Reviews

a stylish revenge drama

the whole premise and backstory is good. we do take a lot of time setting up the story, we see our main character's usual life and how his whole world get manipulated into something sinister. we see every step of how he is blamed and how he copes with life in jail. i appreciate the time taken to show this part of the story. the next part onwards its a bit off.

realistically it would be way harder than this to take someone like yohan down but even if we set realism aside i just kinda wanted some genius play by taejoon to finally defeat him. they ended his character so easily. he has advanced technology, he's smart, he's ruthless. it's a pity that they just ended his character just like that. the revenge part was more depended on taejoon emotions rather than a solid plan.

maybe this series would have benefitted from more episodes

the action sequences were amazing. the car race, the jail fights, that motorcycle chase, yohan sword fighting, the final battle....all were such good action shots. the acting is great too

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Utterly BORING

I found this series as a whole, like the title says, UTTERLY BORING. I honestly do not know why I even started watching the second season because I didn't like the first season. I don't think this series warranted a second season, compared to the many JBLs out there that do. I surprised myself that I wasted my time watching the second season to the end.

Asami-kun character was just so DULL. He gave no emotion at all, I found it really difficult to believe what he was feeling and what his emotions were. I really didn't feel any connection between him and Shirasaki. When Shirasaki was struggling I really didn't feel any sympathy for him, I just found him pathetic.

I think the premises of the show was good, it reminds me of the manga Black or White. But I just think they were the wrong actors for it and directed poorly. I got more emotions and dedication from the side characters that we saw very few of. I'm looking forward to the special episode to see how well the side characters pull it off.

I know this review is harsh and probably unwarranted. Many will disagree and that's ok. If you enjoyed it, then truly good for you but it really wasn't for me. I stuck around because I truly love JBL and think it's the best form of BL out there but this, for me, really missed the mark.

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I hated the endng.....

I have always loved the omegaverse, so when "ABO Desire" came out, I was eagerly waiting for it! Eliot is on a whole other level with his acting skills, especially in his portrayal of the character Hua Yong. His expressions and emotions are exceptional. At first, I thought Hua Yong was an omega, but then some shady things happened, and it turned out that Hua Yong wasn't an omega but rather an enigma! I had never heard of an enigma before, so this was my first time witnessing something like that.

As for the ending... I did not like how it concluded! What happened to Guo Tu and Wenlang's side of the story? Yes, the hug was great, and everything, but the lack of explanation about what happens to them was disappointing.

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It lacked the essence of storytelling without Realising it in the midst of excellent cinimatography.

Chinese dramas can be so blah and lacking sometimes. Not always but sometimes and this is one such instance! like 10 episodes in and still I don't know and I don't care, and I do not care enough to know and i still do not get where they are heading, cos it is taking forever to head anywhere! There was no central conflict that was strong enough from the start to keep you going. Like it is just so blaze and empty feeling you may as well not be watching anything and feel the same. The kisses are good but not enough to save the blahness of it all. There was literally one funny part (for me) and that was it lol. I thought cdramas had begun to overcome this issue of lacking something crucial but alas. The characters (FLs especially) also always have a type of non-dynamic way of being and as a result they are sort of one way, one look, one face, one emotion, one vibe way of acting. Not up for a rewatch though it is all modern and chique. I managed love ambition but that was saved by the fact that Zhao Lusi ate. She played a more dynamic character than usual. It also had a central and clear moral conflict that we had to watch the FL work through episode by episode. It reminded me of the best albeit old family kdrama Seoyoung my daughter where she lies to get married and then has to go through the process of losing it all and finding redemption. From the start we can see the trouble in the horizon and are just waiting to see it all crash. This one just had a pile of characters nobody cares about and even the FL and ML are not intriguing enough for the audience to be truly invested or really interested in their plight. It lacks in essence which kdramas tend to get right from episode 1. Dramas are never about about cinematography, wardrobe, beautiful faces but first and foremost is about the drama and essence captured through already excellent story telling. The other things then complement it. I have a whole rant for jdramas too but let's leave it here lol

I wonder if I am the only one that has noticed this issue. I just had to rant at this point.

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end of the series

The first episodes were really good, but I think the ending of the series wasn’t good or logical. In my opinion, it would’ve been better if Peem had died at the end. The love between Tan and Peem isn’t logical at all, and if we think realistically, nobody would fall in love with someone who shot them and chose power over them. Anyway, I still like this couple, and I hope they have better series in the future.
The first episodes were really good, but I think the ending of the series wasn’t good or logical. In my opinion, it would’ve been better if Peem had died at the end. The love between Tan and Peem isn’t logical at all, and if we think realistically, nobody would fall in love with someone who shot them and chose power over them. Anyway, I still like this couple, and I hope they have better series in the future.
The first episodes were really good, but I think the ending of the series wasn’t good or logical. In my opinion, it would’ve been better if Peem had died at the end. The love between Tan and Peem isn’t logical at all, and if we think realistically, nobody would fall in love with someone who shot them and chose power over them. Anyway, I still like this couple, and I hope they have better series in the future.

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Shirasaki's Pity Party

I truly loved the character of Asami. He was private, introspective and warm. His face radiated a quiet love for Shirasaki and it was felt. S1 ended with both of them declaring their love and here with each episode, it felt that it kept growing and maturing. S2 started beautifully with open communication, keeping both of them on the same wavelength and in sync. They both decided to audition for the same role and then it happened.

For nine episodes I couldn't wrap my head around Shirasaki and his mindset. Why was everything always on his terms? They separate for the audition until he gets the role, then all is well again. While Asami's kept everything he was going through to himself, he was never petulant with him. There was a necessity in the harshness of Shirasaki's words, I believe Asami needed to hear them. Reason being, everything Asami did was to please everyone but himself. What I didn't like was the selfish breakdown Shirasaki was having and during such, lashed out. Asami had always seen him through love and it was a shame that Shirasaki's pity party was the moment he chose to reset Asami's compass. I'm a bit disappointed in this version of Shirasaki. S2 made it about a self created competition to be worthy to stand by his partner when his partner already thought he was worthy as is. Shirasaki came off as clingy, selfish and childish. Last ep of S1 showed us differently. Disheartening. Tho Asami who knows him best says, "Thank you Shirasaki, for letting me meet you". He knows what was said, needed to be said. It is only in the final episode with the success of the play, Shirasaki and Asami repair their relationship. Both happy to have met each other.

I still prefer S1 to S2. The actors delivered believable performances and it was interesting to a certain degree. I may watch it again.

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the beauty of this series.

what is most beautiful about this series is simply how they portray their reality. the silence comes when it's needed, the music is never overwhelming and their relationship goes through different challenges yet, they always try their best to find a way to make things work.

their chemistry is so natural and so beautiful, whenever they're on-screen together or not, you can just feel their attraction and adoration from one another through the smallest details like their micro-expressions and open body language. the way they look into each other's eyes with trust and love that runs so deep is geniunely amazing.

this series is so underrated, people don't like the pacing, others the chemistry, others the story itself but to me, it's seriously one of the most well executed and well produced out there.

their masterful use of lighting and colour grading, the cinematography that places us so close to the characters and what they feel, allowing us to experience what they do and to observe what they feel. the music which is emotional in tone and adds a lot of depth. the performance, i don't even have words about it. all of them executed their characters and their traits perfectly.

in conclusion? i love this series and i'm once again manifesting a third season just like i did for the second.

masterpiece in my books !

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Should a young actor prioritize his career? Or his love life?

Like the first season, the second outing for At 25:00 in Akasaka delivered solid, if unspectacular, BL entertainment. In fact, in every respect other than the romantic, it is an improvement. The new season continues the story of actors Shirasaki Yuki and Hayama Asami from the point where they enjoy the professional fruits arising from the success of the BL series in which they starred. Though lacking an equal measure of the humor and sweetness that made their S1 courtship memorable, with regard to character development and world-building the sequel proves more compelling than the original. That assessment especially holds for the viewer who wished to see the story dive deeper into the characters. The series takes the time to plumb the psyche of our aspiring actors and lovers, at the expense, perhaps, of deepening their relationship. Accordingly, the viewer who consumes BL to wrap themself up in cuddly moments will be more likely to regard the follow-up as a let down, given that the burgeoning romance established at the end of S1 takes a backseat in S2 to the main characters’ burgeoning careers.

We become reacquainted with Shirasaki and Hayama as the duo navigates how to sustain a clandestine romance that, if publicly known, might be detrimental to their careers. Determined, nevertheless, to cohabitate, this series takes the pretense of the fake relationship from S1 and delivers the real thing in S2. This go around, the test will be whether their cozy domestic life can withstand the pressure imposed from working apart. Just as the characters’ commitment to each other has become serious, so too does the subtext. That is certainly a fair outcome in a series that has centered itself around the characters’ professional development. Yet, it also leeches away much of the joy for the viewer who came to watch the couple bond.

The second season elevates Shirasaki and Hayama from aspiring actors to seasoned professionals ready to take the next career step. Originally cast as co-stars in a BL series, the duo make their TV avatars’ fictional relationship real during S1. Season 2 dispenses with the ploy of the BL-within-the-BL by splitting the pair’s professional endeavors apart. Hayama’s movie career takes off when he is cast in a film, while Shirasaki lands a lead role in a stage play helmed by an auteur director. I wrote of S1 that Shirasaki’s character, new to professional acting, suffered from Imposter Syndrome. S2 perpetuates this theme in most unvarnished fashion: his theater character is a literal imposter, having stolen someone else’s name and life. Shirasaki strugles to discover the right notes to play the emotional trauma presented by this challenging new role. As in S1, his professional insecurity provides much of the tension to S2. Shirasaki imagines himself inadequate when compared to Hayama (who absolutely does not regard their dynamic as competitive in the same way), and that note is perhaps overly wooden in the script. Overall, Shirasaki’s self-doubt is a drag on the plot. Playing out this thread certainly holds back the series’ romantic beats, a frustration that will exacerbate discontent with the sequel for a portion of the audience.

I praised S1 for prioritizing the workaday aspects of show business over the glamor. S2 maintains this emphasis on the craft of acting by once again embedding numerous scenes of the characters rehearsing for acting gigs. One of the treats for viewers in S1 was watching as Shirasaki and Hayama created their TV characters from rehearsal to finished product, even as their secret fake relationship developed in parallel into a secret real one. Similar epiphanies pop up in the sequel, as each character brings real life experience to the creation of a new role while also bringing insight from work back home to sustain the romance. One significant difference: this process now operates with a layer of remove since the pair no longer work together. As noted, Shirasaki’s problems occupy the lion’s share of screen time. Hayama’s issues burble into the open only late in the proceedings, which is rather a shame as I find his character more compelling. I’d have been happy to explore his inscrutability earlier and oftener. In episode 9 each actor is exhorted by his respective director to bring deeper emotive beats to the performance. In that fashion, this directorial note mirrors the formula that made S1 a good watch because it ties the disparate subplots back together: what happens at home informs creative choices at work; what happens in the creative process at work informs the home life.

Fans come to sequels to reexperience aspects of the original they enjoyed. Season 2 of At 25 in Aksaka provides ample callbacks. Returning from Season 1 are the co-stars from the faux BL, Sakuma Hajime and Yamase Kazumo. These two continue to operate as sounding boards for our lead characters, especially in their approach to their career choices. The camaraderie they built last year as co-stars grows here into friendship not rooted in work. Meanwhile, Kuroki Keita is a newly introduced character in S2, cast opposite Shirasaki in the play-within-the-BL. This figure might have been written as a source of dramatic tension by making him either a career rival or a love rival. (Shirasaki, after all, has a track record of falling for his co-star, a point Yamase humorously makes to Hayama as they commiserate at a bar.) Instead, the writers not only eschew both obvious tropes, they opted to describe a collaborative dynamic between Kuroki and Shirasaki. That choice freshens the plot and adds a great deal of warmth to the proceedings that the series might otherwise have lacked. The way all three support characters and the two leads trade advice on their shared craft makes this series an exploration into the profession of acting. In that aspect, it seems to me that S2 exceeds S1. In fact, not since Double in 2022 has any series about actors offered such an extensive seminar on theories of performativity. Another recurring plot element in S2 is the use of a secret to inject charm. In S1, Hayama’s preexisting crush on Shirasaki supplied the secret. Here, the duo’s clandestine relationship serves the purpose. The actors’ respective managers know the truth, but for al 10 it remains invisible to others around them. (Count that as another tired trope avoided. I am so weary of BL series about entertainers where simply having a relationship creates story tension.) Well, perhaps not completely invisible. One suspects Yamase knows the true score, but he allows the pair the illusion of maintaining their secret.

The most important element in a BL sequel is the romance between the main characters. One reason BL sequels seldom outshine the original is that watching two people court one another is inherently more fun than watching two people undertake the serious labor required to sustain an ongoing committed relationship. My first paragraph reflects this reality, having pronounced S2 less fun and less sweet than the progenitor. Having several times in this review remarked on how the script stunts the growth of the Hayama-Shirasaki romance, I wish to conclude by praising how this version of the story introduces its own brand of sweetness. These two communicate regularly. They look out for each other. They are alert to signs that their partner feels distress. Perhaps such moments are less thrilling than the pursuit inherent to courtship; yet, these are the very comfort actions by which committed couples stay committed. A recurring example of “comfort” arises from the simple salutation with which Hayama greets Shirasaki when the latter returns home from rehearsal every day: “Welcome home.” These words signal to the stressed out Shirasaki that he is safe, that he can relax, that he is loved. This greeting is a small touch in a big series. Yet it warmed this jaded old reviwer’s heart. May we all be so lucky as to have someone welcome us home every day.

Link to my review of S1: https://kisskh.at/profile/8984637/review/369133

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Unfortunately, this drama focused on one of my personal taboos: a person who feels entitled to the love of another. After FL's confession to the clueless object of her affection, ML merely said he thought they were unsuited to one another. He didn't say he hated her or she was repulsive; he wasn't angry, mean, or disgusted—he was taken unaware and was confused and perplexed. After all, she was the girl who had tried to fix him up with another woman. How was he to know she'd had a one-sided love affair with him for four years?

After the unsuccessful confession, FL sexually assaulted the ML, forcibly kissing him and holding him in an armlock. I don't condone this action when done by males; why is it permissible for females? When this didn't change the ML's mind, FL turned into the classic scorned woman, full of anger and bitterness. All the love she'd previously held for the ML turned into loathing.

She should have been fired from the company. Instead, the ML discovered he loved her and began to pursue her. I guess that sullen face grew on him. FL was manipulative, deceitful, childish, and mean-spirited. She continued to be spiteful, contrary, difficult, and disagreeable. ML forfeited his dignity and became her pitiful doormat.

I hate-watched the rest of the drama simply for Miles Wei and Yang Shi Ze's sakes. I realize I'm not the typical romance viewer, so your experience may differ greatly. I'm of the opinion that romance/marriage should be of a balanced nature with respect and power on both sides. No one is entitled to own someone else's heart, and a rejection of a confession (especially when it comes unexpectedly) should be accepted gracefully.

I added an extra star for the MLs.

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