Reviews

More than meets the eye. Success can come from small places.

Overall this show is good and a step up above most C-Drama's I've seen. I really like how easy the story is to pick up on because it isn't too intense. This show so far is handling it's comedy/relationships very well. I've seen only a handful of episodes but I didn't see a review and figured that I'll share the main points that could help recommend this to others.

The main female lead is very likable as she's ambitious and a hard worker. She also has this adorable quirk of pushing her glasses up on her nose. The main male lead is played by Kenny Lin and he does an amazing job at balancing arrogance with charm peaking through. He is perfect for the personality he is portraying and looks very good in a suit. I can't wait to see the dynamic between the two leads be more fleshed out. This show is perfect for an easy lighthearted watch without forced fluff and romance.

Now finishing up the show I am truly impressed. The writing of the female lead was done so well, Ning Meng is very strong and never once had been swayed by her feelings. She is loyal to her family and has really good morals, watching episode 29 hearing Ji Ming compliment her personality really made me happy. She is recognized by him and always was, and although there isn’t too much romance, I really find it fresh. A lot of C Dramas have coincidences for characters to be together, they get together early on and a lot of unrealistical and annoying antics occur between them. In Master of My Own it focuses on Ning Meng’s work and her growth in her career. Ji Meng is cold, but he warms up with Ning Meng by the familiarity they have with each other. I really like this story when comparing to other C Dramas, the females are much more powerful and aren’t just objects to be married too. A lot of dramas don’t blatantly say that, but there is a lot of focus on a women to get married and then her husband leading her. Ning Meng is mature and is never openly pursuing a relationship, she really is a great role model. She’s not too serious and isn’t one dimensional.

I really thought this drama was going to have her lose the glasses and put her hair down and then turn into a romantic comedy. But it didn’t, instead she made the move for herself and wasn’t seen any better than she was before or “prettier”. She just looked different but was never once perceived as ugly just for having glasses. Also as rude as Ji Meng could be, he put up a front as the bead of what once was his dads company. But he always wishes Ning Meng the best and realizes his faults while helping her out in small ways. I love his character the most if it wasn’t for how amazing Ning Meng’s is. And together they are even better.

The thing that I have criticisms over are the other side characters being forgettable, luckily they weren’t focused on too much so it wasn’t an issue. Ms. Shi is the expedition, she is a CEO of her own company and gives Ning Meng a chance. There’s a lot to say for this drama, I am just so glad how they handled its story. It was never hatred from Ning Meng for her to become successful, and she never looked down on from where she started. Ji Meng developed nicely as a character as well and also a person. Another criticism is writing off the second male lead the way they did, where he would just become creepy or unlikeable for the sake of him not being a contender. They didn’t have to make him be a jerk like that because he really never was a contender in my eyes to begin with.

To sum it up: the whole success story is done really well. There isn’t any cliches to put the female lead into, and she is by far the best written female lead in a story like this that I’ve seen. A smart and capable women who truly doesn’t depend on a man, although even so she’s not 100% cold and one sided towards them. The male lead compliments her and they naturally develops a relationship from what they have. This drama is just really soothing to watch, and I recommend it over Love is Sweet any day. This story does office romance so much better and is natural and not too cringe to watch. It’s a perfect balance of everything.

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So I literally binged watch this drama, and I'm so ever grateful to Neko Meow Meow for subbing this. Anyways, I picked up this drama because I literally had nothing to watch and I was waiting for my other dramas to be subbed & I'm glad I did that. Even though it is your typical "revenge; going to get back what belongs to me" type of drama it still has its own cool to it. If you are up for some really cheeky, fluffy stuff then this is for you, the cute stuff isn't overly cringe so you can still watch it.

Story:
Basically the pra'ek comes back from america to take back what he owns and meets nang ek and fall in love. What I love about it is that the nang ek isn't those weak female leads and she fights back and doesn't let the guy bully her. She stands up for herself and she later on stands up for the guy knowing that he is actually nice and not mean. The only thing I will say is that I felt like the ending was a bit rush but with already 14 episodes, it is a normal episodes ending for a thai drama, so no biggie like everything was already falling into places. Oh, and like the guy ends up having a brain tumor but after that one episode they never talk about it again so I feel like they should had cleared that up or unless they did but I wasn't paying attention. lmao.

Acting/Casting:
It was my first time watching the guy in a drama and I am happy with how he acted. Like I'm always scared to watch new actors/actress just in case they don't live up to the other actors but I mean you can't just judge them , like they are trying to build up their career. I've seen the girl act in other dramas so I have nothing to say. Their chemistry was good. Their playfulness and cheekiness complimented each other really well through out the drama.

Music:
To be honest I wasn't really paying attention to the songs, but there was a song that like stuck to my mind.

Rewatch Value:
Maybe yes if I have nothing to watch, but I tend not too.

Overall:
Just watch it. haha

Where to Watch:
Make sure to always thank these subber's hard work to provide for us :)
Neko Meow Meow
https://nekomeowmeow.com/panrak/

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A underrated gem! Best kdrama of 2020!

UNDERRATED AND A GEM!! Okay I am gonna be honest, this was my favorite kdrama that came out in the crazy year of 2020. The story was original, beautiful and ahhhhh swoon worthy. I am a sucker for destiny and fate-like stories, and this one is one of my very top favorite kdramas. Kim Go Eun and Lee Min Ho are both two of my favorite actors! The characters Jeong Tae Eul and Lee Gon had amazing chemistry and growth as a couple. The two different worlds of Korea was so interesting and captivating, of course the queen kdrama writer Kim Eun Sook wrote this one so I knew it was going to be fantastic. Woo Do Hwan did a incredible job with his two characters, he is a wonderful actor and hilarious, his duality was amazing. I loved how this drama showcased a love story that had no confusing breakups or unnecessary drama. It always was right up to the main point of the story and the fight for Tae Eul and Lee Gon to be together. I laughed and cried and fell in love every episode in this drama! Visuals were stunning, OST was perfect, acting amazing, plot incredible! And of course I love happy endings SO please do yourself a favor and watch this amazing drama!

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got better as it went on

There are some solid reviews on the movie so I'll just add a few thoughts.

Overall: this got better and better as it went on with an ending that was extremely well done. In the beginning, I really struggled with the homophobic, self centered, jerk protagonist. But he actually has character growth which was great. I need a sequel to this movie. Somehow he gets reincarnated as an adult and they solve another mystery together (and also showing explicit romantic feelings would be a bonus)

BL? Bromance? I think they definitely loved each other, whether that was platonically or romantically is not clearly defined, I think it can be a bit up to the viewer's interpretation.

Content Warnings: death, grief, manipulation, violence, held against will

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Rare Short Drama Gem!

When I saw this in WeTV, with the title, I honestly thought it was a drama about rival gangs. lol. I didn't search or read anything about it before watching, so I was waiting for our gangster ML to grace the screen. I'm glad I gave this drama a shot, though. It was really beautifully made. I understand the sentiment that this should have been a mainstream drama with 40+ minutes per episode, but I think it's just right since it freed up time for less angst and unnecessary misunderstandings. It went straight to the point. I even purchased the express package so I can finish the last 2 episodes, since I already binged-watched it.

One thing that stood out for me was the business side of the drama. I understand CEO tropes have been overused, but this one actually worked by showing how our ML started from the bottom and worked his way up. It's realistic, too, since most young billionaires right now got big thanks to technology and have their own tech companies.

The villains in this drama are so well-made. I love how they had their own karma in the end. Shen Hao was the perfect example of a rotten, spoiled rich kid who had grown accustomed to getting whatever he wanted. On the ending part where he got crazy.. lol. It really looked like he lost his mind.

The side characters, especially the best friends and the grandfather, also stood out. I love how they were so supportive of our couple and helped them through. At first, I was disappointed, thinking how Shen Gu actually doesn't appreciate Fang Hong Sheng that much, but then the show tells us that he has been grateful to him all along.

Of course, our MAIN COUPLE! Dang, how pretty they both look on screen. Our FL looks a lot like Kim Ji Won, and it's amazing how you would really believe that she IS THE CEO with how she carries herself onscreen. It's rare to see a CEO husband and wife in dramas, and in this one, our FL is a working, smart, and sassy CEO wife. Their chemistry is amazing too! It looks like censorship isn't really too big with short dramas, so there are no curtains, mirrors, etc to block the kissy scenes on this one. I loved how smitten he is with her and how they help each other in life and in business.

The republican era was really well made, but tragic. I'm glad they made a past-future parallel scene at the end, showing a "What-if" moment in which they didn't die and republican Shen Gu actually received Lin Qu's letter about them getting married when she got back. They might not have gotten their happy ending in their past life, but thankfully, the present them did.

Short dramas are usually over the top with ridiculous plots, and as long as there is sizzling chemistry, who needs a story, right? But there are rare ones where the story, characters, and actors are done right, and this is definitely one of them. So go ahead and take time to watch! This is a rare gem of short dramas!

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Though the romance is not has intimate and spontanious as the usuall mike he, it is a very touching and a cute story. At times you want to just jump in and punch the characters in the face beacuse of lack of comuniction. I mean they are seriously stupid at times and it just pises you the fuck off. But in the end you are laughing at thier mistake and evey things good cuz they finally relized it. The plot is pretty straight forward not many twists but the acting is great you really fall inlove with the characters and it is so inpiering. BUT... im still pretty pissed at the lack of spontanious makeout scenes like in the devil beside you and love keeps going. At the end i was like dude WTF with a big smile on my face.haha but seriously, this is a very good drama and you should watch it you wont regret it.

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Exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey

C’est magnifique! Le Grande Maison Tokyo IMHO is indeed grand and fully deserving of 3 Michelin stars for the wonderful French cuisine featured and also a 10/10 rating for the entire production served.

Obana Natsuki is a French cuisine master chef who had always been obsessed with attaining the holy grail of his craft - the 3 stars awarded by the prestigious Michelin Guide. Unfortunately his quest for the ultimate crowning glory is bitterly cut short due to a disastrous diplomatic incident that not only upends his promising career as a celebrated chef de cuisine but also reduces him to a vilified persona non grata of both France and Japan. Fast forward 3 years later, he crosses paths with the vibrant Hayami Rinko, a talented French cuisine chef herself, who rekindles his passion for cooking and reignites his hopes of achieving the ultimate Michelin guide rating once more.

Grand Maison Tokyo is a TBS production that is directed by established directors Ayuko Tsukahara (Saiai, MIU 404), Daisuke Yamamuro (Tenno no Ryoriban, Ouroboros, Jin 1 & 2), and Takahiro Aoyama (Tengoku to Jigoku: Psychona Futari). Based on the original screenplay by one of my favourite Japanese screenwriters, Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Tokyo MER: Hashiru Kinkyuukyuumeishitsu, Unsung Cinderella: Byoin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen) with music score composed by Hideakira Kimura and the theme song RECIPE performed by Tatsuro Yamashita.

A collaboration with the international fashion magazine, Marie Claire, in which the fictional “Marie Claire dining” segment is mentioned throughout. Principal photography took place primarily in Tokyo and Paris. The 3-star restaurant L'ambroisie in Paris and the Japanese French cuisine restaurant, Quintessence (depicted as Gaku in the drama) are featured extensively. Incidentally the Japanese restaurant was awarded the prestigious 3-star rating upon completion of the drama’s airing in 2020. The dishes served by Grand Maison Tokyo were prepared by the 2-star INUA restaurant based in Tokyo, while the supervision for dessert preparation is provided by Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay, which was also used as a filming location for the buffet restaurant in the drama.

The drama won 5 awards at the 103rd Television Drama Academy Awards, namely for Best Picture, Best Actor (Takuya Kimura), Best Supporting Actor (Yuta Tamamori), Best Drama Song (Tatsuro Yamashita, RECIPE), and Best Director.

What I Loved

Everything, really. I was hooked from beginning till the end. This drama has the perfect blend of all the right ingredients to produce an outstanding production with more than sufficient action, thrills, suspense and poignant moments which I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of.

The premise of the drama is straightforward but the storytelling navigates an intriguing trajectory teeming with layers of sub-plots as well as twists and turns that seemingly never runs out of steam or ideas on how to move the story forward. And moving forward it does at nearly the speed of light with so much agency and urgency during the 11 episodes of its run. The viewing experience itself feels very much like a full course fine dining adventure. A compelling narrative that continuously grabs hold of the viewers’ attention while introducing a concept mostly unfamiliar to the uninitiated - the Michelin guide to the world of French cuisine - amidst the multitude of vividly intriguing character designs that permeate this production. One of the things I love about the characterization in this drama is that none of the so-called antagonists is an outright villain - they are simply morally grey characters with their own motivations and beliefs system operating in the highly competitive and unforgiving hospitality industry.

The technical proficiency of this drama shines through, as evidenced by the high production values and top quality execution. This is particularly true for aspects concerning production and set designs, food videography element of the cinematography, the realism of the content depiction pertaining to kitchen administration, food preparation, cooking techniques and restaurant management. Even linguistics hold prominence here with French being convincingly spoken in the drama by various characters. Likewise the music of this production induces the required atmospherics of the storytelling with an infusion of tasteful classical elements that matches perfectly the cuisine that is presented.

The main selling point of Grand Maison Tokyo, undoubtedly for me, is Kimura Takuya. The character-driven narrative suits this man’s profound ability beautifully and so it proves with his award-winning performance here. Kimutaku isn’t just portraying Obana Natsuki - He IS Obana Natsuki! The depth of the characterization complements the extensive range of the actor producing a masterclass in acting, of which I’ve had the privilege to witness…no, to experience, in this drama.

In Suzuki Kyoka, viewers have the pleasure of seeing a veteran actress that matches the excellence of Kimutaku to enhance the flavours of this drama even further. Having seen her in Okaeri Mone, she exudes similar vibes but there is a wider scope to her portrayal of the co-lead Hayami Rinko here. Her characters have a way of building an emotional connection with viewers and I find myself developing this connection from the very first minute of her appearance. What an inspiring and moving performance from this lady indeed.

Tamamori Yuta’s take on Hirako Shohei catches the eye due to the complexity of the characterization where he is allocated quite a significant portion of screen time. It’s worth mentioning that he is the central character in the spin-off drama, Gura Gura Maison Tokyo. I’m also intrigued by the performance of Onoe Kikunosuke V who plays Tango Manabu, the chef of the rival Gaku restaurant. Tominaga Ai as the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire dining, Linda Machiko Richard, dazzles the screen every time she appears.

Final Thoughts

The highest rating awarded by the Michelin guide is 3 stars, which means exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey. All things considered, watching Grand Maison Tokyo has been an extremely worthwhile experience personally and represents a special journey in and of itself. For that reason, I’m giving it the highest MDL rating that I believe it deserves. This drama is absolutely “Subarashii”!

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Checkmate Has Never Been This Romantic

I went into Key to the Phoenix Heart with only one expectation: I wanted to see Hou Ming Hao play a feared and intimidating warlord. Thankfully, the drama delivered exactly that and then some. What I didn't expect was to become invested in a story filled with political maneuvering, hidden identities, layered conspiracies, self discovery, and what has become one of my favorite love triangles in a Chinese costume drama.

Set in a kingdom where power changes hands as easily as loyalty, the story follows Xiao Wu Yi, the feared commander of the Beifu Army, and Xie Jia Yu, the clever and resourceful daughter of the Grand Tutor. Forced into a political marriage, they begin their relationship as strangers bound by circumstance rather than affection. Every interaction feels like a careful chess move, with trust being the rarest piece on the board. As the political schemes grow more complicated and long buried truths surface, what begins as an arrangement for survival slowly turns into a partnership built on mutual respect, unwavering trust, and genuine love.

The narrative starts at a brisk pace. The first few episodes throw a considerable amount of political information at the audience, and I will admit I nearly dozed off once or twice. Even so, everything was presented clearly enough that I never felt lost. For viewers who have watched several Chinese costume dramas, the politics are actually quite easy to follow. The drama does a good job of gradually connecting every scheme until the later revelations feel less like sudden twists and more like the final pieces of a carefully assembled puzzle.

Hou Ming Hao completely convinced me as Xiao Wu Yi. Despite being only around twenty three or twenty four years old in the story, Wu Yi carries himself with the confidence and maturity of someone who has spent his entire life on the battlefield. After his brother's accident, he becomes the heir of Prince Jing'an and shoulders responsibilities far heavier than his age suggests. Wu Yi is charismatic, intelligent, respectful, calm under pressure, and endlessly strategic. Watching him is like watching a seasoned chess player who is already three moves ahead before everyone else has even decided on their first. His loyalty to the people of Ye never wavers, even if it means allowing others to see him as the villain. Every time he appeared on screen, I had the feeling he already had another plan waiting in his sleeve.

His action scenes deserve special praise as well. I appreciated that the production did not constantly rely on camera tricks to hide the actor. Instead, it confidently showcased Hou Ming Hao performing many of the action sequences himself. It made Wu Yi look every bit as capable as the story claimed he was. Simply put, it was incredibly cool.

Ai Mi also made a memorable first impression as Xie Jia Yu. For her first leading role, I thought she performed remarkably well. Jia Yu is introduced as a determined, capable, and courageous young woman who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice. She possesses extraordinary talent in craftsmanship and dreams of traveling the world freely rather than remaining confined by expectations. Ai Mi fully committed to every emotional scene, whether it required quiet vulnerability or full blown ugly crying. I could genuinely see the effort she put into making Jia Yu feel sincere.

Li Mao turned out to be a much more interesting character than I initially expected. He longs for a better kingdom, but he is also someone who has spent most of his life being used as a pawn by others. Even in his relationship with Jia Yu, it often feels like he shapes himself into the version she wants rather than asking himself what he truly wants. While Wang Yi Lun's portrayal never made Li Mao particularly intimidating, I actually think that works in the character's favor. Instead of feeling like a terrifying mastermind, he comes across as someone suddenly handed power before he has fully grown into it. His insecurity makes him appear petty and even pathetic at times, but those qualities also fit the role he plays in the larger story.

The beginning of Wu Yi and Jia Yu's relationship was one of my favorite parts of the drama. While investigating the faulty crossbows responsible for the deaths of thirty thousand Beifu soldiers, Wu Yi's search leads him to Jia Yu, the mysterious Young Master of Miraculous Craft. Meanwhile, Jia Yu only knows Wu Yi through terrifying rumors and has personally heard him executing corrupt officials, leaving her convinced he is a ruthless monster. When Wu Yi unexpectedly requests her hand in marriage, she naturally tries to escape and reunite with Li Mao.

Their first real interaction aboard the ship was both exciting and charming. Jia Yu attempts to fight while closing her eyes, and Wu Yi effortlessly eliminates the threat standing right in front of her before she even realizes what happened. That moment somehow managed to be adorable and incredibly attractive at the same time. More importantly, it quietly marks the moment Wu Yi falls for her.

The love triangle itself deserves its own applause because it avoids nearly every frustrating trope I expected. When Wu Yi discovers that his best friend and his future wife are in love with each other, he never resorts to manipulation, jealousy, or sabotage. He respects Li Mao as his closest friend, and more importantly, he respects Jia Yu's right to choose her own future. That, to me, became the true foundation of their relationship.

One of my favorite aspects of Wu Yi's character is that he never treats Jia Yu like someone who needs controlling. He trusts her to make her own decisions, even when she makes mistakes. Instead of preventing her from acting, he simply stands beside her and helps clean up the consequences if things go wrong. Whenever others try to decide Jia Yu's future for her, whether it is Li Mao or even her own mother, Wu Yi consistently reminds them that she is fully capable of deciding for herself. Give me a man like this.

One of the drama's greatest strengths is that the romance never overshadows the political storyline. Instead, both elements strengthen one another. The love story gains emotional weight because of the political conflicts surrounding it, while the political conflicts become more meaningful because we understand what the characters are fighting for beyond the throne itself.

I also appreciated how Li Mao never became the stereotypical obsessive second male lead. His journey ultimately becomes one of self discovery rather than romantic defeat. While his feelings for Jia Yu were genuine, they were never the center of his identity. His true desire was always to build a better kingdom, and by the end, he finally learns to pursue his own convictions instead of constantly following someone else's expectations. His relationship with his sister also remained one of the emotional anchors of his character, reminding us who had truly stood beside him through every hardship.

Another detail I genuinely appreciated was how grounded the drama remained. People who fell off cliffs actually died. The story even showed their bodies instead of pretending they would magically return twenty episodes later. It is surprisingly refreshing how often this drama chose logic over convenience.

Before watching, I was honestly curious about how the production would handle the romance because of the discussions surrounding the age difference between Hou Ming Hao and Ai Mi. I deliberately kept my expectations low, and I ended up pleasantly surprised. The drama wisely avoids relying on conventional romantic scenes to sell their relationship. Instead, it builds intimacy through lingering glances, body language, conversations, and quiet moments together. There is only one forehead kiss, achieved through careful camera work, and even the more intimate hugging scenes never felt uncomfortable. The real source of the romance is Hou Ming Hao's eyes. His expressions constantly shift from curiosity to admiration, tenderness, happiness, and complete devotion without needing many words at all. His eyes genuinely tell their own story. Ai Mi complements that beautifully by portraying Jia Yu's innocent love and heartbreaking grief with sincerity. Together, they completely convinced me of their relationship.

The political storyline also finishes on a satisfying note. While some of the later conflicts became predictable, the execution still managed to surprise me. One particular large scale scheme involved so many moving parts, so much sacrifice, and such careful planning that I could only applaud the writers once everything came together. Seeing a Crown Prince willingly give up the throne for the greater good also added emotional weight to the conclusion.

Of course, the drama is not flawless. I wish the Phoenix Heart Token had received more meaningful development because its importance was mostly explained through dialogue rather than demonstrated through the story itself. Once its mystery was finally explored, everything wrapped up far too quickly and felt somewhat anticlimactic. Xiao Yao suddenly being able to walk into the battlefield also felt abrupt, and I would have loved more closure regarding the Xiao family's future after everything was over.

Visually, the drama is solid even if it is not particularly groundbreaking. The final battlefield, however, deserves recognition. It looked appropriately chaotic, dirty, and terrifying, creating the atmosphere a war sequence should have. I also appreciated how the use of caltrop fireballs naturally concealed background soldiers, preventing the awkward sight of motionless extras standing around during large scale battles. Although the visual quality during Wu Yi's confrontation with the Eagle King occasionally had that overly smooth AI appearance, it never diminished my overall enjoyment. The soundtrack also deserves praise. Every piece fits the emotional tone of its scene remarkably well and constantly enhances the viewing experience without becoming distracting.

[SPOILERS]

I normally dislike memory loss as a plot device, but surprisingly, I had no issue with it here. First, it only happens at the very end. Second, Wu Yi regains his memories relatively quickly. Most importantly, it actually makes sense within the story. The Miracle Doctor essentially performs what we would consider surgery, making Wu Yi's temporary memory loss feel like a believable consequence rather than a random obstacle. Watching him recover his memories upon seeing Jia Yu was deeply satisfying. His final line about how it was not a dream felt like the drama reassuring the audience that yes, they truly found each other again, and yes, they really did earn their happy ending.

[SPOILER ENDS]

Overall, Key to the Phoenix Heart exceeded every expectation I had. I came for Hou Ming Hao's warlord and stayed for a story that successfully balanced romance, politics, war, and personal growth. It features one of the healthiest love triangles I have seen in a long time, a romance that succeeds through emotional sincerity rather than excessive physical intimacy, and political storytelling that remains engaging without sacrificing its heart. Despite a few flaws, I finished this drama feeling thoroughly satisfied, and that is probably the highest compliment I can give.

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Masterpiece

My most favorite and comfort drama ❣
The iconic K-drama Full House!
This drama holds a very special place in my heart. No matter how many dramas I watch, I always come back to this one when I need comfort, laughter, and warmth.

Kyo and Rain’s chemistry is truly magical—they made Han Ji Eun and Lee Young Jae unforgettable. Their love-hate relationship, the endless bickering, the cute little moments, and the slow, emotional journey into love… it’s all just perfect.

Unlike many dramas where the main leads become boring once they fall in love, Full House stays consistently fun, chaotic, and sweet all the way through.

And the OST? Still stuck in my head after all these years!
Thank you, universe, for bringing Song Hye Kyo and Rain together in this timeless classic. They truly brought these characters to life in the best way possible. ❣

No matter how old it gets, Full House will always be my comfort drama🪄💌

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The drama started off great when they are at school...the initial comedic relief was great and I found myself laughing and enjoying myself...then they started to fast forward the characters' life 10 years and everything was still fine

the problem starts when they introduced new characters that you haven't been introduced yet and and left you confused on whether or not you've known that character during the short brief intro in their highschool lives.

But it was still fine when they decided to sprinkle the backstory of some of the new characters as the episodes progress...the only issue with this sort of approach is to have us the audience to keep up with the story with no connection to start with so either you get confused and disinterested on these characters or you decide to filter them out because they aren't relevant..

Some of these characters were used once and never again and for me, it's kinda a waste of time to introduce them as a prominent character (old friends/long lost mother/etc) but having no impact on the story whatsoever...If you change these said characters having no correlations with the main couples, you wouldn't even notice the difference. .

Honestly, the side couples had better story to tell than the main couple...their conflict could've stupidly be avoided if they told the truth from the start instead of hiding it for no reasons, but at least their objectives in their love life is relatable (one wants small happiness, the other aim for bigger long term happiness)

Regarding the main couple, I thought their confession to like each other could've done better than how it ended up...for me, there's quite a few times before that they could've confessed to each other which could've been better and more appropriate in terms of emotional impact but it didn't, so kinda rather disappointing

The villain here is a bit petty and kinda thuggish and not worth mentioning..they could've make him a bit better but they decided to make him weak and simple minded...so it doesn't make me wanna root for the main guy, but it made me wanna things to get done as soon as possible so i don't need to see how it ended up because it's already been decided by how weak the villain is

OST isn't anything unique, it was something you heard hundredth of times already

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Was it the director's fault or the actors

This show was okay. The main problem is the lack of chemistry between the leads. Honestly, if you are going to star in a BL and there are intimate scenes, the kisses really need to look real. If this show was made 10 years ago or longer then chemistry might have been acceptable, but with so many LGBTQ shows and movies out there where actors/actresses are not inhibited by kissing/intimate scenes and they understand their assignments when hired for the job, these lead actors in this show are sorely lacking in understanding their roles of being in love and it shows when it comes to their chemistry. I would rather there were no intimate/kiss scenes than the ones we got, cause it was super uncomfortable and a cringe to watch how uncomfortable they were with each other. Lips barely touching or clenched tight is a total turn off. GMMTV is like the Hallmark movie channel, where everything and everyone is sanitized to the point of being sexless with just a few exceptions. If you are going to have couples like this in series, then the story itself needs to be exceptional and I am sorry to say this story lost steam half way through and never recovered.

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review of bl episodes

overall:
this is a sweet mini-series and my only complaint is that i want to see more of the couples.

stepbrother's secret kiss:
this concept is... odd. if we were to ignore that, the boys are very cute and their story is sweet and simple.

secret idol kiss:
a couple bits felt a little unrealistic but i think that's to be expected with the premise. overall very good chemistry. this couple had the best kiss(es) in my opinion.

last kiss:
the title definitely hints at the mood for this episode. i found myself quite sad and unemotional in all honesty. this couple had the best plot in my opinion.

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