A Masterpiece of 2023
Best Chinese Drama of 2023.I am hooked with the story, the chemistry, and the business cases.
Gong Jun as Xu Si and Zhong Chuxi as Jiang Hu are the best decision ever.
Running against the wind. Beginning with Jiang Hu.
When rising with the wind, Zhaoyang will be there for you.
My final points for this drama why I choose this drama as my #1 drama:
1) The drama is as realistic as it can be in C-drama world
2) All scenes are important, not even single scene is some kind of filler
3) The leads have their strengths and weaknesses and have great character development each other
4) The chemistry of the leads are great. Smart and Powerful Couple ever
5) Learning business cases by watching a drama
6) Xu Si is also NOT usual CEO-Type male lead. The finest grey flag man ever. Xu Si yaaaaaaaaa, you’re my top character male lead drama of all time now🔥💕
7) The OSTs are superb
Full playlist of this drama : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbaz30HW30w
Compilation of Xu Si and Jiang Hu Best Moments (Part 1) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRKwBU-J8_g
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I am sure that if someone with a critical eye was to peruse through this review, they'd "Tsk Tsk" just like El Temur did to show his condescension for things he thought beneath him but I am past the point of caring. For I am hopelessly and utterly in love with everything about this drama, blissfully ignorant to all of its flaws and honored to have witnessed characters that made me feel all there was to feel and more.
After I was done with it, I felt so emotionally spent that it was almost physical. Every waking moment of my existence had been consumed by this production and the withdrawal symptoms were kicking in with a vengeance. Now, there is so much to say, but not enough words. I want to shout its praises from the rooftops but I'll settle for writing this review that can't possibly ever truly deliver the amount of feeling I had for this drama.
This is a story about vengeance, lust for power, loyalty, sacrifice, the blurry line between good and evil, the ugly side of human nature and lastly one woman's quest for justice. You cannot go into this if you don't want to get invested because trust me you will. It will possess you and maneuver you around like a puppet until its characters' emotions are your own, their pain your pain, their heartbreak your heartbreak and it will make you want to burst from all the sensory overload.
If I am to be honest, I admit that I have never seen a more brilliant piece of acting before. From the minute roles to the colossal one's every single act is done with perfection.
This was my first time watching Ha- Ji Won and six episodes in, I had already added her to my favorite actress list and vowed that I will not stop until I had followed her into every show she ever starred in. Simply put, she is my Queen. Her acting is so real and raw that it breaks you every time and leaves you in awe. It's really no surprise that she won a Daesang for her role.
I don't think I have ever felt more strongly for any female heroine before Niang. The intensity of love that I felt for her was crazy. She's a woman of power, deadly beyond measure, a master mind and the definition of strength. In Asian Dramas, there is always more talk than walk about how intellectual the heroine is. Producers use the classic element of make believe and create so much hype that people really start to see the MC as smart and witty even when there are no visible actions to back it up. In the synopsis it would be stated repeatedly how much of a genius she is, the characters in the show would boast about her relentlessly but in reality she usually turns out to be a hollow personality-less beauty vessel constructed on baseless compliments.
Niang doesn't roll that way. She is the real deal from the start; a highly intelligent woman, a schemer, a warrior, a meticulous planner and a ruthless executioner. She doesn't need other people to gass her up, because everything she does speaks for itself. She doesn't require saving because she is the savior. She is a Queen in every sense of the word and honestly, I would rather kill everyone -love interest or not- if they dared hurt her. My heart clenched whenever she faced a setback, my fists pumped and I screamed joyfully every time she was victorious, I cried with her, I smiled with her and I rooted for her every single time. I can honestly sing odes in way of her perfection and it would still not be enough.
Before I started with the drama, I had heard a lot of praise for Ji Chang Wook and when I saw his face and got a glimpse of the character he played I had instantly stuck my nose up, jutted my foot out and turned the other way. I thought that there was no way that I'd ever root for such a privileged, weak and spoiled wimp of a Prince. It didn't help that I had hated characters like him in the past (See: Goo Joon Piyo from Boys over flower, Mike He from Full house, Yune from MiSa) but as I watched, piece by piece the ice around my heart fell off until I was effectively boarded and happily sailing on his ship.
Ji Chang Wook is a gem and I truly believe he deserved a Daesang too. Ta Hwan is a highly flawed character and an anti-hero at best. He's selfish, cowardly, naive and obsessive. For one good deed is followed by a hundred missteps on his part and there were multiple times where I wanted to just slap him senseless. But despite all this, JCW made me fall in love with him. A lesser actor or any other actor for that matter, couldn't have even dreamed to do the same.
He's the type of character that you'd love to hate and hate to love but soon enough you see the deep scars he harbors, the purity of his heart and you understand him. In a palace full of people under his command, he's utterly lonely, horribly abused by everyone he trusts, constantly forced into his insecurities and you cannot help but weep for him and the pain he has had to suffer. Once you understand him, every horrible action he commits doesn't make you hate him, rather it breaks your heart. I had so much affection for him that I bawled every time he was either volatile, helpless or bordering on insanity. I honestly prayed for his relief.
As for the other male lead, I had my doubts about Joo Jin Mo at times but soon, I realized that he held his own too. Even though I felt like Wang Yu was way too likable I did come to adore him. The loyalty his men showed to him, his persistence in fighting for his country and his devotion to Niang warmed my heart. Plus, the guy has really beautiful and expressive eyes.
As far as the couple ships are concerned, Ta Hwan and Niang was the only one that made sense to me. Sure, Wang Yu and Niang have some heart warming moments and their love for each other is supposed to be strong but the moments between Ta Hwan and Niang are simply emotionally intense. There is so much misery between them but their relationship is powerful. She builds him up when he's nothing, she's his support system and his love for her is obsessive because in the midst of so much cruelty she is his only friend and confidante. The only time he attempts to be selfless is when he's with her and she makes him want to be a better man.
Tbh, they both were my babies and they absolutely dominated the show.
The beauty of this show is that everything bad that could possibly happen; happens. In most shows you don't have to guard your heart because you're sure that when things are their absolute worse, a convenient plot device will somehow come in handy and save the characters from catastrophe but here, there is no such luck. The villains are extremely fleshed out and three dimensional which makes it all the more easy to despise them. This drama truly depicts that 'evil is bad that believes it's good' and that is the most dangerous thing about the awful one's because somehow they all have reasons that are wholly justified in their eyes. People I liked transitioned into horrible power hungry monsters and people I hated with a passion tried to force me to feel pity for them. It was such a mixture of charcoal and pristine that I was constantly in a whirlwind.
I'm not going to lie; I bawled a lot in this drama. However, none of my tears flowed when people died or were killed rather they were for the tiny moments; the moments where the helplessness of the characters was shown, the moments where they are trying their best to hold on but falling apart, when they are striving to fight madness but stumbling and it's so beautifully heartbreaking that it wrenched out sobs from me.
This drama is filled with small immensely impactful scenes that combine to make the whole production powerful.
The side characters are very strong and multiple story-lines make the drama diverse and interesting. I majorly love me some Tal Tal; the smart, loyal and brooding man that you just can't get enough of. Wang Yu's men were always a source of happiness; Jokho and many others too make the list.
One thing I agree with many reviewers was that I too wanted the MC's to take a breather. From start to finish they are battling complication after complication and I desperately wanted the sweet moments to be drawn out and for them to bask a little more in the fleeting happiness they were granted. I mean, I wanted to see the faces I love express joy so badly that after finishing the show, I spent hours watching behind the scenes and blooper videos to lighten my heart and seeing those actors laugh and goof around filled me with inexplicable warmth.
As far as the ending is concerned, I'll dole out the same advice a friend gave to me and that is to not dread the tragedy too much for it's something that's bound to happen and you might actually find it quite acceptable. Who knows?
I have said so much, yet I feel that there is so much more to say. I am positive that I can write a thesis on my love for this drama and still not be satisfied so I'm going to end this here.
Every single second of this is nerve wracking in some way, the violence isn't over-produced, the action scenes are beautiful, the dialogues are excellent and although I never really re-watch seasons even when I say that I will, this is one season that I'm absolutely certain that I will binge re-watch and will most probably once again, be strung like a live wire because of all the feels.
An undeniable must watch.
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Tell, why show?
Unfortunately, Rugal is a drama that demands you turn off your brain and just go with the flow. I only finished this one because of the world pandemic (unable to go out) coupled with the convenience of airing on Netflix. Unless you're looking for a mindless action-fest, you'd be better off moving to better things.PLOT: A Plot Hole Fest Served with Bad Writing
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The drama started with some promise, if not originality, but went downhill fast when it began to rely too much on action, eye candy, and special effects to make up for the writer's lack of experience and painfully simplistic narrative. The story really makes no sense and left no impression. Things happened because "reasons", twists were added because "why not?" and characters acted and reacting according to the "rule of cool" rather than logic.
If you are looking for a well-thought-out, or at the very least decent story, this is certainly not it.
CHARACTERS: Simplistic, Inconsistent and Unrelatable
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Rather than go through each character individually, I'll talk about them in general since none of them really stood out. One of the show's biggest flaw is the writer's inability to create complex characters. Consequently, they all feel borderline cartoony. Think shonen anime where the only focus of the writer is to pile love and adoration onto Gang Gi Bum (ML), who I'm almost certain became Do Hyun's (the writer's) self-insert (aka Gary Sue).
Gang Gi Bum quickly becomes the sole focus of the story, the strongest among all the Rugal members, adored by both allies and enemies... he is a walking plot-line -- or rather, a stumbling one. You can connect every story to him in an egotistical way which not only grew old fast, but allowed no room to develop any other characters.
Perhaps the biggest aggrievance of all was the disservice rendered towards the four female characters who appear on more than one episode of this drama --none of which were unfortunately fleshed out or given agency.
The two female "antagonists", for example, were useless. Argo's chairman's treatment was especially jarring. We were often told by other characters that she was cool, that she shouldn't be underestimated, that "you don't know what she's capable of" only to be shown... absolutely nothing. Again, the writer wanted to claim she's strong/cool/influential without actually giving her agency to show those things. And it's the same thing with Susan, the female scientist of the show. Where we're told by other characters all these things about her personality because she doesn't even have enough air time to develop her...
Of course, the most inconsistent was poor Song Mi Na, the lone female member of Rugal. She went from being the second-best of the team to become the weakest link; complete with a few badass in distress scenes --which were promptly excused by the writer though characters exchanging comments regarding "how strong she is" and how "impressed they were with her". In so doing, the Do Hyun created a laughable cop-out for only showing her distress and having all her badassery apparently happen off-screen...
At the end of the day, the lack of depth the entire cast of characters was riddled with meant I couldn't connect, relate, or even care for any of them. I was never rooting for them to succeed. I was also unconcern whenever they were "in danger". They were wrapped in such a thick layer of plot armor, that it stood to reason they would come out victorious in the end. Heck, even the characters seem keenly aware of their plot armor (especially the ML) because they never displayed an ounce of fear, which marks an author as lacking experience and the confidence of putting his beloved characters through the grinder.
Which leads us to the next point.
WRITING: Amature. Tell, why show?
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I could tell right away the writer didn't have experience because he relied a lot on exposition. Meaning he spoon-fed the audience the story through character dialogues rather than having us reach the conclusion he wanted through scene development.
A good writer will show, rather than tell. If he wants us to feel bad for a character, he'll dedicate time to showing how the character suffers rather than having him say "I'm so sad" in a short conversation. Although the process of showing will be longer, the result will be more powerful.
Simply put, if the audience is not moved to tears when a character cries on the screen... then the emotional buildup wasn't done correctly. In this case, telling us what the characters were feeling through dialogues resulted in a sense of disbelief and disconnect, which made me unable to empathize with any of them.
OVERALL [TL;DR]
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Learn from my painful experience and skip this one if you're looking for a good show. The writing is atrocious, the fights grew old fast, the plot is messy and inconsistent, the characters lack complexity... In fact, the only thing Rugal has going for it was the eye candy, which suffered when they went full emo style with the ML. But even these leather-clad men aren't worth muscling through the diary of a fourteen-year-old who self-inserted into a fantasy where he's the center of the universe; men want to be his sidekicks, women want to bed him, enemies fall in love with him and everything happens based only on the "rule of cool".
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This review may contain spoilers
Despite the odd title (I have no idea what "Dark Blue Kiss" is even supposed to mean, or how it relates to the story), DBK is one of my top two favorite BLs for 2019! (The other: He's Coming To Me.) Here's why:1) A very realistic view of what a young gay couple goes through. Not all shows have to be realistic for me -- I appreciate a good fantasy, as long as that's what it's intended to be. But if I'm being given a plot line that I'm supposed to take seriously, I want to believe it. DBK does this for me, unlike the large majority of BLs (which can still have good entertainment value).
2) Supportive parents and friends. Pete's dad, Kao's mom, and Rain were the heroes of this series.
3) The acting from the leads. Loved Tay (Pete) in this, and especially AJ (Non), who pretty much stole the show with his smarmy unlikeability. New (Kao) got a lot of flack from viewers for being too passive, but I thought he was just fine. As for the second couple, Podd (Sun) was a creditable actor (although I found his character a bit uninteresting) and Fluke (Mork) shows some great skills for a newbie.
4) The music. I loved the music for the opening credits! The OST sung by Fluke shows him to be a really talented singer, and another OST with Tay and New really shows off Tay's singing ability as well.
5) The story. From week to week, I found myself looking forward to what was coming next.
Highly recommended! (I only gave the "Rewatch Value" a lower rating because I rarely rewatch series.)
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unrealistic and frustrating
I tried giving this drama a chance to like it but finding it so disappointing and very frustrated with the story. It is very unrealistic for the female lead who had a crush on the male lead and following him around. Very unrealistic for a the male lead to allow a fan (stranger) to get into his circle. How can a stranger (female lead) who had a crush on a celebrity and be able to get through the security, mistaken as girl friend, allow to ride in the bus with the team and so forth. The way the female lead chasing and following the male lead (who doesn't really know her) around and able to get into his circle of friend and team is nauseating. The female lead is supposed to be intelligent and gifted but too stupid to follow her crush without thinking about her own safety makes me angry about the whole story.Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
A true treasure among the BL shows.
I noticed this while scrolling through the feeds, and everyone seemed to like it. I was in the mood for a thriller at the time, so I chose this one.This drama's mystery plot isn't particularly well developed; it felt almost predictable to me. The political aspect of this drama, on the other hand, is extremely well done. If not well executed, it could have been extremely boring. The romance, which often feels unwanted or unnecessary in these types of dramas, is something I really liked in this. This is a one-of-a-kind drama that successfully blends romance and politics without making either feel out of place.
This drama is about twins, Black and White, who have a powerful bond that causes them to feel each other's agony during a near-death experience. Their personalities are as diametrically opposed as chalk and cheese. They were separated after their parents divorced, causing them to lose contact with one another. One day, after returning to Thailand, White learns from Tod, a childhood friend, that Black is in a coma following a brutal attack on him, which rekindled White's connection with Black. He also learns that Black is now a member of a motorcycle gang, and he suspects that one of the members—Gram, Yok, or Sean—is to blame for Black's current state. As a result, he disguises himself as Black and joins the gang to discover the truth.
Although Black appeared to be a little different to everyone, no one noticed that it was another person disguised as Black, nor did anyone know that Black had a twin. Sean seemed to be the most affected by Black's sudden change, as he began to develop feelings for him.
In a BL, usually the supporting characters, as well as the female characters, usually play minor roles. They are used as tools to bring the main characters together or to cause conflict between them. However, in this drama, they each had their own point of view and story to tell. This really impressed me. Except for a few scenes, the characters in this drama are very well developed, and their actions and reactions are understandable. Of course, the characters aren't perfect, but they all have their own unique charms.
Both the main character and the supporting characters did an excellent job. Gun's performance was out standing and so was Off's. They portrayed every emotion almost flawlessly (Of course, nothing is perfect). Gun should be specially appreciated for successfully portraying two characters at a time who are too different to compare. The chemistry between the main leads was a visual treat and is very pleasing to watch. I hope to see Gun and Off together more often in the future. The actors who played Gram, Yok and even the actors who portrayed small roles like Grumpa and Tod were able to meet my expectations. The antagonists too were so well portrayed and this made this drama more appealing and entertaining.
Overall, this is a really outstanding BL that, in my opinion, deserves more attention and love. Almost every aspect of this drama is well-executed. This is a totally unique show that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys BLs, politics, or the actors.
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A disappointing barely-BL.
The series is framed by a class about love, wherein the students in the class are paired off in heterosexual couples to do a bunch of love experiments. Two girls pair up, because one is in love with the professor, and the other has a stalker, so she's terrified of all men (except Jiwoo, who's too tiny to be scary).That means that two boys have to pair off, and off we go.
This is a BL, and yet the class doesn't even attempt to address same-sex relationships, or anything not heteronormative. The most we get is that the professor allows the same sex pairings. To be frank, nobody should need his permission.
Because the stalked girl (Yuna) isn't afraid of Jiwoo, she allows him to escort her home, which draws him into the stalker mess.
This is a series that could have worked if it were twice as long. It simply had too much going on, a lot of it totally unnecessary, to cover in six brief episodes. Almost the entire story is about Jiwoo pursuing Yuna and dealing with her stalker. There almost no BL whatsoever.
Then, we skip all the processing it might take to go from identifying as straight and being in love with a girl to going gay. Jiwoo changes like a light switch being flipped, and Roa, who loves him, rejects him based on truly incomprehensible reasoning, then abandons his life and runs off to the sea. But we do have time for a silly girl's antics and pursuit of her professor and Roa's intrusive asshole roommate.
This story is so disjointed and lacking in any organic character or relationship development that I felt absolutlely nothing at the end.
The series doesn't fail because it's short, it fails because it's a long story that was crammed into a short space. For contrast, watch the 8-minute BL short Please Tell Me So on YouTube, also starring Han Hyun Jun - this does a much better storytelling job despite its brevity.
I'm often told that I should unconditionally support Korean BL because it's new there (It isn't. Long Time No See was made in 2017, less than a year after SOTUS) and operating in a homophobic environment (welcome to the continent of Asia). Why? I support good Korean BL like Semantic Error - I have no responsibility to support borderline gay-baiting like this, which is a cynical attempt to exploit a fashionable genre without having to commit to it. This is not a m/m romance, it's a story about stalking, with a shallow and cliched15-minunte BL stapled to the end of it.
Story: Since this is marketed as a BL, I have to rate the writing as a BL, so 3. I liked that Jiwoo's first hints of attraction to Roa was from seeing him shirtless rather than trip/catch/stare or accidetal kiss.
Acting: 7.5. Han Hyun Jun is more like a 9, most of the rest are fine, and Kim Tae Hwan is OK but a bit stiff.
Music: It's there.
Rewatch: 2 - I wouldn't watch it again, but I might revisit a couple of scenes that I liked.
Overall: 5. My overall opinion was that it was bad, but didn't look like it was bad. It's competently produced, but the story is just not interesting as a BL and skips too much that is important. I really hope someone puts Han Hyu Jun in something much better than this because he is talented and just adorable.
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This review may contain spoilers
frustration at its finest
tw// mention of rapethe trailer made me go, "oh! this doesn't look so bad! it looks cute and light! let's go for it!". well... the drama in its entirety is a hot mess. no, it's not the spicy good kind of mess that makes me look forward for more episodes. it's the mess that makes you wonder what went through the heads of the writers.
one thing that made me hooked into wanting to watch this is the actors from past dramas i watched. i honestly kinda feel bad for the the actors because it feels like they were trying their best to make up to portray their characters. sadly, there's literally no depth to the characters despite ton's dad brainwashing his son with such nonsense and misogynistic beliefs. the writers had the chance to give depth to ton's character and show his side of the story but we got absoluTeLy nothing! so, the whole time i couldn't help but detest ton because he was honestly being such an ass and made chon uncomfortable in the early episodes pressuring him about banging a girl to prove his masculinity.
three years with ai and ni.... not once did ton suspect anything going on???? i may be a clown but i haven't reached this level of clownery yet. i also couldn't find myself rooting for ai and ni when they forced chon to come out to them. another character that grinded my butters was nueng... what was the writers thinking making a rape victim attempt to rape someone????? honestly.... in each episode, i felt like i'd end up hating every single character. thankfully, characters like chon's mom, na, the nail lady and miriam exist.
the chemistry between chon and ton is not bad... but it's quite plain. the way their relationship developed itself is questionable. dude legit banged chon after confessing and chon, one who's known to always be the frantic type in such situations didn't flinch one bit. i honestly found ton unlikable and his possessiveness didn't appeal to me at all.
if there's another bl drama that features a revenge driven ex girlfriend after this, i'm officially teleporting to space because i'm so done with it.
overall, this is a drama that isn't anything new that does have a few charming points (comedic scenes and few likable supporting characters) but completely fails to keep my interest to the end.
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1The tale of two straight chefs who try to be lovers and enemies but fail at both.
I am keeping this short and sweet, because well, the series is very short and so sweet it is the equivalent of a diabetic coma. Now, the opening scene is a feast for the eyes, just like that other food BL Bite Me (which has a multitude of its own problems). That is, we fade into the "Hot" Chef of the duo showering, shirtless, and showing the goods as much as Asian television will allow.Now, I suppose this should have been a warning (Hindsight is 20/20 ya know). The production team on both shows were basically letting you know what you are here for, and its not story, characters, plot, or drama. You are here for hot guys and maybe two of those hot guys will kiss before it's all over and done with if you're lucky. Nothing more and nothing less.
If that is all you're looking for. If that is all that is required to be a success in your book. If that makes the time spent here decent enough. Then by all means, this will not disappoint. But if you expect anything, and I do mean anything, above this very low, low, (Did I say low?) bar, then you likely aren't gunna be too keen on this in the end.
Now, My Sweet Dear begins winningly enough. While the production shows its seams, the budget clearly at the shallow end of the Korean pool, the series does a decent job of choosing where to spend that budget. Yes, the show reminds me of 1990's US independent Gay cinema (Trick anyone? Anyone?) production, but it does have a banging soundtrack that is ready for all the girlies to hit shuffle to on Spotify. And well, that's the core audience here. As long as the music is good, the boys are hot, and they have lovingly long stares, it wins.
Well, kinda. You do get a trickling of "Well like on a snowy or rainy day where I just need something bubbly and cute," that seems to say its not REALLY worth your time, but will do if you need it to.
Jang Eui Soo as our new, attitude filled, hot shirtless chef Jung Woo, comes out swinging. In the beginning he gives it his all and makes a character you instantly do not like, but still want to drool over. He's cocky, arrogant, conniving, and all kinds of sexy that led every commenter from here to Mars to brainstorm backstory in hopes of clearing his asshole set-up. But, that backstory never materializes and, well, you are left with who and what his character is, and that aint very pretty.
Somewhere Eui Soo gives up. I'm not sure where, but his acting becomes more cardboard-like and his swagger dissolves as the story progresses. Did he realize what type of series he actually signed up for and just decided, ehh, who cares?
Lee Chan Hyung never manages to turn our other half Yoon Do Gun into anything more than a grumpy one dimensional statue. He seems bored from the beginning. Wooden in every interaction. And uncomfortable when the script tries to force him to do anything resembling intimacy. But, the character of Do Gun does come off as the victim and kind. So you can at least still root for him. If you want.
There is another player in Laura, the owner of Laura's, the restaurant that houses most of the story. She is a villain. That is all you will learn about her. So I guess, let's move on just as the series did.
Now, the premise is outrageous; a Michelin star chef being forced to compete with a no name to keep his job. It is preposterous in every way and, well, you just have to swallow it if you really want to sit through the 8 episodes. (They are only like 12 minutes so its an easy gulp.)
Somewhere in the middle you will become invested and will be treated to yet another long winded frolicking BL beach scene. Wasn't Why R U enough? This is basically the "middle" of our story development in the series, simply they go to the beach.
Then in episode 6 the underlying plot gets turned on high, but it never simmers. It just comes to a raging boil in episode 7 and then is immediately taken off the flame. When this very simple easy plot actually manages to create tension, conflict, and drama, it is snuffed out unceremoniously for the sake of creating a happy ending.
Characters serve the sketched outline of a plot and do not act or behave like human beings. Instead they are Ken Dolls ready to be posed in an empty forever smiling embrace for viewers to set as their wallpaper. You will get that kiss guys, but it will make you squirm in discomfort and make you wish that maybe they just held hands (I'm a gay guy and I'd rather see that from these two....that is bad). And well, for no apparent reason one lead forgives the other lead for everything, just because, and you are served an audience tested and approved ending.
OMG THEY ARE LIKE SO CUTE AND ARE MY LIFE. ITS SO FLUFFY AND AMAZING AND MAKES ME SO HAPPY. JES IS SOOO HOT!!!! DO YOU ALL KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND THE OST?
And Korea says YES!!!! We won again!!!!
But, did you? Really, is this what you wanna call a win?
Anyway, 4.0/ D-, 2-Stars. Hardly worth watching.
If you wanna add some zest, make a BINGO card before you start and mark down BL plot points and endings...It will be fun!
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Fluff, fluff and fluff filled with so much fillers and sprinkled with a few unneeded NC17 scenes.
This is hard to write - there was a lot of hype and i must confess that i fell inlove with the series in its first few episodes that i kinda overlooked all its shortcomings. It has all the elements of a Domundi series - extra rich leading men paired with very young (immature) boys; the extra super cute boys; and the almost obligatory sex scenes. However, through all the sheen and all the beautiful faces, it is an overstretched storytelling aimed to check all the BL boxes and offers nothing really new.
First let me discuss the good things i loved:
1. The very good looking cast - Thomas, o Thomas, where have you been hiding all this time (he actually caught my attention in that ill-fated The Middleman's Love Story but since he was just almost just an extra there i immediately forgot about him) - this series has poised him to be a star. Kong is just adorable. Do i need to mention how cute Por and TeeTee are? And of course Save ang AuAu.
2. Marakot's Babe!
3. If you put your critical thinking hat off, this show can be really enjoyable - Its just light and easy series to watch. And oh, have i mentioned Thomas?
Now the things that i find a little eyerolling:
1. Teerak is just too bubbly of a character for me - almost like he is living in his own Glinda bubble. This very child-like behavior also makes me think that the guy is not ready for a mature relationship -he is like a 13 year old boy wanting to be an adult all of
a sudden. The kiss-me-on-the-hair antic is ok at the beginning but it turned too cringy and borderlined overacting - imagine having a college dude acting like that in real lfe - it can be really really annoying. Plus, that fake girlfriend angle, can you really imagine Teerak having a girlfriend - the dude is a walking flower dashed with a few drops of mist and with its own ray of sunshine. THe girlfriend angle IS SO UNNECESSARY.
2. Can somebody please tell these recent wave of writers that a teenage-looking boy isnt believable as ultra successful CEOs or high level executives? They just arent. Even if you are from a rich family, it takes a certain pedigree and maturity to actually run a company. Muenfah is still just a baby. Somebody in Domundi has a fetish for hot looking young CEOs, i get the appeal, but a line has to be drawn somewhere - and they didnt have to use the same character type in every show.
3. Mike is too good for this role and too out of place in this series - im sorry to say but he looks too old to portray a college student next to the other members of the cast.
4. The school project exhibition. After making Muenfah an impossibly young college student/business owner the series came up with a story line for Teerak that he and his friends are suposed to present (and exhibit) their big big project - only to come up with Teerak's strawberry eating fox figurines in that snow-filled forest (which by the way they didnt even bother to make a snowy background), Joy's crochet keychains, and Punlee's silkscreen printed shirts. Really? They are college stidents and thats all they can come up with? And they passed with flying colors? Muenfah is closing big business deals and thats the arc you come up with for Teerak?
5. With the materials and footage that they had (and lack thereof) they could have compressed it to an 8-episode series and it will still be an enjoyable compact series. If they really needed to make it a 12-episode series they could have elevated the 2 other pairs to secondary lead status because for heavens sake they already casted 3 (or 4) very good looking pairs but did not utilize them all properly. I would have loved to see more of Real-Hia, Babe-Dom, and my babies Punlee-Klaijai (i could have used more of that flirting scene at the coffee shop).
Overall, its an easy series to watch. I would love to see more from these actors in the future, but Domundi has to spend a little bit more money for good script and extensie acting workshops. Will i recommend? A big-fat YES! WIll i rewatch - just to ogle at those cute boys.
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This review may contain spoilers
SIAN’S INFERNO: A PREDICTABLE, HAREM-FUELED SNOOZEFEST
***DISCLAIMER: THIS IS JUST MY OPINION ON THE ENTIRE SEASON YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE AND I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANYONE.***My comment section is not safe for Sian and Junseo fans or sympathizers. I will probably call out everyone and you might not like what I have to say. To protect your peace I suggest you just keep scrolling because I am not be going to go back and forth with anyone over this show.
_____________________________________________
OVERVIEW (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
I really thought Single’s Inferno 3 was the worst season yet, but Single’s Inferno 4 somehow managed to be even worse. A predictable, uninspired mess that revolved around one contestant—Sian—and her never-ending harem of men chasing after her like lost puppies. The show stopped being about romance and connection and instead turned into a glorified dating sim where Sian held all the cards, leading on multiple men only to predictably choose the red flag in the end.
The worst part? It wasn’t just the cast that made this season unbearable. The editing, production, and overall pacing were awful. Netflix completely fumbled what made Single’s Inferno work in the first place—an organic blend of romance, drama, and character development. Instead, we got shallow interactions, choppy editing, and emotional moments ruined by horrible music choices. They even changed the iconic opening song, and for what? Sorry but “SAY YES” will forever be the best… this new theme song didn’t do anything. Every time a moment could have been impactful, the editing undercut it. There was no buildup, no emotional investment, just scene after scene of surface-level connections that felt hollow.
And then there’s the predictability. This was yet another season where the entire cast revolved around one person, and by the finale, three men were standing there, waiting for Sian’s decision like it was the final boss battle of a romance RPG. The same thing happened in Single’s Inferno 3 with Gwanhee, and I’ve had enough. It’s lazy. It’s boring. It’s exhausting. We get it—people like the thrill of competition, but if every season is going to end with the entire cast worshipping one contestant, what’s the point?
Now let's get into everything that went wrong...
THE DOWNFALL OF CAST DYNAMICS:
From the moment Sian stepped into Inferno, she took over the entire season. It quickly became clear that every guy would orbit around her while the other girls were left struggling for screen time. This isn’t even about jealousy or whether she was “too popular”—the issue is that it made for bad television. There was no balance, no real competition, and no variety in storylines.
Sian herself? She drove me nuts. She kept insisting that she wanted a man who was thoughtful, kind, and vocal about his love—yet none of her choices reflected that. Who was she trying to fool? She wasn’t drawn to stability or sincerity. She wanted toxicity. She wanted the thrill of push-and-pull, which is why she clung to Jun Seo despite him being emotionally unavailable and a walking red flag.
She gaslit herself into thinking she wanted a sweet, considerate guy, but deep down, she craved an “alpha male” type. That’s why she played mind games with Theo and Jeong Su, leading them on for days before ultimately settling for the worst option.
Like many have said before, she treats men like Pokémon, collecting them for the thrill of it but never truly valuing them. The better men—Theo and Jeong Su—were strung along only to be discarded at the last minute.
And the worst part? Her indecision and selfishness meant no other female contestant got a real chance. Though I want to believe it's their choice not hers... there's no way the other men didn't want to get to know anyone else. I feel this season was written after the script, and the producers pushed the candidates in the direction they wanted to achieve the desired outcome.
THE EDITING & MUSIC RUINED THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH:
What made Single’s Inferno great in earlier seasons was its ability to pull viewers into the romance through music and editing. Remember the soft, sentimental background tracks? The perfectly timed instrumentals that made every confession feel weighty? All of that was gone.
The music choices this season were horrible. At times, they felt out of place, almost like they were taken from a generic reality show rather than a romance-focused dating program. It stripped away any emotional connection I might’ve felt.
And the editing? A disaster. Scenes were choppy, emotional beats were cut short, and crucial interactions were often rushed or left out entirely. At one point, we were getting random reaction shots from the hosts instead of seeing actual conversations unfold.
For example, they completely cut the scene where Dong Ho called Arin “chagi” (honey/dear), which would’ve made it clear he was never swayed by Hae Lin. Instead, they edited it to seem like he was conflicted, when in reality, he was always set on Arin.
Why are key moments being left out in favor of manufactured drama?
Oh, right. Because Netflix took over production...
THE SHIFT IN QUALITY:
This is where I need to rant. Season 1 and 2 were produced by JTBC, and the difference in quality was glaring. JTBC focused on love, friendships, and genuine emotions. Netflix? They just want toxic drama.
Seasons 3 and 4 had this overproduced, almost scripted feel that sucked the soul out of the show. Conversations felt more forced, editing choices felt more manipulative, and the cast interactions seemed heavily controlled to push certain narratives.
For example, I know some of the guys were told to create fake tension in the final episode. Junseo walking past Minseol like he was going to pick her? Jong Hoon walking past Hye Jin only to turn back? That wasn’t natural. That was producer interference to create a moment of “shock” that nobody bought into.
It’s lazy, it’s transparent, and it makes the show worse.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES & WASTED CAST MEMBERS:
There were so many great contestants who got zero chances because of the production’s obsession with Sian.
Sian herself was frustrating beyond belief. She treated men like playthings, keeping Jeong Su and Theo on the hook while clearly being drawn to Jun Seo’s bad boy persona. She knew she was going to choose Jun Seo. Everyone knew. And yet, she kept leading Jeong Su and Theo on, acting like she was confused when in reality, she just enjoyed the attention. She thrives on chaos and emotional tug-of-war, and she got exactly what she wanted—men fighting over her while she played the victim.
Jeong Su, for all his initial coldness, actually turned out to be one of the more sincere contestants. When he finally let his guard down, it was heartbreaking to watch because, by that point, it was too late. Sian had already set her sights on Juns Seo, and no amount of sincerity was going to change that. Theo, on the other hand, deserved so much better. The fact that he still chose Sian at the end, despite everything, was hard to watch. He stayed true to his emotions, but for what? She never truly considered him a serious option.
Jun Seo, of course, was performative to the end. The way he strutted very near to Min Seol like he was about to pick her, only to continue walking and choose Sian, was disgusting. It felt producer-driven, especially since Jong Hoon did the exact same thing to Hye Jin. These fake-out moments didn’t add drama—they just made the guys look like clowns.
Then there was Tae Hwan, who had no excuse for his nonsense. When Ji Yeon confronted him about his earlier statement that he wanted to stay single, he tried to worm his way out of it with weak justifications about hoping someone would change his mind. But that’s not what he said when they were in paradise. He knew Ji Yeon’s dream was to get married and have a family, yet he clearly didn’t care. In the end, Ji Yeon still left with him, but it was obvious she didn’t really have another option. He looked almost nervous, like his ego was bruised by the idea that she might reject him.
As for the other women, they were done so dirty. Imo You Jin was hands down the best girl in the entire inferno. I like her bright personality and how she’s able to make everyone feel at ease / comfortable and light up an entire room. It’s just too bad she wasted her first couple days on Jun Seo. If she had more time in the inferno plus more time to talk to the other men, I’m sure she would have turned more heads. Her choosing Jeong Su in the end was sweet, but it was hard to get invested when we barely saw them interact.
Hae Lin, the wildcard / game changer, had a similar same problem. She was initially interesting, but coming in on day 5 basically ruined her chances. I feel bad that the men initially hyped her up so much only to basically ignore her or decide she wasn’t worth giving a chance or their time. The wild card contestants always get screwed over just like Minji last season and it pisses me off to no end.
Dong Ho and Arin were maybe the only couple I wasn’t upset at. They at least had some form of connection. The show tried to make it seem like he was wavering, but in reality, he was set on her from the beginning. Their paradise date confirmed that, especially since they worked in the same industry and lived in the same neighborhood. Arin calling it fate was a little sappy, but it was cute, I guess.
Hye Jin and Dong Ho were a pity couple. They only decided to end together because there was no one else. I’m sorry but I genuinely didn’t feel like there were any sparks between them. They seem to have an ok to mid rapport and are cordial with one another but to me it seemed like Hye Jin was just quicker than the other girls when it came to getting his attention after he got rejected by Sian.
THE FINAL EPISODE:
By the time we reached the finale, everything was painfully predictable and anticlimactic.
• Sian picked Jun Seo. Obviously. She wanted her “whirlwind” romance, even though he’s the least stable choice.
• Theo stayed loyal to his emotions. He deserved better.
• Dong Ho stayed true to his feelings for Arin but I still felt like production did Hae Lin dirty, typical whenever they bring in a wildcard.
• Jeong Su poured his heart out, but it was too late. I actually felt bad for him.
• Hye Jin got done dirty at the last minute. Jong Hoon’s little fake-out move was unnecessary af.
• Ji Yeon settled for Tae Hwan. Even though she knew he didn’t want a serious relationship. We needed Dex in the inferno!
Nothing felt satisfying. The entire structure of “three people chasing one person” is overplayed.
Netflix needs to take notes from the first two seasons, which were produced by JTBC. The difference is night and day. JTBC focused on love, friendship, and organic relationships, while Netflix is obsessed with toxic drama. That’s why the last two seasons have felt so off. The production quality has tanked, the editing is disjointed, and the emotional depth is completely missing. Instead of real connections, we get fake love triangles, forced drama, and empty relationships that don’t last beyond the finale.
And don’t even get me started on the final choosing ceremony. They need to do something else, having everyone spread out over the island waiting for the men to walk to the woman of their choosing is beyond ridiculous. I also wish contestants could choose themselves because girls like Ji Yeon and Hye Jin got the short end of the stick in that regard. Morevover, watching the leftover contestants stand there awkwardly after not being chosen was depressing. They should let them change their minds and couple up with whoever’s left. It would be way more satisfying than watching them stand there awkwardly while the camera panned out.
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MATCHES:
Couples —
• Dong Ho x Arin
• Sian x Junseo
• Jong Hoon x Hye Jin
• Ji Yeon x Tae Hwan
Singles (+ their choice) —
• Theo → Sian
• Jeong Su → Sian
• Hae Lin → Dong Ho
• Hye Jin → Jeong Su
_____________________________________________
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Single’s Inferno 4 was an absolute waste of time. The production was sloppy, the cast was forgettable (except for Sian and her harem, unfortunately), and the season was so predictable that I almost regret watching it. The emotional depth that made the earlier seasons interesting is completely gone, replaced with surface-level connections and producer-driven nonsense.
I used to love this show because it gave me a mix of romance, friendships, and unexpected pairings. Now, it’s a tired, predictable mess where one person dominates the narrative while everyone else fades into the background.
The editing sucked.
The music sucked.
The cast felt wasted.
And Sian’s harem was the least interesting part of the show and ruined it for me.
I never thought I’d say this, but Season 3 wasn’t even this bad. At least that season had multiple storylines going on.
Would I recommend Season 4? Absolutely not! It’s completely skippable. I feel like it’s generous to even give this a 1/10. My rating doesn’t even reflect how I truly feel because I’d give this a 0 if I could.
Initially, I considered a 2/10 solely for Theo and Youjin, but even they couldn’t salvage this mess. Those two were the only redeeming qualities of an otherwise atrocious season. They deserved so much better than to be wasted on this trainwreck of a show.
Netflix needs to hand this show back to JTBC before they ruin it for good.
At the very least, I hope Netflix realizes that the one person with multiple suitors storyline has been done to death. It’s lazy and boring. I can't believe they are getting a S5 after this disaster of a season. Honestly, they need to pack it up! Like are they seriously not going to switch things up for S5? The same stale format is getting old. How about some actual eliminations to shake things up? And can we please make the contestants put in some effort to get to know each other? It's infuriating to watch the guys sit around all day, waiting for the women to do all the work.
And bring back the rule about not picking the same person for Paradise twice in a row! It's ridiculous that people can just fixate on one contestant (*cough* Sian, Gwanhee, Seulki and Jia *cough*) This season You Jin, Hae Lin, and Hye Jin were totally robbed of their chances / potential because everyone was too busy fawning over Sian. And don't even get me started on how Sian got to pick Jun Seo after spending time with him in Paradise the day before. I think 10 days in paradise is too short to actually fall in love, it's all a hoax, it's all for PR and I don't believe any of these couples will last. Four years has been long enough. I'm so done with this mess of a show – it's time for me to find a new guilty pleasure!
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SIDENOTE:
Just because I hated it doesn’t mean you will. You have to watch it and see for yourself, but truthfully if you are a S1 or S2 enjoyer this season is nothing in comparison. It's just as annoying as season 3, but it's somehow worse because Gwan Hee maintained his ignorance throughout but Sian and Jun Seo were very aware of what they were doing. In my opinion you aren’t missing out if you decided not to watch and you’d probably get the gist from Tiktoks / edits on YouTube.
Anyway, good luck but don't say I didn't warn you...
Thanks for reading!
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
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The Plot Went from ? To ⬇️
first of all the female lead's role is unnecessary asf. IN EPISODE 6 THE FL AND TAEHO KISSED right before the wedding? Does this make sense? this is so toxic? like what the hell is even happening right here? im so frustrated by this show. And what is even happening with Inha? i thought this drama was about taeho and inha? Now the plot has completely changedInha became the villain and Taeho the innocent one? He isn't even innocent? no matter what he shouldn't have kissed his best friend's fiance. the FL doesn't even like inha and she's literally out there cheating on him with taeho? Taeho'w character development is literally 0. he literally became a looser. And like they literally changed the main plot. at least i didn't expect inha to be the villain. the FL married inha cuz of his money. No matter what Inha And Taeho should've been together on the same boat. this is so messed up. thr whole drama is so messed up. and the fact second fl is thousand times better than the main female lead. just seeing her on my screen makes me wanna drop the drama. she's does not fit at all. She shouldve just stayed as inha's wife cuz that is her only goal in life , being wealthy. NOW AFTER ALLL THIS SHIT THE FL SUDDENLY WANTS TO PLAY THE VICTIM CARD? nothing in this drama is making sense. the second fl deserves better. Han taeho is literally blind atp. The second fl always tried to support him in every situation and our adorable taeho brutally rejected her just to kiss someone else's FIANCE. o my god i can't this is so frustrating.
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Why isn't Jun Ji Hyun in more dramas? I absolutely adore her. She made Song Yi so real to me. I will watch anything she plans to do in the future. Honestly, I'm not much of a fan of Kim Soo Hyun. However, he played Min Joon very well. To me his character was a good blend of controlled emotion with feeling. Park Hae Jin and Yoo In Na as well as the other characters were also good.
The music is pretty.
I will probably rewatch this at some point.
I think everyone would enjoy this drama.
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All Hail Theerakit Kian Lee: The Man, The Myth, The Lakorn Legend
From the very first dramatic encounter, this series makes it clear that subtlety is not on the menu and that's exactly its strength. Peachayarat, the grounded, talented photographer, collides with the one and only Theerakit Kian Lee, a man so gloriously out of touch with reality that watching him is both chaotic and mesmerizing. Two people from completely opposite worlds cross paths, and what comes next is an explosion of laughter, blushes, and emotional devastation in the most delightful way possible.Khun Thee lives in a bubble of wealth, lakorns, and full blown soap opera logic, and the series leans into every ounce of his larkorn soap opera bubbles. He speaks as if he's permanently trapped inside a lakorn finale, even when the situation absolutely does not call for it. Dialogue? Over the top. Cheesy lines? Oh yes, but somehow they are delivered with such sincerity that you can't help but laugh, smile, and blush. He may be cheesy with his dramatic flair and exaggerated declarations, but when he drops those lines, I am done. I am a swooning mess. His sincerity is so intense that it circles right past ridiculous and becomes weirdly endearing. You don't just watch Khun Thee; you survive him, recover from him, and then immediately want more. Also, I am now fully infected with Peach's "Get a grip, Khun Thee" virus, and there is no cure. Honestly, I don't even want one.
Peach is genuinely the perfect counterbalance for Thee. If Khun Thee is chaos wrapped in silk and soap-opera declarations, Peach is reality in soft focus- grounded, observant, and emotionally intelligent in a way that sneaks up on you. He doesn't demand attention; he earns it, scene by scene, glance by glance. What makes Peach so compelling is how effortlessly he becomes the emotional anchor- not just for Thee, but for the entire story. He meets Thee's absurdity not with ridicule, but with calm disbelief, gentle teasing, and the occasional sigh that says everything.
The chemistry between Peach and Thee is absolutely swoon worthy. Their interactions are chaotic, hilarious, and oddly comforting, watching Peach guide Thee into reality without ever dimming the dramatic essence that defines him is pure joy. Beneath the humor, there's genuine warmth and unexpected depth. Both characters are quietly wrestling with their own fears and limitations. Thee is hiding behind wealth and larkorn, while Peach is anchoring himself in responsibility while suppressing his own vulnerabilities.
Also, there's Mok, Thee's long suffering secretary, and an absolute scene stealer. He is a masterclass of expressions. Mok communicates entire paragraphs without saying a word. His expressions whenever Thee delivers his extravagant lines are priceless and his reactions elevate every single scene he's in. I absolutely adore his bond with Thee. And, Rome, Thee’s brother, deserves a category of his own. When he made his entrance, and I am not exaggerating when I say I screamed along with everyone else. Just few episodes with him, and he's left a permanent mark on the series. The tension between Rome and Mok is undeniable, simmering just beneath the surface in every shared glance and clipped exchange. I am once again requesting- no, demanding- a special episode dedicated entirely to them. More Rome. More Mok. More them.
Aran deserves a special mention too. He is an absolute cutie who leaves an impression even with limited screen time. Also, Aran and Tawan, while their screen time is limited, the moments they do share are enough to hint at a dynamic full of tension. I wanted more of them too. I wanted more of Plub too. She is so adorable. Actually, I wanted more of everything.
The OSTs deserve praise as well- they complement the tone perfectly and heighten every emotional beat. Truly, I loved everything about this series.
This series is heartfelt, and gloriously over the top. It will make you laugh until your cheeks hurt, blush at moments of sincere absurdity, and fall in love with the characters. Gmm Thee V really did a great job and... and just when I thought the series was over, the ending credits of the final episode came in for one last attack. I was wheezing XD. Highly Recommended!!
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The drama delivers a great story of brotherhood and politics. It's not a very emotional drama, so maybe you will not cry watching this, but it delivers a great message of friendship, sacrifice for greater good, and idealism.IMHO, because the drama is loosely based on real history (which they turned into a fiction), you don't see much of character development, but more into how the characters from two factions use tactics to fight one another. Not much character development means that the personality and the ideas of every character in the beginning stays the same until the final episode (except for the Empress'!).
Some people got disappointed on the ending, but I'm rather satisfied as it shows how the main character's heart and priority never changes. From the very beginning he knows that peace is the most important thing, and peace does not lie only in one family name. His determination and personality never changes until the very end.
I love how Regina Wan played the empress role. Very elegant, especially the way she speaks.
I also love the opening and ending music. Perfectly matches the drama.
To sum up, the series is worth watching if you're not looking for a too emotional drama, or wanting a good politics drama.
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