Suggest to watch original
This is condensed version of S1 which is 46 episodes.I've watched the first 10 episode side by side to see which scenes were cut out and decided it's better to rewatch the original.
Yes you can still get the story with the condensed version, but the cut-out scenes were enjoyable as well.
If anything, an extended version would've been more ideal.
It's such an epic series in C drama history!
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ITS JUST A GAY BUSINESS
This is a trap - a Business Gay Performance, and im a sucker cause I fell for it.As a KPOP fan, i loved the concept. Also, as a KPOP fan, i felt disrespected.
Like some of the other Korean BLs out there, i dont know why they couldn't just add maybe 5 or 10 more minutes in each episode to make the story a little bit more cohesive and enjoyable. Its such a waste cause there are so many hints that this could be a good show.
Its the story of an idol Eden, being selected and paired with Jihoon to be in a duo, What 's unique is that they are marketing the group as a gay lover - supposed to be just a business concept, only for the pair to really fall for each other.
There are too many characters and too many subplots but everything felt rushed. They spent so much time with the antagonist, when they could have used that time to build up the chemistry between the main leads and show us when or how the two exactly fell for each other. In episode 7 and 8, i kept checking the runtime cause it feels like the show is just rushing to go to the end and yet I still havent seen what I wanted to see between the 2 leads. Unfortunately as i feared, the show ended too soon without giving any satisying ending. This is a problem with translating a 40-chapter webtoon into an eight 15-minute drama.
It is such a shame really cause the leads are very charming - and Nine kept reminding me of a young Seo Kang Joon. They were both amatuer-ish but they both did enough to be likeable. a few times I was on the verge of really caring about their characters but the show just didnt show enough to make me really reach that level.
I wont forget that cringy scene in the plane where they were both holding hands and sleeping head to head with a smile on their faces looking so uncomfortable when they both could very well be sleeping comfortably in that cushy business class seats even if they were holding hands.
From the onset it felt like a small project conjured up to promote the idol group. The "Business Gay Performance" using homosexuality as a concept was a little bit offensive if you think about it and at first i was thinking they were trying to mock and expose it, but by the end I felt even more ashamed of myself for being a fool and falling for it, even though they were clearly saying FROM THE BEGINNING that this is a Business Gay show and nothing more.
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STORY:
The story is same. THE INNOCENT DULL UNPOPULAR GIRL + THE HIGHLY DESIRABLE, INTELLIGENT AND 'most important, should be there traits' POPULAR AND CONCEITED GUY( type of guy which makes a girl squeal and fall head over heals for him) reminds you of something, eh?
The drama is full of cliches but it is still enjoyable and hilarious, the type of drama you don't need to think hard, you just watch it. actually if you think and question the stuff, you will never gonna enjoy the drama. Just sit, watch, enjoy its hilarity, cliches and bubbly and light atmosphere and relieve your stress.
Its boring sometimes though and one thing is missing here. a little bit of skinship and real kisses( c'mon who doesn't love real kisses,the barely-touching-lips IS NOT KISSING)!
ACTING; I loved the girl. She is sweet, bubbly cute with her manga like reactions and over the top imaginations. i had a problem with the main lead. HE LOOKED SO INDIFFERENT, i know you are supposed to be cold but atleast show some emotions, a little bit of jealousy(we understand you are jealous but we can't feel it). the second lead actors were better. Issei was cool and i felt so bad for daichi. He is too hot to be made the second lead. In my opinion this actor should be given the role of the main lead.
Music; nothing i can remember. Though it gave a happy vibe
Rewatch: I don't rewatch dramas unless i super like it, so no no for me.
So, you can watch it as a filler show. Or as a break after super intense stuff or drama. Cause this is perfect for easy watch. DON'T WATCH IT ID YOU ARE A FAN OR INTENSE INTERESTING INNOVATIVE DRAMA, cause this is definitely not one.
p.s THIS SO REMINDS OF ITAZURA NA KISS AND L.DK
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little peace of advice
if you love noisy mothers , this drama is made just for you. without her being the center of the drama, i would rate it a lot higher. this drama was carried by leads who hardly even get romantic scenes together. don't get me wrong. i love a good business centered drama but this time, it added nothing to the story. not to mention, whoever wrote the body of work must have terrible family. otherwise, i can't explain a mother who gets away with treating her daughter by playing a victim until the end of the dramaWas this review helpful to you?
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Not a Bl but Queer Story
I’ve seen a lot of mixed (and even negative) reviews about Soulmate, But honestly, I feel like that kind of thinking misses the whole point of the story.Not every relationship needs a label like “boyfriends” to be meaningful. And intimacy doesn’t always have to be physical to be real. What Soulmate shows is something quieter but deeper—a connection built on understanding, respect, and simply being there for each other.
The title “Soulmate” fits perfectly. Their relationship feels like more than friendship, but not something that needs to be defined as lovers either. It exists somewhere in between, in a space that feels very real but is rarely shown on screen.
Another thing I really appreciated is how the drama portrays family. It reminds us that you don’t have to be blood-related to be a family. And you don’t have to fit into traditional stereotypes either. A family doesn’t always have to look like “one mother and one father.”
In the story, two men step up to take care of their best friend’s child after her husband passes away. The three of them build a life together, taking turns, supporting each other, and raising the baby with love. It’s such a simple but powerful way of showing that family is about care, responsibility, and connection—not labels.
What I loved most is how they live together, find happiness in small everyday moments, and respect each other’s boundaries. It’s not dramatic or intense in a typical way—it’s soft, calm, and emotionally intimate.
Honestly, this is the kind of relationship I would want in real life. Just living peacefully with someone who understands you without needing to explain everything.
I feel like this drama introduces a kind of “new genre” for many viewers—one that focuses less on labels or physical romance, and more on genuine human connection.
And maybe that’s why it feels so different… and so special.
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Survivor: The Mother-in-Law Obstacles.
Xu Lingyi, marquis Yongping is all that a mother could ask for: a patriotic high ranking court official, ethical, cultured, responsible and a shining example of Confucian filial piety who asks not if he is happy with his wives, it is enough that his mother is. When his official wife dies, he takes her younger half-sister Luo Shiyi, a lowly concubine's daughter as his official wife, thus preserving the marriage ties between the Luo and Xu family. But Shiyi is a talented and resourceful woman ahead of her times and values her freedom and independence over making such an excellent match. She has her own agenda and unlike his fawning concubines, is quite happy to be neglected by Lingyi and left to her own devices. Her attitude bemuses and intrigues Lingyi out of his indifference and he finds to his dismay that he is increasingly attracted to her.The best part of this drama is how the romance blossoms at a realistic pace between Lingyi and Shiyi, leisurely exploring important phases from distrust, to mild annoyance, to intrigue and blossoming attraction, to collaboration with some conflict and a healthy dose of jealousy thrown in. Neither character is perfect - Lingyi is a workaholic, neglects his harem, is aloof, overly strict with his children and his brother and just generally comes across as no fun at all. Except for the flashes of subtle humour that emerges when he deals with impertinence from his close aides or criticism from his family. Wallace Chung really delivers a very nuanced portrayal as a lonely and kind nobleman beneath a strict and unapproachable exterior. I really enjoy watching him come out of his shell and become a more complete person as he discovers happiness with Shiyi. Shiyi grows from a rather headstrong and defiant young wife into the caring, responsible and capable mistress of Yongping manor. This is a very different kind of role for Tan Songyun and although I feel her interpretation of the role is not that inspired, her Shiyi is likeable and pleasant to watch. Both leads are consummate actors with very solid chemistry, delivering many sweet and thrilling romantic moments as they fall in love and grow together as a couple.
Even though I don't expect much from the plot when it comes to character dramas, I have to say that the writing overall leaves a lot to be desired. It actually starts out fairly well even though it is incredibly tropey from the beginning. That is because there is a satirical approach to the writing, with subtle humour nicely woven neatly into the dialogue that had me grinning away. And some of the characters, especially the hateful concubine Qiao and Erniang were such parodies and so well acted that I got many chuckles and base enjoyment out of their setbacks and defeats. That fizzles out after the Qiao arc and at that point the mystery and defeat of the mastermind should have just been quickly wrapped out instead of dragged into repetitive plot lines and themes. The writer with a sense of humour must also have bowed out at that point because it wasn't funny anymore.
Which brings me to the mother-in-law from hell. This MIL is a real piece of work - she picks all of her sons wives, she is snobbish, biased, hypocritical, is completely illogical and plays the matriarch card all the time to get her way. This character turned the drama into some bizarre edition of Survivor where the contestants are parachuted into Ming Dynasty where they need to survive the mother-in-law of all obstacles and win the heart of the dude. Shiyi and all of Lingyi's wives are pitted against this troll who thinks that the ultimate reward is marriage to her son. The most unbelievable part of the story is that none of these rather ruthless and resentful bitches took the initiative to poison her. It would have made for an excellent Murder on the Orient Express kind of murder mystery if they all did it. As for Shiyi, her winning strategy is to kill everyone from her MIL to her love rivals with kindness. This took so long and we have to endure so many ridiculous, lazily written and repetitive arcs that I couldn't help but think poison would work so much faster.
The two main takeaways from this drama is it really sucked to be a woman during Ming Dynasty and bad shit happens when your mother picks your wives. Overall an ok watch to pass time but nothing to write home about. 7.5/8.0 overall, maybe 8.0 for just the first ~half.
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Expectations unfortunately not met
Dance is neither about technique nor stamina. Love is what makes it whole🕺🏻OK. Let's start with the good🕺🏻
The acting - The guys killed it. I have seen Keita before in Cherry Magic & Alice in Borderland and was excited to see him back in the BL realm. I knew he was good and my man; he did not disappoint. No notes
Ryoma is a new face to me, but he was amazing too. He expresses emotions so freaking well. It just grabs you. I could feel how much he hated Sugiki in the beginning, when he started wanting him; I was there with him—in that desire, denial, and confusion. And when Sugiki broke his heart, I felt that too. When he cried, when he made the choice to go back to competing after the heartbreak, when he struggled to walk away from Sugiki's honor dance, when he finally faced him on that floor. I felt it all. Hat's off to the man
The chemistry - My God!! It was palpable. Everyone has mentioned it, but that scene in the train... *fans self*. And the kiss scene towards the end. Also, I was mesmerised every time they danced together
Their type of dance matched their personalities beautifully - Sugiki does ballroom. Idk much about dance, but from what I saw in this, it's a very controlled type of dancing. Beautiful to look at, but rigid in its execution.
On the other hand, Suzuki is a free spirit. He also walks, breaths, moves like sex, and so is his dance style. It's fun and sexy, while Suguki's is very restrained.
Suzuki wants to have fun in his life, but Sugiki is very controlled and by the book. He knows what he wants, sees the goal, and will stick by it, everything else be damned.
How they dance spills into their personalities. Or is it vice versa?
The cinematography and the grandeur of it all - Are we surprised though? It's a Netflix production. You know the production budget be budgeting
🕺🏻What I didn't like🕺🏻
The title says it all. The movie did not match the expectations set by the trailer
When you watch the trailer, you expect the movie to be very sensual, very sexy. You expect their relationship to be very emotionally charged. A love that stems from hate, passion (for dance and Suzuki's hatred for Sugiki), desire, and an unwitting respect for each other's craft. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for such a story
Unfortunately, when you get to the story, this all kinda... fades away? A lot of the story is told in silence (?). There are a lot of looks to the other person, facial expressions, but very little in the way of actual communication. As the audience, you kinda have to connect the dots and guess what they are feeling and thinking. That removes the 'punch' of what this story could be
Their romance — if you could even call it that — doesn't progress much, and so by the end, everything feels unfinished. They kissed on the train. I thought things would get steamier, but they went their separate ways. Only to meet 2(?) months later in the UK with Suzuki thinking about how he wants Sugiki's eyes on him.... And then they break up
Girl... What?? What happened in the 2 months??? I have read some comments by the Manga readers that allude to what happened after the train, leading up to the breakup, and after, but if you're going to make a movie, shouldn't you include what happens in the source material in the show? I feel like cutting out major details does a disservice not only to the viewers who may not have checked out the book, but also to the readers who may want a better portrayal of a story they love
The ending was also very.... Ugh. It's open-ended. Not a fan of those. I hear it's because the manga isn't complete. Perhaps the manga shall end n we'll get a sequel. Hopefully, a better installation than this one
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Bright Dimples start but Crash landing 2nd half!
Just got watching Zhou Yi Ran (ML) in School drama "When I fly to you" now here he is in another lovely school drama.First 15 Ep. 9 stars!
1. It's not a drama where there's one sided love of an academically challenged FL acting 10 years younger & chasing a silent ML trying to overcome some trauma. FL lead is smart and complex. She's a little bit of everything.
2. Drama feels more realistic. FL is from a divorced family trying to deal with all the sudden changes on her own. Adjusting to a new city, new school & a new blended family forced her to be more mature.
3. ML: Zhou Yi Ran plays another quiet boy role but his character comes from a different kind of family hardship.
These 2 meet and a connection forms as they can relate to each other through thoughts and actions even before finding out about each other's situations.
4. Chemistry: FL has cute dimples & ML has cute dimples. What a GREAT pairing! Yes I am a sucker for dimples.
5. Good supporting characters. Good friends & characters is a must!
6. No unrealistic over toxic characters so far.......
7. The brother from the blended family. He will grow on you.
After ep 15 it drops to 3 stars. It feels like a complete different drama! What just happened!?!? Did they change writers?
Anticlimactic the way they met again in college and resolved the past
Lack of time on supporting character's development and relationship development.
Introduction of toxic characters that's not needed
FL takes a back seat and the focus is 70% on the ML's dream
Choices became less logical
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Addicted Remake Done Right
Acting is really good from these two young actors 10/10. plot is pretty much the same as addicted but feels a bit more stretched out and we see the backstories of the characters a lot more. The pacing tbh seems much better this time around. it's getting better with every episode... wow the nostalgia.. Addicted was my first BL ever and I feel like I'm finally getting an updated complete story with lots more clean camera work and dialogue. whether this is BL or bromance I love the story and I'll keep watching.Was this review helpful to you?
Peak Comedy
this is probably the most ORIGINAL PLOT for a kdrama to exist in KDRAMALAND like come on she literally turns into a chicken nugget , I went into this with zero expectations , the cast is what drew me in to begin withand it's safe to say that I don't regret it one bit , I'd never laugh as hard I did when watching a drama , like it's the driest jokes and scenes ever but somehow it's what makes this drama so hilarious 😂😂😂
the casting is really well done and thought out, everyone did amazing and DELIVERED.....
so if you love comedies you will definitely not regret watching this drama I can guarantee it
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dreadful and frustrating, but brilliant!
When many people say BLs are fiction, that is not entirely correct. The premise of the show of a sexless marriage is a common problem in Japan. The latest study in 2024 found that 48.3% of married couples are sexless, which is nearly double as many as in most other countires. If one of the partners "don't won't the hassle" and the other do need it, it puts a lot of strain on the mental health. This show depicts this reality brilliantly and I felt how dreadful that must be. I also felt heavy and frustrated as Hagiwara with his girlfriend. Kaori does not like to be intimate with him any more.On the other side we have another sexless gay couple which are a couple for the wrong reasons. I'm not happy with the finale explaining Fujisawa reasons for his behaviour - it does not explain the refusal to be intimate. Guilt is always a bad motivator to be in a relationsship. Of course Sei is not innocent in this too. He let Fujisawa isolate him, he did not force the issue much much earlier and wasted years with a love which could never fulfil him.
After a wrongly sent email Hagiwara & Sei kept in contact per mail and discuss their lives even in sexual matters. As it must happen, they did not know they were co-workers. For reasons they discover that by chance and have a laugh. After another refusal of Kaori Hagiwara felt so deep in a hole, he contacts Sei and they meet and they have one of the most sensual scenes in a BL. I don't mean the touching and kissing, I mean the feelings they convey... I felt how they urge for the touch, to be close, to be one.
Of course their sexual affair did not get unnoticed from Kaori and both of them got in a chaotic situation. While Kaori did scrutinze Hagiwara's phone, Fujisawa went into a jealous rage, raping Sei which was not shown directly but he had the marks afterwards. Sei seems to think it was a deserved punishment which sounds insane for most viewers and left me speechless. While Kaori does not seem to be a bad person per se, she is not able to communicate her desires and problems with her partner. Kaori's talk with Hagiwara ended with the expected breakup because she is unable to comprehend what she has done and how Hagiwara felt. Sadly Sei also pushes Hagiwara away.
At least there is happy end and I'm not happy that we did not get another episode.
Cinematography, direction were on point, the cast acted their roles to perfection, making this drama very special. If you think, they all should have communicated better, don't forget, Japan is different from most countries. Feelings are kept hidden more, problems are often ignored especially in relationships and due to the work mentality - which is insane for every other country - they often don't have time to do so.
This is for sure a show to binge-watch and I can't tell you how highly I recommand you to do so!
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'that special one mark will always be saved for you'
Ok just going to start by saying I was really hung over after watching hidden love and then when i discovered this drama was from the same author, i dived inIn the end, i loved it more than hidden love
This was perfect. The friend group's dynamic, ml transformation from an insecure person to one so passionate, the second lead couple, fl so bubly and energetic and ofcourse their relationship with Grandma
the ml and fl's relationship was a perfect example of 'she fell first, he fell harder' and boy did he fall
He was soooo loyal,like really there was no one else for any of them. They never wavered.
The second leads relation was kinda ' enemies to friends to lovers' and i loved it too. GR was soo sweet
This drama had no misunderstandings that dragged on, no love triangles, just pure fluff
Like it was sweet but haf problems at the same time but you didn't really care because the leads ACTUALLY communicated with each other, yeah another reason why it was one of the best dramas like in ever
The fl was just soo wonderful.
She loved him and was pursuing him without seeming like a desperate, clingy damsel in distress.
It has all the tropes i loved and never knew i needed
Perfect 10 on 10
Please watch, u won't regret it
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I like drama where the story is good, the conflict not annoying, not too heavy with layers of conflict, and of course ROMANCE in it.
Romance of Hua Rong,
I like the story. Its light, entertaining as it is tag as comedy, it is very funny. Refreshing.
But also very romantic with many romantic scene.
It is addictive and makes you want to hope that the leading male and female is real couple.
Yuan Hao and Zhao Zhao Yi chemistry is the highlight of the drama.
They are both very handsome and beautiful and i also like their chemistry off screen.
So looovee this couple.
I am glad i found this drama! Will definitely rewatch again!
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