Reviews

Soundtrack #2: A second chance love story

Soundtrack #2 tell the story of two ex-lovers who broke up due to unavoidable circumstances and problem. They meet again after 4 years but the thing is, sparks still fly between them, unsaid feeling still hurt.

TROPES- Ex-lover, rags to riches ML, strong willed FL, lovers to strangers to lover, love traingle.

Soundtrack #2 feels like a typical romance drama, except it's only a few hours long. But, the portrayal of the "lovers to strangers to lovers" trope/EX-LOVER trope feels very realistic and pragmatic.
The story is straightforward, but the manner in which it is told is entertaining.

We see the ML's POV and side of story both post and pre breakup, which is great BUT we never see the FL's POV. Which literally makes the FL look like the villian in their story. The ML's POV make you sympathize with him. His character is really likable and outgoing which again makes the FL's almost secretive and grumpy character look evrn more bad.
Even the FL's reason for the way she acted in the past and present were NOT strong enough to make me understand her. Honestly she felt like the problem.

Their acting was excellent though, specially the actor playing the ML. They were able to accurately convey the emotions of the characters. I don't have much to say about their performance. I enjoyed their chemistry.

The music was also okayish, like i didn't really find a single song i would love to add to my Playlist.

This is a nice drama to watch if you want something short. There isn't much else to say about this brief drama but it was nice enough to watch if you are bored.

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Finish Falters

Strong opening and enough intriguing questions raised to hold you to what turns out to be an unsatisfying conclusion. The opening and first few episodes caught my curiosity, but I found myself sticking it out to the end just to find out how it would tie things up. But it didn't tie many important threads up and we don't learn what happened to the characters and in important cases the why behind their actions. I was waiting for a supernatural angle to appear given the physically impossible things occurring, but there isn't any. The makers just walk away from a reasonable finish. That last 'special' episode or epilogue was weird. The idea that a surgeon/doctor would pursue relationships with two or three high school girls was absurd and I suspect as illegal and socially unacceptable in Japan as it would be elsewhere in the world.

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I loved it....

At first when I saw the name and the photo I thought this gonna be a horror series so that's why I gave it a try but it turn out to be very heartwarming and very emotional series.

The cast is amazing and they did a great job. I really loved Haruto and Asahi. Even though the story plot is not that complicated the story is still unique somehow.

But still some parts are still unsolved and it's bit confusing. Overall I loved each and every episode. I think in my opinion it's a must watch series. I find it cute somehow not scary. I really love their friendship.

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SO RIDICULOUSLY HEARTFUL ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY

I LOVE FOUND FAMILY. I REALLY DO. I really don't know what I was expecting with this show, but I was blown away with how much each ep had me grinning like an idiot. There's something so nostalgic and breezy about watching these country teenage athletes really meld into a functional badminton team like ill always eat up a good sports story !! And this is so much more than that. It's slice of life and coming of age at its purest form and UGH what do you even say about this show?? It's just so warm and full of heart and it just really got to me idk. Ok yeah, some of the plots are not very interesting- esp the ones that were like the village politics- and there were some... interesting choices made in the writing but the characters and dynamic absolutely SHINE. You root so hard for these stupid boys and their weird little badminton team and it actually made me so interested in badminton? I loved watching the matches they gave me the usual 'watching sports anxiety' which is always a good thing cause it made me feel like I was actually watching a match.

But yeah, the characters really make this show. It's so chockful with characters full of personality and I adore almost all of them. Tang Junsang continues to prove that he's a force to be reckoned with acting wise and should be cast in every show ever from now on. Seriously, Yoon Haekang on paper seems like such an annoying character. He's a BASEBALL PLAYER first of all and he's an egotistical complainer who likes to keep to himself (at first, of course) but I love once we really get to know him we see that this guy just sucks at showing his emotions and has an incredible heart and its so sweet to see him warming up to his teammates and acclimate to life in the country and going back to badminton. ALSO HES JUST SO AWKWARD I LOVE HIM. And his dynamic with the rest of the team <33 Honestly thats the highlight for me. The teams dynamic with each other and ofc their dynamic with Seyoon and Hansol. Which, ohhhh the girlies in this show <33 I LOVE SEYOON. She's just as awkward as Haekang (they were literally made for each other) and just such an interesting character and her and Hansol were just adorable I loved their friendship. (Ok quick sidenote, Seyoon and Haekang were such an adorable, dorky main couple and they really highlighted just how silly teenage love is I adore them)

And the other characters were just <33 I love Yoondam, Yoochan, Yongtae, I adore all of them and their bond with each other, especially Yongtae and Yoochan their brotherly bond was literally so sweet.

And now we get to singlehandedly my absolute favorite character in the entire show and one of my top kdrama characters of all time, Jeong Insol.

Ohhhhhh, Insol. Literally what do I even say about this man. He's top of his class, his dad is like the principal or smth in the school, he has no friends, he's super annoyed by Haekang and the others, and he so badly wants to join the badminton team and be friends with them. WHAT AN AWKWARD LOSER I ADORE HIM DEARLY. Idk seeing his growth just kinda got me. Like him working so hard to be able to be on the team and him genuinely growing to love it and being apart of the team and really becoming apart of the friend group like ..... AUGH I LOVE HIM. And yeah he and Haekang have my favorite dynamic in the entire show. I love how they go from bickering with each other and being so done with each other to being besties THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. Haekang standing up for him and Insol being the analytical one and doing everything to try to help Haekang strategize for matches.... THEY !!!! THEYYYYYY. Literally I could go on and on and on about this show it means the world to me and makes me feel just so AUGH <333 THE VIBES ARE SO <333

This is what happens when you put the queen herself Oh Nara in your show like !!! SHE !

And ofc, as a Prison Playbook fan all the cameos ended me like the Park Haesoo Anysong one took me out and OFC HANYANG GETTING HIS HAPPY ENDING!! I'm pretty sure every Prison Playbook fan lost their mind watching that like.... LIKE !!!!!!

Anyways this show is extremely heartfelt and such a fun watch to take you back to silly high school sports vibe with an adorable found family <33

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The captivating story of a CUPID who was hit by his own arrow!!

It is a story about a cupid named who's wings were burned due to a ignorant mistake he made 500 years ago.To restore his wings, he went through 27 metamorphoses. On his 28th time, he gets involved with Oh Baek Ryun.
Baek Ryun is a veterinarian. She is a pretty woman but whenever these men got into a romantic relationship with her, they always had a near-death experience and would then run away from her.
Soon their fates and destiny intervene and secrets about their unfaithful past come into light. What seem like an instant connection soon turn into a 500 year old game of fate.

The drama is good. It started slow but as the episodes increase and the plot thickens it actually showed a lot of potential.

THE CAST
Nana as always is just beautiful in this drama. She plays the emotions of the FL quite beautiful but the ML seems to be a disappointment. Its not quite often, i comment on the acting but he still isn't to the par of other korean actors. His face remains expressionless at all instants. Other than the ML mediocre acting everyone else seem good.

The STAR CROSSED FACTOR and the past life trope might be a clique but is done quite well.
The cinematography and camera quality remain top notch.

Overall, MY MAN IS CUPID is a fun watch if your in mood of some new plot line but with the same kdrama clique.

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A must watch!

A Good Day To Be A Dog is a must watch, as it is living up to the webtoon to start, with the Actors excellently and perfectly bringing the webtoon characters to life. It is a feel good romcom which will make one fall in love with the characters and the story. Cha Eunwoo as Jin Seowon is again a perfect showing of a tsundere role, which he has mastered in delivering, even with dramas he was worked on in the past. He does tsundere like no other actor! His scenes revolving around his character being bullied and how emotional he is about it is heart-tugging. His love for Haena shown on various scenes is also heart warming. Another thing that is commendable about Cha Eunwoo is him bringing 'real' kissing into Kdramaland, with moments leading up to the kiss and the kisses itself which effectively communicate the couple being so much in love; as the script and story intends to convey. Park Gyuyoung as Haena is also such a treat to watch, and she like Cha Eunwoo, brought to life the webtoon character so perfectly. The cute dog and CG of Gaena (Haena as dog) charachter is also well delivered and captured on screen. SeoHae couple chemistry is also 'chemistrying' onscreen and even in the behind the scenes, so viewers like me can't help but root for them. I really love this drama and I find myself always looking forward the Wednesdays when the episodes come out.

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a masterpiece, go watch it

Overall: in addition to being a record setter as the first BL series (later combined into a movie format) in South Korea, Long Time No See had an innovative plot that was well executed despite its limitations. My advice is to not read summaries of the plot as some give away a huge plot point. Available on GagaOOLala, purchase on Vimeo or if you are a member of Strongberry's YouTube page you can watch it there as well. Part 1 is free to watch here: https://youtu.be/QrImtUu1aJk?si=oW6H_NKb0_OlBPrR

Content Warnings: there are major ones and I've put them in a comment with a spoiler tag, you can kind of tell when they will happen and fast forward

What I Liked
- innovative premise (this was an original script, it was not based on a book/webtoon/etc)
- good kissing/intimacy
- fight scenes looked cool
- sweet moments
- supportive sister

Room For Improvement
- I know they were crunched on time/budget but 20 more minutes including explaining Gi Tae's background/how he got to where he was would have raised this series to 10/10

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so so terrible but i still somehow enjoyed it

this is hands down probably the worst drama i've ever watched. the ML was SUCH a red flag and i'm pretty sure he wasn't nice to FL even once. bro has some serious anger issues that he needs to sort out and as a whole he is crazy. FL on the other hand was hella annoying since she didn't defend herself once and just let everyone viciously stomp all over her and take advantage of her. even after ML deadass CHOKED HER she forgot about it in around half an hour???? this set back women's rights about 200 years.
nonetheless it was funny as shit to watch their terrible acting and the terrible plot which is why it was somewhat bearable. plus the episodes were only 3 mins long each so my suffering wasn't that prolonged
aa a whole I'd say don't watch it unless you suffer from extreme masochism and you have a deep hatred for yourself

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I found it weaker than previous season

Despite season 1&2, this season suffers poor stories. When I start this season, I anticipated a scenario akin to season 1 which had depicted a love struggle between two gay and straight men. The epilogue story in episode 16 was also vague and not completed. The episode 12 and 13 are more comprehensive and communicable. However the actings are good. The male leads are adorable and nice. I believe the director should pay attention to the fact that for an international audience which can only follow the vibe of the story via subtitle, the space of drama is so cacophonous and difficult to trace. The pace is fast.

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I liked the serie , but the end seems rushed
We see two versions on how they got to the future ,i think we needed one more episode for the end to make more sense (Chin Gam goes back with her , but the sequence scene is of a point more then 20 years back from the first jump, so.... 2 of them ? Beacuse Dol Seo was still alive them ... en de director ?
From the experience of the jump to the future, it was a full jump, body and mind , for the personages is a happier end , they going back way back and running away , it it doesnt make sense (going back only the mind is transported and the bodies vanishes? )
Is good , yes... is funny to see them adapting but is a pity that the end was so abrupt

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This is not a BL. This is a Mystery-Horror-Thriller

This is NOT Manner of Death. This isn’t a thriller that has queer relationships in it. This isn’t a suspenseful drama with two leading male characters who are attracted to each other (at least we are supposed to buy the one sided attraction despite early indications that it’s mutual). This is very much your old school typical “we have queer characters but they don’t get to be with who they want in the end, only the straight characters do” (uh well sort of, she’s not that enthusiastic about her consolation prize tbh).

I’m not sure how Shadow winds up in the BL circles. Yes, there is a confirmed gay supporting character. There is another more periphery character who is definitely queer (gay vs bi vs etc not confirmed). But there are zero queer relationships unless you’re counting the teacher and the now dead kid (which you shouldn’t) or Dan and the Shadow (referred to in the masculine).

Does the show feel a little queerbait-y? Yes, a touch. The early episodes feel very much like they are setting up a relationship between Nai and Dan. Then it’s almost like they realized what they were doing, didn’t want to actually be gay and pivot hard toward Dan and Cha-aim. Then there’s that “someone wants to be your date” which doesn’t feel like a friend date but is treated as such once it’s happening. However Dan also consistently protects and stands up for Nai to an extent that suggests it’s not just bros having their bro’s back (you never see Josh do this for Nai nor is Dan ever put in a position for us to see if he’d go to these lengths for others).

The myster/thriller/horror elements are well done and the story is really interesting. However, as I’ve seen someone else mention, there’s a lot of loose ends and loose connections. Perhaps that’s intentional. Everything seems to connect for a bit until they pivot to the full reveal and then you have these disparate events. Maybe it’s supposed to be a commentary on how you can link unrelated events together if you try hard enough.

The actual Thai history with Red October was intriguing but dangled like a carrot for too long.

I feel like sometimes the story was just stretched longer than it needed to be. This could have been a 12 episode series with a narrower focus that delved more richly and deeply into that focus instead of a 14 episode series that was spread a bit too thin.

I loved the ending. Not sure why it’s labeled as an open ending, there’s nothing open about it imo and it’s not the first time I’ve seen an ending like this in horror. Personally, I’d really love a second season that is more focused to see what someone does with their new lease on life. But I’m not expecting it.

This review may seem very critical but I did genuinely enjoy the series and binge watched it in two days. I think it’s worth watching but not if you’re expecting it to be a BL.

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Rollercoaster ride instead of Bus Stop

I would start this review because I just couldn't help to promote a series that was so good but failed in the middle until it drowned me down in the end. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good watch however it will leave you thinking if you are an overthinker. If you missed watching 101 Marriage Proposal or not please watch it first because this series came out after 101 Marriage Proposal was a hit in Japan during the 90's. I said so because the plot and the vibe were almost copied from 101 Marriage Proposal. And with that, it would be hard not to compare the two on where it hit the spot and where it failed.

We go summarize the story of an ML Bus Driver who is hard-working, kind-hearted, and quite good-looking but poor. The FL is a blue-collar independent woman working for a company wherein she got demoted and is feeling out of confidence with herself, she is pretty and always wears high heels. The series is seen as the FL rides the bus one night and the ML has a love-first-sight moment and pursues her though the FL isn't interested as she is still in love with her ex-BF who is her boss. The ML did his best to make the FL fall in love with him and succeed. During the time that the FL accepted the love of the ML, her ex-BF came back, and their misunderstanding of why they broke up was fixed. At this point, the ML accepted his fate and let go of the FL. Some work issues came in for the ML and FL reuniting with the ex-BF doesn't feel happy with the relationship as she was asked to resign from her job and just be a housewife. The end was a couple of realizations that both the FL and ML got back together and got married in the end.

Now some points to ponder after watching the series and how it left me thinking as a viewer. The series was really at its best during the 7 episodes but failed until the end. It started great with that happy feeling vibes that would make you smile. The script was neatly and nicely written especially the tagline"Ride your life with me". It gave me the same vibe as watching a classic Japanese background series with a pure love story like 101 Marriage Proposal. Where it failed...Some of the actors' acting and character development. In characters, both the FL and ML were Wishy-Washy. First, it is understandable that the FL still has feelings for her ex since she was the one who dumped him because the parents were not in favor of her. It was really clear in the story that she and her ex were passionately in love with each other. The FL then was pursued by the ML and was moved on how he is doing everything to make her happy, thus accepting his love. Now the bad part begins, as a viewer there should be some time to blend in moments of togetherness between the ML and FL but it failed. As soon as the FL and ML got together the ex came back and the funny thing is there are more moments of togetherness between the supposedly ex-BF and the FL including the flashbacks. One of the worst parts is when the FL told the ML to trust her and that she would not go back to her ex-BF. After that moment, the ex-BF proposed to her with a ring and during that time the ML accidentally saw them together. Okay, as with every story, there should be a twist which I get, however, it depicted that the FL and ex-BF were the ones in love and the ML looked like a third wheel. It was so bad that they even had to show that they not only kissed but also slept together. The FL even said to the ex-BF after making love that she would break up with the ML. Also, when the FL and her best friend were talking, she mentioned that she and the ML have a platonic kind of relationship and could not think of being intimate with him. Even in the last part where the Ml and FL got back together, what the FL did was just give a peck on the cheeks of the ML without even hugging. I mean with that, it left me thinking as to where is the sincerity of the FL's character on that. Did she learn to love the ML or did she just choose him because he was a kind man and she could be herself with him? Is she really passionately in love this time with the ML or choose him because he was a safe choice that he could make her happy.
I know in reality women do make this kind of choice "Would you choose the one you love or the one who loves you more'?
But then again this is not reality and as a viewer, we want to see that kind of pure love that we do not see in real life.
I also have a comment about the FL's acting as she was so great in being charming but when it came to the drama part were she was supposed to be feeling resentful. I just couldn't see it in her acting, I don't know if it was supposed to be like that or if her character was just to be plain choosing the ML and not be resentful. In comparison with 101 Marriage Proposal, FL Atsuko Asano's character also chooses the other guy however, there was a certain sincerity with her acting (she cries her heart out) and her character was resentful. In the end comparing both,101 Marriage Proposal the FL chased the ML while the Bus Stop ML still chased the FL and met in between.
Now the ML's character is great, even the actor himself though I knew he was a comedian he did cry very sincerely in the series. The only negative thing is his character being wishy-washy. Several times he stood up for himself because of the FL dismissing him. However, the next day he is on his knees again pursuing the FL, this is great however they should have given enough storyline to show that the FL was at least falling in love with him. It could have been heart-warming if at some point the FL fell in love with the ML and just got confused with the return of the ex-BFas a twist. Even if the FL chooses the ex-BF, it would still be a good twist as long as it shows that the FL had a sincere love for the ML. And from Episode 7 till the end that was its downfall. In episode 7 the FL and ML just became a couple and I was rooting for the next episode to see them go on dates and moments of togetherness, but just a few scenes and the FL got back with her ex-BF instead. The ending was also superficial and very predictable. A runaway bride, a letter, friends making a way to convince the leads that they should be together, etc. And again, the ML chased the FL and finally, the FL showed up and ended with a kiss on the cheeks as an acceptance of his ring. The only good thing about the last part was again the lines which were maturely written and with depth. When the FL said she wanted to wear the heels but remove them to relax or be at home with the ML.

This series made an impact on me since I'm a sucker for one-sided love that wins at the end. However, I would just move on with another series and not re-watch this. I just want to watch a series that though has no perfectly nice characters but at least wouldn't leave me thinking after watching.

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Great Thriller, Crime drama

Living up in abusive household, separate with your brother then searching him just to find out deep, dark truth is hurts.. This drama once you watch first episode, you won't stop.. The story is engaging and the cliffhanger every episode makes you curious and want to know more..

It was well written plot where they revealed one by one past perfectly... Its really mind blowing with never ever ending plot twist.. Despite all the violence and cruel, everyone is broken T_T Although its hard to watch with blood scene everywhere, this drama definitely deserved to be watch by everyone.. The cinematography also amazing where they beautifully shot especially at tower..

Apart from that, give more credit to Itagaki Mizuki.. His amazing acting with two different roles proof how talented he is.. He totally carry out the whole drama.. The anger, the frustrated and avenges eyes delivered with big impact..

Overall, the dark and intense plot totally live up my expectations.. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

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OH TWO WEEKS MY ABSOLUTE BELOVED. This show gets me. The action, the fast pacing, the character dynamics, and ofc, LEE JOONGI ACTING HIS HEART OF AS USUAL. This man can not be real I'm obsessed with him. He absolutely shines as this seemingly apathetic former gangster type who is really doing nothing with his life and honestly has zero care for himself like this man is so rough with himself and his body and it really shows just how much he hates himself. But ofc he finds out he has a daughter he never knew he had and for the first time he has actual responsibility in his life. Taesan imagining talking to Soojin when he's at his darkest moments just to find the will to keep going and how she acts as his conscience is really so poignant and it's so easy to root for this complete loser who just wants to save his daughter. And ohhhhh Soojin is so adorable like that girl deserves the world and I love her dynamic with Taesan and just how much she wants her dad its just <33 Also I would die for Jaekyung that complete mess of a woman deserves the world <33 And her dynamic with Taesan is so fun???? Sure, they did kind of make her a bit dumb sometimes but WTV I LOVE HER. Honestly this whole cast was so fun, like yeah the show is 100% ridiculously over the top but idc i ate it up. And when the stakes are this high i think they're allowed to be over the top. However, I did wish that they done more with Inhye's character than to just make her the 'distressed mother type' 24/7, like obviously it was a very real reaction but idk they couldve done more with her poor girl. Her fiance was also another interesting character made to be the more 'black and white' detective type and ohh the drama and angst had me screaming at my screen like ofc I want all these characters just to fill in the blanks, realize each others connections to one another, believe Taesan, and work together but nothings that simple. But despite that, this show was constantly tense and moved so quickly like EVERYTHING kept happening to Taesan that man could not catch a break. Poor guy, but it did make for such a fun watch like the twists and turns in this show are crazy and it always has me wondering what's going to happen next and how in the world Taesan is still alive WHAT A GUY. Idk the plot just kept me invested for every episode and I liked that they left it more open ended but Taesan does deserve the world after all that.

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