There were subtle doses of humor sprinkled throughout. From the cliche situational comedy with our leads, to the caring but disgruntled "forever-alone" best friend who was stuck in an ongoing cycle of on-again, off-again with his off-screen boyfriend.
The kiss scenes were built up to pretty well, but generally lacked in the proportional execution for the build-up. I enjoyed it nonetheless though.
What I did not enjoy is how poorly constructed and inconsistent the plot was, even for a character-driven drama. It seemed to want to be a food drama, but lacked the proper attention and care for the food aspect to really warrant the title.
Even with Korean alcohol culture in mind, Jiyu could be interpreted as at least on the cusp of alcoholism for the majority of the drama (before someone comes at me with the most common rebuttal: it's been over half a year since the break up). Meanwhile, Kihoon's reason for not liking alcohol, that we seemed to have been building up tension to for so long, was too flatly delivered to have impact. Not to mention, the pacing from him being angry about the prospect of being around alcohol to selling it to openly drinking it with the rest of the characters was enough to give whiplash. Not to mention the fact that this same man who passed out after one shot is now able to drink multiple glasses with ease in the span of MAYBE a few months...
And then there were other areas of tension that were introduced and resolved too quickly. Or even an area of tension that was consistently put into subtext from beginning to end, but never resolved (the fact that Jiyu's superiors all seem to think poorly of him, resulting in a palpable lack of confidence in their presence).
I liked the ending messages though:
-The prospect of everyone liking the same dish, but liking it prepared in different ways. This same message isn't exactly uncommon with food dramas, and even dramas that only have minor focus on food (Moonlight Chicken for example).
-Food and drinks are best enjoyed in the presence of friendly company and tastes best when celebrating.
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Would have been better as an ad on YouTube or smth
Don’t expect good writing and character development here.The first issue I have with All The Liquors is that Kihoon has too many problems and they’re solved all too easily. This is a story of a stubborn chef who meets a foolhardy marketing employee. Somehow, the chef manages to break all his personal rules. WHY??? And more importantly, HOW???? To those who say "it's because of love!! love is the answer", come on. The story was seriously underbaked.
Second issue - I’m not sure if it's just me but the couple didn’t look terribly compatible.
I know Kihoon is supposed to be a stiff and antisocial chef, but that doesn’t mean he couldn't have any personality whatsoever. He came off as really awkward in most scenes (I can’t tell if this is intentional), and seriously ruined the vibes for me.
All in all I must say that this isn't the worst South Korean BL, but it's not memorable either.
Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/all-the-liquors-2023-bl-review/
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This review may contain spoilers
Realistic and cute but boring
Obviously calling it realistic is the highlight here and what I mean by realistic is it's a very possibly believable story between two adults, going at a healthy pace, no drama, sweet moments and delicate romance. Which is also the reason is boring for many because there is literally no dramatic element to their romance.Acting:
This is probably the reason the whole dramatic situation was dull. The actors are good-looking and charming, especially their smiles, but they were obviously not professional and their acting was basically on a single note, straightforward and not something unique. Maybe a little flare would have been better but it was alright.
Story:
The premise was good I suppose, nothing groundbreaking. Based on the description, you would assume the drama was surrounding the MC was going to have to put up a fight, persistence and such to convince his love-interest to work with his company but that whole plot barely lasted for a 2 episodes. I feel the story description is misleading. Also, the love-interest falls unbelievably quickly to a guy who's passion is drinking considering how much the love-interest hates drinking and people who drink. Like, come on. At least, props to the story for not including a complex drama of adding any hindering love triangles or love interests. The first episode was so unnecessary in that regards.
Romance:
Okay, yes, the show didn't deliver intimacy. I think we are all generally used to that in K-BL-dramas right now. The leads have good chemistry, but the kisses were weak, barely 2 or 3 times they kissed, no other intimacy. I guess some would consider it childish but I guess if you go past that, they are actually cute together and there is honestly nothing awkward going on considering the zero intimacy. I personally loved their romance. They are simple people, who appreciate food and each other. It's a healthy, supportive, young romance.
Ending:
So the ending... very meh. The beginning and ending of a series is the most important part and they clearly didn't focus on either. While the beginning was unnecessary and a tad bit confusing, the ending was too easy. Like until the second half of ending episode, the leads are just having cute moments and slowly falling for each other and bam, they are together? I guess we watch too many dramas and expect more. It was just too dull for me that's all. But again, it was sweet and realistic. So not bad.
Overall:
I personally enjoyed the show. I feel a lot of shows nowadays are too dramatic and extremely painful over the unnecessary plots and character arches. But this show is good refresher, down to earth and just really sweet. If you just want a simple, quick and cute watch, go for it. I think you might actually enjoy it. I loved it honestly. But if you are looking for something grand and dramatic, this might not be the show for you.
Highlights and reasons you should watch:
1. The best part was definitely the visuals, the atmosphere, the smiles! The freaking smiles and the good looking cast.
2. And yes, the unhealthy consumption of alcohol is ridiculous. But the way the MC loves and appreciated food is so adorable and admirable. The food making part is less but appealing. This is not food based show like many others out there. But they nailed what they worked with.
3. Also, there are not toxic characters! That is seriously something to worship if you are like me and have been dying on the inside after watching some insanely toxic characters in many dramas out there.
4. Is that really the reason the show was rated A in Viki? Because, if you exclude that part, it is an absolutely simple show okay for all ages.
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cute but rushed
Overall: this was cute but they tried to cover too much plot and it felt jumpy/rushed. 8 episodes total, about 20 minutes per episode. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.Content Warnings: none
What I Liked
- that opening scene isn't super common in fiction (but very common in real life)
- funny moments
- the characterizations/opposite personalities
- the friendships especially Han Ji Yu and Ji Hoon, that's the friend who tells you honestly that you got a bad haircut lol
- need a spin off with the friend and the new character introduced at the end
Room For Improvement
- they needed to narrow the plot because scenes would quickly jump from 1 to another and it felt rushed overall, they didn't clearly explain some parts
- I thought that scene at the end of episode 1 was a preview for next week but it was actually an extra scene in the first episode. The second episode had it as well with an extended scene before the next week's preview. This was a bit confusing.
- having a conversation while someone is on the toilet
- too many falls
- the dead fish lip presses
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Pleasant and realistic, but a bit dull
The characters in this are well-drawn and not stock stereotypes. Han Ji Yu is a foodie/functional alcoholic who meets uptight chef Park Ki Hoon, who has an irrational hatred of alcohol. Their initial reaction to each other is quite finny and entertaining without being OTT. Han Ji Yu's passion for food and his unguarded pleasure it it charms Park Ki Hoon, who slowly opens up to him, and it's cute.The problem is that it doesn't really go anywhere and it's barely a romance. Until KBL can get over it's homophobia it's never going to hit the high notes in Thai or Taiwanese BL - the dead fish kisses and the way they manage to keep a meter of space between their bodies even during intimacy makes it, well, not intimate. I think it's implied they had sex in the finale, but it's really unclear - they might have just kissed, or maybe they were just tired and rested with their faces barely touching, although it looked like a diffficult yoga pose more than resting.
Anyway, you won't resent the series for the time you invested in it, but you probably won't remember anything but the first episode a month after watching it.
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Nothing memorable
I don't even know how to start this...Genuinely, I have no idea what the hell I just watched. There was barely a functioning plot, and a lot of the writing seemed like a half-assed attempt at depth. The actors were alright, but I hardly saw any chemistry between them so a lot of their scenes felt awkward to me. There have been other short series that I've watched and though the time constraints are there as far as for the storytelling, this one was just overall hard to connect to.
The story dragged out too much and when finally some things got "revealed" it turned out to be a very "Oh, that's it?" kind of moment for me. The only plus is that the episodes are short so I didn't have to spend too long watching this.
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This review may contain spoilers
Eh
Nothing special, nothing new, nothing awe-ing, but it's cute, it's kind of funny, and the leads are very handsome. All The Liquors revolves around single men and their alcohol. The end.Let's Dive In.
I agree with most of the reviews and comments about this series. There's nothing about it to differentiate it from the plethora of KBLs we're receiving, but it's a quick watch and a fun one at that.
I enjoyed the chemistry of the main leads. I enjoyed Kihoon a lot more because he makes the best facial expression ever and really showed some decent character development for the timing that they had. They ruin that connection a lot with the dead fish kisses, but if you take that away, this was pretty solid.
Jiha needs his own series, I absolutely loved him. He stole the show in my opinion.
Ratings:
Story: 7/10 - It's an okay story, nothing we haven't seen done before, but the good thing is that the boring parts (office, work, etc) aren't shown for too long. The few last episodes are really just the leads growing closer and closer and enjoying each other's company.
Acting: 8.5/10 - The better aspect of this series. Everyone did a job well done, I enjoyed Kihoon and Jiha the best.
Music: 6/10 - Wasn't distracting, good.
Recommendation Value: 5.5/10 - Eh. I'd say watch it because you have time and want something lighthearted and sweet.
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key word : mid
OK so how to say this… everything in this drama was slow and boring. It wasn’t awful but clearly we’re far from the bl of the year.the main issue is not the fact that it was slow because slow burn romance is a good trope you know but when you add to slowness something boring… it doesn’t match well. I’m not gonna talk about the acting and the weird alchemy between the characters because it’s not like it was the only korean bl to have those kind of weird alchemies between characters (for instance oh my assistant lol) but it didn’t help me to really enjoy the drama.
if you’re looking for something fun and not too deep and difficult to understand you can try this (it’s not that fun tho) but watch it without any expectations.
Anyway.. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good. it was mid.
reminder : this is my point of view and i think it’s important to try to watch dramas if you’re interested in them despite the reviews you might read about it because we never know and that would be a shame to miss a masterpiece from ur point of view because of reviews.
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Was it a drama or an advert?
Korea have two kinds of BL, there is the angst ridden melodrama or the fluff drama, this one is fluff.There is nothing really bad about this drama, but there is nothing really good about it either. The two main characters are a teetotal chef who hates alcohol and a camp little alcoholic who will probably need a liver transplant before he is 50.
The drama plods along until the happy ending, it turns out that all we need in life to make us happy and solve all our problems is a camp alcoholic and a mountain load of booze.
I have watched so many Thai BL's that I started panicking during the first episode when he got drunk, but then I remembered it was Korean and knew nothing bad was going to happen.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of BL in BL drama's anymore but if you are bored and have nothing better to do, you won't be offended watching this drama.
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A BROMANCE
Yes this drama is a BROMANCE at best ! didn't see anything resounding of lovers between the male leads.Like girl,remove the DeAd fish kisses and the leads are just pals? buddies,homies...?what is going on ffs..Zero chemistry
I mean the drama started off weakly ,in the first 2 episodes ,,,bloomed in the middle episodes then went downhill in the last 3 episodes...
What I liked :
Han Ji yu's acting is good ,,he's got talent
And ....the visuals ..the leads are cute .. pleasing to the eye...
Not liked:
1.The chef's (the other male lead) acting didn't do it for me ...it seemed stiff ,not natural ..like you could constantly be reminded that 'this is a drama and they are ACTING:?
2.The dead fish Kisses ?..my God, I mean what even was that ...I'd take a hug , please and thank you
3. Superficial writing ..not enough development..and the build up was null.
You know like when you start writing a piece of literature and you deviate ...
Overall gave it a 5.. after all they did their best ,well at least according to them
Easily FORGETTABLE
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Big Surprise
Viewed: 4 of 8. Date 15.03.23I must say, this series is a big surprise for me.
It starts relatively soft and then only goes steeply uphill. I find the first episode a bit confusing. There is a lot going on and you have to listen carefully. At the same time, all the side information aren't that important. The second episode made me very curious and with the fourth episode they convinced me. It is well acted throughout, you feel for it and it is not boring. In some places it goes on really fast. I'm not giving anything away here, because you'll find out for yourself when you see it. Somehow you have to accommodate a good story in 8 episodes, then you also have to drive the story forward in between. So if you dont mind different tempi in a Drama, you are here then you are in the right place.
Why was this drama so surprising to me. I don't imagine an encounter with a man who sells alcohol to be so exciting. Likewise, there are many Dramas with a restaurant in the background.
Food is something very sensual. Here, I must say, it comes across convincingly. You can literally taste the food.
But don't worry, it's not mainly about the food.
One thing surprises me a lot. How can you drink so much alcohol? And is it true that alcohol enhances the taste of the food? I think not. But that's for everyone to decide. A little alcohol in the food, yes, it makes sense to me. And yes, I also like to drink a cold beer. But whether both necessarily complement each other?
This series will be fun for you - but it's best not to watch it if you're on public transportation, because if, you might miss your stop - laughs.
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All in all it is a good and solid series.
It left me sitting here with a soft and happy feeling.I had no expectations of this one when I started, but now I'm glad I saw it.
It's short, the actors do a great job of bringing the character to life, and the soundtrack fits. There is no drama and the love story between the leads unfolds at a steady and healthy pace.
Perhaps one shouldn't follow the example of how much alcohol is drunk in the series, but I can very well empathize with the enthusiasm and passion that Han Ji Yu has for food.
Director Kim Jin Yeol made his debut this year (2023) with 'Individual Circumstances' ( a BL, go watch it if u liked "All the liqours").
"All the Liquors" is his second work and I personally find it entertaining as well.
If you compare the two series, you realize that they have similar imagery and they also feel similar when while watching. Whether that's good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.
Back to "All the Liquors": All in all it is a good and solid series to watch in between or just don't know what to watch next. I had fun watching it and I will definitely recommend it to other people.
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