Comedial

*outline*
I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't what I expected after all. I don't even remember if I read the description but even if I did, Ossan's love is much more funnier than you think. A nice watch if you're in the mood for romance and/ light comedy.


*analysis*
STORY : Sweet and full of comedy, it doesn't keep you tense and you just have an amazing time watching it. There was no unnecessary drama either like a mean boss or a jealous senior co-worker, it was just short and sweet actually. I didn't really like the production, especially for it being released in 2016. Camera tech also wasn't actually that bad back then, but oh well... the quality wasn't amazing either (even when I tried to find it as HD as possible). But, ignoring the production everything else was brilliant. The confessions were also hilarious to watch, with a hint of sweetness too. Ossan's Love also ended on a funny note, and not once did I actually feel something was missing.

ACTING / CAST : Kei Tanaka played Haruta so well. I don't think Ossan's Love would've been as amazing a watch without him. He made his role his very effectively and the comedy was also portrayed very well. At one point he even made it seem like he was filming The Scary Movie or something.

MUSIC : The tracks played during the funny scenes were perfect, they actually made me crack up even more. There weren't many tracks but the ones that were there were decent, with the instrumental being the best.

REWATCH VALUE: It's not as high as I thought it was earlier when I had just finished watching it. Sure, it's a great watch but I really don't see myself coming back to this particular Ossan's Love. Especially because I didn't get many couple scenes, and that's sort of what I came for. All we go was the kiss, really.



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HiStory but... a Taiwanese version?

*outline*
It really did give me HiStory vibes in the sense it seemed a little fantastical yet it also had a touch of reality in it.


*analysis*
STORY : The production was well-planned, and it really grew as the story progressed. There was also a good pace and buildup of emotions. And the thing I liked most about Because of You was the fact I was able to watch it all in one sitting as it was easy to watch with it only bein 15 mins per episode. This also kept the story interesting with only required scenes being included rather than the story being elongated annoyingly like some dramas (especially BL's) tend to be. The confessions were some of the cutest I've ever seen, and the kiss scenes didn't help in keeping me from cooing. The first kiss scene that I personally found best was Jundao's, with Juncheng's relationship being the funniest. Because it was so short and I was easily able to watch it all in one sitting, it also felt like a movie rather than a drama. But, the ending felt a little cut off as in I didn't get to see whether the brother's got what they truly wanted after all. The main purpose of the drama was to see if any brother would succeed in what he wanted, and instead the romance took all the attention of the viewers (which I have nothing against because I loved every bi of it) so I'm glad we are getting a Because of You 2. We honestly needed a second season.

ACTING / CAST : The most important thing I have to mention is nothing felt fake, even for a single second. Everyone (even background actors) stuck to their roles so well that it felt like I was watching Jundao's biography (except it was obviously much more interesting than the usual biography). Juncheng, though, played his role so well as a drunk... yeah, sure, it was a little typical but it definitely was more than amusing to watch. The characters were also very interesting in the sense they had quite typical goal as heirs but the twist was it seemed they made the whole show theirs when it was their screen time. One thing the director or scriptwriter must've be very passionate about, though, was the fact opposites attract. Sure every brother found their partner, but all the partners were like... literal opposites from them. But the roles were quite cute and the couples suited each other way too well so I have nothing against it. AND- the CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?? Boi, I literally forgot to mention this in my draft review. And how could I?? The brothers came such a long way in such a short period of time. The character development was real.

MUSIC : The intro was super catchy, especially the last two lines. There was also a nice contrast between the featuring of Korean and Taiwanese music. One thing that made me laugh a little to myself whenever an OST came up, though, was the fact the songs sounded like OSTs you'd find in straight korean dramas, especially the OSTs played during the love scenes.

REWATCH VALUE : Apart from the cut-off ending, the story was really interesting throughout. I don't see myself missing the character because although they were legends, there wasn't much to remember them for. They weren't too special. But if I went through my "COMPLETED" list and re-read this review, I do see myself rewatching this for the sake of the sweetness, cuteness and the subtle coos an laughter.



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Heart-breaking tragedy turns into heart-warming love

*outline*
Ever since I watched this for the first time I've never been able to get over the ships. I mentally kept cooing over OhmFluke (more about their real life personas than the characters they played, but same thing) and BounPrem (both WinTeam and BounPrem). Actually, now that we're on the topic have you noticed OhmFluke and KaoEarth don't get shipped much? At least, as compared to BounPrem... It's because they're too innocent. Sigh- Continuing, pay heed to my next words: it doesn't matter what I say next, or what other reviews you read... you have to watch this anyways because it's a classic Thai BL
(and it's a classic for a reason).


*analysis*
STORY : Right at the beginning, you're immediately hit with emotions (despite the calming and smooth intro). There is heartbreak in every episode, to be honest... and so, please do not wear makeup (especially around your eyes) when watching this or your eyes WILL sting. I would know. Overall, the story continues on with the perfect pace, nothing seems rushed and this even makes the time skips (between DeanPharm and KornIn) make sense throughout the story. The first meeting of the main couple was so touching, it's one of the best first meetings I've ever watched in any BL (including Korean, Taiwanese and/ Japanese BLs). There wasn't any unnecessary drama and there was a clear goal in the UWMA Crew/Staff during the making of this title because nothing was overdramatised as such. The first kiss was sweet and unexpected, despite the fact we could tell what was slowly cooking between the leads. This title also had a nice variation of moods throughout, there was comedy, romance and tragedy. There is one thing I didn't like though, and it was the unnecessary scenes where DeanPharm seem to be in their own world and some weird instrumental starts playing in the background... it just didn't fit and it sorta ruined the mood. It was cute at first, but then it just got too much and too long (a short waste of time, unfortunately). Another thing I didn't like was the fact we didn't get a complete story between Win and Team, their story wasn't clear (although we're supposed to be getting one soon so- I have high hopes) but that could be because the story was focused on Korn, In, Dean and Pharm. And who would've known the most shipped couple would be the one that shows up the least (sorta). Overall, everything about this drama is sentimental reincarnate. And yeah, there was a sweet and complete ending.

ACTING / CAST : My favourite character was Manaow - she was probably what made the drama a little lighter with her comedial lines. The fact such a mood-maker character was made for such a tragic love story was quite relieving and nice to watch and it really lightened the mood. The friendship that I liked the most was Manaow and Team's. They bickered like mother and son - absolute goals. The background actors also did quite well (including side actors who didn't play a very big role, or weren't so important). I also didn't feel any toxicity from the characters. However, I felt that Fluke came out of role sometimes as Pharm's character got too passive and didn't seem to reciprocate Dean's feelings. (Especially the kisses, passive kisses are just not it. It ruins the mood.) Usually characters like Win cause me to cringe so bad because of the 24/7 smirk they've got plastered to their face but Boun actually played it so well, it seemed like it was made for him. Any other actor, and the ship just wouldn't be the same, the drama just wouldn't be the same, and Win just wouldn't be the same. This also made me anticipate his appearances in the drama.

MUSIC : It was definitely perfect during the sad scenes, it helped set the mood. The intro was also quite nice and calming to listen to and I've also got to credit the singer for being able to portray a sad emotion within his singing too. There was this one instrumental (that sounds like a fairy tale) that repeatedly came on in some sweet scenes (especially during KornIn's scenes) and it's my favourite out of all the instrumental bgm's I've ever heard in any drama but I still couldn't find it after all... (Tip: if you're looking for any bgm just type in 'until we meet again instrumental bgm' on YT and some pop up.)

REWATCH VALUE : It's high in the sense you don't forget the characters and the more you watch it, the more you are hit with emotions (especially sadness). This is probably because you already know what's going to happen. Also, before I knew it I just ended up rewatching it without thinking too much (however the drama is very long, so rewatching is only a good idea if you know you can evenly space it out through some days or you know you have time to binge, etc) but the reason I did rewatch it is a little unknown to me... I feel an attachment to this drama more than anything.


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Sweet, but not very memorable

*outline*
I really don't know why this drama was hyped up on a few of the YouTube channels I follow, there was honestly nothing much to it and the roles just weren't very convincing... maybe the drama could've been successful if some of the actors changed. However, this is a good drama to watch if you're coming back from a very dramatic plotline (from another drama/movie, I mean).


*analysis*
STORY : One thing I definitely liked from the very beginning was the fact we could jump into the story quickly. There weren't any unnecessary scenes; this immediately caught my interest. This is also what drove me to watch it straight away. The different moods throughout the drama (funny, cute, jealous moments) were evenly proportionate and there weren't any unnecessary scenes or characters either. On the other hand the script was very boring. Yan Ke and Yifan's chemistry was good, I'll give the scriptwriter that... but their lines were very dry. It seemed there was awkward tension between the two rather than a feeling of love? Though, the best scripted scenes were between each family. The parent-child relationships were very realistic in the sense we could see the difference in how different family dynamics are. There are different forms of love for the same relationship, if that makes any sense. The worst part of the script was the denseness of some of the characters. Yifan says somewhere "you can't hide it if you like someone" and here Yan Ke was trying his hardest to hint to her that he doesn't only like her... but even love her maybe. This is the most annoying thing I come across in some asian dramas, they're just so dense (especially the women); it's like a character's denseness has become a genre in itself. Because of this, the confession wasn't exactly amazing either. I'd actually felt grateful that it finally happened because it was just getting lengthy and tiring to keep watching both the main characters hesitating. I do have to admit, the character development after the main couple finally got together was a really nice watch. You could see their affection and love for each other grow consistently. I expected a more awkward relationship, but that wasn't the case. I just ended up shipping them more. And finally, the ending - this is one of very few dramas that actually has a complete and sweet ending.

ACTING / CAST : Hands down, my favourite character was Qi Xiaosong. He wasn't all that special until the end of Episode 12; I only realised 'damn, he's so precious' halfway through the drama. In terms of acting too, love scenes did look quite awkward too (more so before they actually got together). Riley Wang was one of the very few (continuous appearance) characters who continued to stick to his role very well. (Doesn't he sort of look like Eric Nam though? :')) Wan Peng actually came out of her character a few times... And other times her acting just felt either too dramatic/passive. Background characters actually did a little bad. There were a few times I noticed they kept watching the main & supporting characters act when they obviously weren't supposed to; this made them look like the audience rather than actors. One last note: Qi Xiaosong deserved more screen time.

MUSIC : Loud. Very loud. Most of the time I couldn't even hear the lines... It was just so disruptive, and the dynamics continued to change, it's like the editors didn't even cross reference between the scenes to make sure the volume was continuous throughout and low enough so we could actually hear what the actors were saying. This ruined the mood and gave me a bad impression of the music so badly that I ended up not enjoying it at all (even when it finally improved around the end). It doesn't matter if it's good or not, I just didn't bother trying to listen to the music as I tried to concentrate on the scene a little more.

REWATCH VALUE : It's very low, to be honest. No matter how sweet the story was, there wasn't actually much to it. And the characters weren't very memorable either. Though, I may miss Qi Xiaosong despite his very little screen time.


*extra*
1. First thing's first, I have to admit I couldn't stop shipping Qi Xiaosong with Yan Ke continuously, throughout every screentime of theirs (despite Xiong Yifan being there a few times too).
2. Guys, please recommend some dramas where the characters aren't so dense? I've been wanting a good watch since ages...

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More music than character development...

*outline*
Considering the drama was so short, it was a given there wouldn't be much to the story. I was actually surprised at how the plot turned out to be like when I actually watched the drama. I was expecting something more lowkey and dry but I still went ahead and just watched the whole thing at 3am on a school morning because of sheer boredom. Compared to my usual reviews, I don't have much to say.


*analysis*
STORY : My eyes were genuinely closing after around episode 3, but that was just because I was tired. However, I still continued to watch it since the ending seemed unclear to me. It was interesting in the aspect I didn't know how the ending would come to be a happy ending (because web dramas always have a happy ending). The confession only caused content for me, I was satisfied with the way things turned out but it didn't cause a large reaction from me. The kiss scene didn't cause anything inside me either. I sort of ended up watching it just for the sake of it. On the other hand, there was quite a good pace to the drama and I clearly saw good build up of emotions.

ACTING / CAST : There was lack of character development; I think the only character that had even slightly evolved was Sul Yoo Sang. One thing I didn't like from the very beginning was the fact I noticed Lee A Ra was wearing makeup. Usually I don't see children wear any/too much makeup in any drama, so I was quite disappointed. This is the reason society has beauty standards we can't keep up with anymore. I'm glad the makeup artist used less makeup after the first 2 episodes but from the beginning I got a bad impression of where I assumed the crew's importance lied. Lee A Ra almost wore more makeup than Lee Hyun Joo. However, despite the whole drama about the makeup, the acting was on point. Every character stuck to their roles and it never felt like a 'drama'. In fact, it felt like something realistic despite having a little bit of a fantasy feel to it. I mean... 'a chaebol becomes a dad, and then turns into a boyfriend within the span of only a couple weeks'. Then again, it's a web drama so fantasy was sort of a given.

MUSIC : I felt like there was too much focus on the music, that the story was entirely forgotten. I heard more tracks in the span of 11 minutes than I did in any other. This is probably why the story ended up being a little dry. The music displayed the change of emotions really well, however. I could feel how emotions were being built up throughout the drama.

REWATCH VALUE : Medium. True, I didn't like the drama a huge amount but it's actually an easy watch. There were only 6 episodes and 11 minutes per episode, it actually felt like a movie. And I didn't get bored of it either. However, I think I won't miss any of the character especially; maybe only Kim Dan Bi's mischievousness and Sul Yoo Sang's giving nature.

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Fanfiction >> to Life

*outline*
Honestly, there was nothing much to the story. The idea was probably developed through fanfictions - assuming the screenwriter wanted to turn fanfiction into reality and this was probably a dream come true for EXO-L's (well, when the drama came out).


*analysis*
STORY : It was a simple drama, with a deep backstory (although not too dark, like the one's in other kdramas). There were reasons for the way the story was played out, which I actually like considering the drama wasn't made just to please fans, but also brought a sense of life into it too. There was also no toxicity, therefore becoming a good light drama instead of a heavy one with overly dramatic feelings, antagonists, etc. However, I'm sure no one expected anything heavy anyways considering it's an idol drama, and - in the nicest way possible - any defamation to EXO would practically be illegal in the industry. Back to the story, there was some good pace (to the story in general and the buildup of emotions) - however it would be easy to lose track of how the actors felt in terms of relationships due to the distraction of Chan's backstory. The focus had to shift. There also nice transitions between moods throughout the drama; sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes you'll frown, and sometimes you'll just start jumping around (whether you're a fan or not). In fact, I even remember at one point I couldn't stop laughing for around 3 episodes in a row (maybe even more). Although laughter is a given majority of the drama. The confessions and ending were so beautiful, and there's literally no other way to describe it. The ending made me reminisce over the beginning of the drama again, and even made me wanna replay some scenes.

ACTING / CAST : I didn't feel like I was watching a drama with actual stars as actors; everyone played their role really well. In fact, it felt like I was watching a drama where a celebrity fell in love with a commoner or something (to the point it even reminded me of My Lovely Girl with L and Crystal). I have nothing much to say about Moon Ga Young because she always ends up with interesting personas anyways. I just hope, one day, she'll actually get a normal role because she never has a chance to actually explore other areas/genres. We only got to see Chanyeol in a deeper light, so we got to see real character development. I actually think it was only his role that had any character development (or maybe D.O. a little bit too?). However, what I personally felt was most interesting was whatever was happening between Sehun and and Kwang Soo ()Jang Yoo Sang). Both of them acted so beautiful, I could `chef's kiss` it forever. Their acting was just "mwah". The cutest role was D.O.'s, he was so sweet, caring and down-to-earth I almost wanted him to be a little more selfish but I'm glad his role was played out the way it was. The two times I heard his cute laugh throughout the drama just made me laugh in turn.

MUSIC : Well, I'm not sure if all the music heard in this drama was EXO's but it didn't sound like it. However, I'm not confident in saying so. But, yes, the music was quite nice... I just don't see myself listening to half the tracks though.

REWATCH VALUE : I mean... high, considering this was my second time watching it. I wouldn't consider it very high because [1] I've only rewatched the drama once and [2] I rewatched it after quite a long time. I only wanted to revisit the EXO members. (I'm not an EXO-L, I just missed them as singers and maybe a little as actors too.) Since it's not a chaotic drama, this is perfect to rewatch when you've just finished something heavy.

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Should've listened to Soompi...

*outline*
Honestly the episodes were a little too long for my liking. This is probably one of the reasons why I didn't prioritize this drama despite the fact my friends and news sources were continuously encouraging me to do so. However, I just don't roll (?) too well with dramas that have long episodes because they end up becoming...- no, feeling a little too meaningless to me?


*analysis*
STORY : Right from the very beginning, there was a good pace to the drama and the build-up of emotions were very interesting to watch. In conclusion, from the get-go it was a really nice watch. I could see myself watching it with my mom, actually. You can watch this with anyone - friend, family, or even a partner. One thing I have really got to mention, though, is the fact that there weren't any corny scenes like you'd find in other kdramas; I actually found this quite shocking because... c'mon. Every kdrama is corny, and more so: every kdrama made from years 2016-2019 were super corny. It was a real cheesy era. Directors focused more on making love look the most ideal, instead of approaching emotions and feelings in a realistic way. The firsts the main couple (and the side couple(s)) experienced were very beautiful. I felt warm inside and this feeling carried out to the very end. I just wish the drama wasn't so lengthy, however now that I finished it it feels like I just watched a really good movie (that I won't be able to get over). The ending felt a little saddening to me because it felt incomplete, until I replayed everything that happened during the last episode - this changed my mind, and satisfied me in the end. Throughout the drama, I even imagined it becoming a webtoon - but, a shorter one; definitely. Or even a book.

ACTING/CAST : One of the best things about this drama was the acting, hands down. If anyone else had played any of the roles, it wouldn't have shaped up the drama so well. This I can say with no doubts or regrets. I especially like how Lee Jae Wook played a really nice character instead of his usual antagonist roles. The character suited him quite well. There was no character I didn't like, mainly because I didn't find any (or much) toxicity within anyone. Unlike what I usually see. Except for like... 2 characters, but they're irrelevant and they're meant to be the antagonists anyways. Every actor had a role to play, which they did very well. Usually I get tired of the female lead (in almost every drama this has happened) very easily. The reason for this is because they lack character development and they're too consistent. However, I actually found good reason for why Bae Ta Mi's character was the way she was.

MUSIC : This was definitely the best part of the drama. From the very beginning of the drama (yes, episode 1) I'd already begun searching up OSTs for Search: WWW. The music was really calming, not the usual unnecessarily upbeat, pop-py music you'd hear in other kdramas. No offense but they make me feel like I'm watching something childish more than anything. Like Peppa Pig. On the other hand, the music which showed up in this drama sounded nice to the ears throughout (no matter which track I heard next, it also suited the scenes). There was actually one instrumental that I really liked, but it was hard looking for it because I couldn't find it anywhere but I plan to continue my search for some time. (If I find it, I'll definitely drop it in the comments.)

REWATCH VALUE : It's probably very high for others, but that's not the case for me. I don't know if I'd ever come back to this drama because I felt complete when the drama ended, I didn't see any reason for me to revisit it. Sure, it was a beautiful drama but the end actually felt like 'the end' to me. So I doubt I'd miss the characters too, but we shall see in the future. Though, on an ending note I do have to say the title is beautiful. It was clearly well thought-out. You don't see the reason for the drama title until the very ending, and I literally screamed "roll end credits" when I watched the particular scene that must've inspired the name of this drama (or vice-versa).




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*outline*
I watched this series twice already and I really wasn't expecting to like the series even more this time than I did before. Before it made me feel a little bland, like there was nothing much there. So I definitely have to say you'll have to rewatch it to really like it. It takes time and patience, rather than being in a hurry to finish it off. And concentration also needs to be given to this series.


*analysis*
STORY : The continuous pace and buildup of emotions was amazing. I was kept on my toes during almost every scene (despite the fact I had already watched this before). Sure, I knew what was coming but the way the scenes I was waiting for especially came to be was just amazing. I did get a little confused in the middle (it had been a while since I last watched it) about Xia Yu Hao's character's actions, but it got explained after. However, this doesn't change the fact that the story felt a little irregular to me halfway through. It felt like waking up to snow in July for me, and then being told by the weatherman a week late that there was a storm or something. Though, I do have to say the production was a little better than HIStory2: Right or Wrong. But Right or Wrong's story line was much better. Definitely worth the watch for that particular one. And the side couple's buildup was quite nice to watch too - almost like HIStory: Stay Away From Me. If the director was trying to remind us of the other stories for some reminiscing then it truly worked. While watching this, I felt like going back to some of the other HIStory stories. But the side couple's story was my favorite, even better than the main couple at some points (or more). The kiss, confession, and wait for the main couple to form was just beautiful. Especially because we finally got the ending to the couple that we deserved, with all the sweet moments that I couldn't even keep count of. However, I feel the last episode should have been a little longer so we could get a more finished ending.

ACTING/CAST : Hands down, He Cheng En and Wang Zhen Wen were my favorite characters. He Cheng En and Qiu Zi Xuan's friendship thrived. They were hilarious together, and acted like a married couple throughout the whole series. Their comedy was one of the best I've ever seen in BLs. He Cheng En was perfect as a supporting role / friend to the main leads; he left me speechless one second and rolling on the floor laughing the next. I really liked their teacher too (He Zhong Zhong). She did pretty well as a significant character that actually ended up playing more importance. This is something that I only realized the second time I watched it. She didn't show up much but she actually really helped the story line shape up to how it is now. If all/any of these roles were given to anyone else, I don't think HIStory2: Crossing the Line would come out as well as it did. Wang Zhen Wen's character were rather deep as compared to the rest. Throughout the entire series he showed me that he was: naturally lovable, sweet, caring, cuddly, funny, innocent, selfless (basically a 9-year-old (in a nice way)) but also the one friend who'd smile despite the pain he'd have constantly swirling around inside him. He kept suffering by himself but never broke. His character was actually pretty inspiring but I didn't support the fact he didn't tell anyone about his fears and such. The main actors were actually really sweet throughout, so nothing much could be said about them. They were just such realistic characters that you'd find in the modern world. Everyone followed the script really well, even the background actors. Even Chen Jia Jun's character was formed really well, he's meant to be the villain but I didn't find him to be much of a heartbreaker.

MUSIC : The music was actually perfect, especially during the funny scenes. The instrumentals fit so well. In fact, they're some of my favorite but of course they'd be hard to find. The outro instrumental was very sweet to the ears too. Though, I do have to admit I was more interested in binge-watching the whole series as quickly as I could so I didn't really listen to the whole outro at most times.

REWATCH VALUE : Sure, I have rewatched this before but I rewatched it only because I was in the mood of binge-watching an entire series and all the HIStory's just seemed perfect to do so (and they are so overall, I'd rate the rewatch value of the entire series a big 10/10). However, I didn't really ever see myself going back to his series. The rewatch might've been a little higher if the side couple showed up a little more, and the ending of the series was a little more complete. In fact, the side couple should probably get their own HIStory series, and definitely with the same characters.


*recommendations*
Literally, the rest of the HIStory dramas. You have to watch them. Especially 'Crossing the Line' and 'Trapped'. They've been rated the best ones out of the whole lot too and it's really no surprise why.

And :
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Oddly gets cuter and more real by each minute

*outline*
Actually, when I first found out the ages I was quite shocked because in my mind I was thinking "woah, they're generations apart". One's 31, one's 19, and the other's 8. And unlike HIStory1, where everything was simply considered to be in one ear and out the other, this was actually taken into concern by the actors. Of course, there were real issues that came up, but I'm glad that HIStory2 actually became a little more realistic in that context.


*analysis*
STORY : I was putting this off for a while, thinking every HIStory2 story looked boring, but it surpassed my expectations. I assumed that HIStory2 was the most dull, but don't be fooled like me. The production has clearly improved. I mentioned that it gets cuter, and it does when we get to episode 3. That has probably gotta be the best episode out of them all. I really didn't expect the cuteness but it was something I hadn't really seen much of HIStory1 and I'm glad I could see it here. There was also some more comedy in episode 3, which I realize now was calm before the storm. There was some extra drama added, which I first felt was unnecessary, until the very ending. The extra climax just made the ending of the series much more sweeter, more official, and more finalized. Therefore, the pacing was well done and the confessions were at the perfect time. Thank goodness the heartbreaks were for the perfect reasons and they didn't last too long. It didn't make the story toxic, and this is very rare in these sorts of plots. I hope screenwriters who even write straight series/movies can learn from this drama.

ACTING/CAST : There's obviously been a huge change from HIStory1 to 2. The actors also partake in the change. They were more open with their feelings, and also more real. HIStory1 always makes me feel a little cut off when I watch it because it looks like they're lacking something and it was this. Skinship, love, and affection. The actors made it feel so real I didn't feel like I was watching a drama anymore. Which is weird now that I say it out loud (or type it out) because now I feel like a stalker and that's just disturbing. However, Steven Jiang, and Hang Zhang did a good job in relaying the emotions I didn't know I needed after HIStory1. In real life, the two are actually 10 years apart, so, looks-wise, the relationship had a more realistic feel to it too. I feel I have to give the casters a credit for that.

MUSIC : The music was the best, again, in episode 3. It added to the funny moments which made me laugh a little more. I liked the variation of music in the light scenes and the dark scenes. It was perfect and also had a part in making this series feel more complete than HIStory.

REWATCH VALUE : I would definitely rewatch this if I decided to rewatch the whole HIStory series again, which I definitely see myself doing and I'm probably not the only one. Watching HIStory1 to 2 to 3 will probably be the most calming remedy of all time. It feels like I'm watching my baby grow. (I need to stop being a creep.) Anyways ! Yes, definitely worth the rewatch.


*recommendations*
Literally, the rest of the HIStory dramas. You have to watch them. Especially 'Crossing the Line' and 'Trapped'. They've been rated the best ones out of the whole lot too and it's really no surprise why.

And :
Visit my Asian BLs Custom List to see some more of my watches and ratings !! ^.^ Including: Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese and Thai !
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Tragedy to fate

*outline*
I actually expected a lot less from this particular chapter from HIStory1. But it definitely exceeded my expectations. It also gave off the same vibes as 'My Hero' - also in HIStory1. If you haven't watched that, then definitely do so. Every HIStory chapter is unique to each role and character and we really need to applaud the scriptwriters for coming up with such interesting plots.


*analysis*
STORY : As I mentioned, the story is indeed unique. It's something that I've never seen from Taiwan, however I do have to admit I don't watch many Taiwan BLs. Which, now that I mention it, I really should. Although there was a little fantasy involved where Yi Chen went back 9 years, it also gives us a reality check of LGBTQ today and how they are treated, even by their own loved ones. The title really fit the story, and I didn't realize how perfect the title for the story was until I reached the last episode. The pacing was perfect, not too slow nor too fast - even though there was a time skip. We were also given more insight to the characters and their emotions because of the focus on each character. No scene was left to make me think they were useless or the detail was too little. The empathy I felt was clear as day because of this. The confessions were so good and definitely very different from the other HIStory1 chapters.

ACTING/CAST : I actually think Bernard He throughout some, if not all, parts of the story. But I eventually understood why his acting was such, and this is another thing I realized in the last episode. Teddy Ren did exceptionally well as Shao Yi Chen. His character was so reasonable that there was nothing to doubt in saying anything good about him as an actor or his role. I have to admit though, my favorite character were all the side characters. If not for them, the ending wouldn't have been the way it was.

MUSIC : Well, I heard the same track being played from My Hero so- welp. Other than that, I didn't actually mind the music. It sounded decent enough. It wasn't anything to make me go crazy about it or anything of the sort.

REWATCH VALUE : Yes. I definitely see myself coming back to this drama. It's really worth the first watch so why not the second? In fact, I'd probably rewatch the whole HIStory series during a movie marathon one night.


*recommendations*
Literally, the rest of the HIStory dramas. You have to watch them. Especially 'Crossing the Line' and 'Trapped'. They've been rated the best ones out of the whole lot too and it's really no surprise why.

And :
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Good amount of everything for a bromance

*outline*
Honestly, since I've already watched this before, I can tell you one thing and it is that the story isn't remembered but the characters definitely are.


*analysis*
STORY : To be honest, it's not as dramatic as explained through the description. It's rather subtle and sweet, actually. You'd probably think the series would be equally as problematic as you'd assume what the description is about but that really isn't the case. Especially between brothers- I mean, step-brothers. It's probably on of the weakest of the stories actually, and the production wasn't done all that well either. However, I didn't wanna rate it too low because this would be a perfect binge-watch right after a sensitive drama you may have watched, or even to watch at 3 am. The heartbreak was the only climax throughout the story (and you may probably be able to guess what it was about). So the ending, in turn, felt satisfactory despite leaving me thinking it did feel a little unfinished. Another episode would've been a good idea to explain the change around them (watch the drama, you'll know what I mean). It was mildly entertaining but I feel HIStory2 and HIStory3 are much better.

ACTING/CAST : Despite the bad production, I feel like the actors were very entertaining. They managed to keep me on my toes for some time and totally distracted me from anything else. Every role was useful for the end result and I have to thank Meng Meng especially for it. She was a great help to the story and really played her role well as a supporting actor. Another reason why I needed another episode is so I can see Meng Meng's reaction to the end result too.

MUSIC : It was decent. But I wouldn't add it to any playlist of mine. The whole album was played beautifully and suited the theme of the drama, and the personality of the characters. I don't know taiwanese but the music sounded quite sweet to the ears while it was being played in the background during the confessions and the heartbreaks.

REWATCH VALUE : Because this is my second time watching, I can assure you the rewatch value is indeed high. Watching the drama again just made me like the characters and their acting a lot more than last time. It's probably because before this drama I was watching way too many climactic dramas and I needed a real break. This drama is clearly perfect for that.


*recommendations*
Literally, the rest of the HIStory dramas. You have to watch them. Especially 'Crossing the Line' and 'Trapped'. They've been rated the best ones out of the whole lot too and it's really no surprise why.

And :
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Quality of acting = 10.0

*outline*
What could've been a simple love story was successfully turned into something much more interesting. Rather than making the cliche rich x poor, smart x dumb, popular x i-don't-even-know-what, much more fantasy was given to a basic plot. Plus, the level of imagination this must've required...


*analysis*
STORY : The story continuously remained unique from the beginning to the end. Because it's not one of those stereotypical takes playwrights usually take, I never knew what was going to happen next. HIStory have really done well for themselves; be it the actors, the director(s), the playwright(s), etc. The whole team clearly worked really hard on this drama so I'm proud to be able to say I finally got around to watching it. I pre-judged the drama because it was an old HIStory but I was so wrong. The pacing was amazing, we never fell off track from the original goal in the drama. The confession and kiss was just timed so perfectly, my heart was practically in my throat by trying to keep my BL-lover screams down from excitement at like... 5 am. The visual fx and production were also done very well, so credits to editors too. Because there's also some straight-ness to this drama, it's a family friendly watch too. (Except for maybe the kiss, but of course that depends on you.) I really don't understand what's so confusing to understand about this drama but I saw another review that said they couldn't keep up with the story. How? It's so simple... but oh well. Everyone has different opinions and takes on each story.

ACTING/CAST : More than anything, as soon as Lan Xi possessed Gu Si Ren's body, I fell in love with Yun Lin Jiang's acting. Imagine how difficult it must've been to act like you've been possessed by someone of the opposite sex, especially as a male (no sexism intended). Yun Lin Jiang was truly the highlight of the entire drama for me. Aaron Lai's character was a little ambiguous which sort of drew me to him. I don't know if ambiguity is his general persona or it was part of his role but either way I liked it. Funny thing actually, Yun Lin Jiang had more focus throughout the whole story so I ended up forgetting Aaron Lai has a main role in this drama, not a supporting role.

MUSIC : There was one track that was played here and there that I didn't see fit in some of the scenes, but other than that, the rest of the tracks were quite nice to listen to and suited the themes of the scenes. Especially the theme song.

REWATCH VALUE : I don't know if I'd personally come back to this drama so I gave it a 9.5 but I assure you there are other people who definitely will. A lot of people, actually. Especially because this doesn't only focus on BL, but also a straight couple so it's a drama that is open for everyone to watch. Weird but yeah. If you don't follow too well with the story, which somehow some people don't, then you should probably rewatch it. It just means that the possession stuff hasn't sunk in so you need to rewatch it to fully understand, or you were distracted but I think it was probably the latter.


*recommendations*
Literally, the rest of the HIStory dramas. You have to watch them. Especially 'Crossing the Line' and 'Trapped'. They've been rated the best ones out of the whole lot too and it's really no surprise why.

And :
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Tragic love

*outline*
"some people enter your life in order to create wonderful memories before they leave"


*analysis*
STORY : The most beautiful part of this movie was the heartbreaks - which, mind you, we got loads of. Tons and tons. The leads never really got a break from the climax which lasted months. The confession was heartwarming too, I really didn't see the ending coming. Especially Bank's total change in looks. Honestly, watch the film. You won't regret it. The pacing was organised well, no scene seemed useless in anyway. I do wish we got a little more of the side ships, but I totally understand why we didn't. If we did it would probably turn into a drama or there'd be so many useless scenes. The movie had a clear goal in mind in the making. I just wish there was a better ending. The continuous heartbreak shouldn't have resulted in a sad ending, it only depressed me. All-in-all, it was still an amazing movie.

ACTING/CAST : No favoritism intended but... Fluke's (Bank - in the movie) acting was amazing like always. He hasn't changed at all since 2014, clearly. The only reason this caught my eye is because I noticed a familiar face and I'm so glad I did watch it. I feel like Fluke (Golf - in the movie) sort of added a little more drama than needed to some of his scenes but it was occasional so I still managed to cry. Something I really shouldn't be proud over.

MUSIC : I actually didn't hear much music so I put the rating a little down for this. Otherwise, the rating would probably be at, at least, a 9.

REWATCH VALUE : To be honest, I don't really see myself watching this again despite the fact I quite liked it. It just didn't make a great impact on me for me to miss the characters like I do for some other Thai BLs.


*recommendations*
'Until We Meet Again' for some more Fluke Natouch Siripongthon. He's just such a good actor. He plays the male lead in this BL too, his character is very similar to his role as Bank in 'My Bromance', and his acting hasn't changed a bit.
And :
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An endless cycle

*outline*
I only realized in the last episode of the drama's cycle of: mourning, sex, love, mourning, sex, love. These themes - mourning, sex and love - are the three most common that come out throughout the whole drama. This tells you just how unique the story line is. Although the love between Kido and Kijima is simple, their story is not. And that's probably one of the things I kept watching this for. I wanted to see them become something.


*analysis*
STORY : Well, for starters, I have to mention that the story was indeed a roller coaster. It felt like we were playing a game of 7 minutes in heaven. They be happy, open and feel free together behind closed doors, but not so much when they came out to the real world. It took me a while to form this analogy but it just fits. In simple words - yes, they over complicate their very simple feelings. Well, one of them does. The other doesn't. The cliche leads actors; one wants to be open and show the world who they love proudly, and the other one doesn't. It's a similar concept, but not the exact case for this story. Despite the whole on and off between them, I've gotta say the last episode was the best episode out of them all. After the first 9 mins, my heart was beating so loud I could hear it through my ears. And, though some might say there's a sad ending, I don't think that's the case. I actually liked the ending because I genuinely believe everyone got what they deserved after all. The confessions were so good and the pacing followed a well-thought structure. There wasn't any beating around the bush and no one to play the villain. It was some sort of real life scenario.

ACTING/CAST : The cast did exceptionally well, especially the main roles and Gamoda. The drama sort of revolves around the three but if I heard this from someone else without even watching it I'd get confused so I'm telling you to definitely watch the drama if you wanna know what exactly I mean. It literally revolves around them.

MUSIC : I don't know why but I started laughing at some of the music that came up. I killed the mood of the scenes myself to be honest. I'm the perpetrator, forgive me lmao. Otherwise, the music was well composed and suited the drama perfectly. I mean, that's always the case in Japanese dramas, movies, and anime anyways. But it had to be said, right?

REWATCH VALUE : I personally don't see myself rewatching this. In fact, I'm probably done with this now that my review's finished and I'm done writing it out.


*recommendations*
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Over dramatic more than anything

*outline*
Unfortunately one of the lead actors sort of over dramatized their role. They kept crying, which I understand because their emotional state must've been affected by what happened, but did they really need to cry that hard? The transitions in the drama just didn't let me feel empathetic with the story. It felt like a reality check until maybe the last 2 episodes.


*analysis*
STORY : The context seemed really interesting to me (basically, what the description says) but the rest of the story sort of disappointed me when it became all climactic and Teh just couldn't hold back his tears. His situation actually made me feel really sorry for him and I totally empathized with the whole story until it just got too much. It felt like the focus was more on Teh crying than continuing on with the story. The pace also felt off a little, because of it. However, the confessions actually made me feel a lot more lighter, followed with the rejections which disappointed me but motivated me to keep on with the story. During the first 3 episodes I really wondered where exactly the story was going, because it didn't at all seem like anything was happening between Teh and Oh, so I read a spoiler to also motivate me to keep going.

ACTING/CAST : Teh's role just disappointed me. I've already mentioned this but I just think this role wasn't right for Billkin. Or, it was, but his acting just seemed a little amateur. I feel so bad saying this but that's really how I felt. Almost like he didn't understand his own character's feelings so he assumed how he should act for his role. He seemed to follow the script and the story - basically the whole moral - perfectly well, but the emotions he relayed just weren't it. It didn't make me cry in turn, like Krit did. Every time he cried it actually broke my heart. And I knew myself that Teh was going through a lot worse until Oh got confused of his own self. Quite heartbreaking, actually. Maybe if Billkin could get more into character or someone who's been through a similar situation could take on the role, that would've made me agree with the hundreds of others who rated this 10 stars. I think most of the background actors also did quite well in relaying emotions. Except for Teh's mom. Just like Teh, his mom was too over dramatic. I understood her emotions well but her acting seemed off too. It even made me think 'like mother, like son'. Hoon was probably my favourite character, after Oh.

MUSIC : I didn't like the music. I actually muted the drama every time the music came on because I felt distracted each time. Usually I'm quite a detailed person, and that means my concentration levels are decent too, but that wasn't the case this time. I just really couldn't empathise at all from around episode 3 or 4 onwards.

REWATCH VALUE : Despite my disappointment in some features of the drama, I have to say this was definitely worth the watch if I ignored some things. I'd probably watch this again just for the very ending. The ending didn't disappoint me at all. I actually liked that everything was finally over; all the climaxes, all the closeting, etc. The tiring part was all over. Most others seem to like this drama so that's probably the only reason why I'm even putting it at 7. It would be worth the rewatch for others, just not me.


*recommendations*
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