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Completed
Kinou Nani Tabeta?
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 29, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10

Such a lovely couple!

"What did you eat yesterday?" shows the day-to-day life of a mature gay couple. I started watching hoping that I would enjoy myself, and ended up loving it.

Shiro and Kenji make an unexpectedly good pair. Shiro is very pragmatic and a little grumpy from time to time, and also still not comfortable with being openly gay (especially at his workplace and in crowded places), but after a little while it's very obvious how most of the little things he does day by day are for the sake of Kenji's health and happiness. Kenji, on the other hand, is led by his feelings most of the time and the most comfortable with his sexuality; he wishes he could take care of Shiro more and show him around proudly, but he's willing to give him the time and space to do so on his own terms (well, in most cases).

Rather than a story, this drama is a slice-of-life series and it includes many aspects that aren't mentioned or explored in other LGBTQIA+ shows. I was surprised to see some events of my past in the series, which made it very relatable for me. The idea of Shiro and Kenji being able to navigate through their issues, both the solvable and unsolvable ones, despite their differences and their occasional disagreements, is truly heartwarming to me! I found myself watching with tears in my eyes more than once. The acting of the two protagonists definitely helped with that - they fit so well with each other!

The drama includes many recipies for the different dishes prepared by Shiro (and other characters) in each episode. If you're looking for skinship of any kind, I recommend looking elsewhere - this is not a typical BL and there's no fanservice included!

I had fun, feld moved and ended up devouring the entire series in the span of a couple of days. Absolutely recommended!

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Completed
My Love Mix-Up!
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 2, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 3.0

So... what happened?

I noticed the low ratings before starting to watch this series, so all my expectations lowered from the beginning. I wasn't expecting MLMU to be exceptionally good or exceptionally bad: I just hoped I would enjoy it at least a little.
In the end, I did enjoy it, but I also feel like that enjoyment came from a handful of different moments here and there, all engulfed of very long and draggy segments. Oh, and lots of different product placements - probably the most invasive case of advertisements I've ever seen in a GMM series.

I don't think anything reached its true potential here.
- The main plot points of Kieta Hatsukoi worked in the Japanese drama, which consisted in 10 episodes of about 20 minutes each, but it felt very diluted in these 12 episodes of about 40 minutes each. After enjoying the first three or four episodes, I started getting impatient and frustrated while watching, and often found myself too bored to even pay attention during the important bits.
- The characters felt flat. The acting was amazing and I'm not taking it back, but it was hard to watch such good actors work with characters written so poorly. At their best they felt like caricatures, and they felt like cardboard cutouts at any other moment.
- Kongthap and Atom felt more like classmates who get along rather than potential lovers, and even their friendships with other characters didn't feel as sincere as they should have. Some scenes were heart-fluttering, but they felt like they were put there to make the relationships work, when it should be the exact opposite: the rest of the story was supposed to make the romantic moments hit the spot, but they never delivered fully for this exact reason.
- There were multiple themes for the series that could have been included and explored much better, but they weren't. Whoever wrote this didn't put any true passion into the story and didn't care to fix any continuity issues.

In theory, this series is supposed to work. The director and the main actors are the same as in My School President, which I've enjoyed A LOT, and the source material is a pretty good Japanese BL. In practice, it really looks like the production team threw these elements together (Fourth, Gemini, several MSP references, and the Kieta Hatsukoi plot points) and just expected things to work fine without putting extra work into it.
Since I don't like to make comparisons between series in my reviews, I'd rather avoid making them here, but it's truly hard not to. The main reason why I felt so frustrated is because I've watched Fourth and Gemini in My School President and Moonlight Chicken before, so I know that they can truly shine when the production team puts actual care in the quality of their work.

If this is your first Thai series, or you never watched My School President nor Moonlight Chicken, this can work as a cute, low-effort rom-com, as long as you have no high expectations for it. If that's not the case, then you're probably going to be very disappointed.

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Completed
Sing My Crush
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Oct 7, 2023
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

I thought I would like it a lot, I ended up liking it even more than that

I saw snippets of this drama here and there on the Internet before I was finally able to watch it, but the little I saw was already pretty intriguing and I was ready to enjoy myself. What I wasn't expecting was me falling in love with it.

There is something very charming about this story, and I believe it revolves around genuine feelings of love mixed with a hint of secrecy. The plot develops quietly and while it doesn't have much in terms of suspensful and thrilling moments, it captured my heart with the character dynamics and the perfect pacing of the events.
The main character, Baram, is open and honest when singing as much as he is secretive about his true feelings in any other moment, and seeing his emotional journey as it develops quietly inside of him was just wonderful. His friendship with Hantae has an unconventional beginning and Hantae himself seems to be his polar opposite: he always seems straightforward with his feelings and his ideas, always ready to take action and go forward. These two protagonists suit each other so well that their chemistry exploded like fireworks from the very beginning to the very end.
I loved the production quality of this drama a lot more than I thought I would as well. Every set and every outfit loos so pretty, not to mention the camera angles.
Special mention to the OST, which was just amazing. It might sound like a given since this drama revolves around music a lot, but the songs really stand out a lot.

This one for me goes hand in hand with Semantic Error in terms of Korean BL dramas that are just perfect in my eyes. I really recommend this drama to whoever would like to see a sweet romance develop slowly but steadily!

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Completed
Guardian
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Oct 1, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Excellent bromance for an overall very disappointing drama

I started watching because this is one of the danmei drama adaptations I've seen being recommended the most. I was also encouraged by the rating here on the MDL page for the drama.

I can say that I understand why I saw it being recommended it so much. For anyone who is a fan of BL or bromance dramas/series, this is gold: the two main characters are great actors and have excellent chemistry with each other. While it doesn't get as shameless as in other dramas I've watched (namely Word of Honor), this show still makes it very easy for me to read between the lines and consider it a full-fledged love story rather than a bromance. Shen Wei would make it very hard for anyone not to fall for him whenever he lets go of his calm and collected attitude to help Zhao Yunlan in any way possible, and the Guardian himself is unable to act all cool and detached for long before starting to care for Shen Wei deeply.

The problem of this drama is just... everything else. The story felt very chaotic and hard to follow from the get-go to me, to the point that I had to stop myself from dropping the drama altogether after the first two episodes. The events of the story are not very appealing, so even when I had to feel worried for the characters or excited to see what would come next, I wasn't able to feel much. Unfortunately the same goes for the cast other than the two protagonists; even the most important secondary roles didn't feel much relevant nor interesting. Even the main villains of the story felt more annoying than actually charming or threatening in any way.
All of this was made worse by a very fragile worldbuilding, with obscure rules for supernatural and sci-fi elements that often made me ask "why isn't this character using their power on this occasion?", "if that character had been able to do that all along, why didn't they do that sooner?" and similar.
The pacing of the story was also off, with elements of the plot and some characters that would have benefited from having more time to better explain their situations, and moments in the story that were made unbearably slow and detailed for no real reason.
If all of this wasn't enough, a huge flaw of this drama was the production, which felt... cheap, for the lack of a better word. I usually don't mind lower budgets at all and I hardly even point it out when I notice it, but this time around it was just too annoying. The CGI and other digital effects made me feel like I was watching an early 2000's movie, most of the props and the costumes looked too fake for me to suspend my disbelief, and often times even the audio quality was bad and distracted me from the story further.
While the acting of the main characters was very good, I can't say the same for the rest of the cast. The best I can say for them is that it was decent most of the time for some of them, but in many instances I felt like the acting was too exaggerated and dramatic, or just very stiff and unnatural, depending on the actor or the scene.

I chose to give Guardian a 7 out of 10 because, despite struggling toward the end, I was able to watch the entire thing, and I actually enjoyed myself when I was focused on Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. They're the only reason why I would recommend this drama to anyone: it's a good bromance and the fans of the genre will definitely love it. My only warning is to lower your expectations in terms of plot and setting: if you're looking for a good fantasy/sci-fi drama, you should look elsewhere.

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Completed
Be My Favorite
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Aug 18, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

The beauty of life

It started as a series with a premise I've already seen before: the main character finding out that they are able to go back in time and deciding that they'll change their life for the better. What I didn't expect was for this show to quickly become so charming and beautiful as it went on, with a finale that confirmed it as one of the best Thai series I've watched in my life.

The development of the story starts as quite simple and easy to follow, but it steadily grows and becomes more complex as the episodes go by. I was convinced that this series had the potential to be fun and cute, something that wouldn't captivate me all that much but still enjoyable. I was so wrong! Kawi's efforts to change his future for the better start because of his feelings for Pear, but his actions and words slowly influence more and more people in his life, all with their own struggles that need to be overcome. Just like that, the plot becomes less superficial and seeing its transformation is just marvelous. It might start as a simple series, but it involves many important themes that were explored with the right attention and care, so this might not be the right show if you're looking for something light-hearted!
Similarly to the plot, the characters develop and grow as well, showing more complexities and more nuances to their personalities and their individual lives, as well as the connections they have with each other and with the environment they live in. Kawi and Pisaeng are definitely the two characters that are shown the most in this sense, but also Pear, Mark, and even Not are portrayed as actual people rather than props for the plot and the protagonists. I don't believe there was a single role that could be considered simple and one-dimensional here; all the actors had a lot to work on and they did an amazing job.
I had already seen both Krist and Gawin in other series in the past and I was well aware of their acting skills, but I wasn't expecting them to complement each other so well as a fictional couple. They are a great fit for their respective roles and make a very tender couple with a great dynamic.

If you like series that put a lot of care and attention to the details and the character introspection, this might be for you. It's not really a slice-of-life, but its small universe gave me the same feeling as one, and the message it conveys is one that isn't found often in media. I absolutely recommend giving it a chance!

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Completed
To Sir, with Love
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Aug 5, 2023
17 of 17 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

A very underrated roller-coaster!

I was a little hesitant about starting this series, because I don't get along too well with historical settings, and I'm also not familiar with Thai History. I was afraid I would not be able to understand this story as well as I wished to, but in the end everything turned out well from that aspect and I was able to enjoy the story without much trouble.

The story mainly revolves around family rivalries and the fight for power in the Song family. Most of the characters fight to either protect Tian from ill-intentioned people, or to steal Tian's money or power for themselves. Tian's sexuality is a dangerous secret that fuels the motives of the people around him, contributing to making the life in the Song household even messier. This is absolutely NOT a light series to watch (I've read somewhere that its specific genre is lakorn), every major action of the characters leads to more problems that need to be solved with other great actions. It was a lively plot that kept me engaged from the beginning to the end, definitely recommended if you like drama! I also liked how the negative feelings and actions of the characters often led to more negativity and problems, while positive feelings and deeds led to better outcomes. The Karmic energy is not always mentioned but it's a recurring element of the story and I really appreciated it.
I also appreciated the fact that, rather than a BL, this is actual gay representation: there are actual problems and struggles of gay people that are shown on the screen and they were all tackled very well.

The characters, for the most part, are very well written and with multiple facets that make them very intriguing. I'm not just talking about the main characters (Tian, Jiu, and Yang specifically), but also the secondary roles, especially the female characters: I've rarely seen so many female characters being so active, with a good characterization and not too stereotyped, especially in a BL, where female characters are usually barely there in the first place. The relationships are also very well explored, especially the family bonds: Tian and Yang's brotherly love is displayed in all its beauty and it was amazing, and the relationship between Tian and his parents was very well explored as well.

In "To Sir With Love", while Tian and his sexuality are the main fuel for everyone's decisions and actions, his moments with Jiu are very few and short. Jiu doesn't even show up before the second episode, and their moments together only last a few minutes until a few episodes in (episodes 6-7 or so, I believe?). Their lack of screen time surprised me since I was expecting them to be on the screen more than anything else, but in the end things worked out fine regardless: they have very good chemistry with each other and they were able to deliver very intense and powerful moments anyway. All I want to add is a little warning for anyone who is looking for passionate kissing scenes or anything like that: I suggest looking somewhere else for that.

My only complaints about this lakorn would be these:
- some of the actors were acting with too much intensity. I don't know how else to describe it: at some points they really felt like caricatures of their own characters, with exaggerated expressions and movements that didn't feel natural in the least.
- sometimes the events and the elements of the plot were changed and flexed based on convenience: characters being there to eavesdrop or spy on others just in time, wounds getting better or magically disappearing depending on what did that character need to do, and certain tasks being completed without enough care and precision. I felt like I could see where the writers wanted the plot to go a little too easily because of this.
- the ending was not very satisfying to me. I felt like some of the conflicts of the story didn't get resolved properly.

I feel like I didn't describe how much I liked this series as well as I wished to, so I really want to stress it: I LOVED IT. I especially recommend it to anyone who likes soap-operas, and even anyone who would like to watch a BL for the first time and isn't looking for something too romance-focused.

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Completed
Tinted with You
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
May 17, 2022
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Beautiful and heartwarming

This felt like a reward after watching multiple Korean BL dramas that left me unsatisfied at the end for whatever reason.
The plot flows nicely and it's easy to understand. The characters aren't explored as much as I'd like in terms of personality, but they're explored just enough to make the story work. The chemistry was also wonderful. Last but not least, I was more than happy to finally see a Crown Prince who has more of a sweet and caring personality rather than an insufferable one (like in most period K-dramas I've seen in the past), which deserves a special mention of its own.

If you're looking for intense and elaborate plots this is not for you, but if you'd like to watch something beautiful and full of warm and sweet moments, then this will be worth your time!

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Completed
My Gear and Your Gown
1 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Jan 1, 2021
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Good ideas at the base, poor execution

After watching the whole series, I feel mostly frustrated about the whole thing.

The idea at the base was interesting enough for me to go and check it out for myself. This is clearly a slow burn, so unlike other people I wasn't annoyed at the pacing of the story at least for the first part, but rather at how it felt like all the actors were being dragged by the plot, rather than them making the plot live. Often times I really felt like I could see the writer pushing this or that character to say something, do something, or react in a certain way, not because it made sense, but rather because they wanted it to happen regardless.

The biggest offenders of this were Pai and Itt, which makes it kind of a big deal since they're the main characters. I was expecting their relationship to develop in something more fond at some point, but it just... didn't happen. Even when they referred to each other as friends, I couldn't stop feeling like I was watching two strangers acting nice to each other for no reason. They made me wish multiple times that Waan, Pure, or Folk were the main characters instead, since I found their acting way better in comparison, and that made their stories more interesting as a consequence. They're also the only reason why I gave this series such a high rating overall.

The first few episodes seemed pretty good to me, and I was immersed in the story up until the second part of the story, when the characters are university students. At that point the events in the story feel like something between pure fluffy fanservice or plot devices that were added to stir up some drama. Again, the lack of chemistry between the two leads didn't help making it any better: I was tempted to just skip their scenes and focus on Waan, Pure, Folk, and Beau instead.

In conclusion: in this drama you can find some sweet BL moments if that's all you're looking for, but I'd suggest you looking somewhere else if you're in search of a satisfying story.

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Completed
BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Oct 13, 2024
3 of 3 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Best use of three episodes

I'll never get tired of saying this: the TV series that are written so that there are no regrets at the end of the last episode are the best. When I saw that this drama had only three episodes I felt a little worried, because often times the writers seem unable to decide "how full" the episodes need to be; it's always either series that feel empty, or series that are so full of unfinished business by the end that they feel like they were supposed to be much longer.

"I became the main role of a BL drama" feels just right from the beginning to the end. The characters are introduced little by little and nothing is spoonfed to the viewers. They also felt detailed enough to not make me feel like I'm looking at cardboard cutouts (something pretty hard to achieve with so little screentime). The plot is also well-made and interesting, nothing felt like it was dragging for too long and nothing ever felt rushed. Perfect pacing!

Overall this can be finished in less than two and a half hours. It's fun, it's well-made, and it's not demanding in terms of plot. Very good way to spend a free evening!

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Completed
At the Moment
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 24, 2024
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

Good food for thought

I really like the setting of this short film. It offers the possibility of a future where gender transition is actually supported by the government, but it's always inside the limits of the gender binary - not only on a biological level, but also on a social level.
Yi An is almost 17 years old and will soon get his one-in-a-lifetime chance to choose the gender they will want to be for the rest of their life. As they interact with their best friend Wen Hua and their crush Zhou Yang Kai, their doubts keep increasing.

The events are kept vague, but also detailed enough to let the viewer reflect on what is happening in the film and make their own conclusion, which I liked a lot as I believe it mirrors the uncertainty of Yi An's feelings toward themself, toward the choice they're meant to make, and toward the people around them. I don't want to include spoilers, so I'll only add this: I believe that when the film ended, we got all the information we needed about the characters and their thoughts, and that anything else would have been unnecessary.
The actors all did an amazing job (Hsiang En Hung as Yi An, Audrey Fong as Wen Hua, and Ptero Li as Zhou Yang Kai). Props to Hsiang En Hung in particular for being able to portray Yi An's inner turmoil so beautifully.

I really liked the music used for this short and the camera angles. I also really liked the idea of using both a masculine and a feminine voice for Yi An's thoughts/narration, alternating the two or even using both at the same time.

It's a nice little piece of art. Recommended!

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Completed
Love for Love's Sake
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 14, 2024
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Unlocks at the end, with some regrets

I am normally picky with stories that involve transmigration in their plot, but I chose to give this one a chance since the premise seemed interesting.
The initial idea is pretty simple: during a chat with a friend, the 29 years old Tae Myung Ha shows empathy toward a minor character in their friend's novel, unsatisfied with how unhappy he is in the end. We are then showed Tae Myung Ha passing out and later waking up as his 19 years old self, in a reality where his favorite minor character of the novel, Cha Yeo Woon, is a student in his same high school. From this point onward, Myung Ha starts seeing mysterious instructions and prompts, just like in a video game, all focusing on one main quest: "Make Cha Yeo Woon happy". The penalty in case he doesn't succeed in the span of 300 days is "death".

Most of the story keeps its focus on Tae Myung Ha doing his best to fulfill the missions he receives, which makes it mostly light and fun to watch. Myung Ha shows such care and empathy toward his "bias" that it was hard for me not to feel endeared at all their interactions. Cha Yeo Woon melts slowly but steadily under this kind of attention, which is oddly rewarding to see.
My interest in the plot and the many events stayed high the entire time, which is why I chose to give this drama a higher rating, but I can't say I was entirely satisfied with the execution. It was easy to dismiss my doubts and many questions at the beginning, as I kept hoping for everything to find its right resolution eventually, but in the end I had to realize that while enjoyable, the story also left me with multiple unanswered questions. Even now I feel like multiple elements of the plot were introduced specifically to cause conflict, even when there was no valid reason for them to occurr. I'm not going to explain in detail what I mean since I don't want to spoil anything, but the final episode in particular has a completely different tone compared to everything else, which really made me wish to see more.

The acting from all the characters, both main and supporting, was perfect. Props to Cha Joo Wan in particular for his performance as Cha Yeo Woon, which granted him access to my list of perfect puppy-like characters. I also really enjoyed Oh Min Su as Chun Sang Won way more than I thought I would in the beginning.
The production is very good. I wasn't expecting much since it's a short series, and I'm used to Korean BL having a smaller budget compared to other dramas, and yet the shots looked amazing from the beginning to the end.

In conclusion, I believe that this drama will be enjoyed a lot by those who are more interested in the romantic side of the plot, rather than the supernatural one. Regardless, I recommend giving it a chance!

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Completed
Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna Season 2
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 14, 2024
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

They gave us more, just as I hoped

In this second season there are double the episodes that of the first, so at first I was worried that things would become too monotonous if they kept the same atmosphere the entire time. Luckily that wasn't the case!

I was happy to see that, rather than keeping the same formula without changing things here and there, they chose to expand Nomoto and Kasuga's respective worlds (namely their interactions with other people at work and other personal connections they don't have in common), and their shared meals and encounters also started to include more people and different experiences along the way. The two new secondary characters were a great addition that won me over quickly and helped to keep things fresh and entertaining.
Their relationship didn't exactly need to change, and nobody at any point says that there was any need for it to happen, but it naturally develops and grows into a different shape that is still unmistakably THEM. Once more I found myself laughing, crying, giggling, squealing and kicking my feet for these two.

Just like the first season, this second season also introduces multiple important themes related to feminism, mental health, and LGBTQIA+ identities and rights. Some matters were shown and explored properly, while others were only mentioned briefly without any further explanation about the topic, which I found a little disappointing, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment overall.

This season can be enjoyed on its own without much trouble, but I highly recommend watching the first season for the full experience.

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Completed
Only Boo!
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Sep 8, 2024
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

So simple and yet so memorable

This story mainly revolves around Moo, a boy at his last year of high school who dreams of becoming an idol. Since this dream is making him neglect his studies, however, his mother decides to make him go study in the countryside for his last few months of high school. She also forbids him from following his dream at least until he graduates and gets a place at a university.
In an unfamiliar place, lost and alone, Moo quickly grows attached to Kang, who works at a restaurant near his apartment building and is kind and helpful to him from the start.

I will never get tired of saying this: the content of the story matters, but the way it is told matters way more, and I believe that Only Boo is just another proof of that. The story is simple and it's mainly about Moo's crush for Kang and his continuous efforts to win his heart, all while he still chases his dream of becoming an idol and tries to keep up with his exams. While the details about Moo's new life are little, it's clear that they were crafted properly: I've never felt like anything during the story was useless or out of place. There were parts of the story that I wish were showed more, mainly Kang's passion for art and his trauma, which I've felt were introduced and then resolved too quickly and easily, but the story flows very nicely as it is and I can't say I missed that aspect too much while watching.

Among the cast members, Keen is with no doubt the one who shone the brightest from the beginning to the end. He portrayed a very cheerful and lively Moo and his facial expressions and body language were on point all the time. It was also a relief to notice that he's actually very good at singing and dancing, making him just perfect for the role. Unfortunately I can't bring myself to say the same for Sea: I don't know if it was just because of the character, because Keen looked so alive in comparison, or if it's just how Sea is; what I know is that he looked very stiff to me all the time. I had the impression that their couple worked so well because Keen did most of the work to make it believable on camera, rather than for their efforts combined.
The secondary characters all contributed to the general atmosphere of the series, making it a true delight to watch. Moo's new friends Potae and Payos, Kang's best friend Neth, even the principal created both hilarious and heartwarming moments that contributed to make me devour the show in less than three days. Big props to Aun and Ashi for their chemistry as the secondary couple of the story, although I didn't feel as captivated by them as I was by the main couple.

The OST is very good; it features multiple songs from different GMM artists in the first episodes, and then introduces new songs by Keen that I found very beautiful. Believe it or not, nobody plays the guitar in this series!
The production was very good as well. I really liked the bright colors and the bright environment, which definitely contributed to make the story feel warmer and cuter overall.

I highly recommend watching this. It's not a cinematic masterpiece, but it's so cute and heartwarming that I believe it will stay in my memory for a very long time.

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Completed
Juvenile Justice
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Aug 14, 2024
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

I wish they showed me more

The idea at the base of this drama is very interesting. I often see shows that tell the stories of police officers, lawyers, prosecutors, or even judges who deal with all sorts of crimes, but in these shows I rarely happen to see younger criminals. I'm not sure of how much realism is in this drama in particular, but it seems to offer a very good glimpse of what does juvenile justice imply for everyone involved: from the perpetrators, to the victims, to the judges themselves. Some of the cases that were shown in this drama were stronger than others, but they were all very interesting to watch.

What I believe was actually lacking, and also ended up lowering my rating for the series, is the overarching plot that involves Judge Sim, Judge Cha, and all the other recurring characters.
At the beginning of the story we see the protagonist, Judge Sim, as a very strict and closed off individual, who is completely focused on her job and leaves little to no room for anything else, and also "detests young offenders" with a passion. On the other hand we're also introduced to Judge Cha, who is a much warmer judge and shows empathy and understanding toward the kids he's in charge of, and seems to believe in giving them a second chance to live a "good" life.
I might have had wrong expectations from the get-go, but I thought that the show would give equal importance to both judges and their mindsets, even at the cost of putting them at opposite sides of an argument more often than not. What I actually ended up seeing, instead, was Judge Sim having such a strong and indomitable personality that Judge Cha had no other choice than to shrink in her presence all the time, only raising very weak objections to her thoughts before becoming quiet for the rest of the case. Rather than a duo with a good dynamic, it felt more like Judge Cha became nothing but a tool for Judge Sim to use as she needed. Neither changes in any significant way in the end.
Even their backstories didn't seem as important as I thought they would be. Judge Cha's past is brought up and explained all at once, and stays completely irrelevant for the sake of the plot for the rest of the show. As for Judge Sim, while her past does explain her passion toward condemning young offenders, it doesn't do much to add depth and nuance to her situation (and I'm still wondering why was there the need to show her ex husband at all, other than providing another obstacle through her ex mother-in-law).
The rest of the cast as well (Judge Kang, Judge Na, and everyone else) seemed very underutilised in my opinion.

If you're only interested in the specific cases shown in the drama, it can be a very fun watch (I know I had fun while watching them!), but I can't recommend it if you're looking for an interesting plot and well made characters.

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Completed
Wrong Carriage, Right Groom
0 people found this review helpful
by puwupy
Nov 19, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 7.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

Satisfying, fun and romantic!

This is the first historical Chinese drama I've watched, and also the first Chinese drama I've watched that didn't have at least 30 episodes or more. It was a very pleasant surprise nonetheless!

Besides the obvious premise of the story, the plot is split in two different settings to show each bride's situation with the "wrong" groom.
Li Yu Hu's side revolves around the conflicts and mysteries in the Qi family. It feels very similar to a soap opera, with lots of secrets, lots of eavesdropping, lots of tricky situations and malicious family members. Despite this, the atmosphere feels light and fun most of the time, mainly thanks to Qi Tian Lei and Li Yu Hu's couple dynamic.
Du Bing Yan's side is more about her trying her best to finally see her husband and clarify the misunderstanding. Her share of screentime was always more thrilling and dynamic and brought most of the action to the story.
Overall, the plot was nice and well-balanced: it kept a lighthearted and fun tone most of the time and didn't have many dramatic elements. Li Yu Hu and Qi Tian Lei's story started to feel a little too static and redundant after a while, but thankfully it wasn't too bad - mostly because their moments together were absolutely adorable. Du Bing Yan's story was quite interesting, but she and Yuan Bu Qu didn't have nearly as much time on screen as the other main couple, so I can't say I was entirely satisfied with them. Personally, I wish we got to see them more, and could have easily done without one or two of the side couples that were introduced in the story little by little.

It's a fun drama, nothing mind-blowing or exceptional by any means, but it was still an enjoyable watch for me. Recommended if you're looking for something with little angst, lots of fluff, and mostly relaxing!

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