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TRIAGE IS A MASTER PIECE
Everything in this Bl series is perfect the acting, the background music 🎶 played at the end of each episode fits the series. The story is perfect and I won't like to spoil it for you but just to let you know episode 4 and 11 are deeply connected by timeline. Remember Triage is not about sex scenes but of true genuine love 💕 and sacrifices . Triage will go down in history like "Not me" an unexpected,underated but excellent 👌 Bl series! Just watch it . Prepare your pillows, your popcorns, your tissues for some highly emotional 😭 scenes( I have cried on three different occasions ) as a fantasy this story will be remembered lovingly like the chronicles of Narnia. Author Sammon has once again presented us with a novel which like Manner of death ( Triage outshines manner of death ) is realistic and relates to our struggle in this world! Triage is a bl series that I will be sitting down to rewatch again and again! Triage is definitely in my top 5 Thai Bl series this year1,Dr Tin: In the beginning I viewed him as a lazy doctor who didn't care about his patients especially after how he causally announced Tol's death and even Yawned when professor Sadka reprimanded him. However I have grown to love him! Yes he rose perfectly to the occasion, his resolve to save Tol at all cost is heart warming. Despite being ignored by Tol, being punched by Tol, being rejected by Tol he stays by his side through out all the loops and finally he wins his trust and heart! That he's determined to save Mia's mummy,Ritt from sucide, Tol from heart attack and to become his boyfriend is cute and noble! When he gets stabbed I cried 😭 out my eyes not because he was going to die ( I knew he wasn't) but because he risked his life to prevent harm to his fellow doctors. His death left me in shock he laid down his life for Tol unconditionally and lovingly and fulfilled his promise to protect Tol!
2, Tol: my first impression of him was a paranoid,rich boy who suspects everyone around him of being a threat to him. His love life with Mia was to me a facade, a forced relationship and a one sided obsession.The way he punched Tin without waiting for him to finish explaining boiled my blood! To me he treated Ritt to shabbily.However as I progressed I find him to actually feel insecure. When Tin delivers his first kiss, Tol is flabbergasted and pretends to be angry though he liked it. His love for a lone cat he found got me.( I'm a cat lover ) Tol is a true friend standing by Ritt despite their quarrel,he saves Ritt from the assassin,saves him from repeating his last year in university and goes ahead to even apologize at the party. For me Tol redeemed himself.
3, Art: a friend in need is a friend indeed. This describes Art completely who like Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the rings has remained completely faithful to his friends. He risk his eye for Ritt, his life for Tol when he accompanied him in his car to go after Mia and her boyfriend. He exposes the green snakes {Lupakatir and Win} to Ritt. He accepts Tin unconditionally,he tries to mend the broken relationship between Tol and Ritt, he prevents Tol from drinking alcohol and he's totally honest!
4, Ritt: To me Ritt is easily manipulated, his weak, always depressed and a coward. He can't see the handwriting on the wall! He's scared of being killed so he doesn't go to the police (that didn't stop the assassin from trying to kill him) he believes that Tol hates him that he's being oppressed for being poor. Luckily for him Tin has come to save him
5, Lupakatir and Win: who needs enemies when you have such friends. That aptly describes the duo who are jealous of Tol and Ritt and destroys their relationship by sowing lies, hatred and malice between Tol,Art and Ritt. They got what they deserve for cheating in the examination hall.
6, Gap: he's a lovely doctor,who jokes around but is serious with his duties. His friendship with Tin is rock solid as he dances and plays with him. He loves Sing and cares about him. However don't be deceived by his lovely, cute puppy face he's not weak,as he takes on Dio who welds a loaded gun. And he's also brutally honest telling Ritt that he can leave a perfect life with one kidney.
7,Sing: here's a doctor who believes in hardwork, who's strict and looks merciless but he has a soft heart which he hides beneath an exterior of a frowning face. He dislikes professor Sadka and works hard to expose him! His love for Tin was shown when he uses an extreme bloody method to try and revive Tin ( can get that bloody scene out of my head )
8, Mia: She's a good example of a girl who wants it all! She wants Heart's love, Tol's money and her mother being given cosy treatment. She is indirectly responsible for Tol's death and rather than tell Tol her true feelings for him she plays him around her fingers. Tol has however ratified that part thanks 😊 to Mia he meets his true soulmate and love.
9, Professor Sadka and Dio: my first impression of the above mentioned professor didn't last. At first I thought him an upright learned man not knowing he was a beast in human flesh. Him and Dio works together to reap what they have not planted, they're both filled with greed and covetousness. They kill innocent patients as to harvest their organs. Dio is Sadka's lackey who carries out the heinous acts in collaboration with some Nazi nurses and doctors who euthanize their victims and harvest their organs. Dio carries out the dirty jobs while professor Sadka remains and looks innocent in his immaculate white. And as a someone stated in this group Dio owing student loans doesn't excuse his evil!
10, Jinta: Dear me Jinta and Tol makes a comical pair and you will surely laugh when you watch them both in episode 12
EDIT: JUST FINISHED WATCHING IT ONLINE TODAY BEING JULY 11 ON ITS OFFICIAL CHANNEL AISPLAY YOUTUBE. THE FINAL EPISODE WAS REFRESHING AND YOU WILL LOVE 💕 IT. JUSTICE IS SERVED AND LOVE PREVAILS!
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A slice of police life with the past
I can only write this after watching 10 episodes, because I just feel like this drama is worth watching, not just because my bias, Gong Jun, plays the role.This drama offers a glimpse into the daily lives of police officers with all its problems. The three police officers each have their own dark stories. We're invited to delve deeper into them as we follow them as they solve cases.
In total, out of 30 episodes, there will reportedly be 11 cases explored. So far, the case resolutions are quite brief, about 3 episodes per case. They're not overly lengthy. But if you're into gore or bloody forensics, this won't do; the forensics are more lighthearted here. And that's not the point; the emphasis is more on the investigation, the pursuit of criminals, and the theories.
This drama also offers a slice of life, the hustle and bustle of police life, to the point where they're told to disperse even while eating because of a case. Or those who were trying to get close but were suddenly told to get together, or even those who divorced because they were busy. What's touching is that this division even had time to cook food for the cleaning staff who worked until night or dawn during their hectic case-solving schedules.
It's a police story, but there's a love story, apparently, that doesn't make it in. Wait a minute, the love story is related to the reason the woman chose to become a police officer, so it had to be included. The love story isn't just a romantic kissing scene, either. It's more about an internal conflict due to a misunderstanding in their past. So now they have to face it in their respective professions.
If you're curious, give it a try. There's also the added bonus of Jun2 riding a motorcycle and racing, which is quite eye-opening. Oh well, just watch it. I'd say it's good and very addictive, and I can't wait for the next episode.
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Winter Is Not the Death of Summer but the Birth of Spring
21 people found this review helpful
I would recommend this
i’ve seen a lot of critical reviews saying the series was poorly made, but we all know it didn’t have a big budget for better production. still, i think they really tried.so far, i like the story because there aren’t too many characters, so the plot focuses on the main pair. they make a great duo, and the story feels different from other bl shows. the trope of a prisoner and a prisoner is rare since most bls are about high school love stories. the characters seem mature, but they’re clearly struggling with their relationship, like they’re yearning to be loved even though it feels forbidden because of who they are.
i’m honestly so curious about their backstories. i really want to know more about them.
to be honest, their acting needs improvement, but it’s understandable since it’s their first time acting. and while we can’t really complain about the writing since it’s based on a true story, i think they could’ve added better elements to the plot and executed the drama more smoothly.
this would be a good drama to watch if you’re short on time but still want a “good” plot. the episodes are really short, but so far it's a great story to watch.
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mediocre at best...
What will this series tell us?This BL did not even have a happy end which I would expect from a BL. They wasted more than half the series with the past... and when boyfriend 1 died I thought, maybe it's something like "Love for Love Sake" where he returns in another body and continues to be there for him. But no, the scene between life and death was only there, so he can get a chance to say goodbye. That was the first bummer. And then we get to see his old child-friend who had a crush on him for most of the time and never told him so... Now after BF1 is gone, he takes care of him and tries to pull im back into reality.
And that worked for the most part. He slowly turns back to himself, dedicates himself to music and is sucessful. The finale gave us nearly a stroke, because we see the same scene with him like it was with BF1. That would have been ok for me, both die, they reunite in the afterlife and that would be an happy end.
But no, he was not harmed, he has his big moment on stage and we listen to the song three times in this episode. That I call excessive and then, he leaves. BF2 should not be, I guess he went to study abroad but we don't get an explaination just "it's time to leave". Not to be BF2 cries and the credits roll. And no kiss be seen in the whole BL...
Acting was stiff for the MLs, I guess BF2 was the best of them. Production quality was good, music was very good, but story wise it did not convince me at all. Yes, it felt like a BL just to boost the status of the MLs but with such a story without an happy end I don't think they could do it. Not much more to say, watch it but don't expect it to be your standard BL.
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This drama had a little Iris, a little City Hunter and a little ER all in one. Really good chemistry between the main couple. But the secondary couple also had a wonderful story line as well as great chemistry. Some really moving moments between both couples and some really funny light hearted moments as well. The supporting casts were also really awesome. Great acting from everyone.
Awesome OST, read that it hit the music charts hard in several Asian countries.
As much as I enjoyed the romance of this drama, it also made me think of the danger and sacrifice that our own real life service men and women face for our countries. I also appreciate the many doctors that volunteer all the time for Doctor's Without Borders.
A very well done drama, worthy of the buzz and the high ratings it received. I loved Song Joong Ki so much, I looking into more of his dramas. INNOCENT MAN is looking really good.
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Just What you Want it to Be!
Oh heck! I loved this. Some people complain about the pacing being too slow, but that's expressly because one of the main characters has never been in a relationship before and the other main character is coming from a traumatic past. Anything but slow pacing and it would have felt rushed and weird. That being said, the episodes are 25 minutes a piece, so the pace isn't THAT slow. And the evolution of all the relationships is what we come for, yes?The music in this was very, very pretty. The theme song was sweet and the song that played when they are dealing with hard moments was just so bittersweet that it perfectly reflected the mood.
I loved the setting. As an artist myself, seeing a BL set in a designer jewelry studio was so fun. And I also got a kick because when I first saw Aaron on screen, I was pointing and yelling "He looks like an East Asian Superman". And then came the Kryptonian jokes in the plot itself! Ha!
There was a shocking moment for me when I saw Aaron topless I stopped and paused the video because I used to work in the medical profession and I immediately said "That is the best, most realistic scar makeup I have ever witnessed". As the show went on and I got to see the scars from more than one angle, got to see how they pulled, I began to suspect they were real scars. So I looked Aaron up and was amazed to find that prior to the filming of this show he had been in a car accident that nearly killed him. He was in a coma for months. Then rehab. And straight into the filming of this project. In an interview he said that the actor who played Shi Lei was the first person outside of his doctors to ever see his scars and he had been very self conscious about it. So yeah. Wow.
As for the relationship between the main 2 characters, it's awkward and sweet and careful in all the achingly tender ways you might want it to be, without being gooey. Their chemistry is magnetic and immediate. And poor Shi Lei coming out to his mom was the best coming out scene ever. It was so well acted! And really, Aaron did a superb job bringing a quiet, very wounded guardedness to Jin Yu Zhen.
Everyone did a great job. Kudos to the secondary pairings and support cast too. They rounded out the plot and drove it forward at useful moments in a seamless way.
This just took a spot in my top 5 favorites! It does NOT disappoint. Loved the pace. Loved the actors. Loved the story. My only complaint is that there just wasn't enough of it. I would have loved the episodes to have a longer format or for there to have been more of them.
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Cliche but so cute
Honestly this has become one of my favorite shows ever. Its cute, has tons of fluffy scenes, doesn't overly sexualize the characters and while it is short it gives the characters time to be able to develop and get together in a natural way instead of having them fight in every episode and then make up in the very last one. There's no toxic exes, and any miscommunication is resolved within 2 episodes at most. The storyline is pretty cliche but there is something about this one that just stuck with me. It's not for everyone, (especially if you're into more intense dramas) but i do think it's worth watching at least once.Was this review helpful to you?
Where the darknes in society meets glitter and magic...
This drama starts off as the regular girl in utter misery meets Willy Wonka + Marry Poppins combo in a magical display of disbelief, magic and misery...The music was good, the cinematography and effects were all amazing... And the way they adress childhood poverty may not have been revolutionary but they did manage to fit in the importance of the school meal as well as children hiding field trip expenses to not strain an already strained budget in a beautiful way.
The acting and singing is really good, especially the kids. There is also an amazing parrot in this drama that will truly make you laugh and fall in love with her!
As the story progresses the music subsides more or less along side the viewers faith in the adult world and probably society as a whole... This drama and it's subjects may not be revolutionary for a K-drama but it is done beautifully and magically...
There are a whole lot of great lines in this drama that may or may not restore that faith in humanity... or rather in the next generation giving us viewers a good balance between the dark social criticism and hope for the future. This is deffinetly not a fluff piece that will make you feel all good inside but rather a drama that will make you feel more or less everything and I dare say it will also keep you on your toes (the last 3 episodes or so).
Bingeabilaty: 10
Annoying side characters: non
Friendship: 10
What keeps this from getting a higher score from me is it's entertainment value, as mentioned before the first couple of episodes are well done but do not really bring anything new to the table. There is a certain awkwardness + cringe about parts of the drama and they may have overused the words:
"Do you believe in magic"
All in all defiantly worth a watch both for the musical lovers out there as well as those who do not care to much about musicals but love social criticism, important issues and drama as it does fit in quite a bit of that...
" There are no flowers on paved roads... "
p.s. The poor female lead does not have the newest smart phone...
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Don't trust the ones giving less score to this drama.
So this is my first ever review, and i am just glad that i am writing for MR. BAD. What a drama!! I would say this is the best Romcom of 2022 for me. So since this is my first review i would like to tell everyone how picky i am about watching shows. When it comes to watching i never go through others reviews and i just need to get the feel from the cast's acting. If i can't connect to someone' acting i never watch their shows. So i started watching me. Bad some days back and i just finished watching today. This is such a gem of a show. The acting, direction , comedy , romance , music everything is on point. It feels like breath of fresh air. The way this is directed kudos to the director. And shenyue's acting is superb. I can see she has improved so much. And this is definitely chenzheyuan's best work and best role so far. His comical expressions are on point. Guys if you wanna feel good drama to laugh , to cry, to enjoy , watch mr. Bad. You guys won't regret it. AND DON'T TRUST PEOPLE WHO ARE HATING ON THIS DRAMA. THAT COMMENTS ARE FROM THE SHIPPERS OF CHENZHEYUAN AND HIS COSTAR FROM SECRETS. I HAVE SEEN THEM DISSING SHENYUE IN TWITTER AND NOW THEY ARE HERE TOO 😂😂😂Was this review helpful to you?
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Chess Game Within Chess Game, Maze-Like Writing, Intricate Plots With Compelling Characters
Finally, after waiting for nearly 5 years, the much-anticipated Joy of Life Season 2 comes with a bang. While the first season basically one of the best written scripts in the past 10 years in Cdramaland, the 2nd season as expected still managed to retain the same quality, vibe and layers with new interesting characters and stories.Again, the things that made Joy of Life stand out among the sea of Cdramas is the maze-like writing and compelling characters. The depth and layers the script possessed are truly one of the best I've seen in the past years. I love how the writer have trust in the audience to interpret and understand the depth of the script on their own -- without telling us via monologue or dialog between the characters. It was so smartly written, with intricate and complicated plots also with so many layers for every characters. The Emperor's wisdom is the greatest example of this -- there are always layers to his words, not just 2 but sometimes 3 to 4 layers. Take example the lunch meeting between him, Fan Xian and his 4 sons -- the Emperor's always want his government clean as he took pride in them but at the same time, 'You can investigate, but not until it threaten my position and my ego.' -- he likes Fan Xian bold enough to make that accusation regarding 2nd Prince's treason, but at the same time, he throw Fan Xian's batch into the lake to save face towards the 4 of his sons but behind the scenes, he gave Fan Xian the Tiger squad to assist him with the corruption case. He is very calculative with everyone and there is always wisdom in his action -- he gets things done without dirtying his hands. He plans, make use of someone and still get what he wants in the end.
Some people might confuse it with plot holes or out of characters behaviors but when we decipher the scene that happened, it proved how we can’t simply interpret the scenes from the surface only. Like Fan Xian poisoning the 2nd Prince. It is truly deliberately done on purpose to mess with the 2nd Prince -- it wasnt because he is reckless or stupid. Fan Xian wants the 2nd Prince to taste his own medicine as he simply treats the 2nd Prince's life as worthless just like the 2nd Prince's view of everyone else's lives. But look now how his life is in danger, look how he behaves -- scared like everyone's else -- very embarrassing to witness. If Fan Xian really want to kill him, he will not purposely show him the poison and later give him an antidote. This is all part of his mind games. He never intended to kill the 2nd Prince. But, he achieve his purpose which is to send the 2nd Prince a message on how his life, just like everyone else is fleeting and can be gone at any time. This served as a warning to him. Also, this again to highlight that Fan Xian has always been petty with a Slam Dunk reference ''Sorry, my hand slipped'' when he threw the wheelchair to the 2nd Prince -- the pettiness that totally mirrored Rukawa & Sakuragi. XD
Also, how upon rewatching, you discover more thing about existing scenes from before. Like how we can view certain characters differently upon knowing more about them like the 1st Prince for an example. It is after all not about pissing contest against Fan Xian during his entrance to the Capital -- but more towards he wants to test Fan Xian's character as he is the man who is going to marry Wan'er and in charge of Treasury in the future. Then later, his future alliance with Fan Xian comes as no surprise as he is a man with moral and just because of that, he will help Fan Xian with his mission to create a better world for everyone.
Also, the foreshadowing is really strong in this season! Like how Fan Xian check the pulse of Prime Minister and the mirror scene where he checks it again in front of the Emperor. Or the foreshadowing that the Prime Minister keep telling Fan Xian to learn how to be cunning like The Emperor or to never to trust him -- like he predicted Fan Xian will oppose the Emperor in the future. Or First Prince's faceless paintings to Princess Royal's saying 'There is someone who doesn’t appreciate her beauty' -- all these are hints for the coming 3rd season that’s about to come. I love how conversations between the characters are either laced with poisons or secrets and that the ''joy'' of watching of Joy of Life. All the little details in the drama makes the story -- I love to catch all of these as it usually served as hints on which characters we should trust or not. For an example, the way it always emphasis how the 2nd Prince use human as stair when he took the carriage while Fan Xian's Dad, using a normal stool. Also the special feature on Chan Ping Ping's chair -- it shows how he is still after all still guarded against the Emperor. Same with how even before the revelations, I knew it was the Crown Prince who brunt the village down and it wasn’t the 2nd Prince. This is effective storytelling as when you combined all the hints one by one and understood the nature of each character, you know what to expect from them -- like the Crown Prince already show his fangs since the first season and only this season we know how dark he truly is -- probably darker than the 2nd Prince.
I love how 95% of the casts are still the same. And it awe me how they didn’t seemed to age except Zhang Ruoyun did lose a lot of weight from the previous season. And again this season, he returned more kick-ass than before -- Fan Xian is still literally one of the most layered, rich and brilliant character I have encounter in Cdramas. He didn’t lose all the characteristic that made him so spell-bindingly shining -- almost like a sun, in fact, this season he just further confirm why he remain my most favorite fictional character -- with how colorful, how unyielding, how he didn’t seem to care for anything but actually care too much, and how he is very uninterested with the power game, yet very good at playing it. He is like a male lead I always want in my dramas -- the one that I always root since he never ever makes any stupid decisions, like ever. I guess I watched too many dramas with the leads yielding to the bad guys' request when they are put in the corner so Fan Xian, is a refreshing case since you can threat him with his love ones, yet he still won’t follow your requests since he is playing the game better than anyone. I'm so happy that all my favorite veteran actors; The Emperor, Chan Ping Ping, Fan Jian, Prime Minister, Fei Jie all reprising their roles and in this season and we get to see many layers of them even more.
And even the new actors, I actually enjoy them -– it’s actually very rare for me to actually love mostly 95% of the characters in one single drama but how can you not? They are all written with little quirks that makes them interesting like the charismatic 1st Prince, the nervous but funny Beiqi Princess and some small supporting actor such as the 2nd Prince Guard -- on how dumb he looks, and always seemed to judge the Prince and how he is studying for imperial exam. Or the even the new Yan Bingyan -- I adore him. I love how he will always try not to laugh everytime Fan Xian did something funny. And it is the best where he finally let a big smile after being trolled by Fan Xian to pay for the whole breakfast.
And with Joy of Life, I find all the villains fascinating instead of hating them. I don’t root for them, but I like them as characters. I don’t remember I dislike any villains in the drama -- and we have a lot -- actually a lot of really grey characters. There are always endearing part of them and that includes the very hateable character The Royal Princess. But I like her a lot -- there is some wickedness in her that screamed deranged but all hide in this beautiful and alluring façade. Or the 2nd Prince -- how he seemed all unserious and casual but at the same time enigmatic and mysterious.
While I always love Joy of Life for the menacing storylines and their intrigue plots, Fan Xian's family dynamic is still one of my very favorite parts of the story. I love how the writer explored the Fan family dynamics to the fullest this season; his Dad is the one who takes him home and pretends not to care but we all know he cares the most. Then his step-mum, how Fan Xian honoring her during his wedding. Then Ruo Ruo's blind faith on Fan Xian and the ever adorable Fan Sizhe, he has finally grow up! I love the part where he finally gets those words of care from the Dad. What a wholesome family! Then we have Wan'er -- I adore adore Fan Xian and Wan'er's relationship. Wan'er represent the life that Fan Xian really wants and he finds calm and tranquility with her -- something that he didn’t get from anyone else. Reminds us that despite the world might be chaotic for Fan Xian, he can always return home where he can finally let his guard down and trust his family fully.
What made Joy of Life simply brilliant is how both the good and bad guys are EQUALLY intelligent and brilliant. It wasn’t a one-sided battle of wits. It is a chess games within chess games kind of story -- we always thought Fan Xian control his destiny (even when he act in his own free will) but no, all these are calculated as he is simply a chess piece as they predicted all that moves from him -- even the controversial ones. However, I love the very fact that Fan Xian truly live a very fulfilling life with no regrets so it isn’t frustrating to watch or root for him. One thing in dramas that I dislike when characters always holding back and wait for their next life to change their fate but not Fan Xian. He truly lives his life to the fullest and loving all the people in his life at the best of his ability. Thus, even if he dies in the middle, he lived a fulfilling life with no regrets and stay true to his ideals and principles -- the best kind of life -- suit the drama's title to a T.
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mature, realistic, beautiful romance showing how different people show their love + Hot Kisses
➤ STORY:This drama is mature, realistic and beautifully depicts that definition of love can be physical-first for some, emotion-first for others and both are right. The main leads express these different perspectives and through mature conversation, healthy banter they learn from each other - leading to undeniable chemistry and eventual romance, as they understand each other's priorities and way of loving.
The script takes it up another notch by beautifully interweaving other socially relevant topics of: teenage sex, parents/family view for or against sex and using contraception, unwanted pregnancy, stigma that comes with working in adult toy company, casual sex, love after divorces, family and society expectations. While there are misunderstanding that lead to comedic relief, I am glad they don't overdo it, or use the topic of sex, being naive about sex, sex toys as a gimmick, but it's rather educational and mature, when the characters talk about it or enact it.
➤ PACE:
The pace is even, one of the rare times when while I want more of it, I am not going crazy or impatient - even if it airs once a week. The story is moving at a pace where I can absorb what I see, analyse, understand my own feelings at what I was shown. This is why I called it mature and realistic - there's a fine balance, not too much, not too little.
➤ ROMANCE:
The main leads definitely have a spark from day 1 but are not honest with each other due to their different ideologies related to love/sex. But the chemistry is undeniable, and it is a delight to watch them come closer through misunderstandings and situations common in rom-com tropes, but mainly through honest and mature conversations about their feelings, navigating love and sex. Without be extremely explicit, the kisses, the touches, and more are enough to make anyone TINGLE!
They are not the only ones: there are other support characters who have their own way of handling love and sex - be it FL's ex-boyfriend, her brother with his girlfriend, her senior at work and even teenagers/minors, her aunt trying to get back to romance after a divorce. I feel even in subtlety this drama does a commendable job in giving us so many flavors of love and its expressions - and how each character handles it.
Special Mention:
Kim Jae Yeong [ML] - I think the man deserves more spotlight, he has got the looks, the acting and the voice. His kisses will melt you and the way his character was maturely guiding the FL whenever she had any questions was handles so well. Nam Ji Hyun [FL] - I have literally seen her in 2 dramas before and I know she's a powerhouse and the way she depicts an FL who's a beginner to sex, smart and wants to learn more about herself was done perfectly. And them kisses, I knew the actor can kiss well (read: devour) but damn, our girl can keep up! It was hot and sweet at the same time, well done!
➤ OVERALL:
I wrote this review when the drama had aired only half the episodes. I was hoping they deliver till then end, and they did. It is a sweet, coming-of-age romance drama. Every end was tied up well, and it was not only the main leads but other characters as well that grew as the drama progressed. Without being extremely explicit or using sexual innuendos, this drama was extremely refreshing, hitting all the right spots - maturely, while delivering romance - honestly and realistically in the given context of sex, love, family and societal boundaries. Love and Leashes (2022) was another movie that did a good job of showcasing BDSM-led romance in a mature, realistic way - and I feel this drama is similar. I am really impressed and would highly recommend one to watch this drama.
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Dramas like these should not be made anymore!!
this drama contains everything but nothing at the same time, I watched the show but i don't really know what i watchedCons:
1) The drama was so messy and i ended up skipping alot of the scenes
2) Every storyline was so predictable and basic that i literally felt deja vu at every scene
3) the last few episodes were exhausting to watch because of how basic everything turned out
Pros:
The only thing i liked about this drama is the visuals, i honestly don't know why they make these overused teen romance plots anymore...Everything was 2 dimensional and i could not find any reason to like the characters. I will say though that i laughed a lot in the beginning because of how ridiculous the situation was but afterwards it just became exhausting to watch.
This is the type of drama you watch when you have nothing else to watch or if you don't feel like watching a plot heavy show. The show ended the moment they started dating(in fact even earlier). Nothing memorable happens and i feel like i watched falling into your smile, love scenery and love me love my voice all together. After watching so many of these type of dramas i'm honestly too scared to start a show that has sweet romance because of the disappointment that always follows. The only thing that is going to save my drama slump (hopefully if done well, fingers crossed) is Legend of shen li which is coming out tomorrow.
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1This review may contain spoilers
LOVE ISN’T BLACK AND WHITE, NEITHER IS LIFE!
***DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion after watching the drama in it's entirety. I will try to remain unbiased and give an honest review. We don’t have to agree and I’m not here to argue with anyone.***
This show should really be called “The Price / Cost of Love” , “Understanding Love” , “Walking With You” , “The Time of Us” or “Sandcastle” (iykyk❤️)
I enjoyed this drama so much. Contrary to popular belief that this show is “ trash” blah blah blah (insert other bad comments / non-constructive criticism) I feel like it was realistic and people can take various life lessons from it. The biggest lesson that was emphasized was for people to stop sitting around wondering “what if” and instead seize the day, go after what you want / who you want because it might turn into a missed opportunity and you will have to live with regret. The second was don’t make rash decisions in the spur of the moment or lie because you’re afraid of confronting and dealing with your feelings. And lastly, stop running away from your problems because they will eventually catch up to you.
Imo this drama was refreshing considering I’d only ever known Moon Ga Young in juvenile roles. It was nice to see her portray an adult and go through “grown up” issues. I feel like I can finally relate and empathize with her character now.
General Overview:
Su Yeong is a young woman with a dismissive avoidant attachment style who struggles with depression, scars from the past, grief from her brother's death and a broken relationship with her family. She first meets Sang Su when he comes to the bank and she’s his senior who has to train him and help him learn all the tricks to being a bank clerk. They got closer and she really was there for him. Fast forward 3 years later he has been getting promoted while she has remained in the same position. Su Yeong feels as though her life is stagnant and she won’t move forward in her career compared to her peers because they all have college degrees whereas she does not. She develops a bit of a complex because of this and realizes no matter how hard she works or tries she’ll never get promoted. She realizes her place in society as she is from a poor background and has no degree. Everyone looks down on her and makes up rumors about her even though they don’t have a clue about who she is. Sang Su seemingly has a crush on Su Yeong and at the beginning of the drama he attempts to pursue her. They go on one date and agree to go on another however when Sang Su was on his way to meet Su Yeong he hesitates. She can see him from the restaurant… notices his hesitation in coming to see her and she feels horrible. She immediately leaves and essentially shuts him out of her life.
As the story goes along you kind of understand why Su Yeong ignores him and pushes him away. For the first time in her life she was willing to let someone in and truly be happy but in the end she realizes they would’ve never worked out because of their places in society. She ultimately decides it’s better for her to go on without him and pretends to date Jong Hyeon instead at first to get rid of Sang Su and quell her feelings for him but along the way you can see her tenderness for Jong Hyeon as she feels sorry for his unfortunate circumstances and invites him to live with her instead of quitting his job as a security guard and moving away. Enter Mi Gyeong — a college friend of Sang Su who is clearly into him and will do anything to get him wrapped around her little finger. She eventually senses that there is something between Sang Su and Su Yeong and goes out of her way to befriend Su Yeong by giving her gifts, taking her to dinner and finding out what she likes / dislikes. Anything to keep Su Yeong at bay and also guilt trip her into backing off from Sang Su for the sake of friendship. If keep your friends close and your enemies closer was a person, that would be Mi Gyeong. Nevertheless, her plan doesn’t work out because as it is Su Yeong and Sang Su are incapable of staying away from each other.
There’s a lot of unnecessary drama in between of them fighting feelings for one another, entering relationships they had no business being in because they were still hung up on each other / pining for each other unintentionally. There was literally no need for them to bring other characters into their business/drama. I hated Mi Gyeong, Gyeong Pil, and Jong Hyeon just a little bit more than usual because even when they found out the truth they tried so hard to make Sang Su and Su Yeong’s life more unbearable. That to me proved that their desires were more important than what the people they claimed to “love” needed. If that’s not selfish idk what is. People can call Sang Su and Su Yeong selfish for wanting to break up with them but they were selfish in different ways. Like be so frl, I got sick of them acting like they got the short end of the stick and were done the worst injustice by Sang Su and Su Yeong breaking up with them. Like sometimes people have to make tough decisions for themselves even if it hurts someone else’s feelings. I feel like Su Yeong and Sang Su both always spent their lives putting others before themselves and the one time – THE ONE TIME, they wanted to choose themselves (be selfish) and go after love / the person they truly wanted to be with it was such a huge problem. At least they weren’t trying to stay with their partners and cheat behind their backs. That would’ve been so much worse / messy. The worst part is that they both tried so hard to spare Mi Gyeong and Jong Hyeon feelings but ended up doing the opposite and hurting themselves in the process. They even admitted their faults and apologized multiple times but somehow it was never enough… especially for Mi Gyeong.
Lmao don’t let me get started on her. I just hate how she pretends to be a “nice girl” when she is in fact very self-centered and mean. She befriended Su Yeong because she sensed that there was something going on between her and Sang Su and she thought that if she was nice to her and kept on buying her things she’d feel guilty and back off. It was so disgusting to me the way she’d worm around situations and try to have everyone bend to her will. She wanted to be so different from her father but eventually she realized she was just like him and then defended him by saying "that’s probably how he shows love"??? That was bullsh*t. Not her condoning her father's actions in order to justify hers, then perpetuating her continuous desire to control everyone and everything by trying to buy their favor.
In my humble opinion, Sang Su and Su Yeong’s moments were precious… anytime they talked — really talked and listened to each other on long walks, drank (playing the “truth” / “lying” game), or hung out by the seaside — it was really beautiful. I felt their emotions pull on my heartstrings and bring me to the point of tears several times. For me, it was like “How can two people be so right for each other yet not stand a singular chance of being together?” They had mutual understanding, comfort, and peace whenever they were with each other. The harsh reality is that both were stupid and allowed society and other people's opinions of them ruin what they had. People told them they shouldn’t and couldn’t be together and they believed them instead of believing in their relationship and what they had.
Her leaving Sang Su the last time — I’m sure he saw it coming. She always runs away except this time he decided not to chase after her because he felt like that’s what she wanted, he respected her choice and decided to give her space. Even after four years passed, Sang Su always kept Su Yeong close to his heart. While I’m sure he respected her decision he just couldn’t understand it. I’m guessing Su Yeong just wanted to disappear and have a fresh start but I’m sure a part of her also wanted Sang Su to chase after her or convince her to stay. It’s so messed up when someone feels like a burden and that they’re to blame for all the misfortunes that happen to them in their life. It’s like they feel like they deserve it but ultimately they also think they deserve nothing at all. This is why I can understand Su Yeong distancing herself from everyone and not believing she deserved love or even happiness.
One thing I disliked about this drama was the miscommunication trope. Don’t get me wrong it’s okay when it’s done right but there were a lot of moments you know could’ve been fixed with a simple conversation. Sang Su would’ve listened to her and appreciated the truth. There was so much sneaking around and lying for no reason. Like I can try and understand/empathize with Su Yeong’s reasons… she rather destroy everyone/everything and burn it all to the ground + run away rather than face and conquer her greatest fears. She is distant, cold unfeeling, and avoidant but that legit doesn’t excuse her always wanting to run away / disappear. Sang Su on the other hand never speaks his mind and prefers to suffer in silence / take on the weight of other people's problems. Yes, I get that he’s protective and always wants to save the day but lol some girls (ie. Su Yeong) don’t want to be saved. They just want to be understood and seen/heard for once in their life. Yeah, it sucks but that’s pretty much what I got from their dynamic. In the end, it worked because they really balanced each other out.
Another aspect I absolutely hated about this drama and a lot of others is that they always have all the characters make up with each other. Like even if there’s a huge falling out they always have that plot point where years later they come back and everything is all hearts and flowers. I wouldn’t say that’s realistic because sometimes a person really isn’t for you / meant to be in your life. Sometimes the friendship/relationship was toxic and you know that you’re better off without having them in your life, meeting up to discuss what went wrong, or even making amends. Usually it’s better to just let things be and move on. Live and let live as they say but idk maybe Mi Gyeong and Su Yeong are just super mature to see past their differences… though I doubt it because she legit had to remind Su Yeong how much she resented her in the past but at the same time she missed her ? Make it make sense.
The truth is, some people are just happy knowing you’re not as happy as they are in life — it brings them peace knowing they won and you lost. And I feel like that’s truly how Mi Gyeong sees Su Yeong… she looks at her life as small and inconsequential in comparison… saying it “suits her” Like bffr Su Yeong owns a drawing cafe while she’s a big manager in HQ. Su Yeong gave up her job and her life in Seoul because she knew she wasn’t and would never be accepted. I kind of wish she spent the last four years in college getting a degree so she’d feel better about herself and able to face the world and people with more confidence. Sigh. I also didn’t like the fact that Sang Su never rlly tried to move on from Su Yeong in those four years. I guess he decided a long time ago that she was the one for him and made her occupy all the space in his heart and mind. It’s kinda sad… I know Su Yeong would’ve wanted him to be happy regardless.
Final Thoughts:
If I could sum up this drama into a few words it would be “will they or won’t they?” ahhh if you don’t like slow burns, slice of life dramas or melodramas then do not watch this. Trust me it’s super slow and it’s more pining / longing than the leads actually getting their happy ending until the very last episode. I have to say though their chemistry is really good and you can feel the angst / tension through the screen.
Don’t watch this drama if you are going to view it from a one dimensional lens and blame the characters for being flawed as adults. People mature at different stages and as it turns out some people have to fall down and make mistakes in order to learn and grow from them. Nobody is perfect is what I’m saying and these characters all have their shortcomings, baggage, trauma and scars.
If you’re not willing to see them as actual human beings with issues and trauma to deal with / faults to overcome then again I reiterate do not watch it.
If however you want to stick around for these two love struck idiots who actually deserve a real chance at happiness and a shot at a real relationship together then do continue / start watching. It’s a rollercoaster ride (an unreasonably slow paced one lol!) so you're definitely going to go through the emotions and really feel for them (especially if you are emotional / have a big heart / empathize with others) If you’re looking for a drama that is more insta lovey and doesn’t have much plot / story building then I suggest you go watch something else.
Overall I gave this drama an 8/10 (initially it was a 7.5 however, I figured disliking the ending alone isn’t fair) My rating is primarily because still find myself thinking of these two and their tumultuous story. I can’t ever let them go / forget and I think that’s the point. They were the definition of “right person wrong time” and I just ate it up. This drama was enjoyable for me and I don’t regret watching at all. I think more people would’ve given this drama a higher rating but the open / bittersweet ending made them take off some points, so to each their own.
Long story short, this drama really stuck with me and I stuck with it because it’s a realistic portrayal of people living their daily lives, experiencing love, kindness, jealousy, heartbreak and everything else in between. It highlights the fact that that love is hard work. It’s not perfect, it’s not a fairytale and not everyone gets a happy ending. It’s solely based on people’s efforts and how much they are willing to compromise for someone else. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges and choosing / fighting to be together. It’s putting another person before yourself (no questions asked) and rooting for their ultimate happiness. It’s choosing to let them go even if it hurts, even if they are happy without you because if you love them you will respect them, their choices, and ultimately want the best for them.
I would recommend this drama to persons who like slow burns, second chance love and slice of life dramas. Honestly, I really liked it — I mean the first episode really drew me in because I was so shocked and had to know what happens next. Obviously this show isn’t for everyone but if it’s for you / worth watching then you should know by episode 3 or 4. Also I'm not sure if speed watching helped me enjoy it more bc I watched this drama on x1.5-x1.75. I find that the pacing in these types of dramas are unnecessarily slow and that tends to make it seem like it just drags on forever. So maybe you could try speeding it up if you're having a hard time getting into it.
I also really enjoyed the OST. It has the perfect balance of fun / flirty upbeat songs mixed with sad and emotional / heartfelt ones. I still listen to it from time to time.
Would I rewatch it? Yes because I am a sucker for slow burns, I loved their moments / interactions and even though the ending is sad / bittersweet… it’s their story. It’s a little messy but it seemed real and I felt like I was with them the whole time — watching, waiting and rooting for them to make it along their individual journeys + also finally coming together, to find peace at the end of it all.
There’s this quote that says “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” And I feel like it perfectly captures Sang Su and Su Yeong. Even though though their journey came to an end, I believe that the open ending still offered a great deal of hope for them to eventually let go of the past, move forward, and create a new “future happiness” one filled with better memories and without regret.
All in all, I think that the drama did a fantastic job of portraying the ups and downs of love. Sang Su and Su Yeong are not perfect (so far from it actually) but they’re special in their own little way. In my eyes some people are meant to be, just not made to last.
This drama is not for everyone but what I will say is:
THE PEOPLE WHO GET IT GET IT!!!
Anyway, that’s my two cents <3
(Sending love to everyone who stayed and read all this ily!)
Happy watching!
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
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Comic relief with great chemistry bwteen taynew
Watch it and you will find yourself laughing and gushing over taynew's chemistry after a long tiring day!The music score, the background effects, the pace of the story is just perfect!
Newwiee's elegance and attitude to play Kanit, who is a flight attended, meets your eyes and Tawan's nonchalance and rowdy aura as Toto shows the moment he appears on the screen! Taynew's chemistry is the reason why their fans stick with them even after 10 years into the BL industry. And the role they play in this as TotoKanit shows how talented they are indeed. It's been just the first episode and you can already see who well they have acted.
Mond, Ryu, Tui, Oab and Kapook are also playing their part to perfection!
Other than great acting, the story is also the reason why one should go for this show. The love between two people from different economic class can be cliché but what makes this story special is that how a super elegant and materialistic man like Kanit falls for someone who unapologetically bears a crude persona (toto).
There are plenty of other sweet things kept by director (P'Jojo) which probably the fans will be able to relate!
So yeah, go and give it a watch. You will only want more of it!
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I don't think I've watched any drama until now that felt so absolutely pointless at the end of it. That doesn't mean that everything was great until the end though.
First of all, it was real slow. Throughout most of the episodes, there isn't anything much happening than characters wallowing in emotions or doing what they do without any background score.
There was no getting used to it, you just had to bear with it. Mostly you bore with it because, while the screenplay inched along and something finally happened, the actors emoted well and those scenes were good.
Also, I can say with certainty, if it were not for my liking both Mike He and Ariel Lin, I wouldn't have made it even halfway through.
And, Then there is the ending..
After you sit through it all, the way they choose to end it is nothing but absurd. I didn't fully watch the last two episodes. There was no point to continuing with the torturous-ly slow process when the only reasons for watching the show took a beating.
That's all I can put into words now. The only reason any one can have of watching this,in my opinion, is if they like the lead actors, because it's a tough ride even then.
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