Reviews

If you're looking for a fluffy, feel good HILARIOUS drama THIS IS IT! Roy Qiu and Alice Kuo make for super cute OTP with amazing chemistry and the likeable secondary cast make this a winner for me.

While yes, it does fill some typical Taiwan cliches and yes, the story isn't anything out of this world, but that's okay because the drama sis what it was supposed to do - make you laugh, smile, and feel for the characters. And the biggest reason I loved this drama so much is because of these characters and chemistry they had - the hilarious manager, the loud but supportive BFF, the quirky office workers, almost everyone in the cast did a great job.

I also loved the bickering and cute moments that the main couple shared. In all, I have to say: ALL ROY FANS THIS IS A MUST WATCH, but even if you are not familiar with the cast or Taiwanese dramas, I still recommend this to those who enjoy a fun to watch, breezy show. If you feel that it starts to drag, just skip those parts and watch all the way to the end becuz that wedding kiss in the last ep is BAM!

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I'm biased as hell. I really don't care. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this drama. This drama, really truly, made the episodes of frustration worth it in the end. Typically, I find dramas lose their appeal to me once we get to the half way mark, so I was very nervous that this drama would do the same. However, I just found myself so immersed in the story that I never once felt bored.

I'm basically just gonna post what I had written about it on my blog when I was only ten episodes in...

This drama was an unexpected surprise for me. I’m a fan of Seo Ye Ji ever since I watched her in Moorim School and I wanted to see more of her, but I’m gonna be honest Hwarang wasn’t going to get my view (it looked boring and there were better things I could and did watch) and I wasn’t interested in any drama where she wasn’t the lead especially if I was gonna have to see ant face. I had made a note that I wanted to see this drama without virtually any clue what it was about. I eventually found out that Ok Taecyeon was also going to be in this drama and he’s pretty easy on the eyes so yeah… I didn’t read the synopsis on the drama until I was midway through episode one because I immediately thought to myself, what the actual !$!@ have I gotten myself into? I was equally repulsed and obsessed by the time I finished the second episode and waited anxiously for every new episode.

The drama absolutely captivates from the acting to the symbolism to the scenery to the background music. The funny and relaxed moments, although far and few in between, are as believable as the thrilling and spooky moments.

As someone who was a fan of Seo Ye Ji, I must say that Im Sang Mi has easily become one of my favorite kdrama heroines of all time and that was because of her. There was strength and courage inside this character that had felt so much pain and to come out of it with everything still in tact? I AM FLOORED AND PROUD.

Of course we know that the rest of the cast did amazing as well and truthfully there is such a satisfaction that i am feeling right now that I can't explain.

Give the drama a chance. It may surprise you.

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No Chemistry

It took me several tries to get into this.

I love e-gaming and liked some of the graphics (when they were playing in game).

The OST was okay, nothing too spectacular.

The story over all was cute; fun and lovable gamer guys.

Kind of cringe-y and dragged in a lot of spots.

Now for the very unpopular opinion of one lady who has watched too many dramas over the years.

The biggest issue for me was the two main leads and their severe lack of chemistry.

The ML had a lot of flirty, tongue in cheek innuendos that I think were delivered mediocre and came off most times more of a joke (he was supposed to be building tension between the two and there was none).

It may be due to his age or lack of life experience, but it could also be who he was paired with.

The FL had very little personality of her own and for as many times as they kissed, you'd think she would've gotten the hang of it halfway through.

This had promise, but fell short ... very short.

Many others seem to like it, but for me it just wasn't worth all the hype and toward the end I was ready for it to conclude.

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A strange one

It's hard to give an opinion on this show... I liked it but at the same time I didn't.

First lets set something straight, the CGI was really bad, people saying that's very good haven't watched a proper CGI movie. While I know that the budget in such shows is not so massive as Hollywood it's no excuse to use bad CGI and call it good in current days. In the first episodes the monsters looked really fake, but as the show continued they were "fixed" a little to look more mashed in the scenery and with proper lighting.

The story was interesting... but at the same time dumb. How can I describe it... it's like giving a great script but to people who don't understand how to implement it. The show was trying to be too cool and it felt like it overdid so it actually looked like an elementary kid playing a "hero" game.

So it's really strange... I didn't hate the story but the way it was portrayed was too childish.

The music... I know they love to reuse the same song on k-dramas but I think the specific song selection was not proper for a lot of the "epic" scenes with that "warriors" song on repeat. Each time I heard it, it killed the scene for me...

The ending of the first part (I assume) was all over the place, so I don't consider it to be a "good" one.

While I don't consider it a bad show if I take in consideration the bad CGI, bad director vision and the strange music choice I can't give it more than 6/10, while I have given 6 to a lot worse shows than this and I don't consider this one to be equally bad to them.

Or to break it in other terms, as a SciFi show is really bad, but as a kdrama is OK.

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This show is so trippy I totally got hooked by the very first episode. And even though it starts out becoming entertaining because of the mystery aspect, there's a lot of depth to the story which I loved. It's the story of trying to overcome your trauma and for once the characters act like people who have suffered trauma. Both physical and emotional. Hyun Bin plays Yoo Jin Woo a tech hotshot with two broken marriages, who is rude and overbearing. Through chance he gets involved in the life of a hostel owner in Granada played by Park Shin Hye who happens to be the older sister of a genius game designer played by Chanyeol. To give out anything about the plot would be a spoiler tbh so I'll just talk about the other details and things that I liked. First off great acting by all the cast. The cast was picked well even the supporting cast you fell in love with. The shots are beautiful and the script is good for the most part. The concept is unique and the execution is not bad. The only thing that felt somewhat anticlimactic was the ending. But Hyun Bin is so handsome and just gorgeous! I could have watched a hundred more episodes. Especially that one episode where he's completely desperate and goes to his office to start the server and encounters the real side of his boss who once kicked his own son out for monetary gain. That scene the way it was shot, just heartbreaking to watch. And then all the sadness regarding the constant struggle between the friends only because of that one awful person. And especially jinwoos secretary, he was my favorite character! Even when he started playing and their banter, and Hyun Bin says "do you like me" lol and he responded with "I have a gf" I was laughing and crying! So it's the kind of show you really get emotionally invested it. That end if it was second season bait I'm fine with that but on it's own I think a proper conclusion would have suited this one more. But hey that's just personal preference and it didn't change my actual viewing pleasure of the show at all. I wish Chanyeol had a proper role considering he's a good actor! Regardless, I was not disappointed with the show at all and in fact would have happily watched more episodes. Another thing I want to mention is I love the subtleness of the love story. It didn't feel forced because the characters started to feel love when they actually developed a rapport and as a viewer you don't feel cheated because it feels natural. Also, the love story is not too fluffy which I think is perfect for someone like me to enjoy. The mystery part is more prominent. And it's a good mystery, really well done. Overall, a unique dark drama but darkness wise it wasn't as dark as The Smile Has Left Your Eyes or Children or Voice or Save Me. It was mild comparatively.

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This show was so incredible, I can’t wait to spread the word. There is a reason Goblin is ranked #2 in popularity on MDL….and here is why…..the development of all the characters and how they are weaved together……so so so so so unbelievably cool.

STORY:
Warning: The beginning of this show is really bloody….might be off putting if you are looking for a lighthearted tale. Goblin is many things but it is NOT FLUFFY NOR IS IT CUTE! The Goblin or Kim Shin is played to PERFECTION by Gong Yoo (yes….adding him to my oppa list). Kim Shin becomes a goblin after he is betrayed by the king and the people mourn his death. He waits for a goblin bride who can remove the magic sword and let him leave mortality…..nine hundred years later (and a lot of good deeds) he meets up with Ji Eun Tak (well done by Kim Go Eun) a graduating high school senior (and orphan), becomes room mates with a grim reaper (HOLY COW – Lee Dong Wook rocked it) and Deok Hwa (Yook Sung Jae…so funny), the latest member of a family who has taken care of the goblin for the last 900 years.

Throw in a funny business owner named Sunny, a mother earth type god, and the big boss god who sometimes comes in the form of a butterfly, and well…..magic……just magic. Some have issues with the age gap between the ML & FL. I think the issue lies in the fact that she is graduating from high school when she meets the goblin and that is a bit much for a few folks. The show steers clear from becoming inappropriate. Perhaps it would have been easier for some if she had already graduated…..but I’m not quite convinced. (However, that weirdness does keep this from being a perfect 10 in my book.)

CHARACTERS:
I can’t say too much about these characters without spilling the beans with some spoilers. Please know that I am just skimming the surface here.

Kim Shin (Gong Yoo): All the broody goodness I love in my male leads and super hilarious to boot. Kim Shin will either make you laugh or cry or sigh, but you won’t be bored….however, just know that the grim reaper will do the EXACT SAME THING! Either way, Gong Yoo….I just can’t imaging ANYONE else playing this part……and the relationship between the grim reaper and the goblin….OUT OF THIS WORLD CRAZY GOOD!

Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun): Her character was all over the place and in a good way. Just when you thought she would be too miserable to deal with….she turns into someone funny, running circles around the goblin and the grim reaper. Her character could have been too sad and too depressing but Kim Go Eun keeps her hilarious and appealing for all 16 episodes.

Sunny & Grim Reaper: Holy cow were these two characters the best in the entire world. Again, avoiding spoilers, I will only say: funny, scary, intense, sad, touching, sweet, heart-wrenching. WATCH THE SHOW JUST FOR THESE TWO!!!!

MUSIC:
I will admit that I am tempted to download the theme song because of the last couple of minutes of episode 2 (WASN’T THAT SO COOL!!!). The music was not repeated to the point of annoying and again…that main song….love it!

REWATCH VALUE:
Oh yeah….I could watch this over and over and over ESPECIALLY THE BROMANCE SCENES…..and there are lots and lots of YouTube videos showing them over and over because they are SOOOOOOOO AWESOME.

Should you watch this? Um Yeah. If all my caps didn’t convince you then…….well, just saying.

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Heart warming story

Ok so.. is one of my first reviews. First which will.be better organized at least. I have watched this drama few years back, but is still on my mind. One of my korean work colleagues recommended it to me, besides Master's Sun.

Story
I do not find the story really original, because I have seen many movies and dramas, plus I read many books. But is not cliché either. Somewhere in between, maybe? It starts well, develops in a realistic pace and does not have a rushed ending.

Acting/Cast.
Quite well done with the casting.
I was not really fond of any of the actors at first, cause I never seen anything with them by that time. Goblin was like my second kdrama seen, I think hahaha. But! They captivated me with their character performance and I watched more of their works. In specially the ML. He gave so much emotion 😍

Music
Amazing 😍😍😍

Re-watch? Most definitely!

I highly recommend it to everyone who likes a supernatural romance story, with a realistic development despite the supernatural. If you like also stuff like destiny and fate... Go for it!
I do not talk much about the story or characters, because i do not want to spoil someone's own experience, impression and understanding of the characters. But I must say that Goblin and Death r like LOL... they did make me laugh few times... and I do not laugh easy at all when watching movies or series 😂

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Brilliant

No other Wuxia can compare to this in my opinion. The sheer breadth and depth of the story make for a viewing pleasure that holds the audience captive through 60 episodes and this is firstly thanks to the superb casting of Chen Feiyu as the ML. He is an anti-hero character who is supremely confident, intelligent, and powerful and I will never forget how fully immersed he was in such a dark character considering how unobtrusive he is in real life.

Can we talk about the beautiful cinematography and the immaculate fight choreography that will have your heart in your mouth even knowing he’s the hero doesn’t mean his opponents just roll over to play dead? He wins despite many odds because of his tenacity and unwillingness to succumb to what some call his lowly fate.

The FL is a pocket-size bundle of joy who made me smile whenever she came on the screen. The character of Sang Sang is one that was built incrementally until we see her come into her own. I also liked the height difference between her and Feiyu. So adorable. Anyway, this is one to rewatch.

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The star of the show goes to Baby Donut.

When it comes to the GL series from Channel 3, I learned that having expectations is not an option. You just need to prepare yourself for whatever they might throw your way. It could be anything - either a weak script, poor execution, inconsistent plots, rushed pace or just an average series. In the case of Play Park, it's the weak script with a rushed pace, so as a result, it becomes an average series.

In my opinion, Play Park is not really good, but not entirely bad either. Out of all Ch3's GL series released so far, I personally think Play Park has better character development. Although the development is not very significant, it's still something worth noting that the whole story has a structure instead of having a bunch of random subplots. At least the plots are cohesive. However, some scenes feel quite rushed and shallow.

Acting-wise, Yada carries this series pretty well even though it’s not her best performance to date. And Tan Duangkaew, starring in her first-ever series, I genuinely don’t think she’s bad at all. She has her own charms, but her acting still needs a lot of work. Being paired with Yada, one of Ch3’s leading ladies known for her versatility and big acting range, it's easy to notice the unmatched acting ability and nitpick the flaws. With more practice, Tan can definitely improve in the future. And I want to give a shoutout to the star of the show, BABY DONUT. He's the scene stealer and you'll just melt every time he appears on screen. So yeah, Donut definitely adds excitement to this series not only with the cuteness, but how natural he acts on camera. People can hate the show, but never come to my N’Donut. I’ll fight you! 😁

Now, the chemistry between Tan and Yada is quite mysterious to me. There are scenes when the spark ignites, but in other scenes, it feels muted and awkward. The inconsistency doesn't help much in elevating the somewhat flat storylines. They should really work on their chemistry given that they’re the only pair out of 4 couples who started off from scratch, unlike the others had known each other prior to being paired for their GL series. I believe that every couple has its own appeal on-screen, and it's not just about executing love scenes.

Overall, Play Park is far from perfect, but at least, it has a story structure. It didn’t turn out super messy. Is it worth watching? It really depends on what you’re looking for in a series. If you want a great story, outstanding performance and explosive chemistry, you won’t get it from this series.

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3 reasons to watch this series

I have one principle when I start watching a series: I don't expect anything, so at least I won't be disappointed. Then I give it three or four episodes to decide whether to watch it to the end or not, which usually takes at least an hour or so. This time it didn't even take ten minutes, because the total runtime is 70 minutes for 30 episodes. Was I disappointed? No, I was surprised.

There are three reasons to watch this series: 1. Junior, 2. Kad, and 3. it's fun. It's fun because many of the things that make 'normal', i.e. longer, Thai series so hard to watch sometimes are simply not possible when there's less than 3 minutes per episode: no staring at each other for 10 minutes, no endless crying scenes (there are actually none at all!), no distracting side couples, no shrieking bl-fans, even the ex-girlfriend isn't toxic, and she doesn't get more than 2 minutes of screentime.

I won't spoil the plot, there isn't much to spoil anyway. The episodes display short scenes about two roommates who are different from each other, but there isn't the worn-out hater to lover trope. There are just 30 glimpses of two boys getting closer, and I find it surprising how well they are being characterized. Junior and Kad have a fantastic chemistry, and they obviously enjoy the opportunity to show their talent as comedians.

Cinematography is also surprisingly good for a tiktok series, as is the soundtrack.

The series is now available at youtube with English subtitles, all episodes put together without any commercial breaks, and if you have 70 minutes to spare, and if you want good, light entertainment, and if you like Junior and Kad, then this is exactly right for you.

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A sweet slice of life

This is a really special 2-part short film that has a much more realistic feel to it than we're used to, yet remains in the BL genre.

Nobody is rich, the mother looks like a real person, and the setting is really beautiful without relying on the usual wealth and glamour - the director uses the natural setting to its best advantage.

The pacing is really good, managing friends to lovers in such a short span without feeling rushed or unnatural. The relationship is fluffy without being saccharine, and the chemistry between the two leads develops and feels real. The script is good, and a character's description of what it feels like to want someone is age appropriate and avoids the silly cliches like a kiss on the cheek is something shocking - these two want to touch each other, and the confused character is just the right amount of hesitant. Realistic dramatic tensions are not given overblown weight, and resolve in a natural way - it's refreshing.

The acting is superb - Mon has always been good, but Oak is really good in this and seems to improve with every project. And again, Mon performs the main theme.

I will certainly watch this again, and I'm looking forward to the next project.

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Ts suchs ass

Honestly, the actions weren't even needed in the first place, JUST WHOSE IDEAS WAS THIS? this feels like a slap in the face to fans (like me) who have spent years emotionally invested in the story. It’s like the people behind the adaptation read a Wikipedia summary of ORV and thought, “hell yea ts tuff, let’s throw some monsters in there and call it a day.” The soul of the original is gone. Don’t even get me started on the pacing, they butcher the story structure so badly that important arcs are erased???? It feels like they tried to Frankenstein the entire first few volumes into a watchable product and just hoped we wouldn’t notice. But we noticed cus wtf!???AND LMAO the CGI suchs, like actually, like PS2 cutscene levels of bad and in a story where the entire world is falling apart, that matters. It’s supposed to feel terrifying and mythic, but instead it’s just... cheesy? Idk, and emotionally? It’s dead inside. They ripped out the internal narration, the constellation dialogue, the deep moral dilemmas all the stuff that made ORV different, and they replaced it with generic hero tropes and forced drama. It reeks of trying to please the general public instead of respecting the source material or the fans who carried this story for years. In the end, it’s not just a bad adaptation it’s a complete misrepresentation. It doesn’t just “suck.” It’s a hollow, corporate husk of something that once had heart, and the worst part is they think slapping on a familiar title is enough to make us like it. It’s not. It’s infuriating. I FUCKING HATE THIS.

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