Regret Can Lead To Happiness and Be a Fuel To Your Life

What a treat this show was to watch!

Imagine having someone who watches out for you and helps you find your joy for life again and encourages you that you can do all that you set your mind to no matter what the age. That's what Togawa is to Nozue. The fact that Togawa actually learned his words of wisdom and his ways of life from Nozue (who has over the years lost touch with himself) years prior and the fact that it is Nozue helping him with his "anti-aging" and reiterating what Togawa already knows deep in his heart but has forgotten is so precious to me. It's like coming full circle.

So many people in this world like Nozue get to a certain age where they feel like it is too late to do what they want with their lives and this show essentially reminds you that is never too late to pursue what you want to do, try something new, and have some fun while you are at it. 

But, the fact that a romance aspect is added onto this beautiful life lesson that is presented throughout the series, makes the show all the more worthwhile. Togawa has liked Nozue for so long and seeing their relationship finally start to blossom made my heart flutter ten times over. Those two are so freakin cute together and they understand and complete one another and it’s nice to know that they have each other to experience all that life has to offer together moving forward.

I also love the fact that it followed the manga closely and didn't sway too much since the original material is already so well fleshed out and they translated it to screen very well.

With just 5 short episodes, this show manages to tell a fulfilling story with memorable characters, beautiful cinematography, and a magnificent score to go along. Japanese BL's always hit different for me and this one definitely is one of my favorites that I have seen!

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Beautiful True Love Depicted

I’ve seen mixed reviews on this but I just have to say I read the manga before watching the show and I LOVED both the show and the manga very much!!!!

I thought that the actors for the show did a phenomenal job. They conveyed there emotions very well and there was no awkwardness at all. I could feel there love for one another through the screen. I would actually love to see some of the other films/tv shows they have acted in.

They went by the manga for mostly all of the episodes and I appreciated seeing that. They gave more context for certain details that may have been lost while reading the manga and translated it to screen. I think they depicted the age gaps well too. For 4 episodes only, I feel that they did a great job including the most important aspects. Actually now that I think of it, I would have loved to see more of them in their early 20s depicted on screen because that was like one of there honeymoon phases and I’m a hopeless romantic lol but that’s just a personal preference not complaining. Also, the show stopped at age 40 and they could have gone on throughout there entire lives but I understand why they chose not too.

One thing I really want to touch on was the breakup. I felt really bad after watching that episode especially because of how Akira broke up with Yuuki. It’s sad that Akira felt like he had to live normally with a wife but unfortunately that is something that people who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community have to deal with in there everyday lives. It’s a realistic issue. When he called there relationship a “fruitless relationship” I just about jumped at the screen. Imagine being with someone for 10 years or so and that’s what they say when they break up with you. He didn’t have to do all that to poor Yuuki. None of that was called for. I wanted to see him suffer for how he went about that situation and I’m glad we got to see him pining on the last episode tbh lol

Shoutout to Akira’s sister for being a TRUE ally!!! We love to see it!!!

Also, History Make Our Days Count was one of my favorite shows that I watched and I’m glad the two main characters made a cameo. It was an unexpected but lovely surprise!!!

Overall, loved the show!!! Would totally rewatch!!!

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Not Your Typical BL

My thoughts on this show are below:

STORY: I truly feel like this is one of the most well written BL stories I have ever had the pleasure of watching. For most of my viewing, I felt that the writing style was purposeful, captivating, and effective. I felt like the story was well thought out overall and compared to most other BL’s I have seen… it didn’t have as many moments that left me confused when it came to the writing aspect. I will say though that I had to give the story portion a 7.5 objectively because as the series came closer to the end… there started to be some plot holes regarding certain characters and some minor hiccups in terms of when you compare how certain characters and situations were in the beginning to how they were closer to the end. Some of the story aspects felt just a little disjointed in the last few episodes if I am being completely honest. Also, the finale left something to be desired as well. Even though I may say that… I still think that overall the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to this show. I loved that the story also revolved around serious topics such as politics and social issues. It isn’t your typical BL story at all. I could understand why more serious topics for a BL might turn some people off, but I feel like you would be missing out on a good story if you decided to skip this one.

ACTING/CAST: I MUST shoutout the king Gun Atthaphan for playing two roles with such grace. He got the nuisances of Black and White’s characters down perfectly. You could tell the distinct differences in the characters very well. It must be hard playing two roles, but Gun always impresses me with his acting. He knocks it out of the park every time. When it comes to Off Jumpol, I was equally impressed. His acting just keeps improving from project to project. I am proud of him!!! As for the rest of the cast, I believe that they all brought their A game for this show. A standout character for me was Mond Tanutchai who played Gram. I loved his fiery and determined yet balanced personality. On the surface, he may seem tough and assertive but underneath he had a heart of gold and I love characters like that. I also loved that this show explored morally grey characters even more because it really got the viewer to debate on the ethics of the characters actions to a greater degree. The female characters actually had substance to them as well which I loved. Usually, female characters in BL shows are reduced to being nuisances to the main characters... so it was refreshing to see strong women who had their passions. There was not anyone that made me question there acting abilities. There was no cringiness or awkwardness. It was honestly like I was watching multiple award-winning actors on screen. Oh, and one more thing that I wanted to point out was that I LOVED the characterization of each person in this series. You didn't get one-note characters. You got people with depth and meaning. I also loved seeing the backstories of characters. When a character is fleshed out like how these characters were, I feel it really takes the show to the next level. THEY ALL DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE!!!

MUSIC: THE MUSIC IN THIS SHOW IS SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!! This is one of those shows that had me looking up the music being played on Spotify so I could add it to my library. Music is very important to me so when a production does it right… I am elated!!! Not Me’s soundtrack really added to the mood and tone of the scenes taking place. Sometimes the music can either make or break a scene and the music turned Not Me from a good show into a great one. Here’s a link to music that appeared in Not Me: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wln5IkDmnp5fGCf0LWws8?si=48f09b1643224ac7

REWATCH VALUE: I think this show is one that you can rewatch over and over and not get bored because there are many details that you can pick up on through repeated viewing. I was already rewatching episodes over again as it was airing right after they came out, so I think that tells you all that you need to know lmao.

PRODUCTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY: WOW the production on the is show is TOP NOTCH!!! I haven’t seen many BL’s that look this crisp and clean. Everything from the camera angles, to the shots used, to the use of minimal makeup, to the clothing choices, to the locations, to the coloring of the scenes, to the voiceovers. I literally could go on and on. You can tell that a lot of detail was put into the pre and postproduction of Not Me and it shows heavily. It honestly looked like I was watching a high budget movie and to be honest, it looked better than some high budget movies I have seen. The production crew and cinematographer deserve ALL of the awards in the world for their work on this show.

In conclusion, Not Me is one of the BEST shows I have seen lately and I hope it continues to receive all of the love in the world because it’s well deserved!!!

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All I Can Say Is WOW!!!

This is DEFINITELY one of my top BL shows of the year alongside Cherry Magic!!! This is such a beautiful masterpiece of a show!!! I remember when the preview trailer first came out… I was already hooked!!! I was on the lookout for it and it did not disappoint me one bit when it finally started. I looked forward to seeing it every week. It made me feel all of the emotions. I was up here sitting in my room crying over everything. I don’t think any other BL has made me this emotional before in my life.

First, I would like to start off with the casting and characters. Billkin as Teh did a wonderful job. His character was a smart but confused individual. Given this being a coming of age type of story, I feel like his actions throughout the show were justified because he was learning to navigate who he was as a person like how most people do around that age. Coming into your sexuality can be a mix of conflicting emotions. I understand that it takes much time and reflection. I know some people were annoyed by his character but I think he portrayed it very well. (Side note: I know he had to be drained in between takes from all that crying he did lol It was almost giving me Third vibes from Theory of Love lol I just thought it was kind of funny but they both still had me feeling all emotional and tearing up so you know they were doing something right!!!). PP Krit as Oh-aew also did a wonderful job. To me, Oh-aew I feel was more secure in who he was as a person and of his sexuality than Teh so it was hard for me to see him be so distraught at how Teh kept on backing off from truly moving forward. Pining over someone who won’t REALLY reciprocate can be one of the worst feelings in the world. So, I truly felt his pain through it all. All in all, the two lead actors really DELIVERED!!! I could feel every single stare, every single body movement, and every single touch. You could cut the TENSION with a knife!!! No one couldn’t tell me that there wasn’t a magnetic true love between these two. I know this sounds cliche but it's like they were destined to be together. Also, I would love to see them in future projects!!!

Shoutout to Tan and Bas as well for sticking by Teh and Oh-aew sides and being true friends through it all even though they had to give up the possibility of a romantic relationship with the guys. They are the real MVP’s of this show!!!

The writing and directing on this show was impeccable to me!!! No cringy dialogue and every single line served its purpose well. This is movie grade writing. I saw some behind the scenes videos of certain scenes, like the hotel scene where there under the staircase, being directed and I loved seeing how meticulous the director was. He did a great job directing all of the scenes so you can truly see and get the meaning of everything.

I also wanted to quickly just say that I loved the attention and callback to details throughout like with the tutoring book that Teh made for Oh-aew that was left empty by the end of episode 4, the flower that was supposed to be colored the same as Tan’s garment but Teh colored it red because he was thinking of Oh-aew, the rubbing of Oh-aew’s back when he sniffles, the references to Teh’s favorite actor, and the use of Chinese phrases to get meaning across. I could go on and on but wow I just loved how they really connected all of the details throughout.

Also, the cinematography in this show is TOP FREAKIN NOTCH!!! Every single scene is just so beautifully shot. The cinematography alone makes me want to cry lol I saw somewhere that someone said the filming of the show reminded them of an indie film and I totally agree!!! They came with the high budget for this series and I live for it!!! The music throughout the episodes is beautiful as well. The OST Skyline performed by Billkin made me emotional as well. Billkin’s voice is just so pleasant sounding.

This show was a rollercoaster of emotions and it was one of the most sincere shows I have ever watched!!! I was worried it wasn’t going to end well considering all that went on in episode 4 especially but I am glad that it had a happy ending. When Teh asked Oh-aew to be his boyfriend... I SCREAMED in excitement!!! I can’t wait for Season 2!!! Also, it’s so beautiful how this community really came together to discuss and support this amazing show!!!

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We Must Choose To Live The Life We Never Want To Go Back And Fix

I am in shock by how much I truly enjoyed this show. I saw people recommending it here and there but I kept putting it off until it was already around the time when about 5 or 6 episodes were out.

THEY SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT ON THIS SHOW!!!

SPOILERS AHEAD

I just wanted to give a brief overview of the main characters…

You have Kawi who is a chaotic, anxious, and lost mess who doesn’t have the highest sense of self-worth and self-assurance but yet still wants to do what’s right, wants to learn from his mistakes, and is in my opinion overall a good person. I think Kawi can be quite misunderstood as a character or some people may take fault with how he goes about dealing with certain situations but I think he might be one of, if not, the most relatable characters on the show. Life is full of choices and we as humans can struggle at times to know which way to go or how to handle things. Also, having to deal with such opposing feelings and the effects that those feelings can have on others around us. He is the perfect example of honesty within yourself and to others.

Pisaeng is BEST BOY TRULY!!! He is the ride or die man!!! He is loyal to Kawi through and through no matter what timeline they are in. Even during those moments where they are still just friends and Kawi is grappling with his overwhelming emotions, Pisaeng is still there. I loved that we got to see a glimpse into him coming to terms with his identity. I also thought that the storyline concerning his mother was very valid and needed attention so I am glad that it was included. Pisaeng is the type that is self-sacrificing, almost too much, but that’s something one can learn to overcome. What else can I say other than that his heart is so pure.

PEAR IS WHAT A FEMALE CHARACTER IN A BL SHOULD BE LIKE!!! I LOVED that we got to see a multi dimensional female character on the show who’s only purpose wasn’t to be going after a man that clearly doesn’t want her. Her relationship with her parents, particularly her mom really made me emotional to see and seeing her hypothetical outcome in the future really made me feel for her even more. She turned out to be such a great friend to Kawi and Pisaeng and that’s how it should be.

Max is the friend that we all need. I liked his honesty towards his friends. People need the truth, you can’t always sugarcoat everything and Max gave that. He really served as a much needed confidant for both Kawi and Pisaeng. I really wish his character could have had more of a storyline other than just as being a friend but I really truly feel like his purpose was to showcase the importance of equality for all.


Now on to what I liked about the show…

Be My Favorite manages to tackle many themes in it’s runtime without feeling forced. It touches on things like discovery/identity, acceptance, forgiveness, healing, liberation, how the past impacts the present/future, friendship, living in the moment, and many more.

Not only that but the pacing of this show is spot on as well. There wasn’t ever a moment where I felt like a scene was unneeded. Everything just flowed nicely. I also thought that the writing on this show was surprisingly wonderful. The dialogue stayed with me and every line felt like it was meant to be there. The plot kept me coming back for more.

I can’t talk about this show without mentioning the main characters acting. Krist and Fluke were an unlikely but wonderful combination together. I thought they both played their roles with conviction and believability. The chemistry was chemistrying for sure lol

I also thought that the show utilized the time travel concept very well. It was actually interwoven into the plot and it seemed like whoever came up with the idea really knew how to execute it well.

There wasn’t much that I disliked about this show if you couldn’t already tell.

All in all, this is one of the best BL’s of 2023 and one of the best BL’s in general. It deserves ALL of the love and praise!!!

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Love Conquers All!

WOW!!! The wait is finally over and we can now watch the film to our hearts content. There was so much anticipation built up over this film being released and a lot of opinions thrown around (mainly surrounding the topic of their kiss scenes). Upon having viewed the filmed a few times now (I am not ashamed to admit it either lmao), I think Cherry Magic: The Movie was truly worth the wait!

(Disclaimer: there are spoilers ahead so read at your own discretion)

What stood out to me about the film was the numerous depiction’s of Kurosawa and Adachi’s pure and unwavering true love for one another. When they were together, you could feel the love they had for one another and when they were separated from one another for a period, you could tell it truly killed them to be apart from each other. They have that type of love that I wish everyone to have. A love full of care, companionship, passion, and understanding.

But, what stood out to me even more, was the topics and issues raised as it pertained to being in a gay relationship in Japan. Adachi talked with Kurosawa about wanting to tell those closest and most dear to him about their relationship especially since if anything were to happen to them in the future, they could be notified of it and not get left out of receiving important news. Also, the process of telling your loved ones that you are gay and in a relationship can be a truly nerve wracking experience for those involved. All of these questions come to your mind like Will they accept me or not? How will telling them affect the family or friendship dynamic? Will I be shunned from the family? Will this change how they feel about me? Will they not love me anymore? The worry is truly there— but Kurosawa and Adachi showed great bravery in telling their parents about their relationship. They also showed great bravery when they held hands out in public as well for all to see at the end of the film. They knew that they wanted to spend their lives together with each other. That commitment they had to one another was paramount over everything else around them. They wanted to be honest and make sure that people knew about them despite any consequences that may occur and I truly admire them for that. It’s films like this that really push the needle forward for gay representation, especially in Asian countries.

Don’t even get me started on the proposal and them getting married. The proposal on the beach was such a simple, beautiful, and intimate scene. And my gosh, the wedding scene was filled with happiness and joy!!! Loved seeing the original cast of supporting characters and both of their families there to support them. And might I add, they looked so dapper in their suits as well.

Speaking of the supporting characters, I was honestly fine with them not being included much at all since the stories main focus was on Kurosawa and Adachi. But, it was nice to get some scenes with them and their characters felt true to form which I appreciated.

I loved all of the references to the series that were included as well. The crew that worked on this film made sure to add those important touches that elevated the film’s value and impression.

If you were wondering whether you should watch this film or not, I urge you to go run and watch it now. It’s a wonderful conclusion to their story (unless they want to do another film that depicts them when they are older and looking back on their lives— but that’s just a dream of mine lmao). Definitely highly recommend this!!!

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Love and Misunderstandings

Utsukushii Kare Season 2 delivers on a strong follow-up to the first season that pulled me in and has yet to ever let me go. We follow Kiyoi and Hira as they navigate the beginning stages of their relationship. It's very evident that they share a true love together but some of the same issues that took place in the first season come up in this season (and rightfully so because people don't change overnight). Kiyoi is still not the best at voicing how he truly feels and instead resorting to a more feisty approach, while Hira has fallen back into the mentality that Kiyoi is a king that should be served. There's also the issue of Kiyoi moving up in his career while Hira is struggling to find a foothold and transition into a career that would suit him like photography. Kiyoi just wants to be loved as Hira's equal partner but Hira fails to see that at this point. All of those issues come to a head in this season and are addressed as a part of the healing process that's needed in order for them to move forward together as a couple and live happily ever after.

PROS:

— NATURAL FLOW FROM SEASON ONE: The fundamental characters of who Kiyoi and Hira are don't deviate from last season. I for one, love to see that the traits, quirks, and interests that made them who they were in the first season are not totally forgotten in this second season

—STORY: The fact that they can tell an interesting story with all of the nuances included in such a short amount of time is applaudable for me. If it were me working on the show, it would literally take me at least 16 or more episodes to say all that I wanted to lmao. The reason I loved season 1 so much was because upon rewatching it multiple times, you start to pick up on new things each time and it's the same with this season.

—CHEMISTRY: The chemistry between the leads is never lacking. You can tell that the characters love one another despite their misunderstandings and the actors do such a great job of playing these two quirky and lovable characters. I want to shout out Yagi Yusei for his scene at the end of episode 3. It truly moved me.

—CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lastly, I just want to say that I love the cinematography, sets, locations, and color grading of Utsukushii Kare. They always make me feel at home and comfortable. It's just such a nice show to look at visually.

NOT SO LOVES:

—NUMBER OF EPISODES & RUN TIME: IT'S TOO SHORT!!! I WANT MORE!!! At least we are getting a whole movie in the future but still I can never get enough of this show.


All in all, this show is definitely worth the watch and it’s one of the best Japanese BL’s I have seen!

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Don’t be blinded by what you can see. Keep in mind the essence of what lies beyond that.

From episode 1, I was immediately hooked and my satisfaction with this show continues to grow more and more. Following this show week by week has been such a treat.

The show revolves around the main character Woo Young Woo who is a the most endearing genius lawyer that has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The show really emphasizes how Woo Young Woo deals with societal situations and just life in general as someone on the autism spectrum as well as touches on how society views her from the outside looking in (especially the discrimination, ablesim, and harrassment that those on the autism spectrum can face). I am glad that the show has characters that stick up for her and look after her and then contrasting characters who view her autism in a negative light. I think it's important to show both sides because there are people out there who view autism negatively and who are discriminatory even in this day in age. I like that the show is honest with its portrayals of people's reactions to autism in general. I also like that the show emphasizes that not everyone who has autism is the same.

The actress Park Eun Bin who plays Woo Young Woo has done such a wonderful job playing this character as well. It was revealed that Park Eun Bin rejected playing this role a few times because she didn't think she would do the role justice and she didn't want to hurt anyone by playing this character but she ultimately decided to play this role with the support of the crew. The director waited a year for her to appear in the show. She is playing this character with much respect. Not to mention, the other main characters are doing such a wonderful job too. Each character in this show feels like they were written with care and written thoroughly too. We don't just get one-dimensional characters, we get people with some depth. Everyone is playing their roles wonderfully.

I love that each episode deals with a new case and brings up new issues that the audience can learn from as well. The show balances the line between serious/informative and humorous very well. I love the slightly quirky nature that the show has too. With this show, I go from laughing to crying to smiling to squealing to anger and I wouldn't have it any other way. With my short attention span, this show manages to keep me engaged all the way.

I do have to point out that with the last few episodes, I feel like the show lost some of its spark. Some of the story lines that were added and character arcs that were done I found unnecessary and I wasn’t as intrigued by the cases as I was in the first half of the series so that’s why my initial rating went from a 10 to a 9.5. But, don't let these minor gripes keep you from watching. I also heard that there will be a second season. I really don’t see the need for a second season. I feel like having one season is enough but I will tune in when a second season happens in the future.

I am just going to say it now that this is one of the best k-dramas I have ever had the pleasure of viewing! This type of show is a rarity and I believe it's going to stay with me in the future. If you haven't seen this drama yet, I highly suggest it.

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An Emotional Rollercoaster

The sequel to To My Star delves into the not so pleasant aspects that could come from a relationship. I think it was important that it showed that a relationship is not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. Life doesn't work like that. To My Star explores doubt, miscommunication, pride, guilt, and sorrow in a way that is engaging from start to finish. It may not be the direction that people wanted the second season to go in but I think it is important to show the more realistic aspects of a relationship.

If you think that all relationships can remain perfect at all times, you are terribly mistaken. To My Star shares a story that is more close to real life. But, if you are lucky enough, despite all of the obstacles you may go through with a significant other, you can overcome them and come to understand each other more through the pain you have both endured and come out on the other side stronger than ever together.

One thing that I loved the most about the overall conflict that was presented in this show is that it highlighted that every break up doesn't have to be for some grand reason. A lot of relationships may run their course or go through a rough patch simply due to little things that accumulate over time. Feelings change and people change and that's okay but what isn't okay is to run away without communicating with your partner about how you feel. Ji Woo had a hard time pouring out his feelings which ultimately caused more strife between him and Seo Joon that could have been avoided. But, the thing is, there are a lot of people out in this world like Ji Woo who run away from there problems and have a hard time saying what is on their minds so I don't fault him for that. You live and you learn and I am glad that a character like that is shown on screen. Seo Joon was fighting tooth and nail trying to get Ji Woo back and some say that he was fighting too hard and that he was too desperate and should have let him go sooner. But, all I saw was a person who didn't want to give up on the person that he was in love with. So what if he looked crazy. If you think a person is worth it, I don't see anything wrong with fighting for the person you love within certain measures. He ultimately decided to give up and let Ji Woo come back to him when he was ready which I think was for the best in their situation. I am glad that they ended up back together in the end despite everything.

Ji Woo and Seo Joon are two totally different people with different communication styles yet despite the pain that they both went through, I could still feel the love that they had for one another. It was still palpable. The chemistry was still there and the love for sure was still there. Relationships go through pain sometimes but I think it is ultimately about how you choose to resolve problems and come back from the pain that matters. It may take a little while but if both partners vow to understand each other more and change some of there ways to better the relationship, then they can move forward together again. Sometimes pain can lead to growth is how I viewed Ji Woo and Seo Joon's relationship.

On another note, I will end this by saying that I enjoyed this season very much (probably more than season 1). It had a story line that was very gripping to me and one that had me theorizing and thinking about it long after an episode would go off. The cinematography and locations were beautiful to witness and the characters all served their purpose well. I would definitely recommend all to watch this but just know that it is not the most lighthearted watch ever but it's still worth it!

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It's Complicated

KinnPorsche was a WILD ride to say the least!!!

Before I get into the nitty gritty of my thoughts about this show, I would just like to say that I enjoyed the fandom that assembled for this show on social media. I loved reading theories and thoughts on Twitter, TikTok, and here on MDL. I loved the engagement that came from this show. It made the overall viewing experience more enjoyable for me.

KinnPorsche I would say is more of a romance set in a mafia world and not the other way around. With the mafia plot being more of a background event that comes up at integral times. KinnPorsche I would say is definitely more character and relationship driven which I loved. With that being said, I wanted to start off by doing a character analysis and relationship analysis of the main characters…

MAIN CHARACTER ANALYSIS/ PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

KINN: He is the head of the Main Family. I saw him as someone who is always trying to appease his dad and live up to his expectations. He wanted to become a singer growing up and he had different plans for his life but now he has to assume this position. So, there is this struggle between doing what he wants to do vs what his dad wants him to do. Kinn has trust issues due to a past relationship he had with his ex Tawan and because of the life he has lead and the people he has encountered. He puts up a facade of stoicism and intimidation when in reality he is sensitive and loving. So, it’s interesting to see his walls break down and his true character come to light as the show goes on. It’s good that he found someone like Porsche who helped him to be vulnerable and grow (even though I would say Kinn is definitely one of those types that let’s love cloud his judgment when it comes to his job as a mafia boss). But, I will say personally, that despite seeing the layers of his character as the show went on that he didn’t really stand out to me that much and I know that’s weird to say since he has a lot of screen time but I found myself to not be as invested in his character like I was with the other characters and I don’t know if it was because the way he was portrayed or the way he was written but something didn’t click for me (he’s still sexy as hell though so I will give him that lmao). Like, the way he was acting all tough and badass in the first and final episodes was what I wanted to see from his character throughout the entire series. I feel like they could taken more of those elements into account with the other episodes.

PORSCHE: He is working as a top list bartender when the series begins and it’s said he was a former national Taekwando champion and an underground boxer known as the Phoenix. He’s also an orphan who is responsible for taking care of his brother Porchay. I loved Porsche’s character because he did provide some comedic relief to the show like others have said. He also was a pretty even keeled person and I especially loved how much he cared for his brother (their relationship though not shown too much was very enduring to me) and knowing Porsche’s brother was his driving force for going to the mafia and doing all of the work made me like his character as a person as well. I do have to say though that Porsche was a bad bodyguard and I would have fired him pretty quickly lmao and you would think that with his background and the life that he has lead up to this point that he would know better and have better judgement especially stepping into a situation that can be dangerous and around new people who could have ulterior motives. He fails to see the magnitude of the situations that he’s in sometimes and that irked me. To have him become the head of the Minor Family in the final episode is questionable move since I don’t think he’s really head of the mafia material but it’s a good move on Korn’s part because Porsche is so consumed by his love of Kinn that he will basically do what the Main Family wants I feel personally so it’s almost like Kinn would be the head of both families essentially. I thought Porsche was a entertaining to watch.

VEGAS: What a wounded soul this guy was. He is the son of the Minor Family and like Kinn, he works so hard to appease his dad and live up to his expectations just like Kinn. But, I think the difference between him and Kinn is that no matter what Vegas does his father is never proud of him and sees him as not worthy of being his son. Not to mention, his father constantly abuses him. Vegas has essentially turned into a monster because of his dad and his circumstances and the cycle has continued on. Vegas always had ulterior motives and was always scheming against other people. He was the antagonist and villain of the story and with him and Pete coming together, the depth's of Vegas's character was revealed even more and he became more layered (I will talk about him more in the relationship analysis). But, he was one of my favorite characters of the series because I am a sucker for multi layered and villain characters. I would like to add a disclaimer though that I don’t condone anything that he was doing AT ALL!!!

PETE: He is the most trusted bodyguard of the Main Family and throughout the series he was shown as being loyal and he had an almost innocent way about him. He was pretty kind and happy go lucky from what I gathered about his character. But, he had a hidden darker side to him that was revealed when he got with Vegas (I will talk about him more when I get to the relationship analysis like Vegas)

KIM: I really enjoyed the portrayal of Kim’s character even though he didn't really have much screen time. He’s the youngest of the family and lives a double or you could even say a triple life working as a musician, being a student in college, and doing work in the mafia. He doesn’t really associate with his family that much and he lives on his own. He could honestly do well as the head of the Main Family because he’s smart and doesn’t let anything get in his way. He’s also quite detached and doesn’t know how to use his words apparently when it comes to letting people know his true feelings lmao

PORCHAY: He’s trying get into college to become a musician and I would describe him as naive and young and dumb in love and it makes him to make questionable decisions that can be typical of some teenager. He’s the sweetest guy and you can just tell he wouldn’t harm a fly. We didn’t really get to see much of his character like Kim but you can tell he really loved and valued his relationship with his brother Porsche and you all know I liked that aspect of the show.

TANKHUN: What a joy he was to watch! He’s the oldest of the Main Family and he was kidnapped when he was younger and is dealing with the trauma from that so to others he may come across as a little off. The family decided that he was definitely not fit to be the head of the Main Family so he’s just living his best life watching dramas and wearing the best fashion with his bodyguards in the house. He's definitely over the top and over dramatic but it just works. I think Porsche really helped him to break free and start enjoying going out more since he confined himself to the house out of fear due to his past trauma. But, the thing with Tankhun is that he is actually the smartest one out of the entire family. He was always correct about people and situations. He was one of the favorite characters as well. I loved him so much!!!

RELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS:

KINN & PORSCHE: To start off with these two, I do have to say that I am still a bit confused on how exactly they found their way in love with one another. You know Kinn had eyes on Porsche and Porsche was his type but I am still trying to understand what really drew them to one another especially on Porsche’s side. On another note though, you could say that these two helped each other in the sense that they both found someone that they could be vulnerable with unlike any other. They had great physical and emotional chemistry with one another. Something that was ever present in their relationship though was the trust and jealousy issues and even when you thought that those issues had been resolved, the issues still kind of lingered on to me especially the trust issues. Yeah, they are cute and sexy and all that but I’m still debating on whether I think they are actually a good couple or not weirdly. I think they still have a long way to go and need to work out some kinks in their relationship. But, I was happy to see them together in the end.

VEGAS & PETE: Their relationship came to be the one that I was most invested in and they didn’t even start interacting until the end of the show. I think what really drew them to one another was their shared trauma. Vegas was abused by his father and Pete was abused his father as well. Vegas finally found someone that broke down his walls and got to the root of who he truly is. Pete was able to reveal another side of himself with Vegas. He didn't have to put on this happy go lucky attitude even though he was dealing with his childhood trauma as well. He could just be his true self with Vegas so I understand the appeal with this pairing. The reality though is that the show focused on the beginning stages of their relationship and it just doesn’t sit right with me. I have to judge what I see and I didn't like what I saw. Vegas tortured and abused Pete and kept him locked up and that’s just not right no matter how you look at it. I get why Vegas and Pete are drawn to each other and I get the attraction but the abuse just rubs me the wrong way. Pete, despite his feelings of love for Vegas, knew that the situation he was in locked up with Vegas was not okay too that’s why he ultimately chose to run and they come together in the end which is questionable. I also want to add that you could argue that Pete is a masochist and you could also say that Vegas and Pete’s relationship is a dom and sub relationship when it’s an EVOLVED relationship but even then, those types of relationships have boundaries and communication between the two parties about how the relationship is going to be. Vegas already started their relationship off on a bad note with the abuse and the power trip so it doesn’t really make sense to me why their relationship was romanticized the way it was (no matter how cute they are together… you need to see past that to the truth of the situation and the truth is ugly). If I had a friend in a relationship or situation like this, I would tell her to run or help her to get out of it. And I get that it’s fiction but that still doesn’t change how I feel. I think if they met under different circumstances I would feel better about them as a couple. They come back together at the end and I feel very conflicted by it because while they may love each other… the love is rooted in abuse and pain.

KIM & PORCHAY: As for these two, I don’t really feel like they got a whole lot of screen time and opportunities to really delve into their relationship compared to the other couples in the show so I was not really as invested as I could have been with them as a couple. Their relationship was more surface level to me. You had Kim agreeing to give guitar lessons to an eager Porchay ,who doesn’t know that Kim is apart of the mafia, just to get intel to find out more about Porsche and what the deal was with him. Kim ultimately started to have feelings for Porchay but he wasn’t going to let it interfere with his investigation (which I really don’t understand what the point was of his investigation since the audience was already getting information from the other characters). Porchay revealed that he loved Kim (which I thought was a bit too much since he hadn’t known Kim that long to even use a word like love but he is a teenager so I understand lmao) and then it’s revealed that Kim is apart of the mafia and Porchay goes through a teenage crisis where he dyes his hair and tries to take drugs because he’s so heartbroken and he doesn’t want anything to do with Kim and you see Kim looking out for him without Porchay knowing and trying to get back with him to no avail. There was no arc or resolution for this couple. Hopefully if they do a season two, we get to see this couple explored more.

PROS & CONS:

PROS:

— CHEMISTRY: When I tell you the couples featured in this drama work SO freakin well together. The chemistry was NEVER lacking. There was no awkwardness or anything in terms of the affection or closeness that was presented. I have to bring up the love scenes featured in this drama as well since they were a huge talking point and they were tastefully done and the actors did what needed to be done (let me just leave it at that lmao). I commend the actors for being open to portray racy scenes like that. I think it takes a lot of courage and willingness to bare your soul and your body like that for an audience to see

— MATURITY: I love that this BL drama in particular dealt with more mature topics and was aimed for an older audience. Since I am an adult, I like to see stories that I feel like I can relate to on some level. Some BL dramas I feel can be too juvenile for me at times in terms of the topics and material covered so I can’t really connect with them like I want to but with this one it immediately clicked with me

— CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE LOCATIONS!!!! Applause all around to the camera crew!!! Everything was shot so beautifully and the lightning was equally as gorgeous. The show was just so aesthetically pleasing. You can tell that they had a budget to give this show the best quality that they could give and it showed

— MUSIC: Let me just start by saying that the opening theme Free Fall has and is still on repeat. I love that song so much!!! And not to mention the songs that Jeff and Barcode did for the show. They both have such amazing voices!!! The music really added to the overall feeling of the show and I think they chose the right music for the right scenes. The music just took the show to another level for me

CONS:

— SCRIPTWRITING/PLOT: I feel like this drama could have been written better overall. There were some plot holes and writing that I found to be questionable at times. The writing I feel was inconsistent for some of the episodes. Some episodes it was on point and some episodes it left me wondering what was going on.

— ROMANTICIZATION OF ABUSE AND DUB CON (or however else you want to define that scene in Episode 4): I mean come on now. Kinn had no business trying to have sex with Porsche who was under the influence of a date rape drug and then to top it all off, you had freakin Vegas who had given him the date rape drug and tried to force himself on Porsche not once but two times. Vegas also sat up here and abused and tortured Pete and people want to act like that’s okay and look past that blatant fact and bring up the fact that they are cute together which rubs me the wrong way. It’s not okay and it will never be okay. Vegas needs some serious therapy and Pete needs therapy too to recover from the abuse he experienced. Actually the whole cast needs therapy if I am being honest.

I am still debating on my overall final score but for now an 8.0 out of 10 sounds good because I was expecting more from this show but I was genuinely entertained by this show week by week despite its flaws. The experience watching KinnPorsche is definitely one that I will never forget.

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Heartwrenching From The Start

I was quite interested in this drama initially because I saw that Park Eun Bin was starring in it and I have absolutely loved her acting in recent shows like Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

From the synopsis and previews, it seems like this drama will lean more on the light-hearted side but from the first episode I was surprised at how much of a more serious and dark tone that the show leaned into.

Will update review accordingly.

Here is my organized yet unorganized overview and first impressions of episode one that I wanted to do because it truly will set the stage for the rest of the series to come and it gives such a well-thought out backstory of the characters we will follow. I thought it was a very strong start to the series. Here we go...

We follow our main character Seo Mok-Ha, who is portrayed on the surface as a "brainless fangirl". She is such a huge fan of Yoon Ran Joo who is a very popular singer and is shown during that time period as having sold the most albums ever as a Korean female singer. Seo Mok-Ha also dreams of becoming a famous singer one day. She wants to enter a fan video contest submission for Yoon Ran Joo and she needs someone with a video camera to help her out, so she enlists the help of Jung Ki-Ho, who is portrayed on the surface as a "money-grubbing lunatic" to help her film and edit it. He is always looking for ways to make money with odd jobs and side hustles at the school. Things like trying to get paid just for letting people borrow his phone or ride his bike. The two students relationship is contentious at the beginning but the filming of the fan video is kind of the starting point that leads to a budding and deeper connection between the two high school students.

As we peel back the layers a little bit though, the audience comes to learn that both Seo Mok-Ha and Jung Ki-Ho are both victims of abuse at the hands of their single fathers. It is very triggering how diabolical the two fathers are and the scenes where abuse takes place are very hard to watch. It honestly makes me think about how many people in this world have to go through the same abuse that these characters have to go through day in and day out. It truly hurts my heart just thinking about it. That's a scarring pain that you carry with you throughout your life.

As we get near the end of the episode, we see that Jung Ki-Ho is trying to make sure that Seo Mok-Ha gets to Seoul to meet up with Yoon Ran Joo and Lee Seo Joon (who I am assuming is Ran Joo's manager and company owner?) since she won first place in the competition. To back track a little, Seo Mok-Ha was discouraged to even submit her video after an incident where she called the police on her father after one of the many incidents where he beat her up so badly. And guess who the police officer ended up being? It was Jung Ki-Ho's father who abuses his son just the same. Jung Ki-Ho picks up on the fact that Seo Mok-Ha is being abused by seeing the bruises on her arm when she's talking to the police (Seo Mok-Ha doesn't realize that Jung Ki-Ho is being abused as well until towards the end of the episode where she sees photos he took of his bruises in his notebook).  Jung Ki-Ho ends up submitting the video without her knowing. After Seo Mok-Ha has a breakdown at school, Jung Ki-Ho lets Seo Mok-Ha know that basically if her father gets violent again that she should come immediately to his house and he will help her and she does just that. 

They end up on the boat waiting for it to set sail to Seoul but Seo Mok-Ha's father ruins the plans by showing up on the dock looking for her and Jung Ki-Ho gets off after letting Seo Mok-Ha know that now it's up to her to brave this journey alone and tries to stop the father as best as he can but he gets beaten up BADLY (WHY WERE PEOPLE JUST STANDING THERE WATCHING THIS KID BASICALLY ALMOST DIE?!?!?!?!?!?) and the father jumps on the boat viciously looking for his daughter and she's running away from him and she ends up jumping off of the boat and the father does too and from there is where the known synopsis of her being a castaway on the island for 15 years starts. I also want to point out that right when she first gets to the island, we see that her father has been washed upon the shore and is dead. The story moves on and we briefly see her life and how she lives on the island in the present day, but quickly a drone spots her and that's basically the point where she's rescued. 

So, now we move into her adjusting to her newfound life 15 years later after being rescued from the island and see all that ensues.

I am genuinely curious about how they will proceed with the characters and their stories as the show moves forward. I want to see who and how Jung Ki-Ho is in the present day. I want to see what this second male lead is all about. I want to see what's the deal between the singer and the manager/company owner. I want to see what happened to Seo Mok-Ha's father after all of these years (I honestly hope he rots). I want to see how they will play out this whole singing aspiration of Seo Mok-Ha as well. I have so many questions!!!--- I hope the show leans more into the human condition and being more on the emotionally gripping side with a dose of comedy but we will see.

Side note: I am already loving the cinematography and editing choices! And the acting is wonderful!

This show has shot up to the top of my list for shows I am most looking forward to watching week by week!

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This Show Didn’t Give What Needed To Be Gave

Overall, I would say that is show was meh. Sometimes the worst a show can be is meh because you can see the potential that the show had to be better.

When I first read the sypnosis, I thought that the show would focus more on the liberation of the main character but instead the show dragged out the divorce and drama throughout the entire series and it kept running in circles over and over again. The show I feel was a little too surface level to me. I feel like they could have gone more in depth when it came to certain storylines. After awhile, it felt like they really didn’t know where to take the show.

None of the characters really resonated with me either. These are not characters that will stick with me or frankly that I will remember because the material given to them just didn’t call for it.

The standout performances for me were the main character, Cha Jung Sook played by Uhm Jung Hwa and her mother, Oh Deok Rye played by Kim Mi Kyung.

The characters of the husband, his mistress, and the mother in law were all horrid people to me and my feelings didn’t change by the end of the show either. In reality, I think my feelings of dislike got even worse to be honest. I guess you could say that since they made me dislike their characters so much that they were doing their jobs well though lol

I felt bad for Dr. Roy because he seemed like a great man for Dr. Jung Sook. He was a good foil to her horrible husband. But, besides his adoption backstory, I feel like they still could have done more with his character.

By the time I got to the last two episodes, I was over it. This show didn’t have enough “meat on the bones” if that makes sense and as a viewer it makes me sad to see.

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GROWN, SEXY, AND MESSY!!!

From the moment that this show started, I was highly intrigued for what was to come!!!

You have Sand who is a musician and who takes a liking to the character Ray and they start to have a thing going on. Ray is what most would consider to be an alcoholic who is hung up on his feelings for Mew. Mew is a seemingly "good boy" and what you could classify as the smart type. He is dating Top. Top is a classic playboy who views Mew as a conquest but those feelings could turn into love and be a sort of redemption for his growth as a character (we will see). Top is friends with Boston but they have a history of messing around with one another. Boston is what you would call a huge red flag and his toxicity shows time and time again. He messes around regularly with Nick. Nick is a character that you would want to protect with all your heart from Boston's messy ways.

So,
Sand and Ray = bed friends
Mew and Top = boyfriends
Top and Boston = friends? with a little extra extra on the side
Boston and Nick = friends with benefits

See how all of their relationships are classified using the word "friends"

All of these characters intertwine with one another as the show progresses and the audience comes to know of a lot of shocking revelations. It's one of those shows where it's like peeling back an onion because it's so layered. Every episode you find out something new or you find out that a character actually knows this or that character or may not be as they seem and it changes the trajectory of the show immensely.

What I love the most about this show is that you can't classify any of the characters as being "good" per say. They all to me have something within them below the surface. You can kind of classify them as morally grey because they do discourage the audience from identifying them as purely evil or purely good. The characters in this show are multi-faceted and multi-layered. While they may seem inherently messy or inherently goodie two shoes, they all possess more than meets the eye and this show delves into those intricacies which is very entertaining to witness.

I'm very interested to see how the story and characters progress. I know it's going to be FILLED with drama and I am READY for it!!!

I am also highly excited to see if they will finish strong with this show that is taking the BL world by storm currently.

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I was expecting something more

This is one show that I am not sure how I want to rate it because objectively, it's a well-made show. But, subjectively, it just didn't resonate with me like I thought it would. So, I am going to quickly list my pros and cons about the show and put more thoughts below.

PROS
- Outstanding acting performances from cast 
- A promising premise for a show 
- Loved the humor included to offset the more emotional moments 
- The episodes didn't drag and the series didn't overstay it's welcome (in other words, it was the right amount of episodes/time length)

CONS
- To me, the story wasn't as strong as I thought it would be 
- There was an unnecessary character in the series that I feel wasn't needed at all
- The development of the story line involving the "villains" wasn't fleshed out enough for me and the mother's justification for the treatment of her son didn't work for me either. It only made me more frustrated at her. The development of the healing arc between the son and mother felt disjointed to me even after finding out everything at the end of the series. The villagers didn't really interest me either but they made me laugh. I'll give them that.

Lee Do Hyun and the twins were truly the highlight of this series for me if I am being honest. If they weren't included, I don't feel like I would rate the show what it is now. Every time they were on the screen, they put a smile on my face due to their acting, delivery, and overall performance in the show. 

The show's premise is promising focusing on the healing journey between the mother and son and I was excited from watching the trailer so I went into this drama very excited. The first few episodes grabbed me but from then on, I started to feel meh about the story lines and the direction that the show was going in. I wanted this show to have that spark that grabbed me and left me wanting more but for most of the series run, I wasn't really feeling it.

I could see why people do love this show immensely because it includes some outstanding performances from well-known actors, has some teachable life lessons, and like I said earlier, is an objectively well-made show but it makes me sad to be more of a negative nancy and say that I didn't enjoy it like I thought I would but can appreciate what it aimed to do. 

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