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Humor, Sex, Cringe, Chemistry, Weirdness.....this drama has it all!

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.25 (due to super low expectations)
Objective Rating: 6.0-7.0


My expectations for this drama are on par with “Sweat and Soap” but worse. Mm… I think I am right to think that way. I was one of the weird people who actually really liked “Sweat and Soap”. It was ridiculous, yet very sweet and cute. Now, what about “Tada no Renai Nanka de Kikkonai: Kojirase Joshi to Fetishna Buka”? It’s definitely not as innocent as “Sweat and Soap”.

The drama is a lot more erotic and the type of cringe is very different from “Sweat and Soap”. The plot itself is interesting, afterall, the English title of the drama is “We Can't Do Just Plain Love: She's Got a Fetish, He's Got Low Self-Esteem”. We have another smell fetish, but definitely not as cringe as “Sweat and Soap”. The over excited male organ is quite funny, actually. I thought I would see more instances of that, instead of the same high school flashback. The main romance is surprisingly honest and they are actually very communicative about each other’s feelings and horniness. It was actually quite refreshing to see, especially coming from the female lead. I’ve seen my share of shy, naive, innocent and super passive Japanese FLs, so it’s a nice change to have FL here being the persistent one to chase after ML.

This drama is not shy in showing us that the main leads have a very physical relationship. They are often kissing, caressing and having sex. It’s a nice change from the more demure dramas with bad fish kisses. However, I found the most cringe-worthy part of the drama is the sex, particularly the “humping” part. Mmm… how do I put it in a way that doesn’t make me sound super crude? Let’s just say it seems like the ML isn’t exerting much effort, or at least the drama does not show a lot of movement. They’re supposed to be enjoying sex a lot, but all they do is talk the whole time and all the time, and not move much. Their kisses and caressing, on the other hand, are so much better.

The acting is not too bad for a manga adaptation. The leads have pretty good chemistry and I enjoy their scenes together. I think because they are so honest with each other, and the female lead doesn’t shy away from speaking up, it makes their relationship very enjoyable to watch. But I think both ML and FL could use a little more emotions during the sexy scenes.

I was honestly expecting a worse drama, but it turned out to be OK. Low expectations for the win! Do I recommend it? I don’t think I can say yes, unless you are intentionally seeking for something like this.


Completed: 3/27/2026 Review #679

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Great mix of Horror, Crime, Mystery and Slow-burn Romance. Pavel is FABULOUS (and hot ?)

“Goddess Bless You from Death” really IS a horror drama. Don’t be fooled to think that this is a regular BL with Pavel and Pooh. If you get scared easily, it’s probably best to not watch it. I was hesitant, not mainly because I get scared, I just don’t want to get stressed. But, you know, Pavel is the main lead and he is FABULOUS here, in looks and in acting. He helps relieve some stress. LOL

If I ignore the fact that I have a minor obsession with Pavel, “Goddess Bless You from Death” is still a pretty good drama. Note: I am not a veteran of horror or crime, so if you are a hardcore fan, you might think differently.

I’ve seen enough Thai BLs to know that production quality varies. However, I have to say I was very impressed with the production quality, especially the horror element. The hair/makeup and the freakiness of the ghosts are done very well. Even the police officers and medical examiners appear professional and smart. This is not always true as I’ve nitpicked on useless police officers myself many times, and I am not even a hardcore fan. On the other hand, I am also pleasantly surprised to find everyone’s makeup is minimal, and thank goodness for the absence of fluorescent pink lipstick. Pavel looks gorgeous with a more natural skin tone. He’s a cop after all and shouldn’t be pale as a ghost. But the product placement does take me out of the show a few times. I really don’t need to see weird-looking face masks and beauty products in a serious horror mystery drama.

Balancing horror, crime, mystery and romance is not an easy feat. I do believe GBYFD did a pretty good job in that. The drama takes time to build up the backstory, show scenes of investigation, and a slow burn romance. I appreciate the drama SHOWS and not just tells me what happened.

Speaking of romance, don’t get your hopes high with Pitbabe-level of skinship and NC scenes. Do I miss them? Actually, not as much as I thought. The drama did a good job in developing this romance from the initial attraction, to getting to know each other and falling in love. The timing feels natural and the kisses feel romantic, sensual and a little shy. Let’s say I am quite in love with Pavel’s character. Singha is a cop and he’s not the fluffy, sweet talker. I enjoyed Singha’s shy personality in love, yet also being a good manly cop. This contrasts well with Pooh’s character, Thup. Thup is younger, but not naive and innocent. He is the one who pursues (once he realizes he can get jealous) and initiates skinship. The chemistry between Pavel and Pooh is evident.

Pavel is the shining star in this drama. Not only does he look tall, dark and handsome, his acting is fabulous. Pooh, on the other hand, is better than when I last saw him in PitBabe. However, there are a few times when Pooh’s eyes look a little blah when he’s looking into Pavel’s eyes. It’s missing some emotions, especially when I am comparing him to Pavel. The acting of the rest of the group is decent. Otto looks like a runaway model when he’s strutting/walking and standing. But his acting is not the best (not horrible but could be better). I found TopTen’s acting better than Michael. But the acting I like the least is probably the veteran who plays Inspector Sing’s dad.

If you are a fan of Pavel and Pooh and don’t mind horror, this is a great drama to watch. I am sure if you look closely, there are enough faults to pick on with the myth and crime aspects. But as a casual watcher, I had a pretty good job watching the drama. The pacing is not bad, the lead’s acting is good, and only with a few WTF plotholes moments that I question. If you are obsessed with Pavel like I am, definitely check this out! Giving this an extra 0.25 to a solid 8.5 because of my Pavel obsession. 🤣


Completed: 2/9/2026 Review #666 (wow...666 for a horror drama review!) 😈

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I'm in love with Pond/Thee. Too adorably cheesy and gorgeous!

There is so much I like about “Me and Thee”. Over-the-top comedy can put me off sometimes, but “Me and Thee” never deviates from what it sets out to be and the comedy just works especially by creating a very consistent and adorable character, Thee. Thee is the shining star! However, there’s enough that I can pick on to prevent me from giving this drama a 9+ rating.

Let’s start with my criticisms. “Me and Thee” is a character-driven drama. Everything revolves around Thee and Peach and their romance. It’s not a bad thing but I wanted more. It feels like nothing really happened for most of the drama. It could have spent a little more time on Mok and Rome because they are more interesting than Tawan and Aran. I would love to see how Rome continues to flirt shamelessly and try to break Mok’s armour. I want more of how they fall in love. Maybe they are planning on a special episode or a different season for them. If the drama wants to focus on Tawan and Aran, then I need more than what it gave me. Give me more background story of their past relationship, so that I can understand why Aran couldn’t leave Tawan no matter how hard he tries. The drama spends a little time on showing us how explosive and jealous Tawan could be and that Aran is trying to resist. Yet, the Tawan’s family troubles and their conflict resolved so half-heartedly.

I also didn’t like episode 10 very much. It feels like a filler episode even though it jams a proposal, engagement, wedding and a new family all in one. The romance and humor are not as well-written compared to the last 9 episodes. I do like the humor in the last few minutes when the new GMMTV was introduced. Those cameos were fun.

How about what I like?

POND! Wow… Pond/Thee is the STAR of the show. Oh My Gosh. I laughed out loud so much at Thee’s antics. The character is so consistent from beginning to the end, even though he has matured and grown so much. It proves that you can fall in love and still maintain your personality. Thee is so over-the-top, naive, clingy and possessive, yet he is so darn adorable and gorgeous! Pond did a fabulous job playing this role convincingly. Comparatively, Phuwin did fine and I thought his emotional scenes weren’t as good. Pond and Phuwin have great chemistry. Everytime they are on my screen, I look forward to the crazy things that would come out of Thee’s mouth and then wait for Peach’s patient explanation and lesson in life. I love that Thee takes the time to get to know Peach, and really takes into consideration not to do anything Peach might not like. Peach also accepts Thee for who he is. They have a very healthy relationship of give and take, willing to learn and improve and compromise. I was just a little surprised at the lack of NC scenes, and that there aren’t too many kisses. They are sweet though, just aren’t as passionate or sexy as I thought they would be.

Mok is such a great character to balance Thee’s exaggeration. It’s fun to see Mok try to hold his tongue, roll his eyes and patiently talk some sense into Thee to get rid of those outrageous ideas. The occasional break from boss/employee relationship to best friends is heartwarming. I wish we could see more of them as friends and have some more heart-to-heart conversations.

Thee’s family seems like fun and we only got glimpses of who they really are. I actually want to see more of Thee’s parents and want to know what’s real and what’s rumored regarding the Lee Mafia family.. We also only got a few scenes of Thee and Rome’s bickering and they were so fun. I wanted more!

What else do I like? The good-looking cast! It’s lovely to see these actors all grown up from “We Are” and “Perfect 10 Liners” and not play high school or college students anymore. So many eye candies!

I had a great time watching “Me and Thee” despite a weaker episode 10. The comedy works for me and I just LOVE Pond in this drama. If you are finicky or unsure about the humor, I recommend watching one episode to see if you will fall in love with Pond/Thee or not. If you think he’s too overdramatic and cheesy, then please stop.



Completed: 1/18/2026 Review #661

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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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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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Adorableness or Frustration? Season 1 = Adorableness, Season 2 = Frustration

I was trying to figure out if I find this season as adorable as the first season, or if it's actually frustrating. I think I have come to the conclusion that it’s actually frustrating.

What was cute and adorable about the guessing-of-feeling game in season 1 feels really old now. It is OK to have inner monologues and be unsure when you are not in a relationship yet. But in this season, feelings are confirmed and the leads are in the dating stage. Yet, their relationship has remained stagnant, and they never grow as partners or individually. The lack of communication becomes frustrating to watch. We have to wait for a very long time before they talk to each other. By then, I don’t really care anymore.

On the other hand, the secondary couple, though with limited screen time, becomes more interesting. I find myself looking forward to their scenes, and wanting to know more about Kijima and Yukari individually and as a couple. This opposite attraction is so much more fun. The drama should give them more screen time instead of giving them to the two new characters.

Even though I welcome Furuya Robin on my screen, I don’t know if his character, Haibara, adds anything of substance to the story. He is used as a third wheel to make someone jealous. Does he really only want to be a big brother? Or want to be the one that knows Hajime best? Or more? The newly added director character is also not that interesting to me and way too over-the-top. I would rather see more of season 1 characters, fellow drama actors Kuromiya Ryoga and Tendo Nanami.

But, if you like this style of Japanese drama and acting, Yuichiro and Hajime are still very likable, funny and adorable. As a standalone drama, it’s really cute. But as a sequel, the expectations are higher. Luckily, the drama is short with only 6 episodes (about 20 minutes each). It’s basically the same length as season 1. It’s a simple and fun watch to kill time.


Completed: 8/23/2025 Review #616

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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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Started off with Fun and Sexy Flirting but ended with a predictable plot and cringe lines.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

The drama was going so well in the college-day timeline, but then lost its sparks a little in the last couple episodes. “Safe Skies, Archer” started off with some of the sexiest flirting I’ve seen in an Asian drama. There’s a lot of curse words and sex talk (but nothing too sexually explicit), so beware.

Krissha Viaje is such a beautiful and sexy actress, and is perfectly casted as Yanna. If I’m a guy, I would be attracted to her, too. Jerome Ponce might not be my kinda handsome, and he looks way too old to be a college student. And what is up with his sweater-on-shoulder preppy look. But he has good chemistry with Krissha and played a kind and caring, yet just as flirty Hiro. Her straightforward and a little overdramatic flirting is perfectly matched with his more subtle but just as shameless flirting. Most of the drama focuses on their university days and how they started as FUBUs (Fuck Buddies) and ended up falling in love.

However, I was somewhat disappointed in how they parted ways. I wish the novelist/scriptwriter would have found a more original and less cliche way for them to break up. When they met again after the time slip, those last 2.5 episodes are dominated by the storyline on the reason they parted. I miss their early episodes’ fun chemistry and sexy flirting. Unfortunately, as my friend @Shiro wrote in her review, the last 2 episodes were cringe. I would say the last episode is the worst with lines coming straight out of a textbook of the most popular cringe lines ever. Maybe this is the style of Filipino rom-coms that I am not quite used to yet.

The plot is predictable but enjoyable for the most part. There are some things that I question the logic behind the action, but nothing too outrageous. The characters really didn’t do much aside from drinking, partying, and flirting. All our leads did was eating, drinking, flirting, sex and traveling to have more sex. They do have some nice conversations and show a more vulnerable side of Yanna, and the green-flag personality of Hiro. The girlfriend circle is fine and none of the girls is annoying. I did not watch the first series, “The Rain in Espana” and the drama didn’t confuse me at all. I had a glimpse of Luna and Kalix here and I am not interested in their personalities and acting to watch “The Rain in Espana”. Now, I do want to follow Sam’s story in “Avenues of the Diamond”.

Even though the last 3 episodes are not as enjoyable as the first 7, I did have a good time watching “Safe Skies, Archer”. The flirting is just too much fun. It’s an easy binge for a romance fix. I might have found some lines cringey, but you might eat it all up.


Completed: 5/23/2025 - Review #579

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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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Love the teen storyline but the drama tries to do too much.

I think “Love Your Enemy” suffers from the same criticism as many other second-chance romances - the teen/past story is better and more interesting than the adult/present-day story.

I truly enjoy the acting of the young actors, Oh Ye Ju (as young FL) and Hong Min Ki (as young ML). Oh Ye Ju has played the younger version of many female leads in the past and you can tell she knows what she’s doing. She brings the young Yun Ji Won to life. She’s so full of life, so charming and so adorable at the same time. Took me a little bit to get used to Hong Min Ki’s acting but as the young romance progresses, you see a young actor that can have range in expressing different emotions. The two of them delivered a fun and heart-wrenching romance.

Despite having veteran actors in Ju Ji Hoon and Jung Yu Mi, I couldn’t find the same chemistry and attraction to their storyline. I think Ju Ji Hoon does his best and he does a good job. I guess my issue is the character development of Yun Ji Won (FL), who has endured such trauma in her life. She is no longer the younger version of herself, and life’s challenges have changed her. She has lost her charm. If I never saw the young romance, I might not have been as disappointed.

There are too many side storylines jammed into 12 episodes that I feel some of them are not explored properly, leaving a half-baked feeling. The sabotaging female supporting character’s bit lasted a little long. The school nurse’s multiple storylines could use a little more screen time. They could cut down on the number of students they want to write a story for. Add to that is a love square, Romeo & Juliet-like romance and family rivalries, a financial investigation, and the golf course construction project. That’s a whole lot for a 12-episode drama.

Having said all that, the acting is good and I really like the teen storyline. I would not say “Love Your Enemy” is a must-see but it doesn’t hurt if you are a fan of Ju Jin Hoon (he’s funny, handsome and swoony), or want to discover the young talents of Oh Ye Ju and Hong Min Ki.



Completed: 3/2/2025 - Review #550

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The writers did Mark Prin's character DIRTY!!! Too long and too frustrating to watch.

I have so much to say about this drama and mostly negative stuff. I don’t even know where to begin. I am not sure if it’s because I am watching a 2020 drama in 2025, or I just need to accept the fact that these are how lakorns are.

Long story short - the writers did the male lead DIRTY! If that’s how the novel goes, they should have modified things a little so that Arthit is not so unlikeable for most of the drama. This drama could have been 12-15 episodes long. It’s draggy and repetitive for most of the drama.

Let’s start with what I like:
1. Mark Prin - I still love you, just not your character. You are still so handsome, adorable, sexy and charismatic. Your acting did not disappoint. You are good when you are gentle, angry, disgusted, frustrated and in pain. But what I love most is the subtle moments when it requires a more understated way of acting to express how Arthit is feeling. In fact, if it’s not because of you, I might not have stuck around for the whole drama. You deserve better!

2. Acting - The acting of the drama is good all around. Kao as our heroine, Paeng, is believable. I hate her and love her. Kao’s emotional scenes are particularly well-done when her tears start welling up. But other times, her big wandering eyes are a little too much and not subtle enough. The supporting cast is not bad either. The secondary leads are likeable. The acting has to be pretty good for me to hate some of them so much. I actually like the acting of the ‘villain’ as well.

3. Scenery - The setting in the farm is really beautiful and a breath of fresh air. I love the big farmhouse, the smaller dorm house, but mostly the rose garden, the lavender fields and all the nature shots. The most beautiful scene is the romantic sunset/meteor shower quiet moments towards the end of the drama. Oh, the main and secondary couples are all very pretty to look at too!

4. General plot - It might not sound like it when you read my rant below, but I actually like the general plot. A lonely orphan teenager overcoming HUGE challenges to grow up to be an independent and beautiful woman. A romance that started as friends, then enemies, then lovers again. The two tropes that I love. It’s unfortunate the execution is lacking.

5. Romantic moments - they are hard to come by, but when they happen, they are lovely. Who wouldn’t want a handsome Mark Prin holding my hand and hugging me in bed, and looking at me lovingly? How about a caring older brother/crush who is able to look past the rebellious and lonely girl’s facade and be kind to her? The sweet moments in the last 3 episodes between the leads are lovely but not enough.

6. Episodes 1-2 & Episodes 17-19 - Yes, those 5 episodes are the ones I like out of 19. The other 14 episodes are so frustratingly long.


Here comes my rant, broken down by episodes and arc - I don’t think there are spoilers, but if you don’t want to know what happened when broken down by episodes, please stop reading now!

Episodes 3-4
I knew Praeng, our female lead, had gone through something truly horrifying. I watched these episodes trying to be understanding but man…. I wanted to pull my hair out whenever she’s acting up. Add to that is the screaming, hair-pulling, slapping, beating up each other between Paeng, ML’s mother and the maids. These catfights are so real, I wonder if Thai actors get special training in beating up each other, and if anyone is injured during filming.

Episodes 5-16
Now that the life-changing incident happened, we are dealing with the consequences of some serious actions. I totally understand the hate that Arthit (ML) has towards Paeng. I would too, if I were him. But that doesn’t make watching all the bullying, manhandling, wrist-grabs, verbal assault any easier to watch. The screaming, hair-pulling, slapping, beating continues on throughout all these episodes. Eventually, the hate is gone and here comes falling in love. But that doesn’t mean the bullying and the verbal harassment go away. Why do we need SOOO many episodes to demonstrate this new relationship/dynamic between the leads and Paeng and the family? It becomes repetitive and very frustrating to watch. Arthit is so unlikable in these episodes. I feel so bad for Mark Prin to be acting with such a script. And what a childish mother we have here as well. As an adult and the lady of the house, she’s selfish, unforgiving, blind and unreasonable towards her ‘niece’. I have to wait till ep 17 to see the Arthit that I saw in episodes 1 and 2.

Episode 19
I really dislike the scene where Paeng visited the ‘villain’ in person. What she said was patronizing and very judgemental. Yes, both of them are orphans. But she is rich with a caring uncle to guide her. The villain does not have that. For her to have the audacity to say what she said was condescending.


Well, you can probably tell that I am not going to recommend this drama. Of course, this is very personable and there are many viewers who love this drama. I can deal with an unlikable male lead (and I also understand why he acts that way), but the bullying and harassment lasted way too many (very long) episodes. The execution is just not there for a very interesting plot.



Completed: 2/23/2025 - Review #547

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