1A little bit of sugar won't give you diabetes and might enhance your platter <3
I don't know if I can find any bad part in this BL even if I search with my magnifying glasses on...all I can see is spotless acting and raw transparent adult emotions with relatable characters to swoon over.YES it's cute, fluffy, refreshing and calming.
For me the most beautiful thing is that Togawa didn't forced his feelings on Nouze-san, this story happened naturally. Being single and close to 40 Mr. Nouze must have felt his life boring and uninteresting. At that time Togawa came into his life like a breath of fresh air. They both understood their boundaries as subordinates.
They are adults in love and but can giggle like a child over little things.
I can conclude this as a healthy BL to feed on whenever you're tired. Plots like this tells us that love at first sight still do exist and stays for a longer time, which makes me wonder why something like this doesn't happen to us :')
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In it, we see a story told entirely through sign language from actors and crew belonging to and familiar with the community. This was actually the first project from the director where they utilized sound, and they did so very well. For instance, the audible sounds that deaf individuals may let off while talking to each other. I know that this is a subject that's brought up a lot in the deaf community in reference to interactions with hearing people. The film also utilized scene-fitting speechless ambient music in the background which definitely helped me, as a hearing individual, focus on the film better than if it was pure silence.
In it, we see the development of concerns about coming out after a bad first coming out experience, especially in the context of how small the deaf community is in some areas. We see a diversity of rounded LGBTQ rep through our main and support characters (bisexual, gay, lesbian, trans ftm, and trans mtf) as they create a safe haven for each other through the sharing of their stories and understanding. In fact, Ayumi even explicitly draws a diagram showing how gender, sex, and sexuality are all independent spectrums of identity.
The acting was also great. Normally, I will tear up upon hearing someone's voice cracking. But Hana's facial expressions were so detailed and spot-on that I found myself tearing up even without the audio input that normally contributes. However, while I was completely sold on the characters as individuals, I didn't think that the 2 FLs had romantic chemistry. They felt more like really close friends. They lacked the glances between each other that would have really sold their emotional investment to each other.
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Aseptic
It's cute and sweet and the story is a bit more involved than the usual endless silly BLs that are being produced. What I did like was the fact that the relationship developed quickly and without a lot of nonsensical roadblocks to tell them that they should not. But the way it is presented is so dull and flat that I did not care. Perhaps others are ok with showing little to no signs of connection as a couple (love), but I do. Otherwise, all it looks like is an exercise for an acting class. What is your point? If I cannot understand your point, then you have failed. There is not enough here to even care about a relationship. let alone see one. It has nothing to do with the acting. The acting is good. It is the story or lack there of. Give me something beyond a yawn after I finish watching this.Was this review helpful to you?
Top Tier BL Series - A Masterpiece That Needs To be Shared!
This is by far the best BL series I've seen! Unlike majority of other BL series, you won't hate on the third party (Thorfun, if you could even call her that). Had it been Thorfun's story without Tian, it would still be good and I'd still watch it. But the concept of having Tian as a recepient of Thorfun's heart is exemplary!!For more than 2 months, I have been patiently waiting every Friday for new release. I even watch the reaction videos of the director and his friends! You should also check that out because you'll appreciate everything about ATOTS more. With their effort, THEY REALLY DESERVE TO BE LOVED AND TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE! I recommend this to all my friends even to non BL fans because in this series, same sex relationship is normalized and not taken as something that the main character would fight or deny. We need more of this approach because love is love no matter the gender.
Do I need to say more about the cast? The visuals are suuuuperb!!! How can they even look good with minimal make up under a bright sunny day or gloomy day?? I also can't believe this is Mix's first acting stint. You can really see how they are comfortable with each other because their chemistry is off the charts! This shouldn't be put to waste, let's support them for more!!
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Story- The story was simple but never boring. The first part deals with bullying but most of the plot is just the trials that the couple faces in order to stay intact. I found myself becoming too into the romance between the leads. A lot of the scenes they had together were awkward in a good way, they made me laugh because it really was cute. I liked how they came together as friends first because they had something in common (they wanted to escape from their reality). The Kingyo Club is the place where they could that. I even wanted to be a part of their club too! lol. The ending is sweet.
Acting/Cast- Most of the cast is newbies which really surprised me. The acting was very natural which I'm not used to seeing in J dramas. The leads were phenomenal and had an amazing chemistry. They really made the cutest couple ever. The supporting cast all played thier roles well. The villains were villainy but you still felt sympathetic for them.
Music- Fit the scenes well but nothing I'd listen to outside the show.
Rewatch- This drama is short and I loved the leads so I definitely could rewatch this every year.
Overall Kingyo Club might be simple but its a very memorable piece.
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A Pleasant Surprise!
When I began watching this series, my expectations were quite low, especially since I believed it was a sequel. However, it turned out to exceed my expectations, earning a spot on my best-of-2024 list. It encompasses all the elements I love in a Wuxia and Fantasy series: underdog heroes facing crazy obstacles they must fight their way out of and fun adventures.
The main team of four characters was incredibly likable, each with mysterious and interesting backgrounds and unique talents. The romance was slow burn, but not in a frustrating way because the leading heroes had such a BFFmance going on. I found myself thoroughly enjoying every episode, and it's safe to say there was never a dull moment.
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Sweet & Cute
Ok i just finished this,i started it this morning so everything is all fresh.This is a very plain story,Friends to lovers.Thats all.No character development,no deep and complicated thoughts.
Just two cuties confessing their love to each other.
One episode totally broke me(i wont say which,no need to spoil it)and i was like "WTF!!" "Why?why?Whyyyyyyyyyyy??"
but everything cleared up eventually.
Lets dip into some details.Sometimes the acting was-let me phrase it in a polite way-awkward.Like yeah you can feel the actors were actually..acting.Awkward!there was chemistry but seemd forced sometimes.Mostly by one of the main leads,the other was pretty decent.2nd detail.the directing was also awkward Iam not an expert but as a viewer lots of times bothered me.
The secondary couple was ok.Nothing wow there.
And after reading all these im sure you wanna ask me why i gave it a 9!Is it a real 9?Tbh,NO is not.
But in almost every episode i remember myself smiling.I had a nice time watching it and at the end i didnt say i wasted my time.
And i made a promise to myself.Every time i watch a BL i will NOT compare it to another series(yes yes you all KNOW which series iam reffering to!!)
Oh and dont forget to mention those Cameos!ohhhhhhhhhh melted my little heart!Watch it and you will see!
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Loved....
1) Chemistry! They both atract to each other. I not sure how many kiss in this lakorn... Thaywa really used any opportunity to kiss Raveet. And Raveet cant help to play along.
2) Raveet as strong woman. Breek up with Niman is nothing, she can move on easily. Smart and confident. Pring can't never be a winner even she stole Niman.
3) Family, Thaywa and Raveet have loving family. They support each other, respect their child opinion. Not just arrage marriage for their child like most of lakorn involve big company.
Hate...
1) Pring! She never grateful for what she have. Always want what Raveets. Not smart woman, the only thing she have her body. She used only that to get anything. What can I say, her mother thought that.
2) Da, she really unstable woman. she sick, I mean she mentally sick. She most fragile person. She can be manipulate easily. She can't be leave alone, she gonna suicide.
Summarized... Love this!
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This review may contain spoilers
"All I See Are Red Flags"
The title of this drama is extremely fitting to the story. Like previous reviews mentioned, this drama is really not for the faint of heart.Broken the Heart was a dark, angst filled wild ride of a story with an utterly unlikable and sadistic male lead whose type of love language falls under the "I love you, so I hurt and belittled you, crushed your heart and confidence, so I could protect you” category, and a damsel in distress female lead who disappointed me to the very end. All I saw from this man from beginning to end were red flags. The second male lead was the opposite and was a sweetheart, but not without his own set of issues. Who wants a man who is so hung up on his dead wife that even after he "lost his memories of her" gives you her face?
At the end, the male lead did do one thing right, he let her go. In my eyes, this didn’t redeem him. The female lead leaving, and staying away, would have made the perfect ending for the devastatingly tragic "love story " that this could have been. It would have also made me respect her a little for saying her piece and staying strong. Sadly, they forced “a happy ending” which had no business in this story. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed this show from beginning to end as it was just right up my alley. The angst was delicious and completely satisfied me, making my heart feel full and content. There were scenes where the composition of it was beautiful, the acting was satisfying, and the OST songs were nice too.
I am honestly glad I started watching it again because it finally had decent subs since it was a show I came to enjoy very much.
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The clue is in the title
Depending on what you are expecting in a romance drama, you might like it or hate it. I enjoyed the series over all. I was a bit frustrated with the ending and felt like there was an opportunity to be a positive impact and that was foregone in exchange for a more realistic take. Let's break down what I enjoyed and what I didn't. Spoilers for 'The Bad'.The Good:
- The chemistry between the leads is excellent.
- Both the lead characters are great on their own.
- The revelation of the issues they both had as people was quite realistic and eye-opening on how you could be perceived.
- The second couple were great too. Also very realistic because they were complete opposites but they made positive changes in order to be together.
- Realistic issues that are common in real life but not usually depicted in dramas.
The Bad:
- Both the leads had annoying mothers and long-standing issues with them which was resolved ridiculously fast but the main leads couldn't resolve theirs?
- The fact that a misunderstanding led to the problem and it was never discussed. Is that realistic? Yes. But it is frustrating nonetheless.
- The male lead was taking positive steps but they still left it as is.
I wouldn't mind if the show ended with them separating because they were at an impasse but not when there was a misunderstanding that caused the break-up and the male lead was making positive strides in order to overcome his avoidant presonality. It felt like a disservice towards a loving couple.
It's still entertaining. It's a different kind of an ending than the usual. It's watchable if you are willing to have an open mind and accept in not all endings are happy.
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~ Story & Cinematography Two adolescent girls both uncertain of what they want, found each other and fell in love. It tells the experience of pain that comes with it - to give space when troubled, to overcome, and make things settle. Unlike common tropes, their relationship is not bound by the harshness of society.
With wide frames of rural sceneries, there were also not well-lighted scenes depicting the lonely lives of the characters and distant shots of interactions capturing body language (like when Nakano was talking to Kirishima about Endo, I believe that moment Kirishima spinned around the bar was a sign of frustration) which made the cinematography and directing interesting but also plain, in general. Not to mention the long, slow, quiet scenes that could be shorten. In opening alone, it took 4 minutes before the first dialogue was uttered. I was actually fine with those except this one thing I find unnecessary (a full-minute screentime of brother checking and disposing the grapes).
When it comes to favorite, I choose that seashore confession scene. No close-up shots, yet it captivates the raw emotions. I like the way Endo was waiting for Kirishima to say it. Kirishima struggled but the moment she said it, Endo smiled implying that she confirmed it. And when Kirishima broke down, Endo assured her she liked what she said and that she's happy - for me, that moment was just beautiful.
~ Acting & Characters
What I like about Konishi Manami is her strong feminine vibe. She delivered the character well. While both leads are conflicted, I still find Endo more difficult. Her character seems carefree and confident, but deep inside, she’s a mess with secrets and insecurities. Behind her happy disposition lacks qualities that led her to conform to her lover’s interests, even though it doesn’t inspire her. She holds on to those to feel a sense of value. In fact, the scene where she went off with the guy, you can notice the change in her look. She suddenly had this fear on her face, worried how the meeting would end up. That low self-esteem prevents her from reciprocating Kirishima’s affection in the same way. However, she still gave warmth, and even (indirectly) got her something motivating for the future.
In my eyes, Ichikawa Mikako has this androgynous beauty with distinct features suitable for a cool character (although that wasn’t the case here in the beginning). Kirishima had a dull, reserved attitude contrary to Endo. She might just be fascinated with Endo at first, but as she learned things about her, Kirishima’s attraction grew more, and still, she never judged her. Most importantly, when she got hurt, she reflected about it, and when she regained herself, she tried to fix things.
The leads have natural chemistry together and each has their own charm. One was left hopeful, but at least, that person proceeded on what she needs to do even if it means they would be in different paths.
~ Music
Soundtrack was only used to emphasize certain moments. It might be boring or unappealing to some, but personally I don't mind it.
Overall, Blue is a bleakish tale with work of subtlety. Everything was kept in minimal, and I appreciate that filming style. It’s not something I see often so I got myself caught up.
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“like a softcore porno but without the porn.” – Love movies, drama reviewer
Love lost and found again is the foundation of this drama. A cute boy with mysterious origin ties the many threads together. It has a good-looking cast of young actors and the lead’s do have some chemistry, but it is not very convincing. It was shot in Xi’an but it has a Taiwanese feel to it. This review is pretty trippy to match the ambience of this short drama.This show is like a game of pin the tail on the donkey. It lurches all over the place but never stays long enough so that you can pin a label on it. For instance, it is quite racy at time, but you won't see anything explicit. It tests the boundaries but never crosses them. Some of the dialogs are very awkward but you can’t say that they are nonsensical or offensive, just cringey, stilted and non-PC.
The dubbing swings between functional to embarrassing. The acting go from reasonable to super cheesy. Every scene can bring its own surprises, and most don’t even involve the script. Ditto the production value. It can be decent one scene and amateurish the next. So much of this show is vexing. Consider how simple and tropey the A-plot is, this is no mean feat.
Some of that can be attributed to its short run time. Officially, it is only 20 x 10 mins long but once you top and tail them, they clock in closer to 8 mins per ep. Thus, the show moves at a cracking pace. I can imagine the editing room floor being littered with scenes they had to cut out. Editing and flow do suffer because of that. It does settle down a bit towards mid run and we can catch our breath but the home run is back to breakneck speed.
The script is humming a tune that sounds familiar but there are many dissonant chords. Cliches are everywhere. Like single use plastic items after a picnic. You might as well get used to plot holes because they are part of this gurgling witches’ brew. I can foretell much toils and troubles.
With a score this low, my modus operandi would be to cut my losses and drop the show but I couldn't. It is like watching a train wreck. You are mesmerised by the impending doom. You are shocked but also awed. As expected, a HEA ending was airdropped into place in the dying minutes of the show. All’s well that ends well.
This show is dire, but not so awful that it becomes a cult classic. It can even be unintentionally funny. In the end, it is a curio that will soon be forgotten. It did pique my interest and it might do the same for you. Heed my warning, gentlefolks. It is hard to stop once it hooks you. I binged it in morbid fascination with barely a pause. But I can never watched it again.
Maybe this is art. Maybe I’m a bowl of petunias. Peace out.
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The stories within this series are so heartfelt, honest, and true to life that at some moments it's scary to see it happen. A few times I had to pinch myself to remind me that this was "just a tv show". I'm unfamiliar with the main actor (Yoshioka Hidetaka) however, after this series I've become a very ardent fan, very quickly! The way he carries himself as a person, not to mention as a doctor, is something very unique that you don't see very often in any type of drama. Each episode was filled with such strong emotion(s) that I felt as if I was living within the community on the island.
This drama is not one to be missed if you are a medical, suspense, slice-of-life, family, or any genre type, to be honest. This show held a lot of morals and/or lessons too; it is a very sweet, very realistic show!
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