Reviews

I was surprised by how much I liked this Lakorn. "Pity Me" Melodrama can wear me out , but this was very well done. The characters were very nuanced (altho I was sick and tired of baby sister by the end). All the leading ladies were new to the screen with this drama (all under the age of 17) but they rocked it! Normally I wouldn't stick with something like this, but I binged this in 2 days.

There were essentially 3 love stories:

1. Ohm (big bro) & Pim. Their onscreen chemistry was a surprise! Jealousy, longing, denial - we have it all with this couple! Ohm usually takes support roles that barely get screen time, but after this role I hope he can get meatier bits. Pim looks like a baby. Probably b/c she is (16 while filming). Their relationship was pretty straight forward. After all the twists and turns of the other two couples these two were actually my favorites even though they didn't get enough screen time with their awesome tension.

2. Mark & Benz (big sis who was a firestorm). Can't wait to see her future Lakorns! Her character was misunderstood, ashamed, shamed and just wanted love and of course went about it ALL kinds of wrong. Her relationship with Mark needed more fleshing out IMHO. It was good, but it could have been better. They had chemistry when the writers and directors allowed them the screen time for it. Their relationship was seriously messed up, and the writer did a great job of developing their characters and making us care about their development and resolution. Warning: there is a force scene.

3. Ball & Looktam (baby sis). Lots of long meaningful glances on his part while she was sweet, innocent and happy to be beside him. By the end, someone went bat sh*t crazy and honestly the writers didn't really make me care. In fact I was just annoyed with their behavior to the point where I did quite a bit of skipping through their later scenes (the last 4-5 episodes). I felt bad for Ball's character. He'd held onto this unrequited love for so long and our idiot girl...was...an idiot. They were a good looking couple though. Ball has charisma, I hope he also can get a meatier role in the future as well. (A character with a bit more bite to him.)

I felt like they left too much for the last episode and the 4 episodes prior to that they could have mostly cut out. Ahhh filler...still it was a good lakorn. If nothing else watch it for Benz scenes.

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What Does Life Truly Mean?

In this compelling story of "Fake It Till You Make It ", we embark on a profound journey to unravel the essence of life itself. Is it akin to a meticulously scripted movie where every piece effortlessly falls into place? Or do we navigate its twists and turns while relentlessly pursuing our desires? Our story delves into the myriad relationships and perspectives of a group of industrious young individuals from diverse professions. Even within the cocoon of love, there exist two distinct vantage points, each held by the parties involved.

In the pursuit of dreams and desires within the relentless rat race of our world, we often wear masks of pretense. We mold ourselves into someone we believe will garner admiration from others, for we reside in a world where pretense is the norm. We toil relentlessly, pushing our boundaries, sometimes sacrificing relationships, health, and happiness along the way. And then, at the culmination of it all, we find ourselves asking the ultimate question: Is it all worth it? Does it carry meaning?

Our story explores the very essence of falling in love, the significance of marriage, and the enigmatic nature of attraction between people. Should we surrender to the whims of fate, letting life take its course, or should we seize control and fight for our desires?

Throughout the story, we witness multiple examples that illuminate the diverse relationships and perspectives of our characters. Tang Ying, haunted by past heartache, yearns for a new relationship but fears rejection. Xu Ziquan, a flamboyant individual, shies away from committing to a lasting relationship. When their paths cross, burdened by their respective baggage and consumed by their careers, they struggle to prioritize their love. Eventually, they come to a realization: they must take a leap of faith, committing to each other wholeheartedly, regardless of the outcome, as long as they give it their all.

Lin Xinzi has always sought the perfect love, envisioning it with a man who embodies ideal looks, status, and wealth. Yet, when she believes she's found the one, she discovers herself suffocating in the suffocating embrace of Xu Jiabai's obsessiveness. After parting ways with Xu Jiabai and meeting Xia Tian, she learns that relationships need not adhere to a script, and life rarely unfolds as planned.

Every character depicted here exudes a striking realism. Encounters with individuals akin to Xu Ziquan, who shy away from commitment, are a common occurrence in our lives. Simultaneously, we often encounter characters like Tang Ying who crave reassurance and commitment at the same time also keeping an eye out for potentially better partners. While the Xu Jiabai character may be toxic, it undeniably mirrors a prevalent archetype in society. This dynamic is a familiar facet of the human experience. The value of this drama lies in its effort to delineate the characteristics of such individuals, enabling viewers to recognize them in real-life scenarios and make informed choices when navigating such relationships.

All the characters are meticulously crafted and portrayed, evolving authentically throughout their journeys. Elvis Han portrays Xu Ziquan's character with a familiarity that resonates with many viewers, while Elvira Cai's Tang Ying is captivating and utterly believable.

As the author poetically observes, "The city never stops; it won't pause for anyone, just like our lives. When we reflect upon the people we encounter, we realize that from the outset, we all strive to move forward and upward. Between pretense and reality, let's offer ourselves some soulful nourishment. Superiors, subordinates, rivals, friends - we often find ourselves trapped in various roles. We say what must be said and do what must be done, staunchly believing that this is life. However, as if scripted, just as pretense reaches its zenith, we stumble upon a universal truth -- prosperity, success, and happiness - these elements are never meticulously planned but are derived from our actual experiences."

"The city has introduced us to countless souls, each revealing the vastness of the world, beyond our wildest imagination. The path we choose should be uniquely ours; discard the well-crafted script. Through struggle and determination, seek a life that truly belongs to us. It's alright if we falter, and it's perfectly fine if we lose our way. What matters most is living in accordance with our heart's desires, for that is the essence of true freedom."

My Verdict

In our relentless pursuit of life's ambitions, there often comes a price. Tang Ying pays with her health, Xu Ziquan carries the weight of a broken relationship. As viewers, we too navigate life's labyrinth, occasionally finding ourselves adrift, much like Tang Ying and Xu Ziquan. However, if we view the lowest moments as transformative phases, we may eventually find our way, just as they do. Above all, let us approach life with expectations, appreciating the occasional moments of reaping its rewards, for therein lies the true essence of our existence, as the author puts it, "常常期待 有時收獲"

This captivating drama unfolds as a rich tapestry of life's profound lessons. It comes highly recommended for those seeking inspiration and introspection.

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This drama was???????? i love their chemistry(all cast) and for ???????? their chemistry was real! The OST very suitable for the story! The story little bit hmmhmm but overall i enjoy it, very entertaining! I Love how Ryan and Doekmi express their love toward each other! I love their mature relationship!
The value conveyed Very well, I love how they tell about family, friendship, and relationships very well through this drama.
KJW plays as Ryan Gold very well and PMY plays as DoekMi very Well! This drama makes me realize how important communication toward each other too!❤️

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Excuse me while I go all soft and mushy. Lol I loved this movie! Don't get me wrong, I stayed stressed out the whole time. Did I need to be? Not a bit! This is probably the first time a movie has started out happy and ended happy. Lol
I kept waiting for some hellacious stuff to happen -- and while it did have it's up and down moments I'm so happy things worked out in the end! Also, I had no idea this was technically the second movie. >__< I'll have to find and watch the first one soon.

Not happy how his cousin and brother shit talked her most of the time. Like you see how happy they both are and you see how healthy their relationship is, yet because she doesn't fit YOUR standards, she's not good enough? Are you kidding me? While I wish he had popped off on them, I get why he didn't. I'm glad she blew up on Reon. I freaking swear I wanted to hit him. Lol His character is such.... well.... the more I think about it, his character really is American. Holy hell I'm shocked it took me this long to realize it. Lol the actor definitely played him well.

I feel like this movie is a rare gem not enough people know about. I mean, how often do you get love triangles.... that aren't even love triangles? Lol So many times we see one person get swayed. But not here. Main characters had eyes only for each other. My heart freaking shattered when he told her he was thinking about going to America.

The ending was super cute but I was still stressed out the teachers would find out the big secret and hell would break lose. X_X It's weird how the movie is over and I'm still stressing over this. Like they aren't even real!! LOL good grief! smh

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Very overrated drama for what it delivered.

I have no idea where their chemistry went from the moment they became official. They look more awkward as the show progresses and felt like they are uncomfortable being around each other. They gave the impression that they are happier with their friends, but weird and awkward at the same time when they are alone. TF?? For a new couple there was no intimacy, no tension, no love. There is also NO communication nor trust. This was a big let down since the first episodes were good, but as the show progressed Tine seemed to be more dumb, Sarawat was changing his character a lot and we are going in circles.
Nothing against the actors, I mean, they are amazing but they seemed like they were forced to be together. It was just off.
I've read other reviews about this and I can agree with them all. Sometimes they were lacking warmth, love ,TRUST and much more between Tine and Sarawat, and sometimes they both felt distant. Weird
Giving us the same "I'm not gay, But I only love you" was kind of a turn off.
Very overrated drama for what it delivered. The music was alright, the other characters were fine.
Nothing special and no re-watch value.

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An action movie combinated with a starting relationship between two "lone wolves". I was really suprised by this film.

The setting is not to dark (no horror!) there also are some quite funny moments. The developing relationship between the two main protagonists is influenced by their unexperience in relation to living together with other persons.

The fighting scenes are well performed and exciting.

The music is in some scenes strange, if you see the film you will learn what I mean. But it's not bad.

Finally I have to say that Shibasaki Kou is awesome as Dororo and Tsumabuki Satoshi does a good job aswell. He shows the human side of a revenge thirsty killer and let the viewer feel the pain of his life very well.

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I want to stop everything… just to be with you

I was getting a lot of A Tale Of Thousand Stars vibes from the series when it started. And I was here for it, I absolutely loved ATOS. But I am also extremely glad that Sky In Your Heart took a different direction. I think the locations were beautiful. I love how we really get to see two extremes of the world in the two Star & Sky series – the sea and the mountains. I think it was a smart play on things from the perspective of creating the series.

Fah & Prince: I didn’t want Fah to see Prince just as a rebound from his ex that he was still not really over. So as their relationship developed, I was glad that Prince was shown to be much more to Fah than just a rebound. Fah was taking things slow, and I do appreciate his reasoning behind it – their lives on the mountain are far from reality, so taking things slow is what they both needed. I like the sass that Prince threw at Fah. He might come from money, but he is a surprisingly down to earth person that cares deeply about everyone around him. And while he did appear to be afraid of letting people get too close too quickly, it does make a lot of sense why. I really like that the two had good communications (most of the time), which helped their relationship move forward nicely. Another thing I liked about the two is that just because they are opening to each other and getting closer, their fears and past experiences don’t just disappear. They are still valid, and they still have an impact on both. I like that while some things were shown in a romanticized version, we also saw some very realistic portrayals of situation. One that sticks with me is Fah’s personal live vs. work life dilemma that seems to be a constant struggle for him. Just like it often is for doctors in real life.

Kluen & Dao: The little clips of the two in each episode are adorable. Fah overprotectiveness might be a bit too much at times, but I like it how Kluen doesn’t really look too bothered by it. Actually, he is, but he doesn’t let it dictate his and Dao’s relationship. And the fact that Dao saw through Fah the moment he used the “I have a friend who…” lines was so funny. We all know that the friend is the person asking, but we don’t often see others calling people out for that silliness.

Other side characters were a lot of fun too. I am not really sure why Mesa and JJ had to be on the mountain as well, they weren’t driving, but at least Fah had some help when it came to dealing with his feelings. Even if they were not always helpful. Prince’s mom is an absolute icon! She had me fooled for a bit, even if it didn’t make much sense in relation to how Prince acts and who he is. The chief, the kids, Yayah and the rest of the villagers were a nice addition as well. I do admit Yayah was my favorite of them all. Sincere is basically Typhoon 2.0. I really wanted to hate him, but his actions do make a lot of sense. He loves Prince and he wanted the best for him. He failed to realize that Prince might be the one who knows what is the best for himself.

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Excellent Acting and Production

If you’re looking for a dark, twisted, and well-written drama, you might want to check this one out.

The reason this drama was so well-received in China was because it didn’t have one useless scene. In general, Chinese dramas usually exceed 20 episodes, with some being as long as 60 or 80 episodes. This may cause the overall storyline to drag and lose the viewer’s attention. However, in this drama, every scene will keep you on the edge of your seat and every episode will leave you wondering about the next.

Possibly the thing that stuck with me the most while watching is how the director and production crew brought this story to life. Everything, from the details of the background scenes, the juxtaposition, and the camera angles, was perfect. To completely enjoy and understand this story, you need to pay close attention to the details and the meanings behind every shot. The music placed in each scene also felt haunting, but rightfully so. Although the music seemed creepy and twisted, it was very meaningful, and it accurately described the characters’ inner voices and feelings. I was also pleasantly surprised by how well the child actors took on their roles and how natural they made the characters seem. At some parts of the drama, it almost felt like you were watching a documentary and that these characters actually existed.

Since this drama focuses on many social issues and family pressure, it touched on many topics that haven’t been discussed as frequently before, but should be brought to our attention because of how impactful they can be people, especially children.

Overall, this is a mind-blowing drama that has exceptional acting and directing, and it will resonate with you long after you’ve finished it.

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Too Dragging

It was promising initially but bored me to death afterwards. Took me a few months before I finally decided to finish it. It would have been great if they did not drag it for too long, I hated that the FL is so attached to his ex, like what the hell??? Not that I am bitter, but is this even possible? I have a very open mind but not like this. I am a girl, and I can always offer my help, but not to this extent. That was the part I hated the most. Didn't she realize she was hurting her boyfriend? Its not healthy! The other conflicts are okay, because it happens sometimes, but that one is really frustrating I feel like knocking her head or something..aaargh!!!

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I'm pretty conflicted on how I feel about Manny. It felt to me like it lost its way about 3/4 of the way through, and it's difficult to prevent my view of the drama as a whole from being tainted by my distain for the last handful of episodes.

In any case, I'll start with the positives. Manny, more than anything, is a comedy. It's light and funny, with many laugh-out-loud moments, and most "conflicts" tend to be resolved in the space of a single episode, at least in the beginning. The main couple in Yi Han and Do Young are obvious from the start, but they fail to steal the show in favour of cutesy Jung Min, his divaish older sister Eun Mi and they're even more divaish aunt, Janice. I'm a fan of secondary characters being developed individuals in their own right, so this worked for me. I especially enjoyed that the kids weren't just plot devices, but had strong personalities of their own.

However, this is where the strong personalities end. Yi Han and Do Young, our main leads, are hollow archetypes at best. Yi Han is a Superman-type figure who can fix ANYTHING. One of the basics about any conflict in a story is that it should be believable to the audience that things really won't turn out for the best. This isn't true at all in Manny, because Yi Han is interminably capable and you're never in doubt he can solve anything with some wise words and perhaps a flashback to his old baseball friend in America. With Do Young, our female lead, it feels like there were efforts at development of her character, but to the point where there's two competing sides in her that make her confusing to watch and difficult to empathize with. She switches between stressed out single mother, still not having bounced back from what can be assumed to have been a messy divorce, and love-sick, infatuated teenager, complete with doodling her crush's name in her notebook. Needless to say, put Yi Han and Do Young together and the chemistry is far from sizzling.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the percentage of this drama is good. It never reaches any startling heights, but then that's not what it was aiming for. The drama seemed to know its place as a standard comedy. But then towards the end, it's like the it's been told to grow up and act its age because suddenly there's a barrage of seriousness and an emotional overflow that is so unfitting with the ambiance established up until this point. The characters haven't been built to be people you care deeply about, which is fine in a comedy, but tedious when these same characters are thrown into situations where emotional investment is a prerequisite if you're not going to lose the audience entirely. Without this sudden turn in tone, the drama would have been a solid watch. With it, the experience was, if not ruined, at least soured.

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This movie is very lighthearted, refreshing and relaxing. The plot is smooth and not even a pulse pounding. The cinematography is eye-catching with the harmony of nature and the taste of food that blends to create a life of simplicity and solitude. It is inviting you to come back home and reminisce the best of your childhood memories.

Little forest made me realize that it is okay to get tired from the difficult life we have and more than okay to take a break, review our goals, plan the next step, and never give up.

A must watch movie for those feeling drained and hungry.

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I am quite surprised by how much i enjoyed watching this remake since the original one is one of my top favourite guilty pleasure lakhorn of all time. This new version decided to step it up a notch with the business intrigue, making it less violent and toxic and putting a great importance on the child`s psychological problems.

The noble hero Panin Nirapai is portrayed by Jes Jespipat who did well with the script he was given. He portrayed the Panin character as his own and was more serious,less cynical and less emotional, more in control of his emotions than Chakrit`s portrayal of Panin in the original version. It didn`t make me like him less and made him more relatable. He has the pressure of caring for his younger sensitive brother and taking on the burdens from his father to make their family company bigger and really tries to avoid the idea of getting married to a woman he does not love, which is also something his father forces upon him.

But as all heroes do in LakhornLand he meet the love of his life Arisara on a fateful day running from thieves on the beach and accidentally ruins the sand castle she has built for herself to paint. Arisara saves him and spending the night together near the sea creates a bond...in which their love began somwehere and it will be a tie between them until their last breath. They will face many horrible obstacles to finally end up together. It is beautiful, painful, dramatic and intense. I love their journey.

Esther Supreeleela portrayed the lovely and headstrong Arisara Chunhagon and totally ruled this character who got a character development of her own that wasn`t quite there in the original version. She is a victim in all this mess. But she dearly comes to love the fruit from her and Panin`s love: a son Pete who she is forced to leave because of Panin`s cruel father. Panin is saddened yet again, thinking Arisara left her son. But alas...fate have plans for them.

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Better than the first season!

I had high expectations because I really liked the first season. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed

The narrative was definitely outstanding! The writers went above and above.  Every episode was significant, and every revelation left you invested. This season's cast worked well together. I adore how more and more all-girl casts are appearing as time goes on. Each cast member has a substantial role to play and has their own shining moments. And may I just say how well all the "NPCs" acted. Each one did a great job with the cast's unpredictable behaviour in some moments. Their ad-libs were excellent. I'm still trying to find most of their Instagram handles. I will likely watch this again, mostly due to the hints I missed in the first watch.

The ending and the fact that there were many unanswered mysteries at the end are my main complaints. Hopefully, season 3 will help me solve some of them (assuming there is a season 3, of course).

In short, watch this series! It's filled with A LOT of hilarious moments.

bye ✌

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The best Chinese drama I have seen

This is a love story from beginning until the end, without the usual tropes of most dramas. The acting for the main leads is excellent. The story keeps you watching as the dramatic family dynamics unfold. The chemistry between the leads develops beautifully as the story progresses. Solid, well-acted adult dramas like this are quite rare, as the teen and college age storylines are more commonplace with Chinese dramas. I highly recommend this choice for anyone looking for a truly romantic story that doesn’t keep you waiting until the final episodes, like most do.

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