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Wholesome fluff, top-tier chemistry, and the destiny trope done right.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the destiny trope Apple My Love gave us. Another unique GL trope in the bag.From Kris's horrendous self expression skills, the show dives into sweet, simple moments that do exactly what they’re supposed to: make you smile and feel warm.
Kris’s friends? Absolute gems. They’re supportive, adorable, and might just be the best friend group in any GL ever. And let’s give props to OrmFolk because they are straight-up masters of fluff. The sweet and flirty scenes were so good they carried the show, making the simple plot feel exciting and fun. Kris and Karn’s chemistry was top-tier in every soft moment. Even the love scenes were a pleasant surprise.
Kris’s character development was a slow burn, but it worked. You could see her putting in real effort to grow, not just for herself but for Karn too. And the guys in this show? Surprisingly great. Except for that one jerk (looking at you, Toy), the men were actually helpful and even funny, making the show even more entertaining. They represented healthy, supportive relationships which is refreshing.
At its core, this show isn’t about big, dramatic conflicts (except for the last episode). Instead, it’s about Kris and Karn facing hurdles in their relationship and helping each other grow, both as people and in their careers. The communication and understanding between them are what really stand out.
So, if you’re looking for a show with minimal drama, tons of fluff, cares about its side characters, and a genuinely healthy relationship, this is your go-to. It’s a feel-good, stress-free, easy watch that will leave you smiling.
The downside? Six episodes weren’t enough. Budget restrictions led to rushed pacing of the most interesting and lovable details in this series in the last two episodes. With more time, this could’ve been even better.
Trigger warnings: Hetero sex scenes.
2024 GL Ranking: https://kisskh.at/list/Ln8MOBO4
My Top 10 GLs of All Time: https://kisskh.at/list/4vGQqnb1
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Story: First, everything about the drama after the first sentence of the synopsis is misleading. In fact it just gives a summary of the main female characters background (everything that happens to her before the time that the drama takes place). Everything that happened during the dramas run was so unpredictable, which I never expect from family themes dramas. I don’t want to give anything away but be prepared for a ton of drama. What I liked most about it though was the fact that the writers balanced the funny scenes with the emotional stuff really well. I laughed a lot in the beginning but by the last few episodes towards the end it gets pretty heavy making me shed many tears. I just wanted to add that there is romance in this but its very subtle and not the focal point of the story. The ending is sad, happy, and hopeful all in one if that makes sense.
Actors/Cast: This was an ensemble cast where all the characters get a chance to shine even if they only had small roles. When it comes to the 2 female leads, I had never seen anything they had acted in before but wow you can tell they are veterans. They gave powerful performances. Anyone who has ever heard of Shin Hyun Joon (Stairway to Heaven, Cain and Abel, Bridal Mask) will know what an amazing (and underrated in my opinion) actor he is but wow his character in this was so unexpectedly different than any of his characters. As for the supporting cast, they made their characters memorable and the villains did a tremendous job of me hating them but also feeling pity for them by the end.
Music: They did a pretty good job with matching the changing tone of the show.
Rewatch: I will rewatch this one day sometime soon but not right away cause this drama is pretty heavy.
Overall Dummy Mommy is an unexpected but heartwarming and enjoyable must watch family drama.
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3 Friends dealing with life and death
Made me cry almost as much as crash landing on you! It’s a really touching, light, but heavy at the same time story of three best friends dealing with friendships, family, love, life and death. They did such a beautiful job writing the scenes, from beginning to end, it was very emotional in both good and bad ways. The character of Mi Jo might make other feel like it was written too dramatic and unrealistic. And I agree, she cried A LOT. But I feel like they portraid her anxiety fairly well (I can say this, having ptsd and anxiety myself). The character of Chan Young was written beautifully! The character of Joo Hee was balanced but felt a bit lacking in the story. It was focused a bit more on Mi Jo and Chan Young. I do recommend for everyone wanting to watch a kdrama.Was this review helpful to you?
I liked most of the characters and thought the acting was excellent. Both the adults and children did a great job. I was especially impressed by Lee Yo Won, who played Duh-mi. She got into character so well that I almost forgot that she was just playing a role! I want to check out more dramas with her in them.
I found the women's stories to be a little bit more interesting than the men's, for the most part. (Probably because I'm a girl...haha). However, I really disliked Joon-hee's character, especially during the later episodes. I thought she was bratty as a child and had a really nasty side to her as an adult. I understand that she had a lot of stuff to work through, but I didn't think it was an excuse to treat other people the way she did. I lost a lot of sympathy and respect for her. In a weird way, though, her behavior made me like this drama even more. I figure that if a character causes you to have such strong emotions, positive or negative, it has to be a good show.
I have to warn you: This drama is sad. Very, very sad. The ending literally shocked me. I was hoping for something happier, but I appreciate that the writers took a more realistic approach than is seen in the endings of some K-dramas. Life isn't always happy, no matter how much we'd like it to be!
Overall, I recommend Fashion 70s to anyone who likes period dramas, a slow but steady story, a great cast, surprise endings, or all of the above. :)
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A gloomy, purplish masterpiece
Call it love. As the title suggests, we are invited to watch another drama revolving around LOVE. But what kind of love?This Drama is so typical; it is a melodramatic, slow-burn, revenge type of drama. If you have seen such a genre, then you won't be surprised, but this drama in essence is quite different from the rest.
Plot Summary:
Revenge, adultery, drama, and romance, all depict this drama. A very average, yet very vengeful girl is set out to avenge their shattered family after their father cheats on their mom and makes them homeless after 13 years. But who does she go after? The mistress's son who happens to be a CEO living a somewhat OK life. but that's the just surface. There is more to it. As the story goes, the leads get to know each other and yes Fall in love. The Love is slow-burn, with long gazes, and minimum physical contact, the type that makes you crave more. The leads are both very hurt and depressed, and you will get to see them crying a lot, but the romance is so deep that keeps you going.
Acting:
Both leads delivered a wonderful job. You get to feel their pain and growth as the series goes. Definitely one of those dramas that need an appraisal for the leads. Just look at their direct gazes and long silent walks. even their very short intimate scene was beautiful.
Even the villain exhibited proper character development and other actors/actresses delivered their respective roles decently.
Writing:
I'm not familiar with the writing team, but this drama is not without fault, however, most of the questions are answered in the end. There are no loopholes or over-complicated plots, yet the drama became slow in the last few episodes. Plus, the leads needed to have more skinship/intimate scenes for the audience to enjoy their relationship better, but that's how Kdramas are. Always trying to be artistic and different.
Production and cinematography:
One thing i heard a lot before starting this drama was that many said the drama has a purple theme. That's true and it can be annoying to some, yet i personally enjoyed it. Why? because the color itself could depict how the leads were in pain and how the story wasn't happy. it's actually a psychological effect and the writers used this deliberately to play with our minds. it can be irritating at first, but as the story continued, i felt more and more in sync with the color.
The locations used in this drama are SUPERB. Beautiful sceneries and aesthetics. are one of the great aspects of this drama, Again in sync with the characters and the story's gloomy theme.
Soundtrack:
Beautiful choice of songs. All convey the feelings of pain and love at the same time. Wish i could find the background music pieces by the composer, yet we only got the original songs so far. No theme songs.
Overall, it's a 10/10 for me personally, yet had i to deduct a point for the fact that the leads had very little skinship and in my honest opinion, romantic dramas need intimacy on-screen.
Highly recommended to those who want LOVE and ANGST at the same time. and the ending doesn't disappoint too :)
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The Story is one of my favorite types - ordinary person gets together with a celebrity. I know if you change "celebrity" to "a person of higher status (richer/more famous, etc)" then that would probably describe 80% of romance dramas! But I especially like it if one of the people is a celebrity. So anyway what I'm trying to say is the story is not really new and in fact sometimes predictable and somewhat stretched or draggy in some parts. So if you are familiar with this type of story then you would probably get what you expected with no real surprises. Which is a good thing for me because like I said this is exactly my type. Another thing I liked about the story is they did not end it when both leads said "I love you" then faded out. There was a tinny bit of "ever after" at the end.
What made this drama special was the Acting and Chemistry of the main leads.I've seen 4 or 5 of Yoo Ji Tae's movies, but I have never seen Choi Ji Woo in any other drama yet except for when she guested on Running Man. But wow! I can understand why she's considered one of the best actresses in Korea! Right from the start the chemistry between the two was so natural you would think they were a pair in real life. The way CJW portrayed her character with "childish" personality was great. Even the standard supporting characters did good as you really get mad or sympathize at the people they want you to get mad at or sympathize with.
Music is okay but no song or theme really stood out for me.
Rewatch value, well I already watched this 2 times in the past month and will be watching again for sure in the future.
Overall I would recommend this drama mostly because of the chemistry between the leads. And if you just want to get what you expected from a romantic drama.
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Note - I didn't give high marks to the music, because honestly, I don't really remember the music in this at all, but the system wouldn't allow me not to rate it.
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Flawed as it was, Green Mothers' Club will keep you on edge of your chair
Originality and ambition are two words that sum up the experience the drama makes you feel. It is original because it deals with social issues in a very explicit way that you don't see so much in other dramas, and ambitious because, in the end, the drama tries to get at a lot of angles that really don't make much sense.First and foremost, when it comes to this kind of drama, we must make a pact with the show to let ourselves be carried away and not use reason to verify if what happens is realistic or not; at a certain point, the drama only seeks to entertain without taking into account the veracity of what is shown. As viewers, we should not value the degree of plausibility of the facts, but the degree of entertainment it offers. Actually, this is not very different from dramas like Sky Castle, Penthouse, or Avengers Social Club, and all of them share the trait of putting the "wow factor" above everything else.
That being said, from the first moment the drama caught my attention, and from the first chapter, I couldn't stop watching it. The plots are very complex, which makes you get addicted to them at the beginning, although at the end they don't conclude in a clear way which leaves some holes; but, really, who cares? While the script could have been better, the acting was outstanding. From more experienced actresses in such roles as Lee Yo Won to the children, the acting skills of the whole cast definitely made up for the plot holes.
I found the story original in its initial formula. Mothers compete with each other through the education of their children. The mother whose children get more recognition in their education will be the most popular mother. Of course, every parent wants to be above the rest regardless of the mental health of the children, which arises problems between different families, but also inside the same families. Up to this point, the drama presents an original story. However, the plot is surrounded by false friendships, back-stabbing, stalking, drugs and even murder.
Flawed as it was, Green Mothers' Club will keep you on edge of your chair, that is for sure. The story is addictive and the acting is one of a kind. Give it a try!! you can always drop it if you don't like it, but such a good drama deserves a chance.
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Wow Amazing
I thought the story was very interesting and unique. A short Chinese drama that mostly tells the story of one-night stands and wealthy CEOs. Wang gege and Kaimu are extraordinary in their roles. Six strategies in winning a mission, which at first Wang gege was rejected outright and even humiliated. But finally he found his true love. The storyline goes back and forth, and is difficult to predict. Hmmm, there is a fairly intense scene when making love. Overall, it is good to watch again. AMAZING.Was this review helpful to you?
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I can KIND OF see the effort but..
I’m convinced there‘s is a good story buried somewhere inside this garbage mess but it’s barely visible. This series made very little sense.It‘d be too long to go through every little and big thing in detail so I’m not gonna do it but to put it bluntly: nothing made much sense, including characters’ decisions and accusations. Even the first half of the show made barely any sense but the second half was complete idiocy. This show had several scriptwriters how did nobody catch the nonsense?
The first episode was actually quite good (good enough) but onward ep 2 it got exponentially worse until in culminated in full-on ludicrousness.
Absurdity of the plot aside, the show also struggled with extreme tonal inconsistencies. It didn’t know what it wanted to be, comedic or dark. It’s possible to carefully combine both genre elements but you have to know what you’re doing and the writers here were not up to the task. The whiplash I got from the clumsy, radical tonal shifts was insane. One minute it’s a serious scene and the next minute it’s suddenly turned into badly written gag comedy. Bizarre!
Some of the scenes were painfully overdramatic and were portrayed in a way that made them unintentionally hilarious. It felt like they wanted to make certain scenes look really cool but ended up making them look ridiculous instead. The direction felt incredibly amateurish and I know that the director isn’t an amateur but he obviously didn’t know jack about directing action scenes and it shows.
Now that we’re on the topic, this is not an action drama, it’s not a romance drama either, it’s an awkward and weirdly paced family drama with some clumsily sprinkled action and romance scenes in between. Oftentimes the dialogue was painful to listen to and most of the time it was on the nose with a lot of telling (AND sometimes showing). It genuinely felt like the dialogue was taken out of a bad shonen anime word for word.
Now onto the romance:
There was so little attempt at romance that I didn’t even care if Jack and Joker ended up together. The romantic chemistry and interactions were nurtured so little that I didn’t care to be invested in their supposed romantic attachment.
I don’t mean that we need to see them confess and/or make out with each other every other episode bc romantic chemistry and build up can be shown in a lot of different ways that don’t have to include sexual intimacy but you gotta have at least some build up, no?
Where are the stares, the slight flirtation? Sometimes it’s briefly there but then it abruptly stops, removing any possibility of a smooth romantic build up. It’s really awkward and at the end doesn’t amount to much. I’ve seen many types of bromances (Western and Asian) that have so much more romantic and sexual tension between characters where they barely even touch each other and this is supposed to be a BL but the romantic tension barely exists here. You can’t just haphazardly throw in a couple of romantic scenes in between all the plot and call it a romance. There’s an art to properly weaving romantic subplot into the main plot of a different genre. Talking about other BLs, Manner of Death did it right, Kinnporsche did it right, even Triage did it right and that one had barely any romance in it.
War is a good actor and Yin def. has improved but in this drama their acting felt slightly off kilter for a lot of the time. I might be wrong but it seems to me that the people heavily involved in this project, YinWar included, didn’t know what exactly they wanted it to be, weren’t sure enough in the direction of this story/plot/theme and that’s why almost everything felt wonky about it and the project itself felt unstable on its legs.
One last thing I want to mention about the plot is that it wanted to showcase how poor people were being taken advatage of by rich people but the poor people didn’t make the greatest decisions either. One example that really jumped out at me was the bit about Jack‘s parents.
They committed suicide bc they thought that their life insurance would be able to pay off their debt but bc they didn’t care to properly read the contract it didn’t work the way they expected it to (bc insurance doesn’t pay in cases of suicide, which was written in the contract!).
Why did they make Jack‘s parents seem foolish by making them not read the full contract? Why not make it a legal loop or make it some other type of refusal to pay out the insurance? Why not lean into the obvious unfairness and scam of the society that openly prefers and protects rich over poor? This was a missed opportunity and made Jack’s parents seem rather stupid instead.
Anyway, my criticism notwithstanding I do appreciate the idea and the grind. I see the effort behind the show and I respect the effort. I know that I’m in the minority in my dislike of the show and I think it’s a good thing that many other people liked it. I do wish for Yin and War to succeed in the entertainment business and I’m sure Jack and Joker will contribute to their future success, I just hope that their next project will be more to my liking.
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As the rooster crows and the candle blows out...
...the grave robbers must cease all raiding activities and quickly leave the tomb. Such is the golden rule that all members of Mojin Xiaowei, one of the four major tomb raiding sects, must abide by.Candle in the Tomb: The Lost Caverns is the direct sequel to Candle in the Tomb (2016), as far as the chronology of the Candle in the Tomb series’ web dramas are concerned. However, an entirely different cast has taken over from Jin Dong and Chen Chiao En, who headlined the first drama, and will continue with three more sequels in addition to this one, namely The Worm Valley (currently airing, at the time of writing), Raiders of the Wu Gorge and Kunlun Shrine. This, of course, excludes the timeline continuity of the numerous film adaptations, as well as prequel drama adaptations that have either already aired or presently in the pipeline as future projects.
Directed by Fai Zhen Xiang, who had helmed two earlier adaptations (The Weasel Grave and The Wrath of Time) and has directed The Worm Valley. He is certainly no stranger to the action adventure genre and his experience does shine through in his third foray into the series. Yang Zhe, who wrote the screenplay for Medical examiner Dr Qin, heads the screenwriting team comprising eight others. Principal photography took place amidst the vast rugged expanse of Shenmu county in Shaanxi province, bordering Inner Mongolia and situated across the Yellow River.
The plot is adapted from the second volume of Ghost Blows Out the Light (鬼吹灯) novel series written by Zhang Mu Ye. Set in 1982, Shirley Yang, Hu Ba Yi and Wang Pan Zi, close companions and tomb raiders of the Mojin Xiaowei sect, travel to Shaanxi to explore the mysterious Longling Maze in search of the legendary Book of Dragon Bones which holds the secret to finding the elusive Dust Bead, the key to lifting an ancient curse.Compared to the 2016 prequel, the plot development feels more riveting and faster paced while the action is more suspenseful and thrilling as well.
The production quality is unquestionably top notch. The cinematography is truly worthy of praise in terms of the immersive views of the beautiful Shaanxi landscape and the majestic Yellow River, as well as within the massive subterranean maze where a major portion of the exploration takes place. The proper application of lighting along with the steady camerawork and excellent editing ensure that scenes in the tomb are never too dim while the action sequences are not choppy. The set designs are equally impressive, from the authentic town setting in Shenmu to the gloriously furnished underground tombs.
There are plenty of visual and special effects on show that are generally well rendered. Certain stunts involving wirework do appear somewhat awkward but for the most part, are quite decently performed. I love the variety of BGM that infuses distinct flavours to suit the atmospherics in different scenes without overpowering them in the process.
One of this series’ strengths, which is evident in this drama, is how fact and fiction intertwine seamlessly as part of the detailed worldbuilding. The fusion of mysticism, folklore, ancient history and real world concepts such as Taoism and Feng Shui all combine intricately into a compelling narrative. In addition, the elaborately designed traps and mechanisms featured in the storytelling adds immensely to the thrill. How technically accurate any of it is, I’m not entirely sure but the intrigue is certainly captivating.
Another aspect that impresses me is the authenticity and depth of the characterization.. Casting experienced mature actors and getting them to appear haggard with actual sunburn and minimal makeup. Dialogues between the various characters that are logically written and spoken with regional dialects do add to a greater sense of realism indeed. The only gripe I have is the English speaking parts which seem rather contrived and unnatural.
The new cast, in my humble opinion, fit their roles perfectly. It doesn’t take long to warm up to their portrayals because aside from the individual brilliance, they display such convincing chemistry with one another.
Pan Yue Ming’s Hu Ba Yi is slightly more down to earth compared to Jin Dong’s charismatic version, but he does possess a laidback and understated old school charm that grows on you. Zhang Yu Qi, who earlier in her career gained fame in Stephen Chow films, comes across as a more grounded version of Shirley Yang and I honestly appreciate her interpretation of the character. Minimalist yet stylish without the extravagance, she embraces the role convincingly. Together with Hu Ba Yi, their temperament appears to be quite a good match. Jiang Chao takes on the role of Wang Pang Zi with aplomb. I get the feeling that he’s literally portraying himself because he injects much fun and humour into the characterization in an extremely realistic manner. His physique certainly matches the persona as well.
All things considered, I’ve very much enjoyed the viewing experience of Candle in the Tomb: The Lost Caverns. Great entertainment value from an intriguing plot with endearing characters and at only 18 episodes. Despite wrapping up nicely and without a cliffhanger ending, the story does not end here. The tomb raiders’ quest continues in the next instalment where there are more adventures and excitement to be had.
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Three words: "Simple yet Meaningful"
Overall - The development of the main characters and the main point of the story had been conveyed creatively.
Story - Simple yet the key points had been established. Idealistic scenarios from realistic conventional and unconventional characters had been well plotted.
Acting/Actor - Realistic portrayal of the raw emotions of the students had been displayed. Each of the actors consistently performed their roles effectively to make the story focused on what it intends to say.
Music - Deemed fit for this kind of story. It also enhanced the scenarios to support the emotions of the characters.
Rewatch Value - As for this kind of story which is mild yet meaningful, it had been rewatchable because of the development of the raw emotions and attitude of the characters. These made the unexpected friendship be deeply bonded due to both typical and unusual events where they matured in rendering trust and understanding for each other.
For the fans of friendship genre and anyone who wants to try this, this simple drama will leave you a smile on your face and you might hope to have or have had this kind of bond with your friends.
By the way, my criteria per review and how I rate each category are discussed in my profile.
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This review may contain spoilers
✨A Beautiful Love Story, Pure and Undistracted✨
⊹₊˚ଘ♡ଓ 𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝐼 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒲𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒟𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶 ♡⋆｡˚I clicked on this drama because of Ben Wang. There's something captivating about his aura, and I truly enjoy his acting. He has a screen presence that instantly pulls you in, so I was curious to see how he'd bring this character to life.
★·˚ ༘ 𝑀𝓎 𝐹𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉 𝐼𝓂𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃 ⋆˚₊
From the very first scene, it was clear that both characters were strong and carried a unique charm. Together, they created a powerful and captivating aura , charming, confident, and effortlessly attractive. It instantly felt like the beginning of a beautiful love story.
꒰ঌ 🌸 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝒜𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒟𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶 🌸 ໒꒱
This drama gets everything right style, makeup, hairstyles, costumes, direction, screenplay, writing, and lighting. The scene setups and lighting perfectly complement each other, making every moment more vivid and aesthetically impactful.
I really liked how the male lead (ML) treats the female lead (FL) he cherishes her like a child, with care and gentleness. The FL is portrayed as a pampered, slightly spoiled, yet innocent character who knows exactly when to show attitude and how to use her charm. She carries herself with grace and confidence.
One of the best parts is how naturally the leads connect. Their bond develops in a very genuine, realistic way. The ML is a reserved, introverted person who doesn’t express much verbally, but his actions speak volumes. They both try to in relation , and the two have great communication. There are no misunderstandings between them, and they share a strong rapport.
Their dynamic gives the feeling that the ML is more mature almost like an elder figure and the FL is the younger one being lovingly pampered. It’s written in a way that shows a nurturing, affectionate relationship, which is a beautiful element to highlight.
Both characters have strong, grounded personalities. They are not swayed by emotions or situations they remain composed and true to themselves.
The family background in the story is also portrayed positively, which adds warmth. As for the villains, they hardly have any real impact. Their roles appear briefly at the beginning and end, and they’re so minimal that they don’t feel like actual antagonists more like background noise.
Another thing I appreciated is that around 90% of the screen time is focused on the ML and FL . This keeps the narrative tight and centered on their relationship without unnecessary subplots. For a viewer who just wants to enjoy a wholesome love story between two well-matched leads, this is definitely a plus.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 🕊️ 𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒟𝒾𝓈𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝒜𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝐼𝓉 🕊️ ˖ ࣪⭑
In some scenes the dress has been repeated which would distract the attention from the story because this would indicate that those scenes were probably shot on one day.
The editing was off at some places. Some scenes are cut or missing, so the scenes are jumped.
One scene which seemed off to me was the model who was accusing the dress of being spoilt, at least the production should have given a high quality dress to wear so that scene seemed genuine. The dress she was wearing was of low quality, which any extra character is wearing or the background people.
Does ML keep teleporting us which reaches nowhere, there is no explanation for this.
In some places, it felt like the voice was coming from a mic or a studio, and it sounded a bit off or unnatural.
I did not understand one explanation. ML says that he knows that FL loves him from before. But the explanation he gave is "that FL was drunk and in that state FL kissed him and told him the password of her bank account"" how will it be known from this that she loves him, that's weird. But here the director, writer and screen play made a mistake.
♡₊˚ 🪽 𝒪𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 ˚₊♡
Despite a few minor flaws, this is a really good drama, and I chose to overlook those issues because the core of the story is so strong. It has no toxicity, no third-party interference, and the family dynamics are positive and supportive. The villains have no significant role they appear briefly and don’t impact the main storyline much.
This drama is entirely focused on the two leads and how they build, grow, and nurture their relationship. It’s a beautiful and wholesome love story, perfect for anyone who wants to watch a drama that revolves solely around the main couple, without unnecessary subplots getting in the way.
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The story of closeted lesbians in ancient history
Unlike many historical dramas that dive into politics and betrayal, Mhom Ped Sawan takes a refreshing turn of exploring the issue of เล่นเพื่อน, or ‘len pheuan'. This term translates to ‘playing with friends’ that refers to the intimate female companion or, in easy words, the lesbianism. Set in the 18th-century Rattanakosin era, this series follows a typical template of Thai historical drama with some politics, strong misogyny and sexism, but with a sapphic and gay twist. For those unfamiliar, ‘Mhom Ped Sawan’ is an ancient story penned by Khun Suwan, a well-known poet from that time.The series takes a wider look at how same-sex relationships were perceived and accepted in that time period, along with the complexities of love across different social classes, particularly within the palace walls and its social circles. It also highlights the presence of LGBT allies during that era. While the series is more focused on drama, it still has some interesting moments of romance and the tension that come with it. But with 30 episodes, some plots are a bit draggy and repetitive.
One worth noting feature of this series is its skillful incorporation of Thai culture throughout the plots. The elements of poetry, literature, dance and play, cuisine, and palace etiquette are beautifully represented through the characters and their arcs.
When it comes to acting, all the cast members did a fantastic job. If there's one problem, it's Film and Tubtim’s chemistry. While their individual performances are good, their on-screen chemistry isn’t strong enough. Some scenes come off as a bit detached and lack the warmth you'd expect from lovers. In contrast, Princess Vilas and Khun Suwan's chemistry stand out more. Their companionship is endearing, and even though they’re not romantically linked, their dynamic is way more fulfilling than Mom Kham and Mom Sud.
This series has a good production quality and stays consistent from the first episode all the way through. But one drawback, in my opinion, is the use of camera angles and certain framing for the kiss and intimate scenes between Mom Kham and Mom Sud rather than showcasing the real kiss/performances. I wonder if this was done for the actresses' comfort, perhaps due to their inexperience with such scenes, (which I doubted that was the case), or if it was the director's choice or the channel's restriction. But regardless, it really detracts from the authenticity and believability of their relationship and undermines the emotional depth of their characters.
Despite its LGBTQ+ theme, it’s quite noticeable that this series is crafted through a hetero lens. But taking into account the cultural context, the time and place setting, and the target audience of ThaiPBS, the overall execution is quite good. While certain aspects of the storyline may falter, it’s still a good drama for those who like historical drama with less complicated palace politics.
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Underworld Bureaucracy & Neon Noir
If you came here for a sweeping romance or a slick, idol-style procedural, best turn around now. Agent from Above is Taoist Noir.It’s grimy, neon-soaked, and fundamentally cynical about the human condition while remaining deeply spiritual. It borrows the "burdened hero" trope, but replaces the guilt with the crushing weight of Karmic Retribution.
Agent from Above is an "anti-procedural." While it flirts with a ghost-of-the-week format, it quickly descends into a high-stakes, 6-hour countdown to a karmic apocalypse.
The side effects may include lotus-root-induced fever dreams.
It treats the supernatural—spirits, demons, and the bureaucratic mess of Diyu, as everyday reality. And it doesn't waste time explaining the rules.
The narrative pacing is relentless, maybe even draining. From "urban legends" to "full-blown apocalypse," the show aims at subverting expectations.
Apparently the most effective way to summon a Demon King is through layers of psychological trauma.
So, about Han Chieh. He isn't a hero; he's a man whose death status is "on-hold," an employee of the Third Crown Prince, paying off a debt with every supernatural exorcism, literally waiting for redemption. The show succeeds because it prioritizes his internal baggage over simple ghost-of-the-week mechanics.
His shirtless scenes aren't fanservice, they’re the medical documentation of the modern take on mythology.
Then there’s Ye Zhi. I’ll be honest: she is an "annoyance sandwich." Her presence felt questionable at times, but the show manages to weave her into the found family of ghosts and neighbors.
The villains? They aren't just evil, they are master planners in a "hate triangle" that turns human trauma into demonic leverage.
Let’s be real about the CGI: it’s an acquired taste. Episode 1 is a mixed bag, but by the time we hit the later episodes, this turns into CGI central! Purple lightning, crushed bone sound effects, and hellish cityscapes are ambitious, and the show occasionally suffers from overkill.
While the camera work gets chaotic, usually in the later part of fight scenes, the aesthetics here are a visual feast!
Think neon-noir landscape with grimy urban realism, then add traditional shrines and incense smoke and more saturated glow of neon signs. And really sleek underworld vibes.
From lighting a cigarette with a divine weapon to the Golden Graffiti blessings at Dongfeng Market, the production design leans into a "Punk-Taoist" aesthetic that makes the world feel lived-in and dangerous.
And the score—specifically 'Royal Progress of the Gods'—is the glue holding the show’s intensity together. The use of the Suona mimics the aggressive energy of temple festivals, perfectly mirroring the internal chaos here.
Here is the drama’s secret recipe: 85% Dark, 9% Light and 6% OTT Comedy. It’s a nightmarish version of your favourite supernatural drama, it feels messy and authentic. It has pizzaz and a soul! Sure it’s also violent and there are human sacrifices, the progression into darkness is inevitable with this plot.
It balances horror (people eating burning coal in Diyu) with absurd humor (a horny ghost gets a redemption arc, and we get buddy-cop banter).
Sure it might give you tonal whiplash, but I think the comedy felt earned rather than forced.
Now, the most fascinating part: the Modernization of Myth.
In this world, the Underworld has smartphones, Ox-head looks like a bouncer, and the Third Crown Prince is a rebellious, leather-clad prick who reconstructs limbs with lotus roots. It is a uniquely Taiwanese exploration of how traditional temple culture and "Spirit Medium" traditions survive in a world of high-rises, arcades and millennials.
Watch it for the Third Crown Prince Wardrobe and Diva Aura. Watch it for the occult banter. Watch it if you like purple. Watch it if you read comics but can’t admit it to your friends. Watch this if you’re tired of Jacob Wang playing a moody doctor. You can also watch it for the meta-commentary on belief by the way.
Watch it for the Karmic Retribution arc that proves "magic cannot defeat spiritual power, spiritual power cannot defeat karma, and karma cannot defeat a wish."
Potential headlines that didn't make the cut:
- Not Your Mother’s Ghost Whisperer
- The Liver, The Bird, and The Wardrobe
- How to Cleanse a Demon with a Chupa Chup
- New Diyu, Who Dis?
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