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1This is NOT 9.5/10 show… but it is. Let me explain.
Technically speaking, the show was quite a mess. The editing, directing and pacing were all over the place, but Fightor storyline was close to perfection, and even if you don’t want to watch the whole show, watch Fightor. As far as I know, they are one of the best BL couples up to date with the most fresh and not stereotypical personalities. Or rather, nice twists to the boring stereotypes we know.LET’S TALK ABOUT ACTING
While most of the cast did a good job, I want to focus on the talent Zee showed. I rarely ever get amazed and impressed by acting in BLs. Often I see the imperfections that make me feel less emotionally attached to the characters, because I don’t see them as real people. Meaning, I don’t immerse myself in the story completely.
Not here, though. Zee’s eyes… oh his eyes spoke volumes! I like to call them "Fighter's searching eyes". While his whole presence showed more of a cheeky and confident side, his eyes showed all the insecurities he had. He was also really good at controlling his microexpressions. Sometimes less means more and makes the performance seem realistic. Viewers are not blind. An actor does not need to make full theatrical gasp with a hand up to their face and huge eyes, for us to understand that they got scared, surprised or taken aback. Simple, short intake of breath is enough. The split second of a reaction, but that’s all we need. I appreciated these small things a lot in his acting.
Overall, he makes these small decisions while acting - when to close his eyes, when to open them, when to fix his gaze and when to make it unsure, when to swallow or take short intake of breath, perfectly timed and telling viewers so much about Fighter’s character.
Both Zee and Saint are also masters of using pauses for their advantage to make the storytelling even more believable and engaging. It’s a perfect example how sometimes not doing anything can enrich the portrayal of the character. With Tutor, the pauses are more intentional for the character, it's his time to "decide", think about the consequences of "what if you push forward a bit more" and with Fighter it’s not intentional, it's him not being able to get back to reality, not being aware whatever happened or was about to happen, ended.
Tommy aced his role. His overreactions were still natural and did not feel theatrical. As the story of Zon and Saifah progressed from comedy to romance, I was able to appreciate more of his subtle acting, with shy smiles and joyful laughter. The potential he has and the flexibility in this craft to fit different genres and moods of the story impressed me a lot.
Jimmy did well for his first role. He did feel more inexperience and his performance fell flat compared to other cast members, but I could see how much of a progress he makes in every episode.
TUTOR AND FIGHTER: DYNAMICS OF LOVE
Ever changing dynamics of their interactions were simply beautiful and amazing to watch, to the point I could write a book about it. Tutor is nothing like your usual stereotypical shy, confused, passive bottom and Fighter is anything but the dominant, overconfident, possessive top. Tutor does not let Fighter get away with the teasing and always questions his behavior, demanding answers and explanations. They pull and push, but never cross the line if the other person is not okay with it. THE CONSENT ladies and gentlemen was a recurring theme. Always giving each other space and time to back off and stop whatever was happening. I wish I could say no forcing yourself on the other person after you've been pushed away, but I guess (?) that was an important part of the plot and the development of the relationship.
THAT SAID, while the behavior of a character was definitely wrong, the way the writing and editing portrayed it was close to perfection. It was a situation that should never take place and the editing and acting surely did NOT make it look like a romantic behaviour. It was not one of the “force it till the other person gives in and starts to enjoy it”. Was it painful to watch? Yes. Was this scene well done? Yes Was it necessary? Yes and no. It showed the mental state of both characters in a raw way that could not be achieved in any other take. Sadly, because the writing of the show, up to that point, didn’t explain enough in how bad of a mental place one of the characters was, this behavior might have felt out of place. In my opinion, they could have mellow it down and not go that far, and still convey needed emotions, desperation and broken state the characters were in.
To sum FighTor up - it’s hard to describe the depth of what was happening between them without quoting specific scenes, but you can see so much through the acting. How both characters struggled with internal conflicts and the feeling of unsureness. And yet, they gravitated towards each other.
PROBLEMS WITH PACING AND EDITING
Shall I say the pacing was a clusterf*** even before the COVID-19 happened and I literally laughed at how confusing everything was? Coz that’s how I felt. But then I just said: wherever, let’s just enjoy this acid trip.
While I was in love with how they handled Tutor and Fighter’s story and the pacing was everything I might have wished for, the fact the drama focused on them so much made the other characters suffer. With the overload of characters and couples, it was doomed from the start - not gonna make it. How can you have well established and developed 5+ couples with their own side-stories? Goal impossible to achieve.
Zon and Saifah... where to even begin. Zon the first half of the episodes had 10 different personalities, I was confused. Because the director did not spend enough time showing us the gradual change in Zon’s perception of his situation and relationship with Saifah, everything just came out of nowhere. There were not enough scenes showing us how Zon went from panic to soft. Which was a bummer, because their sweet story could perfectly balance the drama happening between Tutor and Fighter. We were robbed of such an amazing story it truly pains me.
Don’t even want to talk about Hwahwa. Poor girl makes no sense, her feelings change every second. Just sad. Justice for Hwahwa and her beautiful hair flip.
It’s hard to comment on other characters and their plot lines since they were just dropped here and there without much linear progression nor explanation.
The audio editing was distracting. While the use of some comedic sounds was fine and brought a smile on my face, they definitely overused them. The scenes would be funny even without some random sounds dropped every few minutes. Video editing suffered quite a lot because of COVID-19. In later episodes there were some black screens showing up, the subs were missing, we got the same action done by characters shown in x number of angles, just to stretch the scene a bit more. It was not tragic to the point I could not focus on the plot, but the difference in the quality in the first and second half was quite obvious.
BACK TO POSITIVES
What this drama does have though, is an amazing message. While, in default, most BL dramas are supposed to promote - love is love no matter what gender, Why R U does not shy away from talking about it in a straightforward manner. Calling out and questioning homophobic characters, explaining to them how they are wrong, showing how being heterosexual does not mean your love it perfectly good and will never fail. There were quite a few scenes that deserve to be called “iconic” in BLs realm for how well written the dialogues for them were.
Overall, Fightor is life and perfection. I was legit obsessed with them and rewatched their scene every week. I was never as invested in any couple in drama ever (and I have seen quite a number of them). Watch their story, fall in love and let’s all fangirl together.
PS. While my rating is extremely biased and subjective, I tried my best to be more objective in the review itself. Hope it worked out well-ish :)
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This drama (as well as its source material) depicts a love story wrapped around a social critique of the often cruel role "beauty standards" play in women's daily life. Meeting those beauty standards has become a source of stress for women worldwide, but in South Korea --as this drama suggests-- not being part of the "ideal beauty" results in a harsher treatment from society. This drama also emphasizes that the expectation to look a certain way affect everyone in different ways -- with no one --regardless of whether they are considered naturally beautiful or not-- being spared.
In that respect, Mi-Rae (our female lead) isn't the shallow person the summary might imply. It takes just the first episode to understand how she became a victim of society's expectations. She didn't undergo surgery to become beautiful, she just wanted people to accept her as a "person," which is incredibly heartbreaking.
The issue that arises afterward, one which she hadn't anticipated, was that people would still judge, reject and critique her. And that's where the story takes off. We not only follow Mi Rae as she gains confidence, but also other interesting characters who'd been suffering because (or for) their looks.
It's worth noting, however, that the pacing of this show is slow compared to other rom-com dramas. I'd say it's a stretch to tag it with comedy, since the comedic moments, despite how successfully they are implemented, are few and far between. That's not to say the show is weighted down by an overload of melodrama, because it's not. Instead, this show can be described as a sliced of life focused on self-reflection which, if you're open to it, will get you emotionally invested in the characters. Be forewarned, many of the male characters in this show (and some of the female ones) will definitely rile you up on more than one occasion.
If I have one critique apart from the wardrobe, it would be the disbalance in the portrayal of the male characters. Except for a few gems, all the male characters were written like jerks and that can be off-putting. Some balanced between jerks and good guys could've helped the show feel less toxic.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Interesting & lovable
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Kang Mi Rae (female lead played by Im Soo Hyang): She's a character who's suffered all her childhood because her looks didn't meet her peer's standards. She grew up as an introvert, keeping away from people, looking at other people's lives from afar and wishing she was allowed to have fun. Her frustration drove her to seek solace under the knife and, though she now had an acceptable face in society's eyes, her insides were still bruised and broken. Mi Rae is a complex and balanced character. If push comes to shove she'll fight, but mostly she tries to fly under the radar. She's smart and almost a natural when it comes to creating perfumes, but she struggles with an inferiority complex and doesn't like standing in the limelight. Though the actress looks quite old for the role, it is worth noting that the character was conceived by the webtoon artist as having an "older girl" look, so it stays true to the original intent.
Do Kyung Suk (male lead played by Cha Eun Woo): He exists on the opposite side of the spectrum from Kang Mi Rae but also grows up feeling lonely. He's a handsome, smart, strong, kind and very straightforward guy whose isolation came as a result of presenting a front of "perfection" and "hating" anything to do with beauty (for reasons later explained). As a result, he's socially awkward, brutally honest and a harsh judge. Though, to his credit, he's a character whose pride doesn't get in the way of realizing when he's made a mistake and make amends. Though some viewers didn't like his acting, personally I found his stoic way of delivering lines grew on me more and more as the show progressed.
Yeon Woo Young (second male lead played by Kwank Dong Yeon): He's such a good character that he ends up giving Kyung Suk a run for his money. He's kind, honest, selfless and very mature. Though his character is a bit imbalanced (as in he has more strengths than flaws), he's still a lovable man who, despite his good points, doesn't come off as being "too perfect". He's a character who helps those around him without expecting anything in return, even when he's financially struggling. Overall, his charming personality earned him fans within and outside the show.
ANTAGONIST: Complex and pitiful
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Hyeon Soo Ah (second female lead played by Jo Woo Ri): She's someone stuck between Mi Rae and Kyung Suk in the spectrum of society's judgment. Though she's considered a natural beauty, she's not a stranger to suffering. Her struggles come from forcing herself to live in service of what other people expect of her. She's a character who's not only dishonest with other people, but with herself as well. Though she earned quite a bit of hate, I personally found her character very pitiful. The drama ended up brushing over her backstory, so if you're curious you can always check out the webtoon to get a better understanding of her motivations.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Slow paced, healthy & nurturing
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I mentioned before that the show is slow-paced and this is true for the romance as well. However, that pacing allows the progression of classmates to friends to lovers to feel very natural and endearing. There's a lot of cute scenes between the leads without making it cheesy, which is a plus for me.
Some highlights of the romance:
-Their relationship is always healthy.
-Both characters are new at romance, so they take their time to find their ground and, though they stumble, they do it together.
-Both learn from each other, creating a very balanced relationship.
-They learn to communicate what they want and need so the other person can understand, making their relationship not only refreshingly endearing but also nurturing.
OVERALL: Highly Recommended (and the webtoon as well)
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This is an interesting slice of life that follows a group of characters trying to find their place in the world and build the courage to live by their standards, rather than society's judgment. Though it's slow-paced, the plot is interesting and the mood is often lightened up by warm moments of affection between the leads, their families and their friends.
Keep in mind, I saw this as it was coming out. So binge watching it might give you a different experience because the plot moves slowly and the acting can sometimes come off looking/sounding very wooden. However, this is doubtlessly a memorable show that'll give you food for thought.
If you're able and willing, I'd also encourage you to read the webtoon. There's a lot of insight to be gained that will help you get a better viewing experience. There are scenes, especially at the beginning of the drama, that'll make more sense if you know the context the webtoon provides.
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50+ episode dramas can be extremely tricky. Sometimes they are so bad that you lose your faith in dramas and vow to never watch another 50 episodes drama again. But sometimes they are so brilliant, your faith is restored completely in one stroke. Thankfully, Five Children falls in the second category. The story was brilliant and there were no dull moments at all. The main leads had a wonderful story and all the characters surrounding them had their own great sub-plot. The female lead was badass and the male lead was the touch of kindness she needed in her life. They were perfect for each other!
Sang Min was definitely the highlight of the show and his romance with Yoon Tae was the cutest. Sang Min reminded a bit of Tae Joo from What Happens To My Family. He was so funny and both of them were so adorable.
Tae Min and Jin Joo started off as a little annoying (especially Jin Joo) but they became really adorable in the end. Jin Joo had the most character development, in my opinion. She started as a spoiled brat and became a responsible adult in the end. I think she won a lot of hearts. And their relationship was really interesting to watch in the last 10 episodes or so.
The rest of the cast was equally great! Sang Tae's In-laws were annoying and overbearing at times but they were also one of the most interesting characters in the show. They cared a lot and had their own (crazy) way to show it. Sang Tae's parents were complete opposite of the in-laws. They were sweet, caring and gentle people. The father was so supportive and wise; he was awesome! Sang Tae's brother was handsome but such a swindler in the beginning. His character got better halfway through and he didn't lose his funnyman act anywhere. Soon Young was a sweet presence in the show and a key character to bring more excitement.
Mi Jung's grandma was a force to be reckoned with. Loved that strong lady! Mi Jung's ex husband and his wife and mother-in-law were annoying at one hand but on the other hand, the wife seemed like such a harmless airhead, you just feel like "Whatever, let everyone be happy". Her mom seemed like an evil lady but you realize how human she is. Imagine if your daughter bringing a married man home and declaring she cannot live without him. She was prepared to be cursed and be strong for her daughter. I think I liked the mom more than the airhead wife.
All the children were a delight to watch! In fact, the whole time you feel excited about the kids moving in together (one day) and being one big squad of siblings. I had my moments where I liked all kids. But if I have to think about it, Woo Young was my favorite kid. He was so caring and protective of his mother and sisters. He helped out and looked out for his mom. He was too mature for his age. Loved that kid! Woo Ri was a brilliant actress. Woo Joo was adorable! Soo and Bin were immature at times but I grew fond of them too at some point.
The OST was awesome. I have it in my phone. It was bubbly and catchy and soothing all at once.
I can't imagine rewatching this right now because of it's length but it is highly rewatchable. I will probably get down to watching it again a few years down the lane.
Overall, it was wonderful and would highly recommend it even if you are wary of weekend family dramas. It doesn't have any makjang and it's low on excessive melodrama. It's a nice family drama, almost has a slight slice-of-life feel to it.
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Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon
73 people found this review helpful
Story
So, in contrary to the common belief that this drama glorifies adultery and adulterous couples, it rather incriminates infidelity simply by expressing a very well-round idea of what it exactly is. We get to see how it starts (as innocent as everything else, or maybe not so much), why it can start (it won't happen unless there's a reason(s) that has been ignored for a long time), how it intensifies, the guilt, the excuses, the fears, the acceptance, the happiness, the sadness, everything, and in the very end the consequenses, that hit hard, and hit everyone and everything around the adulterers. There is no happy end simply because in a sea of hurt feelings nobody can be truly happy ever again.
There is nothing cute about what happens, the story is rather difficult to watch at times, you can't root for anyone, you can't excuse but you can understand and the whole drama just made me question several times what i would have done had i been in such situations.
The drama, in its core, isn't even about adultery, it's about life choices. It exploits all the wrong reasons we decide to settle down in a marriage. Because we're afraid to be alone, because we want an easy life financially, because we just want to see a face when we come from work every day and have a clean house, because we are arrogant and we think we can buy everything with money, even people... and so, so on. People marry because they're afraid to try hard and be happy, they're afraid to search for that one person, so they settle. Being happy is scary, and it means being with that one person that completes you, the love that consumes you; but what happens if that person appears in front of you after you've settled down?
The drama offers the answers. Either suck it up and live a miserable life, or face the facts, break up/divorce and continue, finding yourself. But still, people are scared, being happy is scary, so they get greedy. Who will leave their perfect safe life to live a dream? Noone, so they'll cheat, because they want the best of both worlds. The drama shows you exactly this journey or bad choices, of selfish acts and the result which is cheating and destroying everything because of greed!
I appreciated how fast paced and to the point the whole drama was. First 5 episodes illustrate the beginnings and reasons of adultery and after episode 6 how everything crumbles down and the repercussions of it. The music wasn't original but it brought so much to the drama, it set the atmosphere in the best, most dramatic way possible. Another thing i appreciated was the slow but steady build up which did make the first episodes feel bland maybe, but it was carefully planned for the intense explosion of the later episodes. Best thing about it were the 3D characters, they felt like real flawed, greedy, selfish people, that you can't help but judge and hate, but in midst of their spiraling they made more sense than i could ever imagine!
If i had one problem to point out, it would be the... mildness of some scenes. While the acting was always tip-top the quarrels and fights felt rather calm, i missed the intensity in the conversations. The drama definitely needed some more... tension in certain scenes.
Acting
The acting was overall spectacular.
Ueto Aya was luscious, conveying her charactrer's feelings constantly, she made total sense and expressed perfectly her thoughts and acts. Couldn't help but feel sorry for her while wanting to slap her for not being rational.
Kichise Michiko was equally breathtaking, portraying a character who saw infidelity as something trivial, who had never fell in love, but when she did she fell hard and completely with her whole essense! Breathtaking performance indeed.
Saito Takumi was cute and sensitive, a close-to-perfect performance as a kind man who is unhappy but isn't even aware because his life is seemingly perfect; and not to forget Kitamura Kazuki for his charming portrayal of a rough but emotional artist.
The casting was really special, the actors really suited and looked amazing next to each other, i don't know if they took the time to find them or if they just worked out this perfectly, but it was indeed magical.
Recommend/Rewatch
This should not be watched by a huge amount of viewers. It's a melodrama but not even your average melo. It talks straight about cheating, there is no side story, no comedy at all, nothing unreal, nothing pretty about any of it. It demands a certain mature viewer who can understand the meaning without judging too hard and is willing to see some disturbing stuff. If you are ready to go out of your comfort zone, watch something serious and difficult then do give this a chance, otherwise it's just not everyone's cup of tea. I can see myself rewatching it in a few years but i'm a fan of such dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
No Just no
First of, this Cdrama is not your typical romance where ML and FL fall in love and end up together, no, instead what you get is a DEEP and VERY annoying love triangle between ML, SML, and of our FL.It begins with the ML and FL dating, and as things move forward, the rich and annoying SML starts to flirt with FL, and guess what, she is giving him the time and day despite having a boyfriend(ML).
Thats not the end of it, soon after breaking up with ML because of "something related to the death of her parents" she attempts to make the ML move on by marrying the SML, Oh did i mention she was pregnant with MLs baby but never told him? Yep, and our ML throughout this continues to pursue the FL to the bitter end, despite FL playing with both men.
Never been so furious while watching a drama since watching this one.
I would never recommend this cdrama to anyone.
Save your time and energy because it'll drive you crazy.
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It was a pleasant surprise to see these young actors who don't have much experience as leads under their belts - yet they carried the story so effortlessly. So much so that I completely bought the story about life in the world of comic books.
The main characters' side swipes at the overused tropes of romantic dramas were what got me hooked in the beginning, but it was the heartfelt acting - especially from our two leads, that kept me going.
I felt every smile, every tear, every fear that went through their faces. And I prayed as hard as they did to writer-nim to please make this a happy ending.
Yes, it's not perfect, there were some threads left hanging and some sub-plots that were too conveniently solved. But it didn't ruin the story for me.
Most of all, I like the overarching message in the drama - that we have the power over our own lives, we just have to have the courage to take control.
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The acting was so good and the story was really hilarious .
I laughed for the all time it lasted. It's a pity it was so short. I would have loved it even more if it was a little bit longer.u
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DO IT FOR THE MAIN COUPLE & THEIR CHEMISTRYY
Please, PLEASE, if you're thinking about watching this show, DO IT. START NOW.The main couple's chemistry is off the charts. If you hate bad kiss scenes, this is the drama for you. Not a fish kiss in sight, and the intimate interactions between both couples were perfect. And there were sooo many ;)
Luo Yunxi (Leo Luo) was AMAZING. I saw him for the first time in My Sunshine (one of his first roles) and let me tell you, the boy can ACT. He was hilarious, and the perfect mix between a serious, childish, and romantic male lead. Bai Lu did really well too, I loved her character!
I was hyper-focused on the main couple, and the other side stories were just okay. To be honest, I skipped around the actual drama scenes, as it was uninteresting and unnessasary, which is why story/plot got a 4/10. But it's got tons of comedic moments, and barely any drama between the leads. Bonus, there is no evil second female lead so the couple barely has any misunderstandings between them!
Trust me, this is one you'll definitely want to give it a try!
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Wuxia’s most pleasant leading maiden
Maiden Holmes is about romance (60%), solving cases (30%) and political intrigue (10%).It has elements of light humour (50%), moderate seriousness (40%), thriller (9%) and angst (1%).
The one key quality that it has in abundance, in my humble opinion, is Wuxia’s most pleasant FL (100%).
What’s great:
The FL - She’s calm, level-headed, intelligent and smart. She demonstrates a certain quiet resolve and mental resilience, yet also displays tender affection and emotional vulnerability. The character is sensibly written to be relatable to the viewers, rather than an unrealistic Mary Sue or the usual insufferable whiny, clingy and ridiculously idiotic damsels in distress.
Chen Yao – Her portrayal of the character Su Ci, an individual who possesses much inner strength and insecurities, struggling with a heavy burden of her past, is nothing short of amazing. Her down-to-earth demeanour coupled with such low-key and soothing voice, adds emotional nuance to her depiction. This is in stark contrast to the helium-inhaled high pitched hysteria of the spoilt princess stereotypes. Being her second gender bender role of the year (the other being My Unicorn Girl), her version of the crossdresser is one of the best for the historical genre this year – realistic without being unnaturally pretty (In A Class of Her Own) or unusually weird (The Heiress).
Romance and OTP – This is not intense sacrificial love the likes of which most have observed in Love and Redemption. The romance is endearingly adorable and charming that warmly culminates in a near-perfect chemistry that is further enhanced by countless steamy kisses between the OTP.
The OST – I truly enjoyed the entire soundtrack of this drama, from the opening to the closing credits, and especially throughout the numerous MV scenes in between where the songs and the BGM added such beautiful layers ever so subtly into the emotional scenes. The playlist comprises the following songs:
斯琴高丽 (Si Qin Gao Li) – 倾城小时光 – Qing Cheng Xiao Shi Guang
崔子格 (Cui Zi Ge) – 镜花水月 – Jing Hua Shui Yue
叶炫清 (Ye Xuan Qing), 李行亮 (Li Xing Liang) – 望归人 – Wang Gui Ren
崔子格 (Cui Zi Ge) – 是我非我 – Shi Wo Fei Wo
陈瑶 (Chen Yao) – 生根落地 – Sheng Gen Luo Di
The ML – Played by the up-and-coming young star in his very first drama role, Zhang Ling He. He is extremely raw and lacks obvious experience yet he manages to imbue the character of Prince Qi with a charming enthusiasm and youthful exuberance that enlivened the exciting chemistry he shared with Chen Yao’s Su Ci throughout the show. It certainly helps that he exudes charismatic appeal to his boyish good looks and witty personality that serves to endear him to the viewers.
The support cast – Comprising the second couple and a sidekick, these lovable characters join the OTP to complete the band of loyal friends in their pursuit of justice and happiness through their adventures together.
What’s not so great:
The action choreography – There are many action sequences and much martial arts proficiency depicted throughout. However, the choreography is sub-par, in comparison with many of its peers in the genre. It’s certainly not the worst but it is painfully obvious especially to avid followers of the martial arts choreography.
Cases and investigations – Romance takes central stage at the expense of more compelling cases and mysteries, which in turn, diminished the attention on investigative prowess and case solving. Viewers who initially tuned in for this sub-genre would no doubt be left dissatisfied with the lack of captivating and thrilling investigative plot.
Comparisons:
This show is not as heavy and intense as Under the Power in terms of case solving and the villainy of the antagonist but the romance here holds its own against Tan Song Yun and Ren Jia Lun. It fares much better against Miss Truth in terms of storytelling, pacing, acting and overall plot which is straightforward and uncomplicated without the angsty love triangle. It doesn’t quite reach the lofty standards set by full-fledged detective dramas such as Ancient Detective, Detective Dee and The Four, but then again the romance there doesn’t match up to this drama.
Overall:
Maiden Holmes is a light hearted romance with the titular protagonist who is more Nancy Drew than Sherlock. This show is not meant to be taken too seriously. Just sit back, relax and have fun with this heartwarming series. I certainly did.
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This is how you do a gay musical
“My School President” might not be an original soundtrack; two boys in high school, one has a secret crush and chases the other. Been there, done that. I mean after more than a hundred gay romance shows (I'm not even joking, check my stats) you'd think I've seen it all. Yes, I have seen everything in My School President before, but not like this.MSP takes all the tried and worn tropes, weaves them together seamlessly into this epic gay musical. The show has an energy to it which I cannot put into words. For the most of it, MSP is a really fun show: friendship, family and slice-of-life youth drama, but there are moments of grief and sadness which binds the story. And MSP reminds us time and again, that when it seems everything is lost and grey, you will find the purest emotion left: love.
The main arc is of Tinn and Gun. Nerdy Tinn, son of school principal and perfectionist has comitted the ultimate crime: fallen in love with a backbencher, and a boy nonetheless. After (several) repeated attempts to get Gun's attention, Tinn finally comes into the spotlight when he runs for school president. But wait! It has now set him as an enemy to Gun! For the school is trying to shut down the Music Club which Gun leads. With the excuse of "bringing glory to the school", Tinn pairs up with a reluctant Gun to try and win the Hot Wave and the rest, you know it :)
Not everything goes perfect in this story. There are many, many downs. MSP deals with topics like failure, grief of death, homophobia and the fear of first love. In this also, MSP has set itself apart from other dramas. Any misunderstanding or event is dealt in withing the episode itself, without letting it drag to the next episode and viewers are always left with the expectation of something fresh and delightful.
There are few stories where I can say that there were no moments which I found to be extra but MSP truly has no "filler moments". It does not lag, it does not take up a sloth speed at episode 8 (which most bl dramas tend to do), it is never boring.
Apart from Gun and Tinn, a major part of the story are their family and friends. The Hot Wave takes centre stage in episode 10, 11 as Gun and his friends battle three stages to reach their destination. The boys and their relationship with their families is so heartwarming to watch, their mothers both approach their sons so differently. There are a few unexpectedly cute side couples too. At the end of the day, MSP is a show about love and all its different forms.
It is evident that the production teams really put their efforts into this. Each character, even the side characters, have been crafted uniquely. They went all out with all the love songs here and it's obvious that a lot of work has been put into it. As far as chemistry goes, Gemini and Fourth are a match made in heaven. I say this not because I ship them, but some pairings just click you know? My main inhibition regarding MSP is that I dislike school shows and the tragic boring uniforms they have on all the freaking time. The show makers however put extra effort into everything with a stylish wardrobe for everybody (and I have to point this out because it's one of my sore points with most others school/uni shows).
Each actor and actress has done well in their role, and this is really important because MSP is one of those character centric shows. The dialogue is well written without the cliche replies. It gets especially fun when Gun teases Tinn! I love how Tinn is like this confident gay until Gun does something even minutely flirtatious. Gemini and Fourth brought them to life and I wait (not so patiently) for their future projects. And the OSTs! The Holy Chinzhilla in its Greatness has blessed us with the best songs, and so easy to sing along too that I cannot get them out of my head!
MSP has been a delight to watch. The secrecy of having a first crush, the innocence of first love, the buoyancy of being seen and recognised, if only for a moment, by the one who makes your heartbeat pick up. MSP will make your heart race and wish for that romance you haven't had yet or remember the cherishable memories you have experienced.
And while it is not an original soundtrack, it is the one of the most genuinely hearwarming songs, an ode if you will, to love. As they say, “love songs we listen to in high school are the best love songs ever”, and MSP is proof of that. One word for this show: fluff. 9.5/10.
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This review may contain spoilers
This review is intended to offer you an opinion of what I thought about this drama. It is not intended to sway you in anyways. SPOILERS:
OMG YES!!! What a satisfying ending to such an interesting drama. This drama is interesting to watch, but you must have an open mind. If you aren't into cheating, pseudo incest-relationships (that is Nira and her uncle-in-law kissing etc), gender identity/transgender identity, revenge for the sake of revenge, etc...you will not enjoy this. However, we should always remember that there are lessons to learn from dramas like this.
WARNING:
This drama deals with lots of human issues.
1) transgender identities/gender identities
2) cheating
3) domestic violence
4) Mental Illness
5) Suicide
6) Cross dressing
7) Niece (who used to be a nephew) falling in love with uncle-in-law
You name it, it has it. It was a very well acted drama and every single actor did well in bringing their characters to life. MY GOD, that young woman playing Nira was amazing. I have never seen any of her work, but I have read from others how good she is, and I must say she really gave Nira a voice.
My second favorite character, believe it or not, was her father. He was introduced as an abusive, narcissistic, shallow and bigoted person. He was for intents and purpose a character you hated through the whole series until before the last two episodes, where he was humbled by learning the secret of who Nira was. Yes, as a viewer we are led to hating such a person, but his entire flawed nature as well as his realizing how horrible he had been showed how much range and development that character had. He was brought down from his high horse so to speak. I really loved the way his character did a complete 180 and became someone I actually sort of felt pity for. True he was a cheater and abusive to his wife and child, but losing his son did hurt him in some way. And then to find out he was now Nira, but still lost her when she left, left him as a shell of a man.
I was also surprised with the aunt. She was so unlikable and really selfish, just like her brother, but it was sort of sweet how she took care of him in the end and how she also felt sadness for what she did to Nira. It doesn't completely erase how horrible she had been initially, but again just like her brother's character, she too grew and showed more sides of her.
I was completely HAPPY with the ending we got. I was all for Nira either being alone, but happy with herself, than together with her uncle. Their relationship was doomed from the start. IT was obvious.
Nira had some deep seeded hate and her mental illness did not help. She needed to find herself and who she wanted to be, before even thinking of having a healthy normal relationship with ANYONE. I am so glad, that despite her suicide attempt, the drama ended with her staying alive and learning to love herself.
Supporting cast was also great!
Fantastic cast.
Music was nice and nostalgic
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First of all , watching this movie be prepared to see any kind of obscenity and odium could be found in society ! in other words , this is an extremely bitter social melodrama with a very sharp and harsh way of protesting to the current problems of -not only Korean- but also the world's teens and youth !
I've read somewhere that director of this movie , has made it after seeing a CCTV video of a young boy crying before killing himself ! Knowing the fact that this story has a high chance of being a true one , gave me an special unforgettable feeling while watching this movie.
The best thing about the story is that it's not specifically for Gay people or any other special group of human beings , I think It's the story we all can relate !
We all can feel how much we've changed during our puberty and some of us have changed so much that looking back at our childhood , It's very hard for us to recognize if we're the same person or not !
Actors are amazing ! It was really interesting for me to see how this older actors could greatly transfer the feelings of being a teen that you can hardly believe they're in their 20's !
Background music was good and dramatic ...
And the ending ... Wow ! that's when you want to stand up and clap in tears ! (which I did :D)
anyways , this is surly one of the best and moving social movies I've ever seen !
I'm sure it will stuck in my mind for a long long time ... I've already seen it 2 times in one day cause at the first time I was really in a SHOCK seeing that much violence , that I could hadly get the massage of movie !
I'm glad that It was choosen by the international film festivals as well , It's great to see how Korean Cinema Industry is getting more and more known by the world , and I think this movie a MUST SEE for all people !
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1I can't fully explain why I'm just too attached, I see myself in the characters. "My SAFE Place"
My rating is determined solely by the screen time presence of the primary ( KoSong KoNueng ), secondary couple ( Augar Achi ) and August..I hated that Tle totally disappeared in the last episode. They didn't even gave us a hint bout what happened between them, in that 1 year, and he didn't come back to the hometown with them for new year celebration.
Looked like August losed his contact with himm..
It's the most memorable drama I won't ever forget!!
We all connect with dramas differently, and everyone has that one specific show that feels like a safe haven. For me, this drama is that safe place. I know many people dropped it, but it resonated with me so deeply that it will stay in my heart forever. It is a story I never want to forget. I became profoundly attached to it.
I loved the subtle details and the way it beautifully conveyed thousands of unspoken messages.
I will always cherish the story between Ko nueng and Ko song, very part of their relationship. Also the time I spent watching it, I'll never regret it
I never expected to love this show as much as I do. When it was about to release, the trailer made it look like just another boring, cliché coming-of-age story. Because of that, I missed the first two episodes. But curiosity got the better of me, and I gave it a chance.I still can't believe how quickly I fell in love with it—the very first episode was all it took.
Such a cute coincidence with their names! Those nicknames are precious—now I low-key want someone to start calling me 'Orange' (ส้ม).
Watching the characters transitioning from initial dislike to a beautiful, deep friendship completely won me over. Their friend group is incredible.
In real life, I don’t have a chaotic, fiercely supportive circle of friends like Ko does, so watching them filled my heart with such warm, sweet emotions. It left me wanting more and wishing I could experience that kind of connection.
At times, I felt a wave of envy watching Ko Nueng enjoy such a healthy, vibrant school life. It is exactly the kind of life I have always dreamed of and wished for myself.
Seeing them go from simple, newly moved-in neighbours to absolutely inseparable constants in each other's lives was beautiful. This show has truly become my safe place—the safest place I know.
What hurts most is knowing I have to let it go soon. It has become my Wednesday ritual, something I never miss even on my busiest days, and soon my Wednesdays will feel empty. I have watched plenty of slow-burn, school-life, and coming-of-age, youth dramas before, but I swear this is the only show that makes me wish it would never end .
Every single part of this drama holds profound meaning.
Even the endings the last lines, helped me immensely understand life, just those lines. Soon, I will find myself exactly where Ko and friends are standing.
Sometimes, I still feel like I don't belong in the path I chose, experiencing the exact same doubts as Ko Nueng.
While waiting for the next new episode, I decided to watch Lovesick (2024), and the difference in Almond and Progress is incredible.
They have grown so much and their acting has improved tremendously, even though they were always talented.
It makes me really happy to see actors around my own age starring in such a critical drama. I love watching them grow together since they started their careers at the same time, and I truly hope they continue to stay together.
They looked so young, especially Almond. Seeing their drama brought back memories, and watching their new show makes me proud of how much they have grown.
I deeply connect with the characters' inner worlds, finding myself mirrored in their raw thoughts, emotional struggles, and every decision they make, whether reckless or deeply meaningful.
This bond goes far beyond just a shared age; it is rooted in the shared experience of watching their lives shift from a chaotic, sweet youth into the bittersweet reality of growing apart.
Experiencing their transition as they head to college, discover their academic passions, and choose their own paths perfectly captures the beautiful, messy process of growing up. The transition that I'm going to go through in coming years..
This drama is a masterclass in coming-of-age storytelling, a rare piece of television that achieves high-level artistry while perfectly weaving in extreme nostalgic vibes through an immaculate re-creation of an old 1900–2000 environment.
It is a work of total creativity where the entire story revolves around an orange tree filled with a lot of sweet oranges, turning a simple setting into a deep, poetic anchor for the narrative.
Though it functions as a slow burn, every single part has deep meanings, and the show pays incredible attention to extremely great details, allowing each and every episode to conclude really well with just a few chosen words.
At its core, the series beautifully maps out the important phrases a student goes through during the time they're growing, underscoring the absolute importance of living life to the fullest.
The characters live their lives joyfully, showing us what it truly means to enjoy the little moments—whether they are navigating a chaotic and sweet relationship with parents, enjoying a small school trip, or going on a short sea trip with friends and family.
The drama totally teaches us to enjoy these little moments because, even though they're short, they carry very deep emotions that shape who we are. As the story progresses into adulthood, it offers a gentle guide on how to face the world, teaching us that when we grow up, we must learn to adapt to the environment and changes that might change our personality due to heavy academic pressures or career pressure. Instead of letting the stress overwhelm us, it tells us to keep up with these pressures and find what we're interested in calmly.
Ultimately, it serves as a moving lesson on transition, telling us to adapt to the bittersweet changes of life—like getting apart from friends and family for attending higher studies—while reminding us to maintain a proper relation with everyone, keeping our bonds strong and meaningful even though they're away from us..
I feel their pain through these changes, but their courage is inspiring. I hope to be that brave when the stage comes..
Ko used to rely on his parents to wake him up every morning.
Now, he lives alone in a Bangkok condo, far away from his family and his familiar coastal hometown. Moving from a quiet old town filled with the scent of the ocean to a bustling, unfamiliar city with no one around to nag him has been a massive shift. This sudden independence made Ko realize that his high school days are officially over—a beautiful past he will always cherish.
Despite numerous challenges and frequent arguments, their connection remains unbreakable because their love is genuinely pure. They now share a condo far from Ko Nueng’s hometown and the iconic Orange tree.
Ko has matured significantly—a sharp contrast to the chaotic version of him that I deeply miss . He maintained his old friendships with Augar and August and made new friends.
Ko Song pursued a demanding medical career. His schedule as a doctor is entirely consumed by work, leaving him completely exhausted when he returns home.
As a result, he has no time left to spend with Sôm. Ko Nueng carries a heavy emotional burden; he deeply craves quality time with Ko Song to talk through everything, yet he chooses to keep all of these overwhelming thoughts entirely to himself.
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This review may contain spoilers
In a unique way affectionately told. Critically nuanced. Not off-the-shelf. Still easy to digest.
I might have easily missed “Not Others”, if I hadn't volunteered to help out with the German subtitling. I'm glad I didn´t miss it, because "Not Others" turned out to be an unorthodox surprise - being unexpectedly substantial and also pleasantly true to life, thus rooted in a rather simple, normal, everyday world. It is the story of a family, above all of a single mother and her daughter, but there are also a few contemporaries who are related by blood or by choice.The story goes on and on as life goes on and we go with it as a matter of course (and gladly so). (Well, at least that's how it was for me.) There was nothing particularly extraordinary and exciting about it. Just normal madness.
Well, admittedly, a bit more than normal madness... after all, the mother herself is still a teenager when she has her child and doesn't want to give up on some of the youthful pleasures in life - regardless of responsibility for the child. However, the script and the two leads find a good pitch for this very special, unusual and inherently difficult relationship dynamic with all its challenges. A clearly structured 'I'm the grown up and you're the little one' doesn´t exist. It is rather upside down here. Instead of the classic authoritarian hierarchy between parent and child, they both ended up bonding as allies sort of, in a world from which they have fallen. Due to the unusual role constellations, the arguments between mother and daughter often have a slightly funny touch. Behind this, however, lurks a rather unconscious overburdening on both sides. And this earnest approach of this emotionally tricky situation shines through again and again in the strategy of both of them trying to cope with everyday life. However, mother and daughter are overall impressing with their casual authenticity as well as pleasant directness and openness - a communication style that clearly sets them apart from so many others in the story. Choi Soo-young shines here, but especially Jeon Hye-jin, who can show herself from a completely different side in the role of the still youthful mother...).
At some point it's about a criminal case - eventually almost symbolic for the unwanted and eventually professionalized role of the daughter within the mother-daughter-relationship: the need to/the urge to look after her mother. And at some point it's also about romantic love - symbolic for the very human longing to rely on a partner on eye level, to lean on a shoulder... This human need actually concerns mother and grown-up daughter alike. But can there even be a place for 'outsiders' within the mother-daughter relationship?
Please don't take "Not Others" as a crime thriller or even as a RomCom. (The men in particular come along rather secondary...) Ultimately, it is the complicated emotional behavior patterns that characterize the family life of mother and daughter in the context of their very close and extraordinary relationship. This makes the KDrama breathe in and breathe out in its very unique pacing. It is primarily about this uncommon family, with an affectionate, yet critically nuanced look at their very special relationship dynamics. "Not Others" is cautiously questioning established (conservative) family models, too...
Overall, “Not Others” is no off-the-shelf KDrama (like so many others in 2023...).
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But that all quickly went downhill when the Big Misunderstanding that plagues many dramas hit and not only was it really not executed well, but suddenly everything just kind of fell apart. The writing was mediocre at best, the acting was cringe-worthy, the story was less than exciting, and I really did not care much for the leads anymore. Such a pity! There were still a few shining moments in the later episodes that tried to bring back a little of that initial charm this drama had but overall: I was over it.
I was also not a fan of the ending. It was a really frustrating and confusing last episode that did not leave me satisfied at all. The very end itself was awkward and didn't make sense. Whatever.
I can't completely say it isn't worth a watch, since as mentioned before the first half was really, really good. It might also be a little better if you can just binge your way through it in it's entirety without having to break for new episodes later on as I did. *insert shrugging emoji here*
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