Reviews

Quiet, thoughtful and beautiful film. One of my absolute favorites.

I saw a low-res version of this about a year ago. I loved it but could tell I missed some subtleties in the acting, which was brilliant all round. I have just watched it again in better quality and enjoyed it even more. Sure I'll come back to it again at some point and I hardly ever watch things more than once.

Sometimes when watching a film with a gay storyline I'm grateful just to see two actors on screen who aren't uncomfortable touching each other, though I wish that was a given. In this, it's not just a matter of good chemistry that can be duplicated from drama to drama; the two male leads are completely immersed and connected. In their one-on-one scenes especially I they both had an incredible intensity and I felt the relationship they created was one unique to this story.

The film tells of how the people in his life are affected by Nagisa's choices and how they gradually come to terms with how things are, take responsibility, care for and respect each other. I'm glad the film attempts to describe the impact made on his wife. There aren't nearly enough depictions of this situation from that perspective - I guess because it's not as appealing to watch.

I think it could have been cut a bit shorter in the second half, but if it was shorter and had a director's cut I'd be watching the extended version for sure, so that's a non-comment :'D

It left me feeling *emotional* but happy to have seen it. And the little girl is a complete joy.

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This is a drama I recommend to all those in search of a decent psychological/suspense drama with an air of mystery. It was strange and confusing to me at first, but that only made me want to continue. It's a short watch, so it's something you can complete in a day. I wouldn't say its easy or relaxing, but it sucks you into the story with various unanswered questions through each passing episode that will urge you on to the next one.

That aside, I didn't feel like this was complete by the end. I think the drama was too short for its story, which by itself was very good, but it needed much more time to achieve its potential. Because the story is neither plain nor simple, it needed room to grow and flesh out all of its intricacies that were there originally, but never really expanded upon.

The casting was perfect. I felt every actor lived up to their characters, however again going back to the time constraint I don't feel like I really got as attached and invested in them as I should have. I feel this way especially with Kuma-chan, who was such a fantastic character (superbly represented by Chiba Yudai, who really showed off his acting skill here), but got barely any screen time. The moments we got with him were some of the best, however.

The music sometimes felt like it ebbed into spots awkwardly, and sometimes it felt like it was missing. To be honest, the only time I really paid any attention to it was when one of the characters were singing, because it was a part of them and their dialogue.

I did enjoy this, however. Someday I may rewatch it, because it really was very interesting and I loved all of the characters, but it won't be for quite a while I think. Knowing all of the twists takes something out of the viewing experience. If you have some time, I recommend giving it a try.

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Lens of Obsession or Rationality

This will be a short review, as revealing too many details would take away the thrill and suspense. If you enjoy a well-crafted psychological drama, this one is definitely worth watching.

I recommend it not only for its intriguing storytelling and the unexpected twists in every episode, but also for the fantastic acting and undeniable chemistry among the cast. If you’re familiar with Qin Jun Jie, you might recognize him from the underrated yet excellent drama Hero. Here, you’ll see several familiar faces from that series, and their natural chemistry truly elevates the show.

As the synopsis suggests, the story begins with an investigation into a missing ex-girlfriend, which slowly spirals into obsession as more suspicious clues emerge. The main lead, Yang Zheng Hui (aka Da Hui Hui), a full-time detective blogger, becomes entangled with Zeng Jie (played brilliantly by Wang Duo), his wife Bai Xiao Ling (Maggie Huang, who gives an equally compelling performance), the police officer Li De, and the lawyer Zhang Ye. I especially loved the friendship that developed between Da Hui Hui and Li De—it added warmth and depth amidst all the tension.

Kudos to Qin Jun Jie, Wang Duo, and Maggie Huang for their exceptional performances—especially Wang Duo, who shines as a complex, morally grey character.

The storytelling perspective is particularly well done: we begin through Da Hui Hui’s eyes, then shift to the perpetrator’s point of view, and finally reach a neutral perspective through Li De as the evidence unfolds. I noted that episode 15 felt like the author’s intended ending, but episode 16 adds a meaningful layer—showing how every crime leaves behind loopholes, and prompting us to question whether we analyze things rationally or through our own biases.

One of the strongest messages here is that revenge should never be taken into one’s own hands.

Another reason this drama stands out is its excellent direction and cinematography. The framing and camera angles heighten the intensity and tension of each scene, making the viewing experience even more captivating.

In short, this is a gripping psychological drama—intelligent, emotional, and beautifully executed. Highly recommended, just don’t fast forward and avoid skip watch as you will miss the details.

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Twisted psychological thriller, it's intense!

What we get in this Chun Woo Hee starrer is an engaging, polished story about a child and her mother and all the psychology stuff people can't expect to face.

The relationship between a mother and a daughter, the dream to be always on the top shining through and how far can one go to achieve that inner peace. What I love about the story is it keeps you entangled and you can't guess the end of it. The moment you start believing "okay, so this was like that" it backstabs you right there with a twist. The horror scenes aren't very scary visually unless you were astonished by the sudden scare.

I dare to say this movie is nothing without Chun Woo Hee because this woman's acting is insanely good here. The way she walks and rises her head, can anyone else satisfy us better for an anchor. The insecurities within her role, the craziness, the creepy things and the depth of her struggles, it's all such well portrayed by her. She carries this fine storyline on her shoulders.

Now coming up to why it lost 1 star from the Rating —
• Just felt a little confused at some points, I don't know if it was about that mystery vibe build up or what but there was no energy in Shin Ha Kyun's role, so slow and dull. At one point Chun Woo Hee was so awesome, but the rest of the cast didn't stand out that much.

So if you're looking for something engaging, thrilling with little mix of horror and lots of psychology, unexpected depth of human mind and intense acting by our leading lady Chun Woo Hee, this could be a right choice.

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Weirdly interesting and fun 1st half but poor writing in the 2nd half.

While “I am Nobody” was airing, I read good things about it. Little did I know I’ve stumbled onto one of the wackiest C-dramas I’ve ever watched. I really did not have much expectations and I never read the comics. I’ve seen some live action Japanese adaptations of anime and manga, and am not always a big fan of the comedy. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the first half of the drama, despite its weird comedy. But, I was also disappointed in the second half when the writing got sloppy and they seemed to run out of money.


What I Enjoy:

1. Bao Bao - One of my favorite characters in the drama and also in all of C-drama comedies. She is hilarious!!! Wang Ying Lu did a fantastic job portraying the emotionless, naive, crazy, violent and just pure wacky character. I look forward to funny things that come out of her mouth and how she reacts to different situations.

2. Peng Yu Chang - This is my first time watching him and I’m surprised to find out that he’s been in the industry for quite some time. His acting is probably the best of the bunch amongst the younger cast members of the drama. He really does stand out in his portrayal of the protagonist, Zhang Chu Lan. The success of the show rests on his shoulders and he does an admirable job.

3. Veteran Supporting Cast - “I am Nobody” is one of those dramas where the more experienced, veteran actors really outshine the younger generation. There are so many great actors, especially Old Taoist Lao Tian Shi/Zhang Zhi Wei, Grandpa Zhang Huai Yi, Taoist Tian Jin Zhong and Elder Lu Jin. I’ve enjoyed every single one of their scenes, serious, emotional and comedic ones.

4. Action Scenes - There are some pretty great fight scenes in the first half of the drama and during the competition. This is also one of the reasons I want to watch this drama as early comments praised some of its fight scenes. There are quite a few memorable fights during the competition.

5. Comedy - I normally don’t quite over-the-top comedy and shy away from pure comedies. But I thoroughly enjoy all the jokes, second-hand embarrassment, especially when the jokes happen with the veterans. Their deadpan expression while speaking some of these funny lines, make the scenes even more funny. BaoBao’s Sichuan accent also adds to her strange but unique personality.


What I have Mixed Feelings about or Don’t Like:

1. Second Half - I did not read the comics, so I am not sure if the drama follows the plot faithfully or loosely. However, I was very disappointed that after the competition, I did not see more camaraderie between the younger main cast and/or their adventures in continuing the quest to find out about the truth. Instead, we got an unimportant detour of Wang Ye’s family story and barely got Zhang Chu Lan, Wang Ye, Feng Bao Bao and Zhu Ge Qing back together. Zhang Lin Yu got his own side plot of accepting himself and continuation of the ill-developed romance. We spent so much time in Lao Tian Shi’s ‘revenge’ and another character’s search for their sister. I am not saying these side plots are not important to the development of the main plot, but screentime is not distributed appropriately. Maybe the drama should not have focused so many episodes on the competition, so it leaves enough time to develop all the other subplots afterwards. But then, the competition episodes are the most fun! If you spend so much time for viewers to get to know the main characters, then give me more of them together!

2. Inconsistent acting - This drama has a very big supporting cast of young actors and actresses. Some of them I’ve seen in other dramas and they did fine. But aside from Peng Yu Chang and Wang Ying Lu, the others don’t really stand out or exceed my expectations. I’m glad Neo Hou is not in another cold-on-the-outside role (can’t say the same for Bi Wen Jun) and he definitely acts better when he’s given more. Even so, he has room for improvement. A few other minor supporting actors are below average. No one is horrible, just inconsistent.

3. CGI - I wonder if the drama spends all their money on the special effects in the first half of the drama. Maybe the competition episodes use up all their budget, because in the second half, there are some pretty bad special effects. You can tell the green screen is right behind the actors.

4. Words Disappear - This is very personal and might only bother me. The drama did not give me a chance to fully read all the Chinese characters/sentences on the screen. And this happens not just once or twice. Instead of using a narrator to give an update or epilogue of what happened, the drama flashes these words on the screen so quickly. I tried to pause and read, but that gets annoying and doesn’t always work. I guess I should have turned on English subtitles, because I can read English a lot faster than Chinese.

5. Product Placement - It’s been a while since I watched a C-drama with so much in-your-face product placements. It was funny when they worked it into the advertising of the event, but after a while, these products are just everywhere. I thought I would only come across this level of product placement in a Thai BL.


Overall, this is an interesting drama and I had a pretty good time for most part. But this is definitely not for everyone and I can see many get put off by its humor. I would have given the first half an 8.5 and the second half 7.5 for a lower budget drama. So, an average of 8.0 would be my final rating. I am not sure if season 2 is going to happen, but I don’t think I’ll watch it. I am quite disappointed in the second half and really wish the writing is better.


Other Random Observations:
1. There are times I got confused if I am watching a wuxia drama (historical) or a modern drama.
2. This drama has a very eclectic soundtrack.
3. Peng Yu Chang/Zhang Chu Lan cries a lot!
4. Neo Hou looks so pretty! He can pass for a pretty girl with a nice, long ponytail.
5. So many characters and their signature moves that I get confused sometimes.



Completed: 9/26/2023 - Review #359

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The biggest compliment I can make this series: It brought my love for the BL genre back. After many disappointments in the last year with soulless stories and actors that look uncomfortable, Taiwan is back with something natural, raw and refreshing. The acting is superb. Everyone is doing a great job, but the main couple is stealing the spotlight. Their chemistry is mind-blowing. Both actors are talented. Sam is very charming, but the newcomer Yu is the star of the series for me. He can do it all: being arrogant, cute, funny, sad, emotional and dramatic. I felt in love with the character after only watching two episodes. If you see the actor in real life he is a completely different person which proves how amazing his acting skills are. The plot itself is rather generic - nothing new here! - but the storytelling is pretty good. The series flows nicely, every scene seems meaningful, there is no boring moment, the dialogues are funny, charming and smart. It's NOT cringy. Not even once I felt second hand embarrassment. It's just sweet, cute, beautiful, heart-warming, charming, lovely, emotional and last but not least: very satisfying. It's a feel good series with a great couple that doesn't hold back touching and kissing each other. The camera work is a bit shaky and the editing a bit edgy, but it's low budget after all, and the rawness adds to the charm. I also love the OST. It's obvious that everyone involved in this project was passionate about it and worked very hard. This is the result of a talented and motivated team. I hope s2 will be a success too. They deserve more recognition.

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solid & clever descends into cliches: warning spoilers ahead

Let me start this off by saying that I REALLY enjoyed this drama for the first 16 of 24 episodes. Its layers were well-crafted: historic romance, present deluded CEO, present CEO conspiring to unearth homicidal board members. Even the transitions between past and present were smooth with written pages turning either forwards or backwards to demonstrate the passage of time. The tension between the FL and ML was palpable and the FL's struggle to balance professional and personal integrity was shown well. I enjoyed watching the two side couples as they jockeyed back and forth into possibility. And I was assailed by some serious SML syndrome.

Then at the moment when the story felt like it was finally resolving, the less desirable bits began to emerge. After the FL spurned the ML for betraying her trust, the drama began to drag. One entire episode was mostly devoted to showing how miserable each of the characters was. I mean how many crying jags and flashbacks do we really need to be convinced of their despair? And as that disconnect was finally being resolved, suddenly another major business crisis rears its ugly head with the SML showing a jealous bent to undermine the ML. Simultaneously, the FL is faced with a hitherto unrecalled childhood trauma--which, of course, was connected to the ML, the only one who could truly help her. Then once everything was almost resolved, I was particularly annoyed by the FL faux extension of her 1-year study abroad. Seriously, who plays that sort of trick on someone they love?

I wish that everything could have wound down before these final crises/challenges occurred. I would have rated this a solid '8' then. Was the last third truly horrible? No, it had its moments (brother presents FL friend with all the birthday gifts he had prepared but been too afraid to give for 7 years; ML assistant meeting his partner's family who believe he is unemployed and poor; the resonance of the dead mother's story and its revitalized ending). I just hated watching the same actors who sensitively enacted this well-written script forced to portray overdone cliches. It was like I'd been savoring a delectable confection, but then after I was full I devoured a reduced-price, mass produced, store-bought cake. I'm left feeling uncomfortably over-stuffed with pleasant memories of the initial pastry and only regret for the bland sugary dessert I shoved in after.

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I'm so mad, I had to come here and write my first review ever.

I wouldn't be so mad if this series hadn't roped me in with a lovely concept. I love a capable modern girl being sucked into an ancient world and having to adapt. I love a found-family-style ragtag group of young people out here fighting crime and solving mysteries. I love that they're all fully fleshed out characters with their own talents and challenges and even backstories. This was all off to a great start, and I will say that in watching a 4 hour compilation video of the series, I was on board for the first 3 hours. It's that last hour that brings me here.

Without giving any spoilers, I can tell you that last hour was truly unhinged. I'm a smart person, and I was more confused than a chameleon in a bag of skittles. The plotline diverges so intensely that it leaves plot twist territory altogether and goes into a full on plot tornado where nothing makes sense, no explanations are offered, and the audience is just sitting there for an hour questioning not only what in the world is going on in this story, but also our life choices in general.

Concept was great. Acting was great. I'm not a music person so I hold a neutral opinion of the soundtrack. I'm angry about the writing. If I could, I would press charges against whoever wrote the last quarter or so of the series.

I recommend the first three quarters of this series. After that, guys, you're on your own. Hope this helps.

Leggi di Più

Excellent acting, storyline, pace-good directing

Excellent acting from both leads. I like the following: how the male lead character was written- being smart but not cold & not placed on too high a pedestal. The nice banter with female lead. How he makes his commitment to female lead it clear to all. I like how he shows consideration to antagonist, but clear on his choices. Showing how he pieces the puzzle pieces together to stay 1 ahead is a refreshing, more down to earth way of depicting the hero. The female lead was equally refreshing, sassy, confident and rfunny. A healthy, funny, committed relationship between the leads.

Acting of both lead s are superb, I've gone to look for their other work! I cannot believe they've mostly played supporting roles...Im a fan for both and look forward for more lead roles.

Kudos to the director- the pace, the setting selections contribute to the success of this series. Although a web series, it did not feel rushed or low cost at all. Im going to look for more work from this director. This series was a breath of fresh air to help me from my drama slump.
Thank you also for the great english subtitles.

Highly recommended!

Leggi di Più

In a sometimes overwhelming world of perfect faces and scripts that are best described as "meh," Dear My Friends stands out to me because it highlights real people. Real problems. It's proof that you don't need flawless visuals or idol actors to move an audience. It's proof that you don't need switched-at-birth reveals for breakfast and the white truck of doom for a late-night cocktail to create true angst and emotion.

Story:
This was a story of love, its inherent sacrifice, and a story of forgiveness. It was a story of friendship through the ages and family. I couldn’t watch it without relating to the story in some way. It was impossible.

Every character was written in a way that engaged my understanding and sympathy but tested me in all the right ways, as real people always do. For example, Kim Suk Kyoon, a crusty and cantankerous security guard that often took his wife for granted, was a product of a generation with bread-winning men that made all the important decisions and women who did most everything else. Would it be right for him to take all the blame for everything he did if he was raised a certain way? He tested me (a lot) and my modern views on women, but his character evolved with the story as it should. Just like every single one of the others, he made mistakes, he regretted, and he emerged at the end, embracing the truths of his life in a realistic way. Unlike some dramas, the characters in Dear My Friends didn't lose their personalities by the end of their journeys. They all had the same frustrating, lovable quirks that made them unique while they simultaneously accepted their true selves. That's good writing.

Dear My Friends handled tough subjects with a perfect combination of pragmatism and empathy while also blending in humor and heart. I very (very) rarely enjoy korean drama humor, but this was an exception. The writer wove in the usual drama tropes but simultaneously brought in atypical characters and situations to freshen them up or poke fun at them. For those of you curious about romance, there were several couples written into the story, young and old, and each of them had their own set of issues that fed into the main themes of the story.

The only gripe I had (if it could even be called that) was the lack of flashbacks, and I am still shocked that I felt that way. I HATE flashbacks because of how often they slow the pace of a story, but I wanted to get a better grasp of who the characters were before. It didn’t have to be every episode - just a little more for perspective and all that. But, to be honest, this is personal preference. The story didn’t HAVE to have them.

Acting/Cast:
Absolutely no complaints. These actors embodied their roles to the point that they imprinted themselves on my heart, flaws and all. I will forever remember their roles as if the characters were real people that I met at my local convenience store (in my dreams, where I live in South Korea, of course). That's the beauty of slice-of-life stories.

There wasn’t a standout performance, and I mean that in the best sense. Each actor supported the rest of the cast, and the audience got to reap the benefits of experiencing seasoned actors. I love a good newbie actor that wows me with unexpected talent, but sometimes I want to trust that I'm in good hands. And I was.

Music:
I will remember the intro music the most, and I might recall one or two songs from the drama. The OST won’t be something that I’ll obsessively listen to for months to come, though. Perhaps one day I will look back on the drama and get nostalgia goosebumps when I hear the theme song again, but it won’t be more than that.

Rewatch Value:
This is a good example of a lower rewatch value that proves the strength of the drama, rather than any weakness. I don’t need to obsessively rewatch this. Once again in a few years may do the trick, but the heartwarming rawness of the story will stay imprinted on my brain for a long time.

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HOW NON BLOOD RELATED CAN CARE AND LOVE EACH OTHER AS FAMILY

this movie mostly contain about the flashback on how doo seok take care of seung yi since little because of the debt that seung yi mother has. its very heartwarming story on how seung yi struggle still little and hoe doo seok try to make her happy by putting so much effort. but for me the ending was kinda too simple and easy because it made me wonder like why seungyi spend years for doing something that can be solved easily. but the relationship between them its very beautiful towards the end. all the actor and actress really good but the child actor especially really good in potraying her characters.

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After watching Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat, I wanted to watch more historical Thai dramas since I loved that drama so much. Nueng Dao Fah Diew did not disappoint! It's a more serious drama than Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat, but the story is so engrossing and interesting! I loved the female lead's personality - she was fun, loyal to her country, and headstrong. The male lead was so adorable and kick butt! I enjoyed watching his fighting scenes. The romance between her and the main lead was so cute. I highly recommend watching this drama if you're wanting to find something to watch after Bpoop Phaeh Saniwaat.

See the comments on Nueng Dao Fah Diew's drama page to find out where you can watch this.

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"Is your love bigger than the love I give? What's the difference between your love and mine?"

a film about love and heartbreak that just left me in shambles. so beautiful in so many different ways.
-it's a coming of age story that deals with every emotion life has in store for us like jealousy, confusion, love, anger, sadness, and heartbreak. it also revolves around religion as the two boys are in a Christian school and provokes the question of homosexuality and how it’s viewed as a sin. the inner turmoil when you’ve been taught that your love doesn’t belong. and you can feel absolutely all of it in this film. just by watching it's as if your own heart is being broken and being touched.
-the acting of everyone but especially the two main leads is exceptional. it’s such a raw and emotional film so it truly needed actors that could not only express it but make it feel real and man did they deliver. their intimacy, their touches, their tears, everything hit me right in my heart.
-the cinematography is absolutely stunning it left me in awe. the way the scenes were executed showed so much care and attention which in result, conveyed an emotion and intimacy you could just drown in.
this film will remain engraved in my heart. so please go ahead and watch it!

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Watched a super entertaining lakorn after so long.

Phew! What a ride. Three weeks runtime, and I just started watching last week, so just a week for me. This was such an interesting thing to watch. Fun and short, even too short. I wish we could've watched 2 or 3 more episodes of this. Anyways, let's dive into the drama.
Story:
The story is rather complicated, even if enjoyable. It's enjoyable to see these wacky characters with messed up lives try to fix their lives but get into trouble instead. But just like some others have pointed it out, it's a little hard to understand in some cases. For example, I wouldn't and didn't understand some things unless I had read other people's comments over here. And it is a bit jam packed for a six-episode series. So much happens and unravels every episode way too fast. But that didn't prevent me from understanding the things that went down.
The characters & acting:
The characters were enjoyable and the performance of the main cast was great. Mote is very likable with his wit and humor. This is my second time seeing a character played by Off, and this time I liked the character way more than the previous time. Kat is super charming and fun too. This my first time seeing a character played by Jan and I'm fairly impressed. Same for Luis. Mond was great too. Even if I didn't like him before, I grew to like Sun by the end. I'm surprisingly attached to this cast now and it makes me wish this lakorn was longer just for this cast alone.
Music:
The music was fun. I got hooked on the OP song by the end and couldn't skip it more than twice. I didn't notice the background music always, but I think it was mostly decent.
Rewatch value:
This lakorn was very likable to me. So it's worth rewatching some time in the future, even if I might not do so myself.
Overall:
It was enjoyable and satisfying. I took a break from lakorns last year and this one made me want to go back to it. So I'd recommend it if anyone's looking for a short lakorn to watch with some comedy and mystery.

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