News 
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1AN UNSUCCESSFUL YET APPRECIATED EFFORT
Meet You at the Blossom is a series many of us were anticipating. It was supposed to be the first non-censored period same-sex novel adaptation and it is a co-production between China, Taiwan and Thailand with the latter being the one that distributes it.Now, China -despite the censorship- has produced some great series in the past years. The Untamed and Word of Honor are probably the most well-known. Those two series got super popular to a point that China ended up having even stricter rules when it comes to censorship, even banning, at some point, novel writers from uploading their -uncensored- work online. Those two series gained a huge fanbase -especially The Untamed- and the actors starring in them are currently some of the most popular and well-paid people in Chinese entertainment industry having tons of opportunities to expand their careers even more.
I know, we all know, that those series along with many others didn’t have a decent budget when they were made. The production quality and CGI were horrendous, BUT, those series had many elements that most dramas were missing at the time. They were entertaining from beginning to end, the chemistry between the leads was on fire and the plot and characters were interesting to watch and well-written. Especially when it comes to The Untamed, the series managed to bring a very complicated story with some flawed yet relatable characters that we rarely get to watch nowadays.
Those adaptations, those adaptations that no one wanted to watch when they were announced, got so popular domestically and internationally, that the companies started mass producing danmei adaptations. They invested tons of money to film them. Actors that may have not been that popular when those series were filmed, are currently dominating the C-entertainment industry. Actors like Chen Fei Yu, Luo Yun Xi, Zhang Ling He, Tan Jian Ci and others. Unfortunately, all those adaptations have not seen the light of day yet and maybe they never will, but China has proven despite the change of the original sources that they are the best when it comes to stories portraying same-sex relationships.
What does that have to do with Meet You at the Blossom? Nothing and everything.
This series was announced out of nowhere. I obviously had zero expectations that it was going to be like The Untamed or Word of Honor for multiple reasons, but I was sure I would watch it on a legal platform, cause let’s be real, this was an experimental project. It was more to see if it will gain any money and if it is worth it to produce more series like this one. We have Taiwan making great efforts lately when it comes to danmei adaptations with Unknown being fantastic and with projects like The Only One airing soon. BUT, they didn’t touch the “period” danmeis for a reason.
Was this series worth the wait? No. But does it give some hope that maybe in the future we will get something better? Yes.
But let's get to the actual series.
Friendly disclaimer: This is my personal opinion and it is completely fine to disagree with it, as long as you are not being rude.
PRODUCTION QUALITY
As everyone can see, this series doesn’t have a big budget, but it honestly looked much better than I anticipated. And like previously mentioned, production quality is the least important when it comes to the final result.
ACTING
Unfortunately, acting was not good. It wasn’t unbearably bad from most of the actors, with Wang Yun Kai -Xiao Bao- doing a pretty decent job along with some actors in supporting roles. On the other hand, Li Le – Huai En- was very very bad. He barely had any expressions that looked real and most of the times I couldn’t help but roll my eyes every time he appeared on screen.
DUBBING
It was horrendous. I have seen worse in the past, but it is pretty bad here especially when it comes to specific characters, where the dubbing -or sound mixing- makes the sound, sound very artificial.
CHEMISTRY/COUPLES
I personally felt zero chemistry when it came to the main couple, or maybe one-sided chemistry from Xiao Bao’s side. Them falling in love or lusting for each other was so sudden, it is not possible to make it look interesting enough. Same with the other couples that their interactions were, however, much more interesting than the main one's.
CHARACTERS
Most of the characters are flawed, but not in a way that makes them interesting and fun to watch. I am not sure how to explain this, but because of how the plot/directing was handled, the characters felt "unnatural". I knew I was watching a series when watching them on screen. They didn’t feel real and I didn’t feel for any of them at any point of the series.
PLOT
Despite the fact that the romance is not getting as much screentime as I expected, for some reason, it feels like the plot is more of a background and the romance is the main story. Like the plot and the rest of the characters were there to fill screentime and in reality all the scriptwriter wanted was to focus on the main pairing. I have seen this tons of times in bls. I have seen this in tons of bls that wanted to make the plot the main focus and couldn’t. And this is where most period -well written- danmei’s (and their adaptations) differ. The general plot and all characters are more important than the main pairing and their love story and this is one of the reasons this series could not gain my attention.
HUAI EN AS A WOMAN
Okay, just mentioning this, cause I have also seen this a million times and it is never done well. Huai En would never pass as a woman and especially a pretty one, taking into consideration the beauty standards. This is a main plot-point in many Cdramas. Woman dressing up as men (The Legend of Fu Yao, Eternal Love and many others). Men dressing up as women -in danmei- (Heaven Official's Blessing, Kaleidoscope of Death). In live action it is very difficult to work and MYATB is no exception.
TOXICITY
First things first. People who know me, know how much I love toxic relationships in dramas, how much I enjoy watching flawed/toxic main characters on screen, NO MATTER how toxic they may get. Here, we have such a toxic character -and not only one, but let’s stick to that one because he is the most important-. If you have watched it, you know who I mean. And you know what? It’s not like I hate him or like him. I just find him bland and uninteresting. Even the way they portray the toxic scenes are shown in a very romantic light to a point that is laughable and can’t be taken seriously in any aspect.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE
I won’t lie. I enjoyed and laughed by how ridiculous the first 2-4 eps were. After that, I just felt completely bored and the only reason I finished watching it was because I had promised myself to support this great effort. Taking into consideration all the negative points I mentioned above, it had almost zero entertainment value for me.
All in all, Meet You at the Blossom, adapted from the Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow novel -much better title btw- felt more like a Thai-parody of a danmei-adaptation than a serious try to make something good. Both serious/sentimental and funnier scenes felt equally ridiculous. However, even though this was an unsuccessful effort in my eyes, it was an -appreciated- effort nonetheless.
I feel like I will completely forget everything about this series in a few days, but the hope that this may bring better period danmei-adaptations in the future will stay with me -along with my hope that the already filmed series will air someday-.
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we find 4 friends getting into hasty trip to drop one of them into military. but a mishap happens involving tragic turn in their lifes. so they fight, suffer, lose themselves and much more. what exactly happened? will they hang in there? will they stick together? will they be able to come out of this?
ji soo is incredible.he gave a soul stirring act here. i love all his characters in recent times. ryu joon yeol excelled in his own way. rest were really good too. the way they pictured their lifes is different to. the actors who played their parents were decent. i just love halmoni here. it was painful for me to watch her.
ending is sad, frustrating. yet i liked it. i love the way characters ended up realistically. its hard to digest. i wonder why i exactly i liked it. i love the way its not predictable. so yeah, watch this for good story packed up with great performances. its worth your time.
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This review may contain spoilers
Disappointing
Finally found the time to watch this one - after such high reviews. If you are expecting drama similar to Legend of Fuyao or Princess Agents - do not watch. I happen to love strong female characters and was looking forward to this drama. What I got to watch was poor acting - especially by the FL. This actress is better suited for modern dramas or where there is not much action or emotions involved. In this drama, she was supposed to be a trained warrior - there was a scene where she was being chased by soldiers and she is running to evade them - it was actually comical to see her running.The writers I believe got confused about what exactly they wanted to narrate. FL's character initially wanted revenge - she is supposed to be a strategic thinker, but I never got to see it. I found her dumb, and easily lead/manipulated.
The ML had a very strong screen presence but unfortunately appeared very stiff in the scenes with FL. This could be bcoz he is too young, but he definitely is a promising actor.
Overall, I liked the actor playing Young Khan/Ashile She Er and Zhao Lusi - playing Princess Yuouyan. The actor playing Hao Du has been praised immensely @MDL but to me, he appeared constipated most of the time.
Such a waste of time watching this drama. I am amazed that this show has been so highly rated in MDL.
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Never trust mdl reviews
I'm glad that i didn't watch this show after reading mdl reviews....That's exactly what i want to recommend to people who is interested in watching this show.WATCH THIS SHOW WITH OUT READING REVIEWS POSTED HERE....Or you can just check youtube or Twitter or Instagram.....everyone is praising this show....especially acting.....besides there are many things in this show we can adapt into our lives....the dialogs in this drama hits you really hard....
Every character got their own story to tell........nobody's right or wrong in this drama....sometimes we feel like "oh...why this character did like that?" But then you feel it's just the situation that made them do that.....
I really enjoyed this drama.This is my first thai lakorn and I'm glad it is this drama ......
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Disney+ Strikes Again: [Blood Free ] Offers a Fresh and Unique Cinematic Experience
Writer - Lee Soo Yeon ( Stranger series )Production House - Disney+ ( Dominating Netflix from last year )
Actors - Ju Ji Hoon, Han Hyo Joo, Lee Hee Jun ( Versatile actors )
And the plot all these elements caught my attention to watch Blood Free.
"Blood Free" marks a compelling departure from conventional K-drama narratives, introducing audiences to a captivating new genre known as "The Blood-Free Drama." This innovative approach, spearheaded by acclaimed writer Lee Soo Yeon and produced by Disney+, offers viewers a refreshing alternative to the typical bloodshed and violence often associated with the genre. Instead, the focus is on nuanced storytelling and character-driven narratives, setting a new standard for K-drama excellence.
If you think the drama is boring after watching few episodes don't make to drop it because The story will take new side from Cultured Meat to organs transplantation that where our main lead got some small super power with unexpected events. From this is where drama went to it's peak to track the mastermind behind blast and the rival new strategic attacks starts on Blood Free. We guess who is the Mastermind who is the main villian and who are the betrayals and who are the loyalty but somewhere our predictions goes to worng a little. Keep us in suspense who are they. With the Sci-fi plot the makers never neglected the mark of the storytelling with combination scenes of Woo Chae Won & Yoon Jae Yo to make a perfect picture of the story and their character motivations, and their chemistry, to keep us root for their pair give more. And another that -- Lee Soo Yeon mark in Emotional development of her works are exceptional, because majority of story contains with the suspense and thriller or Investigation elements, so with the limited space for emotional development it's really hard to handling the balance between limited emotional development and those elements (I saw them in other dramas, not comparing but saying how the writer perfectly placed all of them equally in her works.) But we can really make tears by some characters irrespective of main characters or supporting characters in her dramas, she showed her mark again - making good emotional development with bounded characters depth ( not to spoil here, you can experience it when you watch the drama ). Some Episodes feels bit bore but i think it's common in sci-fi thriller because this drama dealing with 10 eps sometimes it will miss some actual pace. But for me it was good paced and well structured story with serious paced story narration.
Yes, The drama's serious and well-paced narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat, expertly crafting a thrilling experience that's more focused on intellectual suspense than action-packed sequences. While the action scenes may be limited, the few that exist are impactful and satisfying. However, it's the unexpected moments of humor and heartwarming camaraderie between Woo Chae Woon and Kim Ho Seung that truly shine. Their brief but poignant bromance is a masterful stroke of storytelling, leaving you with a lump in your throat and a deeper emotional investment in the characters' journeys.
QUALITY DRAMA ELEMENTS :-
1. Intricate Plot: Led by writer Lee Soo Yeon, "Blood Free" boasts an intricately woven plot that keeps viewers engrossed from start to finish. The story follows Yun Ja-yu as she navigates the complexities of saving her company while delving into political intrigue and personal backstories, eliciting intrigue and speculation about the underlying mysteries.
2. Futuristic Setting: The show's exploration of the conflict between humanity and technology offers a compelling glimpse into a future world from the present. Through advanced technology disrupting the food chain, "Blood Free" presents thought-provoking themes that resonate with contemporary environmental and ethical concerns.
3. Exceptional Cast: With Ju Ji Hoon, Han Hyo Joo, and Lee Hee Jun leading the ensemble, "Blood Free" benefits from the talents of versatile actors who breathe life into their characters and infuse the narrative with depth and authenticity.
4. Cinematic Excellence: The cinematography in "Blood Free" is visually stunning, complementing the intricacies of the plot and enhancing the overall viewing experience. Each scene is meticulously crafted to capture the essence of the story and evoke emotion in the audience.
5. Han Hyo Joo & Ju Ji Hoon On-screen chemistry :- Their on-screen chemistry is truly amazing! While we're still in the unknown about a potential romance plot, and there aren't any hints suggesting one, their dynamic chemistry is enough to make the drama more enjoyable and entertaining, even amidst the intense survival storyline. Their chemistry is a compelling aspect of the show, and we're loving it!"
Plot seems potential but -
• Demanding Attention: Given the complexity of its plot and thematic depth, "Blood Free" requires viewers' full attention to grasp its intricacies and appreciate its nuances. Casual viewers may find it challenging to keep up with the narrative without dedicating sufficient focus.
• Initial Impressions: As with any new series, it's essential to give "Blood Free" a fair chance beyond the first few episodes. While the opening scene sets the stage for the main storyline, the true depth and complexity of the drama unfold gradually, rewarding viewers who invest time in exploring its themes and character dynamics.
CINEMATOGRAPHY !!
The Cinematography and the graphic CGI is brilliant, i don't know how to express this experience but i really felt the same vibes with
Hollywood movie " Blade Runner 2047 " like - drak tone cinematography in first episode ( it's clearly what I felt, so this may be different to every watcher ).
And Any chances for rom :-
Perhaps there's a strong chemistry without any romance. After watching four episodes, it seems like the upcoming episode will primarily focus on the female lead's survival and the pursuit of catching the mastermind behind the bomb blast. If they introduce a romantic plot between characters with strong chemistry, it might overshadow the main plot. Given that the writer is from the "Stranger" series, it wouldn't be surprising if she follows a similar formula, focusing more on chemistry rather than romance. However, I hope she incorporates a bit of romance this time. The scenes between them just make me want to see a new romantic drama again. 😩
Finally
"Blood Free" emerges as a groundbreaking addition to the world of K-dramas, offering a compelling blend of suspense, drama, and science fiction. Through its innovative approach and thought-provoking themes, the series challenges traditional conventions and invites viewers on a captivating journey of exploration and discovery. With its stellar cast, intricate plot, and cinematic brilliance, "Blood Free" will stands as a testament to the limitless creativity of K-drama makers and promises an unforgettable viewing experience for audiences seeking something truly extraordinary. Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of "Blood Free" and embark on a quest that will leave you enthralled and enlightened.
brought by :- Shinnosuke_Lee
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This review may contain spoilers
When Love Gets Messy and Real
I started Mr. Plankton out of pure curiosity, drawn by the title and a familiar cast. I was expecting a simple romance, maybe a guy running errands who meets a girl along the way. But I was in for a surprise—the story had far more depth than I imagined. After one episode, I couldn’t stop and ended up watching seven in a row.The story kicks off with an ending scene, leaving us to figure out how it all fits together. Instead of a typical boy-meets-girl scenario, we learn the leads are ex-lovers, both orphans, with an intense past that ended without real closure. Their chemistry caught me off guard. The lead actress usually plays cutesy roles, and the lead actor leans more toward action, yet they bring a fresh, raw connection to the screen. His character is definitely a “red flag” type, but it’s understandable given his tough background, abandoned and left to fend for himself.
Things really heat up when he suddenly returns to her life, just as she’s about to marry someone else, sparking an unexpected love triangle. While his intentions are protective (especially around her secret medical condition), he pulls her along on a road trip to find his birth father without giving her the full story. This journey is full of tension, close calls, and moments where she tries to escape before ultimately deciding to stay by his side.
One of the most touching elements is how the title, Mr. Plankton, ties to his character’s sense of identity. In a quiet but powerful moment, he compares himself to plankton—seemingly insignificant and unnoticed, like mere accessories in the vast sea. But plankton, he explains, actually sustain life in the ocean by producing oxygen, a contribution people overlook as they focus only on their sparkling glow. Through this metaphor, he sees himself as someone who may be overlooked but who still has a role and purpose, even if the world fails to see it. It’s a quietly beautiful symbol that resonates throughout the series, shaping our understanding of him as a character.
Watching their road trip was exciting, though I would have loved to see more of the female lead’s perspective on her choices, especially as she reconnects with her ex. Her impulsive decisions can be frustrating, but her backstory makes it understandable. Her ex-fiancé also surprised me; he respected her decisions and even supported her ex in the end, which added a layer of maturity to the story.
Overall, Mr. Plankton was an engaging watch. I even teared up during the lead’s breakdown about his illness and his struggle with feelings of abandonment and unfairness. The ending is simply a return to the opening scene, but it’s beautifully done but bittersweet, leaving me pensive. This drama isn’t something I’d watch twice, as it really makes you think about love, loss, and purpose. But it’s definitely worth watching once, especially if you’re ready for a fresh, emotional take on love and closure.
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Overall this one is a lightweight sageuk residing in the comedy genre with a slice of sketchy corruption. That pretty much describes it all.
Tastes usually differ, especially with rom-coms and it always depends on what the viewers expect of it. Since this one also belongs to that genre, the drama delivered that part well enough if you want to enjoy something lighthearted (even though I myself didn't feel that much emotion between the leads because it felt rushed to me).
My complains about the story are that the corruption plot staggered alot in the middle and the story didn't seem to move forward at all - while the finale seemed very rushed again. The villains were shallow and only loosely defined. And I really wish that they had given the (current) queen more depth - I don't mean some excursion into the past that justifies her actions but more sides to her character in the present. She was so lopsided. I would have liked to see if she indeed genuinely cared for the prince, for example.
Other than that I enjoyed the side characters quite alot. They were essential for the comedy part and did a really good job. I also loved the costumes, the colors and the music in this. And they even had some really pretty and artistic scenes, especially in the beginning.
Despite my own divided impression on this, I would still recommend it to people who look for a lighthearted romance with a side plot that doesn't put them into much agony. If you still can't decide whether to watch it or not then try to imagine putting historical costumes on modern day people and throw them onto a sageuk stage. You have fancy cafés, a manicure salon and all the values people nowadays cherish.
(btw, I can't compare this to its original since I haven't seen that one)
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As expected , this Japanese movie can be viewed as weird and it is not for normal audiences. However, I find the movie very engaging not only because of the “actions” of the main character but also the possible psychology of a prostitute.
It is a hard to talk about the world of prostitution but it explains why some people get into that act. I am not sure how close this movie to reality but it got into me in terms of how deep the main character thinks.
Some people might find this movie very disturbing but I hope they will focus on the message and human perspectives on sex and its connection to emotions.
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To start honestly, I was not so sure I was going to watch this drama, as lately I was all for youth dramas and was avoiding watching dramas with adult (over 25) actors, that is why I didn't watch it while it was airing... You know what? I am glad I didn't watch it while it was airing, this is one of those dramas that need to be devoured, that put you in the mood of this drama. While I was watching it, I didn't want to watch anything else, I haven't watched the aired episodes of the dramas I am currently watching, I just DIDN'T CARE~! This drama deserves all the positive and wonderful reviews I have read and much more. I am honestly in love with this drama, with the cast, with the characters, with the story. It presented me with absolutely wonderful moments, with a lot of smiles and laughter out loud, with a lot of cringingly cute moments... and much more.
At first it may seem you are going to watch a drama about adults who are finding their ways to deal with their lives - you'll be quite wrong, this is a drama about men who are finding ways to become the adults mentally while their bodies are already adult, their mind is absolutely childish, they are spontaneous, sometimes hysterical, will give a man their business card to call them next time the man decides to touch their woman, by claiming the woman's all body parts belong to them, will hit the car before them (their beloved car, by the way) if they think the owner of the other car is talking to intimately with their beloved woman, they'll reject a woman they love if they think their friendship will be affected by the relationship, they will abandon the most important meeting and fly to their friend's help, they will cry with tears out loud if their friend is in shock and can't cry for himself, they'll shout 'Do you wanna die? I love you! Into my arms!', will propose every day with presents if the woman they love doesn't answer positively... they will make you absolutely adore them and their friendship~ how can they not?
The cast has done a brilliant job, and I wouldn't want to point them out separately. I am fascinated with every character that has been created in this drama, the most real, funny, humanly, childish and at the same time adult characters, I promise I'll be rewatching this one not once.
Absolutely recommended~!
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This review may contain spoilers
It's more like "Fantasy Game in a Love Story"
I've been giving it a couple of days before I could actually write my honest opinion down about this one because it made me both sad and glad to finish it.The drama is about a young girl who's sucked into a fantasy novel and has to finish a few preset quests in order to finish the story. She gets these quests by the system of the game. In this new xianxia world filled with dangerous demons, mortals and demon catchers she has to find her way inside someone else's body. She's now Lin Yu, a noblemen's daughter and a spoiled brat, and she has to make Mu Sheng, a demonic demon catcher who hates her guts, fall in love with her.
Love Game in Eastern Fantasy started out great. It was everything I expected and more. It had lots of comedy, a chemistry to die for between actors I love and all wrapped up within a xianxia drama. I usually tend to stay away from the concept of someone being sucked within a novel but because I'm a fan of Esther Yu and Ding Yuxi, I've been waiting for this drama for ages. I was into it by the end of episode one and waited excitedly for another episodes.
Until around episode 24-ish. I ended up missing days of episodes and not being motivated to catch up. From the moment the two main leads actually get together and confess to each other, the chemistry takes a nosedive into the ground and it doesn't really resurface. They're still cute together but the romance falls flat. Ling Miaou Miaou (her real name form the real world) hangs around Mu Yao and Cui Cui more than she does Mu Sheng and it seperates them most of the time. It felt like I was watching a whole different story than the one I began.
Positives:
- When it became less of a romantic comedy it became a story about 5 friends fighting together and saving each other while saving the rest of the world. I loved watching them bond and become closer each episode.
- The chemistry between Lin Yu and Mu Sheng was intense the first half of the drama. I especially liked those scenes in the capitol where they both knew they loved the other but hadn't gathered the courage to confess yet. They were so cute in those episodes.
- The costumes were beautiful!
- There was a focus on Fu Yi and Mu Yao as well. They're the mainleads within the novel so it makes sense for them to get so much screentime.
Negatives:
- That ending was a mess. I just didn't understand why Mu Sheng had to die at that point. He was fine one second and dead the next without any explanation. I was more dumbstruck than sad and couldn't believe what had happened. It ruined the whole thing. The things that followed didn't make it any better. Only made it worse. To me it made no sense for him to go back in time to find Miaou Miaou. And to have them defeat the Resentful Woman that easily... just because they did it together... It was a big no-no for me.
- Miaou Miaou her amnesia episodes. At first I struggled through that bracelet arc but the "forgetting him" thing came back once or twice more and it became ridiculous. She even forgot who she really was. I really liked her character in the beginning but started to get annoyed with her in the end.
- The "it was all a dream" thing and it not even being her dream... I just really hate the ending.
Overal, I do recommend the drama to anyone who's in for a fun drama to watch. It's light and comedic until you get to the later episodes where the story does turn a little to the darker side.
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The Story is As Crazy As the Title!
Here’s my review without spoilers:1. Your initial thoughts would be “this looks cliché”, “the story starts slow”, “the main couple looks weird and crazy”, etc. You may feel like the drama starts off slow have no idea where the story is heading to.
2. But as the story progresses, you’ll see that the writer is playing with our hearts. This drama is full of twists, becoming anti-cliché with each episode, and giving us unexpected moves. Even the episodes that you think is “boring” actually have some important details.
3. Because of the crazy relationship & chemistry between the main couple, the dark mystery circling around the male lead and the misunderstandings that actually help with the plot progression, this drama gets more interesting with each episode. So rather than it getting more boring & bland, it’s actually getting more intriguing & engaging.
4. Although some of the plot seem ridiculous at first, but they’re actually needed for the plot. You’ll find them reasonable, realistic and relatable at some point.
5. The romance is not cringy like most romcom dramas. It’s very well executed in its own pace, not rushing or slowing down too much. The ML/FL don’t change overnight just because they start falling in love with each other.
NOTE: What I love the most is how mature their relationship is shown after they officially date. The transition from enemies-to-lovers, from them physically & mentally hurting each other, to understanding & supporting each other for better, for worse, in sickness and health, till death do them part - PERFECT!
6. The comedy doesn’t feel forced. Sometimes the comedy is dark, but it’s the kind of funny that doesn’t make you cringe. You’ll find yourself thinking “yes, this is how romcom is supposed to be”.
NOTE: The comedy may not “click” with you like some viewers, especially if you’re not used to “breaking the 4th wall narrative” and “dark humour”. But like some other viewers, maybe you’ll start finding the humour funny when you rewatch after you know the direction of the story. :)
7. Sometimes it gives us emotional damage, especially with the ML’s backstory. His life is so sad it makes us hope he’ll get the happy ending he deserves.
8. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST HERE. It’s like “character development” is the genre itself with this drama.
The ML’s character is not new in Kdrama world, but the difference is this drama writer really addressed his asshole-ness in details. ML characters in typical romcom dramas would change drastically after falling in love and after that, they act like they weren’t an asshole in the past. XD
Of course the FL plays a part in it, but the writer wants us to witness his realistic character development, the real and painful causes, impacts & process of it, not drastic solely because of love. And the FL becomes his biggest supporter for that. <3
That’s what I love about CL. The writer takes this matter seriously (EP14 is the peak), though the development is slow compared to usual romcom dramas.
9. “Underwhelming mystery/villain arc”? If you considered the fact that CL is originally a romcom so it needs to maintain its lightweight, then the underwhelming mystery/villain arc wouldn’t affect you that much to the point that you rate it low. It’s still one of a kind, a refreshing romcom drama that defies cliché tropes! ^^
10. This drama conveys messages around character development, healing process & and second chances. This story is not as dramatic as usual dramas, no black & white. “Human beings are prone to make mistakes”. It’s more mature & realistic. :’D
11. IMO, compared to most romcom Kdramas, Crazy Love has the best satisfying & unproblematic ending so far, after enough of unsatisfying endings in romcom Kdrama. You hear me? I’m not saying “one of the best”, but “the best” here! XD
NOTE: If you ever think that the ending is rushed, think again. Because the mystery arc was pretty much being hinted since EP1. The writer/director dropped bombs little by little in each episode, then the heaviest bomb was dropped in EP14-EP15. Just need us to pay more attention to details (I even rewatched it more than once to notice a lot of Easter Eggs that they left for viewers).
Along with the hints, the story focuses on the ML’s character development & the relationship dynamics between our main couple. In the end, everything was wrapped up in a nice way with many relatable lessons to learn.
12. All OSTs for this drama are absolute bliss to your ears. My top favourites are “Dive into You” by JayB & “Maybe” by DAVII.
13. The more I rewatch, the more I appreciate the drama, the brilliant writing & directing. I love how the writer had everything and every character planned & built well from the start. It makes me wanna check out other works from the scriptwriter. :)
14. CONCLUSION: “Crazy Love” is not a pure romcom, has a mixed of many genres (mystery, psychological). It’s not that light, but also not that heavy.
15. What are you waiting for? Still sleeping on this drama? You’re missing out!
I hope these points will help you jump into watching Crazy Love! :)
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didn't work for me
Overall: the creators tried to be edgy, sexy, funny, sweet and mysterious but managed not to do any of those things well (I did laugh a few times but some of that was not supposed to make people laugh). 14 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on GagaOOLala (note there is a very important scene after the initial end credits in episode 14). Later released on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/album/playboyy-the-series-season-1-2025-1okp2nvz0rp?lang=en_us The production company Copy A Bangkok has also produced: War of Y, Y Destiny, YYY and Make It RightWatch Notes: I'm not even sure what to write here. There is an exposition dump at the beginning of episode 14 so you could watch that and then the final episode (through to the very end because there is a scene after the end credits), which won't make a ton of sense but neither did the series
Content Warnings: (pretty much all content warnings) murders, death, rape, sexual assault, abuse, suicide (it's complicated), grooming, manipulation, kidnapping, torture, coercion, blackmail, kink shaming, homophobia, drug addiction, non con video recording/sharing/outing, beaten up/violence
What I Liked
- a person can definitely be horny as a virgin and a person can be more comfortable giving pleasure rather than receiving it
- saying that wanting it rough was fine (though I didn't see any rough play until later...)
- a mystery
- appreciate that they tried something different from what we normally see (i.e. fluffy romcoms)
- that sports guy was upset about non con recording/sharing
- at least safe words were mentioned and after care was shown
- realistic friendship between the rich guys and the not rich guys
Room For Improvement
- the two false statements right at the beginning annoyed me
1. not everyone enjoys sex and that is totally okay
2. research does not prove that people think about sex 388 times a day https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140617-how-often-do-men-think-about-sex (the average for a college-aged man was 19 times a day which was less than thinking about food and sleep) and that study suffered from the "white bear problem" ie telling someone not to think about something makes them want to think about it
- negative and stereotypical portrayal of sex workers
- the NSFW scenes were at times tossed in (especially in the beginning) and definitely felt they were there for a shock factor rather than an integral part of the story
- NSFW were painful to watch because they felt simulated, everyone was always wearing underwear and they didn't use clever camera angles to leave the viewers' minds to fill in the rest, overall the scenes didn't make me feel anything at all, perhaps because I hadn't connected with the characters yet which leads into...
- there were a bunch of characters and I didn't get a good sense of who they were/didn't connect with them, I finally figured a few out and they tossed in more characters
- there was some nonsense stuff that veered into camp and I think it was intentional but it wasn't enough so just felt awkward
- the Japanese voice overs (think ended after ep 2) and randomly speaking in English which made an unfortunate comeback at the end
- exposition dumps in episode 2, 11 and 14
- super disappointed about talking about a safe word but then forgetting it
- cliche poor communication and not clearing it up right away also "let me explain" and doesn't explain
- styling
- characters shared 1 brain cell, characters just believed someone because they said something
- characters had poorly done redemption arcs/personality transplants
- not clearly explaining a very confusing plot and hinting at a season 2 to explain things
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Overrated
I feel compelled to write a review for Goblin because I'm finding all the perfect 10s to be misleading and, if I can be honest, completely confounding. Let me first say the best thing about Goblin is the acting. The cast is fantastic. The worst is the age gap. I know most people talk about the age of the actors; however, the issue to those of us that have a problem with the age isn't the actors, it's the characters. The lead female character is a 19 year old girl. The lead male (taking out the fantasy of his living 938 years) is a grown man who appears almost 40. Personally, I find that the Korean's have been dancing too close to the line in the young girls with adult men in dramas for at least a year now and I'm not a fan. They're more daddy issue characters.There are many times when the relationship between the 2 leads are most like Father & daughter. She speaks to him like a father figure. And he speaks to her as a child. It's off putting when it becomes clear that he has fallen for this high school girl. Part of me believes the part of Kim Shin (the Goblin) was written for a younger man. Considering the life expectancy of the period and his postion, in his late 30s he should have had a wife (and concubines I would guess) and children. I think the character should have been at least 10 years younger (again the 900 years undead aside). The romance of the leads just did not work for me on any level. Conversely, the romance between the supports is a completely different story. It was endearing and very moving. I rooted for them.
The writing was inconsistent. It was great in some parts and just passable in others. Toward the end it almost turned into melodramatic schlock. Goblin works best as a bromance. The scenes between Goblin, Reaper(s), and the male humans were precious golden nuggets to hold onto until the next time 2 or 3 of them were in a scene together. Had the writers held on to that chemistry and nourished it, Goblin would have been much better.
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It's one of those dramas that is filled with emotion. Showing the real and quite awful education system in South Korea, the realness factor was why I became interested in watching. Of course, I have to mention the other "School" series but unfortunately, I can't compare any them to this drama, since this is my first "School" series that I've watched. Nevertheless, the actors really put on a great show! As far as I know, the majority of them are amateurs in acting, I just have to give them cool points. Furthermore, the characters were relatable, totally "best friend" and "best couple" goals! After each and every episode, I had to tell my friends what kind of a great drama this is. Not only does it make you feel kinda cool, brave and happy after watching it, but also concerned and shocked about some of the school related things. To add, the music made a hugely positive impact. The OST is very fitting and there are a couple songs that piqued my interest.
A wonderful drama for back to school or to reminisce the good old high school days. This drama will take you on a diverse emotion trip and leave you feeling chilled! Definitely re-watching it after I complete the other "School" series!
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This review may contain spoilers
Yangyang Shines in The Immortal Ascension
okay, well, i'm sorry before-hand, but i only know and here for YANGYANG in this drama, so this review is gonna be me simping over him throughout cause he is just fantastic in the drama. Firstly, Yangyang delivers a captivating performance in the ongoing C-drama *The Immortal Ascension*, effortlessly embodying the complex duality of strength and vulnerability in his character. His on-screen presence is magnetic, blending stoic elegance with emotional depth, making every scene he’s in unforgettable. I am especially praising his intense fight sequences and the nuanced way he portrays his character’s internal struggle with destiny and morality. With each episode, Yangyang proves he’s not just a visual standout but a truly versatile actor carrying the emotional weight of this xianxia epic.Overall, As The Immortal Ascension continues to unfold, Yangyang's performance remains a highlight, drawing me and everyone watching or gonna watch deeper into the mystical world of cultivation and sacrifice. With his compelling portrayal and undeniable charisma, he’s not just winning battles on screen—he’s winning hearts off screen too. I can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next. I LOVE YOU YANGYANG
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