Reviews

Stand alone in the Mame Universe

Whatever you think… Like or dislike about Tharntype… I feel like the way this was produced made it a standalone in the BL universe or more importantly in the Mame universe. I think it gave the viewer a chance to get to know Fiat apart from that slightly detestable character that we got to know in Tharntype “part two”.

I think what can be appreciated here was the fact that Fiat and Leo were friends for a very long time before they became boyfriends. It was well-established that they had a long-standing relationship and Fiat really depended on Leo, which you had a glimpse of in Tharntype but you could see why depended on him so much after the very abusive relationship with his mother. It also explained his slightly promiscuous lifestyle. I think it was his way of seeking love, because his mom basically taught him that nobody could love him except for her. And when she left he didn’t think there was anybody that would be able to love him. Warped for sure.

I definitely noticed an improvement in the acting this time around. The chemistry was definitely there between the actors playing Fiat and Leo. Especially in the love scenes and the kissing. Was there room for improvement? Yes, for sure. But definitely more chemistry than most BL‘s that I see. I didn’t feel that with the second couple, Leon and Pob. I felt they were a waste of time, frankly.

Overall the true treasures in this whole drama were Leo’s mom and the girl friends. His mom, and even his dad, were so accepting of the relationship. The mom was awesome! She really loved Fiat like a son, even more than her actual sons. LOL …and the girl friends of Leo and Fiat (I can’t recall their names now!) were super supportive and didn’t run to stupid stereotypes.

For the haters of Mame out there… I really don’t know what to say… I feel like she has a certain audience within this genre and if you don’t like her style of writing and this style of BL, then don’t read it and don’t watch it. It’s not going to be your type of thing and it’s not going to interest you. So stop criticizing it or stop watching it. Is not going to make you happy and you are just going to find things to nitpick about it. Yes there are going to be controversial things about it. There are going to be politically incorrect things about it. There are going to be things that are going to be raw and things that are going to trigger you. Not everything is going to be safe and rainbows and roses all the time. There will even be toxic crap. But that is life and that is part of the reading and TV watching experience. The key is if there is a message or something learned from it at the end. And I think that usually there is with her writing. It’s not always perfectly done, true. But some of that is probably lost in translation. Literally.

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Amazing plot BUT....

Disclaimer: I do not usually watch chinese dramas and I must have seen about 3 out of over 400dramas I'd completed so I am writing this as a complete ignoramus as far as the c-dramas usual tropes are concerned!

Reset comes highly recommended so I decided to give it a go.
I am a sucker for a good time travel/time slip/time loop story which are notoriously difficult to write without plotholes or illogical events!
No such problem here! They managed to write a believable plot, create complex characters, introduce a strong and smart FL, present beautiful songs (mostly in english! Why is that?).
What we have here is "Groundhog Day" on a bus where two people get stuck inside a time loop and must find out who the culprit is, why is he/she commiting a crime and stop him/her without casualties! It is just a nailbiting rollercoaster ride of a plot!

BUT I wish another country had made this drama which had been completely ruined, IN MY EYES, by chinese official propaganda!
I come from a former socialist country and I can recognize brainwashing when I see it! And I had been brainwashed in my childhood! Here, I could see the same slogans on the walls, the same fidelity to state and party proclaimed all over the place, the same, selfless people fighting for the greater good of the society! And of course: the police, here to protect everyone but you have to tell the truth they want to here, police commissioners thoughtfully looking at slogans on the wall for inspiration, all present surveillance making sure everyone understands that they can run but they cannot hide anywhere! Unbearable!
There are CCTV in Korea and the police dramas use them a lot but not to this extent!

Anyway this is a great drama if you can look past propaganda! I could not and therefore my note is rather low!

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Script/Synopsis/Concept (8)
Script Writer (10)
Director (9)
Actors/Performances (10+)
Wardrobe Production-Value (10+)
Editing/Cinematography (9)
1st Act (10)
2nd Act (10+)
3rd Act (9)
The Script/Synopsis/Concept is not exactly mind blowing, but the writer and director were able to flesh it out and mould the show into a memorable drama.

Non of the lost memories, time jump, yelling Ajummas, switched at birth, drunkenness, giving all your money to family members, subservient women, weak/feminine men, and other quirky Kdrama tropes.

The acting was great especially the female lead, she portrayed happy, sad, jealousy, anger, suspicion, crazy, so mart, decisive, friction with mom, loving nonna, and so on. It must have been a dream role for the actress.

Every actor & character got there moments to shine, all the main actors are stars in their own respective.The wardrobe was iconic and timeless, the main set (ML’s home) was so good it was an even a tourist attraction in Seoul.

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Great action thriller, engaging well made and the supernatural touch on a crime story was interesting. Seriously Mark is fantastic! Hes so good at the action and at the angst. Another thing I love is unlike so many action villains that seem so weak the hero easily overpowers them, but here the villain was downright scary.

Dont get me wrong its nice to watch an Isekai style power fantasy xD but its nice to have a truly fearful villain for a change.

Its basically like if Fabricated City was not a game world but a black magic world. And made just as well.

Also this was all the Kom faek cast so maybe some of the premise was a little similar, but the stories were completely different. And okay Got is just perfect at this role!

Honestly I hope there's another movie lol because MARK PRIN BEING ANGSTY AND TORTURED. ^^

Okay okay I'll see myself out. ;)

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I’m going to make this simple

I enjoyed watching this. I really did. Although I didn’t understand how Tine could suddenly change his sexuality up so quickly or how messed up the plot line is, it’s still well done and the acting Bright did with what he had was perfect.
I would be a simp for Tine too ;)
The jealously was stretched but needed. Very fluffy and I’m going come out and say, I liked Man and Type’s (Tine’s brother) relationship more lol
What was going on with Phukong and Drake??
Definitely recommend :3
And this gained most of it’s fame by Bright and Win being the definition of a Bromance that kissed just once- maybe twice

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The projector turns on. The big screen lights up. The images roll. The movie within the movie begins. The latter is a kind of Filipino-style surrealism that will soon envelop us. “For adults only” can be read on a curtain after crossing the porch. Meeting point for hustlers and scammers. Prostitutes and homosexuals offer sexual services sitting in their seats or in the main lobby. Transvestites and bisexuals kiss or have oral sex with anyone in the dark while the unsurprising gaze of a child on a bicycle. The room remains in darkness with the smell of overflowing semen. There is no celebration of flavors with popcorn, candy or hotdogs. A labyrinthine space with more than one surprise in every corner.
Service (Serbis, in Filipino) is a 2008 independent drama film directed by Brillante Mendoza, leader of a generation of new Filipino filmmakers who leaves a trail of wonder wherever he goes. With this, his seventh film, Mendoza was the first filmmaker from his country invited to compete for the Palme d'Or in the official section of the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. It is also the first Filipino film to compete in that important international film event since Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim, by Lino Brocka, in 1984.
The script, written by Armando Lao and Boots Agbayani Pastor, shows us thieves fleeing from the police roaming the hallways of the theater. Mothers with infants looking for another child, also a minor, who may have entered the dark room to meet with gays. Sellers of flowers or watermelon seeds walking through what was once a prestigious establishment that became a dilapidated movie theater dedicated to presenting double programs of erotic and pornographic films from the 70s, to advertise their products for sale. People going up and down stairs in an endless maelstrom of sound, noise and movement.
Transvestites and prostitutes showing their bodies to the moans of the movie lovers in the background as if they were being exhibited on a catwalk. Homosexual couples at the entrance to the bathroom waiting their turn to let off steam, but not the urge to urinate but the sexual appetite.
Family problems aired in everyone's ear. Sewer water that floods the bathrooms and nooks and filters down the stairs to the ground floor. Between the stench and the squalor, we will soon learn about the various family plots that will become intertwined with the comings and goings of the public and clients.
Claire Villareal's montage allows us to appreciate the graffiti on the walls of the bathrooms or hallways that display penises or vaginas with the names of their owners along with the telephone number and the price to be paid by the potential client. Layers of paint with a broad brush to hide graffiti. Posters of gay and erotic films hanging on the walls. Lazy people are the only ones who do not have entry permission, as can be read on another sign at the entrance. A runaway goat pacing in front of the projection screen after entering through a hole in the wall. Lights that turn on. The luminosity invades the stalls. Pants that are pulled up in a hurry, zippers that close in an enigmatic frenzy, shirts that hide nakedness are placed again on the unsheltered bodies. The lovers run in terror due to the terror of being surprised. The four-legged animal on the run and in pursuit a herd of two-legged animals that bleat as much as that one.
Two cinemas closed due to the economic crisis and this one, the only one open, does not generate enough income to feed everyone. Rolled films pad the walls before rolling across the floor to the Philippine Rabbit Line bus that links Angeles City to Manila. The city, doors outside, like another spectator of the film that rolls inside the building. People on the streets coming and going and fixing their gaze on the posters to discover that it is not the one showing the film they expect to see.
If viewers have their party at the Family cinema, the Pineda family, a matriarchy around which children, grandchildren, cousins ​​and nephews swarm, also has its treat. Together they run an old, baroque, grimy, decadent and labyrinthine cinema, which in turn serves as the home of the family clan, a kind of microcosm in which women, especially the two mothers, play a central leadership role in all the events. senses, moral authority and control of the property and custody of its members.
Nanay Flor, the matriarch, her daughter Nayda, her stepson Lando and her adopted daughter Jewel are in charge of selling tickets, meals and candy. His nephews, Alan and Ronald, are respectively the painter and the projectionist. While the family members go up and down the stairs in their daily chores, what happens in the living room and the more than populated hallways is foreign to them.
Bigamy, unwanted pregnancy, hasty commitment to silence what others will say, possible incest and boils on the skin are part of the daily challenges faced by this troubled family. And there, before them all, the true “star” of the show: a huge, dilapidated movie theater that serves as a family business and living space.
The exploration of family dynamics, particularly the relationship of Nanay Flor, played brilliantly by Gina Pareño, and her daughter Nayda (Jaclyn Jose), adds depth and emotional resonance to the story. The cast also includes Coco Martín, Dan Alvaro, Mercedes Cabral, Julio Diaz and Kristofer King.
As the film progresses, the plot becomes increasingly absorbing, drawing viewers into the journey of what happens in each space of the film establishment. Gian Gianan's music helps with this. Photographed by Odissey Flores, the raw, arid images, infused with a moving intimacy, enhance the emotional resonance of the story, while subtle touches of ironic humor serve to increase the tenderness aroused by the members of this surprising fallen gang. .
Mama Flor under the clock that relentlessly rings, with her best clothes, waiting for the curtains to come down. The cinema is silent. People go out. Among them Alan, backpack on his shoulders, fleeing from responsibility.
The tape burns. The projector turns off. The big screen goes dark. Images die until the next day. The movie within the movie ends.

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The story restarts all over again. When Mumu and Ling are Celebrity's, And the story begins from E1 S1! ALL OVER AGAIN, I do not recommend watching this as it will waste your time, sure the Episodes are sometimes different but the story is just REPEATING ALL OVER AGAIN. But at the last part it actually shows mumu and ling got a baby, What I dont understand is WHY NOT CONTINUE THE EP20 S1? the story just got more confusing, I was insanely confused WHY they didn't know eachother and i realized the story was starting all over again but they are CELEBRITY'S AND HERES MORE, Chu Yan and Ling were in love with mumu but Chu yan let go of Mumu because he wanted Ling and mumu to be happy together, Whats weird is that Chu yan liked mumu? And suddenly Xiao you disappeared and another Criminal walks in, like nan jin tian, honestly, I wouldn't re-watch or recommend this.

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ask 3 times and they shall accept

WOW. just wow, honestly.

how should i even start this? such a special drama, definitely on my faves list. caught by surprise at every single episode (mainly from ep 10 ahead). THE PLOTSS??? hello?? you know a drama is good when there's a fucking long backstory, but it's worth every second.

jieum and seoha ?? i'll miss you guys, but i'm happy that jieum will be able to live her best life by seoha's side. not only his side tho, but everyone around her. chowon, doyun, aegyeong, please stay with jieum for a long time.

i'll also miss jieum's audacity oh dawggg, that girl is a goddamn rizzler; but its up to seoha now, i guess.
(already missing this drama send help)

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One of the most underrated BL dramas and SPOILERS

I wanna start of by saying i watched a lot of BL dramas. This one is, by far, one of the most underrated ones. When i first looked up the title and i saw the rating i thought wow whats wrong with this. Then, i saw people saying they didnt understand it and that the editing was weird etc. I can see what they mean by that, but tbh it wasnt that hard to follow along and understand it. Also, the storyline? the plot? the acting? AMAZING. It has what it needs to draw you in and make you keep wanting to watch the next episode. I watched all of it in one night just because i wanted to see what happens next. The nsfw scenes were well thought of, they werent too explicit and not too boring because some can be. The way i was actually more interested in the storyline and everytime a 18+ scene came on i was saying "come on i wanna see what happens next". In conclusion, this is one of the best BL dramas of this kind ( gangs, violence, and pure DRAMA) so it deserves a way higher rating than it has. Also the plot twists? Im not even gonna get into that. GIVE THIS DRAMA THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES!!

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Funny yet Thrilling

At first glance, you would think this was going to be a really serious drama but it wasn't. It had funny bits here and there, yet at the same time, managed to keep you at the edge of your seat wondering what would happen next.

I think all the actors did a good job and as usual, Yoon Shi Yoon doesn't disappoint with his acting skills. Though his character and the detective do not really have a serious romantic relationship in the drama, they did have good chemistry together and it left the viewers wanting more, which is a good thing.

The villain was a pretty interesting character and at times you just find him pretty psychotic so yes he plays his character really well.

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Take the worst out of Tharntype and Theory of Love and you get this

So, first of all the only reason I gave it so many stars is because of the characters(the friendgroup) and the comedy. And because it says something against homophobia.
But there were tooo many problematic things, like Ton forcing his friends to get prostitutes and that was never resolved. At the end it got a little bit better, Chon even got a backbone. I have to say that I skipped most TonChon scenes because I didn't care about them, like at all so that's probably why I didn´t hate it too much. The story was meh, the typical "evil ex" story line paired with a worse version of Tharntype and Theory of love. There were plot holes and Tons actions didn't make sense, it wanted you to throw your head against the wall because of his stupidity.
But if you don't take it seriously and just watch it for the funny scenes, then it was a fun watch at times. But just don't. Just don't watch this.

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A touching comforting story without those typical overly dramatic annoying kdrama scenes

I’m the type of person who often skips a lot when watching kdramas that are overly dramatic. Reply 1988, Hospital playlists are amongst those I barely skip any scenes. Now Twinkling Watermelon is added to my top list of dramas that I watch through the whole thing. And Ryeoun, where do I even start… I fell in love with him, I admire his talents, from playing the guitar to portraying the complicated emotions and even the ability to use sign language comfortably and fluently. Watching him was such a joy to my heart. When I watch the behind the scenes series, it amazes me even more to find out how hard he’s been practising playing guitar. He’s going to make it big one day, hopefully very soon.

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Not the best, could do with a few improvements, but not a complete waste of time...

I think first off the actors did pretty decently, I really appreciated the acting of the main cast, however, no matter how good the cast is, if the plot is 'eh' the show is gonna end up being 'eh'.

I think the show's idea was good, just executed in such a hasted and messy way. With only 7 episodes, we aren't able to fully connect and understand enough of the characters that we need do. Some of the plot ideas seemed a bit out of place and pointless, but then again that could be because we didn't have enough time to explore the characters and backstories. Some things felt rushed and shallow, e.g, the teacher being Kang Inhan's killer? And Woojin's shallow and unexplained relationship w/ the teacher when apparently he liked Hera all this time, but we never were really shown that till the end. The lack on context w/ Jae-i's mother. Of course not everything is meant to be explained, but i feel like we could've gotten more out of this show. The idea was good, just could've been executed a bit differently. At times it was a bit messy and a lot was going on with not much meaning or depth i think. But it wasn't boring. It had potential, and I think with the ending credit scene they showed, there is definitely potential for a better season 2, if they so choose to make one. The end scene where it's hinted that Kang Ha maybe isn't done with his revenge and starts to threaten Kim Rian, if continued correctly, could make for a very interesting season 2.

Oh, another thing i wanted to mention is that the whole plot line with that class president kid and his mum(principal) was not explained enough and there's a lack of context about him and his backstory which would have been relevant as he was the only blackmailing Jae-i. I don't know, a lot felt unfinished with this show, however i will say that the ideas were good and i think it could have been a hit show if planned more carefully like penthouse or sky castle or class of lies, idk. But yeah!

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