Music wise, it was okay... until the part where Seung-hyun rendered a song... and because of that, I'm giving this drama a plus point. That's something to look forward into the whole drama.
If you're looking for something that's easy and short to watch but not mind blowing, this drama is perfect for you. It has 18 episodes that runs at least 11 minutes each, then it's going to be a fast watch and not a total waste of time.
I won't be rewatching this anytime soon, but I will definitely look this up in the future if I want to be inspired with my photography. This drama is simply full of photo clips that are awesome.
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A BITTERSWEET EXPERIENCE!!!!!
Grumpy first male lead with hardworking fierce first female lead with some kind of childhood bestfriends to enemies to lovers.The kiss sixth sense is a romantic comedy drama about a woman who can see The future when she kisses someone, it is basically adapted from webtoon of the same name. The male lead is hyper sensitive ie. he can hear from miles. see for miles. Basically his sense are really developed after he suffered an accident in his childhood.
The love relationship between the leads takes awhile to develop , and there is some misunderstanding and lack of communication (typical). However there are some nice skinship and PDA scenes.
Because it’s an office romance, you have the humor and storyline of the colleagues and after work dinners etc.. There’s also the ex-boyfriend factor - his tale was a sad and unfortunate one, but he was matured enough to handle it, i liked him a lot and the story between him and the MFL was amazing but the ending and problem they had were unnecessary[they did him bad].
Somehow the character of the ML changes when he starts dating her- he becomes more comical and cracking jokes, which I thought was out of character.
Cliché storyline. the story went pretty predictable. The whole black outfitted, cap and mask-wearing random/bad people is so out of fashion. I mean doesn't the whole black outfit negates the "hiding in plain sight" concept? I would totally notice a human in a full black outfit.
Started great, ended flat! this drama started off with a bang. I was hooked initially and the casting of the main leads were perfect considering their mature age and the office romance. The chemistry was sizzling and I loved the storyline. But as the episodes progressed, it felt like the same story in the beginning was being addressed over and over again.
I'll admit that the final 15 minutes of the last ep [ep 12]made me cringe.
We should've gotten cute moments between them but they keep on breaking up instead. Why? Because of their powers disappearing? That's why they went crazy??? That was unnecessary. The ending last 15 mins really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Recommended if you're looking for something light, sweet and fun with a little bit of mystery.
I really don't understand the need to inserting murder mystery and/or crime into a storyline. It felt out of place and absolutely unnecessary, especially for episodes 11 and 12. The ending felt rushed and could've been executed better.
OVERALL A GOOD DRAMA TO WATCH!!!!
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I'll keep this review short and to the point.
What works: Amazing acting, ever evolving characters, gripping comedy, diverse range of characters, a thorough and different depiction of the TV news industry, sizzling chemistry and ton loads of unexpected turns.
Everytime you think you know a character's move, or expect a cliche, you will be surprised with something absoluetly absurdly different. That's the USP of the show. Apart from the fact that they handled the issue of brest cancer brilliantly and effectively and so graciously, they gave multiple twists to even the normal love trainle
What I enjoyed: Hwa Shin's way of love, his character evolution. Na Ri's undetereed loyalty and ability to take care of everyone around her.
You'll read all around what worked for the show that made me give it a 10.
I'll tell you about what made me deduct the 1 point from the story: It felt incomplete after a while. The things we were prepared slowly in the first half of the show, were left un dealt with durin the second half. The teenage triangle, the chef-moms traingle (although dealt fairly well, I'd have liked for the Chef to be actaully asexual), and mainly the second lead.
They introduced the second lead in such a manner that he practically charmed the pants off, but then he started to get on everyones nerves around the middle part. He was a character that I expected to be the BFF first and the second lead later. And while he did that for around 15 episods, it suddenly got downhill and creepy after that when he couldn't give up.. What I'd have liked is that they redeemed him in the end slow and not just by giving him 5 mins in the end. No, I'd have liked for him to stick up for his best friend and be there..and this should have been done through the last 4 epsiodes. This kinda left an incomplete aftertaste for me.
Other than that, let's count the amazingness of the show:
- Mind blowing actors, JJS toreme apart with his emotional scenes and I fell off my chair laughing at him.
- GHJ is a queen when it comes to cute yet firm characters. Her micro minute expressions made me love her so much.
- Unexpected way of dealin with equally unusual and absurd situations
- Unlimited laughter
- Brilliant supporting cast
- Entertaining TV news team and scenes (especially the auditions)
- Heart fluttering OST
This was my first show to watch live with everyone, waiting for the episodes everyweek, and it honestly made my thursdays and fridays (I saw it a day later because of subtitles) and I'm going to miss this SO much.
Favourite Episodes: 4, 6, 9, 12, 14, 17, 22, 23.
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Since no one else reviewed this, I will (:
I'm shocked there are zero reviews on this web series so I've decided I'll write one as spoiler free as possible! Just in case people don't want to risk checking the comments on here (in case they see a spoiler). Also, if you're wondering where to watch this, it's available on their official youtube channel! Just search 'Discipline Z Vampire' and you should be able to find it.Okay let's start...
Story: I REALLY loved the storyline! And for those who keep asking in the comments, yes this has two gay characters in it that have a relationship and it is part of the story, but that's not the focus of the web series. It's more about the whole mutant genes thing and Hyung-Tae, but the BL aspect is a main storyline so don't worry! I'm just letting you know now that this isn't your typical BL that's centered around university and romance. I loved the storyline, the cinematography and camera work was really great for a web series (the only thing that felt low budget was the green screens in some parts but that's expected when this show is obviously low budget). Another thing I loved was styling for the outfits like WOW, the stylist did a great job. I loved the main characters and was so happy to see Ji-Han still be one! He was my favourite in the first Discipline. Some people think the ending was rushed but I disagree, I liked the ending and it made me excited for the Ji-Han and Asin's story! I do believe there could have been part of the plot that was more developed but that's why I'm only giving the story aspect an 8/10. In conclusion, the show was really interesting, enjoyable and easy to watch and I recommend it based on the story alone!
Acting/Cast: Ah, so the reason I give this a 6/10 is mostly because of the acting done by the English speakers. I believe this show would have benefited and been way more polished if they didn't try to have an international concept. Especially with the character Yuri. I couldn't really understand half of what she was saying because her accent was so strong (despite her character not being able to speak/understand Korean and only English) and her laughing was way too fake. The actor who played the professor didn't do as bad, in some parts he was decent (majority of those parts being when he didn't have to express anger or annoyance). Honestly, the acting done by the ones who played Jay, Ji-Han, and Asin were better - during their English lines - than the ones who have to speak English the whole time. In saying all this, I'm not judging this as harshly as I would a big production with a bigger budget, since as I mentioned, this is only a web series with a lower budget so I understand it would be difficult to bring in amazing actors for those specific English-speaking roles. Plus, I have to commend the actors efforts and the production's inclusivity of other languages. The Korean acting was significantly better but still not the best I've seen. Although, I think some of that can be because of the script they were given (sometimes it felt awkward or unnatural). However, the main cast all did a fantastic job really, especially the actors who played Hyung-Tae and Ji-Han. (WAIT I JUST FOUND OUT THE THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED HYUNG-TAE WAS IN 'STEP FOR YOU' WHICH IS A KOREAN SHORT BL THAT I LOVE OMG WHAT).
Music: I gave an 8/10 because I enjoyed the soundtrack overall but it wasn't anything amazing.
Rewatch Value: I only gave this a 5/10 because I'm not really a rewatcher and when I do rewatch shows or movies, they're ones that are my absolute favourites or it's because I want to rewatch before the next part comes out. And to watch the next part of this (Summer Deja-Vu), I don't actually need to rewatch this.
Overall: A 7/10 because it was a unique story - at least for a BL it was haha - and I really enjoyed it! Plus I loved the styling of the outfits and hair, the cinematography was great, music was great, and the main cast are awesome. And I love when South Korea jumps on the LGBTQ+ band wagon in a positive way. I definitely recommend just giving it a go if you're on the fence!
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This review may contain spoilers
At first, I watch this film because I love the main female lead. But then, the story touches my heart. it's telling about a man who comes from another planet. He never even went to the other planet, because his dad was bounded to human (his mother). They will be bound to human if they help three times on the same person. And yes, he is bounded to the girl. In other people's eyes, she is only a girl who will do anything to be famous through internet. But no one knows that she had a childhood trauma. Because of her past, she always fake her smile and pretended to be happy... no one knows and no one care about her, except her best friend. But when the male lead is bounded to the girl, he tried every way to make her feel happy, but none of those makes her happy. She is blaming herself for not being strong enough to fight her depression. I like this movie, not only because the love story. But because the building character and what we can get from this film. as an individual, we should not look down on other people, especially happiness. We can't tell whether she's happy or she's suffering. The only one who can feel our happiness is ourself. many people say "don't care about what other say about you, just be yourself". It is true, but not everyone can do it. Who can really not think about what people say? even if there is, not everyone is like them. Our actions, our words, our judgements will effect people surround us. we are also human, we can be weak. But what makes you strong, is when you don't give up. When you fight little by little. When you prepare yourself to let go of the things you hold.
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First off, this storyline format was messy. The original had a better way of presently this story, which in and of itself is actually quite a unique premise. Honestly, in the movie version I was confused. Why did the director choose to put the scenes in that order BOGLES MY MIND… Poor choices were made!! I was unable to understand any of these characters or care about them. They felt flat and these are some amazing actors so that was EXTREMELY disappointing to watch.
In addition, it lacked the intrigue of the original. I was honestly bored…and this is NOT a boring story!! So why was it so hard to trudge through this movie?... I think it was because it lacked the comedy, the mystery, and adorable awkwardness of the original. Not to say the original was perfect. I think it lost focus halfway through. It ended up going in a different direction, that I personally think took away from a drama that had such amazing potential. However, it far exceeded the movie in every aspect!!
Honestly, I cannot really recommend this. Even as a HUGE fan of the story of Cheese in the Trap and someone who waited a long time for this adaption. Truly saddened by its lost potential.
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I started off on this one a little skeptical, because fantasy elements in Korean dramas always tend to be a little corny. I held that skepticism until about midway into the first episode, when the plot started to reveal itself, and things actually started to get really interesting.
While the genre of VR gaming has already been vastly explored, this was probably the first high production AR drama to hit the scene. Augmented Reality (AR), for those who are unfamiliar, is a technology which shows computer generated images projected into the real world. Think Pokemon GO. As you can imagine, this sets up some rather amusing scenarios where a person swings around randomly and everyone else gives you weird looks as they can't see what you're seeing. This drama starts off as just that - a rather light hearted take on VR, which not only tries to be funny, but looks silly in the process. As a result, I could not take the first episode seriously and almost dropped it as soon as I began, but things take a turn for the serious rather quickly.
And this is where the problems started arising. The drama, while it made some very interesting plot twists and smart little ideas, seemed like it had no direction. The plot twists, and smart ideas almost felt like the end goal of the writer, only put in there to entertain for the shock factor, just for the sake of it. There was no balance of light-heartedness and seriousness. This then gave rise to a bevy of problems including some major plot holes, pacing issues, and lack of character development - not to mention some ridiculous technologically impossible feats.
All in all, the plot started out a little silly, got really interesting, and ended up really silly because they couldn't fix their mess.
Don't want to talk too much about the other topics really - the actors are top grade, and the musical variety, while small, did the job. The production quality/value was superb - the fact that this was partly shot in Granada speaks volumes.
It's just a shame the plot completely lost itself. If it weren't for the rest of the factors, this would definitely have gotten a much lower score in my books.
I would say that if you like the genre to definitely give it a try as it still invokes interesting thoughts, but all in all it was a little disappointing.
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This review may contain spoilers
Underwhelming
EDITED: [REVIEW] A Disappointing Yet Memorable Ride: My Thoughts After RewatchingI finally got to rewatch the series, and honestly, my opinion hasn’t changed. It still feels underwhelming and didn’t quite live up to the excitement it promised.
The Strong Start That Didn't Last
The first three episodes were gripping — great pacing, strong buildup, and enough tension to keep you wanting more. But after that, things started to unravel. The plot lost momentum and fell into predictable revenge-drama clichés.
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1. The “Too Easy” Path for the Protagonist
Everything suddenly became too convenient for DH. People appeared left and right to help her — no real struggle, no real fallback plan. That made me wonder: What was her original strategy?
She spent over a decade planning revenge, yet the execution relied too heavily on unexpected allies. What if they hadn’t shown up?
I’m still waiting for a revenge drama where the lead has a solid, well-thought-out plan that doesn't rely on sudden plot devices or savior side characters.
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2. Screaming and Hysteria Everywhere
At one point, almost every character was screaming and acting hysterical. One or two characters? Fine. But when it becomes a trend, it loses impact and becomes exhausting to watch.
What really baffled me was how powerful, composed villains suddenly turned into clueless wrecks. Instead of fighting back or outwitting the protagonist, they panicked. Their only move? Humiliate DH by using her mother. That’s it. That’s their big counterattack?
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3. Emotional Breakdown... But Why?
Near the end, these villains — who lived shamelessly for years — suddenly broke down. Lee Sa Ra’s descent into drug addiction felt abrupt. PYJ’s unraveling also came out of nowhere.
I would’ve preferred to see them punished with their minds intact — fully aware of the consequences. That would have made the revenge more satisfying.
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A Scene That Didn’t Sit Right
One scene I strongly disliked was Lee Sa Ra’s scandal. She was drugged, and yet the way they exposed her was framed as if she deserved public shame. That crossed a line. She was a victim in that moment — and the show shouldn’t have treated it like justice.
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The Unnecessary Shaman (Yes, That Happened)
Don’t even get me started on the shaman subplot. Completely unnecessary.
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No Sparks in the Romance
The romance angle? Flat. There was no chemistry between the leads. It felt forced and disconnected from the main narrative.
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It Could Have Ended Sooner
Honestly, the series could have wrapped up in five episodes. The second half dragged. Flashbacks were used to stretch time, not to add value.
That scene of DE leaving the school, finally smiling — that should’ve been the ending. Everything that followed just felt like filler.
Also, what’s with the “everyone secretly knows each other” twist? It made the story feel small and too coincidental.
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The “Avenger Team” Ending
I had high hopes for the assistant’s character arc. I thought she’d seek a new life for herself or her daughter. But instead, she joined the revenge squad?
As for JYJ, I expected him to walk away from his father’s killer — a man too far gone to feel guilt. Sometimes, the best revenge is healing. Being happy is a kind of revenge, too. And yet, the show went with a cliché “Let’s build an avenger team!” ending.
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The Most Powerful Scene
If there’s one moment that stayed with me, it’s DE’s scenes with her mother.
She didn’t cry in front of her bullies. She didn’t cry over the past. But when her own mother tried to destroy her — that’s when she broke.
That betrayal hurt more than anything.
I understood her when she said she was glad her mother never changed. If her mother had shown even a bit of warmth, DE would’ve had to process and possibly forgive. But knowing she never cared made it easier to let go.
She was done — and in that moment, you could feel it.
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Final Thoughts
While the story had its flaws, the cast delivered incredible performances — especially the actors who portrayed the villains. They carried the show with their intensity and depth.
🟨 Rating: 4/10
Disappointing in execution, but memorable for its early tension and complex characters.
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How to Wreck a Popular Franchise—Trigger Warning Edition
Trashing Consent in Sexual Relations and a Respected Franchise—all in one toxic package!VERDICT
HIStory 4: Close to You has no redeeming qualities. I’d like to believe its lazy storyline, fetishization of gay relationships, and disregard for the virtue of seeking consent before pursuing sex will remain unsurpassed as a nadir for the genre. Given the warmth a substantial section of BL fandom has bestowed upon this toxic swill, however, I fear that filmmakers in the future may continue to believe that audiences will overlook the absence of consent as long as they cast handsome men in lead roles and contrive plot lines that lead those men to bat eyelashes at one another, smile warmly, and then kiss. It’s true, I think, that BL audiences like those things. Like them a lot. But it’s absolutely possible to create those moments without resorting to sexual assaults as technique for courtship. A writer need only put some effort into depicting wooing and warmth. Way more satisfying to observe than the rape of an unconscious victim. Any potential viewer who wishes to avoid the promotion of rape culture, ought to pass this series by without bothering to sample it.
And that criticism doesn’t even approach the other potentially toxic issue here, an incestuous affair between stepbrothers. Close to You is not the first BL series with a rape storyline. It’s not the first BL series with a sexual harassment storyline. It’s not the first BL series with a stepbrother incest storyline. But no other example comes to mind where a series is so unapologetic about all of those things. It’s as if the makers said, “Let’s bundle every trope, every plot device that has provoked backlash in the past and stuff them into this story as the main plot. Then, let’s see how far we can push those boundaries before people protest.” Sadly, many people think the fact the raped character accepts his stepbrother’s affections proves that such things are possible. Um, no. It proves that the writers can write any outcome they like, no matter how implausible, and people will think it’s charming. You know, as long as handsome men kiss.
Previous iterations of the HIStory franchise earned a great deal of goodwill in BL fandom. And not just the straight female segment of BL fandom. The earlier incarnations also appealed to gay male audiences who could see aspects of their lives in those stories. As a genre, BL sometimes gets accused of fetishizing gay lives for the entertainment of straight women. For me, the HIStory series largely avoided those pitfalls, as it told thoughtful and provocative stories. The thoughtfulness of those stories is certainly a reason I stuck around for this series long after it raised my hackles. I had faith the makers would somehow redeem themselves. In this instance, that faith went unrewarded. Close to You has sullied the venerable franchise so severely I’m not sure it can recover.
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The writer seems to have forgotten logic for most of the parts, or we viewers are taken as IQ like those naive FLs in CEO dramas. I'll just point out some parts.
~Identical Twins:
The most important part of the drama is biologically impossible. How on the earth twins with a different gender are identical? There is only one case possible but then girls always have turner syndrome. Oh, please don't tell me about sesquizygotic twins they only share 50% DNA so they can be half identical.. or identical as babies but not as growing teens. (Sorry for starting biology class here.) Though I was impressed by Choi Myung Bin I can't let it slide how illogical it is.
~Sexual Orientation:
First I do not have a problem with the concept of love without thinking of gender, or loving person/human. But I'm very disappointed how sensitive issues like this are handled carelessly in the drama. Ji Woon was more bothered that he fell in love with CP than the fact that CP is a man.. damn how can he not question himself for a single time that his first love was a girl how his preference change overnight.. then he starts to imagine Lee Hwi as a girl, but then says he likes her as a person, not gender.. damn what a mess? I mean we have seen Han Gyul (Coffee Prince) getting tormented in the twenty-first century... we like talking about Joseon Era, but no the male lead should be perfect he shouldn't question his love... even if it looks way unrealistic.
~Attack on CP:
In the envoy drama that happened, his guard u̶n̶intentionally attacked Lee Hwi and he just gets away with it.. okay it that possible? first, it was clear that the attack was intentional but even if it was unintentional how can a mere guard get away after attacking the CP of the nation... it's a very big thing.
The story itself is grand as cross-dressing is on a big level... it's not like she's dressing as a man to become Eunuch, or to get in school or university but as the future king of the nation which is a big thing.
Romance is bland, politics completely sucks... action, is there any? just some bits. The writing is inconsistent, it lacks substance. The king's affection is an absolute example of lazy writing with poor characterization. I was hoping for some great, well-written politics, mind games...Politics, what can I say? probably all budget went over a shot of Rowoon carrying flowers around the palace... as I have never seen court this empty with just a few ministers (sometimes it suddenly has a lot of ministers)... with only 2-3 who can talk. but not it has nothing to offer. I don't think this setup needed 20 episode format as most of the part feels like filer.. even the main thing romance. Love-pentagon most unnecessary thing, it doesn't even create that much tension it should have.
The most problematic character of the series is the male lead Ji Woon.. no it's not like he's a douchebag or something.... he's clueless, legit he has no freaking purpose for his existence other than being a love interest of Lee Hwi. He's a typical nice, goofy guy who does nothing but fangirl over Lee Hwi for half of his screentime. His character is written one-dimensionally... there's nothing particularly interesting in him that makes me root him with Lee Hwi lol
Lee Hyun is more interesting than Ji Woon.. at least he is three-dimensional with different shades, he's not that nice guy all time but can take action when it's needed. I liked Ga On from the very start he has that mysterial aura around him.. that made me take interest in him, generate curiosity about his back story.. and I was waiting for that BIG revelation all time, then when it happened it all goes flat. All mystery they tried to create.. and what was delivered is a disappointment, but I'm very glad they didn't drag him in love-pentagon to make it hexagon. I like So Eun but she has a very bad first impression... It took me forever to get warm with her due to it, but then I adored her. Ha Kyung clumsy, little stupid girl... she's the only person with whom I sympathies in the whole thing, coz she's nothing but an innocent, pure soul who got dragged into this mess... just coz she loved a man, who's not a man.
The best thing about the drama is Eun Bi, she's phenomenal... the Lee Hwi she portrayed was charming. Most of the time voice is neglected in cross-dressing dramas, but we can see Eun Bi also worked on her voice so that she can sound like a guy. This is one of the very few believable gender-benders where FL can pass as a boy... yes her weight, height is not ideal for the role but the body language, her presence, the way she acts... make her perfect for the role.
I adore and respect Lee Hwi, this character had so much potential (kinda wasted with romance)... there were many changes to how she can be a great, wise king but fewer actions prove that. The character growth was less explored due to induced fluff. In more than one half of the drama, she doesn't have a purpose why she remains as CP, king is a good person so power isn't in the hand of the wrong people... but her king gonna lead her grandfather to get power and her becoming pawn in power play. And it's not like that many people's lives are on skate as other than Eunuch and Court lady no one knows her secret. When she gets purpose... as the story forwards it's already too late coz drama has lost its charm.
Music is forgettable... it's high-quality production serving great visuals but the color scheme is bright, not ideal for watching on the big screen as it's too bright.
Don't bother if you are expecting great Sageuk with the realistic portrayal, action as most of the time it's just filer romance with lack of chemistry (I just don't feel anything for this couple) and try to disguise with some bits of action here and there splattered. Apart from Eun Bi and her Lee Hwi, nothing is amazing or mesmerizing... it's only grand with the name and set up but everything is just mediocre.
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Anti-hero Dark Lord Meets Insufferably Stupid Fairy
I finally got through all the episodes. Phew, almost dropped it a few times.LIKES:
Beautiful sets and cinematography.
Special FX were good, same with CGI use.
Music was appropriate, but nothing stood out.
WRITING: The heavenly tribes aren’t as purely good as they seem. I liked that they showed the heavenly ones as being flawed. Also liked that the dark tribe/hell fire came across as stronger than the heavenly fire. Don’t see that often.
COSTUMES: Embroidery was nice, the dark/devil ML had a better costume than most.
ACTING: ML did very good and has matured as an actor. When they did the body switch parts, ML was good & FL did okay too. FL did best as the Goddess parts.
DISLIKES:
WRITING: Orchid Fairy (FL) is just too dumb and very whiney. It wasn’t like she’s just naive or innocent, more that she’s purely stupid. I found her ignorant too. (That all could be the actress’s fault or the directing, not sure which.) Typical tropes and cliches of this fantasy drama genre. Also the 2nd couple (Jie Li and Shang Que) wasn't necessary and the ending was disappointing. Also for all of the characters, other than Dongfang Qing Cang & his brother, there was no character growth.
PRODUCTION/EDITING: During flying moments or falling, it is so obvious that they are in harness with ropes.
FX: The swords all look like children’s halloween costume props. “Fight scenes” were very lame looking.
ACTING: FL was over the top cutesy and not in a good way. Some stand out performances, but the rest was just average. Even though ML & 2ML (Changheng) tried their best, there was just no chemistry with FL at all. FL (Orchid) had over the top cute fairy acting but just too much and got annoying fast. You can be sweet without a stupid voice, it was like a tooth ache eating cotton candy. Just terrible. From episode 12 and on I had to mute FL’s parts, because I just couldn’t take listening to her anymore. I read subtitles instead.
COSTUMES: The “crowns” or head gear looked laughably plastic. Not very creative in the costume department and if they hadn’t constantly told us she’s from the fairy realm, you wouldn’t know it. [Not by costumes, other than the pastel colours.]
OVERALL: So far very over rated, unless you are just starting out watching shows from this genre. As a starter Fantasy Drama I would recommend it, for those of us who have watched a lot of these types of dramas I don't recommend it (unless you are a child or a teenager). I watched it until the end, but was tempted to drop it often. Dylan Wang did a great job acting as Dongfang, enough for me to check out some of his other roles. (Originally I wasn't impressed but that was after watching Meteor Garden.) I'm glad this drama is over though.
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Instead of a “will-they-or-they-won’t” plot, which all romance, include Western, does, they show the natural progression of a relationship, through various stages, with all the adaptation and negotiation that it involves, in a very adult-manner. While that could easily be boring, the cast is magnetic, photography stunning, and they really have great dialogue and a lot of chemistry. A *LOT* of chemistry. This series often takes your breath away and a whole sequence in episode 7 is a steamy classic in itself.
You also see a lot of conversations regular shows completely skip over, about sex, jealousy, consent, compromise. The series is romantic and sexy, but also very realistic in the depiction of a healthy relationship.
As a viewer, I was always waiting for the traditional BL mode of throwing a wrench into the plot at some point, but that, thankfully, never happens. Instead, they make a bold decision to, in the last third of the series, essentially switch the protagonists and make the main couple supporting, which gives us a unique opportunity: see the main couple live their happily ever after on screen, because now there are news leads carrying the weight of the drama.
If one criticism is to be made is that there are other two possible couples on the posters and peppered throughout, but they are given little screentime and have very little connection to the main plot, feeling completely throwaway. It’s not a huge issue, as they don’t show up that often, but it’s glaring, especially because the stories deal with rape and are very misplaced in a series that explores consent so well, otherwise.
On the production site, as I mention, the photography is gorgeous and there are many different locations, making the show visually very interesting.
The act is superb and even the supporting actors are on point. There is one weak link in Plan, who plays Can, but the other actor he mostly shares scenes with is so good that balances that out.
I cannot recommend Love By Chance enough. It not just a great BL, it’s a great series, standing tall among Eastern and Western programmes as well.
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Cringe at best, Insulting at worst
as a big fan for the prequel, this sequel just the WORST. i said this with all the amount of respect i could gather and it is almost nil.The MC, cringe. the family, bad. the hero, bland.
and the one star i could give, all of it for byun woo seok. he alone carry the whole story. and I dont understand, for a character that you plan to kill at the end, why oh why, you give him THAT much depth and background.
and i know yumi is a better actor than this abomination, she could easily pull an innocent and naive character properly. but nooo, she gotta be an 8 years old the whole time. why?
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1When the music burned brighter than the actual plot!
Sometimes, music is the way to express ourselves, and the drama leans heavily into that. Music didn't just set the mood here, it hijacked the plot, stole the spotlight and not in a subtle way. It's the heartbeat of the story. With every strum, beat and verse, the drama tries to convey things its characters can't say directly and even when the writing slips, the music saves it all.The story revolves around Saijo Akane, a drummer who her previous mates abandoned, and gets a second chance when she is invited to join the band "TENBLANK".
TENBLANK band members or should I say the "plots" :
✨Fujitani Naoki: He was the genius but eccentric composer with a messy heart and even messier hair. The creative nucleus of the group. I would describe him as intense, obsessive, borderline reclusive, but a fascinating creature. Under all that facade, he is a man weighed down by unresolved emotions and secrets he would protect at all costs. Takeru Satoh did a great job. I know he is a fine actor and it showed. I recently saw him in Marry my husband and the character difference shows his versatile range.
✨Takaoka Sho: He was the guitarist who didn't demand attention but had mine from start to finish! He was soft spoken, observant and incredibly skilled. Machida Keita completely stole the show for me. From episode one to the finale, his styling was absolutely flawless. From the turtlenecks to that effortlessly perfect long hair, every detail was on point. I know this isn't exactly about his acting (which is already well-respected, no need for testimonials there) but the look he served in this drama was iconic. He had me catching second lead syndrome so bad. I mean, imagine ignoring Satoh... and yet, here I am.
✨Sakamoto Kazushi: He was sharp, confident and wasn't afraid to speak his mind, especially when it came to challenging Naoki's authority. But I feel the writing didn't give him enough to fully bloom. We get glimpses of pride and conflict but it feels underdeveloped. Shison Jun did a solid job in portraying this character. He played the perfect tsundere.
✨And the newly added member was Miss Sajio Akane, the underdog drummer, as they say. She had grit, she listened, she learned and she put in the work, not just for show. Nothing she did felt fake or wasted.
Miyazaki Yu gave a genuinely likeable and grounded performance. She played the perfect mix of insecurity and inner fire. I rooted and cheered for Akane.
🔥 Wild card Toya: I know he isn't the official member of TENBLANK but he isn't the one to ignore. You just can't! He is the kind of character who could walk into a scene mid-chaos and steal every ounce of attention. He is a loud, intense bona fide rockstar who seemed crazy but beneath all that is a man who is haunted by choices, loss and love that never really left. He is both tragic and unforgettable. Some scenes definitely tossed realism out the window, but it served the drama and I ate it up.
Maski Suda devoured this role. At first glance, I didn't recognise him. He was raw, a bit feral and had the reckless energy exuding. You just can't look away.
But not everything in the mix felt right. While the music and the stellar cast were a win, the pacing was all over the place, especially in the second half. This would be just me but we (I) DO NOT need a romantic subplot to show up like the last-minute guest. The story would have worked fine without a romantic storyline, it might have worked better if I were being honest. We could have focused more on the other band members and their stories. I feel there was barely any spotlight given to them. There were times it felt like a one-man show, but then a group performance glossed over that feeling, but it definitely lingered more than it should.
Another thing I noticed and maybe this is just me (again), was how the energy and adrenaline would spike during each performance, but then drop off right after. It didn’t really carry over once that fantastic music stopped playing. The in-between moments felt a bit dull and I kept waiting for them to practice or be back on stage to feel that energy again.
Maybe this is what happens when you have full-blown performances. This wasn't just "slap a ballad or two on it" drama but it gave us actual bangers. I feel the music is the main plot here and the rest of everything feels secondary.
The cinematography was stunning, especially the rain shots. And the camera work during the concert sequences was pure artistry. It screamed budget in the best way.
Overall, despite the scratches, this was an entertaining and binge worthy watch. It didn't exactly stick the landing or maybe I had high expectations from the actual plot "writing", but the journey is worth it for the vibes, stellar cast and amazing soundtracks. It's the kind of predictable plot where you will be rolling your eyes a bit but still replay the songs on loop. Not perfect, but comfortable in its own ways.
If you have made it this far, thank you for reading my review! <3
I thought I was going to keep this short… and yet here we are lmao. If you decide to check out the drama, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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