Uhm Tae Woong's acting shone through. I admit having Queen Seon Duk's syndrome -where I fell for everyone there; literally- so I started this already in love with him. His self-centred personality and weird sense of humour were so adorable. I liked his dark side that doesn't reflect on his humanity. The way he taught Kim Yeon Woo was so enjoyable to watch. That killing smirk got me gaga!
Park Ji Heon's character was so cute. I'd avoid it though. This kind of guys is burdensome and demanding.. only cute to watch from afar.
I loved Kim Soo Yeon.. well i'm biased so! i loved how she never hesitated to express what she thinks and stands her ground. and i loved how nothing stopped her from what she believes right.
The reason why I pushed this drama up was writing a stalker's guide on Kang So Ra. She didn't have much to give here but she was cute in the few minutes she'd appear every episode.
There were so many shirtless scenes -due to the fact that they are athletes- and my eyes were so happy!
The drama tackled so many medical and sport related cases. Though they were so beneficial for an ignorant like me, I felt that many were forced. They were so touching anyhow.
Sang Bong's character was the best thing about the drama. I cried buckets because of him.
The patriotic emphasis on being a ''Korean representative'' was evident.
The emphasis on the Korean pork they were promoting was so obvious i kept laughing -side effects of watching so many dramas; especially King of Dramas-
The cruel and twisted fate of Park Ji Heo and Yoo Sang Bong was so moving -and kept reminding me of School 2013-
The music was cute but repetitive.. i loved the osts.
I was not expected it to be so much fun.. I didn't get bored for a second.
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Trashiest ML
I started this drama just because the poster looked pretty (that orange was gorgeous), and honestly… I don’t regret watching it, but I also wouldn’t recommend it. It’s the kind of drama I’d be embarrassed to admit I watched.It’s based on an old Wattpad story: Alys likes her best friend Sheen, but he likes Kei. Kei likes Drake, so Sheen asks Alys to seduce Drake. Yeah… you can imagine where this is going.
Was I entertained? Absolutely. I tuned in every week just to hate-watch, lol.
Drake is hands down the trashiest male lead I’ve seen in ages, such a walking red flag. No growth, no character development, just an asshole to the bitter end. Every single line out of his mouth was painful, and the actor being so wooden only made it worse. Cruel and expressionless? A combo nobody asked for.
There was zero reason for Alys to fall for him. She started off adorable, but oh girl… she turned into a complete idiot. Forgiving him over and over without so much as an apology? Self-respect, who?
Tripp was the classic second male lead, kind, actually had chemistry with Alys, and treated her better as a friend than Drake ever did as her boyfriend. I actually enjoyed their dynamic way more.
Aya and Alys’s friendship was one of the best parts. Just two girls being weird together, loved it! But sadly, Aya disappeared in the second half once they went to different universities.
Thank god they dropped the stepmom subplot quickly, because… what even was that?
On the bright side, the production value was solid, and the OST was pretty good. Overall, it was entertaining, but… meh. Would’ve easily rated it higher if only Alys had dumped Drake.
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1Total Sci-Fi Goodness!
While a lot of comments seem to be dissatisfied with this show, I thought it was really fun! I think they could have done a bit more with Erng's newfound abilities and the mystery surrounding her before that was all explained, but on the whole this show was funny, heartfelt, full of sci-fi goodness, and just a really good time.The acting was really solid, too! Nanon, of course, is a star and was able to affect me greatly with the most minute expressions. He was a great lead and brought a lot of charisma to a role that could have easily been insufferable. Namtan was a phenomenal actress as well, and really held her own against Nanon! Sing and Drake were funny sidekick characters (as per usual for them), but this show gave both of them a little extra when it came to their characters, allowing them to be more than just the funny best friends. It was really nice to see.
This show was fun and interesting, and honestly it was really different than most of the dramas I've seen. I had a really good time, and I would recommend this to just about anyone!
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it's not bad but not good
many things in this drama good like zo's first look in drama(he was freaking cute), romance, production, but the thing is the main couple chemistry does not really match with high school romance. in easy words they should have more dramas like office romance(mature romance) .the only reason I watched is JoongDunk, I love this shipWas this review helpful to you?
12 varied cups of coffee
This drama is one of Dramalands mot fitting names. Each episode is just like a cup of coffee for the coffee lover, but I am sure you can convert it to tea if coffee as a whole is not your thing. Most cups are just perfect and a must that will wake you up or give you a nice moment but the first cup of the day is the best and once you have had 2 or three you feel like it´s enough for the day. You still want to drink coffee later on or the next day. And so is the show, It will leave you satisfied but not wanting more right away.Again much like different people like different types of coffee not all of the episodes where my type of coffee, while some had the perfect balance to suit my taste. Others did not.
Character wise there are a few slightly annoying guest characters but overall the cast is well fitted. The relationships shown are varied and almost as sweet as the confectenaris made in the bakery down the street.
The use of umbrellas is subtle but well made, guesting some pretty impressive and unusual uses for umbrellas (in a drama, I do not know about seul) and with great symbolism enhancing some of the dramas most beautiful scenes.
I highly recommend people to watch this, one episode a day or so, that way it will last longer and you will be able to enjoy each cup to the fullest.
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Which is strange, because when I started watching it was like: OMG, why do they play so poorly? What is this with the dialogues and faces? But somewhere around episode 3 or 4 it really took me in. In the end I really enjoyed it and would love to see the continuation.
Maybe the actors needed some time to roll in as well. I liked the girl, who in the end sounded and looked really sincere, when talking to Takane, and I liked this superfluous way of speaking that Takane has. Though the drama is really short, you manage to understand the character of each of the 4 main leads. They are all different, and though due to lack of time in the series they are all quite schematic, you do see the difference. That is more, than many other dramas can boast, in which charachters often seem to be made by one sample.
Besides, do remember that Japanese have very peculiar sense of humour, which you should also be ready for while watching this drama. Hope you'll enjoy it too!
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This review may contain spoilers
How did they get it so right?
First things first, I am not crazy about the BL genre. It feels weirdly fetishistic towards gay couples and from what I've seen, most of them look rather cheap. But after seeing some clips of I Told Sunset About You I decided to give the show a chance. And good god am I glad that I did.When it comes to teenage, angsty romance, I have never seen a show just nail it like that. As I watched this drama all I could think about was: I've been there. I've been Teh and Oh-aew. I've felt that pain. How did they get it so right?
ITSAY captured the essence of being an insecure gay kid who hates themselves. Of falling in love with your best friend and the fear that once you take that step, you can never go back. Of your first real heartbreak that feels never-ending. And it did that with a relatable, simple story, likable, believable characters, a beautiful ambiance, brilliant acting, and stunning cinematography.
I bought every second of those actors' performances. I believed in their relationship with each other. You can physically feel the yearning every time they're on screen together. It was like I was carrying every unsaid word between them on my shoulders. Of course, they had some passionate scenes but to me what made Tehs and Oh-aews love seem genuine was in the little things. Teh hating the smell of coconut before he started associating it with his crush. Being jealous and not even understanding why. Always needing to touch each other. The sexual tension was in the things they DIDN’T dare to do. They didn’t portray the fetishized version of a gay relationship that I have witnessed in other BL dramas but the awkward puppy love that your first real crush always is.
The raw power that episode three holds is incomparable. I have absolutely zero issues with NSFW content but ITSAY proved, that graphic scenes are not needed to convey purely sexual themes. The way the direcor portrayed Teh's sexual frustration enitrely through his restlessness was incredibly convincing. He clearly did an incredible job at directing the two lead actors, their performance and chemistry could not have been any more natural and it truly felt like every small movement between Teh and Oh-aew mattered. Every interaction, no matter how small seemed to further the tension between the two characters.
As mentioned before, this drama also looks beautiful. Every shot felt like it had a purpose but at the same time was creative. The colour grading was especially outstanding, the colours of this show are beautiful and contribute a lot to the mood and feel of each scene. I really really liked that the kiss scene was underwater as a metaphor for letting go and escaping society's expectations. I also liked that Teh and Oh-aew had to hide behind the stairs to feel safe and unseen enough to passionately hug. There was a good amount of symbolism in the show in general. The red hybiscus as a symbol of passion, that Teh first associates with a girl he likes before Oh-aew makes it his own. The Chinese characters that would ellude to how the relationship of the two leads was progressing. The coconuts, or firecrackers and of course the sunsets, all those were like a red string that tied the whole thing together. The scenery was gorgeous too and now I really want to go to Thailand. And while I surely am no expert on music, I really liked the OST as well. It really went with the general tone of the scene instead of dictating it and telling the audience what to feel. I even liked the Chinese song that also was one of the reoccurring symbolic themes and which lyrics matched up with the relationship of the main couple.
What else? I am so happy that this show tackled the subject of internalized homophobia in such a mature way. Often times I have heard a BL love interest exclaim that he's definitely not gay, not gay at all, definitely, definitely not, he just happens to like this one boy. That makes homosexuality feel like a taboo subject, which is absurd, especially in BL. Teh struggles with those thoughts as well, but something actually comes from it. When he isn’t able to accept himself he, as a result, pushes Oh-aew away. It’s only after he makes peace with his own feelings that him and his best friend can reconcile. Having Teh’s brother actually say to him that it’s “okay to be gay”, that his feelings are normal and natural and that he doesn’t have to hide who he is, was so special to me and very very necessary to see.
But it’s not only Teh who battles internalized homophobia. Even though Oh-aew theoretically is out and proud he hasn’t accepted who he is completely. We see that especially in the powerful and painful bra-scene, in which Oh-aew puts on a bra after being essentially rejected by Teh and then breaks down crying, because he can’t give Teh the normal life that he wants and he would do anything just to be accepted by him, even changing gender. There is also a beautiful moment between Oh-aew and his first boyfriend Bas, in which Oh-aew is surprised that Bas is so willing to hold his hand in public. He has become so used to being someone’s secret, the fact that he’s worthy of love comes as a surprise to him.
I would argue that the main theme of the story is acceptance, acceptance of your feelings and acceptance of who you are. That’s why at the end of the show, Teh and Oh-aew are different, better people. And that’s what good storytelling is all about, sending your characters on a journey.
I am so happy that I Told Sunset About You exists. A show in which feelings are acknowledged and validated. In which men are honest about their emotions. In which women are not plot devices and hindrances but allies and friends. But most importantly: A show about acceptance. Of course, it wasn't perfect. It felt like a bit overwritten at some points and yeah, maybe if I am being strict it doesn't really deserve the 10 stars. But I'm giving it this rating anyways because it touched me deeply and I think stories like this one are needed. For me, this transcended the barriers of the BL genre and can be seen as art. I hope the fact that a show like this can exist in South East Asia is a good sign for what’s to come. This show really reminded me of my undying love of cinema and fiction as well as the power it holds. I never expected to see so much of myself in two young men in Thailand experiencing their first heartbreak but here we are, only stories can connect people from all around the world.
Never have I felt so seen, so represented by a series and its characters and even half a year later, I keep returning to I Told Sunset About You. It's so incredibly genuine in its intensity, awkwardness and clumsiness; honest and helpless like only a first love could be. I truly mean it when I say that I lost a part of myself in Phuket without ever having been there. And I couldn't be any happier about it.
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Wholesome BL Series
I was very tired at watching BL themed around high school especially Thai BL, but somehow when I see the cover for this series and proceed to find the synopsis about it something just clicked on my mind and it's telling me to go and give this series a try.WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISION I EVER MAKE!!!
This might seem biased, but I just can't seem to find anything that I dislikes from watching this series from start to finish
Story: The synopsis seems simple yet somehow it managed to hook me in giving this series a try. Later on the story develops into something wonderful and very unexpectedly fresh to me. There is almost no useless scenes (yeah, I came to enjoy even those product placement scenes) and the most important thing is that there are no exhausting unneeded drama. What I got instead are good comedies, small but abundant romantic gestures, and lots of very likeable characters that is written like what they are in the show, high school students. The show can balance between unnecessary problems between the character but still giving the context of high school students being high school students
Music: This is the first series where in every episode I watch, I prepared my phone right beside me so I can directly google search the songs played. They are seriously all that good and match the scene and mood where they are played. It's also a plus point that the show is about music club and they did not fail in delivering awesome music in every episodes
Acting: Fourth and Gemini did not seem like new actors. Instead they felt like they have starred in lots of movies/series before this. Their interaction and gestures to each other doesn't feel like they are being forced or stiff in any way. Each smile, each laugh, each expression that they made brings Tinn and Gun to life. We got a very convincing smart school president chasing after a very cute and silly music club leader through both of their performances. Beside that, as long as I remember, we also got the same level of acting from the other cast as well. No awkward pauses, no flat faces, just a very enjoyable acting from all the cast
Rewatch Value: I'm usually not someone who would watch a series after I watched it the first time. But for this, they are definitely something that I can rewatch, especially when I'm feeling down or just in need for some extra sugar
Special Note: Just want to emphasis again that what I like most out of it is how the story itself doesn't give unnecessary drama just to make cheap conflict between the characters. All sources of conflict is just from external factors or high school students behaving like a high school students.
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The Good: This is a great mini-series to get away from a long drama! There is lots of comedy and it hits on serious issues. The cast was really good, I believed all of the characters were who they were playing and Kim Sung Oh was astonishing! There are some predictable plot twists, but there are also some really unexpected plot turns that really make things interesting. And best of all there is a happy ending!
The Bad: The majority of the story surrounds why Baek Hee left and the misconceptions regarding her leaving, so there are lots of flash backs. It took me a while to figure out whose story this was, and who was the main character in the story. The plot moves very fast and initially it is unclear if this is a family drama or a rom-com. There were tons of loose strings at the end and after I fell in love with the characters, I really wanted to know more.
Verdict: I was shocked at how much I liked this drama. The cast was spectacular and really shone through in a story that could have been mediocre. While the story line wasn’t extraordinary the issues touched on were important and I had lots of feels watching the characters come to terms with each other. Keep in mind the story is super short so there are lots of strings hanging; but use your imagination.
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A more or less faithtful adaption of BBC's "Luther" that makes no bold leaps.
Story: Although not as impacting as the original series "Luther", the main plot of "Less Than Evil" is an adaptation of BBC's hit that remains more or less faithful to the core elements, its main characters, and some of the stories and plot lines featured in "Luther" but altered to match the south Korean underworld. For new fans this will be an interesting experience, at least the first half, while for older fans who have watched all the seasons of "Luther" you are not going to be surprised by anything in particular.Acting/Cast: Special mention goes to Lee Seol for her portrayal of Eun Sun Jae even though she got much less screen time than the leading male actor which is one of the main flaws - in my point of view - of "Less Than Evil". Still every time she appears it becomes very clear that Lee Seol and her character are one of the main reasons why you should watch this show. Shin Ha Kyun's role as rough 'n' tough, no moral compass detective may edge around overacting but he, just as the support cast, were well picked for their roles and matched well the story there set in.
Music: "Less Than Evil" has a soundtrack that fits perfectly its procedural, crime world investigation while shifting to more sombre, soft tones during more emotional, heart wrenching scenes. The main song by BLACK NINE is really good.
Rewatch Value: Only the scenes involving Eun Sun Jae are worth revisiting, everything else amounts to run of the mill detective stories so nothing particularly memorable. The ending itself is left on a very vague note, which may imply a second season.
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This review may contain spoilers
Easily One of the Best Asian LGBTQ+ Series of 2022
This one knocked my socks off for sure cause I expected nothing and came out so overwhelmed that I sat in silence for a good half hour mesmerized by what I just watched. I decided to go into this one straight out the gate, no reviews, no comments, I read a snippet of the synopsis but went in with a clear mind so that I can enjoy this series for what it would bring. And damn, did it come through. DNA Says Love You is not just a gem, it's a treasure chest full of them. It was everything I needed and more.Let's Dive In.
I call DNA Say Love You an Asian LGBTQ+ series instead of a BL (Which it still is but on a way more important scale) because instead of being entirely about two guys following in love, it covers topics that most series have zero guts to do. Being the only country with legalized same-sex marriage, maybe they're the only one with the courage to pursue such a story. Le and Yu He work at a local cafe where they've grown up their entire lives. Every day they are waiting on their childhood best friend, Wen-Wen to come back from studying abroad. However, a mysterious guy named Amber shows up and dives into their lives while also exploring the long-term gay relationship of Li and Gwan.
One thing that makes this series so mesmerizing and perfect, yet such a shocker when you come to the realization of it, is that Amber use to be Wen-Wen. I was not expecting it at all, but then when episode 4 came around, it hit me like a truck and I stayed up another 2-3 hours to finish the rest, I couldn't stop watching. It was so thrilling and interesting, and they handled it with the utmost delicate and tactical care. They were able to tell the story of a gay intersex/trans-male like nothing else I've ever seen. His story was so heartbreaking that it was hard not to want to reach through the screen and give him a hug. But he's strong enough to be his true self and go back to the place that made him feel that way. But what I appreciate the most is that Le's crush on Wen-Wen was different from his crush on Amber. We see him fall for Amber in every interaction between the two of them, and he even explains in the end he didn't fall in love with Wen-Wen, he fell in love with Amber. And I was a wreck after that. Their chemistry was off the fucking charts. I was getting butterflies by episode two. They were able to keep such endearing contact with one another, physically and emotionally, that it tears you apart inside. By the end, you're screaming with joy because they're happy and in love, and it's the sweetest thing you'll ever see.
I really enjoyed Li and Gwan's story. The only thing that's not believable is how fast Li gives up on their 4-year long relationship after a simple misunderstanding. He didn't give Gwan time to respond and instead runs away and gets everybody involved in finding him. Of course, a beautiful moment on the rocks at night, but with anything being a misunderstanding or miscommunication, it becomes annoying. However, they do touch on the topic of being open and communicative and most series tend to skip over it, so I will give them that. But overall, I enjoyed watching them. They were sweet and fun and domestic. Lin Wei Jie also is just a fascinating actor and I hope to see him again.
Yu He is a darling character. I loved her to death. I also love the fact that she didn't let her ignored feelings from Le overtake what she knew him and Amber had. Instead, she becomes a supportive best friend of both of them and I adore her for that. The only thing I would've liked to be a bit more clear was that Le and Yu He weren't siblings. It might've just been me, or maybe I wasn't paying great attention to that part, but I believed up until the last few episodes that they were brother and sister. She gave looks every now and then, but I thought she might've been curious about Amber. Also, it might be an honorific thing I didn't quite understand because she called his mom mom too. Either way, it wasn't too much of a bothersome, just a better clarification.
Everyone deserves a mom like Le's mom. He was so worried about disappointing her, but she came out supportive and bright and I was a mess for that one too.
Rating:
Story: 9.5 - I loved it so much. It was perfect to the T and kept me engaged the entire time. It never once fell off track or became filler, everything that we see was important to the plot and to the characters. it all moved steadily and I like that we see a lot of Amber and Le together and that they handled such an important topic with grace.
Acting; 9 - Everyone did a fantastic job. Erek (Amber) stood out the most, with Li's actor right behind. But everyone did amazing, even the kids.
Music - 8 - Went well with the scenes. I mostly noticed it during Li and Gwan's story, and it was good.
Rewatch value: 5 - as much as I loved this, with everything in me, I could probably never gain the nerves to watch it again. I was a mess, and a mess for a while while the sun started coming up.
I highly recommend this series. It has now become my favorite BL from Taiwan and I'm still debating if this is my number one of all BLs or if ATOTS still holds that position. if anything, this one will be on my top list for sure.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute/cheesy
This was a cute show. I some times like a good cheesy show to watch and I actually liked this one.Story- Some inconsistencies but it did flow smoothly for the most part. I was a bit disappointed that they did not show them working it out with Grandma. They left it off and let you assume it was all resolved. They never finished off his memory loss. I get he said it was not important but if that is the case why show him in the water with memories trying to come back and then his friends and GF try to have him in the water again and not a thing happens??? Made no sense. But that was really the end of the whole memory thing. Why even have it if you are not going to finish it?!?! Really I could pick a lot more apart. However I am not in the mood to do it because it really was a cute show aside from the inconsistencies in the storyline. I was pleased that the episodes were only about 35 minutes long. I watched about 90% of the show only skipping a few parts here and there.
Acting/Cast- I liked the cast. I felt they fit the roles they played. I know there was a few flaws here and there but it was not all that bad. I will be looking more for the ML/FL and future shows they star in. I liked them both.
Music- I liked the music I hope I can find it and add to my Amazon Asian playlist.
Rewatch? Ya I would. Each episode was short and it was a cheesy but cute show I will watch again when I need one. Lol
If you want cheesy but cute this is the show to watch.
Amazon Prime has it as of February 2021. Not sure for how long but that is were I watched it. Hope to see it on Viki🤷♀️ We will see.
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More than a Sitcom
Not your usual Kdrama Star Doctor Story (no spoiler)An internal medicine doctor who decides to open his own clinic in his 40s in order to get his family a comfortable life. The story involves Park’s daily life’s ups and downs and his desperation about how to survive as clinic isn’t much different from any other form of self employed business. The life which seems to be colourful, successful outside but carries a formidable weight beneath.
Cast & Acting - for me the best part of the drama was its casting. Well Ra mi-ran and Cha chung-hwa are quite known for their comedic presence but what surprised me was Lee seo-jin taking the lead. The reason i think i got to enjoy this drama more was majorly because of Lee seo-jin’s portrayal, not even single act felt awkward, specially the 4th episode is pure gold. He was exceptional as Park won-jang and i can’t imagine anyone else doing that role with such a grace. Other supports also fitted well with the story, every ensemble was picked really thoughtfully and i really commend the director for choosing such a quintessential ensemble.
Overall - Dr. Park’s clinic made headlines since it’s poster release and if someone who has read the webtoon and watched the kdrama they need to admit that the drama surpasses in terms of quality than former (as someone who read the webtoon along with drama). The webtoon writer is an ex-doctor and now a full time webtoon writer who basically wrote his own story, struggles, experiences that could resonate with other doctors in korea and that was probably the reason it was so famous among the medicos and later even got adapted as a drama. The drama brilliantly brings life out of the webtoon from episode 1 as it’s a sitcom some people might feel little awkward but when you reach episode 4 you start to develop fondness towards Park’s family, friends and colleges. They make you smile, laugh, sympathise and sometime even get you teary, specially the wholesome moments between family, friends and patients. Even though it’s an originally webtoon it showcased some of the serious issues faced by doctors in such a lighthearted way. The last 2-3 episodes whereas felt weak in comparison to initial episodes, those episodes could have been worked on more as for the plot otherwise they nicely wrapped the show with 12 episodes with a beautiful ending video. I might be biased but i would have been happier if they increased the number of episodes and included every part of webtoon like the backstory, it would have been much better but still no major complaints.
As someone who started this drama purely as an experiment not even knowing it’s a sitcom, it came as a surprise and was a wonderful journey of 12eps. Even though it’s a futile hope but i hope for a season2 from tving.
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For those who find and have concern for more meaningful, realistic and love between family I recommend you to watch this :) This drama definitely have all you're searching for.
To tell the truth actually I watch this drama because I start to like Lee Hee Joon after watching him in Jeonwoochi and Joo Yoon Hee after watching her in Nine.They're such a cute couple in this drama. Wish they date for real.Hihii :D
At first I like to watch their scene more than the main couple and eager to wait for their next scene to appear. But as the episodes goes, I love every character in this drama. All the actors did a very very good job in their acting and you can feel as they are family for real.Chemistry of every couple in this drama nomu nomu jangg! :D
Watch this! Trust me you would never regret using 58 hours of your time for Unexpected You :)
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