Reviews

Truly Unique

Low Life is a truly unique drama in a time where uniqueness is hard to come by. I thoroughly enjoyed the first nine episodes of this drama, with the final two episodes still great, but the direction felt a little... off? Honestly, this drama could have at been at least 16 episodes, but by episode 10, it felt like the writers were told that they only had two more episodes left instead of seven, so they decided to cram seven episodes worth of story into the final two - this is the only reason why I haven't rated this drama a perfect ten!

This is a highly addictive drama, nevertheless. The characters, honestly, spectacular. The supporting cast all felt like the main cast, and instead of two or three main characters, honestly, it felt like we had eight or nine, something so amazing and difficult to find (and executed superbly, I mean). I also really enjoyed the acting and everyone acted really well, and the chemistry between everyone felt amazing. Rivalries felt real, bromance felt genuinely special, and friendship felt golden.

The story, sensational. I have not watched a drama with this sub nautical/adventure/crime type of theme before, and it was really nice. I wish there were more. I loved the unpredictable story and some of the twists and turns were both predictable, and made logical sense! Even though relationships were complex alongside the story, I never felt confused and I could easily keep track of everyone and everything.

If you are not sure whether to watch this drama or not, I think you should definitely give it a try. Before watching, I also felt that way, but now I am so glad with myself that I made the decision to watch Low Life. Watch it!

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to start with, i don't have any expectations when i start watching. But because of the comedy, the unique characters, and dinners i keep on watching.

Tang Fan character is just my favorite kind, the clumsy, prodigy & eats a lot. Well his character got weakened somehow in last few episodes, which really bothers me, but at least it doesn't happen for too long.
Sui Zhou, the dubbing for his character bothers me the most. but i got used to it. I really like the bromance he had with Tang Fan. He's great leader, cook, and almost all the girls had crush on him (including me)
Wang Zhi, i can't take my eyes from him he's just really cute. He also got a good character development. At first i was confused by his actions, i can't really see which side he was on. But then, I was amazed by how loyal he is to the Emperor and Empress. His character wasn't even 20 and already that smart, i truly can't relate.

Case solving was really fun and it's connected one and another. The comedic timing is perfect, it's truly Jackie Chan's styled.
Side characters like Dong'Er, Pei Huai, DoEr La, was great too. their teamwork with the trio ML was great. My favorite scenes is when they all eating together and when Tang Fan goes undercover (i still can't get over it (≧▽≦))
There are no annoying character, beside the villains.

i really love the cinematography, i could see that they really put effort into it. The fighting scenes were nicely choreograph too! I didn't pay much attention to the music, but the ones in the intro and outro were good.

However the editing on first few episodes were a mess. The characters were still talking but it's suddenly cuts to outro. Also the episodes were incoherent, they're almost not connected at all. And the storyline got weakened during ep 20 to 30's, i guess that's inevitable since there's 48 episodes.

I really, really, love the ending.
I didn't cry, it just makes me crave for another season.

If you could tolerate plot holes and lots of eating scenes then i recommend you this drama.

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Best portrayal of Opposites attract

If you question the concept of opposites attract in a relationship, watch this lakorn . You will probably find the best available answer to it.

The main lead charcaters are just so impressive and inspiring . Despite Penneung being pressuried to be the best always , he grew up to be an amazing individual and Mata being broughtup among people who are mostly prejudiced by society has a positive perspective towards life. They just complete each other perfectly .
Him bringing discipline into her life and she filling his days with positivity and love.

The second half of this lakorn is what impressed me the most, initial episodes had few complicated medical terms ,me being a math student felt they were difficult to comprehend and had to skip , at times i felt those scenes took up lot of screen time but ya the sweet and cute moments of the leads made up for it.

This is among those rare dramas which maintained my attention even after the leads got together. I found Mata a little childish and silly at first but later she grew extremely positive and mature after watching how she handled few uncomfortable situations.Story had a lot of elements in it like toxic relations, unaccepting parents, painful past, cheating partner, therapy, busy life, positivity. Usually all added in one would seem a little messed up , but this lakorn had them executed perfectly. JUST LOVED IT!!

Ending commeng : Would have enjoyed it even more had there been a different and clearcut ending for Trai

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MASTERPIECE!!!!! FABULOUS!!!!! BEAUTIFULL!!!! wonderful movie indeed!! shown history of China in a most realistic manner...... It's an arthouse film and i recommend people to get some prerequisite knowledge regarding the history of China and most importing Pekking or Beijing Opera Culture so that you won't miss on any details, although you can yourself understand the history through movie but for that you must know something about visual storytelling and must notice dialogues & incidents with timeline, for e.g. Japanese colonization, Nationalist Party in power, emergence of Communist Party, Mao Zedong era, Cultural Revolution, Props, and so many minute details that i could tell you but it would be too much for here!! Social issues raised in the movie were way ahead of its time especially for a country like China.
If you could gather the brief information about the topics i mentioned it would be sufficient to understand the movie.

At last i would recommend this movie to everyone out there who has a bit of slight interest in such movies and i would be more than happy to help you out in clarifying the movie further :)

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plot wise this is one of the most outstanding drama specials. The whole plot was so interesting the way the events unfolded from the beginning until the end. You rarely watch something war related that is about the teaching that this drama has. It shows how a whole nation was altered because of war. A truly touching story unfolded in front of my eyes while i watched this in front of many people who though of me as strange for crying like that during it.

The acting in this drama is strong and superb with only Oshima Yuko's and Aoi's falling behind my expectations. The whole cast did great with sho proving that he is not as mediocre as most people say. If you have not watched him act in this, you have not seen his real potential.

Music wise, what can i say, it was amazing, melodic and tearful every time the music played, my feelings were ebign enhanced.

I do not know if i would rewatch this again. this is not a comedy, but i think tha strong feelings that you have when you watch it for the first time, will remain the same even for the second time.

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Some 30 minutes shows are better than most...

The same production company who brought us "Infidelity, It's a Disease" brought us this little story. While I was not that happy with the first series, this one had much more impact. I felt the story made more sense, the acting was better. The only gripe I have is the lack of proper kissing, which of course is a downgrade of my rating.

Of course they also used clichés but it did not feel forced. There is a flow to the story and the visuals are very good indeed even with such a low budget. The first episode is a bit disgusting to watch (you will know when you see it), but overall it was enjoyable.

So when you came from "Flirt Milk" or "Eye Contact" this ~30 Minutes (4 episodes around 8 minutes) feels like a boon and I'm sure most of you will enjoy it. Should you also be a member of the youtube channel you will get an extended version with around 36 minutes.

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Amazing and Talented Young Cast, but the Storytelling couldn't keep up with them.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

In the early episodes of “Taste”, it reminded me of another K-drama, “Celebrity”. Set in high school, teenager Bambi has always wanted to be popular and famous. But no matter how much makeup she puts on or tries to distinguish herself, nothing is working for her.

This is until she becomes the Princess of Trash, and with this viral fame befriended a group of rich and popular kids. You know the drill, her eyes are really open now into a world she’s not familiar with. She wants to not only stay there but climb to the top.

I binged through the first 4 episodes of “Taste” easily. We are slowly introduced to the dynamics and the background of the teenagers. We also follow the initial steps Bambi took to distinguish herself. You may not agree with her ways, but you can’t deny her courage and persistence in achieving her dreams. However, the second half of the drama falters. It became too melodramatic and lost the initial fun. The pacing also slows down. It’s already a very short drama, yet these 8 episodes feel very long. “Taste” was unable to find the balance in the latter half when it dived into the consequences of actions. The tone shifts understandably as it should be, but the execution is where I have trouble with. Of course, it also could be because I was very tired after work, and I just couldn’t focus more on the serious stories.

I actually like all the characters, though not all are saints. They are grey and interesting. I wish the drama would be longer so that it can develop the relationships and friendships between them better. At times, things seem to move really fast, and at times, it has no development but harps on the same tune. I want to know more about the friendship between Pure and Namkhang instead of just a couple flashbacks. I want to know more about Tokyo and his boyfriend. I want to know more about Bambi and Mhong, similarly I want more than just flashbacks. I want a little more development between Diesel and Dream when they were gaming, since after they met in-person, all things happened too fast. So much is being glossed over with a couple flashbacks here and there.

On the other hand, I think the major strength of this drama is the incredible and talented young actors and actresses. I have to say, I am incredibly impressed. Before watching “Taste”, I think I only recognized Phuwin and Charlette (I might have seen the rest in other roles that I don’t remember). I’ve seen Phuwin in a few dramas before and was very surprised to see that he can really act. I’ve seen Charlette in “Bangkok Blossom” and already knew she could act. But I have to say, she was more amazing in “Bangkok Blossom” due to her character, but she’s good in “Taste” as well. Mabelz as our female lead was amazing. Her big eyes are mesmerizing. I have to say she was a big surprise because as I went through her drama list, this is only her second drama and first main role. Oh and I discovered the cute patootie, Tony Anthony. He’s the sweetest guy in the whole drama, and he’s just so adorable. LOL. The rest of the supporting cast is awesome as well and they are all very charismatic. What a talented cast!

This is not a cheap production. You can see there’s some money poured into the drama with beautiful costumes, hair and makeup, lighting and sets. I guess they make good use of the money they get from all the advertisements. Unfortunately, I was unable to find good English subs for this drama. I watched the second half with very poor AI-translation and that’s not helping when I already was having a hard time enjoying the last few episodes

“Taste” has the potential to be a much better drama especially with such a talented cast. It has the ingredients of very interesting characters but does not have enough time to develop them all. This could easily be a 12 to 14-episode drama with better developed stories and pacing. I am disappointed to not rate this higher because I did have a hard time watching the last few episodes. It’s not a bad drama, but the first few episodes raised my expectations and I was disappointed. I was debating a 7.5 or 8.0 rating for a long time. I am going to settle with 7.75 (rounding up to 8.0) because I like the cast so much.




Completed: 7/18/2025 Review #604

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choppy editing, too rushed

it started good actually, but after 10 mins, it becomes a mess. some of the characters just pass by here and there. no development whatsoever.
i wish this was a drama instead. because a lot of things need to be explained better.

i mean EX and JX grow up as siblings. but after years of separation they fall i love? that last twist of illness? who did EX got married to?

the music was good, but it wasn't anything memorable.

I watch this for ZLS and i don't regret it. she did great with her role. but i really don't like the storyline.

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The story is slow and cautious just like our main character. You will probably find it to be predictable plot arc but it's redone in a way to make it worth the watch. We've all seen the underdog story before, but usually we don't get two underdogs. I'm a sucker for a good underdog.

The acting truly stands out because we have no filler music in the background. We hear everything that Michiru does. We have a similar sensory experience with her as we try to determine if she really does know if Akihiro is there. Tanaka and Chen are amazing as they draw us into that house. I nearly forgot I was watching a movie.

Like all mysteries the start is vague and we slowly get to piece together the ending. The tone is warm and comforting even if Akihiro is in the house with her. It's obvious he's not a threat because he goes out of his way to be invisible.

I know I would watch it again because it's a message that is uplifting and positive. All you need is one person to understand you to live well. You could say it's romance but it's mostly about acceptance.

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Very funny, a little campy with spicy moments

I do love Max and Nat's chemistry, it's so interesting seeing them play in reversed roles and its very refreshing to see Thai BL characters switch between who is topping and bottoming especially considering the size difference with this couple in particular, I feel like this sort of dynamic is shown less in BL. I do recommend going back and watching episodes 3 and 4 of Y-Destiny just to get an idea of who the characters Sun and Nuea are before the body swap since this is a Spin off series but its definitely not needed with the way they set up these characters.
My problems with this series is with the repetitiveness of the swapping, the constant reiteration of their issues, I think maybe this series would’ve been better as a shorter 5 ep mini series. It feels to drawn out for me for what it is.

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I truly loved this drama. I think it is the perfect example of how to create a drama without resorting to misunderstandings, stupid choices, and second leads that truly F things up all the time.

The main characters were very mature in their romance and relationship. They respected eachother and had deep trust and faith in eachother. There were no tantrums or egotistical stubbornness. While both had a secondary "love interest" the main characters drew clear boundaries towards them. I loved that as I find it incredibly frustrating when the main characters are totally oblivious and lead their friend on or hurt their romantic partner by not prioritizing their feelings. Especially the male lead was very impressive and level headed. He wasn't a brute or overly jelaous though he did like teasing the female lead at times ^^ The female lead was a a bit more cliche nice girl but had a lot of charm and had her own charm.

The humour was ok - not over the top but not laugh out loud either. All in all it was a very sweet, tender and mature (not in the R rated sense ;) drama that I would definitely recommend. Especially if you just want something to watch that makes you feel good without much angst or stupidity. The only weakness was that it didn't really have any magnetic feature. I mean, the thing that makes your heart pound and makes you unable to stop watching. However I really don't mind as this was a truly refreshing drama :D

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A sweet short about living life to the fullest

Scifi has been relatively dark genre lately so it's nice to see a sweeter story for once. Joan's Galaxy poses the question of how knowledge of your lifespan may affect your outlook on life and how you use your time. It's answer is a little sentimental but it's nice enough for a special.

The real draw of this episode is the developing relationship between two women placed at the forefront. Genuinely cute, funny, and beautiful, I loved every minute they were on screen. It's not explicitly gay but about as subtle as bat to the face. I also loved the emphasis on doing little things that make you happy right now, like dancing in the rain or drinking coffee.

It is however, plagued with the issues that come with shoving several sci-fi concepts and world-building into a 50 minute special: infodumping and mildly pretentious moments. Worth noting that the discrimination aspect between N's and C's is relatively background and remained subtle, but effective enough.



Regarding the ending (SPOILERS AHEAD):

Scifi always poses a question and usually tries to answer it to some extent. The thesis here lies somewhere between "Live life to your fullest because you don't know how long you've got" and "It's best not to know how long you've got so you can live your life to the fullest". It's muddled and sentimental but it works well enough. In context though, it does gloss over one's right to know their own medical history a bit.

While it's foreshadowed several times their time together will be fleeting (and should be appreciated all the more for it), it was also mildly disappointing to have Jo-an and Yi-oh cut off contact completely.

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THIS SERIES DESERVES MORE SERIOUSLY!!!

okay hear me out, this is gonna be my first time reviewing because I just can't seem to stop myself like, you really need to watch this!!!! like i swear, everything is just so perfect!!! (well, the only thing I hate is how short every episode there is, but hey we have a season 2 heh) some may say that the story is cliche, but meh, we just really need something to make us feel that fluttering feelings that some (i'm talking about myself lol) doesn't experience in their real life hahaha

can we also talk about the actors? their chemistry is INSANE!!! omg!!! kudos to the production for casting the perfect actors!! (Sam and Yu is perfect *insert heart eyes*)

THE OST IS SO GOOD! I've downloaded the all the songs and I keep playing it before I sleep hahaha

what I'm trying to say is that you NEED to watch this and if you won't, seriously, what's wrong with you? lol

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Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue

A gripping tale about feuding families, power struggles, and an unlikely love story. Think Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue. Except instead of love at first sight and a secret romance, we have an arranged marriage and a slow transition from enemies to lovers.

One character comments that marriage is all about mind games, and that’s certainly how the leads’ dynamic starts out. There’s mistrust and manipulation, and both are constantly on guard against each other. Equally matched in intelligence, their battle of wits is compelling to watch.

Wei Shao is quick-tempered, vengeful, and determined to keep his hate burning for the Qiao family, who he blames for the deaths of his grandfather, father, and brother. But the look on his face when he sees his future bride, Xiao Qiao, for the first time at the end of episode 1 (a great bit of acting from Liu Yu Ning) makes it clear from the start that he’s not completely immune to her charms.

His attitude pretty quickly shifts from “I don’t like her, but nobody else can mistreat her either” to reluctantly admiring her courage, cleverness, and consideration. As a man of war who often struggles to express himself, he’s a little dense when it comes to women and romance, but he eventually comes around.

Xiao Qiao, also called Manman, is a petite woman with a soft little voice, but looks can be deceiving — more than just a pretty face, she also has a sharp mind and iron will and can be cunning or fierce when she needs to be. Her brilliant ideas save the day more than once, and the two of them make quite the power couple.

Song Zu Er shows a lot of range as the female lead (especially compared to some of her other leading roles in contemporary dramas like “Cupid’s Kitchen” and “Legally Romance”), alongside Liu Yu Ning as the male lead. I haven’t seen him in anything else, but would look for his work based on the strength of his performance here. Playing a character who keeps his feelings to himself, he says a lot with just a furrowed brow or flash of a smile.

Liu Duan Duan (a familiar face from “The Rebel Princess”) playing Wei Shao’s wastrel cousin is also a standout role. His outwardly frivolous personality hides deep emotions and pain, and he does an excellent job with a complex and conflicted character.

At 36 episodes, the series never drags, blending family and political drama, action (that’s surprisingly violent in places), and a slow-burn romance. The leads’ relationship is paced perfectly considering all they have to overcome to be together. Aside from great performances from the cast and a well-written story, “Prisoner of Beauty” also offers beautiful costumes, a lovely orchestral score, and an ending that’s both happy and bittersweet. It’s one of the best historical dramas I’ve seen — not quite a 10 for me, because I don’t think I’d rewatch it, but certainly a quality production and an absorbing story.

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