mirrorball by taylor swift says it all

'blueming' pulls you in to the world of two individuals who have shiny exterior but once you break through, you will see their cracks and flaws. this drama talks about people who may look as though they have their life fully worked out when in reality, they are not different from everyone else.

si won and da un are imperfectly perfect for each other. i love how the drama embraced si won's insecurities not to make the story super overdramatic but to genuinely have sense to how his character really is. the emotions of a person with pentup insecurities and disguising it with 'confidence' was decently portrayed by si won's actor.
da un was your textbook ideal, popular student but he wasn't bratty nor snobbish. he was a god tier 'good guy' who has his own set of charms and attracts anyone and everyone. in hindsight, he seems to have everything. well.... da un was a lonely boi. i can't imagine how bleak it is to come home, wanting to have some company but you end up getting welcomed by a dark room.

what's not to love when si won and da un are literally the cutest fluffballs i've ever seen? the chemistry was undeniable and i had to take breaks between episodes to recompose myself back to a human again. i swear these two made me feel so single to the point that i started to summon a character from genshin impact. chemistry on point.

i personally loved the tension between si won and da un as we began to truly understand both of their feelings. the ending wasn't bad but it did feel quite empty. sure, da un realised that he was wrong in his ways to make si won happy. we got a short inner look at da un's busy parents and how despite them being there, he was longing for si won. maybe i was hoping for more. i was hoping to see more of da un's character.

despite the camera being a bit shaky at times, the drama does well enough with its aesthetics. i was skeptical diving in this drama at first but this was a delightful watch.

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i personally loved it for the main leads and the second couple
was the plot concrete? hmm nah not really
does it get confusing? yes
bUT do I have masochistic tendencies? no doubt about it

despite some characters popping in only to be cardboard characters afterwards and the potential kinda not really there, this is the type of drama where i got sucked in by the chemistry of the main leads

if this was twillight, bella left the room for jacob and edward to happen. i said what i said. i'm not taking it back.

the appeal is there. i mean c'mon we've got the flirting, revenge plot, the angst and the yearning. the story is quite interesting at first glance and a lot of potential for some parts to get that extra flavor. so, the downside is how the story loses its grip to create much more impact. the buildup is there but then the climax is not that satisfactory.

if the special episode was added to the ending, it wouldn't have felt underwhelming. regardless, i have a soft spot for wen kexing and zhou shu which is why i enjoyed this drama more than i should have. perhaps, this is going under my guilty pleasure list.

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why are we here? just to suffer?

i read the comments and thought to myself, "hOw bAd caN tHis bE? ???"

the answer is = very bad

in terms of plot, there really is no plot. the start was actually alright but as it progresses, you sort of have your jaw dropping at how nonsensical and ridiculous everything is. if this was some sort of parody of porn, then i would've rated this a tad bit higher. however, this isn't a parody but a movie with dragged out sex scenes after sex scenes till you forget what you came (pun not intended) here for.

overall, definitely a disappointment. one thing that i found funny was the homeless guy. you'll know if you watch.

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binging this when i'm sick in the first week of new year with exams going on was not the best idea. a couple of boxes of tissues comes in handy because oh wow was this rollercoaster both emotional and iNTENSE.

it took me 5 tries to get into this drama because i'm an absolute clown listening to political talks. the first 3 or 4 episodes can be overwhelming with the amount of information bombarded at your face. on top of that, you have character names to remember. basically, you literally need to have an open mind like literally open your brain, have it turned on and make it function because you never know what impact those characters have on the story.

the charming points that caught my eye is ma boi sir su, ma girl princess nihuang, relatable meng zi, babie boi fei lu and hella fine prince jing.
ma boi sir su is such an admirable character that doesn't fail to interest me. he had everything planned to attain justice not for himself but for the many who had their reputations smudged by false facts that were made to be known for many years. he is not careless to make a single misstep and where there is one, he is quick to resolve the problem.

while the ending was emotional, i didn't feel like it was that climatic. what i do like is it leaves room for questions and makes me eager to watch season 2.

p.s. A+ for the beautiful ost, the pigeon and yes to the tangerines

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it's clear that the budget was low with how painful the dubbing is, the editing and the script itself was not that appealing. besides all the negatives, we are lucky to have seen a chinese bl come out alive even with broken limbs.

the story wasn't anything new. a mischievous dude and a tsundere. combine the two and you have the most generic bl plot. there's the ex girlfriend that schemes a whole kidnapping plan. you even have the mom that doesn't accept her gay son so she breaks off the main leads' relationship. blah blah blah they break up and what do ya know? an open ending. what's new, world?

the only positive thing was some of the comedic moments:
-the dick birthday cake
-ding's mom and jiming getting absolutely wasted
-finally seeing tsundere ml having an expressive face on episode 9
-tsundere ml looking like the world was ending during the sex scene

i hope chinese bls rise again and with a more hopeful tone because it's honestly sad to see an immortal story that my brain no longer wants to process.

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wow this is a drama where i did not have the urge to screenshot anything bc it's so painfully boring

there's no direction to the story, an ambigious plot, no clarified timeline... just flashbacks and episodes looking like a bunch of clips merged into a montage... it's so clustered to the point that there's literally no reason for anything lol

the only thing that is worth mentioning is the cast. at least the acting was okay. i liked the girls and pangs. they legit carried the drama on their backs. it kinda sucks that we didn't get to see pangs meet but i guess that's for season 2?

honestly, this would've been better if there were less flashbacks, the recap of previous episode is shortened and the script is tuned a bit.

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for a short drama like this with a plot that's not entirely unique, it seemed to be done pretty damn well.

i have to give it up for the actors for this one because wow oh wow the emotions in each episode were explosions after another.... the chemistry is good. i'm convinced with the portrayal of the characters. one is sure of their feelings and one is running away.
han tae joo's actor truly made some stunning expressions and wowie does this boy give you fEeeLinGs.

the main leads' tug of war sort of pull or push kind of thing really intrigued me and i squealed a lot ngl. yes, i'm guilty.

the ost???? fAMMM the ost in this is glorious it's absolutely godsent. the vibe the songs had were haunting, sentimental, badass, boPS.

y'all know what i liked? the fl was not annoying or a villain. i liked that she asked kang gook "do you like tae joo?" on their first date. i also loVe that she didn't come in between the two when she found out about kang gook's true feelings. it felt refreshing.

the ending is your average "the other becomes casper the ghost and is summoned after a few years" but i'm not really mad about it? at least they're alive and kicking skjdjjd
hmmm...... about the kiss..... this is korea? we rarely get BLs so i'm just going to take a seat and be greatful lol
them smiling after the kiss was cute^2 thoooo

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what a rocky (hA) road

what a seemingly interesting start brought about an underwhelming ending. this had sO much potential!!!

what went wrong?
-judah's character became infuriating to watch.... i understand he doesn't have any experience with love or relationships but it was painful to see a well written character (at the start) become so desperate and have no character development. invading the guy's privacy, taking pics of rocky without his consent and then when rocky is actually trying to figure things out (his sexuality; not knowing anything and wanting to understand), judah pushes rocky away. you do know that all of the things happening is hella new to rocky? instead of talking things out properly and explaining to him, it's all dragged out into this dramatic mess.

-the background music is sometimes annoying. this is an irrelevant point. please read the next one.

-the ending. oh the ending.
soooo.... are we supposed to believe that they fixed everything after playing truth and dare games? i honestly would've preferred to see them part ways for a bit, perhaps figure their own shit out first and when they're mentally ready, we see them meet up again. yes, it's cliche but that would've made sense lol.
they legit just threw a happy go lucky rainbow ending. it all moved so fast... rocky coming out to his dad with so much ease... rocky and judah meeting lolly... when the heck did judah and lolly make up??? also, why didn't we get to see what convo went down at lolly's house?

overall, i'm quite disappointed as it had a promising start. i guess nice things don't last long?

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"A promise is a promise"

wow. this film is short but very fruitful. there were so many layers of angst and beauty in this 37 minute piece. i don't think i've ever seen a short film done this well.

po xiao and feng ren had a relationship so precious that it can't be put into words. the cute but almost silent bantering, the worry of losing the other and the absolute willingness to risk it all for the sake of the other. the fact that i got attached to these characters so fast was unbelievably real.

i have so much appreciation to everyone involved in this production because damn, the visuals and aesthetics were STUNNING. the cast truly killed it in the best way and the chemistry was off the roof. i can find myself writing fanfics about the characters because of how good the acting was. the music was really good and fitting whether it be a suspenseful or emotional scene. ALSO ohmy, the fighting scenes.

one thing i like about this movie was how the story was not overly complex. there were no side plots. the focus was centered around po xiao and feng ren which made the writing for their characters feel more natural. the conversations between the leads were all important to tell their story.

overall, a very well done short film that gets you riled up with so much emotions. prepare to cry. the tears are worth it. i promise.

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Nothing is what it seems.

surprisingly, 'flower of evil' managed to combine thriller, romance, mystery, crime, a bit of comedy and melodrama in one drama. it's one of those rare few wherein all of these elements didn't feel that out of place. on top of everything else, it has a very good pacing which without a doubt led to the drama doing a very good job at executing its purpose.

what got me very hooked in this was the very beginning because it showed you how unsettling it was to be living with someone that has a whole different breed of skeletons in their closet. the transition of scenes from cute and loving father to downright disturbing; the eery feeling was what drew me in. the twists and turns that happened in this drama was truly addictive that i couldn't help but binge 6 episodes until 3 am.

the mystery aspect was done really well. the writers definitely clowns the heck out of us viewers because we truly have no idea what happens next. i believe that's what makes this drama good as a thriller because you are kept at your toes and you're trapped with so many thoughts of 'what if?'

personally, the fl didn't stand out to me that much but as the episodes went on, she grew on me. the revelation of her husband's past and trying to maintain her work plus being a mom was hella difficult and i felt for her. ji won's relationship with hyeon su was so heartwarming to see. the way they protected and cared for each other and the sacrifices they were willing to make defines how true their love was. even through the roughest paths, they loved each other. also, whew, the intimate scenes made me blush.

the way hyeon su was treated by others because they misunderstood him was truly heartbreaking. hyeon su and hae su deserved better. the trauma that these two endured is unthinkable. it was nice to see the beautiful bond of the siblings. i must say that the performances of the characters as teens was amazingly done. the drama also makes you think about how we see things on the surface and how judgemental we, humans, can be.

personally, i couldn't stand the detectives at times. it's your typical kdrama style detective crew. having one dude watch a criminal and not having any backup anywhere else in the hospital was hilarious. to be fair, there were some comical moments here and there but i didn't really find anything else worth noting.

frankly, i found the villain both surprising and also not surprising. from the very first scene we got of this guy, we were sort of vaguely made aware that he's up to no good with that phone conversation. it was short but very telling. however, i still think that the drama did really well revealing his character and it was very chilling to see what really went down that rainy evening.

one thing i sort of didn't like from this drama was maybe how melodramatic it turned out in the end. everything else fit perfectly and i wouldn't mind melodrama if it was not overboard. we didn't even get to see what happened to the only survivor. perhaps i missed out on a small detail but it was odd that she was never mentioned in the final episode knowing what a big part she played in the serial killer case. despite me not liking how melodramatic the ending was, i also didn't hate it because it looked like a new beginning for the characters. hyeon su and hae su deserved their fresh start, to be able to live freely and no longer have worries. that's why, in a way, i found the ending beautiful.

'flower of evil' succeeded in making itself as one of the top thriller dramas without milking anything. it is well-paced. story is intriguing as hell. the romance was endearing. while this drama did take more of a melodramatic turn halfway through, it still didn't lose its charm for its thrilling and suspenseful side. it is an addictive ride that you can't help but buckle up yourself until you reach the very peak.

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"The law is just the law. It's only the gate to justice but the law itself isn't justice"

for a person who avoids political dramas like the plague, this one was different. from the aesthetics, the ost and to any scene in every single episode, it was a brilliantly artistic take in showing a well-balanced story involving romance and politics.

so, what did i love?

-the amazing cast
there are many familiar faces in this but one thing's for sure, everyone's performances in this drama didn't fall short. not even an inch.

gun really didn't pull back from giving his all in both his roles as black and white. it was as though i was watching two people play their parts and i had to blink hard as black and white truly had distinct personalities. again, i'm not surprised by gun's talent as he never failed in showing his talent on screen.

i used to be skeptical of off's acting but in here, he was able to depict a broken character seeking revenge against unjustice. those expressions of anger mixed with helplessness and those cute scenes with white, off nailed it as sean.

first didn't fail me in this drama. he was lowkey smug but at the same time, this boy knows how to break my heart into pieces. paired with fluke, they both served emotions that hit you right at your chest. fluke did well as a police officer that wants to fight against the corrupt, a person that wanted to change.

the whole gang had me in shambles for how much they cared for each other. with how good the chemistry is between all of them, it was inevitable that the friend group was shippable. despite being a serious drama, there were funny moments as well. gumpa as the father of five (including black ofc) was portrayed wonderfully by papang. even though his acting was a bit iffy at times, he definitely gave off the fatherly vibe as he trained and helped the boys out whenever trouble came their way.

i was so used to seeing sing as a silly or playful character in other dramas so seeing him play a new type of role was a surprise. he managed to blow me away whenever he showed up and his scenes with black are worthy to be applauded.

-the couples !!!!
sean x white:
as one of the well-known bl couples, the offgun duo strikes again. the angst between these two was steaming hot. before sean and white got together, the tension they had was enough to make me scream internally. once they broke the ice and started to cuddle up to each other, i saw sunshine, rainbows and thunder. white who used to not understand sean's pain slowly became sean's comfort. their love to fight and protect each other will forever be something i'm envious of.

dan x yok:
the conflict that comes along with falling for someone you laid your trust on is heavier than one can imagine. maybe, i'm masochistic but the relationship between dan and yok had so much to it that i can't help but root for them. those sentimental scenes in which they started to open up to each other and weren't afraid to show their vulnerable side.... it was purely beautiful. besides the angsty scenes, they have their cute moments that i cherish A LOT.

-the women
we don't see petty arguments or grudges. what this drama offered is women that stand their ground. namo, eugene and nuch are all clear on their views and have such an impactful character to them that doesn't make it overwhelming or underwhelming. this is one of those dramas that i appreciate for not writing female characters as stereotypes.

-the cinematography
if i wanted to screenshot every single second of this drama, i would. the camera angles and close up shots of small details in the emotional and intimate scenes were my absolutely favorites. i love how this drama was filmed and how the colorisation fitted the scenes perfectly.
also, i really appreciate that the actors looked naturally beautiful in this one. there was less makeup and it gives off this no filter feel to it.

-the important topics covered
this drama is not just a bl drama. it shows many issues that goes on in the real world as well. to name a few, it highlights:
1) privilege
2) lgbtq+ rights (marriage equality)
3) disability rights
4) political corruption

things i didn't like:
-the way the ending got wrapped up felt rushed
-gram and eugene as a couple
-the whole twin connection wasn't explored more (but then i understand it would stray far away from the drama's focal points)
-some questions left unanswered
eg. was dan let go just like that? what is todd's story? what will tawi do?

regardless of the imperfections, 'not me' is easily on my top bl dramas that i keep close to my heart.

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"Chain letters can never bring good luck. But on that night, I found my luck"

for a first watch, this somehow felt nostalgic. similar to many love stories out there, this was yet another bittersweet high school romance with unspoken words from both sides. this movie truly brings you back to a feeling of "i could've"; that moment you could've brought about a different outcome to the situation.

what i personally love from this movie is how both characters were helping each other grow. i found the bond between the leads so charming with how they would go out of their way to stand up for each other. there was one scene in particular that stood out to me in which hsu tai yu was being mistreated by the principal. lin truly summoning her fearlessness and speaking out for hsu tai yu TRULY did it for me.

the movie was self-aware that being a grown up person isn't a one way ticket to living a life that you like. even though it frustrated me to see the tension between the leads on not confessing their feelings, it was in a way realistic as complex ideas like romantic relationship is quite a scary path to go for a young age.

overall, this movie TRULY (pun not intended) fueled my cravings for all the yearning and angst with a nice side of cute desserts.

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having a bad day? watch this

i don't remember when's the last time i had so much fun with a drama
this one had me in stitches with each episode
watching a guy try to dodge every single bl trope there is was a recipe for top notch comedy

though he claims to not have an inkling of desire to be involved in the bl world, mob is basically a matchmaker
this drama is simply a funny one which is great for a palate cleanser when you have no mood for dramas
the acting is the usual over the top style but it works because it is a parody of bl universe

overall, i highly enjoyed this for mob's chaoticness and how it wasn't overcomplicated
p.s. you'll catch me bopping to the ost

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in contrast to the boppy james bond type of music bg, the movie presents the hurdles and struggles of the ones who are having it rough. this actually highlights poverty, corruption and also the horrible crimes that are very much relevant till this day.

where it fell short for me was the transition from the present and then quickly switches to the origin of the gun. when it did switch back to the present, it didn't make much sense of why the main lead is heading to her rapist instead of her roommate's boyfriend as it was hinted she was heading to his house. the consistency was lacking.

overall, this movie promotes awareness of unjust malpractices and victims of violence resorting to violence because of how inflated their hardships are.

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WHOLESOME

who knew an esports drama could be this wholesome?

at first glance, i wasn't completely enticed with this genre and i thought it would be a bore. however, i was surprised when i found myself crossing my fingers whenever a conflict happened or when we're brought in to the gaming scenes. i was hooked.

the characters are not badly written as we were given a background of each of their personality, strengths and weaknesses. i could see how flawed the characters are and that's what i loved the most. a bunch of imperfect goofs in a group working their way around and not competing against each other but together. i was not sure at first how the friendship dynamics would work but the story for each character was well timed enough to convince me that there was this strong bond going on.

personally, i felt like the spiderman meme thing that happened felt redundant. it was super random but hilarious nonetheless. the reason it's redundant is because ye qiu's whole story was later revealed and we didn't really get to see his twin or any mention of him whatsoever. perhaps, there's season 2 for that?

the wholesome part of this is that characters you may seem to dislike at first will grow on you. the character development was nicely done. one more thing i absolutely loved in this drama is the ost! i haven't seen the translation yet i can feel that when one song is playing, it's a song radiating a sense of hope and obstacles being cleared out. with another song, it's when the characters are at their low or reminiscing their past. such osts make a significant difference for me in scenes like these.

to conclude, this is a character driven drama with amazing friendships presented. if i were to sum up this drama in a quote, "teamwork makes a dream work".

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