Final Review of *My Stand-In*:

I just finished the last episode, and in my opinion, it's too "joyful" for certain characters. I won’t spoil anything, but those who have seen the drama will understand who I’m referring to.

Regarding Ming, I really liked his character even though I would never have been able to read the novel due to numerous additional scenes that, thankfully, were removed from the drama, making it more enjoyable. Up did an excellent job. The actor has a rather cold expression when he doesn’t smile, making him perfect for playing Ming, who, in his own words, doesn't like people. I found it brilliant that they had Ming say, "I don't like people very much," because Ming will never be the type to smile and be friendly with everyone. He doesn’t pretend; if he doesn’t like you, you’ll know it, if he loves you, you’ll know it too, and if he’s indifferent, it’s the same!

From start to finish, Ming retains his personality while evolving in how he shows his love. Yes, the character made mistakes that, in real life, would be intolerable for 90% of the population, but there are 10% who would be willing to give a second chance. 5% would be right, 5% wrong. Here, Joe was right. I just regret the lack of tears, but I think that fits the character.

Regarding Joe, he remains the same from beginning to end. He is a sweet, kind, and somewhat simple character. Let’s be honest, Joe isn’t very clever, but he has a natural gentleness that attracts the audience. The actor played his role very well; it’s flawless. He was perfect; Joe was Poom and no one else!

As for Tong, I hated his character from start to finish. Kudos to the actor, nothing more to add without spoiling.

The music is very well managed, the series is beautifully shot, and the roles and actors are perfectly executed. However, it lacks an "I love you" at the end. I was waiting for it...

I know they both show their love through their actions, but I would have still liked a little "I love you" to wrap things up nicely.

It’s an 8.5/10 for me. My highest rating of the year so far!

Why not a 10? Because I found some moments a bit slow, long, and uninteresting, and others too rushed and illogical.

Thank you to all the actors. Plus, I discovered a lovely YouTube channel. The actor who plays Ming (Up) has a YouTube channel if you want to check it out.

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I finished this drama today, and I'm torn between considering it good or average. That's why I decided to give it a 7, and then a 7.5 for the last two episodes. The story isn't the most original, and I had some trouble with Taishin and his way of speaking. But at the same time, I thought he might have a condition, so I decided not to hold it against him too much since we don't get a clear answer. The romance is sweet and cute, and it's exactly my type of romance. There's no need for excessive NC scenes to show love between two people. Their relationship develops in a fairly realistic way. The actors are good, and the music is really nice. This drama won't revolutionize Japanese dramas, but it does everything it needs to do!

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First of all, I had a huge interest in the summary and the crime and power theme of this story.

The first episodes were really very interesting, I would say up to the fourth one. After that, the interest in the powers diminishes significantly, and the plot becomes so simple that everything is revealed in very few episodes. Around episodes 12 to 16, there is a resurgence of interest, but that means from episode 5 to 11, we are bored. Extremely bored... The drama could have been condensed into 10 to 12 episodes.

Overall, the story is very simplistic. The actors are good in their roles, but their ages do not match the ages they should have, or barely do. This was particularly striking when I saw the writer being almost the same age as Kai, when he should be in his thirties...

Apart from that, the actors were good. Special mention to Kai, the editor, the writer, Kang San, the police chief, and the writer's friend.

I would question the performance and character of the mother, as well as the policewoman, who seemed very bland to me.

Additionally, there was no romance. This usually pleases me, but for once, I really thought Kang San, who seemed very much in love with his friend, would overcome the age difference... but no. A little disappointing.

The story was good, the plot too, but everything was simple. This is a shame. The powers were not exploited enough, which could have added a real plus.

I hesitated for a long time between 6/10 and 7/10, but I'll give it a 6.
7/10 because, for me, it's the deserved rating.

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Final Review of *My Stand-In*:

I just finished the last episode, and in my opinion, it's too "joyful" for certain characters. I won’t spoil anything, but those who have seen the drama will understand who I’m referring to.

Regarding Ming, I really liked his character even though I would never have been able to read the novel due to numerous additional scenes that, thankfully, were removed from the drama, making it more enjoyable. Up did an excellent job. The actor has a rather cold expression when he doesn’t smile, making him perfect for playing Ming, who, in his own words, doesn't like people. I found it brilliant that they had Ming say, "I don't like people very much," because Ming will never be the type to smile and be friendly with everyone. He doesn’t pretend; if he doesn’t like you, you’ll know it, if he loves you, you’ll know it too, and if he’s indifferent, it’s the same!

From start to finish, Ming retains his personality while evolving in how he shows his love. Yes, the character made mistakes that, in real life, would be intolerable for 90% of the population, but there are 10% who would be willing to give a second chance. 5% would be right, 5% wrong. Here, Joe was right. I just regret the lack of tears, but I think that fits the character.

Regarding Joe, he remains the same from beginning to end. He is a sweet, kind, and somewhat simple character. Let’s be honest, Joe isn’t very clever, but he has a natural gentleness that attracts the audience. The actor played his role very well; it’s flawless. He was perfect; Joe was Poom and no one else!

As for Tong, I hated his character from start to finish. Kudos to the actor, nothing more to add without spoiling.

The music is very well managed, the series is beautifully shot, and the roles and actors are perfectly executed. However, it lacks an "I love you" at the end. I was waiting for it...

I know they both show their love through their actions, but I would have still liked a little "I love you" to wrap things up nicely.

It’s an 8.5/10 for me. My highest rating of the year so far!

Why not a 10? Because I found some moments a bit slow, long, and uninteresting, and others too rushed and illogical.

Thank you to all the actors. Plus, I discovered a lovely YouTube channel. The actor who plays Ming (Up) has a YouTube channel if you want to check it out.

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Well... I finished the series tonight and I have to say, if I had found a better series, I would have given up long ago.

First... Charlie, I have never seen a character so bland, so unlikeable, and so hollow. I can't stand his character, so if season 2 is just to watch him smile like an idiot or imply weird things like "Mom, Dad" when they are two men... really, what was his purpose?

Then Babe, let's skip over the incredibly stupid name... the actor plays well, especially the sadness. The character is full of himself. His "powers" are far from impressive... In fact, none of the powers in this series are really impressive...

Way is the best character in the series. And I would have really preferred that Babe realized he loved Way and not the other idiot. It must be said that Babe never stopped flirting with Way. He didn't stop, and once in a relationship, he treated him like dirt. So no, that doesn't excuse the assault, but damn, he was one of the only interesting characters. I'd like a season 2 without Charlie where Babe realizes that the one he loves is Way, but well.

Then there's Alan, he's nice...
Jeff is boring... the couple is completely stupid.

The two friends are a nice couple of friends.

Pete is interesting... if Babe stays with his idiot boyfriend... maybe I'll see a relationship with Way but just as a second option.

Kenta... well, I have no opinion...

Actually, it's a hollow series... we learn almost nothing about the powers... they are never put into action... they have extremely awkward scenes...

In short... meh...

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I initially gave this drama a score of 8.5, but in the end, I lowered it to 8, mainly because of the slow pace in the second half. In reality, it's not the slowness itself that's the problem, but rather the broadcast format. With 25-minute episodes released once a week, it took 12 weeks to get the full story. This long wait made the progression feel endless, especially with such short episodes. It wasn’t 25-minute episodes twice a week or even one-hour episodes once a week. This format made the story seem much slower than it actually was.

Objectively speaking, the series only lasts six hours in total, which isn't too much time to develop a relationship. In most dramas, it takes at least six hours for the characters to become a couple. However, here, it really is a genuine romantic relationship, but it's told from a slice-of-life perspective, focusing on the challenges of dealing with illness. It’s a different approach compared to more traditional romances, which often emphasize physical closeness or dramatic twists.

The 12-week wait made the viewing experience more difficult, but the real issue lies in the broadcast format, not the story's pacing. I think it's time to move away from this kind of weekly release for such short episodes.

As for the final episode, the confession was truly touching. Kohei’s struggle to believe it made the scene even more emotional. However, the final hug left me unsatisfied: it lacked romance and didn’t have the emotional depth one would expect. Learning that a simple additional chapter could have given us a more romantic kiss only heightens the disappointment.

I completely disagree with those who claim this is a bromance rather than a BL (Boy’s Love). A bromance, by definition, is a friendly relationship without romantic feelings. Here, romantic feelings are clearly expressed several times. Yes, it’s a realistic drama, a slice-of-life story mainly dealing with hearing issues, but that doesn’t make it any less of a romance. It’s a sweet and subtle romance, but since when does a BL need to include kisses or explicit scenes to be classified as such? That’s neither necessary nor enough to define a love story.

As for the actors, I really liked their chemistry. Their relationship was timid, yes, but genuinely sweet. Their performances were convincing, and the music, both the opening and closing tracks, were fantastic. The series also does an excellent job of handling misunderstandings, especially when Kohei experiences hearing loss or tinnitus.

Maya, though annoying for much of the series, becomes more likeable towards the end. However, it has to be said that she single-handedly ruined three entire episodes.

I would have liked to see more physical closeness between the characters, but that’s typical of Japanese productions. By "closeness," I don't mean kisses or explicit scenes, but more affectionate gestures: hugs, tender moments. These touches of softness could have made their relationship feel even more romantic.

I’m still undecided between giving it an 8.5 to encourage this type of romance, which tackles rarely represented illnesses and disorders, or an 8, which better reflects my personal viewing experience. Either way, this drama tells a beautiful story that, despite its flaws, is worth watching.

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Review of "Strangers from Hell"

"Strangers from Hell" – I must say I was drawn in by the title and the themes it explores. It's a psychological thriller, which is what I love.

Usually.

Sadly, I'm coming back to you with a rating of 6.5/10. It's not a bad rating, but rather a mixed one.

So, why? While I appreciated the eerie atmosphere and the actors' performances, I found the episodes to be excruciatingly slow. It could just as well have been a two-and-a-half-hour movie or a short five-episode series...

That's if we keep the story as it is.

The storyline: Honestly, there are much better shows on the same theme, but we'll make do with this one. There are so many inconsistencies that I couldn't note them all...

Staying in an apartment where you know crazy people live?
Never leaving?
Sorry, but I'd rather sleep outside... He stays there so briefly that he could have just taken a week at a hotel instead...
His girlfriend, sorry but what was the point? She never listened, never made the slightest effort. And worse, at the beginning, we were led to believe they were far apart, but it turns out they weren't at all...
Our main character undergoes a complete personality change between episodes 8 and 9, with no middle ground.
It's a shame because there was potential.

Story: Okay but poorly executed.
Acting: Okay
Characters: Could be better.
Plot: Where is it? We know everything in the first few episodes.
The only question we ask is whether the dentist is still alive... and that will be the only question.

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**My Review (Episode 8/8)**

My opinion is unlikely to change.

This is a drama made to pass the time, meaning it lacks great depth. It's pleasant, but that's all.

**Characters:**

**K:** Honestly... aside from being apparently "handsome" and having his teeth redone like three-quarters of the actors in the country, he doesn't really have a personality. In fact, I would say none of the characters have well-developed personalities. He's there to look good... he doesn't contribute anything to the story... well, I wouldn't even call it a plot because there isn't one.

**W:** It's the same... he has no personality, but again, I don't think this drama was made with the goal of character development but just to pass the time, so that's fine with me. Number 1, even though he's 1.70m tall and 19 years old... I doubt it... he's cute, but that's it.

**S:** He's the most interesting character... but again, he's not very deep... he has a bit of a personality that shows when he's with Ken...

**K:** He's one of the more complex characters, which isn't saying much... I don't understand how he doesn't have more importance.

**J:** Did you ask for a useless and truly uninteresting character? Here he is... honestly, he annoyed me. At what point do you dare to come between two men when you know that one of them has been in love with the other since childhood... it's not like he's been madly in love with S for months... he doesn't even know him. He should have stayed in his place and made sure that K's feelings weren't reciprocated before trying anything with S.

The two women are cute together...

I lament the fact that this is a typical drama. By that, I mean a drama where none of the characters are not gay even though there are about ten of them... and we have to endure seeing people dressed as women, degrading the image of drag and other forms of expression...

Well, I gave it a 6 for the acting, which isn't bad, and for the originality of the host theme.

In short, a drama to pass the time but one that won't be remembered, and I would add that including NC scenes every 5 minutes doesn't make it a mature drama.

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I’m writing my review in advance and will add missing elements later. Well, this is my second drama about reincarnation.

It’s an interesting topic; I like the idea of eternal love and love beyond gender.

Now, the story: it’s shaky, the characters lack logic and common sense. The plot is extremely simple and predictable. The villains are just evil, with no depth. You could say that if you’re looking for a bit of originality, it might be fine, but if you want a deep story, you’ll be disappointed.

The actors are all quite good, although I find the fight scenes to be rather poor. However, since San is not a fighter, it’s understandable.

The characters are generally likable, but I have a huge issue with the young niece, whom I find very intrusive! I wanted to tell her to be quiet and mind her own business.

6/10

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