Rike

Enjoyed this more than expected and even wished this drama was a bit longer. Seeing all the negative comments, I thought I was in for some kinda good trash - and yes, the production was definitely low cost - but there's so much I thought was genuinely good:
+ all of the FL's hair styles, clothes and accessories are so pretty
+ FL character was really adorable, but also capable and strong (sometimes a bit stupid as well, but the few really annoying scenes were bearable)
+ ML being the most masochistic ML I've seen in a long while was kinda stupid but also kinda hot (don't mind me I like my MLs to be suffering 😂)
+ good balance of funny, light-hearted and serious scenes and almost no moments where the change disrupted the drama's flow

But some things were annyoing too:
- discontinuity between scenes
- drugging each other is definitely not it
- many interrupted or cut kiss scenes
- way too many forced, unnecessary and prolonged misunderstanding bcs ML thinks keeping the FL in the dark is the best for her
- rushed reconciliation + abrupt ending

Hahahaha bravissimo, you've outdone yourself! 👏👏👏 No worries, because as a fringe critic myself, I conclude this has the perfect length! Any wordplay-lover to which I also count myself will enjoy every single pun they can find 😂

"DGZ (the man, the myth, and the legend)" should become the title for a documentary series about him - I'd definitely be glued to his ab-- um no, to my screen from start to finish 😍

"much more to comb in the future"? - Yes, pleaase 🙌 With or without hair! 😂
Maybe you should volunteer to join the writers for DGZ next drama? Maybe then the scripts would be more fleshed-out then. Like some of the mediocre ones he had to save using all (the flesh) he's got to offfer could have seriously needed your creativity. Though I don't complain about that outcome either (more 🔥 to enjoy for us 😏), I sometimes wished his glorious hotness would be the cherry on top and not the saving grace 🙃

Bye bye, I'm off to reserve my tickets for the DGZ + Fringe reunion tour now ~~👋

Why narrow it down??? Give me aaall the clips! Even if I've seen them already, rewatching anything DGZ thrice doesn't hurt 😍 Don't you know the famous saying: "A DGZ clip a day, keeps the doctor away" ❤️

But "ice cream cone or a sundae" is a perfect comparison for this struggle, I can't choose between these either:
Smiling DGZ with puppy eyes vs Brooding DGZ with soul-devouring death stares
or
DGZ with lush hair (rogue hairstrand optional) vs DGZ with buzz cut
Like any option including DGZ is not an option, but a must. How much DGZ do you want? - Yes!!

Ahh the pilot uniform clips .. holy..., no wonder your ice cream melted 🥵 I also hope for a modern drama in which he wears any kind of uniform. But even more for a full length drama (no matter the genre) which is long overdue 😭😭

"'Cause it's in his DNA. It's in his genes. It's in his jeans?" That sequence has me cackling 😂😂😂
But seriously, those edit creators always find the best fitting songs that make those shorts 100times better. The second clip with the music in the background going "every block boy needs a little love" made me laugh so hard because in all the behind the scenes DGZ is always all smiley and the puppy energy is so strong. So when I see him acting all gangster I just can't-😆

A cute and light-hearted drama to bingewatch. If I didn't bingewatch it, I might have dropped it, because it's that simple and predictable that it didn't really captivate me that much, but sweet enough to finish it in one go.
I just wished the kiss scenes were a bit longer, but it's nice to see DGZ in one of his earlier dramas and a rom-com at that in which he can portray more of a sweet and caring character. That allowed him to show more of his smiles! His dimples while smiling are just everything! ❤️

"Strand by Me: A DGZ Side Part Story" - STOP, I'm cackeling 😂😂
Honestly 'close-ups of his jawline gently glinting under mood(/moon) lighting' is almost a perfect summary of "Love beyond the curse", but I wouldn't mind if there was a season 2 for this very reason 😏
I went through DGZ weibo yesterday to inhale more molecules of DGZ content and though I don't understand a word Chinese, it was definitely worth it for all the pics and clips, especially for those pixles of a smiling DGZ among which are so rare in his dramas😍 I need to share this treasure find with you:
https://m.weibo.cn/status/5165116454864216
Hope this link takes you to the right video. When you see it, you'll know why I kept replaying the ending (0:41). Him smiling so shyly (+licking his lip) is my new cryptonite 🫠

Thanks for all the shorts to add to my guilty pleasure-DGZ-playlist. But putting the 2nd clip in the "healthy" category must have been a mistake... why is it hotter than the "hot" clip 🥵

This makes a lot of sense, the master sensed the threat and immediately got rid of it 🤣 I've seen the "obliteration of the rouge hair strand" before, and the only thing I could think was: How does this hairstyle suit him surprisingly well? I didn't know I needed it but now I need him in a drama with this hair cut and wearing a uniform... like police officer, soldier, firefighter...whatever it is, I need it asap 😍

[Rewriting this since my reply seems to have disappeared, if it didn't just ignore it. Maybe it's my DGZ crazed brain not hitting 'post' or MDL thinking I'm spamming too much, but what can I do when I feel like I found my kind of people 😆♥️]

Privacy invasion form?? 😂 Good that you didn't file that or else it would be just our own loss... but I guess the drama gods would have rejected your complaint anyway because even the gods must be enjoying the perfection that this man's creation is 😂🔥🔥🔥
Spin-off series of a rogue hair strand? Okay, sign me up! Where can I watch it? Does it have subs? Ok nevermind if it's from or with DGZ, I'd watch anyway. Just give me everything with DGZ already - hair, lips, abs spin-off, remakes and the compilations of all them! 🤣

"it's his acting prowess that makes you watch through the credits and come back for more...those subtle smiles, playful smirks, seductive stares, and heart-wrenching emotional scenes"
- Finally someone who gets it !! Like of course I got hooked because of that statue-like, perfectly built figure, but I stayed because of those subtle expressions and his heart and dedication that shines through those scenes!🥹

Tbh until now, there were very few FLs that could keep up with DGZ imo and my favorite will always remain his chemistry with CFT because she doesn't look like she's backing down when DGZ starts his attack that is his kissing, but I'm fine with anything just give me more DGZ dramas 😆♥️
And thanks for the nudge to rewatch some of those 🔥 scenes. Yes, that scene at the end of ep 14... how did she resist the fire in DGZ's gaze 🫠 Honestly, an 11 on a scale 10 is still an understatement for DGZ, I mean that man deserves a 100!🤣

This was the frist and last time the disclaimer "No eyeballs were injured during filming" should have been used but I'm happy DGZ's eyes are still intact. Or we would have lost those eyes that change from dreamy puppy to fierce vampire in a second 🔥😍

Hahaha and though you're right and DGZ always saves all the dramas with his talent in romance scenes, I'm always disappointed if his partner is like a "windsock", because they too easily look blown away by his kissing talent 😂
But tbh what I remember the most after watching a drama are his smiling and his crying scenes, Idk what it is... but I randomly remember those softer facial expressions throughout the day and start giggling and smiling... I guess saying that man has me in a chokehold is no exaggeration 🫠

Okay, got it. Thanks for all the info!
DGZ is probably the only actor, I'll start watching variety shows for without having a clue what anyone is saying 😂
A long drama ? Finally?! That would be like a dream come true 😲

Did you find it yet? You can find it if you look for 音藥配方/劉博/梨香JZH 永懸不落
It's on yt and also on spotify
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aSkBFohyfA

Are you talking about "演员请就位3" (Everybody Stand By)? Do you happen to know whether this will be available with Eng sub somewhere in the future?

I just finished now and I 100% agree. Crunches between the scenes? - Definitely! Even in the scene when he was sick and was lying back down after sitting up I couldn't help but think 'that's not how a weak person lies down, no way those abs aren't working right now'. Sorry but my mind be wandering off... 🤫😅😂
I would be surprised if DGZ didn't ask to add more of those see-through clothes and topless scenes himself considering all the work he must have put into that body 😂 I'm not complaining, don't be shy and show us proudly what you've got🔥🔥🔥
And those close-ups during the kiss scenes... holy smokes I feel like I'm invading their privacy and their pores, too😂 But since I still got the "surgically precise haircut" stuck in my mind, the thought that this one hair strand which was going across his eye and loosely stuck to his nose bridge will poke into his eyeball distracted me here and there 😂

I lost it at "surgically precise haircut" 😂😂😂 Thanks for the good laugh! Let me start watching now just for DGZ of course~ 🤣

Hi! Now that I finished, I want to thank you again for making me watch it. I'm definitely happy I got my closure and it was definitely worth watching.
I didn't expect that I would blame both for their relationship heading downhill because of lacking communication and tbh I expected a lot more (physical) cheating and not that much manipulative lying to avoid responsibility. This made it quite interesting, but Teh still not more likable. 😂😂 I don't know if rewatching season 1 before this helped because it gave me hope again that Teh somehow had matured enough in S1 that it couldn't be as bad as everyone says😂 😂 😂
Also, S2 seemed painfully slow, especially ep 1-3. I don't know if I just was more patient when I watched S1 or if the important dialogues were spread out more evenly in S1 or maybe it's because I kept waiting for the moment when Teh would cheat. Anyways, the pacing made this kind of a tiring watch.
At least, I know now why everyone says Oh deserves better and I can full-heartedly agree. Oh still finding fault in himself "for giving up to quickly" the last time really made me so upset. I was so proud of him for breaking up with Teh and I really wished Oh had just agreed to be friends again (that would already be enough mercy for Teh!). Then I would have liked the overall story line more but at least Oh took his time to find himself after the break up and getting back together again!

Sorry for the late reply! I’m actually really bad at summarizing, but I tried to keep it as short as I could 😂 I know it's still pretty lengthy (but if you'd seen the the original 5-page version before I shortened it, you'd call this short too 🥲 ). If it's still too long, just try to skim through it. I tried to keep this quite neutral and judgment-free, so maybe Teh comes of as less bad as everyone says (but he definitely is that bad...). I think a lot of it comes down to the way how he says things and that he never directly admitted that he had feelings for Jai and to have cheated even when he apologized. I hope this helps as context! And if you have any more questions for more details, ask away!

Summary:
Teh and Oh start their university life in Bangok, at first their relationship seems to be going fine, but they have less and less time for each other because Teh gets busy with a drama club he joins. Oh is very lonely in the beginning but soon also finds a group of friends but from another department.
They have their first conflict when Oh decides to transfer to the advertising department after facing criticism for his acting in class and being rejected in their first casting. Oh has thought about this for a long while, because he thinks advertising suits him better as he’s better at it and enjoys it more. Teh is upset bcs Oh didn’t discuss this with him earlier and thinks that Oh gives up too easily. Though they make up after that they have even less to talk about because they don’t share the common interest of acting anymore. While The gets busy with his new major and friends there, Teh turns to his seniors because they understand his frustration about getting rejected at castings.
They have another big fight because Teh insults Oh in front of his senior friends for being too indecisive and never serious about anything and then even accuses him of just imitating others, like liking acting just because of him, and criticizes Oh for becoming like his friends who Teh dislikes. But after a week, it’s Oh who finds Teh and comforts him bcs he had a falling out with one of his friends. They make up again as Teh apologizes and shares that he’s just scared that he is fighting for his dream alone now and Oh will leave him.
Later, Teh gets chosen as ML for the thesis play of one of his seniors, Jai. In the acting workshop for that, they do an exercise as part of rehearsing a scene which consists of doing skinship and asking for permission in-between each movement to get more comfortable and make the acting more meaningful and realistic. As Teh spends more free time with Jai, it gets obvious that Teh wants more from Jai. As he still struggles with that scene he asks Jai to redo the exercise and they end up kissing. Oh happens to see that because he wanted to bring over the posters for the play that he offered to redo for Jai because he thought that was a way to get closer to Teh again.
Oh tries to believe it was really just a part of the acting exercises and gives Teh, and later also Jai, the opportunity to tell him what happened but both avoid his questions and he also read the acting workshops ‘logbook’ (kinda like a diary) in which Teh also wrote down his doubts about their relationship, so he confronts them. Both deny that there was more to it and Oh gives Teh another chance who promises to stay away from Jai after the play’s finished. At the after-party of the play, Teh and Jai talk again and Jai denies Teh’s suggestions that there was more between them, which leaves Teh confused and sad. Oh notices all that but still tries to cheer up Teh, who only continues to stare at Jai. Oh finally loses his temper and leaves crying. Though Teh attempts to apologize and make up with Oh, Oh breaks up with him.
Oh needs some time, but eventually gets over Teh. He is happy with himself and his freinds, is good in his studies and gets a job offer after graduation right away. Teh got casted by an agency right after Jai’s play and becomes famous as an actor but is quite unhappy as he always feels like sth is missing.
A year later, they meet by chance at Oh’s company. As they talk, it’s obvious that Oh is over Teh, while Teh seems to still be interested in him. Later Teh invites Oh to his thesis play in which he uses the ML who is basically himself to tell Oh that he knows he “slipped up” and that he can’t be without him. Oh gets upset watching the play and leaves the theater. When Teh goes after him, Oh rejects his request of getting back together and doesn’t answer if they can be friends at least.
They meet a while later when Oh attends the wedding of Teh’s brother and there he tells him he decided to give Teh another chance. They get back together.

I haven't finished yet but when I do I can surely spoil you. Do you want a short summary of the whole drama or just the reason why people say Oh deserves better?

This one was just great from start to finish! Maybe it's because I haven't seen "Marry my husband", but I really enjoyed the plot and all the different dynamics between all the pairings.
Often, I get really bored and annoyed by the villains, but this time they were just too funny and the main couple's scheming against them too interesting, so that I didn't even feel like skipping their scenes. 😂
I love to see DGZ in any role where he has the opportunity to show more than just being overly possessive while keeping a serious expression most of the time. Don't get me wrong his abs and kisses are always fire, but after having watched so many of his dramas, what I look forward to the most is his smile, gentle gestures and happy facial expressions. Oh and he cries beautifully, too!
The only thing I really didn't like here is the hair color they gave DGZ what is that and why does it change between ash blonde, grey and a hint of purple from scene to scene? 😂

p.s. That scene in ep 21... absolute fire 😳

Funny but serious in the right moments, and above all really thoughtprovoking and sensitive in touching on family relationship/marriage problems.
I loved that DGZ played a role very different from his usual ones and could show of a bigger range of his acting skills. He has still so much hidden potential!
I also liked how they used the flashbacks in a very purposeful way, not like in many other dramas where they're pretty random and are mostly just dragging time replaying emotional moments. Here, the flashbacks weren't too long, so they didn't take you out of the present plot and always came up when those past moments were relevant to the current issues discussed in the present.
The only thing I didn't like were the bad subs and audio quality but that could also just be the version I watched. I hope I'll find a better subbed version in the future to rewatch because I feel like missed out on too much of the important diagogue because of this :(
But still, despite this struggle, I really enjoyed it! Hopefully, DGZ takes on more such roles in the future!