"Just say it. it needs no euphemism, It's not an insult"- Vlad

***latest update***
Never have I been so immersed in a series like this. For 9 weeks I would wait in anticipation each episode promised to deliver and deliver it did. I delayed watching the finale because I didn't want it to end. THAT good.
The pain of hiding who you are, the struggle to find the courage to show the world something other than black and white. It's not easy. This series managed to capture all that and more
The plot itself is a masterpiece. If our life was a movie that we were in control of, what end would we choose for ourselves? Would we have the courage to search for places that existed only in fairytales? Would we chase our dreams? Would we love without inhibition? Would we defeat the villain? Would we have the courage to be heroes without masks?
Like in the movies, once it ends and you're back here sitting on your sofa staring off into nothing, only echoes of it remain and I think that's what they portrayed in ep7. Once the movie ends, we are left with nothing but echoes.
The story was complex, entertaining, and emotional. From the first episode to the last, the two leads are in a movie. In their own world, weaving their own stories. In almost unrealistic coincidences they accidentally find themselves living together and they grow to enjoy each other's company. They fall in love and have that blissful period where there is nothing they need to think about except each other. But as a wise man once said, love doesn't make the world go round. This was a time of self-discovery for one lead and a time of self-love for the other.
Maybe if they had met later in life or earlier, would things be different? One not wanting to hide anymore and the other too afraid to come out, things rarely end well.
The finale was truly a masterpiece and left me feeling soft. In reality, you have to end things to have new beginnings. If you did things differently, then it would have ended differently, yes. But regrets are things you whisper to yourself in the night. Alternate endings only exist in your mind. Would you have the courage to step out of your movie? Of the world you locked yourself in? The ending was a happy one in my opinion.
This movie taught me that it's okay to change your dreams. It's okay to be proud of things you have achieved. It's okay to be scared when you're not what people perceive as normal and most importantly it's important to know when to let go. After all, "we are too fabulous to be cautionary tales".
Venture into the unknown and who knows, you might just find that place they told you never existed.
To all you beautiful beings out there, lift your head up high. The sky is never the same. You wouldn't wanna miss this view.

**previous review**
I LOVE IT. Its only 3 episodes out but I'm already in love with it.
It usually takes me around 5 episodes to really get into a BL but this one hooked me from the start. Episode 3 was especially good. I would say it is even better than MyDayTheSeries.
From the acting to the story to the music, its really on par with Korean production. The camerawork and sound are SOO good. My fellow BL people will know why this is so important. I have rarely come across a BL that has this good production and that too with a small budget.
The chemistry of the two leads is electric. I am living for it. They are doing such a great job. There are no unnecessary dialogues and no irritating side characters. The conversations have a beautiful flow to them and in my opinion, 30 minutes is too short. WE NEED MORE.
The music is well-timed and there are no excess bgm effects which is such a relief. The OSTs are so beautiful.
I was skeptical at first but after "gameboys", and now "like the movies" I can say with certainty that Philippine BLs are coming for the BL industry and they might just give Thai BLs a run for their money.
NOTE: I will come back to edit this review later, but I can definitely recommend it. For those who are hesitating, DON'T.

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intense

There is no way to review this movie without discussing the major plot points so if anyone is reading, be warned.
I went in not expecting much. It was a rainy day and I was bored. This movie happened to be on my recommended. I remember watching the trailer and not being too interested but then I realized the same female lead in Vincenzo was acting and I thought why not?

The plot itself is moderately good. Above average. The thing is, I've watched a lot of action movies, thrillers and I could predict a lot of the major scenes. The element of surprise didn't work for me, unfortunately. Why then did I like it so much? it was less about the story but more about how it was told. The narration, the subtle hints, were a treat to me. A little predictive but that didn't lessen my curiosity.
The movie did not stray from what it promised. I could feel the tension and the anger, the sadness, the whole absurdity of the system. There was no right or wrong. I think it's a close representation of how mobs and gangs work. There is always a score to settle. The gang isn't one big family. There are backstabbers and power is the only thing that matters. No sugarcoated representation. No romanticizing being a bad guy. Even though (by the power vested in me by my addiction to movies) I was able to literally predict everything I think I still would watch it. The silence, the sounds, the scenery, the coloring; perfect for a rainy day.
Some have said they didn't see the point of the whole romance aspect. I personally loved it. it was more than just love. I think it added the depth the movie needed. I don't think they loved each other, no. I think they needed each other. I think they gave each other a reason. One who did not have a reason to live and one who did not have enough time to live. The end was reasonable and left me feeling satisfied.

The acting is spectacular. The whole cast was perfect. The male and female lead was something else. Just enough chemistry. Enough to make me intrigued but not too much that it overpowered the main story. Their portrayal of their characters' emotions, the action scenes; even though I knew what was coming I couldn't help but hope. The ML raspy voice was something I won't be forgetting for a long time.

The music was perfect. As I've mentioned, the perfect balance of silence and sound.

if anyone reads this far (which I doubt lol) go watch it! it's not a movie you would want to miss.

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watch it NOW

ONE OF THE BEST SERIES OF 2020, might I say in the history of thai BLs.

I'll just get straight to the point: I loved everything. From the story to the acting to the chemistry.

I think I could write pages and pages trying to explain why I loved this but I still wouldn't do this justice.
I thought long and hard about whether I wanted to review this because honestly, I have still not recovered from watching it. I don't think I ever will.

If you loved 'Call me by your name" you will love this.

This isn't a simple BL. it's art. it's like the first rains after a hot summer. it's like hot chocolate on a winter night. the smell of burning incense after a long day at work. you will feel comforted, heartbroken, giddy: like someone experiencing love for the first time. Like an addict, you will find yourself coming back for more and more and when it's over your heart will be heavy. A good kind of heavy though.

"I'm hurt, I'm in love"

I'll wait for part 2.

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QUITE AVERAGE UNFORTUNATELY

I am going to keep this short and to the point.

If you're searching for a good fantasy drama with good acting, good pacing and a good plot then look no further into this review and let me save you some time...don't choose this drama. It's simply not worth it. You do not want to spend an average of 3 hours every weekend watching this drama. Trust me on this.

****FINAL UPDATE****
I finally finished this drama and I'm adamant in sticking with my initial opinion. This drama is simply not it. From the plot-holes to the bad scripts to subpar acting (from the main male lead). It has done nothing but tested my patience till the end. The story was nothing but drag after drag. Every scene that was supposed to be emotional was just emotionally traumatising. The ending was nothing special.

Furthermore, there are some issues I would like to address:

1. The villian was building up to be a great character but the backstory did not do him justice. There was no logical explanation for his obsession with main leads and there was no good explanation for the "dark hole" he had.

2. If the main lead can reincarnate, so can the villian. The ending did not make any sense. He had no soul.

3. The action scenes were simply not it. It was like watching a parody version of Vampire Sucks (which FYI was a parody of Twilight). The scenes looked awkward and forceful in an unpleasant way. You would think that immortal monsters with long black perfectly filed nails that can move at superhuman speed and have superhuman strength would put up a better fight right?

4. The ending was just a loosely-strung together montage of scenes that had little to no clarity and gave me the impression that everyone was just happy to be done with the drama. Again, little to no effort.

The only thing I acknowledge is Kwon Na-ra supreme acting. She did an amazing job imo. (her character again is quite weak but she did her best ig)

****OLD REVIEW****

Still hesitant on whether to take this drama up or not? Understandable.
Let me list down the things that simply did not sit well with me at all.
Make your decision after, if that is what you want.
Here we go:

Story
Quite a high rating you might think. Why am I criticizing it so harshly you ask?
The only good thing about the whole drama is the story. Why have I stuck around till ep 12? Because of the story. It has been 12 eps yet they have managed to hide a whole 1000years and that is why I'm still here.
Good strategy on their part I agree. However the downsides are large.

What's wrong with a little mystery? Nothing.
Nothing when you know how to keep it alive.
You have to know how to give enough without giving it all away. IMO this drama is stretching the mystery past a little too thin. It's starting to become irritating. If it weren't for the past story I don't think this drama would have anything. The present storyline is repetitive, boring and utterly tedious and cringe to get through.

Acting
Oh my God just take some workshops or something lee jin wook. His acting makes me feel nothing at all. Wait can I even call that acting? He looks like me when I zone out in class. Does he just forget to move his facial muscles when the cameras are rolling or??? bro you got to let something out at least man.
AND WHERE IS THE CHEMISTRY? I have more chemistry with math and believe me, I absolutely hate the subject. Maybe that's the secret??? hmmm

Y'all the only reason I'm still here is LEE JOON. My man showing his skills and playing his character like a pro. The only person I'm loving is this man right here who has my heart. He has done so well to flesh out his character.
Kwon Nara is okay. She hasn't really made a lasting impression but there is still time to change that so lets see. With the right script I believe she could do so much better.

Music
Yes. music I like.
Not so noteworthy but okay.

Would I re-watch it again? I'm telling y'all once the huge mystery is revealed I am never ever coming back cuz nothing got me staying longer than I want to.

Overall
Skip it if you can. Starting is quite weak and imo the story ain't that strong. There is zero chemistry between the cast and nothing special.

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This review is more to vent and appreciate all the aspects of the drama for my own purpose

From the beginning till the end I was hooked. like a fish out of water, each episode was like oxygen I needed. I could not stop and I would have binged the whole 20 episodes in one go if the normal human body allowed it but useless instincts took over at times. Pathetic human bodies am I right?

In the beginning, I was doubtful. The first 2 to 3 episodes were a clash of scenes and characters. Random killers and families and pregnant women. For me honestly, it was like an information overload. I still loved it though, no doubt there. As that random person on Rick and Morty said, "this information will be important later." Now, the story sticks to its plot of 'what if psychopaths' genes could be detected before they were born. A creative idea worth exploring. The plot is interesting and the avenues they explored to showcase the pros and cons of such an unrealistic idea were entertaining. I say unrealistic because let's face it, as someone in the science department the number of flaws, ethical regulations, and whatnot even pertaining to this idea is insurmountable. But lets not get into the semantics of science.

This drama revolves around the consequences one single step can induce. Every single episode was a whirlwind of emotions and questions that really made me think more about the moral obligations we face every day. In terms of pacing, the drama deserves a 9/10. Simply because I believe they could have wrapped it up nicely in 16 episodes. At some points I found the dialogue to be tedious and some scenes to be unnecessary. Like that scene where Seung Gi stands in front of the cross and declares that he's diety. I realize that that scene might be the ultimate act of sinning; the act that showed how monstrous he is but DAMN the number of times I had to see that scene nearly made me want to punch a wall.

The storyline cleverly shows us two halves of the same story and at the first half, you see scenes that make you think you've figured out everything but then comes the revelations, and when you finally understand you've been duped, by then you can only appreciate how they've managed to hook you line and sinker, even though half of it is a lie. As the story unweaves itself you realize that the information, in the beginning, was indeed important for later. Scenes that make you go "ahhh" and "ohhh" and *gasp* are my favorite scenes and there was a surplus of this in the drama.

In the end, this drama left me feeling emotionally drained in a satisfying kind of way. Not every character got the ending they wanted but in my eyes, it was the ending they needed. The only ending I feel conflicted about was *cue gasp* Lee Seung Gi. Yep, I said it. Why? okay so hear me out, he was a psychopathic killer I agree but this was before his brain transplant. Prior to his transformation, he put on an act. To the normal eye, he was an adorable, kind of air-headed, and a naive young officer who was a goody-two-shoes who was actually a psycho serial killer. Okay. Now after the transplant, he developed emotions right? and the kind act he put on actually became his persona. He came to believe his act and that in turn became his memories. This brings me to the question, is he the same person as he was one year ago? No.

Just like that question where if we replaced all the old planks of an antique ship with new planks, would it still be the same old ship or would it be a new ship? The planks in this case are his memories. I might be going way off course here but imagine if something like this did actually happen and the killer never regained his memories of being psychotic. If he was judged, you would have to judge the person he was before the incident. This new person has no recollection and hence would hold no accountability in my opinion. Of course in reality, the said person would be convicted of his crimes nonetheless but it still got me thinking and in turn, I had conflicted emotions. I do not disagree with the end Seung Gi met. Looking at it from a logical point he has to be held accountable for his actions and rightly so. I disagree with the ending the non-psychopathic Seung Gi met.

Every character in the drama was complex and important. Except for the two useless detectives. Sheesh, sometimes the police were so useless istg. The acting was top-notch and the soundtrack was grade A.

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okay, I'm still recovering from the drama. I only have one question. why has this drama not got the attention it deserved? I could not find one flaw with this drama. I'm not exaggerating when I say this drama is a masterpiece.

Story: I could write pages just praising every line and every word of this drama. It unravels in an almost graceful way, revelation after revelation leaving me breathless. I couldn't stop watching but was too afraid to go to the next episode. There were scenes that gave me literal goosebumps. I had to pause at some scenes to just take in what was happening. I loved the pacing of the story, how each episode just gave us the right amount of fear and curiosity. I could slowly feel myself being sucked into the madness and it made me question myself. I didn't know who or what I was rooting for in the end. The subtle contrasts that I only noticed after rewatching it were really genius. I learnt a lot from the drama.

Acting: I couldn't ask for more from the cast. Everyone gave stellar performances. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for the cast to portray such complex characters but they truly did justice to it. their acting has left a lasting impression on me. one I will not forget for a long time. I have to especially appreciate Lee Dong Wook and Im Siwan. I could see the despair, madness and fear in Jung woo's eye. Moon Jo was like a super hot psycho that I wanted to hate but I mean how can I? just look at him, even his creepy smile made my heart skip a beat. I was scared and in love at the same time. Not to mention the chemistry between them which was like feeling the aftershocks of an explosion. I would love to see them act together in future projects. Everyone did outstandingly.

Music: the few osts that were there were really good however there were not many windows for it in the drama itself so I understand how they might not get the exposure it deserved but god damn was the background music creepy. it was not overdone. just the right amount of creepy music made the scenes thousand times more terrifying.

Overall: 100% recommend (unless you are easily triggered) I mean it is a psycho-thriller. The adrenaline rush I got from watching it is not something I will soon forget.
kudos to the cast and staff of the drama for this rollercoaster of a drama.

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surely not one you would want to skip

I am time and time again blown away by this movie. I feel like calling this a BL would limit how much this movie has to offer. How much this movie has is not just BL it's more than that. The element is undoubtedly present but it's not what drew me to the movie.
STORY
just pure intense love. The kind of love that got you awake at 4 am in the morning scrolling over text messages. The movie is about love. Beautiful, selfish, careless, scary, sad love.
ACTING
every single moment is burned into my memory. I wanted to cry, scream, and laugh along with the characters. Pure raw emotions. No filter. It was like the cast was born to play these roles.
MUSIC
I loved it.
REWATCH VALUE/OVERALL
I would watch it again and again and again. It was like falling in love again. It was beautiful.

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An absolute tear-jerker

In my journey to consume as many feel-good, angsty, slice-of-life dramas, I came across Go Back couple multiple times, and every time I turned away...until I finally gave in. Go Back couple: Just from reading the synopsis, it feels like a cliché. Time travel has been done I mean, how many times can the industry milk the idea, right? Right? Wrong. It might depend upon the idea, yet this story is everything but time travel.

I was skeptical at first, because I've seen too many rom-coms that predicting the ending was a piece of cake, but the execution of it took me by surprise.

The story is about family. It's about choices and regrets. It's about “what if?”

At 20, some are just starting. Some are working, and some are falling in love. At 22, some are getting married, some are hopeful, and some are lost and angry. Suddenly you're 30 and have more and more regrets and fewer dreams. You know too many people you've lost, and what once seemed indestructible is being washed away by time. A story about a couple who replace their love with bitterness until it festers and consumes them: we all become that sometimes. People who are so consumed by anger and regret that you turn outwards to blame someone. We become people who are petty and end up wanting to hurt the ones precious to us.

What happens when you're given a chance to change the choices that most influenced your life? For better or worse, at your lowest, being given the chance to go back and make different choices, sounds like a dream come true...but is it? Being able to watch this couple face their choices, this drama portrays the struggles of a couple who thought that love was all they needed. The drama was a beautiful portrayal of the importance of self-introspection and communication.

This is a nostalgic drama with heart-touching moments, and the scenes with ma jin ju and her mother were some of the scenes that made a deep impression on me. Love is about being able to recognize the little things, and I learned a lot from this drama. Ma jin ju is one of the most likable characters and jang na ra with her charming presence on screen, brought the character to life. She had a vibrant aura and the contrasts with her past and present were made well. Son ho jun who plays choi ban do did an outstanding job, and his emotional scenes especially moved me. I remember watching him in "Was it Love?" And I was not particularly impressed, but this drama completely changed my views on him. The second male lead was probably the first to give me the syndrome in a long time. I was rooting for them during the first half of the drama, but his screen time slowly fizzled out, I think in a different life, he could have been ma jin ju's first love.

I think the only con I can think of is the second couple. Although I liked their backstory (A very straightforward college love story) towards the ending, their charm ran low and so did their story, so it gave me the impression that they were being used only for filler. I know every drama has this, but the final episode made it blatantly obvious which is not ideal.

The track list for the drama was terrific. Confession by Choi Nakta has to be my favorite.

I wouldn’t rewatch it again. Although I was completely smitten, I got everything I could from it the first time. It’s a well-paced slice of life I'll remember fondly.

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I honestly wished I entered the world of BL a little earlier. At first, I was a little sceptical. knowing how the Chinese government has banned so many promising bl shows or turned them into bromance, and learning how short the episodes were I was afraid this show would be like so many others, rushed and chaotic. I'm glad I was wrong.

Plot: The plot is interesting enough. It progresses at a good pace. However, I felt like it was missing something to keep me hooked. Sometimes I had to fight the urge to just jump to the main lead scenes and skip the scenes with their parents. The contrasts between rich and poor were portrayed accurately. I loved how there was no cliche rich bad guy-poor good guy character. The only thing I disliked was the side characters. I would have liked to see some side-story development instead of just making them obstacles the male leads had to overcome. Some depth to the other cast would have been nice too. Understandably, it ended a little abruptly and I was not able to fully enjoy their progress but it still left me feeling warm inside.
rating: 7/10

Acting: the whole cast did an amazing drop. the on-screen chemistry of the leads was on a whole other level.
They really carried the drama. They did an amazing job portraying the confusion and hesitance that occur in those situations. It was a pleasure watching the development of all the characters throughout the series. I especially enjoyed watching the father-son interactions. The male leads are what hooked me line and sinker.
rating: 10/10

Music: honestly, the osts did not especially stand out to me. I liked watching the intro because it contained some scenes that were not there in the drama itself. The outro was pleasant too. Maybe I was just too engrossed with the male leads to recall the songs.
rating: 7/10

rewatch value: it has been only a month but I'm still addicted to "Addicted" bl edits.
rating: 9/10
Overall: 9/10. to all the BL fans out there who haven't watched it, just go for it, it's worth all the data and time. Trust me. I only wished there was more.

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Less is more

Let me just get straight to it. I would not recommend this drama. Yes, I have not finished it but I can say with confidence that this drama promised too much but did not deliver.

Story: A single mother struggling to make ends meet suddenly finds herself in the midst of a love quadruple with 4 successful men three of which she has a history with. Similar to the classic movie Mamma mia, the plot essentially follows the same storyline. The story itself held a lot of potential. There were so many points to work on, however, it somehow still fell short. At one point I was confused at what the plot was even about anymore. I was expecting parent-child heartfelt scenes yet there was hardly any interaction between the mother and her daughter(which, I believe was essential). The chemistry between the protagonist and her child was just not enough.
Moving on to the romance part, which was even worse somehow. I could not understand why they had to dump in 4 men as love interests as 2 of them contribute to story in no way at all. They tried too much with too little. It was tiring seeing one misunderstanding being dragged on for hours and hours, testing my patience. This drama fell short on so many aspects, it honestly broke my heart to see it spiral down each episode. Sometimes less is more and I hope the producing cast learns from that.

Acting/cast: even though the story fell damp, I have to applaud the cast. They did extremely well, especially Uhm Chae Young and Son Ho Joon. Of course, other veteran actors like kim mi kyung did not go unnoticed, as always she delivered.
There were some scenes where the acting was cringy. and some where it felt forced but I loved watching uhm chae young in action. I'm looking forward to her future in the industry because I'm sure she has a lot of potential.

Music: The OSTs were good. A great soundtrack. The instrumentals improved the scenes by a tenfold.

Rewatch value: I don't think I will finish it let alone rewatch it.

Overall: In an increasingly changing and competitive industry, this drama will sadly not go down in history as one of the greats.

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cute CUTE CUTE CUTEEE

We've come a long way from Korean BLs that were 11 minutes long.

That being said, I cannot be more than happier with this mini-series. Although only an average of 20 minutes long, each episode is a joy to watch. Though Korea isn't as forthcoming with BLs when compared to countries like Thailand and Taiwan, they are sure as hell making an effort, and we all know SK dishes out superior production and plots.

I know this drama isn't over yet but I cannot stress how cute and wholesome I find this drama
The plot isn't overreaching and is quite simple which works quite well. You can clearly see the effort the directors and actors are putting into the series and they are nailing it.

*And I'm calling it yall I'm team shinwoo all the way. ISTG if he doesn't end up with taekyung I won't throw hands lmao. I* just want him to be happy.*

That being said I will come back to edit this review. Right now I can't say much without spoiling a lot of plot points. All I can say right now is if you're looking for a good kdrama with the cutest most adorable characters that have satisfying character development and a satisfying yet lighthearted plot then this drama is right up your alley.

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You'll like it until you don't

This drama had so much promise, and IMO apart from ep 15 and 16, this drama can be easily rated a 9 or 9.5. Till ep 14, the story had a fast-paced, thrilling aspect, and the acting was superb. It looked like the drama was going to end with a bang, but how it decelerated in ep15 and ended on such a low note in ep 16 ruined the overall plot and fell short.

If someone reads this review, I recommend watching the drama for its superb storyline and suspense. Of course, watch it till ep 14 with high expectations because it will keep you on edge. After that, please lower your expectations by a significant margin so that you will still be pleasantly surprised, unlike me.

Onto the shortcomings of the drama:

The most frustrating part of the finale was the lack of acting from LJS. It looked like he could not wait to just be done and over with the filming. The performance he delivers, in the beginning, is expected from a veteran A-list actor. Still, towards the end, it looks like he doesn't even care and seems to have put little to no effort into his scenes, especially when it calls for some serious emotional, messy acting. He looks like his pet rock died and barely sheds one tear, contrasting with how well he cried at the beginning of the drama. I don't know whether the blame is on the director or him. Still, either way, it significantly lowered the quality of the finale.

Another issue is how disgustingly the female characters were treated towards the end. ko mi ho and juhee are the two main female leads. Throughout the drama, the point the director seemed to be stressing is how "a good woman is someone who completely supports her husband." This did not sit well with me. Even without discussing the direction the director wanted to take regarding feminine and masculine roles, it still stands that only the female leads seemed to suffer in the end.

Simply put, they were used as Plot Devices to further the character development of the main male leads. I think a true fleshed-out female character can do wonders to make a drama more enjoyable. Take, for example (off the top of my head) the female leads from Happiness, All of us are dead, IOTNBK, etc., were all thought-out strong female leads that brought color and interest into the drama. They were not simply stepping stones for the male lead to reach his all-powerful state.

Finally, this drama was such a waste of talent. Look at the cast.
LJS lost credibility at the end because of the horrible finale where he underperformed.
Im Yoon Ah put up an outstanding performance throughout even with the decreasing quality of the storyline and IMO carried the drama through a lot of poor writing.
Kwa Dong Yeon deserved a more prominent and exciting role than some sidekick. He can act, and it's been proven repeatedly from his previous works (he caught my attention in Vincenzo, where he shined).
Even Oh Eui shik, who could have potentially been a massive part of the drama, all ended up being minor characters no different from the rest of the extras. It's sad because you have these talented and skilled actors, and you're paying them millions to just become extras?

I think the MVPs of the drama deserve to go to Kim jo hun (who plays Choi do ha-the main antagonist) and yang Kyung won (the character gong Ji hoon). These two did a fantastic job playing these roles, and Kim jo hun should win some kind of award for playing the most bad-ass evil, traumatized character on screen. LJS did not get outshined for sure, but in the end, he simply lost the aura he built up during the beginning, which is a shame. As a fan of his, and his first work after getting discharged, it is a good drama, but it isn't his best.

When it all comes down to it, the drama failed to deliver what it promised. The revenge wasn't sweet. The deaths were not as moving as they were supposed to be. The strings weren't tied up properly. Where does this leave us? Disappointed, angry, and confused. If I was looking to be disappointed, I'd look in the mirror.

One of the drama's plus points is the theme music. it brought out the suspense to a crescendo and fit smoothly into the drama.

The rewatch value is obviously going to be relatively low. I haven't felt this blue-balled since GOT. I loved this drama initially and will never forget the discussion threads with fondness. Reading other people's theories and comments made my Friday and Saturday much more enjoyable. Like someone said, "Maybe Big Mouse is the friends we made along the way." Turns out it's true. Hahhah *cries in disappointment*

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Successful yet conflicting

KP is probably one of the most successful BL series of the year 2022, or might I say, in the history of Thai BLs. I think 10 percent of the success belongs to that fateful 9-minute trailer the previous production company released one fateful day in 2020. I still remember all the clips and FMVs that circulated at the speed of light and the hype that came with it.

I personally feel conflicted. As much as I loved it, I feel guilty to admit that there were parts that simply did not live up to my expectations. (I have read the novel, so I might be a little biased towards one side or the other at times)

Story 10/10

A full rating because of the unique premise of the series. A mafia romance. A story that is bound to have action-packed scenes, angst, mystery, betrayals, and tragedy. It's never been done before. Some BLs have come close to this (HIStory), but none have carried it out with such perfection. I also applaud BOC for getting rid of some of the darker and inappropriate scenes that the novel had and watered them down for television otherwise, the pairings simply would not have worked.

Acting 8.5/10

However, I was disappointed by how kinn turned out. He simply lacked the edge that should have set him apart as the main family head. In the beginning, I was completely taken by his ice-cold and calculative personality. I expected more of that. Somehow love turned his brain mushy, unfortunately. We were shown his soft side and how he never wanted to be a part of this, yet I can't help but feel like they should have let kinn bring out his dominant boss personality more. It was a slight letdown.
I know I'm going to be a villain when I say this, but I simply did not feel anything when Porschay was on-screen during the beginning episodes. Yes, I'm keeping in mind that Barcode is a rookie. He deserves a 10/10 for doing so well during the ending episodes. The way he portrays his heartbreak and his confusion. in ep 14 brought me to TEARS. I'm only sad that I couldn't really connect to his character when he was in love (that sweet 10 minutes when he was lying down with Kim and told him he loved him). I've seen all the BTS and acknowledge his effort and talent. He truly grew through the series. Tong's physical comedy was *chef's kiss* and Apo was just absolutely loveable as Porsche.

Cast 10/10

The actors were perfectly cast for their respective roles. Their chemistry was ultimate perfection, and I especially have to give kudos to Bible and Build. They did an AMAZING job. Apo and Mile truly put their heart and soul into their NC scenes, and VegasPete relationship was beautifully portrayed. I think their pairing was truly a masterpiece. Jeff performed extraordinarily well, ESPECIALLY in the action scenes. He was the main attraction during the finale and left me speechless.

Music 10/10

The instrumental of Freefall brought me to tears, and Why don't you stay is a masterpiece. Jeff's voice is heavenly. I have been obsessed with these two since I heard them.

All the action and comedy scenes were vibrant and enjoyable. The subtle clues and microexpressions brought the series to life. The gradients used during the VP scenes were marvelous and were treats for us fans to analyze.

Overall 9/10

I'm eager to see where the stories might go if there is an S2. Unfortunately, there were a lot of strings left untied, which left me feeling unsatisfied. I think what everyone has to keep in mind is that KP (as told by the cast), is more of a BL romance with action rather than an action series with a BL romance. It is more lighthearted and comedic than expected but is all the more appreciated because of it.

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Abolutely forgettable

Money Heist has been dominating Netflix's top 10 in my country since the first season. Thousands are introduced to it almost every day, thousands rewatch it and it has been dissected, reviewed, and analyzed over and over. A lot of people get put off by mainstream shows but how do they get to the mainstream in the first place? They offer thrilling plots, impeccable production, and admirable acting with the perfect cast and script. Money Heist: Korea JEA has unfortunately fallen short on several of these.

The Korean film industry comes out with movies and dramas that become hits almost immediately. The choice to remake one of Netflix's top series not even a year after season 4 came out was a bold move. Put a little spin on it (SK and NK unification) and add SKs trademark high production quality, acting, and swoon-worthy cast, I was SURE I would be watching a series like no other. I was disappointed. VERY Disappointed.

"Remakes are sometimes created by taking 'inspiration' from or 'adapting' the original film."

The Korean version is an adaptation. HEAVILY inspired by the original series. The way I see it, they took the story spun a convenient unification to introduce "interesting" characters, brought in their actors, and churned it out. I was flabbergasted, to say the least. I kept on expecting something thrilling to happen but I was sorely let down. I feel BETRAYED.

Acting
I have no qualms with the cast. I have no qualms with the acting. Look at the cast. These are all actors that have made a deep impression on me. Rachel Jun in The Call, Park Hae Soo in Prison Playbook and Squid game, Yoo Ji Tae...I could not be happier with their roles. HOWEVER, hear me out, in the original series I remember the life that the actress brought to the character Tokyo. If Tokyo is like ghost pepper in the OG series, Tokyo is like watered-down tabasco sauce in the remake. I will withhold further judgment since the second part has not come out yet (I know I'm not doing a good job of it so far). I also noticed how the actor who plays Denver (from the remake), used a VERY similar laugh to the OG Denver. Another trait that I'm sure was *Inspired*. I don't care but Denver's laugh should have its own copyrights. You have to own the character that you play. Denver's laugh cannot be remade. Period. I will accept versions of it however by even adopting the same laugh I feel like the remake loses whatever originality it has (Which is almost a joke by the end of part 1).

Finally, can we talk about how STUPID this splitting the series into two parts is? I understand the strategy behind this. Similar to a season finale however the time period between the two parts are shorter. This works in favor of shows that already have a solid fanbase (Stranger things). Shows that have proved from the first few seasons that they are able to produce quality content. But for JEA, it seems unnecessary. I am already disappointed by the content of the show, have no expectations, and am now disappointed that I can't even finish it so I can be done with it once and for all. The show BARELY had any time to gain some traction. Was this really the best decision?

A lot can change in a few episodes. I have gone from hating a show to absolutely loving it and vice versa. I hope this drama will end up in the former category. But for now, I would not recommend watching it. Watch the whole thing after part 2 comes out. Hopefully, it'll have something worth talking about.

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Hit my expectations out of the park

Again another gold series that does not get enough love.
When I saw the trailer I was excited. the roles that Jung Hae In take up are interesting, to say the least. Every performance of his has always left me with a lasting impression. I entered having high hopes and I was not disappointed.

The story itself is so risky. The plotline is not something you can pull off easily. As I sat watching this series I was surprised by how many issues they tackled. Honestly, I never thought much about the military system in SK but after this series it got me questioning it seriously. And not SK in particular but the military system as a whole.

There are people that willingly sign up for this but what about the ones who do not want to? What about the ones that cannot afford to? What about the ones who get away because of their connections? Just the absurd unfairness of it all is revolting.

I was aghast at the heights of cruelty humans can reach when given a little power. How humans can push each other to the brink until they break and still have no conscience about it.

This is an absolutely revelating and relevant series. Something that will knock the breath out of you, will make you want to shut your eyes yet you can't help but look on.

And the acting. OH MY GOD, THE CAST IS JUST RIGHT. I am not even kidding they absolutely nailed their roles. Ko Kyo Hwan was refreshing and comically adorable. Shin Seung Ho managed to bring out so much from his role. I won't even bother praising Jung Hae In because please boi we all know he was 101% freaking mad amazing.

I mad adored the cast of this series. I have no doubt that you will too.

I do not care much for the OSTs..were there any?? hehe...if there were, I didn't notice because I was enraptured with the scenes.

I would absolutely rewatch it. Maybe give it a few months but I will definitely revisit some scenes just to fully appreciate the gravity and intensity of it all.

CANNOT WAIT FOR S2.

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