Reviews

Regret Can Lead To Happiness and Be a Fuel To Your Life

What a treat this show was to watch!

Imagine having someone who watches out for you and helps you find your joy for life again and encourages you that you can do all that you set your mind to no matter what the age. That's what Togawa is to Nozue. The fact that Togawa actually learned his words of wisdom and his ways of life from Nozue (who has over the years lost touch with himself) years prior and the fact that it is Nozue helping him with his "anti-aging" and reiterating what Togawa already knows deep in his heart but has forgotten is so precious to me. It's like coming full circle.

So many people in this world like Nozue get to a certain age where they feel like it is too late to do what they want with their lives and this show essentially reminds you that is never too late to pursue what you want to do, try something new, and have some fun while you are at it. 

But, the fact that a romance aspect is added onto this beautiful life lesson that is presented throughout the series, makes the show all the more worthwhile. Togawa has liked Nozue for so long and seeing their relationship finally start to blossom made my heart flutter ten times over. Those two are so freakin cute together and they understand and complete one another and it’s nice to know that they have each other to experience all that life has to offer together moving forward.

I also love the fact that it followed the manga closely and didn't sway too much since the original material is already so well fleshed out and they translated it to screen very well.

With just 5 short episodes, this show manages to tell a fulfilling story with memorable characters, beautiful cinematography, and a magnificent score to go along. Japanese BL's always hit different for me and this one definitely is one of my favorites that I have seen!

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This drama is so much more than anything can describe. This drama is an exhibition of China during the Japanese invasion, and all the way until the end of the second world war. If I were to describe this drama in one word, I would call is *genuine*. The reason is it gives us an honest outlook of China and its residents during the war without sugarcoating it or hiding any flaws their society at the time may have had. I also want to add the interesting thing about it, even though it is set during the Japanese invasion, it's not there to make Japan to be this evil entity, and neither is it trying to humanize it, this story is mainly and only about the Chinese people, and how they behave during time of war. Although this drama is all about the politics of the time, what makes it so addicting is that it is very character driven. We go through the events through the eyes of a family that couldn't get any more normal.

The writing here is exceptional. Since we are going a painful time, the writing makes it not only bearable, but also addicting to watch, by balancing slice-of-life and comedy, yes COMEDY, with war and tragedy throughout most of the story. Romance is there, but in a very subtle manner, just like the way I like it. Though understated, the moment it surface, it brings out all those tingling feelings and excitement. The overall way the characters are written, they feel real, relatable, and more than just good or evil. A lot of times it felt like a character study, and the characters were always more than what they appear. The development was slow but apparent, and very realistic. I got to the point that I felt like part of the people there, part of the family, and was in it with them. Without knowing how it ends, I felt I wasn't gonna mind any ending chosen, and the more I watched , the stronger this feeling became. It goes beyond trusting the writer giving a satisfying ending, and more of me having to accept fate.

I can't help but talk about the characters and their relationship. Jun Shan, the brother-in-law, is the star here. He is one piece of work. My first impression of him was *WHAT THE HELL?!* He's bossy, he's pushy,he's uneducated, he's overbearing. But then I notice, he's loyal, he loves his family. I won't say more and let you discover more of him. Believe me that is just the tip of the iceberg of his character. His relationship with Xiang Jun was a highlight in the drama. Beyond love, there was a certain harmony in the relationship. Then there are the twins. I don't know where to start. They are childish, foolish, reckless, and they certainly need to grow. But they are fun to be around, lively, and sure know when to come through when it counts. Being of different genders, they're growth and maturity come at different pace, but the people we leave at the end of the drama may not recognize those we met in the beginning. A part of me wished they stayed how were, but we can't help but grow up. Specially during war, reality hits and you find yourself growing years at each passing day. Qing Ming is another interesting one. He is an educated soldier, always wanting to fight for his country. He can be pretty stubborn, to the point of acting childish. His view of life, of elders, and of women, is that they are all incomprehensible. Only when he starts to understand them he becomes the man he wanted to be. I specially appreciated Qing Ming's relationship with Jun Shan. One hell of a bromance they make. They couldn't be any more different but somehow understand each other well. Another highlight was the grandma. She is a strong, stubborn old lady, but when she's around, you always know that everything is going to be just fine. Xiu Xiu might have appeared as a sweetheart, and submissive, but I always knew she hid fearlessness to appear when needed. The list can go on and on, but I just wouldn't know where to stop. Lets the say, even the smallest roles have been given thought as to make them real, and their development authentic.

What to say about the acting. Brilliant! It turned the character into real human beings, and not just something written on paper. Everyone gave their all to their character, and I have zero complaint.

Honestly the music didn't stand out for me, but didn't ruin anything either.



If I have any complaint at all, is some side characters that appear later on in the drama that weren't given enough time or focus early on, so it was hard to make the connection. Overall though my satisfaction with this drama goes beyond any complaint. I would say that overall, it deserves a 9 or 9.5/10, but the delight it brought me deserves a 10/10!!

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This is the story that everyone deserves to see

Alright, so now I can finally write my real review of Gaya Sa Pelikula, when I first saw the trailer of Gaya, I knew I had to watch this series cause the trailer had so much packed into it but I was skeptical because I have seen so many series with like great trailers and the series would turn out to be absolute trash but that’s not what Gaya Sa Pelikula was.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE ENDING QUOTE OF GAYA
‘LIBERATING LOVE AND EQUAL RIGHTS, TO EVERYONE OF US, THE REAL FIGHT IS ON THE OUTSIDE. WE WILL WELCOME YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY’. This is the most important message of the series and what I want you to carry away with you

GENERAL REVIEW
Gaya is what I consider a real-life series, where it reflects actual real-life series. I am so glad it didn’t have any of the tropes you see in a lot of Thai series [I pointed out Thai because I have seen Taiwan doesn’t do this as much even Pinoy series don’t], like the ‘I am straight bro, but I just love you because mystical forces in the galaxy fell in the right places’, no, they gave me real gay characters, they gave me some hard truths about the coming out process, how some people saying the word ‘GAY’ or treat it like a taboo sometimes, they showed most of the fear and emotions that accompany coming, they didn’t paint it like this rosy path and all love, the internal conflict so many people face to come out and be themselves. Gaya was not another annoying jealousy storyline [eyes tharntype 2], it was a series that actually kept its cast small and made sure that no character was left undeveloped and they actually had a story to tell, one which they executed perfectly.
Gaya Sa Pelikula is the life story of you or someone you know; it feels really right from the get-go and everything done in it has a purpose and is very relatable. The story, cast, soundtrack, and acting are a heavenly match and have easily stepped up to become my best BL of 2020, in fact, I stopped characterizing this as a BL but a story about two people meeting and falling in love with each other, it almost emphasizes the fact that their story can be yours too.
Don’t get me wrong when I say I classify the story as a normal story, that’s not to take away from it as bl because they did definitely handle the theme of discovering one’s sexuality and oneself but it felt real to me. I almost don’t know how to explain. The cast members each had a story to tell, a different struggle to tell, a different perspective and it explored different backgrounds meeting and interacting with each other. Like the person who struggles with an identity crisis and a feeling of inadequacy [sometimes linked to their sexuality], the protective family member who sometimes oversteps certain boundaries to protect the one they love, the person with the happy smile all the time but comes from pain and struggle and how that influences their action, they might make you mad, they might have made you tear up a little, they may have made you happy or disagree with their actions but there was no wasted character, each had a purpose and honestly watching this while my day the series was like a balance, I didn’t have to deal with illogical jealousy from stupid exes kidnapping dogs for no absolute reason or trying to murder someone and everyone hugs it out at the end, no each character had a purpose and I loved that about them, that they felt real, they felt like actual people not some weird fantasy of some random person of what a BL feels likes.

CHARACTERS AND DIALOGUES
I feel the dialogues amongst the characters gave a lot of background to the characters and made them somewhat ‘real’ to me. So I would review the characters because of the dialogue they had, especially keywords or parts they said that had a lot of impact on me.

The lead characters, Karl and Vlad have such insane and beautiful chemistry, its mind-blowing, their flow is just so natural, they did not feel forced, which brought a lot to the story. To talk about the characters I would intertwine it with some key sentences and I would actually refer to this person on YouTube that made the best reviews after each episode [ if you check the comment section you would get what I mean]

Vlad is gay and open about it, he is outgoing, quite stubborn sometimes, and gives you this first impression of a rebel, but we come to see that he is this soft, cute loving guy, who is quite vulnerable and has been hurt before. Karl is someone who grew up with expectations and dreams of another placed on him, so he has never gotten the chance to be a person of his own and he is very reluctant to shake the status quo but, shortly after meeting Vlad, he becomes more courageous about his own person.
Here are some lines that I found remarkably interesting and telling of the series
1. ‘I will not be the plot device to trigger someone else’s identity crisis’
This line could honestly easily one of the most powerful lines in the series and one of the scenes that Gaya started to pull away from other series which give us this usual trope of, ‘YOU ARE DIFFERENT’ ‘YOU MAKE ME FEEL THINGS I CAN’T EXPLAIN’ ‘It is JUST YOU AND NO ONE ELSE EVER’, now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying there aren’t people that have only been with one person of the same gender, I mean my friend is an example but the fact that we have been overfed this trope in almost every series makes it tiring and annoying, SOTUS, Dark Blue Kiss, Water boy, Theory of Love, name the series, it is just like a back to back-feeding of being gay is not normal, a once in a living thing. I first loved the fact that Vlad was openly gay and proud of it. This line just held a lot of meaning to me. This line also showed me a little bit of Vlad’s history with the infamous ex that starts all his pain in the first place.
2. Do not be scared of the word, you can say it, it is not an insult, I do not mind
This line could easily be my most memorable line of the series, like if I could forget every single part of this series, I do not think I could forget those words ever in my life. This is basically I think what the LGBT community does not do on our own part sometimes, we do not educate and communicate and that was what Vlad did for Karl [I would focus more on this role in my review of my last few dialogues]. Communication and trust are the most key things in every relationship, and I appreciated how calm a reasonable Vlad was with Karl especially allowing/guiding him to come to terms ‘on his own terms’. This line kind of debunks how homophobia has changed the view of the word ‘gay’ or anything associated with it, as almost taboo, but this line presents Vlad has someone who has gone through it all and has arrived at a position that he loves, a representation that I loved.
3. I never said I was a perfect ally. I am still learning through this [I am actually not sure if this was the perfect quote but it was something along this line]
I know a lot of people were not fans of Judith, but I think she represented two important things, family as well as being an ally. Let me start with the ally part, I actually argued with someone about Judith’s role during the dinner and being an ally, but I linked it back to her statement in the past, now I am not excusing Judith for putting Karl on the spot, she crossed the line but at that moment, she was not being an ally but a sister rather, a sister who for the love of her brother wanted to protect him from heartbreak. What she right, we can debate that, but the truth is that is what a lot of family members would do, not just for their gay family member but for any family member. At the ending of everything she was a sibling first before an ally and the truth is that sometimes we are too quick to ‘cancel’ people for not being the perfect ally but honestly, I do not think we have a single perfect ally in the world, every ally is just learning at their own pace and the conditions that surround a particular ally of the community definitely impacts their behavior both past and present, Judith represents that, her change from someone that bullied Vlad with her words when she was younger and naïve to someone ready to protect him shows how a lot of families really process in real life. I feel she was a very necessary character to tie this together. Because Judith shows the potential of people to grow and for their mindsets to change, as well as what a single conversation can change
4. “I don’t know if I’m like you. I don’t even know who I am”
This statement perfectly represents Karl and so many people in the world, when we first meet Karl we understand that his image in the eyes of his parents is very important and we come to learn along the line, his parents stopped differentiating between him and his dead brother. He grew up carrying the burdens of living his brother’s life to make his parents, from a young age he never got to know who KARL FEDRICK ALMASEN was and this is representative of so many people, basically empty shells working around. I mean I was a law student, I have had the pleasure of having parents that have supported me through and through everything but I know so many friends in law school who were just there because their parents were judges or owned powerful law firms and the mere thought of disappointing their parents seemed like an impossible scenario. Many people in life don’t actually know who they really which made Karl’s struggle more real, cause he represented so many people who never got to know themselves, discover what they actually wanted, but the truth is that we need to all face those scary truths, at our own time but eventually we do and if we are forced to face them before it’s the right time, a lot of people will shut off to the world.
I think it was great that Karl was actually given the time to face what he needed to face at his own time [like I said I would treat their contrasts in the review of the last episode dialogues]. The truth is that it is scary to face the truth and we got showed that so many times in Gaya, but what is most important is that we move our own pace, we shouldn’t be forced to rush.
5. I don’t know if I can point to a specific quote to Anna and her child but I felt the need to mention, I think I would probably discuss it with Santi [contrasting Santi with Karl and Vlad]
Anna represents when a change comes into your life, how to accommodate that new change but at the same time not lose yourself, trying to balance out the new change to your entire life while maintaining you, cause sometimes, when you lose yourself, you start to hate that thing or person who changed you. Anna wasn’t abandoning her child with her getaway but making sure she was intact herself, that she was complete as a human, because how do you raise a child if there are parts of you that are fundamentally missing a part, you cannot give what you do not have, hence her actions would impact her child more than mere words [as we see is the pattern with so many families, kids tend to pick up the traits of their parents whether intentionally] and honestly I think every human deserves that tiny bit of greediness and self-love.
For Santi, he mentioned something about not growing up with love in the finale and it reminds me of the privilege that LGBT youth like myself that is in their 20s or younger enjoy. Things were not always like this, we genuinely need to appreciate that people fought to get to where we are and that’s why it bothers me a lot when my generation wants to throw away the work the older generation has done to get to where we are, I know they aren’t perfect, they have messed up majorly but we must also respect and recognize that people before us got us what we have not. I think that’s the problem we face majorly.
I genuinely loved that they didn’t waste any character, each character portrayed a lesson to me.
6. I am going to merge a bunch of statements from the finale
a. I know I am not doing anything wrong but why am I still afraid – Karl
b. I’m gay but I still can’t tell papa, I love Vlad but I am not as brave as him – Karl and Santi replied – Soon
c. I don’t want to be silent about my love, I want to be out there, I deserve it just like you deserve to take your time inside – Vlad.
d. Can we just stay here forever – Karl, I want to take you everywhere – Vlad
I think these statements basically carry the most basic story of the entire series and maybe the most important, everyone deserves to move on their own time and I think that is what made me love Vlad in the end realizing that Karl deserves to move at his pace while he himself didn’t have to give up what he deserved to fit someone else. I know a lot of people were a little disappointed by that ending but I think it was a beautiful ending because it appeared to me that both parties actually loved the other person but they truly were not on the same wavelength in terms of growth, the both realized they both had to make a compromise, not necessarily to the other person but to themselves. Karl listened to Anna to be out there, not ‘OUT’ but we get to appreciate that he is making an effort on his own term to be out there. This symbolizes he is taking baby steps until he’s ready to be out there.
Vlad on the other end also understood her deserved not to be someone’s secret [that is genuinely damaging sometimes, speaking from experience] but the most important thing was that he did not force Karl either, he chose to look out for him and be with him, not necessarily in a relationship but being there gave Karl the right support and strength to push forward and for me, that is what love actually is.

As I said, I love Gaya because it didn’t just give me two handsome guys and a lot of skinship, but everything was so well planned, I don’t know if there was a second of the series that was ‘irrelevant’ to the overall story and experience, everything came full circle [or is it cycle] at its own time, no story was rushed, no action was left unexplained, no scene was accidental or without purpose, which I think goes to show great writing on the side of the script. To be able to masterfully explore your script to its full extent and make sure, every single part was explained, the audience wasn’t left hanging on why a specific character acted a specific way, like Judith trying so hard to be there for Vlad because she was lowkey terrible to him as a child, the fact Vlad hated his hair being touched, honestly, I was just as surprised when they explained that it was because it was the last thing his dad did to him before she permanently left which made him feel like he had failed his purpose of saving a marriage, I WAS KUDOS TO THE WRITER, THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST WRITING POSSIBLE. As I said, no character, scene, or moment was wasted

They perfectly complement each other in the cast and characters, they somehow all just felt like the perfect balance, and the fact they never really left that single Unit/building is another mind-blowing thing, like, minus the car scene with Judith, I don’t think they left the building.

OST
I have never been someone that really cares about OST, I am rarely big on OSTs, they don’t really move me, but Gaya’s OST is the first series asides UMWA, history 3, where your eyes linger and the effect, where the OST perfectly fits every part of the series, it makes you feel their joy, pain, and every emotion... Like even if the series was utter trash, which it isn’t, the OST would carry it for me, like 5 songs from the OST made my top 200 songs of 2020, that’s how good it is. Several times I found myself just sobbing or in tears listening to the OST.
The people in charge of the music department were as brilliant as the actors, directors, producers

This was a series that was made with a purpose and they executed perfectly I am so grateful to everyone who was a part of this movement because you truly took us on a beautiful journey, one I would never forget, you made me care for people, made me happy, made me laugh, cry with someone in their pain if that is not arts at its best I don’t know what is. Thank you for bringing this to the world in a year as dark as 2020

IF YOU ARE READ THIS FAR, I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH THE ENDING QUOTE OF GAYA AGAIN
‘LIBERATING LOVE AND EQUAL RIGHTS, TO EVERYONE OF US, THE REAL FIGHT IS ON THE OUTSIDE. WE WILL WELCOME YOU WHEN YOU ARE READY’.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE REVIEW AS MUCH AS I LOVED WRITING IT
BYE FOR NOW

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"Eating and sleeping well... Is that all there is to life?"

This is the therapy that I didn't know I desperately need.

Every morning is the beginning of another busy day in my city life, so hectic that it often feels like suffocation is no longer an option. Yet, When the Weather is Fine is like a timely letter to my subconsciousness, telling it that it's alright to miss a couple of breaths but not too many. Following Hae Won and Eun Seub's journey to self-discovery and self-healing has been heartwarming, endearing and even motivational at times, especially amidst the current uncertain and relentless worldly affairs.

Despite the slow progression, much slower than what I would normally prefer, this drama never fails to captivate me with its beautiful and soothing storytelling. What appears to be a purely coincidental and mundane encounter between two almost complete strangers at first gradually materialises into a fated serendipity. As Hae Won spends more time with Eun Seub in the rural Bookhyun Village, we as an audience begin to delve into their memories through a collection of nostalgic flashbacks, gaining a bit more insight into each of their dilemmas and how that has led them to their current circumstances.

It turns out that, for the impatient person that I am, I didn't mind the slow pace at all as it has given me the time to sympathise with the characters' underlying emotions and appreciate all of the poetic essence in the script. The settings and soundtracks are incredibly complementary to the storyline and characterisation. From the occasional pleasant acoustics to playful tunes, or the alternating warm and cold colour schemes, the drama is able to integrate its audience into a serene and cozy countryside lifestyle while still manages to retain some of its unique charms.

To say I'm in love with the casting would be much of an understatement. It is a rather pleasant surprise to see Park Min Young venturing into the slice-of-life scene after starring in popular rom-coms such as What's Wrong With Secretary Kim and Her Private Life. I feel like it has become a more apparent trend for Hallyu actors to take on indie projects and introduce more diversity to the international drama community, notably Lee Jong Suk in Romance is a Bonus Book and The Hymn of Death and Park Seo Joon in the recent Itawon Class. I must say this is a fairly defining role for Seo Kang Joon. I first got to know him as the defiant yet caring second male lead in Cheese in the Trap and then it was the robotic but humane male lead in Are You Human Too, both of which have left a fond impression on me. So coincidentally meeting him again in my new favourite drama certainly feels like a treat. As a couple, Park Min Young and Seo Kang Joon show a rather unlikely chemistry, probably due to the fact that Min Young is such a veteran and me used to recall her role in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, but still very fitting nevertheless. I also thought the supporting cast is very well-chosen, especially Eun Sub's sister Im Hwi and best friend Jang Woo.

I would highly recommend checking out the divine and enchanting OSTs: Like a Winter's Dream (Kwak Ji Eon), Doors of Time (Jungyup), All Day Long (Kyuhyun), Dear My Love (Byul), I See You (Giryeon) and Moody Night (Jeong Sang Keun).

Here are some of my favourite excerpts from the drama...

"Life has never bought me a drink.
On many winter nights, at a snack stall in a dead-end alley, I emptied out my pockets to buy life a drink.
But life has never bought me a single drink.
Whether it was a snowy day or a day when a stone lotus flower silently bloomed and fell."
A Drink by Jeong Ho Seung

"When loneliness meets loneliness and becomes coziness.
When sadness meets sadness and becomes happiness.
When a cool breeze collides against another cool breeze and becomes soft snow.
That's what warmth is."

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Disgusting 3rd party and draggy ending

The last 10 episodes destroyed the show for me. What I hate most are 3rd parties who use underhanded methods to get what she wants. Fighting for love in the open or creating challenges for the leads - are acceptable to me and can actually be interesting to watch. But when underhanded means are used to deceive the leads and they don't even find out, thus creating a severe fracture in the relationship due to a fundamental misunderstanding (which cannot be resolved) - that is just pure disgusting and painful to watch.

In this case, a prenuptial agreement (for the benefit of the FL) was swapped by the pure evil and disgusting 3rd party, Anna with a divorce agreement - causing the FL to misunderstand the ML and break up with him, and separation for 3 whole years. During this time, Anna tried to get together with the ML, but it is so clear that the ML never loved her, yet she never felt any sense of guilt.

I only felt anger and disgust when in the 2nd/3rd last episode, the ML got together with Anna and the FL got together with Anna's brother. This kind of relationship is very disgusting because there is no love and happiness involved; and it only came about due to the thick-skinned Anna, without any conscience or sense of shame.

It was only in the last 30minutes of the last episode that Anna's brother realised what happened and told the truth to the ML. This ending to me is very rushed and unsatisfactory. I was looking forward to some good moments of the FL and ML together - and this is robbed away from me.

What makes it even worse is that this problem can actually be resolved with some proper communication. The FL's best friend is aware of the prenuptial agreement. She tried to explain but the FL cut her off. Or the ML and FL could properly talk it over - there was even a scene 3 years later where the ML tried to explain, but it is clear the FL wasn't listening properly and had no intention of trying to understand what was going on. Totally childish of the FL. Dragged on a conflict for 10 episodes that can be easily resolved in 2-3 episodes. 10 episodes of such push and pull is too draggy.

Terrible and disgusting ending.

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DO IT FOR THE MAIN COUPLE & THEIR CHEMISTRYY

Please, PLEASE, if you're thinking about watching this show, DO IT. START NOW.

The main couple's chemistry is off the charts. If you hate bad kiss scenes, this is the drama for you. Not a fish kiss in sight, and the intimate interactions between both couples were perfect. And there were sooo many ;)

Luo Yunxi (Leo Luo) was AMAZING. I saw him for the first time in My Sunshine (one of his first roles) and let me tell you, the boy can ACT. He was hilarious, and the perfect mix between a serious, childish, and romantic male lead. Bai Lu did really well too, I loved her character!

I was hyper-focused on the main couple, and the other side stories were just okay. To be honest, I skipped around the actual drama scenes, as it was uninteresting and unnessasary, which is why story/plot got a 4/10. But it's got tons of comedic moments, and barely any drama between the leads. Bonus, there is no evil second female lead so the couple barely has any misunderstandings between them!

Trust me, this is one you'll definitely want to give it a try!

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I dreamed a dream. 

Winter Begonia is the Downtown Abbey of Chinese opera. To simply describe it as a BL romance would not do justice to the magnificent breadth and the depth of this unforgettable story. This drama sweeps you into the world of Peking opera of 1930s, where changing times challenge the way of life and traditions of the opera troupes. The mood of this difficult period of modern Chinese history is vividly captured in gorgeous cinematography with a muted, nostalgic, old world palette and lovingly detailed sets and costumes. The bittersweet stories of the dimensional surrounding characters puts the main relationship in brutal context; regardless of station, few have free will to follow their hearts and dreams. These were times where most life decisions are made under duress as a matter of expedience or survival. It is within this backdrop that a rare and touching affinity develops between a hard nosed business man and a temperamental Peking opera divo "dan". 

Warning - there may be mild spoilers in the following paragraphs.

Shang Xirui is a newcomer that takes the Peking opera scene by storm with his daring interpretation of classic operas and his ability to immerse himself in his female "dan" (旦) roles. Xirui is the ultimate drama queen - mercurial, fearless, unyielding, unforgiving, relentless, sentimental, kind and loyal - a brilliant wunderkind who is capable of both love and hate in equal fervor. Despite his theatrical genius, he is almost childlike in his simplicity towards human relationships and is not fully up to the task of managing his troupe or navigating the competitive and political headwinds of the time. This intense and multi-faceted character experiences the most growth in this drama and is incandescently portrayed by Yin Zheng. His "dan" breaths life into the Yang Guifei and other legendary beauties of Chinese history and literature in a way that rivals Leslie Cheung's iconic performance in Farewell My Concubine. That said, Chen Renxiang's (Tan Jianci) coy come hither "dan" moment was dazzling and that character's final act surely must have been written as a tribute to the movie. This is a testimony to the talent and diversity of the cast and the characters they portray in this drama.

At surface, Cheng Fengtai couldn't be more different from Shang Xirui. He is a charming, savvy and ruthless entrepreneur with a devil may care attitude towards danger. But underneath that devastating smile, he is the saddest, bravest character in the drama. He is someone who gave up his dreams in the name of duty and familial obligations. His was not a love match but he shares common values with his wife, appreciates her and does his best to be the man of her dreams. This character is almost too perfect - he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, tries to do the right thing and lives up to what is expected of him - as husband, father, brother, patron, friend  and... soul mate. He is swept off his feet by Xirui's genius and overcome with admiration for his single mindedness in following his convictions in the face of criticism, adversity and against daunting odds. Xirui is his muse and their Shui Yin Lou is his rich man's folly where he vicariously reconnects with his long forgotten dreams and aspirations. Only Fengtai can understand and pacify Xirui when he is his most rabid, unreasonable, irascible self. Without taking away from Yin Zheng's virtuoso performance in a technically very difficult role, Huang Xiaoming's Cheng Fengtai was equally powerful and evocative. Theirs is a higher love, a bond that goes beyond words and is much more cerebral than physical. The acting is superb and the chemistry is palpable with both actors conveying emotions beyond words in their actions and the brilliant glitter of unshed tears in their eyes.

The drama itself is well paced and strikes the right balance in mood between heavy and light scenes as well as triumphs and setbacks. It is extremely well written, with many wickedly funny and witty moments and characters that subtly mock the stereotypes of those times. The story is much bigger than the two protagonists and is given weight, definition and substance by colorful surrounding characters with layers of flaws and strengths. Fengtai's wife is an awesome character; a smart and capable woman who is limited by the social strictures and biases of her time. Yet at the end, she is able to surpass the norms of the day and embrace a broader, more generous definition of qin ren (亲人) or family. Fengtai's brother-in-law is just a clownish parody of an entitled dilettante and Xirui's rivals were perhaps a tad ridiculous as villains but they serve their purpose. My favorite couple by far was the bandit and the general - they were so humorous and dangerous at the same time my only regret was we didn't get to see them spawn an army of terrifying bandits in their mountain fortress.

If I had to pick at flaws, the drama had too many melodramatic romantic plot-lets around the low social status of the performers and their forbidden liaisons that cross class lines. In the second half, so many characters were killed off that it became a bit gratuitous notwithstanding the well known brutalities of the Japanese occupation. While not as overtly heartbreaking as the tragedies, the moments of slow burn despair in the first half made a much deeper impression on me.     

I will not pretend that watching this made me able to appreciate Chinese opera the way it should be appreciated but at least now I can see the beauty and appeal. When my grandma used to listen to it with a teary faraway look in her eyes, I also wanted to cry because it sounded to me like a cacophony of scalded cats. Without making a documentary of it, this drama delivered some achingly beautiful performances that captures the highlights of some of the best known classic operas and emphasizes its importance as a form of hidden social criticism and expression of the joys and sufferings of the masses. While I can't say I have become a die hard fan, I will never cringe again at the characteristically high pitched, occasionally piercingly sorrowful tunes. Indeed I may even have to confess to (somewhat) enjoying it.

This drama has one of the best endings that remains true to the book and is yet (to me) unambiguous. Fengtai and Xirui are kindred spirits zhi yin (知音) and if like Fengtai you have been listening to Xirui, then you will just know him; thus his choice at that moment in time is clear and requires no further elaboration. The future is still up to serendipity and destiny.

This is a very big and generous story that will pull you in and make you care about the many wonderful people in it and mourn the passage of time and events that have stolen their dreams. It is not perfect and falls just short of a masterpiece but it is by far the best drama I seen so far in 2020.

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This is the second drama to have captured my undivided attention. I've never seen a drama that can portray mental illness, suicide, rape and such dark subjects and portray it well.



Vic and Barbies preformances were flawless and spectacular. Other than the 1 Litre of Tears drama, I've never seen such amazing acting.



The director had a habit of not playing music at times which just added to the creepy atmosphere. I thought it worked well with the scenes. When there was music, such as the theme song, they were all well chosen.



This is one drama you won't regret watching.

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To put it simply: Eulachacha Waikiki is one of the best comedy dramas I've seen. No exaggeration.

I won't go for a long review, so here goes-

- The comedy element, in this drama, is definitely at its best. I mean, is there any other drama where we have seen a girl with beard issues? I wouldn't think so. (If there is though, do tell me!). And that's just one of the many hilarious things that never failed to make the viewers laugh.

- Aside from the comedy, the drama also had its emotional moments. Although they were never so many that I'd call this an emotional drama. But it certainly managed to make the viewers go from rotfl-ing to "awwww"

- Romance factor was also nicely done. This drama is one of the very good examples of rom-com. Although, if I were being honest, I'd say that the comedy surpassed the romance. But it never overshadowed the romance. The pairings were fun to watch.

- Same goes for all the main six characters. All were fun to watch. But if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Joon Ki. I loved him because he was hilarious, but I adored him because of his caring side. All those scenes where he was trying to cheer up Seo Jin were so so cute!

- And how can we not talk about Sol? That baby was the show-stealer! She was simply too adorable.

- One flaw though, that I just have to mention is Yoon Ah 's character. I felt like her character was simply too one dimensional. I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked her character at first. But while all the other characters had some unique attribute that made them appeal to the viewers, it's like all Yoon Ah had going for her was the fact that she was a single mom. But after they stopped focusing on the single mom thing, it's like her character became somewhat...dull. That's one of the things I wish they had done better.

That's about it for the review! This is a wonderful drama and I really hope you give it a chance.

Happy Watching!!

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Sometimes grumpy & gruff, sometimes touchingly sweet & unabashedly sincere, radiating joy & warmth

“Like Flowers in Sand” is enchanting in its own way. Here we have once again a KDrama with a distinctive aura. Rustic, with tons of heart, original characters and great performance. Without tons of make-up, yet with plenty of bare male torsos - here, for a change, not focusing on aesthetic ideals… (which sort of makes this KDrama even more likeable and even more authentic.) Love also has a subtle hand in it here and conjures up a rather unconventional Rom+Com in the guise of a crime thriller.

“Like Flowers in Sand” takes a look at the rural regions – with their living traditions, the lively gossip and the importance of lifelong childhood friendships. The way people interact with each other is a little rough, but still warm; sweet even, yet in a grumpy disguise.

The KDrama draws its significant charm from the tradition and lifestyle of the Ssireum wrestlers. The two protagonists grew up with Ssireum (see side note below). In general, Ssireum marks the dramaturgical pivot of the story - then and now.

The gym, the sand-filled wrestling field, the colorful ´satpas´, and the ML tirelessly running here and there and back again, all of this contributes to an unmistakable look&feel. In addition, "Like Flowers in Sand" is sometimes grumpy and gruff, sometimes touchingly sweet and unabashedly sincere - with three-dimensional, unconventional characters in their unique individuality quietly conquering the hearts of the audience. A KDrama solidly grounded in the life of ordinary people, that in its quirky, eccentric aura radiates joy and warmth.

















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SIDE NOTE: --- Ssireum – Korean version of wrestling ---

Ssireum has been listed as a UNESCO immaterial world heritage since 2018. This distinctive Korean wrestling is probably as old as the first kingdom of Korea itself, which according to legend was founded in 2333 BC. What is certain though, this form of wrestling has already been practiced during the time of the Goguryeo Kingdom. The strongest young men from the surrounding villages came together for competition, with the last man standing at the end being the winner.
Ssireum is the wrestling of two people within a circular field filled with sand with a diameter of 8 m. So-called 'satpas' form a kind of belt over the wrestling pants that the opponents at all cost hold on to during the fight - until one can bring the other down by strength or skill. The techniques are varied, but hitting and pushing are not among them.
Actually, previous to colonial times, this type of wrestling was known as Gakjo, Gakhi, Sangbak, Jaenggyo or Gakgi. Wrestling was tolerated under the Japanese because it had similarities to sumo. Competitions were successively sponsored, which ultimately led to national championships. To this day, Ssireum is an established and popular sport in South Korea being practiced by women, too.
Eventually, with Netflix broadcasting this ENA Production internationally, the immaterial cultural heritage is reaching more worldwide attention, too...

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"I'll stay with you until you stop feeling lonely."

First, I just have to say, I started this directly after watching A Christmas Carol (2022). After such a dark, harrowing film, I had no idea what a perfect palate cleanser this would be, and I'm so happy it's what I chose to binge. Tooth-rotting sweetness that had my cheeks hurting after almost constant smiling every single episode.

For me, this is close to the perfect fluff-style BL drama. Adorable fluff mixed with tender, heartfelt moments with a dash of reasonable angst that didn't stray into too-heavy territory, just adding the perfect amount of depth and stakes for our main couple. That angst (and hurt/comfort) was rounded out and resolved very nicely as well. The pacing was perfect, and I continuously found myself thinking 'already?' whenever an episode ended, because I was so wrapped up in every moment and was never bored.

I have noticed some comments about the main pairing being "dry". Now, I'm all for 'to each their own'; if that's your opinion, who am I to say your wrong? Except... maybe you are? A little? No hate, I just feel like the people who think relationships and couples like this in BL are "dry" are looking for instant sparks, mutual intense pining, and lots of spiciness. There are plenty of BL series of that nature. But it's this kind of pairing in BL's that I think is exceedingly rare, and is my absolute favorite: quiet, solidly built, based on respect and day-to-day interactions. It's not an instant heart-eyes romance: it's more realistic, arguably more meaningful, and much more introspective. You come to love the characters for who they are and their roots, and from there, you come to root for something more.

As for the main pairing, I personally love their chemistry. There was never a single moment where I felt anyone was reaching too much, trying too hard, nor was there any awkwardness. They met each other perfectly at the middle, and it felt effortlessly real in that way; I found myself completely convinced in the way they interacted each episode. Everyone was fantastic, but I do specifically want to shout-out Iijima Hiroki. The way he portrayed Minoru was equal parts sweet and heartbreaking: the care and absolute love and devotion he had for his brother while simultaneously struggling with the thought of no longer having that independence of someone his age was beautifully done. Further, in the development of his relationship with Yutaka, he really did a great job in portraying that silent battle with his own feelings, how he slowly came to terms with how he felt, but struggled deeply with it, because he so badly wanted to stay close to Yutaka no matter what, valuing his company over anything, even so much that he harbored deep guilt every time he reached out a little with how he felt (which made moments like the cheek kiss, the confession, the hand holding, etc) so much more impactful. Iijima just knew exactly who he was playing, and brought him to life brilliantly.

I also can't end this review without giving a quick mention to little Maeyama Kuuga. Seriously, where did this kid learn to act? For example, the scene where he saw Yutaka crying and instantly broke down himself? What a little talent. I'm usually not into dramas that revolve around a child in some way, but he really made it impossible for me not to love him.

All in all, if you're into sweet fluff, realistically built relationships, and tender/adorable family moments, I would highly recommend this one. As someone with family troubles of my own, I found this extremely cathartic and just such a nice watch. Japan yet again proving that they're owning the BL game atm.

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Stunning! A masterclass in storytelling. Deeply emotional and affecting.

Expertly filmed and acted, this Priest adaptation offers more than the average BL. It’s about love but also about survival, found family, and commitment.

Here’s the premise: Wei Qian and Zhi Yuan are orphaned boys trying to survive. The older boy, Qian, joins a gang in order to earn money to feed himself and his younger sister Lili. He finds Yuan, who is around 4-5 years younger, literally sleeping in the streets. Taking pity on Yuan, Qian takes him into his home and they live together as chosen found family.

Zhi Yuan looks up to Wei Qian and will do anything to make him happy, including joining the school running club or working part time after school to contribute to the family’s income. Over time, his feelings for Qian transform from gratitude and brotherly affection into romantic love.

There is a natural progression to the way we see Yuan express his feelings for Qian. He loves him through his actions, taking care of him when he's sick or exhausted. Eventually, his feelings bubble to a bursting point and he confesses. (This isn't a spoiler because ep 1 opens with this scene, and we return to it later on.)

In contrast, Qian is singleminded in his focus on his work and family. He doesn't seem capable of romantic feelings toward anyone. It's the last thing on his mind. Yuan and Lili are the most important people in his life, and all he cares about is ensuring they are secure and healthy. This all comes to a head, however, with Yuan's confession.

Content warnings: In the first episodes, we see that these boys are dealing with harsh realities, including parental abuse (shown on screen) and homelessness. Their traumas aren’t downplayed but are sensitively represented. We need to see these scenes so that we understand where these boys are coming from and what they’re overcoming.

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A satisfying end... which is rare in the kdrama world as we're all familiar.

The first thing that needs to be applauded is the actors and their masterful acting. Without the acting the plot would've withered as another project with lost potential. They literally breathe the life, the fury, the glory into this drama.

As a sequel, it is commendable that the show did not go overboard or underwhelm in any aspect. It was just enough to make you sigh a breath of satisfaction. Lives upto everything the first season built upto and the trailer predicted. No non-sensical plot points which were forced to make the story coherent. It was woven smoothly start to end. They delivered the dramatics perfectly. Their was no unnecessary romantic part which ruined the slow-burn. Despite all the first season's information, there were twists and turns and the thrill was maintained. If anything was over-done, one wouldn't really give this show much of a rewatch value. But the makers took their jobs seriously and made sure that people can come back to this and find hope in the victory of everything good.

People might argue about the amorality of the whole revenge plot itself, but we know that justice does not take place in our world very often, the world is very unfair, and people we know, people around us, and people like us may feel wronged everyday, but what we can take from this as a positive learning is that we all need to come together and help the Dong Eun's all around us by giving them support, and being a friend in their time of need. Of course is doesn't have to be an elaborate revenge plot, but even the smallest effort would go a long way. And at the end of the day what goes around comes around. So it is by each other's support that we move forward, otherwise we'll find ourselves stuck at a point in life which will sooner or later drive us crazy.

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Too good to be true. Only watch if you can handle a kdrama masterpiece...

I started this drama out of the blue with no epectations while i was in a kdrama slump mood.

This is the best choice I made. But like every good thing, it comes with a price : it ended.

What am i supposed to do now ? People are suggesting a season 2 where the king goes to find JBW in his next life. I don't trust season 2 since Moon Lovers broke my heart lmao (yes i'm still not over it).

This show only gets better each episode. The mix of humor/sadness/ hatred/happiness is mastered. The cast / the main couple / side characters /the scenario are elite. This brings something new to the historical dramas sphere.

[SPOILERS]
Choi Jin Hyuk Cameo <3. Only god knows how much I love this man. I wish they developed more his story and the one of Mr Han but that was good enough.

Shin Hye Sun x Kim Jung Hyun is a killer combo. I saw them in previous projects as support roles and noticed their talent right away. They are bound to be great. I wish them the best rewards for their performance. They can play any kind of character.

To me, this show is a success because of all the characters that beared it on their shoulders.

Funny how the writers could switch my emotion especially with Jo Hwa Jin and Byeong In. They let true evil remain evil (Kim Jwa Geun, Empress Dowager, Grand Empress Dowager and all ministers) and the ones who still had kindness in their heart and were lost because of one sided-love/jealousy get back to themselves.

Byeong In got my heart in the first episode. Then I hated him 18 ep straight. And then the way they ended his character made me like and pity him again :(. They let his body rot on his knees in the cold for days :(. I know this is a fictional story but they got my heart on this one.

Kim Jwa Geun humiliated by the people he was contemptuous of was the right thing.

Knowing that Empress Dowager and Grand Empress Dowager will spend the rest of their life in quarantine together brings the best feeling ahahaha.

Royal Chef and Court Lady Choi is a dream romance. I want to see their spin-off...same for Eun Bin x Prince Yeongpyeong and Hong Yeon x Hong Byul Gam or Hong Byul Gam x Kim Hwan's friendship love story...

What will i miss the most ? The sisterhood of So Yong x Court Lady Choi and Hong Yeon :(

I will rewatch this show...

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Establishing love is like the likelihood of a series satisfying the whole community. Impossible.

The first episode gives the wrong impression and doesn´t represent the quality of the entire show. It put a lot of people off and I understand that too, as that's where the production/plot was implemented most problematically in terms of keeping viewers' attention and where the beautiful aesthetic of the series hasn't yet shown its true colours, portraying the summerly love of three young couples, as various as the LGBTQI+ community themselves.

Viewer description is advised if you are sensitive to gray area issues. One of the couples is critically disputed. But these differences of opinion are nothing new for us either, so from that point of view, just give it a try.


PRODUCTION
Positive:
First, the editing is done mostly very precisely and nicely, carrying some vibes of western youth series productions. The warm colours of the summer are the basic aesthetic that sets the series. They consist of a lot of yellow and orange tones which generate a smooth transition. Everything looks pleasingly fresh and warm, and the upbeat music accentuates the summer vibes. As a viewer, you yourself start to feel very alive and can easily understand the atmosphere of the series. The warm, lively mood is only broken by the cool nights and the inner conflicts of the characters.

Negative:
There was just this scene skipping issue from episode 8 to 9, which resulted in a few more mistakes concerning Torn.
Unsteady pacing and the viewer's confusion about the time spans (mostly in episode 9)


PLOT
It's about the life of Sport Science students facing their true feelings. Friends who have known each other since childhood, the pair seems rather one-sided and the pair that, according to other viewers, should never blossom.

The inner conflicts are overall nothing too overdramatic. However, the approach to reality and the taste of uncertainty runs through the whole story. While love is fresh and vibrant, it brings challenges that the aforementioned controversial couple, in particular, struggles to cope with. Vee and Dome. There is no right answer to love, but there is a lot of criticism.

Nevertheless, the series has a good arc of suspense and the main characters themselves are well presented in their own diverse complexity. I would have just hoped that Tupfah and Torn had more tension in their relationship, feel like they were lacking a bit of chemistry.


ACTORS
All actors had a solid performance, and I really adored the unique harmony of the two pairings.
I had a few little issues with Tae and Suar´s acting, but it could result in the two characters Tupfah and Torn being very calm and shy. However, the fact that it was Porsche´s first role (Vee) and that Kris – who btw turned 18 in February 2022 - is also a new actor, amazed me. He's talented and you could relate and sympathize with his role, which by the way wasn't an easy task. Visually I thought all the pairings were well casted...


OVERALL
Well-made show with satisfying shots, solid acting and overall breathtaking editing. The latter could have been better because the entire series had such a beautiful aesthetic, but skipping an important part of the plot is dragging down some points.

Good story about Sport Science students getting a taste of love and attraction. Relatively realistic. Personally, I would have aired it in early summer to undermine the warm summer vibes. Nonetheless. A show I would recommend to anyone, no matter their taste in LGBTQ+ films/series.

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