Reviews

Nice slice of life with some touching moments, but annoyingly jealous ML

TL;DR at the end with no spoilers.

I've been debating with myself for the last couple days over whether I liked this one or not. You know that feeling when you generally like what you're watching but there's something about it that really, really bothers you? Yeah, that's me with this show. But let me start with the good.

For the most part, the characters are likable and their interactions are entertaining enough, although it's kind of episodic in that not a lot of things carry over from previous episodes. It feels like it tells you bits of their lives while it's implied that significant time passes in the background. It's mostly events that seem to be contained in the episode where they take place, though; relationships between characters do evolve. Also, some episodes focus on particular (secondary) characters and, for me, those are the highlight of the show because of the way they portray relatable situations. I tend to value stories much more when they make me feel something, so this one gets points for that. The plot is secondary in character-driven stories like this, so I won't get into much detail. If you like the dynamics between the characters, you'll probably like the show.

However, in my opinion that part is also the problematic one. To be exact, I'm talking about the dynamics between the ML and the FL. I don't have much issue with the rest of the cast, since they're pretty normal people with their own quirks, but the ML gets particularly bad. At first, the ML and FL have kind of a quarreling relationship, which is not ideal, but many people do this to some extent growing up and they stop when they mature. Okay, mildly annoying if you're not into that, but bearable. The issues I have with the ML start when he realizes he likes the FL. From that moment on he becomes an overbearing, jealous prick that defaults to sulking whenever anything to do with the FL doesn't go his way. Some things that come to mind:

- When any guy her age attempts to touch her or display any kind of physical affection, he immediately separates them. This includes their male childhood friends from their own group, who have no interest in her.
- There's an episode where students are told to pair up with other students that complement their weak subjects. He doesn't have the guts to put down her name, so she gets assigned to a random guy. Of course, he gets jealous and forces his presence on them in their study session and treats the other guy like shit.
- There's another episode where she gets chosen to participate in a writing contest in another city, and the guy from the previous point appears for only the second time in the show because he's going to the contest too. The ML takes it upon himself to convince her parents that it's dangerous for her to go alone and that he should escort her as her guardian. During the trip, he treats the other guy like shit again, interferes with their conversations, fakes illness to get her attention, and groans when she dares to do her own things.

Now, don't get me wrong. He does have his good side with his friends and also treats the FL well when things go his way. It's just that, with all the cold-shouldering, belittling of her and other guys, and overall obsessive impulses, the times when he behaves himself around her look more like a manchild atoning for his sins rather than a well-intentioned but insecure teenager being his ordinary self. There were some episodes where he was so damn insufferable I had to pause many times to take a break from his antics. That might be only me, though, but you get the point.

You could argue that it's legitimate to portray unlikable characters because the world isn't just made up of perfect people, and I'd totally agree. But the show doesn't even acknowledge that he might be wrong; in fact, all the characters are enablers who brush off his bullshit and ignore the contradictions in the excuses he makes up for his actions. You could argue that it's still legitimate to portray unlikable characters with enablers, and I'd agree again, but it irks me to see it onscreen anyway and I'm leaving this warning here just in case you're like me. The happy ending just doesn't feel satisfying when you don't believe in the process that was supposed to bring it about.

I'm also not sold on the strategic appearance of guys who like the FL and girls who like the ML at the exact moment the plot needs them to move forward, but that I can live with. It's just something I noticed and you'll notice too after reading this.

Finally, to play the devil's advocate for a brief moment: I don't have the absolute truth, and I'm sure I must've also breezed through shows in the past that other people found unwatchable. It's up to you, really.

TL;DR:

It's a show with entertaining characters, some touching arcs, and some romance (that doesn't fully take off until they turn 18 and graduate high school because apparently liking people before that is a bad look in China). It's no masterpiece, but if you like character-driven stories, you'll probably dig this; if you want plot, not so much. Also, the ML turns into a jealous, obnoxious mess whenever he feels threatened by the presence of other guys in the FL's life, so bear that in mind because that was my number one reason for writing this review.

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just so beautiful s every way posssible

ok, I definitely wasn’t expecting this. I usually don’t watch romance dramas, because the FLs are always immature, but this drama is definitely what dreams are made of.
I loved that it not only focuses on the main couple, but also their drive and commitment to Kyudo, and how it brings them closer. I thought that both leads were mature, as well as very passionate. I loved watching this. this drama is definitely a hidden Gem with subtle cute moments that give me hope in real love. definitely underrated, though maybe it’s for the best if Goblin is the standard, when it really shouldn’t be. Make a Bow and Kiss should 100% be the standard. I would rewatch this, and majority of the dramas I’ve seen, I would never rewatch.
This drama is sublime?

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A Gentler, Sweeter and More Romantic Remake

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Stay with Me” is like the gentler, sweeter and more romantic little brother of “Addicted”. “Addicted” is the more rebellious, sex-crazed older brother, but it also paved the way for many future Chinese BLs (or caused censorship to put the hammer down).

The leads in “Stay with Me” are quite likable compared to their counterparts in the other drama. Wu Bi is quite adorable when he’s so in love with Su Yu and gets all pettily jealous over little things. In “Addicted”, Gu Hai annoyed the heck out of me with how pushy he was. But that was a 2016 drama, and times have changed. Back to “Stay with Me”, the drama never had Wu Bi or Su Yu declare their love for each other, but you know for a fact that this is not a bromance, but a romantic story between them. There are so many moments, gestures, hugs and subtle lingering touches that they shared and I wonder how these scenes pass censorship. I am trying to recall if I’ve seen a Chinese BL with kisses on the cheeks recently.

The main focus of the drama is definitely on our leads, Wu Bi and Su Yu. Two lovely teenagers go from enemies to lovers, complete and fill each other’s hearts with love and care. Surrounding them are Su Yu’s very supportive father and stepmother, an adorable little stepsister, Duo Duo, who is wise beyond her years. We also have a few friends who don’t take up too much screen time. Technically, there isn’t really a character that I dislike, except for Wu Bi’s cousin’s ugly pig tail. That is definitely not fashionable at all. LOL.

The bond between this newly found family is the best part of the show. None of the parents are evil, they just show their love differently. However, the broken families have a big impact on the leads. They both just want to be loved. Simple as that. I love it when there are scenes of the new family together and the theme song, “The Meaning of Family” starts playing. The lyrics are perfect for these scenes, especially when Duo Duo starts singing if you need to look similar or have the same last names to be called family. The scene of this new family celebrating Wu Bi’s birthday is so heartwarming.

This drama is not without its faults. I think the acting of the leads could be better. I am also disappointed that they are both dubbed and not using their original voices. Heck, even Duo Duo uses her original voice and that adds 10000 points to her adorableness. There are a couple scenes with very fake green screens. There are only four songs in the OST and it lacks variety, though they are lovely. This is definitely not a big budget production, so maybe that’s why I am having all these minor disappointments.

Overall, I had a good time binge-watching this drama. The pacing is not bad but the ending might not be satisfactory to all. I knew what kind of ending it had before starting this. I am prepared, still not happy though ?


Completed: 11/3/2023 - Review #372

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want to see the actors in something else

Overall: the leads' excellent chemistry couldn't save Twins' poor writing. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Watch Suggestions (unless you enjoy slow pacing, stupid decision-making and poor communication)
- read the synopsis/watch the trailer and skip episodes 1-3
- episode 4 watch up to 10 minutes, then 29 and then at 36 minutes
- episode 5 start at 17 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 6 watch 18-20 and 23-24 minutes
- episode 7 start at 18 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 8 start at 10 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 9 watch 24-25 and 29-31 minutes
- episode 10 watch 15-30 minutes
- episode 11 watch 12:20-15:20 side couple
- episode 12 watch entire episode

Content Warnings: violence/fight/beaten up, manipulation, non con picture taking/sharing, cyberbullying

What I Liked
- a sports based BL
- good chemistry with the main couple
- a side couple grew on me

Room For Improvement
- needed the twins to be better differentiated similar to Not Me, even if one was dressed like the other, the voice and mannerism should have immediately signaled to the audience who it was, there were a few times I wasn't sure who was supposed to be who in a scene
- slow pacing, entire first episode was set up, watched most of the series on 2x speed
- Sprite needed to say something way earlier, his brother Zee was a nonredeemable jerk and all the characters shared 3 brain cells
- way too many side characters introduced quickly, took awhile to figure out who was who and then several plot threads weren't developed well
- toilet humor at the end of episode 3
- for one couple, the pursuer was a bit too aggressive and the pursuee was a bit too reluctant for too long
- choppy editing
- in episode 10 the fictional 'so drunk can't remember in the morning what happened but was an active participant during' cliche
- final episode rushed several character endings
- terrible characters that didn't get any consequences, just the "leave us alone/don't do this again or else...."
- plot holes/nonsense writing

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A great surprise

Sometimes movies and tv shows are a case of the “whole is not greater than the sum of its parts”. A great cast with a not so great story and bland characters won’t shine. My Precious is thankfully not like that. I came into the movie thinking it would be a lighthearted first love story with a cast of young actors I already knew and liked. I started it aware that Tong and Lin would not end up together, so I was not hoping for the happily ever after. That might have contributed to the fact that, for me, My Precious was such a positive surprise. The story might not be groundbreaking, but I enjoyed the full 2 hours and the cast was fantastic.

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Promising start butgradually became a huge mess

When I first heard of this I was really hyped. More from KinnPorshe staff? Hell yeah, I'm in!!
Ep1 promised a lot, it was great to see Mile again, and to get to know the "contestants", however, the goal of the game was pretty blurry for me to understand, tell a story, but lie, find liars, etc... It didn't really work for me but I enjoyed the episode a lot.
Later episodes started to feel cheaper and cheaper, and got more and more boring. The second section with the outdoor trials was kinda fun to watch, the guys also had fun, and a tied-up Ta Nannakun is a priceless sight as well hahaha
The last, acting section was a catastrophy. Disorganised episodes, horrible acting, it was a total mess. The last two episodes are the worst ones in my opinion. No more high stakes, the whole show bacame a plain, cheap and boring mess.
I don't recommend spending 1+ hour watching each episode. Fast forward to the actors you like or find symphathetic, so you can save 30 mins per episode...

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You don't need Accounting Knowledge to enjoy this show

This is a great show! Don't be put off by the fact it's based around banks and accountants, I know nothing of those things and I enjoyed this series. Also to show greed and power, most of these situations were extreme.

The hero - An awesome actor wo holds his character throughout, he certainly was the right person for the role,

MDL throws in bromance as a category, not true at all. The slight romance in the story is all M/F - and it's very, very slight.

Some of it can be a bit confusing, because there are so many different characters, but if you stick with it, it will make sense.

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The way this ended and the after credit scene are just calling for a season 3. I desperately need a season 3 asap, although I’m pretty sure the show was discontinued. If you decide to start this show just be warned that you’re definitely gonna feel like the show left a lot unanswered and I have tons of questions. Despite these facts I still very much enjoyed the show and it’s still worth a watch even with the cliffhangers. Honestly since watching I have come up with many scenarios, to fill in the unanswered, in my head but I really would have loved to see what happens.


If you wanna know before watching here are a few things left unanswered:
-Yoo Han in the hospital (after credit scene)
-Why/when Yoo Han left the lapis at Se Hyuns house
-etc.

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Prepare yourself to cry

I came across this movie almost 10 years ago, when I was finishing high school and was feeling gloomy about my future. I decided to watch it because of one specific scene I saw on Tumblr, instantly I knew this would make me cry my eyes out and that was exactly what I needed at that point, but it also made me cheer up. The movie starts quite cheerful and it feels just like another high school love story, until all the characters personal issues starts to unfold, and it shows that everyone is living ther rainy days. However, by the end of it we realize that, despite of our decisions and actions in the past, no matter how bad they were, there's always a chance to become a better person and overcome those reiny days.
By the way, Nozomi Sasaki's acting in this movie is just amazing, she swings perfectly from cute to dramatic without overdoing it.

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Will a arrogant girl with only grit and bad temper be able to revive her father's failed company?

Rich and Spoilt Jiang Hu is the daughter of a father who caters to her whim and fancy. An intelligent, spunky woman, she has never had a care in the world. Arrogant and headstrong, she gets what she wants without a care in the world.

Her world comes tumbling down when her boyfriend advises her father to invest in a fund that loses its value overnight. Her family loses all their wealth, and her father passes away in shock, leaving her with a lot of business creditors to satisfy. As her assets are auctioned, she upholds her father's reputation and pays off the debts before trying to restructure the company.

Xu Si, an investment expert who returns to mainland China from a position at a Hong Kong investment bank, crosses paths with Jiang Hu. Xu Si is good at making investments because he understands the myriad permutations and combinations that go into making one a success.
Xu Si, who has always been driven by ambition, targets the rubber-soled shoe brand "Tengyue," founded initially by Jiang Hu's father. With an unwavering determination to rescue "Tengyue" at any price, Jiang Hu, despite her own downfall, becomes embroiled in a fierce battle against Xu Si. Ultimately, their interactions and challenges will shape the destiny of "Tengyue" and decide whether it can be rejuvenated.

Jaing Hu, having met him on several occasions, approaches him for investment. He set her a target of selling 20,00 shoes in her inventory in 30 days before deciding to invest in her.

Fallen from grace but not in her attitude, Jaing Hu and Xu Si bring their egos to the relationship and engage in explosive discussions with each other as they try to work together.
READ MORE at Desis.live

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“When two souls are as one, they stay together on the Wheel.”

“When two souls are as one, they stay together on the Wheel.”

This has been such a journey, with so many ups and downs, but I made it through this glorious romance, aflame with passion and longing. I got to experience something beautiful to behold:

The love story of Jom and Khun Yai, and the way they see the world.
The thoughts they share, the pieces of wisdom within their phrases, and the severity of the decisions they had to make. Their bond is so deep, I can barely put it into words.

I knew it would be heart-wrenching, yet full of warmth, because I read the novel. Every emotion portrayed throughout the drama was so raw and layered that I didn’t know where the story would take me in its final moments.

Gripping and filmed at a pace that controlled and intensified the feeling of unease, it was also one of the most romantic queer dramas I’ve ever watched. I almost forgot the outside world existed when I was watching it. I’ve never been so emotionally invested in a story as I was with this one. Furthermore, I'm sad now that it's over, but I loved every minute!

The cinematography and scenery are breathtaking. Needless to say, there is something quite alluring about Chiang Mai and its ancient beauty. An unforgettable choice of melodies underscored the poignancy of each moment.

Flawless!

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