Reviews

A really touching Rollercoaster about mental health and human relationships

Watch it.

If you like any member of the cast, watch it.

If you want a pretty accurate representation of mental issues, watch it.

If you want joy, watch it.

If you want to cry.... watch it.

I think it was one of the most memorable and touching dramas that I've seen lately. From the several mother/daughter relationships that are portrayed in it to the rich/poor boy/girl relationships.

Just watch it and enjoy it all, from the sad moments to the really touching ones. And recommend it to your friends and family.

I think it helped me with my own mental issues.

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"Chasing Dreams and Chasing Love---->Only for Love"

"Only for Love" is this rad drama that's airing right now, and it's flipping the script on the typical romance story. Instead of the usual girl-getting-pursued-by-a-guy scenario, this show's got our girl Shu Yi going after the super handsome, but oh-so-stiff Shi Yan. And let me tell you, Shu Yi is all sorts of adorable with her funny faces and cute antics that had me in stitches. I was laughing so hard that my family thought I'd lost it, wondering what on earth I was watching.

But what's really cool about Shu Yi is that she doesn't waste her time moping over some jerk who did her wrong. Nope, she's got big dreams and isn't afraid to go after them, even if it means chasing after a guy. When she straight-up asked Shi Yan, "Can I pursue you?" I almost choked on my water – that's some serious girl power right there! She's become like a role model for girls who are out there chasing their dreams.

"Only for Love" isn't just another mushy-gushy romance drama. It's all about showing how hardworking and ambitious women can be. Shu Yi is all about her career, and it's super inspiring to see her go after her goals with such determination.

The soundtrack in this show is lit – the music fits each scene perfectly. The funny moments with Shu Yi and Shi Yan are made even funnier with the background tunes. It's on point.

Now, let's talk about Bailu and her character, Shu Yi. She's got some intense staring going on, and it's a little cringe, to be honest. But it's also cute in a weird way. She's got these inner monologues that are totally over-the-top and immature, and I can't help but smile at them.

So far, the chemistry between Shu Yi and Shi Yan isn't full-blown romantic, but we're all waiting for that moment when he does something super cute or makes a grand declaration of love. Right now, there's no clear villain in the story, which is kinda different, but it seems like this show is all about being cute and romantic.

Overall, "Only for Love" is a breath of fresh air in the romance drama scene. It's got relatable characters, a strong message about pursuing dreams, and a killer soundtrack. Sure, it's got some quirks, but that's what makes it stand out. We're all just waiting to see how Shu Yi and Shi Yan's romance unfolds and if it'll get even more adorable in the future.So, don't miss out on this unique and charming drama that's got all the ingredients to win your heart.

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Beautiful

I loved this show.
The story was beautiful, as was the acting, music and setting.


(The below summary contains spoilers--nothing too specific, just a general overview of what will happen throughout the show and what you can expect.)

Plot:
A smart high-school boy meets and falls in love with an older (age gap) rich boy who falls to the gang life due to family neglect.
They are torn apart due a rival gang's attack which sees the student take the fall for the rich boy and accept a 4-year prison sentence.
After four years in prison, the high school boy returns to life with a new plan for his future but one that definitely includes his first and only love.
Meanwhile, the rich boy is torn apart by guilt and is determined to remain apart from the high school boy in order to keep him safe.
The first half of the show focuses on how the two meet and fall in love, on how their childhoods shaped them, and how they are separated.
The second half of the show focuses on how they reunite, overcome their obstacles, and build their happily ever after.

The second couple:
Two boys, close in age, both orphans who grew up together as "brothers" and friends. As young teens they were recruited into gang life. When we meet them they're both mid-level rising gang members. One of them is love with the other; the other is in love with the head boss of their gang. Thus, both are in unrequited love.
The first half of the show deals with the difficulties and dangers they face as gang members, their loyalty to each other, and the pain they each face in love. Due in part to the attack which separated couple #1, this couple is also separated for four years. During their separation, the "other" boy realizes he's loved his friend all along, while the "friend" determines to separate for good from the "brother" who'll never love him in the way he wishes for.
The second part of the show shows us how they reunite, how one works to make the other believe and accept that he truly is in love with him, and how they also reach their happily ever after.

I liked the story itself. There was a nice focus on the gang, on family, on the affects of childhood trauma and how to overcome it.
The chemistry of both couples was insane!! Off the charts hot. It's honestly hard to say which couple I liked more because the truth is, I loved them both. I will say this though: for couple 1, I liked them better during the first half of the show, and for couple 2, I liked them better during the second half. For some reason, the connection between the first couple is shown better prior to their separation while the connection between the second couple is better showcased after their reunion. In that sense, when we're shown both couples' happily ever after, I prefer the second couple's to the first- I can't pinpoint why, but couple 2 feels fully settled and case closed but couple 1 leaves me with a bit of lingering "want more for the closing act".

All of the actors acted terrifically.

The soundtrack was phenomenal.

Overall, this is pretty much a perfect show.
I highly recommend it. <3

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What can I say, suddenly I saw the trailer of episode 14, I was surprised to see it. After that I came to know that only for love realized.
Bai Lu is my favourite actress and one of the best actresses. This woman never fails to ace whatever role she plays. So excited for this ❤️ lets see what happens to next epsiode .
how she always takes on new challenging roles to grow as an actress. Every drama has been successful as well. 🥰❤Every time when Bai Lu films a new drama, she enriches herself as well. She learns new things, violin, horse riding, guitar, singing, dialect, etc. In some interviews/videos, we know that the practicing/preparation time is almost the same as the filming time. She practices so hard to meet the standard. She actually can choose the project not so demanding, but she intends to choose the project that is meaningful to her. Really admire her and support her!
Only Chinese actress who can act and Looks damn natural exactly knows how much to do without being over the top and cringy.Queen Of Versatility Bai Lu

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Cozy Warmth for Cold Days

This show has quickly become a comfort watch for me. Something about the way the beautiful cinematography, the quiet intimacy of the dialogue, and even the big fluffy scarves and sweaters all add together... it's deeply soothing to me.

I really like the concept of the story. So many romance dramas focus on the couple getting together, so having the focus be on an existing couple is plenty unique on its own. Combined with the intimate exploration of one specific relationship as well as reflections on what makes relationships work or fall apart this makes for a truly unique premise.
A premise that is then beautifully executed. The acting is stellar, the pacing is perfect, and the dialogues feel natural and realistic which is important for a quiet show like this that is quite dialogue-heavy.

I also especially love how much sense each individual character's actions make. Fumiya's desperation to preserving his relationship by concealing the past, Ritsu's quest to get his memories back, Shuji's concern over lying to his brother. All these motivations feel logical and realistic. The story as a whole is fairly grounded despite the slightly outlandish setting. The characters inhabit a real world with real issues and face real consequences for their decisions.
But at its core this is not a story about the tragic disintegration of a relationship; it's a story about love. About cherishing the people you hold dear, about openness and honesty, about the deliberate effort it takes to make a relationship work, and about the simple pleasures of spending time with the person you love.
There are no grand confessions, no unnecessarily dramatic fights, no meddling exes, no plot-convenient misunderstandings.

So if you're looking for a down-to-earth romantic drama with a cozy slice-of-life feel and not too much angst, then I would absolutely recommend this one. It is also simply a good queer love story so anyone who likes those will very likely enjoy this series as well.
As a side note - the music is also excellent and I could honestly listen to the opening and closing themes over and over again on repeat if that sways you either way.

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Well made romance thriller.

What I liked:
-The acting.
(Especially Ai Di's actor. They way he was able to portray this undercurrent of sadness and vulnerability in this street kid gang member was truly impressive.)
-The production.
(Some of the shots in the shows were really beautiful. And i was never taken out of the story by weird editing or audio problems.)
-The story.
(It was really nice to have a romance that had plot going on, independent of the romance.)

What I struggled with:
- The relationships between the groups.
(I had a really hard time understanding why the different factions were against each other.)

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Ordinary enemies to lovers full of fluff

This is light, fluffy, filled with hilarious comedy, and easily digest for the brainless me who hate heavy story. !!Only for those who need to refresh their mind with simple-story series!!
Story 8/10, I personally love enemies to lovers trope with light conflict especially misunderstanding that made my heart aches once or twice cause I hate angst but I want to cry a bit, and I hate thinking too much when watching a series.
Acting 7/10, not the great great one but already facing the right direction. Special shout out to Tod for his gaze and his hilarious act, I enjoyed this series mostly because of him and how "real" his eyes are. I appreciate the "sip pal (re: numbers in korea)" scene but for some scene I did ask myself "am I watching prn?". I think there's no need to go that far.
Music 7/10, love the music in ep8 when Sky kissed Vee's hand after they made up ㅠㅠ but the music for the "sip pal" scene are comedic :")
Rewatch? Yes, absolutely. But maybe 2x speed and some skips.
By the way...
It's been so long since I feel like missing a Thai series right after the series ended, the "IT'S END ALREADY?! I WANT MORE" feeling.

Disclaimer:
*This review was written by fluffy ETL(Enemies To Lovers) LOVERS who hate heavy conflict.

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So worth it!

I just finished it and I was so pleasantly surprised.
The trailer didn’t excite me much, but I decided to give it a watch because of the good reviews it has, I’m so glad I did!
All the characters were so well written, I loved the backstories and get that they gave the characters more life, if that makes any sense.
The parents were my favorite, it’s hard to not like them!
At first I thought it would be a simple young superheroes at school kind of story but it was anything but that!
It’s such a unique story, I can’t think of anything similar to this, Im super excited for the next season.
And with that cast you can’t really go wrong!
Highly recommending it!

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What if it could be better

I put a rating of 7 for now because I am a fan of Dylan Wang and Bai Lu but not in this Drama.

The story so far is more than ordinary and doesn't allowed to the ML and FL to be at they full potential ! I agreed with most of the ''negative'' review so far unfortunatly. The stylist is really bad and doesn't bring all the beauty of Bai Lu and the nice silhouet of Dylan. I will not speak about his glasses. I will find out by ourself. I have to admit that ML suppose to be older than the FLbut it doesn't reflected that way at all and what to say about the niece of the ML who look like tha same age has him ?!?

This is really sad because I have watch some modern drama of both of them (Dylan and Bai Lu) and they really can play it really well. This one doesn't suit the talent of these actors. They really do what they can with the role they have been given but still I don't know if I will drop it...

So I will continue to watch it maybe I will change my mind.... I really do hope !

What if it becomes better......

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Romance? Passion? Chemistry? Pacing? What more could we possibly ask for?

What a great series!!! Everything we could possible want, we got in spades!

I loved the story of Bai Zong Yi and Fan Ze Rui. How these two lonely people whose paths unexpectedly cross steadily form a relationship from being enemies to unwilling caretaker/pestering patient, to friends, and then lovers. The buildup of tension between the two as their feelings for each other started to develop was immaculate 🤌🏾🤌🏾. Between when they finally become lovers, are separated and reunited, the love, lust and longing they had for each other was so palpable it was almost too much to watch. Episodes 7 and 11 still have me in a chokehold. My favorite thing about BZY was his honesty and straightforward personality. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was direct with his feelings for FZR. My fave thing about FZR was his eyes. His eyes told so much and always looked at BZY so lovingly. When watching two people GAZE at each other makes you shy, you know you've found a gem.

Where BZY and FZR were intimate and loving, Ai Di and Chen Yi were explosive and intense. Both pairings were so passionate but it was expressed in completely different ways which was great to see. AD and CY's romance story was also beautiful to watch; finally seeing, AD who had been waiting over 4 years for CY to reciprocate his love, find his own happiness was for sure worthwile. For all of AD's aggressiveness, he is such a softie on the inside, especially to those he loves, a classic tsundere so his character was very fun to watch and I loved his dynamic with CY.

Overall, in terms of romance, Kiseki: Dear to Me 100% delivered. The driving gang plot itself too was also good and brought lots of angst that allowed our couples to develop their feelings even quicker. I appreciated how the story didn’t drag at all throughout the series. (Though, I did wait for the series to end before binging so the pacing seemed great to me, all the cliffhangers would have had me STRESSED had I watched this live xD). Everything was paced well and I didn't feel any relevant plotline was particularly underdeveloped. Although, I wouldn't be opposed to getting bonus episodes of BZY and CY's married life, too much to ask? 👉🏾👈🏾🥺😫🥺. Acting was also superb from the main cast. I did not feel one bit of discomfort/awkwardness in intimate scenes between any of the pairings. They all had great chemistry. The only poor acting was honestly mainly from Wayne's character lmao, and other small side characters.

Anyway, so happy with this series and I wish the best to all the actors. I had a great time watching it and I'm sure if you decide to pick this up, you will too!

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A Miracle Series with Imperfections

What I Love About the Series:
"Kiseki" stands out for several reasons that keep viewers eagerly engaged. The chemistry between the characters is undeniably one of its strongest assets. Taro Lin and Hsu Kai's portrayal of Bai Zong Yi and Fan Jherui, as well as Chen Bowen and Jiang Dian Dian's depiction of Chen Yi and Ai Di, showcase impeccable on-screen dynamics.

The characters' progression, both in terms of their story and personality, align seamlessly with the overarching narrative, making it a delightful and easy-to-follow series. The ever-evolving dynamic between Ai Di and Chen Yi, as they both pine for each other at different points, adds depth and intrigue to the storyline.

"Kiseki" also challenges conventional BL stereotypes by cleverly switching the roles of Bai Zong Yi as the savior and dominant figure in the relationship, despite his lower economic class background, and Fan Jherui as the saved and passive character from a higher economic class. This refreshing take on character dynamics deserves applause.

The series excels in integrating a multifaceted plot, notably the mafia subplot, without disconnecting it from the central romance. This ability to seamlessly weave the romance into broader narrative elements elevates the viewing experience. Moreover, the inclusion of cameos from past BL series adds an extra layer of enjoyment for fans of the genre.

What I Dislike About the Series:
While "Kiseki" has much to offer, there are a few shortcomings that need addressing. The 20-minute episodes released weekly can be a source of frustration for live viewers, as the anticipation can become somewhat painful.

The shift in tone during Bai Zong Yi and Ai Di's time in jail felt abrupt and could have benefited from a smoother transition. A more nuanced handling of this critical plot point would have added to the overall cohesion of the story.

Additionally, certain plot elements, such as Zhang Teng, the Fan family, and Chen Dong Yang, which initially appeared to be major factors in the narrative, were swiftly and conveniently discarded once their relevance to the main characters concluded. The only plot point that received a moderately well-structured place in the storyline was Bai Zong Yi and his family.

In conclusion, "Kiseki" is a series that combines the miraculous chemistry of its cast with a complex and engaging narrative, but it isn't without its imperfections. Despite some pacing and plot-related issues, the series manages to captivate viewers with its unique character dynamics and clever integration of subplots.

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Park Eun Bin is very special ,her roles will tell us a our whole life story

Park eun bin is my favourite actress and one of the best actresses. This woman never fails to ace whatever role she plays. So excited for this ❤️ lets see what happens to next epsiode .
I was blown away by the performance of Park Eun Bin in Extraordinary Attorney Woo... and now - she's outstanding in yet another sensational role!!! I can see this will rise to the top of the echelons in pure performance skills.

how she always takes on new challenging roles to grow as an actress. Every drama has been successful as well. 🥰❤Every time when Park Eun Bin films a new drama, she enriches herself as well. She learns new things, violin, horse riding, guitar, singing, dialect, etc. In some interviews/videos, we know that the practicing/preparation time is almost the same as the filming time. She practices so hard to meet the standard. She actually can choose the project not so demanding, but she intends to choose the project that is meaningful to her. Really admire her and support her!
Only Korean actress who can act and Looks damn natural exactly knows how much to do without being over the top and cringy.Queen Of Versatility Park Eun bin

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Another epic Taiwanese BL show to put at your re-watch list

This show really amazed me. FINALLY !! we got to see something fresh in a BL series. The story is unique and keet us entertained in every episode. I really like the diversity of the story between both the couples and other characters and how they are put together in the same story.
The storytelling was good, the script was great and really hatts off to the casting. Every actor in this series gave their best.
Starting with the leads Both the couple's had great sizzling chemistry. They made me feel every emotion of their character with their acting .

My personal favourite is the story of the second couple. I was literally obsessed with them. I mean , I can guarantee for those who have watched this series and have not felt pain in the prison scene with the cake. Also, for the scene of their first time doing it. They just delivered us pure raw emotions that stabbed our hearts along with some other beautiful scene. Every episode felt too short and me wanting to see more of their story. I really want to see more of them, like how they grew up together and how they missed each other during prison time.

Ai di is my favourite character in the whole show. According to me he literally was one of the character who stood out the most in the show. !!!!

I literally was excited for the show to see Wayne and Chun Chih back together, after the trauma I was left after History 3: MODC and wanting them to finally see happy together, but eventually it didn't happen again 😭.
Apart from that, thanks to the team for giving us the cameos in the drama that we all wanted to see. I really enjoyed this series.

However, i was a bit disappointed with the ending (final episode). The stabbing felt a bit unnecessary and since this plot was introduced the ending felt a bit rushed. I hope we get a special episode for the series.

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nice and sweet historical series focusing on romance, and an adorable CP

If you need some sweetness, don't hesitate !

PLOT:
The legitimate daughter of a high general, the FL, flees from an arranged marriage with the Regent Prince, the ML. She meets him by chance when he is on an incognito mission, trying to escape the multiple assassinations that are being planned against him. The FL's (illegitimate) sister marries him in her place, to be close to the 2nd Prince (the ML2) whom she loves unilaterally, because the ML2 love the FL. The FL comes to the Court, as a servant, to save her sister (the FL2) from this situation. But things become complicated when the FL becomes the personal servant of the regent Prince, and they both fall in love. Nevertheless the situation is complex and they are tossed around by events and the Court's affairs.

PROS:
+ Two very good leads, even if it's the 1st ML's drama. FL's character is childish, but she's supposed to be very young...
+ Well-developed 2dary characters, including the very endearing CL2 (Guard and Princess).
+ The tone is quite light and there are many funny scenes.
+ Classic OSTs, not memorable.
+ The settings, the costumes are magnificent, and the action scenes (quite rare because the focus is on romance and the Court) are credible.
+ 34 episodes of 40 minutes, that's enough!

CONS:
- the narration is a little slow sometimes.
- the final resolution of all the problems is a bit hasty.

=> Light and cute series, with 2 promising young leads.
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PLOT:
La fille légitime d'un haut général, la FL, fuit un mariage arrangé avec le Prince Héritier, le ML. Elle le rencontre quand il est en mission incognito, tentant d'échapper aux multiples assassinats qui sont ourdis contre lui. La sœur (illégitime) de la FL se marie à sa place, pour être proche du 2nd Prince (le ML2) qu'elle aime unilatéralement, le ML2 aimant la FL. La FL vient à la Cour, comme servante, pour sauver la FL2 de cette situation. Mais les choses se compliquent qd la FL devient la servante personnelle du ML, et que tous les 2 tombent amoureux. Mais la situation est complexe et ils sont ballotés par les évènements et les affaires de la Cour.
PROS:
+ Deux très bons leads, même si c'est le 1e drama du ML. La FL est puérile, mais elle est supposée être très jeune...
+ Des personnages 2daires bien développés, y compris le CL2, très attachant.
+ Le ton est assez léger et il y a beaucoup de scènes drôles.
+ OST classiques, pas mémorables.
+ Les décors, les costumes sont magnifiques, et les scènes d'action (assez rares car le focus est sur la romance et la Cour) sont crédibles.
+ 34 épisodes de 40 minutes, c'est assez !
CONS:
- la narration est un peu lente par moments.
- la résolution finale de tous les problèmes est un peu hâtive.
=> Série légère et cute, avec 2 jeunes leads prometteurs.

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A worthy sequel

Second seasons of popular series sometimes disappoint because high expectations aren't fulfilled, but ”Papa, What is Love Season 2” is a worthy sequel of a series that earned international recognition when it premiered.

Like season 1, this isn't a BL, but a gay series, so it comes without all the annoying tropes of the BL genre. Season 2 tells the story of the young couple Tupe (Rex Lantano) and Greg (Anthony Flores) and of Greg's father Rich's (Arnold Reyes) efforts to find a same sex partner.

In season 1, Tupe worked as a helper in Rich's house, became his lover, but ended up as the boyfriend of Rich's son Greg. Now Tupe and Greg have been living together for some time in Greg's house, and the everyday problems of any relationship begin. Greg is a successful businessman who spends a lot of time and energy on his job, so that Tupe, who stays at home all day, feels neglected. Tupe wants to start a business of his own, selling food online, but he doesn't find an opportunity to discuss his plan with Greg.

Another problem is that Greg feels guilty towards his ex-fiancée Alex (Karina Bautista), whom he left for Tupe shortly before their wedding. He meets her to reconcile, which Tupe finds out, who becomes jealous, while Greg feels hurt because Tupe doesn't trust him. This situation would be a drama in a BL series, because the ex-girlfriend would be evil, and misunderstandings among the main couple would take a lot of time to be resolved, but in this series, the ex isn't evil at all, and Tupe and Greg find a way to discuss things, leading to a happy ending with Greg proposing to Tupe.

Rich, who is visiting his son's house, helps the young men with more or less helpful advice. He is still in moarning for his late wife's death, and at the same time trying desperately to find a new – male – partner. After a hookup with a sexy young man (Nick John Tuppil) he decides to rather look for someone older for a long-term relationship. He finds the restaurant owner Dominic (ZK Nakaoka), and the two men fall head over heels in love, travel to Japan together and get married in Taiwan. So we witness happy endings for everyone – even Alex lives her dream of attending an arts school in the USA.

The series is worth watching because it displays typical everyday problems of young gay couples as well as older gay men, but also shows how to solve them. It has dramatic moments, e.g. when Greg finds Tupe allegedly lifeless in the pool, it has elements of comedy, e.g. when Rich elaborates in Tupe's presence on Greg's happy life with his fiancée, and it shows something that BL series often do not show, but which is definitely part of a young gay couple's life – sex.

Unfortunately, the censored Youtube version has some brutal cuts where the original, uncut series (to be watched on Gagaoolala.com and Ticket2me.net) gets steamy, but all in all the technical quality of this series is good.

I was sceptical that the brilliant director of the first season, the late Shandii Bacolod, who tragically died when season was airing, would be appropriately replaced, but Aika Rapay, who was the assistant director in season 1, does as great job as the director of season 2.

Again, Rex Lantano displays all the facets of his huge acting talent, and again Anthony Flores proves that he isn't just extremely handsome, but a good actor, too. It's hard to understand why he isn't casted as an actor more often. Arnold Reyes is good in scenes when Rich bemoans his late wife, or when he is insecure before his meeting with Dominic, but sometimes he is overacting a little. The support actors, ZK Nakaoka, Karina Bautista, and Nick John Tuppil are all good in their respective roles.

All in all, I'm glad that Rex Lantano has been able to produce the sequel of ”Papa, What is Love”, after Youtube had terminated his channel because of alleged nudity in season 1, the censored version of which is still available on BL Pictures' Youtube channel, while the uncut series can be watched on Gagaoolala.com. Season 2, like its prequel, is a gay series which is definitely worth watching.

You find all my reviews, including those on productions from countries not covered by MDL, like Vietnam, Myanmar, or Singapore, plus a book with BL related lists and a few BL stories here:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/DominicKebre

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