This review may contain spoilers
Awful main characters
Grellina: Lets start from the very first episode. We are getting to know 2 main characters which story is about. Yan Fei - executive of some company (I have no idea what kind of company was it when I was watching the series. I guessed it was some advertising agency since we have taken some photos of coca cola product. Either way I have no idea about the life of this company. I dont know if it was the problem of English translation or just theme of this wasnt really developed. I don't even know what the Yan Fei was supposed to apologize for. What the problem was or anything wasn't showed. The only job we can see its like he sits in his office with his cooworkers or subordinates and talks about some things but nothing really specific or precise) and Hai Qing who is a student of art academy. It was first time for me seeing some painter artist in Bl drama so it seemed intersting at first. But lets go back to the topic. So they meet for the first time on the swimming pool and then they kiss in the changing room some minutes later. I dont have to say that it was super unnatural, weird and most probably wouldnt ever happen in real life. But here it happened. They cant find each other after and Hai Qing meets Ping Jun. The best material for boyfriend that could ever exist, But Hai Qing doesnt really appreciate it. Hai Qing is the most egoistic, narcisitic, hypocritical and false character u can meet in the series. He doesnt care about anyone but himself. Ping Jun does everything to make Hai Qing's dreams come true. He gives him money to start his school, he helps him go through grandpa's death, he renovates his work room since he knows how much important place its for him. Ping Jun is extremely supportive and loves Hai Qing with all his heart. But our Hai Qing prefers some handsome stranger from the pool anyway. Hai Qing is just an asshole who stabs everyone around him. No matter if its his grandpa, his boyfriend, his best friend. Just awful character. What makes this series hard to watch. Yan Fei is not better. He has a fiance for 5 years and he doesnt care about him at all. I have no idea how they made it through to be engagement. There literally was no feelings for Jimmy. Yan Fei's behavior towards Jimmy is just "whatever". Its like "u can be here or not. I dont care. U can do whatever u want". Yan Fei's feelings for Hai Qing are not true. He just meant to meet him on the swimming pool when he was already bored with Jimmy and thought about this as a "love". After 5 years with Hai Qing everything will repeat as it was with Jimmy. Yan Fei is just spoiled, rotten businessman who gets everything he wants. Two main characters super awful. So they are matching each other I guess. Hai Qing gives all the time wrong signs to the Ping Jun. Giving him a hope for sth more hurting him even more. Until Ping Jun decides to end it. The ending is so bad, is so unsatisfying. Im so sick seeing Yan Fei and Hai Qing together. Im glad the series ended. I couldnt wait for it to end. Not going back to it ever again The only advantage about this series was grandpa who I fell for. Super supportive and the best character in all series. And of course Ping Jun. The painting theme was interesting but still it didnt add anything to the plot. So it was disappointing. I don't recommend.Prepapon: A weird romanticization of a love from the first sight?
DBM is a bl drama where I did not ship the main paring and actually disliked main characters.
Yan Fei and Hai Qing met once and by accident and yet after over a year (and one kiss), god knows where that came from, have huge feeling for one another after that time. So huge that they don't care that they act absolutely selfish. Especially Hai Qing who does not know what he wants and hurts everyone around him but still acts like he is the only one who suffers. (SPOILER for example that scene where he says that he will forget about his grandpa) He shows no gratitude to anybody.
He is young and learns who he is but there is no scene where he comes to realisation that maybe he should try to make up for things. No scene where he apologizes. Most of the time he is passive and dishonest.
SPOILER Ping Jun was with Hai Qing during his darkest time. Accepted him, loved him and cared for him. But when Yan Fei shows up, Hai Qing just starts cheating on Ping Jun. Just like that. I refuse to think that one accidental kiss a year ago can win with all the support and love he got from Ping Jun after his grandpa died and dad went abroad for months. But, as I said earlier, Hai Qing feels no gratitude...
I do not recommend.
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They are both cheaters
Got your attention, right? Anyways, that's just a black and white version of this story. But this drama is not called 'BlackAndWhite And Moonlight', it's 'Dark Blue And Moonlight'...So, first off, to deal with the moral issue some viewers would definitely have. When I first watched the 1st episode, I openly laughed and made a comment right below here. But, it DID get my attention;-) So I continued on, of course I do understand people's reservations. But, people are not computers, human feelings and emotions are not limited like memory or disk space. If it was like that, then if you'd have 10 children then what, you would no longer be able to love some of them? Truth is there is absolutely no limit to how many people we are able to love, each in their unique way. So, we all know this that we can love more than one person at the same time yet most of us wish to maintain good relationship so we need a strong moral compass to navigate in the huge ocean of relationships. That's life. That's why there are so many wisdom advice about how we must control our emotions, how relationships needs work, how we can't follow our every impulse. It's nothing new. This little drama just tries to depict the reality of how the right person might not always be the one available. How we are incredibly lucky to even meet. How it's possible the right one might not be the one we were able to firmly lock in our life, how it might be the one we only briefly held for a few moments. Though the way it was shown in episode 1 it did come across as ridiculous (there is even a follow-up scene when the characters themselves mock it a bit:), I think the intention here was to honestly potray how the right one, though not necessarilly the morally right one (the one who did stay and did take care of us) just slips out and both Hai Qing & Yan Fei were not just able to turn into stone and wait for the next super coincidence to meet again, no they would have to be immensely weird actually, to just live alone and wait, to not interact with a great person who was right there, to not feel for them. Yes, they lived with somebody else, I was able to understand that, and I think the drama portrayed all this in very humane way.
Now, about the actual drama. One of the reasons this might feel slightly shallow is the short runtime. Things seem to happen one right after another due the short screen time, though it might not be that short time for the characters. The cast is attractive, with the type of looks that fits the role, they make a good contrast, and share decent onscreen chemistry. There are enough side characters who are likeable, though their backstories are only hinted, again with the short runtime. The drama works well with colors, music score, visual poetry (it does follow the moon theme, etc.) and the songs are just beautiful. Some scenes had obviously lower budget, used wherever location was available (though they managed to find a few that looked interesting), there is background noise clearly to be heard along with the dialogue, sometimes dog barks during important conversation, etc:)
As for the climax and ending, I love skinship scenes, clearly episode 1 & 7 I was the most happy, then there's the beach trip in episode 8, which in my personal taste would suffice for cute happy ending, then more human drama follows and sort of an open ending (did not appeal to me that much).
Overall this is a small canape, not a full-course meal;) Still, it has a nice re-watch quality and none of the characters has a happy-go-lucky mentality (they all have issues, actually) so it's not really that shallow.
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PIN JUN DESERVES BETTER!!!
Uhmmm let me explain this. This BL series is the first one that makes me feel furious about the two main characters like, WTF?!?! Just because of that ‘saving’ scene, they’ve been in loved at first sight?!?! Then, WHO THE F*CK kissed a random guy just because he saved you like, “let me kiss you because you saved me and give me your fcking no. and I will call you”.Honestly, this series is poor written but, I still finished this just because of Pin Jun. Like, he is the total perfect boyfriend that every gays and b*tchs wants. Like, who the hell saying thanks to a person they’ve hurt?!?! UGHHH I’M DONE WITH THIS!
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This review may contain spoilers
I liked everything about this one :)
The chemistry, the amount of drama, humor, and yes, love scenes that are not tacky or cheesy or cringe. A lot of people play moral police on how one character treats another but a good story should have flawed beings, not imaginary people who don't hurt others by being selfish. Yes, it does have one of the guys cheating on his partner with the other guy. Gasp lol it happens and it doesn't make him morally destitute it makes him a selfish human being. That doesn't mean you can't watch it. Shows are supposed to show you sides of the human experience you may not particularly like or want to exhibit or be part of and you continue to watch to see if the person learns and grows or they don't and you learn from watching that either personally or artistically. In my opinion, it's worth watching. Not all would agree though so give it a couple of episodes and see if it's for you or not.Was this review helpful to you?
Scandalous but brave
I can see why many would dislike, or even hate, this drama. And there are parts I found absolutely ridiculous too. I don't think it's a spoiler to mention that Dark Blue and Moonlight deals with 'cheating' in a relationship. That's what the drama is known for. And I was curious about how the characters will deal with it.Not going to lie, I do not approve of a lot of the actions that the main leads chose to do. They aren't the best characters I've watched and they will never grow on me. But there were aspects of the drama that I truly liked and enjoyed and hence the high rating. In my opinion, the way the characters dealt with the ordeal in the end was very mature and also quite relieving. Though the production of the entire show was very questionable, the acting was quite decent and the story itself wasn't unlikable and can even entertain you depending on the kind of person you are. I had moments where I really enjoyed the show, and moments where I was frustrated and needed a break.
Overall, I am conflicted about whether I liked the drama more or disliked it, but since I got through the end and since it did engage me and had me sitting throughout without getting bored, I do think it's worth a shot.
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Nothing
I don't even know what the hell was that show made. Punjin or whatever was the only decent character. Rest all is trash. Story was trash acting was trash music was trash. Only makeouts were hot...!!!!!!!!!!! Also Punjin's face and smile made me finish the show though I skipped through the rest and honestly have no idea about how it ended. Wasted my time battery net and everything.100% not recommend...?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I special made an account to give review and rating. I honestly don't understand all that 9/10 ratings likeeee did we watch the same show??????????
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This review may contain spoilers
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!!!
So many people are bitter about this drama, and I just want to say...Even if DB&M get a remake, I fear Pin Jun fate will not be speared. Not because they had a good relationship means they will stay together till the end. It's just one of those things. It happens in real life too.
Honestly, even if Hai Qing did not end up with Yan Fei--they would have still cheated. Even once! They are deeply attracted to each other, and the novel made that very clear. Yes! Hai Qing could've stayed at Pin Jun side, but would that have made either of them any happier? Hai Qing simply decided not to settle (like so many people do in their life) even for the love Pin Jun has for him. No matter how right it seems! So whether Yan Fei was right for him... whether they would breakup in two / three months-- was a gamble Hai Qing was willing to take because that high level of passion and attraction he felt for Yan Fei was worth it! It was real, and Hai Qing wanted it. He was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
People also seem to think that Hai Qing had stopped wanting Yan Fei because he's dating Pin Jun (laughable!) that wasn't the case at all. He never stopped wanting Yan Fei. He just set Yan Fei aside until fate brought them together again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Wrong Turn.
When a friend told me that this drama had the worst love triangle in the history of love triangles, I was tempted to watch it. Love triangles were a trope that I despiced with a viscious intensity, and I was curious to know why this one was labelled as the worst. Oh boy... nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for the terrible experience.This is not a drama - this is a weapon of mass destruction. If there was any piece of entertainment that I coule choke to death, it would be this. I decided to write this review after going through my old posts about this drama and realized that my throat still got stuck whenever I thought about it... due to pure rage.
Yan Fei, a young businessman, is clearly unhappy and dissatisfied, both at work and in his relationship with Jimmy. When he accidentally drowns and is saved by a young boy Hai Qing, sparks fly. No amount of words can describe how much I am unable to buy their relationship. Just like the synopsis says, he gives his number to Hai Qing after sharing a steamy kiss... that did not even make sense. Flashforward a few days and Hai Qing has already lost the dude's number and is unable to call him.
Now Hai Qing... Dude is legit one of the worst brats I've ever seen in dramaland. He treated everyone around him like crap and switched personalities like those party lights that flash. I hated him in one episode, felt bad for him in the next, then hated him again. He was way beyond rude to his Grandpa. (Thank God. He passed away within the first four episodes. I'd like to think that he purposefully did it to escape the horror that was about to unfold on screen.) I pitied his future, but his horrible side managed to wipe away all my feelings for him.
I did not care about Yan Fei and Hai Qing. Even Jimmy seemed pitiable by the end of the drama. Ping Jun is the whole star of the show. He loved and cared for Hai Qing, yet he backstabbed and cheated on him without even an ounce of guilt. Yes, it is cheating. Hai Qing and Yan Fei's relationship had no build up. I don't think that one kiss can sweep you off your feet so much that your brain blew off to mars. They acted like some fated couple. I can believe that since they both are horrible in their own special way. Even Jimmy might have been crap, but so was Yan Fei to him. And Hai Qing needs some really good glasses. And a kilogram of common sense.
Ping Jun and Pinky saved the show. I didn't care about Yan Fei. I wanted to call the police whenever he showed up between Hai Qing and Ping Jun.
I don't know what the writer was trying to convey. Was he/she telling an intense love story? Was it about cheating? I frankly don't understand half the reviews praising this for its raw portrayal of real relationships. If this was how the human heart was... God Help me. I never want to fall in love.
The series did not shy away from kisses and steam. But, I did not care about anyone except Ping Jun. I wanted to snatch him away whenever he came on screen.
1.5 stars is too low. This one seems to have managed to attain all the stars ranging from 1 - 10. But, I intensely disliked the people whom I'm supposed to feel something for. And no way am I ever gonna watch this drama again.
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This review may contain spoilers
read commenters saying u need an open-mind or that "there aint angel or demons just humans" (well they used the word "bad-guys") and that's one way to look at this drama or life. but it would be untrue - yeah people will be people, and nobody is perfect - but being a self-centered d*ck that doesn't take other peoples feelings into consideration, is a bad-person! its that simple. so i kinda like the ending -cause after everything that happened MAYBE at long last Hai Qing grew-up enough, to understand that he can't act the spoilt-brat for his whole life, he can't go around expecting others to take care of him and cater to his needs...
his deciding to leave and study in the US - going to his father. isn't only showing that he cares at long last for family - and the importance of that in his life. but that he needs to distance himself from the men that want to mother him - and the studying abroad bit, will also help him grow-up mentally -
if he stayed with Yan Fei, what would change? he would just substitute one babysitter for another cause Yan Fei would fit right into the role of caretaker / nanny / mother and Hai Qing will continue being the spoilt infantile baby. so the decision showed maturity on Hai Qing's part - and that is something to applaud.
Ping Jun doing the right thing was obvious - there was no way he or anyone could put up with the crap that was going on - no matter how much u love someone when u see that they keep going back to someone else that isn't u - u can't keep acting blind, deaf and dumb... and i'm glad that he did that for himself - just now hope his next partner will be worthier..
side note - read comments about Ping Jun being a better fit for Yan Fei (and if Yan Fei was a better person, i would be all for that. but he isn't - so NOPE) but everyone seems to forget how Yan Fei couldn't keep his eyes off Ping Jun at the photo-shoot or even before, when Pinky introduced her brother to her boss the first time. his wanting to tag alone to Pinky's birthday party was why? cause he sensed Hai Qing was gonna be there? plzz it was cause Ping Jun was, and he couldn't get him to come to the barbeque after the shoot. but whatever... this was a good ending for all involved if Hai Qing and Yan Fei ended up together, then i would be pissed and call this B.S. this was good.
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This review may contain spoilers
Probably the worst Asian drama I’ve watched in a while
This was not good. It took until episode 7 for the star-crossed lovers to see each other again after episode 1 and honestly, it was so anti-climactic. I felt like I was having a fever dream because the storyline was so bad. There a couple of “spicy” scenes but not enough to make up for the rest tbh as the chemistry imo was not there. Felt like a couple of the actors were trying though and I really admire their can-do spirit.I wish the actors all the best in their future endeavours.
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Messy Story and Selfish Characters in the name of Complexity and Reality!!
I really liked the first half of this show but I had anxiety issues watching this show in the 2nd half!! I'm all up for flawed characters and complex storylines..I don't mind seeing relationships where one partner cheats over the other because it is realistic and happens in real life..but when the plot demands the main characters to be flawed, the story also needs to give them motivation for behaving the way they do..or else they come off as selfish jerks rather than complex characters...the main leads for which we are "supposed" to root coz they are "supposed" to be the endgame, give us no reason to stick up for them ..not once is the viewer convinced that they are in love and that is the reason behind their hurtful behavior towards their respective partners.. rather it looks like 2 people just enjoying having sex out of their relationships..so rather than being empathetic towards their characters, you end up hating them and that shouldn't happen in a series where they are being promoted as the main love interests...the writing is just messy and all over the place..the characters are very under developed and poorly written especially in the second half..I especially have a major issue with the character of Hai Qinq..rather than coming of as a confused person whjo doessnt know how to chose between someone he loves and someone who has been there for him, he comes off as an entitled brat who emotionally manipulates the person who has done so much for him. The only well written and likeable character is of- Pin Jun ( (no surprises there)...my heart aches for him and the amount of emotional distress I suffered for this man is unimaginable...how can someone do that to the perfect boyfriend who loves you from the bottom of his heart!!! All my generosity in the ratings is just for the character of Pin Jun..he really carries the show on his shoulders!!!Was this review helpful to you?
