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Pinoy Ares
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RUSTED SPOONS
The biggest flaw of the story is giving out way too many golden spoon, it kind of reduced the importance of an otherwise powerful selling point.I will be honest. This is the first Yook Sung Jae series that I have completed (I tried his last show but i cant get past the second episode). This guy is handsome and has the acting chops to boot. Here, as Lee Seung Chun, he caught me in his trap from the very first episode. Something about his pain from being born poor felt effective and believable, and you want him to get out of his desperate situation even if it means somebody else will suffer in his place. As a viewer you'd want to give him the best too.
To be rich, he has to take the place of Hwang Tae Yong, who at first, seems like a despicable character. After a few episodes he managed to switch places, unfortunately for Seung Chun, it is not all greener on the other side as he found out that even the rich Tae Yong has his own personal challenges and demons of his own. Even more unfortunate for Seung Chun, Lee Jong Won's good performance as the new Seung Chun is even better than the original, that you cant help but root for him even more than Sung Jae.
Golden Spoon has managed to convey the rich versus poor comparison very well, albeit, they showed it in a way that poor is synonymous with good and rich is synonymous with evil.
We later found out that there was not only one but quite a few of these golden spoons, which, like I said in the beginning, kind of reduced the importance of the show's most powerful selling point. It felt like a lazy attempt to build the show's tension, to the point that when the last spoon user was revealed, it didnt have the imapct they hoped to create and my eyes just rolled up too high thought it left my skull. It was a waste of cameo from Na In Woo.
Has anyone noticedbhow the seemingly good hearted granny selling these golden spoons is nothing but a creepy Rumpelstiltskin-like character. She just doesn't give a sh*t if the spoon destroys lives, just as long as you buy the spoon. I would have wanted to see her true evil colors, and that she gives all those who used the spoons get what they deserve in return, which comes to that ending that I hated - Seung Chun should have been punished (or at least got the karma he deserved) but instead he got out almost unscathed and looks like he will manage to win the girl after all.
Overall, im still giving it an 8 out of 10. Would i rewatch? Probably not, although Im looking forward to seeing more of Yook Sung Jae and Lee Jong Won's other works.
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This review may contain spoilers
Have you ever watched a show that made you feel like you are a dirty pedophile? If not, and if you are looking for one, then this one is for you!Before anything, lets talk about the good things:
1.Newyear and Jur's King and Burger. Newyear somehow reminded me of a young Ohm and Jur's obvious over acting is endearing. I think the series will have a more positive reaction had they made them the focus of this show.
2. Is there a number 2?
Truth be told, I cant tell how anyone behind the show thought this was a good idea. This series is so reminiscent of the director's past works- Make it Right and What the Duck, but it seems like they never learned their lesson and instead amplified what people hated from those shows. Now lets talk about the not so good things:
1. The story. Cramming so many things within a 6 episode show is just too much, plus you really cant tell what the show is about. Is it a love series? Is it a murder mystery series?
2. Just like Love Sick 2, they managed to add another 2 of the most annoying characters ever on a tv show. There's no need to explain why Bookko's teacher is so despicable. And there's Mint's Pakaiwan. Also, special honorable mention to Ning's Pimtha, because
3. I really dont understand why some showrunners are so intent on making girls the villains in a boy-love series. Adding hate-able female characters doesnt automatically make viewers accept boy-love, if anything, its just lazy writing.
4. Speaking of lazy writing- this one seems like a mash up of a few other shows but is much more poorly executed. It is quite obvious that Burger King's story is derivative of Kieta Hatsukoi and there's an abvious attempt to make this into an Agatha Christie show.
5. I mentioned earlier that this show can make you feel like a dirty pedophile - the short shorts (it somehow felt like shorter shorts from Make it Right) is just too much and way too distracting. There was also quite a lot of disturbing shirtless scenes. I remember i was cringing during that scene when King removed his shirt and is trying to strip Burger - they obviously doesnt have what it takes to do that mature scene (they look like naked 10 year olds with those tiny bodies) but to force it does not look sexy, at all.
6. Bigboss' permanently constipated puppy sad look face. No matter what scene he is in, its the same sad face.
7. If they're planning season 2, which we all know is coming despite all the company's drama, I sincerely hoped they kept Pakaiwan dead because we dont need to see her anynore.
What's sad is there are hints that this could be a much better show. Overall, if you lower your expectations, it is still watchable and because of Burger and King i will give it a 6 (and also because i hate giving lower than that). Skip if you can only watch a few shows a week and save your viewing time for something much better.
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DISENCHANTED
The moment it was revealed who the mysterious Enchante guy is, the show started going down the drain.Quick recap. Theo's granny died so he went back to Thailand to be with his family and continue his study. Hoeever, he found life is too boring, it is in fact too boring that while at the library, he decided to write on a French book in the hopes that someone will write him back because, why not? He is the star and people still go to the library nowadays, right? If you ask what are the chances that a Thai guy will read a French book in a library? It is very high, very high indeed. It was so high, that 4 most gorgeous campus guys took credit of writing him back as Enchante. The end.
Oh, wait.
The show started out ok, the first few episodes were engaging, and the connection between Akk and Theo is just full of goody cuteness. And then they had to go there - what was promoted as the selling point of the series was actually its weakest point. 3 of the 4 campus heartthrobs are shown as creepy stalkers, and were later revealed to be up-to-no-good delinquents and opportunists. Whats worse, in what the makers thought was the best twist of the series, they revealed that Enchante was in fact Theo himself! its as if, at that point, he isnt too self-absorbed enough. I could understand (a little bit) that he wanted Akk to be jealous, but to let the lie go on for that long is just downright egomaniac and borderline sociopath.
Ill be honest, by episode 4, i got tired of the story and even forget there are new episodes still to come. The Enchante reveal left a really bad taste in my mouth and unfortunately things got even worse after that.
I also dont understand how the show managed to lose what little chemistry Theo and Akk have at the beginning, and how almost all the characters become un-lovable by the end. Even the proposal scene at the finale was shot so poorly behind that too-obvious fake Paris background, and I just cannot feel anything from the actors by that point as any trace of their little chemistry is gone.
When the credits rolled i was just glad that its over, and hopefully the next Friday GMMTV series can live up to their better brothers.
Will i recommend? No. Was it worth the watch? Not really, it felt like a waste of time. The only consolation is Force, cause he reminds me so much of Tay Tawan, and i think he deserves to get another shot. And please, by the love of god, give Fluke Gawin a main role.
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ON REPEAT PLAY! WHAT A SATISFYING ENDING To a Fantastic Series
I have to stop myself screaming while watching the finale, my sister was telling me Id wake up the whole neighborhood. Yes, Im an old guy and I screamed like a 15 year old high school girl.Even after watching the finale for the 5th time, i still feel the same way when i watched it the first time. I have never been so happy for characters in a show, and i have never been this attached to a show - im addicted!
Also, I have never been prouder for a Filipino content like i am proud of this one - ample plot, smart and timely dialogue, and above all - amazing acting from amazing actors.
After watching tens (if not a hundred) BL series, it is such a good change to see one which is not setup in a school or a universiry. The idea of social media style cinemathography is not original but was geniusly utilized here. Who knew that this idea of a love story in this time could work so well and has added to the viewers eagerness and excitement whenever the 2 characters meet. Also, what an amazing writing!
Elijah and Kokoy are both a revelation. I specially liked their little nuisances and quirkiness - its really like watching two real life gay guys and not straight guys playing gay characters. And i really really love the idea that the 2 lead characters are flat out gay and not straight guys suddenly realizing they like a guy. You see, gay characters can be good too, if it is written properly. Adriana is also such a breath of fresh air as Pearl, she is such a beautiful and lovable character, i kept seeing myself in her shoes. I just love her.
I am amazed that a small production outfit can come up with this amazing series. It is so.much better than all the shit that you on primetime TV. I am genuinely interested to see the other works of the director and/or writers.
I hope this series finds a wider audience cause they deserve it, and im really glad and cant wait for the spinoff and the season 2.
Again this is an amazing BL series , maybe one of the best BL series not just from the Philippines but from all over. Thank you so much for this.
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SHORT AND SWEET
Four (technically five) short easy to watch, fun and sweet episodes.I enjoyed every minute with Sky and James although i have to say that the time spent with the girl characters to provide comic relief were all wasted - time that could have been better spent in further developing the 2 leads' love story.
However with that said, even though i am left wanting to see more, i still feel like the story of James and Sky is complete enough and i am glad they didnt leave any unfinished story. This is a good series and i felt like my heart was lifted after the last episode.
Kudos to the team and to the actors. Overall rating 8.0.
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Off really looked like a matinee idol here, and Gun is such a believable actor. And that train scene?!
No cheesy high school-like scenarios. The story and the lines are well written for the age of the characters. Thoroughly enjoyable. This is the first Thai BL so far that i wished there were more than 12 episodes, i almost didnt watch the last episode cause i didnt want it to end.
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GREAT ACTING IN A PAINFULLY SLOW SERIES
If they made this a short series with 6 to 8 episodes i would totally eat this show. The painfully slow and repetitive execution has wasted talented new actors.The very good: the characters and the acting. I just love everyone, I think there was a treasure of character here that could have made the story so much richer. Add to thr fact that eventhough these are relative newbie actors, they all acted so naturally.
The so-so: the story. Started with a good overall plot, and then it became boring. And then they gifted us with Pangs couple, and then they bored us with it too. And then that final act - stretched in 4 to 5 episodes.
The really bad: the execution. For the love of the forces above, who gave them the idea that its fun to watch a series of about 14 20-minute episodes where there was almost nothing new happening every week. Waiting for episodes weekly is painful but for it to be uneventful was like torture. Adding salt to the injury is the unending reuse of footages disguised as mystery revelations but is just there to explain what actually happened as if viewers are kindergartens. Long intro, then a recap, then the repetitious episodes as if the recap isnt enough and then the long outro - you can just imagine how much time is left for the new content. If they transformed it into a mini series with about 6 to 8 episodes they could have given us a very solid series.
Will i rewatch- of course not, why would i subject myself to the pain again.
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ITS JUST A GAY BUSINESS
This is a trap - a Business Gay Performance, and im a sucker cause I fell for it.As a KPOP fan, i loved the concept. Also, as a KPOP fan, i felt disrespected.
Like some of the other Korean BLs out there, i dont know why they couldn't just add maybe 5 or 10 more minutes in each episode to make the story a little bit more cohesive and enjoyable. Its such a waste cause there are so many hints that this could be a good show.
Its the story of an idol Eden, being selected and paired with Jihoon to be in a duo, What 's unique is that they are marketing the group as a gay lover - supposed to be just a business concept, only for the pair to really fall for each other.
There are too many characters and too many subplots but everything felt rushed. They spent so much time with the antagonist, when they could have used that time to build up the chemistry between the main leads and show us when or how the two exactly fell for each other. In episode 7 and 8, i kept checking the runtime cause it feels like the show is just rushing to go to the end and yet I still havent seen what I wanted to see between the 2 leads. Unfortunately as i feared, the show ended too soon without giving any satisying ending. This is a problem with translating a 40-chapter webtoon into an eight 15-minute drama.
It is such a shame really cause the leads are very charming - and Nine kept reminding me of a young Seo Kang Joon. They were both amatuer-ish but they both did enough to be likeable. a few times I was on the verge of really caring about their characters but the show just didnt show enough to make me really reach that level.
I wont forget that cringy scene in the plane where they were both holding hands and sleeping head to head with a smile on their faces looking so uncomfortable when they both could very well be sleeping comfortably in that cushy business class seats even if they were holding hands.
From the onset it felt like a small project conjured up to promote the idol group. The "Business Gay Performance" using homosexuality as a concept was a little bit offensive if you think about it and at first i was thinking they were trying to mock and expose it, but by the end I felt even more ashamed of myself for being a fool and falling for it, even though they were clearly saying FROM THE BEGINNING that this is a Business Gay show and nothing more.
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WHAT THE F*CK!
What the Duck should have been titled What the F*ck!This whole series is filled with a lot of 'what the freaking f*ck' moments.
I had high expectation for this series, after all its only one of the few that's not set in high school or university. In paper, that should have been a refreshing change, but instead what we get are bunch of cliches and annoying characters all rolled into one annoying series. Let me break it down by the shows couples (or triple).
First is Pop and Mo and Oat. Pop is a vain and an obviously gay guy but with a mustache of a martyr gf in Mo, who followed him in his dreamjob which he failed to get so he went for a catering job instead. This is where he met this despicable guy Oat, and because this is a BL series, of course he would fall for Oat even if nothing about this guy is worth adoring - not even a dose of redeeming quality. The fact that he dropped Mo's ass like its nothing and chose Oat is just a lazy storytelling.
Second is Pree and Rambo and Pent. These 2 (err 3) are so sexy and their sex scenes are just so hot that i wished they just made this series a soft porn movie with these 3 and remove all the other things, then id rate it a 10. Alas, they just have to give these guys speaking parts but all i can remember Pree and Rambo did was cry, cry and cry. I should mention that this couple ended their relationship because Rambo was supposed to marry this girl and Pree was so self-righteous that he cant see beyond his reasons. But then later, it was revealed that he was still inlove with another guy and is willing to pusue/steal it from his sister! And then he got the audacity to be more pissed off when he found out that Rambo had sex with other people while they were broken up. See i told you another 'what the f*ck'!
Third is the 3 stoogees. Like honestly, do they need these 3 stupid guys just to drive the plot? Their attempt (and the show's) to be funny always ends flat and these guys are really just annoying and nuissance. After watching the first two episodes, it took me months to move on to the next episode because i am just so annoyed by these 3 (and those bitchy flight stewards) that the thought of continuing watching this series just made me cringe everytime.
Did i mention that Pop is ready to give up on his dreams just because of a guy?
It is also worth mentioning that sitting through 20 friggin long episodes is just so hard to do because nothing really happens throughout. They could have condensed it to 6 or 8 episodes without losing its essence. Oh, and they left Season 1 without really finishing any storyline, meaning they are forcing you to sit through another 8 episodes which to be honest, is just so hard to do (Im trying and i really cant even finish season2's first episode after 6 tries)!
Ok, i already said way too much and i can probably say a whole lot more bad things about this series, and i guess no one would read this anyway, but if you are, and you are thingking of watching this, do yourself a favor and stay away. Just watch a rerun of Love of Siam.
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It is just one of the many 'what the f' moments, and there was a lot.
First the story - a love story with a supernatural twist and that's what brought me to the series. It was slowly setting up the mistery and then midway i felt duped into watching the show - the supernatural elements was so scarce (or was intentionally dialed down) that you almost dont feel it. To add to the insult, none of that was explained, not in the tiniest bit. The writers are just taking the viewers for a ride and they think you'd be ok with it. Seriously, more on that in the end of this review. Also, the way people grieve for their dead in the series is just over the top, its as if their love ones died just recently when the fact of the matter is, both featured loved ones died at least 5 years before the present time.
Second, the characters. Runway is pretending to be an angel but a user in real life. Dream is a perverted being. Guide is a 'confused' gay guy with a mustache. Yim is, i dont know what Yim is, you take advantage of him and he will say thank you. Yaimai is a martyr pretending to be a mean girl. Good may be the only good one here. Elle is a shapeshifting homecrasher/homewrecker demon. Oh there's also a rapist and a crazy mother. Did i mention 5 of them are in a love pentagon?
I do appreciate that they tried to do a series without any real antagonists and that comflicts and complications were the result of the characters acrions rather than creating fake bitches and villains.
The pacing was so painstakingly slow where in some episodes nothing really happens and then they just insert one small moment to tease the audience. Its like they had a story in mind and then the producers had a brilliant idea that this series can go on for three seasons and instead of thingking of new twists to the plot they just decided to cut their story into three parts and stretched the middle part into these 12 very long episodes. Yes this is the middle part because apparently from the teaser there is SUPPOSED to be a next season which is going to be a prequel of some sort. Whats worst, like i mentioned earlier, is when you realize in the end that nothing will be resolved and explained after very slowly building up the events, not even a single happy ending. To add salt to the injury, it looks like there is no more second season so yeah full marks for leaving all the stories hanging and bailing on the viewers.
I finished the series screaming to the telly "what the effin f**k?"
Stay away from this one. Dont even think about trying it. I wasted my time to see it so you dont have to waste yours. You are warned.
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Season 1 was fun and engaging, this one is just a snoozefest - i cant remember how many times i dozed off while watching the entire season. This whole season is a continuation of season 1 which could have been done in 1 or 2 episodes. Scenes in each episodes are stretched far too long, just boys trying to be cute, with zero sense to what they were saying and doing.
There were so many things to hate:
1) almost all students in this boys school are gay with very few straight characters who dont even matter;
2) gay teacher who engages in online chat with student;
3) forced coupling (lukmo and yok);
4) oversexed high school student (book and frame);
5) i thought the jean issue would never end;
6) inconsistent characters (Nine, Rodtang, Fing)
7) absent parents who allow high school kids to live on their own with almost no supervision, parents who let other people care for their kid in the hospital, and those parents who are present but were mostly annoyance;
8) did i say the whole season was stretched far too long, the pacing was so slow, there were so many filler moments and just boys staring and sweettalking to each other that doest add to the whole story. By the end of this series, im also almost annoyed with the 2 main leads.
Just run away, skip this series. Just read the plot summary and be done with it, no need to torture yourself by watching this.
Im only giving this an overall 5.5 just because Ohm and Boom are so cute.
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The story started out strong and there is good development throughout up until episode 8. There were less noticable cliches than other Thai BL dramas like too much unnecessary 'classmates seating together in the bench with irrelevant conversations' scenes. This is not a teenybopper show and the sexiness has even surpassed the first season.
The cast also did a good job, especially Boat and Ryu (Em and Pun). Tar also did good with the little time he was given. The weakest of the bunch is the main lead Net (Sib)- his character and his acting was annoying as hell and that says a lot considering the one supposed to be annoying is the female lead, but still, even with that mentioned, I enjoyed their delivery overall.
Just like in some of my other reviews and as a decorator in real life, id specially like to mention the good quality of the sets. The one thing i hate is that eventhough the homes were all beautifully decorated, it was too obvious that they were using the model units and all of them were in the same condominium (the logo of which appears so prominently throughout the show - this is not how you do product placement).
But like I said in the beginning and unfortunately, for me, the last 2 episodes were a mess - some of the characters were making questionable decisions while the main actor was stucked in indecisiveness. That time jump in the end was also arguably unnecessary - they cant even bother to change the looks (at least a haircut) of the 3 characters just to show that 3 years has really passed. Also, it feels like the writers cant decide who is the best match and totally blotched the ending making me feel so sorry for Em and Tar cause they totally deserved better.
I gave it an overall score of 7 stars out of 10. Would I rewatch, i dont think so, unless Pun somehow magically chooses Em.
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RUSHED ENDING (ALMOST) RUINED THE SERIES
Big Mouth should have been an easy 9.5, but that bit - the last 10 minutes of the finale almost ruined the entire series.To be honest, this series was one of the few that i have watched and waited for every week. This is probably Lee Jong Suk's best role to date. The very first episode will snare you like a mouse to a mouse trap, and youll find yourself wanting to see and know more. It was a fantastic setup.
Not until you reached that last 10 minutes that you will realize how stupid (or incredibly smart) the creators must have thought of their viewers - that they thought they could wrap the whole 16 episodes in a few minutes. It just doesnt feel rushed, it felt like a betrayal of trust. In the risk of being spoilery, the ending felt very out of character for the main leads. After the credits rolled i have to double check if there were more upcoming episodes, because for sure they didnt just wrapped the series in less than 10minutes. Or did they?
Would it hurt to add another episode or at least extend the finale by another 30mintues?
Like i said earlier, this could be Lee Jong Suk's best role to date. Im Yoo Na was also amazing until the character wasnt. Kim Jeo Hoon is impressive as hell and gave LSJ a run for his money. Yang Kyung Won maximized his screentime until the creators relegated him into a useless minor character by the last three episodes.
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WITHOUT THE BL, IT IS A LOSER
I really wanted to like this series. I tried it because of the BL element but what we get is only about 25% of BL goodness and 70% of annoying trio of negligible main characters. What about the 5%, you asked? It is for Lee and Sing who are like the not-so-good fairy godmothers.Lets talk about the LOSER so we can get him out of the way. Yes, I understand that the main character IS a loser but Oh is a whiny and perverted character and even if he is bullied he is just hard to feel sorry for. What's worse is when he goes home his mother bullies him too (telling him he is good for nothing) and everything is setup to be a light comedy scene as if nothing bad is happening at school. No bullying should be comedy. And even fter the makeover transformation he still feels like a Loser.
I wrote about the female lead initially but in this edit can we just pretend she never existed.
The saving grace is the BL element. Yes, plus points for Sun for being definitely gay and eventhough In's character is confused and confusing, Pluem's cuteness kind of overcomes the negative parts. And comeon, his singing voice is just golden. No kissing scenes and the ending for these 2 was not as satisfying as i hoped for but i forgive them for continuing their story in another series. InSun deserves a series of their own.
Rewatchability 6.0 - if you are a BL fan just watch the InSun supercut. Total score 6.5 just because of InSun without them its a 4.5.
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Club Friday Season 8: True Love…or Confusion
26 people found this review helpful
TONI STOLE MY HEART
This is a telenovela for mature audiences.Right off the bat, I immediately loved the fast pacing and the backstory. In all four episodes you wont feel like shortcuts are taken and that they really gave a lot of thought into developing the total flow of the series and divided ithem perfectly nto these episodes.
The story is somewhat of a mixed bag for me, not because it doesnt happen in real life but because it is too melodramatic. This is the only short series that I couldnt watch in one seating. Each episode is a little bit too long it felt like i needed to take a bit of rest after each episode.
The cast is amazing, phenomenal even. Toni and Tao were just perfect for the roles - cute, masculine and both were just gorgeous. Special shoutout to the locker room scene when Toni slid into his undies - this man is just BEAUTIFUL. Even Bebe gave a good performance.
I want to give credit to the production design team for creating the spaces that doesnt look temporarily made for 4 episodes. The wedding and the housewarming are both believeable.
Overall this short series deserves an 8. Attention all other tv content creators - this is how you do a short series.
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