Reviews

Cute matchmaking show for DoMunDi TV production to find its next HIT BL pairing *_____*

This entertaining and cute tv show is a matchmaking competition between DoMunDi TV's 3rd generation actors in order to find their next HIT BL couple pairing. The winners will get the chance to play the main couple in an upcoming DoMunDi TV production BL series.

It was a super charming watch: I was surprised by the many romantic and fluff moments, it felt even more "real" than the last dating show I saw (aka. Single's Inferno S3). There are of course some cringe factor and awkwardness linked to the very matchmaking point of the show in the context of work. As the actors are pairing together trying to find their "ideal" partner / the best fit for working as colleagues, it is somewhat bound to be awkward but in the most sweet way.

I quickly got much more invested in the show than what I was expecting. I was rooting for some pairings and very excited to see the finale decision from the judge pannel. The conclusion was super satisfying to me and I will be watching the winners' next series for sure. If the objective of the producers was to make these new faces lovable for the viewer and to create a curiosity toward their new series: objective is accomplished !!!

This show is not without flaws. The production value is pretty average, you can feel the budget limitation (the finale gave very refreshing schoolplay vibes for example, in a nice way but no "finale" budget clearly). Not all the cast members are at the same level and there are clearly some obvious favorites (at least to me, which I totally was onboard on anyway). I certainly wish that some of the missions would have been more fleshed out and to have seen more acting work. They could have done more to make it interesting on that aspect and to develop also the talents of the participants. I wish to have seen more of the interactions of everyone but given the limited number of episodes they still managed to make us know all of them.

I will recommend this to people that are looking for a different kind of TV show. It is low budget but very charming. If you like BLs series, it is interesting to witness the creation of new couple pairings.

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Food porn with a touching storyline, what more can you ask for?

I was initially expecting a lot of food porn, and yes, there is a LOT of it. It really is a love letter to all the small yakiniku restaurants who cannot compete with the big boys. Every time I eat yakiniku, I'm going to hear drums beating in the background (an inside joke you will get once you watch the movie).
But more than that, this is a story of a son trying to reconnect with his estranged mother, who meets other restaurateurs who were influenced by his mother's skill and kindness. A journey made harder by his own demons he never forgave himself for. Naoto's performance is convincing enough, although he won't be winning any awards with this one.
And then there's Tao, who I admit I have a bias for. She seems to make any movie or show so much better. Her food reactions are priceless! What makes her performance stand out is that she isn't trying to stand out. While she is a main character, she's more of a main supporting character, where she helps the protagonist through his difficult journey.
All in all this is a nice touching movie you definitely don't want to watch on an empty stomach!

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this is probably one of the most realistic "coming of age", "melt your heart", "all about youth" and "inoccent" c-dramas I've watched. Although, the plot line was very obvious from the beginning that this older cool, doesn't show his feelings male lead would fall in love with a young, cute freshman, I feel like it was exactly the kind of drama I was looking for. It shows a bunch of kids who enter college and experience life lessons. There are new couples that fall in love for the first time, couples that break up over time and couples that didn't think they matched at first.

I really enjoyed the progression of xiao zhou and zhou fan zhou's relationship. It was very cute and honestly could melt your heart through a lot of the scenes. The way their personalities matched in helping the male lead become more open and enjoyable, while the male lead helped the female lead achieve her dreams and goals. It was super cute and very realistic to any type of college experience where people find their first love. Although, the reasoning behind their "sudden break up for no reason" is not my favorite type of plot line, it was a good representation of something that could happen to couples at this age. ALSO, this is one of those dramas where the male lead falls first, like way way way before. It was super cute to see the progression.

my favorite character is the roommate, tao ling!! she's super fun and adds a super enjoyable entertainment value to the series. I originally watched both her and xiao zhou on produce 2019 and both thought they deserved more lime light! glad they were able to show their talent through acting as well. For xiao zhou's first acting gig, she did really well!

rewatch value super high!! if you really enjoy dramas that are focused on young love and 青春, this is for you!! very similar dramas to this that maybe aren't super popular are ones like we are young, beautiful time with you, the best of you in mind, all I want for love is you, just an encore, a little thing called first love, etc.!!

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Honestly... this was the second drama I ever watched, a long time ago. I rewatched a few bits of it recently (I need some Minho in my life...) And for a new drama-watcher, it's a good one to get on your feet and start taking notes of typical k-drama tropes.

There are a few problems I noticed while I rewatched, and a few of them were things I noticed when I watched it the first time.

I hadn't read Hana Kimi before (after I watched the show I went and read the manga... I recommend it), so I can't say that I was biased before hand. But I'll admit, the story was good if a bit slow at first. You can't help but feel bad for our honorary second lead Eun Gyeol, but Lee Hyun Woo managed to pull off that awkward bowl-cut-looking hair.

Speaking of bowl cuts... as beautiful as Sulli is, I didn't understand the casting. I honestly thought Eun Hye made a better boy in Coffee Prince. Sulli can act well, but maybe it was the hair... or the lips... or maybe the poor wardrobe stylist, but I didn't understand how those boys went for as long as they did without figuring out that Jae Hee was a girl. I can't bring myself to critique the god-given glory that is Choi Minho. Jezuz... that smile.

Overall, a light fluffy drama that's good for people just getting into K-dramas. I would also recommend the original manga and Japanese live-action as well.

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A great light-hearted drama

I think this was a wholesome ending for both couples and was very enjoyable for the short amount of time. There was a lot of cute scenes and after watching both Star and Sky this special episode was what was needed to end both series. The story was light-hearted and cute and the actors worked well together. There was a good amount of chemistry and all the cute scenes had me smiling, so I overall think the stroy of the ending was good. The music, just like in both series, was very nice and fitting for the drama. The music definitely added to the drama and added different emotions to different scenes.
I really enjoyed watching this drama and would definitely rewatch at some point and recommend to those who are just looking for a light-hearted drama.

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what a waste ..... uncomplete

honestly dont waste your time watching this. it ends with a cliffhanger and the story will forever be uncomplete . the relationship doesnt end here as they hint at the time box. however i doubt another season will come out so it it uncomplete . the couple could have been so much more. it just feels so wasted. if i could i would give it half of a star instead of a full one. its really sad to see couples like this end for no reason. they could've at least had pree meet someone. like i said a waste. it wasn't even sad because there wasn't anything really here. just a monk and an airplane attendant. none of the couple had a really happy ending. everyone who wasn't completely in love were thinking about there exs.

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The BEST BL show I’ve seen (till now)!

I watched ATOTS while it was airing and looked forward to spending my Friday nights with the show! Everything from the acting/cast, to the cinematography with beautiful locations, OST and storyline was simply perfect! What I liked the most was how the series didn’t need to show many intimate scenes for us to understand the love that was growing between the two leads.

The second half of the series was especially good and I was crying so badly every episode (Ep 8 - 10 were just crazy good)! I love how real it got towards the end and they did not try to give us a “fairytale” ending. Things happened when they were meant to happen and I love that about the show!

I still cry every now and then when I revisit my favourite scenes! Overall, I give it 10s across the board and I would recommend everyone to watch it!

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Such a load of laughs even when I re-watched. What makes this drama is really Anne's interpretation of the character Alin. Under an inferior actress, Alin would have come across as spoiled and annoyed but Anne made Alin a charming character who was hilariously vain as well as a feisty princess who could rescue herself. Alin had some of the funniest one liners and approach to any situation. How can you not laugh when Alin moans about her age and not having a scandal when younger actresses have divorced and moved on to another affair?

Under an inferior actor, the character of Din would have been a shadow in comparison to Alin but Ken brought a sweetness along with a vulnerability. We see a sweet man who is passionate and driven as a chef but struggles with feeling like he is not enough because of his background. It is fun to see him both charmed by Alin and taking a strong hand while dealing with her tantrums. While soft spoken, he cannot be pushed by Alin's tantrums and is the perfect foil for her flightiness. He grounds her while she makes him laugh despite himself.

The love story happens in small steps as they get to know each other and it is both funny and sweet on how they learn to appreciate each other. What I really enjoyed is the idea of love vs perfection. Do you love someone who is perfect? Or someone who is imperfect but becomes perfect for you as you love them? What happens to your wish list when you find the perfect person is not that perfect at all? What happens to your wish list when a good man doesn't quite fit your requirements? The drama stands out as it explores these real life questions in a fun, quirky manner. A hilarious gem!

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Superb acting but rushed final act!

Plus/minus:
(+) In the first few acts, the story is fleshed out nicely to show Xiao Qi's sacrifices to win over Young Ci.
(+) After the love is reciprocated between the two, the narrative shifting toward Young Ci's angle is also great.
(-) The scenes that led to the final break-up were rushed. It doesn't fit Young Ci's character to make the final decision over two scenes. The letter that she wrote and narrated did help sustain her PoV, but more scenes of arguments/discussions would have given much more weight to the break-up scenes.

Takeaway:
1. The absence of noticing mental health and therapy is again apparent in such love-themed movies to drive the plot. Not entirely sure how accurate it is with the reality in China, but the movie focused more on improving Xiao Qi's physical health after the incident. In contrast, his mental health was largely ignored despite having apparent effects on his surroundings. Young Ci also chose less desirable actions despite wanting to help Xiao Qi's mental health issue.
2. Greg Hsu and Zhang Ruo Nan are perfect for this show. It was a treat, and I look forward to their other projects.

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BADDEST HEART LINE

This is an exquisite drama that is the first and more realistic in it's context, it has got a very wonderfu and powerfull chemistry between the main leads that is Tian and his brother Yang as well as his better half Jiu however I must say that some characters might be shallow but the plot and the execution is remarkable much as I still find Zhang's reason for committing suicide in the first place absurd and stupid and there's the annoying fact that Yang has a mother who is totally ungifted and dense and she's pretty good at stirring trouble for everyone that she doesn't benefit from. But really the bromance beats me as the blood brothers Tian and Yang have that affection that just beats any other that I have known in any drama before it makes me jealously wish things were the same with my brother and Jiu is probably the best character that you'll admire for being quiet and a bit dumb when it comes to things like love, I respect Tian who understands the weight of that uneasy burden of being the first born and I appreciate that about him while his Mother Madam Li even if she can go overboard at times and is extreme, she portrays the very best struggles, pains, fears and strife of motherhood which is what made me on a whole scale refer to this drama as the most realistic youthful bl drama that I have ever seen. I can't also forget the remarkable length of the episodes that makes you explore the whole story in detail and I like the fact that the pacing is perfect to the point that the story doesn't feel rushed, compressed or summarised. All in all, To Sir with love makes me understand what the true picture of coming out is and doesn't portray it as a garden of butterflies and rainbows as most dramas do but rather it gives you the hardships, rejections, sacrifices, betrayals and regrets which form the most true composition of life, for 2022 having been the worst year of my life, To Sir, With Love has emerged as one of the good things that have given it a good close and is one of my best bl series I have watched for this whole year.

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My first cdrama and my introduction to Dylan Wang!

I found this on Netflix when I was bored over the holiday season. The picture and the trailer of Dylan Wang acting cold, brooding, and demanding along with his outfit and powers had me intrigued. It took only one episode and I was hooked.

As many people covered, this is a fairytale about sacrifice, redemption, and love. You meet our main character, Orchid, who is portrayed as a kind, naive fairy who takes care of fate leaves. Alone, she tends to her garden and thinks about her master who had been banished / punished for a crime she committed (falling in love with someone she shouldn't have). She has a secret of her own - she has fallen in love with a god of war who appears to not care much for her. The god of war is charged with the important task of re-sealing the prison to a mysterious demon king. He was sent into the prison 1,000 years earlier due to a war that left both armies - his and the gods - frozen in stasis. Orchid follows her crush and sacrifices herself in attempt to protect him from falling into the prison. There, she meets the demon king and awakens him with a kiss. ... which causes problems for them and begins the story of their hatred, to friendship, and finally love.

There is a reason why this show has rocketed up in popularity - it is so damn good! They spent 3 - 4 years making sure this project was perfect. It is also said that the FL's father backed this with his money as well. The costumes, CGI, down to the score shows that this is more than just a TV show - this is a phenomenon. The costumes are top notch - gorgeous - from the fantasy world, to the darkness of the Moon Kingdom, to the mortal world. The actors are perfectly cast - from the gods, to the friends, to the leads themselves. Dylan's ability to act with such coldness at first and his thawing due to the kindness shown by Orchid is what sold me on being fan of his, but also what made DFQC work. I think to this day no one else could play him like he did. Same with Esther as Orchid. She plays three different versions of herself - fairy, bodyswapped DFQC, and her final form in the last five episodes (which I won't spoil).

The music is also gorgeous - the opening song, the two various end songs used, and various other songs that pop up here and there through the show. The entire album has become a repeat, and I love finding the actors and the original artists singing the songs live here and there.

Overall, it has a mixture of everything - mystery, comedy, romance, action. Many people who don't finish the show complain because of the main character's voice. While her voice was shocking at first, you get used to it and find it perfectly suited for the character. The fact that Esther could transform her voice into three distinct styles is amazing and worth the pay off if you make it through the show to hear all three.

There is a happy ending, but prepare to shed some tears.

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Thought-provoking environmental drama with slight realism issues

Based on the novel "Japan Sinks" by Sakyo Komatsu, Nihon Chinbotsu: Kibo no Hito is a heartfelt take on disasters caused by environmental issues.

The strongest point of this show are its main characters, precisely Amami played by Oguri Shun, Tokiwa played by Matsuyama Kenichi and Shiina played by Watanabe Anne. Amami is a compassionate, emphatic and idealistic character you can't help but root for, and this was probably one of my favorite Oguri Shun performances. He does a fantastic job at making this too good for this world character seem grounded and relatable. My favorite parts were his scenes with Matsuyama Kenichi. This duo just plays off of each other with ease, and it's fun to watch. Watanabe Anne is one of the most likable female leads I've seen in a while, and I loved her drive just as much as her big heart.

The characters and their relationships whether it was friendships, family bonds or even work related made this show a touching experience. While not all characters feel fully developed, I was still able to connect to quite a few of them, which gave this story more of a personal note. Overall though, this drama doesn't so much focus on the circumstances of individual characters but the bigger picture of disaster prevention, political and environmental issues as well as morality questions connected to these topics. More cynical souls might think this show relies a bit too much on pathos, but personally I thought they managed to balance the heavily emotional parts with the otherwise serious tone of the show. There is just something about good people fighting for humanity, and they managed to capture that beautifully.

Although I enjoyed how they portrayed corruption issues and the sheer amount of work behind a situation like this, some parts of the story  just seemed unrealistic and certain  plot points too convenient. If you studied anything related to geoscience you might struggle with the scientific facts presented to  you, since I didn't I blissfully  ignored those that sounded like a stretch. Apart from that, I had issues with overacting of certain characters, since it didn't fit the tone of the story at all. 

While I did criticize the flaws of this drama, I'm merely doing this to adjust the expectations of the potential viewer.  Personally,  I thoroughly enjoyed this one. After a bit of a slow start, this drama managed to capture my attention and kept moving me with its compelling characters and inspiring message. It may be a bit of an idealistic take on the topic, but it's called "People of Hope" after all, and I certainly enjoyed its optimistic approach.

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It was cute and sweet and easy to watch but other than Jung Kyung Ho completely stealing the show as always (he is, as my friend put it, a "national treasure") I was mostly unimpressed.

There were laugh-out-loud times and some stupid cute scenes but the love-triangle just didn't make any sense to me. The friendship between the girls and their individual story-lines were all great as well but just...nothing special. I don't know. It seemed a little immature in it's writing and in the end I was mostly bored or rolling my eyes.

Having said all that, I do still think it's worth a watch if you just need an easy rom-com and want to bask in Jung Kyung Ho's glory. God, I miss him already.

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The chemistry of the main leads couldn't save the stupid writing

The drama at first was really great to watch. Especially the bickering of Liang Yi and Qiu Yan. Actually their chemistry is the main attraction of the drama followed by the deep voice is Jeremy. (Oh! I love this guy's voice) I am glad that they didn't dub his voice.

The drama mainly focuses on how one can outsmart the other by wit. There isn't much of stunned work like flying in the sky type fight scenes. I am glad that they made the fight scenes quite realistic. Even when the ML gets hurt he actually takes some time to recuperate. Not like the typical unrealistic ML who becomes fine the next second after getting stabbed. For this I give one point to the drama.

But still....

This drama couldn't get satisfactory score from me.

I really loved the character of Noble consort and Liang Yi's mother. They were fun to watch. Not like typical mother-in-law or queen characters. But in the end they had to spoil these two characters. They spoiled it in such a way that you can't even hate them nor love them. There will be just one question! Why? Why writer why? Why do you have to make them like this?

There are also some illogical things that just can't get away.
For example the actors they choose for the 6year younger version of Liang Yi and Qiu Yan was really young. Maybe they did that so that they won't recognize each other after 6years but still they could have shown that they met after 8 or 10 years, then the actors age could be believable.
Besides that, the culprit of the money counterfeit incident hold grudges against Liang Yi because he killed the culprit's father who was corrupted. This incident happened 3/4 years(I don't remember the year) before the money counterfeit incident. That time the culprit was a child. How come the culprit become an adult in just a few years?

Not to mention the unnecessary dragging!

The story of Qiu Yan's mother was not needed at all.
And the ending!!!
I mean why? Why did the writer had to add that unnecessary headache in the end?

The story went really well during the last few episodes. The political part was okay.
But still I hoped to see some fluffy romantic scene of Liang Yi and Qiu Yan.

At least their marriage! ?

But the writer had to add needless headache in the end just so they can drag the drama to 34 episodes.
If that was really necessary then you should have added their marriage scene, their sweet romance. I am sure no body would mind that. In fact I would love be to see that more.

If the story of both the MLs mothers could be erased then, at least 2 episodes could be easily minimized. And we viewers would have less headache.

In the end, I am not saying it's a bad drama. I definitely enjoyed watching it. It's just that it's not one of the best drama I have watched. If you are not a nitpicker about drama then you will love it too. Liang Yi and Qiu Yan are like a treat to watch together. But you can skip the last episode. Then everything will be fine.

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