Reviews

DONT PROCRASTINATE AND JUST WATCH THIS

It is a slow burn, but when it burns, OH DAMN, IT'S EVERYTHING I don't even have words to describe how this series made me feel. It got me out of the Cdrama Slump after The First Frost. I never thought I would enjoy the chemistry between these two so much. Of course, there are plot holes, ofc some things don't make proper sense, but just let it go, especially if you have read the book, which I did halfway through the airing. I missed Lu Xi Xiao so much. At the end of the day, it's supposed to be about how love heals everything, so just let their childhood love heal something for you. I have to say, Zhou Wan in the last episode took my heart. I do swing for BAOBAO now, and I'm also falling deep down the rabbit hole for Zhou Keyu. This was a pleasure watching, ALSO HOW ARE BOTH ML AND FL SO FKING GORGEOUS AND CUTIES AND I LOVE THEIR SMILES <3 I have very rarely seen beautiful smiles on sculpted Chinese actors. These two can just win me over with their smiles tbh.

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Yay, grown-up men in a BL - unfortunately, the characters and kisses are not

Your typical Japanese non-plot, where characters silently suffer from being horrible at communicating. And life in general. There is barely a main plot, more of a slice-of-life story. And while I often enjoy those and while I wasn't bored per se, I also wasn't entertained or inspired by it.
The technical stuff like acting, cinematography, set design ... are all solid. Except when it comes to intimacy, were they give you dead fish kisses and a few seconds of the most uninspired humping action here and there.
All the side characters are nicely done! If only the main characters wouln't have been this lacking ...

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Slow, but Still Worth a Try

I was hesitant to watch this because of the reviews I had been reading here, but it honestly wasn't as bad as I expected. Compared to other series, the main issue for me was that the story felt a bit slow. I already had a strong hunch about who the president was, so I think they dragged out the reveal a little too much it wasn't confirmed until Episode 13.

As for the characters, Da Jung was easily my favorite. She felt genuine and sincere, and she was the kind of person you could trust not to betray you.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to viewers who get impatient with slow-paced stories. But if you're simply looking for something to watch and don't mind a gradual build-up, I'd still say it's worth giving a chance.

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An Epic Omegaverse Romance That Delivers

My most anticipated drama of 2026 has finally arrived, and it exceeded every expectation. As someone who absolutely loves the Chinese ABO Omegaverse genre and adored My Stubborn, this honestly feels like the best of both worlds coming together.

The biggest highlight is seeing Boat and Oat reunited once again. They proved in My Stubborn how incredible their chemistry is, and somehow they have taken it to another level here. Oat is perfect as Phatsa, while Boat completely owns the role of Nakhun. He has the commanding aura, the cold, distant personality, and every quality you would expect from a True Alpha. This is finally the proper Thai Omegaverse BL series I have been waiting years to see.

Without revealing too much, the story follows Phatsa, who lives an ordinary life until a chance encounter with Nakhun, a powerful and emotionally guarded Alpha, changes everything. Suddenly drawn into a hidden world of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, the two become bound by a fate neither of them expected. As their connection deepens, they must navigate trust, destiny, and the challenges that come with being fated mates.

M Flow Entertainment continues to prove why they are one of my favourite production companies. The production quality is excellent, the acting is fantastic, the fight choreography is surprisingly well done, and everyone looks stunning on screen. The soundtrack and background music fit every scene perfectly and make the emotional moments hit even harder.

What I love most is that this is not just another Omegaverse story. We finally have an Omega who can actually fight instead of constantly needing to be protected, which makes Phatsa such a refreshing protagonist. The Alpha, Beta, and Omega world building already feels immersive after only one episode, and I cannot wait to see how much deeper it becomes. I also love that the series explores the different roles within this universe instead of focusing only on the main couple.

One episode in and I am completely hooked. Thank goodness it airs on Tuesdays because I already know I am going to look forward to every single week over the next eleven weeks. I have a feeling this series is going to be an emotional roller coaster, and as Phatsa and Nakhun's bond continues to develop, the romance, passion, and intimate moments are only going to become even more intense.

If you love Omegaverse stories, fated mates, powerful Alpha and Omega dynamics, action, emotional romance, incredible chemistry, beautiful visuals, and M Flow Entertainment's signature intimate scenes, then Knot is absolutely a must watch.

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Honest, Quiet, & Thought-Provoking

It is truly difficult to encapsulate this story into a review. This is a bold and daring series for no other reason than it lets truth sit in the room without editorializing, without donning rose-colored glasses, and without apology.

This is one of those rare stories that shouldn't be billed as a BL (although it is one). In such a short runtime, the series was able to dive into multiple characters' lived experiences and worked hard to make you care about those experiences. I kept having to check the runtime because I was flabbergasted by the depth and breadth of story and perspectives they were able to pack in.

Brevity truly is the soul of wit and this series proves it.

Highly recommend if you want to walk around in other adults' shoes for a brief period of time and emerge not just empathetic- but seen.

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Somewhat Shiny

Overall, this was a cute series. Unfortunately, the execution tinted some of its shine. The script started off strong with a nice balance of comedy and drama, but lost this mixture along the way. It also developed a few weak aspects that I didn’t like and got annoying at times. The pacing was a little off and got a little draggy by the 5th episode. They should have use their screentime more wisely considering its an 8-episode series. I also wish they focused a little more on the second couple’s storyline. I didn’t mind Wannueng’s over exaggerated personality at first, but it got a little annoying in the middle of the series. Although sweet, the ending was a little lack luster. However, this had a very creative “accidental” kiss scene I’ve seen in a long time. The entire cast was great throughout the series. Kudos to them for trying to make this work. This also had nice cinematograph and music.

Random Note:

In closing, this is one of those series that I don’t regret watching. I just don’t see myself wanting to rewatch it.

I love seeing familiar locations during Thai series. Please don’t ask, I don’t know why.

The house used for Win and Wannueng is the same one used in “The Tuxedo” (Aiaoon’s house) series.

Win’s bedroom is the same one used in “Be Mine Superstar” (Punn’s bedroom) and “55:15 Never Too Late” (Jaya’s bedroom) series.

The Café briefly used in episode 3 and episode 5 is the same one used in the series “Baker Boys” (Café name was Sweet Day), “Enchanté” (Also called Sweet Day), “The Eclipse” (Name was Café for all), “Twins” (Didn’t have a name), “Wandee Goodday” (Also called Café for all), and “Love Design” special episodes (Didn’t have a name).

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The Great Idol Drama Detox

Post-2022 idol costume dramas have gradually convinced me that ancient China was inhabited almost exclusively by three types of people:

Perfect porcelain-faced aristocrats.
Individuals who fall deeply in love after approximately two meaningful glances and one accidental rescue.
Political masterminds whose greatest strategic weapon is refusing to explain anything until Episode 36.

The First Jasmine is still very much an idol drama. It simply declines all three invitations.

First of all...

The pores.

Ladies and gentlemen, the pores have returned.

I cannot believe one of my biggest compliments of 2026 is simply this:

The actors look like people.

Skin texture. Tiny imperfections. Faces that have apparently encountered weather instead of being digitally moisturized into another dimension. After years of idol dramas resembling luxury skincare campaigns with occasional palace conspiracies, this felt absurdly refreshing.

Even the muted colour grading deserves applause. The world finally feels lived in instead of permanently illuminated. Oddly enough, realism became the most luxurious production value of all.

That same philosophy extends to the writing.

Recent idol dramas sometimes confuse complicated plotting with complicated people. The First Jasmine remembers that the second one matters more. Characters make decisions shaped by trauma, loyalty, responsibility, and political reality rather than conveniently forgetting their intelligence whenever the plot needs another misunderstanding. Ye Li's psychological trauma and Mo Xiuyao's condition aren't decorative tragedies waiting to be healed by love. They fundamentally shape who these people are.

On paper, Ye Li should have triggered my internal "this is getting ridiculous" alarm. She never did. The difference is that The First Jasmine never mistakes competence for character. It doesn't ask us to admire an impossibly capable woman. It asks us to understand the cost of becoming one.

Did I believe everything the plot asked Ye Li to survive and accomplish? No. But I believed enough of the emotional logic behind her choices that she never felt artificial to me.

The drama never seemed particularly interested in impressing me with Ye Li's competence. Instead, it kept asking a much more uncomfortable question:

What kind of life produces a woman who needs this much self-control just to survive?

That question follows Ye Li through almost every scene, which is precisely why her restraint never felt like emotional emptiness to me. It felt learned.

Which brings me to the most divisive part of the drama: The romance.

If you're expecting explosive chemistry, endless longing stares, enough slow motion to qualify as a weather event, and romantic tension capable of overheating your screen...

...this probably isn't your drama.

Because this isn't really about falling in love. It's about learning to trust. Those are not the same thing.

Their relationship grows through reliability, mutual respect, shared burdens, and slowly earned trust. Watching two emotionally exhausted people become each other's safest place may not produce fireworks every episode. It does produce something rarer. A marriage that actually feels earned.

Personally, I never found the chemistry lacking. Its idea of intimacy feels quietly old-fashioned in the best possible way. Trust matters more than butterflies. Reliability matters more than grand declarations.

Rather than constantly explaining every emotion or spelling out every revelation the moment it happens, it trusts subtext, quiet observations, and conversations that often reveal more than they explicitly say. The writing quietly trusts the audience to connect the dots instead of drawing the entire picture for them.

This is one of the rare dramas where conversations build relationships more often than kisses do.

Ironically, the very restraint that makes those relationships so believable also becomes the drama's biggest weakness.

The First Jasmine consistently chooses psychological continuity over immediate emotional gratification. Most of the time, I appreciated that decision. Occasionally, I wished it trusted emotion just a little more. Not because it takes its time, but because a few scenes remain longer than they need to after they've already said what they came to say.

More than once, I found myself admiring what a scene was trying to do rather than being swept away by it. I understood exactly what a character was feeling. I just didn't always feel it alongside them. That distinction ultimately keeps this from becoming truly exceptional.

The political storyline follows the same philosophy.
It rewards attention more than adrenaline.

Names matter.
Family histories matter.
Your attention span matters too.

I appreciated that.

Still, patience alone doesn't automatically create momentum. More than once I admired the architecture of the story while wishing the rooms felt a little more lived in.

Performance-wise Bai Lu won me over.

She understood that Ye Li's silence isn't the absence of emotion. It's how she has learned to survive. Trauma doesn't always announce itself through dramatic breakdowns. Sometimes it simply becomes the way a person speaks, hesitates and carries themselves.

Bai Lu never overplays that.

Neither does Cheng Lei.

The First Jasmine won't work for everyone.

It whispers where many dramas shout. It values emotional accumulation over emotional spectacle. Some viewers will call that boring. Others will call it refreshing.

I somehow landed comfortably between those two camps.

I never completely fell in love with this drama.
But I found myself appreciating almost every creative decision it made. In an era increasingly convinced that louder automatically means better, The First Jasmine quietly argues the opposite.

Real faces.
Believable motivations.
A marriage built on trust instead of spectacle.

It doesn't always reach the emotional heights it aims for. But it reminded me that the most refreshing thing this drama brought back wasn't the pores. It was people who behaved like people.

Best suited for viewers who enjoy psychologically grounded characters, mature relationships, restrained cinematography, and dramas that reward patience more than adrenaline.
Less suited for viewers looking for fast pacing, explosive chemistry, constant twists, or highly melodramatic romance.

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Not Your Typical Action-Fantasy Drama

Having seen too much of action fantasy drama with same plot and got bored ? So here there is something for you.

WU has a fresh storyline, it is freaking amazing that every episode gears up and turns out better than the before.

WU shows two strangers who completely trust eachother discovering themselves together and becoming a better version of themselves.

Niran's confident aura and his calming presence goes perfect with Pete's furious and reckless attitude still when Niran says 'come,' and he's already halfway there!

The Demon where he is agressive and as Pete were he is just a boy with his own pain and responsibility both was played incredibly well. P'Nani definitely deserves his awards for WU.

The rituals performed added so much depth and realism to the character and Sky portrayed Niran in such a way that he warm hug to the intense story also loved Niran's unpolished and real look.

P'Krist acting, I think no one could have done the role better than him. It was such a discomforting role to watch and he nailed his part, whoever styled the costume and makeup and hair did really a great job

If not SkyNani I definitely can't imagine how well WU could be delivered also the direction, cinematography, plot, ost everything is done great.

Don't limit WU into bromance or bl or friendship, SkyNani themselves are a genre!!😌

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I absolutely adored the plot twists and that beautiful ending!

I absolutely love this series! "She fell first, but he fell HARDER" is hands down my favorite romance trope, and I genuinely didn't see it coming since I haven't read the novel. The ending completely touched the deepest part of my heart. After all the emotional rollercoaster, I am so incredibly happy they finally got their well-deserved happy ending. Seeing them get married was the perfect closure!

Here are a few thoughts on the characters that stood out to me:
1. Wanwan's Mother: What a well-written character. She made me so furious at times, yet her gorgeous visuals made it impossible for me to truly hate her.
2. AXiao's Aunt: I love her so much! Thank you for showering Lu Xixiao with so much genuine love and affection. She is such an inspiration, and I aspire to be like her in the future.
3. Nai-nai: May she rest in peace. Her storyline was so moving. 🕊️

If there is only one minor flaw or complaint I have, it's about "6". I really wish they made "6" suffer more for what he did because I absolutely despised that character!

Overall, this was a beautiful ride. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a touching youth romance with a great payoff. I really hope the main leads get to work together in another project in the future!

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A Drama That Turns Memories Into Forever

At first, it feels like a simple youth romance, but as the story unfolds, it becomes a beautiful reflection on love, growth, timing, and the memories that shape who we become.
What I loved most was how naturally the characters evolved. They weren't perfect, and that's exactly what made them feel real. They made mistakes, drifted apart, learned painful lessons, and slowly found themselves again. Their journey reminded me that sometimes love isn't about holding on at all costs—it's about growing into someone who knows how to love better.
The drama beautifully captures the bittersweet feeling of youth: the friendships that become family, the dreams that change with time, and the quiet moments that end up meaning the most. Every reunion carried the weight of the years that had passed, making each emotional scene feel earned rather than forced.
Visually, the warm summer atmosphere perfectly matched the story's nostalgic tone. The cinematography, soundtrack, and emotional performances came together to create a comforting yet heartbreaking experience. It felt less like watching a drama and more like revisiting a memory.
The title Never-Ending Summer couldn't be more fitting. Summer may come to an end, but the people we love, the memories we make, and the lessons we learn never truly leave us. They stay with us, quietly shaping the people we become.
This wasn't just a story about first love—it was a story about second chances, healing, and believing that some connections are worth waiting for. Even after the final episode, the emotions linger
I can't get more happy and sad as it has ended,i really wanna loose my memories to watch it again
I hope everyone discover this masterpiece bcoz it was not a normal drama also you will get to see so many plot , as a person who was watching it ongoing I feel jealous from the future fanssss

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Truly The Never Ending Summer

From the OST to the beautiful cinematics, I have truly loved watching this drama. I didn’t read the novel, so my review is based off the novel; but the storyline is beautiful. Yes, there were some moments where I was angered or confused by, especially with the unecessary drama. But I can bypass all of that because of these main actors astonishing chemistry. The way they work so well together is incredible. I didn’t even realized I have seen the ML in other dramas until I had to search him up. This story will put you on an emotional rollercoaster, but if you are down to watch it, Id highly recommend. Some parts I was confused on why the ML was the one who had to court her after she left him. But the ending was not what I expected from her beautiful proposal. This has truly made my summer feel never ending!

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All a bit wooden!!

First episode was just blah, too many dramatic pauses when nothing dramatic happening. Pale faced and super shiny actors. Hairstyles are ridiculous and the baggy clothes looked stolen from thier dad's. Actually just use marionettes, they just as wooden so far and can get a lovely shine with an electic polisher. Story has more holes in it than a mess screen. Gay for pay is unconvincing, why not use gay actors? Seen better production on a primary school play! At least kids put some effort in.
I had high hopes for this drama but will see if it gets any better.
Thai drama has 2 sides now; sickly sweet ott childish garbage or soft porn with plots straight out of the 80's (soundtrack sounds like it too) next time will one be coming to fix his washing machine?
Please let Thai actors grow up and act in parts suitable for their age. (Don't get me started on the one hit wonders, BounPrem and BossNoeul pantomime shows. were they a joke? Or a bet?)
Actually I will give it a point for the pink milkshake reference.
Back I go to reading the books instead of having to watch this mess.

PLEASE GET BETTER, I WILL BEG!!!

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