This review may contain spoilers
NON-SPOILER OVERVIEW: I stand by my huge love for the first 3/4s of this drama. Though I was disappointed by the end, a large part of that disappointment came from the start being so good. Because despite the cliches, it's not a bad ending or anything like that. Against other romcoms I think it's above average, it just feels worse because of what came before. I still recommend it too! For the friendships, for the fluttering romance, for the unconventional story, for the way it feels like I'm watching real people. It's heartfelt and sweet but do be warned that the show you begin watching will not be the show you finish watching. Prepare yourself for averageness creeping in at around ep 12? 13? and you'll be fine! SPOILERS BELOW!
This review was so hard to write so to solve this confusion I'll just go by the trusted method: LISTS!
Things Done Well:
- JI HO (mostly). I related really heavily with Jiho at the beginning of the drama making me immediately attached. Plus her refreshing habit of speaking her mind so bluntly but not unkindly was literally the most innovative thing this drama did in regards to typical female kdrama leads so, props to them. I faltered a little when her big dream turned out to be love not writing but I realise that's just a personal thing so I won't judge much for that. I faltered MORE when her personality as established seemed to up & disappear 3/4 into the season? Why? Where did my Jiho go and who left this generic imposter in her place? Disappointing doesn't begin to cover it.
- SOO JI. Flawless. Perfect. Loving. Sexy AF but also cute AF. The duality of woman. We love to see it. Enjoyed her growth so so much from being v closed off & afraid of commitment to fully falling into it. From being afraid to catch her dreams because of her mum to daring to *because* of her mum. Unlike Jiho, she loses none of her personality and characteristics once she's in a relationship. Thank god.
- SE HEE. I'll just say it. Sehee's idea of a relationship/marriage - boundaries, respect, open communication and support & minus the guilt, expectations & empty promises that could lead to bitterness later - is exactly my idea of a relationship. I loved him from the moment he told Jiho's mum he wouldn't promise to protect her and it did not diminish the entire show. He's a little odd but I found that hugely endearing. Here's a personal ty from me to Sehee for now having someone to refer to when anyone asks me about my ideal man. Just throw in some of Sang Goo's dorkiness and I'll be hook, line & sinker.
- FEMALE FRIENDSHIP. These are women who unfailingly love, support and trust one another. No pointless drama. No high tension. No boring bitchiness. When I think of my friends I think of the kind of easy companionship and in-jokes that these three have and any scenes involving the trio were my absolute favourites.
- AN "ADULT" STORY. No I don’t mean x-rated lol. For once I watched these adults and felt like I was watching real adults and not (as many romcoms usually have) hormonal teenagers in adult bodies.
- HO RANG X WON SEOK. (mostly). Because they love each other they refused to see or talk about their incompatibility until it literally grew too big and awful to ignore. I really liked it because I believed their relationship and how it progressed. I say mostly because I'm unsure about their conclusion... I'm not against them getting back together, I just wish if that was their endgame they had broken up earlier in the drama so we had more time to watch them grow. As it stands, their break up this time was literally no different to any other break up except now Ho Rang has a chart. Wow. Growth.
Things Done Bad:
- Jiho & her characterisation falling off the face of the planet. Literally this was the worst thing the drama did because it made the finale boring. It also made me realise how much of the drama is built around how refreshing Jiho & her friends & Sehee are and with her gone it left the puzzle incomplete and me unsatisfied.
- Reduced Trio appearances. Like I said above, the trio and their scenes together were the best parts of the drama and towards the end the trio's screentime together pretty much disappeared. I HATED IT.
- The whole stalker storyline. I'll just link to my post about my thoughts on that mess: https://mydramalist.com/profile/kdramafeminist/feeds/WAN22I3
- Jiho's inner monologue going from through-provoking & interesting to nonsensical and pretentious.
- A story that began as something unique and avoiding cliches eventually devolving into the exact cliches it was avoiding. LETS NUMBER THEM!
1. FL speaks her mind? Nope, lets just have her being ~vague~ bc cliche!
2. Open communication between the couple? Nope, let's just have them not have a normal conversation outta nowhere and for no reason bc cliche!
3. Couple breaks up because their life goals don't match and realise love doesn't always mean marriage? Nope, lets have them back together after like a month with literally nothing changing regarding their individual life goals bc cliche!
4. ML is an introverted, dorky type and that's fine? Nope, let's give him a pointless, macho, hero scene to prove he's worthy as the lead! Bc cliche!
5. Current FL and ML's ex get along because the ex has completely moved on in life so working together is reasonable? Nope, let's have Jiho turn down the job offer because she chose "love" even those there was no tension on-screen between any of them, bc cliche!
Overall, I'm glad I watched it! I enjoyed more than I didn't but sadly its missteps means it won't be going into my favourites or mentions lists. The drama as a whole might not have stolen my heart, but individually it gave me amazing characters that 100% did & that's a compromise I'm fine with!
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I WANT MORE!
What others think as its weakness, i think is its strength - for me the short length of the series is whats makes me yearn for more.Lets cut to the chase - lets discuss the good things. First is the story, yes its nothing out of the ordinary but the non-school/university is refreshing for a BL. I also like shows which dont try to explain everything as if viewers are kids. I also liked the pacing.
Second, the cute charismatic leads - have you seen Kang in Soo's body? Third, the soundtrack. Fourth, the production and the photography.
The only bad part i can think of is that they left me wanting more.
The last few Korean BLs were all short and sweet and all deserve to be expanded into full blown series. For now, im just glad that they are producing more and more of these and hopefully the day for normal Korean series featuring LGBTQ characters will come sooner.
Overall, an 8! Easy to watch, easy to rewatch.
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Local country gays breaking free from Brokeback Mountain story trope
This rare gem reminded me of a queer British film "God's Own Country" directed by Francis Lee in 2017. However Restart is so much milder than G.O.C, as this film mainly explores on Mitsuomi's character development and his interaction with local people in his hometown.The resemblances of both films: The chilly picturesque countryside scenic. The use of warm lighting in some titular scenes and soft instrumental music. The gradual transition from cold to warm atmosphere as the story goes. The relationship of main country gay with his parents. The main country gay struggling with life and unwillingly getting involved with another country gay. The gentle coaxing and nurture of one country gay towards the main country gay into submission. The cosy nesting of one country gay's head onto the other country gay's shoulder in a bus/train ride home.
Yuuki Furukawa and Ryo Ryusei's acting as Mitsuomi and Yamato felt rather natural and viewers could easily relate or empathise with their characters. Yuuki's version of Mitsuomi is a resemblance of the manga version (in both mannerism and the voice). Ryo's version of Yamato is more of a goofy sunshine-boy country bumpkin that enlightens every scene possible. The acting from other actors are great as well and their interaction with both mains blend in easily.
All in all, the soundtracks suit accordingly to most scenes and the story plot is well-timed. Although with some minor plot changes and introduction of new characters, the film allows Yamato's backstory with more depth and Mitsuomi's conversation with his father more heart-warming - it is a faithful adaptation of the manga and a realistic representation of how younger generations nowadays feel towards themselves, their family responsibility and the societal expectation.
This film deserves a sequel as it should be.
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An Intelligent Romance Drama, Sweet but Lacks Sizzle
Excellent drama with intelligent dialogue and mature characters. Good story development. Good acting. Good chemistry. Motivational. Inspirational. More than a romance drama, this was a story of growth for individuals who had become trapped and stunted by their circumstances, both professionally and emotionally. This was true, not only for the main leads, but for numerous supporting characters as well. All of the characters were integral to development of the story. A very well-thought-out script.Admirable, capable FL character free of the babyish voice and cutesy nonsense you typically see in cdrama female leads. Angsty, straightforward ML, seemingly brusque and hot-tempered, but warm and honorable in reality. Both lead characters were outstanding and hard-working and exemplary. A real joy to watch their stories unfold.
An idealized romance where the partners are nearly always thoughtful and considerate and problems are handled quickly. A little too-good-to-be-true, but is exactly the stuff every romantic dreams of. Pretty much perfect for stress-free viewing. The slow-burn romance was well done with a comfortable vibe and natural, easy banter between the leads. But, it lacked fire and sizzle with only a few tame kisses and one love scene that, honestly, felt a bit awkward and could’ve been left out altogether as it seems Wu Lei isn’t entirely comfortable with these sorts of scenes yet.
“Sizzle” isn’t necessarily created by sexy love scenes and gratuitous skinship any way. That’s not necessarily what I’m looking for. “Sizzle” is created when there’s a heart-pounding energy between the leads that makes you want to watch and rewatch because their chemistry is so intense, almost palpable. I didn’t get that from this drama. While there were several swoon-worthy moments here and there, the “Nothing But You” leads’ chemistry remained quite tacit and mellow over the whole series—very realistic as real life isn’t full of hot moments all the time, but, honestly I want a bit more spice from my dramas because I get enough real life from real life. Still, overall, a very, very heartwarming story and many sweet moments.
I enjoyed watching, but have no real interest in watching it again.
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1STORY
I Have A Lover felt more than just one drama, it felt like several dramas put together in the best way possible. The main concept of the show, even if it isn't very apparent at first, is Forgiveness! People will go around hurting you, is life worth spending trying to pay them back, or is it better to just let go? As someone who doesn't believe in forgiveness you can imagine how i felt when i realised what this show is about, but they managed to pull it off beautifully.
At the same time I Have A Lover, gave me the best, most intense and fucked up/twisted true love story i have ever watched in my life. The chemistry here is simply effortless and emotional beyond words, you can see the sparks around them while they look at each other, simply magical. The drama is worth watching because on screen chemistries like this one are hard to come by, almost impossible!
As i said IHAL brought several things to the table, the main premise is forgiveness but, separating the drama into parts, each part its own thing to present:
Part 1: Infidelity. The beginning of the show, the first 10 episodes, how can a marriage come apart at the seams, and at the same time the notion of how people react and get through tragedies, and how they expect the people around them to react. Get ready for some frustrating events the writting is realistic and brutal.
Part 2: Romance. Episodes 11-20. You will begin to grasp what the show is about here, whatever happened in the first 10 episodes, character-wise, will completely change, depicting how unpredictable human feelings are in the best and most natural way.
Part 3: Episodes 20-31. The story here stops being character driven ans becomes story driven. The focus shifts to the classic family-company drama that we all know. However it is dead-interesting even though it was the slowest part of the drama imo. The show tends to tell you things while the characters are unaware of them. Here the characters get to know them, and you just watch as they are shocked and try to cope with everything.
Part 4: Revenge and Forgiveness. Episodes 32-50. The pace gets accelerated from this point, especially the last 10 episodes were absolutely fabulous, and possibly the best of the show along with the first 10.
50 episodes and this drama never got dragged. It had a complex story, there are several backstories here, that help the story proceed. We have our everyone-wants-the-big-company classic sub story, evil characters, multiple love stories and love triangles and amazing well-rounded characters. It has illness, twin siblings, backstabbing friendships, constant turning tables between the leads, frenemies who scheme, revenge. I seriously have nothing bad to say, it was a wonderful ride, and i would have watched another 50 episodes seriously.
One thing that might set people off is the way the main love story gets told. We have a lot of set backs and back and forths. Yes, it is true, but the chemistry was so mesmerizing, so effortless, so real, that i didn't have any problem with it. I felt every moment of pain, every moment of backstepping, every moment of love and hatred. Best and most fucked up love story (possibly) ever!
ACTING
Standing Ovation for Ji Jin Hee and ESPECIALLY KIM HYUN JOO!
Kim Hyun Joo. The female Ji Sung of Kdramaland. She didn't pull off 2 characters, no. Her role felt like 4 characters if not more. I won't even mention that she has the BEST resting bitch face in kdramaland, i won't even mention that she ACED all her comedy scenes (her 2nd character is the main comedic character). But i will stand by the point that after episode 30 she is seriously giving the performance of her career, the way she manages to be BOTH a total raging bitch and a kind hearted girl at the same time was beyond me, she was leaving one personality and entering the other like it was nothing, in the same scene! She was amazing and flawless in every way and the show couldn't have worked without her. She WAS the show! I haven't seen any of her previous works, but i admired her a lot, and i doubt that she was ever better than here. I am looking forward to her next work!
Ji Jin Hee. His character was the easiest to hate BUT, his was so effortlessly expressing all his feelings through his eyes and facial expressions, that it was impossible for me to hate him. I kept rooting for him to be happy like my life was depending on it. Second best facial expressions in kdramaland after Kwon Sang Woo! He was luscious and sensuous, i loved his emotional scenes, he was indeed in love with her, i am not sure i have seen such *in love* eyes even in real life. Standing ovation for both of them. THEY MADE THE SHOW!
Lee Jyu Han. Obviously overshadowed by JJH, but it's ok, he standed on his feet completely, he was great i had no problems with his perforance, it was totally on point.
Park Han Byul. And we get to her. Her character was fundemental for the drama to continue. She wasn't bad, but we can only imagine what would have happened had a stronger actress given the role. During the midst of the show, she needed to express some hatred and her role needed her to be a bitch, but she couldn't, her acting felt mediocre like the least she needed to give to be acceptable. I think she would perfectly fit fluffy rom coms, this was too serious for her. If i wanted to be strict, the acting should have been a 9.5 as she just couldn't live up to her character's and role's expectations, but a 9.5 is a disgrace to JJH and KHJ's flawless performance as well as literally everyone's in the supporting cast. Thankfully in the last 15/20 episodes her role gets smaller almost insignificant and the rest of the actors do their thing.
At this point, the only thing i can do to praise the incredible and superb supporting cast is just write their names. Awards deserved!
Firstly, Baek Ji Won, why doesn't she get more roles? She was an amazing evil character and at the same time one of the funniest actors, she would fit comedy PERFECTLY, i am keeping an eye on her.
Gong Hyung Jin. He was the main evil character, and he pulled of his twisted role perfectly without becoming a stupid evil character with no soul. He was scary but funny when he was supposed to be. Overall, great!
Child actress, Kim Ha Yu. OMG how can a child actress be this good? Cuteness overload, amazing acting, effortless! My favourite kid actress!
Also, Na Young Hee, Dok Go Young Jae, everyone did a splendid job! Congratulations!
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
If the 50 episodes make you think and rethink before starting this, just start it already! I was afraid of the 50 episodes too, i ended up watching 40 in 1 week and then waiting anxiously for the rest of the show to be aired! You won't even realise as the episodes fly by, you will be sucked in instantly!
IHAL has something pretty much for everyone. If you like romance, this is totally for you. It has infidelity, it has revenge, it has constant backstabbing, scheming, blackmailing, plot twists, backstories, twin siblings, illnesses, identity swap. It has everything, literally it has everything, it is more than a drama, and it deserves to be watched!
50 episodes, and yes, i'd rewatch it, especially the first 10 episodes which were so shocking to me, completely filled with reality, shivering, chilling. And then the effortless heart-warming and simultaneously heart-breaking romance, and then the backstory, omg yes. This is an overall 10 show!
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1This review may contain spoilers
I can't believe, They're soo inlove. My pookies I'm going to miss them. No worries We are getting S2
{ Detailed Review }This bl is insane , I love each and every part .
They had intense chemistry , but the relationship just started and clashed Idk how long we needa wait and chu san too .
But I'm sure liu yi will come back .
the first episode was quite classic , and my expectations were not so high for itt , but I didn't bailed just after the first ep , cuz uk I didn't wanted to regret later .
And I'm glad I continued watching it otherwise I would have missed another actual art work .
It started getting more and more interesting . I slowly understood it's an enimes-to-lovers trope and it engaged mee so much , the more I watched , the more I got fascinated.
I loved the way they stared at each other instead of ignoring eye contacts , He chu san and xiu li got very close , I could tell from the beginning that san was the one who will fall first and I knew ittt with that much care liu yi will fall hadder .
Focusing on episodes :
I can literally tell from their reactions that they do have feelings for each other but trying to hide them
ohh I remember that part were chu san was literally staring at his butt heheee , how can forget that part .
In the further episodes I gotta see liu's possessive side , I love to see him getting overprotective of chu san , like not letting others touch things given by san and say anything bad about him .
Well , He chu san is getting more crazy bout liu that he literally dreamt about them uhmmmm . Look at how shy he was the next morning while washing the bedsheet 🫣 , when he saw xiu he actually avoided eye contact that part was extremely adorable .
Look at He chu san teasing liu yi about his fake girlfriend Mei , he knew about liu's feelings sooo , he teased him , ik san actually likes his jealousy side .
I literally wanted to cry when sam expressed his worry for lui yi , I can see how much chu san actually matters in liu yi's disturbing and horrible life .
San came at the correct time in yi's world , when he lost his family ( sister and big bro ) . It's not his fault for being a gangster it's just the situation pressures him to be one , I could totally understand liu yi's emotional condition , he needed someone to support him at that crucial moment , it's some kind of fate that brought them together .
They're like the two poles north one and south one , which could help them understand each other and help the other one . Honestly , I loved the way liu yi pampered sam when his dad suddenly fainted , and ik he cares for sam so much too .
Don't you think this guy is so adorable when he is jealous , he's like a pookie baby , who keeps on babbling around , so Ik now why he's a BOTTOM, what a pookie gangster .
What a mafia , he can't even do anything when chu san actually kissed him instead of ignoring like a adorable baby . Ik he kinda liked it but he's just trying to avoid the fact , he is already in love with a young college boyy ( even though he's not )
Idk how are they going to balance all of it together in just one episode
The second couple still are stuck as enemies and chu san just confessed to yi , I am very interested to know what's happening next , honestly i don't want second couple to just stay as hookups .
It's the exact type of drama that I love the most . It's actually worth watching , a lot of people are actually loving this and me tooo .
**THE OUTCOME WAS SO BEYOND EXPECTATIONS**
I got to see liu yi's after reaction , he was so happy literally laughing and dancing around just like a man who got his first love , I loved his reactions even though chu san missed it , honestly i wanted them to share a meal together when san returns and spend a special night , and wanted yi to quit his position and start a very normal life with sam by his side . I wanted him to brag all about san and I want to see sam's dad's reaction so much .
Howw it's so small .
So , it's quite sad that it's completed , chu san and liu yi finally realised their feelings , I could see how worried yi was when san got kidnapped and harrassed and I knew it from the way they kissed , how much scared they were and that joy .
But , I didn't expect the part when he actually got arrested leaving sanin tears , me too I literally cried , they just got together , but didn't even got time to spend with eachother . The most miserable part ever , I cried when liu yi said “wait for me ” .
They never deserved that ending , I thought they'll probably get out of that place
and live a normal life together .
Now we don't know how long it's gonna take for liu yi to return , when will they meet again , what will change between the officers , how he's gonna take revenge . They left us hanging with 100 s of unsolved questions .
In some way it's good that it ended this way cuz it's quite hard to balance all of the things in a single episode .
But the bad thing is that we don't know if there'll be a S2 or not , what will happen to the relationship that they built .
Hints for Season 2 ::
The questions that leads us to the second season.
• The officer , needed to talk about what .
• what happened to the fat gangster.
• how chu san got away from the fat ganster .
• what was he doing with those people throwing money or stuff .
•how will the officer take revenge for his brother .
• who is the actual killer .
• The relationship between the officers .
• the police officer and that gang leader Both were eliminated through the exact same signature killing style .
Biggest hint : liu yi told chu san to wait for him .
So , I'm not losing any hope yet , These key points strongly indicate that we are headed for a second season ( there's a lot of unsolved questions and mysteries ) .
I'm so happy that literally nodded and confirmed that there'll be a season 2 in their latest live stream on insta or tt .
Xixi zhaooo plssss don't play with us , we already have c bls season 2 trauma ...
Overall I recommend you guys to watch it , it's exactly perfect if we remove the ending .
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A BL You Can’t Miss
This is everything a BL fan can only dream of: just the right mix of a good plot, super-high-intense chemistry and cinematography that is seriously mind-blowing. From the first episode, you can already feel the magic brewing between Great and Tyme. Their acting is so good, they are one of those pairings that just make you hold your breath in anticipation every time they share a scene.What makes it even more special is seeing Bible take on this role in a unique way. His performance as a character who is flustered and caught off guard by Tyme’s presence is both cute and surprisingly meaningful. Watching him struggle with his emotions is very endearing and makes their interactions even more heartwarming. It’s nice to see this kind of vulnerability, especially in a BL series where those tender moments can feel very real.
The way their story develops requires your full attention because, although it may seem quick on the surface, when you really get into it, you'll see how intricate and deep their relationship is. Each conversation carries a lot of meaning. It's like uncovering layers to find their emotions, and trust me, it's worth the time to fully understand.
Visually...Oh. My. Gosh. Every frame looks like it was crafted with so much care and the cinematography just takes your breath away. The use of color and lighting doesn’t just make things look pretty (though it does), it adds meanings to the story. The way certain hues are used to highlight emotions or underline the tension between characters is just… chef’s kiss. It’s the kind of show where every detail counts and those tiny touches in the visual storytelling make the whole experience richer.
And this cast, wow, they really hit the mark. Every actor adds something special, making their characters feel so real that you almost forget you're watching a TV show. The connection between the main characters is fantastic, and it's not just the romantic parts that work well - it's all the emotions they show. They've created characters that feel complex and easy to relate to, which is what really draws you into their story.
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STOP !!!!!
Don't say it's unhelpful just because I gave 9 and 10 to pretty much everything. I can explain, I swear !
I gave an Overall 10 because in my heart it deserves it.
I gave a 10 to Rewatch Value because it's really not the kind of movie you need to not know the ending to enjoy. The story is moving whether or not you know who end up with who in the end. Proof of that : I've seen it 4 times and I'm not regretting it. AT ALL !
I gave a 9 to music because it holds its place in the movie and because the two songs are stuck in my head forever. And I'm enjoying it.
I gave a 8 to acting because let's be honest here, it was awesome. But it's not a movie that magnifies actors, it's more about the story, so not 10. And not 9 either because the main actress could have done a better job, to my point of view. She did great, but I'm a picky watcher, if I may say...
Finally, I gave 9 to the story. Let's talk about this for ma moment.
For those, like me, who hesitate before watching adult movies like this one, let's be clear : THIS IS NOT PORN.
Really, you need to get past the first few minutes and see that this is really an incredibly realistic and thus touching, heart-warming, beautiful love story that will certainly make you laugh and maybe - if you're like me - maybe even make you cry. You will love it, you will love the characters, you will want this story to be yours and you will watch this movie over and over again, with ice cream on your laps, or with your boyfriend in your arms, or even with a bunch of girlfriends you want to get infected with K-drama addiction.
(after this movie, you make them watch Protect the Boss, or Secret Love, and you got yourself a K-drama Gang ! )
I just loved this movie, to have fun watching it !
^^
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The cinematography was perfect, the story was well written, and the actors fit their roles well. The best part about its drama was definitely the characters and their relationships.
I love how the writers developed each of the main characters, but not so much that they were predictable. They grew along with the story, changing for the best, but also remaining true to their original selves. Character relationships grew in complexity and each one of them served a different purpose throughout.
There are very few dramas or TV shows that add so many sub-plots within the story. Normally, there's just one main plot line and two or three smaller sub-plots that rarely appear in all the episodes. However, this drama had quite a few and managed to show the watcher how it was progressing in every episode. I think that's what really made this show shine.
Lastly, I really loved the emotional value of this drama. It made me laugh, cry, scream at the screen and tear my hair out in frustration- all at once. Kudos to the writers for managing that.
There were a few parts I thought could have been done better; for example, a few character motives didn't quite make sense- but overall the King 2 hearts is really a masterpiece. There is no doubt that I am going to rewatch it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Are you bored of watching boring storylines, actors that can’t act, bad cgi, not that great of a costume/design, and most importantly no chemistry, well no need to look anywhere else this show is it, it has none of the factors above, Yay! (:Plot: You know how most shows are pretty boring in the beginning and only gets interesting around ep15 or more, well HSALF it’s amazing it’ll hook you in right from the 1st ep. it’s very comical but then you have to get your tissues ready since ALL of your emotions will be brought out you’ll get happy, sad/heartbroken, frustrated, anxious and last of all it’ll make you crave for more on what’s happening next. I love how they developed all charcters from how they were in the beginning to their personality towards the end, everyone changed significantly for the better or worse. Also the cgi and costumes were so well done that I’m just so amazed by it especially on ep61 the war scene just blew me away. Okay adding one last thing after finishing the show was I thought we were free from the demon princess but no she still got to appear for the last 2eps. Other than the demons princess thing it ended really well and was so emotional as JM vanished into air.
Acting: Hmmm what’s the word... ahhh it’s phenomenally amazing! If you watch it like seriously the acting will blow you away. I was skeptical if the casts in here can bring the charcters to life since it ain’t a easy task to do all the facial expressions and feelings in here. The leads had such an out of the world chemistry they’re literally the Perfect couple YZxDL. The acting here is so natural nothing felt forced or off.
YZ just stole my heart in this show she perfected her role so well and I’m glad that she was the one who played JM I don’t think anyone else can perfect the naiveness and pain the way she did. She’s the most pitiful charcter out of all like seriously she is, watch it and you’ll know. The cast was just perfect I’m sure some people will say that others can do better but like seriously who can other than this amazing cast from this amazing show?
Music: it’s gooood, especially Sa Ding Ding’s version it was just so emotional to just listen to it. Oh boy when it was played in the show I literally got goosebumps. All the other ost were so good that I had to search them all up and added it to my playlist. Also it’s so cool that one of the version the song were sung by the leads Yang Zi and Deng Lun.
Heck yea I’m definitely rewatching this amazingly true masterpiece many times. I don’t even know what am I suppose to do after it ends like it’s so so so hard to find a show that’s this perfect and I’m just going to say that this show is the best show ever to me it tops anything and it’s my #1 show. Totally, totally recommend everyone and anyone to watch this if they can but don’t feel pressured to watch it bc of my crazy little review.
Also if you’re in a withdrawal like me then I encourage you to watch the bts(behind the scenes) of this it’s so funny and I love how all the casts were so natural towards each other there were no awkwardness. You guys are so going to love the leads YZ, DL, and LYX after watching the bts they have such great chemistry together. To me this show can’t be rated it’s like infinite/10, that’s how good it is. I have never seen any show that tops this and let me tell you guys I’ve watched so many top rated/popular show where its not just as satisfying if compared to this. I’m sad cause after this show like everything other show will seem so bland, not up to par, and Ik for sure I will not be able to stop myself from comparing how well done this was. I don’t even know what I was doing before this show like what have I been watching? All the other shows really cannot be compared to HSALF. Also just to put this out I’m a big fan of the novel and I got to say that the show is better a lot better it went so much more in-depth and we got to know how or why a certain event or certain way someone did somethings.
So yes, overall I do recommend it, definitely do yourself a favor and try out this true masterpiece called Heavy Sweetness Ash Like Frost. 100+/10
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Complementing couple; Faithful Love; Outstanding Production
Don't sleep on this drama! Perfectly all I wanted in 1 drama. I want to rave how good this is in the hopes more people will give this drama a watch.Unlike the trailer or the opening theme or the ending theme.. this drama is NOT frivolous or cheesy or over-the-top comedy. It has drama but not melodramatic, the romance between the leads naturally developed and tug at your heart strings..sometimes cute and sweet but always very believable. Theres silly antics and some good humour too.
The direction is spot on. Because all the scenes come out beautifully. What makes this drama special is because you dont expect it to move you BUT it does. All the emotional scenes are well crafted and well acted out. I become FL and ML's champion, I root for them, I care for them. I'm with them every step of the way and truly invested.
The cinematography is gorgeous. Their wedding scenes was grand and beautiful. Many backdrops at the manor was picturesque.
The true star of the drama is how beautiful the writer wrote Xi Ruo and Hong Bin's love. Almost tongue in cheek because Xi Ruo is the 'sweet liar'. Yet she comes clean and confess to ML before the wedding. Unlike other contract or fake marriages, both leads are a picture of happiness during the wedding because there is already affection and attraction. Even as XR still harbors secrets, HB isnt oblivious or stupid but gives time and space to XR.
I love when HB said to XR " To believe you or not, is up to me. But to trust me or not, is up to you". And from the moment he took her hand in marriage he has always chose to trust her. He exemplifies how a husband should be: trust, respect, cherish, protect and love his wife. Throw in his puppy face..thats a bonus.
So all the antagonists, all the hard moments, as watchers they dont become frustrating because XR and HB never falter. Time and time again we even get surprised by the neat plot.
Hong Bin and Xi Ruo is such a complementing couple and they truly give off lovers, husband wife vibes. Kudos to the leads and their acting as well as Director Cheng that helmed this amazing production.
I hope other dramas can learn from this drama. Lovers who only have eyes for each other, hearts never waver and whose relationship is built on communication and trust. And emphasized background is not important and the meaning of family. Perfect Perfect Perfect all around. The stamp of humour just makes it more fun. Its now time to rewatch again.
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One of the best K-BLs out there!
I knew from the start of this drama that I was going to love it… and I stand correct!Noq this is how you do a KBL-Drama! Acting, OSTs, Visuals etc. were just amazing! I have this drama as one of my most favourite BLs ever. The chemistry was amazing too… though the kiss could’ve been a bit better lol but that kiss in EP 10 showed how much they improved.
I would like to see a Season 2 except I want the focus to be more on the other lead couple as I think there are still things we need to learn off of their story. And I need my kiss! (Tbh kisses in this drama aren’t even needed cause their chemistry is just that great)
This is sitting up there with one of the best BLs released this year (2023) highly recommend to those who have yet to see this :)
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I have never seen such an amazing chemistry between the lead couple. EVER. Whenever they were together it was like seeing fireworks. Seriously.! I have seen so many dramas but this has by fare the best chemistry ever.
Wallace was amazing at his role. His acting was superb and so believable. As was XiaoRans. An amazing female and male couple. APPLAUDS!!!
The acting was generally great from the whole cast and deserves a perfect score.
Wallace was so great at his jealousy scenes that I melted every time. Not only by that but the kisses killed me on the spot. That's how good it was.! xD
And yeah the guy is FREAKING HOTTTTT. Ahhhh. I will never get a guy like that.
The story was great and really intense. It hooked me really well and kept me wanting to watch more and more. Episode by episode.
A lot of stuff happens but not at the same time so it's build very well. I liked the flow. It was almost perfect. ^^
I got MAD, SAD, IN A KILL MODE, DEVASTATED, HOT, HAAPPPYYY, OVERJOYED and COOLED down again. So this was a very joyful ride since it ended happy too. YEAHH
Though I'am still in a mood of not knowing what to do with my love for the 2. lead guy. He was soo sweet and deserved more too. But I already knew and wanted her to end up with by BIAS, the lead guy!! :D
Anyways I would say this is a very recommendable drama for u guys who likes HOT chemistry beside some action and drama. Especially if you are in a drama-slump. It will wake you up right away. If I were you I would watch it! Believe me you have never seen anything like this. The chemistry! WOW.
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First this drama is the best one this year YES IVE SEEN ALL THE HOT KOREAN DRAMA 2016.
so before we get in. Lets talk about what most people expect from a kdrama or so i figured from comments and my own taste.
FIRST you want romance ? Check . Family values and strong bonds ? Check. Best friendship and relationships where everyone works hard to help each other ? Guess what its there.
NO naive characters here ! Everyone is so badass ! Our main lead isnt a push over goody 2 shoes lost in his own heaven. You push him he will push back. Talk shit get hit.
The story is simple and overused but its not the center at all.
Lawyer get alzheimer while still having unfinished business.
Family and close ones support him. Falls in anepic battle against conspiracy.
Each episode gives a life lesson. Every moment for this man is like 10 years.
I need to remember. Never forget what happened because of me.
The family bonds and his wife and kids make the show more fun and just your heart hurts WITH happiness when you see how they help him along the road without our lead noticing.
CUTE EYE CANDY COUPLE? Hot damn!! Romance / family / mystery / friendship / suspense and lil bit of medical all in this drama.
Best of the year so far.
Yes ive seen signal. This shit is better .
10/10 isnt fair.
I dont need to talk about acting since the male lead is A list actor. No bullshit good looking guy who cant act.
Ahjussi is here to win
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"CHEAK OUT" ON RISK OF LOSING YOUR BRAINCELLS!!!
I Officially CROWN THIS BL AS 'the bane of my existence and the object of all my regrets *100000'GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK!!!!!
THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING!!!! AND I WILL BE BLUNT HERE!!!!!
I HAVE SKIPPED THROUGH 80% OF IT, EVEN THE NC SCENES!!!!!
I LOST MY Remaining braincells Watching this AND had to put bleach [3 TRUCKS FULL OF BLEACH] in my eyes to forget this horror>>> rip braincells💀. RIP EYES AS WELL☠️
Where do we register for our "I SURVIVED "CHECK OUT"!!" t-shirts???
WATCH IT ONLY IF YOU LIKE-
Cheating, like the actors, basic story, just want NC scenes, want something other than high school BL's, attractive guys, toxicity, bitchy female character, liars .
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ME-
bland music, Bad NC scenes, Cheating, Long and cringy dialogues, No character development, No chemistry, boring/slow paced[ I watched at 3x speed], jerk characters.
Seriously, I’m proud of those people who are wasting their time into this long and messy af series. The characters were too problematic in many ways.
A FRIENDLY ADVICE TRY TO IMPROVE THE PLOTHOLES OF THE SERIES NOT FOCUS ON SEELING US PORNO!!!
*Nine- Narcissist in a way. It wasn’t sexy at all to covet other people’s boyfriend. SUCH A CHARACTER 🚩🚩🚩
*Daonuea- Childish af! This character is probably one of the worst BL characters of all time. Naiveness to its highest. CHEATER!
*Tee- A BOY WHO LOVES A NAIVE BOY. Ughhhh also a character. I can't stop laughing at how Tee was all like trying to guilt trip Ice to give up his dream job, and Ice was ice-cold!! Literally, Ice was like I'm gonna have a hot makeout session with you, but that's about it. I'm totally leaving you tomorrow. And I couldn't stop laughing.
*Boat, Ice and Candy- MESSY AND IRRELEVANT CHARACTERS! Dust of the series. only good thing here>
*Preaw- A GIRL! SHE ALWAYS SPILLS HER TANTRUM ALL OVER THE PLACE. DESERVE TO BE CHEATED FOR HER ATTITUDE.
The series was too long and too messy. Not recommended for those people who had heart failure due to its boringness. Expectations was far from fair. ALSO IN EP8, THEY COULD’VE JUST MADE A FOR NINE AND PRAEW!
I really really DO NOT understand the need to complicate things. Put the damn uncut version on IQIYI and finish it!!!!!
FAN ONLY???? 25+??????? UNCUT??????? BRO are you giving us a BL or selling us PORN.
8 EPISODES IN AND I WILL SAY IT MAY GET BETTER BUT FOR NOW ITS NOT WORTH IT!!!! TRY TO WATCH IT AFTER ATLEAST 10 EP ARE AIRED!!!! FOR ME NOT WORTH WASTING TIME!!!
ONE LINE WARNING- "It is so bad I want to give you a zero, but that is not possible, so I give you a 1."
This is by far the worst drama I have ever watched, and if you look at my list you will see that I have watched a lot over the years.
Story: BAD
Acting: BAD
Directing: BAD
Editing: BAD
Product placement: BAD
All of it was bad. Am I sorry I watched? YES. YES. YES. I LOST MY BRAINCELLS HAD TO BLEACH MY EYES TO REMOVE THIS HORROR AND BASH MY HEAD TO A TREE SO THAT I COULD FORGET I EVEN SAW THIS EVER>>
Better to remember the name of the director and the screenwriter in order not to lose another 12 hours of your life.
note it>>> for future references> fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me>
"Unforgotten Night" and "Check out" were in a competition for the most ridiculous Thai BL of all time. PEOPLE ARE really not sure which one will win.
I think check out won with flying colors >>>>>
WORST BL EVER>>> EVER>>>
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