Reviews

Drama vs Book (to explain some of the film makers decisions)

As dramas go, it's not half bad, though horribly prolonged. Still I got hooked ngl. But as something that had complex and nuanced source material to take from, it's a disgrace.
Either for sake of Chinese censorship or Xiao Zhan's image they sanitized the plot A LOT. No more gory and horrible subjugation of Shark/Mermen people. In drama it has to be always 50/50 situation. Instead of Shi Ying killing every Merman in sight just for the sake of eliminating the Sea Emperor. In drama we have this walking saint that wants peace and had to experience personal loses from the hands of the enemy to finally be willing to kill a man that was already willing to sacrifice himself for what? Peace of course. Not the book Ying, not the book Yuan either.
Zhu Yan was irritating and insufferable? That's because in drama they decided she couldn't start her training at 9 years old, so they infantalized her teenage self to the point of absurdity. They chose the most child-like actress they could find and prolonged this period by 20 additional subplots, and exposed poor us to the grown up Zhu Yan but with child like adoration for her teacher, for 10 episodes running around and repeating fraze that in the book happened only once and was actually quite adorable. While in the book 19 yo Zhu Yan was fearless, arogant, quick to anger, very entitled, but at the same time a wonderful force of nature.
As the book doesn't contain material for 40 episodes they added quite a lot. With what was changed I'd say maybe 20% remained from the original plot. On the surface key points are still there, but in reality it is already a different story whatsoever. Most of what was added were artificial mechanics to remove any moral ambiguity from Shi Ying's, Zhu Yan's or Zhi Yuan's actions. We cannot have them just go around and fight each other, can we?
Gods forbid they actually feel hate or have any bad thoughts.
The entire cast of side characters was simplified for comedic purposes. Where in the book they all had redeeming qualities and authentic depths. I won't even mention the crime that was committed against poor ChongMing. There is more and more.
It's a shame because the book is not only great but also wrote in a manner that would beautifully translate to the screen, if only someone decided to do it justice.

Read More

Weird cut for some parts, plus bgm mix is comical

The story lacks depth in some portions like the spring banquet couple matching- one dude starts pursuing the fl with no buildup, and the eldest sister matchup with the Pei dude also is also sudden initially. Even if it is love at first sight, it needs to be believable.

The possessed scene of the FL is also not convincing at all; it feels forced, with a scary bgm added for vibes.

A lot of bgm does not make sense for the scene; it throws off the entire flow of the drama.

Editing-
They need to fix the choppy editing and bad bgm. They should pause the drama and fix it before releasing any more.

Read More

You Maniac is not your typical BL, and that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

I won’t say much about the story because I genuinely don’t want to spoil the experience. But one thing I can say: the deeper you get into You Maniac, the deeper it gets. From Episode 1 to 2 to 3, you can literally feel the story unfolding layer by layer. I went in expecting one thing and ended up feeling so much more. It’s intriguing, emotional, beautifully paced, and honestly way more intense than I expected.
WilliamEst have completely won me over-the acting, micro-expressions, chemistry, everything feels so natural and detailed. And the overall aesthetic? Immaculate.
Three episodes in, and I’m already way too invested. This one stays with you.

Read More

YOU MANIAC - BEST BL SERIES OF 2026

At first glance, You Maniac seems like a story about two people labelled as “red flags”, one emotionally detached, the other emotionally guarded. One finds comfort in crowds, while the other hides away within four walls. But the deeper you get into their story, the more you realise they represent something much bigger: the vulnerability of today’s young generation, our inability to communicate, the things we struggle to express, and the loneliness we quietly carry.

After watching all three aired episodes, I can honestly say this series is so much better than I expected. With every episode, it gets deeper, darker, and more emotional. This isn’t just two people going on dates and hanging out. There’s so much happening underneath, and the way the story keeps unfolding has genuinely pulled me in.

What surprised me the most is how deeply I’ve connected with the characters. I never expected a fictional story to hit this close to home. I’m not just watching it—I’m feeling it. The emotions, the tension, the butterflies, the goosebumps… everything.

And WilliamEst? Absolutely incredible. Their acting is one of the biggest reasons I’ve fallen in love with them. Every emotion they convey feels so intentional, especially in their micro-expressions. A glance, a pause, the slightest change in expression and suddenly you understand exactly what they’re feeling. It’s insane.

Their chemistry feels different here too. They’ve had amazing chemistry before, but You Maniac has a freshness of its own. I don’t see their previous characters, I see Dean and Moth. Two completely different people with their own wounds, personalities, and ways of dealing with life. Their chemistry feels natural, fresh, endearing, and honestly, overwhelming.

And visually, the whole series is beautiful, the colours, styling, outfits, character looks, everything feels so carefully put together.

So if you’re looking for a BL that goes beyond the usual predictable formula, give You Maniac a chance. It may look like one thing at first, but there’s so much more to it once you actually get into the story.

Three episodes in, and I’m already completely invested. I’m loving it, I’m feeling it, and I genuinely can’t wait to see where this goes.


You Maniac - it’s so much more than what it looks like at first.

Read More

Positive and Lacking about this drama

Just finished binge watching and I have mixed feelings about this drama. There are definitely positive aspects but there are also some areas where I felt it was lacking.

POSITIVE

• Excellent acting, hands down.
The acting is easily the strongest part of this drama. The micro expressions, especially from Son Ye Jin, really impressed me. Ji Chang Wook and Nana also delivered great performances and I think all three leads carried their characters really well.

• The dialogue is good.
The conversations feel purposeful. The storytelling is poetic, especially in Episode 8, which is my favorite episode.

• The premise is intriguing.
The basic premise immediately makes you curious about where the story is going.

• The three main characters have depth.
I especially appreciated how their characters became more developed toward the final two episodes.

Son Ye Jin’s character feels layered because of the conflict between what she wants, what she believes she deserves and the things she is willing to do to achieve it. Her actions become more understandable as we learn more about her motivations.

Ji Chang Wook’s character also develops beyond his initial impression. His relationships and experiences gradually reveal a more emotional and vulnerable side of him especially when he falls in love with Nana’s character.

Nana’s character is probably the one I found the most interesting to watch develop. She starts out seemingly caught in circumstances beyond her control but as the story progresses, we get to see more of her personality and emotions.

• The nudity felt intentional.
I actually appreciated how the drama handled its nudity. It didn't feel excessive. The scenes felt intentional and appropriate to the story and the characters rather than being gratuitous. I think the drama found a good balance between showing intimacy and keeping it from becoming distracting.

• Very theatrical and poetic
It feels like watching a stage play unfold on screen. Its storytelling is deeply rooted in Korean history and culture, from women’s lives in Joseon to tobacco, silk farming, hanji, and Catholicism. I’m sure there were many more historical details that I’ve forgotten, but without a firm grasp of Korean history, you could easily miss some of its layers. That historical depth is what makes the drama feel so rich.

LACKING

• The lack of a strong score.
The first thing that comes to mind is the lack of music/score. A lot of scenes felt bland because there were scenes that were clearly supposed to feel intense, emotional or suspenseful but the music isn't giving for me.

I think the right score in certain scenes could have made a huge difference. Some scenes felt flatter than they should have which eventually affected the pacing and made certain parts feel boring.

• The chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Son Ye Jin.
I didn't really feel that spark or intensity between their characters. I don't know if it's a casting issue or if their relationship needed more backstory but I found myself wanting more emotional build up between them.

I think if the drama had spent more time establishing their history and connection, I might have felt more invested in their relationship.

Interestingly, when Ji Chang wook's character finally gets to know Nana's character and starts falling in love with her, that's when I actually felt something. Their dynamic gave me more emotional investment, which I liked.

• I expected more from the cinematography.
Visually, I was expecting a little more. The aspect ratio change during the flashbacks was a nice touch and helped distinguish the different timelines, but beyond that, the overall cinematography felt somewhat underwhelming. Given the time period, I was expecting the visuals to have a stronger sense of atmosphere and identity.

As with many kdrama Netflix Originals, I also noticed some similarities in the color grading, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The cinematography is still solid overall but I think it could have been more distinctive and better suited to the setting. A strong 9 for me, but with a more memorable visual direction, it could have been a perfect 10.

• The overall drama is forgettable in my opinion. While writing this review, I realized I can't remember the name of the characters.

I enjoyed parts of it but I also found myself thinking about how much stronger certain scenes could have been with better execution.

Read More

DESIRE HAS ITS PRICE

There’s something so deeply unhinged about watching Yun and Won sit there and basically go, “You know what would be fun? Destroying this woman’s life for entertainment.” Like hello??? Hui-yeon has already lost her husband before they were even married and these two looked at her situation and decided it was apparently the perfect opportunity for a little recreational emotional terrorism.

And what makes it worse is that neither of them is exactly doing this because they’re happy. Won is desperate for Yun, Yun is miserable and completely trapped in a life where she has basically zero control over anything, and instead of either of them dealing with their actual problems like normal people, they decide to turn someone else’s feelings into a board game. Incredible coping mechanisms all around.

But honestly, that’s what makes the premise work for me. The wager isn’t really about seduction. It’s about control. These people live in a society where they’re constantly being told who they’re supposed to be, what they’re allowed to want and how they’re supposed to behave, so naturally they respond by becoming pathological little liars who manipulate everyone around them. Nobody says what they actually want. Nobody enters a relationship with completely honest intentions. Everyone is hiding something, and every time somebody thinks they’ve finally gained control, the situation immediately goes to hell.

And Hui-yeon is probably the most painful part of that whole mess because you KNOW she’s going to get hurt. You can see the disaster coming from approximately 18 miles away. You’re sitting there like GIRL PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR THIS MAN. HE IS LITERALLY DOING A BET. But she has no idea, and watching her slowly become emotionally invested makes the whole thing increasingly uncomfortable. Especially because Won’s feelings start getting messier too, and suddenly the question isn’t just whether he’s manipulating her, but whether he has started believing his own bullshit.

Yun is also way more interesting than I expected her to be. She could’ve easily been written as the "Evil Seductress Who Starts The Bet And Smirks In A Corner" but there’s actually a person underneath all of it. The more we understand her history with Won and how little control she has over her own life, the more the wager starts feeling like this incredibly f***ed-up attempt to reclaim some kind of power. Not a healthy one, not even remotely. But you understand where it comes from.

And Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook??? They are SICK for this. Their chemistry is genuinely ridiculous. The tension between Yun and Won does so much heavy lifting because these two can look at each other for five seconds and suddenly I’m sitting there like okay apparently we’re doing incestuous emotional warfare today. Nana is also really good, especially because Hui-yeon’s vulnerability could have easily become annoying or overly saintly, but she gives the character enough warmth that you actually feel awful watching her get dragged into this disaster.

The whole thing is also ridiculously pretty. Like everyone is committing emotional crimes against each other but at least the lighting department is having the time of their life. The drama has this dreamy, almost romantic visual quality that makes everything happening underneath it feel even nastier. You’re watching gorgeous people in gorgeous clothes ruin each other’s lives and somehow the show makes you want to keep pressing “next episode” like you’re not actively witnessing a social experiment conducted by demons.

My biggest problem is the pacing because JESUS CHRIST. This thing takes its time. And then takes some more time. And after that it apparently needs a little walk around the block before it decides to move the plot forward. There are stretches where the drama is clearly trying to build tension but instead of tension I’m just sitting there thinking okay girl we understand the point now. Some character decisions also feel suspiciously like the writers needed them to happen rather than something the actual characters would logically do, which does occasionally pull you out of the story.

But underneath all the scheming and seduction, there’s a genuinely sad story here about people who desperately want freedom and have absolutely no idea what to do with themselves when they can’t have it. They want control over their own lives, so they start controlling everyone else’s. They want to be loved, so they manipulate people into loving them. They want freedom, so they make other people pay for the fact that they don’t have it.

And eventually the funniest part of the whole wager is that nobody actually wins. Because once real feelings start getting involved, the entire game becomes completely useless. You can manipulate somebody into falling in love with you, but you can’t control what happens to you when you start falling in love too. And THAT is where this drama gets really good.

Full review coming soon! Stay tuned.

Read More

My Sept Recommendation Movie

Watch this because recommendation challenge from 𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒖. Let’s discuss movie…

The story follows Akito Hayasaka, a talented 17-year-old artist with a passion for painting. Akito's world is shattered when he receives a terminal diagnosis: a tumor in his heart leaves him with only one year left to live. Devastated and unable to find purpose or joy in his remaining time, he falls into a state of deep despair and begins contemplating suicide.

Everything changes when Akito meets Haruna Sakurai on the roof of the hospital. Haruna, a girl his age, is facing an even grimmer reality—she has only six months to live due to a terminal illness of her own. Unlike Akito, who retreats into despair, Haruna approaches her remaining days with courage, warmth, and quiet acceptance. Akito chooses to hide the severity of his own condition because he does not want to burden Haruna or shatter the hopeful future she imagines for him.

As Akito begins visiting Haruna regularly, their shared passion for art becomes a vital bridge between them. Haruna’s resilience inspires Akito to find a new sense of purpose, shifting his focus from his own impending death to making Haruna’s final months as happy and meaningful as possible.

As their bond deepens into love, Akito rediscovers his artistic passion, using his canvas to capture Haruna’s beauty and the bright moments they share. Haruna’s presence teaches him to live fully in the present rather than fear the future, even as the stark reality of their conditions continues to loom over them.

So, how will their journey finally end? Will a miracle happen, allowing both of them to overcome their illnesses and live a healthy, happy life together? Or will they remain unable to escape the fate that has been waiting for them from the beginning?

That's pretty much the story without giving anymore spoilers.

What I like:
+ Unlike most stories where a looming death sentence makes everything feel heavy from the beginning, this film beautifully holds onto hope for a brighter ending.
+ The actors did their parts beautifully. I really like how they portrayed their respective characters, making their emotions feel natural and believable. Their performances made it easy to connect with both Akito and Haruna and feel the weight of everything they were going through.

What I don’t too like:
- Sometimes, watching a movie like this leaves me with a very specific, bittersweet feeling. It makes me reflect on life, love, and how precious our time with the people we care about really is.

Overall, this is a good movie about the beauty of fleeting moments and finding hope in the darkest of times.

Read More

Must watch, not your typical bl drama

Both the leading characters are flawed. Both of them make you question whom you want to support but in the end realize this is how humans are. We are all flawed, we all make mistakes, we all say things we dont mean to and do things impulsively and i love that both of the characters are very flawed and makes it what special. I love how at one point in life we all would have felt ignore during Date and thats why Ep3 makes me relate to both of the character and understand both their sides. Their chemistry is super super delightful and Ep4 promo looked so promising and I'm so excited for this series

Read More