J-atty

Thirty Too Late

I have never been so frustratingly angry with a series but real life is exactly like that. We can't go back to right the wrongs especially when we stood silent then and let the evil prevail.

Tae Ju's costly mistake was putting his sister before himself. Younger Tae Ju was rash, righteous and angry. Older Tae Ju was tired, reflective and apologetic. From an objective pov, his sister did not deserve half of the care he gave. How can she call Cha Mun Jin good?

Those lost to the evil that gripped the town never regained what was lost. Lives lost, futures destroyed because politics, pride and public performance fell under severe scrutiny while searching for a solution.

The entire cast did well. Tae Ju and Ji Won's frustrations were felt. Si Yeong became more twisted than Gi Hwan. The cries of Seok Man and Hye Jin's parents were haunting.

This would probably alienate those wanting retribution for all but it ended as it should. Let reality prevail. It didn’t start with perfect intentions and it ended in the same vein.

A very frustrating but satisfying watch.

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Sometimes, when trouble comes knocking, you have to stand and fight.

This was emotional, entertaining, action driven, humorous and a fitting S2. Keeping most of S1 formula with minor improvements. No lagging. A more ruthless villain. The gore, agony, broken limbs and fight scenes were epic. Not going to pretend that it was too graphic, for me it was perfect. They delivered again, one hundred fold.

Sometimes unknown adversaries attack. Your only choice is to fight back. S1 Geon U's mother created the initial access. S2, without provocation or invitation, they came for Geon U. They got beaten but always got back up. The heart of a boxer. What Geon U had to learn the hard way, nasty opponents have to be fought in the same vein.

The brotherhood was stronger than before and beautifully portrayed. U Jin's love for Geon U's mother and vice versa, was heartwarming. The support they gave each other without jealousy was wonderful. Every actor delivered in their performances. The ending would suggest a S3 and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, we get to see more of Du Yeong and his knives.

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Some things just can't be fixed

When the preview dropped for this, I was already invested. Now that I've seen it, it was worth it in every way. It was intriguing and captivating. I was mostly awed by the quality of acting. Expected from the main but the support really stepped up and delivered.

Ken and Bright wowed. Ken in the role of Pleo with a limited education, marginalized and constantly ridiculed never gave up til the end. His determination to find the truth created an emotional and electrifying performance.

Bright as Korn, broken and cowered by previous events, found the strength to fight for what was right, no matter the cost. One thing he was sure of, Pleo was the best thing that happened to him and he wasn't going to fail him. Bright embodied the timid Korn.

Linn, as Best, did a wonderful job. There was no love in her heart and it showed. She was the 'best' manipulator and pulled all the tricks out to get whatsoever she wanted. Collateral damage meant nothing to her. While I enjoyed her acting, I welcomed karma. She was very polarizing.

Typhoon, Poom and Noom stand a cut above the rest of the supporting cast with their believable portrayals. Ter, his father and the gambling druggie Man, brought the corruption, violence and proof that the present cannot be changed. It may be different but not changed.

Enjoyable as it was, there are still some things that could have been done differently. The script felt a little dumb with the repetitive lines. It was a bit frustrating with the constant time jumps. Too many actors daring the other to shoot them with the barrel against their forehead. Korn's 2024 deductive skills were a little slow. Why did Pleo choose to live 17 yrs in hiding? I believe this was to keep the timeline correct for the future. But, here I will ask, if Ter was erased in 2024 following the timeline, why couldn't Pleo knowing the date, do differently to stop Korn? Had he tried to come back to the future, he also would have been erased as he was already dead. Those events may not still be possible to exist as it doesn't show Best and Man in the future after his last return. Then, why did the accident still occur as it did? All of that should have been erased as Korn's coworker had an appendectomy and not beaten by Man. Probably, this is just me fishing for a different ending or the script didn't quite capture the events to fix the ending.

Lastly, interjecting the last shoulders touching, Pleo holding Korn's hand with Korn saying that Pleo is the best thing that happened to him, didn’t sit too well with me. Was that done to entice / appease bl fans? They could have used different words to convey brotherhood without alluding otherwise. I'm a bl fan but the script didn’t need it.

I would definitely recommend this series. Action filled, entertaining and acceptable outcome. I really liked it.

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Goodbye is never easy

Saying goodbye is never easy especially with the one you love. I liked the premise, the execution and visuals. They fit. The theme from the prequel was maintained for continuity and it was very subdued. They realistically dealt with a situation that could have gone differently. Thankfully, there weren't any desperate moments. The one drawback is that this wasn't necessary to be made as is. Had this been a 4 part series showing the aftermath of the decision after the designated period, it would have worked better. This feels unwarranted. It's less than 20 min in total so give it a watch during lunch break.

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So Worth It

I am guilty as charged. I do complain A LOT about very short credit earned series. It's tedious. Watching so many ads to view about 15 min worth of a story. But...... this one was worth it. A simple story of bonding over basketball and a dislike for summer. Yet, this had me smiling more times than I thought I would. There were no crappy cringe scenes or unnecessary miscommunications that weren't solved as soon as it began. Thankfully not vertical.

The ml smiles automatically brightened the viewing experience and lifted the tone to not make it seem more dreary than intended. Light, introspective and concise. It's one of the good to better ones. Think Match Play. The overall vibe would leave the viewer enjoying every moment. If you don't want to spend funds to view, it will take about seven days to complete but so worth it.

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Love, know thyself....

What stood out the most was the complete acceptance by and of everyone. A newly formed group, allowed everyone their freedom to be themselves and proved their loyalty by the protection of each other. Especially Watarai with Hioki . Watarai was drawn to him and very gently he inserted him within the group and himself into Hioki's life.

Their moments:
Watarai drew the curtain shielding this gentle bud from the harsh sunlight (everyone's gaze), he held on.
Hioki, eyes closed, resting sofly with the comforting embrace at the beach, he felt safe.
Watarai, speaks his love, he quietly waits.
Hioki's shocking recognition within, blurting out his true feelings, he shared his love. Hioki's awakening is beautiful. Hioki is bold in his innocence and it shows how much he is intune with himself. He doesn't run away, he walks forward in truth always.

I love how Hioki's character is written. He questions but continues believing, growing more sure of himself in every moment. He's unafraid of Watarai's feelings for him. It's new but not unwelcomed. He also did not forget his previous friends for the new ones.

Watarai, also, is a fresh breath. His unashamed adoration opens them up to speculation which he does not deny. He knows with all certainty, Hioki is his love. He doesn't seek his friends acceptance but grateful for it.

What I would have preferred not to be included, the petty jealousy of the female student. Again, not every adversary is a cliche. Given the ages of the students, it's given a pass. The story and direction were good as it gave time to develop the characters. This was cute and so was Hioki. The cast did well and were enjoyable. Yes, I will rewatch.

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Variety is the spice of life

This was an enjoyable ensemble showcasing the varied talents of numerous artists, various plots with just enough variance to capture the wide range of the viewing audience. Some were liked more than others and with good reason. The main theme remained the same Kiss Kiss Sex.

Ep 1 - Raise Me
This was a nice introduction. Nothing shocking but a cute beginning for us and them. This was the sit down and relax piece for us to get comfortable. Here the characters fell in love over the care of one plant. It was nice. 7

Ep 2 - Folding? You!
Then it jumped to this. The most juvenile of all would see a fanatical origami artist be enticed by his only fan. It was irritating to hear the artist's constant chatter but his fan found a way around it and into his heart. 5

Ep 3 - Sweet Mischief
I don't like blackmail even tho this was used to encourage the budding feelings of the blackmailer for his prey. He was cute and funny whilst creating scenarios for them to meet and for the latter to loosen up and hopefully learn to like him. It worked. 6

Ep 4 - Sleep Around, Still Mine
What happens when Mr Casual catches feelings for Mr Clingy? He tries to keep it without any strings attached due to a previous intense relationship but realizes who really matters now. It was a nugget of raw emotions. 6.5

Ep 5 - Craving You
I liked this one even with it's clichés. The manager restraining his feelings for the success of his artist under his control. Said artist craves him with all his emotional baggage. What's not to like? 7

Ep 6 - Not A BL
A club where fantasies are fulfilled. The line blurs between acting and being a host. This was different but seemed a bit over dramatic in delivery. Music was all over the place. 4.5

Ep 7 - Something Sweet
The amateur scenarios didnt quite fit and when coupled with their performances, it was not an easy watch. Tried to be funny cute. Failed. 3.5

Ep 8 - A Killer Recipe
Saved the best for last. This was the best execution of all the stories. The history between them would help propel the story and raise expectations. The acting was above all and though it was rushed to complete the story, inserting the diary, helped the time jump to the resolution. 7.5

Final concensus:
For the most part, the stories were interesting. The weaknesses lay in the performances but as a whole was enjoyable. Don't go in with high expectations but take it as a little escape for 20 min per story to unwind after a long day.

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Best Side of Beautiful

The best from Thailand and BeOnCloud. Without a doubt there has never been anything of this calibre and I applaud everyone involved in this production. Shine lived up to the expectation and it's name. Apo, Mile, Euro, Son, JJay, Nok, Kob and Por. Every actor embodied their character fully and made beautiful art. Every week was viewed with a bitter sweet feeling as I knew the culmination would bring a pain that couldn't be escaped. What was won would never overshadow the magnitude of what was lost.

Shine started with Trin arriving in Thailand after a tragic event, hoping to find himself. There he would meet two people who would have a profound and everlasting effect on his life. Tanwah and Victor. Polar opposites vying for his attention. Tanwah offered freedom from the claustrophobic environment he barely breathed in and Victor, passionate conviction in his beliefs. Freedom won but at a cost no one was ready or willing to pay. Causes and effects burst forth shattering dreams and lives along the way. The sobering reality of life would eventually play out.

We now have Krailert and Naran both fighting on opposing ends for the same goal. To shine light on the corruption and the figures pulling the strings. Krailert given the option to marry Dhevi or die as his lover did, chooses to live. I will still not call it a marriage as there really wasn't another option. But in living he stumbled upon Naran, his intellectual equal who proved to be a worthy adversary in and out of the library room. Their fire would burn bright but too bright for them to hold onto. Power plays behind the scenes, long put in action would see them reluctantly go their separate ways. One would be silenced and neutered for the other to be free. Dhevi played her hand well. Optimistically I hope that an end will come. One can only deny onself before ultimately seeking what one desires. Here I will add, Dhevi was not worthy of anyone's love, let alone Veera's. Veera's death was painfully in vain in more ways than one.

Moira, a power player in her own right, held secrets both open and privately. She watched from afar, and only released what needed to be known when it was best suited. A true survivalist. One to be admired. She mingled freely with all the power players with none having a hold on her.

Sucha, possibly an eternal pot head, would deliver wisdom in periodic spurts which impacted those around him and added to the bits of humor that would liven a mood when it became too deep. JJay, did well here.

I intentionally went not in depth with every titbit or the specifics of Shine. My hope is that after reading, someone would be interested to view this beautiful piece of work on their own and reflect on the choices made by each character. Whether right or wrong, they embodied the best and worst of humanity.

Shine, I think I love you

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Fighting is okay

It's just okay. The plot was fanciful. The actors were competent. Grandma was a surprise but somehow expected given how everything was going. Personally, I would have preferred the cop with the criminal but the other option wasn't bad either. Possibly the cop and criminal love story might have been a better watch. The mls in the last episode were way too sweet and by this time, I was rushing for the end.

The production was okay. The script somewhere between 'are they for real and yup it is what it is'. Don't go in thinking high drama, tension and realism. Keep your expectations at slight rom-com sprinkled with a decent dose of fantasy. With that mix, you will not be disappointed.

It was not a bad watch, but it could have been better. I've said it before, Taiwan needs to step up. After a hard day and a gentle unwind is needed, go watch.

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Something's Not Right For Real

One of the perks of this series was that it wasn't a straight open and shut case of unrequited love. It played out far differently than expected and truly was a welcome change from the norm. Yes there was the burdensome pining of one for the other but with a twist. What if, both loved him back? Do Ba U, Ji Hun and Jung Ha Min. Yes, one too many. Over 8 episodes, we were pulled to the depths of despair, confusion, resignation and euphoria. Good stuff.

Do Ba U was in love with Ji Hun and Jung Ha Min fell in love with Do Ba U. All of this would hinge on Do Ba U. By the 6th episode I was ready to slap Do Ba U and banish Jung Ha Min to the furthest region I could find. He didn't deserve hell but close enough. What right does the interloper think he has to dare speak to Jung Ha Min and outrageously speaks commands as if they were to be obeyed. Do Ba U, unable to tell Ji Hun of his love, unilaterally decides, to end their long bff friendship. Ji Hun, confused, struggles to understand and follows him around to get to the bottom of it. Gradually, he contacts him less and less and Jung Ha Min fills in more and more. There is an ease between them as the contents of a diary encourage more interactions. Over the course of their meeting, he has fallen for the soft words he as read in the diary and adapted it to his comic book project. He also develops feelings for him. The can discuss any and everything and they do. The viewer feels the shift as it happens. The outsider is left unknowing and his pain and confusion is palpable.

This was smartly written, a bit depressing but enjoyable. Do Ba U's feelings were strongly conveyed through his eyes. Truth be told, Ji Hun was the cutest lost bunny throughout. He was bewildered by Do Ba U's request but remained as faithful as anyone can be. He felt like he was losing part of his soul as they had been friends for most of his life. These actors did well. The slow burn gl couple were also a joy to watch.

My only peeve, Ji Hun was left to be in pain for far too long. A friend would not treat a friend like this. At least, Do Ba U, no matter how conflicted he was, he should have had a believable excuse. The ending is as it should be and to answer the previous question: What if, both loved him back? Go watch.

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Worth the watch but....

Sukfilm has struck gold with their actors. They deliver in every performance from Blue Boys/Bad Guy/Seoul Blues. If you are a looking for short piece to relax after a long day, go for it. Usually between 8.5 - 11 min per episode. It's on a very low budget but the scenes are shot in a way that it's not a hindrance but an asset. They make the viewers feel a part of the conversation as it's very intimate.

While the storyline is very formulative, it can be thought provoking at times. Should they or shouldn't they? As with this series, should Dae Yeoung not have cheated on Jeong Ha? Should Dae Yeoung have easily walked away from Do Jin? Was Min Ji a pawn? Was Jeong Ha the catalyst for the series of events? Should Jeong Ha have forgiven him?

Let me explain:
Dae Yeoung cheated because he wanted some sort of closure and answer for his disappearance. He was still hurt and having been with Do Jin for a long period, he had lingering feelings for him. He previously thought this was the person for him so it will be hard to let go. You can love 2 people at the same time. Do Jin was selfish, greedy and a great manipulator. He set out to destroy Dae Yeoung's relationship to get him back.

Min Ji was used but she put herself in that position. She saw from the beginning how close Dae Yeoung and Jeong Ha were, even hinting at it. Yet, she chose to reach for something that was out of her grasp. By asking one to be in a relationship, wouldn't she have eventually broken their bond? Dae Yeoung knew and should have done better.

Had Jeong Ha been honest with himself from the beginning, the events would have been different. Their friendships would have changed but Min Ji would have respected it. Had Jeong Ha not let his ego be stroked by Do Jin and listened to Dae Yeoung, he would have saved himself a world of hurt. Reflecting on the part Dae Yeoung played in his life and his own failings, he chose to forgive.

I like how more complex the characters are becoming. No easy answers. The script writer on the other hand needs help. It's becoming too obvious what the next words would be and nothing new is learnt. Women can be supporters and not only antagonist or manipulative. Cheating is always a dividing subject but not the only one. Social disparities, abuse, mental health, etc There are other stories to be told.

Overall it was a nice series. The actors chemistry is there with better storylines, it can grow.

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Great show but not for me

I watched it because it was interesting. The revelations from both of them before and after reconnecting was different in such a way that Naoya, whichever social status he was at, always held the power. Takaaki was born to do his bidding, which he understood and willingly accepted. The eccentric portrayal by the father grated against the grain but was fully played to the max. The series ran along as expected and didn't go above or below the meter.

A few things put me off:
Naoya always looked disheveled and in need of a good wash. I said looked not was.
The unseemly mullet seemed to be his signature, an extension of himself. His internal growth happened, externally no.
Takaaki's devotion was single minded but came off at creepy at times.
The foot scene. While it was a power dynamic, for me it was the actual dragging of his tongue over it. The angle covers it from showing it really being done but like a dog with its tongue hanging out doing it was too much. The flashback repetition of numerous scenes didn't help.
The ending felt like an assembly line tying up the loose ends. Father. Next. Brother. Next. Restaurant. Next.
Naoya's face. Flash backs made him look like 25 when he should be 18. Now in present day, a struggling druggie. His walk alone was interesting. Was this the director's vision, could be.

It was very watchable and for the most part engaging to keep me to the end. I enjoyed listening to their internal conflicts and the end results. I loved that though they had some selfish thoughts they never let it get the better of them. For example, Takaaki enjoying Naoya's helplessness and his need of him. He put it aside to see Naoya happy and thriving.

I would recommend a watch because I cannot find any fault with their acting. They all can deliver.

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Blue Is Okay

The truth: Blue Lips could have been much better than what this was. Ai, terrible singing, slow slow plot, too short eps, sub par acting sometimes, ages, inconsistencies with the blue hair, their voices etc. There was alot that stuck out. It was on a tight budget and it showed.

Also truth: The way Teng Mo looked at Xian and vice versa made their love story believable. I appreciated the no nonsense way Xian spoke to Teng Mo. Their last nc scene was a stretch but still there was something tangible between them. A level of comfort when they were together in the later eps that created the 'real couple' feel. When the sister was dying, I did get emotional. When Teng Mo put the ring on his finger I was grinning. So there was something that kept me looking. I'd have to say it was the earnestness of their love story and not the performance. I also liked that Teng Mo always seemed to be smiling.

While Lin Yu had the easier role, Shao Yun seemed to feel comfortable at the end. Probably removing the blue hair gave him a more believable aura. He certainly didn't pass for 20 and the other couldn't pass for 30 though according to mdl he is. He seemed more like a sibling to his mother than a son. There was an older man vibe to him. Teng Mo scared at the end and Xian speaking clearly was a nice scene.

If there is a compilation as one movie, I'd probably watch it again.

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Good

Really liked this. Park Sung Woong delivered, as usual. His roles always add depth and range as an actor. Huh Joon Ho, incredibly believable. The action kept the story moving when it needed the little push. The ml friendship had chemistry that really clicked. I actually felt sad when the inevitable happened along the way. Their naïve honesty against the corruption, unbelievable but very cute and interesting to see. I didn't expect the humor to land as much as it did. Sad that Sae Ron didn't stick around. She was very good here.

I would definitely recommend this to be watched.

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