Reviews

Boys over flowers is like the "must see" in k drama world. This is probably the most famous k drama ever, and the first k drama for a lot of people, and that's why we -somehow- love this drama although it isn't actually a good one.

The story is just a big WTF! to me, really... and it doesn't always make sense. But incredibly it is still a catchy story lol, this is what BOF is, it somehow hooks you up, but deep inside of you, you know that what you're watching is not good at all.

The acting is just BLEH! although I love Lee Min Ho and now is one of my favorite actors, in BOF he wasn't as good as he is now... it wasn't a terrible acting but it wasn't a good one either... Same for Koo Hye Sun, she's good at dramatic scenes and crying and suffering but she lacks emotion in other scenes like kisses or funny moments and etc...

F4: oh boy! the eyecandy in this story has a 10/10 these four Asian boys doing whatever they want with your feelings and looking hot while they're destroying your heart haha it's just asdfghjk...

And probably what makes this drama a "must see" and a famous one is Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) BOF probably has the worst and saddest second lead syndrome ever! REALLY... even if you don't ship JanDi with JiHoo the drama still makes you feel terribly sad about JiHoo's life (a terrible and lonely one) omg! my heart still aches when I remember...

Despite of all that BOF is a very rewatchable story... if you want to cheer up, or cry like crazy or just remember or see hot Asian boys gathered in one drama, just go to BOF. :)

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OhmLeng Deserved Better

I was genuinely hyped for this show. With Ohm in the lead, there is always a promise of natural chemistry, especially with a new face like Leng. The trailer painted a picture of darker themes in my head, I mean, a kidnapping subplot? Intriguing, right? It seemed like this could be one of GMMTV’s more serious or emotionally grounded series, maybe even a hidden gem but I was wrong.

➬ Plot and Execution

To put it as nicely as I can, it's a dumpster fire. It feels like they pulled random ideas out of a hat and slapped them together without any thought lmao. I think they cater to a 12-year-old audience while simultaneously throwing in themes that should never be anywhere near a show for kids. A kidnapping subplot? Really? How do you take that and mix it with juvenile humor? It’s embarrassing and that's not to say a show can't be dark and funny at the same time but it has to be well done which isn't the case here. The storyline is not only predictable but it’s also shallow as fuck, there is no substance whatsoever.

➬Tone and Pacing

This is where things went completely off the rails. The tone oscillates wildly from (attempted) intense drama to cringeworthy + over-the-top humor which makes it nearly impossible to get emotionally invested. One moment, I was watching a serious “kidnap” scenario that should be thrilling or tense and the next it’s as if the characters are filming a skit lmao. This back and forth annoyed me a lot. I’m not sure what they were aiming for but whatever it was, they didn’t reach it and the pacing is equally disjointed which makes the show feel like a mishmash of scenes rather than a cohesive story. Important moments are rushed while trivial scenes drag on smh.

➬ Character and Performance Analysis

Ohm → is as talented as ever but even he struggles to shine under this weak script. I can see he is trying his best but with stilted dialogue and poor plot development, there is only so much he can do. It’s disappointing to see an actor with his range stuck in a story that doesn’t even let him showcase half his potential.

Leng → For a first-time lead, Leng isn’t doing a bad job but he does need improvement. He has potential, his charm comes through and he has an innate sweetness that works well for his character but again the plot leaves him stranded. Even with great chemistry with Ohm, the weakass dialogue makes it difficult for him to deliver anything memorable.

➬ Chemistry and Romance

Ohm and Leng have a good on-screen chemistry which is honestly the only reason to keep watching. But even that suffers due to the poor writing. Romantic scenes that should feel sincere instead feel forced and hollow and this is mainly because of the misplaced humor. With a better script, these two could have delivered a very good romance.

➬ Overall Production Quality

While the show looks pretty decent, the direction is inconsistent with no clear vision guiding it and don't even get me started on those damn cakes they keep shoving on my screen, I know sponsorship isn't new to GMMTV and this is something that has always pissed me off because there are show's that make the Ads very subtle and then there are other's who shove it in my face, like this one.

➬ Final Thoughts

Watching this has been frustrating because GMMTV has access to talented actors but instead of capitalizing on that talent and creating good stories, they are more focused on quantity over quality. This series feels like a product made for the sake of staying in the game, rather than any real effort to push BL forward.

Why I am watching? → Out of respect for Ohm and Leng because they deserve so much better. I hope GMMTV takes note of the show’s shortcomings and reconsiders their approach in the future but I have no hopes lmao.

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Plot is nothing new. Different cast same fashion drama. I was so hopeful, but this feels like another “our glamorous time.” It does have a more youthful vibe to it but still a bit slow. Episode 1 was catchy and gave hope but then ahnnn. I don’t do rolller coasters and this definitely feels like one.

Ep 1-13 male chases female
Ep 14-15 finally a relationship
Ep 16- the breakup
Ep 17 and, the pursuit begins again.

That type of roller coaster.

Overall it’s okay. I like the leads and have seen many of their works. They are great. Scenery is good, acting is good,fashion sense is good.

Down side: I hate the cat and mouse game and I’ve seen at lease 2 other series that have wealthy guy meEts up and coming fashion designer.


I am a fan of the female leave as well as the male lead but I really didn’t feel a great chemistry here. Another thing is they have a female lead as an emotionally incompetent character. You know the type, the type that does things that affect other people and she is not aware of the consequences of her actions or how her actions have hurt or hindered anyone. She is unaware of the sacrifices that are being made for her and the things that are love one is doing for her. This goes on until someone tells her. I hate the fact that this went on and see did Nite no. The reality is any person could realize the time, love and sacrifices people made for them but this female with oblivious which made her character annoying. Most of the time you somewhat hope they both end up with someone else.

There are a few things that are quite hilarious but that just does not make up for the poor chemistry and the insensitive or ignorant female lead. who works for a person they constantly Platz against your boyfriend. It’s ridiculous.

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Perfectly constructed, every episode is just amazing, go watch!

Desperate to fund her daughter’s surgery, Myung Joon (Yoon Kye Sang) kidnaps a feisty child genius Rohee (Yuna), who lost her memories. When his call for ransom remains unanswered, Myung Joon drives to her house only to findher parents were mysteriously murdered.

I’m going to first mentioned my most memorable aspect, that is Yuna as Choi Rohee! Yuna’s performance was such a delight! she stole the show with her vast range of emotions and also strong nuances in her micro expressions. It's magical how her emotions tore me apart. I laughed and cried for her! In one scene, I cried so hard and still cry however many times I watch the scene. T.T, I also love The Kidnapping Day for the solid storyline. It blends different genres expertly, giving me a high-stake, angsty, funny and endearing feel altogether. It’s a found family through kidnapping, but it never delve into Stockholm Syndrome as Myung Joon and Rohee dynamic is equal. Myung Joon is silly but caring, while Rohee tends to dominate, but as a child, she’s yearning for family love.

I enjoy how unpredictable and unconventional the mystery unravels. The investigation isn’t drag, the police make progress, obtain evidence, etc. We are rewarded with clues and twists constantly without them being overwhelming. It's rare to experience a drama that’s perfectly paced & each episode is juicy like this. For me, it’s the best release in 2023 and will always be one of my tops of all time! Wonderful!!

-Oct 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Family’s Honor tells the story of two families; the noble Has and the nouveau riche Lees.

The Ha family follows traditions that one doesn’t encounter often in modern day dramas and that was one of the most interesting concepts of the show. From holiday celebrations, weddings and funerals, to the etiquette that they practice in their everyday life and their conducting behavior, they give this drama a strong beginning just by being in it. Add one of the most adorable grandfathers that you’ve ever encountered in kdramaland and you have a winner.

On the other hand, the Lee family is crude and they happen to be the owners of the most kitsch sitting room that I’ve ever been unfortunate enough to behold, BUT Park Shi Hoo plays their eldest son so who cares about the golden armchairs?

The plot is mostly focused on the romantic relationships that involve the members of the two families and there are interesting sub-plots here and there that make Family’s Honor a smooth ride despite its long length.

What could be a drawback for some viewers, is the personality of the Ha daughter. Yoon Jung Hee did an amazing job with her part and she’s not your average kdrama heroine, but I suspect that her constant melancholy and seriousness might be considered a tad tiring after a while. Fortunately for her (and for us) Park Shi Hoo plays one of the two men who are after her heart, and his character has such an outgoing personality and charisma that you can’t help but root for the unlikely pair.

The entire casting was spot-on anyway. From the main to the secondary characters I can’t possibly bring myself to imagine other actors playing their parts; they practically owned them.

Not much to say about the music, I hardly ever notice it, but I did find myself whistling the ending song on my way to work the other day, and I almost chocked when I heard a traditional Greek song playing in the background.

Overall I’m giving it a high rating for originality, a well written plot and endearing characters.

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My initial impression of this drama was that it was going to be badass, but less aesthetically appealing than other dramas because of its small budget. That's why it took me by surprise when the director used his limited budget to his advantage. Granted, the camerawork and special effects weren't that great, but I actually did enjoy this drama.
Story: The premise was a little cliche for my taste. Two twin brothers who feel at odds and are polar opposites? Not exactly a twist. But somehow the writers managed to infuse a scattering of random cliches and use them to create an original and action packed story. It wasn't perfect, but at 4 episodes long, this drama special was a nice watch when you want a break from the cutesy rom-coms of dramaland.
Acting: None of the actors were very well known, and you could tell they were new to their jobs, but that didn't affect this drama the slightest. They all had a very nice stage presence.
Music: Was there music? I honestly can't remember. *shrug*
Rewatch value: The second time is never as good as the first, so I don't think I'll be rewatching. I might skim through it again if I'm bored, but I wouldn't watch it all over again.
Overall: Nice story with nice actors. Not exactly a forgettable drama, but not exactly something I will remember forever.

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Many people have already reviewed it in detail.

My take- watch it for entertainment, for comedy, for visuals, for a low stress plot, sweet chemistry, slow burn nostalgic romance.
The best part is that there is no rush, all stories (including the support characters ) have a conclusion. The highlight is the proposal and wedding which most C dramas rush. Here it is done elegantly so we feel their joy and when their story ends we come out of their world feeling happy.
For viewers who like a slow-burn character driven love story (we can say slowest of the slow-burn until episode 24 when they confess and then its all sweet and fluffy moments making it worth the wait) it is recommended.
For Miles Wei fans who have been waiting since You Are My Secret (July 2024) for a romcom of his, (probably the last one of this kind from him) this is a must watch!
For anyone who have watched him in Flourished Peony and Love Beyond The Grave who want to see him in a green flag role.

It delivers exactly what it promises: a fluffy, satisfying romance with a definitive happy ending.


Realistic rating 8-8.5

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A pleasantly beneficial KMovie infusion. Quiet. Tender. Full of consolation & healing impulse

"One Day" is a beautiful KMovie. Quiet. Tender. Full of consolation and healing impulse. In addition, the story expands the usual dimensions of perception - human being sees ghost; man builds relationship with ghost. The extraordinary situation facilitates extraordinary closeness, opens up new perspectives and allows the male protagonist to look behind the obvious.

The female lead character is visually impaired in life, yet specialized in sensing touch instead. The male protagonist, on the other hand, finds himself in a stage of his life, where he prefers to avoid his feelings, because they might overwhelm him. His inability to face the grief over his deceased wife, his feelings of guilt and being lost completely block him. By the way, the female protagonist is also blocked: she is in a coma.

The process of rapprochement between the two triggers a healing process, which is captured tenderly and lovingly, reaching out to the side plots, too. The KMovie knows how to touch. It might come along in an unexcited manner, yet with the perseverance of water, dealing with the stone...

After seeing the movie for the first time, I had no idea what had happened to me. It had pulled me into gentle inebriety. I had actually been sucked in and completely lost the distance.
So I couldn't write anything about it at first. I knew, l would rather want to see it again sometime in the near future. And again, it might not have been my last encounter with “One Day”. Why? Because of the overall gentle tone, the particular radiance, and the unique look&feel of this story. Because it's good.

“One Day” is not a blockbuster, no. However, in my eyes and according to my feeling, it offers a pleasantly beneficial KMovie infusion. (With wonderful acting, too.)

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when hurt people hurt and love each other (we need a season 2)

Overall: an angsty series with good tension, but a few too many unanswered questions for my taste. 5 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI, first episode link https://www.iq.com/play/gray-shelter-episode-1-1yzhwhotbkc?lang=en_us

Note: see a comment with spoiler for my thoughts on the ending

Content Warnings: parental abuse

Timeline Notes (the flashbacks weren't very clear)
- episode 1 starts in the present and then at 6:05 the rest is flash back
- episode 2 starts in flashback, goes to present at 10:30, flash back 19:25-20 and then returns to the present (the package is from his bio dad at the beginning, not step dad)

What I Liked
- a more serious vibe
- tension
- good for the girlfriend for not putting up with that
- acting
- production value

Room For Improvement
- there were 2 main issues that were alluded to but never directly explained that I wanted the answers
- that friend was a huge a**hole for ratting him out to his dad, can't believe the main character apologized to him
- could have shown things a bit more directly, I thought that beep was his phone going off, didn't realize someone was leaving the apartment which gave important context and showed 1 character was slightly less of a jerk than I thought he was
- they needed to make the flashbacks/present differ more, it made things needlessly confusing in the beginning
- pacing was slow at times and then the end felt rushed/incomplete

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SCIENCE NEVER LIES BUT HUMANS DO

Thailand never fails when it comes to Horror. Ghost lab is a simple story of two doctors trying to prove Ghosts exist. The visuals and horror scenes were scary :) THAI Horror is not just a genre, it's an emotion. There weren't many jumps scares but it was an epic thriller-horror and I enjoyed it so much. It was so nice seeing Nychaa, Ice Paris, and Tor together. The acting, cinematography, music, and direction were amazing. I loved it. The ending is so beautiful. The movie not only focuses on Ghosts but also on the human mind. The chemistry between Tor and Ice is raw and interesting. The movie is worth watching and I recommend it.

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Oh my dear Kami-sama,
I have never seen a live action bl done so well and Tanaka Kei plays our awkward main character to perfection. I love the way he portrays this man suddenly being confessed to by his boss and his best friend. Sure he isn't married and has constantly been rejected by woman, but God (the director) has given him two potential love interests. It's a hilarious comedy and you will find yourself cringing at all the right times. The ending will leave you smitten and happy you watched it. I also find his honesty as a straight male Japanese man, finding out that too men like him refreshing because he's speaking out what society has made him believe male on male relationships are like. So it is even more refreshing when we see his perspective change and truly look at these men who are in love him at face value. But overall this is hilarious and a great watch, and if your'e bored and want to spend 48 minutes and 11 seconds of your life, laughing your heart out, watch it in the link below:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59hsx0

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By chance, I happen to watch the animation movie first of this story. It was too beautiful and I searched a lot about the manga and found out that there is the live drama made as well. I was so happy to find the series (even though it's complete, it's still raw. But luckily I understand Japanese a little bit, so I get most of it). After watching the anime, reading the manga and watching the drama, I felt like I couldn't get enough of watching Suzu and Shusaku's life together (I still can't move on yet.) The story is just beautiful.

The setting of the drama is in Kure, a naval city in Hiroshima province. The story told about Suzu's and her new family life during the harsh time of WWII. (it touch a little bit about the Atomic bombing at Hiroshima). It was very interesting to see how the Japanese lived and what they felt during the war. Personally, I was born from a country which was used to be occupied by the Japanese. The textbook only taught about one side view of the war. Being the oppressed or the occupier. It was interesting to see it from the other side of the view and learn that no one wants to go to war and war really does not benefit anybody (the one who starts always is the person from the above not the people).

I'm not very familiar with the casts. But they sure did a wonderful job. The act feels really natural and the story is not being forced at all. I can say very confidently that even if you read the manga, you won't be disappointed or being bored with this drama.

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If you're a fan of Bi Rain...then you won't like to miss his BEST role ever....
It's one of writer Lee's great works "she also wrote Sorry I Love You, A Love To Kill, Thank You, Innocent Man..."
The plot for this show was really great and the acting was fabulous...
both Rain and Gong Hyo Jin played their roles perfectly but the big surprise was Lee Dong Gun...he was so great that you won't mind seeing him end up with Sang Doo (the male lead) instead of Eun Hwan...
for short this drama has it all from humor to drama to romance to school...For me it's Just a must watch ^^

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Subversion of Chinese Rom Com tropes with love and feminism

You're not going to understand this drama is you haven't watched Chinese Rom Coms before.

The whole drama is a satire of Chinese Rom Coms. So if you're viewing it as a pure Chinese Rom Com, you're going to miss a lot.

It particularly aims at Gu Man and Zhao Qian Qian's Rom Coms, and makes constant references to both. But in holding up the tropes of rom coms, it also aims to subvert them with a lot of love and inject reality into the drama.

Gu Man always has the rumor mill as part of her writing as why the characters get together, but this drama plays heavily with the idea that rumors can get characters together.

And Zhao Qian Qian's dramas always plays with the woman/girl being in humanities, like English/Lit/Chinese, etc and then the guy being in science of some sort. But the drama plays with this trope and inserts a sweeter message about this idea. It particularly takes shots at "Put your Head on My Shoulder", but also some of her other dramas (with a lot of love).

Lu Wan Wan ends up being the person who is the science major. And looks like she'll earn more money. And Ren Chu isn't made dumb at a cost of this. Ren Chu is more smart on the humanities side--mentioning foreign languages, etc.

The basic format is to set up the trope, then subvert the trope (this is second and third act), then insert a sweeter message about the philosophy of love. The setting up of the trope always comes with a bit of second-hand cringe which comes from the inexperience of the characters and I'm always finding myself hiding behind blankets, pillows, etc as it is happening and then going wrong. The subversion is always, always funny, as what you expect to happen never happens and what the characters state should happen never happens in some of the funniest scenes. But the thing that really captures your heart in the end is the ending messages of each of the episodes on various subject matters. Some of the subjects include how to deal with rumors, love contracts, forced and accidental kisses, "trapped mystery room", "Best friend knows best", evil girl, etc. And the ending message is always uplifting about what love is and could be compared to how it is portrayed in dramas.

The top complaints about this drama are probably unfounded based on the fact many of the commenters don't seem to understand how subtle of a hand this drama has.

The comments about how long it takes for the characters to get together--the drama justifies this up front with you and tells you this is going to be the case--because that's not the point of the drama. It doesn't sacrifice character development to do this, if anything, it's spending time on each of the "How they get together" tropes to develop the characters and their sense of what love is so you really, really believe the ending of the drama that much more.

The writing's downfall is because it relies so much on tropes, it can make it seem slower than people expect it to be. Sitting through uncomfortable tropes makes it a bit difficult, but it always pulls out of the nose dive and inserts feminism later. And the other weakness of the writing is that the "evil" best friend isn't really fleshed out--but I kinda feel like this was cut out of the drama rather than intentionally ignored/cut down. But the better messages about what love is and is not are worth watching the drama for. (The Second Lead's love story enhances the Lead's love story and is wrth the watch for the character development and message it says).

The acting and directing though--there are some really gorgeous and well-thought out camera work from the director, as the director uses various types of shots to communicate how the characters feel, but doesn't substitute that for the trust in the actors. And the acting exaggerates the character types to the nth degree on purpose, so it reads as overacting in some parts, but doesn't betray the character's write up. This shores up some of the weaknesses in the writing and enhances it, so I did find it stronger than the writing.

The production values are probably around 7 or so. They didn't have the highest budget in the world, BUT they used it well. There are various locations, there are filters naturally applied, the actors are (mostly) not dubbed over without their voices. So if you don't pay attention that closely you won't notice the budget is not really that high. HOWEVER, it doesn't scream to you they had over-the moon budget.

This is slow, steady, slice of life and delivers laughs throughout with the best messages about what love is, if you're willing to take the time with it and not treat it as a fast food drama, but pay attention to some of the details.

Feminism tests:
Mako Mori: Clean pass, but it takes a while for the female character to find what her goal is and that is for herself. But it's done in the sweetest way possible and the drama constantly promises you along the way it'll get there. So when you do, your jaw drops at the feels. (I wasn't crying. No really. And I wasn't pounding my chest. I swear.)

Bechdel Test: Clean pass first episode within a few minutes of the episode, without question. Two named female characters talk about... medical issues related to the class.

Sexy Lamp: Easy pass first episode and keeps passing into the second episode with an even cleaner pass. Lu Wan Wan is not a sexy lamp. She's shown to be smart, able, makes decisions that affect other characters which changes the direction of the plot definitely, definitely more than one time and isn't only a pretty face. This is true throughout the drama where instead of losing agency like in the melting or evaporating woman trope, she gains agency and makes more firm decisions which naturally grow with her character development. (Honestly, this made it a pleasure to watch since the drama promised from the first it would do this, and really delivers on the promise.

Other feminism it does includes, but is not limited to, examining codependent relationships, asking questions about "wanting to change the romantic partner", and gendering of some of the rom com stock characters.

If this were food... I'd rate this Taro Cake. You were expecting sweet, but did you expect the taro to be nutritious and in there? No. But do you enjoy it anyway? Yes.

I tried knitting to this drama, but made a lot of mistakes because it was too good. So I wouldn't craft to this.

Front burner type of drama, not back burner. Pay attention and you get rewarded highly.

If you pay attention well enough, it'll ruin all the rom coms you watch after it. I'm struggling with some rom coms currently where I can't help but think back to this drama and how they showed how love could be done better. Only one other drama has ever done this to me--The King of Dramas (Korean). So that says a lot. (And I watched a TON of dramas, more than listed on my profile.)

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