Reviews

A warm hug.

"Reality itself is powerful enough. All we have to do is capture it."

This is the quote from the drama that resonates with me the most because it perfectly explains why slice-of-life romance is one of my favorite subgenres. There are no flashy CEOs, no fancy mansions, and no over-the-top romantic gestures. Just two flawed and humble individuals navigating life, learning how to love, and trying to become better people — whether it's for each other or for themselves.

Sometimes when characters fall for one another, they get so consumed by their feelings that they lose their sense of self. But that's not the case with Fei Ni and Fang Muyang. Even when their bond grows stronger, they still hold onto their own hopes and dreams. They stay true to who they are at their core. Even when sacrifices are made, they aren't done at the request of the other. When one fumbles, the other shoulders the burden. When one succeeds, they both celebrate. They are equals. Each other's biggest fan. Their romance is slow-burn, sweet, and most importantly? Healthy. Sun Qian is so natural and bright as Fei Ni, it's like she was actually born in this era. Arthur Chen is so captivating and wholesome as Fang Muyang, I can't help but admire his charms. I adore these two actors as much as I adore their characters. But don't let my praise for the leads fool you. Despite its title, Love Story in the 1970s, this is more than just a love story.

Plain and muted-color clothes, government-issued ration coupons, rustic and cramped homes — the drama doesn't just look like it's set during the Cultural Revolution in China, it feels like it too. It touches on the hardships that many people faced during this time period and highlights the dangers that come with being an outcast in society. To conform is to blend in. To stand out is to make yourself a target. And somehow, following the rules doesn't always promise you safety. You can see the desperation and stress over the scarcity of goods, limited housing, and financial instability in the characters' eyes. You witness the hard choices some have to make for survival, and see how some are willing to throw away their morals, or even swallow their pride, to secure a place at the table. Every single character exists outside of their connection to the leads, and even when I don't always agree with the paths they take, their actions are always aligned with who they are as characters. They feel authentically alive.

It isn't always sunshine and rainbows, and yet, this drama feels like a warm hug. I usually struggle to keep up with ongoing cdramas because of how quickly they release new episodes, but for this one, I was glued to my screen daily. I was addicted. The storytelling is compelling, and the only complaints I have are that the antagonists are too good at getting under my skin. For someone as picky and easily distracted as me, that's a great problem to have, isn't it? That's how you know the entire cast and crew created a masterpiece. From the writing to the directing to the production to the acting — everyone managed to deliver a story so full of heart and consistency that even I couldn't find things to nitpick.

This slice-of-life romance reminds us that we are defined more by our resilience than our setbacks, and we can overcome anything as long as we have each other. Hope might give us the courage to keep going, but hard work takes us further in life than anything given to us for free. Is it preachy? Yes. Is it cheesy? Also yes. But it's the kind of story that leaves you feeling good inside, and we need more of that in this world. I highly recommend!

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Let me put my 2 cents in...

So...I had initially thought it wasn't going to be good. Idk why to be honest. Anyways, with it only being 9 episodes, I was like--might as well push through. Here's the good and the bad:
Good:
1. Acting wasn't bad. I liked pretty much everyone, especially after the first episode.
2. I liked the fact that our main leads were able to date around despite liking each other. It isn't realistic to me (all the time) that you would deny having feelings for someone and actively avoid dating them, but not date other people.
3. They had a lot of life events--everything didn't go perfect for them. They had moments of doubt in themselves, anxiety surrounding the future, and hopelessness. None of our characters were perfect. Sometimes they were wrong and other times they were right.

Bad:
1. So many life events happened that I got anxious. While it added a touch of realism, since there were only 9 episodes everything felt a lot.
2. Sometimes I was unable to keep up with what year we were in. Their phones never changed, their hairstyles never changed...so it was easy to keep them pretty present. Like, I knew years were passing, because things would happen off screen in the pieces of the year we didn't see..but there weren't always clear moments.
3. Also... their two friends were so annoying. I did not care about them. Please, no. Like I was so bothered when they would pop up.

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WORST KDRAMA EVER

Idk even know where to begin. My bf and i love the movie "life as we know it" and in general i love kdramas so when i saw our universe and they have a similar plot i was so excited. THIS HAD SM POTENTIAL and everything went down the drain. Im only giving this drama a 2 bc of the uncle and woojoo but other than that no. Atp i should the writer and director should quit. Worst story ever. They couldve just followed the plot of the movie they didnt even prolong the love triangle there?!?! What is it with kdrama family dramas and forcing love triangles bruh. This story is supposed to have much more depth to the leads going through grief together, figuring out their new life with their nephew.. NOT THE FL FLIRTING AROUND W HER BOSS. The aunt who wanted custody doing nothing and the uncle who didnt want custody doing EVERYTHING like make it make sense. Like how are u gonna salvage the last few episodes if theres no relationship built upon the fl and ml...atp just choose the sl because they had more progess lmfao. Such a wasted storyline and kdrama. It was bae in hyuks chance to show his main lead potential with a good storyline after cheer up.

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Okay Secret Love story.

I watched this drama years ago. Personally i quite hardly liked campus drama, but this drama was quite decent even not the level that make me obsessed like usual CP ship drama. The plot is smooth, the pacing is tight, the filters are natural, the costumes and props are fitting, the background music is OK, the dialogue is original, and the cinematography is delicate. The actors' acting skills and looks are both on point, the characters are well-developed, and the contrasts are striking. FL is a gentle and reserved academic high-achiever, with a delicate and sensitive mind, hiding a secret crush that has continued since high school.

FL records her feelings ML in her diary. Seemingly timid, she will do her best to get closer to him and attend the same university. When faced with favoritism, she will reveal undisguised joy and shyness. ML appears to be a carefree and unrestrained "one-night stand" god, but in reality, he is devoted and deeply affectionate. Seemingly indifferent to everything, he secretly pays attention to FL. No angst included in this drama. The supporting characters are also excellent, such as the considerate best friend.

Recommended to watch if you like secret love story.

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Timeless show, IMO

The first two and the last two episodes were my favorites. I think I cried every time the two mothers were on screen. It was just so heartbreaking because they both loved the same child, and it was cruel when they had to part ways. The foreshadowing as the show developed was incredible. For example, Eun Soo once said she was not truly their daughter because she thought she looked different from them. Later, she said she would have to die before Joon Suh did, and we all know how that turned out.

I was never fully sold on the main love story, and I still wish she had chosen Tae Seok. I like to believe that in her final moments she did have feelings for him. I did cry when Joon Suh insisted on dying together with her. It all ended in that same spot, which completely changed the trajectory of Eun Soo’s life and their family. Also, no one can convince me that their love story was not incestuous. I cringed at every one of their scenes, especially their kiss scene, sorry not sorry.

The soundtrack was amazing. I loved it. For some reason it reminded me of autumn and really captured the essence of the show’s title.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed that we never really got to hear Shin Ae’s perspective. It is ironic because she had a lot of screen time during her teen years but far less as an adult. In fact, some of the supporting cast had more screen time than her.

I am pretty sure I watched the cut down and edited version. Most legal streaming sites apparently shaved off five to ten minutes per episode, so it made the show feel less cohesive in my experience. I tried my best to find an unedited version, but aside from Blu rays, which would take days to ship to my area, there were no options.

If you were to watch this now, I would recommend blurring or skipping some scenes, as certain plot /dialogues are quite questionable. And to be fair, in its time, it was the trend/norm i guess..

Overall, I had a fun watch and really enjoyed the show.

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Folks, are you cherishing the small moments in your life?

➥ First Impressions
Sometimes a drama doesn’t need grand twists or dramatic conflicts to leave a lasting impression. A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You is simplicity at its best - just like the words in its English title, it is truly calm and beautiful. If you enjoy soft, slow, gentle love stories - especially awkward or shy first-love dynamics - this one absolutely deserves a spot on your watchlist. I also have a soft spot for wartime stories, which is another reason this drama had been on my watchlist for quite some time.

➥ A Story About Finding Joy in Small Moments
Set in Japan during 1936-37, with the looming shadow of war in the background, the drama quietly depicts everyday life - particularly the lives of families connected to the navy. At first, I did struggle a little with how women were portrayed, mostly limited to housework and domestic responsibilities. As a modern viewer, it felt uncomfortable initially. I also wasn’t completely sold on the male lead’s expressions in the beginning; at times they felt a little exaggerated. However, as the story progressed, I realized that these small issues mattered less because the emotional core of the drama lies elsewhere. At its heart, the story is about learning to cherish the small things in life, especially when the future feels uncertain.

➥ Two Love Stories, Two Different Dynamics
The drama presents two romances, each with its own charm.

The main love story follows two introverted individuals brought together through an arranged marriage. The husband serves in the navy, which means he is often away for long periods of time. Despite the distance, the unfamiliarity, and their shy personalities, the couple slowly begins to understand each other. What starts off as awkward and hesitant gradually grows into something warm and comforting. Their relationship becomes a quiet safe space built on patience, respect, and unspoken affection.

The supporting couple, on the other hand, brings a completely different dynamic. One character has no desire to marry, while the other is a charming casanova who believes women are only interested in him because of his family name and face card. Their interactions feel like a playful clash of values and personalities, yet their story unfolds into something surprisingly mature and adorable. Even with limited screen time, their romance is incredibly endearing.

➥ The Beauty of Quiet Storytelling
Beyond the romances, the drama also highlights themes of family bonds, friendships, and sibling affection. With war looming in the background, the characters face uncertainty and worry - yet they continue to live their daily lives with resilience. The storytelling here relies on small gestures, quiet moments, and unspoken understanding. There are very few grand romantic declarations, but the affection between the characters feels deeply genuine and heartfelt.

One scene that stayed with me is when the main couple creates a handmade board game using milestones from their own daily lives. Watching them add what might seem like mundane moments - yet seeing the pages fill up quickly - was incredibly touching. It was a simple but powerful reminder to appreciate the small joys in everyday life.

➥ Overall Thoughts
Watching this drama feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket or sipping a comforting cup of tea. It’s gentle, soothing, and quietly emotional. Another drama that gave me a similar feeling was Barakamon, so it was really nice to find something that captured that same warm, peaceful atmosphere again.

The story doesn’t rely on shocking twists or over-the-top drama. Instead, it focuses on small, meaningful moments - and somehow leaves you smiling long after the credits roll. Sometimes we simply need stories like these. And for that reason alone, I would definitely recommend giving this drama a watch at least once.

P.S. I have a soft spot for themes of fireflies. It started with the song by Owl City, and then of course the anime works Grave of the Fireflies and Hotarubi no Mori e. Both had sad endings, so I was a little apprehensive when fireflies started appearing in this drama. Thankfully, it all ended beautifully 😅

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A good story turns into complete garage by a lot of cliches

Generation to Generation" is a classic case of highbudget production being wasted on a script that feels like it was written by an AI recycling old tropes. While the aesthetic is beautiful, the actual experience of watching it is deeply frustrating and irritating.
Lets talk about drama
Story and romance:The writing is the biggest letdown. The romance is built on the most tired cliches imaginable. We are stuck in a loop of the female lead (FL) leaving the male lead ML because she "can't leave her family," followed by inevitable, repetitive reunions that lose all emotional impact by the third time it happens. The writer seems to have no idea how to develop a relationship beyond these circular conflicts.

The "Obsessed" ML Trope: The show falls into the trap of making the ML an "obsessed freak." It’s a trope we’ve seen a thousand times, and here it’s handled poorly. What’s worse is the FL’s complete lack of reaction; she doesn't seem to care about his behavior, making their dynamic feel hollow and unrealistic. Throw in a forced, unnecessary love triangle, and you have a romance that is more exhausting than endearing.(Some people called it cute you might be one of them if you think its cute)it was annoying and irritating (fl was loved by her family and ml was constantly pull strings without her nothing ofc she not gonna believe him but it was happening again and again instead of cute it turned into garage

Acting: The actors do their best with the material they are given. Zhou Yiran and Bao Shangen have visual chemistry but even their talent can't save a script that gives them nothing new to work with. idk why tf bao and zhou yi ran even choosed this script
Ost:The OST is actually quite good and manages to create a mood that the plot fails to sustain. It’s the only part of the show that feels "good"
Final :
If you like looking at pretty costumes and listening to a nice soundtrack while ignoring a nonsensical, trope-heavy plot, you might get through this. Otherwise, the "obsessed" ML the chopped editing and the repetitive "I must leave for my family" cycle make this a skip.

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Stalkers and Mindreaders V2

The inherent problem with watching a remake of an adaptation because you want to watch the "remake", is that comparisons will be commonplace. Yes, maybe it's my fault for watching it because it's a remake, but curiosity + simping = bad decisions.

And if you've watched The Boy Next World (TH), you'll know what I'm talking about when I say this isn't really a story that you watch and go °wow°
The story is pretty bad, you're thinking plot twist but beneath all that it's just lousy writing. Yet, the wonderful thing about remakes is that you can everything that the adaptation did wrong, right. In this case, it's definitely the story. And it's so funny how they chose to keep in every bit of the trash writing that was in the Thai drama, not even toned down, just reduced in runtime.

Every single plot point is exactly the same, I was hoping they would make some changes, but except for the single one at the very end of the series, zero. By doing that, and reducing the runtime, they had to cut something out and the thing they chose to cut hurt me deeply. Because it's important to remember that the main couple in this series are kind of.. eh. They're not bad (I'll get to why later on), but I'd very much argue that in terms of dynamics, the second couple are so much better. And because I'm a simp, everyone will have to believe me when I say Jin was objectively the best character in there. Come on!

In the remake, they drastically cut down on his role in the story and the screentime my sweet cloud prince and his "Tiger" got was ridiculously low. The remake just lacked - and I can't believe I'm saying this - the charm of the Thai adaptation. Charm is a stretch but we get the point. It felt very lackluster, for the reasons above but mostly because of the following one.

The chemistry? The reason Cirrus and Phu worked for me was because of the chemistry between Boss and Noeul. Without that, well. It's basically this. Again, the leads here do have chemistry, but I'm missing the easy flowing one. That also extends to the interactions with their respective friend groups, each other's friends, etc. Even the interactions with the "villains" felt so bleh.

That's where we circle back to the story, because I think cutting down what I would usually consider "filler", actually made me like it less. The heart and the humour of the Thai adaptation was missing here, that one was equally egregious, but I had so much fun with it.

The Boy Next World is definitely not at the top of my recommendations list, but I would say my preference is the Thai drama. Objectively, this one for the concise story and okay chemistry, Thai drama for good chemistry and an expanded story, and not at all if you're not really looking for a story that's going to leave you with more questions than answers.

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Romance done right!

With a lot of heart and humour and without the usual drawn out misunderstandings.

The ML steals the show for me as he shows much more range in this role and pulled it off all beautifully! FL was good but her long fingernails were a bit of a distraction for me.

I love it when a story can give me few little extras that I haven’t seen before, like the second FL, doctor and little mute girl.

So glad to have a nice happy ending that did not seem too abrupt.

Note: The OST reminds me of Love Between Fairy & Devil - both the singer and the way the music crescendoes dramatically in a nice way.

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Perfection!

This series completely flew under the radar. I am so disappointed in myself for not reviewing it when it came out, for this happens to be one of the better BLs to come out of Taiwan in a very long time. I loved this series. It completely captured me. Its screenplay, the story itself, and the acting are all top-notch. Ironically, this story is as old as the hills. Full of cliché and tropes, it was all put together in a compendium that was smooth, polished, and so entertaining. Its story flowed, made sense, and was performed with complete conviction and integrity. Not just with the protagonists but also with the astonishingly brilliant child actors who played the younger protagonists with such charm and foundational integrity. We literally get to ‘see’ how the younger protagonists got to become their older selves. The supporting characters are also very sublime. A few even have quirky personas that gave this series an extra kick of spiciness. The ebbing and flowing of the development of their relationship are all based on circumstances that make complete sense and are so relatable to what happens in our own life. This is one of the most joyful, captivating, emotionally rich and gratifying BLs to come along in a very long time. Not in a Pollyanna fashion but in a frank and appurtenant fashion making it feel that a gay relationship can be ‘normal’.

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