4
Shasha
Stuck in....
This review may contain spoilers
Everything is magic?
Uhmmm, no! Not really! Not even close! Unfortunately!
I waited for this version with a bated breath. Japanese Cherry Magic was one of the first BLs I watched after discovering the fascinating world of BLs a couple of years ago. It had left me with a ridiculously happy smile and butterflies. Moreover, I've been a fan of Tay and New since Dark Blue Kiss, enjoyed immensely their non bl dramas and was thrilled to bits when I found out they were going to do a thai version of Cherry Magic.
But...there is a big BUT here! I've spent two years now, watching a lot of BLs and have honed in my likes and dislikes, realizing that loving dramas, indiscriminately and without criticism, are the thing of the past. If I were to watch the original today, I probably would not have the same impression! Now days, I like what the majority of watchers hate!
Therefore, (you see where I'm going to with this long introduction, right?) Cherry Magic, the thai way, did not manage to win me over or, better said, put me under its spell! Everything was not magic but out of synch!
Achi, a 30 yr old virgin, with low self-esteem, shy, kind and innocent, scared of other people and absolutely frightened of intimacy of any kind! So we were shown an adult man, trembling in fear, confused, completely oblivious of other people's feelings and indecisive trying to please everyone and thus being left behind. Karan is his complete opposite: successful, competent and handsome in addition to being kind and observant. He's had a crush on Achi for 7 years.
Question 1: why did it take him 7 years to try to make a move on Achi? Answer: ????????
Achi was never really aware of Karan: he admired him as a coworker but nothing more. When he gains this magic power of hearing other people's thoughts and finds out that Karan is in love with him, he becomes more attentive which manifests in him getting even more nervous and jumpy, a real scaredy-cat! Karan never really makes a move but keeps watching Achi and just staying put in his unrequited love. Why someone, so confident and successful professionally, is a total loser in his private life? It is so much out of character for Karan!
Question 2: does Achi really fall in love with Karan?
The ability to hear Karan, gives Achi the unexpected knowledge and he realizes that Karan had been particularly attentive to his needs without him ever noticing it! How dense can someone be? So, from this point on there are two schools of thought : mine and everyone else's. Everyone else thinks that Achi falls in love with Karan from that moment. I beg to differ! Achi is suddenly aware of all the attention Karan has been bestowing upon him which makes him very uncomfortable: he is jumpy, shakes a lot. He feels indebted to Karan so he convinces himself that he is in love but his attitude does not follow. We see him being evasive and shirk any form of closeness, he unwittingly retreats every time Karan comes close to him. When Karan confesses and they start dating, they seem like a couple of old friend not lovers going around. Achi is obviously grateful to Karan for his love, attention and help but in love? I don't think so! Episodes 8 & 9 are a cringefest: it took me two days to finish them by watching in 10min instalments: that is just about the maximum quantity of cringe I can bear at once! This whole love story was unconvincing and lacklustre! Yes, Achi kisses him first but even that seems like obligation, something that he needs to do, does not want to but has to do! Even on their wedding night, when Karan is being so attentive and lovey dovey, Achi is still jumpy and evasive, not knowing what to do with himself (and it is not like it is their first night together!)...Mostly, when they are together, they come across as friends not lovers.
What about the other characters? The second couple are Min and Jinta (Achi's friend, a writer and another 30 yr old virgin!) who seems to have a split personality: usually he is a normal ordinary adult except when he is around Min and becomes a blubbering fool with grotesque mimicry and incoherent dialogue. Kudos to the actor for managing transitions smoothly! Another couple are Rock and Pai, Achi's office coworkers. Pai is a fujoshi (less said is the better) but is also kind, helpful and smart. And finally, there are a couple of bosses, funny, fun and surprisingly supportive. The actor playing the japanese boss, was amazing in pulling off the accent!
This was a fluffy romcom definitely too fluffy for my taste. Unfortunately, it was also too unconvincing (putting aside the fantasy element), there was no chemistry between the leads and the writing could have been better. I have not read the manga and I saw the japanese version ages ago so I am not comparing this drama with anything. Still it failed to convince me, I was mostly bored and annoyed!
I waited for this version with a bated breath. Japanese Cherry Magic was one of the first BLs I watched after discovering the fascinating world of BLs a couple of years ago. It had left me with a ridiculously happy smile and butterflies. Moreover, I've been a fan of Tay and New since Dark Blue Kiss, enjoyed immensely their non bl dramas and was thrilled to bits when I found out they were going to do a thai version of Cherry Magic.
But...there is a big BUT here! I've spent two years now, watching a lot of BLs and have honed in my likes and dislikes, realizing that loving dramas, indiscriminately and without criticism, are the thing of the past. If I were to watch the original today, I probably would not have the same impression! Now days, I like what the majority of watchers hate!
Therefore, (you see where I'm going to with this long introduction, right?) Cherry Magic, the thai way, did not manage to win me over or, better said, put me under its spell! Everything was not magic but out of synch!
Achi, a 30 yr old virgin, with low self-esteem, shy, kind and innocent, scared of other people and absolutely frightened of intimacy of any kind! So we were shown an adult man, trembling in fear, confused, completely oblivious of other people's feelings and indecisive trying to please everyone and thus being left behind. Karan is his complete opposite: successful, competent and handsome in addition to being kind and observant. He's had a crush on Achi for 7 years.
Question 1: why did it take him 7 years to try to make a move on Achi? Answer: ????????
Achi was never really aware of Karan: he admired him as a coworker but nothing more. When he gains this magic power of hearing other people's thoughts and finds out that Karan is in love with him, he becomes more attentive which manifests in him getting even more nervous and jumpy, a real scaredy-cat! Karan never really makes a move but keeps watching Achi and just staying put in his unrequited love. Why someone, so confident and successful professionally, is a total loser in his private life? It is so much out of character for Karan!
Question 2: does Achi really fall in love with Karan?
The ability to hear Karan, gives Achi the unexpected knowledge and he realizes that Karan had been particularly attentive to his needs without him ever noticing it! How dense can someone be? So, from this point on there are two schools of thought : mine and everyone else's. Everyone else thinks that Achi falls in love with Karan from that moment. I beg to differ! Achi is suddenly aware of all the attention Karan has been bestowing upon him which makes him very uncomfortable: he is jumpy, shakes a lot. He feels indebted to Karan so he convinces himself that he is in love but his attitude does not follow. We see him being evasive and shirk any form of closeness, he unwittingly retreats every time Karan comes close to him. When Karan confesses and they start dating, they seem like a couple of old friend not lovers going around. Achi is obviously grateful to Karan for his love, attention and help but in love? I don't think so! Episodes 8 & 9 are a cringefest: it took me two days to finish them by watching in 10min instalments: that is just about the maximum quantity of cringe I can bear at once! This whole love story was unconvincing and lacklustre! Yes, Achi kisses him first but even that seems like obligation, something that he needs to do, does not want to but has to do! Even on their wedding night, when Karan is being so attentive and lovey dovey, Achi is still jumpy and evasive, not knowing what to do with himself (and it is not like it is their first night together!)...Mostly, when they are together, they come across as friends not lovers.
What about the other characters? The second couple are Min and Jinta (Achi's friend, a writer and another 30 yr old virgin!) who seems to have a split personality: usually he is a normal ordinary adult except when he is around Min and becomes a blubbering fool with grotesque mimicry and incoherent dialogue. Kudos to the actor for managing transitions smoothly! Another couple are Rock and Pai, Achi's office coworkers. Pai is a fujoshi (less said is the better) but is also kind, helpful and smart. And finally, there are a couple of bosses, funny, fun and surprisingly supportive. The actor playing the japanese boss, was amazing in pulling off the accent!
This was a fluffy romcom definitely too fluffy for my taste. Unfortunately, it was also too unconvincing (putting aside the fantasy element), there was no chemistry between the leads and the writing could have been better. I have not read the manga and I saw the japanese version ages ago so I am not comparing this drama with anything. Still it failed to convince me, I was mostly bored and annoyed!
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