4
10
1
2
Watch for the main couple
Overall: I was excited by the premise but I'm a bit disappointed in the execution. I have read part of the book and I dislike pretty much every change they made in the live action adaptation. Watched on Gagaoolala.Content Warnings: slap, blackmail/manipulation, fight scene
What I Liked
- the lead pair is adorable* (and those dimples!)
- actually showing (realistically) that a doctor is busy (though pretty sure you'd die if you didn't sleep in 70 hours)
- Tawan's friend Nadia is really supportive of him but I didn't like her character otherwise (and in the book she was a he)
- there is a (unfortunately very minor) trans woman character who nicely is not a comedic character
Room For Improvement
- *I really wish Tawan would know what the audience knows in episode 3 and then we'd go from there, he didn't know until really late and Mork trying to prevent Tawan from knowing was so bizarre
- multiple fake outs
- the side m/m have no chemistry and I hate the way their relationship started (this couple was not in the book)
- the m/f couple, her actions make zero sense (this was a m/m couple in the book)
- that the uncle just gave money to his pregnant girlfriend (was not in the book)
- had the poor communication/ghosting at the end trope
- I expect better kissing skills for two guys who have both been in relationships before
- too much time spent on some side characters/scenes, like the motorcycle guys at that festival
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This review may contain spoilers
Part Cutie and Part Manipulation Pie
Overall: I was really excited after seeing the trailers and the plot premise. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the lack of agency, manipulation, lying and stupidity. I wish we had seen Kuea telling the truth much earlier and spending the rest of the series learning about the other person's real personality. It did have some fun, cute and advocacy moments. Watched on YouTube.Content Warnings: non con kiss (very drunk), manipulation, stalking
What I Liked
- the original premise
- the consent displayed in episode 8 part 1, and some other parts as well
- the moments that made me laugh (like Kuea rocking out in ep 1)
- the 3rd couple, although they didn't get much screentime
- talking about marriage equality in the bath tub and later in the series
- great that Hia Lian rejected the terrible pitch using stereotypes*
- the overall aesthetic of the music, editing, etc
- Lian's assistant character was hilarious
- the intimate moments
Room For Improvement
- the main issue I have is that Kuea (and Diao to a lesser degree) don't have agency. Their love interests make decisions for them as if they are the parent and Kuea and Diao are the child instead of them being equal partners. For example Lian saying "I hope that my plan to straighten him out will work." There is a lot of lying (mostly by omission but it's still lying) and manipulation throughout the series. Kuea's mom also outright lies to him. We finally get communication in the last episode! That should have happened around episode 4. Lian even manipulated Kuea until the very end. They had agreed that Kuea would propose and Lian would not let him do it and kept sabotaging him.
- the non con drunk kiss was unnecessary, Kuea didn't even recognize Lian. I've been very drunk before and I still recognized friends so this was non con in my opinion.
- stupidity/non logic, several characters make stupid decisions. Why would Kuea think that Lian didn't know he was Kirin when Kuea publicly announced it at a show at Lian's rival business (so he likely keeps close tabs on it). And then Lian just happens to have a music room with Kuea's favorite instrument??? I really wanted (preferably Kuea) to do some huge reveal around ep 5, break off the engagement and then they needed to learn about the real personalities of the other person and fall in love
- the side couple felt abusive. Having to report his schedule, having to check in every night at midnight etc. They never had an explicit conversation about a consensual dom/sub relationship. Also I was very confused especially in the beginning with what relationship they had and why. We gained insight into their history but, too late in my opinion.
- *colorism, the grandma says she's happy her grandson is "good looking and fair, just like his noble family"
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This review may contain spoilers
disappointed with the writing (start at ep 7)
Overall: I was hoping for continued character growth from Minato and Shin but unfortunately the first 6 episodes went back to square one but also circled around and around the very tired poor communication cliche. It pains me to rate this under an 8 but a 29 year old is somehow more immature than a 5 year old. 12 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala except for Japan, South Korea or Taiwan. This is my review of the first season https://mydramalist.com/profile/blcompilations/reviews/217311/Watch advice: start at episode 7, end at episode 9 towards the end when Shu is on the stairs, maybe pick it up in episode 11 though Minato frustrates me again in that episode (Shu/Asuka have a cute interaction around 8 minutes), definitely pick it up in episode 12 around 9 minutes with the letter.
Content Warnings: manipulation, 18 year old and 29 year old (they way the story unfolds the age gap does not bother me), Shin is a bit aggressive maybe dub con though they are in an established relationship
What I Liked
- good recap at the beginning
- cute intro/OST
- callbacks to the first season
- some sweet/funny moments
- Shin seeks communication and listed reasons of why he likes Minato
- Asuka and Shu grew on me more and more as the series went on and how they talked with each other and figured out what their partner wanted/needed and tried to meet those needs
- production value
Room For Improvement
- disappointed how Minato constantly refuses verbal or physical affection, was hoping to see that he was working on this/had become more comfortable after 3 months, wish they had made him still nervous in front of other people but affectionate when it was just the two of them and then this season he worked on PDA (public displays of affection), in season 1 I excused Minato's behavior due to internal/external homophobia and societal pressure but in season 2 it really seems that he's not ready to be in a romantic relationship with a man (or really anyone due to his awful communication skills and unwillingness to work on what his partner wants in a relationship), even at the very end they show Minato as being reluctant or joking with Shin related to physical/verbal affection
- the cliche plot points, it felt like a poorly written fanfic story, I did some research and it is almost medically impossible for that to happen to Shin in the way that they portrayed it as happening, totally lazy writing
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A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream
7 people found this review helpful
This review may contain spoilers
gorgeous setting & cinematography
Overall: solid tension/chemistry with the leads. Note that the series and my review may have some triggering words/content. Aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-CWu74qAe0wQvZOICK6wayQpEdIBkFWl and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7815/a-winter-sun-wakes-the-wind-in-spring-hills-dream-2026-e01 (not available in Japan or Korea) Some episodes had extra content after the end credits which I watched and there was also Small Theater scenes that were separate which I did not watch.Content Warnings: vomiting ep 1 around 2:10, non con picture taking/sharing, dub con kissing, suicidal thoughts, deaths, grief, punch, mental health struggles, manipulation, past & current homophobia, non con picture taking/sharing/outing, blackmail, suicide?, violence
Watch Suggestions (to remove most content warnings and focus mostly on the lead pair's relationship development and sweet moments)
- watch episodes 1
- episode 2 watch beginning-2:40, 8:45-11:40, 13:45-21, 33-37
- watch all of episode 3 and 3's post credit scene
- episode 4 watch beginning-15:30, 35:15-end and post credit scene
- episode 5 watch beginning-1:20, 3:30-17:55, 24:30-29:30, 38-40:45 5
- episode 6 watch 42-47
- episode 7 watch beginning-40:10, 44:15-end, post credit scene
- episode 8 watch beginning-25, 37:45-40:30
- episode 9 watch 12 -16:15, 27:45-31:45, 37:50-end and post credit scene
- episode 10 watch 3:30-8:40, 18:50-20:05
- episode 11 watch 1-5:50, 17-19, 47-end and post credit scene
- episode 12 watch beginning-2min, 12:10-28
- episode 13 watch beginning-6, 23:35-29:25
- episode 14 watch beginning-2:40
- episode 15 watch beginning-6:25, 8:15-13:55, 18-20:30, 25:50-end credits and watch post credit scene 34:07-end
- episode 16 watch 1-2:50, 21:30-24, 34:30-end
What I Liked
- production value, oranges and blues how in episode 1 there were 2 different locations but characters walked thru a door and then the scene with the other characters continued, not sure how to describe this
- tension/chemistry with the lead couple
- countryside vistas
- grandma
- tragedies happened in a realistic manner in that they were foreshadowed and didn't pop out of nowhere (though 3 was too many)
- the ending with main couple
Room For Improvement
- the tone was odd, there were really heavy parts and then there were silly comedy sound effects
- the sister who I think was in her early 20s was infantilized and made into a villain character
- too many antogonists/tragedies so it started to feel unrealistic
- confused with the characters and plot (I didn't take a ton off as some of this was not the production's fault)
a. saying and subtitling brother and sister which included both non related and related characters which made it difficult to know who was who
b. sometimes scenes jumped suddenly
c. not translating text messages or giving context (what is Ranger School)
d. time jumps
e. dreams vs reality
- did not care for the second couple
- leads did not communicate their plans (also the noble idiot trope)
- the leads had barely any screen time together in the finale
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This review may contain spoilers
could have been amazing (watch suggestions)
Overall: the two leads had chemistry, too bad cliche writing got in the way (what on earth was that finale??!!!) 12 episodes about 33 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7275/lost-to-you-2026-e01 (not in Korea or Japan)Watch Suggestions (takes out most content warnings, love rivals and poor communication)
- episode 1 watch 15:30-21 and 21:30-end
- episode 2 watch 14:45-end
- stop episode 6 at 23:50
- episode 7 watch 19:50-22:20
- skip episode 8
- watch episode 9
- episode 10 watch 18:30-22:10
- skip episodes 11 & 12
Content Warnings: coercion, punch, past (child abuse, violence, blood, homophobia, death), bullying, unwanted public outing, homophobia, fight, blood, maybe death at the end (what was that???)
What I Liked
- chemistry
- intimacy
- visuals
- character growth from the 1 ML
- supportive sister
- I was okay with the student/school doctor romance, they said he was 19 and I liked how the younger guy stood up for their relationship
Room For Improvement
- not a fan of bullying from the ML, though it didn't last too long
- cliche evil woman (but then she suddenly wasn't and they were maybe trying to do some GL???)
- another love rival
- near drowning in water he could have stood up in
- bad communication trope
- sudden dad redemption arc
- bizarre finale that left it up to the audience to decide what happened and then had an extended scene from an earlier episode at the end
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This review may contain spoilers
promising start that devolved into terrible communication
Overall: I thought I had found an obsessed ML I could vibe with, but the series is lost me with neither lead able to talk to the other for many episodes. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on YouTubeContent Warnings: past violence & blood, coercion, near suicide, kidnapping, violence, non con kissing/touching, mental health struggles, beginning sexual assault, manhandling
Watch Suggestions
- at whatever point you start to lose interest skip to episode 10 15:55 minutes and watch until the end
What I Liked
- visuals
- the initial set up of an obsessed ML
- the brother relationship
Room For Improvement
- I've heard from several people that this is plagiarism of Jinx. Instead of boxing it's tennis, instead of a grandma it's a brother but the plot is practically identical including some dialogues. The production either needs to say they bought the rights to Jinx or they should have written their own story.
- characters were continuously stupid and refused to communicate, a 1 minute conversation would have cleared everything up
- characters went hot and cold
- choppy at times
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a season 2 gem
Overall: this is what I wish season 2s would be - the characters and their relationship grew. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5837/at-2500-in-akasaka-2024-s02e01 (not available in Japan or Korea).What I Liked
- established relationship
- intimacy/communication
- sweet/caring moments
- avoids the nonsense season 2 plots (i.e. love rivals/terrible communication/re-starting the relationship)
- supportive friends
Room For Improvement
- the night scenes were too dark and more light was needed on their faces
- how a character took method acting home
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a queer vampire community
Overall: enjoyed their relationships with one another. Based on a webtoon "No Way, Vampires Don’t Exist!" written by Ki Moong, which I haven't read and I based my review on its own merits. 8 episodes about 15 minutes each, 2 per week. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/my-secret-vampire-episode-1-1lqb2pt4ty4?lang=en_us and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5793/my-secret-vampire-2025Content Warning: non con touching, (something else was shown but then turned out to be a dream), blood
What I Liked
- their different personalities and their relationships with each other
- visuals
- the ending
Room For Improvement
- noble idiot trope (though thankfully it didn't last long)
- showing flashbacks to recent events
- the cut to black for a kiss
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This review may contain spoilers
a darker themed martial arts romance
Overall: once again needed to focus on the leads and their relationship development. 33 episodes 1-2 minutes each, episodes 1-5 are free on the Shortime app and you can watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJy_-p0_tYE Aired on Shortime app which also has: Double Play, Please Teach Me, Falling For My Boss, Summer Indigo, The Secrets of Male Students, Accent, Ippon: Hold Me Tight, Influencer Love, Blue Complex and Buddy Boy. App information is below. My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.Content Warnings: past suicide, past blood, non con recording, mental health struggles, violence, manipulation
What I Liked
- wandering hands
- kissing
- a villain actually received decent consequences though I would have liked to see even more consequences
- martial arts backdrop
Room For Improvement
- again wanted it to focus more on the main leads/relationship development instead of the present day villain
- time jump
My Watch For Free Plan (updated Feb 2025)
My referral link is https://playground.shortime.en/invite/NKNIWI (all letters) and it should get you a bonus.
On the Rewards (popcorn bag icon page)
- check in = 5 (increases over 7 days up to 25)
- create a login = 20? (I did create a login because otherwise you only get 1 Always Win box instead of 3 per day, I think this was 20 popcorn)
- do the 3 random popcorn from the daily Always Win box = 30 (I'd normally get 5-15, around 30 in total)
- Watch Ads, watch all 10 ads each day, have to wait 30 seconds in between ads = 110
When you run out of popcorn while watching, you can watch 5 episodes each day with ads
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quirky series with some darker moments
Overall: I enjoyed the quirky aspect though something kept me from fully rooting for their relationship for awhile. This series was adapted from a manga "Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru" by Makino Keisuke which I haven't read and I reviewed the series on its own merits. Partway through its release in Japan, it started airing on Netflix in some countries https://www.netflix.com/title/81766555 ; re-aired on Viki in April 2025 https://www.viki.com/tv/40968c-love-is-a-poisonContent Warning: manipulation, blackmail, beaten up, past murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, non con picture taking/sharing
What I Liked
- the opposite personality dynamic
- made me laugh a few times
- the friend
- good dreams
- the tie pull
- sweet/caring moments
- the plants/quirky humor moments
- a character stood up for their relationship
Room For Improvement
- it was difficult to root for their relationship because the writers weren't clear about a character/his motivations for a long time, they finally communicated in episode 11
- how a supposed super intelligent lawyer started asking questions at the end of episode 7
- the camera did an odd 360 rotation during a scene
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Like bubbles, beautiful but empty
Overall: this short fantasy historical series wasted screen time with a love triangle and close up shots. Watched on Viki.Content Warnings: violence, a punch (not between m/m ship)
What I Liked
- the production value was good including the cgi of the barrier
- the premise was set up fairly well
- I liked the guard and the future guy's characters
- a few funny moments
Room For Improvement
- I didn't feel chemistry between the m/m ship, also dead fish lip kisses
- many examples of non-logic or stupid things (did a queen have more power than a king in that time period???)
- it was not obvious that it was a flashback in the final episode and also made zero sense with what was going to happen with the guard vs. what he was supposed to do
- I disliked the extreme closeups
- some shaky camerawork
- I don't think most people would react at 7min 30sec if they were to come upon a scene like that in episode 1
- don't really like the title "Tinted With You." Tinted is a verb, it just seems odd in the title.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Pain (Almost) Never Ends (watch suggestions)
Overall: note that this series and my review may have triggering content. 13 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/the-love-never-sets-episode-1-2edr2dc2xxw?lang=en_usContent Warnings: past (rape shown 27-30 ep 1 and 29-34 episode 2 , grooming, drugging, non con video taking/sharing, miscarriage, blood, manipulation, intimate partner abuse/violence, near suicide, child abuse/violence), current (beaten up/fight, held against will, slaps/punches, grooming, trauma/PTSD, intimate partner abuse, manipulation, sexual assault multiple times, drugging, multiple past suicides mentioned)
Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweet/happy)
- episode 2 watch 16:15-26:20 for cute backstory, 37:30-46:05 GL
- episode 3 watch 21-27:35 cute backstory
- episode 4 watch 23:10-26:10 maybe side couple, 32-38:20 GL, 55-58:45
- episode 5 watch 21:45-24:30 and 44:30-46:15
- episode 6 watch 19:30-25:20
- episode 7 watch 22:30-39and 58:45-59:05
- episode 8 watch 9:30-12:30 and 50:25-52:20
- episode 9 watch beginning to 36:30 and 38:40-40:10
- episode 10 watch 18-19:15 and 34-end
- episode 11 watch beginning-2:30, 5:30-10:05, 13:30-20:25
- episode 12 watch 29-end
- episode 13 watch beginning-18:30, 34:30-39 (or continue if you enjoy singing), 45:20-end
What I Liked
- visuals
- sweet moments in the past/present
- the past miscommunication was a bit more realistic than similar situations in other series
- that Ice at times stood up for himself like when he told Saint that he was two-faced
- the GL escalated very quickly, but I enjoyed them quite a bit
- someone went to jail in episode 8
Room For Improvement
- exposition dump in ep 1
- it seemed that Saint knew what happened to Ice before reading the diary so him restraining Ice like that in episode 1 was awful (and then a later conversation about not needing consent was terrible too, I don't think the production talked to any survivors)
- the bullies felt very cookie cutter
- multiple poorly done redemption arcs
- the friend knew what happened to Ice yet put him in a situation she should have known would be triggering
- cheating
- stupid drinking duel in episode 7
- kissing someone when they were drugged
- in episode 8 a character could have easily had a mutual friend explain what was going on
- bunch of nonsense stuff: staff didn't notice higher rates sooner/had a student access data, instant pepper spray recovery, police took forever to get somewhere, deleted evidence, into a coma from being stabbed, singing woke a person from a coma
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a decent student project
Overall: I gave it a rating bump as I believe this was a student project - the intro says School of Communication Arts, Bangkok University. 10 episodes about 40 minutes each. Aired on Viu in Thailand.Content Warnings: past death, grief, bullying, homophobia, punches/slaps, cyberbullying
Watch Suggestions (for the cute side m/m couple)
- episode 3 watch 6:50-8:50
- episode 4 watch 21:10-22:20, 27:05-28:50, 39:45-40:55
- episode 5 watch 4:30-5:40, 8:10-9:30, 11:30-13:25
- episode 6 watch 13:15-15:20, 16:20-18:10
- episode 7 watch 22:20-25:15
- episode 8 watch 38:40-41:35
- episode 9 watch 33-39
- episode 10 watch 16-16:40
What I Liked
- that I couldn't predict the ending
- the side m/m couple (and decent character growth/a former bully romance I can support)
- supportive friends (minus 1*)
- caring moments
Room For Improvement
- voice over exposition dump to start
- *Love saw a character doing bad things and then told her friends that he was actually good?, she talks to one person in the group and suddenly everyone was okay?
- pacing could have been faster, characters refuse to say things just to pad out the episodes
- wannabe fiancee
- cliche involving a car in episode 9
- nonsense world building (couldn't touch people and then could in an extra scene, total nonsense in the final episode)
- the side couple had a lot of potential but was very underdeveloped (only had 40 seconds in the 40 minute final episode!)
- not even sure what that ending was (there is a post credit scene, see my spoiler comment)
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Content Warnings: bullying, homophobia, slap, choke, fight, non con video recording, blackmail
What I Liked
- great to see Holland and the cameo with Hong Seok-Cheon
- attempt at sex education though it felt a bit preachy
- non dead fish lip press kisses (though there was some camera blocks)
Room For Improvement
- started with a flash forward and voice over
- they tried to have too many characters/cover too much and so the main pair felt underdeveloped, not totally sold on the redemption arc
- lack of satisfying consequences for the main bully
- there was an extra scene after the end credits which I did not understand
- subtitles were pretty rough but I understood the overall gist (did not take off points)
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This review may contain spoilers
liked it more as it went on
Overall: confusing start and I had some issues with the series but it ended well. 10 episodes with about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.Content Warnings: attempted suicide, attempted/near murder, manipulation, blackmail, stalking, non con kiss
What I Liked
- sweet moments (especially ep 9 and 10)
- that the couples had different dynamics/relationships (though I struggled with all of them at different points)
- the misunderstanding with modeling was funny (wish he had actually modeled though)
- cameo from a couple in season 1 of Love Class and also the couple from Private Lessons
- good kissing/intimacy (except for 1 couple who did dead fish lip presses)
Room For Improvement
- that was an extremely heavy way to start a series and then they jumped into a fluffy scene directly afterwards which gave me whiplash
- things were confusing in the beginning, it was not immediately apparent if that first scene was a flashback or a flash forward, I was trying to figure out who was who during episode 1...
- too many characters introduced without properly explaining who they were/their relationship to one another
- spent too much time on other things like how none of the three couples interacted until after 10 of 30 minutes in episode 3
- the non con kiss, totally unnecessary
- I was still confused when the past was revealed, what exactly was the issue with the wrong ID, did it ruin his reputation???
- I struggled with all 3 couples
-- teaching assistant/student - bought him underwear and then blackmailed him into a date, played relationship mind games, cliche plot point of witnessed something the ghosted him (did like the flashback in episode 10 that explained a bit on why the student was interested in the teaching assistant, wish we had known that sooner)
-- barista/jobless friend - barista silently simped forever and then punished his friend who didn't even know why, barista called his friend a slut for singing a fake confession and then did a non con kiss while his friend was passed out, played relationship mind games
-- student/older student - ignored boundaries several times, the student was pretty pushy but then older student just relented for no reason that I could see, they didn't clearly define what their relationship was in the past, ghosted someone for 2 years, dead fish lip presses
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