Reviews

Poignant, Sweet, and Funny

This was a very poignant, sweet, and funny show. I really enjoyed Li Jin Bu's trip back to the past, watching as she got to know her mother and her mother's friends, and becoming friends with them herself. If I had to name one thing that this show did really well, it's the characterization and character development. In particular, Li Jin Bu, Li Qing Tong, Duan Xiao, and Chen Jun He. This show takes place over several years, and it's a well depicted journey of the end of childhood into early adulthood. The music did a great job of accentuating various scenes, particularly in the second half of the show, which was more romance-focused. While occasionally people would make frustrating decisions, they generally felt consistent with the characterization. Overall, I really enjoyed watching this show and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

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The Best BL Series Ever

Before watching this, I won't be able to answer if someone would ask me, "What's your all-time favorite BL series?" I've been binging BL series these past weeks; many are good, some are mediocre, but this is exceptionally good!

Everyone in the cast is great! I'm surprised that only Nonkul is popular among them! Bright deserves more main roles; he's so, so good for a "newbie" actor! I couldn't imagine someone else take his role. Kim is such a pleasant surprise! As a pageant fan, I've already known him as the Mister International, yet he surprised me here. He needs to have a main role, too! June and Alee are so gorgeous, and they're amazing here, too. How did the team behind this series get these great actors and actresses?

The plot itself is intriguing. I was concerned with how they'd execute it, but they pulled it off! No awkward scenes. I just felt that the story was a bit rushed in the last episode. Maybe they should've just made this series have 16 episodes, or a season two!

The intimate scenes were so good, unlike most BL series which are either too much or lacking. This shows how professional Nonkul and Bright are. They don't even know each other for so long, yet they were able to do such challenging scenes.

I understand that the production company behind this masterpiece is not huge yet, but this deserves to be available on major streaming sites and channels. Every BL fan must discover this gem!

"I Feel You Linger in the Air" is definitely deserving of more. 10/10 No, 11/10.

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Ballet about obsession

This drama special follows the lives of a group of teens that have dedicated their entire lives to ballet, perhaps for the wrong reasons and they need to figure out if what they have been doing is right. I mostly think not. These kids are living a highly cut through environment, despite growing together they are not friends and rather see each other as competition and are willing to go as far as to use a person's weak spot in order to move up instead of relying on their talent.

You will see very little actual dancing in this drama since its story follows more the mental state of the dancers rather than their talent, and that's the entire point of the story. These kids rather play mind games that competing fairly or take a moment to realize their own value. There's no self love in this story.

I thought this was a very well done drama about the fragility of a person's mind when they alienated themselves. The solid performances help get the message across, particularly Hong Seo Hee and Kim Min Chul.

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Trainwreck

The solution to trolley problem, according to this drama, is a trainwreck.
Don't chose between few and many, just pile them up on top of each other and sabotage the wheels too so the trolley falls over too after running over everyone else.
And true to that notion, the final episodes are absolute trash.

Not that the first 3/4 or so were so great, either. It was an extremely slow melodrama, with awfully dumb and naive FL who was not at all sympathetic even tho the story did everything to paint her as such. Truly the slowest story progression I've ever seen. And if only the plot reveals were worth it! But no, it jumped from one lackluster reveal to another, in between constant flashbacks to shit we've already seen and prolonged scenes like FL taking a whole minute to decide to answer a phone call or not EACH AND EVERY TIME.

But the absolute garbage the story turned in the end is second to none.
The morals are very sus too ,"sympathize with rapist if he committed suicide" and "tell on your own family if they broke the law" aren't things I can agree with.

Not even superb acting from almost everyone involved, especially Park Hee Soon and Kim Mu Yeol, could save this one. The camera work, scenery and soundtrack were wasted too (not that the ost is that strong anyway, it had like one memorable melody it kept overusing). Don't let anyone fool you by saying this is a mature drama for mature people, it's trash. It's also not makjang, it's not a thriller, nor is it similar to some other titles MDL recommends below, it's no Misty.

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very lightly entertaining

I've followed Zhao LuSi for some time and she is on a lightning streak in her career. I never considered her particularly strong as a dramatic actress, but what she is good at are light comic roles, and the early part of this show suits her very well. Wang An Yu stands up well alongside ZLS's star power.

Like other epics, this story spans vast stages of time but this show deals with much narrower issues. It begins with the imminent awakening a Fire Phoenix god, whose birth event is disrupted by GuJin, a true god who has yet to arise to his own destiny in the divine realm. He comes across a lowly spirit beast & together they start a journey to revitalize the Fire Phoenix.

I've read that The Last Immortal is a sequel to Ancient Love Poetry, a show I enjoyed very much, but there's not a lot of reference to it. TLI takes a long time to even start approaching the intensity of ALP. The tone changes from light comedy to serious half way through & here's where the leads' lack of depth in their performances become apparent. The story & action also drags noticeably before picking up once more as we enter the second act. However, rather than develop the characters' relationships more deeply, the show deals with all the villians rather early or too quickly, as with the long suppressed demon god. Too much time is spent with everyone firing their energy beams at each other while crying in angst in between. The ending felt somewhat unsatisfactory.

I don't have a lot to say about this show. It's lightly entertaining but the storyline doesn't hold any surprises, the CGI is bad, the costuming so-so, and no deep philosophical questions. It's good that ZLS could have a career in singing (she sings the opening theme song) if her acting doesn't carry her much farther, but this show won't stop her current streak.

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Storylines

What can I say anything Japanese be it crime..manga..
anime..Bls..romance I absolutely love. I have deep affection for the Japanese people..their hospitality...
how polite they are and their respect for their elders sadly lacking in a lot of country's so this 5 episode series was a joy to watch. I couldn't fault it. All the male cast were great..Takumi..Shuhei..Kanata and Jun delivered the goods ..great acting..a mix of comedy in parts..Action..great fight scenes and off the scale special effects which were mind boggling. Well-done to all who made this series possible I will be forever grateful.The only one no I hate the dubbing in English I much prefer the Japanese language and subtitles but that's just me..

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Its AMAZING.....WATCH IT Y OU WONT REGRET❤️❤️.
Everything is on point.
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Healing and Slow Burn

In today's life people forget to take care of their own personal health and cause disasters of their own. The best friend of the FL is one such person who has lost her life, which affects her negatively and causes depression. The female lead then goes on a trip of healing and books a short term stay at a village. The ML, who is the leader of the village and trying to put the village as a tourist destination on the map.

The interactions between ML and FL, along with other members of the village, and other characters who reside in the village to escape from their own demons forms the crux of the drama. The repeated conversations and interactions with the ML leads to a healthy romance between the parties.

The drama is long but honestly does not have a bad episode. This drama definitely is in the top with its cast, scenery and character development.

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The story is so beautiful.
The cast did an amazing job.
Acting is crazy.
It became my favorite bl and it’s not even finished yet. It doesn’t matter if they give us a happy or unhappy ending because the story itself is so beautiful. The way they portray the feelings, it’s like you can feel what they fell.
Absolutely every one of the cast actors/actresses do an amazing job.
You watch it and know that what they do they do it from heart.
Jimmysea are unbelievably amazing actors.
Hopefully this series and actors will get the hype and recognition they deserve. ❤️

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bad from the very beginning...don't bother

From the very beginning, seeing the type of camara quality they had, I knew something was up.

To sum it up, I felt this was meant for 13 year olds.
"Pretty" faces are not enough to make it worth watching.

It was dull, uninteresting and had some pretty bad acting from the main lead. I don't know if it's his line delivery or what, but it feels awkward and unnatural, more so when he's delivering a "joke". The female lead was great as always and she suits the comedic style much better than the ML, but it wasn't enough to salvage the series. The story was so boring, there was nothing to keep me going except my conviction that a project with such popular actors 'must' be good. Alas I was wrong.

I was struggling so much to keep going that I decided to stop. There are so many other dramas that are out right now that deserve my attention (Welcome to Samdalri, Tell me that you love me, and Flowers in sand).

Bad plot, bad acting, bad production quality. Better just watch a quality classic instead.

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A gay romance with fantastic touches and the whitewashing of the homophobic Thai Police

The Sign is a captivating drama that stands out among other BLs for its ability to balance multiple stories and themes. Broadcast on Channel 3, this production by renowned Thai director and screenwriter A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod, perfectly intertwines elements of gay romance, the complexity of first love, religiosity, the exciting world of fantasy, the supernatural, the resolution of crimes and political and police corruption.
This unique combination of genres, its compelling narrative, the pair of irresistible protagonists and a direct story of love-overcomes-adversity, guarantees that 'The Sign' will hit the mark among fans of BL products, always in search of a series that show an engaging and exciting experience. All this positions the audiovisual among the most outstanding in the BL universe of all time.
Professional critics and fans alike praise its emotional depth and the cast's sincere performances.
Its director has to his credit the dramas 'My Hero Series: Spell of The Swan Mark', from 2018; 'School Tales The Series', 2022; and the lesbian 'GAP The Series', from 2022, and 'Dream', to be released in 2024. In addition to directing, he is also the screenwriter of the serial 'Lipgloss Spy' and the film SLR', both from 2022.
Based on the great success of 'GAP The Series', its first GL series, the Idol Factory company put all its effort into producing a BL criminal investigation project. This is how 'The Sign' comes about. The series is a television adaptation of I-Rain-Yia's novel of the same name, with a literal translation into English, Premonition, which was produced by Saint Suppapong of 'Love By Chance' and 'Why RU?'.
Billy Patchanon, star of 'Secret Crush On You' and 'War Of Y', and promising actor Babe Tanatat, are in charge of taking on the main roles. I have no doubt that both because of their on-screen chemistry and their genuine performances, the two young actors will consolidate themselves as a ship within the BL universe.
The story centers on two young people who loved each other for centuries and were separated in several past lives, but in a twist of fate they were reincarnated as Phaya o Sakuna (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard) and Tharn Wansa (Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool). This allowed them to meet at an academy where future police officers are trained, in order to enter the Investigation Detective Force (IDF).
During their training, they both experience unique visions related to their pasts and common future, which ignites their romance as they embark on the investigation of some criminal cases shrouded in mystery. Phaya and Tharn's love will be tested by an enigmatic man.
Other talented actors and actresses bring the characters to life in a way that has resonated with audiences.

Brief characterization of the characters

Tharn: He is the cheerful and kind young officer of the IDF. He loves Phaya, with whom he has a romance from the past. That is why he constantly risks his life to save him from the danger he is in. He has a strong sense of "instinct."
Phaya: He is the young, handsome, intelligent, cool and upright IDF officer. Love Tharn.
Khem (Tack Pongsakorn) is the young officer who has a flirtatious personality, likes to have fun and plays with all the other IDF members, especially his boyfriend Thongtai.
Thongtai (Poom Natthapas): Khem's boyfriend. He studied psychology and has a good sense of duty. He is a very observant young officer.
Yai (Gap Jakarin) grew up alongside Tharn since childhood. They both consider themselves brothers. He is a young member of IDF.
Singha (Surprise Pittikorn Siripornsawan) looks weak on the outside but is the brains of the team.
Doctor Chalotorn (Heng Asavarid) an attractive psychiatrist who is close and protective of Tharn.
Captain "Akk" Akkhanee Assawawaisoon (Akk Akarat Nimitchai), leader of the investigation team.
Wansarat (Freen Sarocha Chankimha): The GAP The Series actress is part of the cast as a Guest.
The resounding success of the series has led to the creation of other content, such as The Sign Special and Behind the Sign.
A must-see drama for fans of the BL genre and those who enjoy a good mix of romance, mystery and the supernatural, The Sign brings a captivating story that, together with its talented cast and unique combination of genres, will leave a lasting impression on the spectators.

Underlying reality of the series

On the same day of the premiere of The Sign, after watching the first episode, I wrote in MDL: “I find it commendable that in a hostile, sexist, homophobic environment, which exalts masculinity, as the Police Force of any country is supposed to be, tell a story (maybe two, if we take into account Khem and Thongthai's relationship) of a romance between boys. But I wonder if this series is not a 'whitewash' for the Thai Police. I hope that the series is not a tool to apply cosmetic touches to a Police accused of repressing members of the Thai LGBTQIA community.”
With these words I meant that homosexuality is still illegal and considered taboo in that country. Same-sex unions are not recognized under Thai law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. This prevents gay couples from applying for bank loans or joint health insurance. It also prevents the possibility of adopting children. Thai homosexuals do not enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals. Thai law denies transgender people from changing their sex on their national identity card.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1956, but was considered a mental illness until as recently as 2002. Many Thai Buddhists believe that homosexuality is a punishment for sins committed in a previous life. Thai homosexuals suffer physical and verbal harassment in the classrooms by their classmates, and discrimination at work, under the permissive gaze of society, despite the image of tolerance towards this group in order to attract tourism to the country. The Thai Police, the result of the Military Juntas that emerged after successive coups d'état, is accused, both by the local population and internationally, of being corrupt, torturing and repressive.
The Royal Thai Police is the most corrupt state department in the country with tens of thousands of complaints annually, according to regular reports from the Ombudsman's Office, and many of these complaints come from members of the Thai LGBTQIA community, who go unheard mostly.
The high-profile crime and dismemberment of the Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta, known as the “Daniel Sancho Case” (name of his confessed Spanish murderer) confirms this. This macabre murder once again brought to public attention the dynamics in the Asian country, the excesses, the parties and the mechanisms of privilege when the victim is a homosexual.
The LGBTIQIA collective is openly discriminated against and even with criminalizing laws, which, to wash its face before the international community, welcomes all those foreigners who will be part of the collective, but without displays of public affection
At a legislative level, Thailand has much more permissive LGBTIQIA policies, but at a factual level, there is discrimination, taboo and extensive stigma. Perhaps that explains the media treatment that has been given to the Sancho case from within the country itself: half-hearted, without fully clarifying the relationship that the two men had, and the eagerness that the police have shown to close the case. In addition to trying to maintain the idyllic image of the country before Thai and international public opinion so that tourism is not scared away.

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Another jewel in the historical genre in the Korean dramas

Combined review for Part 1 & 2

What made this show largely watchable?

The material alone guaranteed a well-explored fictional story about the dynamics of love, heroism, politics, persecution, and oppression during the early times when the old Korea was under the control of another country.

The whole cast was amazing. Each character big or small showed a dedicated portrayal of the trace of life back then and can’t help but be affected by their sufferings while watching. Namkoong Min nailed it. I was in awe of his performance here. I had seen him many times in other dramas and with my standards of good looking, I found him a little unattractive before. But my opinion of him changed like a turn of 360 degrees after the show. He got me with that unspeakable charisma in the way he delivered all his dialogues. Indeed he was the best of choice for the role. His leading lady, Ahn Eun Jin, was equally notable. I thought it would be challenging for them to look good together on screen but I find it amusing that their chemistry was building up in every episode and that was something very distinctive about this show also. And those scenes with little pauses or moments of quietness before saying their lines among the main leads were another commendable element of the show.

Like other historical dramas, it practically walked us around again that leading a nation is one gigantic responsibility and it requires a genuine compassion for your people. If you become bound by the greed of the throne and power, destruction follows. Regardless, of whether you have the position or are just an ordinary person, if you’re hoping for a change, take courage and leap that step so others may follow.

I felt sort of on a journey watching this show because of the sophisticated layering of the conflicts and how it was refined in the end. Really one heck of a great show!

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No impact

This drama was mid.

What I liked:
The cast/acting (Ji Chang Wook is an S tier romance ML. When he loves, I love. When he cries, I cry.)
The potential for revenge/justice against Bang Eunjoo
The friends/lovers/EXs/family convoluted feelings
The background of why the leads broke up
The family town aspect

What I disliked:
The fizzled out romantic ending. The leads could have gotten married, or moved in together, or took some other step to farther their relationship, but no. Some sneaking, kissing and cuddles then BAM: Another long separation. It reminds me of the ending of Because This is My First Life. I understand that SK people are into traveling and fulfilling your dreams at the expense of romance and family, but damn. Cho Samdal could have went with him! Or he could have worked in Seoul. Or just take a 6 month work abroad for the experience. The kicker is he didn't even need the work experience because he was already offered a job in Seoul. Like really, working in Switzerland for 2 years FOR WHAT? Like that's going to make a difference in anything. It was so sudden and illogical.

The lack of fulfilling revenge. Cho Samdal's career was set right again with a nice little bow after 1 thing was revealed. There was no satisfying dramatic reveal of Eunjoo's sly personality, cheating, or catty behavior to everyone. Just a quick, she lied and took money. Oh, Cho Samdal is welcomed back now. What? Where is the drama? I felt heart wretched with worry for what. There was no satisfying, meticulous take down.

To be honest, halfway through, I started skipping through a lot of supporting character scenes. It was slow and I don't think I missed much.

This drama makes me feel like I stuck my hands in water. It felt great for a while, but when I pulled my hands out - there was nothing. It all slipped through my fingers. Nothing of real substance to particularly love and remember.

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An Adorable Staple On Your K-drama Shelf

The main feature of this K-drama: Seo In Guk. Among the cold mysterious male leads Seo In Guk is hands down the hottest. I'm genuinely fascinated by the way he cracks that ice mask with his eyes only. It's damn hypnotizing.

?I do believe the drama with a long and confusing title 어느 날 우리 집 현관으로 멸망이 들어왔다 (One day doom entered my house through the front door) has earned its place among the classics. It's a heartwarming and well-executed romance between a human and a supernatural being with actually engaging supporting plots. I love how it teaches us to appreciate the present and the fleeting moments of happiness, because there is no happiness without sorrow and no birth without death. The main theme of death in the drama is handled very well. Tak Dong Gyeong is terminally ill, but it doesn't feel like an intentional tear-jerker. Instead, the story concentrates on her connection with her family and friends and recognition of human relationships. The surreal world of Myeol Mang is also attractive in its emptiness and solace, and you're eager to unravel his true nature as his character evolves. The drama depends on him entirely.

?The overall story is pretty standard and predictable for a fantasy/romance, involving the annoying trope of memory erasure, but the way the drama takes you on that journey is worth the time. I didn't notice how fast I finished it considering that it's not packed with action and mind-blowing twists. My complaint remains: the emerging of the contract and its conditions - the key element of the story - wasn't clear from the very beginning and stayed unclear to the very end.

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