Winner Takes All
Squid game is a South Korean children’s playground game that was popular back in the 1980s. It is similar to hopscotch but with a more expansive playing area and team-based approach. It forms the basis of the game setting that is featured in Squid Game.Production Details
The drama is written and directed by the award-winning Hwang Dong Hyuk, known for critically acclaimed films The Fortress and Silenced. Jung Jae Il, who is known for composing the score for Okja and Parasite, serves as the music director. Produced by Siren Pictures exclusively for Netflix, this is a pre-produced drama with all 9 episodes released worldwide on 17 September 2021. It is given an R-18 rating and contains sexual references, nudity, and violence. Strobing effects present in certain episodes (especially episode 4) may cause discomfort for photosensitive viewers. Other trigger warnings include scenes of violent deaths, as well as gratuitous blood and gore.
Premise and Plot
456 participants competing in a “Hunger Games meets Battle Royale” series of challenges modelled after traditional South Korean children’s playground games for a chance of winning the jackpot of 40 million won, rising up to 45.6 million won with the elimination of all other participants right to the last person standing.As for who the organisers are and the reason for the competition, all shall be revealed as the story unfolds..
The story revolves around the points of view of a number of characters who share one thing in common - they are in serious need of cold hard cash to resolve their respective predicaments. Central to the core narrative is the main character and protagonist, Seong Gi Hoon, a gambling addict down on his luck who is facing debt problems and child-custody issues, as well as dealing with his mother’s deteriorating health.
What I Liked
As expected of a Netflix original series, I enjoyed the production quality and values, unique set designs and costumes, exceptional cinematography especially during some of the stunning choreographed action sequences and the game or challenge settings.
The cast is outstanding, comprising veterans in Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Heo Sung Tae, Kim Joo Ryung and Oh Young Soo, among others. The newcomer Jung Ho Yeon gives a decent debut performance complete with the North Korean accent. I was pleasantly surprised to see brief appearances by Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun. Even with limited screen time, their charisma absolutely shines through to light up the production.
The edge-of-the seat thrills and suspense plays out in a riveting pace. This drama is well worth the binge because it is as captivating as it is addictive to consume in a single seating. Moments of extreme tension are aplenty along with the heart-wrenching emotions which are deftly interspersed amidst the high-octane action sequences throughout. I particularly enjoyed the epic final showdown between the finalists in the concluding arc of the drama.
The music score composed by Jung Jae Il is sublime, along with classic compositions used courtesy of the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and Big Band. They include The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II, Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Major by Franz Joseph Haydn and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings. A cover of Bart Howard’s Fly Me to the Moon also plays a major part as the BGM for one of the more stunning game sequences in episode 1.
What Could’ve Been Better
As much as I enjoyed the drama, I thought 9 episodes were somewhat overlong. 6 or 7 episodes would have made the storytelling more compact and compelling. A significant portion of the drama was taken up by the story-building of the main character as well as four other major supporting characters. I appreciated the respective backstories of tragic circumstances and such but those components impacted on the pacing of the more engaging aspects a little bit. In addition, the final episode did feel dragged out unnecessarily.
The characterization of the ML Seong Gi Hoon (no 456) wasn’t convincing to me, although I accepted it as part of the drama’s depiction of “character growth”. How an irresponsibly hopeless father, unfilial son, and washed-out gambling addict suddenly developed a moral compass, sense of righteousness, and leadership traits came across as somewhat unrealistic.
Overall
Notwithstanding the qualms I had and as long as expectations are tempered, Squid Game represents great entertainment value complete with a sufficient dose of suspense, thrills and excitement in a nicely packaged production that makes it the perfect binge-worthy viewing experience for an evening at home.
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My first criticism is for the plot. I want to preface this by saying that I've never read the comic, so I wasn't influenced in any way by the source material. The issue is that the backstory information that would have been so helpful to understanding what was going on was dribbled out like crumbs on the trail in Hansel and Gretel. I wanted to know more, but the writers would have the characters give some cryptic piece of dialogue and then fail to explain well enough that I felt satisfied as a viewer. The answers came "too little, too late" for many people and I felt somewhat like that myself. I was mostly satisfied with the answers we finally received, but not 100%. I also tend to believe that the budget may have been cut early on. The reason I say so is because the "realm of the gods" was only shown briefly, even though it was splendid. And Ha Baek came through to the human's realm without his powers. He was able to use them twice, and they were marvelous special effects, but then they were not used again. I think they made a good choice to cut the special effects rather than lose production value, but I think they made it a little obvious anyway since the show really could have been something special with a bigger budget.
The acting was fine, but not phenomenal. I think Nam Joo Hyuk was not quite the right choice for Ha Baek. He's adorable, sure. And I've enjoyed his other works. But I don't know that he carried the weight of the role as well as a more experienced actor may have. He wasn't a horrible choice, but I just think they could have done better. On the plus side he was VERY cute. :) And Shin Se Kyung got a lot of criticism for her acting, but I don't think she is a bad actress at all. She played her role fine. The chemistry between the two was hit and miss. Sometimes I thought it was there, and other times, not so much. Im Joo Hwan really knocked it out of the park, though, and was one of the lone actors that really stood out in this show. So much so, that a lot of viewers kept watching for him alone. The other actors were fine. Not anything special, but just fine.
Now, the music on the otherhand, was beautiful. I absolutely loved the track, Glass Bridge. Mesmerizing song! I don't know the names of the others, but the music was lovely. The cinematography was beautiful as well.
I can't say I would re-watch this. Maybe after I read the comic, more of the story will fall into place and I'll understand it better, but that's about it. I do think they ended the show much better than I was expecting, even if it was a bit anticlimactic. This show wasn't horrible by any means, and I hate that so many people gave up on it so quickly. But it was a decent watch even though it didn't live up to its potential. I'm not mad I spent the time watching it.
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What an emotionally tormenting drama! Great acting!
If I were to describe this drama in one word, it would be "INTENSE"; in the simplest form, it would be BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet, BITTER, BITTER, BITTER, sweet - with capitals being strong and lower case being weak. It feels as if after the bitterness and one is given a lollipop, before one can take a second lick of the candy, it's taken away.This is a "heavy" drama in every sense. Every episode is packed full with actions, plots, plots within plots, palace politics, murders, corruption, greed, power, fears, injustices, conspiracies, wars, fights, killings and more. The ugliness of human nature is vividly displayed and it has never receded over the hundred of years to these days. The writers and directors bring out all the ugliness of how power and wealth can corrupt a person, and the story is amazingly told in this wonderful drama. It is indeed disheartening for us to realize that we're still constantly repeating history over and over again, and we never learn.
The drama itself is serious and nerve wrecking. Every life is always on the line. Everyone tries to outwit another, and losers die. All the events are multi layers.
The events unfolding can be difficult to understand particularly if there are no English subtitles and the viewer not a native Mandarin speaker because everything moves fast and the plots are intricate and complicated. At times, I'd need to take a break away from this drama to get a breather because there is just too much information one has to absorb within an episode.
As Crown Prince, every move Xiao Ding Quan makes is always undermined by unseen forces. Injustices and luck always deal him a lower hand. What seemingly works out great for him would turn out bad in a twist. Danger lurks in every corner. Lu Wen Xi's fate doesn't fare any better. She's constantly wrongly accused and persecuted; her loss and pain are immeasurable. Her tormented undying devotion for the crown prince is heart-breaking. In every episode, I'd have to hold my breath - it's really that intense. The unfair treatments both characters face and endure makes the viewers sympathize with them and demand justice to be served.
The acting is impeccable. Both Luo Jin and Li Yitong are excellent actors. They effortlessly capture all the essence of their characters and play them flawlessly. I'm particularly impressed by Li Yitong in this drama. I love her bare face look with natural make-up. She's so beautiful.
Have I mentioned the romance part? It's painful and bittersweet. I also love the relationship Xiao Ding Quan has with his older cousin, Gu Feng'en. My only comment here is just the visual aspect of the actors and their characters - Luo Jin (38 yr) is obviously a lot older than Zheng Ye Cheng (26 yr) who plays an older role. Playing a youth of 20 as the crown prince, Luo Jin seems to have overstretched a little bit. The age gap is too large and this has given me a mismatched feeling, as least visually. Nonetheless, it hasn't hampered the amazing work of this drama.
I almost missed the epilogue had I not completed playing the ending OST in the last episode. In it (the epilogue), it reveals who Xu Chang Nian is. Before this, I had always wondered which side he's on.
I would fully recommend this drama to anyone who loves Chinese historical stories and can endure mental torments. In terms of acting and plots, this drama is a true gem.
Two thumbs up!
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This review may contain spoilers
The Reality of the Industry
Story: Wow, I’m so amazed at the quality of this series, including the cinematography, production, and fantastic directing. This series really exposes the worse sides of the industry, specifically the BL sides. We see the subtle homophobia when choosing actors, and prioritising NSFW scenes over a healthy, slow and natural bond forming through Gene’s writing. I love that the series he wrote is called “Bad Engineer” because I feel like it might be a subtle dig at all the Engineering BL’s that have slowly gone downhill. There have been several overused themes in other series such as the “kissing while drunk” scene that was taken here and well played out. Despite Nubsib repeatedly chasing after Gene, he didn’t accept Gene because he knew Gene was drunk and couldn’t really consent to anything. Although Nubsib is still very pushy he also respects personal boundaries and takes good care of Gene, which makes me very happy as sadly a lot of BL series tend to romanticise sexual harassment, which is not okay. We also see homophobia from parents that should love and support their children, yet will turn their backs on their own family members just to make themselves look better, which is really sad. Although I was a little annoyed with the jealousy and childhood friends plot line I’m glad they turned it around and demonstrated what a healthy relationship should look like when Nubsib and Gene actually started communicating properly. I do like that Nubsib waited for Gene and never forced him to come out, but I think he could have been more understanding before the press conference about how Gene must have been feeling. I was happy that things turned around in the final episode where we saw Nubsib and Gene exchange sweet kisses and interactions, and they got the happy ending they deserved. I also loved the multiple alternate endings from different romance films/novels/plays as it was a bit of hilarity to distract from the fact that the series was ending.Characters: Poompat as Gene- When this series was first announced I recognised the actor from somewhere, and later realised he was from the famous KA lip care and sunscreen ads. However, this is his first series as a main role, which you would not have guessed based on the quality of his acting. For me, a good actor is someone who can create a character the audience can really relate to, and Poompat did a perfect job of this. Gene is such a sweet, innocent guy and I love that despite not being able to write the stuff he truly loves, he makes the best out of it and isn’t afraid to call out his boss and the directors of their (less than desirable) thoughts and words. Gene is just as clumsy, awkward and embarrassing as myself, which I think is why I love him so much. I really love that despite Gene’s awkwardness, we can still see his emotions through his eyes such as his jealousy during the interviews. I can completely understand Gene’s fears of coming out but I’m glad that he’s surrounded by people who can love and support him for who he is.
Kao as Nubsib- Kao has already cemented himself as a fantastic actor after his role of Korn in Until We Meet Again, and has further demonstrated his amazing acting abilities here. Nubsib is definitely the personification of “serious guy who is only friendly around his lover” and Kao did a great job portraying this. One little thing I did notice when he was talking to other characters like Tum, he always looks very serious but when suddenly seeing Gene his eyes light up and entire expression changes. I love how naturally Kao can pull this off, and yet again I’m being dazzled by his good looks. I also love how, despite knowing that he messed up by not being honest with Gene, he admits he was wrong and makes the effort to communicate and let Gene know what he’s thinking. He’s very understanding and does’t force Gene to come out when he’s not ready which made me happy to see no pressure from him. Finally he chose Gene over all else and wanted both his own happiness as well as Gene’s so he waited for the best time so he and Gene could be together without any constraints.
Bruce as Aoey- While Aoey is a character I have a lot of mixed reactions, I can’t deny that Bruce is probably the best actor in this series. Although he seems cute but far too needy/clingy/annoying, I do like that he was already openly gay and doesn’t try to hide this fact (fun fact, Bruce is gay in real life so we have another LGBT actor which is fantastic), which is a nice step up from the typical “I’m not gay I just love you” lines. However, in episode 5 we really got to know his character more, including why he acts and behaves the way he does. If my parents and siblings were so unsupportive like that, then I honestly think I would have rebelled and spiralled off the deep end, so I admire that Aoey doesn’t let his family hold him back. Although Aoey is quite selfish at times, whenever he cries I automatically feel really bad for him, especially the episode 11 scene on the live video and even more in the final episode after he finished the live stream with his fans. One of my favourite sayings is that “A good actor can make you experience different emotions even from the slightest change in expression” which definitely goes to show just how amazing Bruce’s acting skills are and I hope we can see more projects with him in the future, maybe as a main role this time.
Music: The music and sound effects are perfect, they are well placed and really help the overall mood of scenes. In a funny scene sometimes they’ll add little sound effects which make it even more hilarious, and the music is really nice to listen to.
Overall: I absolutely loved this series and how they weren’t afraid to call out specific aspects and show the reality of what the industry is really like. Both Kao and Poompat have a lot of chemistry and all intimate scenes with them made me almost feel invasive, like I shouldn’t be watching something so personal. I hope to see all the actors in this series again, especially Bruce in a main role, and I’ll definitely be rewatching this very soon!
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1Potential wasted due failure in execution and lazy script writing
Reasons to watch this drama✅ Hot Oppa with cute expressions
✅ Shower Scene which showcases his abs
Error 404, no other reasons found
just like how you were dumbfounded by my reasons to watch this drama, I WAS BY THIS DRAMA.
The writer of this show is like my college professor, trying all possible ways to get over finishing, the syallabus (script) asap meanwhile the students (audience) has no clue about what is going on.
Now let's get the review more likely the rant, started →_→
My initial view on the female lead was that I admired how she wasn't damsel in her distress and wasn't portrayed as a pushover or a crybaby. She embodied independence despite not having a job, maintaining strong morals, but the lack of communication between her and SML OH MY GOSH, like girl you have fake marriage with SML not the ML, it was awfully weird that she never told anything to the SML when they literally called each other bestfriends. Despite that, her subtle expression and acting, she's a great actress, you can watch her movie The Call, tremendous job there.
On the other hand, one major drawback of the drama was the male character. Excuse my bluntness, but while I adore Ji Han, his character had flaws. His opinions and views about certain individual often regressed, returning to square one inconsistently. He was too obsessive towards his brothers life, for idk what reason 😭
SML stood out as the most clueless and unaware character throughout the drama when in fact the story revolves around him. IMO he should've been the highlight of the show, but he was treated nothing less than a side character. He consistently lagged behind by at least 2-3 episodes in understanding what was happening, even when it concerned his own marriage. Unfortunately, his queer character arc wasn't sufficiently explored, representing a significant waste of potential.
Chae Woon was the most unproblematic SFL, they tried to portray in bad light but she was the only sane and realistic person here, sadly her screen time was not less than of a cameo despite being SFL
When watching a romantic comedy, the romance aspect is crucial for it to truly shine for me. However, in this drama, while the romantic element is touched upon, it lacks full development, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. To illustrate this feeling, consider the analogy of being served instant coffee instead of filtered coffee at a café, "you'd be upset, won't you?" Just as instant coffee represents a diluted or say incomplete experience, the romance here feels incomplete, lacking the depth of connection, affection, and chemistry expected in a romantic comedy. When key aspects like romance are only partially explored, it leaves me feeling as though I've only glimpsed a fraction of what could have been a more fulfilling experience.
Like instant coffee, it can be hit or miss; for me, it was a miss. Definitely the premises of the drama, was intriguing and new twist to contractual marriages, but the lack of plot, character growth, confrontation, communication and meaningful storylines, along with underdeveloped romance, made it a huge miss. While the characters had potential as the writing miserably falls in the other half of the show, making everything remained undiscovered and underdeveloped.
I personally lost interest by episodes 5 and 6. My attention span is short, so if a show isn't good, it doesn't hold my attention but as I start a drama I never drop it. There are many better romantic comedies out there, so it's not worth wasting your precious time on this one.
So skip this , you ain't missing anything (+_+)
Thank you for reading my review^^
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Short review
So, I'm just gonna say that this drama is so fresh and hilarious. Miaoyi and Jun's chemistry is on par and at the same time, it's so cute. I've never laughed like this. I've also loved the kids who acted as Chao Chao and Tutu. 😭 They're so cute. Every episode is funny af.lmao. I couldn't forget that part where XiaoTu was literally thrown out of their house, and yet she's so happy af.
indeed, it's worth the wait. I just don't like the way they just throw all the episodes in one day, now it's spoiled. But carats are hilarious thought. Their edits are epic.
Now, gimme Wen Junhui in costume drama.
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Fluff sprinkled with emotional dread - best combination.
Probably the most surprising and refreshing concept and execution of it we have seen in any k-bl so far. The seamless transition between the cute romance and borderline psychological horror was masterfully crafted, making me crave for a longer and more developed version of the same story.Not gonna lie, the show peaked during episode 6, and the ending fell a little bit short of my expectations, but even with that. I am quite satisfied with the overall progression. Yes, it does face the usual issues as a result of a short drama limitations, like underdeveloped side characters, less detailed world building, lack of side plots to make the story seem more full.
But the good was so good, you kind of don’t care about the rest.
First of all, Tae Myung Ha was a surprisingly complex character forced into an unusual situation that made him face both internal and external struggles, leading to well executed character development. And honestly? He was also simply extremely fun. His cheeky one-liners and confidence of an adult in a teen “drama” was a blast to watch. Lee Tae Vin’s performance just made the character so much better. Easily one of the best performances from k-bls, especially when the actual emotional stakes start to make their entrance.
Cha Yeo Woon was adorable. I do think this character had less to offer compared to Myung Ha (to be fair, it also might be the result of me focuing more on Myung Ha compared to Yeo Woon), but it was also impossible not to care for him with his surprisingly well balanced mix of cat and puppy energy, which Cha Joo Wan aced in his delivery.
Still, out of all the characters, Chun Sang Won was the one that stole my heart. What an iconic character, one that deserves a spotlight and his own drama for sure - especially since we’ve been hinted about his own personal struggles. Fun, driven, confident, but also compassionate and perceptive. Oh Min Su better get his main role project soon, or I will riot.
While the drama is for sure not character driven, and you won’t get any elaborate commentary on social and personal issues, it still torches some topics close to many people's hearts, being a good opener for personal reflections: What happiness means to you? How to open your heart to others? How to allow others to help you, care for you? How to well balance your own needs and the needs of people you care about?
All that said, I think the biggest highlight for me was the execution of the concept with a “nice” twist. Instead of going full silly rom-com, they used the game scenario to add some depth to the characters and some painful thrills. Undoubtedly the director had a clear vision of what and how they wanted to present and thanks to that thoughtful approach, the contrasting atmospheres fitted well together. You think you know how the show will progress, but then you get a massive error and all your expectations fall apart.
What’s more, using the game scenario also allowed the director to deal with the usual issue of “time skips” and not enough screen time to showcase the whole time progression. I need to appreciate when directors and writers use their own set up to their advantage when dealing with potential issues and shortcomings. All the confusion and the feeling of “randomness” was clearly intentional, and for me, matched perfectly with the story.
Overall, extremely enjoyable, well produced, beautifully directed, perfectly acted (especially Lee Tae Vin), with nice and cute chemistry, fun jokes and less fun, but just as enticing stakes.
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Truly wonderful series
I think this is only the 3rd time I've rated something a 10. Note that this is a review of the uncut version - the cut version is significantly less good, and it also cuts out almost all the love scenes, which are mostly very well-done and lovely kissing.The writing is excellent, and personal to the author, which shows in the realism of the writing. The characters are not 2D archetypes - they are complex and flawed, and there are no villains or heroes. The plot is well-thought out, and does not go for a cheap ending. The writing respects the intelligence of the audience, which is a nice change, and there are none of the tired cliches that seem to clog every BL. The two leads don't fit into two neat seme/uke boxes - they are fully realized characters, who react like normal people to situations. Even the house's protecting spirit is a complex character.
The acting is some of the best I've seen in a BL. Partly that's because there are a lot of adults with important parts and they cast very experienced and effective actors - but the two leads are fantastic in this. I thought Nut was terrible in Oxygen, but that must have been bad directing because he's amazing in this - he does the most realistic crying I've ever seen, managing to communiate real grief without childish sobbing. Green has a 2-ep role and he's truly spectacular, putting in a powerful performance (and he's clearly a trained dancer), again contrasting with The Tuxedo where he's distinctly underwhelming. Plan Thanawat as Phat is so cute I can't stand it, and on top of that he can really act - his character can be childish and self-absorbed in a realistic way, balanced by all his good qualities. I really hope we see a lot more of him.
This is not just a cute ghost meets boy story - it really explores how things don't always work out like we hoped, and the need to both seize happiness wherever you can find it, and let go of things you can't change, like the tragedies we all have to face - and even how sometimes you can't completely move on.
There was not a single episode that I walked away from disappointed. None of them are filler, and there is no manufactured drama in Ep 9. There are a few plot lines that probably seem pointless in the cut version, like a lot of Dream and Luck, but their story reinforces the importance of respecting each other's beliefs.
The music is great, from the theme to the use of classical music to the instrumental score, which which does a great job of supporting the story.
I really loved this, and for me it's the best BL of this year so far, and this is turning out to be a fairly strong year.
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The story is just a big WTF! to me, really... and it doesn't always make sense. But incredibly it is still a catchy story lol, this is what BOF is, it somehow hooks you up, but deep inside of you, you know that what you're watching is not good at all.
The acting is just BLEH! although I love Lee Min Ho and now is one of my favorite actors, in BOF he wasn't as good as he is now... it wasn't a terrible acting but it wasn't a good one either... Same for Koo Hye Sun, she's good at dramatic scenes and crying and suffering but she lacks emotion in other scenes like kisses or funny moments and etc...
F4: oh boy! the eyecandy in this story has a 10/10 these four Asian boys doing whatever they want with your feelings and looking hot while they're destroying your heart haha it's just asdfghjk...
And probably what makes this drama a "must see" and a famous one is Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) BOF probably has the worst and saddest second lead syndrome ever! REALLY... even if you don't ship JanDi with JiHoo the drama still makes you feel terribly sad about JiHoo's life (a terrible and lonely one) omg! my heart still aches when I remember...
Despite of all that BOF is a very rewatchable story... if you want to cheer up, or cry like crazy or just remember or see hot Asian boys gathered in one drama, just go to BOF. :)
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1Slow delicious burning love drama
"Only for Love" is a captivating Chinese drama that held my attention effortlessly. The actors were outstanding. There were some tropes/ cliches such as three couples with the typical relationships viz. one sprightly independent innocent woman, another very young pretty young girl just on the cusp of womanhood and another player / seasoned woman and their respective others who match them perfectly. Yet, originality is not necessary when a tale oft told is told with flow, grace and beauty.The main leads have this wonderful chemistry that is palpable, adding a layer of believability to the unfolding love story. They manage to hold the tension all through till the end. The push and pull between them, the situational humour and witty dialogues, (though I suspect I only caught some of the nuance in the translations) made for delightful viewing. More importantly I loved the gender dynamics between the leads. At no point was either subservient to the other, there was respect and love and friendship among them as they progressed in their relationship over time. And each would always support the other when needed. Goals!
The other two couples have less screen time but still manage to hold my attention. There was beautiful progression in the relationships. The character development in the drama is commendable, as each protagonist is carefully crafted with depth and complexity. The actors deliver stellar performances, capturing the essence of their roles with authenticity.
Even the backdrop of hi tech industry, the lead's focus on technology than production in his long term strategy and forward thinking were subtle ways to explain his superiority over fellow beings. The narrative unfolds with a delicate balance of romance, humour and cultural nuances, creating a compelling viewing experience.
The storyline, while centered around love, delves into societal and familial dynamics, offering viewers a glimpse into the complexities of modern relationships in a Chinese context. The pacing of the drama is well-executed, keeping the audience engaged throughout the episodes.
Visually, "Only for Love" is a feast for the eyes. The cinematography beautifully captures the vibrant cityscapes, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the show. The costume and set design are meticulous, transporting viewers into the world of the characters. The fashion and style of all the characters are art ! Every costume is beautiful and fits the personality.
There is heat in their kisses, their glances, body language and the love making scenes are tasteful and sweet. There is tenderness and a sweet mellowness in the build up of each relationship - and none of the scenes are ever offensive. The couples are well matched.
Some viewers may find certain plot twists predictable, and at times, the pacing may seem a bit slow. However, for me, these were not flaws - as I do not expect original storylines for every book or drama or movie.
It is good story telling that I am interested in and that was delivered in spades. And for me the pacing was just right. At 36.5 episodes (don't miss the bonus episode with their wedding), with the medium pace, and well drawn out characters, a slow burn love affair, the drama was a well designed feast for the senses. The music was good and has actually grown on me over time... that probably happens if you watch a drama a thousand times on repeat.. lol.
I noticed a few themes in people who disliked this drama ... they did not enjoy the business talk and they found the FL unbelievable. I found the strategy being the business aspect of this drama fascinating and interesting. Shi Yan came across as strong, courageous, visionary and selfless. And the FL Shu Yi made perfect sense to me. She is someone who is incredibly bright at work but has zero interpersonal skills or ability to understand men. I have seen a few people like that so to me she was believable and rather endearing. I can see why some people would be annoyed though - this kind of character is rare in real life so many might have not come across such people.
Overall, it is a must-watch for those who appreciate a thoughtful and visually appealing portrayal of love in a contemporary Chinese setting. Most importantly if you do decide to watch, I recommend you do not multi task. The pace is just right and each scene brings something important to your overall enjoyment so sit back and relax and enjoy every moment of this perfect romance.
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More than just the simple BL it appears to be
Story:Wow, although I know that there have been various BL series where the couple adopt a son, this series took that theme to another level. I think it’s important that this is a Taiwanese series as Taiwan is the first and so far only (not counting Israel) Asian country to legalise same sex marriage and allow partial adoption for same sex couples. This series deals with some serious and prevalent issues that unfortunately many LGBT couples still face to this day, including homophobia, child bullying, and adoption as prime examples of this. It’s clear both Jerry and Damian don’t have supportive parents due to the simple fact that they are hiding their marriage and adoption from their families, and in episode 2 and 3 I understood why that was when watching Jerry’s mum. I’m honestly really happy to see LGBT dramas portray such realistic aspects of gay relationships, such as societal pressure and trying to come to a consensus with something both Jerry and Damian can agree on (in this case it’s having children). I love the fact that they dug deep into Kai’s confusion with having 2 dads instead of a mum and a dad, because it really shows the heteronormative society we live in where children are expected to have a mum and dad despite this fact not affecting anyone else except the family. Episode 5 was by far my favourite because it does such an amazing job to present the fear of coming out, especially to conservative parents which I’ve definitely had a lot of experience with. It was so heartwarming that their love could be accepted and I nearly cried at the final scene. Unfortunately episode 6 was when everything went downhill and they left it with a cliffhanger which will cause a lot of drama if a second season is made. I’m hoping that people uploading episodes illegally won’t affect the production from season 2, because I really need to know what’s going to happen now.
Acting/Cast:
—Melvin Sia as “Damian”- Melvin was such a great, natural actor. He has fantastic expression management and his acting is so natural and realistic, which I’m not surprised about knowing he’s already won several awards for his acting prior to this series. His interactions with his “son” and with Mike are so natural I could hardly believe this was the first drama where he played a gay character.
—Mike Lin as “Jerry”- Jerry is another amazing actor whose acting has such a natural feel to it and really draws you in. Jerry is definitely a very relatable character who just wants to travel the world and has such high aspirations yet, with a supportive partner, is still able to settle down while doing whatever he wants. In episode 5 he did an amazing job portraying the fears that those in the LGBT community still face to this day when coming out to close family members and friends. With Melvin I wasn’t surprised to see he was already a successful actor, but I was shocked that Mike is still so new to the industry, having only acted in 1 other series and 2 movies prior to this. Despite being so new he did an amazing job and I really hope to see him in future series too.
Music:
Other than the opening and ending there is nothing particularly memorable about it.
Overall:
A definite 9.5/10 for me. This may only be a short series, but despite its length there is a very strong portrayal of a married gay couple and their adoption, versus how those around them and society as a whole reacts to these connections. It’s definitely worth a watch but I would recommend avoiding the last episode until news of season 2 is officially announced, otherwise it’s going to be a very inconsequential watch.
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Had a bad day? Your own real life romance not going how imagined it would? Work/ school is hard? Then you shouldn't watch another drama about a pair of star crossed lovers who aren't allowed to be together ( although I do like those a lot) and you for sure don't need to watch that drama where two people keep on misunderstading and hurting each other. You don't need to. Not just yet. Just watch these 12 episodes and you'll feel better. Maybe I just got lucky and watched this very normal drama at a very correct time and place and setting of my life ( A time where I needed such lightness) but I hope that happens to you aswell...
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whoever decided on the pacing should be left behind and cut... jk not jk
production: i don't think the production looks low budget at all. even if it is, i didn't mind it and thought it was fitting for the storyline they had in mind.story: this is where they messed up. the plot can be engaging but the screenplay is the worst. the pacing is terrible, i don't know what's happening, and the end was clearly rushed. they could build the relationship more and tell the backstories much more but i ended but not satisfied... they need to invest on better screenplays because this is not it.
acting: the other two actors were good for bl standards, the actors that played yeong woo and yi bin. the other one that played ki jin is clearly a rookie and it showed especially on the "emotional" scene. but the acting didn't bother me it's the pacing that ruined this show for me. kudos on the kissing scene tho! they did a great job and it's not a dead fish kiss. like that's how you do a kissing scene!
ost: the ost is so good. i keep repeating the "wish upon the stars", it's a top 3 bl ost of all time for me
rewatch value: i won't be rewatching the whole show maybe some scenes like their date scene and the kissing scenes.. because that's the only good parts like why would i rewatch a show that has a terrible pacing.
overall: so much potential but they dropped the ball so hard... like the first few episodes are good but then they cannot make stories that feel fleshed out and not rushed. i feel like at this point, kbl need to focus on the story, because that's the reason some of us are watching. the kissing scene saved this bl for me, otherwise, it would've gotten an even lower score.
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Liar Game 2 is a continuation of the first and all the same elements of the 1st Liar Game are in play in this second installment.
The premise is the same but the games are different. I liked that for Nao, the stakes are higher. She gets involved with the games for a purpose and her over the top hope for finding the truth and honesty in humanity becomes a real part of the plot. Again, the relationship between her and Akiyama further solidifies as the games go on. There is character development. Not just for the leads but other character/s as well.
I actually liked the games in this one better; higher stakes, bigger losses, twistier games. All good things!
If you like Liar Game than Liar Game 2 is a natural progression. Why stop at the first when you get a chance to re-enter this strange world? I highly recommend this sequel.
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Thanks for believing.
This is an investigative Drama in which Romance is not a throw in the window.
Unlike your everyday detective story (especially the episodic one), This one has only one case through out
and it doesn't rely on how genius or clever the Protagonist is... or how awesome they solve the case.
Its a kind of drama that needs character investment. Every twist the plot will give you will strike lightning in your emotion. Observe, feel, analyze, it was very enjoyable and involving.
I know many viewers will pass this up because of its oldness and unfamiliar cast and if some random user attempt to watch it will drop it once he/she mis-concept it as a boring drama since the atmosphere isn't the same as the one we everyday saw in this generation. But if You have some dedication to taste a somewhat unfamiliar territory...you will be rewarded BIGtime as this was a genuine drama that are so rare and original.
Story
The first couple of scenes will give you an idea what the show will be going' and the first couple of episodes (which is somewhat slow but just need to build up the complexity of the characters).
It may somewhat buffles you especially for casual viewers..but after that..you will have the sense of it after you see ".....!!" and it will start to hook you..till the end. with Mind blown included. You will appreciate it greatly.
Characters
They are all 3-dimensional, They are all ingredients of the story..if one of them is not there, the story will not be completed. All of them behave different.
Any change in their behavior as the plot progresses affects a lot of consequences.
MUSIC
The OST here are overwhelming
The variety of music pieces have a sense of subtlety which is mesmerizing that doesn't need a lyrics to tell what they mean and let say it has a SOUL.
The sounds often tells many things more than the words not only just there to accompany the scenes.
Some dramas often have "saranghe" songs which is somewhat generic but sounds great ..that uses over and over again which is sometimes cheesy and you will not see it here
Replay
I think this drama is even better when see the second time around.
You know already the twist but you will get a lot of reasoning after repeating.
Good!
-Has a Very Complex Plot
-Moderate pace but detailed
-All Characters you see has a 100% importance to the plot
(3 dimensional characters)
-OST are very varied and haunting
-Very replayable especially for its kind
-Unpredictable
-Realistic (some plot devices can be superficial)
Bad?
-Old Drama
-Not Fast enough for casual
-Actors/Actress may not be familliar to you
-There is only one Song (OP)
-Some will think that a mystery drama has low replay value since you know what will happen the 2nd time around
-No Genius detective that uses more than 10% of their brain (this was proven a myth)
-no wacky moments out of nowhere (like we see in others of the same type)
My Enjoyment statistic
E01 8.5 / E02 8.0 / E03 9.0 / E04 10 / E05 9.5
E06 9.5 / E07 9.5 / E08 10 / E09 10 / E10 9.5 /E11 9.5
note: This is a Dark' Mystery Romance Drama but it is Moving.
There are less violence and not as disturbing as you think.
note2: I just put 9 on Cast and replay just you to notice how astonishing the 'story and the 'music is.
I really want to put 10s on all category in the first place.
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