Reviews

Every Clue Led Forward… Until the Truth Turned Back

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* THE WANTED DETECTIVE *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
(aka Calming Waves)
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I started watching The Wanted Detective mainly out of curiosity, but it ended up becoming one of my all-time favorite dramas.

Starring Wang Xingyue and Julia Xiang, along with Chen Youwei, Zhang Nan, He Luoluo, and Deng Kai, the drama follows Xiao Beiming, the best detective in Qi, who is forced to flee after being accused of serial murder. Three years later, he returns and teams up with Zhong Xueman and a group of clever allies to solve cases and uncover the truth behind the mysterious “Yesha.”

From the very beginning, I was hooked. It’s the kind of drama that makes you look forward to every single episode—and surprisingly, it maintained that excitement all the way to the end. The story is strongly plot-driven, centered around one major case, but even the smaller cases all connect back to the bigger picture. Nothing feels random or unnecessary.
And then the biggest twist was Yesha that completely shocked me. I literally had a “WOAH, that was unexpected” moment. On the other hand, I did predict that Yesha would be connected to Xiao Beiming’s elder brother, so that part wasn’t as surprising. But I won't reveal who Yesha is. It is a suprise.

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ACTING
In terms of acting, almost everyone delivered really strong performances. There weren’t any major flaws for me, except one small moment where Zhong Xueman says “I’m sorry”—that scene felt a bit awkward and took me out of the moment. No hate to Julia Xiang though, because overall she did well.

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WRITING
This is where the drama REALLY shines.
• Tight and meaningful dialogue
• Cleverly placed clues
• Satisfying reveals
• No unnecessary filler
Every scene had a purpose — and that’s rare.

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FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama is a HIDDEN GEM.
No — a whole diamond.

I went in with zero expectations…
and came out completely obsessed.
It has everything:
Mystery
Friendship
Betrayal
History
A touch of romance

And most importantly —
it made me a fan of Wang Xingyue.

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Battlefields, Butterflies, and Pure Badassery

It’s hard to find a drama that lives up to the hype these days, but Pursuit of Jade hooked me from episode one. The balance between the intense plot and the natural comedy is top-tier.

This show is honestly a breath of fresh air. It’s rare to find a costume drama that perfectly balances high-stakes intrigue with comedy that actually lands. The humor feels so organic and never kills the tension of the plot. Plus, the chemistry between the leads is elite, it’s so natural, the butterflies are literally radiating through the screen.

The FL is a whole vibe. She’s independent and badass without being 'whiny,' yet she still has that hilarious feminine side. Watching her try not to look too 'rough' whenever the ML is around is pure comedy gold. And the ML? Total dream. He’s an absolute beast on the battlefield but a total simp for the FL. We love to see it.

Visually, it’s a masterpiece. The cinematography feels so grand, and the color grading is super easy on the eyes. The winter setting with all that snow really elevates the whole aesthetic. Not to mention, the fight choreography is stunning and smooth. Pure badass energy.

Honestly, Pursuit of Jade is easily the frontrunner for Best Drama of early 2026. I’m officially struggling with the daily wait for new episodes!

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A Compelling Tale of Deception, Growth, and Genuine Love

Love’s Ambition is a well crafted and emotionally layered drama that successfully balances romance, ambition, and character-driven storytelling. The series centers on Xu Yan, a resilient young woman raised by her grandmother, whose difficult upbringing shapes her determination to rise above her circumstances and build a better life.

Her path takes a decisive turn when she meets Shen Haoming, a man from an elite background. In an effort to enter his world, Xu Yan fabricates aspects of her identity to present herself as someone of equal standing, ultimately leading to their marriage. However, what initially appears to be a calculated move is grounded in genuine emotion.

As their relationship unfolds, the series subtly hints that there is more beneath Shen Haoming’s composed exterior than meets the eye. His reactions and decisions often suggest an awareness that adds an intriguing layer to his character, creating tension and keeping viewers questioning how much he truly understands about Xu Yan’s situation. This dynamic allows the story to maintain a sense of mystery without giving too much away, while still deepening the emotional stakes between the two.

Despite their complicated beginnings, the couple agrees to maintain appearances, leading to a relationship filled with unspoken emotions, shifting power dynamics, and gradual vulnerability. Over time, Shen Haoming begins to confront his true feelings. His evolution from emotional distance to genuine affection becomes one of the drama’s strongest arcs, ultimately driving him to fight for their relationship and win Xu Yan’s heart.

One of the series’ standout qualities is how it handles its characters and their development. Both leads experience meaningful growth, and several supporting characters contribute significantly to the narrative. While some characters are intentionally frustrating, at times to the point of exasperation, they are written with clear purpose, and the cast delivers strong performances that bring these roles to life.

Visually, Love’s Ambition excels with polished cinematography that enhances both its intimate and dramatic moments. The series is further elevated by a well-curated soundtrack that complements the emotional tone of each scene, making key moments even more impactful.

That said, the show is not without its shortcomings. Certain episodes feel slightly drawn out, and some characters or conflicts could have been written with greater depth. A few misunderstandings linger longer than necessary, occasionally affecting the pacing. However, these elements also add layers to the story’s tension and complexity. Not every conflict is neatly resolved, and not every character undergoes growth, but this lends the narrative a sense of realism, highlighting that not everyone is willing or able to change.

Overall, Love’s Ambition is a compelling and well-balanced drama that explores the complexities of love, trust, and personal ambition. Its blend of emotional depth, strong performances, and thoughtful storytelling makes it a memorable series that resonates beyond its final episode.

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One of the most realistic drama I ever watched

No sugar-coated events or realities. A story we can all relate to, which makes it hit on a deep emotional level.
The ultimate choices—love or life, oneself or others. Families that are struggling or even toxic. Responsibilities too heavy for such young adults…
Even when they’re apart, it’s not because love faded, but out of necessity and a lack of choices.
Visually, the settings are remarkable, and the leads are gorgeous and act so well. Seeing Minju here was a pleasant surprise.
The OSTs are very healing too.
My drama discovery of the year so far.

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DON'T MISS THIS MASTERPIECE

"I’ve never felt compelled to write a review for an ongoing drama until now, but today's episode was so incredible I just had to share the joy.

I want to Thank every single member of the team for their extraordinary work. I love both ML and FL in this drama, I've watched all their previous works and had a very high expectation for this drama from the beginning. A very few drama live upto that expectation and fewer exceeds your expectations and does outstandingly well. "Zhang Ling He" and "Tian Xi Wei" thank you for your wonderful performance, both actors does phenomenal job in this drama.

From the stunning costumes and evocative music to the pitch-perfect dubbing and supporting cast—everything is seamless. Kudos to the Director and Producer for bringing it all together so perfectly.

I highly recommend this to everyone and hope the remaining episodes keep the same thrill and awesomeness.

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Overall fun ride with loooots of cliches

This drama is based on webtoon. One of the specialties of the romcom webtoon is that they are more focused on characters and interactions between them, so the story is nothing but a big set up instead of any actual plot. As I have not read this original webtoon not sure how many scenes are exactly true to the material and how many are specific to drama but the overall feel is like we are watching scenes from the webtoon and it is enjoyable. The character set up is of course we have seen in many dramas. Rich, young and handsome Male lead who has lost his parents and wants recognition from his grandmother meets talented, pretty female lead who has experienced people looking down on her due her financial status specifically in her school years. The boss- employee bickering, the noona romance does feel like a repetition but the key is always in the execution, and execution does feel fresh. Drama does not delve into these cliches and we do quickly get over those set ups making the relationship more enjoyable .Despite the repetitive set up leads do have odd characters which are enjoyable to watch. Whether you are rich or poor , you have a loving family or not , our leads do feel lonely and finding that comfort and one person who will always be by your side is quite hard for both of them. The journey of how they find this in each other is pure entertainment with very unique comic scenes and a very light hearted approach.
Having a fun second lead couple, and a nice coworker office set up feels like a top up in already fun ride.
P.S - whenever I see a paper shredder from now on, I will definately be laughing due to this drama

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THIS AIN’T A SERIES, THIS IS A FULL COURSE MEAL ?

YALLLLLL 😭 FUHHHHHHHH OKAYYYYYYY GAH DAMNNNNNNNN!!! I tried to act calm when I started this but SIKE— I KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO REACT. THIS SERIES IS GOOOOOOOOODDDDD. And not just good-good. I’m talking BUSINESS. GOOD. Like everything??? Plot? GOOD. Characters? GOOD. Climax? GOOD. STEAM??? OH BABY. DELICIOUS. SLURPY. Michelin star behavior 🫦 We are reviewing Knock Out today and let me just say… I went in with LOW expectations. Because I saw the poster and I was like “Hmm… this giving WeTV… and WeTV sometimes be playing in my face…” So I said okay, let me not expect anything. But do I love being proven wrong??? ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY. Because WHY was I seated for episodes 1–9 without touching the 2× speed button??? Y’all know that’s serious. Now episodes 10–13… we will discuss. 😌

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a) Plot

Okay first things first— Yes, there are some filler scenes. BUT they are tolerable. Not cringe. Not useless. Just there. Like do we need them? No. Do they ruin the show? Also no. So I’ll allow it. Now the plot itself??? Actually well executed. The pacing is a bit inconsistent though. Starts fast → slows down in the middle → drags a little near climax. But nothing that made me go “oh my god skip this.”

Now quick messy synopsis because I’m not writing Wikipedia today:

Keen loses his dad (RIP king) after a dog attack— BUT HOLD ON. Is it really just a dog attack??? OR IS THERE SOMETHING SHADY GOING ON??? 👀 Before he can even process his grief, debt collectors show up like “Hey bestie your dad owes us money 😍 pay up” And Keen is like “HELL NO???” Then BOOM. He gets beaten up, almost dies, and gets saved by Thun— a fine ass Muay Thai fighter who clearly knows how to throw hands 😮‍💨 From there, Keen stays at the Muay Thai academy and y’all already know… training, tension, trauma, and ✨romance✨

But what REALLY got me hooked??? The mystery behind the dad’s death. Because the moment they hinted it might not be an accident I was like "OH??? NOW WE’RE TALKING." Now let’s talk about what REALLY deserves recognition:

THE ACTION SCENES.

GOOD LORDTTTT 😮‍💨 Why am I sweating??? These fight scenes were BEAUTIFUL. Like choreographed with INTENTION. If KinnPorsche is a 10, this is a solid 8/10 and that is a COMPLIMENT. The fight between Thun and Yut??? When Yut flipped while his legs were locked??? BABYYYYYYY FLIP ME TOO WHILE YOU’RE AT IT. I volunteer. 🙋‍♀️ Honestly this show feels like a darker, sharper, better version of Wandee Goodday. Yes I said it. Don’t fight me.

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b) Characters

>Thun played by Gunner Natsakan
He’s giving Korean oppa energy and I’m not mad about it 😌 Is he handsome? Yes. Am I obsessed? Not really. Acting wise— Body language? Good. Eyes? Baby… sometimes it’s giving loading screen. Like emotion.exe did not fully load 😭

Character-wise, Thun starts off cold, distant, don’t-care energy. But by episode 3??? This man turned into a warm boyfriend package. Too fast. I wanted more jealousy. More darkness. More toxicity. Especially with the Keen × Yut tension??? GIVE ME CHAOS. But okay… I’ll take what I can get.



> Keen played by Nice Boripat
WHY DOES THIS MAN LOOK LIKE Poon Mitpakdee LONG LOST TWIN??? Even the voice sometimes had me like UM HELLO ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE NOT RELATED??? Acting wise??? HE ATE. The funeral crying scene??? OOF. I FELT THAT.

Now Keen as a character… Let me describe him in one word: FAKE. And I mean that in the BEST way. Because he starts off as this innocent good boy… then slowly reveals himself to be a cunty, serving, power bottom ICON. YASSSSSSSSS 🫦 We LOVE a layered queen. Also he doesn’t just stand there and cry cuz he actually fights for people he loves. Respect.



> It played by Guide Kantapon
OH I BEEN KNEW THIS MAN since I Feel You Linger in the Air 😮‍💨 Acting skills? He doesn’t need discussion. He KNOWS what he’s doing. But his character??? Hmm… Lacking depth. He’s stuck between loyalty to the academy and protecting his sister, but we don’t really see his inner conflict.

He just… exists and handles things. Sir where is the emotional breakdown??? Where is the turmoil??? Also his confidence??? BABY WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING LIKE YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF 😭 I needed growth here.



> Marwin played by Dech Narongdet
Something about him screams Kimmon Warodom ENERGY. I don’t know what it is. The eyes? The vibe? The aura? But yeah. Acting wise he’s fine. The problem is his CHARACTER.

Because oh my god he pissed me off. Which means… he did a good job 😭 He starts off cold, distant, always on his phone. Then suddenly becomes social??? HELLO??? CONSISTENCY WHERE??? Also he causes more problems than the outsider (Keen) and I’m just like "CAN SOMEONE PARENT THIS CHILD???" And when betrayal happens??? I expected screaming. Crying. Throwing hands. But no. This man said “I trust him <3”

SIR STAND UP???



> Yut played by Gap Jakarin

…

This man.

THIS. MAN.

WHY AM I PURRING??? 😮‍💨 He lowkey looks like New Thitipoom sometimes and I cannot unsee it. But let’s talk about what matters:

HE IS FINE.
HE IS INSANE.
HE IS HOT.

Dangerous combo. The way he fights??? The way he moves??? GOOD LORD. And when he licked the blood??? I need to reevaluate my morals. Because why did I feel things??? Yut is a whole psycho and yet I’m like "hmm… would."

I need help.

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c) Steam scene / Chemistry

> Thun × Keen

OH. MY. GOD. Am I watching a series or… something else??? Because the kissing scenes??? FILTHY. DELICIOUS. PASSIONATE. 🫦 This is NOT soft boy kissing. This is grown energy. This is what im asking for from GMMTV. Maybe this wont happened if it is GMMTHEE V. :(

Anyway, the chemistry is insane. The connection is strong. And finding out they’re no longer paired together??? CRIMINAL. A waste of chemistry.



> Marwin × It or It x Marwin idk

Okay listen… Don’t ask me who’s top or bottom because I DO NOT KNOW.

And honestly??? I LOVE THAT. 😏 The chemistry is THERE. The tension is THERE. The massage scene??? BABY I ALMOST HAD A NOSEBLEED. We need MORE of them. MORE SCREEN TIME. MORE CHAOS.

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d) Overall

At this point do I even need to explain??? This series is complete. It has everything an action BL should have:

Action ✔️
Romance ✔️
Tension ✔️
STEAM ✔️✔️✔️

And y’all already know my rule... I don’t rewatch series unless it’s REALLY good.

But this one??? BABYYYYY I AM REWATCHING. MULTIPLE TIMES.

Final rating: 10/10. ABSOLUTELY. DELICIOUS. 🫦

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How can a poorly written ending destroy a beautiful love story ...

PLOT: Yoki, an insomniac star actor, is caught up in a scandal (framed) and forced to film a celebrity game show on an island. There, he reunites with Yang Meng, a former high school classmate. Yoki is surprised to find himself sleeping soundly next to Yang Meng. As their adventures unfold, Yoki and Yang Meng grow closer and are attracted to each other, but Yang Meng hesitates because he fears his (very homophobic) father's disapproval and the rumors.

+++ Electric chemistry between Lin Feng Song and Chen Wen⚡⚡, both excellent.
+++ Very good cast, and I really like the second romance (which shows other facets of a relationship).
+++ Awesome OSTs (。ˇ ⊖ˇ)♡ but why Korean songs?
+++ Coherent storyline and fast-paced direction. The cinematography is magnificent, and the stunning landscapes are beautifully showcased.

### The last two episodes are convoluted, poorly written, and full of plot holes.

=> My final impression is inevitably skewed by the last two episodes (9.5 -> 8), which is a shame considering the superb work of the actors.
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PLOT : Yoki, acteur star insomniaque est victime d'1 scandale (framed) et est obligé d'aller tourner 1 show de "jeux de célébrités" sur 1 ile. II y retrouve Yang Meng, ancien camarade de lycée. Yoki est surpris de dormir sans pb auprès de Yang Meng. Au fil des aventures télévisuelles, Yoki et Yang Meng se rapprochent, s'attirent mais Yang Meng hésite car il craint la réprobat° de son père (très homophobe) et les rumeurs.

+++ Alchimie électrique entre Lin Feng Song et Chen Wen⚡⚡, tous deux excellents.
+++ Très bon cast et j'aime bcp la 2nde romance (qui montre d'autres aspects d'une relation)
+++ OSTs géniales （。ˇ ⊖ˇ）♡ mais pourquoi des Korean songs ?
+++ Storyline cohérente et réalis° sans temps mort. La cinématographie est magnifique et les superbes paysages, bien mis en valeur.

### 2 derniers épisodes tordus, mal écrits, pleins de plot holes.

=> Mon impression finale est forcément altérée par les 2 épisodes finaux (9.5 -> 8), ce qui est dommage pour le superbe travail des acteurs.

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ugly make up, good story lost in maximizing pain by stupid script writer

The make up artist should be SACKED. Imagine giving the ML with EAR to EAR eyebrows nearly straight across the nose bridge! Is this cartoon? This is supposedly professional make up?? UGLY as HELL .

The story has great potential but the real story is lost because the script writer is OBSESSED with maximizing pain ! To do that, she made the FL stupid, endangering herself at every turn and the ML is having to sacrifice himself repeatedly to the end point.

The real story is about the power play between the ML and the grand tutor Ling.The focus should be on how to defeat the culprit It's a fantastic story but instead of the fantastic story the script writer destroyed it by the determination to cause pain between the leads

The script writer obviously DISRESPECT women, (ALL the women here are thoughtless,crazy and headstrong)The men are chauvinistic -making decisions and failing to communicate with the women in the guise of "protecting"her, that's not love, that's disrespectful of women and super chauvinist
This is the calibre of this script writer !!

Book is different from drama. People who read books can cry all they like but dramas are for entertainment, therefore there's No need to adhere to the book to maximise pain. Tear jerking doesn't automatically make your product "arty", in fact it's a big TURN OFF

It's stupid mistakes and pain throughout with no growth or correction of the miscommunication which is what real love should be, this is just chauvinistic ML and headstrong FL -REPEATEDLY

The actors are extremely good but the script only serves to anger and spoiled my mood

I stopped at episode 14, I had enough. And I read of the ending which proved to me that the entire purpose is just to inflict pain when the object should be to display the fantastic power play and how to defeat the culprit. Somehow the main story of the culprit is LOST in the obsession with inflicting pain

Tear jerking DON'T make it a work of art, it's just a waste of good talent and good story made to become trashy tear jerking tool

Don't waste your time . It's totally UNENJOYABLE

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Definitely a comfort watch

Re-watching this series after getting ML hangover from “Can this love be translated?”. I’m not good at remembering details from series I’ve watched before so going into this was familiar yet surprising still. I’ll break it up into 3 parts: Story, characters, and overall thoughts.

The story was straightforward with not too many frills – an upper-class dentist moving to a local, close-knit neighborhood where he meets a handy-dandy, jack-of-all-trades man. I would consider it a feel-good series with realistic conflicts here and there. I’m not into dramas with too much side stories as it gets too overwhelming for me, but this one had a moderate amount, with each story having its own time to shine and not just all thrown out at once.

Hye-Jin was an unlikeable character at first but not insufferable enough to be steered away from watching the series. I think her character was quite relatable. As a city girl who was not a social butterfly, she was overwhelmed by the connectedness and openness of the Gongjin neighborhood. She was not used to people being too involved in her daily life, and I could relate to that as a person who values personal time and peace. I think the progression of her warming up to the people was paced correctly. I would have to say that the only thing I did not like about her character was her sudden shift of energy once she was in a relationship. I think there was a drastic shift from her serious and professional demeanor to this bubbly and cutesy personality. Chief Hong or Hong Banjan reminded me of “your friendly neighborhood spiderman”, willing to help everyone in need. He was reliable and good with people but not in a cringey, inauthentic way. He was frank, direct, and honest, not afraid to say what is on his mind. Except, there was one thing that he was keeping from everyone. When asked about his past and the reason for his unconventional lifestyle, he would always divert the question, but you could notice in his expression that he was carrying something heavy. When his story had unraveled, it explained a lot of things about Chief Hong and the decisions he had made. I would say that the was a truly kindhearted person who just had a lot of unfortunate things happen to him and mostly to the people around him and so naturally, he carried guilt with him. He did not directly do anything wrong but because so many people who were close to him had suffered, I think he was unable to disassociate himself from what had happened and couldn’t logically think that he was not the instigator of these happenings. I was contented with the development of the relationship between the FL and ML. They were a “polar opposites” trope which led to a lot of differences at first. I loved how both leads had a strong personality but somehow matched each other quite well and I think it’s because in reality, Chief Hong had a soft and loving side to him contrary to the tough façade he had shown. There was a lot of characters in this series, and it would take a long time for me to discuss all of them. All I could say is that I was shocked but happy to see a bisexual/homosexual representation with Cho Hui. I also loved the healthy relationship between the SML and ML, it was like they were practically brothers.

Hometown Cha-cha-cha was definitely a comfort watch. You could feel the warmth of the neighborhood, and it was expressed in a beautiful way where you would think that you were a part of the community. I thought the stories fit well with each other and were portrayed with perfect timing and emotions. Everything was realistic enough to believe that this could be a real-life story in a small village somewhere out there. I have ML hangover but in a different way. In CTLBT, I was hungover by the actor mostly but in HCCC, I became attached to the character itself. I loved Chief Hong and I think he would be an ideal guy if there really was a real-life Chief Hong. I have to commend Kim Seon Ho for his acting here. I think he did a much better job in this one than CTBTL, but it may have just been the character that he played which gave him more liberty to express emotions. I re-watched so many scenes to admire all of the expressions he would make – they were so natural and refreshing to see. It was one of the most natural acting I have seen, and it made me appreciate his talent in acting more. I’m happy I was able to rewatch this, I think I appreciated it more now than four years ago. I’ll miss the village of Gongjin.

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A Strong Start with Impressive Acting and Attention to Detail

Even though I’ve only watched the first episode so far, this series is really good!

From the props to even the school name, you can tell the director added a lot of small details. The cinematography looks great too. The acting is impressive overall, but what really stood out to me was Perth’s expression during the phone call with Solar’s mom — you can totally feel what the character is going through in that moment.

Santa also did a great job playing a kid. It didn’t feel annoying at all, but instead made you understand how a 7-year-old would feel waking up in a strange place — a bit alert and unsure.

Really excited to see how the story goes. Love it!

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Time I will never get back

and I even fast forwarded...a lot!

I have loved KHY in other things I've seen her in, but I didn't find her suited to this part. Her voice, her pouting, her arms crossed, it was all just wrong. You know how some people can portray a character in such a way that even if they are unlikeable, you end up rooting for them? That was not the case here. I didn't like her at the beginning, and I liked her even less at the end. I hate to say it, but KHY may be typecast as the friendly, bubbly FL.

Lomon was okay, but he could have played a bit part and my feeling for him would be the same. Nothing stuck out about him here.

Personally, I thought the script was very lackluster. None of the actors seemed fully invested in their characters, I felt like they were just going through the motions. It meandered all over the place, never arriving at something that made sense. I didn't feel any chemistry between the leads, but that wasn't helped by the script. She was hateful, then suddenly they were dating because she decided that was what they were going to do, and she was still her hateful self. Definite lack of character growth.

And PLEASE! A 10-year time skip, one of which she was around him but didn't tell him?!?! One opportunity I think that was really missed, when the other gumiho spilled about all that she had done for him, when he thought it was the FL - it would have made more sense for him to discover that the FL was actually human and not still a gumiho. Or maybe that's what actually happened, but I missed it, because I was counting the minutes until I could be done with this drama.

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Love, escapism and addiction.

A romance film with a dark and artsy indie film tone might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this film is a win for me. This film centers around the character of Jane — a struggling actress, a strong woman on the outside, but beneath her facade lies a hidden pain and a reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism. Despite the dull mood and tone rather than the typical sunny and cheerful romance formula, in my opinion, this film really delivers the emotions it intended quite effectively. Director Irene Villamor puts flaws, imperfections, problems, and struggles at the forefront—the real issues people are facing in real life and in a relationship. And the film does not glamorize or romanticize Jane's struggles, but instead presents them in a stark and unfiltered light.

The script is not super neat. There are a few loopholes and somewhat draggy plots, but despite that, I like that this film doesn't offer easy answers or tidy resolutions. The idea of "love is not always the answer" is on point. I love how Jane and Francis' relationship is not portrayed as a quick fix to Jane's issues. It shows the harsh reality of using alcohol as a crutch and the destructive impact it can have on a person's life and relationships. But despite the issues and heavy subject matter, the film also has moments of tenderness between Jane and Francis. Their dynamic is complex and layered, mirroring the struggles of real-life individuals grappling with similar issues. The visual storytelling aspect is also on point and I found myself drawn into its dark, but somehow hopeful world.

In my opinion, the strength of this film is definitely the performance. Bela Padilla really shines in her role. Her multi-dimensional portrayal of Jane, a character walking a tightrope between strength and vulnerability, is rather complex, but she delivers it perfectly. From moments of quiet introspection to explosive outbursts of emotion, Padilla infuses her performance with a raw authenticity that is both captivating and heart-wrenching. JC Santos's performance might not be as outstanding, but his presence still manages to bring layers to the story. Their undeniable chemistry never fails to make me swoon.

Overall, it may not be the most outstanding film of the JC-Bela tandem, but I consider it a poignant and thought-provoking film that delves into the dark and gritty realities of alcoholism and entertainment. It also serves as a reminder that sometimes, love is not enough to heal our wounds and that true healing begins with facing our demons and taking control of our own destiny.

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