xashiel

Uncomfortable Dynamics, Weak Performances

Dangerous Queen didn’t work for me, mainly due to its execution. The long silences and excessive staring quickly became exhausting—the quiet felt more awkward than tense. Early on, the dynamic leaned heavily into a dom–sub portrayal, and certain moments felt uncomfortable rather than compelling. It came across like a story that might have worked better as a novel than as a live-action series.

I also wasn’t a fan of the constant begging dynamic. The characters felt too young for that kind of portrayal, which made it feel misplaced and uncomfortable. Overall, the project just didn’t seem like the right fit for the leads.

The acting needs significant improvement. Emotional expressions felt flat, especially in moments that required vulnerability. Queen has a naturally strong presence, but it fails to soften when the story calls for it. Bo, on the other hand, felt restrained—I kept waiting for more emotional depth that never really came. Unfortunately, there was no chemistry between them.

That said, Kem’s actor stood out. His performance felt grounded and convincing, making him the most watchable part of the series.

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Goofy Scares with a Solid Revenge Core

I watched this alongside the BL series Khemjira the Series, as both share a similar premise involving a shaman saving their soulmate. I’ll avoid making direct comparisons here. The VFX were acceptable, while the SFX were minimal. I’d describe the horror as “goofy scary”—it clearly aims to frighten, but many moments came off as ridiculous in a way that was more funny than scary, even though some scenes still managed to work.

The series relies heavily on the actors’ performances to create tension, since the special effects didn’t fully deliver for me. One unintentionally funny aspect was the way the ghosts behaved, which felt almost zombie-like. I also noticed that many of the scare scenes were shot in first-person perspective, a technique known to heighten tension by making viewers feel like they’re experiencing everything themselves.

The pacing felt rushed, as if the show was eager to jump from one scare to the next. While I paid attention to the storyline, it moved quickly without always giving enough substance in between. Still, the core story itself is strong—I’m a fan of revenge-driven narratives, and the antagonist’s actions felt justified to me. Nothing really convinced me otherwise.

I appreciated the open ending and wouldn’t want a sequel or second season. The conclusion worked for me, and sometimes it’s better to leave things as they are.

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A Well-Executed Supernatural Drama

I watched this alongside the GL series 'Runaway', as both share a similar premise involving a shaman saving their soulmate. I’ll avoid making direct comparisons here. What stood out immediately was the quality of the visuals, the VFX were well done, and the prosthetic makeup added a lot to the atmosphere. While it wasn’t scary for me, the story itself was engaging enough to keep me hooked, to the point where I didn’t even mind the hour-long episodes.

One thing I really appreciated was how clearly everything was explained. Every question I had was answered as the story progressed, and nothing felt confusing or poorly handled. The production quality overall was solid, and the narrative flowed well.

Personally, I found myself more drawn to the side characters than the main ones. As for the antagonist, her actions felt justified within the context of the story, I couldn’t help but agree with the idea of long-held, agonizing revenge driving the plot.

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Well-Written, Well-Executed, and Hard to Watch

Fragrance of the First Flower Season 2 works as a direct continuation of the first season, so watching Season 1 is essential to fully appreciate it. What stands out immediately is the acting—it’s absolutely impressive and carries much of the emotional weight of the series.

This season is well written and well executed, but it’s also difficult to watch. As it progresses, it feels increasingly heavy, almost like a punch to the gut. It’s hard to fully put into words why it works so well, because the emotions are already embedded in the storytelling—you just have to trust where it takes you.

I appreciated that the series avoids being cringe. It doesn’t rely heavily on romantic moments and instead focuses on drama and emotional realism, which ultimately makes it stronger. Overall, it’s a compelling and impactful watch, and I would highly recommend it.

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Quiet, Subtle, and Emotionally Effective

Fragrance of the First Flower is a short series that doesn’t reveal much on the surface, but its strength lies in the dialogue and the characters’ actions and emotions. The themes of avoidance and denial are portrayed subtly yet effectively, making the experience quietly impactful despite its brief runtime.

What truly makes the series work is the acting and writing. Even without overt dramatics, the performances and conversations carry the emotional weight, allowing the story to resonate in a natural and intimate way. It’s understated, but that restraint is exactly what makes it memorable.

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Well-Performed but Not Convincing

Poisonous Love delivers strong performances, and the acting is easily one of its highlights. That said, my personal taste leans toward heavier emotional suffering or a more twisted plot, and this series didn’t quite reach that level for me. Some moments came off as cringe, particularly a few intimate scenes that felt more awkward than impactful.

I also felt that the leads lacked chemistry, though that’s purely my opinion. On the positive side, I appreciated that the characters actually communicated with each other, which helped avoid unnecessary misunderstandings—a refreshing change from similar series. I even watched the special episodes hoping they would ease my doubts about the relationship, but unfortunately, I still wasn’t fully convinced.

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A Solid Watch with Strong Casting

So far, Roller Coaster hasn’t been disappointing at all. It’s genuinely enjoyable, and I appreciate that the characters aren’t constantly making frustrating or illogical decisions. I found myself rooting for Air, even though she’s clearly part of the problem—and that made her more interesting to watch.

The casting is one of the show’s strengths. Each actor fits their role well, which makes the series more engaging overall. That said, the confrontation scene didn’t fully land for me. The emotions felt off when everyone was in the same scene together, even though their performances worked better individually.

Overall, it’s a solid series with good character work, just with a few moments where the execution could’ve been stronger.

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More Invested in the Side Couple Than the Leads

Harmony Secret was decent overall, but I ended up being more invested in the side couple than the main one. The main couple’s breakup felt forced, especially since it was tied to their bosses’ separation—something that didn’t really make sense emotionally. In contrast, the side couple had better chemistry and were far more engaging to watch.

I also think the series should have included a trigger warning for sexual assault, as there were multiple scenes where the main character was placed in situations that could have led to it. The acting, while not terrible, was mostly average.

I enjoyed the series mainly because of the side couple. The main romance didn’t fully work for me since their relationship developed without clearly showing emotional buildup in the past. I understand that being rivals was part of the story’s intention, but the lack of visible romantic tension made it harder to connect with their relationship.

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