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Wasted Potential
The trailer promised too much and the series didn’t deliver. I love Perth and I love Chimon, but them together was not it. We have seen both actors deliver amazing acting previously this year (Home School and Double Savage as examples) so the subpar delivery of the feelings the characters were supposed to feel is weird. The romance is not believable, however the enemies part of the show is really great. Wasted potential to drive up the tension and drama, but it never delivered. Also, the danger felt sprinkled in without direction.The side characters are charicatures with no fleshed out story line or personality. Their actions confusing and strange at times because we do not get enough time to get to know them which made them boring. There were so much potential here to make great side stories but we never got it.
The plot was not plotting in my opinion and the chemistry couldn’t carry a series without drivers in the story. It started off strong, but then bellyflopped from the 4th episode and became meh. It wasn’t so bad that I dropped it, but it definitivly will never be rewatched.
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1A Fast-paced Mix of Politics, Humour, Love, Friendship, Doubt and Growth
Just finished watching and honestly it was beautiful. Maybe because it’s an original script, Key to the Phoenix Heart has a sense of completeness to it rarely found in C-dramas. While the drama wasn’t flawless as the flow and pacing did have its ups and downs, considering it had only 28 episodes, the story was still executed and wrapped up rather remarkably in my opinion.I really liked how all the characters are written with so many layers and depth despite its short length and the entire cast did a really fine job executing them.
Xiao Wuyi is such a conventionally unconventional character — not quite original but somehow refreshing and is undoubtedly one of Hou Minghao’s best portrayals. Wuyi seems single-mindedly focused on his goals at the cost of anything but is also endlessly selfless. Usually, I’m rather miffed when a supposed ‘wicked and ruthless’ male lead is toned down for the sake of the story but with Wuyi, it just seems natural. His anger, his determination, his love, his friendship and kindness, everything felt like it was justified. Xiao Wuyi is someone with the world on his shoulders, burdened with inherited responsibilities and his own enormous dreams — and you can see the tiredness in his eyes; being in love with his best friend’s girl, you can feel that restraint inside him, you can see his pain, just like you can see his joy when he finds that love reciprocated. Minghao captured Xiao Wuyi's kind heart, strategic mind, incredible strength and the formidable aura of a seasoned military general so well that every aspect of him felt convincing and earned.
Xie Jiayu is a remarkable start to Aimi’s female lead career. I wouldn’t call myself her fan per se, but when I first heard about this, I was honestly so proud of her despite the controversy because she absolutely deserved this role and now, I can say that she totally owned it too. Jiayu is a sixteen-year-old who acts like a sixteen-year-old. She is inexperienced, naïve, playful yet strong and resolute. There is an untainted sincerity in everything she does — in her crush, love, friendship, trust and hatred which makes it very difficult to fault her or be annoyed at her antics and personally, I think Aimi’s age played a significant role to make Jiayu feel so real. Jiayu's growth throughout the drama is gradual but deliberate as she chooses her purpose and creates her own path, growing into a confident woman who knows what she wants and what she stands for.
Their slow-burn romance was just perfect. Considering everything, I think it was executed impeccably. I was a little worried at first but the handling of Wuyi’s feelings as well as Jiayu’s emotional transition from Li Mao to Xiao Wuyi was done so well that it felt incredibly natural. The romance was clean and age-appropriate but never felt incomplete. Their natural chemistry, the dialogues, their acts of service, their body language and the hugs never made me doubt for one second that these people loved each other.
The supporting cast were also written well and weren’t just divided into black and white. They had depth with personal motives, distinct personalities and character development and honestly, there wasn’t any character that I hated. I liked how the writer didn’t sacrifice secondary characters to uplift the main leads and let them make their own mistakes and redemptions. Personally, I really liked Li Mao and Lejun. The casting helped as I do like Wang Yilun quite a lot, but I could mostly get behind their reasoning and loved how dynamic they were. Their mistakes and flaws were real but so were their motives and reparations and despite all the back and forth, I think Li Mao needed to experience all that to reach his own fulfillment.
The plot was intricate and rather ambitious with many elements packed in just twenty-eight episodes but it was still surprisingly solid without any glaring plot holes and had some genuinely interesting plot twists even if the story felt a little too dramatic, a bit rushed and unnecessarily complicated at times. But my frustrations were generally overpowered by my interest, and I really did enjoy this drama from start to finish. The blend of politics, romance and humour was also done exceptionally well, and I found it really engaging to watch. The cinematography was beautiful, the visuals and the styling were stunning, the action scenes were well-choregraphed and the soundtrack really elevated the story without overpowering it.
Overall, I genuinely loved this drama. The combination of intriguing plot, well written and brilliantly executed characters, heartfelt relationships, impeccable comedy, beautiful visuals and osts packed in a fast-paced story makes Key to the Pheonix Heart a drama totally worth watching and is absolutely recommended.
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Boys Over Flowers was a nice drama. It has its sparks here and there but it never really caught my heart. The story line was good, the cast was just amazing and the soundtrack just makes you flutter.
But Hana Yori Dango/Boys Over Flowers, in my sense, was a story about a kind and brave girl who fell in love and changed a guy who longed for love among everyone else. A girl who did all she could to protect her loved ones and fight for herself. A guy trying to show to the girl he loves that she was the only one for him, with the help of his friends. A not-so-cliche couple, trying to prove to the world how much they treasure each other and how they can overcome all the hardships reality threw to them.
BOF gave viewers great visual on how the F4's lives were. But I never saw the friendship between them. They were good-looking as hell but, the closeness was not there. Jan Di was, sure, poor, but I don't think she would gobble down food like that.
Jun Pyo and Jan Di had sparks, just wasn't enough. Their chemistry just never caught my heart, unlike Domyouji (Matsumoto Jun) and Makino (Inoue Mao). Never got their version of the necklace either. Domyouji gave Makino the necklace as to let her know that she is his soul-mate, based on horoscope. Why the moon never escaping the star?
I guess every adaptation has its own twists and patterns to make it different from the others. Just so happens that this one, indeed caught me eye, but not my heart.
( Tho I love the fact that they made a side story to Ga Eul and Yi Jung, even tho it was not in the manga xDD )
I don't regret watching this. It was a nice drama. Lots of eye-candy and idol-ish faces. Just that, compared to the other versions, BOF was probably the one I like the least. I recommend this to those who have watched HYD or Meteor Garden, since if you're a real fan of this story, you definitely have to see this.
:D
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A drama sure to check off many people's boxes for their "ideal type" of drama
This was such a refreshing firework of a drama! The two leads, in particular, made it crazy fun to watch with their so-far-out-there-they-might-as-well-be-floating-in-space personalities that were only heightened when they shared the same air. And they were consistently predictable yet unpredictable, leaving me either correct in my predictions while also being pleasantly befuddled at the path taken or both puzzled beyond belief and amused. Meanwhile, the side couple offered something unique with the often overlooked issue of financial inequality in a relationship and the myriad of ways it can affect it, including self-inflicted shame, pressure, and guilt.It was a true delight tuning into Boys Be Brave. I highly recommend giving it a go! Especially if you're into "quirky" characters and dramas.
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Hate to say this but Netflix doesn't disappoint
"I detest young offenders" - I somehow agree with it LOL. Although everyone deserves second chances but sometimes it just shows that you shouldn't be lenient with all minors just because they are minors, they will not learn their lessons and their mistakes and grow up to be monsters if you continue to let them go and let them think that "oh, so I can commit this crime and I won't get caught at all" and they will commit more and more crimes and each time it gets worse. Honestly got quite pissed when I saw the kids laughing away after killing people. Coming again with another well written series by Netflix. What I'm seeing now is that the show is criminally underrated for now, not many viewers are watching this, not sure whether more people will start watching this after a few days as this was just released few hours ago. But this show was really nice, it shows and depicts the many different social issues surrounding young offenders. Though it's not the first time a drama has done this but this one was quite well written. It was really entertaining and engaging so I binged it in one whole sitting. :) Kim Hye Soo done a great job as a Judge, likewise in Hyena as a lawyer. She really suits playing characters relating to law haha. GOOD SERIES OK TRUST ME!! Very good law drama and unique theme of young offenders, give it a try.Edit: It is now sitting at #1 spot for many countries on Netflix.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story - I must give two thumbs up for the screenwriter for not ruining the original storyline.. it's only about Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui's adventure and they didn't change anything major.. the story is pretty enjoyable as I love to watch mystery and adventure ^^ They made many references to The Untamed so we won't be lost and take it as a whole new movie.. Acting / Cast - As always, Yu Bin did a really good job! He is such a wonderful actor.. his acting never failed to amaze me.. I understand the need to change the character.. they can't make a naive and foolish boy as a main character of a mystery movie, right? XDD but I see their effort not to make Wen Ning too out of character.. it's still our Wen Ning who depends and trusts his Young Master Wei the most :""") the other actors aren't bad.. but idk because they changed the director or what, the acting isn't as good as The Untamed (even Zheng Fanxing).. I mean they aren't bad, but if you make The Untamed as comparasion, The Living Dead is a bit of lacking.. so I decided to take away the 0.5 star XD
Music - Since I'm already familiar with Yu Bin's Chi Zi, I enjoy the music very much.. I watched the ending credit until the song ended lol.. and I almost cry when I heard Wu Ji in the scene where Wei Wuxian appeared.. It really give the feeling of nostalgic~ I don't have any problem with the other music.. they are pretty good too..
Rewatch Value - Sure. This is a pretty good movie to kill time.. I will rewatch it when I have free time.. ^^
Overall - I highly recommend this for all The Untamed fans.. but I must take the 0.5 star because it stands behind The Untamed's shadow (and I decided not to give any drama 10 except The Untamed to appreciate the masterpiece X"D)
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Did I enjoy it? Yes. Some episodes more than others. Some characters were better written with more believable and relatable storyline, some were exaggerated and presented in a comedic way. With such a cast with a variety of truly different characters, I believe everyone will find someone whom they like and relate to.
Episodes focus on different problems all Tee's face and how they help each other overcome them. Not all tries end with success, but that's life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but you always have to keep striving for improvement.
I might have enjoyed it more if it was not for episode 7 and the last storyline explored. It made me slightly dislike some of the characters ("slightly dislike" might not be the correct statement, I was truly annoyed when I watched it). The ending was emotionally heavy, but since the set up for it was quite weak, it didn't hit me as hard as it should, taking into consideration the discussed subject.
The acting was good. As always, Gun takes the trophy for the best crying scene. I could see clear improvement from all the cast members (though Krist surprised me the most).
Overall, I would say die hard fans would love it, fans would enjoy it, others it's 50/50 chance of liking or being meh about it. I enjoyed it, but with every episode, my excitement kind of slowly died.
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This review may contain spoilers
Falling for Innocence is one of those dramas that makes me feel conflicted when it comes to writing a review. Usually I am very clear how I feel about each drama. I am either ecstatic and can’t wait to share my excitement with everyone that cares to listen or it just doesn’t do anything for me. Or when a show has to make me work hard to like it, those are the ones I will ultimately drop.So did I enjoy this drama? Yes and No. There were a few times I was ready to walk away from it but it did have enough punch to keep me watching.
The number one reason I stayed through the end was due to the leads. The show’s strongest attributes were its casts. Jung Kyung Ho made me mad, made me laugh, made me sad, made me cringe, but ultimately he made me root for Min Ho. His performance was multifaceted and he was able to pull it off and made me a believer. I might have cringed at some of his expressions and showmanship if delivered by other lesser actors as it could easily have come across as contrived and childish.
The number of times his hair changed or got a makeover made me laughed too. To me, it seemed like the stylist paid more attention to his hair than So Yeon’s which had remained constant throughout the show.
So Yeon was stellar. Her performance was consistently good as the loving fiancee and prospective daughter in law. She did a great job portraying Sung Jung’s inner struggles between loyalty for Dong Wook versus her newfound love for Min Ho.
Hyun Min was as good as it gets for a villain. He made it easy for us to hate Joon Hee by delivering the emotions of a man scorned by his first and only love, someone treated like a dog with little to no respect from the Chairman; both of which ultimately led to his greed for power as the answer to all his woes.
Jo Eun Ji as Wendy and Lee Si-Un as Woo Sik were perfect supporting casts with a cute love line of their own.
I also enjoyed seeing strong female characters; Sung Jung was not afraid to speak her mind and followed her conviction and her heart. Same with Wendy for pushing for what she believed is right and just in a workplace dominated by powerful and corrupted men. Even the secretary pool of Yoo Mi and Mi Roo also depicted strong female traits rather than the conventional silly airheads of many kdramas.
What got me annoyed and almost made me gave up was the plot. I didn’t mind the premise of the corporate M&A theme but the constant re-use of the same plot devices got a bit tiring episode after episode. Instead of one main story arc spanning the entire 16 episodes, it felt like the same story arc got repeated over and over again albeit with slightly different ingredients thrown in. The writer did make us guess all the way to the end but all that angst culminated in one rather quick episode which also made it too tidy and a tad rushed.
The music is good and complements the show nicely but nothing to write home about.
For the above mentioned reasons, it is not a re-watch for me.
But overall, it is a decent drama. The romance is fun, cute and touching. I can’t say enough about Jung Kyung Ho. His performance made all the difference for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
an underwhelming and confusing result
all i knew before watching this movie was that it had an incredible cast and iffy plot. i had no idea how they were planning to make a man cheating on his girlfriend watchable entertainment.lo and behold, the entire time we were simply watching a guy thats on the borderline of cheating on his girlfriend, with a plot twist that didnt make anything better. the script didnt evoke any emotions, the characters werent well developed, the plot was cliche, and the ending tied this all into a lopsided bow. i dont know who looked at the sweet and sour proposal and said "yes, this is so good it needs to be made into a movie."
it was minimally interesting to see the relationship between ML and FL being paralleled with ML and SML. the only other positive i can think of is the incredible team of actors. they tried to make the plot and characters relatable but i never felt any emotions except annoyance for the ML and the plot never reached peak satisfaction. i think its because they focused too much on building up for the ending, but the ending was the weakest part of the movie and a different ending mightve made it a more watchable, relatable, slowburn romance.
i especially disliked how the directors set the narrative on ML to make him appear more internally conflicted and less of a shitty cheater. i couldnt tell if they wanted us to sympathize with ML or hate him, which was probably done to help the ending flow better. unfortunately, 7 minutes of explaining and backtracking isnt enough time to "fix" or settle anything. the plot twist doesnt help the movie either, it kind of just leaves us off on an unsatisfied note, like "what just happened?". it makes me feel like i should rewatch the movie to understand it, but the movie wasnt good enough for me to want to rewatch it.
all in all, the writing and plot werent strong enough to do what the director/writer intended for it to do. the actors were great but absolutely wasted on this mediocre and confusing movie. even though i had no expectations, im still disappointed.
if you read the description and expect the "refreshing romantic comedy" it claims to be, youll be even more disappointed than i was.
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1Wasted Potential At Its Finest.
I don't even know from where to begin. The writers tried to bite off more than they could chew and it's laughable.As a casual watcher, if you want to watch seemingly captivating characters with plenty of potential get half baked storylines and an immaculate wardrobe and decor, this one is for you. [I keep coming back and re-editing my score because I simply can't remember anything about this drama. It's fascinating because Domundi shows following it are miles ahead in several aspects. How could they mess up this one?]
First and foremost, believe me when I tell you that the writing and pacing for the main characters is very akin to trekking on a jeep. The *main characters*, who have more than enough screentime. Not the supporting roles. And this is one of those rare times I felt that the side characters were much more well written and had succinct storylines with the very limited amount of screentime. Scratch that-- by the end of the drama, their scenes were the only ones I didn't fast-forward.
Now that the biggest issue I have with this one is out of the way, let's get down to business.
• When Charan, an art Professor with a double identity as a guard who protects the ruling King's family, the Assavadevathins, is sent for a secret mission to retrieve their hidden heir, Khanin, back to Emmaly, he does not know that whom he is about to bring back is going to set forth a series of events that might just change his life forever. Meanwhile Khanin, who is still bitter after being harshly uprooted from everything and everyone he knew, decides to agree to enter a Royal competition to secure the throne for the Assavadevathins in exchange for information about his supposedly dead adopted father.
☆ The Good:
• I think the actors did a wonderful job portraying what was given to them. Even challenging characters.
Shout out to JJ in particular, because for a character that was air dropped, he managed to evoke emotions with his performance, particularly during his final appearance. And NuNew during the first 3 episodes, where he really had to express and face difficult circumstances.
Ava's actress was no joke too. She was very expressive, particularly in EP9.
Then there is Jimmy and Ohm for Ramil and Paytai. They tried their very best till the end, considering the 'half baked' situation, and most of the conjectures about their past and personalities were made solely based on their minute performances; something which is no easy feat as characters like Ramil tend to get easily dumbed down as evil. Both the characters of Ramil and Paytai are emotionally taxing and they managed to steal the thunder and overshadow what was supposed to be the main story.
Also, I adored Chakri. Particularly during his solo shenanigans.
• Everyone had convincing chemistries, which might be one of the reasons this drama managed to stay afloat. Particular note on Khanin and his adopted father's scenes -- they were natural and reminded me why I stuck on till the end.
• The costumes, sets, even the music at times all blended in well.
(I do think the that frilly outfits worn by Khanin were overboard as it looked like his clothes either matched his hair or the decor of the palace half the time. It's a good thing that NuNew could pull off the princely air, otherwise I would have never been able to take Khanin seriously. Ava's, Calvin, Paytai and Ramil's outfits were beautiful, though, without being flashy. )
• I even forgive the writers for the absolutely cartoonish representation of a fictional nation, but with an actual Royal family still alive and kicking, they'd be playing with fire if something even close to reality gets portrayed on screen.
(I took it as one of those fictional Young Adult novels with similar settings. )
☆ The Cold Pricklies:
What I genuinely cannot wrap my mind around is the fact that the scriptwriter is the same one behind "I Feel You Linger In The Air".
• The villains. Writers should learn to write good ones, or choose to not include anyone if they can't pull it off well. This was the last straw for me.
There is another 'villain', but you know that something is terribly wrong when viewers support him.
How in the world am I supposed to root for a character when his entire family were depicted as shady, ignorant and selfish? I frankly did not want the Assavadevathins to win ---- major issues were swept under the rug in favour of poorly written redemption arcs that not only downplayed the seriousness of a situation, but also portrayed the other characters in an unsatisfactory light.
I hated Prince Tharin till the end. They writers made him act like a rabbit when he should've been the one in the frontline. I find it impossible to believe that he was selectively blind to all the ongoings until Khanin arrived.
• There was a certain way the scriptwriter chose to introduce the various royal families and the places where they stay--- Khanin would somehow simply go off to visit that place under some excuse whenever it happened . Which was futile as it did nothing to his character.
It took 8 or 9 episodes before there was some movement relevant to the story because Khanin seemed to have forgotten all about his adopted father.
• As for the main character.... Khanin might be one of the most under-utilized ones I've seen. He had the most screentime, yet his plotline was stuck in a monotonous cycle for half of the show. Yes, him clinging to the one person he could trust was natural. But, they overfrosted their cake.
Which is sad because NuNew is a multi-talented and fantastic performer. *knock on wood*
Very sure that he could've pulled a much more challenging role than this spongecake of a story. The other kids got that part, though. (Ramil, Paytai, Ava, Jay.)
They spent episodes on him doing nothing substantial, choosing to stuff all his development within the first and last part of the drama. By then, all the time we needed to connect with him had become cold.
Which might be why so many people are pissed off.
He seemed to be the most relaxed at times even, considering that he should be the one throwing pots and pans instead of meekly accepting his role as a dress-up- doll. What happened to the Khanin from the first 3 or 4 episodes? Where was his desire to know more about his adopted father and all the shady shenanigans that were going on?
Even he gets forgotten during the final episodes.
• Charan -- How they managed to mess up one of the main characters, out of all, I do not know.
I liked his character much more when he wasn't being viewed through Khanin's eyes. Once he became involved with him, all his enigma was erased and he was reduced to a mere love interest.
And after EP13, I'm convinced that his family was brainwashed/he has some form of Stockholm Syndrome --- the Charan from the early episodes wouldn't simply let things go the way he did. (This is indirectly related to my first Cold Prickly.)
Initially, we could see him bend himself to the rules and even get tired of being tossed back and forth like a bargaining chip. Something he himself says. He almost feels relieved that Khanin simply didn't see him as a disposable person.
It's evident that he knows a lot and has even seen a lot. He could get information and dig through things for Khanin; yet all that gets swept under the rug in favour of his 'love story'. Which I didn't root for as much I thought I would. It just didn't feel natural.
He had the most secrets to keep and his association with a shady character was interesting. Yet, it didn't get fleshed out. All of that was stuffed behind dialogues and you expect me to buy that?
Zee Pruk can act, but I'm starting to doubt that he is getting typecasted in such roles.
• Khanin and Charan's romance needed natural progress - it was new or never established prior to the story, which doubles the writer's and director's task for making it appear convincing to the viewer. Instead, I felt suffocated by the amount of sugar they were attempting to insert into what could've been an excellent portrayal of power dynamics -- the story is supposed to be between a royal guard and a Prince.
What I got was insta-love, which I dislike. Charan seemed to be okay with being tossed about as long as Khanin was involved and Khanin's character lost all purpose for several episodes to fit in their romance.
Never thought I would say this, but watch Cutie Pie if you need a convincing relationship portrayed by the same actors.
Charan and Khanin's relationship literally had no challenges or hardships to get through. It's okay if they didn't have any, but it shouldn't come off as insipid. I liked their rapport much more when they were out of their uniforms.
• This is also one of the reasons why I find the other Royal kids' storyline much more rivetting... and enraging. Both Ava and Ramil had something challenging to get through, regardless of how their characters are written. (Ava being sweet and Ramil being arrogant to everyone outside of his home.)
Then there is Khanin, whom we see, spents most of his time touring or attempting to romance Charan. What was the point of all that? Other than shedding more light on the supporting characters, it brought no development for Khanin. Who learns and seems to promptly forget about his connection to the Snake family; goes for drinks and fun at the Phoenix family and enjoys some pearls before meeting someone at the end of EP8, where the story begins to give him the leverage he needed to get through the competition. But, even then, he doesn't seek the answers for himself.
• Ramil might not have the same amount of screentime as Khanin, but every scene of his kept me intrigued.
There was 'something' to know. His upbringing was clearly convoluted, considering that he was the sole heir for many years and his father's draconian methods to keep him in line put him under a constant state of pressure.
[There is a speech from his side in EP11 which perfectly describes his actions, so I understand where he is coming from and why he is the way he is.]
It's also evident that Paytai, a selected 'companion' was the only other real 'friend' he had. That too, one who was approved by his father.
• Jimmy described his character and couple as the bitter palate cleanser which is exactly what it was.
I wondered why he seemed to say that his character was a balance for the 'sweet' parts, since it looked like he had more potential than to just become a background character. Turns out that he was 100% right.
Don't expect any progress in Ramil × Paytai storyline, which I deem is one of the absolute worst, since they had a very interesting one to build up on and the writer decided to throw it away hastily. I'm calling it half baked because EP14 just nails in the fact that I, as a viewer, don't know anything about their relationship or how it works out.
Where was all the seemimgly established relationship dynamics among the three?
We are introduced to Paytai as a 'companion', who is supposed to get hit in Ramil's stead; then we have Paytai's dream in EP4, which explains his reaction ... yet, I don't know where their relationship stands.
Did Prince Rachata know about it? Did Ramil even know that Paytai cherished him? Because the first few episodes gave no hints about it.
I don't see any steady writing that could bring a neat denouement to these two. Their past remains a mystery. But, atleast Paytai seems elated by the way things went down for them.
• Same with Ava, who is much less restrained, yet has to live with the fact that the misogynistic rules of Emmaly will forever paint her in an unsatisfactory light for her father, however hard she tried. She was the token female character for women empowerment; she clearly displayed defiance and endured endless training... for what?
Her friendship with Ramil is very interesting since Ramil seems to loosen up around her and she gets his nature to an extent. Where was all that?
• Calvin existed just so he could go back and tell his family that Emmaly sucks. Jay is like the only character who seems to know what he wants right from the get go, and where did all that go?
Net is a really good actor, but he needed a stable backstory for it to shine through. His expressions matched mine half the time he was on screen -- wanting to disappear from the spotlight/pure confusion.
• What happened to everyone's mothers? Particularly Ava and Ramil's, since it's not told what had happened to them.
There are women, who played pivotal roles in shaping the events that occurred to the characters'. There are like three of them, even in the main poster and it's even hinted that something major that had taken place in the past was linked to one of the main characters. Yet, everything got stuffed into an episode. Which was purposeless as they had tons of time for an actual build-up instead of a deus ex machina.
• The good thing that this drama brought? It helped me discover excellent actors.
I am now genuinely curious about Love Upon A Time. Also, somehow Ohm's unhinged tweets (which might be his method of actively engaging with fans, considering that he seems to know fandom behaviour well) made their way to my twitter timeline -- it made me explore the fandom of Thai BL pairings (which seems to be companies' attempts to save time and money for conducting additional screentests and workshops/acting classes; a quite logical option), their fandoms in extension; and control of fanservice in general.
It also makes me stress that a few casual viewers like me, who don't follow pairings or fandoms would prefer a good story to elicit the right emotions. Chemistry alone can't save a drama, and The Next Prince, for all it's opulence, relied solely on the actors' strengths to power through.
☆ Final Thoughts:
It's not a terrible drama if you have it on double the speed, and choose which part to watch as you won't miss much even if you skip. But, if you prefer strong scripts and storylines, I suggest you run away from this one.
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1"HEAR ME OUT! ENTITLED ON THEIR OWN OPINION"
If it's not your cup of tea then don't try to smell or have a taste with it. Spill it don't sip it. WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK.In my opinion, labeling viewers of a drama series as pedophiles simply based on their interest in watching it can be unfair and overly simplistic. Such accusations are serious and should not be made lightly without understanding the context and intent of the viewers.
Be informed that the production is in Thailand, so they have their own rules, guidelines and laws concerning age consent, in reality age consent may differ in different countries based on their norms and beliefs.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HARD FOR SOME PEOPLE TO SWALLOW: From a legal standpoint (based on Thai law), there is no issue with their age gap in ACTED OUT a sexual scene. I think it's all going to come down to what people think from a MORAL standpoint because every potential viewer has their own culture and beliefs based on the country they are living in. So, no one have the right to dictate to other people that they are disregarding their morals and ethics when it is okay with them regarding the age gap of the two main leads who acted out a sexual scene. DRINK SOME WATER TO PREVENT CHOKING.
Don't be problematic here. There's no problem with their casting; it's just that it goes against your MORAL standpoint. But that doesn’t mean they are doing something illegal or immoral.
Concerns about the portrayal of minors in scenes involving sensitive content are valid, if that is really your concern. However, it is clear that IN THIS SHOW, NO ACTORS NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE HARM OF BEING EXPLOITED and ABUSED. How I can say that? Just simply watching their EP 0, wherein they show how they produce this series (behind-the-scenes footage) and the reaction video of the four lead actors to the official trailer of their series. I cannot see and feel that they are being abused and exploited. As of now, there are no allegations of abuse or mistreatment coming out from the actors in this series.
Don't make things complicated, if the show violates the law or fails to meet regulatory standards, it typically won't be produced or broadcast.
To those people who keep on spamming here in the comment section about "A MAN KISSING A CHILD" please stop being DELUSIONAL. The way you think is really disgusting. No viewers want that kind of scenario.
This Drama series is based on the novel about two sixteen-year-old boys, who despite their social differences and personal history forge a close love relationship that is ACTED OUT BY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS.
So basically, this drama series is not about "A MAN KISSING A CHILD". STOP BEING DELUSIONAL it really disgust me and clearly your intentions are to put malicious accusations and destroy the show.
Friendly advice: You better do some research to gather knowledge about creative filming techniques like camera angling so it can cure your DELUSIONS and also help you to distinguish between fiction and real-life scenarios. It will help you to understand the difference between what's real and what's acted out in dramas or any form of entertainment.
FACT: Mac and August acted out a sexual scene as consensual, under Thai law, it would generally be considered legal and morally right in their country. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HARD FOR SOME PEOPLE TO SWALLOW. DRINK MORE WATER TO PREVENT CHOKING.
These two main leads (regardless of their age) are 'ACTORS' who are passionate about their job at portraying fictional characters convincingly. Criticizing them for their choices or age only undermines the value of their craft and the dedication they bring to their roles. Such disparagement reflects more on the critics' own biases than on the actors' abilities or performances.
It is an early apology when you beg to disagree. Im sorry???
Spread positivity and don't forget to detoxify (y)ourselves. 🤡
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Friends to Forever.. A Heartfelt Journey in You Are My Lover Friend..
In a genre filled with familiar tropes and cliched romances.. You Are My Lover Friend tries to set itself apart by taking a more heartfelt approach.. Exploring the slow burn of friendship evolving into love.. With genuine emotion and subtle moments the drama captures the beauty and complexity of realising your love for someone who’s been by your side all along..Really loved all the characters in the drama especially Cheng Hui.. He was really fun to watch.. Feng Wei Ran and Jiang Yan An's relationship was another strong point in the drama.. And I also enjoyed the dynamic between the ML and his mother.. It added a lighthearted enjoyable touch..
However.. Honestly.. The drama would have been better received if it was just 20 or 24 eps.. The main couple could have gotten together sooner.. As there was no real reason to delay it.. There were quite a few unnecessary subplots that didn’t add much to the story.. And the whole 'Brother Yang' thing became repetitive.. It was honestly annoying hearing them call her that so many times..
One of the positives of You Are this drama is that it doesn’t rely on a complicated story arc.. For me that’s refreshing.. There are plenty of dramas that overuse angst and tension.. But luckily this one didnt follow the same path..
Overall.. You Are My Lover Friend offers a refreshing take on the friends to lovers trope.. Even though the drama feels unnecessarily stretched, It still remains an enjoyable watch for anyone craving heartfelt romance..
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A dull mess. Mostly a long ad for snack foods.
I hope you like insant noodles and factory-produced chocolate cakes with some white stuff inside.I was so excited for this, because after Bad Buddy I really wanted to see Jimmy star in a series, and I love the support cast. But what a huge disappointment.
First of all, the plot is barely existent. The gimmick is that people can get transported to an alternate universe when they die, but can get back to their own universe (apparently alive again) if you find your portkey, which is another person, but under circumstances that are not clear.
Jimmy and Sea are beautiful and they both look unusually good with their shirts off, or on, or a little of both, but that can't save this series.
Which is a thinly-veiled string of commercials for products. There is so much product placement, and not just people exaggeratedly enjoying a refreshing drink - it's endless. Episode 7, which finally killed any desire I have to waste time being victimized for my loyal BL viewership, had a good 20-minute streak where nothing happened except product placement. There's even a debate over whether KFC should be eaten with sauce or not. Apparently yes. Otherwise you're disrespecting whoever invented the sauce more than you are insulting whoever fried the chicken. (For the record, it's disrespecting whoever fried the chicken. It's already seasoned with spice.)
There is no chemistry between the leads. Part of the problem is that their personalities weren't introduced before the switch, so we never really got a sense of what their motivations are, and the show is crippled by "uke-ism", meaning the seme (Puen) comes on to the uke (Talay), who behaves like being kissed on the cheek is attempted rape and grimaces in disgust and pushes him away. When they hug, they're standing a meter apart and leaning in to touch shoulders, and their kisses are mechanical and the actors put in the minimum required to make it techically a kiss.
There is no point to this series. It doesn't explore any social issues, balancing career & personal life, the trials of showbusiness, or anything at all, despite the golden opportunity of an alternate universe that could have contrasted with ours in meaningful ways. The differences are all superficial and meaningless, like instead of birthday cake, you have birthday cotton candy (with candles in it. I wonder what the death rate in this universe is from accidental fires). All we get is 12 eps of chemistry-free fluff and snacks. None of the support characters serve any purpose except comic relief, and exposition, and the series doesn't even explore what it means for the person you love to suddenly have a different body. (Personally, if I were dating doughy Nanon, I'd stay in bed 25 hours a day if he were suddenly built like Jimmy, but I'm shallow. If I were dating Nanon I'd be just as happy but I'd make him sing a lot instead.) It could have been an opportunity to look at the difference between surface aspects of attraction and the deeper connection of love.
This deserves a 3, but the actors did as well they could in a tragic situation like this, and I feel bad for punishing them, so I gave it a 5. Most of the actors actually play and sing the music in this, which also earns some points. Nanon has a lovely voice - I wanted to hear more of it. The production is competent but uninspired.
I can't recommend it, unless you love fluff and cheesy lines. And snacks.
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This review may contain spoilers
If you're here purely for Kim Seon Ho, this drama isn't for you.
I've never written a review before, but bear with me here.I will focus less on going through everything about this story's plot and more about the fact that seems to have infuriated a lot of people, which is the fact that Kim Seon Ho's character isn't the main romantic lead. The reason why I decided to watch this drama is because I love Nam Joo Hyuk since I watched Weightlifting Fairy, and I had recently finished watching The School Nurse Files, where I absolutely adored him as well. I don't mind Kim Seon Ho as an actor, I neither like him nor dislike him (though I'll say I lean more into liking him than anything else) which is probably why my enjoyment of the show wasn't tinted by the fact that he wasn't the main love interest, and I was looking forward and throughly enjoyed the happy ending we got.
All of that being said— and you can call me biased because of this— I never really felt like Han Ji Pyung had any chance of being a real second love interest for Dal Mi. I don't think there was ever a love triangle; Dal Mi definitely was fixated on the boy from the letters but ultimately never really liked the Han Ji Pyung she met (romantically, that is), and the revelation that he was actually the one who wrote the letters changed nothing about those feelings— except maybe making her disappointed in the fact that it wasn't actually the real Do San who wrote them.
I think Dal Mi liked Do San from the moment she met him and the fact that she thought he was the boy from the letters was simply something that added to her initial attraction. She said it herself that the moments where Do San didn't seem to be the boy of the letters stirred something in her that she really liked.
I don't think there was ever any competition because like I said, there was never a love triangle. And I totally get people being disappointed that Ji Pyung didn't end up with Dal Mi, but a drama where that happened would have to have been a completely different story from the get go.
As I said in the headline, If you're here purely for Kim Seon Ho, this drama isn't for you. But if you're here for Nam Joo Hyuk, then it absolutely is.
It has emotional, funny, frustrating and intense moments that made it very enjoyable for me to watch, and after watching Record of Youth which left me feeling so utterly disappointed, this was a soothing balm for my soul.
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