Reviews

One of the Most Disappointing GMMTV 2025 BL So Far

Sigh. This series gave me everything… and then completely fell on its face. Head 2 Head was my third most anticipated BL from the 2025 GMMTV lineup, and it has quickly become one of the most disappointing shows I’ve watched.

Let’s dive in.

This series was rushed. Rushed to the gods. Not only did they air it while it was still filming, but they also seemed incapable of coming up with anything new for the leads to do besides repeating the same conflict over and over again. There’s an episode where the leads go to the hospital not once, not twice, but three separate times for entirely different reasons. That’s not drama, that’s diabolical.

What started as something I was genuinely enjoying quickly turned sour. Sea delivers a much stronger performance here than he did in Only Boo!, which actually gives me hope that he’s growing as an actor. I’m now even more excited to see him in my most anticipated 2026 series, Weirdo 101. Unfortunately, his character here is absolutely beaten to death by the dream mechanic. I understood that Jerome could see the future, but I did not realize he was apparently seeing a decade ahead. The show makes no effort to age the characters convincingly. We’re meant to believe they’re in their 30s, yet they look exactly the same, not ten years older, not even ten days older.

The story becomes a constant loop: Jerome dreams something, debates whether to interpret it, decides whether or not to tell Jinn, then it either happens or doesn’t. Rinse. Repeat. By episodes eight or nine, it becomes painfully repetitive and earns nothing more than an eye roll.

The side couples start off as a nice addition before becoming unbearable themselves. Surf and Java land comfortably in my “oh, I like these two” category, which makes me more excited for Roommate Chaos. Van, however, is awful. The series makes no real attempt to redeem him beyond “my parents are dead, feel bad for me,” while he continues being a lousy sleazebag dragging Farm along. The only interesting thing about his arc was the idea that he might have only loved Farm as a friend and felt obligated to feel more because of what Farm had done for him. That could’ve been compelling. But this is GMMTV, where happy endings are almost always mandatory.

The show does work on a comedic level at times, and I enjoyed the dynamics between the leads and their moms. SeaKeen in the physical romance department is… weary. Not terrible, but undeniably awkward. SurfJava do fine. Overall, though, this is a rushed, sloppy series that’s boring in most moments and ridiculous in others. And please, for the love of everything, stop casting the twins as the lonely comedic friend. It’s tired. It’s repetitive. Let it rest.

Ratings:

Story: 6/10 - Fun at the start, but like many GMMTV series, it completely collapses by the end.

Acting: 8.5/10 - Sea has improved immensely. He still has room to grow, but the progress is obvious. Standouts were Keen and Java.

Music: 5/10 - didn't pay attention to it.

Recommendation Value: 2/10 - skippable. Unless you really liked the actors, this does not warrant a watch. Save your time.

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A rare comedy with no villains and misunderstandings.

This drama is very refreshing to watch. Critics aside, this an extremely rare NO VILLAINS and NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS drama. Almost all historical shows (wuxia and xianxia) have very heavy political plots and focus on hardships of the couple. But this one is just light and peak comedy.

I loved the FL so much omg. She stood up for herself yet was kind for the needy. She also never misunderstood the ML so their "fights" never lasted for a long time. Also, I never ponce though she was ugly because she has the type of smile that can immediately melt anyone.

And of course, Li Hong Yi looks hot as ever. That man is just really handsome. I was skeptical about his character first, but he showed more depth over the course and that was really refreshing.

Liu Scorpio and his wife are just one of a kind. I'll leave it at that. chemistry but

I see a lot of people complaining about the lack of chemistry but I disagree. Yes there aren't many intimate scenes but I think their little things and habits show love in a unique way.

Overall do not be swayed by the negative reviews. Watch it for comedy at the very least. This one also has some great OSTs as a plus. Really loved it!

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"Dreaming is a reality to be experienced"

"Dreaming is a reality to be experienced"

The Spirealm was not a simple love story, nor was it your typical adventurous romance.

It was much more than that; it was a journey of self-discovery through his own work. Passion, love, and hatred...

Throughout the process, he felt love, hate, resentment, atonement, pity, and sadness for his own characters. He went through a lot.

The dedication and effort he put into creating it, the desire for perfection, and the determination and joy he experienced upon its completion were priceless to me.

I know most people are really disappointed with the ending, but I really loved it, and I enjoyed the romance while it lasted very much.

Let's be honest; he wasn't the only one suffering. I suffered along with him, as did every character I ever loved.

The stories behind each door were terrifyingly good, and the game of guessing what would happen next was simply fun and gut-wrenching!

The music is neither bad nor good; it's just okay.

This was a breath of fresh air in terms of plot and storyline, even with all its flaws. It's a must-watch!

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The Art Of Park Hae Young ✨

My liberation notes , My mister , another miss oh , we are all here trying
We’re in a universe of one of the best korean Screen Writers Park Hae-young. Every character will be flawed and often at their worst phase of life
Her writing is always a meditation of the pain every character feels. She finds ways of bringing it out at Her pace. every character of hers shows feels real vulnerable and imperfect ...
every word every dialogue every discussion has meaning and depth ..
these shows show u the hidden truths .. the unwanted talks and cuts deep into your soul ... every story feels deeply personal and reflective, almost like reading a diary .. some type of therapy
these shows have no plot twist or major turns out .. they focus on emotions feelings ,mental health .life challenges
Every character in her shows is searching for a way to live to love to survive .. a way to life
aren't these issues the most important ones after all 💟

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Less violent and worthy remake

First off let me explain the title of my review. I call it a WORTHY remake because that's what it is: a good, solid remake. I don't know if it's good enough to make us forget the original but it's trying. One thing that I like is that they changed the setting of the story and made it a historical. From the clothing, I'd put the era around the 1960s. It doesn't matter too much to the story, but I liked the touch of exotism it added (the clothes and the cars). It also made a few plot points more relevant (like the fact that a rich family could easily bully a single mother, or how one would make a living through painting), which was clever.

It is also less violent than the original drama. Not that there is absolutely no violence, some characters are really mistreated in this, but thankfully our FL is not, and most importantly not by the ML. Oh he's not tender towards her, but he's not physically abusive and even the arm-grabbing is reduced to a minimum.

The story in itself is pretty cliché by now, so I won't go into details about it.
The acting was pretty good, especially Esther carried the show with her talent and her beauty. Jes is not bad, but he didn't fully meet the expectations set by Chakrit for this character. He had me in the beginning but by the second part of the drama, I was a bit indifferent to Jes' portrayal. The chemistry between Esther and Jes is good though. REAL KISSES, though few of them.
The rest of the cast was good, though the 2d FL was given too much screen time, but eh she's pretty so I don't complain.
The kid actor was adorable. And other actors were pretty good too.
I never notice the music in shows, so that's that.
I recommend this whether or not you've seen the 2005 version, it's well worth watching or rewatching.

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Good short watch

What I liked about the drama here was that it did not really affect Harumi and Maiko’s relationship - no breaking up or big fights due to misunderstanding, or jealousy when the exes and the pasts appeared. They remained trusting of each other but it was also nice to see their insecurities and jealousies which was a natural reaction but they did not let it influence them in making irrational decisions.

Maiko’s two pasts were such annoying characters - I think the only ones that I didn’t particularly care for in the whole drama. But it was good to watch how Maiko and Harumi handled the situation.

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I am writing as I see nobody did a review and I always like to share and review what others may not be able to find in this website :p

I am surprise nobody write especially my flower boy leading man is in this drama "haha"(*shy wink*)

Story:
the plot was ok. Interesting meet and fall in love. Interesting family environment.
the initial story was funny with li ye feng boyish behaviour being the most treasured son in the family and the father was cute too. (you know those father threaten to hit but heart pain like hell scene and it cute, not those teary kind)

the meetup and encounter of the male lead and female lead was cute too.

Cast:
The Cast was good... although I heard many comments that 2015 for Tang Yan was the same face and acting of hers in all her drama but I find her pretty :P (one of my best actress category :P)

the 2nd male lead from H.K was good too, find him handsome in this drama that his other h.k show which I dun rem him being cast on a impt role before (maybe that's why he moved to china, after breaking up with ms xxx) opps, not gossip time ya :p

Music:
Music was ok but
nothing special caught my ears ....

Rewatch Value:
maybe the initial episodes that was funny and can certainly rewatch some scenes from there ^.^
howver, I really hate the rush finishing of the drama...they could have elaborate more on the ending....
watch it and you will know what I meant. Cheers!

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A Korean friend of mine was raving about this drama. She was like, "Do Joon is so handsome! You have to watch this". Since I like Do Joon being a B2ST fan myself I thought why not. And voila! This drama sucked me in so easily. I thought it was really cute and fun.

Do Joon blew me away here. I actually want to see him as a chaebol/king in any drama because he did a great job of it here. What I loved about this drama was that they stayed true to history and yet played with it in every way. I might not know a lot about Korean history but I know that they at least managed to not distort facts through this drama.

The two episodes go by really quickly and the romance is so worth watching! It will give you flutters and leave you with a warm feeling. Managing that in just 2 episodes is commendable and I wanted more. :D

This drama is enjoyable every single minute and it's amazing how they managed all Kdrama sageuk cliches within these two episodes. Plus the kisses are great too! Give this drama a go, you won't regret it. :D

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Gripping. Riveting. Poignant.

Those are the three words I can describe I Remember You.

During the course of watching the drama, I often wonder to myself, 'how can a drama be this good?' In a way, there are many plot points that could've gone awry, executions that would've made the whole drama into a train wreck, or characters that would've become so frustrating, yet somehow, none of that happened. Instead, the opposite of it became the final product: storyline filled with suspense, angst, with an air of quirky comedy that will keep you glued to your screen from the first minute to the last, excellent relays of the writer's ideas transforming to a visual interpretation from the directors and producers even with the camera works, and finally, characters that are heart-wrenching, clever, and refreshing.

The ability of the drama to execute pathos within its loyal viewers despite the horrific acts and wrongdoings other characters have made is a feat within itself. The drama's question of, Are monsters created or born?, makes you re-evaluate yourself on your own morals and values.

The drama is sadly underrated, but as to what I've read somewhere, the ratings were very steady, which can mean that those who loyally watched from the first episode sticked until the end, and loved it to its core. Honestly speaking, ratings do not even matter anymore. However, there's a part of me that is upset and hurt that I Remember You did not get the justice to be praised, applauded, and commended for what it's worth. Such a pity that it wasn't appreciated during its airing when it is clearly one of the best and unforgettable dramas in 2015.

I find myself unable to move on, having major withdrawals from the drama, crying whenever I hear Dear Cloud's Remember as if the song comforts me as it comforts our characters. That itself makes me believe that I would have missed out real good have I not watched this gem.

Kudos, I Remember You, you will be remembered, and never forgotten. With that, I give it not just a 10 out of 10, but a 15 + alpha.

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a lot of potential

Overall: I wish this was released on an official international platform with high quality subs but even then, the story would still have felt choppy - too much was left unexplained. 50 short episodes between 1 and 2 minutes.

Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, blood, beaten up off screen, past intimate partner abuse

What I Liked
- the premise
- tension
- visuals

Room For Improvement
- too much was not explained, what exactly defined 'scumbag', did he keep doing it?, scenes sometimes jumped from one scene to something totally different
- nonsense stuff: how did he not have any money because it seems that he would have money if it was requests from people, police hadn't caught him?

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PURE ENTERTAINMENT

Big issue is a good drama . The one which keeps you wanting for more .
A totally new outlook from the perspective of paparazzi media , with retro vintage music combined .
In short Big Issue is a complete package of enjoyment.
Everything makes sense.
Greed, power, money, nothing's much overhyped here like all K dramas do .

It's all within the limits of the person's capability .
The difficulties they face , I mean even being that to is not easy .
Each and every relevant fact have been factored out .
In short
This drama is a masterpiece .

ACTING :
You know many actors and actress play certain roles but in this drama they have this Aura of the character they're playing .
They have one of the best chemistry .
Specially Han Ye seul , What a gorgeous beauty .
She has the talent of acting with her eyes and expressions .
I was just mesmerized by her throughout this .

ROMANCE :
Are you a fan of cold romance ?
Then welcome to the club .
This drama will make you crave for it .
But you'll get really nothing except little niggles in b/w .
This has one of the coldest romance ( If you've seen K2 you know what I'm talking bout ).

PS : The biggest hidden lesson is the social media outlook .
Photos , how dangerous can they be ?
I mean just think of the fact that if you're being monitored everytime . How would that feel ?Even thinking bout that makes you cringe , right ?
Now what if it gets leaked to the world .
That's it I will leave you here to wonder .

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Palatial Mediocrity

I. The Good
First up, let's appreciate the elaborate costume designs. The costume team outdid themselves, for both the ML and FL's costumes (except for that decision to add two shoulder handles on the imperial robe). It's been awhile since I've looked at male costumes and thought, 'That's a gorgeous piece of work'.

Another gorgeous piece of work is LZH (ML). I agree with the comments that LZH's nuanced and compelling acting chops has what it takes to promote him to full-length drama cast. One could see the physical changes as he assumes the demeanour of the crown prince or discarding it like a robe to embody the persona of the second prince. He singlehandedly carried all 3 hours. That's not to say that XZZ's (FL) acting was bad; LZH so brightly outshined everyone else that it left searing afterimages preventing us from observing anyone else. I did love LZH's sizzling chemistry with XZZ, especially when he was flirting with her as the second prince. Special mention should also be given to HEY (ML's sidekick, Du Bin), for his expressive comedy and chemistry with LZH, reminiscent of Gao Hanyu in Legend of Fu Yao.

The choreography for the fight scenes were so graceful and well-executed, it was like watching a dance. In the first episode itself we are treated to beautiful, fluid sword work by the ML and the seamless performance as the FL whirls around to assassinate her own assassins.

It has an open-but-leaning-towards-happy ending, which appears to be the concept of this drama. At the end of 24 episodes, you realise that the drama comprises shadowy wisps of storylines held together by elaborate costumes, ornate sets, dynamic chemistry, and whimsical humour.

II. The Bad
The plot is boring. The premise starts out strong: The solemn crown prince ML has a flamboyant twin brother who seems determined to aid Shattered Star Valley in undermining the royal family. The ruthless Shattered Star Valley assassin FL is assigned the task of assassinating the crown prince. Taking on the identity of the Duke of Yin's daughter, who is destined to wed the ML as his crown princess, she plans her murderous plot during the day. In a twist of circumstances, she is compelled to obtain royal sperm from the second prince, only to find out that the second prince is a Shattered Star Valley covert operative who has no qualms flirting with his sister-in-law. However, the storylines were predictable and uninspired. You're left watching it only for the sporadic comedy and gorgeous views.

III. The Ugly
There were some scenes that were so excessively unbelievable that it cut through the mood and slapped me like a giant flapping tuna. For instance, in episode 6, when the FL prevents the assassin from killing the real Duke of Yin's daughter, she's shot so hard, she's pushed 2 kilometres out from the forest, into the open, and over a cliff.

There were also scenes that dragged out for absolutely no reason such as when the ML is rescuing the FL from her homicidal aunt or the moments before the imperial physician is about to stab the ML's acupoints.

IV. The Verdict
This is a visually magnificent, easy-to-watch drama, if you are able to ignore the banal plot. I would have rated it an 8 or even a 9 but for the storyline.

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The King and The Clown is not a comedy. It's an adult situation historical movie. The story is about a troupe leader who makes a simple request to perform for the King.
I enjoy watching this movie because it was entertaining, artistically and mentally. Despite the simple title of this movie, it open the doors to many dark sides of society including abuse, harassment, and childhood trauma.
The movie, The King and The Clown, is definitely for adults. It was never meet for teenagers and children to see.
The story and plot of the story is easy to follow.
The actor and cast did a superb job. I enjoy watching the overprotective friendship between the two lead actors, Kam Woo Sung and Lee Jun Ki.
The music was great simply because it fit the historical time.
My overall score is a nine for this movie. I did not give it a ten because I wanted to know the real back story of the two lead actors.

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