Reviews

If you like Amazing Race, you will like this :)

My hubby and I completed all 8 episodes today, with our faces smiling wide at the last episode.

To give a short intro, the two celebs are Jasper Liu (Taiwanese) and Lee Seung Gi (S Korean). Both are them are literally like duck and chicken as they arent fluent with each other's languages, so they converse in a mix of Mandarin/Korean and English.

The premise of the show is for the two guys to travel to different places in Asia to meet some of their lucky fans. But, before they are able to meet the particular fan in one location, they have to undergo various missions to gather clues which will allow them to get to their fan's house. Sounds easy enough, but obviously, things arent easy at all...in fact, it is quite Amazing Race like :)

It is really interesting to see them start off awkwardly as fellow travellers, see them bonding thru thick and thin, bromance and rivalry, and then ending as travelling brothers and good friends towards the end of the show.

If you are into food, travel, stunning visuals and filmography which center around our Asian celeb travelers (first timers most times in the different locations), then you should watch this show. I especially love the segments where the show's missions require the two celebs to interact with the locals (and international tourists as well).

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I loved this drama. It's quiet and thoughtful. Each episode can exist on its own. The story is original and the cast did a wonderful job. Although there isn't much music, the music they use is very good. The opening theme song is amazing. I immediately googled it and will buy it as soon as I can find someplace to get it.
I recommend this drama to anyone who is looking for something different. There isn't anything supernatural, there aren't any ikemen or suspense, but it draws you into the hearts and minds of the characters. It perfectly communicates the loneliness that can sometimes find you when you live in a big city.
If only I could find a Midnight Cafe here....hehe.

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Perfect blend of romance, medical, and military

I’ve been writing paragraphs after paragraphs every week, so I’m not even going to lie to myself. I’m really easy to please and this drama is a perfect 10 for me.

Mi Ka and Xing Kelei are equal - smart, capable, and successful in their own fields. They have respect, trust, and communication in their relationship. They know the demands of each other’s jobs (a doctor and a special police officer) so they have never had a problem with the lack of time together. They always make up for it, apologize with no excuses, and have been very supporting and understanding of one another. I remember having a problem with one of the leads’ decision making, and the drama actually managed to address it and let them talk it out by the end of that specific episode. They are learning and growing (as a person) together. Definitely one of the healthiest relationships in recent dramas. Ma Sichun and Bai Jingting is quite an unexpected pairing so I’m glad they chose to work on this project and show their great acting and even greater chemistry.

The story has a lot of sweet, cute and comedic moments but it also has some heavy and serious ones. Fortunately, it never got boring nor frustrating because the things happened have been realistic, minus whenever they always get into life-threatening situations together (that's too much of a coincidence lmao). There is no exaggerated nor unnecessary drama for the sake of creating tension. All characters, both main and supporting, calmly deal with the problems and solve them through civilized means (ex. Mi Ka vs Xu Yanshan, Xing Keyao vs the Shen sisters) as soon as possible. No dragging out. I can’t even recall any confrontation wherein someone raised their voice.

Besides from the romance, all relationships have been pretty solid as well. The student-mentor relationship of the doctors and soldiers, the long-standing friendship of Mi Ka and Ruan Qiangxia, and the sibling relationship of Xing Kelei and Xing Keyao have all been highlighted in the drama.

The second couple’s storyline may have been dragged out but it got better eventually and not to mention, both are great as individuals. Ruan Qiangxia is another successful, smart, and sweet female lead. She knows how to reject and how to accept rejection. Shun Wenbo is quite dense when it comes to love, but when he gets decisive, he acts on it quickly. As Xia said, he is a very simple-minded person who wears his heart on his sleeve. I didn’t hate him like how some viewers did.

As for the third couple’s storyline, natural-flowing and subtle. If Mi Ka and Xing Kelei are growing together, then Xing Keyao and Shao Yuhan are already two grown adults. There is an unspoken understanding in their undefined relationship, as shown in their actions and conversations. Their scenes together are always a pleasure to watch.

Overall, a well-written and a well-acted drama brimming with chemistry, good characters and relationships. Bonus: the drama used their real voices and is not dubbed.

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Itoshi Kimi e is a heartwarming, uplifting, simple yet elegant drama. As one can guess from the synopsis the plot isn’t very original. May be it was in 2004 but in the past few years we’ve been presented with countless dramas in which the main characters are diagnosed with rare diseases. That is the very reason why I didn’t pick this drama up sooner though it had been on my watching list for a long time. If you look at only the basic storyline, it may not appear to be something extraordinary but the intriguing metaphors, conforming cast, moving performance and adroit direction altogether work out to distinguish
this drama from the ones sharing similar plot-line.

The story is depicted in a narrative style. Each episode starts and ends with deliberate, thoughtful insights of one of the main characters- Shiki. The drama follows a very classic style accompanied by beautifully fitting music and subtly progresses to unfold various events and develop the relationship among the characters. It tells us the memorable yet unlikely love story between Shunsuke, a talented and famed photographer, who is about to go blind in a few months and Shiki, a kind-hearted and unpretentious pediatrician, who seeks to define her role in the final moments of her beloved one. I said ‘unlikely’ because the role of Shiki wasn’t supposed to be the one who stands by Shunsuke at the end; rather it was meant to be that of a “mere audience”….. as she herself described it. One of the many things I liked in this drama is that it does not use the word ‘love’ lightly or take this intense feeling for granted rather it seeks to find out the true meaning behind it. As a result, we get to enjoy the detailed, gentle, fateful encounters which brought these two destined persons together. The meaningful sub-plots, perceptive dialogues, appreciative characters stir our emotion, compel us to ponder over life and appreciate what we have even more.

This drama has an ensemble of beautiful characters. Each of them shines in their own way and enriches the main story with their own follies, hardships, sadness and joys of life. They are not perfect but they tried their best to do the right thing from their own perspective and that’s why they felt so real. They are not persons who disregard the pains of others only because they didn’t have the misfortune to experience those themselves and that’s why I loved all of them. I promise that the characters will surprise you, will make you cry and laugh along with them.

I’ve always liked Fujiki Naohito but in this drama he was simply gorgeous. Kanno Miho did a fairly good job as an innocent, honest, young doctor. The rest of the cast was just impeccable.
Although the storyline hints at being pretty solemn, it’s not tearfully sentimental. It’s also a drama about family and friendship with lots of funny, humorous moments which make the mood lighter at the appropriate time. There are some dramatic, cheesy and predictable moments but it doesn’t affect the overall excellence of the tale.

I decided not to over-hype it but don’t think I succeeded. The plot isn’t unique after all and I’d recommend it only when you are in the mood to try something slow, earnest but significant. The very last scene of this drama is one of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen in a drama. Even if you don’t like the drama as much as I did and decide to drop it, I’d ask you to watch the last few moments of this drama and I believe it’ll be able to touch your heart.

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The wind rises in Luoyang

2021 has not been a particularly prolific year for detective investigation and wuxia themed C-historicals. The only one that I had completed this year would be The Imperial Coroner, which was quite good for a low budget web series. There were probably a couple others that I recall encountering but nothing large-scale in terms of the budget and prominence… until Luoyang came along. This is a highly anticipated production for several reasons.

> It is headlined by Wang Yi Bo, Huang Xuan and Song Qian. WYB obviously has his immense popularity and fanbase, but I also think he is a talented actor who has much to showcase if given the right script. The critically acclaimed and award-winning HX needs no further introduction while SQ is no stranger either with a fanbase for her music productions and acting honours in recent years as well.

> One look at the source material for the adaptation tells you pretty much what to expect. The story is based on Ma Bo Yong’s eponymous novel. For those in the know, Ma Bo Yong is the author of The Twelfth Hour in Chang’an, from which The Longest Day in Chang’an is adapted, as well as The Wind Blows from Longxi which is currently being adapted to a drama.

> Ever since the teaser appeared earlier this year, expectations have been soaring, judging from social media responses and even here on MDL. I was super impressed from what little had been shown because it looked very much the top quality content that it promises to be.

Luoyang is directed by Xie Ze, who helmed Jun Jiu Ling this year as well as the high profile Yang Mi fantasy, Legend of Fu Yao. Qing Mei serves as scriptwriter, after her interesting work on The Eight last year. Principal photography took place entirely at Hengdian World Studios between November 2020 and March 2021. This iQiyi co-production is big budget which reportedly involved in excess of 5,000 sets of clothing and modeling accessories, as well as more than 15,000 sets of props. These efforts were meant to accentuate the prosperous scenes of Luoyang during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty.

The story is set during the interregnum period of the short-lived Wu Zhao Dynasty, itself a part of the great Tang Dynasty. At this time the imperial capital was relocated from Chang’an to Luoyang. The fates of three unrelated individuals are intertwined as they cross paths during investigations into a mysterious murder case which puts them on a collision course with an enigmatic secret organisation that has nefarious designs on the reign of China’s only Empress regnant, Wu Zetian.

What I Liked

The production quality. Specifically the art direction, set designs, action choreography and most obviously the money well spent on the sheer numbers of extras. From the first minute of the first episode, you could tell immediately this is top-tier content. Luoyang actually resembles a real city, rather than merely a production set. The huge crowd of inhabitants walking the streets exude a metropolis feel to the bustling city centre. Although this was filmed at Hengdian, you simply couldn’t tell because the production team managed to mask the obvious very well indeed. The action sequences of the choreographed martial arts moves, the coordination of mass fighting and the frenetic street chases are absolutely superb entertainment. Meanwhile, the inner palaces and the throne room settings are gloriously opulent and majestic, thanks in large part to the visual framing of the scenes. The general appearance of this drama is reminiscent of The Longest Day in Chang’an, with the exception of a more polished colour grading and less grain in the overall visuals.

The premise and the plot. The Tang Dynasty and Empress Wu Zetian historical settings are favourites of mine. The infusion of an intriguingly extensive overarching mystery with a profoundly conspiratorial connotation and no lack of convoluted twists makes Luoyang all the more enthralling. It is complex, fast paced, eventful and unpredictable - it’s truly been a while since we had such a smartly-written mystery. The reveals are timed to perfection without letting the cat out of the bag too early or being underwhelming to adversely detract from the gripping nature of the storytelling. The story continuously builds and engages right to the climactic ending.

The main characters and portrayals. Huang Xuan plays the gritty investigator Gao Bing Zhu, the perfect ancient iteration of the hardboiled detectives in crime noirs. This is a deliciously layered and multifaceted role that suits the range and depth that he possesses. In fact, most of the powerfully emotional moments in this drama feature his scenes. Wang Yi Bo is the stoic but brilliant engineer and scion of a prominent house of imperial engineers, Baili Hong Yi (aka Er Lang). In many respects, this character is an exact replica of his Lan Wangji in The Untamed. I actually prefer his brooding interpretation here compared to the playful character in Legend of Fei where he just can’t stop smiling. Making up the dynamic trio is Victoria Song Qian’s female inner guard, Wu Si Yue. This is an interesting character who is the only one of the three leads that initially embodies the values of justice and professionalism in her conduct, whereas the other two have their own vested interests and personal motivations. It’s safe to say that Song Qian’s performance here indeed warrants the tag of strong and relentless FL.

Of the supporting characters and cast, I have to mention a number of performances that have left quite an impression on me. The veteran Yong Mei plays Wu Zetian in what has been a uniquely refreshing take on the iconic historical figure. Most depictions hitherto have been utterly colourful, fashionably stylish and, of course, hugely intimidating. Her version is understated, subtle and nuanced. Whilst the image appears less menacing and even motherly, given the twilight years of her reign, I still feel the ominous undercurrent that threatens to burst into life beneath that deadly calm exterior. Despite the limited screen presence, Zhang Li deserves credit for her portrayal of Yao Niang, particularly during one of the scenes of acting masterclass between her and Huang Xuan.

The drama features a total of six original songs in its soundtrack. My personal favourite is the contemplative ending theme by Huang Shifu, Longing of Heart. Full listing as follows:

长风送 Chang Feng Sang - 宋茜 Song Qian
心念 Longing of Heart - 黄诗扶 Huang Shifu
无关 Wu Guan - 汪苏泷 Wang Sulong
笑黄梁 Xiao Huang Liang - 李振宁 Li Zhenning
天机 Tianji - 李常超 Li Changchao
风起洛阳 Wind from Luoyang - Winky诗 Winky Poem

What I Didn’t Like

The somewhat trippy camerawork, particularly for the action sequences. The cinematography has been somewhat inconsistent in this respect, although it does progressively improve. I do understand that it is a stylistic choice in the way the fight scenes are presented, to immerse viewers into the atmospherics of the scenes. The quieter and emotional moments, on the other hand, are generally better framed.

I did not appreciate the melodramatic aspects of the plot pertaining to FL’s brother persistently attempting to marry her off or frequently constraining her investigative efforts. Likewise the story arc relating to a certain side character and his unhealthy obsession with a long-lost childhood love interest.

I need to rant about one character in particular, Liu Ran. Somehow a majority of C-historicals seem to favour this particular characterisation. The whiny, clueless, and besotted airhead who constantly annoys by ceaselessly crying out for the object of her affections. In this case, I think I’ve heard the name “Er Lang” being called out hundreds of times throughout the whole drama. Usually such characters would eventually experience tremendous growth but not so here. Her trajectory remains constant right to the end, unfortunately. However, I do not blame Song Yi for the portrayal. She could only make do with what she’s given and I know she has a lot more substance than that.

The last thing that irked me - the ending. Without spoiling it, let’s just say that while the story does achieve closure, the final outcome isn’t ideal. There is a huge room for improvement in this aspect but I fear this is as good as it will ever get for us viewers.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, Luoyang is most definitely one of the better C-drama productions and investigation themed historicals of the year that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre and for those interested in trying their hand at C-historicals. At only 39 episodes in length, the storytelling is brisk, intense and coherent which is very well-suited for the binge.

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Ive seen quite a few Thai BL dramas, and i must say this is the one Im most impressed with so far - a not so particularly good yet believable story, good character development, nice sets, amazing costume, great cast. The show doesnt feel cheap - It feels like a korean drama.

Off really looked like a matinee idol here, and Gun is such a believable actor. And that train scene?!

No cheesy high school-like scenarios. The story and the lines are well written for the age of the characters. Thoroughly enjoyable. This is the first Thai BL so far that i wished there were more than 12 episodes, i almost didnt watch the last episode cause i didnt want it to end.

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A deeply romantic classic wuxia

This drama is actually very different from the original novel. The first fourteen episodes follow the novel, but then the rest diverge greatly and essentially becomes a very different story. There are significant changes to the character of Zhou Zishu, and there is a major show only plot-point that makes his dynamic with Wen Kexing completely different. The plot itself is also nothing like the one in the novel, and several side-characters were given bigger roles in the overall narrative and even different characterizations. Tian Ya Ke, the source material, is a fairly straight-forward story, while Word of Honor is more like those dramatic, old-timey classic wuxia stories.

First off, kudos to the scriptwriter! The pacing is top-notch, not too fast nor too slow. Nearly every scene ties in to the overall narrative, not a single episode feels draggy or unnecessary. No fillers to be found here! And while non-mandarin speaking watchers may miss this, it is very clever how the script incorporates poetry into Wen Kexing's dialogues. Not only is it a very clever way to subtly showcase his flirting, it also adds a layer of depth to his character. Since he grew up in the Ghost Valley and did not have his parents to teach him, it implies that he taught himself literature and the fact that he always uses poetry to express himself shows how proud he is of it. The tiny details are also impressive, like the difference in Gu Xiang's character when we first meet her. She acts like an exaggerated version of a young girl, and slowly becomes more and more genuine as the story goes on. The director did confirm that this is because Gu Xiang hardly ever leaves the Ghost Valley, and so she was trying to copy how she thinks normal girls act. I really appreciate scriptwriting that incorporates characterizations into details like this, because it feels very natural. It also gives the show good rewatch value because after you watch all the episodes and see everything that happens, you suddenly notice the subtle details you missed when you watch the show again.

There are many, many details that allude to future events, and dialogues that seem almost flippant in the beginning end up steamrolling you once you realize its significance in later scenes. Wen Kexing's "as a wanderer in this world, all I need you" sounds like casual flirting at first, but then you see how much depth that sentence holds once you see how their story ends.

The fighting choreography is very good, and really embodies the "fighting" in the classic wuxia I grew up watching. It's not just fighting, but also a sort of dance that reflects the dynamics of the characters. Sparring is basically Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing's love language, and you see the evolution of their relationship in their fights too. Their fighting scene in the pink forest, in the lake before Zhou Zishu takes his mask off and in the ending are very similar to each other, but with small changes that reflect the evolution of their relationship. The way the story uses tropes to show the romance between the two main leads is excellent. The sparring in the pink forest, for example, is a common romantic trope in classic wuxia, and so is the hairpin scene in the latter episodes. Another noteworthy detail is that in the first episode the romantic connotations of giving a person a hairpin is shown in the scene between Zhou Zishu and his shidi's lover.

I really want to express how happy I am with the casting choices, especially with Zhang Zhehan as Zhou Zishu. Most actors can show strong emotions convincingly enough, but with characters like Zhou Zishu it's important to cast actors that can nail scenes that require nuance and subtlety. It was wonderful watching him transform from cold and sarcastic to warm and playful, and it was all done so subtly I actually didn't realize how much he changed until I was watching a scene and realized that not only was he the one teasing Wen Kexing, he was also the one initiating skinship??? And there's this specific scene in episode 12 where they're drinking together outside and when Wen Kexing calls out to him, you can see how he frowns and mouths something briefly before responding. It was a small but significant detail, showing the gradual decline of Zhou Zishu's hearing. There are many more details like this scattered throughout the show, and I really appreciate this kind of subtle storytelling versus scripts that are too on the nose and obvious.

Gong Jun also played Wen Kexing very, very well. He really embodied Wen Kexing's many faces, and it was wonderful watching his character slowly unravel. And although it's not necessarily a requirement for me, I love how well they match the physical characteristics of their characters. Zhang Zhehan is very athletic and has a very good physique, which just makes him much more convincing (visually) as the powerful leader of an assassin organization. Zhou Ye was perfect as Gu Xiang, her acting in episode 35 was especially chilling.

Also, a more personal opinion, but I like how they stayed true to the novel and portrayed both Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing just as "masculine" as they were in the novel. I strongly dislike it when danmei adaptations make a character too effeminate. Of course, if the character is portrayed that way in the novel, then I have no issues. The problem is when when adaptations take a canonically more "masculine" character and portray him too effeminately, even when it's not the case in the original novel. Luckily, that did not happen here. There is something refreshing about a danmei that does not limit the personality and characterization of its characters based solely on supposed bedroom dynamics, and Word of Honor's casting and overall portrayal really delivered on that front. They really stayed true to Priest's (the author) work in that aspect.

As much as I enjoyed this show and gush about the script, it does have its shortcomings. The usual issues in the continuity of themes and the pacing of the last five or so episodes. Regardless, for me, the things the show did right definitely outweighs its shortcomings. Those who are expecting a faithful adaptation of the novel may not be happy with the direction this show eventually took, but as a stand-alone it really holds its own. With the issue of censorship in danmei adaptations, I did not expect this show to be as deeply romantic as it turned out to be, and I am still in awe of how they managed to pull this off. They could have gone for the fanservice approach, where they just give us suggestive moments without any real payoff, and yet they chose to develop the relationship properly and give it a real sense of intimacy and depth.

And lastly, I love that the ending credits song is essentially a summary of their romance. It starts with Zhou Zishu talking about his melancholic life and wanting to roam the world as an aimless wanderer, then Wen Kexing responds by lamenting about his own struggles and how it's a shame that he didn't meet Zhou Zishu earlier, and that he wants to give up "the adventures on horseback for a quiet life". Zhou Zishu then responds by saying he agrees to spend the rest of his days with Wen Kexing and the song ends with both of them singing ''I will be with you forever" at the same time. So yeah, kudos to whoever wrote that song because it really fucked me up after the ending. This show is insane and I am thankful to everyone who worked on it.

I love this drama so much!

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That was disappointing...

First, there is a "dog" cafe without dogs... that's strange as hell.
There is ONE dog in the whole show.
All Koreans understand Thai for some reason without translation devices or so it seems.
The story was soooo slow going in the beginning and then the ending was rushed. What did they wait for? Most of the inbetweens scenes did not much for the love story. The "traitor" was still in the final shot - I only thought WTF? There was a chance for an emotional outbreak for what he did, but nothing happend.
The production value was high, but for such a subpar story it was wasted.
The chemistry between the two leads was ok-ish, I guess a language barrier is not so easy to overcome. They still lacked passion and longing for each other.
All in all I could have skipped it and not miss a thing.

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Came across the title of this movie somewhere, can't remember now it was a really long time ago, and a group were discussing the storyline. It is a popular Korean movie. Well, it sure got my attention with its twisted, yet fascinating, turn of events. You will have to watch it to know what I'm talking about. The storyline is bizarre, just the idea is actually pretty original. At the beginning the viewer is pretty much hanging by a thread, on the verge of bursting out of his/her demand what was the reason that got all those unfortunate things inflicted on the main character. At moments I felt overcome with the information that was slowly unrevealed. So twisted, I can't get it out of my mind no matter how hard I try. There is a good reason this movie is so well-known. It earned it.

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Like one of the other reviews, I personally think this drama was good too.
Like the other review said, no annoying characters, and not cliche at all.

The number of times he loses memory is perfect, not too much rather not too few and the good part is that it came as a shock, which was really good.
I like the FL's personality, she's super chill and not annoying or naive at all. She wants a simple wedding and wedding ring, it feels like she's very down to earth.
I also like the relation between the FL and the second ML, really close but only as friends.
The second FL, the actress, was also super cool and chill, she gave up really quickly as she realized that the ML only loves the FL.
There's a lot of comedy happening in the office and all the coworkers are really funny.
The ending was nice, I looks a lot like every character ends up finding someone, which is a very happy ending.
I recommend it.

And regarding the sound, then is most likely because you are watching it on youtube. Youtube is not the best place to watch dramas, i recommend IFVOD. tv, but it's only for Chinese speaking people, sry.

If you're looking for more dramas I recommend:
- Love Designer
- My Love, Enlighten Me
- Girlfriend
- Well Intented Love
- My Dear Lady
- Sweet Dreams
- Because of Meeting You
- Moonshine and Valentine
- Luckys First Love
- A Little Reunion
- Put Your Head on My Shoulder
- My True Friend

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May This Level of Love Never Locate Me

SU HYEON is dumb as rocks. No really, he’s a stupid-head. Knowledge was chasing this fool but he was faster. Cuz what the eff you mean you made a contract with some dude that forbid you from dating the guy you’re in love with, who btw likes you back?? Make it make sense Sharon. Then this doo-doo head honoured the contract for 11 years. Eleven effing years!!! Like?? WHY Bob? WHY? I legit thought he was gonna be a smart villain cuz dude showed up in ep1 already mad like the audience owed him money, with anger issues the size of Antarctica, only for him to be two feathers short of becoming a chicken nugget.

Anywho, what do you think happens when a psychotic professor, a bad-tempered rich boss and a persistent, loving co-worker falls in love with a hard working and charming boy-next-door fella? TOXIC CHAOS. There’s stabbing, manipulation, horror movies, attempted murder, abuse, threats, stupidity, kidnapping, forced marriage, did I mention the bread knife? Oh and a very cute photo booth date. This drama was an absolute, complete and utter shit-show, and I enjoyed every single moment of it. Let me explain.

SEONG HYEON is lovely, yes, but at what point does the embarrassment reach your ancestors and brings shame to you and your family's goat? That co-worker was so sad to look at, worrying, crying, begging and still Daon refused to date him and kept pushing him away. Even so, this dude kept coming back like a puppy playing fetch until he got stabbed and almost died. Susan, do you have a humiliation kink, is that it?

JAE MIN is a manipulative psycho and needs rewiring, yes. But he’s also a pathetic sore loser. Dude kept Daon on the hook for 11 years, only to lose him to a guy who wears couple outfit to work, and then for sympathy points, this loser went and stab himself with a bread knife. And of course when his arse was rejected, this mfker kidnapped Daon and forced a ring on his finger to marry him, then tried to burn himself and Daon alive so they could die together. His reason? He saw Daon first during break at school one Tuesday so he belongs to him. Bitch ass!

DA-ON. I mean what was the appeal? The poor-ness? He was like a lighthouse, attracting every boy in a five meter radius to him. No, really, why everyone and their mama wanted him? Sure he’s hard working, sweet doe eyes dude, knows how to ignore calls he don’t want to answer and stand up for himself-ish, but literally the only thing interesting about him was that he was a poor person who wore expensive cloths. Plus he was also sort of dumb with some of the decision he made. Or was it that his face gave off protect me vibes? What was it? He couldn’t possible be the only Mary Sue these dudes came across in that country.

Listen, the short end of the matter is, 3/4 of these people are crazy, dumb and psychotic. And the last one has a humiliation kick and seems to be immune to rejection, together they make one heck of a dramatic, enjoyable show, so you know me, I was sat. As always, I went into this show knowing nothing. In the first episode I was like, so love triangle got too boring huh? now we having a love square, alright sign me the eff up, I am ready for some drama. And drama I got.

Before we go further, 3 things...
Seong Hyeon = Puppy Co-Worker
Jaemin = Professor Psycho
Su Hyeon = Angry Director-nim

THINGS I LIKED:
- When Angry Director-nim punched Professor Psycho. Wished he'd have added four more during the finale.
- That sweet movie date and photo booth scene... so cute.
- Every time Puppy Co-Worker stood up for Daon.
- Every time Daon stood up for himself.
- When Daon rejected Angry Director-nim
- When Daon left Professor Psycho's arse at the hospital after he stabbed himself.
- When the ring Professor Psycho forced on Daon's finger didn't fit during that insane wedding/marriage. Dude wore white and everything. Psycho.
- When after Angry Director-nim apologised for everything he did to Daon, Daon didn't say one single word back to him and left. Yes, Daon did not owe him even a word or a second more of his life, my man left his arse immediately and I clapped.
- That one year gap between Puppy Co-Worker and Daon while he was in Dubai. Thank you for that, Daon needed some alone time from all three men to be with himself for a bit, and I think he might have gotten that in that year, which was good for him,

That being said, you know me, I've always got my rubber chicken ready to slap some folks, so, imma say it...

EVERYONE ON THIS SHOW HAD THE IQ OF AN UGLY POTATO
Yes everyone was crazy, toxic and giant red flags in their own way, we've established that, no need to get into it. instead, let's talk about the decisions they made that made me feel like they really really not smart enough for the Hunger Games. Cuz:

DAON:
- He allowed himself to be tossed around by Professor Psycho and Angry Director-nim for ELEVEN YEARS during their sick games. 11! Boy? Professor Psycho kept him on the hook and he seemed all too happy to be dangling there when we met him.
- Yes, Daon was poor and needed the money, but staying in a work where the boss constantly harass you is a choice, even if said job was your dream. Sure he stood up for himself, but really, all that hand pulling couldn't have been healthy. And at what point does the threats and angry outburst that leaves you injured become too much? Quit Sharon, quit. Find a new dream,
- And how the hell is him putting yourself up to be forcedly kissed the right choice to saving Puppy Co-Worker? I'm still going WTF at the kissing scene. Like? Sure he needed to get Angry Director-nim away from Puppy Co-Worker so he doesn’t crack his skull with a beer bottle, but what was the need for that effing kiss? They couldn't talk? What gives?
- Literally, Daon is an adult, he could have Communicated the situation with Angry Director-nim to Puppy Co-Worker and both could have come up with a solution, instead of trying to play some sort of unnecessary hero. That decision vex me pass.
- I get that Professor Psycho hid his claws very well, but why the eff did Daon rushed over to Professor Psycho’s house when he found out he’d been manipulating and hurting him this whole time? And that too ALONE? Child? I’d have changed my number and blocked him everywhere. Heck, I’d have moved to a different city, but no no, not our mary sue, he wanted face-to-face answers cuz he trusted the psycho, so he matched in there and almost got assaulted. Child use that coconut head of yours would you? This dude literally put your sister in the hospital like three seconds ago.
- I feel so sorry for Daon especially when he was ready to open up to Puppy Co-Worker and got shut down, but dude speak. Open your mouth and say your peace, the worse he can do is put his fingers in his ears or still ignore you after he hears it, but really, SPEAK.
- Letting himself get kidnap: Sure he didn't ask for it, but even me who didn't spend over 11 years with these dudes knew something like this was gonna happen. I wasn't even shocked he was kidnapped, though I was that it took that long for one of them to do it. Daon is too trusting and forgiven cuz I'd have told Professor Psycho to burn whatever he had for me instead of meeting him in that underground garage.
- Not seeing that none of these 3 boys deserved him. Like, dude, let them go and heal then start over. Edit: Alright, in the finale after the stabbing and telling him to go to Dubai at least Puppy Co-Worker earned his place by Daon's side.

PROFESSOR PSYCHO
- His first mistake was manipulating a dumb dude who was unstable and had a short temper, really did he think he could keep it up for forever? I'm shock Angry Director-nim didn't snitch like a day later.
- Dude had Daon to himself for eleven years and didn't make a move. Sure he said he didn't want to date him and then lose him if they broke up. Then what was the point of liking him at all? Like did he want to put Daon in a glass case and stare at him? How is you hiring people to get him drunk, take compromising pictures and then to hurt his sister something you do to the person you love? He wanted Daon to learn his place, and this was his way of punishing him, and then being the one to be there for him at the same time. The asylum is too good for him.
- And did he seriously think Daon would forgive and still like him after he learned everything and his answers to everything was 'Cuz I love you?' idiot.
- Trying to assault the man he claims to love right after shouting 'I love you.'
- Stabbing himself. Like? Who was that supposed to hurt? No really, what was the play here? Let us be serious in this life peoples. Then of course he had the audacity to blame Daon cuz apparently he'd done so much for him and he wasn't allowed to leave him. Child if you don't go sit down! And why the hell did the hospital let him go after that? Dude should have been in the psych ward.
- Thinking the audience a fool and saying he's given up Daon. LMAO, you is the devil, aint no way I'm believing that. I don't know who kidnapped Daon, but I won't be surprised one bit if it was him. Heck, I'd be surprised if it's not him. Edit: Was right, it was his crazy arse that kidnapped Daon. Loser.
- His reasons for all the bad things he did being because he saw Daon first. HAHAHA if that's how it works then someone owes me a man cuz I saw some of these people first. Then it turns out he didn't even met Daon first, it was Puppy Co-Worker, so I guess his reasoning was right... cuz Puppy Co-Worker did end up with Daon. Oh well, his arse is in jail so...

ANGRY DIRECTOR-NIM
- Sabotaging his own company because of the guy who didn't even want to breathe the same air as him. Again how was this the solution?
- Making that contract with Professor Psycho. Even if that psycho had something on him, it was still dumb as hell to say yes and then honour it for 11 years. 11!
- Pulling out a ring the night after forcefully kissing the boy who can't stand him. LMAO. Brotha go sit down.
- Again: Saying yes to that contract. He must have been feed stupid pills since elementary school, cuz ain't no way.
- Only punching Professor Psycho once and not shoving him out that nice window behind them. Wasted opportunity if you ask me.
- Using threats and violence to try and win Daon's love. Bish are you new to this whole love and romance nonsense?
- Whatever the hell deal he made with the mother.
- Trying to form another alliance with Professor Psycho. Like that 11 years contract wasn't enough? dumb as dirt that one.
- Again trying to ruin the reputation of his company for someone that didn't want him. He should have went to work on Professor Psycho when he got him away from the cops, few punches and slaps, what good did talking do?

PUPPY CO-WORKER
- Kept coming back to be hurt: He kept saying I just want to stay beside you, and then expected more. Sure they both knew that was his end game, but really after the 100 rejection dude should have taking a hint. At what point does the hand pulling stop being romantic?
- Tirelessly fighting to be together with Daon, a broken guy who clearly have emotional issues, family issues, trust issues and too much pride and didn't really accept help. Sometimes we need to forget love for a second and think about the end prize, cuz...
- Letting Daon go when the dude was finally ready to love him back. Yes, I understand the hickey was suggestive, but he waited all those time, and couldn't spare Daon like 3mins for him to explain? See nonsense. Watching himself be heart broken when he didn't have to vexed me. All he had to do was listen to what Daon had to say.
- Looking at it, Puppy Co-Worker might just be the smartest of the bunch, at least all he did wrong was humiliate himself by falling in love with an emotionally unstable cute co-worker, and got stabbed. At least he didn't waste 11 years of his life like those three fools. Plus in the end he got the guy, so...

PLOT:
The premise of this drama wasn’t anything new, we’ve seen plots of everyone being in love with that one special lead, so basic at best. What made this good was the execution. This drama was good at confusing us for a while. In the beginning I thought Professor Psycho was the knight in shining armor. Sure I knew he was cray-cray the moment he switched up and rejected Daon like he was a last week's meatloaf. Still, I thought he was the good guy and that love letter and gift was for him, but as it turned out, Daon had a thing for Angry Director-nim all along, was honestly shocked at that. The little reveals in this drama made it interesting and kept me watching. I enjoyed the plot cuz although it wasn’t new they added elements that entertained and held my interest every episode.

DAON NEEDS TO BE ALONE
Up until the finale of this show, I believed Daon needed to be alone. These three stressed him out so much, our boy was on those stairs at work having a panic attack, then he got kidnapped on one of the most important days of his life. None of these boys deserved him. Yes, we can argue about Puppy Co-Worker but think about it, isn't his constant persistent a problem of his own, his stressing our boy who have enough problems of his own out. He means well, but he needs to take a chill pill, like stop saying you want to just be by his side and then lowkey pressuring him. Edit: But in the finale they had me with the cake to the nose and the saving him by getting stabbed, and then I'll wait 100 years for you so go live your life scene. So I guess, if one person could end up with Daon, I'm glad it was Puppy Co-Worker .

No, I will not be shipping Daon and Angry Director-nim, Sure he was a fool and got himself manipulated by Professor Psycho and his mother, which made him hurt the boy he loved and then lost him, so yeah, poor loser, but his personality is not one to cheer for. He’s a giant red-flag and our poor Daon has been through enough, both with his family and Professor Psycho, so I won't come add this abusive dude to the list. Let us be serious in this life peoples! Sure in the finale he came to his senses, but after everything I am so very very glad he did not end up with Daon.

As for Professor Psycho, yeah, imma need him to take a drive off a cliff, dude is doing too much all in the name of love. That's not love, that's craziness, get professional help or like therapy. Or even better, join an asylum. Glad his crazy arse ended up in prison in the finale, he deserved it and so much more.

So yes, before the finale I thought Daon would be better off single, cuz what he had was not love. The manipulative psycho wasted 11 years of his life, the foolish angry boss caused him his first love, and the persistent love puppy needed to take a breather. To me, Daon needed time to himself until he truly learnt to trust again. He needed to find himself after the 11 years of mind-eff the two guys put him through. But after everything that happened in the finale, and that one year gap where he was apart from Puppy Co-Worker, I am okay he ended up with Puppy Co-Worker cuz they both deserves to be happy, but really, if he'd ended up alone, I wouldn't have complained either. Though I legit thought they were gonna surprised us by going off the predictable plot and killing Puppy Co-Worker, you know, give us something different, but no such luck. At least they happy, so yaay?

Overall, a very enjoyable drama, the best bl out of SK this year. Highly recommends to all bl lovers looking for some toxic drama with lots of headache, you won't be disappointed. One of my favs this year.

Anywho, I hope to see the cast in more work in the future.

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What did I just watch?

I was very excited to watch this season as it has been a long wait, but after binging it the entire day it ended with a very unsatisfying ending.

I'm happy that the ending was a happy one even though a lot of characters died for absolute no reason, the main trio did deserve their happy ending together. That's also where the problem lays within this season, I feel like only the trio got their happy ending and all the characters from the first season which we loved very much, had a sad ending for no reason.

In this review there will be a lot of bad points but the story also had some good points: surprisingly it was fast paced, each episode flew by, literally. The acting was also good, especially how Eun-yu's and Yi-Kyung's characters had been played out but then there were also characters that felt a bit monotone. I'm sure there's more but the bad points, for me, are the ones that weighed more than the good ones.

First of all, why is Eun-hyeok a robot?
In the first season he was also kind of a robot with no emotions as he only wanted his sister to be safe and then at the end, we finally see him crack a real smile and even tears! I had hoped to see him again with a bit of more character development but it actually got worse... we also didn't get to see his process of monsterization, only the end product . He was the only character I was so excited to see again but he basically didn't have any personality which was very unfortunate.

Second, lots of characters in the second season were added which was a bit complicated to understand at first but it's normal since the season 1- crew step outside into the open world. It's normal to meet new characters and it's also normal that some of the characters just exist and others actually have a purpose but I feel like almost every single new character that had a bit of potential just died off or just wasn't worth a few more scenes...
For example, we get introduced to Chief Ji, the lady who was in charge at the stadium before the army arrived. She is very mysterious and seems to be a badass character but in the end she's just a coward who feeds her monster son humans and because of the guilt decided to end it.
Another one is the priest, he acts very calm and had potential to actually become someone important but in the end ran off searching for the crazy lady to end up running away with her but wait where is their story? We only get to see him in a car accident and that explains how they have such a strong bond...
Another frustrating one is the old man with the girl on drugs. He's a very strong character who's very calm and seems to know what he's doing and could get very far in life but suddenly he becomes a monster and end ups dying because why?

All these and more characters that were introduced in the second season could've become something that could have had big impact on the ending but it seemed to me that they were only there so both seasons could be more than a few episodes.

Third, why did they do the season 1 characters all so bad? Did they not deserve a happy day at all?
Yi-Kyung who had been fighting since day one, trying to find her fiance, giving birth to a monster and raising it, fighting its psycho father, .... did she really have to die off?
Sang-wook was just there to be possessed by the villian and his existence was basically wiped away, the only proof he was actually in the two last seasons were the appearance of his body and one time he tried to fight back the monster inside him but oh! suddenly in the end he comes back to life! only to burn to death the next second ...

I'm gonna stop rambling now... it was just a very dissapointing day for something I had been waiting on for so long... I'm gonna go cry now

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