Reviews

Puppy love is so cute to watch.

Ok was this show a bit odd... yes. But it was super cute as well.
I was giggling and smiling the whole time watching it. Its definitely one that really goes fast and leaves you with a smile at the end.
I swear if they did more of the training cuteness at the end I would have been so happy. That was adorable.
I couldnt handle the cuteness when "bannng! *dead*".... my heart just exploded
I only have one question.... when they have lil minions... will they also be lil husky babies? I want to see Mr husky all happy and cuddling her tummy, then cuddling the babies. Teaching them to play frisbee!! Teaching them how to be gentle with the kitties, "kitties are friends, you got to be soft with them... no no no bark"
Anyways, it was a cute little show that really just leaves you happy without too much drama like an evil love rival or anything like that.

Read More

Would you like to remember your past lives?

I give 5 stars for the beautiful scenes, story, and cast. I found Ahn Bo Hyun a little awkward, but that's probably the character of the series. For me, a slightly more active character type suits him better. And I would cut his hair right away. Looking at him made me wonder if he could see through that hair and if he really didn't mind :D. And definitely less makeup. Shin Hye-Seon is an incredible actress for me. I don't know why, but it happened to me again that I thought this series would be bullshit and boring. But I was really surprised. The secondary characters were promising and had engaging and dramatic scenes. In the last scene, I was embarrassed for them too :D. I was expecting a slightly more adult approach. Nevertheless, I would like to see Ahn Dong-Goo in a series where he would be the main character. The storyline was excellent. Flashbacks to past lives and remembering the past kept me on edge. I think this series will make everyone wonder if there is reincarnation and what it would be like to remember past lives. For me, definitely do not remember the past lives.

Read More

It has bigger potencial...but...

I give 4* because of Jo Han-Chul. I only know him as a positive character, and here he gave such psycho-switched scenes that I was incredibly fascinated. The other characters did not significantly surprise, but they did not disrupt the series either. I know the I-love-you-but-pretend-to-hate-you type of relationship rejection is corny but I enjoyed this Lee-Seung Gi fest as well as the constant bickering between the main characters in the beginning. The character of the clever and wise main female character is great. Perhaps the chemistry between the main characters on the part of Lee Se-Yeong was a little lame for me. Lee Seung-Gi was great and played it really well, but I feel that it was somehow cold from the female character's side. More emotions went out of her in The Red Sleeve with Lee Jun-Ho. On the other hand, Ahn Dong Goo was throwing such glances here that he deserves more space and scenes :). Overall, it was a fun watch, had a lot of funny scenes, and dealt with important legal issues along the way.

Read More

A Masterpiece of 2023

I was really looking forward to this production, it was absolutely worth it!!!!
For me, this show was the best of this year, despite the fact that 2023 is not over yet. The script, the photography, the action-packed scenes all stand out in the production. They weren't afraid to show the potentially disturbing, bloody scenes, they brought everything to the screen as it suits its genre. I really liked the historical background on which the story is based.

In reality, this period certainly didn't have many refreshing moments, but this series still managed to offset the many tragic, sad, and unfair events with a little humor and the right amount of romance. The show contained minimal clichés. The action scenes were very well executed and the actors and actresses formed their characters very well. I couldn't name an actress/actor who played her/his role badly or didn't fit her/his role. Caracter of Eon Nyeon Yi and the actress who plays her Lee Ho Jung, who would definitely be highlighted and is a real gem of the show, but Kim Nam Gil,
Yoo Jae Myung, Lee Hyun Wook and Lee Hyun Wook also provided an excellent work with many memorable moments. Overall everyone did a good job without exception.
In my opinion the story could have lasted more than the nine episodes, I'm sorry that it was shortened so much compared to the original plan, apart from a few clichés, this is the only negative thing about the production for me.

I know, few people like the western genre, but I strongly recommend them to watch it, because despite the show's genre, it offers a very special experience. What I would definitely mention and highlight is the music, which is a hit, perfectly helping to make the whole show even more effective and memorable.
Perfect OST, great acting and direction. I am so grateful to the whole staff and and all of the castmembers for this show!!!!!

Read More

Yun Ji On is the best!

(It contains only a slight spoiler). At the beginning, the series introduces you to the life of the main woman character, who lives with the ability to hear when someone is lying. That would sometimes suit everyone but only sometimes. She hears the lies all the time. And this causes problems in the family, she basically isolates herself from other people and friends, except for the two who work for her. She cleverly builds a business on her skills and uncovers lies for clients as a so-called shaman. This job of hers brings fun scenes. However, a new inhabitant of the neighboring apartment intervenes in her life, who is mysterious and always wears a veil covering her face and avoids people. To her surprise, she discovers that he is not lying to her. But gradually it is revealed that her new neighbor is a publicly known person, a music composer who is hiding from the world because he was suspected of murder in the past. In the series, we also encounter the corruption of a policeman by a politician. And we have another policeman (a very nice actor), an ex-boyfriend of the main character, who doesn't like something about the main character. And it happens that both the protagonist and the policeman investigate the past and look for the real perpetrator. And as usual, the ex-boyfriend suspects the current one, and the current one suspects everyone, except the real one, because sometimes we don't see what's in front of us. Everything would be great. The main character, Kim So Hyun, is pleasant and the role suits her. Hwang Min Hyun was sometimes super mysterious, and confident, but sometimes reserved, and scared. I couldn't move a little in it. I liked him so much in the role of mysterious, charismatic, but self-confident with quick reflexes and with a sword behind his belt (yes, I guess I can't get rid of his fight scenes from Alchemy of Souls :D). The chemistry between the main characters is okay but I needed somehow more and what bothered me was that the creators did this again: after the main characters get close, the first kiss falls....and then they treat each other as if they are 15 years old and they look like as if nothing happened, or they are shy and it's embarrassing. Why do this with adults? oh ... for this, I'm lowering the rating, they could have grown up to this... but what I appreciate the most is Yun Ji On (the main character's best friend). I saw him for the first time in the series Tomorrow, where he impressed me so neutrally and I thought, hmm, quite an interesting actor... But here he wiped my eyes out. Brutal acting, and charisma, he looked so great there. Perfect. I was so captivated by him. Every movement, gesture, look, tone of voice, sentence ... everything was elaborate. I went through everything with him and I kept thinking to myself, how could someone live such a life and suffocate everything? What was it good for? This character in the series has led to many questions and controversies, and because of him, this series is worth watching.

Read More

The Worst of Evil: A Dark and Gritty Crime Thriller

The cast is excellent, with Ji Chang-wook and Wi Ha Joon delivering standout performances. Ji Chang-wook is particularly impressive in his portrayal of Jun-mu, a complex and conflicted character. Wi Ha Joon is also excellent as Gi-chul, a young man who is forced to grow up quickly in a dangerous world.

The production values are also high, and the drama creates a dark and atmospheric world that is both believable and terrifying. The action sequences are well-choreographed, and the special effects are convincing.

Overall, The Worst of Evil is a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers. It is a dark and disturbing drama, but it is also a well-made and suspenseful one. If you are looking for a drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then The Worst of Evil is definitely worth checking out.

However, I would like to caution viewers that this drama contains graphic scenes of violence and torture. It is also not suitable for children.

Read More

Too Big A GAP

Going into watching GAP, I wanted to like it, I really did. Especially with it being, from my understanding, Thailand's first GL focused drama. Also considering it had Becky and Freen as the leads, I was hopeful. I was, unfortunately, sorely disappointed in it. It started out strong but just went downhill from there and eventually there was simply no coming back. It became repetitive, tedious, and downright boring. I severely struggled to get through those last couple episodes. I think what I find saddest is that it had all the ingredients for a solid, if not spectacular, drama, but instead it just imploded.

The plot is thin here, razor thin. Okay, fine, I can work with that. Character driven dramas can be great too if done well. Except this wasn't done well. I liked the beginning with Mon and Sam reunited but with Sam not remembering Mon. I thought it was a stretch for Mon to expect Sam to remember her after so long, but, again, we'll go with it. The build up of their romance was okay if not great. They both seemed a bit too obtuse regarding figuring out their feelings. If you're biting each others lips and noses, it's a safe bet that you're probably not just friends. A lot of the problems though came once Sam and Mon actually got together. We got thrown into a repetitive cycle of fights and misunderstandings followed by making up only to do it all over again. Also, the waterworks. There was hardly an episode where one or both didn't cry at least once. I'm fairly certain the water level in the Gulf of Thailand went up an inch or two. And what all that bickering led me to wonder was if they even really loved each other. There were so few moments of them actually happy together, it made it hard to believe that they were each other's happiness. The pacing was awful after the first couple episodes. By the time I hit Episode 10, I was seriously wondering if I would make it through. It was just rehashing the same things over and over again and I was so done with it all.

There were also some aspects that were left unanswered or unexplained.
-One of the big ones I had was what exactly did Sam's company do? Their spin off that Mon worked on, Diversity Pop, seemed more social media oriented, but the rest of it was unknown.
-I don't believe Sam's parents and where they were or what may have happened to them was ever addressed. I would assume they're deceased though given that she and her sisters were raised by their grandmother.
-And where were Mon's parents? Their daughter was shacked up with her boss and there were no questions? No discussions? I mean, her parents seemed willing to agree to anything regarding Sam, but it was odd that they just kind of disappeared.
-What was with Nita? The flirting with Sam was very weird and awkward, I thought that was going to come back up at some point, but then she never appeared again. What purpose did that serve?
-There were a couple of times, particularly in Episode 11 though, where Yuki would be present, but she would be asked to do something to get rid of her. One, I didn't get why, it wasn't like they were sharing state secrets, and two, even if they were, they weren't lowering their voices at all so she wouldn't hear what they were saying. It was just weird.

The characters of Mon and Sam were an interesting pair given their differences. I liked how Sam was created. She was just bitchy enough to show the character's development throughout as she softens without making you absolutely hate her. Her awkwardness and struggles with communication also leant her a level of realism as well as giving her background more believability. However, I didn't think we were given enough insight into her emotions and thoughts. She loved Mon, but had she really given any thought to their future? She knew how her grandmother had reacted previously so why hadn't she put any thought into what would happen when her grandmother found out? It was all fair too vague for my taste. Mon was interesting because her appearance belayed her actions. She appeared sweet and innocent and yet when it came to things like continuing her relationship with Sam despite Sam technically being in a relationship with Kirk, she didn't put up much of a fight. She was portrayed a very much a people pleaser, something that came back to bite her a few times. With her I also had the question, prior to Episode 10, of whether she ever saw a future for them together. That lack of insight again was frustrating. And neither character had particularly great character development. Minimal at best. Together, while the theme seemed to be that differences attract, their relationship was not fully realized. Yes, they had chemistry and physical attraction, but very little beyond that was explored. There was a constant failure to communicate effectively despite several conversations discussing how they needed to communicate and by the end, it didn't feel like their relationship had developed to any real extent. Not every relationship in dramas needs to be sunshine and rainbows, but it does need to be established why the couple is together and what they're fighting for. Aside from Mon's hero worship of Sam, I really didn't get why these two were together.

Mon and Sam together also created a level of interest due to their moral ambiguity. It's not a primary focus, and it's never really addressed as such, but essentially Sam was cheating on Kirk. Despite the fact that she had no feelings for him, they were in a relationship that was headed towards marriage, willingly or not. While Mon shows some reticence towards this treatment of him, she never pushes it and Sam has no qualms despite being fully aware of Kirk's feelings for her. Now this can make it easy to view Kirk as a victim, however, that's hardly the case. While not the same big bad as Sam's grandmother, Kirk is an antagonist in his own right, albeit a more sympathetic one. His privilege comes screaming through in his actions, forming the deal with Nita, pressuring both Mon and Sam about the wedding, taking Sam's grandmother's words as gospel, all of it comes together to reveal that he's a man who doesn't really respect or value Sam regardless of what he says. His actions speak louder. I really appreciated his character for all his dimensions because you really don't view him as an antagonist initially. He's sweet and handsome and likeable and it's easy to think he's been ill used until you examine his actions more closely. Although proposing to Sam at Jim's wedding, that was an asshole move.

Yuki, Tee, Jim, and Kade were vastly underutilized characters. They pretty much popped up whenever Sam and Mon had a fight and oddly, despite being primarily Sam's friends, were always seen supporting Mon. The typical excuse was that Sam was unreachable, but I would have preferred if they switched things up with sometimes being there for Mon, other times being there for Sam or dividing and conquering. Although generally over the top all around, they added a good dose of humor and served as a source of support and advice for Mon. I just would have liked to see their characters fleshed out more and given more screen time. At some point, Tee and Yuki appear to have started a relationship, but it's never fully confirmed and never really shown either which I found disappointing. A side couple to divert from the main couple would have been very welcome.

Sam's grandmother was the big bad of the drama and frankly I was really disappointed with how she was used. I hated that they gave her a redemption arc as it was done far too quickly and unrealistically. If she had found out about their relationship earlier on and had been given more time to reconcile to the idea of them together, then I could have maybe gotten on board, but as it was, I was disappointed. Considering how set in her ways she was and how obviously firmly she held to her beliefs, it felt contrived that she changed her mind so abruptly. I would have much preferred to seen her stick to her guns and instead have Sam finally have the cojones to break free like her sister and damned what happened to old biddy. But that wouldn't be a totally happy ending and we can't have that.

While all the crying got very tiring after a while, I was impressed with both Becky and Freen for their ability to bring the waterworks. They were, for the most part, believable in those many emotional scenes. They had to be absolutely exhausting though. Becky's acting had a bit more a natural and raw feel to it, whereas Freen sometimes seemed almost too controlled even within the character. Still I overall their portrayal of their characters and they did have great chemistry together. Yo who played Sam's grandmother deserves a shout out because she made me legitimately despise the character.

The production quality was nothing special. There are some shaky shots that, while infrequent, I found distracting. Flashbacks are massively overused, particularly in later episodes. The songs used were repetitive and got old after a while. Basically the usual occurrence of the same song is played every time someone's happy, someone cries, etc. The instrumental music utilized varied from fitting to almost discordant. In particular, there was a scene in Episode 9 where the music was very loud and distracting and did not fit with the scene. It was awful.

Despite all the criticisms here, there were aspects that I enjoyed of GAP. The lesbian representation was obviously a highlight as was having a large female cast. I also appreciated that unlike BLs which have a tendency towards misogyny and objectification of their female cast, that was not the case here. The few male characters were treated as full characters and actually utilized within the story. I was uncertain about how the sex scenes would be portrayed, but they were aesthetically pleasing and well done.

GAP lacks a lot. In my opinion, it is not worth the slog to get through it. However, I am hopeful that GLs continue to be made and gain popularity and traction so that at some point, something truly great can be created. I would love to see a female director take the helm to bring a non-male perspective and perhaps even a full female production and film team. Only time will tell.

Read More

The best kind of catharsis

Is this short ridiculous? Over the top? On the nose? Why yes, yes it is. And for once I truly mean that as a compliment.
This film has a very clear message and that is: Queer women are done with your shit.
The endless struggle to find funding for queer media, the non-stop fight for monetization, the never-ending stream of straight men trying to lay claim to female sexuality... no more.
Most of the time the fight for progress is a slow, drawn-out process of fostering good-will and understanding but sometimes, just sometimes, it's an actual fight. Sometimes you have to stand up and very literally kick your opponent directly in the nuts... and then make out with your girlfriend about how cool that was just now.
This film is a giant, joyous middle finger towards anything and anyone that has ever kept queer women down and I for one enjoyed the hell out of it.

Read More

Tooth-rottingly sweet

Well that was certainly the cutest ad I've seen in a hot minute.
Shakeshoulder films are always pretty hit or miss for me but I'm happy to say that this one hit just right.
To me, this captures the essence of queer friendship and romance perfectly. There's no huge dramatic confessions, no painfully oblivious love interests, it's just two girls toeing the line between romantic and platonic before quietly deciding to take the step towards romance. No frills, no awkward back and forth, just simple acknowledgement of feelings and an attitude of "okay, let's give this a try"
The physical affection between the two is also absolutely wonderful, I mean I'm a sucker for seeing characters cuddle anyway, but here all the casual intimacy just bowled me over in the best way.
I'd say definitely give this one a go if you don't mind being advertised to while watching.

Read More

Strongberry does it again

Seriously though, how do they keep doing that, it's almost spooky at this point.
This is another absolutely delightful little short with Strongberry's signature blend of great acting, tight editing, and a goddamn adorable story. It takes the simply premise of confessing to your crush and portrays it in such a charming, realistic way you can't help but grin and reminisce because, yeah, we've all been there in one way or another.
If you enjoy other Matchbox productions you'll almost certainly like this as well. And if you're unfamiliar with their work, welcome, you're about to discover a whole host of treasures. And this one is certainly a great place to start.

Read More

The fast forward button is my friend

I will preface this review by saying I watched this series because I became a huge fan of the 3 MLs in Mysterious Lotus Casebook and wanted to check out their past work. I liked police procedures and decided to give this a try. This is a slice of life type drama revolving around members of a local police station and their family. It's not a hard watch in a sense that there’s no strong angst and nothing bad happens to anyone. With the help of the fast forward button, I managed to complete all 40 episodes pretty quickly, which is more than what I can say for some much better produced angsty xianxa dramas.

That said, I have pretty low expectations for this show to begin with, and it still manages to disappoint. A show like this is only as good as the characters, the chemistry between them and the situations they find themselves in. Unfortunately, much of the script is unbelievable and unrealistic in terms of situations and behavior. It's like the characters either have a negative EQ /IQ or are so understanding/good that's unreal; and the actors are given direction to overact as much as possible in a way that no normal person behaves.

Take Xiao Shun Yao who plays the 2nd ML as an example. He's my favorite from Mysterious Lotus Casebook and the reason I watched this show. This is the 4th show of his I tried to watch (and 2nd I finished), so I know he can act. But his character is so badly done in this show that it's like I'm watching a caricature of the typical arrogant rookie cop character whose purpose in the script is to show how good the plain (unattractive and old) first ML is in comparison. If it weren't for the scenes where his character is quiet and his thoughts/feelings were conveyed via expression alone, which were great and very believable, I couldn't have finished this show even with the fast forward button.

Then, there is the 2nd FL. No real person with an ounce of common sense, let alone a reporter who went to college to I presume study journalism, can behave like her character does. The actress did a good job at it, so much so that I need to fast forward her scenes, including her lines in scenes with the 2nd ML, lest I give into the urge to throw something at the TV.

The 1st ML is ok. At the risk of sounding shallow, he is the least attractive ML I've ever seen in a show. It's like the script overcompensated for it by making his character unbelievably nice and good at everything. The only times his character feels real is when he interacted with his daughter.

The one bright spot in the show is the 1st FL. Her character is mature, sympathetic and strong. It's great to see such a cool FL in a chinese drama, which tends to be favor the cute, sweet (naive) "princess" type FL that I really can't stand.

Overall, while I definitely will not recommend this to anyone, it wasn't a bad way to waste time till I get over my MLC obsession.

Read More

The very definition of short and sweet

This little gem to me embodies everything a short film should be. It has great acting, precise editing, good sound design, likeable characters with distinct personalities that serve as more than just vessels for the plot, and, most importantly, it has an actual narrative with a beginning, a climax, and a conclusion, all of which are perfectly paced for maximum effect.
My only gripe with this movie would be that, despite the whole premise being centered around a first kiss, we don't actually get to see said kiss.
But maybe that's kind of the point as well. We as the audience don't have to see the kiss in order for the narrative to work. It's a private moment that we have neither cause nor right to intrude on. Besides, the kiss isn't what's important, it's only a starting point for the real story - the characters' growing and changing relationship.
All in all I say give this one a shot. I promise it's five minutes very well spent.

Read More

Just a short, fun little ride

Honestly, I just came in with no expectations, I knew it was a short little web series so I know this was not going to be a seriously good drama or anything. I just wanted something short, quick, and cute and that's what I got. The acting and the plot could be a bit silly at times but if you just want something that is a very easy watch that moves a bit quickly, this is the drama for you. I don't have anything else to really say. A time loop drama in this short little format was very interesting so it kept my interests piqued and it resolved quickly enough that I was satisfied. Our ML and FL had enough chemistry to keep things cute and entertaining as well.

Read More