Reviews

Cringeworthy. This is a way to describe this series. To begin with, the story is well written and the plots are tactically placed on the story giving the viewers a deeper understanding of it. There were scenes that were heartwarming and comforting. The details of the work of the actors and the whole staff are brilliant and obviously is worthy of praises. The main actors really have great chemistry together. They are really cute together and they have given justice to their respective roles.

To my understanding, this story is complex and focuses on some things...

1. The longing of he protagonist bestfriend - Porsche. He is a perfect example of how people are willing to keep what they have so long as the person they love stay with them. That is selfless. That authentic love.

2. Denial. Neur knew he had feelings towards Porsche. He just didn't man up to it. He felt everything Porsche did for him. Being in denial is a big waste of emotion. But it also takes a lot of courage to process fact more so accept it.

3. Love conquers all. This is strongly showcased on the series. Love is a bond that even death cannot put a stop to. It is something bigger and more profound in both abstract and actual. It's about the feeling that never leaves us forever. It's the presence that stays with us even when the people we love are no longer around. True love is when their hearts continued to be linked even when time ran out for the other one.

This story is simply brilliant in all aspects. :)
Please watch it carefully and take note of the details. It helps you understand it better.

And please support Porsche and Neur. ??

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fangirl depiction is so divine

●FIRST IMPRESSION
Wow, I enjoyed it a lot. The whole fangirl scenario was awesome depicting true fans, crazy fans, and obsessed fans. Any fan could relate to this show and be engrossed with the story. I wondered what I did in the past as a fangirl was cutting pictures out from the newspaper and sticking them to my diary.
but the shift of track from Sung Duk Mi to Ryan Gold wasn’t smooth. It felt like the title should be changed to His Private Life.
Kdramas taking a childhood trauma is nice but at times it felt forced into the story and creating more and more layers until I was bored. I wish if they kept the story focused on the Fangirl thing.

●ACTING/CAST
The cast is amazing. Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook had charm oozing from them. Particularly their chemistry was so killer to watch. Park Jin Joo as a best friend was my favorite.

●FAV SCENE
When Ryan gold comes to know from Sun Joo Just friend relationship.

●MUSIC
OST is awesome. Especially “Help Me” shows the fangirl feelings with its lyrics.

●REWATCH
I loved to rewatch rom-com scenes. They are so light and heartwarming.

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This was my first Chinese drama. I had been reluctant to watch them mainly because of the dubbing that drives me crazy, but thankfully was not present in this show. I decided to jump in after watching a clip online that intrigued me. I was immediately hooked on the characters, and I thought the cinematography was nicely done, as well as the music. There was a slow burn on the romance that built up steadily until a little over halfway through the show.

Jian Yao started off as a smart, independent female that was in control of her life. Bo Jin Yan was this enigmatic man whose cold exterior was gradually warming up to Jian Yao and drawing closer to her. I enjoyed the episodic cases they solved together and the growth of Jian Yao as Bo Jin Yan's protégé in criminal profiling, not to mention the blossoming of their feelings toward one another. There was some quiet humor in there as well that I enjoyed immensely. But in the end Jian Yao was just a damsel in distress, and Bo Jin Yan was running away to "catch the bad guy" immediately after telling her he'd be with her "24/7" -- more than once. She was left out of the loop completely.

So....why the 6.5 rating you say? Well, that's because the last 1/4 of the show, the story, once it moved from China to America, went downhill in flames for me. I raced to the finish of this show expecting things to get back on track, but they never did. It was almost as if they changed writers because the whole tone of the show changed completely. Jian Yao and Bo Jin Yan were hardly in a scene together afterwards, and their dynamic changed as well. The chemistry and romance was lost as they pursued "one" big bad villain. The plot got too twisted and convoluted. The actors playing the Americans were atrocious. The stilted speech was one thing, but there were several goofs as well. One text was sent out - with a misspelling of "steel" instead of the word "steal" that was meant....but on the receiving end, the text was completely different than what was sent out. The actors playing the Americans had a few flubs in their delivery of lines, as well as changing the names of the other characters a few times. There were a few that also could not hold their American accents. It was horribly distracting. Also, the Americans would speak in English, and the Chinese would reply in Chinese. This seemed very unrealistic, as how many Americans are fluent in Mandarin? And apparently New York police officers really need to wear their bulletproof vests. Yikes!
The 7.5 score for acting goes entirely to the Chinese cast in this case, points deducted for the "Americans". (Edited to add: Although, I do realize that English speakers are NOT the target audience, I hope that this information is helpful for those that it would make a difference to.)

Poor Jian Yao and Bo Jin Yan were almost completely different characters by the end of this show. Not the same one I was captivated by in the beginning. That disappointed me a lot and the only reason this is getting a 6.5 is for all the scenes in China. I feel bad hating on a show that most seemed to really love, but there it is. They could have fleshed out the story and the characters better if they had stayed put and continued in the direction they started. The switchover to New York also had the undesired outcome of not completing the setup they started in China. Many things were dropped and not explained.

Despite my utter letdown in the ending of this show, Huo Wallace has gained a new fan in me. I hope to one day see him act in something that will "wow" me like the start of this did.

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I agree with much of amrita828's review, so basically consider this an extension of that :-)

In all three versions, I think the main love interest is a complete tool. And in all three, I think that she should get with romantic possibility #2. However, even though this incarnation of Domyouji is the most horrible to start with, of the three he has the biggest improvement in character and behaviour, so by the end I could see how a relationship between them could work. And they do have chemistry, which helps.

I like the presence of Shan Cai's male friend from her old school (although apparently not enough to remember his name :-) ), I though the provided great comedic relief. And overall I think I laughed more during this series than any of the others. There were several funny, cute moments, such as Si, Lei and the biscuits (vague to avoid spoilers). Rainie is adorable in general, so I liked her as Shan Cai's best friend.

Overall, a fun, enjoyable series.

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A low budget revenge drama with interesting story

Well, it is a low budget short drama. Keep that in mind while watching, and you'll be surprised by how good the story is.
Firstly, this is not romance, for most of the episode the male lead doesn't even show up and has little to no screen time at all. The plot is centered towards the main female lead's revenge story and how she attain her happiness by getting everything stolen from her back. You'll be surprised at how the female lead basically does everything on her own and plotted against her own family. That's what made it interesting in terms of the story and how it was told, the bad thing about this was only because it lacks budget, short, lacks logic in certain parts and how it was filmed. The acting of the main leads are pretty decent considering how low budget this was.

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All bow down to the Air Dolls!!

Believe me when I say that this took me by surprise because damn this was INCREDIBLE. It's a story with the perfect blend of comedy, coming of age stories, identity, influencer culture and supernatural elements - and of course, pure unfiltered chaos.

The story itself is definitely the strongest of the lot until now, it may or may not have been just as predictable as the previous ones, but the way the story could've so easily gone in so many different ways and still been just as good.

But would this story be just the same without all the brilliant performances in it?!!!
I am floored, I literally feel like I saw a whole new dimension to every single one of the actors in Diva Deva Mata. I knew beforehand that some of them were good actors but it is amazing how just four episodes can absolutely turn a good performer into a star.
All of them served, served, served!!

Fluke my god! Been forever since I've seen him in something and he killed it as Nivea!!! The perfect balance of fierce, strength and poise, Nivea herself was all that and more, but it felt like Fluke took it upon himself to give her so much depth and vulnerability. Nivea's strong sense of self and inbuilt leadership skills aside, her chemistry with the rest of the Air Dolls was chef's kiss.
And how can I forget?! Nivea's chemistry with Bank!!?!! Pause, stop and let me take note because where did that come from and why was it AMAZING?!!! I will talk about Marc later on obviously but their chemistry? Through the roof - you can't tell me they didn't end up together because they managed to summon all the flirty, snarky and sweet energy I can imagine.

Lego!! Lego, Lego, Lego. That charm and grace, everything just screaming this person is awesome. And Inkgy was awesome!! The way she was always willing to be there for her friends but also be there for herself, just an all round great person!! Her bond with Fews was so weirdly realistic - they seemed to be the closest but they argue and fight and snap at each other but at the end of the day, they're back in the thick of it, I feel like I've seen this kind of relationship a lot. And Lego my god, amazing.

Yacht wow, I feel like Fews probably had the least amount of well rounded writing within the Air Dolls, but it says something about his performance when despite that, Fews ended up becoming one of my favourite characters. She's smart and grounded and a little on the shy side but when there's a need to be there and be brave, Fews is there! Again, her nemesis/friendship with Inkgy was such a highlight, I just think Lego and Yacht had incredible chemistry.

And finally.. NEO!! I know Neo can do comedy and I know Neo can act, but Kat? Kat was written for Neo. I laughed and laughed and laughed everytime Kat was on screen and you can tell it's a great performance when in between laughs you're also feeling sadness and empathy for what a character is going through. Much like his character, Neo's scenes were supposed to just keep things light hearted but both brilliant writing and acting made sure that Kat was so much more than an afterthought. The friendly rivalry she had with the rest of the Air Dolls, the unhinged chaotic side with her "followers" and the chemistry with Mick.. I guess you can tell I loved all the leads.

They were amazing. In their own ways and in their own way as a group, they were all amazing. And the best part is, we got character development without having to entirely uproot their friendship or dynamic.

Even the side characters and all the actors who played them were amazing. Pompam, do I have to say? Gives an amazing performance everytime, I'm always entertained. Same with Golf, don't see her as much but she always slays in her roles.
But my breakout stars among the supporting cast have got to be Marc and Mick!! Oh wow.
Marc first because where did this performance come from?! Between the subtle facial expressions in the background and the perfect amount of chaos and his chemistry with Fluke?! Stop it.
And Mick! He did so well! Just wow, everything he did as Pat was top notch.

Of course there were things I could've done without - the dirty humour for one thing, which is something I will probably never understand but luckily, the positives very much outweigh the negatives here.

And this was so much fun, I was clutching my stomach, tearing up with laughter the entire time and honestly for four episodes, they covered a lot and delivered a complete story. I'm impressed.

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the editing of this show.. I have no words..

Why is it so hard to show.elimination rounds in the actual sequence in which they occurred? There are many instances where this show is just all over the place.

It is so confusing to see contestants already picked in the selection rounds, sitting next to the waiting unchosen contestants 5 minutes later.. WTH?!

I feel bad for the mentors, guest star hosts, and everyone who worked so
hard on this show alongside these contestants, whose efforts are repaid with a butchered version of what was actually filmed.

There are several contestants that get outright shafted by the editing, to the point where I have thought they must have left the show for some reason, because I haven’t seen them for so long. But no, it’s just the editor in charge, playing favorites and giving some contestants 90% of the screen time, and leaving remaining 10% to be divided amongst the rest of the contestants.

Did a high schooler get the editing job here?

I have watched a lot of idol competition shows, but none has left me scratching my head, trying to piece things together like this show does.. SMH

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Timelessly dealing with crucial mis-communication issues in families. (Here: single parenting, too)

In a way, the title "Snow Flower" symbolically refers to a time when the love of the protagonist´s parents was still full of happiness. However, the KDrama actually comes along as a study about communication difficulties and misunderstandings between a single mother and her young daughter where the daughter is struggling with the question: why can't she grow up with mother AND father, like other children do? There must be someone to blame for this – The father? The mother? Or even herself... "Snow Flower" dates back to 2006, yet dealing with crucial educational issues in a timeless manner.

In KDrama style, the story is enriched with a variety of dramaturgical colors. However, the sticks and stones are (unfortunately) not all absurd. This and That may be culture specific, but overall I think "Snow Flower" offers a wonderful (though not so fun to watch) study about mis-communication, which are (varying in intensity and severity) experienced by many families (and relationships) all around the world. Go Ara won Best Actress at Baeksang Arts Awards, i.e. for her great performance as a rebellious daughter. At her side strong as usual: Kim Hee-ae.

SBS tackled a topic that washes unloved laundry, because in South Korea family issues in education are a private matter, happening behind closed doors and being nobody's business. Actually, the family here is quite progressive. The mother is a single parent and successful writer, dating an art professor. Two neighbouring families, with their doors always open for each other – practically an extended family with no room for secrets.
Yet, a progressive attitude towards life alone has very little to do with the communication traps in family life. The mother falls into these traps, and so does the daughter, having inherited her mother's temperament. It's sometimes painful to witness, how one or the other keeps reacting to another and another red flag, blindly fighting back within seconds and thus creating conflicts that cannot be resolved, as the explosion has already been set off before communication is possible.

The offering of this KDrama: while we have to listen to their fights, we are also do participate here and there, in what they are quietly thinking and feeling, too. Thus, "Snow Flower" does not ONLY want to stage DramaDramaDrama with this conflictual mother-daughter relationship, but is also committed to an educational mission. (You may also want to check the side note below.) The background is embedded in the world of the filming industry and rooted in the handicap of single parents and divorced families.

So in "Snow Flower" the deeply disappointed and insecure daughter pushes her thing through, while the mother doesn't succeed in letting go of her well-meant (those are the worst) templates. Up to the bitter end. That's impressive. Startling, too.







p.s.:


Some may say – and I agree – the mother-daughter communication is most of the time so off the charts. It's scary sometimes. Nevertheless and actually because of that, (in my opinion) the script and the actresses do their job quite well. (However, one does not have to like it...)
















Due to the given occasion: here is a side note on the communication problem between Dami and her mother, which (unfortunately) many families struggle with more or less severely. (By the way, as such conflicts are happening within the ´best´ families, professional coaching is available – and might have been a solution for Dami and her Mom, too.)

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SIDE NOTE --- on the widespread communication problem between parents and children ---



Even though opposition is rather due to attitude, position or opinion and is nothing personal as such, emotionally this can be hardly distinguished in the heat of the moment. How liberating it would be, if both parent and child would listen carefully, ask questions, and try to reach mutual understanding. Some call it communication…

In many conflicting situations, it is first and foremost about being noticed and understood by the other person. Thus you have to show yourself. Self-confident in who you are and what you want or are afraid of. As a result, the conflict resolution in the matter is actually not that difficult anymore.
Win-win, so to speak.

(Easier said than done… Most of the time, a more or less pronounced self-doubt, for example a thorn of guilt or inferiority, subtly gnaws at the foundation of a sincere, self-confident presence - in parents and children alike.)

However we my look at it, most of the time we have to do something for mutual understanding. Yet, more than other relationships, mother and daughter are probably predestined to believe that they can take this 'understanding' for granted without a process of understanding – after all, it is about 'their own flesh and blood', isn´t it.
Incorrect! These are two individual people with their own will, their own memory, their own experiences, their own desires and their own interests. Blood/love aside... Thinking that you know the other person well does not replace the need to invest time, patience and a willingness to cooperate in understanding again and again.
'Are you making a relationship statement here?', ´Are you trying to be practical?'. ´Is that a request?´, ´Do you actually want to reveal something about yourself right now?´, ´What do you want?´, ´What do I want?´ … All this requires consideration. Again and again! And 'again and again' means, strictly speaking: 'often' or even 'constantly'. After all, parents and their children usually share the apartment, show themselves without make-up in many respects, see each other first and last every day and plenty in between. There are many chances of contact/friction. Annoying communication can get on your nerves, yes. You have no time, you are stressed already, you are not in the mood...
Consequently we mostly choose a quick judgement, because that is more economical. A preconceived notion, a prejudice that doesn't seem worth trying to test. But in doing so, we might be hardening the fronts, and thus the roller shutters go down. There is no forward (e.g. solution) and no backward (e.g. bonding). Lose-lose, so to speak.


"Snow Flower" impressively portrays how such confirmedly unresolved conflict situations encourage the child (here the daughter Dami) to finally repay the parents (here the mother) at some point. This crucial moment was actually (as so often) triggered by a key event.
Suppressing her need to be close to her mother and to wanting to feel connected and loved, Dami now deliberately treats her mother the way she FEELS treated herself (without having confirmed any of that, of course). The need and longing hasn't gone away. It's just relegated to an unconscious level for the time being. Consciously and outrageously she rather strikes back in defiance, deliberately wanting to hurt – just as she feels hurt. "I don't do any university entrance exams". "I don't even want to study." "Then I'll just move out." And underneath (pronounced or not) linger disappointment and self-doubt, e.g. "I'm probably not worthy of being loved." "It would be better if I didn't exist at all"…
Dami navigates between the roles of perpetrator and victim and doesn't get what she actually wants in either of them. Yet, both are ROLES, and not her true SELF.
Additionally, in her newly discovered role as a perpetrator Dami even worsens the situation in an almost fatal way, because such a defiant reaction is considered extremely immature by parents. In the case of Dami´s mother, this inevitably leads to the conclusion that she should actually take more even control. However, by boldly taking her parenting responsibilities back into her hands, she only adds fuel to the fire.

The past that led to this dilemma is long history for both of them. Both feel they did their best. In terms of communication, however, this is not the case. They may have 'meant well' for the sake of peace, but they didn't communicate what´s actually on their MIND. Well, what´s on my mind is 'Mine' and not 'Yours', until I let you know.
To disagree is not the problem. Different perspectives and intentions are normal. Unfortunately, a cooperation oriented process of communicating is not...

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Some dreams should just stay dreams

I've seen this a few years ago, and maybe I can somewhat understand the direction this drama was trying to take, but it doesn't convince me in the very slightest, and shouldn't even be called a romance, maybe a sad, ill-intentioned drama with themes of romance. I dont know what it is with writers and romanticizing bullying and abuse, but to put it plainly, its sick and not normal. ML is consistently a constant trainwreck, treating the FL like sh*t, then realizing he has feelings, apologizes, takes her out, then treats her like shit again. in all honestly, if a fortune teller told me that this drama was my future, i'd tell her right back that i'm just gonna have to die single then.

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Accurate Lgbtq+ Representation

I feel like I found put a review for this film, since no one else has.

I absolutely loved this movie, it had accurate sapphic representation. It’s pretty hard to find decent wlw films/dramas that don’t fetishize those relationships... I was balling my eyes out near the end because it’s accurate, and a ton of non-straight people experience similar thoughts and relationships. It kinda makes you snap back to reality after watching happy ending, always perfect relationship romances.

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THINGS I LIKED
1. accurate lgbtq+ representation // they showed how it can be difficult for some lgbtq+ people to be in a relationship. (ex. being scared of other’s thoughts, not trusting anyone)

2. the soundtrack // absolute perfection. I was on YouTube listening to the main song and I was sobbing ahaha. It’s calming yet heartbreaking at the same time.

3. the plot // the plot isn’t messy, it’s not confusing, and it makes sense.



THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE
1. that it’s underrated // I have seen NOBODY talk about this film. I found it because I was looking for sapphic films in mydramalist.


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I promise this movie is worth the watch :D

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My wish is to be an adult like you

***Not sure if what’s in here that may be considered major spoiler but there might be minor ones so proceed with caution***


I got recommended this drama over 2 months ago by a user whose name I forgot (i feel awful and I apologize ). I did watch it at that time and in all honesty, it's the drama that pulled me out of a very long drama slump. This drama has two of my favorite tropes - age gap and noona romance!

The drama revolves around Junko Harumi and her three suitors. Once a model student in her middle and high school days, life hasn't been going smoothly for her after she failed to enter Tokyo University. Now 31, she works as a tutor at a private institute where things are not so great. Her romantic life isn't doing any better either. It is at this point in her life that she meets Kyohei Yuri and becomes his tutor. While she worries and shows frustration about things not working out in both her career and her love life, Janko is very oblivious to notice the 3 men that show interest around her. Masashi Yakumo is her smart cousin that went to Tokyo University, who's had feelings for her for a long time. Kyohei Yuri is a disorderly high school student she's tutoring and Kazuma Yamashita is Kyohei ’s teacher in high school.

The drama shows how not getting into Tokyo University has affected Junko. Her relationship with her mother, her confidence in her own self, her feeling jaded about the trajectory of her career and romantic life. It also shows her innocence and her kindheartedness. The only thing about this woman the scriptwriters did that irked me is she pulled out her back every other episode and they use that as a sign of her “getting old”. People I promise you 31 is not that old and we in our 30s don't need to walk around in canes. What is happening! T_T

Anyways, Junko may have had an unfortunate setback in life but she was compensated by having three wonderful men vying for her affection. I love that all the men were non-problematic, genuinely nice, and mature men each bringing their own strength to the table. If I wasn't slightly biased towards one of them, I at one point was thinking she should just take all three and start her own harem. I kid, I kid... (maybe :P)

I enjoyed a lot of things about this drama and the romance. I understand to some people a student/teacher relationship is not something they like. But the relationship is developed in a nice way and no lines were crossed while they were in a teacher/student relationship. I think one of the things that I liked about this drama is the similarity to a real-life event from my childhood. We had a teacher whose love life was like a legend when we were in high school. It is said that this teacher fell in love with a girl when she was still his student. But he never made a move, in fact, he was so unforgivingly strict with her she was convinced he hated her. He waited until she finished her 1st year of college before asking her out. They are married with kids and known as having a very close relationship. It's like one of those romances you find in novels or movies so you can imagine why their story would be popular. Watching this drama actually took me back in time and reminded me of a story I had long forgotten.

*️⃣To the person who recommended this to me, thank you so much!!! I enjoyed this very much. So much so I had the urge to run out and dye my hair pink and the only thing that stopped me was my hairdresser not being available.

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Signed up just to write this review

This is gonna contain some mad spoilers so fair warning! I signed up for an account just to write this...I'm so angry? With myself, with the plot, with the male lead just ugh.

I'm a fan of the obsessive/possessive male lead trope, all is well in fiction. Additionally, I've watched my fair share of Chinese dramas taking place during the war. That being said, the initial setup for the story was promising and I was really into it. Female lead and male lead had a touching love story. And Wallace is amazing at the obsessed male lead as usual.

BUT THEN (SPOILER ALERT!) we dig into the second half of the drama and I wanna slice the male lead in half. I love the obsessive/possessive male lead trope, particularly because the devotion/madness is so thrilling. And so, I absolutely CANNOT STANDDD unfaithfulness and cheating, the second the male lead even thinks to fall into a stupid trap setup by a villain female character...I just can't. I had to squint and skip through him sending the FL to France TO MARRY ANOTHER WOMAN? Then when the FL left him (AND WENT THROUGH HELLLL like holy shit I felt so bad for her. She literally gave up EVERYTHING to be with ML...) he still had sex with other women, and even found a replacement/brothel chick that looks like FL.

I was repulsed. It's the complete opposite of what I love in the obssessive/possessive trope, and what makes it worse is while the ML was screwing other women (and this is after he fucked up FL life, tried to kill her AND made her miscarry their child) the FL had to fight tooth and nail to survive. She had already been disowned by her family to be with ML, had no resources, was almost killed by ML new wife (who really is just a new level of evil female side character...in most dramas they move on and somewhat redeem themselves but wow I really wanted to stick a fork through her eye) and had a miscarriage.

Again...all this shit happened bc male lead wanted to marry another woman for military power...while lying to female lead and sending her overseas so she wouldn't know...while she was pregnant with their child...and then STILL expecting her to wait 3? 5? Years for him bc "im doing everything for you"

Won't give major spoilers about the ending but I was numb by that point and just begging for the plot to turn and let FL be happy or move on with someone else. The possessiveness/obsession of the ML LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED HER? And he even broke off the marriage while she was pregnant for power??? Like I was so done by the ending I just wanted her to change her name travel to a different country and live peacefully.

OKAY I've said a lot and I'm done angry typing (for now lol) this drama really wasted my time. It's sad bc I enjoyed the beginning a lot. Now I just feel so much rage and all I want is to stab the male lead.

TLDR/ good setup but ML eventually screws other women and FL is like almost dead...a lot. Usually bc of ML (grief...miscarriage...blood loss? She almost died a lot for this man I really cannnnot) NOT WORTH YOUR TIME IF YOU CAN'T STAND ML/female villains in the plot.

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The story is very lovely, the acting is superb and while the music is not that memorable (to my taste), it serves its purpose.

The story’s tone is that of a sad one, one could argue it’s a bittersweet. And the most moving part of the story is actually of the main male lead’s father. His letter at the end makes this a good story, otherwise, I would down right dislike this story.

What I don’t like about this story is the main male lead claimed he would give her stars from the sky, and pearls from the deep ocean. Yet... he gave up on her almost immediately and got married and have kid? They didn’t break up for longer than 2 yrs, with 1 yr he tried to apologise to her. There was part where he claimed “he doesn’t have the right to be in pain”, and at the end of it, I’m not sure he gets why she left him.

Maybe I sympathise with the female lead so much more that I couldn’t stand the male lead, and that’s why while I enjoyed the movie, think the plot was decent, however the tone was depressing, and the guy literally had no redeeming quality, I couldn’t rewatch it ever, hence the low rewatch value score.

I do get that this story is about the biggest regret in your life, but the dude goes on living in fancy house, a beautiful wife and kid, while she’s alone and all sad, reminiscing about their past love is just uh... not right. I just don’t feel he’s that remorseful? It’s almost turn out to be her biggest regret was to dump him??? Like it’s not, but it felt like it is with how it ends. And some of the messages at the end felt more like gloating than trying to tell the (past) greatest love of your life that you are ok and living well, if it wasn’t for the music, I would think very differently. So here is why I think the music serves its purpose.

Do I recommend this? Well not exactly, while it’s beautiful in many ways, it’s frustrated in many ways, and it’s 2hours long, at 90mins, I was like is this gonna end? But it’s not a bad watch either, so if you want to watch a movie about two young lovebirds struggle and didn’t make it, then be my guest.

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In Between (2020): Betwixt the Great and Not-So-Great Pinoy BL Series

True to its title, in terms of overall quality, “In Between” is just below the great Filipino (Pinoy) boys’ love (BL) series (like “Gameboys” and “Hello Stranger”) and just above the not-so-great Pinoy BL series. In other words, it’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series. There were lots of things to like about "In Between" but there were also few things not like about this series.

“In Between” had a promising plot/storyline that looked at what’s in between hellos and goodbyes in relationships (“Hello and goodbye are not important. What’s important is the in between...”). It’s not in the extremes of relationships where we find the meanings of friendship and love, it’s more on the everyday events of these relationships. Using a nonlinear narrative that traversed different times, the series was able to show the character backgrounds and relationship development of Tau and Otep. It also presented the solid friendship among the Boom Harots. And it also introduced the Pangs ship of Nin and Makisig. I would have wanted to know more about the female characters Bianx and Nicole but at least this series' portrayal of women weren’t toxic. My issues with this series were the fillers (particularly the long and repetitive recaps) and the slow pace. While I liked the snippets from the past, there were just too many flashbacks that didn’t quite allow the audience to piece everything together on their own. But along the way, I’ve learned to tolerate all these issues.

While “In Between” had cheesy and preachy lines, the screenplay for the entire series was generally relatable. There were problematic dialogues that exemplified internalized homophobia and queerness denial as exemplified by Tau’s response to Nin when the latter said “I cannot believe that you actually like boys,” to which Tau said, “Not exactly. It’s just Otep. Otep is different.” I was also uncomfortable with what appeared to be heteronormative roles in Tau and Otep’s relationship. But there were also powerful lines from Otep’s mother Sandra (“Love is a complex thing. And we are allowed to love who we want to love”), Tau (“If they will judge us, then let them. What’s important is we are not hurting anyone”), and Nicole (“Remember, there is no problem in loving... What’s wrong is people’s dirty minds. We are very proud of you... We will support you all the way”). And of course, the Pangs dialogues were always cute and funny.

In terms of acting, everyone in the cast performed well. Most of them (Migs, Shiara, Renshi, Lara, and Ron) have acting experience. The newbies (Genesis, Lance, and Kimson) were alright. The main couple, Tau and Otep and the side couple, Nin and Makisig had chemistry together. The Tau and Otep kissing scenes were sweet and tender. Both Migs and Genesis looked sexy in their own way while Renshi and Lance looked adorable. While Tau and Otep were the sexy pair, Pangs were the cute pair.

While I didn’t like the editing because of the fillers and slow pace, production design and cinematography were largely satisfactory. The resort scenic view was amazing. Experiencing the effects of the pandemic, there’s something about the beautiful outdoors that calms me. Somehow, it tells me that things will get better. The resort scenic view was indeed a wonderful setting for the season finale. The consistent use of the Pinoy indigenous script Baybayin all throughout the season was really nice. Migs singing the soundtrack “Mahal Kita, Paalam” (I Love You, Goodbye) was good. While this account, Pinoy BL Series, never asked to be acknowledged and this account will continue to do what it does even without acknowledgement, Pinoy BL Series is nevertheless grateful to “In Between” for always acknowledging this account on their post-credits.

On the whole, I would definitely recommend rewatching “In Between.” It’s a middle-tier Pinoy BL series with lots of things viewers can like. With that, I'm looking forward to the Pangs spin-off series and the “In Between” second season!

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