Reviews

Revamp : the undead chaos

I need to start by saying that I'm a broccoli. I really love Bounprem since uwma but...I'm brave enough to admit this was a complete mess.
To get it over with, the acting was okay. I have to say that the "holy trinity" (as I call them), Barcode, Mark and Aun were AMAZING! They were really shining! I loved them. Kay and Stamp were also pretty good. Unfortunately I was not that impressed but neither the acting nor the chemistry on Bounprem. Where did their amazing chemistry go?! (I blame gmmtv for that)
Now to the story :
From the very first episode the editing and story telling was all over the place. So many things happening at once but at the same time the story was not moving.
Many things did not make sense but we were promised an explanation at some point. And that explanation came on ep9. (I was really pissed with many things throughout the story but ep9 was what made my blood boil so I will only talk about that).
So, Ramil went to Pun's memories to search for Feratu. Perfectly logical till now. Ramil walks around and starts changing things... (?!) How is that possible? He saved Pun when he was a child and then again when he was a adult (by Methus). And those changes he made on his memories changed the past (?) somehow. HOW?
Ramil was only walking through memories. He should not have been able to interact with anyone. But not only did he but he also changed the past! This was not a time traveling, this was practically mind reading!! How was he able to do that!? Makes no sense.
From the very first scene they created that mystery around their past encounter and Pun's dreams about Ramil, which was so interesting. I was waiting to see the "big reveal" only for it to make no sense. (And if someone seas "We were seeing the story through Pun's memories", no, that is not true. Pun was SAVED on his memories by Ramil TWICE! That means that originally he would have died!)

The story was a mess from the beginning but I was really expecting a good explanation and I was really open on liking it, unfortunately that never happened. I just got so pissed by that fake time traveling-memory changing thingy. (I'm obsessed with time traveling series so that annoyed me way too much)

Some extra things are the romance that I did not feel. I felt more romance from Pong and Mekhin that Ramil and Pun. Everything happened so fast. How were they in love already in episode 2?


Now I will mention some things that I like because I don't want to be completely negative (even thought I don't like this series, like at all) :

- Barcode. He was a gem on his own.
- The three brothers. Icons.
- Pong and Mekhin's relationship. I wanted to see way more of them.
- the twins were fun.
- The fight scene between Elise and Mariah was pretty cool (on the early eps)

Things I didn't like (because I wanna put my thoughs in order.):

- somehow, minimum chemistry (not Bounprem's fault)
- editing was crappie and all over the place
- Story did not make sense (I just had a rant above)
- Pun was kinda an indifferent character. I wanted more personality!
- Ramil was supposed to be the vampire leader but he was silly (and kinda stupid at times) not a serious bone in him. He was also so in love with Pun from the very beginning which made no sense. I wanted to see them fall for each other. A tragic romance between a vampire and a human.!


Lastly I will talk about the ending. I liked that we were not given the cliche "He turned him into a vampire so that they can live together forever". Entering the painting was smart. But at the same time, isn't it extremely sad? Pun just left his brother, who btw just started having a good relationship with, to go live with his vampire boyfriend.
And tbh after the ending of ep9 they were like a family, all of them. So separating them by making the couple leave to stay in a magic painting, all on their own forever was really... Not it? I just really did not like the idea. (also MekhinPong (whish I would die for) would also have the problem of eternity (they are a couple in my mind) so then what are they gonna do? Go to the painting too?)

Now, the very end was interesting... I SCREAMED when I saw Junior. OMG! And I'll be honest here, I'm sure they were teasing a second season. Did I like this one? No. Would I watch a second season where JuniorMark are the protagonist, MekhinPong second couple and Bounprem cameo? Honestly, hell yes! (don't judge me)

This review is all over the place because my mind is also all over the place now. I would not recommend this series tbh. If you want to watch Bounprem they already have uwma which is a masterpiece (and between us). Honestly, I believe that if this project was not produced by gmm and was made before they got in it, it would be good. Lately, gmm is giving such low quality shows that is making me disappointed (and rather angry because they have so much potential!). Well, that's how I feel. Thank you for reading my rant.

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Boring

First, I'll talk about the performances: Tle and FirstOne: they are far from Denzel Washington or Adam Driver's performances, but I think they didn't compromise and were the best part of this BL.

Keng: just a pretty face making a face like he ate something he didn't like the whole time, wooden performance.
Namping: played the character that gives the story its name, null performance, doesn't know how to show any kind of human emotion, anger, pain, suffering, joy. *He also doesn't know how to kiss, unlike other actors in that company.

Green Ausadaporn: definitely the best performance.

In my opinion, the problem with this BL is that it didn't have enough story to fill an hour-long episode. The character Khen is cursed and needs help to break the curse, but Keng's master character says he won't help for some reasons, which are the famous obstacles of romance stories, and even so, the character remains close to the master doing many nothing and annoying the viewer in the process. Very boring and tedious story. Then at a certain point we discover that they had some connections in past lives, so you wonder, are they together because of their past lives or not? It's the kind of cliché I don't like, it seems that the characters are together just because they had some kind of connection in the past.

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You're Going to Cry

This has already aired.

And spoiler alert!!!!


You have to prepare tissues because you are going to cry... Out of too much laughter 😅

Seasons 1 and 2 are already extra funny but this season is on another level. It's still a great family drama but this season just went over the already overboard comedy.

There's even "scenes" from favorite dramas like Meteor Garden (wahahahaa, I laughed so loud and so hard, my fam was disturbed for real 🤣🤣🤣 you have to watch to know #DaoMingSoOld). Then there's also a reenactment of "A Very Good Girl" by Zhao Ke Chun 😅🤣🤣 I laugh so hard just remembering.

This drama was so effective, you'd neglect the flaws if there's even any. It's easily going to beat a lot of mainstream drama -- it doesn't even seem like a vertical anymore with the budget and screenwriting and the cast -- the CAST!!!

I could not sing any more praises for this series. Their chemistry and dynamics were very effective and everyone was in sync. No dull moments (except for the antagonists) and all the actors (big, small, extras) were perfect for the role (they carried the job so well).

But I hope it's not wishful thinking that there's another season coming 🙏🙏🙏

Frankly, would be watching till the Nth season (around 10, hopefully? 😅🤣 I wish!).

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For Romance and Chocolate Lovers!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

To me, “Romantics Anonymous” delivered in the romance department. But if you are looking for a drama about mental illness, this is not it. The plot is interesting though and that’s why I decided to check it out in the first place.

Plot/Pacing
In typical Japanese fashion, there’s no dragging in the middle of a drama. It’s fast-paced and kept me hooked on all 8 episodes. I am glad that each episode is not 20 minutes long, but close to 50 minutes. There’s a lot to talk about in 8 episodes. First and foremost, the relationship development between the leads from strangers to friends/colleagues to lovers. Then we have their individual challenges in life due to their disorders. Add on to that is a secondary romance plus the whole business plot and a bunch of side characters. There’s a lot packed into 8 episodes. I definitely think the drama can benefit from a few more episodes to flash out all the above plotlines. As the drama goes, it seems to forget about some of the mental health challenges. Due to time constraints, therapy heals you at a super speed. A couple sessions and FL makes dramatic improvement. Being a therapist for your friend is not a good idea and is unprofessional. If you are a mental health professional, you need to suspend belief. Otherwise, this might not be the drama for you. LOL Lastly, everyone commented on the surprising guest roles in the end. It’s interesting, but what’s the point? To promote future Netflix series? Mm….

Romance
I really enjoy watching the two leads bicker and eventually get together. Their romance progression is natural and not rushed. Since it’s called “Romantics Anonymous”, it did spend more time on these two very likeable characters. They have good chemistry and I enjoy seeing how they feel comfortable with each other enough to act normal. Much of my somewhat high rating is because I enjoy watching them so much. On the other hand, the secondary romance is unnecessary. They are a cute pair, but there’s just not enough time in the drama to meaningfully develop this secondary relationship well. I do not think a Love Square is needed. If you take the 2FL out of this Love Square, the story remains the same. But since the drama wants to talk about mental health, their storylines are inserted here.

Acting
Since “Romantics Anonymous” is not an adaptation of a manga or anime, I am happy to see there’s no overdramatic acting. The acting is great and I love that despite FL’s shyness and phobia, it was not overdone. I totally do not recognize Han Hyo Joo in this drama. If I didn’t know she’s Korean, I cannot tell at all. Her demeanor is what I would expect from a Japanese actress. I don’t speak Japanese but her Japanese sounds pretty native to me. I also love the occasional Korean words dropped in this drama and how they use it. This is my first time watching Oguri Shun and I’m crushing on him here. We need to change his MDL profile picture because he looks SOOO much more handsome in “Romantics Anonymous”. I like his portrayal and especially how he acts when he eventually realizes his feelings yet doesn’t and can’t express them. The rest of the cast is not bad either, even down to the small supporting roles.

Production
What a beautiful drama! I love the tasty shots of the chocolate making process and how they’re presented. Japanese really know how to make their food and especially sweets pretty. This is a beautifully shot drama with natural scenery of beautiful lavender fields and gorgeous mountains and rivers. No complaint at all about the production quality here.

Having said all that, I had a great time watching “Romantics Anonymous”. I really like the acting, the main leads, their romance and the beautiful cinematography and chocolates. Even though I complain about the plot, I do think the main storyline of these two broken individuals is interesting. It may not be a solid 8.5 overall but the enjoyment factor deserves an 8.25 from me. I am willing to suspend belief on the mental health part. I recommend checking this short drama out if you can overlook some things.


Completed: 10/24/2025 Review #635

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1950s values - shallow blinded women competing. doormat women doting on stoic parastitic guys

The first few episodes while they are bus conductors are cute and ok and even powerful social commentary. That part shows young ppl putting in effort to move forward in life, and "UglyFriend" as a powerful force in social change and worker's rights. BUT THEN THE CHARACTERS NEVER GROW MUCH IF AT ALL.
After the time gap, this drama went totally trashy and promoted 1950s relationship between YR the doormat and JP the entitled male brat

The ONLy good part was the MrQueen King actor, he was awesome, and Sang Cheol taking Single Mom on a honeymoon and saying he will do his best to bring home a honeymoon baby. And scenes of him and Mr Kim the driver talking about handing off the fatherhood and Mr. Kim peeking at the church. The rest... forget.

The rest was trash - the narcissist JH and her abuse of YR being mean etc, YR as the naive baby girl doormat sucking up to JP, and JP as a robotic poker face using YR and then playing with JH

YR is somehow supposed to be good for being a naive immature doormat who taks cute like a little girl and thinks cute like a little girl and crawls on the floor FOR YEARS to catch any sign of polite and cold kindness of the fat as@ Jae Pil, who finally bestowes his princely charms because he realizes he needs YR as a personal servant for free the rest of his life.

The characater of JH is immature, mean, shallow to the max, and the most disturbing thing is how many of the audience found her charming and angelic and even accused YR of backstabbing her. All the narcissists in the world love JH ....

OVERALL THE DRAMA IS ABOUT TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS THAT DO NOT ADVANCE AT ALL BC PEOPLE DO NOT CHANGE

IT IS HOPELESS
and that is very western. This is Netflix. THe drama is about ordinary toxic ppl doing toxic things and not fixing their messes. It is a study in toxicity. REading the comments and reflecting on the drama should be a required homework for every psychiatrist, psychoilogist and social worker.

THIS IS JUST 10000% TOXIC

and worth watching just to analyze all the shades of it
The acting is good so you get to see how real life plays out

TERRIBLE, DISAPPOINTING, HOPELESS, NO CHARACTER GROWTH, JUST TOXIC, **** DEAD END ****

YR, JH and JP are very realistic toxic characters from real life. And that is why it is so frustrating to watch YET ANOTHER character like that for 12 hours. Nuff already. We saw it all. We see it every day. We do not need to see that anymore! We need to see the solutions.

This drama skillfully and cunningly endorses "1950s" type of people and relationships as commendable, so in fact it promotes the status quo in sexism, catering to men, women competing and backstabing each other for men, shallow ambition of being in a peagant, shallow ambition of waiting around a guy, women not thinking further than their nose, men ennjoying privileges and personal servants for free, etc. This drama could have been set in Goreo or Joseon or before, and it would be the SAME plot.
And that dead-end just stating problems and never showing any hope for any solution is the trademark of western media.
For a piece of art to be truly a piece of art, it has to give some ideas for solutions and has to show some transformation.

This particular drama is useful as a study in toxicity because you can dig through the layers and you can see the comments of the audience and realize the toxicity in the society and the false beliefs.

**** So this drama is useful like a dissection class at the medical school. **** But someone needs to start producing art with solutions, ie. some healing ideas and solutions.

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The female Lead is annoying

Writers ✍️ please stop with making the young woman voice and talking points childish, and a retard.. the female lead comes off as mentally challenged she talk like a 2yr old, the other actor who asked the ex-general to teach her marshal arts barely can talk with her head up, sounding so stupid to ask for something but not bold enough, or brave enough to ask for that clearly how in the hell she suppose to fight enemies lol 😂. I love the male lead, but so far his co female lead is retarded, it seems like she is in elementary at 17years old, unappealing, she is a pretty face but her parts overshadow her beauty , her voice is annoying she is hard to watch, I prefer the clever smart women who can stand on their own and help protect the male, and can beat the other characters with wit, the base of the story has so many great potentials but your writing for the females are horrible and I can tell were this is going just on episode 5 i might skip through it not sure if i can see it through because the female comes of as a retard with annoying voice who needs to be baby, and do not know how to stand up for herself, she just going to let her dad believe she was violated by the male lead, no self esteem, she do not know how to respect the order of love and respect, someone tell her something nice she smiling 😊 about that, she seems to allow her self to get pulled in any direction someone set for her, so unappealing. In real life her character would be a huge turn off, stop the whining pleaseeeeeeeeeee 😩

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rating pity

At the beginning of the story, we learn that the protagonist, Khem, is cursed and, at 21 years old, he will die because a vengeful ghost, Ramphueng, will come to take him and send him to the afterlife. The premise was even good, and I've always liked horror movies, so this isn't an excuse. As the story progresses, Khem asks for help from Master Peen, who soon creates several annoying and irritating obstacles to avoid helping him. So you wonder if the master isn't going to help the khen why does he spend several episodes in the master's hut doing absolutely nothing? Not even the screenwriter must know that.The DMD company tortured the viewer with a boring, irritating, and pointless BL, with episodes almost two hours long, not to mention the terrible acting and lack of chemistry between the main couple. And up until now, I'm still looking for the romance and horror in this story. some dialogues are completely irrelevant, lasting around 10 minutes. I found myself checking the clock multiple times. By the way, this is already the second mistake of the year from the DMD company for me.

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Boring

I just found it very boring. Each week before the episode I'd check to see how long the episode was and I'd have to hype myself up to watch it. But I found myself being distracted whilst watching, going on my phone and watching reels or just responding to messages. I can see why a lot of production companies are switching to Reels format because nobody has the attention span for episodes this long. I think if the episode allowance stretched to 14 episodes and could have been watchable. Or if they couldn't do that, they could have cut A LOT of it down with editing to make the episode duration bearable.

I just felt like scenes were dragged out and the director should have shouted "cut". I don't know how anyone can stare at one another for that long and keep eye contact. It also took so long for the characters to get out a sentence. One of my pet peeves is breaking up a sentence. Throughout the series it was very one note. Peem (Master) was very cold through out. He didn't let up or show much expression. Khem was always this fragile/delicate boy. I didn't feel the romance between the too very much. That emotional connection that Peem really had feelings for Khem and would do anything to protect him. And for Khem it just seemed like he had a crush on the Master but had no real reason to fall for him.

The final ep didn't need to be as long as it was. The resolve/plot was completed in the 40/50 mins. The rest of is should have been a separate special episode. The climax of the plot was very mellow dramatic. When Peem was being surrounded by Ramphueng servants Khem wasn't screaming out in worry for Peem. When Khem was getting whipped by Ramphueng he was screaming out in pain as you would expect when getting whipped. And that's also going back to the episode when Ramphueng was getting whipped. I know she was casting a curse but every time she was being whipped she could have screamed out in pain and in-between she could have carrie do with saying her curse. And Peem wasn't really fighting or objecting when Khem was getting strangled by Ramphueng. It was just all very melodramatic for a climax of the plot.

However, despite my complaints, I think it was a well written story just poorly executed. The special effects were immaculate, the best ones I've seen in a BL. The make up of Ramphueng and her servants were astonishing. And for this is the reason why I'm giving this series a 6. If it wasn't for these it would have been a much lower score and I probably would have dropped it much earlier.

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A Masterpiece!!!

I usually don’t write reviews but I had to come out of the closet for this one. Because Khemjira wasn’t just a show, it was an experience!

This series was absolutely beautiful! from the story to the performances, every single piece came together like magic. It’s rare for a show to feel this complete, but this one truly did.

We were taken on an emotional journey through love, loss, and destiny, and I loved every second of it. Watching Khem’s transformation, a boy born under a deadly family curse, named Khemjira to hide him from fate into someone brave enough to love and be loved was powerful and heartbreaking all at once. The writing handled the supernatural themes with such care, blending mystery, folklore, and romance seamlessly.

The acting was phenomenal. The leads brought raw emotion and chemistry you could feel through the screen. For anyone saying they didn’t see it did we even watch the same show? Their connection was genuine, natural, and breathtaking. The NC scenes were beautifully done: tasteful, emotional, and perfectly balanced.

The production value was next-level from the hauntingly gorgeous lighting during the ritual and temple scenes to the soundtrack that tied emotion into every moment. The OST was stunning (that piano theme still gives me chills), and the visuals were cinematic perfection.

The storytelling never dragged. Every episode revealed something new, layers of love, fear, and sacrifice and by the finale, everything came full circle in the most satisfying way. The ending was poetic and emotional, wrapping up their story beautifully while leaving just enough hope for more. (Fingers crossed for a special episode!!! especially for Chan and Jet! 😭)

This wasn’t just another BL. Khemjira created a new standard for what a well-written, well-produced BL can be ! Emotional, meaningful, and visually stunning. The cast, the crew, the writers everyone did an incredible job.

If you’re scrolling through comments and see negativity, ignore it. Don’t let others dictate your experience watch it for yourself. This is one of the best series I’ve ever seen, and it’ll live in my heart forever. ❤️ It’s not just about romance it’s about fate, identity, and love that defies every boundary. Khem and Pharan’s journey felt spiritual, heartbreaking, and healing all at once. The way the curse, the rituals, and the folklore tied into their story gave this drama a soul. It wasn’t just love it was destiny beautifully told. I’ll be rewatching this one for years, and every time I’ll still feel that ache in my chest when the final scene plays.

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余生有涯 — When Love Stands Strong Through Life’s Hardships

What an absolutely beautiful drama. Light Beyond the Reed isn’t about fake emotions, overdone romance, or unnecessary twists — it’s about something much deeper: love as a religion — a faith built on loyalty, pain, and understanding.

This story shows what real love looks like — love that supports when life is hardest, that stands beside you in silence, that feels your pain without needing words. The husband-and-wife relationship here is one of the most genuine I’ve seen in any drama — pure, mature, and filled with emotional truth. Their bond is tested by hardship and trauma, yet it never loses its warmth or humanity.

The conflict involving the crime was also handled with perfection. The writing never sensationalized it, but treated it with sensitivity and realism. I especially appreciated the portrayal of police officer Lin — a hardworking, determined woman who didn’t just chase justice, but also quietly supported the couple in their healing.

If I have one disappointment, it’s that the rapist should have received the death penalty — his actions were beyond forgiveness. Still, I respect that the drama showed justice being served with a strong sentence of 15–17 years, reflecting how Chinese law doesn’t protect evil criminals the way some other countries, like South Korea, often do in similar dramas.

Overall, Light Beyond the Reed is more than just a love story — it’s a journey through pain, faith, and redemption. Every scene feels like quiet poetry, and every emotion feels earned.

If ratings could express my feelings, this would easily be my first 10000/10.

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A Mirror to Every Self-Righteous Fool — The Tragic Comedy of Mr. Kim

After watching the first episode, I have to say the drama does an amazing job portraying its characters. The writing, pacing, and especially Ryu Seung Ryong’s performance are phenomenal. He plays Mr. Kim with such realism that you almost feel uncomfortable watching him — not because he’s badly written, but because he’s exactly the kind of person you meet in real life.

But despite the drama’s description, I don’t see Mr. Kim as a hero. He isn’t a humble man who lost his way — he’s an arrogant, self-centered individual who hides his jealousy and inferiority behind the mask of “hard work” and “morality.” He convinces himself that only his way of living — serving a private company for a paycheck — is honest, while anyone earning differently must be corrupt or undeserving.

The perfect example is his attitude toward his so-called “jobless” friend who owns an eight-story building. Instead of feeling inspired or happy for him, Mr. Kim mocks and belittles him to protect his ego. His logic is pathetic — by his definition, even shareholders, business owners, or landlords are “jobless,” while he, the obedient salaryman, is the only one living “the right way.”

In truth, Mr. Kim isn’t glorifying hard work — he’s glorifying slave mentality. He worships the system that exploits him and believes serving a company faithfully is some kind of moral virtue. What’s tragic is that he feels proud of owning a flat, yet can’t see the bigger picture — owning a flat isn’t the same as owning land. His juniors, who he looks down on, are already investing in real estate and building wealth, while he’s stuck polishing his illusion of stability. He owns walls, not freedom — a symbol of how small his world really is.

It’s like he’s driving an old Hyundai while his juniors are in Rolls-Royces — a perfect metaphor for how wide the gap has grown between his delusion of success and their reality. One day, when that company he worships kicks him out just like he once kicked his own friend out, he’ll finally see the “real world” he keeps preaching about.

So far, The Dream Life of Mr. Kim isn’t a hero’s journey — it’s a painfully accurate portrait of a man destroyed by pride, jealousy, and blind loyalty to a system that never cared about him in the first place.

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