time apart and as a fan rooting for them, I feel a little cheated and dissatisfied.

Overall, I have a great time watching “When It Rains, It Pours”. It’s a short and easy binge, with excellent chemistry and acting. The drama doesn’t make me hate anyone but instead wanting to root for resolution, release and happiness for all parties.



Completed: 3/21/2025 - Review #558

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