A worth watch !!
My first venture to jdramas …..and I can’t explain how happy I am to have given this one a try ….Even after seeing that it got almost all the reviews towards the very positive end of the rating spectrum ...I still was hesitant (maybe bec first dramas are always memorable ...you wish to carefully pick the critically acclaimed ones so as to make sure you aren’t disappointed)...and I am really glad to say that this drama has me looking forward to my journey in dorama land …
This is way more than just a typical rom com ...it’s an ordinary story that gives you hope and courage to fight for what you need ...tells you to cry,stand up and face the mess ….( I feel weird writing this ....cuz actually I am team it’s okay to run away as long as you are willing to come back and fight but yaa ...it’s true that someday or the other ...you gotta deal with all the shit that comes your way)
( I haven’t mentioned the story ...cuz synopsis provided by MDL is way too good ...pls check it )
The positives …
No annoying characters …( I don’t know if this is common for doramas to not have them ...and if it is then ...I am dancing already)
They don’t keep on dragging an issue like anything and just talk it out …(dare not ask for more in a rom drama …!! )
Amazing bonding between the characters ….I love the entire house arrangement ….housemates are so supportive of each other ….and every character individually is so likable ...and the dog’s so adorable ... …(even I wish to live in a share house like that …!!)
Life Lessons ...well some dramas teach you small and important things ….I feel it’s one of those dramas ...it’s a happy happy stuff but yeah it doesn’t deviate from the fact that life got troubles too ...and just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that the path will be easy ...it might be easier than others ...but no bed of roses for anyone here.
Also I like the fact that the ML makes FL feel that not everything needs to be captured and shared over the internet ...ofc she likes doing it ….but addiction is not good you can’t start living just to share your life on internet ...you sometimes need to really snap out of it ...and live somethings just for yourself …(that’s probably the best part)
I enjoyed the side characters too ….as someone who skips scenes without much thought...I really didn’t touch that forward button ...so you know it’s amazing
Negatives …
I don’t know why but I end up watching love triangles all the time (don't yell spoiler spoiler ...it's there from the very first ep) ...I am a bit annoyed by that ...tho this one is like way better than others I have come across ..still
(guess I need to now start checking tags before I watch)
Also the show doesn't start off too well ....like the initial eps do feel weird and difficult to keep up with !
and the main couple don't give couple vibes ....they'd be better as friends.
But all in all I loved the drama ...and am way too happy to have this as my first !!
I hope everyone who’s reading this does give it a try!
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We love a future without cancer
The actors did a great job! And i don't regret watching. But this ending was lazy.If you just watched the movie and thought:
"This was so smart because after the credits scene you realize that the wicked one woke up faster than the lead's mom, so ended up killing her and kept the lead a prisoner for 20 years, mirroring the start of the movie."
This was exactly what the screenwriter tried to convey, but the timeline doesn't add up.
The movie only presents a new future, when things are set and done (for the time being). immediately after someone survives or dies the future adapts afterwards. Meanwhile on this brand new future before the credits, the lead had enough time to search for her mom at the hospital (idk why... cause this whole going back cured her cancer in every alternative future LMAO), at the police station and also had time to run to the cemetery and meet her mom there. So this new future was somehow set. Going "back" to hear that phone call that was made before the cop and the mom arrived, warning the wicked that she would die doesn't make much sense. Unless for the FIRST time in this movie, the writer suddendly makes it possible for temporary futures to be presented to the viewers. So the wicked didn't die and woke up before the mom and killed her and made the lead a prisoner (mirroring herself when she was younger). ok, that's cool, but that never happened before though. The future was always showed after the past scene was dealt with. The lead had some solid 30/45min in this new future though, since she runs everywhere she goes... doesn't make sense.
So to me this was lazy. They had a 3 star movie if they ended with a happy ending, so they created this poorly written new ending so that they can keep people talking about the possibilities of the ending credits, and end with an 4 star movie. And that's lazy. It works for the majority of people, but the truth it's the timelines don't always match.
Also can't someone just call 911. ffs.
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Give it a chance
! There Might Be Spoilers !Yes, there are no spice scenes at all, and yes, there is no kissing (the little one while Hem was asleep, doesn't count)
But I think everyone should watch this series at least once.
This is a MAJOR SLOW BURN, so don't go in expecting anything else. With that being said, there is a lot to it, honestly, the underlying message that the series gives overall.
The whole series is stunning, the secenry was enough to make me watch but the tension that Fifa and Hem give off was enough to make me stay, there is no spicy scenes at all or even kissing and I kept yelling "Just kiss already" may times in the last episode but after thinking about it, it doesn't need all of that, the tension between the two was some of the best in any Thai BL's.
It's easy to forget that we don't need heavy spice scenes to make a good series. I think if you're reading this and on the fence about watching it, give it a chance because I believe you will be missing out on a fantastic series.
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Ok I'm going to try to make this short...
So plot wise this story was a very heavy melodrama but for me it wasn't overpowering like most melodramas. It had a different feeling to me. A bittersweet feeling. It always felt as though even during the happy moments there were hard ones.
Yes this drama is painful to watch. It's a story of a forbidden love filled with heartbreak. What can you expect? I loved every single second of it though.
All of the cast gave of this real and raw energy. The emotions that they expressed just felt so real...
Park Shin Hye was only 16 at the time when she filmed this drama but she was able to portray a adult and someone who was being abused with ease. I was impressed not very many 16 year olds would be able to do what she did.
Lee Wan who I had never heard of before was great. He didn't speak for a large part of the drama but was able to express himself without talking. That's when you know their good actors.
I tried listening to the OST after finishing the drama but I kept on visualizing what had happened. The OST was astounding but I recommend waiting a few days before you start listening to it again.
I gave this a low re-watch value because for me it would be to hard watching this drama again..while knowing what happens.
I would say to everyone go and watch this drama! I highly recommend but do it when you are feeling happy and are in a good place.
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"A very sweet, and awefully bitter dream."
The masterpiece of a Webtoon is adapted into a drama. My mind sank :(It sank at the thought of sadness as I grew attached to the cruel story of an unchangeable past filled with regret and how it latched itself onto the people of the present. But, with a hesitant heart, I watched and was reminded again that as much pain as this story brings me, I love it so much.
In the context of the drama, this is a story that focuses on the past and present stories all at once. It was a story that helped me see suicide and life in a different way. The drama, while slightly behind the webtoon, did beautifully in depicting such an intense and challenging story. I really think this is something everyone should watch. The beauty of the story, the bittersweet journey knowing the ending, and the lesson it leaves for the present and to us as watchers. There were some added plot points that I felt were not needed even though I understood why they were added. It just made the story a bit messy.
The fact that I immediately went back to the Webtoon to bask in it because I was so reluctant to leave it is a testament to the power it held.
The acting, Ha Min and So Mang carried. Maybe it was because their story was so impacting, because the actors made them so real and alive, that the rest of the cast (aside from Sunhee) fell short. The emotional scenes really made it hard for me to concentrate on the present cast's emotions. It felt stiff at times.
If I am going, to be honest, I only know one song from the OST and so the rating is a bit low. If I had my way, I would have given the overall rating a 10 just for the story but :/ alas, here I am. I will listen to the rest one day (today probably) and try to piece together my heart but for now, the OST left little impact.
Now, I will definitely be rewatching this and rereading the Webtoon. Why? Because it is relevant. Because it taught me that while the result was due to other people and many circumstances, it was no one's fault. It propelled me to have the courage to unhesitantly offer a hand to someone in need. It helped me want to remember things in a positive light while being able to move past it and live my own. It was a story that resonated with me. One that made me feel for Ha Min because he was just really, really tired and wanted to rest a bit. It made me feel for So Mang that was so stuck in the past and full of guilt. It made me sad to see Ha min in his brother, Jae Min as he had to deal with being the outlet everyone is rectifying their guilt using. They are all very kind people that couldn't bear to hate the world that was testing them. :(
I hope, no one reading this has to bear with it alone and those that do, grab onto the hand that reaches out to them. I also hope, we all find the courage to offer a hand to someone in need. I hope this story touches you in some way. I hope you read the Webtoon after watching it.
For those who have lost someone, I hope the past liberates you as it did for So Mang in the end.
It is a shame, that Ha Min didn't see himself the same way So Mang saw him. That he shined so brilliantly and was her light. I hope everyone can see this in themselves, or at least believe it for someone in your life probably thinks that way :)
okay, I'm done. This review was just thought vomit and not very organized :/ Needless to say, I LOVED IT! YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH!! One thing though. The letter. I know most want her to read it and a part of me does too, but we know what she was to him and we know how he felt about her. There was nothing in that letter that would change that and so I think it is better left unread.
I could write some meta analysis, but we would be here all day. just give it a shot. don't be that person that comes back 4 years later, regretting the skip.
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The Best Cdrama I watched so far
Cdramas have tendency to have some toxic/red flag behaviors from some of its characters and I love how supportive and healthy all the relationships are. Hidden Love reminds me of what young first love feels like. The male lead was not only goodlooking but he also played his character well. Whenever he looked at the FL, it gave me butterflies. It was such a refreshing series that it totally on my re-watch list. Normally, with CDramas I start losing interest because of so many episodes and this is the first time that I wished it was longer.. I definitely recommend this drama!Was this review helpful to you?
Sort of tricked into somewhat completing the series
The series had a good introduction and followed up well on the suspense, until around halfway through at episode seven. Then it abruptly just nose-dived from the initial uncovering of the truth, which was pretty lackluster despite half of the episodes leading up to it. It continually only worsened with characters making odd decisions that made no sense. It's hard to describe but they spent so much time building up the ML/FL, only to have them look like blubbering fools for the rest of the series. The further diving into the truth also begins to develop large plot holes that weren't pieced together very well. I found myself becoming more and more disinterested with each latter episode and ended up not liking any of the characters at all. Because seven episodes had already been invested, the rest of the episodes were sped through with aggressive skipping just to get to the full unraveling of the mysteries (with exception of a few historical flashback moments). The slight twist in the end would have made the plot halfway decent if it weren't for all of the items mentioned above.Was this review helpful to you?
I decided to watch this movie on a whim not knowing what to expect, little did I know, that 2 hours later, I would end up being left mesmerized. This film is not for everyone (a word of caution there is strong sexual content and nudity), some may even call it disturbing, but if you look past it, you'll see and hear a beautiful story being told right in front of your eyes and ears. The directing, acting, casting, and music painted a canvas so breathtaking, it would almost be a shame not to call it a masterpiece. The ending was so poignant it left me feeling something I've rarely ever felt before, the feeling of breathlessness.
This is one of those films that you watch once in a lifetime (as reflected in the scoring I prescribed) not because it isn't worth rewatching, but because you'll still remember it, way down the line.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Zhen Zhen: A Tale of Courage, Survival, and Justice
INTRODUCTION:Prepare yourself for a breathtaking journey as "Drifting Away" takes you through the transformative growth of a teenage heroine. Witness her evolution from a life of bullying and trauma to a determined force of justice, overcoming her past and catching those who wronged her. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of Zhen Zhen is nothing short of extraordinary—her "deathly gaze" and powerful presence define the series. This is more than just a show; it’s a testament to resilience, emotional depth, and the raw power of storytelling. Get ready to be captivated by Zhen Zhen’s journey and Zhao Jinmai’s unmatched performance.
PLOT OVERVIEW:
The story follows Zhen Zhen, a young woman who escapes a brutal criminal gang that manipulates and tortures victims to sell human meat. After enduring unimaginable trauma and surviving through sheer resilience, she’s inspired by a police officer to join the force.
Haunted by his past failure to identify the gang’s leader, Detective Peng teams up with Zhen Zhen to bring the criminals to justice. As Zhen Zhen heals and reconciles with her family, she grows into a courageous officer, ultimately helping to capture the gang and ensure their sentencing.
A gripping tale of survival, justice, and redemption.
Characters:
Main Lead:
Peng Zhao Lin:
Peng Zhao Lin’s most endearing trait is the quiet strength of his wife, a woman who consoles him in his darkest moments, simply sitting beside him when the chaos within becomes overwhelming.
As a detective, Peng’s character is defined by his unwavering resolve—if he sees a criminal, he cannot look away, no matter the cost. Deeply caring for those around him, he plays a pivotal role in mentoring Zhen Zhen, offering her the push she needs to grow and ensuring the case is pursued from start to finish.
By the end, Peng reflects on his regrets, particularly the time he lost with his family due to his dedication to his work. This realization pushes him to prioritize his loved ones, and he becomes not only a better husband and but also a father figure to Zhen Zhen.
Zhen Zhen:
Zhen Zhen is a woman who stays true to herself—fearless, smart, and incredibly brave. Her acting is mesmerizing, and her strong character shines through in every scene. She embodies a cool, fire-like aura, effortlessly pulling off any look, proving that her face card is unbeatable.
When she moves to a new school, Zhen Zhen becomes a target for bullies, but she bravely confronts them. Unfortunately, her efforts are met with harsh punishment from her mother, who offers little love or understanding. Feeling increasingly alienated, Zhen Zhen’s frustration grows, especially when her mother slaps her, leading her to run away. She tries to find her old friend but learns she’s no longer living there, so she ends up sharing an apartment with a tenant.
The criminal gang relentlessly targets her, but despite their best efforts to capture and torture her, Zhen Zhen remains resilient. During her torment, as she recalls her parents, her voice trembling, you can feel her heartache. In that moment, I just want to tell her to hold on—she’s strong, and everything will pass, making her a version of herself that won’t be afraid anymore.
Zhen Zhen fights back with determination, escaping multiple times even after being caught again. Though she’s physically and emotionally broken, she crawls away, half-dead, haunted by nightmares. But she doesn’t let the trauma define her. After being rescued, she decides to join the police force to overcome her fears.
As a police officer, she excels, even displaying a deadly gaze during boxing that radiates anger and strength. Over time, her parents come to understand her, respecting her decisions and finally showing her the love she longed for. Zhen Zhen leads a strong, fulfilling life, never giving up. She works tirelessly to ensure the criminals are sentenced, finding support from a mentor and a kind-hearted partner. Her transformation from a victim to a fearless woman is inspiring, and she learns to love herself more every day, with her short hair symbolizing her strength.
Deng Li Gang:
His performance makes you despise him deeply, and he embodies everything sinister about a ruthless criminal. A total red flag, he doesn't hesitate to kill or beat people to hide his tracks. Despite establishing a family to cover his crimes, nothing can protect him from the consequences of his horrific actions. He controls everyone in the gang with fear and manipulation, but ultimately, his bad deeds catch up to him.
Message:
the message is clear: no matter how hard you try to escape, the law and justice will always catch up with you. Life is a journey of facing fears, fighting through challenges, and eventually overcoming them. Even when you’re pushed to your limits, like Zhen Zhen, you must hold onto your strength and never give up. You may endure hardship, but through resilience, love, and determination, you can transform into a version of yourself that is no longer afraid. Every struggle has its purpose, and with the right support and inner courage, you can rise above and find justice—both for yourself and the world around you.
Direction: The direction effectively balances emotional depth with intense action, building tension and keeping the audience engaged throughout. It guides the narrative smoothly, particularly through the character-driven moments of Zhen Zhen and Detective Peng.
Cinematography: The cinematography amplifies the story’s tension with dramatic lighting and close-up shots that highlight characters' internal struggles. It enhances the gritty atmosphere, making each scene feel raw and impactful.
Soundtrack & Sound Design: The haunting soundtrack complements the emotional tone, deepening the atmosphere of fear and hope. Sound design intensifies the action and emotional scenes, especially during moments of torture or confrontation.
Special Effects: Special effects are used effectively but sparingly, adding realism to the action and brutal moments. The practical effects during intense scenes make the violence feel grounded and believable.
Costume Design: The costume design mirrors the characters’ growth and roles. Zhen Zhen’s transformation is reflected in her evolving wardrobe, while the villains’ attire highlights their menacing nature, contributing to their characterization.
Writing & Dialogue: The writing is sharp and impactful, with dialogue that resonates long after it’s spoken. It balances character-driven moments with action, highlighting key themes like justice, resilience, and personal growth, adding depth to the narrative.
Overall:
This series was an emotional rollercoaster that had me feeling everything—anger, tears, and immense pride for Zhen Zhen. Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of the character was absolutely stellar, bringing so much depth and realism to the role. Her performance will definitely leave a lasting impact.
"Choice and perseverance are like the cycle of day and night—alternating yet coexisting. In the moment of decision, feel the profound embrace of perseverance, like the meeting of dawn and starry night. Together, they form a radiant yet tranquil painting, quietly awaiting the arrival of each morning’s light and the serenity of each starlit sky."
~Zhen Zhen
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The story of this drama shows how the life of a normal family really is. You'll learn many things by watching this and it'll make you understand each situation of an individual in the family.
The actors really did a great job because they had shown their versatility as actors and actresses. This sitcom is long but you'll love every part of it because it'll really make you laugh and cry.
This drama is excellent and you'll never regret watching it.
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A story with great potential, that lost its spark along the way
I was really looking forward to this drama, it seemed like it would be fun and refreshing, and I have to say it was. I loved this drama so much during the first half. It was funny, the characters were all so real, and the drama was also able to deliver meaningful messages. The ost was cute, and I loved Eu Ddeum, he was such an adorable character. Hari and Yisang continuously made my heart flutter, and I would always look forward to their scenes. There was cute bromance as well. Oh My Baby was everything I had been looking for.However, the drama lost its spark for me at around episode 10. The characters suddenly became so immature. The angst really didn't suit this drama. Hari and Yisnag suddenly began acting like children, breaking up and getting back together again, not trying to face the problem. The episodes felt boring, and I started to watch them in 2x. I was expecting actual third lead syndrome from this, something new, but Jaeyoung and Eu Ddeum were practically useless. Jaeyoung was so frustrating. His character had such a unique setup: a man who had it all, a beautiful family and well paying job, who was now at the lowest point of his life, with a daughter to take care of. But we barley got to see his growth and he was just there to frustrate viewers. I was also disappointed with the use of Eu Ddeum's character, he was just there to add humor. For a drama that focused on an infertile couple, we hardly got to see their struggles. Instead we got unnecessary break up scenes. In the last episode, everything that had been empathized on, was suddenly no longer a problem.
The ending was cute, a little predictable but I still enjoyed it. Overall, it was an okay drama. I really wish it didn't lose its spark for me, because it could've become one of my top dramas.
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Brilliant Cast, Average Storyline...
Easily one of the most hyped Korean movies of the year, screenwriter-director Lee’s ” Seobeok” drew attention by the collaboration of two of Korea’s biggest stars in the industry, Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum working alongside one another. However, something which does seem to have been left out in reviews beforehand in favour of biased comments upon the actors themselves, is glossing over the actual storyline.
Seobok is an odd fusion of drama, philosophy and morality in the first-half closely followed by fast-paced action with gunfights and psychic powers in the final part. It is surprising, but somehow, these two halves did blend quite well, resulting in a rather entertaining film.
The movie is the tale of Min Ki-hun (Gong Yoo) a former intelligence agent with a traumatic past. He suffers from a long-term illness which causes him to occasionally lose consciousness (mostly at times most convenient for the plot). Chief Ahn (Cho Woo-jin), his former cunning agency head, recommends that he be part of a revolutionary experiment that might help to cure him of his ailment. This experiment involves Seobok (Park), brought to life through stem cell cloning and genetic engineering. Seobok is a gentle, benevolent soul who is fascinated about the world, and morbidly about mortality.
Seobok’s bone marrow contains special cells that could unlock the secret of immortality. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people are interested in him, mostly for selfish reasons.After a surprise ambush by some military forces, Min and Seobok find themselves on the run together. If viewers can put two and two together, the screenwriting openly becomes predictable as the story moves along .
Admittedly, the action scenes are pretty enthralling, opening up in the beginning of the film with a terrific moment when a vehicle is driven through a brick wall. Yet whilst the plot does begin to build up to a satisfying climax, the pacing is ultimately slow in parts with perhaps the only reward seeing the antagonists get their just desserts, as well as some more profound moments of angst-ridden backstories for the characters. The philosophy in the movie whilst arguably risking the problem of being overwrought, did add a multifaceted layer to the storyline.
As far as acting goes, Seobeok is certainly headlined by its two main actors Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum, who do not disappoint within their performances.
Amazingly, Gong Yoo was hesitant to accept the role at first and was unaware that he would be starring alongside junior actor Park Bo Gum. However, Gong Yoo later confessed that he enjoyed playing the role ( as well as being able to break away from his typical ” good guy” roles as a foul-mouthed and cynical agent), something which he certainly excelled within his performance as troubled protagonist Min. In a scene exploring Min’s back story, Gong Yoo captivates the pure humanity of his character in arguably one of the most memorable parts of the film.
Evidently, costar Park Bo Gum also had his fair commentary upon feeling fairly nervous with working with Gong Yoo in the film. Regardless, Park’s somewhat romanticised appearance as the mysterious Seobok, did not diminish his talents onscreen as both characters and their bond over the course of the film was fairly likeable and easy as a viewer to become invested within. Admittedly, the side characters were mediocre at best; not dire nor unwatchable, but the antagonists in particular felt formulaically one-dimensional.
As far as the ending goes it is more a matter of opinion. Some may interpret it as more a clever metaphor, whilst others may be less impressed by the abrupt and sudden conclusion . Overall, ” Seobeok” had undeniably brilliant performances by the lead actors Park Bo Gum and Gong Yoo who certainly do not disappoint. However, whilst the movie attempted to style itself as an intricately complicated philosophical, action-thriller ( and was successful to some extent in parts), it often struggled to pace its own storyline as well as breaking out of unoriginal cliches . Nevertheless, it was enjoyable in parts, and certainly worth watching to pass the time.
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Silly, but Cute
Overall Impression: A cute and fun story. If you're not looking for something serious or deep and you're a fan of BL romcom, you'll probably enjoy this show. Don't take it too seriously or you might not enjoy it.Pros:
- Funny/cute characters and story, a feel-good type of show
- Music is really catchy
- Actors have good chemistry together
- Follows pretty closely to original story, but some changes are made to fix some controversial material from the original and apply to a live action format (more serious than original)
- Scenery/sets are really beautiful
- Anda's character is still cute and somewhat innocent, but not nearly as childish and naive as the original
- The side characters are loveable
- Cute fanservice
- Anda's friends are so awesome!
- Uplifting ending
Cons:
- messy international release and subtitles (now available on AISPLAY official YouTube)
- Character and relationship development feels somewhat lacking with the leads
- Ryo's character is a bit unlikable at the beginning
- There is quite a bit of "filler"
- I wonder what happened to the side plot sometimes?
- Sometimes story seems inconsistent or repetitive
- Sometimes takes itself too seriously for a comedy
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This review may contain spoilers
I have so many issues with this season I don't even know where to start.
Argh, this was frustrating.How can they tackle a story such as abuse of power, sexual abuse, and waste so much time on James and Ait's relationship? My problem isn't even that I find them boring or that Ait is annoying and immature. My problem is that they could have had something actually valuable to say and they bailed. The endless speech about James and Ait being in a relationship bore me to death. Even while acknowledging that shipping actors together is huge in the BL industry and makes sense to talk about (the way Lovely Writer also did), Tee's problematic behaviour comes last and is barely addressed. Honestly, I was more satisfied with the first season's ending... It felt open ended and optimistic whereas this one felt rushed and unresolved.
Now, don't get me wrong, I wanted to see Bas and Marco get together, but somehow when they do, it fixes all of Bas' issues? The depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, the constant self-blame? I can even excuse that they picked the weirdest time to have sex, I can believe that would happen, but it was way too rough considering Bas' history which made me really uncomfortable. Oh, and that's without even mentioning it's mere hours after Marco confessed his love to James. Yikes...
I'm trying to remember positive aspects but the end got me so upset I think I forgot everything else. I mean, if you exclude what I said above, Marco and Bas kissing in front of the cameras is quite cute. Apart from that, Bas' struggles are very real and definitely what I wanted from this season, brilliantly acted by Michael as well. Everyone say thank you Michael for giving this season a reason to exist. He single-handedly raised all of the scores.
I wouldn't say don't watch it because Michael is amazing but... gosh it's flawed. If it was any longer, I would have said don't bother.
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