Reviews

Swordfights And Broken Dreams: What Could Have Been

🍁OVERVIEW OF PLOT:-

Baili Dong Jun, the mischievous young master of the Marquis of Zhenxi's mansion, has always defied convention. With a passion for brewing wine that stems from a childhood pact with his friend Ye Yun, who tragically died young, he's determined to become a "Liquor Deity." But fate has other plan. He met a masked girl while idling around and fell in love at first sight. The girl asked him to become famous and promised to find him by then.

As he embarks on a journey to learn martial arts from the world's top master, Li Chang Sheng, he forms an unbreakable bond with Sikong Chang Feng, a young man aspiring to become the Spear Deity. A chance reunion with Ye Yun, now known as Ye Ding Zhi, sets him on a path of self-discovery and responsibility. Together, these young heroes navigate the martial arts world, forging their own destinies.

Years later, when Ye Ding Zhi is manipulated into launching a devastating war against Capital of Beili, Baili Dong Jun must confront his friend and make a choice: save the world or save the friend he once swore to protect.

🍁MY VIEWS:-

As a fan of the sequel, 'The Blood Of Youth,' I approached 'Dashing Youth' with high expectations. Dashing Youth had all ingredients to be a compelling drama- an intriguing setting, complex characters and rich storyline. However, the execution fell short exploring the story's full potential. The convoluted timeline made it challenging to keep track of characters' ages and relationships, detracting from the overall experience.

Baili Dong Jun's charismatic personality shines through, showcasing a captivating blend of responsibility, humor, and compassion. His journey from a spoiled young master to a responsible individual is marked by ups and downs, making for an engaging narrative. The interactions between him, Li Cheng Shang, and Beili's eight young masters are enjoyable, adding fun to the story.

However, Yue Yao's character had potential but was reduced to merely supporting Dong Jun. I would have appreciated seeing her take action against her sister and persuade her to let go of her obsession. Or at the very least, showcasing her fighting skills and improvement would have added depth to her character. Unfortunately, her role was limited to walking and talking, making her feel more like a prop than a fully fleshed-out character. While I don't mind romance, it should be written convincingly to resonate with the audience. The romance between Dong Jun and Yue Yao lacks depth, feeling unconvincing and more like fluff.

Ye Ding Zhi's complex character conveys the intricacies of his struggle, making his tragic journey from Ye Yun to Ye Ding Zhi both captivating and heart-wrenching. I find myself having mixed feelings towards him – sympathy for the cruelty he faced, yet disappointment in his subsequent choices. His decisions led to regret and made his only son a public target. I was well aware of his eventual fate, but knowing it and actually seeing it unfold are two very different things. It's a bittersweet journey.

Coming to Yi Wen Jun, her character failed to evoke sympathy from me. Her decision to flee to Ding Zhi was understandable, but leaving her son Xiao Yu behind was perplexing. Her subsequent choices were poorly made, making her a self-centered character who destroyed three lives – Xiao Yu, Ye Yun, and Ye An Shi. I stand with Dong Jun; Ye Yun may have never blamed her, but I do. And I really wonder if she ever loved anyone except herself.

Sikong Chang Feng and Beili's Eight Young Masters are interesting characters, and I was invested in their relationship dynamics and storyline. Exploring their characters further would have added depth to the narrative. I crave more of their stories.

Xiao Ruo Feng's character, admired in 'The Blood Of Youth,' left me with conflicted feelings in 'Dashing Youth.' His actions and decisions lacked a clear greater good, leading to his sorrowful end in the sequel. A more nuanced approach to his character would have been appreciated. Had he chosen to help Ye Ding Zhi by persuading his brother and then becoming the emperor, he wouldn't have had to face the betrayal from his brother. He wanted the best of both worlds, which ultimately made him a threat to both sides.

Li Cheng Shang's romance plot and secrecy surrounding his immortal identity lacked conviction, feeling inconsistent and shallow. His secret identity was shared with numerous individuals, undermining the intended secrecy. The engagement with his fiancée was also unexplained, making the romance feel unconvincing.

Most of the female characters were a letdown, with underwhelming and one-dimensional roles that lacked substance. The antagonists, too, were unimpressive, lacking the depth and menace necessary to make them compelling and formidable foes. Their easy defeats felt unearned and unsatisfying.

Furthermore, the tone was inconsistent, careening wildly from lighthearted moments to angsty scenes without a clear narrative direction. This made it challenging to become fully invested in the story.

Additionally, the character development was often told rather than shown, leaving viewers to fill in the gaps themselves. This was particularly disappointing, as it prevented from forming a deeper connection with the characters.

On a positive note, the casting of actors to play father-son roles across generations was a highlight. Notably, Bai Shu as Xiao Ruo Feng, Fan Jin Wei as Xiao Ruo Jin, Yan Jie as Baili Cheng Feng, and Li Hong Yi as Emperor Tian Wu brought a sense of continuity and cohesion to the story. The bond of brotherhood between Baili Dong Jun and Ye Ding Zhi is a standout for me which kept me captivated throughout the show.

🍁ACTING:-

The cast delivers a mixed bag of performances. Hou Ming Hao did well as Baili Dong Jun, bringing a charming and carefree energy to the role. However, his emotional range is sometimes limited, and he struggles to convey intensity in pivotal scenes.

He Yu, on the other hand, impresses as Ye Ding Zhi, bringing depth to the complex character. His performance is captivating, making Ye Ding Zhi's journey both heartbreaking and compelling. I have seen him in 'The Legend of Shen Li' before and was looking forward to his work here. Ye Ding Zhi is way more complex character than Baili Dong Jun and He Yu did amazing in his role. Nevertheless, his screaming scenes during the wedding of WenJun could have been better.

The supporting cast, including Xiang Zhi Guang (Sikong Chang Feng), Bai Shu (Xiao Ruo Feng), and Wanyan Lou Rong (Lei Meng Sha), deliver good performances, but their screen time is unfortunately limited. Hu Lian Xin brings elegance and grace to her portrayal of Yue Yao, making her a delightful addition to the cast.

🍁CINEMATOGRAPHY:-

The sets and costumes are visually stunning, transporting viewers to a vibrant and immersive world. However, the over-reliance on CGI in action scenes detracts from the overall experience. While the visual effects are impressive, they often feel overly reliant on virtual powers and lighting, giving the fight scenes a more Xuanhuan/Xianxia than Wuxia vibes. More practical action sequences would have elevated the drama's authenticity and impact. Nevertheless, the cinematography is generally pleasing, with beautifully designed costumes and sets that enhance the viewing experience.


Overall, 'Dashing Youth' had the potential to be a captivating drama with its intricate setting, complex characters, and rich storyline. However, it fell short due to poor execution, inconsistent tone, and underdeveloped female characters. Despite some impressive performances, particularly from He Yu as Ye Ding Zhi, the drama's flaws detracted from the viewing experience. With some improvements in writing, character development, and action scenes, this could have been a truly unforgettable Wuxia drama. Despite the issues, I did enjoy the drama but it failed to become a standout.

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Sherlock Holmes meets Cyrano de Bergerac in this candied romantic comedy. With short episodes and series duration, Dating Agency: Cyrano doubles as a perfect marathon drama. Though admittedly of little sustainable substance, if you're seeking airy and memorable fun, look no further.

Much of the plot follows the titular agency as they tackle cases. This system produces miniature arcs usually lasting around three episodes. Since each case aims to jump start relationships for supporting characters (often depicted by famous guest stars), various romances are sketched out. Each of them appears to pay homage to a romance type common in dramas (mystery, melodrama, teen, etc). As the series goes on, the cases improve in quality; though still fun, the very first as initiated by the veterinarian was almost silly. Several agency members experience plots of their own, mostly bridging all 16 episodes. Unfortunately, the "main couple" was not to my taste. Age gaps rarely bother me... but lack of chemistry does. Here sparks never fly and, while the romance makes sense on paper, the entire thing felt stilted.

Most performances were solid. Something about Seo Byung Hoon struck me as similar to Sherlock in the recent BBC adaptation; Lee Jong Hyuk has magnetic prickliness down to a fine art. Soo Young spins a potentially cliche weak-spined bore into a refreshingly spunky, strong, realistic woman. Her immediately clear screen presence actually drew me into Dating Agency: Cyrano in the first place. Here I must admit that I fell hard for Lee Chun Hee as "Master". It doesn't make me proud, but whenever he was on screen I often degenerated into a giggling puddle. Whether it's because he played the character so well or because he's drop dead gorgeous, it's hard to say. The rest of the cast performs well, if not memorably. Each guest spot was wonderful too, with Lee Kwang Soo standing out in arguably the best case in the series.

Though eventually it may have become repetitive in a longer series, the soundtrack excels. "Chance!" by The Peppertones burrows into the brain, while Ra.D romances tenderly with "Something Flutters." Most of the instrumental fare felt funky and modern; the intro particularly impresses.

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Breathtaking to Heartbreaking

Acting : 100 %
Plot :100 %
Though the plot may seem controversial, I have high hopes for this!!!!!!!

I totally love the story plot and the actors. I fell in love with Pond❤ . I love his acting, looks and his voice and the way of delivering his lines totally got me😍



edit: Damnnnn!!!!!!
Ep 6 is just a conversation between two persons for the whole episode and I loved it. How can writers
come up with something as intriguing as this!!!!

I reall felt bad for the mother in this episode, until ep 5 it showed the selfish aspects of her. But in ep 6 we can clearly see how lonely she is!!!
As the way I see it, everyone seems to be lonely but she just couldn't bear it

The acting and cast is on top notch💜




Its very frustrating to wait a whole week for next episode🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

Edit: 02/10/2022

I never cried this hard for an LGBTQ+ show 💔 .
Its heart breaking and I totally understand and accept the climax. Thats how my actual first love ended.. Not because we don't love each other but because our loved ones/society can't accept it💔🥹🥹🥹

Some people won't change no matter what☹️

I am trying to move on, but this gave me heartbreak again💔

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The small town was lacking charm

From the first episode, the townspeople didn't give the best impressions. They had no boundaries & got upset at Jiyul, the ML, for daring to express not being comfortable with it. While their behavior is somewhat common compared to other small town dramas, in this one, they failed to make the townspeople endearing (except for the young boy child & Jiyul's assistant but they were never unlikable in the first place.)

For some, they would've liked Jiyul to be one of those bold MLs but I like the fact that he was mostly cool & collected. Throughout the drama, I couldn't help but to feel a bit bad for him as the people around him didn't respect his boundaries or expected things of him. However, he wasn't overbearing but he did say what he needed to when it mattered. As for Jayoung, the FL, because of her upbringing it made sense why she was a people pleaser, even if it was frustrating to watch at times. At the start , she was also one of those who couldn't respect ML's boundaries & was upset at him for him not remembering her (even though meeting her was associated with a bad childhood incident) so it took some time for me to warm up to her.

Because of FL's behavior towards ML (up until he remembers her), I wouldn't say that I was strongly invested in them as a couple but rather I just accepted that they would be together & waited to see it happen. They were kind of awkward when they got together but it was the kind that comes when you first start dating someone. I would've liked to see more moments of them as a couple, including having their ending better developed.

There was too much time spent on resolving the love triangle. Some were able to look past Sanghyun being passive aggressive towards ML & his childish behavior because of his looks, I guess, but he was irritating & made me want to skip his scenes. It was difficult for me to take him as a serious love interest when he looked like he could be the FL's younger brother. He was alright when he was being a friend to her (& it would've been better if they kept him that way) but when he started showing his romantic interest towards FL he became annoying. Whenever FL was going to reject him, he would stop her from doing so. (Sure, she should've been more firm in pushing the conversation but, again, she's a people pleaser & didn't want to risk losing his friendship too.) But, it wasn't bad enough to have only him so then they added ML's ex, who of course wanted him back, into the plot. Although ML made it clear to her that he wasn't interested in getting back together, that didn't stop her from sticking around for a bit.

When a love triangle is basically the only plot, & is only over with two episodes left, there's not much to enjoy. Instead of dragging it out, the focus could've been more on the leads as a couple, ML deciding on the future regarding his work, FL learning how to speak up for herself, & seeing the secondary couple get together. All of those things did happen but they felt as a matter of fact & were rushed. Maybe this drama is better as a binge watch rather than waiting for episodes to air. The good thing is that episodes are short & it's not a long drama.

For those looking for something to watch that won't make you think after finishing a heavier drama, then I guess you may like this drama. I don't remember the music (but I had to give it a 1 rating). There were times where the FL's acting was awkward & I didn't really care for the SMLs acting either. (I've watched all of Joy's main roles so I think it was the directing here that made her come off awkward.) I think there are better short length dramas out there so this wouldn't be at the top of my list to recommend nor would I rewatch it (but I had to give it a 1 rating).

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This is a sweet, adorable, warm Chinese remake of Thai’s hit film, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. The story is same with the film itself, although with subtle changes and more depth. Despite the clicheness, the storyline itself will make you laugh hard, cry wholly, feel butterflies in your stomach, scream so high (which I did), and lastly, get nostalgic.

The SL and FML really got my attention when I saw the former episodes. They had this oozing chemistry, and I feel bad (not) for shipping them rather than the actual love teams. Although, the leads' chemistry is cute cute cute! There are times when I feel like that the FML is not innocent however insensitive, although her development is good. I liked their character development (especially to SL's).

The music is really giving the LSS vibes. It's kind of redundant in the drama, but I don't really care because it somehow suits the scene.

Give it a try, especially when you’re watching angst films/dramas. It might help soothe your heart~ :D

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More Than Just an Idol Romance

Idol I struck a nice balance between romance and murder mystery, with just enough lighthearted moments to keep it from getting too heavy. The FL's fangirl side added some humor early on, even if it became an issue later on in the story. Where the drama really stood out for me, though, was in its exploration of fandom and parasocial relationships.

Some of my favorite moments were early on, when we see the ML dealing with the more uncomfortable sides of fame and parasocial fan behavior, and later, when he talks about the two versions of himself: the idol persona versus who he really is. I also appreciated the way the drama showed more normal fandom behavior through the FL. The ticket-buying scene near the end was especially funny, but also totally accurate!

I’ve seen some criticism online about the romance, particularly concerns that it feeds parasocial fantasies since the idol ultimately ends up with a fan. I understand where that worry comes from, but at the same time, that outcome was inevitable from the start. The drama, however, made an effort to show that this wasn’t just an idol-fan fantasy. Their shared history and emotional connection added depth to their relationship. And while I don’t usually love the “we knew each other when we were younger” trope, in this case, it worked for me...I actually wish the show had spent more time exploring it.

Overall, I liked the main couple and found the ending mostly satisfying. My one lingering frustration is that the show never fully tied up the storyline surrounding her father’s retrial, which felt like a missed opportunity for closure. Still, Idol I offered a thoughtful take on fandom, identity, and romance, and it was a genuinely fun and enjoyable watch.

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Originally, I was surfing the web when I found this drama series. I recognized that Bosco Wong was mainly a Hong Kong Actor and I was curious to see how he would do on a Mandarin speaking drama. I also really like watching  crime mystery detective type dramas. When I started the drama, I was immediately hooked.

The way this drama was written is a lot different from a lot of other crime detective dramas where the crime is already committed and the main cast needs to track down and catch the culprit. That usually takes like three to four episodes per case. This one has a title that shows up when a new segment starts to tell the audience a new case has started. The cases are connected in a way where the main cast are basically on a journey. They weave a lot of the other developments into the drama as the case unfold (like let's say the main characters' love story or character development). The cases are very interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat.

As I watch this drama, I could actually care less about the main characters' love story, I was actually following the second main leads. Usually, there is some sort of love triangle or square around the main cast, but this drama is different, the second main leads develop an interesting relationship. It's pretty funny since the guy is basically a prince  where everyone is usually very impressed by that except this girl. I really liked watching scenes with these two since almost kind of rare. Their story is hidden behind all the different kinds of plot developments from the cases themselves to the political plot. There are times where I watch these two  and I go when did their relationship get to that stage? Probably also due to the fact that there are different versions of how many episodes there are. The total number of episodes are 40, some websites have 36 or 39. The shorter ones have some scenes cut out in different parts of different episodes but I found out that it was most of the scenes for my favorite couple, the second main leads.

The music is really great because the main cast, the ones that are traveling together each contributed a song. The song that each of them sang sounds to me like it's their unofficial or maybe even official character's theme song. I thought that was really awesome.

This is the first drama where I saw Ma Tian Yu and now I'm a big fan.

P.S. I found a cover song on YouTube where the lyrics of the song were rewritten to be about my favorite couple and if you watch the drama from beginning to end, you'll see there is a secret message in the lyrics inspired by the drama itself. I had to watch the music video several times to realize that some of the first words were a different color and bigger text to find out the message.

The music video seem to have been taken down because I cannot find it but the song name is called 誤芳瑶 by ASSEN捷 if anyone wants to check it out. If you can find the lyrics, you can see the message when it starts spelling out Yuan Fang Meng Yao.

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Review may contain spoilers!!!!

This drama is about saving a village from the religious cult. There is an amazing plot and screenplay.
It is a slow paced screenplay in the first half of the drama.Then when comes to second half each episode was fantastic.

Acting : Everyone of them acted so well in this drama. i can't see as main protagonist/antagonist in this drama. Each one of them plays an important role. The relationship between the villagers was well portrayed by the characters. Especially i liked the voice of the actor.

Plot:The screenplay for the plot of religious cult formation in the village is too good. The screenplay of the final episode was fantastic. What happens to the people after they get scammed was depicted beautifully in the whole episode. How it changed their lives and how they are living in their life thereafter because of that incident.

Music: The background music was nice.

Message delivered by this drama:
1. People believed the words from the person who seems to be good as true even though it is a lie.
2. People thought the words from the arrogant person as lie even though it is true .
3. Some people they cannot believe what is right or wrong as they chose believe themselves ( pastor character)

Viewers do not expect romantic and fluffiness in this drama. Those who want to watch religious cult and dark drama will enjoy it.

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*PSA*
I would just like to let you guys know that I decided to watch this again randomly in the middle of the night and I cried just as hard as I did the first time and it was still, so good. LMAO.

For something that was 2 episodes long and was honestly as long as a movie; it really hit me in the feels in all aspects. It's multiple stories into one if you're into that, which to me, I usually hate because I like when there is one focus but in reality, it was all very fitting and I absolutely adored this show in every way.
-It starts with a girl that's grown, she's just trying to live her life but also satisfy her mom and her life because that's the only person/family she has and sometimes you would ruin your own life for the people you love. She ends up getting hurt and things really unravel and man. It's crazy.
-It follows a girl that is just trying to live her dream but she gets did dirty and gets it pinned on her as if she was the problem.
-Two little kids that are so sweet and cute together but no matter what age you are, you'll always go through trials and tribulations because really, that's just how life works.

The acting was extremely spot on, I want to give a huge shout out to my girl Seo Hyun because I'm a huge girls generation fan in general but her acting was AMAZING. The amount of emotion she showed and expressed and her acting was just very fitting. I loved the kids, very mature and professional. I loved the mom. I loved the musician, she was honestly a bad betch. Loved it.

Music was AMAZING. I'll have to go out and download it because it was so soothing to the ears.

Would I rewatch it? Hell yeah. Especially if I need a good cry. I didn't think it was going to hit me like that so honestly, it was all good. Oh but it's not about Dracula so sorry you vampire lovers. Lol. It's used more as a metaphor.

Overall, this show must've been really good to me because it just really hit home. Being someone that's Asian and LGBT is hard in general, but when you're growing and you want to involve your parents/family in your life, things are even more difficult because you try to have a standard for them but you're also trying not to lose yourself in the process. So that section of it just really pulled me in and hit my heartstrings. The rest of the story was the same, you have a young love and you have mistreatment with another character. All of it is very fitting because it hits you with like a throwback of when you had your first heartbreak/loss. For something so short, it really just had all around crazy emotions for me. The scenes were beautiful. The acting was awesome. The story was great. I suggest if you have 2 hours to spare when you're bored and need something to watch, to watch it.

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i usually not interested in writing reviews but recently i decided to write reviews on my top drama which score 10 (i have only 2 drama in my list with score 10 and this one of them) and score 9 (i have 4 drama with score 9).
My point is this drama even so it rank 51 its still way underrated my drama society; so i feel responsible to encourage people to see it may be one or 2 will watch it after my review.

Story:
the 49 days idea is used by several drama before and after however; this one tops them all; its in own league.
1. it shows how life is precious and how when a second chsnce appear u should not miss it.
2. the links between the scheduler and Song Yi Kyung is so good; this side story actually tops the original one in all ways; its make u feel sad, emotional and struck every feeling u have.
3. the idea of discovering the true love which was beside u all years but never been realized is executed almost perfectly MAY BE THIS WILL CURE PPL WITH 2ND LEAD SYNDROME ;)
4. Finally the closure even so it didnt go the way i wanted but it show that destiny and fate in inevitable

Music:
usually i dont write about music much; but i decided here to mention it way early due to importance and impact.
do u know the feeling when u download a song and listen to it dozen times for a week or so; yes the ost give u this feeling and combine it with video u will cry each time.
definitely u will re watch video of ost on youtube for couple of times

Actors:
1.Lee Yo Won(Song Yi Kyung) and Jung Il Woo(Scheduler ) i mention them before the main actors as they represent for me the best side story in any drama (better than any original story) which can hold itself alone actually they could had done the series on both of them only.
Nevertheless; the sorriness of Jung Il Woo(Scheduler)and his loneliness and way he look at Lee Yo Won(Song Yi Kyung) make me shed tears everytime. his watching in shadows wishing a second chance to appologize to his true love. AND the acting in the ending ohh my god was so good.
2.the main actors esp Nam Gyu Ri(Shin Ji Hyun)acted well also. the looks of regret on both of them and love for each other was so good. not to mention Nam Gyu Ri(Shin Ji Hyun) scenes when watching her parents was heart breaking for me
3. all other actors excelled in this drama esp the villains show how they where greedy and jealous and so vicious but at same time had hidden human feeling where they were trying to hang on their last shred of humanity.

Rewatch: i can rewatch it i think 2 more times but nothing more as iam not fan of rewatching so even considering it applicable for being rewatch is big deal to me

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Warning: This is a friendship between two guys that delete data for clients. So if 'Bromance' is not what you like then move on.

I must fangirl first, these two actors are amazing and you must check out their other works! I started this because I am a fan of Suda Masaki, but also because of the plot line being phenomenally enticing!

I loved the series! The mise-en-scene, lighting, camerawork, acting, script-writing, editing, and the accuracy on how dull programming is was all just over my head and beautifully crafted. The series does not just focus on the friendship, but the mystery of the cases that they get when a client does not respond on time. It's a perfect balance and I wish there was more dramas like this!
Unfortunately, it ends at 8 episodes - praying for a 2nd season, if not an extension of episodes. I highly recommend to 15+ audiences!

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I'm in a state of bliss right now.

I will admit, my friend had to work hard to convince me to watch this after the disappointment that was the series. But OMG THAT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!!!!! Maybe it was because I had low expectations, but that movie was really good. As a gay man, watching that felt so cathartic and I was 100% on Mico's side the whole time.

I love Mico's character so much because he fights for himself and doesn't put up with anyone's shit. And JC Alacantra did such a stellar acting job!!!

The production was great. The directing was great. The story was great. Even the ad placements were really smooth and well done!! Love it love it love it.

Also, I was not expecting that ending. DAMN THAT ENDING. Absolute perfection <3

Thank you so much to the cast and crew. I wish you all success and I hope you will bring more wonderful stories to my romantic queer soul. <3

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