Reviews

Hidden Love: A Delightful Concoction of Sweetness and Chemistry!

**Hidden Love: A Delightful Concoction of Sweetness and Chemistry!**

"Hidden Love" is an enchanting youth romance drama that effortlessly weaves love, friendship, and personal growth into a captivating storyline. Adapted from the novel of the same name, it revolves around Sang Zhi's secret admiration for her brother's friend, Duan Jiaxu, and the evolution of their relationship. The drama's adherence to the novel's dialogues and its ability to bring the characters to life make it a heartfelt and genuine adaptation.

What sets "Hidden Love" apart is its nuanced character development. Sang Zhi isn't your typical female lead; her gradual and secret development of feelings for Duan Jiaxu adds a touch of realism to the story. Likewise, Duan Jiaxu is portrayed as a kind and supportive male lead, contributing to the authenticity of their relationship.

The drama's balance between romance, family moments, and youthful themes leaves a lasting impact. The talented cast's impeccable comedic timing adds an extra layer of entertainment. While primarily focusing on youth and romance, the drama also delves into deeper emotional themes, contributing to a well-rounded viewing experience.

Chen Zheyuan and Zhao Lusi's performances as Duan Jiaxu and Sang Zhi are nothing short of brilliant. Their chemistry and ability to convey emotions make viewers deeply invested in their journey. The supporting cast further enriches the narrative, while the cinematography captures the essence of youth and the characters' intimate moments.

While the drama's green/grey filter in the early episodes may be a minor drawback, the overall execution compensates for it. The soundtrack perfectly complements the narrative, enhancing the viewing experience.

In conclusion, "Hidden Love" is a charming youth romance drama that successfully captures the essence of a love journey. With stellar performances, engaging storytelling, and a refreshing take on the genre, it's a must-watch that will leave you smiling, laughing, and swooning. Don't miss out on this delightful gem that offers the perfect blend of sweetness and chemistry!

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The story basically revolves around the political issues and the stolen money.
It was good at the beginning, i like how they resolve the mystery. But then focus of the story shifted to something else and makes it too draggy.

Romance doesn't seem to be the main plot, the leads were cute, but they don't have much chemistry.
The misunderstanding between them doesn't dragged for too long. But throughout the drama, they keep lying and pushing each other 'for their own good'. When i thought, 'they finally understand that they need to be honest with each other', they lied and hide again. It's just a tiring circle.

Instead i like the side couple, like xiao chen - ying yu and su zui - princess yu they got better chemistry in my opinion. Prince Ning was also a good character, he comes off as clumsy most times but was smart when needed.

There are some annoying characters, but they didn't bother much.

The acting were okay. I think the problem lies within the script. Don't expect much from the cgi and fighting scenes.

Conclusion; it's not bad, but not good
I do like the comedic part. But overall, it's not my favorite.

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It's worth the watch!

This drama will take you through cycles of love, hate, anguish, sadness, and happiness when you're done with it. The story follows Wei Zhao (Allen Ren) as he tries to claim justice for his hometown, Yuelou. Along the way he meets Jiang Ci (Landi Li), a carefree girl who seems to always get entangled in his plans, and Pei Yan (Jeremy Tsui), a frenemy who rivals him. As schemes unfold and fate intertwines, Wei Zhao, Jiang Ci, and Pei Yan will discover friendship, love, and loss as they battle for righteousness.
The storyline was acceptable. However, I absolutely love the character build up, especially the two male leads. The characters were written very well with their own unique archs that makes me accept the actions they choose to do as the story progresses. In addition, they were both protrayed nicely by both actors. This is the first drama where I will not complain if the female lead ended up with whoever, because I like them both equally. In fact, they both used our poor female lead to an extent, hurt her to an extent, loved her deeply to an extent, and both did not end up her (but one did captured her heart). We also cannot forget our secondary characters, "villians" included. They are like icing on the cake that makes our main leads' story and character shine with sweetness.
Despite it's movie title, this drama's is not all about love (though I do enjoy the sweet interactions between Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci). You will get a touch of vengence, family fidelity, friendship, loyalty, and betrayal mashed up. Although we don't get a happy ending, we got justice at end. The drama leaves me with a sense of satisfaction that I came to accept after shedding a few tears. Will I rewatch it? Not likely. I'm not sure if I can go through that sad ending again.

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more like 8.8?

apparently there's a difference between a movie and a film, the 1st one has an obvious plot and development while the other is deeper more symbolic, and this falls in the 2nd category.

they don't talk alot and the story is reeaaallly uneventful, but the 1st part and the last part were really well done, I was emotionally invested in the last part and I went through so many emotions!

I started this 90% for my Yoo Teo week and another part for Chun Woo Hee from Be Melo but Jung Jae Kwang stole the show, he was slightly stalkerish and there were alot of unnecessary scenes but over all I really enjoyed it

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Confusing but worth it

This was hella confusing but come on...we all came for Doyoung.

This drama gave me a headache even before it aired. I was scurrying around looking for sources to watch it and after the "first episode" aired, it turned out to be the whole drama. (https://youtu.be/gL9dbtDRl2M)

As for the story, I didn't watch the previous seasons because I also couldn't find them. It was confusing at first, but near the end, I got the hang of it. They definitely needed to spend more time on relational development in the story, especially Son Ji Woo and Kang Sun Min.

As for the acting, Doyoung was good considering this is his first acting gig. The female lead's acting was much more natural, considering that this is also one of her first acting gigs alongside "True Beauty" as a minor role. The support characters did their fair share of confusing me, but I don't think I should dissect this too hard because it's only a short.

The best part of this drama is probably the OSTs that we got from Doyoung (https://youtu.be/PyWedT7IVkw, https://youtu.be/gmzSPOx5gmQ) I especially liked 'Night Air.'

Overall, I would only RECCOMEND if you are an nctzen. If not, I don't think this is right for you :(

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A Love that Shaped Destiny: The Infinite Devotion of an Unyielding Heart

🍁THE OVERVIEW OF PLOT AND WORLD BUILDING:

Ancestral God created and divided the universe into three realms... God Realm, Immortal/Heavenly Realm and Demon Realm, where God Realm is supreme. There is also Nether World where devils are imprisoned...

There are countless gods and immortals but only four are True Gods who commands the God Realm and are responsible for management and safety of Three Realms... Zhi Yang, Tian Qi, Bai Jue and Shang Gu. They all are born from the same origin but Shang Gu is "Supreme True God" who possess the Power of Chaos and the only girl and youngest one among them, just 10,000 years old. Zhi Yang, Tian Qi and Bai Jue grew up together and have very strong bonding.

• The hierarchy of God/Divine Realm:
1. Supreme True God/Chief God of Chaos
2. Three True Gods
3. High Gods
4. Lower Gods
5. Disciple from Immortal/Demon Realm

• The hierarchy of Immortal Realm:
1. Heavenly Emperor and Empress and High Gods
2. Demi Gods
3. Senior Immortals
4. Junior Immortals
5. Other Immortals

• The hierarchy of Demon Realm:
1. Demon God
2. Demon Emperor
3. Demi Gods
4. White Tiger Clan
5. Fox Clan
6. Other Demon Clans

The drama follows the story of Shang Gu and Bai Jue and show how their deep love and relationship developed and progressed while bearing the responsibility of safety of three realms and dealing with countless hardships.


🍁KEY CHARACTERS:

🌿SHANG GU/HOU CHI (ZHOU DONG YU) : Shang Gu, the Chief God of Chaos, a mischievous and fun-loving young Goddess meant to be the Supreme True God. She was raised and spoiled by Zhi Yang, Tian Qi and Yue Mi. Despite having Chaos Origin, her cultivation and powers were weak so she was being bullied by others.. Bai Jue was tricked by Zhi Yang to being her teacher. Because of her undisciplined and arrogant personality, she despised strict and disciplined Bai Jue from their very first interaction.
Weapon - Ancient Sword
Divine Beast - Wu Huan (Five-colored Pheonix)
Residence - Pilgrimage Hall

Hou Chi, the born High God and daughter of Gu Jun. She has aloof and cold demeanour but a warm heart. Raised in Qing Chi Palace in care of Bo Xuan and Feng Ran. Her Godly powers are weak and she shows less to no improvement in cultivation, even after diligently practicing for 60,000 years. She looks like Shang Gu who died in Tribulations of Chaos.

🌿BAI JUE/BO XUAN/QING MU (XU KAI) : Bai Jue, a True God and the God of War... The origin of his powers is Immortal and Fire, so he is also God of Fire. Has a stoic, distant and cold personality... No one can match upto his wisdom and patience...and his determination and dedication towards responsibilities and love is unmatched. Bai Jue grew up cultivating hard with Zhi Yang and Tian Qi and fighting devils to protect the Three Realms. Tian Qi nicknamed him as "Ice Cube" because of his cold demeanour... Despite him being distant, he was still admired and pursued by many goddesses in God Realm.
Weapon - Tai Cang Spear
Divine Beast - Hong Ri (Fire Qilin)
Residence - Abyss Hall and Daze Mountain

When God Realm closed due to Tribulations of Chaos, Bai Jue adopted the identity of Bo Xuan and lived in the Qing Chi Palace in the Immortal Realm for almost 60000 years, hiding his True God identity and isolating himself from all others, only Gu Jun knew his true self.

Qing Mu, a aloof and reserved young immortal from North Sea of Immortal realm, whose origin is unknown and he don't like to socialize. He got fame for his powerful cultivation despite his young age of only 1,000 years, and titled as "Lord of North Sea". He looks like Bai Jue who has disappeared years ago.

🌿TIAN QI/JING YUAN (LIU XUE YI) : Tian Qi, a True God, his power origin is Demonic and Water, so he is also Demon God and the God of Water. A carefree, mischievous and fun-loving God but a little impulsive and sometimes narcissist.. haha! He and Shang Gu have similar personalities... He manages Demon Realm... Tian Qi values relationships and friendships more than anything else...and likes to arguing with Bai Jue, but in a good-natured way. He loved Shang Gu and would do anything for her, even destroy the three realms he had been protecting his entire lifetime. His friendship with Yue Mi is well known in all the three realms.
Weapon - Purple Moon Whip
Divine Beast - Zi Han (Dragon)
Residence - Everlasting Hall

Jing Yuan, the Demon Lord Zi Yue, is actually another identity/reincarnation of Tian Qi after the Tribulations of Chaos. He lived in Demon Realm in seclusion and apart from Zi Han, only Demon Emperor knew who he is in real.

🌿ZHI YANG (LI ZE FENG) : The calm and rational True God... He is incharge of the affairs of the Three realms...and the oldest one in all True Gods...
Weapon - Twin Spear

🌿WU HUAN (ZHANG JIA NI) : The low-ranked pheonix from Wutong Island, whom Shang Gu picked up as her divine Beast instead of "the Only Fire Pheonix and Pheonix Queen" Feng Yan... She used to be kind, humble and calm before but later on became an arrogant, cunning, heartless and thirsty for power.... She is one of the three Ancient High Gods of Immortal Realm and the Heavenly Empress...

🌿GU JUN (LEON LAI) : A Flood Dragon from Demon Realm.. and the only disciple of Shang Gu... He is a loyal and wise person... Gu Jun is one of the three Ancient High Gods in Immortal Realm who survived the Tribulations of Chaos... He is the master of Qing Chi Palace and former lover of Wu Huan...

🌿YUE MI (LUO QIU YUN) : The Goddess of Stars and Moon in God Realm and best friend of Shang Gu... She is wise and powerful but fun-loving Goddess and very close to all the True Gods... She was in love with Tian Qi but her feelings were not yet reciprocated...

🌿FENG RAN (ZHANG YA QIN) : The only alive Fire Pheonix and daughter of Feng Yan... A straight-forward and cleaver girl... She is the best friend and protector of Hou Chi..and attendant of Gu Jun (whom he saved from Yunlin Swamp)... She is way powerful than Hou Chi and in-charge of Qing Chi Palace in the absence of Gu Jun.


🍁ACTING AND CHEMISTRY:

Xu Kai and Liu Xue Yi's portrayal of their characters is breathtaking...

Xu Kai was great as Bai Jue and Qing Mu although I don't like Bo Xuan's part much but it was good as well. As Bai Jue, he acted well as a cold and distant God who treats everyone fairly but can silently sacrifice his all for his love, and as Qing Mu, he did amazing as a aloof Immortal who knows to pursue his love without concerning the world... Xu Kai made the two characters really different with his acting skills that you won't feel these both characters played by one single person. He made Bai Jue my favourite character...

Liu Xue Yi impressed me with his remarkable performance. Tian Qi is my favourite just after Bai Jue... and I am so grateful to makers to not turning him in "typical toxic second male lead" who is obsessive... He loved Shang Gu but knew what are the limits and when to give up...

Zhao Dong Yu was amazing as Shang Gu in the first and last arc of the story but I feel her acting plain as Hou Chi.

Zhang Jia Ni did an extraordinary job with her character.. she truly made me hate Wu Huan from the bottom of my heart that I wanted to slap her everytime.

The chemistry between leads can be considered decent and above average... I loved the chemistry between Feng Ran and Jing Jian.. it was just wonderful.
The relationship dynamics between Bai Jue and Tian Qi are very interesting and fun to watch...
Other actors also did beautiful job with their characters and are worthy to be praised...


🍁OSTS, COSTUMES AND CGI:

OSTs are pleasant and extraordinary.. these have secured the top place in my playlist. The lyrics fit the story and scenes perfectly and make me cry every time I listen to them... "A Thousand Years of Search" and "The Thought of Life" are my favourite.

"I am willing to search for thousands of days and nights; Waiting for time to meet again in your eyes..
Exchange a lifetime for a second of encounter; It would not be a pity if it can be accomplished.."
~A Thousand Years of Search

Costume are really beautiful and gives a aura of grace and divinity.
CGI is top-notch. The magic spells, the power from the divine weapon, the sets, all look real, natural and beautiful.


🍁CONCLUSION:

Ancient Love Poetry signifies the patience, dedication and loyalty in love without compromising the duties and responsibilities one has to fulfill.
The wait of sixty thousand years and dedication of Bai Jue for his love Shang Gu along with his devotion for duties towards the three realms are exceptional and heart-touching. I'm actually very tough to cry while watching a drama.. but this made my tears rolled over my cheeks, even after rewatching it many times I still feel the same heartbreak every time.

"She turned to ashes,
separated by life and death;
He protected the three realms for her..
The thought of life is still ringing in my ears;
Once again, this passion has no limits and will never be extinguished"
~The Thought of Life


🍁ENDING:

I was thinking it would be a drama with a sad ending, but the ending touches my heart. It was a beautiful happy ending that I never expected.

To be honest, it might feel a bit boring or too fact paced to many in starting and one could feel like dropping it.. but I recommend to must watch at least 8 to 12 episodes before you make the decision to drop, otherwise you'll miss a fabulous drama.
I would recommend everyone to give it a shot.

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Chemistry at work, but angst and real growth is on break!

Have we seen the story of ex- lovers parting ways due to misunderstanding and reuniting in the workspace? Yes and honestly, maybe a better version does exist for the second chance love trope. So, while the premise is not new, the execution was just above the line. (Maybe subpar if I am being too critical)

This drama runs high on miscommunication and lack of communication simultaneously. It feels like two sides of the same coin.

Side A - Team Jin Hwan : Assuming others know what you mean and feel without stating your expectations clearly.
Side B - Team Min Jun : Hearing something and jumping to conclusions rather than giving a benefit of doubt and actually trying to sit and clarify the situation.

Starting with the positives, the chemistry between leads was the highlight for me. It was really good and evident from the start to finish. When they look at each other, I could sense all the hurt, the love and the weight of unfinished conversation between them!

Time alone doesn't heal everything unless you sit, communicate and truly process it all out. I am glad the drama didn't take the route of a fairytale reconciliation. While it was frustrating to watch at times, the back and forth between Minjun and Jin Hwan added the realistic layer of being too cautious and hesitant to re-enter into the same waters where both of them once almost drowned and barely survived in their own ways.

And a lot of people were mad at Minjun for not communicating and being as reciprocative as Jin Hwan when they met again after years but I believe that during those eight years apart, he was still struggling and had not fully accepted what exactly happened to him or why it happened. He actually never really had the opportunity to process it or work on his insecurities because technically, he never moved on. He was always under the impression that he was used and I do not think anyone can heal from something like that overnight.

Also the switch between past and present and vice versa was done well and very cohesively without being too messy or confusing. It gave a proper run down of what happened between them and why we are here right now. While in the past timeline, we get to see both the perspectives and it was interesting to see how the same situation can be interpreted in poles apart ways when communication takes a back seat.

Where this drama falters is the present day storyline that seemed rushed and underdeveloped. The emotional depth was missing and conflicts were left till the last minute to be resolved and honestly that is not my favourite kind of storytelling.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst second chance drama out there or it's not that the story didn't have potential. It did, but it just didn't dig deeper and enough to stir something inside me. I expected more believable character development where we could actually see them navigate their doubts, fear and misunderstandings together.
The angst between them felt lukewarm. Yes, there was tension and chemistry, no doubt, but it just simmered below the surface.
The short run time didn't help either. Maybe instead of 6 , 8 episodes could have made their journey and the ending more believable.

Clearly, the ending seemed rushed and very theatrical. It felt like we were robbed of the slow burn payoff. I still don't think either of them actually addressed their issues and if the drama existed in parallel universe and they are still together, I could see them making the same mistakes again. Again, I do believe in second chance romance but can it really happen if the people involve don't really change or atleast try to deal with their insecurities. Well, Minjun and Jin Hwan would never know because the writing didn't give them that chance.

Acting-wise both the new actors did a good job and their chemistry did all the heavy lifting here. I do feel with a better and strong script, we could have gotten something more because their performance does have potential.

Coming to OSTs, they were decent. I did like in a few scenes how they incorporated between dialogues without distracting from the delivery but nothing too memorable.

Overall, this drama isn't without flaws but the chemistry between them makes it a decent one time watch. I wouldn't say I dislike it but the pace and exploring their characters individually and then their dynamics together would have made this better.
Recommended if you are looking for something short filler like and wouldn't mind surface level writing.

Favourite Line from the Drama :
"I was stupid back then so I lost you,
If I have the chance, I want to do my best!"

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A LOVE-STORY, ROM-COM DONE RIGHT!

Yes, the story does show a rivalry between parents passed down to their children. However, this just seems so basic, right? But oh, you are in for a ride.

In this series, there's no unnecessary drama. No stupid fights. No mis-understandings. Hella great communication between the main leads. No sacrificing their relationship for the sake of others. No breakups for the sake of others.
Their relationship shown is just based on Pure Love. Pat and Pran's story is really portrayed in the most realistic way possible. And not to feed the fetishes of the "audiences". Their intimate moments and kisses seemed so natural and for their own moment.

One of the many things that I liked in this series is there is literally no homophobia in the whole show. Also, no "I don't like men, but I like you" cliché. No "wife-husband" thing. No non-consensual kisses or anything. No jealous ex-gf trope or no making the girls in the series evil. Nothing of this sort.

Once the leads get together, they made sure that they stay together, fight together, overcome every hurdle TOGETHER. A healthy relationship is finally shown.

On to the main leads. Ohm and Nanon's chemistry is so damn good. So natural. Like literally no awkward moments. There was not one single time that I felt cringe or anything. And oh my god. Their acting skills! Hella fricking good. It's the only way to describe it. Even in the moments where there were no dialogues, I FELT THEIR EMOTIONS. And to think that this is Nanon's 1st ever BL. They both really gave us outstanding performances.

Also, the director. P'Aof. Hat's off. This man just keeps getting better and better. In 2021 alone he gave 2 back to back amazing series. First being ATOTS and now BBS. At this point GMMTV should just let P'Aof direct their BL shows.

Not to exaggerate but, Bad Buddy Series should not just be the standard of BL's but also the standard of a Healthy Relationship. This series really hits home because, it is just a simple love story between 2 people, but yet, so damn special.

Cast 100% ; Storyline 100% ; Direction 100% ; Production 100% ; Acting 100% ; OST 100% ; Rewatch 100% (I already rewatched it once. More to come, lol)

Watch it. You won't regret it.

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While I can say I honestly enjoyed my time with Substitute Princess, I find it hard to wholeheartedly recommend it. Much of the fun was enhanced by fan interaction and suspense week-to-week during broadcast, something that can't be replicated. If I had watched this like any other drama (ie: marathon or over several days), my experience would have been very different. Why? This drama undeniably has many strong points. But even if the tools used in a narrative are shiny, the story will ultimately fail if the writing isn't strong. And in Substitute Princess, it's decidedly weak.

The plot veered off tracks slightly past the halfway point. There's a decided shift in direction so noticeable that I'd thought the writers had changed hands. In truth, apparently internal politics at SETTV coupled with need to meet public demand caused this; either way it seems the writers clearly bit off a little more than they could chew. Character motivations became muddy; one promoted character totally vanished. Plot lines disappeared partway, then reappeared only to be wrapped up unsatisfactorily. Those that were necessary were often shuffled along in favor of trying to fix the problem of choosing the OTP, but even this was somewhat rushed.

What makes this unfortunate is that the main cast is so lovable. Nikki Hsieh has fine chemistry with everyone else in the drama, believably interacting with any character according to their intended relationship. She also does a great job in her dual role, because there are even speech differences between Da Hua and Liang Yan. James Wen is a personal favorite, but he was calling in all of his talent to keep his character from imploding. His Lin Guan Jun was handled poorly by the writers and his actions often made little sense in the final episodes. Wen has a natural charm about him though, so the eye is always drawn to him regardless.

Chris Wu is the favorite for most viewers, because he's such a talent; Terry could have reasonably been as interesting as cardboard. Instead, he's gorgeous, magnetic, compelling, and sympathetic; it's easy to see why he won the hearts of viewers so easily...and he's likely the primary reason many kept tuning in. I can't blame them.

My personal favorite part of Substitute Princess is the music. This is one of the OSTs I will be importing once it's available. Both the intro and outro suit the show unbelievably well, from the tone to lyrics. Each insert song is memorable and used effectively also. A special mention has to go to James Wen, who sang Guan Jun's love theme "Why Bother." Once when it played it got me teary-eyed due to its effective usage; it's such a beautiful song and his voice is quite pleasant.

Sadly, I can't think of any reason to re-watch this drama once you've completed it--unless you want to relive the experience that is Terry. I probably won't be coming back to it any time soon.

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Caught between two lovers, feeling all confused.

If Only It Weren’t You is a provocative and emotionally charged drama that walks a fine line between romance and discomfort. At times, its sensual tone pushes the boundaries of what one might expect from a mainstream series, and had it gone any further, it could easily have tipped into something far more explicit - pornography. That said, the physicality in the story is not without purpose—it underscores the emotional entanglement and psychological pull between the characters.

At the centre is Onuma, a woman at a vulnerable turning point in her life. Having just ended a relationship and entered her thirties, she is confronted with the sudden reappearance of Ureshino—a man with whom she shared a physical and morally complicated past. Their relationship, even a decade ago, was built on betrayal, as both were involved with other partners at the time. This history casts a long shadow, making their reunion both charged and deeply uncomfortable.

Onuma’s initial instinct is to distance herself, to maintain composure and bury the past. However, Ureshino’s persistence quickly erodes that resolve. His presence is unsettling not only because of what they shared, but because of how easily he reawakens something in her that she cannot fully control.

In contrast, Kusaka represents stability and sincerity. His growing interest in Onuma offers a clear, healthier alternative—someone dependable, respectful, and emotionally available. Yet, despite recognising this, Onuma finds herself drawn back into Ureshino’s orbit, reigniting a relationship that is as intoxicating as it is destructive.

This creates a deeply toxic dynamic. Onuma is caught in a painful push-and-pull—wanting to break free, yet repeatedly falling back into Ureshino's arm (or bed). While it may be easy to judge her as indecisive or lacking resolve, the drama invites a more compassionate perspective. It reflects a reality many can recognise: the difficulty of escaping emotionally manipulative or addictive relationships. Much like real-life toxic attachments or affairs, the pull is not always rational, nor is it easily resisted.

Ureshino is a particularly compelling, if troubling, character. His behaviour raises constant questions about his true intentions. Does he genuinely care for Onuma, or is he simply exerting control and indulging his carnal desires? When he senses her drifting toward Kusaka, he shifts tactics—suggesting a more “serious” relationship, which only deepens the ambiguity. His ability to manipulate both Onuma and the situation reveals a calculating, narcissistic streak that makes him both fascinating and unsettling to watch.

What makes the drama engaging is how it places the viewer in Onuma’s position. You are drawn into her confusion, her hesitation, and her internal conflict. Even as you recognise the toxicity of the situation, there is a lingering curiosity—perhaps even hope—that Ureshino’s feelings might be genuine. Yet, the memory of his past actions casts doubt over everything, creating a constant tension that drives the narrative forward.

Ultimately, If Only It Weren’t You is less about romance and more about emotional vulnerability, flawed choices, and the complexity of human relationships. It explores how desire, history, and unresolved feelings can blur judgement, leading individuals into situations they know they should avoid.

One thing, however, remains clear throughout: Ureshino’s manipulative tendencies and self-serving behaviour make him a deeply problematic figure, and the drama does not shy away from showing the damage such personalities can inflict.

Setting aside the emotional aspects of the drama, I felt that the male lead’s hairstyle did not quite suit him. It fell heavily over his eyes, making his face appear smaller and somewhat obscured. If the intention was to create an air of mystery or suggest a more elusive, unreadable character, it did not quite achieve that effect. A neater style, perhaps brushed slightly aside, would have been more flattering and effective on screen.

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Short, beautiful and well made

The story is simple but deliver some great message and reflection to real world which we ended up thinking about after finishing watching such a short story.

I have nothing much to say about the plot except I want everyone to watch it and I really really wish they made this into a series instead of just one hour special because I already loved both Mizuki and Ryosuke.

Here I want to point out what I noticed about the writing choice of making Mizuki a lemon farmer and Ryosuke an elementary teacher. For it, when I first heard the plot it was almost too random and hilarious. Why so oddly specific?

However, after watching it I think I noticed something and how those are important to shape the characters and their story here.

First of all, Ryosuke as a teacher who works with kids, he wanted to make everyone happy even though It’s out of his reach. He didn’t tell his childhood sweetheart He’s gay afraid that it would hurt her feelings and it ended up making her wait endlessly for him. He didn’t tell his fiancé that his family didn’t approve of gay marriage bc his fiancé told him he wants a wedding in front of everyone. He fell into a deep dilemma because he was desperate to make everyone happy. The whole mess started because he was too ambitious to please everyone and it made him selfish and hurt the one he loves instead. For Mizuki being lemon farmer led to the comparison of his relationship to the bitter sour taste of it and yellow color is very aesthetic. Speaking of aesthetic, I hope you also notice how they purposely made Mizuki and ryosuke wear clothes that complement each other color both their casual and wedding suits lol IMO made the movie very pretty and pleasing.

Overall, it’s well thought and I’m glad I watched it.

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The bad reviews are from people who just can't handle dark dramas

It's actually quite funny how many dark shows/shorts receive poor ratings just because they contain unsettling themes, and when the synopsis is as blunt as this one, the blame falls wholly on the viewer. If you are uncomfortable with themes such as kidnapping and rape then don't watch it, simple as that. This isn't for you.

I liked this short kbl because of the acting from the main lead. His portrayal of the trauma bleeding into numbness and eventually breaking down to tears really manages to evoke emotion from us as the audience, and it's exceptionally well done. The twist of the second lead being in on the kidnapping wasn't really a shock as it was easy to guess, but I enjoyed the psychological aspect and the unsettling environment over the 3 episodes.

I really wish people who can't handle dark shit to just stay away and let those of us who understand what these shows are trying to portray to enjoy it without criticism.

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Story: So we have a girl who is 'forced' to marry someone that she doesn't love to help with her fathers business, so she runs away on her wedding day, only to coincidentally lose her memory and have her chance of having her second life. I liked the sound of that, seemed like a very nice concept for a story.

Acting/Cast: I loved the cast in this drama. From the two main Cyndi and Ken, to the secondary main Pink and XJK, to the parents.. and all the rest of the cast. Cyndi was so pretty, sweet and pure and Ken was just hilarious. I've been really impressed with Ken's acting and am glad he seems to be getting a lot of roles lately. They were perfectly adorable together! I really loved the parents too, they are the best played parent couple I've seen in TW dramas hands down. They were wonderfully perfect. The whole interaction with the whole cast was just amazing.

Music: I've always been a fan of Cyndi's singing. I think she has one of the sweetest voice ever, so it's not a surprise that I loved the opening song.

Rewatch Value: If it wasn't for the length, I would totally watch this again.

Overall: I really loved this drama. I'm not sure why I gave it a 9 only back when I watched it - I would happily give it a 10 now. This is one of the best family dramas that I've seen and having 70 episodes was not a problem at all. I enjoyed every minute of this and if length is not a problem, I would highly recommend this to everyone who loves a simple, cute, romantic, and hilarious drama.

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GDH has once again captured our hearts in their latest movie offering; a heartfelt romantic comedy about con games gone wrong for all the right reasons, The Con-Heartist (which is now available on NetflixPH).

The movie was a perfectly imperfect mixture of light romance, comedy and heist. Of course, it was not the perfectly detailed thrilling con games like others in serious genre, but it was exciting enough to keep you laughing and anticipating for the next scenes. The actors were the perfect cast, no one else can pull of Tower but Nadech and no one else can own Ina like Baifern did. Bank, Phuak and Kathleeya each shined with their characters, so did Ter who had a special participation. Overall, the plot was simple. It was about a woman who was conned by her ex bf, now seeks revenge with the help of another conman. The main
conflicts lie between trusting another with the probability of getting deceived again at high stakes, overcoming your own sorrows and meeting people who might share the same.

The Con-Heartist was entertaining and fun. Its comedy may vary with people's taste on jokes, but fun nonetheless.
The light romance leaves us wanting for more, but Nadech and Baifern's chemistry was definitely a win. It radiates in all their key scenes. The heist was fit for its romcom genre, still exciting to watch. And lastly, it is heartfelt because of all the life lessons that lies underneath its adventures.

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