Reviews

Guilty or Not Guilty !?

The main plot of this drama centres around Euthanasia. Euthanasia becomes the unsettling heart of a moral dilemma that challenges both of the characters Kan and Wasan's values. What begins as a search for answers soon turns into a personal battle as Wasan, a police officer is introduced to confront the reality of mercy killings and whether or not they can be justified. His growing closeness with Dr. Kan adds an intriguing layer of complexity, blurring the lines between love, duty and the harsh realities of death.

For me, this drama wasn't about uncovering the truth or catching the killer but about exploring the human cost of decisions that challenge life itself!

Tor and JJ delivered flawless performances. Tor's portrayal as Dr. Kantaphat was PERFECT! He brought a compassionate yet a chilling presence, the enigmatic doctor whose motives and choices remain shrouded in the mystery. At the same time, JJ as Wasan was subtle yet powerful. The turmoil and inner conflicts of a man torn between his duty and his feelings for Kan were delivered beautifully by him.
Both of them navigated the complexity of their roles really well making the ethical questions feel personal and real. The acting in the last episode was FLAWLESS especially Tor's.
The chemistry between them was so palpable! The tension, those gazes, the unspoken desire!! Their love story was not the main focus, I like how it was kept minimal but enough! The pace does bother me a bit, but considering the 8 episode run time, it can be managed.

While the emotional depth and acting were undeniably strong, it isn't without flaws. There were moments where characters just decided to overlook logic and reasons. And also I felt lapses in the police investigations distracting me from an otherwise gripping narrative. While as a viewer I understand it is to push the plot forward, but those unnecessary blind spots in the investigation sort of bothered me.

Overall, the balance between love, guilt and moral dilemmas makes this a good watch from start to finish despite its minor flaws. Recommended if you liked medical thrillers ( I would categorise it as thriller xD) and a bit of moral complexity, this is worth checking out.

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Short review

So, I'm just gonna say that this drama is so fresh and hilarious. Miaoyi and Jun's chemistry is on par and at the same time, it's so cute. I've never laughed like this. I've also loved the kids who acted as Chao Chao and Tutu. 😭 They're so cute. Every episode is funny af.

lmao. I couldn't forget that part where XiaoTu was literally thrown out of their house, and yet she's so happy af.

indeed, it's worth the wait. I just don't like the way they just throw all the episodes in one day, now it's spoiled. But carats are hilarious thought. Their edits are epic.

Now, gimme Wen Junhui in costume drama.

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This drama is everything there's romance, suspense, comedy, supernatural elements and so much more. The chemistry between the actors is everything, especially when the leads aren't very experienced but the acting is top notch. I can't stress enough how proud I am of Jinyoung - to me he is considered to be one of the best idol actors. Also the OST is so good - love how fellow got7 members support Jinyoung so much on his first lead role as well. At first I thought this was going to be another boring drama where the suspense only lasts a couple of episodes, BUT NO, it carries until the very end and has all kinds of dark twists and turns that are not expected at all. All the actors were so good at portraying their role, even though there were so many ups and downs, I will def miss this drama and this cast acting together. PLS MAKE ANOTHER SEASON !! I hope to see more JYP actors in dramas!! 10/10

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Good start, poor finish!

To be honest, I didn't know from the start that we would get this series. I found about it in a random way, but when I saw that Gun had the main lead, I was super excited. When I watched the first episode, I felt that they would provide us with the sth different that the rest typical Thai BLs. Boy was I wrong....

Quick summary: A good start that led to a crappy finish.

CHARACTERS

Our main lead couple is Sun and Sky. Sky, who is portrayed by Gun, is the rich son of a ethical mafia boss. I know that "ethical" can't describe a mafia boss, but bear with me. On the other hand, Sun (Boat) is an orphan man that was put under Sky's father guidance since he was young, for a weird reason. After some incidents and as Sky's life is in danger, Sun is appointed as his bodyguard and follow him 24/7.

Our second lead couple is Pitch and Bank. Bank (Tenon), is the goofy childhood friend of Sky, and is familiar with Sky's background, and he attends the same university as SunSky. On the other hand, Pitch (Sugus), is a senior of the three boys. On an unrelated topic, Sugus has a powerful eyebrow game. That dude can do anything with his eyebrows.

Lastly, we have our two females in the series, Juno (Apple) and Toktang (Jane). Both of them are classmates with our trio and friends with Pitch. Toktang is a shy and down to earth girl and at first she seemed to be the love interest of Sky, as he seemed interested in her; while, Juno, is an honest girl who was openly interested in Sun.

PLOT

I am sure that most of us when we read the description for the series we already had an idea of what the plot is going to be like. Honestly, what I thought about the series was true. Every assumption and stereotype that I predicted was true. Bodyguard and young master are falling in love, their statuses won't allow this relationship, they fight, they reunite, happy ending. That's it. Okay, sure, for once the real villain in the series isn't another love interest, but it is an unethical mafia boss that wants to sell drugs on Sky's father territory, but he refused. So, the bad mafia boss tries to kill the son of the good mafia boss.

Though, I have to admit that the first episodes were exciting and I thought that finally we found a thai series that won't have stupid clichés. Well, as I said earlier, I was wrong. One cliché after the other, people falling in love with the other person in a spam of a second, fights between the couples for the silliest things, unwanted jealousy, and happy ending.

ACTING

Well... I might be an asshole... but... the acting... was bad....

First of all, let me say about the role of Gun. I was glad that in this series they didn't make Gun's role as the typical non-good-looking character (e.g. LBC in which everyone pointed out how plain and ugly he was); and instead he played for once a confident role. Even though I liked Gun's role, I didn't like his acting that much. I believe that he is better of with a comedy role. In the series, there were many scenes that required him to either cry or be sad; and for me it just didn't work. That being said, in my personal opinion, I feel that Gun's acting is getting better as the time goes by.

Moving on to Boat's performance, I have to admit that this was the first that I watched with him in the cast. I found that his expressionless face was kind of fun in many cases, but again I don't think that I liked his acting. One of the main reasons, is due to the script. I believe that as an actor he has many things to give, but he needs the right script and plot.

As for Tenon, I found him a little awkward in many scenes and I thought that his expressions could be improved. Taking into account his age, I think that in the future we would see more of him. Last but not least, we have Sugus. That dude he was a master in controlling his eyebrows. What the hell? I found his flow and personality better than the rest of the cast. However, he also had some awkward scenes.

I may point out the negative parts, but as an overall, I believe that the four actors could give us more, if they had better script on their hands.

MY OPINION

I know that nobody cares about my opinion, but whatever! To be honest, the description was pretty descriptive so I do not know why I am so disappointed with what I watched. The thing is that this series seemed to be different from the rest. We didn't have any cringe/stereotypical scenes in the first two episodes, we had a manly main lead, and a story that could give us many things. But then the third episode happened.

WHAT THE FUCK? It was the cringiest and the worst episode that I have ever watched. We have two people, that in the beginning Sky doesn't like Sun, but when he learned that he never relaxed or went to a nice place, he would take him. LIKE A DATE... DUDE!!!! Sky who doesn't like Sun, I REPEAT, takes Sun for a date, and they share their drinks, their food, they wear matching funny hats, take pictures, and Sky buys them a matching heart necklace, that each of them has one part of the heart. DO YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING? Dude, that was so cringy to watch. wtf? I haven't read the novel of the series, so I'm not sure when they were supposed to develop feelings for each other, but that was so tough to watch.

That leads me to my next point. As someone who was only watching the series, I wasn't able to understand when our main leads developed feelings for each other. It was like some scenes didn't make it to the final cut, and we were left with half the story. We don't get to know why Sky's and Sun's blood was so important till the last two episodes. Why? Moreover, if Sky's life was in danger, and many assassinations happened against him, why did he still attend the university and the university activities? Lastly, where is the police in those type of series? Sky was almost killed in the university's bathroom but nothing happened after that? WHAT IS GOING ON? I think that the screenwriters wanted to create more tension for the couple and just used everything they thought.

Also, I want to touch the topic of product placements. As you may have noticed, in the first episodes, there is no product placement. As someone who hates how the products are being showed in the thai series, I was happy with the absence of them. Until that fucking episode came. You know what I am talking about, the one in which they leave for the camping. DUDE! DONT! DO! THAT!

Anyway, that's it. It's a shame that it didn't work out in the end, but I didn't have any kind of expectations for this series.

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A crying shame.

The Story of Pearl Girl is the story of an intrepid pearl diver's harrowing journey from the despair of a slave farm to the heights of the prosperous Yangzhou jewelry guild. Aided by an erudite nobleman Zhang Jinran and a ruthless and calculating merchant Yan Zijing, Duanwu escapes from the exploitative clutches of the Cui clan. She throws her lot with Yan Zijing, choosing to make her own way in the world as a merchant galley serf over the more certain future of a nobleman's harem. After multiple betrayals and double crosses in the dog-eat-dog culture aboard Zijing's ship, she emerges clear eyed and better equipped to survive a ruthless, avaricious business world. She learns that underneath his merciless facade, Zijing is saving her by teaching her to save herself; that they have a shared past that she has barely scratched the surface of understanding.

Set in a cruel world fraught with treachery, avarice and oppression that belies the ostentatious luxury of the jewelry trade, the narrative is laden with an air of heaviness from start to finish. It is a character story about how one resilient woman fights her way to the top of the jewelry business during feudal China. The characters are well designed with Duanwu and Cui Shijiu as two women who have to fight for their place in a man's world; one who starts with nothing and the other with everything, to lose. Likewise the cynical and realistic Yan Zijing went to the school-of-hard-knocks while the righteous and idealistic Zhang Yiran clearly had an ivory tower education. Both Yan Zijing and Cui Shijiu are consumed by revenge and on opposite sides of a blood feud not of their own making but one's cause is just while the other's is not. I enjoyed watching how these characters, with at times common and at other times with opposing world views interact and react to the situations they are thrown into. Plot wise, the logic holes are evident from the start but for character driven stories, I am very forgiving for as long as the characters stay largely consistent and relatable. But once the characters start to unravel, the issues with the plot are amplified and the entire narrative becomes a mess.

I genuinely enjoyed and was engaged by the first arc of this drama. It is both fascinating and difficult to watch the stunning backdrop of the swashbuckling high seas and the exotic and dangerous Silk Road marred by the unmitigated oppression and cruelty of the ancient world, especially towards women and children. Zhao Lusi's Duanwu is spirited, tenacious and undaunted as she fails again and again until she succeeds. I could understand why Yan Zijing resonated better with her but could also see that she lacked the maturity to appreciate how Zhang Yiran's wisdom and knowledge of the law would aid her later on. These three main characters richly complement each other in their strengths and flaws to make a formidable team when they work together. I didn't mind the romance but I didn't need it and it went a bit abruptly from red flag master-servant to lovers. Nonetheless I was looking forward to it growing and had hoped to see them right past wrongs together. I did not expect it to take a wrong turn down the path of the worst noble idiot trope in recent memory, nor for it to last pretty much until the end of the drama. That is when The Story of Pearl Girl, turns into yet another period drama that starts strong and then inexplicably nosedives at the mid-point and never manages to recover.

After the convoy arc, a traumatized Duanwu re-emerges as Su Muzhe, a detached, gently sad and bland character who Disney princess cries almost every other episode. Lusi's vapid and weepy interpretation of the role lost me as much as her Duanwu engaged me. Duanwu would have gotten angry and demanded an explanation from Zijing or plotted revenge. I was baffled by the Su Muzhe who manages to coldly co-exists with him in the same city, moves on and focuses on business, vowing to live a good life nonetheless. This is so out of character it is almost impossible to reconcile Su Muzhe with Duanwu. I rooted for the feisty Duanwu of the first half who dares to love and dares to hate. The passive aggressive Su Muzhe who only dares to cry turns what could have been a terrific story into a crying shame. The narrative meanders into maudlin sub-plots about boring and poorly acted tragic side characters. Gratuitous crying scenes have diminishing impact, no matter how good the actor is at them. Long before the drama ended, I was bored by Su Muzhe's endless pity parties and stopped caring for her. Su Muzhe is not the kind of role that plays to Lusi's innate strengths and charisma. I hope she avoids taking on such characterisations in the future.

The other narrative mistake was to separate the three anchor characters at the same time so many of the early supporting roles are transitioned into new ones, forcing the audience reinvest in new characters all over again. Yue Yunxiu is a boring, flighty character that has no chemistry with Su Muzhe and fails to shore her up in the same way Kang Ju lifts up Yan Zjijing. The entire business partnership between the women lacks flair and pizazz; I can't imagine any joy in shopping for jewelry at an establishment run by such a dolorous pair. The narrative makes a lame attempt at comedy too late in the game and it is largely left to actors that lack Lusi's fantastic comedic timing. Even when the three friends join hands again, their dynamic is not the same and Duanwu never reemerges.

As for the romance, it stagnates even after they reunite and never blossoms into a full blown relationship. I would have liked to see them seize the day and live in the moment in a way that gives us something really worth crying over. Instead all we do is watch them mourn what could have been. It is incredibly unfair to Muzhe because Zijing refuses to move forward but yet can't set her free either. I wish they both chose differently but since they did not, the way their romance ends is fitting. I respected Zijing's choices especially in the end but I think Su Muzhe's victories were all hollow and I hoped she would find Duanwu again within herself but she never does. I enjoyed how Liu Yuning portrayed Yan Zijing's darkness and complexity but after the best first arc, he is too quickly whitewashed and sidelined. Even though the final arc is all about his justice, he doesn't get to do that much as the hidden villain is too obvious to the audience early on and most of the antagonists are so dumb they pretty much outed themselves.

Zhang Yiran is the best of friends and that rare character that does the right thing even when its the wrong thing for himself. While Duanwu didn't fit in to his world, he may eventually have been able to console Su Muzhe and I wish they had left that door open just a crack. As for Cui Shijiu, this character caught and held my interest from start to finish as a result of Xie Keyin's bold screen presence and her husky and earthy vocals. Her character is flawed, not that smart or especially well written but Xie Keyin embraced her flaws in such a relatable way and conveyed the role so compellingly that I cared about her and did not drop this drama because I wanted to know how her story ends. She and Zijing are both characters that choose revenge over love but only one of them lives to regret it.

The biggest issue with the storytelling is that it tries to incorporate too many themes and archaic ideas of what an independent and empowered woman is supposed to be. The writers bend the plot and characters in ways that don't make sense or is out of character in order to force certain themes and outcomes. This is not a good way to tell a story. Both Duanwu and Zijing's characters are thrown under the bus just to prove that a woman can make it on her own in business during feudal China. We watch allegedly smart villains kill off characters with no motive other than for dramatic impact and shock value. But what makes me really mad is that it is another scratch on the surface empowerment story written by misogynists with a thinly veiled and insidious message about the fate of women who dare to try to make it in a man's world. A true empowered woman would seize second chances and live well in the true and full sense and meaning of the term rather than to wander aimlessly as a shadow of their former selves.

This was a heavy journey from start to finish that does not end in satisfactory way and the ending contains some really questionable messages. There is no payoff for all the suffering, no one gets a great ending and promises to live well were not kept. In the name of both Madame Eight and Shrimpy, I dare not rate this more than 7/10. It is not a drama I recommend unless you are a die hard fan of either of the lead actors and are able to enjoy anything they are in.

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This series was absolute bull shit for so many reasons

First of all its not a BL series so i dont know where this idea came from - all the two leads talked about was his scalp treatment there was absolutely no romantic interest or feeling's involved.

One of the female characters needed to go - she sexually assulted a man while he was drunk and they tried to pass it off as comedy - that shit aint cute it so disgusting and disturbing that they believe its fine for her to do it to him, but when its the other way round people start getting mad.

Thirdly the series ended without a conclusion- the couples didnt get together, their feelings for each other (the heterosexual couple) was not explored and in all felt like they just gave up with the series and called it a day. And to conclude this shouldnt even be called a drama/series when it was just a dermatologist advertisement

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DOR is overall a very realistic approach to love. The interviews tied in nicely with the direct attitude that the director and the writer were taking as they explored dating and romance. It is refreshingly different drama. I admit there were times when I felt that the characters were playing too many games (around episode 8) and that is why I gave it a lower score. I think it is perfectly reasonablee for a person to be in love with one person and then someone that they cared deeply from the past come and shake things up. I like Yeo Reum'smother basically told her to live and love for herself. Some people think that is selfish, but if a person dooesnt do that, then they just make themselves and everyone around them miserable. Also, if a person is in a relationship where he/she is afraid to be his/herself because they think the other person will break up, then that relationship is doomed from the start. Romance is all sweet and fun at first, but if a person wants it to last, then all the ugly needs to come with it eventually.

Jun Yu Mi was perfect as the cute and flawed Han Yeo Reum. I like that she tried so hard to do what she thought was right. Eric Mun is exceptional as Kang Tae Ha. I had no idea he is such a good actor. He can kiss and is totally hot so he being a good actor is a plus. Sung Joon is one of my favorite actors. I have seen all of his dramas except I Need Romance 3. He does not fail to deliver as Nam Ha Jin. Thee other actors are good too.

Edit: I forgot to mention that Yoo Ah In is the last episode. Whoop Whoop

The music is really good.

If you would like to watch a more realistic drama on love, then I recommend this one.

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why yall mad for

I don't know why all of you stay hating this show. It's literally so simple and cute for people who need a break in between shows that are hectic and all over the place. Sure, the characters were a little show at advancing with their love, but at the end it was still all cute and was worth it in my opinion. I don't know what you guys expected from a 5 episode show where they're all each 15ish minutes. I'm actually really happy the show ended the way it did. The first season was very wholesome so it would have been weird if they included more "adult" situations into this one. I really recommend this and the first season to anyone who needs a little break and who needs a calm show.

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I started this drama on a whim and ended up loving it. It's one of the better romance drama that I've watched in recent years.

The plot is very simple. It is about a teenager crush that evolves into a beautiful relationship once reciprocated. While it is simple, I think the show did a good job overall in portraying the different stages of the relationship. There is no unnecessary angst and the tone remains light and fluffy throughout.

The only thing that makes me rate the story lower is the lack of scenes showcasing ML thoughts. The drama could have used an extra episode to flesh out ML character more. His background story is way too short and he changed from brotherly affection to full on loving the FL so quickly that I find it a bit abrupt. It would be better if there are more scenes showcasing his hesitation and motivation. The novel did a much better job fleshing out his character imo.

The casts are definitely the highlight for me. Everyone fits their role so well and the acting feels quite natural. I love all the 3 leads, though I am most impressed with Chen Zheyuan. His eyes deliver so much emotion! The chemistry between the 3 leads are amazing. I definitely will be checking out their future projects.
I also really like the OST because they fit and added so much to the scenes.

Overall I really like this drama. It is well produced and I could tell a lot of thought and effort went into it. It was good from beginning to the end. Although I feel like they could use 1 or 2 more episodes, but overall I'm very satisfied with the series.

I would recommend this drama for anyone that likes romance, slice of life, and something simple in general. This drama has been my happy pill after a long tiring day at work for the past 2 weeks, so I would definitely missed it.

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One of the best Thai series/drama I have ever watched!

I can’t even describe how good this series/drama was... It was spooky, scary, interesting, magical, spectacular, powerful and many many more! It just left me speechless … I could feel the same tension from the beginning until the very last second. Acting was incredible and music, sounds, special effects, just every little detail was on point here.

One thing I regret is that I can’t give it more than 10 stars here…

I totally recommend it to anyone that likes supernatural type of series with a little bit of romance in the background, you won’t be disappointed. I’m hoping for season 2 of this masterpiece.

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When I watched the first ten episodes of Chicago, I was so in love that I was ready to give out the big fat ten I’ve been sitting on top of since forever now. At some moments I was laughing the thigh slapping, seal clapping kind of belly laugh, where I just had to pause the screen for a while and simply revel in the happiness the show brought me and on other moments, I was crying heartfelt tears because of something that touched me so deeply. At times, I felt so much warmth in my heart that I wondered if anytime now, it will plop out from my chest and melt in a gooey puddle on the floor. I had so much affection for the characters that their hurt was my hurt and their joy my joy. But then… episode 11 hit and somehow Chicago lost a lot of its touch.

Suddenly you had your typical K-Drama over-dramatic melo shit everywhere. Everything became a thousand times more sappy, illogical and emotional in a try-hard way. The pacing became shit. Plot-holes tumbled in and things that should’ve been huge just ended up being anti-climactic. And before you know it, Chicago ends on a note so “MEH” that it’s a disservice to the once precious drama. For sure, most people are probably going to love Chicago’s ending episodes too but for me since this drama was all about being subtle but powerful the extra turns it took, did not slide.

Here are some aspects of the show and my take on it:

-Yoo Ah In’s BeWhy inspired shitty haircut:
We are all superficial people to some extent and Yoo Ah In’s egg shaped haircut is no doubt a fashion disaster but there are some actors who don’t need appearance to make things work because their talent is enough. And Yoo Ah In tops the list. He just gets how to handle me and he always manages to wring my emotions like a masterful puppeteer. So much so, that at this point I think that he’d be able to perfectly emote even if he had a giant garbage bag on his head. He is spectacular as always here, playing two roles with different personalities all at the same time and excelling at both. And just for those of you, who simply cannot get over the hair-do, the drama comes with a sexy as hell past version of Yoo Ah In, with great hair and a lot of badass. ;)

-Weak female lead:
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. If there is one person who can sell me a damsel in distress it’s Im Soo Jung. I remember her brilliance in MiSa about  7 years ago and I still find her really likeable. Unfortunately because of her doe eyed look and an eternal stupid expression, she is often typecast into the “dumb but kind” roles. But I feel like despite that she always manages to shine through with her inner strength and true, she does exactly that in the first ten episodes. But after that, the writers started to confine her in a box again. Too much crying. Too much need saving. Too much “woe-is-me” bullshit. That her personality just falls under.  And it’s a shame too because she is supposed to me this “bad-ass sniper” with like a trillion qualities and so sadly this whole thing made me realize that while I do like Im Soo Jung, I hate damsels in distress more. And soon for me, Jeong Sol turned from being adorable to annoying real quick.

-Han Se Ju:
A lot of people think that HSJ is just one of those “bad boys” who are actually bad guys but that’s just not true. Sure, the writers tried to force the image on him with the whole “wrist grabbing, temper tantrum throwing, macho alpha asshole” bullshit but it still isn’t true. Because Han Se Ju is an actual sweetheart. A passionate, sensitive and thoughtful man who can act like a complete petty toddler at times but an admirably strong old soul at others. For me, he was a character close to my heart ‘cause I know I’ve myself thought so many of the things that he believes in, I have felt so many emotions that he goes through and that makes him so relatable to me. He’s a beautiful man inside-out, with all his lows and trust issues intact.

Sound track:
While Chicago has a brilliant soundtrack and the show makers did get the play timing right most of the times, there’s one weird ass instrumental that they unfortunately play in the most poignant scenes in the later episodes, effectively ruining the impact. Tragic.

Bromance:
By far, my favorite bromance, simply because of how natural and heartfelt it is. It stays strong from the first episode to the last and soon became the only reason I continued with the show.

Other:
The romance is good. The side characters are endearing. The kisses are enjoyable. The antagonist does a very good acting job. The past and present weave effortlessly and are  interesting to follow. The cheeky and often hilariously cringey supernatural effects are a delight. While the ending episodes are mediocre at best, the first ten are so emotionally powerful that at the end I couldn’t help but give it an 8.5, still.

Do I recommend? Yes. Definitely. Because despite its flaws Chicago in its core is a beautiful story about friendship, loyalty and the inseparable bond between three people that transcends time. This is a show that you absolutely have to give a chance to. It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not, it’s worth at least a try. This isn't a drama you should judge by reading other people’s opinion, you simply have to experience it yourself.

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This is my first review on here and I have watched a number of dramas and thought about writing a review but this is the first one where I knew I had to write one.

I am not sure where to start with this drama as this is an amazing drama. Probably one of the best dramas of 2015 if not the best. I could talk about how great this drama is for a long period of time but I will try to make this review as short as I can.

First things first. I started watching this drama as soon as it came out because I found out about it a month or so beforehand. As soon read the synopsis I was hooked. I have never seen or heard of anything like that for a Korean drama. So the synopsis is what drew me in but seeing who was cast as the lead characters made me want to see it more. The only thing I was worried about was where they going to be able to pull off a drama like this. Well my worry went away straight after the first episode and left me blown away. Some dramas start really great but then start to slow down and others take a few episodes to get going. While watching D-Day not once did it slow down, it continued the momentum it started and kept it going through all 20 episodes. I never felt bored or tired and each episode left me wanting to watch the next one right away.

Story
The story for this drama as I said before is something that I have not seen or heard of for a Korean drama. I was worried how it was going to work out but it was done way better than I expected. The special effects and sets they had made it more realistic. What I really like about the story is that it is so believable. This is something that could happen and I think that is what first drew me to it. I am a person who loves romantic type dramas but what I like about this one is romance is not the main feature. The romance is there but it focuses on the disaster a bit more. You get to see how the doctors and other emergency workers deal with a disaster like this. If you are a person who loves romance in your dramas and likes shipping the main leads together then I will say this drama does have that. It does have some sweet and cute moments admits the tragedy that happens. So don’t worry about that.

Acting/Cast
The cast for this drama I think is perfect. I loved all the actors and their characters even if some characters where not so good. Kim Young Kwang does a phenomenal job in this drama. I first saw him in Love Rain and every time I saw him since he has played a supporting role or played the second male lead. So I loved that he was finally the main lead in a drama and boy did he do an amazing job. He is such a great actor but in this drama you can see just how good he is.
Jung So Min played the female lead and also did a great job. I first saw her in Playful Kiss and while watching this drama you can see how much she has grown as an actress. She plays a doctor in this drama just like Kim Young Kwang and does a great job at it. I really liked her character and also Kim Young Kwang’s. I think both lead actors had great chemistry together and I would love to see them both again in another drama.
Also loved the other actors in this drama. A few of them I recognized and had seen before and loved seeing them again.

Music
The music in this drama was so good. Most dramas have about 4-5 or more OST songs that have music and lyrics but this drama only had 3. But the 3 it had were so good and fit the drama perfectly. One of the best parts about the music was the instrumental/Score soundtrack for the drama. It was amazing to listen to and scored so perfect for the drama. So in all the music is really good and I have already bought the 3 OST songs that were released. I also plan to download the rest of the soundtrack once it’s available on iTunes and possibly buy the physical soundtrack as well. That is how much I just loved the soundtrack.

Rewatch Value
The rewatch value of this drama is so high for me. Actually while I was watching this drama I went back and rewatched a few episodes. This is a drama that I would defiantly rewatch from start to finish a bunch of times. I will probably watch it again very soon and this time introduce it to a friend. Since I watched this drama by myself it would be a great drama to watch with a friend or friends. Also if this drama comes out on DVD with English subs I will defiantly be buying it.

I highly recommend this drama as everything about it was so good. All that is left to say is if you are reading this and trying to decide if you should watch this what are you doing. Go watch it now. It is a must watch drama that should not be missed. One of the best or if not the best drama of 2015.

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Great Character Dynamics, Messy Plot, Fadel and My Mixed Feelings

After Episode 11, I read a comment saying, "This show reaches new levels of stupidity every week, but at least it's still entertaining as hell. Also, it has Fadel." That pretty much sums up why I like this show. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk—but stay with me for a second. Should you watch this? Refer to the final thoughts for a short answer.

(⚠️ Point 4 contains ending spoilers.)

This isn’t exactly a review—more of a discussion and is being written for future viewers to understand that by watching this show, they’ll attach themselves to characters they won't ever forget. The love you’ll have for them will overpower the moments when logic takes a backseat.

When the trailer dropped, expectations were sky-high, which led to massive disappointment for some. Not for me, though, because I didn’t even know this show existed until Episode 2 aired.

So, I think I can explain how *NOT* to get disappointed and just enjoy it for what it is because, trust me, you WILL enjoy it.
1. Don’t expect BDSM.
There’s barely any. The few scenes that touch on it might not even be enjoyable depending on the context. (Or maybe they will be for some?)

2. Is this just pay gorn?
No. It might feel that way in the beginning, but it isn’t just that. Though, I did wish they would just yk HUG sometimes instead of going all the way. Lots of hugs after EP8 tho and most NC scenes were vague ‘going all the way’.

3. Crime and logic? Forget it.
You’d think a story about Hitmen brothers would be action-filled and kinda thrilling with Romance making it all the better? but… nope. This is a ROMANTIC COMEDY, guys. There is some police involvement, but don’t expect anything close to a real crime thriller or something of that sort. Also, if you killed people like Fadel and Bison do, you’d go straight from the crime scene to jail.
That being said, everything is unrealistic af if you really think about it. And I get that not every show needs to be realistic, but when your plot revolves around crime/ this sort of premise, some logic would help make the show better plot-wise. The show lacks that. It has moments that make you go, Really? That’s how GMM is handling this? But despite those moments, the story keeps you entertained throughout. And the characters? They make it all worth it!! Just don’t think about logic and watch it to not miss out on the fun ig.
4. The Ending (Spoilers Ahead!)
GMM tried to give Fadel & Bison a vague redemption arc in Episodes 11 & 12, but honestly? We would’ve been better off without it. And, this pains me to say, but the show might have been more impactful with a bittersweet or even sad ending but a realistic/ logical one. But, of course, it’s GMM. They treat sad endings like the plague.

Now, Let’s Talk Characters.

Fadel:
I thought I had a lot to say, but now that it’s time… I have no words. My love for Fadel is overwhelming. He’s easily one of my all-time favorite characters. Joong Archen Aydin is SO RIDICULOUSLY HOT that I wanted to punch my laptop multiple times. Fadel needs to shoot me ten times and then kiss the pain away—okay, I’ll stop. But seriously, GAWD, the things sweet-talker Fadel could get out of me, I’d be for the streets frfr.

"There must be something seriously wrong with you if you like the smell of gasoline."
"Really? I'm an addict then."

His smile, his hair, his grief, his sharp words, everything about him is beautiful. And Joong’s expressive eyes? They drive me batshit insane! Bonus: The Episode 5 garage scene. "Excuse me, my car broke down." The way he delivered that line made it my all-time favorite NC scene and EP11: “Can we just hug for 10 minutes straight?”

Style:
Alexa, play Diva by Beyoncé.

If I had to describe Style in one word? DIVA. In one sentence? A forever-empathetic, sensitive lover boy whom social anxiety is terrified of.

Style quickly became the most enjoyable character, giving us so many iconic lines:
- "I’m already thinking of opening an OF, and you (Fadel) can be my first bang."
- "SHIT, KANT, YOU MADE ME HIT ON A GUNMAN! I could've made the headlines: Handsome Man Killed in the Woods."
- "Gorgeous man with clear skin found dead in a crop top. My dad will recognize me right away."
- And the most iconic: "Good morning, Khub."

He’s flirty, wears his heart on his sleeve, and puts on a front of happiness—until Episode 11, when he ugly cries and breaks my heart. He’s the definition of a 'girl bestie' who will bring joy into your life.

Bison:
An actual puppy.
Bison is type of person who doesn’t have some grand ambition in life—he just wants a little bit of love and a home. The pain Khaotung expresses in moments of pure rage is phenomenal. His acting in this role was next-level, and his chemistry with First? Out-wordly!
Kant:
People want complex characters, but they can’t even understand Kant. Everything he did was for his brother. No, he couldn’t just leave Babe with Style’s family and let the kid wonder why everyone abandoned him. Kant was trapped in an impossible situation and did his best to deal with it. He’s smart and loving, and while you may not like him at first, you will eventually.

Final Thoughts:
This show? A fun, chaotic mess. The plot? not the worst—just illogical at times(Or maybe I’m just being biased here). The characters? Absolutely unforgettable. Would I recommend it? Yeah, IF you go in with the right expectations (the ones mentioned above) and don’t want to miss out on the fun and AMAZING characters, aka your new imaginary friends.
This is getting long, but I think you can tell that JoongDunk will stand out more to most because both Style and Fadel are simply iconic. This is my 3rd “review” so please bear with me if this is not good, helpful, and fun. Like Kant, I, too, tried my best:(

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ambivalence

"Oasis". Hm. I've thought whether I should continue watching or drop the series... I've also considered more than once whether I want to write something about it... My feelings about this KDrama are ambivalent. However, the ´why is this?´ , is why I actually consider it worth mentioning.

Sure, there were bumpy details, like the boys' artificial skin tanning when they were young, but I don't want to dwell on those.
>> The decisive factor for me, not rooting so much for this show, was and is that I really do NOT care so much for ANYBODY in this story. I understand, yes. There is empathy, yes. But sympathy? I couldn't care less. I've never had that before. I actually didn’t care. Neither the love story, nor the incorrigible rival, nor the girl wanting to bring back her father's cinema – this all and more only had limited impact on me. That's why I was tempted to turn my back on the story. Yet, I don't want to deny the actors' ability. I would do them injustice. They did their job fairly well. There are a number of strong moments. But still, maybe they were not the perfect cast? In any case, I would argue that in “OASIS” the character portraits were simply NOT drawn that well. ...In my view, that's obviously NOT the strength of the script...

Then there is the historical context of the series – the rollercoaster ride of the 80's and 90's. In South Korea, they are the neuralgic interface between dictatorship and democracy. But I don't want to dwell on this either.
>> What was decisive for me was that the STORY of the KDrama really mattered to me – whatever triggered the dynamics, the twists and turns. Intertwined with it were indeed countless moments that touched me deeply. Starting with the seed that underlies the whole drama: the fatal loyalty of the former slave not only to his deceased master, who had fought for independence, but also to his son, whom he now still serves as a free man. And then also the fruits that came out of this seed. Plus a lot more. The circumstances, the constraints, the social context that shines through in how it shapes (or had shaped) people, all of this really had me .
The way these forces of time and history run along in the background as a matter of course and keep stirring up the lives of the protagonists at crucial points, I think the script did THAT quite well. (However, I don't know whether it would have worked that way if I hadn't already known something about the political and social context back then.)

Maybe I could summarize: The portrait of how the historical dynamics are intertwined with personal destinies is well done in "Oasis". The character portrait of the comparatively stale protagonists, on the other hand, is less so. This discrepancy, resulting in my rather indifferent experience of the main characters on the one hand, and the emotional force with which the story keeps lashing out on the other hand, is a phenomenon that I have never experienced in a KDrama before. (But I don't necessarily assume that this has to be the same for others as it is for me.)

Eventually, despite the ambivalence, I watched to the end and was always curious to see what would be next. I can't say I regret watching either. But then I wasn´t all that happy in the end - even though I was partially impressed by the showdown, (yet, again, only partially.)



----------------------- Tiny side note: -------------------------------------

Re: 80's and 90's:
In connection with e.g. the KDramas "Sandglass" and "Giant" I have already given some of the political coulors of the 1980s and 1990s. Much of this applies to the historical context of "Oasis" as well. (you might want to check there.) Here, though, the dubious role of the secret service comes more into focus.

Re. Movie theatre:
The dictatorship was characterized by censorship. In addition, there was no freedom to travel. Accordingly, the cinema was like a window to the rest of the world, and generally offered a canvas to dream away from one's own misery, at least for a while. That may be more or less true wherever you look on this planet. But in South Korea at that time certainly more than i.e. in Europe. The role of the ´cinema´ in "Oasis" not only coincidentally represents liberation (struggle - especially of the female protagonist).
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Ps.:
Because of this KDrama I stumbled over another one - same title, 20 years older: "Oasis (2003) " or "Desert Spring".
I am grateful for this discovery thanks to the name-connection. Actually I liked that older one (despite the specific doing of that time) even more...
Nevertheless I consider "Oasis" (2023) having its moments, too...

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A very decent drama about a dark, angsty, misunderstanding-fueled red-flag romance.

(I don't want to spoiler anyone, so click "read more" to view, if you want the quick and dirty summary of this show :P )

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Mannn, it starts off with ML doing some really messed up shit to the FL. But it's all good, because she goes to great lengths to get even. And then mannnn does she do some messed up shit to him! Then they both feel very regretful, and kind of decide to do like a "do-over".

The kisses are decent, the show is kind of tame, but with a spicy kick. The ML and FL have mad chemistry, they look so freakin good together, and they both are great actors. They make such a good pair.

The other parts of this show are really on point. Acting by supporting cast, costumes and styling, music, direction, everything fits together very seamlessly and is so well done, that it's almost hypnotic how you get immersed and just want to keep watching another episode and another and another.... There were parts of the storyline that could have been made more clear, so it's kind of blocky and disjointed. But not too much, it's mainly fine. None of the dialogue really stands out as genius, but it flows nicely and there's no cringe.

This starts out as a toxic as hell romance, but it doesn't end as one. I guess you could say they get it all out of their system and become cured of their sadistic urges toward one another. There is an HE, but it's one of those last-minue HE's that isn't really super satisfying. But the bulk of the show itself is very satisfying, so..... you could see it as a trade-off.

I think it's mayyyybe rewatchable. If I decided one day to rewatch it, it would be for the ML and FL performances, and for the pretty ratcheted-up levels of angst combined with a pleasing dose of spice. The kiss scenes could have been better, but they also could have been a lot worse. This is a cut above the average short-length drama. Definitely worth a one-time watch at least.

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