I'm sorry but this is the worst series that's full of plot holes, I'm so dissapointed
The 3rd series in 4Elements played by FreenBecky is surprisingly so dissapointing for meFirst of all let me tell you this:
I've watched all kind of series and movies from many many countries and cultures so I don't judge that "something is bad" easily because every one has their own charm, strength, and weakness.
And also I've watched almost all Thai GL.
What I hate the most when I watch something new is the overall production. If it gives the feeling of a really small production, I would skip it and I wouldn't say anything bad about it either because I get it, it's a small project with small fund and usually it's a passion project, so I respect that.
BUT!!! The 2nd thing I hate is plot holes.
And The Air is so full of them. I've watched 7 eps, next week is the last ep but lemme give my review now because I don't think it would change even if I wait until next week.
I've watched Gap and TLP and overall I like those 2 series by FreenBecky.
But this series, I very very much hate it and so dissapointed
I think this series is the most series with plot holes I've watched in my entire life
I couldn't enjoy it at all but why I still watch it? Because this is the 3rd out of 4 series in 4Elements.
And I want to watch The Fire next so I feel like I need to know this series first because all 4 series is kinda connected one way or another
I love watching western action series and movie so this much plot holes especially the episodes that have action in them, is bothering me way too much for me to be able to enjoy it
And no hate to Freen, but as a detective who's kinda goofy (in my opinion that's the character's personality, but I'm not sure) I think her expression is way too flat
I actually noticed it since The Earth. I don't know whether that's the direction or just her acting because I've never read the novel. But for me, I don't really like it.
And as a detective who's supposedly very great at her job that makes her very famous, and a complete player, she made sounds like squeels like "kyaaa" is so not cool. I think she should grunt or at least make it sounds cooler, because if she squeels in fighting scene, it suddenly made me feel like I'm watching a cat fight. At least that's how it feels for me.
I don't know if it's because my opinion about this series already bad because of the plot holes, but somehow nothing in this series works for me. The funny scenes doesn't feel funny, the sad scenes doesn't moved me, and the romantic scenes doesn't give me giddiness I usually felt watching other series, it all fell flat sigh
I'm sorry this is a very long review but I really hate plot holes and this series in intolerable to me in terms of plot holes so let me rant about it a bit:
------------------------------------------ SPOILERS ABOUT PLOT HOLES ---------------------------------------------
Now about the plot holes, I didn't take notes because never have I ever thought I could find this many plot holes in 1 series, but from what I can remember after watching 7 episodes:
- How the heck many people from Madelline can speak Thai? From Princess Blew (Becky), her dad the king, her brother the prince, Grace and Henri (Blew's bodyguards and traitors). How do I know they spoke Thai? Because there is no single interpreter in the scene and all of them can talk to common Thai people without any problem so I'm pretty sure they're not talking in English either. Especially Henri because he talks to many lowly thugs and hired mercenaries, and even talks to nurses in hospital while dresses as a doctor. If he talked in English, I'm pretty sure the nurses would be surprised, but they didn't
- The early runaway scene --> Vayo was riding motorcycle but choose to dump it and instead change it to public transport.
And as expected, people in the bus look at Blew strangely because of course, she looks caucasian so it attracts attention.
I think that's a very stupid decision because in doing so, she always have to use public transport and hitchhike and increase the risk of Blew being recognized by bystander
- Many action scenes have many holes, like their positioning that's too open and would be able to be shot easily. One of the worst decision by Vayo is telling Blew to sit on a big log in between 2 trees with her back completely exposed and opened to be shot freely from almost all sides even though they weren't in safe place yet. Like, why don't she told Blew to crouch behind that big log is so strange. And for a detective that's supposedly very good at her job, she made a lot of decision and movement that's kinda stupid. When the bad guy come from the front, she didn't pull Blew to hide behind her but Blew is standing still beside Vayo at an arms length
- The episode 6 is the worst of them all in my opinion, here's why:
(1) Vayo told Blew if she saw the board sign, she should run away to the back of the island. But how does Vayo know where to put the sign? Because Blew was walking around the island with Bua before the invasion so there's a chance Blew wouldn't see the sign
(2) Blew was told to run away to the back of the island if invasion happen, but there's only 1 police on the boat? And sure enough the police was shot sigh
(3) The shootout happened and the bad guys were pushed back and ran away to the back of the island. If Vayo wanna make the back of the island their escape plan, why would they push back those bad guy with clear path there? And after seeing the bad guys ran towards there, Vayo didn't look worried or immediately pursue them but she's like just stand there and watching them run away
(4) Blew already on the boat sailing through the sea when the bad guys saw her and those bad guys ran towards the front of the island to fetch their boats but could catch up easily?
(5) Ok, let's move away from the action. After Vayo was shot while wearing bulletproof, she fell to the water, being rescued by Blew and found unconsious. Blew gave NOT cpr because she just put her lips on Vayo's lower lip, not blowing air into Vayo's mouth lol
(6) Vayo is hospitalized I don't know how long and for what because from what I've seen, she's perfectly fine. How do I know she doesn't have internal damage or something? Because she let Blew slept on her hospital bed while Vayo slept curled up besides Blew. If she had bruises or internal damage, wouldn't that hurt like hell? I think this scene is just made to give romantic moment even though it doesn't make sense
(7) When Vayo's dad visited her at night, she told her dad she is suspicious of her dad's right hand man. In the morning Henri come to take Vayo out in the hospital and the hospital is still in normal situation. But when he found out Vayo isn't there anymore, the shootout happen in the hospital lobby, BUT suddenly the hospital is already empty. I don't think they could organize it that fast, it's just not logical
- In the episode 7, Grace shot Henri just because Henri wants to shoot Vayo but Grace wants to be the one to shoot Vayo herself is just the stupidest decision ever. Especially because they already suspected the police would be there shortly but she chose to shoot her own trusted man?
- After Grace, who is holding a gun to Blew's head, is surrounded by Vayo and the police, why the police bunched up in one position and not spread out even though the space is so big because it happened in open space?
- Grace was at complete disadvantage so why would she shot Vayo only in her arm and leg? She should at least shot Vayo dead because Grace is only surrounded by 2 sides: 1 is Vayo, 2 other polices who's bunched up only in one side. If she shot Vayo dead at the spot she could moves freely because she still has a hostage
- When Grace shot Vayo, her gun completely pointed at Vayo while her back is completely exposed, so why don't the polices there shot her right there and then?
------------------------------------------ END OF SPOILERS ABOUT PLOT HOLES ---------------------------------------------
So, in my opinion, there are too many plot holes that's unreasonable.
If they want to make an opening for romance or suspense, they could make it better, but it's done and I'm dissapointed
I know making action series is not easy but as someone who watches many action scenes, the holes in this series are too glaring to be dismissed
After watching The Earth and The Water and enjoying it, I'm really sad about The Air
I hope The Fire would be good
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Until We Meet Again — The Most Beautiful Love Story I've Ever Watched
I honestly don't know how to describe what I just watched.I've seen BLs before, and I've enjoyed many of them, but Until We Meet Again is on a completely different level. This isn't simply a romance between two boys. It's a story about love that survives death itself, about family, guilt, forgiveness, and destiny. Every episode made me more emotionally invested than the previous one, and by the end, I had cried more times than I can count.
The idea of connecting two lives across different generations could easily have become confusing, but the writing handles it beautifully. Every revelation fits naturally into the story, and every answer creates an even stronger emotional connection with the characters. The ending is one of the most satisfying I've ever seen because it doesn't simply resolve the plot—it gives every important character the closure they deserve.
Ohm Thitiwat and Fluke Natouch are absolutely incredible together.
Their chemistry never feels forced for a single second. Every smile, every tear, every embrace feels genuine. I completely believed in Dean and Pharm, but I also completely believed in Korn and Intouch. Playing two different emotional layers within the same story is incredibly difficult, yet both actors manage it effortlessly. I honestly can't imagine anyone else bringing these characters to life the way they did.
The supporting cast is equally remarkable. Every relationship feels meaningful, every family carries emotional weight, and every character contributes something important to the story. If I had one small wish, it would simply be to see Somkrit receive more attention in the present timeline. As In's best friend, he deserved the opportunity to have his own emotional journey after everything that happened in the past.
The production is simply beautiful. The cinematography constantly enhances the emotion without becoming excessive, the soundtrack is unforgettable, and the pacing allows every important moment to breathe. Nothing feels rushed. The series understands that sometimes silence says more than dialogue, and those quiet moments are often the ones that stay with me the longest.
Final Thought
Until We Meet Again is everything I want a BL to be. It tells an unforgettable love story, treats its characters with respect, and delivers emotions that feel completely genuine from beginning to end. I laughed, I cried, and I became deeply attached to every stage of the journey. For me, this is simply a perfect drama, and I already know I'll watch it again many times.:::
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Lovely Writer — A Refreshing BL That Finally Lets Adults Be Adults
One of the first things I appreciated about Lovely Writer is that it finally moved away from the usual university setting. Instead of another campus romance, we follow adults with careers, responsibilities, and problems that feel much closer to real life. That alone made the series feel refreshing in 2021, especially when so many BLs were still telling similar coming-of-age stories.The premise is also surprisingly clever. By focusing on a novelist and the adaptation of his own work into a BL series, the drama quietly explores the entertainment industry itself. It questions fan service, shipping culture, and the way actors are sometimes expected to sell a fantasy outside the screen. I wasn't expecting that level of self-awareness, and it gave the story much more personality than I initially imagined.
Kao Noppakao once again proves why I enjoyed him so much in Until We Meet Again. He's incredibly likeable on screen. Whether he's smiling, embarrassed, frustrated, or emotional, everything feels natural. He has this warmth that immediately makes you care about his character, and it's very difficult not to root for him throughout the series. On top of that, he's simply a very handsome actor with a screen presence that naturally draws your attention.
Up Poompat, however, left me with mixed feelings.
I honestly couldn't decide whether my problem came from the actor or from the way Gene was written. The character is naturally quiet, reserved, and emotionally restrained, so perhaps Up was simply following the script exactly as intended. Even so, I often found him lacking the emotional presence needed to balance Kao's performance. While Kao constantly brought energy and subtle emotion to every scene, Up remained much more static, making me wonder whether he was limited by the writing or whether this was simply his acting style. I genuinely couldn't tell.
Fortunately, the strength of the story keeps the drama engaging. The romance develops naturally, the industry satire remains entertaining without becoming cynical, and the pacing allows the relationship to grow at a believable rhythm. The series doesn't try to reinvent BL, but it succeeds in showing that the genre can tell stories beyond school corridors and engineering faculties.
The production is solid throughout. The office environment feels authentic, the direction remains consistent, and the overall atmosphere is mature without losing the charm expected from a romantic drama. It may not be visually spectacular, but it never needs to be.
Final Thought
Lovely Writer was exactly the kind of BL I wanted to see more of in 2021. It showed that adult characters, workplace settings, and stories about the entertainment industry could work just as well as university romances. Kao Noppakao is undoubtedly the heart of the series, while Up Poompat left me wondering whether the limitations came from the character or the performance itself. Either way, the story was strong enough to make the drama an enjoyable and refreshing watch.
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So Much Onion Cutting
All I could think about is how they must smell like onions all the time...But on a serious note, I started this drama with low expectations, and got proven wrong after one episode.
Starts off with drama immediately, it was very rare that i'd get bored. The cast is good, I think the main character is relatable and quirky. The male lead is scrumptous. Stupid lackey of MC also tolerable. Grandma isn't just there to create a sob story.
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My Stand-In — An Incredible Story That Deserved Stronger Chemistry
The moment I learned that Professional Body Double was being adapted, I couldn't wait to watch it. The novel is one of those stories that constantly plays with identity, obsession, love, and guilt, creating characters who are often difficult to like yet impossible to forget. Thankfully, the adaptation stays remarkably faithful to that emotional complexity. As a story, My Stand-In is everything I hoped it would be.What fascinated me most is how morally complicated everyone is. Nobody is completely innocent, nobody is completely evil, and every decision has consequences. The idea of living as someone else's replacement could easily have become melodrama, but instead it develops into a surprisingly emotional reflection on identity and self-worth. Even when I disagreed with the characters, I always understood why they made their choices. That's exactly the kind of writing I enjoy.
Unfortunately, my biggest problem has nothing to do with the script.
I've tried several times to connect with Up Poompat as an actor, and this drama confirmed the same feeling I already had before. I never doubt his professionalism or his commitment, but I constantly feel as though he's acting rather than becoming the character. His movements often seem calculated, his emotional reactions restrained, and many scenes leave me with the impression that he's uncomfortable instead of naturally expressing what his character is feeling. That's entirely my personal impression, but it prevents me from fully believing the romance.
The contrast with Poom Phuripan makes that feeling even stronger.
Poom gives absolutely everything to his performance. Every emotional scene feels genuine, whether he's expressing heartbreak, anger, hope, or vulnerability. I never had to wonder what his character was feeling because he communicates it so naturally. Watching the two leads together, I often felt as though one actor was carrying the emotional weight of the relationship while the other remained more distant. Since a romance depends on both performances, that imbalance constantly pulled me out of the story.
Ironically, that's what frustrates me the most because almost everything else is excellent.
The production is polished, the cinematography beautifully supports the darker tone, and the adaptation successfully captures the emotional atmosphere of the novel without losing its own identity. The supporting cast also delivers consistently strong performances, making the world feel believable from beginning to end.
Final Thought
My Stand-In tells one of the best stories I've seen in a BL. The writing is intelligent, emotionally challenging, and remarkably faithful to the spirit of the original novel. That's exactly why I finished the drama with mixed feelings. I loved almost everything about the story, yet I never fully believed the central romance because I couldn't connect with one of its two leads. Had both performances reached the same emotional level, this would simply have been a much better BL.
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Love of Silom — A Great Premise Undermined by an Ending That Tried Too Hard to Please Everyone
Love of Silom had everything I usually look for in a mature BL. A darker setting, morally complicated characters, and a romance developing in a world where nothing comes easily. For most of the series, I was genuinely invested. Then the final episodes arrived, and instead of feeling satisfied, I felt betrayed by the writing.The story itself is solid. Setting the romance against the backdrop of Bangkok's nightlife and the escort world immediately creates higher stakes than the average university romance. The characters constantly have difficult choices to make, and for a long time the series isn't afraid to show that every decision has consequences. That's exactly why I expected the ending to remain consistent with everything that came before it.
Instead, the script suddenly becomes far too generous.
The father changes his mind much too easily. The villains are caught with surprising convenience. The inevitable betrayal unfolds exactly as expected, and before I knew it, almost every important problem had been neatly resolved. After spending the entire series building a harsh and realistic world, the drama suddenly delivers an ending where almost everyone receives exactly what they wanted. It felt less like the natural conclusion of the story and more like fan service designed to avoid upsetting the audience.
That's what frustrated me the most.
I actually respect dramas that stay true to their own story, even if the ending hurts. Jack & Joker is a perfect example. Whether viewers agreed with its conclusion or not, it remained faithful to the world it had created. Love of Silom, on the other hand, seems afraid to accept the consequences of its own narrative. Personally, I think the series would have been much stronger with a bittersweet ending—or even a tragic one—rather than trying to satisfy everyone.
My other major issue remains Up Poompat.
I know many viewers enjoy his performances, but I've never been able to connect with his acting style. I already felt this while watching My Stand-In, and unfortunately nothing changed here. To me, his movements often feel stiff, his emotions restrained to the point of seeming uncomfortable, and I constantly have the impression that he's thinking about acting rather than simply living the character. That's entirely my personal impression, but it prevents me from fully believing his performances.
The contrast with Poom Phuripan is enormous.
Poom throws himself into every scene with incredible commitment. Whether he's angry, vulnerable, or deeply in love, I always know exactly what his character is feeling. Watching him beside Up only made the imbalance more noticeable. One actor seems to give everything, while the other often feels emotionally distant. Because a romance depends on both leads convincing me equally, I struggled to fully invest in the relationship.
The production itself deserves praise. The atmosphere is convincing, the cinematography suits the darker tone perfectly, and the series looks consistently polished from beginning to end. Technically, there's very little to criticise. My disappointment comes almost entirely from the storytelling and the imbalance I personally felt between the two leads.
Final Thought
Love of Silom could have been a very good mature BL if it had trusted its own story until the end. The setting, the premise, and much of the story were exactly what I was hoping for. Unfortunately, the ending chose fan service over narrative consistency, and that decision weakened everything the series had built beforehand. Combined with an acting performance I still couldn't connect with, I finished the drama feeling more frustrated than satisfied. I know many viewers gave it a perfect score, but for me, this is one of those rare cases where I simply couldn't follow the majority.
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Highly Recommended
Wow, this is my first review in MDL, don't be too hard on me or my (average) english, hahaha. Since I started watching cdramas, about 2 years ago, this is the plot with the more powerful female characters i have seen. I have a lot of good vibrations while watching this drama, but there are also some little flaws that I want to mention, too.Pros;
The acting. I find some of the actresses wonderful, but specially I want to praise 2FL Zhang Nan performance as the blind and somewhat ruthless fifth sister. The contrast between her cute appareance and her ruthless behavior is wonderfully performed by her, and her relationship with Cheng Ruoxuan. I praise another characters, like the spoiled-mean Fourth sister, Zhao Jiamin, who also did a very good performance. Cheng Xiao is wonderful in whatever she does, and the other sisters and the cousin were good. Gulnezar? Well, I don't like her acting very much, but in this case I can bear it. Neo Hou is wonderful, but it's the only ML who had some importance in the story, the other male characters actually are not that important but someone who challenge the FL and, of course, succumb. It is a women's history, with women's struggle of power among them, and of course this is wonderful, this is a story where there are no damsel in distress, hahaha.
The setting and scenery are wonderful, exquisite, some of the better i have seen in a chinese drama. Every detail is carefully attended, the attires, the furniture, etc. It is a high budget drama, of course, but I specially like all the scenes in the tea plantations. Are really beautiful to watch and get an idea of what they were in the past, how workers doing, etc.
Whatever thing about tea. I am not an expert in tea, but i like it a lot, and to learn things about it while enjoying the drama is somewhat adds an extra plus to the simple fact of watching this drama. The post credits in every episode are really enjoyable, with many characters giving explanations about history, tea pastries, etc.
Cons:
The FL Gulnezar slaps hard on everybody, and his power is ofted demonstrated by humiliation of another characters. This is something not necessary to demonstrate power, of course. I don't like, for example, the case of the fourth miss. Its not logic to banish someone like that, while other characters are doing far worse things and remains in the house...
The final plot, no need to make spoilers; the last 5 o 6 episodes in the capital were good, but I think this has set aside the main theme of the drama, the tea plantations and their management. It would have been better to include a little epilogue at the end, explaining a bit about the other Rong sisters. What they are going to do, and something like that.
Anyway, despite the minor flaws, this is a very worth watching drama, amusing, and I like it very much and I recommend everyone to give it a chance.
Thumbs up!
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Two Worlds — Great Ideas That Never Reach Their Full Potential
When I saw the premise of Two Worlds, I expected something much bigger than what I ultimately received. Parallel worlds, alternate realities, and the possibility of changing fate are exactly the kind of concepts I usually love. The story had everything it needed to become one of the most memorable BLs of the year. Instead, I finished it feeling that too much potential had been left unexplored.The concept itself is genuinely interesting. Moving between two different realities creates countless possibilities for mystery, romance, and emotional conflict. Unfortunately, the script often chooses the simplest path instead of fully exploring the consequences of its own ideas. Rather than becoming increasingly complex, the story sometimes feels surprisingly straightforward, leaving me wishing it had pushed the fantasy elements much further.
Max Kornthas and Nat Natasit remain a comfortable pairing to watch. After working together since Why R U?, it's obvious they understand each other's rhythm on screen. Their chemistry is natural, and despite the ten-year age difference between them, they complement each other well as actors. I never questioned their relationship while watching the series. If anything, I simply wanted stronger material for them to work with.
The actor who impressed me the most, however, was Gun Thapanawat. I honestly think he deserves far more recognition than he currently receives. Because he isn't part of an established ship, he sometimes feels overlooked compared to other actors in the industry. That's a shame because his performance here is one of the strongest parts of the drama. At 26 during the airing of the series, he already shows a confidence and emotional presence that deserve bigger opportunities. I genuinely hope his agency gives him more substantial roles because he clearly has much more to offer.
Perhaps that's why the writing became my biggest disappointment. Knowing that the screenplay was written by Pratchaya Thavornthummarut naturally raised my expectations. This is the same writer connected to dramas such as 2gether, Bad Buddy, My School President, and My Love Mix-Up!—all stories that understand how to balance emotion, humour, and character development. Here, however, I never felt that same magic. The dialogue is perfectly serviceable, but the overall structure never fully develops the fascinating premise. Rather than surprising me, the story often plays things much safer than I expected.
The production itself is solid. The fantasy elements are handled well enough, the cinematography is attractive, and the overall atmosphere remains engaging throughout. From a technical perspective, I have very few complaints. My frustration comes almost entirely from the feeling that the series could have been so much more.
Final Thought
Two Worlds isn't a bad drama. In fact, it contains many elements I usually enjoy: parallel worlds, an experienced lead pairing, and a talented supporting cast. My disappointment comes from seeing so much unrealised potential. With a stronger script that fully embraced its own concept, this could easily have become one of the standout BLs of 2024. Instead, it's a good series that never quite reaches the level I know everyone involved was capable of delivering.
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First, I really love the 1st episode, it was really hilarious! I love it!
But, this is not a comedy series, so the rest of the story is not hilarious lol
Overall I enjoyed watching it, even though there are few episodes that's in my opinion is kinda boring
I fell like their acting has greatly improved and I'm happy to see that
So great job!!
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The 1st of 4Elements and the best one for me!!
I'm plesantly surprised!The 1st series of the 4Elements and the new pairing I didn't know before yet their series blown me away!
I really love DinRose and even made me love AppleMim as well, they are so so cute
AppleMim feels like a real-life DinRose to me lol
Their relationship in the series is very very cute and made me giddy
I'm always excited to watch every single episode
Though there are few storyline about Wasu etc that I don't particularly care about, but overall I really love this series!
It's cute, romantic, and there are funny moments too,
In my opinion, this is hands down the best series out of 4Elements!
Great job!
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A very great series! I fell in love...
This series, TSOU, is the 1st LingOrm series I've watchedThey are so pretty! I'm mesmerized by their beauty honestly
This series made me cry a lot! Since the very 1st episode lol
But I really love this series
I could emphatize with the characters and be immersed in the story
The cuteness and giddiness I felt from Lada & Earn relationship, the anger, sadness, disappointment, and satisfaction throughout the up and down of their love story is very fulfiling to me
I actually "fell in love" with Earn Sanithada lol, she is my ideal wife!!
This series will always be one of the greatest one for me, great job everyone!!
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The Judge Returns — Ji Sung Never Disappoints, Even When the Story Does
I'll admit it immediately: I'm an easy audience when Ji Sung is involved.I've followed his career for more than twenty years, ever since The Hidden Princess in 2002. Since then, he's given us unforgettable performances in dramas like Kill Me, Heal Me, Doctor John, and The Devil Judge. At this point, I almost start every new project expecting excellence because that's exactly what he has delivered throughout his career. Even at 49, he remains one of the most charismatic Korean actors on television. He has aged like a fine French wine, gaining elegance and presence with every role. Lee Bo Young is a very lucky woman.
The premise immediately appealed to me because I have exactly the same weakness for redemption stories in regular dramas that I have for reincarnation and time-travel stories in BL. Watching someone return to the past to correct mistakes or save lives is a concept I'll probably never grow tired of. It creates endless emotional possibilities, and I was excited to see what this drama would do with it.
Unfortunately, the story never surprised me.
That's probably my biggest disappointment. The writing constantly reminded me of other Korean dramas I've already seen. Every major twist felt familiar, every revelation was easy to predict, and by the second half I already had a good idea of how everything would end. The drama isn't badly written, but it rarely finds its own identity. Instead, it often feels like a collection of ideas borrowed from stronger series.
Ji Sung once again does everything he possibly can to elevate the material.
His greatest strength has always been his ability to make emotionally complex characters feel believable, and that's exactly what he does here. Even when I wasn't particularly invested in the plot, I remained invested in him. He has an incredible talent for expressing regret, determination, and vulnerability with the smallest facial expressions. Very few actors can carry a familiar story as effortlessly as he can.
The supporting cast is equally solid, and the production itself leaves very little to criticise. The direction is polished, the pacing remains consistent, and visually the drama looks exactly as good as a major Korean production should. Technically, it succeeds almost everywhere.
The problem is simply that I never felt excited.
For a drama built around redemption and second chances, I expected more emotional surprises and more difficult choices. Instead, I often felt like I was watching a very well-made version of stories I'd already experienced before. It kept my attention, but it rarely exceeded my expectations.
Final Thought
The Judge Returns is another reminder of why Ji Sung remains one of my favourite Korean actors. His performance is excellent, his screen presence is undeniable, and he once again proves he can make almost any character compelling. I only wish the story had been as exceptional as the man leading it. Instead of creating something truly memorable, it settles for being a good drama that never quite escapes the shadow of everything that came before it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fun but nothing more, just a band-aid on a bullet wound.
It was good and fun, but if you think about it, it didn't offer much other than brainless fun.Watching them "teaching" the bullies was fun, be it kids, parents, or teachers, but we didn't see much character development. Most of the bullies didn't get any punishment, just some beating, and some of them just randomly turned into good guys after they got beaten. Not very realistic.
What happened with some of the bullies and criminals? Why aren't they in prison? What about the parents who literally give drugs to their kids to have better grades? Especially that one parent who almost killed her son to be a doctor? Why did no one say a word about the so-called "main villain" who just randomly got out of prison? Yeah, I know the other politician helped him, but still, it was nonsense.
Some parts were handled poorly, but some were really great and even surprised me story-wise, but as for the characters, we didn't learn basically anything about our female lead, just the most basic things; the same goes for the SML boy.
Sadly, they were so afraid of how Koreans would react, so they didn't delve deep into this bullying and political stuff. Their organization just solved a new problem in every episode and moved on to the next school, and they were acting like they were making the world better.
This could've been much better if it were not a case-by-case story, just 1 or 2 cases, and they made it more interesting and showed us the actual procedures, like more politics and some legal drama parts and so on.
Without these, this is just a shallow but fun drama, nothing more.
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Series of the year !!!
I am absolutely loving this series so far if I could give it more than 10 stars I would this is not your typical GL where it mainly focuses on the 2 girls but it actually touches on very realistic life lessons and obsticals that many face everyday. I have always loved LOs chemistry and acting especially in their eyes these 2 dont even need to speak for sparks to fly just one mere look are all it takes. One thing is for sure this show is clearly for genral audiance not simply for the lgbtq audiance and I love that. LO are phenomal actresses and they deserve credit for not being afraid to go out of the box of what a usual GL is and not just focus on leaning into the niche of GL but they are brodening it. Well done 👏Was this review helpful to you?
Shark 2: The Storm — Four Years Later, It Was Worth the Wait
Waiting four years for a sequel felt incredibly long, especially after how much I enjoyed Shark: The Beginning. I was worried the momentum would be gone or that the cast wouldn't feel the same anymore. Fortunately, The Storm quickly proved those fears were unnecessary. It feels like a natural continuation rather than a sequel made simply because the first film was successful.The story expands the world while keeping Woo Sol at its centre. He's no longer the frightened teenager trying to survive. He's stronger, more confident, but still carries the emotional scars of everything he experienced before. I appreciated that the sequel never forgets where he came from. His growth feels earned because the film constantly reminds us of the person he used to be.
Kim Min Seok once again carries the entire film.
One thing that genuinely impressed me is how committed he remained to the character. Four years have passed since the first film, yet he still looks completely believable in the role. Physically, he maintained the condition needed for Woo Sol, and emotionally, he slips back into the character as if no time had passed at all. It's also difficult to believe he's already in his mid-thirties. He still has the youthful face that made Woo Sol so easy to sympathise with in the first film.
I've always liked the contrast he brings to action roles. He has this naturally gentle, innocent expression, yet once the fighting begins, you completely believe him. Very few actors manage that balance as well as he does.
The action is even more ambitious this time, but what I appreciated most is that it never replaces the story. Every confrontation has emotional meaning behind it, making the fights feel like the continuation of Woo Sol's personal journey rather than action for the sake of spectacle.
The production also feels larger than the original. The cinematography, choreography, and overall scale all show clear progression, while still respecting what made the first film work. Rather than trying to become something different, it simply becomes bigger.
Final Thought
Shark 2: The Storm is exactly the sequel I was hoping for. It respects the original, continues Woo Sol's journey in a meaningful way, and once again reminds me why Kim Min Seok is one of my favourite Korean actors. Waiting four years was frustrating, but after watching the film, I honestly think it was worth every minute.
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