short & sweet

I’ve come to notice that MyDramaList users are like Reddit users: nothing pleases them. I saw a lot of negative comments regarding SIYH (mostly comparing it to SIMM), and I really couldn’t understand why. Many of us watch dramas for relaxation, and I think that this is the perfect show for that. There’s not a whole lot of twists, the timing is easy to follow, and everything feels natural and simplistic in the best kind of way.

For starters, I love all of the characters and I think the casting was done so well. There are funny characters, characters you have a little urge to slap, and characters you feel a lot of empathy for. It’s a wide array of personalities and I think that it is one of the more intriguing aspects of this drama. I felt myself going through the same emotions the characters did as the story unfolded. It is a very beautiful thing to connect to a drama in this way, and I think that it is a big misconception that you need an intense story to feel some sort of connection to it.

As for the plot, I get it’s nothing new, but it is a nice, fun rendition on the enemies to lovers trope. Nothing gets too serious or angst ridden, which makes it a nice, calming watch for the most part (with the exception of episode 7; the last episode before the finale curse continues on!). I found it ironic how similar Fah and Dao started to seem as time went on, and I think I can say the same for Khluen and Prince. It felt like a similar dynamic between the couples even if there were some major differences. The chemistry between the actors and characters felt natural and simple, and it didn’t feel like the acting was over or underdone, everything was just perfectly in the middle.

Regarding my recommendation of this drama, I think it is worth a shot from everybody, but it is made for those of us who can enjoy a simple story from time to time. 8 episodes and a rounded-out plot makes for the perfect miniseries, and I really think it can be enjoyable if you watch with this perspective in mind. Those with expectations of a large, upscaled story with an intense development, maybe this isn’t geared for you. Overall, I think it was definitely better than SIMM, and I would recommend anybody try it out!

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not for everyone, but worth a watch

I was fully not expecting to get as invested in this as I did, despite it not being perfect, but let's get into that.

Story: The story follows three siblings, with a focus on two of them: the golden child and the outcast. Personally, Pakorn stole my heart right away, and I felt such immense sympathy for him as he struggled to get the same love from his parents that his siblings got. I always felt that something was off about Pawin, and it was so satisfying to see that I was right about that in the end. Rungtawan is our other main character here, and while she really lost much of her potential by the end, she still played a meaningful role in the sibling rivalry that took place.

Acting: I think the acting is the main highlight here with everyone doing amazing justice to their characters, including the parents and side characters. If the acting was not good, I don't think it would've been possible to create a good series with this rather cliche plot. It is what to look for here, and I think nobody would regret checking this out purely to see the acting skill of everyone involved.

Overall: I think this is definitely something to watch with low expectations in mind, as what I did. Going in like that, you may be pleased to find something you are intrigued by, or something to cry over, in my case. I think it is a nice switch off from reality, easy to binge, and worth the watch in the end. I really do recommend everyone give this at least a few episodes!

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surprisingly turned out to be the best thing ever

I can hardly express in words how much I loved this series. The first few episodes set a tone that ends up being much different from the rest of the show, but it gives a lot of key details and backstory that become important later. There were realistic, yet interesting twists, funny dialogue, well-timed inserts of the music and effects, and an overall consistency that some shows just lack.

The characters are all so lovable. Even ones you may dislike at some point still grow on you by the end. Each couple brings something different to the plot, and I think that makes them all feel like key ingredients to the dynamic. I love how all characters were connected somehow, and it didn't feel like some of them were living on a different planet. Everyone was friends or at least close enough, and it makes you feel like you're watching a group of besties live out their lives.

The writing is by far this drama's strongest area, although it is really strong in every other aspect as well. The dialogue and details were so well done I found myself screaming at times.

I want to say it is simplistic, even though there's always a lot going on, but that is just the vibe here. Well done simplicity with some comedic elements and tasteful use of some classic tropes. 10/10, I really REALLY recommend this.

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yeah, idk what that was either

Listen, guys, it's not terrible, but not the most interesting thing either.

There is zero plot, like at all, but maybe that's a strong suit here. In some ways, you feel like you know what will happen each episode, but there was still a few scenes that were a tad surprising. For better or for worse, it's an unpredictable mess with cute characters and strange dialogue (at least if watched on iQiYi). The main couple (and only, but I'll get into that in a minute) were cute when they needed to be despite their insanely fast-paced beginning and mediocre story, and Nhai is adorable sometimes. They have an overall healthy relationship in my opinion, and that might be why some people stuck around all the way through. I'm with those who don't really know why we kept watching, but always tuned in every single week. The episodes went by fast and I wasn't bored at all, even when I had no idea what was happening.

To give criticism, I would say the biggest error was introducing like four side couples and then proceeding to develop none of them. There was no context for bringing them up, either, unless it was solely for the purpose of reflecting what is in the novel. Ai's parents are cute, but I still don't think that entire episode about their backstory as it relates to Ai's childhood was entirely necessary. That's another thing, did the mom and Jom just disappear? Where did they go? Why was silly Nhai saying no to their demands enough for them to back off? Not that I'm complaining per-say, I hate stupid family conflict, but I feel that that was so out of character for the antagonist of a show.

Overall, the same thing happens in every episode, the finale was underwhelming, and the plot is severely underdeveloped. However, the characters are cute enough, and you find yourself oddly hooked for unknown reasons. Again, not the best by any means, but also not the worst whatsoever. Just fine. A nice break from life, if you will.

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beautiful & impactful

To be completely honest, I started watching this when it aired because I was bored, but ultimately, I am so happy I watched this drama.

For starters, Nubdao is a character that I just can’t help but love. She had so much going on with her family and work, yet remained strong at heart, and she never got too carried away in the mess she experienced. She worked so tirelessly to provide for everyone around her in any way she could, never expecting anything in return. I'm truly in awe of her presence in this show, and she has to be one of my all-time favorite female leads.

Kimhan, also, is very lovable most of the time, and his care for Nubdao is really what kept me coming back to see what he would do next. Tan is your usual third party in the love triangle, but I do feel like he was necessary for the storyline, and he provided a lot of development for Nubdao.

Where this drama lacked, however, was in some of its execution. Around episode 14 or so, there are so many things happening at one time, and it gets overwhelming. There also is not very much consistency to these subplots, and it feels like you’re jumping from conflict to conflict with no overall conclusions or resolutions. I got confused about most of episodes 14-17, and part of me wishes they would’ve made this show 15 episodes instead of 18. I feel like some loose ends remain, but this doesn’t really take away from the positive aspects of the drama because the characters and the main plot were so lovable that I couldn’t stop myself from watching every episode as it aired. I thought a lot about it between weeks, and I think the reflection helped me understand any errors that might’ve occurred. It may be better for those who watch with the binging perspective, as you will find the answers much quicker.

My overall opinion is that this was a truly spectacular ride, and I am so pleased with the overall outcome of this show. I really really recommend it to those looking for a romance that feels genuine and not cheesy. The cinematography is gorgeous, the side characters are so cute (looking at you, Pao), and there is just a vibe of happiness I feel when I watch this.

Please do give it a go!

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