Reviews

High expectations are the key to disappointment

This is going to be a rant/review with the length of an essay, so friendly reminder that this is my personal opinion. I intended to make this spoiler-free, but I just had to mention a few scenes that made me roll my eyes in the plot/characters and directing part of my review.

Remember 15 was one of my most anticipated series of the year and it did disappoint me in almost all aspects possible. Before ranting, I want to mention the two things that I liked about it.

Promotion: I want to applaud the team that was responsible for the promotion of this series. The posters, especially the first one, were some of the best I have ever seen. The official teaser prepared the viewer for a suspenseful, gory series that would also focus on the characters and their stories and it was very well edited.

Acting: The portrayal of the characters from their respective actors was probably the best thing this series had to offer. They all did a decent job, taking into consideration the fact that the characters were not that well-written.

Now to the rant:

Directing: I usually don't pay that much attention to the directing, since in most series it is neither praise-worthy nor rant-worthy. However, in this case things are different. If someone told me, they changed the director after the first two-three episodes I would probably believe them. Even though it felt like it got improved in some way (not that it was good, but not as bad) the way they shot the first few episodes was amateurish at best. There were some shaky camera movements, even in scenes that there was no reason for the camera to be shaky (basically scenes where they were just standing and not running). Some unneeded (and shaky) close-ups, that not only did not create the atmosphere they aimed for, but also made the scene look even more ridiculous. Some outrageous shots that were filmed badly - worse than when I was filming a commercial for school-. There is this one scene where two characters are face to face and it is supposed to be intense, but the camera angle allows the viewer to see half of the face of one of the characters and not even that well, because her hair was getting in the way. And let’s not forget the scene when Fone lost her eye from the branch of a tree. That branch went so deep that it should have destroyed her eye completely, yet someone thought ‘’let’s make the screen red, to show that Fone is seeing red from the blood that she lost'', when she is not supposed to see anything, because her eye is gone!

Make-up: After watching the teaser of the series, I expected a decent amount of gory scenes and there were some, but the way they did the make-up was pretty bad in many of the cases. As a result it felt fake and it ruined the gore aspect that was supposed to be one of the main themes of Remember 15. Frankly, there are many times that I, and probably many other viewers, have seen some pretty bad CGI or some pretty bad make-up scenes (with a very recent example being Under the Skin). However, unlike those dramas, Remember 15 should have some realistic gory scenes to make the plot and the atmosphere work.

Plot/Characters: I wouldn’t mind that much if the plot was perfect and all the other aspects were lacking, but even the script was not well-written. The series has basically two timelines, one happening in the past and one taking place in the island. As a viewer, I anticipated some suspenseful scenes in the events happening in the island, but unexpectedly, the past of the characters was much more interesting to watch. Generally, the majority of the plot and the actions of the characters made no sense. I know I should throw my brain out of the window, when I have to, so I can enjoy a series, but this one was so outrageously stupid at some points that it was hilarious and a bit insulting to watch. The characters' reactions made no sense. Everything worked as a plot tool to make the story develop -if I can call that development-.
Everyone is so emotionless and their reactions (or to be more precise the lack of them) make no sense. People are dying and everyone is so calm! In one of the scenes Bozo (or another male character, I don’t remember) finds Bew with blood on his hands and with a dead body near him (that probably has no head left, because Bew smashed it with a rock) and he looks calmer than when I am having a walk in the park. People get severely injured, but they survive and can function properly, when the script says so, but others with less serious injuries can’t even walk straight. The characters' reactions are very fake and the way they act changes so drastically, in a way that it feels like they change their whole personalities. Therefore no matter what they do, you don't really feel anything about them. Some of them are okay, but the majority is just bland, the kind of 'I don't care even if they die' kind of bland.

The pace: Unfortunately the pacing of the series was another huge problem. I could call the first half of the series a guilty pleasure, but after some point it became very draggy. The thing is, that when you are making a slow paced series, you must know how to handle everything to make the viewer interested in what is taking place on the small screen. In this one, they apparently didn’t know how to do that. There are many scenes that last minutes, even though they don’t add anything to the atmosphere or to the plot and the sole purpose of their existence is to make the episode last longer.
Remember 15 could easily be a movie or a short five-episode series. I felt like they wanted to make this deep, emotional and at the same time engaging and suspenseful, but it ended up being extremely boring. As a result I watched the second part of the series in double speed and I felt like I was watching it in its regular pace.

This is trying to be a character-driven horror series with some social commentaries here and there, but it is failing miserably in all aspects. After having watched the WeTV Thai original series After Dark, I expected a similar atmosphere as that one. If you have watched that series, you will know what a disturbing atmosphere really means. It managed to balance good acting, chilling atmosphere and also make some social commentary, while this one just wanted to do so and never achieved it. Is this horror? No and I don’t know If they really aimed for it.

All in all, Remember 15 had an interesting concept, but the execution lacked in almost all aspects and for me, it does not deserve your time, especially if you are looking for a horror series. Try After Dark or some other Thai series with a similar theme, like The stranded.

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Let me start by saying that for the first few episodes I loved this drama. The child actors were phenomenal and they were well rounded and believable from the very start. However,things changed when the characters grew up. In fact, I found that my biggest problem with the show was Zoey. I am a huge Eun Hye fan but I am sorry to say that the character Zoey fell short. While I did sympathize with her, as a character Zoey was a little boring. On the other hand, Harry Borrison made the second half of the show more than worth it. He was the one character that actually got MORE interesting as they aged. Even better, you'll never see anyone work a cane the way he does. Second lead syndrome was a real issue in this show. Overall, the story was interesting for the most part, but it does get a little boring and drawn out at times.

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A Relationship of Mutual Exploitation

Watching The Glory, I couldn’t help but see parallels to the power struggles and corruption we face in the modern world—especially the oligarchs who pull strings behind the scenes. The drama’s villain feels like a direct jab at them, wrapped in clever satire. Adapted from the web novel The Reborn Noble Girl Is Hard to Find, the series takes a completely different approach visually and narratively. Yet both versions stand strong on their own—comparing them wouldn’t be fair.

Storyline
Zhuang Hanyan’s life begins with betrayal. Abandoned at birth and raised by abusive foster parents in a poor village, she’s treated like an outcast—bullied by children, starved, and chained like an animal. At 17, when her foster father tries to assault her, she kills him and his wife in self-defense, then flees to her real family in the city.

But home is no sanctuary. Her birth mother coldly rejects her, her father’s concubine schemes against her, and her half-siblings make her life hell. Worse, she’s being investigated by Fu Yunxi, a sharp-witted Dali Temple official who also happens to be her late half-sister’s widower.

What follows is a dangerous game of lies and manipulation. Though they’re not enemies, they’re not allies either—she tries to kill him to protect her secrets, while he blackmails her for information. Yet, beneath the deception, there’s mutual respect. Both have loved ones to protect and truths to uncover.

Characters & Acting
Zhuang Hanyan (Chen Duling) is a survivor—intelligent, ruthless, and deeply wounded. She’s compassionate but never naive, willing to kill if pushed. Raised in betrayal, she trusts no one, not even Fu Yunxi, despite her growing feelings for him. Chen Duling embodies the role perfectly—stoic, calculating, and striking in Ming Dynasty nobility attire. (A far cry from her performance in Fang of Fortune, which didn’t leave much of an impression.)

Fu Yunxi (Xin Yunlai) is just as morally gray—cold, cunning, and willing to bend the law. Though he’s a deputy prosecutor, he lets Hanyan go free despite knowing she’s a murderer. His relentless pursuit of corruption makes him a target, and after his wife is poisoned, he becomes a single father fighting a shadow war against the remnants of a eunuch’s criminal empire. Xin Yunlai’s performance is decent, though at times he seems oddly detached from intense scenes.

Ruan Xiwen (Wen Zhengrong), Hanyan’s mother, steals every scene she’s in. Her cruelty is terrifying—she screams, threatens, and drives her daughter away at every turn. But it’s all an act to protect her. Wen Zhengrong delivers a powerhouse performance, making us feel the agony beneath her harsh facade.

OST
The soundtrack shines brightest in the rare tender moments between Hanyan and her mother—soft, melancholic melodies underscoring their fractured love.

Final Thoughts
Romance isn’t the focus here. This is a story about vengeance, survival, and the ugly choices people make when pushed to the edge. Both leads are deeply flawed—Hanyan is a murderer, and Fu Yunxi is an official who plays dirty. And that’s what makes them so compelling.

Most dramas force their characters into redemption arcs or moral clarity. Not this one. Hanyan doesn’t repent for her crimes, she doesn't need to, and Fu Yunxi doesn’t suddenly become a saint. They’re ruthless, pragmatic, and unapologetic—a refreshing change from the usual righteous heroes.

This isn’t a story about love conquering all. It’s about rage, power, and the lengths people go to protect what’s theirs. And for those of us tired of cookie-cutter plots, that’s exactly why it’s worth watching.

Novel vs. Drama
Don’t expect the novel and drama to align—they’re entirely separate. The book is a reincarnation story: Hanyan, murdered on her wedding night, wakes up in her 12-year-old body and relives her life with new knowledge.

Some Key differences (not complete)
- Hanyan was never exiled; she grew up loved by her mother and younger brother.
- Fu Yunxi is a prince and general, rumored to be gay (and 21 when Hanyan is 12—a very different dynamic).
- The novel’s tone is more scheming nobility than gritty survival.

Both versions have their strengths, but the drama’s raw, unflinching darkness makes it unforgettable.

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Guilty pleasure kinda drama..u’ll luv the leads,the visuals&chems,but the plot isn’t the best..

U know why I said this is a guilty pleasure kinda drama? Coz somehow u gotta admit u luv it despite the trainwreck plot...

What I like:
- I luv the chemistry between the leads, they r just so cute! It’s JJY’s drama, so we only got 2kisses with unmoved lips... but it doesn’t really matter, their lowkey skinships r just so adorable... not cringy, so natural... stolen small kisses, backhugs, n their always hand holdings really made up for lots!
- JZ is just looking his prime here! His style n hair is the best from his other historical dramas... JJY always looks pretty, n eventhough her accessories r sometimes too much, i think it suits her, so no complaints from me...
- JZ & JJY got their best characters in this drama compared to their other dramas (at least before their characters were suddenly ruined by the writer to create the big angst)... LQ is goodlooking, smart, has supreme martial arts, brave, loyal, loving, n all the good things u r looking for in ur dream guy... JBN is pretty, smart, witty, humble, independent, decisive, n all the good things that’s an upgrade from her old characters, esp from LOY & TBARP...
- The leads’ small adventures... they r both smart, so when they plot things, it’s a guaranteed success... i wish they did this scheming everybody kinda thing instead of the long angst near the end...
- The casts... DD&QA’s luv story is cute, n DD’s relationship with her sis in law JBN is cute too... JX&DS’s luv story is ok, wish they could have double date with their BFFs, LQ&JBN, that would’ve been potentially good scenes... JBN’s grandma, Qingke the maid, Susu the BFF was ok, but LQ’s dad&stepmom got mixed reviews from me... they r ok people but indecisive at different times, so at the same time u can only like 1 of them n hate the other...
- The overall visuals... the casts, their wardrobes, their sets & some of the fighting scenes r good n done properly...
- Luv the OST! Esp the one the leads sing together...

What I dislike:
- The unnecessary angst that u can always find in JJY’s dramas, like LOY&TBARP... The pattern was alike, interesting story with lots of potentials in the beginning, amazing chemistry with her ML, cute fluffy OTP moments, some filler eps, n the full unnecessary angsts&misunderstandings in around the last 10eps, then happy ending in the last eps! I’m still grateful with the HE, but can they just not kill their good characters just to create the final neverending angst??? Those eps r just unreasonable & unbearable to watch...
- The villains r all over the place, n in this one they r just crazy obsessive... again, since this is is JJY’s studio’s drama, where they always wanna promote another actress under their company as the SFL, the screentime that SFL gets is just too much! N this time the SFL is a villain, so it’s just so annoying to have her from the beginning till the end where after everything she’s done she kinda redeemed herself... she doesn’t deserve it n honestly I skipped scenes where her face popped! She isn’t a good enough villain n her character just annoyed me too much... N the SML, OMG, talk about delusional n obsession, his character is just so flawed that eventhough he’s the villain, he’s just not a convincing one...

Anyway, I still enjoy the drama... yes the plot was mmehhh, but just focus on the leads n like me, u’ll like it... actually I’v rewatched the leads’ scenes... IMO they r one of the best drama couples in 2021, I hope they’ll get paired again in future dramas, modern one if possible... FYI if u wanna skip the unnecessary trainwreck of angsts, it’s from eps33-39, so I suggest to FFWD those eps n u’ll be fine... it’s a happy ending for all good characters, so yeah there’s that... Happy watching!

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This started as such a fun drama, it felt like watching an anime in real life, with the silliness of his masochistic tendencies. I liked her strength, and they had okay chemistry, nothing amazing but there were at least a little? Episode after episode I kept waiting for an advancement in their relationship but got nothing. He turned into a complete and utter, creepy stalker and she sort of floated, like instead of falling in love she just accepted the harassment. It's a shame, what could've been a funny, quirky show about a secret sadist and a masochist turned into a show about, it's okay to stalk someone if we categorise it as romance.

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sensible, symbolism and real kisses ?

This was not on my radar, but good friends recommanded this series to me.

RANT: The worst part first: The subtitles. Who the fuck thought of this font and that they need to put pastel colored text on a pastel colored backgrond in the beginning of every episode? It's unreadable. Second the normal subtitles were a joke as well, it's 7pts and anyone, even with perfect eye-sight will have trouble to read such text if the person has a reasonable distance to the monitor/TV set. I needed to watch 50cm away from my 30" monitor which is annoying as hell! You can add normal subtitles on youtube easily and it would not have mattered. To hard encode subtitles is a crime as well. END OF RANT

Yeah, sorry I had to write the "real kisses" in the headline 🤣 This is a chinese production and I was expecting the censor-hammer coming down on them. In this case it didn't, which makes this a stand-out in itself. The good thing besides that, we get an actual story, with actual emotions. More or less a coming of age story but not from the gay lead but his soon to be boyfriend (soon means it's only 7 epsiodes 12-21 minutes long).

The cinematography was stunning, the symbolism worth noting and overall the actors did an excellent job. I won't spoil the story further, but it's sometimes painful (emotionally) to watch. Overall I can also only recommand to watch this, because it's an nice uplift compared to the crap thai companies are forcing on us (except two shows when I'm writing this review). I hope the extra episodes will be as good as this was.

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Ruined it at the end

This drama contains everything that I love: historical romance, justice, noble values and amazing romance. It started off as one of the best shows I have ever watched. However, they completed ruined it episode 14 onwards. The king literally leads to the death of the ML's sister and then they are calling each other "friends". Yoo Ji-Sun just suffers needlessly, without any ending given for him. The FL leaving for three years makes no sense either. Killing the ML's sister was just not needed. So disappointed towards the way that it panned out.

The actors did a wonderful job throughout. Really wish there are more historical dramas that explore the theme of justice, without ruining it like this one.

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This was an outstanding story, it keeps you interested the 24 chapters
The acting of all the cast members and the chemestry between the main actor and actress was great. You can feel deep love between them in every moment. Even if this story made me cry almost the 24 chapters, I loved it and loved the ending.
The OST of this drama is one of the best I've ever heard in all the dramas I've seen.
I don't like too mich to rewatch dramas, but sometimes I do.
I really Like Korean dramas, and I find this drama one of the best I've seen. Give it a try you will Love , you can find it in good drama.

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not like I expected

When I found out there was special episode about this drama I already so happy because I really hope they continue their story or at least give explanation about what happen with Shi Yi after he went abroad. But turn out this like almost any other special episode where only listed clip from director cut. It's just like scene that consider not important in the drama & when put it there will gonna be like too long or not important. So they cut it from original drama but don't want to delete it too & they put it all here.

The scene still funny but yeah not important & not explaining anything. But yeah this just short clip you can watch to remembering the drama again

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must watch

let's start by the cast, they could not have picked a better cast. their chemistry was just wonderful. they did so well. i felt so many things while watching the movie and the first ceremony scene gave me chills all over... so so good! i love how the had comedy (dark humor) all over, for example when mr. almost died and he said he was ready to go but then he thought oh my daughter's marriage. i was tearing up and that just cracked me up hahaha. every character did such an amazing job, and of course... kim goeun and lee dohyun never dissapoint. the ending was good but made wonder if there will be a sequel because of their unfinished business (their flashbacks etc.) either way, im satisfied with it. please, go and watch it if you have time and if your city is playing it. i feel like a movie theater experience will be even better.

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You won't even know what hit you

NLMG is not only backed by a compelling storyline (romance or otherwise), great characters, and exceptional BL chemistry – it’s also beautifully produced. With plenty of aesthetically-pleasing shots soaked in warm tones, it’s reminiscent of a doomed summer romance.

The obvious main conflict in the show stems from external danger – the threat posed to the Kittrakulmethee family in the midst of a power struggle. But the second, more understated conflict is the power imbalance between Neung and Palm’s family that takes on a class dimension. This is where NLMG proved to be different from other bodyguard storylines.

In NLMG, character development is most pronounced for the young heir forced to grow up in treacherous times. Neung initially comes off as a typical, sheltered (maybe even bratty at times) rich kid but the later episodes will draw out the best of his character. Even on his worst days, Neung is constructed to be likeable and painfully human through it all.

The relationship between Palm and Neung develops at an even pace, with both parties falling (and falling hard) over the course of several delightful episodes. They also have a wonderful chemistry and compatibility – the both of them are fighters at heart; Palm with his fists, and Neung with his wits and spirit.

I enjoyed this show because it was a beautiful, beautiful emotional trip. Some particularly heartwrenching sequences from Pond and Phuwin hit me with some profound emotions that my words cannot adequately capture.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/28/never-let-me-go-2022-bl-review/

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LOVE IS IN AIR...

This drama is very refreshing and light weight. it tells the story of a girl who has a crush on his brother's friend. How his crush devlops into love. Here u can see 👀how everyone one is moving forward in their life plus how it is very important to trust someone. Here the ML have some tragic past but FL fully trusts her and protect him. This drama also shows who always looks caring and good also have some inner sadness. ML is just not perfect💯. He started to become perfect because of his past to never be like his father.

In acting literally both the main actors have done the great 👍job. For me chen zheyuan was not new but I'm a big fan of our secret🤫. I loved his eye expression they are just superb. This was the first time i watch zhao lusi I liked her acting very, she really look liked a teenager and ahe was cute. All cast has done quite good job. I like the victor Ma's character the most.

The most beautiful osts for me was
1. I'm falling in love with u
2.i just want to secretly hide u.
3.Be ur light

I can't believe zhao lusi have such a soothing voice I loveed the intro and ending song

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I had so much expectations..

I read about the concept of the movie and was immediatelly very hyped. I enjoy most of the movies containing a stalker / psycho. But this one seems like an exception..

I still got to say that the soundtrack was very great during intense scenes ; the idea of the two FL being deaf / mute was very great in the context, which made it more thrilling. The plot was simple in my opnion and I expected a more twisted ending.. I have to be frank about the fact that it was weird for me to see the actor playing ML as a psycho when I watched him playing in more cheerful roles as in "Bad and Crazy" which, in my opinion, suits him better. (But that's subjective). Overall, this movie had a lot of potential, I saw it was very well rated, but I guess it's better to watch a movie without having much expectations before.

A great movie in the concept and a great soundtrack but it's a flop for me.

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I really enjoyed this drama, I thought it was original and very well thought out and directed. I loved how each episode had a different title and how they worded things by the end of the episode to complete the titles meaning.
Cast: My favorite couple was Kang Jin Gu & Ma Se Young (Kim Young Kwang & Kyung Soo Jin) - they were the couple I was rooting for the most. I picked up the drama for Kim Young Kwang (as he has always played supporting characters in dramas I have previously watched, I thought he deserved a lead role and since this drama was giving him one, I had to watch it, and I'm ever so glad I did. This was the first drama I saw Kyung Soo Jin in but she was a great actress and I loved her scenes with Jin Gu <3 My second favorite couple would have to be Kang Min Gu & Soo Ah/Bong Sook (Yook Sung Jae & Park Cho Rong) they definitely grew along the way from not knowing each other to finding out everything about each other - they were sweet to watch. I liked all the cast/characters in this drama.
Music: Very good - indie (which I usually don't listen too, but I have heard of Standing Egg which was in this drama ;) ) if anyone knows what song it was where a male singer sang "yeppo (music) yeppo (music)..." ectra - they sang the same word - translated "pretty" over and over slowly - I loved that song but I can't find it - PM me if you know - thanks :D
Re-watch value: 7/10 - I'd probably re-watch this drama on a rainy day sometime - it's perfect for that - it's really cozy and nice <3

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