Reviews

"A woman's grudge is not something that can easily go away"

A Bloodthirsty Killer aka A Devilish Murder was a cutting edge South Korean horror film from 1965. An oblivious husband and father is about to have his world destroyed, not realizing those closest to him had taken an ax to it years before.

Lee Si Mok goes to an art exhibit only to find it closed down. The lone artwork on the wall is a portrait of his ex-wife. On his trip home, the taxi driver hijacks him and takes him to a remote building in the forest where ghosts are roaming. Lee meets the artist who painted the portrait of Ae Ja, his ex-wife. When the clock strikes midnight, the artist shoves Lee and the painting under the bed. The artist is struck down by a female ghost who turns into a cat and disappears. It’s not long before Lee is confronted by his ex, not fully realizing she is not what she seems.

Clueless Lee Si Mok doesn’t realize his life is built on a lie and that he is surrounded by murderous, duplicitous family and friends. After reading the synopsis I was afraid that I was watching the wrong film as the mother-in-law and maid (now dingdong Lee’s wife) don’t show up for a while. The audience and the two murderous women grasp the situation long before Lee does.

The film was far more deadly than I was prepared for given the year. Victims were stabbed, electrocuted, bludgeoned, children were threatened, and blood was sucked. The actions of the villains had been so vile that even a Bodhisattva was like, “You gotta give her this one.” There was absolutely campy laughter and for our time special effects, but it’s important to keep in mind the time and audience it was created for.

Aside from being a creepy horror film, especially for 1965, it revealed how society’s expectations of women exasperated an already volatile situation. Ae Ja had a difficult relationship with her mother-in-law because after three years of marriage she hadn’t delivered a child. She was also gracious and graceful which was a thorn in her MIL's adulterous backside. Hye Suk, Ae Ja’s relative, had few options before her and she was furiously jealous of Ae Ja’s happy marriage and wealthy lifestyle. The MIL had her own horrible secrets which included not being a celibate widow and (gasp!) having a sexual affair with a man. Didn’t she know how o-l-d she was? And of course, there was our sharp as a tack hero, Lee Si Mok, who seemed to prove that one woman was just as good as another.

The title, A Bloodthirsty Killer/A Devilish Murder, made it seem that the vengeful ghost was the demon. After hearing Ae Ja’s horrific backstory, I’m inclined to give her a pass (except for terrorizing the children). Girl had her reasons. If you enjoy old films and ones that are horror adjacent, but not very scary, this would be one to try.

14 October 2026

Trigger warnings: Attempted sexual assault. And I suppose a form of demonic bestiality? Does it count when a ghost is half female specter and half cat? Also, sexual situations with humans implied, but nothing showing.

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Not what I expected by a masterpiece in its own right

This was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a lot sadder and more angsty.

It’s simply a story about two Christian boys falling in love, and that’s the beauty of it. Both go through a lot of mental turmoil trying to reconcile their faith with their life experiences and love, only to realize in the end that they didn’t HAVE to choose.

I’m agnostic, so I’m not a big fan of organized religion, but this show didn't feel like Catholic propaganda to me, and I think interpreting it as such is simply due to a misunderstanding of the characters and their choices. In the end, they both choose a much more personal relationship with their God that gives them peace. I think this show is unlike anything I’ve ever seen and people struggling with similar battles might be able to watch this to gain a new perspective without feeling like they’re being attacked simply for being Christian.

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Compelling characters and great acting

Things I adored

1 The FL. I hadn't seen her in nay other drama and I think she did a great job. I know many people like to argue about how right they got her character but my best friend works with children in the spectrum and he says there are as many different kinds as children so I have nothing to complain about that part of the show. She portrays one character and she does a wonderful job. Simple as that.

2 The ML. I had seen the actor in a more lighthearted drama and I had loved him there as well, but here I fell in love with his kind and warm personality. I think he also did a great job and I wish we could see more of the m in the future.

3 The father. What a great performance from the actor. He had me in tears sometimes, so much I got the struggles he went through.

Things I loved

1 The superior of the FL. A great character. I also wish I could see him in the future, back with his ex or anyway happy and in peace.

2 The friend of the FL. An interesting character you don't always know how she feels, but at the end of the day she is a good person who cares about the FL, so in my book she is great. The actress did a great job as well.

3 The brother of the FL. A decent character and the actor was good. I also want to know what will happen to them.

Things I liked

1 The cases. Some I loved, but not all, so a general feeling is that I liked the cases but didn't love them. I feel like they could be better.

Things I disliked

1 The lawyer who hired her. An ambiguous person who you loved to hate sometimes, but then again she isn't black and white. I found her an interesting character. I'd love a second season to see all these people evolve.

2 The male lawyer who always complained. I could easily put him in the I hate category but truth is he also wasn't black or white and even though I wanted to punch his face more times than not, I can't deny that he was also an interesting character.

3 The mother of the FL. What an idiot. She should go to the I hate list, but again, I decided not to albeit with great regret, because I would also like to see how she moves on after she imploded. I do hate her character, though, but the actress was great in the role.

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good actors, good direction, below average but watchable/entertaining plot, terrible storytelling

im. so. confused??? the first half was string but i feel like things were not explained well. imo the feelings between james and ken were not developed well. tension can do the talking in some cases but i felt that here it fell short. especially because we're supposed to believe that they would die for each other so fast. there's not even like a 'love at first sight' thing. i also don't feel like the lore was done well. there were so many discombobulated elements. i also don't understand how james survived or why he is ken's first love. that is something that can be left up to interpretation, but i wish they gave us more to work with like something to subsitatate the half-nour theory.

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Finally, Something Different!

It’s been a while since I last watched a BL. As a fan of the genre since 2019, I’ve recently started feeling a little burned out. It felt like the same stories kept being told over and over again, just with slightly different twists.

And this is where Payback stands out.
Here are the things I appreciated the most.

First of all, I loved that the actors actually looked like adults. There’s no whitewashing, and the makeup is kept to a minimum, which makes everything feel much more natural.

The cast can genuinely act. MinLee was a pleasant surprise; through his microexpressions, he brought Sun to life flawlessly. But the entire cast deserves praise, as even the actors in smaller roles contributed to the story and made it more engaging.

Every scene had a purpose. every detail was there for a reason and contributed to the progression of the story, nothing felt random or unnecessary.

I also loved that, despite the height difference between the leads — and, by the way, the casting was spot-on — Sun never came across as too young or childish.

What I appreciated most was how faithfully Sun’s character was portrayed: strong even in his vulnerability, capable of needing Jay without losing his independence. He’s intelligent, determined, and, above all, genuinely strong. (For example, I really liked that he was the one who saved Sky all by himself.)

As for the flaws, I unfortunately think ten episodes weren’t enough. At least eleven or twelve episodes would have allowed more room to explore Sun and Jay’s relationship and, most importantly, to develop the final stages of the revenge plot in a more gradual and coherent way. Instead, some parts felt rushed, probably due to the limited episode count.

That being said, by the end, the drama makes it clear that Sun’s revenge was about reclaiming his life and learning to smile again, while Jay’s was about taking back what had belonged to him from the very beginning.

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Starcrossed Losers of the Double Standard

The show started out SO strong, then ferociously stabbed itself in the back.

I was glad to see a BL that doesn't constantly make me wonder what I've been missing since the last time I blinked.

Confirming this as one of the very few shows I have actually watched, hook, line and sinker, instead of just skipping through after ep. 3 or so.

The general story arc, pacing and cinematography were pretty dope, particularly compared to most other recent BL where a coherent story is little more than a serving suggestion. It was SO nice to see a story unfold over the entire series, rather than just reel off shitty tropes and scenes in an incoherent cringefest congaline. Even the dialogue felt unironically good for BL. And not a single hyper car in sight. Suffice to say, I was pretty chuffed.

And then they chose to chuck it in the bin...

-Spoiler starts here -





The short version as to why, is this: they killed Chita and Dr. Ji. One step short of redemption. WTF. I hate the writers guts for this.

They killed off a guy, who by their own definition involuntarily acquired his personality by magical happenstance, and a guy who was eventually just dragged into the whole thing out of love. So yes, even if Chita had wiped out half of Bangkok and Dr. Ji had just watched him do it, I'd still be on their side.

And because the framework of the show works so well, it blinds you over the nonsensical, double standard shitshow it actually is. Really left me with more questions than it answered.

You can stop here or continue with my tl;dr of how they did dirty. It's long, be warned. And it's not even all I have to say about it - this is the short version already - but space here is limited.



Chita
My poor, beloved Chita.

OK, hear me out.

The writers let that character down, only to make killing him easier.

They failed to give Chita ANY justification for setting people on fire, other than absolutely nothing.
I even hoped those Nour blokes were proper criminals, set up by some obscure final boss, killing regular people for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But nah, Zero. Zip. F*ckall.

He lived a happy life with his Nour (!) boyfriend, so he knows coexistence is possible, himself being sweet, caring, soft, sad and alone and my favorite character right off the bat.

And the sodding writers had him go "hullo, it's me, I'm evil now", after he and his BF were attacked by one bastard Nour, who also met his demise instantly. What's the point? No explanation, no development, no justification, no greyscale, just bibbidy, bobbidy, boo, "one day I woke up being this mindless, revenge driven monster, burning everyone to the ground, no questions asked, y'all."

And he must've done that for 50 or so years, too. How did no one stop him or make him reconsider his path since the 70ties, if eliminating vampiric monsters is a societal problem? And to really drive the point home they show him ending the symphony of sympathy: MCs daddy, a priest, pwetty students, silly police lady and a homeless guy. He probably kicked a dog somewhere too, or something. Thanks for the middlefinger, writers.

On top of the Nour making zero sense, even in their own logic, it doesn't really transpire if they are generally nice people or if some of them have adjusted and others haven't. And I'm afraid the creators omitted this intentionally, so the black and white worldview of the average viewer doesn't have to handle too much moral ambiguity. You would have to ask yourself the question of why one of them randomly killed Chita without warning, why freshly Nour-ified, unaccustomed Dr. Ji attacked his family, and how Ken obtained blood 200 years ago, with no refrigerated blood donations available at his convenience, though...

And the double standard REEKS. So the Nour can, or at least could, go kill all willy nilly, throughout centuries, with nobody stopping them, but God forbid there's this one guy who kills a bunch of THEM because unexplained divine intervention.

And then again, Chita doesn't come for Ken, despite the latter's active death wish. He could've just jumped at him like he did with the other Nour (except for Prae, who he 1000% knew to be a Nour, but didn't take down until she got around to f*ck up Dr. Ji), and who's gonna stop him. So his determination to kill Nour stops at... what? Knowing their names? Changing his mind, or rather losing his involuntarily acquired revenge persona, because of his love for Ji, which definitely puts a massive question mark to his/their fate? No explanation.

Regardless, in the end he starts seeing the error of his ways, finally found the guy who loves him and gets through to him, and... dies. No redemption, no awakening, no eternal life of carrying the burden of his "mistakes", no healing, no learning to live and love and use his ability to protect.

The actors performance was outstanding. Thank you so much, Sweetie.




Dr. Ji
My poor, beloved Dr. Ji.

Another favorite character right away, he too fell victim to the vicious writers club, who essentially decided that misery loves... well, more misery.

Dr. Ji is a good guy and he deserved the second chance at love, and all the happiness in the world. And guess what: he is arbitrarily killed (sad), but revived for eternity by, and to be with, his lover (yay), only so shit can REALLY hit the fan again (WTF).

Like with Chita there is no two ways about him knowing that a peaceful life as Nour is possible, provided a fridge full of blood donations, what with him being aware of Ken's true identity and working beside him for years.

Yet he can't even take it for a couple days, resulting in overdramatic depart from his family, whom he could've lived with apparently, saving Chita multiple times (!), just to tell him to die anyways, and then dying himself with him. Because, when you f*cked up or are in doubt with yourself, just commit suicide. Thanks a bundle for this empowering message, writers. 😑 And they didn't forget to shove in a quick and dirty excuse, like him magically slitting James open... (who started it, btw. Just saying...)

The actor straight-up awestruck me with his performance. Thank you so much, Bro.



The white room montage of them while going up in flames and that radio announcement in the end - WTF was this supposed to be? A half arsed apology to the audience for chopping them? And why is one of them a TikTok video and the other one looks like they've initially wanted them to be alive? Then decided to trash it and refrain from thinking of a better way to resolve the ambivalent characters' dilemma, so they went with the cop out of going to a "parallel universe" or "dream"? Oh, those writers... just sod'em all...

There is ALWAYS, without fail, a better way than death in fiction, and killing the side couple in BL/romance is a serious No-No.

And here it is again, the double standard.
How amazing would it have been to have Ji and Chita live and learn. But no, they have been through shit and get the axe on top of that, although they had the utmost potential for redemption, learning, healing and growing. Meanwhile static cardboard characters Ken and James gawk at a bloody rainbow, teaching each other to be "human", as if it were new to them, one being 200 years old and the other being... well, human. WTF.




Ken and James
Actors were both cute and amazing. Want to make that clear from the start.

My concern for the characters however, got lost at lightning speed. They ended up so bland that, after Chita and Ji entered the stage, I didn't give a dingo's kidneys about them...

They reduced Ken to some emo boy, moping around for forever about his own inability to cope with the peaceful, natural death of his lover... which ought to have happened a few times already? Given he's 200 years old? Go get therapy, mate.

But alas, he yearns to die and... well, good news! There's a way of killing a Nour... which Ken himself teaches James. Er. Yeah. And then also his only way to die is Chita setting him on fire? Yet Ken spoils his chance of becoming a torch by keeping his identity as Nour hidden? And how's he or any other Nour gonna die now Chita is gone? He's kinda jeopardizing himself here, isn't he? And why does Ken put everyone at risk by not teaching them about the Nour? Silly police lady in Chitas bath tub would've benefitted, for instance...


And alas, James... oh what a bland and ignorant, run off the mill character. James is the textbook definition of the "they killed me daddy (mommy, brother, sister, lover, doggo...) I needs revenge", flat, disgusting, immature, selfish and self righteous prick, whining about his day, and, for all that it's worth, he can jump off a cliff.

Did he even know his dad was a Nour? Was it ever confirmed (to him) that Chita actually killed his dad? If so, did he ever ask him why? For all I know it's more of a conclusion he jumps to, but doesn't actually prove or investigate? I mean, losing daddy's bad n'all, and I give him all the credit for trying to find the culprit, sure, but noone ever cared to shine a greater light on this very important plot driver.

Either way, James is not less revenge driven than Chita. Only HIS revenge was fully aware, intentional and based on assumption from his perspective at least, while Chitas was something he acquired involuntarily, as a character trait, while being (not quite) killed. And I believe that Chitas background story did not even reach his ears, so James is not an ounce better for trying to kill him, before even learning. The writers simply refuse to tell you all this, so you can stay at ease with that dull character.

He followed Chita and Ji, multiple times, just to kill them. As if that brought daddy back... And when he was finally taken out and they could've fled, five minutes short of enlightenment/redemption, they conveniently ignite themselves for ass pull reasons instead, so the dumb a*sehole doesn't even have to get his hands dirty.

In the end I just wanted to punch his stupid self righteous face, very, very hard 😊

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The Early Spring's Foil

Airing almost back to back after The Early Spring means that there will naturally be comparisons being made by audiences. Already there were jabs being made that Wei Da Xun who was casted as the ML was much less attractive than Jing Boran and Zhao Jin Mai.

While Jing Boran is a certified hottie, Wei Da Xun pulled his own weight and matched the level this drama brings. If you've seen my previous review on The Early Spring, you would know that my biggest gripes was with how the main couple's relationship was portrayed. Mainly, the issue with having such a large age gap and power gap and how consent would look like. Irreplaceable, though almost having the same age gap and power difference, did not trigger the same question of consent. Both parties were aware of the relationship they would be getting into and how that would affect their careers. There was never a question of consent, but rather suitability. Honestly, as other reviews have mentioned, there is a lack of chemistry (across the board with all couples) between the actors themselves, but also in the character builds. While ML was a great help to FL, I don't think they are suitable for each other because they are almost a little to similar to each other. FL is ambitious and often takes on more than she can chew because she is confident in her ability to manage. ML is quite similar, valuing efficiency and ability. Their attraction towards one another can be explained by their similarities and shared goals, but there's not much that would suggest this relationship would be long lasting or enriching. It just feels like they're a work couple or a couple that is together because of work. In fact, most of their scenes whilst in a relationship are not different from them at work or from before they were a couple. It's like they clock out of their normal work and clock in at home to do more work.

That being said, aside from addressing the issue of age gap, Irreplaceable does a good job at immersing you into its world. It was believeable that these characters worked as consultants. The scenarios and plot points were well written (with an exception) without being too boring. An issue I had with TES in hindsight was the believability of the plot. I had trouble believing the characters (specifically the FL) were a part of this prestigious, global corporation because there was a question of capability. Irreplaceable made it clear from the start that while FL was new and inexperienced, she had the smarts and work ethic to survive in a cutthroat environment.

My main gripe aside from the bland romance amongst all the couples is the random last minute break up/plot twist and open ending. Given that this drama is quite short for a C Drama and lacking 4 episodes on TES's 24 episode run, it's understandable if they wrapped things up earlier. Instead, it feels like they pushed a last minute break up for no reason and it did little to deepen the romance between ML and FL. Their respective reactions actually makes me think that their relationship will last shorter than expected. While their open ending (kinda) at the end hints that they do make up, I almost don't want them to. It feels like a natural end to a brief romance. FL goes out of her way to protect ML and along the way manages to prove her excellence while turning the tables. But ML doesn't take that well because it was not the method he would have taken and it unsettled him that FL was able to do that. He literally runs away from home because he was unhappy with it. From afar, he was able to appreciate FL's ability, but when she's performing well right next to him, he feels threatened. While he does get over it in the last ten minutes of the last episode, to me it means that they are destined to break up down the line because he will not be able to tolerate FL, especially not so close to him in the same company.

TLDR: Irreplaceable is the other side of The Early Spring's coin. It takes a completely opposite approach to the same office romance between a significantly younger employee and their boss. While each had their strengths, I would say they ranked at about the same. One's strengths was the other's weakness with neither coming out as the winner.

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Respectfully, this drama and I are not compatible.

This isn’t a bad drama, but it’s definitely not built for my taste. The humor leans hard into exaggerated antics, and while it occasionally lands, it often feels like the show is trying to convince me it’s funnier than it actually is. The premise itself had room to be interesting—a modern guy dropped into a mystical dynasty, suddenly living as someone everyone thinks is foolish—but the execution doesn’t quite click. The story jumps from modern competence to ancient problem‑solving without giving that transition any real weight, and the result feels more gimmicky than clever. After two episodes, I can see why people say it’s good, but I can also see the cliffhanger warning signs. I’m not investing 30 or 40 episodes only to be left dangling without closure. Respectfully, it’s just not my jam, and I’m tapping out early rather than dragging myself through something that doesn’t match what I enjoy.

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Adorable with a great cast

Things I adored

1 The little boy. Oh, my God, he was so adorable and a good actor. I wonder how one earth such a small child can act so well. I just wanted to hug him and kiss his cheek every time he appeared.

2 The FL. Such a beautiful cute actress and so talented. She made me laugh, she made me cry, she made my heart flutter, she was the perfect cast for the role. Seriously and I rarely if ever say that she was perfect. I think she nailed the role and her chemistry with the little boy and the ML was off the charts.

3 The ML. I've seen quite a few dramas with Miles Wei and I'll admit that at first I didn't think he was that attractive, but oh gosh this man gets better with time. Here there was major issue, his hair. I'm not sure what they tried to do but his hair was horrible but his cuteness and adorability was high. I even went back and started again two series I had discarded with him. He was perfect with the FL and the little boy, and his character was quite good. I didn't disliked him even when he overdid it. Seriously this must have been his best role, at least among the dramas I watched.

4 The friendship between the girls. That was so good. I love that aspect in many series, they nailed each time, and this one wasn't truly good. I didn't think 'd like the actress at first but I ended up liking her a lot.

5 The chemistry between the main couple and the little boy. It was adorable to see them together, and I wanted more scenes with them.

6 The chemistry between the leads. They were great together and the kisses or the times they were cuddly etc. weren't cringe. Sometimes they make them awkward and ruin the mood, here they were good.

Things I loved

1 The 2nd or third ML. I found the actor great, handsome and his character was also good. He never crossed a line and he was a true friend to the FL. I loved him and I plan on looking for other dramas with him.

2 The connection between the main leads was good this time. not over the top and it tug at my heart to be honest.it was perfect.

Things I liked

1 The second FL, the best friend of the FL. She wasn't the greatest actress and not as beautiful as they wanted to present her, I prefer the beauty of the FL, but her character was quite good and her relationship with the FL great.

Things I disliked

1 The second or third couple. The best friend with the best friend. I didn't care about them and it's a shame because there were some good scenes, but I found the male lead wasn't a good actor and there was no chemistry with the 2FL. They tried to make him worthy and I loved his relationship with the little boy, but that's all I liked.

2 The 3rd FL, the antagonist. I found her unappealing and I didn't want her with the third ML. (second or third, you decide). Even though they did quite a good job to put them together, but I'm not sure I warmed at her even with what we learned a bout her and her struggles. I think it was the actress the problem, I don't think she is a good actress but okay, I didn't hate her so that's already a win.

3 The aunt. I don't think she was a good character, no mater how they tried to present her. Yes she did what she did for the sake of her nephew but I didn't like how she treated the FL.

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Wacky, wonky, and weirdly watchable.

It’s one of those dramas that barges in with chaotic confidence and somehow makes the mess feel intentional. The opening is a full‑on tangle—confusing enough that I wondered if the editor briefly gave up—but once it untwists, the campy absurdity kicks in with real swagger. The tropes aren’t just present, they’re paraded around like part of the marketing plan, and honestly, the show is better for it. What really keeps everything afloat is Liu Nian, who’s genuinely built for comedy; her timing and straight‑faced delivery make even the nonsense land. I’ve seen her in other works, so her skill wasn’t a surprise, but the other three leads hold their own too—easy on the eyes, easy to watch, and definitely helping the whole thing go down smoother. By the end, it’s still wacky and a little confused, but funny enough that you let it slide. Decent, chaotic, and unexpectedly entertaining, carried by a cast that knows exactly how to play into the madness.

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The Elegance of Quiet Intimacy: Parity, Tenderness, and Resilience Under Historical Shadows

[Italian Version Below / Versione Italiana in Basso]

ENG

Earning a glowing 9/10, A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You (Nami Uraraka ni, Meoto Biyori) stands as an exquisite, deeply comforting oasis of romance. Far removed from the noisy, juvenile tropes of standard shojo manga adaptations, this 10-episode J-drama delivers a masterclass in slow-burn intimacy, non-toxic parity, and quiet emotional resilience.

~ Marriage by Proxy and Parity in Dialogue ~

Starting a marriage where the groom isn't even physically present — represented at the wedding ceremony merely by a framed photograph — could have easily descended into melodrama or absurd farce. Instead, the moment Naval Lieutenant Ebata Takimasa finally arrives home, the narrative establishes a refreshing, equal dynamic. Despite their total lack of romantic experience, the couple relentlessly prioritizes honest, mutual dialogue. There are no toxic misunderstandings or artificial power plays; there are only two decent people actively choosing to build a shared life with immense respect.

~ "High School Prom" Tenderness: Demolishing Alpha Tropes ~

The depiction of physical intimacy and their "first time" is nothing short of priceless. Reminiscent of two nervous sweethearts at a high school prom, their awkwardness is handled with breathtaking delicacy and genuine warmth. Takimasa is the complete antithesis of the aggressive, predatory male leads that plague the genre; his stoic military exterior melts into deep reverence and protection for his new wife, making their slow physical approach profoundly moving and deeply therapeutic.

~ The Unyielding Heart: A Spiritual Sister to Nanase Sakura ~

Much like Nanase Sakura in An Incurable Case of Love, Natsumi proves that gentleness is not weakness. She possesses a heart of gold paired with an unyielding, quiet perseverance. Living under the atmospheric, looming shadow of 1930s militarism — where the threat of war hangs over every quiet morning — her domestic resilience in awaiting her husband's return elevates simple daily routines into acts of profound devotion and poetic beauty.

~ The Final Verdict ~

A sublime, adult, and soul-restoring watch. A 9/10 masterpiece of understated romance that proves true intimacy is built on respect, quiet glances, and unwavering trust.

Recommended for: Fans of mature, non-toxic historical romances, viewers seeking zero-drama relationship dynamics, and anyone who appreciates delicate, respectful portrayals of intimacy.

---

ITA

L'Eleganza dell'Intimità Silenziosa: Parità, Tenerezza e Resilienza all'Ombra della Storia

Aggiudicandosi un 9/10 luminosissimo e strameritato, A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You (Nami Uraraka ni, Meoto Biyori) si rivela un'oasi di romanticismo pura, delicata e profondamente terapeutica. Ben lontano dalle dinamiche rumorose e infantili dei soliti adattamenti da shojo manga, questo J-drama in 10 episodi offre una lezione magistrale di intimità quotidiana, parità anti-tossica e silenziosa resilienza emotiva.

~ Il Matrimonio con la Foto e il Dialogo Paritetico ~

Iniziare un matrimonio con uno sposo assente — rappresentato alla cerimonia unicamente da una fotografia in cornice — avrebbe potuto facilmente scivolare nella solita farsa o nel melodramma gratuito. Invece, dal momento in cui il Tenente di Marina Ebata Takimasa varca la soglia di casa due settimane dopo, la narrazione stabilisce una dinamica paritaria e incredibilmente rinfrescante. Nonostante la totale inesperienza sentimentale di entrambi, la coppia sceglie costantemente il confronto diretto e il dialogo maturo. Non ci sono incomprensioni idiote o giochi di potere: solo due persone perbene che decidono giorno dopo giorno di costruirsi una vita insieme con immenso rispetto.

~ Tenerezza "da Ballo di Fine Anno": Abbattere i Cliché del Male Lead ~

La gestione della loro intimità e della loro "prima volta" è a dir poco impagabile. Capace di evocare la tenerezza disarmante di due fidanzatini al loro primo ballo di fine anno, la loro goffaggine viene trattata dalla regia con una delicatezza e un calore umano straordinari. Takimasa è l'antitesi perfetta del solito male lead predatore o arrogante; la sua scorza da militare stoico si scioglie in una profonda devozione verso la moglie, rendendo il loro graduale avvicinamento fisico un momento di autentica e commovente dolcezza.

~ Un Cuore Incrollabile: Sorella Spirituale di Nanase Sakura ~

Proprio come la Nanase Sakura di An Incurable Case of Love, la protagonista Natsumi dimostra che la gentilezza non è mai sinonimo di debolezza. Possiede un cuore d'oro abbinato a una perseveranza incrollabile e silenziosa. Vivere sotto l'ombra atmosferica e incombente del militarismo degli anni '30 — dove la minaccia della guerra e del destino sovrasta ogni mattina di pace — trasforma la sua resilienza domestica nell'attesa del marito in un atto di pura poesia e di amore consapevole.

~ Il Giudizio Finale ~

Una visione sublime, adulta e ristoratrice per l'anima. Un 9/10 che dimostra come la vera intimità non abbia bisogno di grandi urla o drammi tossici, ma si fondi sul rispetto, sul dialogo paritario e sulla bellezza dei piccoli gesti quotidiani.

Consigliato a: Chi cerca romance storici maturi e privi di tossicità, gli amanti della commedia romantica sottile e chiunque apprezzi le storie d'amore costruite sul rispetto reciproco e sulla tenerezza d'altri tempi.

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Babo friends

With so much stuff packed into this movie, it surely has some ups and downs, but the bottom line is that this is a feel-good movie that leaves you with a nice message about friendship. The story follows four friends who have known each other since childhood and call themselves morons (babo). While they plan a trip together, they encounter many unexpected and funny obstacles along the way. They are not offended by being called morons—in fact, that is their signature connection—and I liked how the movie highlights that you don’t have to be perfect to have a perfect friendship.

The theme of friendship is presented really well. The comedy? Well… it works most of the time. It felt overly crazy at moments, but there were a lot of small details that I really liked, and I had a lot of fun watching the movie. The movie also tries to elicit emotions from the viewers with drama, and in my opinion, the additional female friend stole the show—both in the comedy and in the drama. The movie presents her as not important, but to me, without her this wouldn’t be half as good. Her storyline fits perfectly. She really sneaked her way into the babo friendship with the guys.

P.S. I don’t know if this movie will encourage friends to go on a trip or discourage them.

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They must have had so much fun filming this!

The ‘plot’ follows Saam, a quirky, sensitive and frankly bizarre young man (played by Max) and Jam a stoic, pragmatic realist (played by Nat) as they navigate their way from polar opposites to soul mates.

I’m afraid I didn’t take this too seriously as a Rom com as quite frankly, it’s more of a weirdly funny parody of a Rom com. Max spends his time winking and acting like a child playing dress up while jam looks on confused and mildly baffled. The first 10 episodes do have a plot - their journey to love - but the last two are more of a PWP excuse for lots of steamy nakedness with a couple of unresolved sub plots thrown in for good measure.

Highly amusing in an odd way but it’s a creative way to enjoy this fanship.

Would I watch again? Probably not but there were a couple of spectacularly goofy scenes that had me chuckling loudly and wondering how on exactly how many takes were needed as I imagine they spent an awful lot of time corpsing at Saam’s antics.

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beautifully tragic

I LOVED this drama. It is truly one of the only dramas I've ever watched that have made me sob. I can only think of two others that have made me cry. I also rarely consider a drama worthy of 10/10 but this is truly a story that I think many people would enjoy.
It's about young love, but it's also about treating every day like it's the last. Don't treat this like your typical BL. There are definitely sweet moments, and genuinely one of the best intimate scenes I've seen. But most of all it's about the strange ways humans will cope with grief. I also tend to not lean toward supernatural dramas but I think the way it's used is beautiful.

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