Reviews

Not perfect, but a very promising path for GMMTV BL shows

I’ll try to be straight to the point, because with a show like this you can end up extending yourself too much cuz there’s so many things to talk about. But I think this one was pretty much almost impeccable in a few aspects, especially regarding its production quality. Well, if we ignore a few special effects here and there, where it felt a bit too amateurish. But it’s easy to ignore that when the rest is so on point. Art direction, music, acting by pretty much all the cast. The fact that we could finally see skin that looks like skin!!! That’s important too.

The social commentary theme is also a breath of fresh air in BL shows (and it’s brave too considering the political context in Thailand!!). It’s often too on the nose, but I think as a show that’s targeted at younger audiences they have to uncomplicate things for better and broader understanding. There’s also the writing conveniences which are mostly done by making the boys’ gang act clueless. Their plans are a mess! But I also think that it’s important to show those characters as far-from-mastermind individuals. They’re super young, after all, and they’re mostly moved by their emotions. Especially Sean. But honestly, all of them with the exception of maybe White, who seems to be the most rational character.

As far as the actual BL parts go, I must admit I was never that into SeanWhite as a couple, despite me thinking that the OffGun chemistry is perfect. What I was invested in, though, was the side couple DanYok, which kinda pulled me in even before I started watching the show (just from seeing Twitter/IG clips). There was something that felt magical in how the storyline began and proceeded to develop for majority of the episodes. Chemistry was fire. But then I don’t understand why the writers/director decided to make them so chaste? Like, Yok looked like he wanted to eat Dan with his eyes. And Dan looked like he was willing to be eaten. And then those two guys end the series with a hug? I’m not saying they should be having wild sex on screen (but I wouldn’t complain if they had)!! Not at all! But they barely kiss. And kissing is not a problem in this show, clearly. See, in the one scene they had in episode 13 they are there having a moment, a heartfelt conversation. The intimacy is visible just by the way they talked and looked at each other. Then Yok looks into Dan’s eyes and gently touches his face. His eyes move to Dan’s lips and that alone was sexy as hell. And then Yok proceeds to touch his lips on Dan’s for about half a second. And then sexy time is over. I don’t know whose decision it was to “nerf” this pairing like this, but it was very tasteless.

Anyways, despite the underwhelming finale (not just because of the DanYok hug, but as a whole), this show was a pleasure to watch and follow weekly. I hope other thai BL directors feel inspired by the work done here because after this the standards are gonna be high.

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When I found Guardian I was totally amazed by this Chinese series and I've never really seen much of Chinese shows before because it just wasn't my thing. Well Guardian changed that.

Story: I can tell you that the story itself may take 1-2 episodes to grow on you but it will. Mostly the show relies on the chemistry between the two main characters/actors though. The story is quite fantasy like and supernatural and definitely something different than the usual rom-com stuff you get everywhere. And over its 40 episode run there is not a single minute that does not fit into the storyline and atmosphere of Guardian. You get drama, action, comedy, sweetness, pretty much all of it!

Acting: The casting for the drama was done perfectly and the chemistry between the main leads is over the top. 80% of the shows awesomeness comes from them. The rest of the cast was superb too and you really forget that these characters do not actually exist somewhere.

Music: memorable, recommendable and I'm totally into it. One awesome fantasy song and one touching ending song will especially stay in your mind.

Rewatch: definitely when I have time.

Overall: for everyone who watches Chinese shows, check this out. For everyone who hasn't tried any or many Chinese shows, this is a great show to start.

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Morality and legality do not always go hand in hand.

Surprisingly coherent storytelling that does not go into preachy territories - truly presenting different perspectives on a complex subject of euthanasia. What's even more amazing is the satisfying ending that makes perfect sense. No, it's not a sarcasm. Ending that I find to be the perfect for both the characters themselves and the themes the show presents. Euthanasia is not a simple topic to discuss since it involves so many conflicting moral and legal aspects.

Is euthanasia the same as murder? If not, what makes it different? When it's a valid option, and can it even be a valid option for any patient? Should politicians have the right to decide when and how we die? Whose suffering should take priority - patients' or their families? If the family is not ready to part with their loved one, should they have any say in deciding if euthanasia should be performed? How to determine if the patient is capable to make that decision themselves? So many questions, no concrete answers. And that's the beauty of this drama.

While the dialogue heavy moments shined the most, the crime aspect could have been improved. Did it bother me how bad the investigation was? At times, yes. But at the end of the day, it was not a crime detective drama, it was a psychological thriller heavy on drama. Realistically speaking, many things did not make sense, but also realistically speaking, I did not care.

Similarly, the romance came out of nowhere and many times I laughed about the validity of leads feelings. And yet, it still hits hard when it needs to. Maybe if the drama was longer, so they had more time to present the relationship in a more evenly paced way... I guess they did what they could with the time they had.

For the performance, Tor in the last episode? On fire with his acting skills. I had to rewatch a certain scene 3 times because I loved his delivery so much. I do not think there was a weak link in the cast - everyone executed their characters in a perfect manner. Yes, I talk to JJ through screen a few times to "put his eyebrow down", but at some point I just started to see it as his charming point. Maybe I was brainwashed? Still, a heavy subject like euthanasia requires skills to present it in a respectful way, and I do think Spare Me Your Mercy achieved just that.

Overall, a great watch. Both entertaining and inviting some reflection to form our own stance on the subject. It knew when to bring back lighter tone and some cute romance, and when to get serious when the scenes needed.

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Should you take a gamble and watch this? Here are the odds that you will like it: The twists and turns this goes through had me cheering and stomping my feet. Long term plotting and scheming that spans decades and life/death choices made instantly by the flip of the coin. Everything is a gamble or can be staked. Everyone has a secret and an agenda except the two brothers who are in the middle of a Cold War.

The story really got to me. The gambling was what drove everything and extremely well displayed story wise and cinematically, making the drama super exciting. This is not a romance! At all! So don't expect anything, no matter how it starts. Be prepared to loose everything and everyone or don't hit that play button. However, you might want to know that this drama is well produced from start to finish and everything is wrapped up nicely and satisfyingly at the end.

Fantastic photo! So incredibly cool. The OST was also suitably dramatic. Brilliant acting by full cast, especially by Lee Moon Shik and Jang Geun Suk.

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This film was great but I have to warn you: It won't suit everyone's taste since there are many people who get scared by their own shadows I wouldn't recommend this to them because it contains horror scenes as some of my friends said : It gave them "nightmares, affected their sleeping's habit and had a horrible imagination because of it" as for me I see that as an exageration; it wasn't that scary. However, you've got to know that I love horror films.
Anyway, I was attracted to this film due to its storyline and the great actors who knew how to deliver emotions.
The story have more romance than horror that's for sure; it was kind of unique so I had so much fun watching it and going through its details as the film went by.
If you don't get scared that easy and love the sweet type of romance then you definitely should check this out.
If you're a person that get frightened quickly and hate horror films then you may have to Keep Out!

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Female lead runs hot & cold & can't convince you she's in love

The male lead is a decent actor & SO attractive that it's a shame the writers haven't given him enough of a part to save this drama. Realistically he couldn't carry the whole series but I found myself wishing they'd let him. The female lead spends 90% of the series crying as she deals with constant trouble mostly due to her stubbornness & unwillingness to trust the male lead. She runs hot & cold , being purposely coy & obtuse which makes it seem as if she is enjoys teasing & toying with the male lead. She looks good for the part but her character, no, really, it's the whole series that's written poorly.

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Wow, this drama was pure brillaince. The start was fast pace and even when it seemed slow you were so caught up in the moment that it didnt bring down the movie.

Although some may say this drama was too emotional I believe that its a good thing, these kids went from fighting over nothing to fighting for their dream. I feel that this movie struck every chord that I expected and even hit some key points that I didnt expect. The tone of the movie switches well and I have to admit that I seriously stayed up at night telling myself "only one more episode." This drama is in my top 10.

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This drama isn't as spectacular as I thought it was going to be. The episodes were only 36 min. but they felt longer just because the story was a little slow at times. I was disappointed, that although the leads were suppose to have this great romance, they only dated briefly before breaking up. Then they spent the rest of the drama a part. So it was kind of hard to feel for them and want them together in the end. I actually liked the stories of the supporting cast much more than the actual romance. The ending could have been done better as well. Still, this is just a great drama to watch when you've seen the better J romance dramas.

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Chasing Freedom, Finding Love: A Journey of the Heart.

This is the tale of Luo Ling Yu, a young woman determined to escape an arranged marriage, not only to protect her parents' legacy but also, later on, to safeguard her own freedom. Along her journey, she repeatedly crosses paths with Lu Yun, and their fates gradually become entwined.

It’s a classic costume drama, filled with humor, charm, chemistry, slightly caricatural antagonists, and engaging intrigue, everything we expect and love from this type of series. I wouldn’t say it reinvents the genre, because it doesn’t, but it’s a well-crafted story that allows us to follow Luo Ling Yu’s journey with excitement as she bravely fights for her freedom. She’s such a delight to watch: bold, endearing, and unafraid to go after what she wants, including the people she cares about. It’s refreshing, especially when so many female leads tend to take a more passive role when it comes to love.

Lu Yun, on the other hand, is the definition of a green flag: sweet, protective, and sometimes adorably jealous. But what I appreciate most is how both he and Luo Ling Yu actively are supporting each other in moments of doubt.

Beyond just the romance, what truly makes this drama shine is its compelling and multi-dimensional characters. The princes and noble ladies aren’t just decorative figures in the background, they have their own ambitions, struggles, and personal growth that make them feel real and engaging. Some of the friendships and relationships are particularly beautiful to witness, like that of Prince Heng Yang and Luo Ling Yu, whose bond is built on mutual respect and understanding. Their dynamic, along with many others in the series, adds emotional depth that makes the story even richer.

I won’t reveal more about the plot, but if you’re looking for something lighthearted, cute, and full of romance, this drama is absolutely worth your time.

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Started of strong but went down hill

The first half was engaging and calming even though extremely slow, you might have to push yourself to complete the series.
The second half is quiet disappointing for me tbh specially the ending it felt like they themself don't know what they should conclude so just left it like that.....Personally I loved the actors as they have done a phenomenal job even the bgm is soothing....But I don't know what to feel as after competing it
I will not watch it again for sure...Give it a try if you want to feel the silence..Lol
I wish they had done a better job with the ending it truly disappointed me

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I'm writing this right as I finished watching the show with tears running down my face because they just won't seem to stop.

Great story, cast, acting, filled with action, corrupt society. Really kind of like what is happening today.
Story very interesting two babies (Song Seung Hun and Yun Jung Hoon) switched at birth by a vengeful nurse.

I got s attached to this drama, I had to remind tell myself repeatedly that it would soon, then I could go back to my life and resist punching my screen was not an option, lol.

towards the end I started having feelings of resentment towards Lee Dong Wook, as I could not believe that he was so stupid and I actually thought him selfish and ungrateful (as I said I got too attached).

Would I re-watch? No, even though it's a great drama, I was upset with the writers, for making the ending like that. You can't just take a good person out of a drama like that, especially one that everyone depends on.

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The best thing to do is to go into this drama blind

TL; DR: It's a drama that deals with a lot of difficult issues, particularly surrounding child abuse and adults' constant abuse of power, which ends in a lot of people (especially the victims) being let down. And for the most part, it is a revenge story with main characters who want the truth to be revealed. A really interesting and eye-opening watch. (I'm sorry this review is soo long)

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You know how you’ll accidently tangle your earphones and try to undo the knots, but every time, a new, much smaller knot appears? You can’t just simply unravel it, that’s now how it works. It takes precision and dedication. And that’s how I sum up this drama. And if that sounds interesting, give it go! 🙂 And the fact that the end has to mention that children and animals were kept safe during the shooting should indicate the type of drama that this is (i.e., it deals with heavy topics which I will include in a trigger warning at the end, so no one is accidently spoiled).

So, why is it called blind? Because in a world where children are most vulnerable, they are not being protected by adults. Instead, they are broken down by the adults around them. These adults are easily able to turn a blind eye to their own wrongdoings, both in the past and present. So much so, that when karma is coming back around, they still maintain a level of blindless where they refuse to accept responsibility or even acknowledge the fact that they are shitty human beings, like literal scum. The main characters, however, refuse to be blinded by this. They work to protect people who have been wronged and get them the support they deserve.

Now, on to the actual review…

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Hm... I almost slightly regret starting this during the first week. It's a thriller. And it's confusing. Not because it's complicated, but more because you don't really know ANYTHING. But despite all that, it's very intriguing.

/PLOT/
I don't have much to say because it's a very mysterious plot. It's a drama that relies on flashbacks at the start of episodes that slowly reveal more and more like a jigsaw puzzle … that just never seems to end..? I'm eager to be able to understand everything that has happened between the flashbacks and present day, and finally connect all the puzzle pieces, yet nervous to know all the bad things that have happened.

The best one sentence synopsis I can give you is: A revenge story focusing on hurting the people around the targets/puppets, rather than the puppets themselves, with an unknown puppeteer controlling everything/everyone.

To add to that, I do think the pacing is okay. It's fast paced in the sense that it feels like the side characters are doing more of the work whilst main characters are in danger. Although this does change, it doesn't exactly feel like the plot is progressing, but I will expand upon that a bit in the next paragraph.

I did have a small gripe early on with how everything seemed so contrived. And I will say that I managed to figure out how it was possible toward the end, and it was then confirmed in the last few episodes, so I'm happy about that. They did manage to fit everything in nicely, in my opinion. Other than that, I also have to bring u the fact that SUNG JOON kept doing his police duties ALONE. He would randomly go meet up with a perpetrator in the middle of the night to arrest him by himself, despite spending the day with his team trying to find said person. Why does he not have a partner??

But since then, another annoyance came into existence (to do with choice the writers made). This will probably count as a spoiler so BEWARE and just skip this paragraph if you want to
⚠️ So, as I previously mentioned, rather than targeting the real baddies, they targeted their children. And in every single case, their children were daughters. And the kids all locked up in Hope Welfare Centre were boys. And I'm not sure why, it just feels icky, especially since nearly all of the baddies were men. So, in order for a character to exact their revenge, they targeted the children of the people they hated, without thinking about how it would affect the children of the buddies' children, for example. I can't quite explain why, but it rubs me the wrong way. Also, one girl who was killed had no connection to the Hope Welfare Centre other than knowing EUN KI. I also just don't understand why she had to be killed, or the events leading to her being in danger in the safest place for her. ⚠️

This begs the question then, when is revenge taken too far? At what point do these innocent victims exacting revenge on behalf of their childhood selves just become just as bad the perpetrators who caused them so much grief? Definitely a bit of a morality thing to consider. Also, the plot twists were good.

/CHARACTERS/
The main characters that we follow seem slightly unique compared to other thrillers. We know who the protagonists are, but as for the antagonists, they remain, to some extent, a mystery. There is also more than one antagonist. But we're not following the person exacting revenge, instead we're following three people who are also just trying to understand what is going on, just like the audience. In that sense, it's very refreshing, but it's easy to wish that they would hurry up and figure at least one thing out. I feel like the side characters know more than the actual main leads at times, which can be frustrating, especially since I'm waiting for the characters to be on the same page and understand they have a common goal.

the FL (EUN KI) is the rational mind, the third-party perspective that - for the most part - doesn’t necessarily have any personal ties to most of the characters. The two MLs on the other hand are a bit different. Whilst one is more rational (SUNG HOON) than the other, he’s still involved in a way that causes him to fight with the other ML, who happens to be his brother (SUNG JOON). Despite the annoyance some of the characters bring me, I still enjoyed watching them, and I did for the most part like them. SUNG JOON is definitely annoying towards the start because he just does not listen, but I do tend to root for him more and I like him. SUN HOON was definitely a bit boring. He did have some nice interactions with YU NA (a side character connected to EUN KI) which I appreciated for its wholesomeness. And EUN KI, EUN KI, EUN KI. My favourite character by far that pretty much just became a background character. Towards the end, she just started slowly disappearing and there were less and less scenes with her. And her contribution seemed to also dwindle and her role as a character, role in the story, and her role as a social workers became less significant. And I truly did miss seeing her by the end. I think that once more information was revealed, she writers of this drama kind of put her in her place and didn't really let her move.

/MUSIC/
In most thrillers, the music tends to be subtle, and this is no exception. It's not constantly there, but I like it when it is. If anything, this has more of a film score than anything. It's eerie and quiet and it works. For the actual OSTs that exist, I really like them. There is one song that kept being played in the final episode which I'm trying to find still.

/REWATCH/
Thrillers in general can be fun to rewatch because it's nice to be able to go back and pick up on small things and understand them better. And with a drama like BLIND, I can't wait to be able to binge watch this (probably years later) but be able to pay attention to detail a bit more, particularly the characters themselves.

/OVERALL/
I actually liked the ending, in terms of where the main characters ended up. But at the same time, I feel like justice wasn't fully served. Certain people were just slightly tossed to the side to make room/screentime for the main characters, and we didn't get to see them being fully punished because of it. And I kind of feel numb now. I'm sat her just wondering what to rate it and how I even feel about it. I am sad that it has come to an end. I had high hopes - 2022 has given us a lot of thriller kdramas, and I hope this can be added to my list of favourites with a satisfying ending! But still, I think I just want to forget about this drama for a few weeks, come back, and really deduct how I felt about this.

I also want to mention the importance of a character like EUN KI. As SUNG JOON mentions in the final few minutes, if those kids had someone like EUN KI to support them and guide them, a lot of things could have turned out differently. But of course, at the end of the day, the fault is on the people who ultimately abused their power by either abusing others, by turning their head the other way and ignoring those in pain. And I think that this drama raises those very important points.

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[02/10/2022 update - some comments I have after watching eps 5 and 6 - no spoilers] I just didn't know how to fit it into the review...

I'm almost annoyed with how slow certain things are progressing.

Also, I have a few theories on who's who but because the side characters are hardly ever seen, it's easy for us to suspect them since we hardly know them.

And some of it seems SOOO contrived and obviously fictional. E.g., what are the chances that the victims and perpetrators of a case, along with the police and judges involved and the jurors are (nearly) all somehow connected through their past (which is extremely dark). I'm expecting some very good storytelling when it comes to the mastermind behind all this considering this person has managed to get them all in the same vicinity and is messing with all of them to this extent.

I will say that SUNG JOON is so freaking impulsive that it began to bother me. He's that one character in a horror film who goes through the door when we all know he'll be killed. Like, come on!! Your brother tells you to make sure you tell him before doing something, and you just decide not to? He's constantly putting himself into situations where he could be seen as suspicious, and he doesn't seem to care...? Or realise why it's such a bad decision.

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tw // child abuse, murder, kidnapping, torturing, mentions of sexual assault

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The most boring trending drama

I have high expectation for this drama since I saw the cast. I love Zanillia Zhao in Princess Agent although I dislike that drama for the ending. And I also expect Wang Yibo will deliver his developed acting since I admire him in The Untamed.
However I am very disappointed with the result.

Story: Even after I finished watched this drama, I didn't know what is the main plot of it. Too many stories they wanted to fill in this drama therefore not even one strong plot to outline the conclusion. Plus the slow pace of character development and too many comedic side stories which are unnecessary make this drama really boring. I thought after 20 episodes this drama will get interesting since we will get into the main plot, on the contrast even the story get a little spark, still too weak to make me hook to it. You can find romance, politics, badass hero/heroine, adventure because this drama mixed it all like a sprinkle on cake but you didn't really know which one is the main line of this drama.

Acting: Imho, Zanillia and Wang Yibo has the same acting habit. They are slow to burn their energy. They have to relied on their partner to make them get into their character and act as it. As a result, we will see their developed acting after episode 20. They only have a little bit chemistry, more like friendship than couple. And this drama is lack of emotional scenes hence there is no memorable scene for me.

Overall: Actually they can make a better drama since the main topic of the story is pretty interesting and the casts are actually good actors. Maybe they were too rush on the production thus failed these assets.

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This is a nice fill in your day / sunday movie!
We did cross many of these kinds of movies, and if you like those, you really going to like this one.
It is not new or refreshing but I really liked the chemistry between the two main leads! Their acting was convincing and I liked it.
Because the story is same old same I didn't find the movie that interesting, I could easily put this movie on while doing homework or if you just want to fill in your time with this. This movie just has something that didnt make me go: Wooow, cute, adorable or omg.. so I do feel like something is missing.
I would not rewatch this movie because I liked it like this and it isn't a kind of movie that I would rewatch.

Watch this: If you like romantic movies with a easy to follow story and an ending that is predictable.
Skip this: If you are looking for something with a good/interesting/deep story or a romance with heavy emotions.

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A Mixed Bag of Brilliance and Disappointment

I wanted to give 9 stars, but the ending of the last episode took this 9th star away... I've just finished watching and I really don't know what I feel now. It's just a mix of disappointment and sadness. Anyway, I've already watched so many brilliant dramas with a richly deserved 10, I cannot give it here even a 9. 对不起。

The story is about – well, what do you know? So surprising! – the triumph of good over evil. But for me, the deeper meaning is you cannot judge someone from your first impression, cause you can be mistaken about this person. Those who look vicious can turn out quite good and the other way around.

The whole drama is very uneven. There are some great episodes and some boring ones, where the action's moving so slow I was fast-forwarding... The first episodes were not something I'd expected. The plot twisted at the 32nd episode, making the drama go on in an interesting way. But the ending was not as joyful as probably most of the viewers expected.

I highly appreciate the fighting scenes. Cheng Yi is still irreplaceable in acting out martial arts in the best way. Even when he was injured while filming, he continued. I take my hat off to him.

On the character front, my feelings are mixed. Liu Sui Feng is a character I ultimately could not understand. He had potential, but finally turned out to be a monotonous figure with only one expression. Similarly, the main hero, Xiao Qui Shui, wasn't very interesting or surprisingly acted for me. This was in stark contrast to his second brother, who pretended to be calm, protective, and lovely, but turned out to be... well, you'll see for yourself ;)

Ultimately, my absolute favourite is Li Chenzhou. There's something very mystic in his composure, calm demeanor, and deep voice. (And that white hair... ;)) What I loved most was that his profound love for his wife never needed grand confessions—you could simply feel it in his every action and silent gaze. It leaves you wondering about the man behind the mystery: just how many years of life and loss are hidden behind that timeless, dignified presence?

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