KelpiView : Dancing to the tune of a lovestruck teenager
Overall Impression :The japanese BL scene has done it again. This was nothing short of an entertaining piece of work. everything from casting, story to scene edits and voiceovers are done well. even the side couple of the show was done in an exceptionally good way, even though, i honestly wanted more side couple scenes, but i will take what i get lol. Even though, this show is slightly longer in terms of your common japanese BLs, but good in a sense that it doesnt feel draggy in a sense.
What I liked about it :
Awesome cast!
The cast members did an awesome job in bringing the characters that they portrayed to life. none of the acting that was presented was awkward in anyway, which is a huge plus. As main leads, Kusakawa and Nishigaki (Akira and Shin) did a great job in their respective roles. but the one that made a lasting impression on me was the portrayal of Shuu and Asuka done by Inaba and Oku. Sakurako played by Toyoshima was a great portrayal of a support role, which is great thus, an honorable mention here.
Unique story!
What i felt about knowing that this would be a love story revolving around an old laundomat? "Eh?" was my initial thoughts. but it did transition quite well and how it was properly integrated into the show. Saying the laundromat is a main hotspot is an understatement because almost all of the characters are, in one way or another, had encounters in the laundromat. Plus the age gap romance as well as comedic scenes / storytelling, it has become one of the best japanese BL i have seen. Not to mention the little tid bits of side couple history that makes me want more. i hope they do a spin off on the side couple.
On point costumes!
Very seldom that when i watch something, i thought to myself "Wow, that shirt is a nice shirt.." :Opens Amazon to search for that exact shirt: This is what it has done to me. The costumes for this show is done well in regard that it wasnt over the top and very realistic. Some shows, would put the cast members in outfits that looks awesome in shots, but generally would be a lil bit unrealistic. The outfit for this show is selected well and has good aesthetic feel to it, albeit being simple.
What I disliked about it :
Too little side couple moments
I think this is my common dislikes about almost every single show i see LOL. but, dont get me wrong, the main couple is good, but i think that the side couple could have been shown more in terms of progress to really sell it as a side couple. Yes, i understand the meaning of being the "side" couple, obviously they wont get as much screen time as the main couple, but a lil bit more would do wonders to adoring fans.
Did I enjoy it? :
yes i did, all 12 glorious episodes. really hoping for some spinoff or SP episodes for the side couple. i need that. i really do. lol.
Would I recommend it to others? :
Definitely! that is if you dont mind a slower paced show. If you're the type that wants couples to get together at least at the middle of the season, then this isnt a show for you though. i will just leave that as a warning. overall, this show was very entertaining. definitely put it in your PTW list or even better start now because the show just ending like one day ago (at the writing of this review lol).
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Heart touching amazing performance-Must watch for Xiao
Xiao did a perfect awesome shot in one take for whole 4 minutes. His voice modulation and the expressions are soo realistic to watch . This is short and sweet movie about happiness, pain ,love and hope life gave us every day.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
This is a must watch performance from Xiao. Dont miss it
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First, I loved the entire supernatural romance theme, that is exactly what pulled me into this drama.
Pros: I always love how the lyrics to the music matches the storyline in most lakorns and this soundtrack was beautiful. The romance and chemistry between the two leads were sizzling. Khun Hem has some mesmerizing come - hither eyes and I love how the actor portrayed his emotions at times without even saying a word.
Now I think, that is where my admiration for this drama ends, and it is time to get into what frustrated me so much while watching this wonderful falling Jenga tower of a show.
Cons: I'm not really one to complain about bad CGI, but the special effects reminded me somehow of an 80's video game. I almost laughed out loud on parts I knew were supposed to be serious. Khun Duen exacerbated me to no end. I loved how the writers made her out to be very headstrong, but that was a false picture. It seemed like they did not know whether they wanted her to be weak or strong, and then when you think she has gotten stronger, she goes and does something stupid again and then rely on Khun Hem to save her all the d*** time. She is so naive to the point of stupidity.
Okay, I know that my Cons rant might seem like I hated the show, but I didn't (I think it was those bedroom eyes of Khun Hem). The show was really good with all of its cheesy and damsel in distress moments. The show has a happy ending and I am quite satisfied with how they wrap everything up. It' s like they say come for the cheesy romance and stay for the man with the sexy eyes. The show gave me all the satisfaction I would get from watching a Jenga tower fall down as soon as someone removes a major piece. Consistency is what was removed from this show, but it was fun watching it all play out.
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The other stories are mere fillers, all following the time-tested formula of a single mother, a marital affair, an unrequited love and so on. After a while, the director seems to have lost track of the individual threads - with so many episodes focusing on particular characters and forgetting about the rest. There are so many unconvincing scenes, like when Xiao Fei says something like,"After we married, it seems like I make you angry so often", and I had to go back searching if I had missed any scenes, coz the only things I remembered were them quarreling a couple of times about watching TV and throwing socks on the floor. I think most of the actors did a good job, just that I didn't find their characters very interesting. Nothing exceptional about the music, but can listen to it a few times.
Rewatch value: 10 for the Crazy Dog and Yi Wan/Xiao Fei story, 5 for the Lian Qing story, 0 for the Xiao Xi story, 2 for the others.
If you like romantic stories, you must watch this for this one pair (you might like the others as well - I didn't). It has pretty much everything - the interesting first encounter, how they come to regard each other, one mom who tries to force them together, another who's opposed initially but comes around in the end, the interesting sidekicks and finally, no romantic triangle/ jealous lovers (there's a small one, but doesn't last long and had a graceful closure).
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Rewriting fate with whips and chains
When I saw the chains and whip, I knew I had to watch it.But seriously, the tension between the leads is *chef's kiss*. The lines were so hot for my liking, and it got my toes curling most of the time like HMMM too spicy~ While the whole reason why they had a BDSM relationship is kinda... questionable... the storyline is actually nice! The whole 'FML is reborn and changes her fate' is already predictable, but it was the complexities of her relationship with the MML that made it exciting to watch. Both of them had their vulnerable moments, but I love how they are each other's damsel in distress. FML is brave and wise just to protect her loved ones, and I love her for that. I also found it interesting that even the MML had to 'rewrite' their fate despite not being reborn. And of course, the real villain and their motivations were a surprise; however, I found their quest to defeat the villain lacking. I just hoped their supposed fate of not being together was highlighted more, so the fruits of their labor would be sweeter hehe.
It's also a jiejie romance—which I super, duper enjoy—but it is not highlighted as much. Still, the dynamics of the leads were really good. I just love to see a submissive, coquettish MML who has his own dark tendencies as well, and a dominant, strong FML ready to risk it all just so her unfortunate fate won't happen again.
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Since this lakorn is getting a remake in 2020, I thought I would write a review ^^I've seen this lakorn twice, my only reason for re-watching it is not because it was exceptional. It was mainly because I am a fan of Bee and Namfon. I've seen 3 lakorns where they are paired together and I really like seeing them as an onscreen couple.
The storyline is like a twisted version of Cinderella. TBH in 2000s era lakorns if there is a storyline where our FL is being manipulated/used/abuse by family etc the FL character is a push over. Tawan, our FL is a push over and is blinded by a depth of gratitude she has for her uncle and aunt that raise her when her parents died. She is our typical neang'ek - proper lady, big hearted, kind, generous, good at everything etc. Her aunt and cousin are truly evil, selfish and money hungry. They have no problem deceiving people and even killing people. The way they talk and make plans about it like it's an everyday and normal thing. Her aunt and cousin only loved and cared about themselves and each other and treated Tawan like dirt and garbage. I can't wrap my head as to why Tawan is still loyal and feel that she has a depth of gratitude towards them when they treat her like garbage. We see at times that she has spunk and can stick up for herself - like how she was firm with Suthi, when she was negotiating with the kidnappers for Toh and Yardfah.
Toh, for being a person who is smart he sure is pretty dumb and blind towards the Duangjai and Yardfah. How he could not see the manipulation with the mother and daughter pair, their attitude and treatment towards Tawan just blows my mind. He needed Suthi to spell things out for him numerous times. I didn't have an issue with Toh's character until he forced himself onto Tawan and just verbally degraded her. Blows my mind how he came to that conclusion and all. But hey, its a lakorn in the 2000s, that is the normal logic in these types of lakorns unfortunately. Personally I felt that he should have tried harder on searching for Tawan when she ran away. Like why are you so defeated when you have more at stake and you now know the truth but can't track her down?
Overall it is a decent lakorn but you just need to be aware of the "typical" lakorn logic especially the logic in the 1990-2000s era. It may not sit well with alot of people, especially in 2020.
I personally enjoyed it because I like Namfon and Bee, especially seeing them as an onscreen couple. P'Gew was honestly my favourite character, she's the only sane person.
I'm looking forward to the remake to see if they make our ML smarter (LOL) and our FL with a little more backbone.
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A Short yet Raw Portrayal of the LGBTQ+ Experience
‘Meet Me Outside’ is a short, honest, and sweet drama that has a runtime of a little over an hour about two broken souls who find solace in each other at resort. Juan Miguel Severo, the screenwriter behind the brilliant drama ‘Gaya sa Pelikula’, also wrote this so to say my expectations were high would be an understatement.While I didn’t love ‘Meet Me Outside’ as its predecessor I definitely enjoyed it. The plot was pretty straightforward and simple but the cast really made it their own. Both Genesis (Dale) and Kaloy (James) perfectly portrayed the characters. You could feel the chemistry between them right from the start and as the episodes progressed so did the chemistry. The main complaint I have with this drama is the length. I felt the sixty or so minutes we spent with Dale and James were not nearly enough time to flesh them out. But that’s less of a outright criticism and more of a personal preference.
The OST was not that memorable but it definitely helped immerse the audience into the story rather than pull them out of it. The cinematography was very pretty too despite the fact that the majority of the drama takes place in one place. I liked the way the director enhanced the characters feelings through the use of different camera angles.
One last thing I want to point out without giving away any spoilers is that ‘Meet Me Outside’ felt as if it’s truly meant to be a story for and by LGBTQ+ individuals. It was unafraid to dive into certain issues and certainly managed to capture the raw vulnerability of heartbreak.
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Following your fate blindly or having a bit of courage to challenge your fate, which do you prefer!?
What is it that you actually want to happen in life if you had the choice to choose from:1. Allow your life to unfold naturally; fall in love with the person who is entwined with you by a crimson thread of fate; and accept the outcome that fate has planned, happy or tragic.
Or,
2. Even if you are aware of your fate and the one that awaits you, muster some bravery and fight against it in order to have a happy ending and spend time with your loved one—not the one that is predestined.
Now, if I talk about this drama, what I actually enjoyed is:
1. The best female character written in kdrama history.
FL, Oh Baek Ryun knew from the get-go whom she liked, what she wanted from him,who was interested in her at the same time,how to make someone fall for you, how to handle third-party interest without playing with their emotions,how to sacrifice for your soulmate,how to fight against your destiny, and lastly, how to wait, praying for your one and only loved one.
I know it's super rare to find someone like her as your partner, but if you find one, you should thank your luck for meeting her.
2. ML, Chun Sang Hyuk. When I first started watching, it seemed like he was constantly falling for different ladies in different decades, all of which ended horribly. He was even warned against falling for any woman, but if he does, it'll end in tragedy. So I was actually worried about how the current timeline would end up. But after knowing that he had unknowingly fallen for the same soul in different decades,I had no choice but to admire his character wholeheartedly.
Although he was reluctant to openly date anyone after his first tragedy occurred, when he came to know that FL was actually the girl from back then, he let go of all other warnings, etc., and finally started to follow his heart to pursue his hidden feelings.
He also fought against his destiny, remained heartbroken for decades with a huge guilt in his heart, fought again against his destiny after learning the truth behind all of the tragedies,died as a fairy, and got reincarnated as a human to live the life he wanted with his loved one.
3. Chun Dong Chil, aka A Bad Day to Be a Dog. He practically carried most of the story as a major supporting character.
I'm not going to say much about him here; you should watch to find out more.
Now let's talk about what I actually hated:
1. Chun Dong Koo, aka the dumbest irritating fairy amongst the four. A man with a personality like his is a menace to society. His story is only here as a filler. If we can cut his subplot, I guess it'll easily be a super exciting 12-episode drama.
I just find it a shame that after spending so much time on him, the script writer wrote that horrendous ending for him, which makes no sense to me, like, WTF! Why spend so much screen time on him if you already have that shitty ending for him?
3. Seo Jae Hee, the most self-narcissistic delusional freak I've ever seen. He's the second-most pathetic SML I've seen in recent times! A man thinking of him makes my blood boil.
I never liked his character for my own specific reasons, which I shouldn't put here in words.
This feeling only cooled down almost at the end of the drama when he slowly started to let go of his obsession over FL after learning the truth from his past life, which can't completely wash away the fact that I was frustrated with him in the past episode, so kindly bear with me.
3. Chun Dong Pal, Lmao, he's a filler. That's it.
There are also other little but point-worthy things that I liked and disliked in this drama, but I can't include them in this list as it is most likely already very long.
Overall, I believe I will remember this story for a very long time, which makes it well worth my time. If I consider the re-watchability of this drama, I believe once a year is sufficient to reminisce about the leads' fascinating chemistry.
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Its cute and fairly casual.
I really liked the storyline, if you are a fan of Ki Kwang then you will love this!
Nothing really dragged, but I think its partly because its really short!
It isn't a type of drama that you will get bored with, more like you want to watch it again.
There isn't much to dislike about this drama...
Oh yeah, its really funny! I watched this on a school night and I couldn't stop giggling. In the morning my parents were angry because I was giggling too much and apparently they couldn't go to sleep! XD
Anyways, overall it was very cute and sweet! The songs were nice and enjoyable.
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This drama has a series of action, thriller, mystery, suspense, crime and even a hint of romance. God’s Quiz is a type of dramas that you need to watch all the episodes and part in order to understand the scenario. For every investigation they have, you need to be able to understand what they are referring and what they are talking about. After for each episode, they will come up with a solid conclusion in which you will find understand once the case is case. In regards with the plot and storyline, it is quite clever, yet complicated. This is because for every crime they investigate, the solutions are very clever while the procedures they have to undergo are very complicated. Also, the story shows the difficulty of criminology and how they tackle difficult situation, especially while working and risking their life.
In addition, the story is a complete package of suspense, drama and crime which is often a bad combination. However, these genre fits to the storyline of the drama and it was well executed. This suggests that with this combination, you are assuring that you want to continue watching it. Their curiosity for each case is astonishing. There is always a malevolent antagonist who is conducting series of crime which they need to identify who. Therefore, this is a drama that has a very good and solid plot and story. I can assure you that for each case they do, you would ask yourself “who did it?” “Why they did it?” and “what is the cause of it?”
Casting/Acting:
I am not very familiar with the cast for this drama; however, their acting skills are very good. In my point of view, they often improvised during some of the scene which makes them very professional with their field. I am very pleased on how they act on drama. I am looking forward on how they act for the next seasons. I hope they will not disappoint me like some drama that have next season that does not have a very good cast. Even though they are a lot of rookies in acting, they need to be confident on whatever their character is. For example, the main actor is effectively acting a childish, genius, comedic and mysterious doctor. What I see is that he carefully evaluated on how he is going to portray his character. Therefore, I would complement the director for choosing a very good casting list.
Music:
There is no much to say in the music. The reason behind this is because they mostly use suspense and thrilling sound effect to make the scene more dramatic and exciting. The viewers can actually feel the suspense and thrilling effect due to the effective use of the sound effect. Furthermore, the sound effects and music used in this drama fits to the genre itself. The music changes the mood of the scene from melodrama, to comedic, to suspense and to even romantic.
Conclusion:
For me, there is a high possibility to re-watch this drama. The reason for this is because of the suspense, action thrilling and hint of romance for each. With that malevolent, psychotic and cunning antagonist, you could miss a lot. I am looking forward on seeing him in the next season which I think he is. Either way, I conclude that this drama is a very astonishing due to its features. This involves plot twisting theories, unpredictable outcome, mind twisting problems and even fighting a vindictive phantom. Therefore, the chance to re-watch this drama is very high due to that fact that you will get curious as they go deep down with their investigations. Also, I am looking forward on watching the next season.
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The Mafia Never Looked So Good
This was a drama that almost literally left my head spinning and not necessarily in a good way. It had so much potential and at first, it seemed like it was going to live up to all the hype, but that last episode just killed it for me. I can never understand why so many dramas struggle with this issue of saving everything for the last episode. Its incredibly frustrating and it rarely works out well. That being said, I didn't hate it.The one saving grace of this drama is its actors. Every single one of them owns their character. While they were all superb, I really have to comment on Bible and Build as Vegas and Pete, respectively. Their acting and chemistry quite literally blew me away. The intensity of their scenes together, the way they played off of each other and their individual performances too, the nuance of it all just, wow. Literally left me speechless at times. But truly the whole cast was phenomenal. Mile and Apo's chemistry was absolute fire and those eyebrows! They were both just so good. And I can't forget Tong who absolutely stole the show as Tankhun. I can only imagine how much fun he had in that role.
The characters were another win for this drama. I have rarely seen a drama where characters left me with so many conflicting emotions. On the one hand, I appreciate that, it makes the story more interesting and keeps you glued to the screen. On the other hand, it also left some things feeling unfinished.
- Kinn was interesting right from the start. I appreciated the fact that, although he had bodyguards, it was obvious from the first that he was also perfectly capable of defending himself. That was refreshing. And watching him fall in love with Porsche was adorable. I really enjoyed the nuance of his character, the severe exterior but more sensitive, caring interior. His character development was well done, I thought. There's clear growth as he relaxes and becomes more comfortable being himself but he's still absolutely deadly. Beautifully done. My biggest qualm was his reaction, or lack of reaction, to Big's death as well as his lack of insight regarding Pete's disappearance. Honestly, the fact that Big's death was so completely ignored really pissed me off, but Kinn's complete dismissal of the person who had been his personal bodyguard at one point and was so completely loyal to him was off-putting and felt out of character. I wasn't expecting him to break down crying, but some kind of acknowledgement of the man who died to save his lover's life would have been nice. Same with Pete's disappearance. It was obvious he thought something was off and that he so easily dismissed it and that he even forgot that Pete had gone undercover seemed uncharacteristic.
- Porsche left me cringing the first couple of episodes. The level of second hand embarrassment was intense. I wasn't sure if I was going to like his character at first, because he frankly seemed like a bit of an idiot. I mean, he's offered this gig with the understanding that, in accepting it, his brother will be cared for. And yet he acts like a complete ass and makes it clear he doesn't care. He was obviously not an idiot so the fact that he acted with such disregard seemed weird to me. That being said, I also enjoyed seeing his character growth. One of the things I loved about this drama is that despite the character growth that all the characters undergo, they still remain fundamentally themselves. So while Porsche is softened and becomes less cocky and more serious, he's still Porsche. His tug of war for power with Kinn was fun to watch as was watching him slowly fall for him. As with Kinn, my biggest issue with Porsche was his complete lack of acknowledgement of Big's death. The man literally died to save your life and you can't take two seconds to mourn him? Again, it felt out of character. And while I liked his character development overall, there were aspects of it that did feel abrupt. It was like after he and Kinn were kidnapped and what they went through, he was suddenly more okay with what the family did. I would have liked to see a little more development with that.
- Tankhun was one of the highlights of the drama. He was just so much fun to watch with his dramatic outbursts and his fabulous fashion. While I wouldn't say that he had a huge amount of character growth, there was definitely some. I really liked that he was one of the most insightful characters. Everyone thought he was crazy, but there were times when he was actually the voice of reason. He knew Tawan was not to be trusted, but Porsche could be and that Pete was in danger. It added additional depth to his character that I really enjoyed.
- Pete came completely out of left field for me. I really liked his character from the get go, he's just so darn cute and funny. And yet, after being captured by Vegas, we see a whole other side to him. He's not the kind of character that you would typically think would hold up under torture, but he shows a resilience that's frankly astounding. On top of that, he is a genuinely good person. Despite the abuse he suffers at Vegas' hands, he reaches out to him and offers him comfort and friendship. His whole relationship with Vegas, though, I found very conflicting. I don't think it was a case of Stockholm Syndrome, but it was certainly not a particularly healthy relationship given it was initially born out of abuse and violence though at the end it seems to have taken a turn for the better. My only issue with Pete's character was in the last episode. Earlier in the drama, there's a scene where he tells Vegas that he's not a pet, he's a human but in the final episode, he tells Vegas that he's his pet and he had to go find his owner. I feel like there's an element of he's just trying to keep Vegas from killing himself and/or walking away, but there's also a note of truth to his tone that made me think he was willing to keep being Vegas' pet just so he wouldn't be left alone. That scene felt like a bit of regression for Pete's character and I didn't love it.
- Vegas was one of the most interesting, conflicting characters of the series. He was absolutely riveting to watch. I loved that I never knew what he was thinking or what the true purpose of his actions were. The way he vacillated between good guy and bad guy was fascinating to watch and I really liked that there were reasons for why he did what he did, namely because of his father. His developing relationship with Pete was very well done as was the change in that relationship from owner/pet to more equals. There's a certain twisted beauty to their relationship and while it left me feeling conflicted as to whether I should actually be rooting for them, I did enjoy watching it. I also appreciated how the drama illustrated that people handle abuse in different ways. While his father's abuse turned Vegas into a volatile, sadistic person, the abuse Pete endured from his father gave him insight into his father's actions and made him realize he was not the one at fault. I really appreciated that at the end of the last episode, Vegas tells Pete that he's not going to treat him like a pet anymore. It showed that their relationship was on a healthier track and at that point, I wished their little family all the best.
- I'm going to group Porchay and Kim together here. While I found Kim to be a somewhat interesting character, I found his relationship with Porchay to be unnecessary, distracting, and underdeveloped. To be honest though, I found his entire character to be lacking. While his focus on gathering information for his crime board was an intriguing concept, I never got a good idea of what exactly he was hoping to accomplish with it since it seemed like something he'd been working on for some time. What exactly was he looking for? I just would have liked to see him utilized as more than just a love interest. Porchay was, well, boring. Similarly to Kim, his sole purpose seemed to be acting as a love interest. He just wasn't well-developed. We knew he loved his brother and loved Kim, wanted to play music and that's about it. He cropped up when it was convenient and was pushed to the side the rest of the time. I also didn't get a good sense of why Kim even fell in love with him. They spent, a few days together tutoring, Porchay wrote a love song for him and that was it, he was in love? I don't buy it. And Porchay's feelings seemed more fanboy than in love especially since he didn't actually know Kim. The status of their relationship being left uncertain at the end of the drama was also frustrating. If you're going to make them a couple, at least give a satisfying conclusion. My only thought for why they left it that way is they're hoping for a spin-off with those two.
- Korn and Gun were honestly the most problematic characters for me in this drama just because there were so many questions left unanswered with both of them. I didn't feel like there was ever a clear resolution on who actually killed Porsche's father, though I lean towards believing Korn did the deed. And then there's the mystery of what Gun was going to say before he was killed. I found Korn's character to be more interesting than Gun, mostly because he was more nuanced. Gun was obviously meant to be seen as the bad guy, while Korn was supposed to be the more benevolent one though at the end he's revealed to be just as ruthless and cunning as his brother. And I'm sorry, but I cannot forgive Gun for wearing those shorts to a shoot out. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or just shake my head in embarrassment for him. In any case, I feel like this one of the areas that the series failed. It was so busy adding in minor scenes that didn't really accomplish anything that it failed to focus on the relationship between the two brothers and their history. A whole host of important information regarding the two of them was left until the last episode and there just wasn't enough time to do it justice.
The OST was awesome. I really loved the opening song, it fit the drama and mafia theme very well. I am also in love with the song Jeff Satur sings. Not only can he act, but he has an amazing voice. And the song is just beautiful. The visuals and cinematography were also quite good. The way they used the lighting in some scenes was very well done and worked to enhance the overall mood. The vast majority of the action scenes were well choreographed and were entertaining to watch.
Now for the parts that ended up killing this drama.
- For a drama about the mafia, there was very little information given about it and that whole concept took a backseat which was disappointing. It felt like it should be more central and play more of a role in the character's lives. Instead it felt like a prop piece that was only used when convenient. The world building in general left a lot to be desired.
- The pacing was also off. There just wasn't a good balance of important scenes and filler scenes. The last two episodes in particular were very rushed with a huge amount of information packed in and felt very half-assed. There's also the lack of a consistent plot. The first half or so of the drama was pretty good aside from the pacing. It seemed to generally know where it was headed and then it suddenly lost itself and it just went downhill from there. The ending left a fair number of unanswered or half answered questions. It didn't work for me.
-The attempts at comedy often fell flat. The jokes just weren't that funny and made me cringe. Don't get me wrong, there are some genuinely funny moments, but there are others that just don't work.
-I know I mentioned it before but the third couple of Porchay and Kim was just unnecessary.
- The ending was creepy to me. Porsche and Porchay's mother has brain damage and has no idea who they are, but they proceed to crowd this poor woman and touch and hug her without making sure she's okay with them doing so. I think it was meant to be a sweet, hopeful moment, they're together as a family again, but she just looked confused and uncomfortable and it made me uncomfortable watching it.
- There's an element of romanticizing abuse. The first time Kinn and Porsche have sex, Porsche is still under the influence of the drug Vegas gave him. Despite Porsche goading him and touching him, Kinn should have realized his actions were due to the drugs and he was in no shape to give consent. Yes, he does apologize, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the damage was done. The second time, in Vegas' bathroom, Porsche is drunk and again, Kinn engages in sexual activities with him. Even the first time they kiss, Porsche is drunk and high. And then there's Pete and Vegas' relationship which starts out in an incredibly toxic and unhealthy way. And like I said before, I won't go so far as to say it's an example of Stockholm Syndrome because I think Pete is made of sterner stuff than that and its hinted that there's attraction on both sides before he's kidnapped, it is obviously not an ideal way to start a relationship and it does perpetuate that kind of toxicity is hot which is dangerous. Vegas in particular is a complicated, conflicting character and their relationship is equally complicated and conflicting but ultimately, its not healthy and they both desperately need therapy.
- Finally, the number and explicitness of the sex scenes frankly surprised me. This is the only BL I've seen to this point that's featured actual sex scenes and this level of nudity. No full frontal, but a fair number of bare asses are scene throughout. There's also a scene where several characters watch porn. Though nothing is explicitly seen, it is heard.
I really wanted to love this drama especially since I kept hearing people talk about how amazing it was, but while I enjoyed it, I don't feel like its the best drama I've ever seen, not even close. There were a lot of issues in terms of plot and pacing and in the end it just couldn't realize the story that was attempting to be told. It is a nice break from the typical BL college setting, I just wish more time had been spent making sure there was a story that made sense.
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This review may contain spoilers
Too many gaps ...
The series promised to be interesting, not original but interesting. Unfortunately it had more and more gaps in the script with each episode. Later events contradicted logic and earlier events, e. g. {{"From the dialogues it appeared that water was multiplied by living blood. Upon the death of the host, water reproduction ceased. . . ok logical. . . Suddenly in the last episode we have an ocean of water. . . . From 4 dead bodies? Another example: a captain locked in a lock where he is flooded by water. Then, after being pressurized by the ever-increasing water level (no one knows from where), water flows out of the space station and automatically freezes. . . . Meanwhile, in the final scene, our captain. . . suddenly he's leaning against the moon rocks? How?}} So I'm deluded. . .Nevertheless, I liked the acting . :)
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Who says romance has to be all sweet and cuddly?
I was eagerly waiting for this drama to be subbed and when I finally got to watch it, I was not disappointed. I understand why this show was rated highly (4.5/5) on pantip.com, a popular Thai discussion forum and a 9.1 rating on imdb.com. Even on MDL, for a lakorn, its rating is pretty decent.The production and the special effects were not the best, and the dialogue and story were not as tight. However, for a lightweight lakorn that featured a supernatural element, I found it entertaining. One just has to suspend disbelief and watch the story unfold without taking it too seriously.
For the most part, the plot flowed pretty well, except for the last two episodes which got farcical particularly during the showdown between the good and evil guys. It was almost as though the writers just could not care less anymore or the show was running out of budget. That being said, the show did redeem itself with the loveliest ending for our main characters and the worst punishment for the villains so ultimately I was a satisfied viewer.
I enjoyed this show because it had a good mix of suspense, thriller, action, romance, and drama but what really got me hooked was the love story between the main leads, Prince Keerich and Nuannueakaew. It was a slower burn, tension-filled, sort of self-imposed forbidden love for which Sean Jindachot and Baifern Luevisadpaibul had the perfect chemistry.
One could be annoyed at Keerich’s stubbornness but I could not fault his rationale for putting his country above his own happiness. Neither could Nuan. At the same time, one had to admire Nuan for wanting to live her own life and not giving up her own goals. Keerich understood that.
Usually I would be put off by the noble idiocy trope but not for this show since the romance was developed nicely. Our main leads had to experience personal trials, physical dangers, and all manner of other terrors to earn their happily ever after and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even though our two leads had to stifle their yearning for each other, there were many endearing scenes which kept me smiling and rooting for them up to the end.
I loved how well Sean was able to pull off the emotional scenes. His expressions nailed the longing, the angst, the unhappiness as Keerich fought against his love and desire for Nuan, many times unsuccessfully as he cannot help but protect and care for her. He was also a heroic male lead, intelligent, skilled and rational. I have always thought Sean a good-looking actor with appealing eyes and lips, but in this show, in this role, he was particularly charismatic, especially in his princely traditional outfits. What really stole my heart was how prettily he cried, and who can resist a male lead that teared up during the right moments.
Likewise with Baifern who looked gorgeous throughout the whole show. As the female lead Nuan, who was a famous Thai fashion designer, Baifern’s outfits were fittingly stylish and not over the top which can often happen in lakorns. Her clothes were practical and appropriate when the scenes called for it, and even in the minimalist styles, Baifern still shone. However, her most incredible looks had got to be when she wore the traditional sprees and accessories. As Nuan, Baifern played a hot-headed but brave character who was also smart and independent. There were moments where I facepalmed on her behalf but that was also her appeal since she was not too polished, too stripped of any flaws, or in other words, a boring character. Baifern was also good during the sad scenes, the way her eyes watered and the way she sniffled made me think that she was really crying.
The journey of the secondary couple, Chaithat, played by Kong Teptip and Ninlapat by Richy D.Caballes, was also lovely to watch as they had to overcome much difficulties to be together. I did wish that there was more skinship between them. The chemistry between Kong and Ricky was not bad and they are both very attractive. Richy’s acting got a little weak towards the end but it could be due to how the character was written.
Overall, the cast did well but the actors playing the villains fell a little flat. Still, Lily Pansirithanachote who played Savitree, the Nang-rai deserved credit for portraying well a malicious, poisonous and power-hungry woman who always looked beautiful as she carried out her evil schemes.
As for the OST, the songs were the finishing touches that enhanced the romance for me. There were only two songs but both memorable ones. They were fitting for the poignant moments, especially between our two leads and made me feel the mood even more intensely. For posterity, I have included the details below.
In general, I would recommend this lakorn as I think most will enjoy it. Just let the story unravel and entertain you.
Curse of Saree OST
Last Person Forever - Ae Jirakon Sompak
คนสุดท้ายตลอดกาล [เพลงจากละครสิเน่หาส่าหรี] - เอ๊ะ จิรากร
https://youtu.be/3oD9kP7nEbw
https://open.spotify.com/track/5PNQoxj4g0BBvqJxWzo5OK
Do You Love Me? - Clear
รักฉันรึเปล่า - KLEAR (OST.สิเน่หาส่าหรี)
https://youtu.be/HW7c4Zmc4pg
https://open.spotify.com/track/2tdUbnxszF3DVtyG0eTHsn
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How to sell unfolding love with Chae Soo Bin at her finest.
First, let me say that I don’t speak a word of Korean. When you rely on subtitles, the acting and facial expressions are even more critical. I’ve watched thousands of romantic based movies and TV shows because it’s a genre that fascinates me. Maybe I’m one of those eternal romantics. With that foundation, this is my review.The Strongest Deliveryman unfolds a unique storyline of two vastly different delivery people. Choi Kang-soo (Go Kyung Pyo) a strong-minded man who moves from place to place with a dream to become a CEO of a delivery company and Lee Dan-ah (Chae Soo Bin), whose only dream is to leave the country. These two characters drive the storyline and deliver one of the best shows I’ve watched in a while.
As you watch the interaction between these two, you begin to wonder how they will ever get together. But wait, how did I think these two would get together? Because of the facial expressions that changed as the story unfolded. Chae Soo-bin is one of the most compelling actresses I’ve ever watched. I don’t know if she has any MMA background, but she sold that part to me. Her portrayal of love emerging was mesmerizing. Her eyes seem to talk, and her smile lights up a room. I found myself watching her even when she was in the background. The acting was great all around, but she pulled it together with her very presence. The Strongest Deliveryman is a must-watch show that carries you through drama and love that will move your heart.
To give you an idea of how much I like Chae Soo-bin’s performance, I decided to watch some more of her work. So, I watched: I’m Not a Robot, Where Stars Land, A Piece of Your Mind, Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People, Love in the Moonlight, and If We Were a Season. That’s a total of 125 episodes I watched back-to-back. She didn’t disappoint me. Watch the Strongest Deliveryman and tell me if you see what I saw.
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