Cute But Not Much Substance

This 15 minute short film was cute and simple, and that's about it. While the premise of a pair of glasses allowing the wearer to see beyond the surface of who's in front of him is interesting and has potential, the time constraints of this work did not really allow the creators to take full advantage of that. Further, although the synopsis does not actually describe much of anything, I was still expecting more in terms of the glasses' function and role in the plot than what we got. In other words, without giving away spoilers, the magic effect of the glasses was rather shallow in that I could not see how it would move the relationship forward. This felt more like a concept piece rather than an executed story.

As far as acting goes, Choi Woo Jae was great, but I thought Jin Gyu was a bit stiff and amateurish. Whereas the former felt like a more seasoned actor, the latter felt like a rookie. That said, Jin Gyu performed well enough; I just think he needs to hone his skills a bit more. I also didn't feel a lot of romantic chemistry between the leads.

Finally, the production value and cinematography felt high budget, whether or not it was, as I'm sure we've all come to expect and appreciate from Strongberry.

Overall, it was short and light so I would recommend.

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Better than Expected But Not Perfect

STORY:
I went into this knowing it's source material and pretty much got everything I expected out of a Mame work. Surprised? No. Disappointed? Eh. I've accepted my fate with her works at this point.

The story has your classic Mame checklist of elements she seems to include in most of her works. Sexual harassment and assault disguised as tsundere kickstarting an OTP romance? Check. Sexual harassment and assault also (and perhaps confusedly, to the newcomers) being used to characterize an evil antagonist? Check. Unresolved trauma that can be healed by a handsome savior's kiss and warm smile? Check. Did I leave anything out?

The story is broken into two separate but interrelated arcs, with the first half of the show focusing on one couple (Payu and Rain) and the second half focusing on the other (Prapai and Sky). I enjoyed the latter more, though they weren't without their faults as well (mostly Sky acting far more cringey than he did in the beginning, when he only popped up every now and then). Payu and Rain just seemed purely like a fantasy played out in real life. There was no depth to the characters or plot, and the romantic set-up was laughably unrealistic. Further, the Rain and Payu at the end of the series would have never acted the way Rain and Payu at the beginning of the series acted, and vice versa. These two characters were inconsistent and had no individuality and persona outside of the two-dimensional tropes they were playing. As it was, this couple was bland and forgettable, not offering anything more than what we see all the time in your basic BL.

With Sky and Prapai, teenage me (who went through an ~eDgeLoRd~ phase) would have eaten their tragic, angsty love story up. Thirty-one year old me appreciated the darker tone, but also cringed from time to time at the melodrama of it all. I felt like the story was succinct enough and I liked that there wasn't a lot of filler, but this is also one where the antagonist just turned into a wimp when confronted by Prapai, and I feel like in real life, that wouldn't be the case. But again, I know that BLs don't often go for realism.

I think it also doesn't help that the "tops" (for lack of a better word) are supposed to be older and suave and charming. Self-assured and advanced in their careers and financially independent. The problem is that they cast baby-faced men in their early 20s (who quite frankly are rarely if ever at that stage in their lives), which causes me to suspend even more disbelief than I already do.

Other minor things that annoyed me was everyone referring to Rain as "Payu's boy" and the like (gag), the unnecessary dialogue where characters are literally just thinking out loud or telling us viewers what they are doing (which we can clearly see from watching the show), and the overall subpar writing quality.

ACTING/CAST:
Aside from what I noted above about casting actors who are probably too young for the types of characters they play, I thought overall the leads did well. Fort, who played Prapai, did the best in my opinion, followed by Peat (Sky) and/or Boss (Payu) (I can't decide who did better), with Noeul (Rain) coming in last. Fort was the most natural and consistent in his character (which could honestly be due in large part to writing or directing), and Noeul was a little bit too chaotic (but again, maybe it's the writing or directing).

The couples did all have good chemistry with one another. This was a series where the bed scenes were spicier, which is a plus, and there didn't seem to be any awkwardness between the pairings.

OVERALL:
Surprisingly, not a terribly offensive offering from Mame, but definitely includes her unrealistic yaoi fantasies coming to life. Breaking the series into two halves (essentially) kept it fresh and interesting and probably cut down on a lot of filler. It was an okay watch, and I'd recommend if you're looking for something with good smut. Definitely do not watch this for the plot or writing. At the end of the day, it's just another Thai BL that takes themes which could otherwise be interesting and different and cheapens them by turning them into fantasies rather than exploring them fully.

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Cute and Wholesome

I started this show last night when I saw it pop up under Viki's "recently added" section and binged the rest of it today because I was so addicted and invested. I haven't seen a ton of dating reality shows, and the ones I have seen have mostly been those trashy/guilty pleasure ones that took air time away from music videos on MTV and VH1. I didn't really know what to expect going into this one, but boy was I surprised at how overall cute and wholesome this was!

The cast. Loved them. Although they didn't get equal screentime, they each brought something endearing to the table, and I enjoyed getting to know them through these 11 episodes. There wasn't a single one I disliked, and as a small aside, I thought it was so cool to see several with multiple, visible tattoos on their bodies. That made for a refreshing break from what we're traditionally shown in Korean media.

The set up and premise was interesting. Rather than having one eligible bachelor make a selection among several hopefuls, a group of eight men are brought together and they must essentially match themselves (or attempt to) by going on dates and otherwise spending time with one another. I haven't seen this format in a dating show before, so I liked that unique aspect.

That said, this show largely felt like one big speed date. While most of the first dates were, I'm assuming, set up randomly, most of the subsequent dates (which weren't many) were based on whether the two respective parties mutually liked and chose one another, which rarely happened. Perhaps in theory the boys were expected to get to know one another at the house during down time to see if they clicked or not, I think I would have enjoyed the set up more had there been more organized activities for the guys in the beginning, to give them a more structured and extensive way of breaking the ice and getting to know one another. I think that would have benefited the more introverted contestants and perhaps given them a fighting chance down the road of being selected. Seven days is an absurdly short amount of time to try and connect with someone, and this felt a bit rushed and focused too much on first impressions, which as we know can be misleading. I also wish we could have seen more of the quiet, intimate moments that some of the contestants shared, such as the long talks before bed we were told about. Finally, some parts seemed unnecessarily cruel to the contestants (like notifying them that they did not receive a single letter from one of the other contestants).

Another thing that surprised me a bit was that the cast pretty much got along with one another and the drama was rather light. There were a few moments of misunderstandings and love triangle situations, but overall this was pretty tame. No catfights or sabotage; at times, the show focused more on the platonic friendships being formed rather than the potential romantic ones. I also really appreciated the show bringing to light some of the issues gay people (and I'm sure the queer community at large) face in Korea by having the contestants talk about their own experiences. It was important to put out and hopefully reassuring to hear, and I wonder if this being Korea's first gay reality dating series had a lot to do with how vanilla and, in some aspects, educational this was. Small steps, can't bring something too shocking.

I'm looking forward to Season 2, but I do hope it's messier and spicier.

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Not the Best, But Not the Worst

I went into this with zero expectations, having not read the webtoon and having only skimmed the summary. By the time I got to this, I was aware of the disappointment and negative critiques voiced by many on MDL, but as I watched it, I couldn't quite figure out why people were so let down. It is by no means the best drama I've ever seen, despite it's perhaps lofty storytelling aspirations, but it's far from the worst. I'd say it's solidly average, but I don't feel as though I've wasted six hours of my life watching it.

The CGI was fine to me. While I thought the demons looked a bit silly, I didn't really take serious umbrage with how they were presented. I've certainly seen worse and cringier effects in other dramas. Most of my critique comes from the presentment of plot and characters. We're given pretty much the same storyline every two episodes: someone receives a decree of damnation; the Arrowhead and New Truth get involved, causing mayhem and hysteria; the receiver of the decree tries to figure out why they were targeted and how to avoid damnation; and the decree is carried out. In the midst of all of this though, we don’t learn very much about this mysterious, all-knowing cult. We don’t really learn why these decrees started happening, how long they’ve been occurring, or why they are happening. And we don’t make any progress on what, if any, solution there is and how to bring that about. As a result, the storyline lacked a very clear, strong direction. Rather than having a distinct beginning, middle, and end, this felt like six episodes of these people’s day-to-day lives. I’ve read some comments saying that maybe the story will be further expanded, and questions answered, in Season 2 (if there is one), but I am a strong believer in the argument that individual seasons should feel as whole and complete as possible. Ending on a cliffhanger that leaves room to explore more in a future season is one thing, but creating a six(ish)-hour long intro that ends up setting up the actual story that will come later is a bit ridiculous. I also just felt like until the last half of the final episode, the story was kind of slow and draggy in some parts, which I’m never a fan of.

I also thought the lack of a clearly identifiable (at least initially) single main protagonist who serves to guide viewers through this maze was an interesting choice. We spend the first three episodes trying to get to know a set of characters, only to have (most of) them completely abandon us in episode four, where we’re given a new group to follow. It was slightly jarring and made viewing even more disjointed. Because we aren’t given proper time and backstory to get to know these characters very well, I found it hard to connect with and care about them. That said, I enjoyed the characters and storyline more in the latter half, as I found that damnation decree to be more interesting. The cult leaders and members, on the other hand, felt stock-like and two-dimensional. There was no depth or complexity in their actions or motivations, and the one who did have that interesting backstory wasn’t present for very long, and his past was a bit rushed through.

In terms of positives, I found the premise interesting, though execution lacking, and was especially curious to see how the final decree would play out. The acting was fantastic, and the music set the tone nicely.

Overall, I would recommend watching at least the first episode if you’re even mildly interested, because I think it’s one where you’ll have to see for yourself if you like it or not. I wish more plot was given to showing the origins and development of the cult and damnation decrees, as well as advancing it towards some kind of end-goal (good or bad), rather than showing us the same set-up over and over again, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they’re treating this as the first half of a whole season, the rest of which will be released later (though if true, I hate that strategy). I’d probably give Season 2 a shot if there is one.

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Hilariously Fun

Despite the slightly-above-average rating I gave this one, I still really enjoyed it. Endearingly sentimental and hilariously amusing in a way that only jdoramas can be, this had me laughing in every episode. This is one where the acting is over the top, so if you're not a fan of that, you probably won't enjoy this. I, however, loved it and thought all of the actors did an amazing job.

I took off some points because the plot at times seemed a bit all over the place and lacking direction, especially in the middle. The "romance" felt, dare I say, contrived, and like it existed solely to create this particular plot line. In particular, the origins of Maki's feelings, while convincingly sincere, aren't really explained and seemingly came out of nowhere. I kept waiting for some backstory to explain how they came to be, as it seemed like I was missing something. Or maybe the reason for his attraction was so subtle that I inadvertently overlooked it. Also, Haruto lacked the character development and growth I needed from him to believe the ending (I won't say who he ended up with so as to avoid spoilers). As a result, the romance in episode 7 still felt just as one-sided as it did in episode 1. To me, his relationship with the other felt more like parent-child (because the other was taking care of him and his needs after his mother stopped doing so) rather than truly equal romantic partners. I'm still unsure if this was in fact meant to be (at least in part) romance drama or a parody of sorts, but I view it mainly as a comedy.

So in sum, as a comedy, this is gold. As a romance, it could do better. Still, overall highly entertaining and one I'd recommend, especially if you love those doramas that feel like live-action animes.

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Cute, But a Bit Basic

How to describe The Tasty Florida? It serves you several overdone romance tropes in a bite-sized, visually pleasing palette cleanser. Like most KBLs, the unfortunately low number of episodes combined with their short length leave us with a story and romance that feels a bit rushed and under-developed. Backstories regarding missing/dead family members, childhood experiences, and that pre-relationship tension-building could have benefited from further exploration and exposition, but I know that having a healthy budget that would allow the time to really explore these issues in a Korean BL is hard to come by. That said, those would have been the main factors to distinguish this short BL from others, so the lack of focus on them leaves this feeling rather typical. Instead of being memorable for the storyline, this one (to me) will be remembered more for the setting and set.

That said, the drama was simple and sweet and had me smiling in I think every episode from all the uwus. The chemistry between the two leads was pretty decent. You could tell they were comfortable around one another, and there was a naturalness and ease about their interactions with one another. The acting overall was solid; I only felt like a couple of the supporting cast was a tiny bit stiff, but nothing terrible.

I really enjoyed the OST. The songs were catchy and light and matched the vibe of the drama very well.

Overall, I would recommend, especially if you need something cute and fluffy.

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I'm Calling It Brilliant

Wow wow wow, I was *not* expecting to enjoy this drama as much as I did! Is it perfect? No. But is it superior to a lot of the BL we've been given lately? Very much so. (IMO of course). If it weren't for a few technical issues (questionable green screen, music too loud in some parts, voices too low in others) I probably would have given this a 9 instead of an 8.5*. At any rate, I think it should be rated much higher than the 7.3 it currently has (as of writing this review) and am disappointed to see such a low score.

*You know what? Screw it. I'm giving this a 9. Technical difficulties be damned! It's been a while since I've gushed this much over a BL drama and characters, and I've been so underwhelmed by the releases in this genre lately, so a 9 it shall be!

STORY:
This gave me "the BL industry is high-key problematic" in ways that Lovely Writer (exploring similar themes) did not. I don't want to put LW down, because that drama certainly has its merits, but I really appreciated the overall more realistic, less exaggerated tone that Call It What You Want took, as well as a different branch of the issues these actors may face in this world. It’s no secret that this drama was inspired by real events, and I felt that realness.

I also just enjoyed the unique setting in which this story took place. Much of the story focuses on external toxicity, namely power imbalances and control of actors (and apparently directors!) by the producers/talent agencies (not sure who the antagonist was representing). But we also see a glimpse of the internal, more private struggles that some actors face through the telling of Bas's story. And just when you think this story can’t possibly pull you in any further, bam! They hit you with the plot twist and you’re all up in a different type of feels. The serious topics here are not portrayed in a manner that’s contrite or—and I cannot emphasize this enough—cringey and melodramatic (I’m looking at you opening scene of UWMA). And because of that I remain fully engaged in the story and believe everything I’m told without rolling my eyes. Kudos to the writing, acting, and directing for accomplishing that.

Finally, although the episodes were limited in both number and length, the story felt whole, with very little of what I consider to be filler and fluff. Had I not known a Season 2 was coming, I likely would have felt robbed of both a burgeoning romance between certain characters and further explanation and resolution a very significant plot point. But since we are getting a sequel (hopefully soon!), I’m satisfied with what the director gave us in Season 1. If viewed as the first half of a longer series, I think Call It What You Want was fairly strong in pacing, character and plot development, and setting the stage for what's to come.

ACTING/CAST/CHARACTERS:
Ladies and gentlemen, this--THIS--is how you do romantic tension and chemistry between your two leads. I went in expecting James to be the creepy predator based on the synopsis but was oh so pleasantly surprised to see how sweet and soft he was. Ait--who gave him permission to be that cute!? He had my heart from the very first episode with his bold yet coy flirtations, and I want nothing more than to protect this little marshmallow fluff at all costs. The sweet, shy smiles and secret glances, the tenderness with which they look at and speak to one another--be still my fluttering heart.

I know I’m giving a lot of love to James and Ait (let’s just face it: they’re a huge part of why I love this drama) but I’ve got to give props to my man Michael in his portrayal of Bas. He wasn’t on screen as often as the others, but when he was—nothing short of impressive. Throughout the series, he gave us a mix of lovable nonchalance and worrisome solemnness, and boy did he really shine in the final episode.

Several of the actors here appear (based on their MDL page credits) to be newer to acting, but they delivered lines and conveyed emotions like veterans in the field. Other than a few longer-than-necessary pauses between dialogue in the first couple of episodes, the interactions felt natural and organic. Overall, really great job in selecting the cast for this.

OVERALL:
Ummm 100% recommend. No hesitation. This drama gave me sweet, sweet romance. It gave me substance and plot twists (well, one really big twist). And it gave me solid acting and writing and interesting characters. I was fully invested from beginning to end, and I am now oh so eagerly awaiting Season 2.

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The Potential Was There

Oh how excited I was for this series given the setting and great potential. But oh how quickly that excitement faded when, in the very first episode, I already felt lost and like I had been thrust into the middle of a drama that had been airing for weeks already. (When I tell you I checked the episode number numerous times and even came to the comments here to confirm that episode 1 was indeed that disorienting....).

I guess the biggest critique I have is that it felt like the writers were trying to squeeze too many conflicts and storylines in at once instead of focusing on one that was most important. In a roughly 80-90 minute production, did we really need to see those meddlesome intrusions from Jin Hee and Tae Hyung? No. If anything, they took away from the story rather than adding to it. I much would have preferred the time being spent on developing Ho Sun and Ki Won's relationship and/or diving more into the (albeit slight) political nature of this kind of set up. This felt rushed in a way that other Korean BLs of the same length did not. It also felt slightly underdeveloped, like the beginnings of an idea that took off too soon. The concept was there. The execution and solid plot development was not. This felt more like a collection of slice-of-life one shots in the back of a manga than a fully realized story.

The acting was fine except that I felt no romantic chemistry between the leads whatsoever. I blame this in part on the writing and lack of attention devoted to building that much-needed tension between the leads, but I also think Kang In Soo is to blame, as I felt that the other BL he starred in (Wish You) lacked romantic chemistry as well (meanwhile, I absolutely adored Lee See Jin's romance in Mr. Heart).

Overall, I'd still recommend, mainly because it's so short and not much of a time commitment. I really liked this premise of having a sageuk BL and wish the creators here were given the time and space to really flesh this drama out the way a complex historical drama should be. But props to them for trying and for giving us a setting and storyline that we haven't necessarily seen before in this drama. I give it one thumb up.

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Sweet and Understated

STORY:
Though this drama doesn't really bring anything new to the table in terms of story, it has a sweet, understated vibe to it that made for an enjoyable watch. And while it premiered in 2021, I felt like I was watching something from five or six years ago, but the warm feelings of nostalgia were nice and comforting. Second Chance brings not the annoying ex-girlfriends, obnoxious fujoshis, and slapstick sound effects that seem to inundate more recent Thai BLs and instead takes us back to that feeling of discovering one's self and one's first love in the midst of emerging adulthood.

There are three main stories here: Paper and Tong Fah, Chris and Jeno, and Near and M, with the main focus being on the first two. I do think the writers were ambitious in attempting to deliver so many plots given the number of episodes, and, as much as I adore Near and the actor who plays him, I agree with others who said that his and M's storyline could have been left out due to the miniscule amount of screen time and development, in favor of advancing the other couples' plot lines. But that said, although some parts of this drama felt rushed and/or underdeveloped (and at times I felt like I had missed something), there wasn't a lot of filler fluff, and I do think the writers tried to devote every minute they could to advancing something, for which I'm appreciative.

I also just need to point out that the scene in episode three where Tong Fah and Paper are dancing in one of their bedrooms is one the best I've seen in a BL. So raw and vulnerable—got me all in the feels—and I applaud the actors in evoking those emotions.

ACTING/CAST:
The cast overall did a nice job portraying their characters, some better than others, but none were terrible. Each character was charming in his or her own way. Even the antagonist was devilishly alluring and made me really intrigued to know his (and Jeno's) backstory. The actors had good chemistry with one another, both as friends and love interests, and there was a natural ease about their interactions with one another.

OVERALL:
Do I recommend? Yes, totally. It's short and sweet and hearkens back to the BL days of old which was (perhaps surprisingly) a nice break from the more loud and chaotic Thai BLs we've been seeing lately. This gives me vibes of Love Sick and I Told Sunset About You (note, for the latter, I said vibes, not production quality, so don't compare it on that end lol), and if you're a fan of those and the feelings they give you, I think you might like Second Chance.

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Decent BL, But Lacking in the Mystery Department

Re-posting because I accidentally deleted my original one from when it first aired when attempting to make an edit *crying emoji*

STORY:
Well, I guess I’m in the minority here because I’m not completely fawning over this drama like many others are lol. That said, I do think this is one of the better produced Thai dramas, especially among BL-themed ones, in terms of acting, cinematography, writing, and overall production (though for reference I wouldn’t put it on par with, say, a well-written Korean drama with the same tags). The mystery and supernatural themes were a nice change from what we usually get in this genre, though for a while the mystery plot line seemed to disappear, only to emerge again full force in the final episode, where everything is revealed rather easily without any real sleuthing taking place (only some lighthearted attempts earlier in the series that didn’t lead anywhere). Other than that, the pacing is generally good (though I did find myself bored at times and wanting to skip ahead), the amount of filler is minimal (for which I cannot express enough how appreciative I am!), and most episodes ended with a cliffhanger that made me eager for the next one. Though only eight episodes, I thought that was the perfect length, as it allowed the writers to give us a complete, rather succinct story without too much distraction.

I did notice a couple of apparent plot inconsistencies that I just wanted to note. First, it struck me as odd that Mes (the ghost) was able to interact with some solid objects (such as sitting on furniture or using a laptop) but not others (such as touching a utensil or living person). I think the writers tried to explain this about halfway through, but the explanation felt like a less-than-fully-realized afterthought that still didn’t completely resolve the inconsistency (the same principle that applies in one situation should apply to all, no?). Second, there’s one episode where a character can’t see Mes at all, and then in the next episode she can not only see him, but she has an entire conversation with him. I totally understand what the writers were trying to do with the latter scene, but the lack of explanation for why she could suddenly see him (and wasn’t freaked out) threw me off.

ACTING/CAST:
Regular connoisseurs of Thai BLs will recognize the main cast here and not be disappointed with the skills they bring. I think a lot of viewers enjoy this drama especially because it stars Singto, and I’d say he was the standout, continuing to prove that he can act with the best of them. Ohm was a great co-star, and I loved seeing him bring some of that sweet charm he gave us as Frame in Make It Right, while also showcasing his talent for portraying deeper, more tearjerker emotions as well. I also have to commend Sarocha for her portrayal of Plai. Even though she appears to be a newcomer to the scene, she was fantastic and I can definitely see her getting a lot more roles. No complaints with the remaining supporting cast either—everyone felt natural and authentic.

OVERALL:
Certainly one of the better Thai BLs (-ish?) out there and a good addition to GMM’s reservoir. The mystery aspect is a bit weaker than other dramas I’ve seen, so if you’re interested primarily for that, you may be underwhelmed. Similarly, if you’ve seen a lot of really intricate and intense mysteries/thrillers, especially Korean ones, then I don’t think you’ll be too impressed with this one. However, the story between Than and Mes is really sweet and well done, and fans of these actors won’t be disappointed. An overall heartwarming story that I’d recommend.

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Average Thriller

TW: Animal abuse is insinuated within the first three minutes of episode 4; however, we are assured at the end with a message from the creators that no animals were harmed during filming. While it pertains to characterization of one person, if you find this distressing (like I do), I think you can go to the four-minute mark of episode 4 and not miss anything important story-wise.

I felt like this was a pretty typical domestic thriller/crime drama. No twists and turns here, which may be explained by the fact that this was based on a true story. The writers have merely adapted that real-life event to the small screen without any added razzle dazzle, and that’s what it felt like watching this. Although I didn't know the answer to the ultimate question until the final episode, nor did I suspect the surrounding circumstances, once everything was revealed, I wasn't surprised at all.

This is a short drama: four episodes around 25 minutes each. Time constraints will of course prevent us from diving too deeply into the characters' backstories. That said, we got enough details about the major players to get a sense of who they were, and if viewed as a movie cut into parts, the characterization felt complete enough. I do wish we saw more of the detective's story. There was a very intense build-up that led me to expect some big revelation in the end, but it just resolved rather quickly and quietly. On the one hand, I felt like the writers were trying to fit too much into this short piece, and that resulted in a breadth-over-depth application. But on the other, I applaud the writers for using every last second to propel the story forward in one way or another in spite of their time limitations.

Overall, although I'm not blown away by this drama, I did find it interesting and enjoyed spending a couple of hours with these characters and their story. I'd recommend this drama if you want something short but intense with strong actors and quality production value.

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Hot Boys and Smut Does Not a 10 This Make

The very first scene in episode 1 got me excited to start this show. The cinematography and production value looked top notch, and it seemed like a good story was right around the corner. By episode 2 I was starting to have my doubts about how much I'd enjoy this show, and by episode 9 I decided it was more of a burden than a joy to watch, so I ended up dropping.

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Let's start with the GOOD:
• The lead actors do have nice chemistry with one another. Especially as the series progresses, you can tell that they are comfortable with one another and like being around each other. The romance, therefore, feels natural and organic. And yes, the bed scenes are steamy and sexy and fill that hole of carnal desire that other BLs leave behind.

• SOME parts of the story are good--the serious parts. There are a few defining moments that come to mind that I thought were really well acted and scripted. I also appreciate the variety and ingenuity that a different setting (here a baking company and baking competition) and plot can bring to the genre.

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Ok, now on to the BAD:
• The acting. There was this forced naturalness about it that came across as awkward, stiff, and inorganic. I agree with others who have said it seemed like improv. While I think this style works for certain types of scenes, I believe it's better if used sparingly. The acting did improve as the series wore on, but the awkardness wasn't completely erased.

• The story. Oh how I wish the writers/director/whoever had narrowed down the number of episodes and focused solely on the internship, baking competition, and development of Ace and Sky's relationship within that context. It would have made for a more focused, unique story. I liked the creative plot line and new type of challenge(s), as well as the different setting. But no. They had to bring in elements from BL shows we've seen time and time again. I don't always mind when tropes are used, but I'd prefer they be used in a way that actually fits within the story and moves it along. Here, it felt like it was added for manufactured drama and to create more episodes.

• The humor. God I hated the humor. It was like watching something written by a 12 year old boy. Cringe doesn't begin to describe it. Of course, humor is subjective, and if you’re a fan of booger and fart jokes, inappropriate workplace sexual harassment downplayed as something to make fun of and laugh at, and the like, you may like this. Me? I prefer comedy that's a bit more subtle and witty in nature.

• Finally, the product placement. Look, I know companies have to make money in order to create these things. I get that. My problem is that I felt the director/writer could have found a much more creative and seamless way to insert the numerous product placement scenes. Many of them were added out of nowhere and had absolutely nothing to do with the story at all, which made for a jarring and disconnected viewing experience.

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OVERALL, if you're a fan of, for example, Make It Right or The Best Twins, I think you'll enjoy this. I say that not because the stories are similar, but because the comedy is, and the comedy makes up a huge part of this show. I also think you'll enjoy it if you're looking for something simple and silly with good visuals. But if you want something that's a little more serious all-around and consistent in terms of writing, then you may be disappointed. I'd say give it a shot and if you're still liking it by the end of episode 2, then I think this one will please you.

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Two Words: Loved It

Just finished this drama and wow. I loved every minute of this 16 episode ride. Although it was peppered here and there with a few over the top moments, I can't say I didn't enjoy it. I was fully engaged from beginning to end.

The story was interesting, filled with humor, mystery, and a small (but sweet) touch of romance. As with any well-written K-drama, there were just enough plot twists and big reveals to keep me on my toes and surprised throughout the story's development. Some revelations I guessed ahead of time, while others I thought I knew, but wasn't 100% sure until the very end, and some just caught me completely off guard! The characters, while stereotypical in some regards, were nonetheless dynamic and fleshed-out. They each fit into the story exceptionally well and moved it along in just the right way.

The acting was of course top-notch. I loved Im Soo Hyang's portrayal as a strong (yet not emotionally sterile), sarcastic, bad-ass female lead, and Lee Jang Woo was the cutest teddy bear counterpart , determined and ever the advocate for justice. Their dynamic was great. Among the supporting cast, the standout for me was Lee Kyu Han, portraying Mo Won Soo, the black sheep whom you couldn't help but love and empathize with. He stole every single scene he was in.

The OST...loved it. Fierce voice, fierce lyrics. It hyped me up and set the tone nicely.

Overall, if you love a good revenge/mystery/thriller drama that focuses more on family dynamics rather than law and police procedure, definitely check this one out (heck, check it out even if you do like procedural dramas!). I went in interested but without any expectations, and left feeling blown away.

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A Fun, Chaotic Ride

From the very first second of this drama (and no, that's not an exaggeration; if you watch it you'll understand) I knew I was in for a wild and crazy ride. Discipline was chaotic, dynamic, thoughtful, and engaging from beginning to end. In terms of story, an over-arching plot loosely connects this mini-series, but I also think that each episode can be viewed as a stand-alone that focuses on a day in the life of one of the characters. Speaking of characters, I enjoyed all of them. Each had their own distinct personalities, and the way they cared for one another was really nice. The actors did a great job portraying each one. The dialogue was smooth and natural, and the writing overall was well-executed.

The only complaints that I have revolve around time constraints. Oh how I wish these episodes were longer or that we got more of them. I would love to spend more time with these characters and delve into their stories more deeply. As is, it felt like we got stories that were mostly complete but a bit rushed through or glossed over. I felt like some much-needed backstory was missing to really give this series depth it deserved. I also felt like the ending was a little abrupt and didn't offer the resolution/closure I was hoping for, as well as felt a bit idealistic. Still, for what I'm guessing was a limited budget based on number and length of episodes, the series was really well done and I think offered more than some series that are twice as long.

Needless to say, this was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and this is a drama I'd definitely recommend.

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Cringey Leads With No Chemistry and Rather Forgettable Plot

STORY:
The plot was basic and nothing new or unique. Long-time BL fans have seen this done (and done better) a thousand times before, and I felt like nothing new was added to the genre. The pacing was severely rushed in the first episode, as if the writers wanted to cram in as much from the book as they could (read: quantity over quality) but to its credit, the pacing and scene selection did improve as the series progressed. I understand that the writers only had four episodes to work with, but that makes it all the more important to carefully select which scenes from the novel to adapt, make sure the writing is super tight, and that every single word and interaction has meaning behind it so that not a second is wasted. I also felt like episode four could have been cut completely and we wouldn't have missed anything, since the climax and resolution occurred in episode three. The series overall gave me the impression that the writer (of either the novel, screenplay, or both) cherry-picked their favorite scenes and attributes from other, popular BLs and dumped them all into this story, leaving me feeling as though I watched a low-budget, fan-made homage.

CHARACTERS/ACTING:
This is where I had the biggest issues (and if you've read my comments, apologies for the repetition). Oh, where to start? The main leads had absolutely no chemistry together whatsoever, and that made their "love story" very uncomfortable to watch. Gun was gross, cringey, a creep who had no respect for Bar's boundaries at all. From the very first episode, we see Gun constantly force himself into Bar's life, touch Bar without consent, control who Bar can and can't speak to, and proclaim that this is all in the name of love. Meanwhile, Bar responds with looks of disgust, discomfort, and flat-out refusal, until halfway through and he suddenly does a 180 because how else can they end up together? The problem is that Bar never indicates he enjoyment of this attention from Gun; he doesn't flirt back, and he always looks sour when receiving it. Even when they became a couple, he still looked uncomfortable with Gun's "affection," leaving me confused as to why these two got together in the first place. I think that for a character like Gun to be portrayed successfully, the actor needs a certain charisma that Win unfortunately did not possess. I also needed Folk to deliver something in the emotions department that his character was into this courtship from Gun, but he failed to deliver there as well. The relationship left a very sour, toxic taste in my mouth.

As for the other actors and characters, nothing to write home about. They, like the plot, felt like stock characters that are used in just about every BL, and none really stood out as distinct and memorable.

OVERALL:
Some really enjoyed this. I clearly did not. I can handle worn tropes, low budgets, less than stellar acting, and subpar writing--to an extent. But I need something special to make up for those shortcomings, a spark that just wasn't present in this story. I can't say I'd recommend the series, mainly because I got more disgusted by Gun the more I watched, but it's only four episodes and a rather quick binge, so if you're interested, why not? I'm left hoping that the next two installments of this franchise won't leave me quite as disappointed.

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