Reviews

Great Chemistry, Gorgeous Leads, But a Story That Needed More

When GMMTV introduced the pilot teaser for You Maniac at GMMTV2026: MAGIC VIBES MAXIMIZED, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it. I didn't dislike the concept, but I wasn't convinced it was the right follow-up project for William and Est after ThamePo: Heart That Skips a Beat. That series was such a strong introduction to their pairing, and even their supporting appearances in Me and Thee were enjoyable. Nevertheless, I was genuinely pleased that they had another series together.

The premise initially caught my attention. Dean (William Jakrapatr Kaewpanpong) is a charming, fashionable playboy who enjoys flirting and avoids serious commitments. His friend Ten (Barcode Tinnasit Isarapongporn) asks him to help pursue Pun (Kin Thanachai Sakchaicharoenkul), who happens to have feelings for Moth (Est Supha Sangaworawong), an unconventional and emotionally guarded artist. Dean decides to win Moth over to help Ten's romantic ambitions, only to discover that Moth isn't particularly impressed by his usual charm.

What begins as a favour gradually becomes a personal challenge, eventually developing into a casual arrangement between Dean and Moth. They can flirt, spend time together and enjoy each other's company, provided neither develops genuine feelings. Naturally, maintaining that arrangement proves easier said than done.

The first two episodes got me excited, and I thought the series had plenty of room to develop an entertaining romantic storyline. However, my enthusiasm gradually became lukewarm. I stopped looking forward to the weekly episodes and eventually started saving them up to watch later. It wasn't that I disliked the characters or the premise; I simply wasn't feeling the same excitement as the story progressed.

The biggest issue for me was the pacing and lack of consistent narrative progression. There were moments when the series felt repetitive, with Dean and Moth constantly flirting, spending time together, getting intimate, arguing and making up without enough meaningful developments to move their relationship forward. The premise was interesting, but the execution didn't always give it the substance it needed. I occasionally found myself wondering where the actual story was going.

I can understand why some viewers found the series boring or struggled to remain invested. The initial setup promises a playful romantic battle between two very different personalities, but the narrative sometimes settles into a repetitive cycle. There is potential for more interesting character development, emotional conflict and relationship exploration, yet not all of it is fully realised. I wanted to see the relationship evolve beyond the attraction and casual arrangement, particularly the gradual transition towards genuine emotional commitment.

I also understand the criticism surrounding the overwhelmingly positive early ratings. Just because a favourite pairing returns in a new series doesn't automatically make that series a masterpiece. I absolutely love William and Est together, and ThamePo earned a 10/10 from me, but I don't believe that affection should prevent us from evaluating their individual projects objectively. You can support the actors and still be critical of the material they're given. My appreciation for the pairing shouldn't automatically determine my assessment of the writing.

That said, the performances are among the series' strongest elements. William and Est both deliver good performances, with Est particularly standing out for me as Moth. He does a lovely job portraying someone who is independent, emotionally guarded and occasionally difficult to read. William also brings the confidence and playful charm required for Dean, while allowing glimpses of the vulnerability beneath his carefree personality. And, of course, they both look incredibly handsome here.

Their chemistry is probably the series' biggest selling point. DeanMoth have that rare connection that makes you want to keep watching whenever they're together. Their interactions feel natural, unpredictable and nicely balanced. Whether they're teasing each other, flirting, arguing or sharing quieter moments, there's an undeniable spark between them. If chemistry alone could carry an entire series, You Maniac would have very little to worry about. They genuinely make their scenes special.

I also enjoyed Barcode and Kin as Ten and Dr Pun. Their relationship offers a different romantic dynamic from Dean and Moth, and I liked how sweet and uncomplicated they could be in comparison. They were a lovely supporting pairing and, at times, a refreshing change of pace. However, I wish they had received more screen time. Their storyline had potential, and I would have liked to see their relationship explored further rather than having them remain largely on the sidelines. While I understand why some viewers might find their romance a little uneventful, I appreciated the contrast they brought to the series.

Another aspect I genuinely enjoyed was the atmosphere. There's something about the overall presentation of You Maniac that kept drawing me back, even when the storytelling wasn't completely working for me. The production, cinematography, framing and music contribute to a distinctive viewing experience. The visual presentation feels thoughtfully put together, and certain scenes have a lovely atmosphere that makes them particularly memorable.

I also appreciated how human the characters felt. They're messy, complicated, impulsive and flawed, but they aren't necessarily bad people. They make mistakes, say things they don't mean, react emotionally and sometimes behave in ways they themselves might not fully understand. These imperfections make them feel more relatable. Even when their actions are frustrating, there's enough emotional depth in the performances to understand where they're coming from. The cast deserves credit for making these characters feel like people rather than simply relying on familiar romantic tropes.

The soundtrack is another highlight. Red Flag has become one of my personal favourites, and I've been listening to it and singing along far more often than I probably should. It's one of those songs that stays with you long after an episode ends.

On the other hand, I noticed a few technical inconsistencies during my viewing. There were scenes with missing subtitles, and the English translations on iQIYI and oneD weren't always the same. I also found the transition between the ending of Episode 9 and the beginning of Episode 10 somewhat disconnected. These issues are worth mentioning because they can affect the continuity and overall viewing experience.

As for the supposed red flags in the characters, I honestly didn't find anything particularly outrageous. Dean is undoubtedly promiscuous and can be an absolute jerk, while Moth comes across as cold, guarded and emotionally closed-off for reasons that become clearer as the story develops. They're flawed individuals, but I wouldn't necessarily describe either of them as the extreme red or black flags some viewers might expect. If I'm looking for particularly outrageous and unapologetic red-flag characters, Chinese BLs tend to deliver that kind of characterisation rather differently.

Ultimately, You Maniac is a mixed experience for me. I enjoyed the performances, particularly Est's portrayal of Moth, and I genuinely appreciate what William and Est bring to their characters. Their chemistry is excellent, the supporting cast is enjoyable, the atmosphere is appealing, the cinematography is lovely and the soundtrack is memorable. Unfortunately, the writing and pacing don't consistently match those strengths.

I wanted more from the story, especially the emotional payoff of watching two people who initially refuse to commit gradually realise that they're genuinely in love. I wanted to see more meaningful developments, more depth in their relationship and that satisfying moment when all the flirting, uncertainty and emotional resistance finally lead somewhere. The series had the ingredients for a much more rewarding romance, but I don't think it always made the most of them.

I'm still glad I watched it, and I would happily welcome another William-Est project. They're a pairing with wonderful chemistry and plenty of potential. I just hope their next series gives them a stronger, more compelling story that allows their performances to shine even brighter.

You Maniac isn't a bad series, but it isn't an entirely successful one either. Loving the couple is one thing; falling in love with the story is another.

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A great and very comfortable drama to watch. The pace is calm and the main couple's relationship is healthy, so there are no major dramas or plot twists here to keep you on the edge of your seat. Even so, the main couple's relationship made this a truly great drama for me.

So let me start with the main couple, Qiao Jing Jing & Yu Tu. Honestly, everything about them was great for me. Starting with the second-chance trope, which I won't hide that I like, through to the storyline where he teaches her the game, which I really enjoyed. From the very beginning I liked their healthy dynamic. His rejecting her again also made sense in terms of the plot. A definite plus was that we got to watch his emotions in that moment, and how he slowly realizes that he misses her more and more and that his rejection, "because he can't give her something," makes no sense. Another plus was that she didn't throw herself into his arms right away when he came back, and he had to put in at least a bit of effort :D. Then we get the start of the relationship, which stays very sweet and healthy to the end. We didn't get pointless arguments, but two adults who truly loved each other deeply, supported each other in everything, were there for each other and took care of each other. It was a joy to watch them with a smile on my face. They had great on-screen chemistry, including great kisses :D. I also liked the light teasing they kept up, as well as the bragging and the suggestive remarks.

I also loved them separately as characters from beginning to end. He seems slightly distant and reserved, but with her we got to see his other side, which wasn't shy at all :D. She was maybe an even better character, though it's hard for me to decide. I loved her openness, her sassiness and her confidence.

Now I'll move on to the professional storylines. I'll start with Qiao Jing Jing. It's hard to deny that acting was portrayed mostly positively here. The negative aspects that exist in reality were mostly absent (for example, the very fact that an actress is in a relationship isn't something "forbidden" here). I wouldn't treat that as a flaw, since this drama is meant to be calm. However, it did show how busy such a person is and that she's away from home for long stretches. Between the lines we also got those exaggerated diets. And I'll move on to Yu Tu's professional storyline. Honestly, I don't know anything about space, but I was really drawn in by the storyline about space scientists. They may well have been feeding me the biggest nonsense with no connection to reality (I wouldn't have noticed it was nonsense :D), but never mind, because I really liked that storyline. And in this case the downsides of the profession affected me more. After watching, I truly respect all the women who are in relationships with such scientists, because the amount of time they spend away from home at work is a terrifying prospect to me.

Staying with the scientists, I'll also mention the character Guan Zai. I was mildly sorry that after recovering he didn't continue working with Yu Tu. On the other hand, his choice was very human and showed what scientists face. His family situation, in general, illustrated this best for me, so a part of me is glad that he's spending more time with his wife and son.

I'd also like to single out Jing Jing's assistant, Xiao Zhu. She was a very positive character, and somehow she made me smile whenever she was on screen.

Honestly, I love nitpicking and hunting for any flaws. Here there were practically none. The only thing I can nitpick is that the supporting characters got a bit lost along the way. I'm most sorry about Zhai Liang "Panicky." I loved him, he made me laugh many times, and at some point he disappeared and never showed up again. It's even stranger in the case of Pei Pei. She was set up as Jing Jing's best friend, and at the beginning they talked on the phone a lot, but later she vanished completely, which doesn't fit with the beginning. Jing Jing used her to get information about Yu Tu, and once she "got" him, she dropped her, how unkind :D But on a more serious note, it's a slight flaw. But since my attention was focused on the main couple, who were wonderful, these supporting characters somehow didn't bother me too much.

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Two Unusual People, an Ordinary Kind of Love

You Maniac begins with two rather unusual characters, but what stayed with me by the end was how ordinary they became once they fell in love. They worry about separation, imagine being replaced, and struggle to say what they really want. For all their quirks, their feelings are very human.

The relationship between Moss and Dean becomes especially meaningful when Moss stays beside Dean through his father’s death. Their connection grows into something neither can easily do without. Then an opportunity to study in America forces them to consider how love fits into the futures they want.

I appreciated Moss being honest about wanting to go. Loving Dean does not make his ambitions disappear. Dean tells him to take the opportunity, but supporting someone’s dream is easier to say than to endure. He withdraws, afraid of becoming an obstacle and equally afraid that Moss will find someone else. He wants to let him go, yet desperately wants to see him. So much for being the expert in romance!

The finale also offers a lovely contrast between the two couples. Pan and Ten have the comfortable closeness of husbands who have been together for years, while Moss and Dean still have a more restless energy. They are happy, but they have not suddenly become an entirely settled couple.

What made the ending satisfying for me was that wherever Dean is has become the place Moss returns to. That gives their relationship a warmth beyond the initial attraction.

William and Est’s playful chemistry was another pleasure. There is something reassuring about William when the two are being silly together, and I enjoyed that ease between them.

I started with a story about two peculiar people and finished with two people who simply wanted to be together. Their romance may have become more familiar along the way, but that sense of finding a home in another person left me smiling.

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"I can no longer pretend not to see what's in front of me"

Retribution starring Yakusho Koji wasn’t terrifying but it was unnerving. If you’re looking for jump scares and horrifying ghosts and creatures, this isn’t it. The retribution felt more like rage aimed at society rather than anything targeting a group of trespassers or individuals.

Detective Yoshioka is assigned to the murder of a woman in a red dress who was drown in a puddle of salt water. Small clues point to him, but no one, not even he believes it. Other murders occur with similar modes of death leading the police to consider a serial killer is on the loose. Yoshioka is visited by a ghost in a red dress prompting him to visit the police psychologist. The psychologist tells him that ghosts in dreams are revealing a truth the individual knows but doesn’t want to face. Yoshioka vacillates between wanting to run away or digging deeper to discover the truth behind the murders and the lady in red.

This film felt very enigmatic and atmospheric to me. Perhaps a deeper cultural understanding of Tokyo’s real estate development and destruction might have clued me in more. Much was made of an area where Yoshioka lived that was in flux between demolition and development. Important things and people were abandoned and left to deteriorate. Forgotten, crumbling in plain sight, though rarely seen. Earthquakes symbolized deadly transitions.

There were times the viewer was let in close to Yoshioka and his own deteriorating state. Other times I felt like a specter floating on the ceiling. The police department appeared to be a giant poorly lit warehouse with dark corners, often shot from above. Murder scenes occurred in reclaimed regions resembling bombed out buildings. The psychologist’s office might as well have been a haunted building for all the warmth and comfort it offered. It’s never a good sign when your mental health is so disturbing the psychologist closes your case and boots you out. Was Yoshioka mad or was he truly being haunted? Threads with the intrinsic substance of a whisper bound the suspects together.

Retribution had no gore and no ghoulish phantoms. Aside from her tornado siren shriek, the lady in red wasn’t that spooky. The truth she hid and perhaps perpetrated was the most sinister element to her. Yakusho Koji once again gave a stellar performance, one that kept the audience engaged yet at a distance and guessing, as his guilt and fate had to be uncovered like a stain on the wall.

31 October 2026

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A Good Bad Film

This is one of those films that is difficult to rate because it falls into a weird category: the good bad film. Some films that are bad by conventional standards nevertheless manage to be aesthetically pleasing, maybe because the filmmaker’s passion, or vision, or drive, comes through in spite of things like poor production values and narrative gaps. Western examples include cult classics like Ed Wood’s “Plan Nine From Outer Space.” “The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch” has better production values than “Plan Nine” but still, by 1968 standards, is a bit sub par, with rubbery snakes that aren’t very frightening at all and some unconvincing special effects which still manage to convey a fun kind of wackiness, especially in some of the dream sequences which involve snakes, swords, and lots of swirling vortexes. It has heart, and that heart helps explain why it has a cult following. The story is focused on a young girl who has been raised in a religious orphanage but is finally reunited with her family once they figured out that she had been switched as a baby with another infant. What happened to the other infant, and how that relates to the girl, forms a central element in the plot. Don’t expect to really be frightened, but do expect a good time.

One interesting fact is that a bit part, that of the taxi driver, is played by Umezu Kazuo who was a famous manga artist and who also wrote the short stories that inspired the film.

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Bleak but very human

I am pretty new to iQiyi’s Light On / Suspense Theater series (the only other one I’ve watched is Born with Luck), so this might read differently if you’re a long-time fan and know what to expect going in. I’m guessing they all have this sort of gritty realistic feel. There are no dashing heroes or beautiful tales here, just an unglamorized view of the seedy underbelly of society.

Set in a cold and bleak industrial wasteland of a town, the characters of this show- criminals, thugs, police, civilians- are struggling to survive through honest and dishonest means. Yu Hong Stadium, for which the show is named, is a central location around which many events unfold. There is some mystery in what actually happened with the murders, though you kind of know who is involved in a bad way. But the show isn’t about solving the cases so much as it is about the people involved and their stories.

The show follows perps and likely perps around as protagonists, humanizing them and making you empathize with them. The characters do bad things, but I also felt sorry for them and could see that they have limited options. Liu Yang is probably the main one, and be prepared for a proper antihero- not the kind who does some wrong things but ultimately redeems himself, but an actual dark character who makes you worry more and more as the show goes on.

Splashes of dark humor notwithstanding, the show was overall a little too stressful and depressing for me. The description promises “warmth” and “flickers of hope”, but I didn’t really see it. The only subplot that kind of qualifies is the cop and her ad hoc family, but it’s not shown that much. I got a few such flickers here and there seeing characters act very real- eg when Hao Jie, who we all feel sorry for, yells at her ill mother (not very nice), or Chen Hong flips between being disrespectfully domineering and wishing she also has somebody who cares about her. It’s just very real, and made me think about how complicated people are. Nobody’s perfect, and somebody who does things you disagree with or even dislike can also still be somebody you empathize with and understand.

But still, at the end of the day, my main emotion was anxiety. I was worried for practically the entire show and didn’t know how I wanted things to turn out. I was so stressed that I actually flipped to the end to spoil it for myself (I have never done this before). I didn’t even like the ending, but I still decided to finish the show anyways, hoping the last third of it would give me closure. Which it did, actually. And maybe because I was already mentally prepared by then, but I thought the way it wraps up is quite well done.

The acting is, I thought, exceptionally good. I was impressed by almost everyone. I also like how they are styled to look more real than just pretty (eg chapped lips, obvious makeup only on characters who’d wear it, etc). The setting, although bleak, has plenty of detail that sets a real atmosphere. And I really like the music- this clearly isn’t a high-budget production with a huge OST, but that one song is played at all the right moments for emotional impact, earning it a spot on my playlist. The BGMs, which include remixes of famous classical pieces plus other pieces played with identifiable orchestral instruments, also do a really good job setting the atmosphere.

Overall, I think this is objectively a good show. The story, when I look back, is bleak but full of meaning. Execution, logic, writing, are all good. But it was too stressful for me... from the descriptions for other Light On shows, I suspect that focusing enough on criminals to humanize and make me care about them is not unusual for this series. But it gives me so much anxiety, I hesitate to watch more of them. I was going to give this a 7 or so, because it is a good show but I just can't say I enjoyed watching it. But then the ending left me with some feels so I knocked it up to 8.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





I don’t know what qualifies as a happy ending for a show like this, but I will say this: by the time Liu Yang is caught, I was convinced that he reaped what he sowed. All his earlier murders I could kind of understand and feel sorry for (if nothing else, justice for the forest animals!), but that last one was really uncalled for and unforgiveable.

It is kind of fitting that he is caught by his sister. The people who are left at the end- his sister and her little family, Hao Jie, Chen Hong to some extent- mostly turn out ok and it is implied that they move on with their lives.

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Speed watching the last episode to see how the sadistic writer decided to end it

I only watch kdramas after all episodes air. I check for happy endjngs. If I want sufferring I can watch the news and my life around me. These dramas are exscapism for me. But i happened to see the actors and sped watched some 2 episodes or so. 12, 1 3.. It was all crying scenes and emotional rollercoaster.
The gist of it seems to be after 10yr relationship the FL is not feeling butterflies. Lol! News flash (b*tch you have to work at the relationship, what starts as butterflies turns in to mature love as time goes by, and one has to work at it to keeping the spark. I 'm going to speed watch the last episode out of curiosity to see how this sadistic writer decide to end it. I'm no masochist!
I would like to congratulate the actors . They are suoerb in their acting. This is rot due to the writer and only the writer .

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Even though there's 50 episodes, you'll be left with wanting more once you're done

As I said in my title, you'll seriously want more than 50 episodes because of how amazing this show is. I've rewatched it over like 5000 times and it just never gets old! When you watch, you'll truly feel immersed, as if you're part of this show. Due to it having 50 episodes, it doesn't feel rushed at all, and the plot twists here will get you. The Untamed shows how even someone who's treated as a villain can be good, but most people don't realize that. Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan's bond goes beyond romance and beyond friendships, they are treated and shown as lifelong partners who will stick by each other's side no matter what happens. You can really start to notice this once almost everyone turns on Wei Wuxian and starts hating on him, in which the only person by his side in the end is Lan Zhan. When watching this show, you'll truly need to keep an eye out due to all the hidden meanings behind the actions of what the characters do, and the meaning behind what's being shown. An example of this can be after Wei Wuxian's death. After Wei Wuxian died all Lan Zhan wore was white instead of the blue and white clothes he used to wear. He only went back to wearing blue after he discovered that Wei Wuxian was back. The reason being was that he was mourning him, because in China (and in some other countries too), when you're mourning someone you wear white. I love this show so much and if you haven't watched it yet, you really should!

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The movie is not bad, but

Everything started well, except for the three points of text (dialogue) and the slow plot. The alien characters lack accuracy and realism; the script was poor and performance was sluggish. It would have been a great movie if Hollywood had produced it. Let's agree that Hollywood excels at creating fantasy movies about aliens or monsters in general. So, if Korea wants to succeed in the world of space and fictional creatures, they need to spend a much higher budget to achieve high levels of accuracy and realism in this aspect of their films. I gave the story an 8/10 despite its repetition. But I liked seeing Korean actors in such movies.

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I'm crazy, you're crazy, we're all crazy.

Another hit from our boys William and Est.
Two insane, in different ways, red flags who try to not catch feelings and ultimately catch feelings.
The way Dean and Moth played tag (and with my goddamn emotions) the entire series had me wanting to pull my hair out and scream, but in the best way possible. Like just fall in love already, or at least realize that's what's already happened.
You will want to smack Dean and shake Moth by the collar from ep 1 to 10.
Barcode and Kin was a nice little treat, love seeing Barcode back on the screen with a new partner.
William and Est have fantastic chemistry and are fantastic actors, can't wait to see what their next series will be~

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Once you watch, you'll know why I rated this series a 10

After School Doctor is by far one of my favorite shows of all time. It truly is super underrated, and I believe that everyone should watch After School Doctor at least once in their lives. The story is about Dr. Makino helping the sick children at the school he currently works at due to his boss thinking he isn't capable enough to continue working in the hospital. I started watching this show when it was still airing and omg, I would wait every single week for an episode to drop because I just loved this show. Every new episode showcases a different problem and once you're done watching you'll truly feel as if you've learned something new. This show brings many problems up and shows that even if someone doesn't look like they're struggling, they just might be. I absolutely love how Dr. Makino took all of the student's problems seriously and didn't push anything he heard aside even if the other adults around him didn't think as if it was serious. One episode that really sheds a light to this is episode one. In episode one, Yuki Nozaki is dealing with an issue of falling asleep all the time even when she's not tired. Examples are when her friends are talking to her, during class, and much more. Everyone around Yuki is telling her to stay awake and sleep earlier, with her friends talking about how they don't want to hang out with her anyone because she keeps on sleeping. Since there is a new school nurse, Yuki decides to go and see what's happening with her. When Dr. Makino sees her, he realizes that she has narcolepsy, a neurological disorder that affects your brain's ability when it comes to sleeping. This is just one of the many reasons why After School Doctor is an amazing show, if what I said interests you, please check it out!

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