Reviews

The year of time travel bls?

For me, this is a long trailer giving us some ideas about the drama. It looks interesting and I'd watch anything James is in since I loved him in Bed Friend. A pilot would be a full episode or a short movie introducing the beginning of the series: something along the lines of Check Out ep.0. This is just probably best scenes from the first two episodes or so.... We'll see when it releases!

The story is nothing new: an unlucky guy has an accident and finds himself in the past. He is now someone else who, knowing he was going to come upon a tragic end, makes a wish to go back in time and fix things. But it is actually his future reincarnation that goes back in time.

The main question that remains unclear is why is the past guy murdered: a family feud or a love triangle?

Time travel and reincarnation are always going to get my attention so I will be certainly watching this one when it comes out. But there is another bl coming out soon with the same premise. This trailer shows more acting skills and more chemistry than the other one (I Feel You Linger In The Air- beautiful title!). It seems well filmed. The story is filled with tropes: love triangles, friends to lovers, murder mystery, the rich against the poor etc. but in a new setting so that's original. The chemistry is there and it is hot!

The acting in this trailer is top notch: these actors never disappoint, they can definitely carry a show and Love Upon a Time seems demanding it. So let's wait and hope for the best.

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If you're looking for BL, READ THIS FIRST!

You might be wondering: Is it BL?, and the quick answer is no. No, it is not a BL series... or at least not for the most part.

This season has 24 episodes: It's a family series for the first 18 and a censored BL series for the last 6 ones.

The series relies heavily on the imagination and the book knowledge of the viewer. Meaning, if you don't know any of the subtext, innuendos will fly you by like a bird in a beautiful summer day and you wouldn't think any romantic relationship between them it's happening right up until episode 19 ish I would say.

The series is well done, and if you are aware and willing to endure it as it is then you will enjoy it!

(like, it's not BL but it's the closest thing China can offer for now. Meaning settling in for censorship, hints and assumptions is what you have to put off with)

And that's what I did, I personally enjoyed the first 18 family series episodes and then I did enjoy those last 6 episodes where they nicely hinted their homosexual relationship to us. Which didn't make me happy happy, but I guess for gay guys living that ban first hand in China it must have, or at least it must have counted as some sort of representation in their own media to them, crumbs.

C'est la vie, right? Not everything is easy-peasy. I also suffered. I was heavily involved in their real romantic story that I knew from the book after Addicted the series got banned. I came to this series reluctantly because I couldn't bare the possibility to watch a gay relationship to be censored and hidden like it is something shameful and disgraceful. I cannot fathom or entertain that idea, not living proudly as I do and having enjoyed so many BL stories from others countries for so many years that have made me so incredibly happy for so long. That's why I never came back to Chinese adaptations of gay romantic stories ever since the ban of Addicted so many years ago and that's why I suffered by coming back to this. That gay ban left me angry, helpless and disappointed with their government, like, bruh.

It's save to say I needed some sort of closure, well, no, I have read the book, the original story is crazy by the way thank god is fiction, so no I didn't need closure but I wanted to see the story adaptation, I wanted a visual nice closure to that story that started with Addicted so many years ago. That's why I stayed and finished this series. And that's why I will watch the second season and be done with Chinese adaptations, since as I said, watching a gay relationship being censored is too painful for me.

I hope this review from a BL lover comes in handy to any other BL lover wanting to venture in the censored waters of Chinese adaptations.

My name is Alonso...

(a Venezuelan guy living his gay self far away from his also very conservative home country)

... and I will leave you with a massive: Cheers, x!

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Consistent Story and Surprising Acting

I will be honest, I spent the majority of the series nit-picking plot points and complaining about Kawi's character. But at the end of the 12 episodes, I was surprised and very thankful for the Twitter Trends page for introducing me to this series.

I don't love that they made the time gap 10/12 years, because the characters behave in the present the same way they did in the past. It's hard to get actually invested in the plot, especially at the beginning, because of this huge detail. It would be better if the jump was just to the end of their college years, not such gap.

Things get better from episode 4, because Kawi actually opens up about the things that make him this awkward, lonely kid. I felt sorry for the way he was treated at the Summer Party, but I also blame the script for setting up such stupid situations just to emphasize his awkwardness. The kid has to carry three bags, one of them is a backpack, why the hell didn't he put on both straps? These unbelievable situations made it harder for me to completely enjoy Kawi and his troubles at the camp, but I can't deny the character emotional development, he's much better at least for now.

Something I really loved was how strong Pear is as a character, despite the role she plays on the show, being the prettier girl in the faculty and the romantic interest of both male leads. She has her own beliefs and thoughts, she doesn't shut up and stays put, I love the scene were she calls out the seniors about the stupid traditions. She's actually a character I loved!

Their first kiss wasn't in the best of situations. Kawi was drunk, which means he was vulnerable and couldn't consent to anything. The kiss was sweet, but the lack of expression in Gawin's face really threw me off. Then he laid Kirst down and started unbuttoning his shirt??? No, buddy! Kawi is drunk! The lost look in Kawi's eyes wasn't really expressive, but it was enough to convey how he wasn't really there, in the moment. I'm glad Pisaeng stopped things when he noticed Kawi falling asleep, but I would rather he hadn't started anything.

The scene where Kawi checks the future again after playing at X10 is so, but so bad. I cringed from the moment he showed up backstage with Max as his manager, to the very point where I had to pause for a second because he found out Pear will marry Not. The moment he realized his dad was still dead was so bad, it took him so long to react and Max just stood there, waiting for his queue. This particular moment felt so unnatural, why did Max just stand there????

I've only now started watching BL series, so I can attest to the actors acting and if they're already getting better or not, but I also have to blame the Directors for not telling them what to do with their limbs. So many heartfelt and angsty scenes were almost ruined for me because of the actors instances. Kawi is dying and Pisaeng is desperate? He, Max and Pear just stand there in front of the doctor like the ? emoji.

Suddenly it's been 8 years since their college days? The timeline is very messy, but the concept is still very solid.

Pear is such a good person, I feel sorry for her troubles with her mom, but I'm glad she's still very nice to others despite all her pain. I've liked her from the start, there was a moment where I thought she would get in between Pisaeng and Kawi, but I'm glad she didn't. She's probably one of the best BL female characters I've seen so far.

Kirst's acting was such a surprise. He was amazing just for being able to make me loathe Kawi at the beginning, only for me to slowly fall in love with the character as he grew more mature and learned how to navigate the time travel. I decided to watch this series because I was in love with Unar/Dan in 'Not Me', but Gavin's acting also surprised me, he really knew how to make us feel sorry for how much he felt for Kawi and how far he would go to see him happy.

The story was solid, from the very first hint at the plot to the very end, it was consistent and not once the time travelling felt too much. The end was definitely the best, Pisaeng being the one to see for himself like going back to fix things is not always the best option.

I thoroughly enjoyed this show, might not rewatch because I usually don't, but I will definitely recommend this one to peers who want to get into Thai BLs.

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Good job

Gulnezer Bextiyar (Yu Jing Qiu) and Xu Kai (Dongbo Xue Ying) congratulate excellent acting. As a couple, the chemistry was perfect for the theme.

7.7 is too little.

Lots of arm movements must have gotten tired.

This show represents DongHua Lord Xue Ying. This DongHua is beautiful.

I know portraying a Donghua of this level in a drama is difficult but the production effort was good.

Here it is also evident that it is possible to change the script, some adaptations here do not exist in DongHua. Changes I didn't like but the production has budget limits.

Watch it, you won't regret it.

Yes it's long and can get tiring, just skip it.

Good show to you.

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a melhor farofinha de 2023!

é uma comédia romântica que no fim passa a ser história depressiva. Os personagens tem um desenvolvimento bom, a história dele vai se desenrolando sem pressa, não é aqueles romances corridos, é fofo, aconchegante, divertido e ótimo pra passar o tempo ou sair daquelas ressacas de dorama.

Ao longo do dorama já dá pra ter noção do fim, mas você se prende tanto que acaba não aceitando o último episódio ou não acreditando, mas depois que toda a emoção passa pode-se perceber o quão lindo foi. O amor deles foi sincero, foi apaixonante, eles se acolheram nos piores momentos, se entenderam com suas diferenças e aprenderam juntos a amar verdadeiramente.

Não dava nada por esse dorama e no fim se tornou um dos meus favoritos do ano, recomendo muitoo!

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Guardian

Encontrar um drama que não apenas nos envolve, mas também nos conquista de maneira profunda é uma verdadeira joia. "Guardian" (2018) é um desses tesouros que não só prenderam minha atenção, mas também ganharam um pedaço do meu coração.

Desde o primeiro episódio, fui transportado para um mundo que mistura os mistérios do sobrenatural com os dramas da vida real. A trama habilmente tecida entre a realidade moderna e a mitologia antiga cria uma experiência única que é ao mesmo tempo emocionante e intrigante. A medida que somos apresentados ao carismático detetive Zhao Yunlan e ao enigmático professor Shen Wei, fica claro que há muito mais do que aparenta. Cada episódio se desdobra como uma jornada emocional que nos leva a explorar os segredos do passado, as conexões profundas entre os personagens e os desafios que enfrentam.

O que realmente define "Guardian" à parte são os relacionamentos complexos e interligados entre os personagens. A relação entre Zhao Yunlan e Shen Wei é uma montanha-russa de emoções, um exemplo perfeito de amizade, lealdade e sacrifício. Cada olhar trocado e cada palavra dita carrega um significado profundo, nos lembrando que os sentimentos transcendem as barreiras do tempo e da existência.

A cinematografia deslumbrante e os efeitos visuais bem executados contribuem para a atmosfera mágica do drama. Cada cena é cuidadosamente construída para nos imergir no mundo sobrenatural de maneira convincente, enquanto as cenas de ação são coreografadas com maestria, adicionando um toque de adrenalina à narrativa.

"Guardian" é mais do que uma série; é uma experiência que captura nossa imaginação e nossas emoções. Eu encontrei-me ansiando por cada novo episódio, absorvendo cada momento como se fosse um tesouro precioso. Este drama chinês não só conquistou um lugar especial na minha lista de favoritos, mas também tocou meu coração de maneira profunda e duradoura.

Em um mundo repleto de dramas, "Guardian" (2018) se destaca como uma pérola rara que merece ser apreciada por todos os amantes de histórias cativantes. Se você procura um drama que mistura o real e o mágico, os mistérios do passado com as emoções do presente, não procure mais. "Guardian" é uma jornada inesquecível que ficará com você muito além do último episódio.

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drama " Mother "

Prepare-se para uma experiência que vai tocar sua alma e despertar suas emoções mais profundas. "Mother" é mais do que um drama; é uma jornada incrivelmente comovente que captura a essência do amor, sacrifício e proteção.

Desde o momento em que assisti ao primeiro episódio de "Mother", fui envolvido pela trama envolvente e pelas atuações magistrais dos atores. Cada cena é carregada de emoções genuínas, e a narrativa aborda temas difíceis, como abuso infantil, de uma maneira sensível e poderosa.

A história segue a professora Soo-Jin e sua determinação de proteger sua aluna, Hye-Na, do terrível ciclo de abuso em que ela está presa. À medida que as personagens lutam com escolhas impossíveis, somos lembrados da força do amor maternal e da capacidade humana de enfrentar adversidades. ( Claro que vocês devem saber )

O que realmente torna "Mother" excepcional é sua habilidade de mergulhar nas complexidades emocionais dos personagens. Cada olhar, gesto e palavra carrega um peso significativo, fazendo com que nos conectemos profundamente com suas jornadas e lutas.

Em suma, "Mother" é um testemunho do poder da narrativa televisiva. Com uma história que permanecerá com você muito depois de terminar de assistir, este drama é uma obra-prima emocional que recomendo sem hesitação. Prepare-se para uma experiência inesquecível que irá tocar seu coração de maneiras que você jamais imaginou.

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Best Lakorn of the Year

The review might be biased from my side personally,
Since this drama is all about positivity , you'll be reading this without any negativity.

anywho. lets start summing up

If you're someone who's looking for a family drama/lakorn that is not too intense but its everything inside like humor, laughter, tears. fun, romance and friendship, then this one is the best yet you could ever watch in your life.

I started watching this lakorn since 2 months ago. Never missed any episode. Every episode was worth the wait. Binging all the way through and so much emotions going through within this two months because of this show itself. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and mostly I smiled all the way.

Now lets talk about the actors & the characters
Toey - Watched Toey's performance in Timeline before (the same co-star with James Ji). Was deeply touched. Completely a different developed character with what she's playing as Mata. I did read lot of news and reviews for the main character that Matalada only and can just be played by Toey. That she is Mata and Mata is her. I can see why.

James Ji - One word, natural. Quite natural as Penneung/Purim, The way I see it, he's just playing himself in the lakorn as himself cause sometimes I forgot, he is James Ji and Penneung is his character.

The chemistry for both of them is undeniable. I've been following up the news, events and project about them since Timeline which is in 2014. I could say, they're just passed as lovers in real life. But it takes two to tango as what they said. Anyway, just happy and glad that they're very close in real life too. That what makes Mata and Penneung is perfect for each other.

I'll summed up the others characters as short as I can. Tri-Pang-Riri, just happy and satisfied that they can be friends. Not picking any side for the pair really either Tri-Pang or Tri-Riri, cause I love their characters very much. They had their own wounds and reasons.
Father Grace, speechless for this character. He is the main one and the reason why Mata was born as one of the most loveliest person in the planet. Same goes to Aunt Vee.
The Cage - Type of gang that I think everyone should have or meet at least one time in their life. So much fun
The doctors - Type of gang or family that everyone needs, supportive.

Music
Love, love and just love. Just wish they have a full soundtrack list and score. Would love to add in my spotify list.

Overall
8/10. Pretty sure will watch it over and over again after this cause I'll miss them.

Possible sequel - positive to say, its possible. For Pang-Tri-Riri perhaps. Maybe Mata & Penneung with Tee Ruk (their baby) too

Now, to those who is missing Matalada. I strongly recommend for you guys to watch Timeline. Also, prepare tissue ?

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Great storyline and excellent acting!

Love this short drama series, only 14 episodes, excellent acting, especially the lead actress Zhang Ya Qin is exceptionally heart touching and super impressive!!!!!
The storyline has unexpected twists and turns, hard to predict what’s next, but very refreshing and lively as it goes on, thus making it more interesting or wanting find out what’s next!
Though there are many love story series out there, it is hard to find a true heart touching one, but this one is an exception for sure.
Overall, after seeing so many movies and drama series from all over the world, I would rate this “An Ancient Love Song” all full five out of five stars!

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A Korean “English Countryside” Drama (quaint, it’s all cosy and quaint)

Usually I never write a review until a drama is finished but I felt that this time around I must. Given that the usual MDL ways of down rating a drama happens when the female lead IS NOT super young and hot (insert a generic Zao Lusi or Kim So Hyun prototype here. They both are very talented and pretty ladies. I personally am a fan of Ki So Hyun. I am just talking about how people react on this forum).
Moving on, anyone who likes cosy village settings with super wacky and weird characters will like this drama. A lot of the characters do questionable stuff and so many characters are so weird. Even the pets are funny and strange. This drama “reads” and feels like a book. Fans of PG Wodehouse, Legends and Latte, Indian Malgudi Days, will know what I am talking about. So it may not be everyone’s cup of tea at all. However it must be noted that this drama is doing exceptionally well in Korea. I am glad. So many times Korean productions have to bow down to international tastes that they lose their unique touch. Not so in this case.
Han Ji Min is amazing in this, I had always seen her in sad or dramatic works and I was pleasantly surprised to see she has good comedic timing. Her male lead, is usually wooden but he is emoting very well.
Han Ji Mins’, curly haired sister is amazing. I really liked her in one spring night too.
Anyways I am really enjoying it. Hope it does not do a nosedive towards the end like many K Dramas do.
****************
My thoughts after watching this - a very nice thriller whodunnit mystery and the bickering about chemistry between the leads (non romantic for most of the show) was good. The setting, the characters were very unique. A throughly enjoyable drama

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Wow!! Very Fun!! very good content.

For "the eight" I've been reluctant to watch many times. The first scene on the train surprised me. I didn't really like the first scene on the train. Hesitating whether to continue watching or not. When deciding to continue watching, I found that the story in "the eight" was much more fun than I thought. Amazing subplots!! and i can't stop watching. I love every aspect of the eight's story. I like many characters, they are dimensional, colorful, and have strengths and weaknesses.​ I love ML&FL He and she have their strengths and weaknesses, cute and amazing.

The eight fun and happy that I had to watch it again!! ?

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What it takes to be HUMAN

Did I spoil ending way up in the title? But is IT worth watching? Resounding YES! You think Taecyeon is all light and goofy stuff, but this towering handsomeness has DEPTH, tyvm, Mam! Heartbeat title even alludes to a hit 2PM song...

Ok, seriously... production is top notch especially costume and set design... Acting...I credit actors to flesh out a little "thin" script. Actors (and hopefully even the Director) tried to flesh out a script that gets thinner and thinner by the episode.

IF they wanted a HAPPY and MAGICAL ending the "solution" could have been hinted on the earlier episodes. Towards the 11th  episode onwards, its just watching a looooong painful goodbye, much like the ML dying of cancer or what not. I wanted to have a GOOD CRY by Episode 14-16, but... I cannot... Why?

Like the leads and friends surrounding ML, the audience become another friend who just want to PROLONG the GOOD MOMENTS and tell Taecyeon, "Please don't leave us!" Sniff... Rarely do we get such a realistic and wise ending, folks! So...if you always want a fairy tale ending, HEARTBEAT is not for you! Love becomes precious the MORE REAL it is. And for me, the LOVE STORY and the impact of Taecyeon in their lives are as REAL as it gets. Bravo, Heartbeat!!!

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Trash TV at its worst

OK y'all, let's cut to the chase, shall we?
This show is trash. And I mean it, real trash. Utter trash. I'd say "pure trash" but "pure" ain't the kind of adjective one can in all fairness use to describe this, sorry.
I know there are millions of people who'll disagree, what can I say, good for them, but in my review I can only share *my* opinion, so bear with it. If you adored the original show and think that Kitano Takeshi's a freaking genious, by all means, watch this, you're gonna love it.
But if you, instead, always considered the original 80's show a disgrace only useful to those "gaijin" who *love* to diss Japan day in and day out ('cause, hey, "them Japs are all weirdos" as this show "showed") and if you think that the only real weirdo is Kitano (hey, I dunno him personally, he might be the best guy in the world....but in my book, if you look like you're demented, speak like you're demented, behave like you're demented and produce stuff that seems like it's been written by someone who's demented, well...chances are you might be demented, sorry)...well, in that case steer clear of this and watch something less trashy. "Sasuke", for example.

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"Success always comes with a price in suffering"

In Uegetsu, Mizoguchi wove a strange tale of hubris out of fantasy and realism loosely based on Ueda Akinari's stories. The acting and story telling were well done as Mizoguchi explored militarism and the price women paid for it. At least I hope that was the message.

Spoilers Below:
The story opens with two couples-Genjuro and Miyagi and Tobei and Ohama. Genjuro decides to take his pottery to a larger town to sell with war on their doorstep, hoping to make a tidy profit. Tobei has dreams of grandeur as a samurai even though he doesn’t have enough money for a weapon or armor and heads to town with Genjuro. After Genjuro succeeds, he decides to make more pottery for a grander profit against Miyagi's advice. She wants them to be together happily and with soldiers headed their way they need to be prepared to flee. Genjuro ignores her and with Tobei, who was rejected by the samurais, works feverishly to fill his kiln. The soldiers arrive pillaging and enslaving, but the four manage to escape. Afterwards they rescue the pottery and take it to sell. Tobei uses his share to outfit himself and join the army. Genjuro is seduced by Lady Wakasa who says she will help him to make more money if he will marry her. He falls under her spell and forgets all about his wife and son. Ohama is captured by soldiers on the way home and gang raped. Miyagi is killed by ravaging soldiers for the meager amount of food she is carrying for her son. The husbands go about their lives enthralled with their circumstances, scarcely giving a thought to their wives caught up in the chaos of war.

Despite the negative ramifications shown of militarism and the effects it had on women, throughout the film I found the husbands reprehensible. Driven by ambition, lust, or a need for power, they hardly suffered. Yes, there was humor interspersed but the wives were not given the chance to laugh. After finally coming to their senses, Genjuro and Tobei both learned that home is where peace lies, coming full circle from the start.

Ohama's story was resolved too neatly for a woman who had been repeatedly "dishonored," not suffering the fate of so many comfort women from the previous war. I've read that Mizoguchi wanted a different ending, more in line with real life where she would have been shunned and Tobei would have stepped over her to grow his military power. Even with this "happy ending", had she been a real woman and not a man's version of a woman, she most likely would have suffered greatly from her painful and humiliating experiences and not immediately bounced back.

Death could not dim Miyagi's loyalty to her family. She who had been utterly abandoned by her husband continued to be caring toward him, looking out for him and her child by reuniting them. Miyagi who was forever separated from her child and husband due to his ambitious and lustful needs was never allowed to share the peaceful home fires she so lovingly stoked. Finally, Lady Wakasa could not be seen as a villain. She had been murdered along with her family by men bent on more power, and was only seeking the love she never lived to have.

The fantasy elements were well done and the film was well crafted. All of the performers conveyed their characters perfectly. The various soldiers and armies were routinely shown as out of control and often dishonorable---a scathing rebuke of militarism. This is one of those films that is considered a classic and one of Mizoguchi's best. While skillfully woven together, I could not get past the price of the husbands' hubris being paid by the women and why the dutiful wives were the ones who were destined to suffer for the men's misdeeds. How long Genjuro might have been haunted remained to be seen.

So even though the story taught a lesson to the husbands about ambition, and ultimately brought about the fulfillment of peace and harmony for those who remained, it came at a cost, a cost the women paid with their blood. Their selfish husbands finally did what was right for those who survived, but only after blowing everything up to begin with. Whether or not this was what Mizoguchi envisioned, as a woman it was a bitter pill to swallow.

8/15/23

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