Reviews

An all time favourite and absolute classic. So adorable and sweet, a must watch of any jbl.

This story is a sickly sweet and incredibly humorous, with a fun plot and genuinely interesting and enjoyable characters. The series not only brings themes of fantasy and comedy, but of office drama and romance as well, which is not something you can say for most dramas, yet they combine so naturally and enjoyably that i cannot help but rate this series a 10/10. Not only is it light hearted and cute, but also introduces themes of the struggles of being homosexual in a professional environment, as well as japan as a whole, and the pressure put on women in society to eventually find a man and settle down. It does this so effortlessly and seamlessly, creating a series full of different emotions and interests. Adachi is so adorkable and lovable, being a perfect mix between cute midlife crisis and a genuinely well rounded and thoughtful person, making it almost impossible not to fall for his adorable nature. Kurosawa is such a charming and respectful character, whilst also being a love-drunk fool who loses his composure at the very sight of Adachi, making him such an appealing and perfect love interest, who is completely devoted and head over heals for his love. The actors have incredible understanding of their characters and portray them in such an appealing and superb way, giving the characters so much more depth and personality. I could not have chosen anyone better to play them myself, as it is a phenomenal act from them both.
This series is so wholesome and adorable, whilst being able to touch into more serious topics, whilst still keeping it lighthearted and cute, something not a lot of dramas do successfully. My favorite jbl of all time, and definitely up there in my favourite bls of all time.

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I liked but...

I liked but...
My review of Knot:

I liked the story! From what I’ve seen and read, it’s actually a light and enjoyable narrative to follow.

In terms of the cast, Boat, Oat, and Thee really carried the show for me—they clearly delivered the best performances. The soundtrack (OST) and music selection were also solid and didn't fall short.

However… even though I enjoyed the plot, a few things held me back:

Dialogue and Acting: Several dialogues and some performances felt quite artificial, taking away a bit of the scenes' emotional weight.

Makeup and Aesthetics: The makeup on certain actors was so heavy that it gave them an almost "plastic" look, in a very unnatural way that ended up being distracting.

The series had an interesting concept and potential, but it ultimately got dragged down a bit by the art direction (makeup) and the lack of naturalness from part of the cast.

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Classic Historical Revenge Romance....but loses steam in the last 10 episodes

What a ride. I would say this is a solid historical romance overall but it missed a lil *pazazz* to really making it *amazing.* That said I loved:
- the **acting** was excellent all around esp from the male lead(s)
- the **romance** and chemistry was solid. i enjoyed watching them play cat and mouse back and forth until she finally gave in.
- while the ending with the antagonists were just okay i was pretty satisfied with the ***very* end shots about where everyone is as an “epilogue”.** its worlds better than many historicals even though it was simple and pretty succinct
- the fact that the **second male lead** was not a loser, jerk bum. i honestly felt a tad bad for him considering everything, but they seem to imply he accepts the 2nd lady as his wife which honestly i don’t know that I agree with — I thought she too went crazy and was imagining him LOL. I cannot emphasize enough that I actually really liked his character and loved that he didn’t become such a cliche. More of this PLEASE.

as for what I didn’t like:
- Zhou Ye is a great actress but her character here just felt a little *too serious.* It was mostly fine, but she doesn’t give as many nonverbal cues as Xu Kai does. And her character, while smart, is also terribly stubborn. Her refusal to apologize for giving the jade pendant away and also trust to wait for Shen Run to help her get revenge just didn’t make sense. He *only* helps her and she still acts as if he ever went against her interests.
- Following the above, the whole “I cant help you get revenge on your dad rn” conflict felt forced for the sake for the plot. I would have loved a bit more team work at this point esp bc the wedding is just a tragedy – not for her but for Chun Zhi.
- I KNOW we don’t care abt Chun Zhi as the 2ml but I wish Xie Qing Yuan hadn’t kissed Shen Run the night before her wedding. Kiss is even an understatement, they were getting hot and heavy. I just **hate cheating** so much and this still counts! which detracted from the romance for me. IMO this whole scene could 100% have happened *before* she agreed ****to marry Chun Zhi.
- The **2nd Xei lady** was quite the brat and I wish they gave us more to work with than her being a spoiled bully in love with Chun Zhi. I just wanted to see a bit more growth outside of her loyalty to Chun Zhi.
- Every **antagonist just goes crazy**? Like full hysterics and madness in the eyes. I felt it lacked depth and made most of the “defeats” feel a bit redundant. I can appreciate that each antagonist had their “reasons” and different types of flaws but Hu Wen Zhuo and Mei Ying Hua both lose their marbles as does Xie Yu and you can even argue the other bad politicians too - just a smidge less dramatically.
- I dont like when good people die in general but I felt that Xie Zheng Lun’s character was really cheated. I know his death *technically* moved the plot forward but at the same time I just felt that it didn’t feel real, he’s in the show for so little esp compared to his brother that killing him just felt more convenient rather than a real part of the story’s flow.
- parts of the story felt random/under developed
- Pei Yu Ting as a character just didnt make sense to me? We could have not had her in the show at *all* and nothing really would have changed? Like she just seemed to be Commander Hui’s lover? Side kick? IDK.
- I wanted way more about the dad’s villain arc. We are told he was good and had solid aspirations with the Shen family, but then just did a 180. We get flashes as to him slipping from good to evil but it didn’t feel like enough. I think we needed more of his struggle in the past, more tension between him and madam xie because as it stands it just feels unbelievable that he was ever “good”.
- Maybe its just bc its not common in the shows i watch but i didnt really understand the Eunuch that was apparently the “root” of all the trouble. Like huh?

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More Than Expected

I would rate this drama even with Pursuit of Jade if not for the last episode. Not all dramas end happily and this is one that really doesn't. I'm still shaking my head at how disappointing that last episode was. But aside from that, every episode was very engaging, interesting and pulled you into their lives. This was one of the FL's best acting that I've seen in a while. Of course, the ML was all that I expected of him. All the support actors did a stellar job and was happy with all their endings. The story was not only interesting, but somehow hooked you in every episode. Watching only 2 episodes per day was quite frustrating. I was excited to wake up each morning to watch the next 2 episodes. The ending is something I just can't overcome. I would have given it a 10 across the board in score if the ending was not a let down. Even though this drama had very little martial arts in it, the mentality of it was the best I've seen in years. Good directing, script writing and acting. Overall I would rewatch til the last episode.

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A subversion of expectations

The very start throws you rather headfirst into the plot without giving much context, but luckily it is easy to figure out what is going on and what the characters roles are. However it takes some time for some characters to be established fully and concretely, with kim jeongha being a fairly ambiguous character through his motivations and relationships until around episode 3 or 4.

The story is one of desperate connection and the need to be wanted and desired, with lee hyeonjae clinging so desperately onto han giu despite obvious drawbacks within their relationship. It brings up the topic of unhealthy or unfair power dynamics and abuse of authority, however, it is (in my opinion) one of the reasons why this story is so captivating, as it explores those topics in a way i haven't seen before, with the character in the typically vulnerable position actually being the one to initiate and curate all their interactions and tension, creating a nuanced and interesting dynamic that is not very often explored in media. I would not go as far as to say that it is one sided or manipulated by the younger, as they both become intertwined in each others life in a way they should not be, however the student is far more active in their explicit relationship, for example letting himself get hurt so that the older will patch him up, whilst the teacher lets himself be approached by the student, for example letting him stay at his apartment and giving into the kiss, when it is obvious they both desire each other and what the other makes them feel. Besides their relationship is entirely legal, with both characters being over the age of consent, and even with a considerable age gap of 10 years between them, hyeonjae is still noticeably an adult. The series is dark and passionate, and the tension and atmosphere creates an exciting and engaging story filled with serious topics and morally grey characters/ relationships which are nuanced and complicated. It's a bit messy, and that is fun, it introduces forbidden and sensual relationships that draw this drama together very nicely.

However this drama is not all dark and passionate tension, what really resonates with me is how they both seem to be on similar and equal planes of existence, they are both trapped or stuck in life and seem to find a comfort and relatability within each other which naturally draws them to each other and breeds that desire and almost dependence on the other. Hyeongjae is trapped in a life of invisibility that he did not choose, stuck between people who either fear his father or respect him too much to question his authority, forcing him into a stagnant and melancholy existence. Yet Giu gives him a luxury no one else has ever afforded him before, visibility. He establishes that he wants to help hyeongjae, not because he is the chairmans son, but because he sees that he needs help. On top of that, Giu lives a dull and lifeless life, with no real human connection or secure job in place. Hyeongjae introduces a purpose into his life, something to show him that he is still alive and capable of real emotion again, after having been told he is a dull and boring person. They both grant each other something the other had never been granted by another person. This is why i find their relationship so entrancing and fascinating, that despite the power dynamic put between them, they are still able to live through each other as equals.

The acting is rather stand out as well. the actors are good at portraying the ambiguity and complicated nature of the characters and their emotions, with the lead couple having good chemistry and understanding of the complex emotions experienced throughout the series. Only 4 episodes have aired so far, but its new and interesting premise, alongside the good acting and palpable tension make this series one which has stood out to me this year, and i am excited to watch more and see what comes next!

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good idea, bad execution

I enjoyed this drama, at least to be able to finish the 16 episodes. The story is cute and the romance was nice, and I appreciate the lack of unnecessary drama. However, the ML was boring, even annoying. The FL is okay, wish she had some hobbie besides her job though but she was much more gullible than the copy-paste cold narcissist CEO cliché.
What I disliked was the backstory, something I rarely like in dramas. It was pointless and it didn't add anything to the romance, even sometimes it felt that they were interested in each other because of destiny and not for the personality and experiences together. You know what would've been ACTUALLY good? To focus the chemistry on what happened between them in 9 years to make them bottle up their feelings and let it out when she decides to leave the job. Flashbacks to special moments and tension between those 9 years would've been better than that unbelievable backstory...
The chemistry was... okay? Nothing mind-blowing. BUT I love the dramas that add a lot of kisses and those were good for real so the balance is okay.
The side stories with characters and couples were nice. I liked both side couples, even the one of his friend and his ex wife.
I recommend this drama to anyone who wants to relax and watch something that leaves a happy feeling, but if you want complex characters and story, this is not the one.

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It was good, but I really don’t understand the hype.

I actually liked the drama, but by episode 40 I had to give up. The story is interesting, the production is beautiful and the cast is good, but the romance was incredibly frustrating for me.

I kept waiting for the main couple to actually develop some believable chemistry. He clearly loved her for ages, while she spent most of the drama rejecting or ignoring him. Then they were separated for two years, reunited, and suddenly… things happened. 😂 And somehow she was pregnant almost immediately.

After spending around 40 episodes waiting for even a convincing hint of romantic chemistry, the story suddenly rushed through everything in minutes. It felt completely inconsistent with the slow development that came before.

I also think the marketing is a little misleading. Looking at the posters and promotional pictures, you would expect a great epic romance because the leads are constantly shown gazing at each other like they’re deeply in love. But the actual romance is much less developed than those images suggest.

Maybe this works better for viewers who enjoy the family, political and historical parts of the story more than the romance. For me, however, the romance was the main reason I watched it, so the emotional payoff just wasn’t there.

Not a bad drama at all — just definitely not the masterpiece I expected from all the hype. 😅

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A vampire story newly thought...

If it's not GMMTV (My Golden Blood, Revamp) you see what a vampire story could be... interesting, disturbing, exciting, emotional, plot twists which make sense. This is also not really a BL. While the genre is fantasy, they did a good job to make it as realistic as possible. Only the "normal" police people were a bit underwhelming. When I read reviews of the GMMTV shows with 9.0 to 10.0 and compare it with this, they are not even remotely close.

The four ML did a superb job, only the side cast is not on their level, but you can't have only first class actors for all roles in any series. It's of course not only their acting, it's also the intense tension between them. Besides that, the director was also the screenwriter who did change the script on the fly while shooting, because he wrote it for the actors to make it natural to act. Production quality was also top notch, only the shaky camera on close ups was not to my taste.

This time I will not spoil anything of the story, if you really that nosy you can read other reviews or just watch it. Overall they risked to do something outside the normal "BL box" and it payed off! This is one of the few thai series I can wholeheartedly recommend.

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Beautiful in every aspect

This show depicts the life of a newly-hired lawyer Woo Young-Woo in a prestigious firm. Though she is incredibly skilled, she is often looked down upon as she is autistic. She learns to manage this new aspect of her life in the law firm with the help of her colleagues and her superior while working on various cases.

The cases are diversified, giving each episode a different mood. I liked the fact that Woo Young-Woo's opinion and experience always gave a interesting perspective on each case.

We also get to experience her strenghts and struggles as an autistic person, especially in terms of social interactions. She learns how to adapt to others as others learn how to adapt to her. On this point, the directing did a great job in showing her perspective of the world on screen.

The main lead's romance is also really well handled, depicting the peculiar aspects of a romantic relationship with an autistic person. The characters are sweet and their chemistry is undeniable.

On the other hand, the second lead's romance feels a little rushed, especially considering the fact that the male second lead doesn't have enough of a redemption arc in my opinion. This is actually the only reproach I can find for this show.

There is also a secondary plot about Woo Young-Woo's family that becomes the main plot in the last episodes. It was interesting and moving in the end, although it was a little lengthy in my opinion, but still nice to watch.

Though all of the actors did an amazing job in this show, I was particularly impressed by the main actress, Park Eun-Bin (I strongly recommend watching the rest of her filmography).

In short, I loved it, rewatched it several times, and can't wait for season 2!

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Fantastic chinese comic book superheroes

With a strong cast of suitably cast Feng baobao, Neo Hou, Bi Wenjun, Jiang Peiyao and Dai si, the chinese comic book superhero genre has been created. Hilarious and inventive , I loved the mix of Daoist precepts with the superhero concepts brought into modernity. Parts had me rolling in laughter. Wang Yinglu perfectly portrayed Feng Baobao I loved her so much. Neo Hou was good as usual with his portrayal of a chill Daoist practitioner & Bi Wenjun’s character was really cool. I wasn’t a fan of the actor who portrayed zhang chulan and wished that they had picked a more charismatic actor but I do get that he’s supposed to b so unattractive he had no issues remaining celibate 🤣😭 probably not so easy to find another Stephen Chow. Brilliant show nevertheless and I enjoyed it immensely

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Stunning Visuals

A delightful story which I enjoyed thoroughly, Liu Xueyi was well cast as Pan an, Iv seen lots of shows where the actor was supposed to be beautiful and it took a stretch of imagination. Ju Jingyi was adorable and the quick pace of the plot gave her vivaciousness some direction. Zheng he huizi did a great job interpreting the role and imbued a sense of valour in the lead character, whilst some have commented that there wasn’t sufficient continuity in the character portrayal, I enjoyed Ju Jingyi’s characterisation of the fl and the lead pair visuals were quite unmatched and that sufficiently negated any issues there was for me. Definitely a delightful watch and comfort rewatch.

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A great way to start watching K-dramas

This drama was the first drama I ever watched, and it gave me such a nice impression of what K-Dramas could be! It is fun, the characters are touching and the actors are great. I watched it several times and I never get bored.

The lead couple is so cute, it is nice to watch them get to know each other and change for the best. The second lead couple is also really nice, with their own challenges and cute moments. The chemistry of both couples is really nice, and you can see that the actors believed in their characters.

The story uses basic tropes but the way the characters react to them is what makes it very interesting. I giggled, I laughed, I cried, and I always wanted to watch the next episode... In short, I would 100% recommand it to anyone who wants to have a good time watching a K-Drama.

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All they wanted was their freedom

It's been a while since i've been so invested in a drama. Everything, from the storyline to the set design, was incredible.

What stood out most to me was how each and every single character was so well developed. They all had a story, they all had their own unique personalities, and they all made us feel so many emotions. The women in this show were so strong in their own way, all of them doing what they could to survive. This show portrayed the hardships and difficulties women had to go through so perfectly.

I also loved how the time skips were shown. Watching how the family progressed was beautiful, and the last scene really brought all the emotion!!

I think this might be one of the best dramas to have come out this year, and Lanxiang has got to go down as one of the smartest characters to be written.

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