39
162
6
1
1
1
6
1
5
4
2
6
1
1
1
1
3
5
7
“The First Frost” is a highly rated (currently on MDL at 9.0) and highly anticipated drama since it was announced. Was it worth the hype? Yes and No. There are so many reviews already so I am going to try to keep it short (LOL) and note down my own thoughts of what I like and dislike.
What I Like:
1. FL/ML Acting - I don’t think anyone would complain about the acting by our main leads, Zhang Ruo Nan and Bai Jing Ting. I was especially impressed with Zhang Ruo Nan in playing such a complicated and layered character. We see pain, controlled anger, embarrassment, shyness, flirtiness and love, all in her face. Bai Jing Ting sheds his sunny personality and plays the proud, arrogant, cold-on-the-outside character so well. Both of their acting is controlled and not dramatic.
2. Wei Yi Fan (FL) - Poor girl suffered so much and I wish her all the happiness in the world. It’s satisfying to accompany her on the healing process. She was abandoned and neglected, and does not think she deserves anything good in this world. It took her a long time, stumbled a few times, to get to the point that she is able to and wants to give/receive love, and believes she’s worth it. She had a few great and controlled confrontations with her family members. I was so proud of her!
3. Romance - it was a long, long journey. But when everything unfolds, and you get to see both sides of the story and how they feel throughout their cohabitation and courting, it was very satisfying. ML giving FL time and proceeding with caution. Him wanting to let her take the wheel (and scared that he would be left behind again). Him feeling powerless that he couldn’t take her pain away. Him wishing to break up with him is her biggest pain and not something more horrible. All these emotions and events throughout their journey are beautiful to see.
4. Visuals - Zhang Ruo Nan is so pretty even if she wakes up with bed hair. Bai Jing Ting looks awesome in black, especially in a suit. Edward Chen and Zhang Miao Yi also look good as a pair and give off totally different vibes.
5. Sleepwalking - The sleepwalking moments brought up so many different emotions. At first, it was funny when ML tries to figure out what’s going on, and their morning-after discussion/flirting. Then as daytime trauma really contributes to sleepwalking, it’s incredibly sad to see FL cries and seeks out comfort from ML.
6. .Flirting/Skinship - Despite being a little embarrassed, it’s nice to see FL flirt and want skinship and seek out kisses. When they have sweet moments, they are adorable and I feel like I’m a voyeur.
7. Prologues/Epilogue - I like how their past and different point of views are shown in the beginning and the end.
What I have Mixed Feelings:
1. Sang Yan (ML) - I debated whether to put this in the “Like” section or not. On the one hand, who doesn’t want a man who loves you unconditionally forever and ever. I love a male lead who does all the sweet things for FL behind her back. I love Sang Yan being all proud and arrogant, throwing sarcastic remarks here and there, yet deep down he’s done so much without anyone knowing. HOWEVER, if you look closely, is it really good to have a man who makes every single life decision revolving around FL? That’s a lot of pressure on the woman! Where are his own hopes and dreams? While focusing on FL, did he forget about his family and friends? Is he really a true Green Flag? I also always have a problem with perfect green flags who are bland and boring. Sang Yan definitely is not boring. So maybe his focus on FL makes him a flawed character, thus, actually more believable than a perfect guy? I AM CONFLICTED!!!
2. Hong Kong arc - Many people commented on the Hong Kong arc. I actually am OK with FL going to Hong Kong because I think that’s true to her character. She’s traumatized and she has a lot to lose now. Of course, it’s noble idiocy in a way, but at least it’s somewhat believable. What I dislike is all logic goes out the door during her time in Hong Kong and ML’s pursuit of her. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. I don’t believe you could just walk around and locate her. People just willingly give out information to ML, despite not actually knowing FL or verifying that ML is the boyfriend. FL’s change of heart to contact ML also seems so sudden. She held out for so long, so all of a sudden she has come to her senses after just meeting with Qiao Qiao and Su Hao An?
3. The hijack of Grandpa - The grandparents are important in being the catalyst of Qiao Qiao and Su Hao An’s romance. Unfortunately, instead of spending more time on the couple, too much time is spent on grandpa. The second leads could be so cute together, yet I got bored of their interaction when grandpa is in the middle of it all. I would have liked to see more flirting, loving moments or deep conversations.
4. Sexual Harassment/Assault - The girl can’t get a break. I am not sure we need so much screen time on this subject to inform viewers of the trauma that FL has endured. What’s worse is that we don’t see any satisfying consequences to these men’s actions. They were not punished enough (or we don’t see that on screen). Yes, the main villain might be punished, but those court scenes are so ridiculously done. I would rather see him bleeding to half-dead, or in tremendous pain in the hospital.
I would recommend “The First Frost” for its excellent acting and the incredibly long, steadfast and moving journey between the leads. It’s not a romantic comedy, but quite a heavy watch due to the trauma that FL has endured. I debated rating this a 8.25 or a solid 8.5. In the end, I compared how I felt after watching “The Best Thing” right before “The First Frost” (I know they are different genres), and concluded I like them both equally for different reasons. Thus, I am giving it the same rating of 8.25 (rounding up to 8.5).
Random Observations:
1. Why is Sang Yan always so wet after a shower? Doesn't he towel off? LOL. 😍
2. Who knew Bai Jing Ting is so muscular under that sexy black suit. 🔥
3. Xiang Lang is really annoying. Back off already, little kid.
4. Isn't it weird and rude for FL to butt in and teacher a little girl ballet when the real teacher is sitting right there?
5. Aww.. ML is FL's warm sun that brings her comfort.
6. FL is really adorable when drunk.
7. Thank god no one is dubbed, even those with a Hong Kong accent.
8. Lovely OST
9. Really cute and unique proposal
10. Damn.. this is a long review and I said I wanted to keep it short. 🤣
Completed: 3/19/2025 - Review #556
Was this review helpful to you?
Don't watch this as a sequel but on its own - Romance more than Sports
9/7/2021This is not a sequel to Go Go Squid 1, but a spin-off in a parallel universe. If you watch and judge this as a sequel, you will be sorely disappointed. I am going to try my best and not compare this to GGS1. Even so, I am disappointed and decided to drop this drama. There are many good dramas waiting for me to watch and I have to learn to let go sooner. This is not a bad drama per se (hence my 7.0 rating), it's just not for me.
Things I like:
1. Robot Combat - I am happy to see a different type of team sports, instead of the usual e-gaming. I was a fan of the American show Battle Bots years ago, and was excited to see something similar here. It provides a different kind of excitement (when done right). For a novice, it's a lot easier to understand than video games.
2. Grandpa is back! He's so cute and fun. He definitely is the best wingman for his grandsons. Love the blind date episode.
3. OST - This drama has some great songs. It's also nice to hear the theme song of GGS1 when Team Solo is on.
Things I don't like:
1. Not enough Robot Combat - I watched 19 episodes and there are only a few scenes with competitions or team trainings. Robot fight was what I am most looking forward to, but the show focuses too much on the romance storylines.
2. Weak Team Camaraderie - Compared to the other e-sports drama, there isn't enough team building. This is usually the best part of e-sport dramas, knowing how the team members bond, go through hardships, train and compete. Not just the bromance between team members, but healthy rivalries against other teams. This is unfortunately lacking in GGS2.
3. Romance - as much as I love a mature romance, and unrequited love, there's too little going on. I enjoy watching ML's lovesick adorable eyes full of emotions, and I root for him. But a full drama of a lovesick puppy being all smitten, including the 2ML, is just too much for me, and I love romance! Maybe others would enjoy this sweetness more than I do.
4. Slowness- there are too many slow-mo close-ups to create this "romantic" or "cool" effect. There's at least one in each episode. Additionally, the pacing of the drama is very slow. Not much happened in the 19 episodes that I watched. There isn't enough materials for 38 episodes. It would be better if this drama is only 20-24 episodes long.
Was this review helpful to you?
Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! (Uncut Ver.)
1 people found this review helpful
Laughable Heists full of plot holes. Great Leads chemistry is not enough to save the day.
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Objective: 8.0
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. This is what happened to me with “Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart!”. I really like the general premise of the drama, with a focus on the social and economic inequality and struggles of people who live in Suphanimit. I thought this might be a somewhat serious drama that gives me a different Thai BL, amongst the sea of rom-coms and school dramas. I was expecting a drama similar to “Not Me” with excellent chemistry between the leads, Yin and War. Unfortunately, this is definitely not “Not Me” but I do like the chemistry between Yin and War. I just can’t believe it’s rated higher than “Not Me”.
However, just relying on chemistry alone is not enough to keep me interested. It was a slow start for me. I enjoy learning the background history of the two leads. Their relationship also develops slowly but evenly paced. I don’t need a lot of skinship (not that I don’t like it) but the emotions and chemistry are there. And that’s enough for me. War’s acting is amazing and I look forward to his future dramas. Yin is not quite there yet especially in earlier episodes, but I see improvement along the way.
I also just can’t get past the cheesy and uninteresting heists, and numerous plotholes. Joker is supposed to be Robin Hood. Stealing from the rich and sharing the wealth with the poor. He’s supposed to be a genius mastermind that’s hard to catch. But the few heists that he cooked up are laughable. They’re not well-thought out and basically just wing it and pray for luck to be on their side. The comedy isn’t working for me. Many commented on the tone change from serious life-threatening injuries and threats, to comedic moments of fighting like you are invincible and can pull a rabbit out of a hat anytime to solve the problem.
I thought the villain was a worthy, cold-hearted meanie, but he turned out to be an over-the-top clown. What’s with the Four Horsemen? What’s their background? Are they powerful only because they have money? There are plot holes and easy forgiveness/redemption everywhere. I question Jack’s intelligence in blindly believing in the boss for 5 years. Does he never question that the boss is a big bad wolf, just by what he’s been ordered to do to those in debt? Yet he continues to blindly believe the boss will help him out of the goodness of his heart? The fight scenes also aren’t very believable, the taekwondo fights are definitely better than the gangster fights.
It is partly my fault because I can’t turn off my brain and just enjoy the chemistry of Yin and War. I really enjoy their stories, their fight for independence, and their development, bond with their families and healing. I want to see them rise up to the top and live happily ever after. There’s so much good, but overshadowed by poor writing. Luckily, there’s always grandma and the little sassy girl to provide me with comfort.
If you are looking for a high quality, serious drama about social change like “Not Me”, then this is not for you. But if you are fans of the leads, and don’t like a sillier plot and enjoy the ride, this is OK. I debated whether to rate this by rounding up to 8.0 or rounding down to 7.5. Ultimately, I was bored at the end and was finishing the last couple episodes, just to finish the drama. Therefore, it’s a 7.75 rounding down to 7.5 for me.
Completed: 11/26/2024 - Review #520
Was this review helpful to you?
Good quality, chemistry and acting for a low-budget web drama
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“Provoke” is another well-produced low budget web drama directed by Zeng Qin Jie of “A Familiar Stranger” and “The Killer is Also Romantic“. The production quality is pretty good and I like it just as much as I like the other two dramas. Following a similar format, in twenty-five episodes, 12-16 minutes long, the drama tells the story of revenge, hidden identity and love. I can’t help but compare this drama to another popular web drama “Maid’s Revenge”.
Although I enjoy Dai Gao Zheng’s frequent flashes of his muscular torso and abs in “Maid’s Revenge” more than Zhao Yi Qin’s abs in “Provoke”, I have to say “Provoke” is a much better drama. The story is more coherent with fewer WTH moments. The acting and costumes are better and is also a lot less cringey and trashy.
Actress Daisy Li is beautiful as the sexy Jiang Ying. She is absolutely gorgeous in her various costumes and sexy when she is on stage singing and trying to seduce all the men. Male lead Zhao Yi Qin is handsome, but he is so skinny that when he’s wearing a long coat, it seems like he’s being swallowed. I enjoyed his body-building toned abs but a little too lean for my taste. LOL. Both leads have pretty good chemistry and the acting is pretty good as well.
However, my first reaction to the drama within the first episode is that there are too many slow motion scenes. Why are they walking so slowly? Why are they slowing things down when it’s not necessarily a ‘romantic’ scene? This got better throughout the drama, but I can’t help but also notice everyone speaks very slowly as well. Moreover, whoever dubs the male lead sounds like he’s whispering instead of speaking (a very airy voice). I like the first half of the drama more than the second half. The writing is weaker in the last few episodes.
Overall, if you are looking for a simple and short web drama in the Republican era, I will recommend this. It’s rare to find a pretty well-rounded low budget drama that doesn’t look cheap. Oh, and it has a pretty good OST as well.
Completed: 4/20/2023
Was this review helpful to you?
Misunderstanding galore
8/9/2021Let me preface this review by saying I am not a young (in age) viewer and have watched over 100 C-dramas. This might just not be the right fit for me. I enjoy romance, rom-com and historical dramas, so I thought I might like this. Unfortunately, I have to drop it. I watched 12 episodes and these episodes are filled with misunderstandings between the leads over and over again. It's one plot after another. The romance could have been good but it got too cheesy and immature. I've watched FL in "Chef Hua" and liked her OK, but I do not like her character here at all. She's supposed to be smart yet how can she not know the way she behaved in the army is going to cause all kinds of serious trouble? Being persistent in chasing ML is fine, but the way she's doing it is not OK at all. It's disappointing because I like the general plot of the drama and is a fan of forced-marriage-turn-love trope.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good chemistry, cute couple but slower pace in the second half
“25 Ji, Akasaka de” is a 10-episode drama that I think could have been shorter. The first half of the drama is fun. It was great watching two people who are clearly attracted to each other play fake boyfriend/boyfriend. The chemistry is great and their scenes together are sweet and cute. However, in the second half, the pace slows down, especially when the misunderstanding happens. Not a whole lot happened.The acting is pretty good and not overly dramatic. Komagine Kiita is attractive enough for me to believe that Hayama Asami is a very popular idol. Initially, I thought Shirasaki Yuki is just another passive and shy male lead (similar to Adachi in “Cherry Magic” or Hira in “Utsukushii Kare”). I am pleasantly surprised that though shy, Shiaraski does speak up and take initiative to pursue what he wants. He’s not as passive as I feared. The earlier kisses were meh but the last ones are a little better and their intimate scene was sexy and sensual.
I enjoyed the ending. The scene of Hayama Asami chasing after Shiaraski Yuki, worrying he did something wrong after their night together, was sweet and satisfying. I finally see some emotions from him, and he’s not holding back in expressing his feelings. Finally!! It did take 10 episodes for that to happen.
This is a sweet, nice watch, especially if you like faking relationships (though this one is not that fake) and the guessing-if-he-likes-me trope.
Completed: 6/22/2024 - Review #453
Was this review helpful to you?
It's not horrible, but not great either
9/30/2021It's very hard to write a review of this drama. I don't think it's a horrible drama, but it's not great either. Unfortunately, it did not hold my attention and I have decided to drop it at Ep 33. I enjoyed the first 20 or so episodes, but then I feel that the plot just keeps on repeating. It's quite a predictable drama. Nothing really excites or surprises me. I really want to find out who is the big bad wolf, but I got so bored.
The best parts about this drama are the acting of the cast and our ML and FL. Our leads are fantastic and the supporting cast is great. It's my first time watching Qin Hao, and he's quite charismatic as Prince Peng Cheng. I became a fan of Li Qin after "The Wolf" and she is just as beautiful and awesome here. Shen Li Ge has to be one of the most badass female leads in C-dramaland. She is strong from start to finish. She not only possesses great martial arts skills but is also smart! Our leads make a formidable pair. Their chemistry is not red hot, but is maturely developed with quiet understanding and loyalty. I feel that in the first 33 episodes, they don't have enough scenes together, I want to see more of them.
I do not enjoy the fight scenes. It seems like ridiculous that every time someone kicks or hits, the opponent would fly across the room. Since it's not a wuxia drama, I wasn't expecting too much to begin with. What is up with the random wind/fan blowing to show our FL's flowy hair? And a spin to take off her wedding dress and accessories? I also feel it quite unrealistic that our villain 2FL could get caught so many times, yet she is still alive. She's like this little cockroach that never dies. It's quite amazing actually.
Was this review helpful to you?
The acting is OK, not as good as the recent KBLs that I’ve seen. And yes, the fish kisses are bad. The first 2 kisses are acceptable fish kisses given the circumstances (pun!). But the other 2 should have been more passionate, or at least let’s not prolong the torture.
I have trouble understanding characters in these ‘individual circumstances’ (pun! LOL). No matter what you were dealing with, a quick text or phone call is not going to cost you a lot of time, especially when you care for each other. Additionally, just because you guessed the password to the laptop doesn’t give you the right to read its content.
The plot is actually quite simple but interesting enough to keep me going. At least I don't find anything cheesy or cringy. The acting and execution could have been better. I probably won’t recommend this unless you have nothing to watch.
Completed: 3/31/2025 - Review #562
Was this review helpful to you?
3 second-chance romances recommended only to those who like this trope
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75After finishing this drama, I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it or not. In the end, it’s a decent, modern drama about second-chance romances. I was also unsure of Xu Ruo Han’s acting. Coupled with how she spoke her lines, I find her acting inconsistent. It’s my first time seeing Li Yun Rui as the main male lead, and I think he did pretty well and fit in the modern rom-com category.
Second-chance romance is the main reason why I decided to watch “Go Back Lover”. The drama did a good job in showcasing three different second-chance romance couples using a reality tv format. All 6 leads are flawed in their own way, and have to overcome certain challenges. In the end, I like who they have become.
Our main couple, Sheng Xing Ruo (FL) and Lu Xing Yan (ML), have the most complicated relationship. I enjoy following their relationship from high school to reuniting after a 5-year separation. There are frustrating moments when I feel that Sheng Xing Ruo is giving off mixed signals, or Lu Xing Yan is too smitten and acts like a lovesick puppy (OK, I do like his loving and longing looks). I think the chemistry is decent and I’m glad to see quite a bit of skinship and kisses.
The second couple is the bickering ex-es who started off the show with a dramatic divorce ceremony. Their chaotic energy could be too much to handle, but they also lighten up the show with their hilarious and silly moments. Because of how over-the-top they are, I think their screen time is just enough.
The third couple has the least screen time but they are also the sweetest and most adorable. But you have to endure how shy they are with each other in the beginning, in order to enjoy the end result. Xia Hao Ran (as He Si Yue) has the cutest puppy look with a little pout, but at times he looks a little emotionless. I’m most pleased to see Chen Zhu grow to become a more confident woman.
Despite enjoying these couples and the reality tv show format, there are moments when the pacing slows even for a 24-episode drama. The taping of the show is interesting, but the content is not. They have the most boring dates! How can they mix and match the couples with unexpected guests, yet there’s no excitement? They need better producers for the TV show to drum up some fun twists and turns.
There are a few annoying characters to stir up trouble. For the most part, they aren’t too bad. The ‘villain’ in the end seems a little over-the-top. This drama also is less fluffy/rom-com than I initially thought. “Go Back Lover” actually covers a few serious topics not listed in the tags. Without diving deep into who suffers what, the drama talks about domestic violence, suicide, childhood trauma, parent disapproval, and mental health. None of these topics are discussed in detail but if you are sensitive you should be aware of them.
Overall, this is a decent, somewhat short modern drama. Nothing jumps out to say this is the best, or the worst. It’s very average and I will only recommend “Go Back Lover” to those who love second-chance romances.
Completed: 10/25/2024 - Review #503
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Short, Light, and Sweet
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25*don't think there are major spoilers, but just in case*
What a sweet and somewhat innocent teen drama! Why somewhat, because the first scenes showed us a different side of Amane that you don’t see for the rest of the drama. “Kimi to Nara Koi wo Shite Mito mo” aka “If It’s With You” tells the story of Amane’s growing affection for his classmate, Ryuji, after moving to Enoshima. Amane was careful in protecting his heart because of a traumatic event when he told someone of his feelings. But he can’t help but fall in love with the caring and kind Ryuji.
The seaside setting brings a different charm to this short drama, which is shorter than a movie, at about 1.5 hours long. I’m glad to see it speaks to the challenges of a teenager in coming out of the closet to his friends, and how making a joke about it has become his default defense mechanism.
On another note, this drama also reminded me a little of the popular “Kieta Hatsukoi”. We also have another lead who is unsure of his feelings after being confessed to, and needed time to process before responding. We often don't see this side of a love confession and it’s lovely to see male leads from both dramas really take the confession seriously, and give a lot of careful consideration. On the flip side, is it also selfish of Ryuji to want to keep this an one-sided love until he figures things out? How long does Amane need to wait?
Both male leads are lovely characters and that makes this drama very easy to watch. I can relate to bubbly Amane in the way he handles his feelings and the hesitation he has. He almost always wants to pull back, so he doesn’t hear the possible rejection.
If you are looking for something short, light and sweet, this is a good watch. Not a lot happens, so it could be a positive or a negative thing, depending on what you are looking for.
Completed: 11/5/2023 - Review #374
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting Time Traveling but just an OK watch
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Time-traveling is usually not my thing but I read good reviews and thought I would try it out. Overall, it's an OK drama and I might not love it as much as others. A few quick thoughts:
1. I do like the time-traveling as it's an interesting take on how to go back-and-forth. I would probably be like Kwai and wanted to check a couple times to see if I am getting the desired outcome.
2. I like Krist's acting and his role is so different than when I last saw him in "Good Old Days". His acting is so good that I find Kawi quite an annoying character. LOL
3. I do not enjoy Fluke's acting. He did not impress me in "Not Me" and also not in "Be My Favorite". I don't find him particularly attractive so not being able to act matters more.
4. As mentioned, I find Kawi annoying. It's hard for me to root for him as he's quite selfish and wants it all. The girl, the boy, and everything to go his way.
5. Pisaeng is a very sweet character, despite Fluke's bland acting. I think Pisaeng is too good for Kawi.
6. For once we have students NOT in Engineering!
7. Product placement is actually on the light side. That's a pleasant surprise.
8. Too much cakey makeup on the guys - young and old.
9. I was more interested in the beginning and end of the drama. The middle dragged and I didn't care for Pearmai's mommy issues. At least we don't have an evil 2FL. I like the ending when Pisaeng get's to 'do' that as well. But then those last 1.5 episodes are soooo slow. Not much really happened.
10. I wanted to see more of Kawi and Pisaeng after they got together and not just a montage. I want more time when they are a couple.
Overall, it's an easy watch. If you like the leads and time travel, I'll recommend this. Otherwise, it's an OK watch.
Completed: 8/15/2023 - Review #340
Was this review helpful to you?
A Mother's Sacrifice for her Son in the name of Love (A Family Drama, not BL Romance)
“To Sir, With Love” is probably my first real lakorn. The other Thai non-BL dramas I’ve watched are “Love Destiny” and “The Crown Princess”. So, I am still not very used to the overdramatic acting and soap opera-like plotlines yet. I was initially attracted to this drama due to its historical setting of a mature, forbidden gay romance. But as I read more and watch more, I adjusted my expectations accordingly. This is not just a love story, but a family drama with dramatic plot development that sometimes doesn't make sense. It’s about love and sacrifice, understanding and acceptance.Plot -
The drama basically revolves around a mother’s sacrifice to protect her son in the name of love, no matter the price. Throughout the drama, 1st lady Madame Li and her sidekick servant Jia, try to protect her son’s secret. This obsessive overprotectiveness is the root of all evil. The romance between Thian and Jiu is actually a side plot. As I said, I re-adjusted my expectations and I am fine with this family-centric drama instead of a BL romance. However, I feel that this secret has been talked about and dragged on for way too long. If the cat is out of the bag sooner, the pacing of the drama would be better. I would have liked for the secret to be out and then spend time on the consequences and damage control. Instead, so many episodes are spent on protecting this secret with dramatic ‘twists and turns’. After a while, there’s no more surprise and it becomes a repetitive cycle of eavesdropping, devising an evil plan, hurting the person you love.
Romance -
As a romance lover, of course I would have loved to see more of Thian and Jiu. They barely have any scenes together in the first 5 episodes. But that’s ok, I patiently wait for them to be in the same house when the real romance happens. Because so much time was spent on the adult storylines, I am missing the slowly-falling-in-love and unsure-if-he-likes-me scenes. I wanted more loving smiles and shy side glances. The secondary romance between Yang and Phin also got the short end of the stick. They are such a cute, lovely and healthy couple that their romance is just a by-product of the main plot. I also want to see more of their initial falling-in-love development, as they got together pretty quickly.
Acting -
Yes, there’s over-the-top dramatic acting, especially from Madame Jan. This character requires the actress to act that way, and I am OK with it (though it took me a while to get used to it). There are also a few minor roles that act very lakorn/soap opera-ish. They only annoyed me a little. However, I think the MVP is Pok Piyathilda Mittiraroch as Madame Li. She’s so elegant and graceful. Her acting is more subtle and I really feel for her character. She could be all regal in one scene, then calculating in another, and then switch to being an emotional and caring mother. I am most impressed with her. The rest of the cast is pretty good as well. The young leads did an admirable job and I do think they have good chemistry together (when they actually have scenes together). Thian has more emotional scenes and they don’t feel over-the-top. Jiu has a ‘cooler’ and introverted personality, and the actor did well. When he flashed a rare smile when he was with Thian, it did melt my heart a little.
Production -
As this drama is broadcast on TV, I assume the budget is pretty decent. The main house where mainly scenes take place is nicely built and decorated. I love all the Chinese accents and furniture. Throughout the drama, there are many Chinese elements. I LOVE the costumes, especially the qipaos Madame Li wears. Her qipaos are nicer than some I’ve seen in a Chinese dramas. I also like Madam Jan and Phin’s more modern and fashionable styling. The men look handsome in suits, casual wear and traditional outfits, except for Jiu’s raggedly old T-shirts (well, he still looks good). However, outside of the main house, everything looks less sturdy and realistic. The CGI quality needs to be ignored totally….fake snake..fake fire…glittery killing…etc. The OST is decent with a mix of Thai and Chinese music.
Unrealistic events -
I do question a few things while watching and have to tuck away my rational brain a little. It’s hard to imagine proper and rich women beating up and killing bad guys like a born assassin. No matter how many times you’re shot and poisoned, you still have plenty of time to speak your peace before you die. Doors and walls are like thin air. They don’t stop people from eavesdropping in every single episode. You can conveniently and secretly follow someone to their secrets, and also conveniently find and pick up important evidence. I guess this is all part of watching a lakorn.
Despite my criticisms and not being used to the format of a lakorn, I had an enjoyable time watching “To Sir, With Love”. The drama is well-acted, and the pacing is pretty good despite some repetitiveness. I would have liked the drama to be about 12-15 episodes, instead of 17. If you are familiar with and like Thai lakorns, I would recommend this drama.
Completed: 1/8/2023
Was this review helpful to you?
Only for fans of Ishihara Satomi and Kamenashi Kazuya
Watching “Destiny” without any expectation probably contributed to a decent rating and watch experience. Currently it has a MDL rating of 7.2 which is quite low, but also not really THAT low for a Jdrama. “Destiny” tries to be a thriller/suspense romance. I am a fan of lovers reunited and second-chance romance. But is this really a second-chance romance with a cheating aspect, because FL already has a boyfriend? Well, you’ll need to watch to find out.My favorite parts of the drama are the acting and the chemistry between Kanabe (played by Ishihara Satomi) and Masaki (played by Kamenashi Kazuya). Not only are they a fine-looking couple, they brought out many emotions from me. I smiled when watching their college days, and wanted to cry when they reunited under unfortunate circumstances. I love the longing and the pining, and I can accept their actions as I like flawed characters. I would have liked to see a little more of their college days and a stronger foundation of their romance (also the friendship of the 4 characters). Otherwise, it’s really hard to believe these feelings hold true even after so many years.
As a crime/thriller/suspense drama, it might not be very successful. I was never on the edge-of-my-seat anxious to find out what would happen next. Instead, the twists are somewhat predictable. There’s not a lot of background story about FL’s assistant, or the ‘villain’. I also do not agree with some of the decisions made by the characters. Another reviewer commented on the actions by FL’s father. It’s quite incomprehensible the reason for his death and the results of the investigation of his case.
Additionally, the music choice of the ending theme song is interesting. It’s a good and catchy song, and it sounds like it’s from a Broadway musical. However, it totally doesn’t fit the mood of the drama at all. Weird!
I’ll only recommend this if you are a fan of the main leads. Otherwise, it’s not a particularly good romance or suspense drama.
Completed: 9/25/2024 - Review #490
Was this review helpful to you?
