Reviews

I'm done!

The first 3 episodes worked for me, but then I lost interest. I didn't see episode 4 in full, just shorts, but it was enough to make me not want to continue.

I'm not going to lie, I watched it for Claire, I found her character super interesting, especially as she was introduced in the first few episodes.

I know it's only 8 episodes, but it still felt like they rushed the relationship between Claire and Bell. I would have preferred to long for their intimate interactions rather than receive them on a platter so quickly and suddenly.

I'm just sorry because I was super excited all this time and it didn't end well for my taste.

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At first I thought it was going to be just another reborn story. No, its not. This series is different. Nothing is as you expected but BETTER. Everything, every scene is so exciting. FL is smart, articulate, clumsy, crazy, savage, and kind at the time. I'm not talking silly crazy cute, actually real crazy 🤣. I love this character so much. It really feels like a real person. I also love Qi guniang. I love her craziness at the end. Every character is on point.
It's full of unexpected plot twists and the last one though... gosh I don't know what to feel about the last plot twist. I definitely don't hate it. It's a happy and reasonable ending but it's also somehow so sad. It's very unhinged but not in a bad way. It's overwhelming but in a good way. The night I finish it, I couldn't sleep. I just love it too much.
I know many don't like the last 3 ep, but if wasn't for it, this series wouldn't be this special and stay in my heart like this .

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Pick Your Poison: Perfect Yet Imperfect Beginning, Middle, End

Under the Moonlight is an incredibly nuanced C-drama and may turn some viewers away who are looking for something perfectly sugary. It is utterly imperfect but perfect at the very same time.

The plot was quite simple, but what makes it interesting was its fidelity to the issues of the time. Our FL is a woman who meets obstacle after obstacle due to her position in society. While she does have the privilege of being a female constable, she is not completely exempt from societal pressure and judgement due to her background as a performer. Our MLs (yes, I count both as MLs) are also constrained by the same judgement when they fall in love with FL and attempt to marry her. Between an ML who is gentle but too cautious (due to his position as a magistrate) in protecting FL and an ML who is too naive and reckless but unwilling to let anyone run roughshod over FL, it was really a difficult choice who was the better choice for FL. While they all got their happy end, I still believe that FL should have just stayed single.

The reason I say the drama is imperfect is because of a couple of reasons. FL ends up with her ML though he is not necessarily the best fit for her in terms of personality. The ML who is a perfect match with FL in terms of personality ends up with his fiancee, someone who he initially despises. The villain didn't truly get his just desserts and the smaller villians (those that betrayed and those that contributed to the whole mess) also weren't thoroughly punished. Some were punished off screen and others were whitewashed before they met their end. Believe it or not, our mains did get punished for trying to save the situation which is not uncommon in history. This felt completely unfair, yet at the same time, this was probably the only way that our main couple could have been a couple (again, due to FL's background). As a result, it could be considered a bittersweet (yet also slightly fictional/fantastical end; FL became a merchant out of nowhere, another golden finger) ending to a drama that falls somewhere in between a more serious, factually accurate historical drama and a more beautified, fictional historical drama.

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I seem to be in the minority here, but I really loved Nur. Her performance felt very raw and stripped down, which isn't something that I commonly see in Thai GL dramas. She really made me feel for her character. Bonita has lived a life of poverty and abuse, and she feels as though she has no self-worth. And yet, despite the fact that the universe (and her gambling-addicted mom) seem to be conspiring against her, she's still trying her best to break free from all of this. Bonita goes to college, applies for a scholarship, and even tries to make ends meet by getting a thankless job as a hostess. She feels guilty about having to rely on others (most notably Queen) to help her out, and doesn't just want to settle with becoming a gold-digger.

That being said, it's definitely TK who steals the show. Her screen presence is amazing, and she pretty much owns every scene that she's in. There are a lot of "ice queens" on these Thai GL dramas, but Queen might be my favourite one yet. Despite having a cold exterior, we quickly see that Queen has a heart of gold. She's smart, ambitious, and assertive, and if you're loyal to her, then she'll take good care of you. Whether she remains a CEO or becomes a politician (or pursues a different career altogether), Queen will do great.

The supporting cast was solid as well. My personal favourite was Queen's right-hand man, Sam. Unlike most other bodyguards, he wasn't just a silent character who was only loyal to his next paycheck. He was a good fighter and had a good sense of humour, but the best thing about him was how much he cared about Queen and Bonita, both individually and as a couple.

The story was fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing bad either. Dangerous Queen has one of the best ever finales for a Thai GL drama. Unlike so many other finales, nothing here felt rushed, the villains actually got what they deserved (and one of them even had a solid redemption arc), and it was all wrapped up quite well.

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A boy with unresolved daddy issues and a guy with the emotional availability of a puppy.

Yeah.
Made in BL heaven.
Clearly.
It’s one of those series that tricks you into thinking it’s okay—because you’re too busy sighing and too annoyed to leave. But once the distraction wears off, it’s all downhill from there.

Let’s start with the positives. Not many, but they do exist. The chemistry between the actors is great. The music is great. And… that’s probably it.

There are so many issues I had with this one. The first is that the characters are incredibly bland, with no defining traits that make them memorable. Pheem is manipulative and driven by revenge, and Than is… I honestly don’t know what he is. He’s just the former police officer who somehow becomes the only person capable of forgiving Pheem. Forgiving him everything. Absolutely everything.
Jet is annoyingly spoiled, and most of the time I just wanted him to stop talking.
Risa is… well, if she were a boy, she’d be their father’s true heir, and that’s the whole problem.
Thanet will never win Father of the Year, but I don’t think he ever aimed for it.
I understand why they are the way they are, but at some point, it becomes too much.

The plot was very… very… I don’t even know. It was screaming lakorn the entire time.
I liked the idea of “getting revenge at any cost,” but the execution fell short. It had the potential to be good, but there really wasn’t much substance to this series. If you asked me what the plot actually was, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. There’s a bit of everything—revenge, romance, corruption, a dysfunctional family, rivalry, characters who desperately need therapy… and on and on and on.
It’s just not for me, and it turned out to be extremely difficult to write a summary for a series I thought I liked.

In short: overall, the series was okay, but it definitely had problems. I liked the premise, but the execution lacked. Pheem and Than had some adorable moments, but the show just wasn’t for me. It was fast-paced, and I think others might enjoy it more than I did.

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O BAND-AID ARRANCADO EM FORMA DE DRAMA

Assistir esse k-drama é como arrancar um bandaid de uma ferida;cada momento, desde o primeiro capitulo até o último você sente aquele bandaid sendo arrancado sem delicadeza. Cada momento, cada passagem de tempo, cada suspiro dos personagens é como se fosse o nosso. Se a Vida Te Der Tangerinas é sobre vida, sobre perdas, sobre amor, familia, amizade. Você chora e aprende com eles, você vê neles a sua própria vida passar. Um sentimento próximo foi quando eu ouvi o albúm DTMF do Bad Bunny, eu chorei porque lembrei da minha vó, da minha infância e me senti profundamente conectada com cada letra cantada. A vida deles não era perfeita, mas era cotidiana, era familiar e emocionante em cada segundo.
Parte disso também se deve as atuações. Um elenco de ouro, com atores veteranos e também atores mirins, todos brilhantes em captar o que é o realismo profundo, cru e atravessador de gerações que é este drama!
Ninguém é perfeito, ninguém é completo, mas eu diria que um drama que nos faz chorar, refletir e querer abraçar nossos pais é sim perfeito.

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A Fortune Teller Could’ve Warned Me Not to Watch This..............

I’m really sorry to say this, but this might be the worst JimmySea series I’ve watched so far. I’ve followed this ship for years, so it honestly hurts a bit to admit that GMM totally dropped the ball on this one. I’m even more shocked seeing how high the rating is on MDL, because for me this is easily the weakest BL I’ve seen this year. Everything felt repetitive to the point that even their cute moments started feeling like deja vu. And I truly thought bringing First into the cast would help elevate the storyline… but nope. The plot was messy from the beginning, and it became obvious early on exactly where everything was heading. Knowing the ending before the journey even gets going? Yeah, not fun.

It’s frustrating because the premise had potential, a skeptical ICU doctor forced into hiding after a series of bad omens predicted by his sister’s fortune-teller friend. That setup could’ve been mysterious, suspenseful, or at least quirky in a fun way. But instead, the story leaned way too hard on recycled romance beats and stretched them across episodes that felt longer than they actually were. The actual conflict where the villain pursuing Thap was barely explored, almost like an afterthought. By the time they revealed who the bad guy was, I just sighed because it was so predictable.

And yet… Jimmy and Sea themselves are not the problem. Their chemistry is still there, and they always commit to their roles. I stayed for them, honestly. If it weren’t JimmySea, I wouldn’t have made it past episode two. They did what they could, and they did look great on screen. The little easter eggs and fanservice were cute, but cute moments can’t save a fundamentally weak script.

Overall, this series felt like GMM trying to package something feel-good without crafting an actual story behind it. It’s pretty, it’s soft, and the vibes are relaxing, but it’s also predictable, slow, and kind of boring. I love JimmySea, but I think it’s time to give them fresher roles and a storyline that actually values their acting. This just wasn’t it.

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It's Worth It

If you get to see this, I can guarantee that you will be pleasantly surprised. It was light and funny. The premise was unique in that the consciousness of Heechan interchanged every 12 hours. Taekin's body day and Heechan's by night. Taekin's need of him was to help save him from a narcissistic abuser. Along the way, Heechan fell in love with his old class mate, Min-jae. Previously a loner, it took but a minute for him to recognize what he felt and accept. Min-jae never forgot him.

Their interactions and conversations felt right for them. There is an easy flow between them and it comes across well here. The heavy bits in between didn't feel overly contrived and blended well enough to keep the story moving. The unwanted ex and psycho were inserted and extricated with ease, tho a bit clumsily.

Now to the not so good. 1.5 minute episodes no matter the story will not give seamless fluidity. Yes, the choppiness is there. With a regular series, a break would indicate a necessary switch in mood or tone. Here, with every break, it's a given you don't know what's coming next which at times dimmed the enjoyment. A big plot hole: If Taekin was unconcious after the accident, why would he be in Heechan's home and not the hospital? Why would Heechan have Taekin's old phone? Why wasn't his parents looking for him? It's never explained. These things just are. Yet, I will still recommend it. After Match Play, I would put this second. It was nice.

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A new perspective on how queerness is portrayed in media

Beyond being a simple BL, Our Youth is a great representation of queer people discovering who they are and facing life's problems. I think the way the main couple's relationship is portrayed is one of the most beautiful and well-done representations I have ever seen. With just a few words, looks, and beautiful cinematography, the feelings were clearly conveyed. Although it may seem a little slow at times, the acting and the story make you understand that those moments of slowness are necessary to develop the couple, the chemistry, and the YEARNING that the couple goes through, making it a story that stays in your heart long after. This story not only made me appreciate JBL much more, but it also gave me a new perspective on how queer relationships are represented, even after years of watching BL.

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One Terrible Casting and One Missing Story

The decision to cast the actor who plays Chiaki almost singlehandedly brought the entire show down. That and a missing love story. And no, I’m not exaggerating. Let me explain.

Acting
He can’t act. He has two faces he uses. He can smile which appears a handful of times but the other, much more prominent face, the one you will see him wearing for 97% of this show is one that makes him look like he’s about to throw up or be sick. For every emotion he will have this same face. He’s upset, he looks like he’s sick. He’s frustrated, the same. He’s taken aback, the same. He’s nervous, the same. He’s being flirted with, the same. It doesn’t matter what emotion he is supposed to be portraying, the actor will keep the same facial expression that makes him look constantly ill. I cannot understand or relate to a character when they only have one facial expression. It just made me so annoyed with the character because I was yelling at the screen, “please show some form of emotion.” It made every scene with him frustrating because I knew that no matter what happened, he would react the same way. I genuinely cannot put into words how much this ruined the show for me. It stripped Chiaki of all character traits because he looked the same no matter what he was doing, no matter what he was feeling, no matter what he was thinking. There was no dimension to his character not due to lack of trying from the writers but due to a failure in the acting direction. He became a blank piece of cardboard who looks ill all the time.

Chemistry
Due to the acting choices of Chiaki mentioned above, the chemistry is nonexistent from his side. I will come back to this chemistry thing and their relationship but there was no chemistry between the actors.

Why does AE like Chiaki?
As I listened to AE’s closing speech and confession, I sat there wondering who he was talking about. He described this character who is supposedly Chiaki but was not who I had been watching. This could be due to the acting direction failure and terrible execution in that regard when it comes to Chiaki as all I never ever saw those characteristics AE described in Chiaki. I sat there for a lot of the show thinking to myself, “Why does AE like this guy? What does he offer AE? Why is he attracted to this boring and uninteresting person?” I’m confused as to why in the world AE likes Chiaki. From the characteristics he described I can maybe see him liking that character but there is nothing appealing about the Chaiki I saw on screen. If I cannot understand the character’s draw to their love interest, whether I think they would be good together or not, then you have failed as a love story.

Where is the story part of the “love story?”
I’m gonna be honest, when I was watching AE confess to Chiaki, I learned things about the evolution of their relationship that I didn’t get from watching the damn show. I did not ever see either one of them fall in love. I was honestly taken aback when AE is with his stylist and he claims to be in love. I was shocked because what do you mean you’re in love? I genuinely did not see a transition from whatever feeling he had toward Chiaki to begin with into this love. While watching it I forgot that he had different intentions to begin with because we were never shown him falling in love, they just said he loves him and so my brain corrected their errors and made me think he always liked him. Chiaki and his love for Enaga. What love? He dodges AE’s kiss because he thinks about Enaga and I’m sitting there like, “He made your heart flutter once, that’s all. Do not lie to me and say you’re in love with him!” Chiaki is OBSESSED with AE, okay, he would not dodge that kiss because he wouldn’t even be in that situation if he gave a damn about Enaga in a romantic sense. If he truly liked Enaga, he wouldn’t be trying to run after and accost AE in the street and then have him pierce his belly button (why did he have the tools on hand to do that btw?) and get all close with AE physically there and say those weird things about wanting a reminder of AE on him. No matter how hard you try to convince me, you can’t. Chiaki never saw Enaga as anything other than a friend and work partner. You can’t tell me he fell in love with Enaga at the end of the show and have me believe you when you showed no such thing. For both of these characters there was no falling in love, they just suddenly were in love. AE’s was documented more and we knew about it for a lot longer but Chiaki was just thrown in our face with a 2 second flash back and that was what they considered sufficient.

Their relationship(s)
I feel like the development in both of the versions of their relationships were wildly unbalanced. We were told all about how he felt about AE, the ups, the downs, the obsession, (yes, told, not shown because the acting was a problem) and with Enaga we were shown nothing. By that I mean that the weight put on Chiaki’s relationship with AE was far larger than that put on his relationship with Enaga. Chiaki never told us how he felt about Enaga beyond, “We’re friends and having friends is fun.” Chiaki says he fell in love with Enaga and not AE but no, I don’t believe you. You didn’t give him a second thought when you ran after AE in the rain, okay? You never gave him a second thought, especially not romantically, as far as the narrative is concerned. They focused on the wrong relationship is what I’m getting at.

Final thoughts
I walked away from this having liked the first few episodes until I sat down and realized what I liked was only the end of episode 2 when AE is on that balcony because he looked cool there. So, yeah, a failure of a story. I’m completely ignoring how the power imbalance between them is ridiculously large and they shouldn’t be in a relationship.

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