Simple and Sweet With Just The Right Dose of Comedy
This is a super cute rom-com about first romance, highlighting the awkward journey of inexperienced young adults as they try to develop their crushes into relationships.A show with lots of heart and on-point comedy, it was all the clichés rolled into one, but also a mood booster. The show was such a pleasure to watch that it made me want to go back to my first relationship in college and enact all the drama tropes.
The leads, Wang Xing Yue as Ren Chu and Tian Xi Wei as Lu Wanwan were endearing together and very entertaining to watch. Both leads have engaging visuals suitable for their characters. Ren Chu was classic good looks, whereas Wanwan was doll-like lovable. There was some cringey overacting from TXW and robotic under-acting from WXY, but nothing bad enough to distract me from enjoying the fluff.
Our FL was often misunderstood by the audience as too dumb to be in medical school, but after a few episodes, many, including myself, realized that she was actually intelligent and resourceful. However, Wanwan suffered from anxiety, especially during stressful moments like exams or performing in front of others. Anyone suffering from fear of public speaking, for example, can relate to her freezing up during stressful moments. Wanwan was generally cheerful, optimistic, and had a good EQ.
Unfortunately, Wanwan was burnt by her first crush experience and was slow to acknowledge her feelings for the ML. Hence the slow-burn romance…
Ren Chu was the brilliant and handsome campus king, a star swimmer, and talented in many ways. Despite being popular, his EQ was very low, and he was not inclined to be sociable to most. Of course, him being all cool and detached increased his popularity. Even though it was not clear how Wanwan caught Ren Chu's interest, I did enjoy watching his attempts to get closer to her, trying to confess his feelings and deepen their relationship. I shared the poor guy's frustration.
I found it charmingly funny that when one could not expect to squeeze an ounce of romance out of the most scientific moments, Ren Chu could still be romantic. He was also steadfastly committed to Wanwan, and I love how he completely shut down an annoying admirer who was clearly out of touch with reality.
The sincere and straightforward romance between the leads was adorably nerdy. Despite being new to love and still trying to work through their feelings, they did not shy away from sharing their thoughts. Both were emotionally immature in their own ways, creating plenty of opportunities for funny scenes. I smiled and laughed so much throughout the show. Even their "love tokens" were hilarious!
The development of skinship appeared natural, including the kissing scenes, starting with awkward pecks to more comfortable kisses.
I love how the drama used the supporting characters as devices to voice out or prompt the growing feelings of the leads. Little comments and setups here and there helped the romance along for our fumbling main couple.
The supporting cast was fine, doing what they needed to do. It is a mostly young cast, and while they did ok, there was room for improvement. There was some over-acting but nothing much to complain about and nothing much to praise. A second and third couple provided extra entertainment, but I was not particularly interested in their development. Wanwan's parents were awesome and provided some great comic relief.
Another high point for me was the OST. The opening song was catchy and reflected the happy, bright tone throughout the show. My favorite, though, was the ending credit song, 不知不觉 (Unconsciously). For me, it heightened the romantic feels of the drama.
Overall, I recommend this light, sweet rom-com, especially if you are looking for one with little angst and the main CP are so darlingly adorable in their unadulterated, innocent love.
Full OST list on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9aFD7zCaP0
Full OST list on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/1ybsFTzVK5SZaLc1PWzCe8?si=TZ9guaKtR6GAtwNwN3MW2w
不知不觉 (Unconsciously) - 康子奇 (Kang Ziqi)
不知不觉 (Unconsciously) - 徐秉龙 (Xu Binglong)
遇光 (Yu Guang) - 嘉羿 (Jia Yi)
奇妙物语 (Wonderful Story) - Joysaaaa
初次爱你 (First Love) - 彭雅琦 (Peng Yaqi)
Was this review helpful to you?
The most beautiful bundle of complexity in GL media by far.
Let me first start off with the writing. Despite initial concerns with the problematic novel it's based off of, the writers did a fantastic job in making up for the flaws of the book in the series. The necessary changes made, the pacing of the plot, and the flow of the story all contributed greatly in cementing this show in my heart as one of, if not the best GL I've watched so far.Now let's get into the acting. Namtan did a heck of a job differentiating Oom from Ai. It genuinely felt as if they're acted by different actresses by how well she played the two characters. Film was a natural. She played the role of a woman who is blind perfectly, and at times it was scary how real it felt. But that's just how well she embodied her role. Not only this, she really has this natural artist's ability to capture your attention and be enamored by her acting that just gets you in the feels. NamtanFilm is by far the most balanced GL tandem in terms of acting. They match each other's amazing acting ability, making it easy for viewers to feel what they intended for scenes to elicit.
For my most loved part of this show: its complexity. Characters are extremely flawed, morally grey, and realistic. Yet, the writers did not fail to bring out the humanity beneath these characters to make them appeal to the audience's hearts. Its themes are also extremely heavy yet are handled and tackled well enough to not make it problematic. This balance was what made the show more engaging, enjoyable, and memorable. Especially with Jan, Pang, and Pim's love triangle. It was a whole lot. Although their story was not quite deepened and not dwelled enough for there to be any attachment felt by the viewers for them, it just goes to show how bold and complex Snap25 went with Pluto.
Additionally, the fact that a lot of redemptions happen in this show makes it a relatively easy rewatch despite its heavy themes (Episode 11 angst was way too much for my emotional self though so definitely except it). I'm not a fan of rewatching at all, but Pluto is one of the few shows that I would willingly rewatch for the feels alongside Reverse 4 You.
No doubt in my mind this is going to be GMMTV's best GL show for quite some time.
2024 GL Ranking: https://kisskh.at/list/Ln8MOBO4
My Top 10 GLs of All Time: https://kisskh.at/list/4vGQqnb1
Was this review helpful to you?
Story: Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. Some parts are just horrible, I would have cried (if I were to ever cry while watching a movie). The story was very good.
Acting/Cast: Fantastic. I'm glad they had at least one actor from the original Boys Love. All of the actors portrayed their characters well.
Music: I only can't really remember it... >_> But, they had the quotes like they did in Boys Love, which was awesome and kinda served the same purpose as music would have.
Rewatch Value: I've already seen it twice in less than a week. Point made.
I would highly recommend this movie.
Was this review helpful to you?
Like UNNATURAL, MIU404 takes a social commentary approach to the traditional police procedural / crime dramas. The first few episodes are seemingly disconnected in storyline (ie. each episode has its own crime to solve), but as the story goes on you'll see how the bigger picture connects. There's more at stake than what meets the eye. And the plot and acting all play critical roles in conveying that to the audience.
I particularly enjoyed the lines said by the MIU captain. I think the scriptwriter really made good use of the character to bring out her worldview and her morals/ethics. The amazing storyline aside, MIU404 is essentially Nogi Akiko's letter of complaint about the current police hierarchy, how the Japanese society treats juvenile crimes, as well as the problems with fake news and internet trolling... and I love it.
Was this review helpful to you?
The Sweetest Couple!
Because the plot on kisskh was a little confusing at first, I constantly ignored this drama and put it aside. The female lead Mi Jiu Er is known as Superflash, and is a poor heroine who protects and takes care of refugees in the city. She ends up swapping places with her doppelgänger, who is the manager of the male lead's clothing workshop. Honestly, this drama is an underrated gem, and generally is very solid with one of the happiest and most well-written endings that I've seen recently in Chinese dramas. If you go into this for sparkly and passionate romance, a really cute main couple, and don't except an intense story too much, I definitely encourage you to watch this!I'd highly recommend having a watch if you like these tropes:
♡ Enemies to Lovers: Luo Yin Ran and Mi Jiu Er are constantly bickering in the beginning. While Yin Ran is a cold, reserved male lead who hates uncleanliness and is devoted to his work, he never hurts the female lead. Over time, he grows to protect her, and even puts down his own feelings and his wellbeing for Mi Jiu Er's happiness. The relationship between these two is incredibly healthy, and Luo Yin Ran never crosses boundaries that could hurt the female lead. This trope is also repeated with the second couple in this drama, who are also very loveable and also have a very sweet relationship as well.
♡ So Many Kisses: The amount of passion and sweetness in all the kisses made my heart flutter! Both the main actor Kris Sun and actress Jin Wen Xin are adorable, and their kisses are so well shot. There are sweet and lovely kisses, but also romantic ones, and even some that show tinges of bittersweetness. The actors did a great job in showing the emotion of their characters through all of the kiss scenes, and many of the kisses were lengthy and passionate (instead of being frozen or stiff).
♡ Gorgeous Production Value: All of the clothes (especially as this is a drama which focuses on the clothing industry) are beautiful. The scenes are so wonderfully shot, and the buildings and sets are gorgeous. I believe that this is a Republican era drama (it isn't exactly clear in the series because the show doesn't really focus on the political context) and so you will see an interesting mix of Western clothing on Pei Zhuo and Chinese clothing on Luo Yin Ran.
♡ Generally Drama and Angst Lite: There are moments where the drama ventures into more sad scenes. Our main couple does experience some periods of sadness, but they also communicate and try to work out their problems. This is therefore great to pick up if you just want something to relax to and something where you don't have to think too much.
♡ Solid Storyline and Very Watchable: There are enemies and problems in this drama, but because it's only 24 episodes, there is little to no filler, and you have a great beginning, an interesting setup, and one of my all time favourite endings. If you want a whole story that's completed, instead of finding out that there's a cliffhanger or a "Season 2" after finishing, I highly recommend that you watch this. You will be completely satisfied by the progression of the story.
♡ My Boy Fan Xiao Dong: If you've watched the Chinese drama the Rules of Love, Fan Xiao Dong is the actor who plays the second male lead. If your heart was crushed by second lead syndrome in that drama, it'll (unfortunately) also be crushed here too as Fan Xiao Dong plays the lonely second love interest Pei Zhuo. I think that out of all the actors, Fan Xiao Dong did the best job, because he was simultaneously a character that you could be deeply sympathetic with at one second, and then hateful towards during the next. In any case, I think his character had one of the biggest changes to his personality and mindset, and that this drama is an opportunity to see another side of his acting.
However, there are also some things you might not like about the drama:
♥ Chemistry: It took some time for me to get used to Kris Sun and Jin Wen Xin. They do have a large age gap, and I felt very lukewarm about their chemistry during the first couple episodes. In addition, I feel that some of the earlier episodes create more sparks between Mi Jiu Er and the second male lead Pei Zhuo, and have more scenes with them clearly showing some affection towards each other. However, once you keep watching, especially when Luo Yin Ran begins to fall for Mi Jiu Er, you start to warm up to them and the kisses definitely are exploding with chemistry.
♥ Somewhat Rocky Acting: There are some scenes where I as not really convinced of the main actors and actress. Jin Wen Xin's interpretation of Mi Jiu Er definitely can come off as very childish (especially as she is so petite). This also gets me on to the dubbing, where Jin Wen Xin's absolutely lovely husky voice in real life is changed into a very childish-sounding, high pitched one, which some viewers may not like. However, over time her brash and straightforward personality becomes very endearing. Sometimes I also felt Kris Sun struggled with the more emotionally demanding scenes, especially ones that involved crying or anger. However, I think both still did a solid job, but whether it was their acting or the story itself, I do think that there are some scenes in which the acting is a little stiff and/or unnatural.
♥ Some Parts Can be Boring, Especially the First Stretch: I did skip some times during the drama, and do find that the beginning is probably the hardest to get through, because the setup is done in a way where you don't feel like it's high stakes or are drawn in to the story. I did drop it several times initially, before I started getting through the more expository episodes, and started really seeing the romance develop.
♥ Not a Huge Focus on Succeeding in the Clothing Industry: The background plot does involve the vying for power in the clothing industry amongst different businesses that are in the industry. I do think that this was a great idea to tie in the overall story and to give some urgency to the plot. However, note that this is not a story of how Mi Jiu Er overcomes obstacles and becomes a wonderful and capable manager, or that she grows to become skilled in the industry. While part of the story does involve how Luo Yin Ran acquires greater fame in the industry, the main focus is really on our main couple. So you will not really be seeing the characters improve per se, but instead a greater emphasis on the romance that develops between them (and then some scheming that occurs from other companies.)
I'd recommend you watch this if you liked dramas that have lots of fluffy romance, are beautifully filmed, and also love a lot of romantic tropes. I do think you need to have your expectations set - this is no groundbreaking Chinese drama where you may feel the need to binge watch - but is a very solid and well done show overall. If you're looking for something that's sweet and light, then this is for you!
Was this review helpful to you?
And so it goes with Beyond the Clouds, whose central theme is just this. Don’t mistake the drama for a common revenge yarn; though payback might be a driving force for many characters, it’s hard to call it “The Point.” Viewers should instead expect a classy, fatalistic romance, complete with slow-burning melodrama. Will these two deeply traumatized people fall in love despite their cruel circumstances? If they do, will a romantic connection hurt even more—or heal both, becoming their silver lining? That’s more “The Point,” and also the element that works most beautifully.
As to the revenge aspect, it’s fine if sometimes messy. I never fully believed or enjoyed the con-man angle. The “big bad” felt one-dimensional, as did his motivations, while other early villains were the same or even slightly unnecessary. That said, the dangerous atmosphere and situations created by their influence was excellent. It’s an odd combination, but it works.
Yoon Kye Sang stars as Jung Se Ro, a gentle man whose experiences have left him unpredictable and angry. This actor shines in Beyond the Clouds, handsome and magnetic. He grabbed my attention as if grabbing my head with both hands, so striking was his performance. Together with leading lady Han Ji Hye, he shared sparkling chemistry. Ji Hye enchants as Han Young Won, playing emotional and romantic scenes well. However, I often noticed her eyes open too wide too often, or glued firmly to the floor. The character can be meek on occasion, but these mannerisms were not strong choices at all.
Though I wasn't crazy about the whole con-man thing, Jo Jin Woong presents well as complicated Park Kang Jae. He’s the most believable and human of the seedy bunch, even the best connected to the main story. Tearful scenes seem to be his forte; he’s fantastic at them. A special mention is reserved for Kim Young Ok, probably the best “grandmother” actress ever. She made me cry so many times it isn’t funny.
Both cinematography and music embrace an elegant, almost classic feel. Early scenes in Thailand are a feast for the eyes, though the rest of the drama delights as well. Songs were well-chosen and interspersed to optimize emotional effect. Unlike in other melodramas, I never grew bored of any of it. Some great vocals include “Whale” (Zitten), “Sin,” (V.O.S), and “The Full Sun,” (Yang Pa).
Was this review helpful to you?
The simultaneous narratives were really interesting as Thai Lakorns can be somewhat typical and standardized in terms of storylines and Khun Mae Suam Roy was anything but. Saying that I wouldn’t recommend it as a first Lakorn to watch for Thai drama beginners as it will build unrealistic expectations about them. This Lakorn is like an old Port wine, one has to wait to drink it in order to fully maximize the experience of tasting the wine.
The mysteries about who shot Siriya, who caused her lover’s death, who messed up with the car breaks to cause Sina (pretending to be Siriya) accident, who shot her, and the Cluedo guessing game kept raising an array of questions about the possible suspects and sending viewers on mental wild goose chases nearly until the end. For those that like mystery games, this drama is brilliant. For those that like lovey dovey enemies to lovers kiss and slap stories, they’re not is as large a supply. The relationship between Thi and Sina is intriguing and really captivating from the beginning but it’s a bit like climbing a mountain except that when you think you reached the top and the view can’t get better, you haven’t reached the top yet and the view will get tons better.
Khun Thi, the male lead has always suffered from abandoned child syndrome both physically and emotionally by his mother which have caused him a severe emotional trauma and scarred him deep inside his heart. It was a tough issue for a young child to deal with and one that has strongly impacted on him. He’s very loyal to his father’s family who have raised him but he’s still the son of a mistress and that knowledge has always waved itself invisibly over his head, hidden away in an emotional inferiority complex. His leading lady, Sina (pretending to be her twin sister Siriya to discover who shot her, making her wheelchair bound), on the other hand is rather normal; a hardworking stunt double who kicks ass and protects her sister. Their love story is cliché and the way their emotions and their struggles play are a like an elastic band constantly expanding and shrinking, standard but at the same time so real life and both Pop and Bua have a strong chemistry onscreen. I found Darika’s obsession with Khun Thi too paranoid but that’s Lakorn stereotypical.
The writers have done a brilliant job writing the Nat and Siriya/Sina and both Khem Rujira Chuaykua and Bua Ongumpai have done a great job bringing them to life. Nat is the scorned woman who feels that her infertility caused her husband to fall for Siriya, who bore him a child and as a consequence had made her live in agony for years. Wanting to be a mother and being unable to, wanting her husband’s love but being scorned by him is something that many women can empathise with and can understand too well. As a result of those issues Nat battled depression, low self-esteem and extreme stress. Siriya is the eldest twin and the weakest one. She’s so meek and calm all the time making her look way too insipid and pitiful as she always comes across like a damsel in distress who needs to be rescued by her knight in shining armour. This makes her annoying as a character. Sina on the other hand is completely the opposite and that’s what makes her interesting, her Spice Girls, girl power attitude. The twins are so utterly simple, so devoided of complexity which is interesting as the story doesn’t need them to be multi-layered. The writers did such a great job in keeping viewers guessing, double guessing and questioning things all the time that when the Lakorn ended there the Suttarak family has finally got a sense of understanding about what happened, why it happened and was finally able to move on from that.
I liked that Khun Mae Suam Roy as a Lakorn is very well written and that the story is organic, flowing without a lot of dull or unnecessary moments. The storylines have purpose and are intrinsically connected; in one way or another they add substance to the development of main story arch which in itself is an achievement. The actors played a huge role in that but it’s easy to perform well with a great script that deals with contemporary issues relevant to current society.
I loved the romance, how the love story developed and how the drama production team gave viewers an entire episode dedicated to it. It was amazing, particularly how Thi played with the cards that were dealt to him and how, despite the denials and his own internal battles, he has overcome them and gave himself the chance to be happy with the woman he loves, freely and without reservations; but for me despite loving the romance, Khun mae suam roy was not about it, it was about the fight for justice and for a chance at happiness, underlined by a revenge plot, emphasized by a beautiful soundtrack. Roses have thorns.
For all of the above I am giving this Lakorn 10 points out of 10.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
What I loved: The main couple, and the other subway cops.What I liked: The case-of-the-week format.
What I was meh about: The main plot. It was draggy in the middle, but kept me engaged in early and late episodes.
What I hated: Ha Ma Ri, the metro police in general (they're terrible at their jobs).
The driving force of this drama, for me, has been the personal stories of Go Ji Suk and Yoo Ryung. Both of them are very warm-hearted people who have had to take care of their disabled loved ones all on their own, so they both have experienced a lot of suffering. The case-of-the-week format worked for me as well, with each case having Ji Suk warming to Ryung's style of doing things more and more, as he comes to understand her drive to save people.
The main plot is admittedly weak, because the police seem ridiculously incompetent at finding clues to the Subway Ghost case. The way it's written, without Ryung's help they would never have figured out who the killer was. Lieutenant Ha Ma Ri is lousy at her job, because chooses to be a hateful bitch rather than be a good detective. Ma Ri ignores Ryung's pleas to investigate her sister's disappearance, as well as her theory that the killer used the subway tunnels. She also finds every opportunity to verbally spite Ryung and put her down because Ji Suk falls for Ryung instead of coming back to HER. Ma Ri could have been a great character, but instead she's just plain hateful, an incompetent detective with an inferiority complex.
I like this drama a lot, despite its issues. Some of the lines, like Ryung saying it was her sister's fault (if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about), made no sense at all, and irritated me because it had been established that due to her sister's Autism, her mental state was about the level of a two year old. How can a two year old be to blame for what happened? I can understand why the villain blamed her – he was out of his senses with grief and anger – but I don't understand why anyone else would blame her.
But 90% of the time I really enjoyed watching this drama. So I will recommend it to those who are a fan of slow-burn love stories that have a lot of spark, because the chemistry between Moon Geun Young (Yoo Ryung) and Kim Sun Ho (Go Ji Suk) is amazing in this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Padam Padam
37 people found this review helpful
1This review may contain spoilers
A shining little diamond! An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one way!
For all those who like three-dimensional life in movies and television. For all those who, apart from the clichés, are open to more complex relationships and personal development processes. For all those who want to get involved with a downright hopeless fate at the 'lower' end of the social pyramid. In this context, one should not allow oneself to be driven away immediately by punches and kicking. "Padam Padam... the sound of his heartbeat and hers" rewards with a touching love story that, by Korean standards, takes its place in an almost sensual, sensitive way.I already got to know Jung Woo-sung in "A Moment to Remember" as an exceptional actor, enriching his encounters and relationships with an almost sensual dimension. That alone is a unique feature that contributes enormously to the quality of this KDrama.
Nevertheless, it wouldn't do justice to the story (which is wonderfully told in all instances) to reduce it to just a romance. It tells the story of an ex-con and his fellow inmate. It quickly becomes clear that Yang Kang-chil actually was innocent. And even after his release 13 years later, he is not free from that momentous act that he did not commit. Rather the real perpetrator would like to finally get rid of him for good, as he had witnessed what really happened back then. And others, too, have not forgotten or even forgiven what happened back then.
Kang-chil, on the other hand, would like to make amends for the lifetime that was unjustly stolen from him in prison. He's a simple, uneducated young man, now in his 30s, who only learned crafts in prison. His vita has taught him to engage 100 percent in the NOW. He may seem simple, yet he sees life in simple terms. However, he is quite capable of comprehending, of taking action and responsibility as well. He choses a simple, direct route. If he is happy about something today, then he gives room for this joy TODAY. Not tomorrow. And he doesn't have to weigh up whether it's ok to be happy or not. It's the same with anger. In short: he follows his heart. And there we are with the title of the KDrama: "Padam Padam". As onomatopoeia, it refers to the heartbeat (and takes up the title of a chanson by Edith Piaf of the same name).
------ SIDE NOTE --- Importance of onomatopoeia in the Korean language ---
The title "Padam Padam" also refers to the fact that the so-called onomatopoeia/onomatopoeia is of particular importance in the use of the Korean language - it is about eight times as important as in other languages. In Korean, remarkably often in narratives one can encounter the simple (yet acoustically imitated in a culture-specific way) onomatopoeic imitation of simple natural sounds. The list of everyday onomatopoeic vocabulary is correspondingly long. With this content communication is expressed more directly, more forcefully, more concretely and more immediately. "Padam Padam" therefore not only refers to the heartbeat - symbolic of the life that one wins and loses again, or for the feelings of the two lovers - but also to the special portion of 'directly conveyed, sensually experienceable feelings', which the protagonist places in all of his encounters.
A lot of heart and soul goes into the hand-picked production design, which also mostly wants to leave a consciously direct impression for all senses. (Mainly we are in the rural areas of the coastal region of South Korea.) The landscape, the sunset, the lake at night, the fireworks, etc. impress through a high degree of aestheticization. Sometimes you have the impression that you can literally smell the sweat of the well-trained young men... At other times some scenes are repulsive, ruthless, almost ugly - yet still highly sensual.
So Kang-chil is sensitive, but he's also a tough guy. He's not your usual appealing protagonist. He is peculiar, impetuous, impulsive, irritating, and also disconcerting. But he quickly grows on you in his sincere, direct and sensual way. This is actor Jung Woo-sung at his finest. His female film partner Han Ji-min can't resist the intensity that emanates from him either. It's a pleasure to watch her being drawn into his spell. (Here I can expressly praise the chemistry between the actors...) And then there is Na Moon-hee, who once again embodies the bumpy, complex and yet emotionally real (South Korean) mother-son relationship in a three-dimensional authentic way. By the way, the men here are above all punching, kicking and spitting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That may be due to the milieu in which the story is set, but not only. Even if it seems strange to the Western eye at times, the KDrama is authentically filled with life throughout.
The story finally offers a not inconsiderable special feature as an encore for its surprising developments away from your ordinary everyday life: a guardian angel (wonderful: Kim Bum with ponytail) .
An extraordinary masterpiece that touches the heart in more than one ways!
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
I never watch films without reading its synopsis but this was a great exception.
2-Storyline/Plot : On the outside, it may sound like the Korean version of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" but somehow I thought it was special with its own events and its own charm.
I laughed so hard while watching this to the point that I tried blocking my mouth with my hands since was afraid that I may wake everyone in the house: yes, it was really funny! The story wasn't outstanding but the laughter moments (and sometimes romance moments) made me fall for it.
3-Acting/Cast : I like Kim Ha Neul and yeah she was cool here but I believe that Kang Ji Hwan was the leader of this film; he really cracked me up and the way he screams was so freaking funny, he really managed to pertray his role in a perfect way and most of all, he was believable.
4-The ending : I loved the final scene but the general ending was a typical rom-com ending.
5-My impression: This film literally cracked me up; I remember laughing my stomach out until I almost rolled on the floor late at night. This is a unforgettable film indeed.
6-Overall : This is the type of film that I would recommend to anyone:
There's laughter.
The funny romance.
Action (especially the hilarious action scenes with Kang Ji Hwan).
Was this review helpful to you?
CHOKUNASTON❤️❤️read till end btw
i would give up both my arms for chokunaston, even though there’s only been 1 ep every time they smile at eachother i am genuinely tweaking out
i am going to save up all my money so if and when chokunaston become an official gmmtv couple i want to buy their mascot keychain because this obsession is becoming too real
other than chokunaston, mickluke is actually quite sweet aswell. i appreciate kit in boys in love, what a professional procrastinator (too real). also micks character is literally so real aswell because like him i suck at playing games
also… whoever decided to give THE BARCODE TINNASIT ISARAPONGPORN an ost for boys in love, i want their hand in marriage because ‘lesson 1’ is one of the BEST osts ive heard. wouldn’t of expected anything less from barcode
im so looking forward to the rest of the episodes and also podpapangs storyline. this will be the highlight of my week im prophesying it
UPDATE FROM EP7!!!!
GUYS WTF!!!!!!! now tell my why this is the most amazing the most perfect youth drama gmmtv has like ever created. LIKE why did i never mention kenpaul earlier because guys im not even kidding, they are like the 2nd best thing which has ever happened to me like they’re so silly and i reckon they should have more screen time. AND THOSE GODDAMN TEACHERS😫😫guys if you’re reading this not sure if you should watch boys in love. all you have to do is go on to astons tiktok lives or his twt- OR just search up Chokunaston and oh my god guys you will EASILY be convinced into watching this. aston is actually too chronically online and he’s exposed himself too many times. tell me why you wouldn’t want to watch that?
oh and also regarding osts i love shot clock, bro the mv is so cute i cant even watch it anymore. also,,, lukemicks ost is lowk so good! not entirely sure how i feel abt micks singing (no offence) but luke surprisingly pulled through and like kinda ate ngl…
to be honest the only downside i have is that i feel like kitshanes screen time is a bit dragged out in a few episodes (ONLY SOMETIMES) and shane kind of just brings negative energy, but i understand thats just his character. i still love kitshane guys dont get me wrong, i just wanna see more teachers😔ONE LAST THING!!!! the montages when they go to like the aquarium or literally any sort of montage in boys of love is surprisingly like a cinematic masterpiece like BRO THIS IS CRAZY!!! like i’m not being dramatic but gmmtv really pulled through with the quality and i haven’t been bored of a single montage (usually i am with most shows) but these montages are just 😍😍😝🤭🥰especially all the chokunaston moments I LOVE THEM SO MUCH
anyways i’ll update my final review in a few more weeks😝😝
final update: this show don’t get me wrong is really good but honestly i haven’t even finished it, i’ve only got ep 12 to go and i genuinely can’t find a purpose in watching it, im just not interested to find out how it ends, and i can add kind of assume. the plot itself is actually not very good, it’s okay. BUT the individual episodes are all really fun and the quality is pretty good actually. i loved chokunaston but sometimes and poddpapang but their screen time was actually awful. micks character pissed me off and kit idk… i think luke’s acting was pretty good though, but i think it’s relatively easy to tell that this is a first project for most. i did like ken paul but then pauls character pissed me off then it threw me off a bit, idk to me they always just felt like best friends…it’s still worth a watch and i 100% think it’s very good as a comfort show or at least a youthful show. but honestly everything in life is pissing me off atm and i’m convinced nothing will be more peak than only boo. overall though i did enjoy the show, but definitely it starts off really strong but then when it gets to the middle ish it just feels like Oh, it’s definitely not bad, but if you decide to go on holiday and have 3 weeks off without watching any series, then maybe like me, you won’t have any sort of motivation to watch the last episode.
anyways sorry for the extremely long review it’s been fun updating this. don’t listen to this review, this is more like a diary for me. Or you can listen to it, i mean all in all its positive but if you think that poddpapang will get more than 3 minutes per ep, then im so sorry 😖depending what mood you’re in this might be the most perfect thing for you, it helped me get through my gcses but rn the only thing i seem to want to watch is nothing, because im so lazy and all i do is doomscrolling and checking my twt for khemjira updates. if anyone has any advice on how to stop doomscrolling and become productive and get a life, pls let me know! anyways i think im done now. bro no one’s even gonna read all this wtf am i even doing😭😭
Was this review helpful to you?
I recommend this just because it's so entertaining to watch. I especially recommend it if one of your biases is featured in an episode and odds are they probably are because what a line-up!
Story-wise, I thought Ok Taec Yeon's was the funniest and the best. Kai's noona storyline was cute as well. Subjectively, I liked Ji Chang Wook's because I'm biased and it gave me 'Healer' vibes all over again.
Music is lighthearted and the theme song is sang by Ji Chang Wook!
Like I said earlier, it's a purely fun watch so don't expect great stories. After all, didn't we all come here to see our favorite biases? I know I did!
Was this review helpful to you?
The story is like Secret (kdrama), if anyone ever watched it, and although Secret has been one of my favorite dramas when it comes to revenge/hate turning into love and obsession, this lakorn has beaten it out of the water due to the main characters but more so to Yaya's potrayal of Jeerawat or Jee.
Story:
Very Simple, Jee is a major nangek/celebrity who despite all the fame and status lives her life constantly in the rumor mill potrayed as a whore and slut who snatches up people husbands. In reality, she is anything but and instead is just a woman or rather a girl who just wants love, mainly from her mother that she continuously protects at the cost of her own self-respect. While Satit is a young lawyer who is deeply in love with his fiance Tiw, all for justice and the fight for the underdog and the little man. Unlike in the synopsis, Jee is NOT an alcoholic and instead is lusted after by her stepfather and is heavily drugged (IM style in the arm) and in her pursuit to run away from her eventual rape innocently hit and run over Satit's fiance Tiw. Instead of actually running, Jee tries to express her apologies and own up to her mistake, however, the people around her refuses for her to do so and instead her assistant takes the fall while she lives her life in a constant cycle of regret, guilt, remorse, and horror for the fact she cannot pay for the crime that she caused.
Satit, however, doesn't believe what is released to the public and is in hot pursuit to punish Jee for his fiance's death which leads to his obsession. Eventually constant interactions, fighting/arguments, and slowly seeing the inner truth of who Jee really is makes him falls in love with her. But at the same time, he struggles with the reality that he might be falling for the very woman who killed the love of his life and is constantly struggling to battle his own feelings.
Of course there are two other couples but in reality it became such a nuisance (really in Piak and Chaiyan's case) but they only at times help the main draw closer and own up to their feelings.
Acting/Cast:
If I didn't state it earlier, this show was amazing not from the story itself alone, but from the flawless potrayal from the main characters and the amazing chemistry between Jee and Satit. Although Prin was amazing showing Satit as someone obsessed, I have to give the full recognition to Yaya for such an amazing job as Jee.
Yaya: have never seen her before, never knew her before, or etc...but my GODDDD!!!!! She was simply amazing as Jeerawat. She potrayed the hard as nails, aloof, bitch that everyone saw her but at the same time show the vulnerabilities of a young woman (more so girl in my opinion) that just wanted love. Love from her mother and those around her that were actually genuine. At times female leads that just cry nonstop would be annoying and ridiculous but you knew Jee was crying was because she built such a icy facade for the world that when it came to herself, her manager Suki, and her best friend Dao, that was the only time she could really be herself and let it out. Each time, each time, Yaya did such an amazing job showing the emotions of someone lost, tired, hopeful, yearning, and just wanting someone to just love her for herself. Although as the audience battled with the decisions she made at times Yaya did such a seamless job in showing someone fighting with herself and inner desires, wants, and needs. She was not a Candy female lead or someone so darn evil you wonder if she was REALLY a lead female. Rather she was human. She was realistic. She came from a broken home, her mother and her struggled and suffered for everything they got, and even then she wouldn't show others her true self. she was tough as nails and at the same time vulnerable. She was as real as you are gonna get if you want a realistic female lead that is not sugarcoated but is not always wearing a smile despite all the crap life hands to her.
Piak: a insecure housewife now producer/director who constantly suspects her husband Chaiyan is sleeping with his female actresses (nangek) and more specifically, thinks he is sleeping with Jee. Her (adopted) brother is Satit.
Chaiyan: is best friends with Jee, rather shares a brother/sister relationship to Jee that is constantly misconstrued to his wife and the media as an affair.
Dao: Jee's best friend with Jee and is in love with Jate
Jate: confused and playing both fields. In love with Jee but attracted to Dao.
Rewatch Value, Overall:
I would watch this show again at least a few months from now to completely forget the story-line (which i doubt) as this show is just so darn intriguing, and not so predictable compared to most dramas. As i stated before this show has two other couples and to me were either annoying at times or just so unbelievable, but they don't ruin the story. This lakorn is sooooooo enjoyable, intriguing, and unpredictable. Highly recommend to watch, and watch, watch, and then watch some more.
Was this review helpful to you?
Past Lives
76 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
About a great service of love AKA a fateful, karmic relationship
"Past Lives" is a US production. Both the author and the two 'Korean' leads have Korean roots, but they did NOT grow up in Korea, nor do they live there. The story is autobiographically inspired and is dramaturgically presented in authentic dialogues on the one hand and selected, visually impressive sets on the other. It is about the aspect of fate (and or Karma) in encounters as well as pondering platonic love. "Past Lives" is indulging into the emotional world of more or less accountable and sensitive reflection of the protagonists, especially of those two extraordinarily mature, fine young men. You rarely see that. Additionally, as far as camera work was concerned, light and perspectives were chosen with care and thus implemented as supplementary actor, sort of. All this is quite wonderful and has already been widely praised. “Past Lives” is thus a movie well worth seeing.This movie presents South Korea and an attitude towards South Korea through the eyes of a South Korean girl who during the 1990s emigrated with her family at the age of 12. She then grew up in Canada, tried her luck as a playwright in New York, married an American, received the green card as side effect, and is ambitiously seeking recognition and success as a writer today. “Past Loves” thus has its positive emphasis on life in the US. The protagonist´s family had turned their back on South Korea. However, besides everything else, that has been already mentioned all over the place, I would say, that "Past Lives" is actually indirectly, in a rather subtle, reserved, unobtrusive way, (almost overlooked and hidden underneath the shiny, promising dominance of the US,) about positive Korean specific qualities, too... Therefore…
Generally, “Past Lives" juxtaposes those two ´worlds´ rather dichotomously. THERE South Korea, the country of origin that was left behind - far away and rather in the background, in the camouflage colors of the military and surrounded by plenty of soju. HERE the USA - reduced to a highly stylized New York (and artist retreat on Long Island), that is bathing in beautiful light and selected colors. In several respects, the United States is presented as the unrivalled better choice.
However, we experience these worlds through the eyes of the protagonist. In Nora's eyes, South Korea stands for conservative narrow mindedness, constraints, lack of freedom (which to some extend is certainly true). The USA, on the other hand, for her is the symbol for freedom, creative power, partake (should, could, might as well…). Eventually, those world views turn upside down. These are prejudicial concepts, both of which are not generally correct, e.g. each not representing the whole truth.
So, KOREAN normal everyday life is portrayed as conservative, shaped by her parents perspective and Nora's childhood impressions of the 1990s: the young democracy, already economically shaken by the Asian crisis. Her parents were artists and as such one way or another most probably influenced by the shaky turbulences of pro-democracy movement of the 1980s. They wanted a fresh start. Yet, what remains in Nora's memories? Very vague memories of school days, of what was said at home, of the striking images that remain impressively to this day. Bottom line: 'Men have to do their military service.' 'People are conservative and unsophisticated.' 'Men dependently live at their parents´ home until marriage.´ ´You can´t proceed in life.´
On the other hand, NORTH AMERICA is the much-cited world of unimagined possibilities. For Nora specifically, it is about a liberal world for the arts. She´s dreaming about her successful future, while the ambitious daughter may actually be living a much wanted life in lieu of her parents, too, to a certain extent. However, this ambitious dream is symbolically captured as an aesthetically abstract decal of New York and the Montauk artist retreat. For Nora, the USA represent a possibility to fulfil her dream of international prizes as an author. Thus, the USA as the center of her life is uncompromising and practically non-negotiable. That's okay and understandable.
This South Korea in the movie has a strong touch of Nora´s own prejudices. Apparently, she never emotionally processed or reflected her relationship to her country of origin. A deficit, which may also narrow down the perspective of the audience. Therefore, I would like to stand up for positive 'Korean merits', which only shine through subtly. In fact, though, they are formative for the characteristic poetic quality of the story. They come along in the person of Hae Sung. Thanks to him Nora can finally hold the key to her emotional freedom in her hands. (Whatever she may do with it now...) Thanks to Hae Sung (so to speak) she got her story and thus her tremendous success as a writer and director, too.
If you don't identify with Nora´s enthusiasm for the US so much, it might be easier to recognize those ´Korean merits´. Hae Sung actually embodies the opposite of what has settled in Nora's mind about South Korea. He stands for a new spirit among the digitalized young generation - even though he is an engineer. She, however, sees what she wants to see, reducing him to military service, close family ties, his clearly structured career and his reserved answers to her questions about marrying or rather not marrying his girlfriend.
Nora overlooks the fact that in his half-hearted answers about marital responsibility he carefully avoids generalizations so as not to overwhelm her with his feelings for her. She overlooks the fact that Hae Sung is indeed the courageous creator of his own world, possibly facing life even more creatively and openly than she dares herself. He chooses to study abroad in China because he wants to learn the language and because it may suit his career, too. He is ambitiously following his career plans, just like she does. Nevertheless, he is open to life´s challenges and ready to completely turn everything upside down. He is actively dealing with what is going on between the two. He prefers not to go for a logical, reasonable marriage. Instead, he takes what his heart tells him, seriously. He wants to sincerely check it out. This makes him vulnerable, too. Actually it was him, who originally went looking for Nora. With courageous creativity he took the chances life had to offer in his own hands. From a practical point of view, HE thought creatively and acted courageously. Nora on the other hand was the one, who, to a certain extent, simply unwinds her program without looking to the left or right.
Back then, when she left South Korea, she just put her feelings away, came up with a new name, learned the new language and left her best friend (and Korea) behind like an old toy. Since then her feelings for her old homeland only slumber unconsciously in her dreams. In her life, which is highly concentrated on her career as an artist, her past and origins have not been given the place they deserve. Hae Sung has to come first to open the door to that forgotten dungeon of her heart.
Still, we don't know whether Nora was able to take the 'little one' in herself by the healing hand - the 12-year-old Na Young, whom she had left alone in the past. All we know is that Hae Sung gave her a chance to reconcile with her roots and a hidden, almost forgotten part of herself. His great service of love was: not forgetting her, not giving up on her; looking out for her; meeting her, too; recognizing her for who she is; reminding her of something else, that she had almost forgotten; and finally letting her be - in an understanding, loving, respectful, ´Korean´ manner. Even if it hurts.
Actually, being himself, he represented another powerful aspect of South Korea, that Nora had so far not realized as such: A finely nuanced, rather emotionally dominated and yet respectful attitude towards life. This in contrast to a rather dichotomously shaped - black/white, good/bad, yes/no -, rather reasonable approach towards life, as it radiates from her 'North America'-concept.
At the heart of "Past Lives" is the probing of the protagonists' feelings for each other. What are those feelings supposed to be? Platonic maybe? Or more than that? And of course the story lives from the attraction of 'What if?'. This careful scanning of a space of potentiality is processed aesthetically cultivated, and stylishly. Respectfully too. Finally there are tears. ´Past Lives´ it is… However, the striking poetic aspect of this story is only made possible (in my opinion) by this very South Korean Hae Sung, who is not afraid to meet the multilayered complexity of emotional depth, confusing affection and difficult challenges in life, and (!) who is also not afraid to back off in respect to a larger context either. Thus he eventually even provided her on the silver platter of his heart with the so much longed for international artistic success...
PS:
Must be the 'In-yeon' they keep talking about throughout the movie...
--------------------------------------------------------
SIDE NOTE:
In-yeon = a fateful, karmic relationship
--------------------------------------------------------
Was this review helpful to you?
Recent Discussions
-
Service Provider Inquiries - GagaOOLala56 minutes ago
-
Who Do You Prefer? (Kpop Ver.)1 hour ago -
Instagram Accounts1 hour ago -
Last watched documentary series or movie?1 hour ago -
[MDL Writers] Article Ideas & Discussion2 hours ago
