Reviews

Since no-one has written a review for this heartwarming and tender drama I decided to write one to give it some attention it deserves. The drama focuses on Yuzu's story as a mentally disabled young woman who raises a child against all odds. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this endearing drama. Having experience of working with children who have severe learning difficulties I found Yuzu's story very relatable. Their behavior is unpredictable and they do have difficulty in processing information but they feel emotions just like everyone else and just want to be accepted. The discrimination she faces are real, the challenges she faces are real and to go through all this while raising a child is truly inspiring. The drama pulls away from being too heavy by providing many lighthearted and warm moments between Yuzu and her daughter. It focuses on the importance of family and friendships and it demonstrated that with the right support and loving care people like Yuzu can thrive and succeed in society. The acting was brilliant by all the cast and no doubt Yuzu's daughter Himawari will steal your heart away. Personally this is why I love Japanese dramas so much because their simple stories can really capture the audience's heart. If you like very good quality, heartwarming and meaningful dramas then I can highly recommend Daisuki.

Leia Mais

It's Not For Everyone But Who Cares?

This review is coming from someone who previously worked in the film industry. I have plenty of things to say but I’ll make it brief and neutral as possible, without throwing industry jargons so everyone will understand.

Cinematography, lights, editing, and music, are all remarkable. It is obvious that the drama has sumptuous amount of budget allotted in the production. The blurry technique they did in the shots is clever, it’s as if we are watching a historic event right in front of us. The consistency use of old Thai language in the show is makes me feel that we are indeed in that period.

Though it is already predictable that Jom will eventually leave that period and return to the present day, it didn’t stop me from watching. As someone who loves heavy drama, I like that they slowly burn and agonized the viewers of the impending doom of their relationship. Yes, their romance is fluffy, and alluring as if I’m watching a classic love story, but it is also depressing to think that at the end of everything, they will be separated. The discomfort of the impending doom is felt throughout the show and it makes the overall tone of the drama serious and melancholic.

When Jom was literally dispersing into the thin air, I have to commend the visual FX, the sorrowful emotions of the separation transcends through the screen. And Yai’s mourning aftermath really solidifies the heart wrenching drama that I’m looking for.
The series proves that magic happens when you cast actors who know how to act in the exemplary level. The eye-works of Nonkul and Bright showcases that they are indeed great actors and gave justice to their roles. I read online that few people cringe with their acting and I don’t understand why. But who cares? As someone who worked in film industry, I would say that they deserve an acting award in their performance.

My only concern was the ending as it left us with too many unanswered questions. It is confusing for people who didn’t read the novel. ((THIS PART IS SPOILER)) I have to check online the explanation for me to understand that it was the present day incarnation of Yai that Jom meets in the old house, he's not Jom's imagination and definitely not a ghost. The reunion is sweet, but I hope they spend at least a minute to explain what is happening. It appears that they are planning to adapt the second part of the novel for the second season, but the production company is uncertain about it due to budget constrains that’s why they fast-track the last scene similar to the end of the second novel.

Regardless, the show is excellent in all levels. As much as I’m looking forward in seeing a second season, I won’t expect that it will happen anytime soon. As I’ve said this was an expensive show to begin with. It also doesn't have those cringe product placement that we usually see in Thai series so I have no idea where they will get money in funding the sequel.

Do I recommend watching the drama? ABSOLUTELY YES! Rewatch Value I have to give 10/10 especially it is the type of heavy romantic drama that I prefer.

Leia Mais

Ok I'll just start off by saying even though its a parody remake... it wasn't actually that bad...
The only similar storyline was the fact that he's a rich son of a big company and that they go to a rich school. Other than that nothing was similar to the heirs or YCCFTS. The main guy just time travelled.
This drama actually had SO MUCH POTENTIAL if they made it into a proper drama...
It could have turned out to be a really good drama if it wasn't for its super duper short eps.
I actually liked how the story played out, but it was too short so everything was rushed...
Also due to low production, some scenes were really fake.. but i generally didn't mind that

Acting
So I've personally never seen any of the actors/actresses before so it was a nice experience.
I would look forward to their future works.

Music
The music surprised me a lot, I really like the opening song and I plan to download it.
The other tracks were great as well.

Rewatch
Yea it was a nice experience but it was so short. Finished it before i even realise what was going on.
I still might rewatch it though.

All in all, i'm just so agitated about the fact that this drama had so much potential except due to low production or whatever the reason, it became a short short drama with eps thats 15mins long.
People who have the time and is interested in the story can sure check it out. It doesn't take much time anyway. :)

Leia Mais

Bad Buddy related thoughts and sort of a review

When I first heard that Bad Buddy would be created, I was both excited and sceptical. Excited to see 'enemies to lovers' trope finally being played out and finally seeing Nanon in a BL series. Sceptical because I didn't know how much skinship with Nanon there would be and how it would be produced. Would we be only queerbaited into a bromance-style of a show? Should we lower our expectations?

And the first two episodes were like that. They were nicely done (GMM can produce quality shows like they're off the conveyor belt), but nothing too groundbreaking on how this would all play out.

All the way to the episode 4 when Pran's feelings were almost laid bare and Nanon's acting just peaked. And then we're getting the most ground breaking, emotionally investing, absolutely incredibly acted episode 5, which I've watched on repeat for 2 weeks straight. Which of background music I played when I was falling asleep. Which of I didn't need any translation of the dialogue because I knew that by heart. It just speaks volumes of the way "The Legendary Rooftop Scene" was played, how amazing actors Ohm and Nanon are. Later on we'd read that there were only 2 takes (crying and no crying) and that it was incredibly investing for the actors as well. Their hard work shows, because finishing this show, I still think of that rooftop scene and feel like we're all riding high from that and everything that was posted after it, was just a bonus.

This is a really simple story, as old as time, of lovers from two families that hate each other. You get this type of story IN EVERY SINGLE CULTURE. So does it stand out? Does it bring something extra to for example, world of BL?

It does. Even if you get this simple story with a bit predictable plot, the director P'Aof is not afraid of breaking the stereotypes and having important conversations about sexuality and prejudice that we really shouldn't be having anymore, that yet still perpetuate in other LGBT dramas. And I'm thankful for that.

And what he really does is to let his two stars, Ohm and Nanon shine and show off their acting skills. As we'd wait for the new episode, we'd read comments saying 'this scene was improvised by the actors', 'I just let them vibe in this scene and work it out by themselves' etc etc. At certain point it felt like 90% of PatPran scenes were improvised. And the chemistry between the two leads is incredible.

It feels that BB should be put in a manual on how to make a good BL series.

Story 8/10 (you've seen this before and you're gonna watch more of this again)
Acting 20/10 (opening OhmNanon temple)
Production 9/10 (few hiccups with editing and translation)
Music 10/10 (headphones are not enough, I want to inhale and exhale the music, I want to BE the rooftop music)
Rewatch value 10/10 (I've already rewatched it around 30 altogether, gonna rewatch some more just to feel something)
Overall 10/10 (because legally I can't give a higher score on this website)

And a shoutout to the BB comments section on MDL, especially D Rey, CyreneB, kru, hanabii, Mermaid, TheGORJUSMARSH and BenedictTan - thank you for your thoughts, support, replies etc. You made the experience of watching BB even better!!

Leia Mais

Annoying Secondary Characters

Let me go straight to the points. For me, this is an annoying drama. Despite the fact that Deng Lun is one of my favorite actors, the story, dialogues and acting (apart from Deng Lun’s) are definitely lacking. Most of the characters are super annoying, making me want to throw the pillows at the TV most of the time. The story seems to go around and around. The logic of the story and characters is outrageous and unfathomable. On top of that, the dubbing is super bad with lips not synching. Everything is a cliche and predictable. 

Having being so critical of this drama, to be fair, I want to praise its music which is pretty good and I have truly enjoyed it.

If you have better dramas to watch, don't waste time on this one unless you want to watch Deng Lun, or you like Republic era dramas.

Leia Mais

This drama was a slow paced filler romance. (The story doesn't really start to go anywhere until around episode 6.) Although I love both lead actors, the first couple of episodes were sort of awkward, and I wasn't sure how I even felt about it. I wanted to support the actors, but the drama was just sort of...meh. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. It was just average, and that's why it got a 7 overall for me. I rated much lower for the storyline because everything except the main lead parts and their romance was just superficial.

That was the one part of this show that I really did enjoy - seeing Soo Ho blossom and become his true self under the care of Geu Rim. I like that Geu Rim was the mature and stable person in this show. She didn't have really any character growth because she didn't need any. She was calm and forth-right. She always had the perfect response to Soo Ho's (and PD Lee's) childishness. There were no huge conflicts and no noble idiocy, just a pure and sweet romance (the radio part of the show was almost an after-thought after the first half of the show and seemed to take a backseat instead of being anything major to the story.) Soo Ho could be very possessive and jealous, but because he was so child-like, cute and innocent about it, I really couldn't muster up any indignation over it. I was happy that Geu Rim was a woman that didn't let the men (Soo Ho and PD Lee) get away with bad behavior without calling them out on it.

Here is where the not so great part comes in. The story-line was problematic. The side characters really didn't have much to do, and their parts in the story were too shallowly developed to bear any weight in the story. While that made things very comfortable and easy for our lead couple, it also didn't give them any true conflict to resolve, which bored many viewers. I was ok with riding along this easy river of romance because I liked the leads honesty with each other and their resolute determination that they wouldn't let things come between them. The 'villains' that the show set up just sort of petered out about 3/4 through. Towards the end, they decided to make these thorns more sympathetic and less troublesome. Most things were resolved in neat little bows for us, very tidily and quickly. And the rest was sort of just let go. If the pacing had been better, I think they could have written a stronger story that would have been more compelling for us as viewers. Instead, they weakened out their own plot and it was already thin to begin with.

I wasn't bothered by the age difference between the actors as some people were. I am well aware that an actor doesn't have to be the same age as the character she plays. I had no issues at all with the leads that they cast for this. Now, I do have to say that the first several episodes, I wasn't thrilled with the styling choices they made for Soo Ho and Geu Rim. Soo Ho had some horrendous red hair - and red eyes to match. However, with his transformation, I could kind of see that maybe they were making an allusion to him becoming more of his 'real' self. Geu Rim also had hideously poufy curly hair and this served to make Kim So Hyun actually appear younger than her actual age rather than older, as her character was. Thankfully, they also toned down this style and she became more believable as a woman in her early 20's vs. a high school girl.

For what it's worth, if you are just looking for something light and don't mind an extremely shallow plot that just serves as a backdrop for a comfortable easy romance, then I would say this is what you are looking for in a rom-com. It's nothing ground breaking or 'never been done before', and it can be pretty cliché, so know that going in. If you are a jaded viewer who hates that sort of thing and/or needs something faster paced and a more solid plot, then you are going to want to take a hard pass on this one - it won't be for you.

Leia Mais

Friendships Formed through Intertwined Meow-Steries

I will be completely honest when I say I dropped this drama mid-episode 2 because of the really cheesy childish antics. But something told me to return to it and listening to my instincts and asking some people who kept watching, I did just that. And I'm very glad I did because this is one of those very few cdramas that actually got better with each episode especially after 5 or 6. So I'm very glad I trusted my instincts to finish watching. It was friendships formed through intertwined meow-stries. See what I did there? ;)

Pros: At first it seemed each of the cases were separate but as you continued to watch, you understood they were all connected to the original case and story from three years back and LB losing his father to some unknown organization of mask wearing assassins and being turned into a cat. The story revolves around him and his group of subordinates (SB, WQ, CB, and Alibaba) in the CJR with an extra kid (CS) who becomes LB's little brother of sorts plus QQZ who used to be LB's childhood best friend but due to a misunderstanding those 3 years ago that is only really resolved in the second to last episode they appear on opposite sides. In reality QQZ infiltrated the organization that's trying to gain immortality through murder and to overthrow the Empress. Favorite character is hard because the main gang is great plus QQZ who I wish appeared in more episodes so they could have properly fleshed out his and LB's friendship. CS knew of LB being a cat first (not counting QQZ of course though he didn't know or ask for that to be done) and it didn't bother him and then towards the end when the others found out about it, they still stood by him calling him a "Cat Hero", which was so awesome.

The old fart society, though they were the main villains, you also had YZH who though started out just as helpless as anyone was fed to some demon cat but got the upper hand and became a demon cat himself, morphed into a sociopathic loony that killed people, turned LB into a cat, caused the domino effect that got LB's father murdered, and ultimately killed QQZ just for a stupid game in his own mind. Same went for CS's brother CJ aka Black Rakhasa who was the actual murderer of LB's father as he was hired by the old fart society because though he cared for his brother, after being bullied in Shendu, instead of helping others, he chose to be a predator. LZS got karma not once but twice; got killed once, brought back by the old fart society, used until he no longer was needed and killed by them for his blood. Whoopsie; now thats seriously cold karma.

This show had many layers that you had to peel back like an onion to understand. People did come back to life but none were immortal save for YZH and LB; though LB gave the only antidote to YZH as a deal for his testimony at the old fart society's trial. QQZ wanted the antidote for LB and he essentially died for it. I did tear up because the way LB keened over QQZ as they finally made amends officially--though LB had long suspected that QQZ didn't really turn bad--just before he passed was only seen when he lost his father. When finding out just how much evidence QQZ had found out on his own even before LB's father was killed and his father knew QQZ had successfully infiltrated but didn't tell LB. Maybe if he did, then their misunderstanding wouldn't have happened upon his murder; LB was very smart even back then and he would have left him alone.

But in the end it was CS who saved LB and the gang; the kid that started out illiterate and very naive, brought the city folk together to save his best friends through the haunting final words of the now gone QQZ copied hundreds of times and distributed to the people of the city.

Wow, I feel like I've fallen back into the story. Let's move on. The costumes (save maybe the Walmart wigs and beards of the foreigners from Alibaba's country), OSTs, scenery, fight scenes were really great, plus appropriate comedy was all very nice and fit everything.

Cons: I wish we got to see the Empress's face as that was a huge mystery the entire show. As well as who Du Zixu was; he was an important figure in the story as a lot of it started with him but we never saw who his character was. I wish that they ended SGQ's story better as she was moved properly out of the story but don't just poof her. Also wish that the story didn't begin as shakily as it did then maybe I wouldn't have dropped it in the first place.

Though I know it was also in the source material, I really don't feel like QQZ should have died especially after his line of "I have also outlived my usefulness." That's not true. He was very important to LB, the veterans he worked so hard to exonerate, and now the gang of CJR too. I don't feel sorry for YZH at all; even though LB did towards the end. In a way he chose his own path in life. He knew the antidote was on that dagger, he could have taken it at any point but like BR, it was a lot easier to be a predator pretending he was a god than choose to be good.

Would I recommend it? I absolutely would. Just get passed the first several episodes that are a bit cheesy and all over the place. But the rest is very good and worth watching; it's got a little bit of everything comedy, mystery, action, case solving, clues, but most importantly friendship.

Leia Mais

A great memory with a scent of frangipani

The story is really interesting, it was so sweet, so beautiful and so emotional. Even though I might try to find some loopholes or negative things..I'm blind lol because that was so perfectly done. The slow paced was not that slow paced to me, it's like following them with each scenes and get along with what they want to convey. I was invested in this serie and these characters. I really appreciated to wait each week to watch a new episode but I feel like I was waiting for so long lol
I feel like we have not only the romance part but also, the mystery and other interesting subjects that have brought up in this and that's why, it's worth to watch it.

I also really liked the colors / lightening, the props, the atmosphere of the serie. It has a really beautiful cinematography, so pleasing to watch. Even when I'm taking screenshot, it's like a painting (I'm a bit exagerating but still, I'm impressed by the quality of the scenes and the landscape). Nice clothes as well and they did a great job to convince us, we have travel time back in the 1920s! Even the editing part was nice as well.

Characters are so well written, even the female characters (especially Ueung Phueng, Fong Kaew and Mei) and I even liked the side characters. It's a breath of fresh air and I'm so proud that they didn't forget or left them out but the three outshine too in my opinion.

Every actors have brought their characters alive, they really did an excellent job to portray their role!
I'm also impressed by the main leads played by Nonkul and Bright, it's their first BL and I must say, they nailed it, that's unbelievable but it says it all that they are indeed such amazing actors. I love how they were so dedicated to their characters.

Lastly, I want to mention the original soundstracks and even the instrumental, really, really beautiful to listen and I even felt so nostalgic about it. It also match the scenes very well.

To me, this is seriously the best serie of this year but looking back, it might be also a hit if it was released a few years ago. Even time flies, it's still the best or atleast one of the best that I've watched).

I want to thank everyone who was behind this project (Director, production team, actors..) because this is one of my greatest memory.

Leia Mais

Un primo giudizio, ma è una serie che dovrò rivedere

"I desideri del genio" è un fantasy ambizioso che, per atmosfera e intreccio mitologico, potrebbe ricordare Goblin. Tuttavia, a una prima visione risulta piuttosto caotico: un “minestrone” di troppi elementi che rende difficile seguire la trama. La moltitudine di personaggi — principali e secondari — intrecciati tra passato e presente, tra Paesi Arabi, Dubai e Corea, confonde e rende complesso comprendere ruoli e identità. A un certo punto mi sono persa, e probabilmente lo riguarderò con maggiore attenzione per capire davvero dove voglia andare a parare.

Il racconto mescola mito e invenzione, con una cornice a metà tra biblico e fantastico, incentrata sulla lotta eterna tra demoni e angeli. Il protagonista è il Genio, interpretato da Kim Woo Bin, che dà vita a Iblis — o Satana — figura che, come nella fiaba di Aladino, risiede in una lampada e concede tre desideri a chi la possiede. Curiosamente, nel corso della serie il suo nome varia tra Iblin e Satana, suggerendo una natura ambigua ma sostanzialmente negativa. Il suo potere viene usato per mettere alla prova gli esseri umani, di cui non crede nella bontà: il suo scopo è dimostrarne la corruzione e la fragilità morale.

Accanto a lui c’è la protagonista femminile, Ki Ga Yeong, interpretata da Bae Suzy: una ventenne borderline, abbandonata dai genitori spaventati dalla sua mancanza di empatia e dai suoi impulsi distruttivi. Viene però accolta e cresciuta con amore dalla nonna materna e dall’intero villaggio coreano in cui vive.

Nel complesso, I desideri del genio è un’opera visivamente affascinante e ricca di simbolismi, ma anche disorientante: un mosaico di miti, emozioni e ambientazioni che, almeno alla prima visione, risulta difficile tenere insieme.

Leia Mais

A fun time killer

Well, way to drop out of the sky with zero notice or promo. But you know what? I loved it!

Spoilers ahead!

Typical former idol x current hot idol trope & enemies to lovers.

Both MCs come out to each other as liking men, none of this "I'm only gay for you" as is the standard. They meet on a same-sex film set and go through some internal discovery before coming together at the end IRL.

My only gripe is we get real kisses while they're filming their movie, but angle shots when they kiss as themselves. But they kiss so..... I'll take it.

Also a nice dig at sasang behavior because we continue to see that on the daily and it's very real.

Nice little time killer that inconveniently dropped on a Friday (does the BL industry not check literally any other series when they pick an air date?!?!?) but I was already glued to the TV for the other 50 shows so why not add one more!

Overall very enjoyable, 9/10. Actors had chemistry and it kept me engaged throughout all 6 eps.

Leia Mais

A feel-good university romance with a lot of fluff

Hidden Agenda is a good BL with an interesting plot and a great cast.

The plot starts out strong and we are immediately swept up into getting to know the characters for around two episodes whilst the groundwork is set for the rest of the plot. I thought the pursuit was fun to watch and had some cute moments. The main couple is sweet, and I personally enjoy university plots with angsty and confused feelings.

Watch this drama if you enjoy the following genres: university, romance, fluff, sweet, pining, confused feelings, slight angst and a few steamy kiss scenes.

I’ve seen many other reviews of people hating on this drama for no reason. I’ve mainly seen people insult Dunk’s acting skills which are perfectly fine. Whilst I agree that Joong is slightly better, I do not think that Dunk’s acting skills are bad (or as bad as some people claim). Some people said the plot was boring which I disagree, I think they just prefer action-thrillers with heavy stakes and a fleshed-out plot rather than a simple watch with a lot of fluff.

Leia Mais

I enjoyed the series (even though the last episodes felt pretty draggy), the actors were TOTALLY amazing and the OST too!

I specially liked episode 20, it was kind of an epilogue and I’m glad to see many of my favorite characters doing well, still I really need to vent my anger at Seo Jin’s “happy ending”.

ATTENTION:

Swear words and spoilers may be ahead.

Are you f*king kidding me?? After all the bad and awful things she did she still gets a good ending?? Not going to jail, not actually paying for what she did! She only told the truth because Ye So’s mental health was being ruined by thinking about what they did to WJ! Until the very end, HJ feared for her daughter mental well-being first and foremost which is why she ended up “letting go” of her greed, she never really cared about others.

(That scene at the beginning of Ep. 20? Coordinator Kim was absolutely right in every single thing she told her!).

Did she ever thought about the other people she made suffer?? Ye Bin? Hye Na? Woo Yoo and his family? Her husband? Why does she gets to get away with a simple apology and some tears? She was a straight up b*tch for 18 episodes!!! Why does everyone just forgives her?? She was nasty, I don’t care what anyone says.

If there is something I don’t understand about kdrama writers is why do they always redeem and make kids forgive their freaking parents!!! The f*ck!!

And even though coach Kim was a total psycho she was right saying that’s all the parents’ fault! They are the ones pressuring their children and wanting them to enter SNU as if they were mere trophies to show off.

End of rant.

Leia Mais

Classic High School Drama

A story about friendships, somewhat growing up and navigating life in high school drama. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster that depicts pretty accurate the worries of teenagers.

Dunk and Lookjun were my highlight of this series. Especially Dunk delivered a great performance as White. That one emotional scene made me cry and I’m not a crier. Lookjun was perfect as Ivy.

Ryu and Java did good too, just wish we would been allowed to explore their plot more. I’m still wondering about Tan’s backstory and Jewel’s personality. I did like their progression, but they could have spent more time on thrm instead of other focuses.

Phuwin and Parn delivered ok in giving life to their characters. At least I learnt that onscreen, Phuwin really just kisses that way🤷‍♀️ It is what it is… I’m still mad about GMM making yet another one-dimensional female character with absolutly no growth or development. At least Lune had some trauma that explained why he did what he did and acted like he were.

Leia Mais

I watched all the versions of Hana Yori Dango : the korean, the chinese and the taiwanese but the japanese version still and will always be the best ever! it's true that the korean have a better cast but i totally hated the lead actress.
Anyway, the story is known and as everyone agree it's a nice story with great events that will make you anticipate more.
The music: It was good.
What I truly blame on this season that it's too short. What I truly like is Domyouji's foolishness; Matsumoto Jun did his role perfectly no mistakes at all, I fell in love with his character in this drama: so cute, so funny and most of all so childish.
I believe that this drama is one of the greatest jdramas that i've ever seen, I enjoyed it so much.
I wonder if there's someone who haven't watched it and if there's such person I would highly recommend this.

Leia Mais