Reviews

This is not your typical BL. THIS IS Men's Love

I rarely grant a series a perfect score, yet this one earns it without hesitation.

At its core is Trin, a young and educated professor recently returned to Thailand after studying abroad. Set against the politically charged landscape of 1970s Thailand, his story is one of self-discovery; both in terms of sexuality and personal conviction. Determined to contribute to his country without resorting to violence, Trin strives to support the working class while navigating a society deeply divided between entrenched wealth and a rising generation demanding change.

The series captures this political tension with remarkable nuance, portraying the push and pull between power, privilege, and resistance. What elevates it further is its parallel exploration of love, particularly through its second couple: a military spokesperson and a young journalist who find themselves drawn together despite standing on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Their relationship is complicated as one man is married, the other engaged but it is precisely this complexity that grounds their romance in reality and lends it emotional weight.

This is not a conventional boys’ love drama. Instead, it belongs in the company of prestige television, a production that could easily stand alongside HBO’s finest. BoC Productions delivers once again with exceptional craftsmanship: striking cinematography, seamless editing, carefully curated music, and meticulous costuming. Each element contributes to a work that is not only visually compelling but narratively sophisticated.

It is a bold, uncompromising series that avoids sentimentality, choosing instead to weave politics, romance, and personal awakening into something extraordinary. Every moment feels intentional, every scene carries weight. Simply put, it is flawless. I recommend it without reservation.

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If you are here for Cheng Lei - you will enjoy it!

This was funny and cute, and touching and ridiculous all rolled into 40 minutes of light comedy. The idea of a modern woman getting into a dating game set in ancient times where she is to accomplish certain tasks as directed by the "viewers" while trying to become the Empress. Unfortunately, the Princess Royal poisons the FL with the promise of an antidote as soon as FL kills the Emperor, her brother. The best part is: the Emperor, NPC, is indestructible so even though they conspire to fool the princess royal they are hilariously trying to kill him many different ways, which is pretty fun to watch given their seriousness with such a silly premise, and in the process fall in love.
I enjoyed the FL as spunky and clever character (unfortunately she plays leads in really bad dramas, too bad because she is both very pretty and good in her role) and of course the at ease ML who can be at times sarcastic and at times shy like a little boy - adorable like he was as Jin'An in Shadow Love.
The chemistry is there and because of the length of the story this was really easy to watch.

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Interesting Story, Poor Execution

This had all the elements of an exciting Wuxia Drama.
A Martial Arts novel enthusiast and author, who transmigrates into a classic Martial Arts novel taking the role of the MC, with an AI System that guides his objectives. The backdrop is a mix of the original novel and his writing.

However the execution is so boring, i struggled to watch 10 episodes.
- With the plot, i expected MC after accepting his situation, to seek out martials arts training, growing from a zero to hero type as he navigates the story with some prior knowledge. Instead his stagnet skills subconciously just appear and they focus more on schemes, politics, righteousness, friendship, camaraderie. So utterly boring that it's puzzling.
- Lead Actor is very weak and dull in his delivery. I did not enjoy his most popular work either (Mysterious Lotus Casebook).
- Pacing is painfully slow, there is alot of scenes where it is just talking and self-reflection/introspection.
- The action is not bad, but too few and far between.

Maybe it gets better later, but it doesn't entice the viewer to watch more.
Unsatisfying and unfortunate for such an interesting concept.

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Battle of the wits!

It’s a CRIME it took me this long to watch this series. My first attempt only got me through the first episode, but I’m so glad I gave it another shot. After feeling underwhelmed by recent drama releases, this show was exactly what I needed. It’s quirky, funny, suspenseful, and full of surprises. The plot was engaging, and every character—no matter how big or small—felt authentic and well-developed.

Zhang Ruo Yun’s portrayal of Fan Xian was a standout. He excelled in playing a multi-dimensional character, delivering a natural yet rich performance that’s hard to match.

Highlights:

- The characters are the heart of the show. It’s rare to see so many well-written, fleshed-out characters, from the protagonist to the villain. Although JoL is a more male-centric show, the female characters were also stood out and I appreciated their depth. Standouts include the Qing Emperor (with unmatched charisma), Chen Ping Ping (a strategist with powerful stage presence), Uncle Wuzhu, Uncle Wuzhu (obviously), Wang Qi Nian, Ruo Ruo, Haitang Duo Duo, Second Prince...literally almost everyone haha. The acting and performance (especially with veteran actors) brought them all to life
- The chemistry and banter between the characters added so much charm. I loved the bond Fan Xian had with his family, friends and comrades.
- The plot was a rollercoaster of twists, turns, and clever moments. The pacing kept me engaged, and the strategic battles were like a satisfying game of chess, with one character always staying one step ahead.
- The show also offers meaningful life lessons. I was even touched by the subplots of the supporting characters.

Lows:
- The Beiqi arc dragged a bit, especially compared to the earlier episodes. The resolution of the villain’s story there felt a little too easy. But overall, it still had enjoyable moments.
- The romance, while not bad, felt unnecessary given the strength of the plot. I understand it’s part of Fan Xian’s life, but I found it the least compelling aspect of the show. Since romance isn't the focus of the story, it's a minor thing that didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment.

Would I recommend it? 100%, especially for fans of this genre who appreciate the finer details and intricate plots. It’s also a great pick for a rewatch. Here’s hoping Season 2 maintains the same high quality!

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I wasn't planning to watch this series b/c I felt some type of way about the bullying aspect. And a lot of teen/younger adult shows always seem to have that in them. However, I enjoyed the series mostly bc the cast is really good. The actors playing Su Ho and Sii Eun were absolutely fantastic. They played off each other very well! The bromance is top notch. The plot is intesting too and lot was being said about parental neglect and abuse as well.

Friendship at that age can be tough and navigating that is crucial. I only wished that Beom Seok's spiral had been fleshed out more than his perceived slight at Youngi being closer to Su Ho than he was. He had a ton on trauma b/c of his adopted family, especialy the father and being bullied at the prior school. He felt like he found his people and then felt slighted even though he had not been. I hate that the assemblyman got away with all of that.

I also, liked that certain things did not drag out like that loan shark/criminal nonsense. In another series we would have had to deal with that guy for 3 more eps!

Not sure if a 2nd season is needed but I will assume that the webtoon had additional pages and leave it at that.

9/16/25

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What a bunch of crap!

This review is more of a rant for how disappointing this story was. I kept watching hoping it would get better. But I finally skipped through much of the last two episodes cause I just wanted to be done with tragic story of a true definition of toxic love.

For me, I don’t believe someone has the right to ruin my life just because theirs is crap. That’s not friendship!! Friendship wants you to be happy, successful and all the good things life can offer. Miss me with the gaslighting and passive aggressive manipulation. No one owes you a good life . What a toxic relationship these girls had from the get go.

The most interesting part of the story could’ve been the brother’s . I had a sense that was his issue and so I give credit for the little bit this story revealed about his character .

All of these actors told this story well. They’re all fantastic in their craft! But the story for me was utter nonsense. I realize the cultural difference (I’m a self-full American🤣) when I watch these dramas. But really! “With friends like this, who needs enemies.”

I was truly looking forward to these actors in this drama. I would not watch this again and I would not recommend it to anyone. What a tremendous waste of my precious viewing time!

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Hazy plot and uninspired romance

I feel like this drama started off strong, but the romance was a bit uninspired. I just wasn't sold on the love story of the main characters, or even some side characters. I didn't feel a great connection between them. I don't know why, but maybe it's because of something with the main female lead. (The male lead's loving gaze was so sweet!) I understand she's not a particularly romantic person, but something about it just didn't enthrall me.

The great thing about this drama is how strong and intelligent the main female lead is. I found her character so refreshing! Against all odds, she still tried to stand tall. I think her character is what kept me watching.

However, after a certain number of episodes, the romance seemed pretty much fulfilled and I was wondering why the story even had to keep continuing on. It just got really political, and in a way I didn't enjoy. There were a lot of characters and it was hard to remember who was trying to scheme what, and everyone's facial hair and hairstyle was the same and there were multiple people with the same last name and it was difficult for me. Maybe someone with less face-blindness than me would enjoy the political aspect more, but I also felt like it was just dragging on.

Ultimately, I finished most of episode 31 and didn't feel compelled to complete the story. The parts I enjoyed here and there didn't outweigh the parts I didn't enjoy. It wasn't a memorable show.

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Any Romance?

the whole show was good but as a hopless romantic I thought there was some spark between the boss and the attorney even if they didn't date at the end. But I love the second lead couple (they were so cute and the proposal was so cute even if some might say it was rushed but I loved it) and I think there will be a season 2
I also really loved the reunion between the mother and her daughter, it was heartbreaking but very lovely.
I recommend people who love law (cuz they really put all the effort on the law facts and cases were amazing)and abit of romance...
..

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Intelligent main lead

I thought this was a solid drama, but there was a lot of people being very dramatic and crying and pretending/actually fainting. I also thought the main female lead was a bit too magnanimous at times. I didn't love how the relationship progressed at times. Overall, I enjoyed the drama and really enjoyed having an intelligent female lead. Not to spoil anything, but there were some times where something happening and I could see it a mile away, so it wasn't as impactful as it could have been. There was just too foreshadowing.

There was a lot of crying in this series. I think people cried at least 2x an episode and it did lessen the impact of sad scenes sometimes. I still binged the series in a week, but think it had areas of improvement. Overall, it was a pretty high production quality as well, so I enjoyed that.

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It had it's moments

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

So, I can safely say that there were some parts of this series that I totally enjoyed and some parts that I didn't (as well as some parts that just did not sit well with me). I would first like to say that I totally adore Jun Xi's parents. They are the best parents that I have seen for a long while in a Taiwan series. I am so grateful that they went that route for Jun Xi's parents and him with his sexuality. I also adore (even though it was not much shown but hinted at the end) the beginning of the cute relationship between Lin Xiao Yang and He You Mei.

The relationship between the main leads was cute, but it did leave me scratching my head sometimes, as we the viewers see the extent that Han Tuo went to so that no one would get close to Jun Xi and date him, as he had feelings for him. But if Jun Xi is able to get over that little red flag behaviour, who are we, the viewers, to complain about it?

Now, I felt that the flow of this series was actually okay, even up to a part in the last episode. But after that, with them basically trying to close up all loose ends (some that I didn't even know were loose as well), it felt a bit lost in transition, as these characters were not developed properly and just had me either meh or confused by it (like am I the only one who did not see that Han Tuo's boss liked him?! Because that was just so left field for me.

But, all in all, I did enjoy this series, and it did have its moments. I would recommend this to people who just want a quick series to watch.

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Epic

I honestly don’t even know where to begin with The Double. This drama had me so hooked that I finished all 40 episodes in just two days—without a wink of sleep 😩. That’s how engaging it was! The side characters absolutely held their own and did an amazing job 👌🏿👏🏿. But the main leads? Good lord 😳—they carried the entire drama on their shoulders. The chemistry, the emotions, the playful flirting, the wit… everything about their dynamic was perfection. They embodied their roles so well that I couldn’t look away. Now, all I want is to see them together again, whether in a costume drama or a modern one—I don’t even care. They’re just that amazing as a pair.

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Sooo Romantic!!❤️

This has to be one of the most romantic cdrama 😍❤️ I have watched in a long long time!

The chemistry between Ting Yan and Sima Jiao is amazing! And the kisses! WOW! Really nice sensual kisses and not the usual dead fish lip kisses!

This drama was a good one, with a nice ending, although the modern world ending was a bit rushed, atleast we SAW their faces in one frame and watched the scene unfold where they see each other again for 4th time. Not like another drama *cough LGIEF* where we never got to see their faces lol and just heard a random voice instead

I wish we got more screentime for the second leads as well, but nevermind. I'm happy with what we got.

Through all their lifetimes, their souls will find each other 😍😍 the Romance in the drama is the MVP!

Rewatch value: 8.5/10

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"See you after the victory!"

I often enjoy Ann Hui’s meditative style and Our Time Will Come was no exception. In this film her quiet introspection was focused on Hong Kong’s resistance movement in 1942 during the Japanese occupation.

Fong Lan (aka Fong Lam aka Fang Gu) lives with her mother. They have rented a room to a writer and his wife who have mentioned they will be moving out soon. What they don’t know is that Mao Dun (aka Mr. Shen) is working with the resistance to safely leave Hong Kong with other hunted intellectuals. Fong is called upon to help the Maos when their plans are disrupted. Blackie Lau (aka Liu Hei Zai) recruits her for their Urban Unit afterwards and soon Fong is delivering messages and printing flyers. Blackie Lau heads up the Firearms unit taking on dangerous and deadly missions. Fong’s ex-boyfriend works undercover at the Japanese surveillance office for General Yamaguchi. All three plus Fong’s mother do their part to hamper the Japanese wherever and whenever they can.

While the film did show the three-pronged attack on the Japanese, intelligence acquisition, guerilla attacks, and information sharing, much of the film centered on Fong Lan and her mother. Despite living in an occupied city filled with danger, especially for women, life went on. What little food they could grow or access had to be prepared and eaten, people still married, and when possible, people continued their businesses to earn a living. I could have watched the film with just these two women playing off of each other.

OTWC’s cast was loaded with quality actors. Deanie Ip gave a lovely and understated performance as Fong Lan’s mother. Mother Fong worried for her daughter, assisted where she could, reacted fairly nonplussed when stumbling upon a body, and stood tall in the face of death. Zhou Xun’s Fong Lan grew from a bunny loving young woman to one who courted death daily as a member of the resistance. Eddie Peng was at his charismatic best as Blackie Lau providing the film with a few lighthearted moments. Wallace Huo’s Lee Gam Wing was as expected suave and cool as ice. Pau Hei Ching showed up briefly as Fong’s aunt at a wedding with a rationed budget and one where the silverware was counted when the guests left.

Our Time Will Come was a well-crafted film. The cinematography was lush and saturated, the framing and composition of shots-gorgeous. Recently I watched a film that looked like it had been shot on a cell phone while riding in the back of a truck on a gravel road making this film’s quality seem even finer. Stories of the different cells and characters unfolded slowly though all were interwoven in mission and sentiment. True to war, the fighters had successes and failures, lives were saved and lost. Films such as this can overly rely on in-your-face patriotism and heavy melodrama. Hui managed to avoid these tropes while also showing people working together from the young to the old, women and men alike, to protect their home and neighbors from the horror all around them. OTWC was not filled with fingernail biting suspense or heart pounding action yet it was compelling all the same.

"The wind which carried the rays of the setting sun has died down. It's as if it melted away...Night's black curtain is falling, but glimmers of light remain..."


16 September 2025

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