Reviews

Simple but adorable.

"About youth" is one of the dramas that after finishing we ask: "Is that all" ? "I want more..."
As many other people, when the drama first started being aired , I did not know about its existence. It appeared out of nowhere and maybe not revolutionised but brought something refreshing and calming to the bl drama world. What is great about "About youth" is that despite being simple and light it was manage to captivate important issues such as abusive parent's behaviour and its huge influence on a child. The chemstry between two leads was really natural and charming without many sophisticated romantic kisses, hugs and NC scenes there were lot of fluffy moments which made me blush when I obsereved how they become friends, brothers , lovers and the biggest supporters for each others. When it comes to the other couple I was not really invested in their story since it was quite typical but still adorable. The most fantastic element of this drama is its OST- I fell in love with the music and since I finished watching the drama I cannot stop humming: "I can't forget your face in slow motion.." Masterpiece !! Deffinitelly worth watching if you search for something light. This drama is so simple yet so endearing. I highly recommend :)

Leggi di Più

Absence of Acceptance 대도시의 사랑법

From the very first scene, you know this show isn't here to play it safe. It hits hard and it tackles the kind of deep topics a lot of people avoid. Go Yeong's story feels painfully real, he is drowning under the expectations of his family, dealing with the constant judgment from society and on top of that struggling with the kind of love that consumes you but might never be enough. And there is also his mom's denial of his sexuality which isn't just a personal issue it's also showing what so many families go through. They love their kids but can't reconcile that love with the traditions they have been brought up to believe. The show doesn't sugarcoat this and it's not here to hand out easy answers. It is messy and uncomfortable, the way it is when you are queer in a world where acceptance is still trying to catch up.

And unlike with other shows, Go Yeong's growth isn't that epiphany that comes out of the blue and then suddenly everything just falls in place. It is slow and it is frustrating at times. The pressure of fitting into the mold wanted by society and family does not just disappear and the show keeps the tension alive. It's his story but at the same time it says something many people are feeling right now....the struggle of trying to figure out where you fit when the world is constantly shifting and when who you are is in direct conflict with who everyone expects you to be. And the beauty of it all is in the balance which is great because the show manages to be introspective and deep without tipping into melodrama and there are still these little moments of humor that remind you that even in the darkest times there is still room for joy.

Mi Ae is another key piece of this puzzle. She is proof of how important chosen family is especially in LGBTQ+ narratives. In a country like Korea where traditional family values are so embedded in the culture, acceptance doesn't always come from your biological family. Mi Ae and Go Yeong's relationship is showing that the people who really have your back aren't always the ones you share DNA with, they are the ones who choose to walk alongside you through the mess and the beauty of it all.

I think this show is a gutpunch in the best way possible. Messy love, identity and family are all told so delicately. I also really like how real these characters are: the struggles are real and it doesn't shy away from hard truths with respect to what being queer entails. Heartbreaking at times, hopeful at others and yet another reminder that love in all forms leaves its mark on you, even when the happy ending isn't there. I am STILL not over it!

---

Three men, one love.

Kim Nam-gyu : He represents the kind of love that Go Yeong wasn not prepared to face, it was intense, genuine and emotionally demanding. He is everything Go Yeong might have needed but wasn’t ready to reciprocate. Nam-gyu is the "what if" love, the one who could have been a transformative presence in Go Yeong’s life but circumstances, timing and Go Yeong's own hesitations held them back from ever fully realizing that potential. He is the person who stood on the edge of becoming something more, someone who could have brought stability but it never quite happened.

Youngso: He is the love that Go Yeong was finally ready for but the other one wasn’t prepared to meet him at the same place. Unlike the other relationships of his past, with Young-so, Go Yeong had reached a point of emotional maturity where he was willing to invest, to open up and to fully commit. He saw in Young-so the potential for something lasting, something real. But did not get the love he needed in return.

Gyu-ho: His true first love ♡ the one who he genuinely loved and who wholeheartedly loved him in return. There was no pretense in this, Gyu-ho was the love that Go Yeong needed, someone who truly saw him, accepted him and loved him for who he was. I think Yeong found a security that had been missing in his other relationships. It was a love built on understanding and care. He is the one who made him feel safe, seen, and wanted in a way no one else had. He was the anchor Go Yeong needed, the one who grounded him in a world that often felt unstable.

Gyu-ho was that person, the one who embodied everything Go Yeong had been searching for and at last found.

His only Wish.

---

On that note, can we just take a moment to appreciate the incredible talent of the actors in this show? they are absolute STARS and they completely brought these characters to life in a way that left me SHOOK! Go Yeong is portrayed so sensible and I am just in awe of how the actor brought all those emotions out. You can literally see the struggles in his eyes, he perfectly shows us the heartache and longing that makes you root for him.

One last thing: as someone who has read the novel, I can confidently say they absolutely nailed it with this adaptation! they managed to keep the essence of the story intact while adding just the right amount of creativity to the characters and their struggles. You can tell the creators really understood the source material and respected the things that make it so impactful.

Leggi di Più

The Best Korean Dating Reality TV Show Ever!

I don’t usually give shows 9.5 stars but I really enjoyed watching Transit Love / EXchange. Going into it I didn’t know what to expect and I was pleasantly shocked at the emotions this program brought out of me. The storytelling was amazing and you could feel how genuine the cast was as they expressed themselves. I loved how they were all anxious at first but eventually everyone became comfortable with each other as if they’d known each other all along. I went through so much and I feel like I got invested to the point where I became attached to certain cast members. My emotions went from 0 to 100 at times. You’re going to feel happy, sad, angry and confused while watching their stories unfold but remember these are real people and it’s their life and their decisions so there’s nothing you can really do. The last 3 episodes stressed me out the most but I was happy because one of the couples I was rooting for since the beginning came through. Yeah… couples you may be rooting for won’t work out but don’t worry too much because in the end everyone grew from the experience. I even felt like I learned so much from watching these ex couples talk about their breakups, find closure, love and more importantly friendship. You can tell that the producers really put effort into choosing the cast because they all seem to be very charming individuals. I hope the friendships and relationships formed there last for a very long time. I hope they make season 2 with a new cast so I can experience a show like this again!

Parts I didn’t like: The ending. It seemed too rushed (especially when the persons who brought in at the end only had a week to get to know everyone and make a decision) I didn’t like how everyone ended up confessing their feelings to each other. It would’ve been nice for them to meet each other individually as the car scenes made the environment and situation really tense / pressurizing. I also think next time around the producers should have challenges and actually pick the dates for persons so that everyone gets to go on a date with people they wouldn’t normally choose and get to know each other instead of picking the same persons all the time (at least in the first & second week) After that the contestants can be free to continue picking the person they feel a strong connection with and going on dates etc.

Other than that she show was definitely worth the watch. I don’t regret stumbling across this because it’s a show I feel like anyone can watch and easily like.

**I highly recommend it to persons who don’t know what to watch but want to watch more Korean dating reality shows like Single’s Inferno :) **

Leggi di Più

highly recommended BL to someone who wants to start BLs

Why I love bad buddy


People talk about red flags
I have a green flag
His name is pat
He's greener than ever
He's the ocean and the forest
He's the world
He's everyone's ideal
He's my ideal
There you go
I found my ideal type





This show really brings out emotions that I have never really felt
Ohm and Nannon have done such a splendid job. The acting was on point. The music score was on point. This show didn't lack anything. It has become my comfort drama.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA

Each episode brings some kind of nuance that we don't expect. we see rivalry, small fights, brawls and then they go full emotional. Nannon being so expressive with just his eyes was something that drew me in this BL. But then it was ohm that made me stay. he played pat to perfection. He transcends all the toxic male leads nonsense and knows the importance of communication. He just goes on and literally demands a spill of emotions. He's the character I love. This show made me fall in complete love with both of them. Nannon's first BL being the best it could ever be. and I am just so glad that he did it with ohm.

If you still didn't get the gist, GO WATCH NOW

Leggi di Più

So, what have I just watched?
In a nutshell, a saeguk for kids. Take a Disney film, split it into several episodes, dress the characters in hanboks and you have this drama. It mimics The Moon embracing the Sun - without ever nearing its intriguing plot or romance - in almost every aspect except for the detail of a girl dressed as a man despite the fact that she could never in a trillion years be mistaken for a man. To keep the parallel, we could say this is a fluffy rom-com dressed up as a Saeguk.

The romance is so cheesy I welcomed the politics with a sigh of relief. Everything happens too soon and... too much, depriving my otherwise romantic heart of the needed suspense and, yes, what I consider a must for romance: trepidation. I can't say I am an expert in historical dramas, but the little I know is that almost everything the two main characters do and say here is totally implausible: stroll hand in hand in the palace courts without anyone seeing them? Right. This is just one example out of dozens unlikely - no, impossible - situations. Unlike other reviewers here, I believe the second half of this drama to be a lot better than the first, with at least some plot developments, albeit rushed, at times.

The real saving grace of the show is Park Bo Goum. He clearly is talented and a pleasure to watch. His character is too good to be true, but well played out and multifaceted. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed in Kim Yoo Jung's performance. I know she's very young and has a lot of potential, but she didn't manage to make me feel a thing. By some camera angles, it was clear she wasn't looking at her partner when supposed to do so, and the result was kind of ridiculous. Her character is neither particularly brave, nor very strong or intelligent, so what's left in the end is a super nice crown prince who falls madly in love with a sweet pretty thing because she's a sweet pretty thing. I even came to prefer the appointed crown princess, she was refreshingly spunky.

The music is a collection of pop songs fit for everything and nothing. See above for the age target.

In conclusion, this drama had some real potential, even when the plot twists are predictable, but the final package is fluffy at best. Can be marathoned through for an overdose of lovey-dovey chirping.

Leggi di Più

I've seen all the previous Japanese Liar Game seasons (and movies), and really enjoyed them all, so I was particularly excited when I found out that there was going to be a Kdrama remake.

The thing is...this isn't so much of a remake as it is "loosely" based upon the Japanese Liar Game world. With that being said, for viewers who have seen the Jdrama I would advise you to keep that in mind (I was a bit frustrated towards the end). For those of you who haven't don't worry.

Putting this aside however, Liar Game was surprisingly riveting. I was beyond impressed with the three main actors, especially Shin Sung Rok, who plays Do Young the host.

Story: The story was decent. It was straightforward in the beginning, but as time wore on revealed that nothing was quite as simple as we had all thought. I was actually pretty excited about this, the mystery added to the allure of the show and games. I do feel like the ending lacked...a bit of a punch. It was definitely good, but not up to par with how the drama had been in the episodes leading up.

Acting: This was BY FAR the strongest aspect of the drama. Shin Sung Rok was unbelievable in his role as the mysterious host, and our other two main leads were excellent in their own rights. Kim So Eun played her character as believably naive and trusting, which I was beyond grateful for (the Jdrama, as much as I liked it, had me bashing my head sometimes in frustration). Her character development was gradual, but believable, and ended on a great note.

Music: Suspenseful at the right times, and light hearted all the other times. This drama didn't try to have an OST with standout songs (I'm looking at you Almost Paradise), which would have detracted from the story.

Rewatch Value: I'm not one for re-watching dramas, but if I were to this would definitely be at the top of my list!

Leggi di Più

Do you like cute dramas with... interesting characters, good-looking casts, and a typical yet sweet execution? Well, Heroine Disqualified might just be for you!

JapaneseDrama (over on Tumblr) was raving about this drama a few months ago so I decided to ditch my piles of homework and check it out. I didn't know too much going into it, but i was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I had pretty high expectations, but it was still a cute drama. The story was very very very typical, yet i still found myself on the edge of my seat, anticipating what's to come. The acting and characters are probably what won me over. Our protagonist was perfect! She's relatable, funny (facial expressions on point!) and all too kawaii. The SLS is very very intense in this one as well, and our second female lead was interesting and different. I COULD NOT STAND OUR MALE LEAD THOUGH. He was bland yet somehow super frustrating and confusing. I could go on and on ranting about him but i don't think he's worth the time. Though props on the cinematography.

Leggi di Più

had potential but was really rushed

This BL series had so much potential tbh. I have not seen the webtoon yet so this is like my first time watching this and didn't know what to expect. It started off strong but felt flat as it progress. The plot was really rushed. Like I didn't even know when did Lee Da Yeol felt that archery was exhausting to him and he wanted to quit it. It felt out of the blue when he said he wanted to quit it or when Jo Tae Hyun felt disgusted of Lee Da Yeol in one scene and in the next scene he is running to him making up the most bizzare excuse which I have ever heard. Like it was so ridiculous that I wanted to punch him for sprouting that nonsense. Also I didn't like how Lee Da Yeol forgave him so easily. Like the time said it was two years but it felt like 2 months. Like making the girl who was so irrelevant the bridge in their love again out of the blue and with the excuse of being drunk that Lee Da Yeol was crying for Jo Tae Hyun like that was so stupid. like it was two years. If it was two month I would understand and again he forgave him so easily, like after what he did begging,crying and pleading would have been the minimum what he could have done and finally toward the end, it was just lackluster. I don't even know what the point of that was. Idk if they have just started dating which I don't think they are but they were acting like 5 year old who were out in a first date. Too much being shy and being a tsundere and teasing. Finally the thing I fucking hate about every BL series is the teasing of a kiss. I am fine with not getting a kiss at all but teasing it is what really push my buttons and they gave us finally with an ear kiss lmao which I didn't even think the lips were even touching the ear lmao. Don't do this. If you are not going to give us a kiss then don't half-ass it. A tight hug while sleeping would have been 10 times better than this. Like I said the plot was really rushed. It didn't give time at all for us to be in dept with the characters. I feel like it could have been better with 10 episodes with 40 min each. The actors did well ig. There was chemistry and they did the characters justice and the ost was nice. Overall it was kinda disappointing but it was cute I guess.

Leggi di Più

The first season of The Quiz Show is often underestimated. Maybe it is connected to the relativly nameless star Katagiri Jin?

The story is really exciting and highly psychological. The chasing for dreams forces the candidates to open their mind reflecting about all their mistakes in life. This is often highly thrilling.
Meanwhile the main story develops and is solved in a fantastic final with a not forseeable conclusion.
Katagiri Jin does a great job because you allways feel that there is something hidden deep inside his character which will hurt everybody.
I am a rock fan so I was really surprised by the opening song which can be categorized as metal which is not typical for dorama is think!

The episodes are round about 20-25 minutes long so you can finish the whole dorama in a short time. This is also an argument for my high rewatching score!

Finally I can only say that it is not fair if you skip this season just watching the second with Sakurai Sho, because it is really good and it creates the base for the continuation.

Leggi di Più

A reality check

All I would like to say is WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING. I try to avoid sad endings like the plague and this one was exactly that. Oh gosh how much episode 9 and 10 broke me is beyond words. You can't convince me stuff like " This was an open ending" when in reality, it clearly wasn't. Let me tell you exactly why.

1) The author's note in the end saying "To all those spring flowers in the world, although I couldn't achieve it, I hope your lives wont be like mine". Which is a direct way of saying to the viewers she didn't get her happy ending with the ML in the Joseon era.

2) She fell in love with the 2nd ml in the modern era and took his number. However, when she bumped into the ml from the Joseon era, she ignored him like a stranger and there was no more talking points between them which indicates a closing chapter of her with the ml in the joseon era and the modern era.

If were talking about f**ed up ending, this drama takes the cake. This is like scarlet heart ryeo 2.0.

In conclusion, I genuinely didn't expect this drama to take such a deep turn and to actually have plot considering the first couple of episodes were silly and hilarious and awkward in a more intimate sensual way but wow was I shocked when plot was introduced around episode 5.

Leggi di Più

Fun Watch, Bad Writing

Was this series easy to watch and have great chemistry? Yes. Was the writing good and did I like the characters? No.

This series was really entertaining if you just turn off your brain and watch without thinking much but the second you sit down with it, you realize how toxic many parts of this was.

I hate most of the time when people say stuff like this, but if Pat was a man she would have been the villain of the story because she was SOOO TOXIC and OBSESSIVE to an unhealthy level. Her character was one of the main flaws of this series but somehow I still rooted for her? So maybe that's an issue on my part lmao.

Pat was also horrible with boundaries and some of her advances came off very creepy and bordered on SA. I also don't understand why GL series still have characters kissing the other when the other is almost black-out drunk, it's 2025, we can do better.

You also couldn't pay me to care about any of the side characters, especially Nam. I was so close to dropping this series at one point because Nam wouldn't leave Pat & Prem alone and it was just getting repetitive and annoying.

However, I would recommend watching this series to most GL watchers just because of how entertaining it was. Despite my complaints, I was sat every week for this mess and I feel like this would be a very easy binge. Also the leads had great chemistry and I hope to see them in a future series with better writing.

Leggi di Più

Started out entertaining but dumb and ended up just being dumb.

This wasn't anything like the Chinese original version but I was willing to forgive this version because it was so much fun. I liked that there was more humour and that the romance was less of a slow burn and was more sexy, though I missed the little animal drawings.
But then in the last few episodes everything went wrong somehow: the writing and acting got so sloppy, it was like the police and the criminals were competing on who's less competent...
This could have been (and was for a while) a nice, lighthearted take. It's a pity that they didn't follow through and let their standard slip.

Leggi di Più

STORY
================
THE MOMENT I NEED YOU... When you analyze it, it is hanging. It doesn't have a complete thought... Yes, the creator behind this mini-series can make the phrase into a sensible sentence. HOWEVER, they decided for you to continue the phrase. And when you watch the 4 episodes, you will realize that what they want to say and it can not be put into words because it is a combinitaion of small gestures and events that lead to the ultimate ending.

The very first striking difference in other Thai BL is the setting. It is not the typical school/university. However, those that enjoy the typical setting can enjoy this one too... The looks of the characters are not that old, as if they are newly graduate.

I like how they showed what really happened (flashbacks), one can easily think that they deserve each other. Viciously cunning to achieve what they want. You won't get lost because the flashbacks happened almost immediately after. I could also say that the creator behind this is an evil genius in doing that.

The story is pretty straight forward which is sometimes a breath of fresh air that you will stop thinking and just feel the interaction of the characters. Kinda reminds me of the HIStory series. Fast-paced and every episode will give you different feelings, emotions.

The first 3 episode is a very good build up to the emotion everyone likes to feel. But of course, all relationship go through rough and shaky times. May it be before, in the middle or towards the end, there is always one event that will question our feelings. Their relationship is no exception.

"THE MOMENT I NEED YOU" was shown and delivered to the audience without too much fuzz and it can not get any more raw than that. Didn't concentrate on the drama too much.

"THE MOMENT I NEED YOU", one will think that it is a person, but this mini-series showed it in a different way. The person you thought you need is actually a person in the past but rather another person that make you truly smile when it matters the most. Someone who is patient. Someone who is willing to make sacrifices. Someone who is honest. And little did you know, you became that person you are "needing".

"THE MOMENT I NEED YOU", yes we need a full series for this.

For me, for th title to be complete in thought...

The moment I need you...

... you just came in the perfect time.

ACTING/CAST
================
Both Bank and Pon playing Mok and Bay respectively, given that this is their first formal acting is pretty good, actually excellent.

For a moment there I thought Bank missed an acting in Episode 1, the key scene how this story started, but later I found out that it was all deliberate. If stare could kill, Bay would not last long. Reminds of Dean how he looks at Pharm in Until We Meet Again. The laser-focused stare.

You can see that the interaction between Mok and Bay has no awkwardness as if they are acting together for a long time now. Their exchange in delivering lines and or facial expression and body language seems too natural.

Do I see a brigth future for the two main actors? Definitely a very bright future in the entertainment industry.

MUSIC
================
The tempo is just right for the kind of relationship that the two is building. Not too slow and not too fast.

The beat is on point as well. Not too dramatic and not too heavy on the percussion.

The song is like pepper and salt to your dish, it heightens the flavor. But for this, it enhances the emotion that you are feeling.

REWATCH VALUE
================
Since this is so short and fast, it is always easy to watch it again and again and again. Especially if you are feeling down. Imagine you can be in love in the idea of being in love in under an hour. Would I watch this again? Honestly, not in the near future. But when I'm feeling blue and sad, this is a nice medicine to shoo-away the blues.

Leggi di Più

highly overrated

First, I don't like that every couple in a BL has to be BL couple... How stupid is that?
Second, the last two episodes are extremly rushed. While 8-parters are nice to binch-watch, they do nothing if the story does not fit.
I did not read the webtoon, so I can only review what I saw.
And the story is a mess and unbelievable. Only Ji Ho Geun and Kim Jung Ha made me believe in their characters. From bully to lover was unblievable as well in just one episode and to cast an idol for a main role was just a financial decision.
The last two episodes where rushed as f, for a better understanding at least four episodes have been needed,.

While the premise of the show started strong, the story falls of a cliff. The kisses shown were mostly just touching lips which is lame. "Song Joo Ha" could have kissed on the cheek to convey his feelings. A kiss on the lips would have not been needed, but maybe the director/writers thought the do need fan-service.. Also Han Tae Yi forcing himself was a stupid thing to do, especially when he does have feelings for Seo Do Yoon. While the first six episodes are ok, the last two are a total mess. Song Han Gyeom looks "gay" -(but which idol doesn't?), he does not fit his role at all. Sometimes you can feel he tries but his own personality is in stark contrast to his role and he does not manage to do it. With all the 10 ratings of several people I think they are fans of eyecandy but not thinking about the story which is maybe because our world gets more and more superficial. And to make all couples gay in a BL, is not what a good story needs. If they had only focused on only one couple the eight episodes might have fit. For me this series is disappointing especially because the first two episodes are the best and the last two are the worst.

Leggi di Più

Light-hearted Romantic Comedy

I love love love love this drama!!! The first half of the series was so hilarious, it often put me in stitches. Then it got a bit more serious in the second half. ****Spoiler**** It was a nice twist when it got revealed that he was the missing Prince. Then the story moved to be more palace like, compared to when it started (it was mostly about the silk business).

The chemistry of the main leads are amazing too. Bai Lu is so likable, she never failed at creating perfect chemistry with her onscreen partners. I actually watched this drama straight after I watched Love is Sweet (she's the FL there).

The ending song is so mesmerising. It matches so well with the ML! I'm so in love with him 😍. I first saw Lai Yi as Die Feng in Eternal Love. I watched The Legend of Fuyao merely to watch his story arch (and fast forwarded the rest - the main leads there got stabbed to death every couple of episodes and managed to survive every single time, it was just too much for me LOL). Lai Yi is such an underrated actor. He has this elegant aura, yet he can play evil role so well too (as in The Flame's Daughter).

The second male and female leads are so good that your heart bleeds for them. It's their bad luck to be fated as second leads!

I often drop drama series after watching several episodes if the storyline got a bit silly/ridiculous/draggy, regardless how much I ship the main leads. But Overlord is definitely not one of them. It has been very enjoyable thoroughly.

A light-hearted romantic comedy drama worth watching. It's just the right amount of palace politics, right amount of total episodes (36), and excellent performance by all cast members!!

Leggi di Più