Reviews

What is cheating?

The chemistry was there from the very first time and so...

First thing I want to talk about is that the answer to my initial question is very difficult:

This is a question I've had for a while as I was watching this drama and reading the discussions about it.
We can discuss it through the whole drama because over here, the FL was in a monogamous 4 years long relationship with the Second ML, they are having problems, many issues as there is no more passion between them the 2ML takes her for granted and so she communicates him that their relationship is not right, therefore she doesn't feel like marrying him.

Then she meets the ML, a sweet handsome man that is a single father, the type of man that has no time to lose into relationships. He is so confident and that makes him so attractive, but that is because he has to, life and his son taught him how to be strong and overcome everything that might come to ruin his family.

The problem between the leads is that they like each other from the beginning and they try to stop the clear chemistry plus connection they have. They also try to stop themselves due to moral, ethics and society but it seems that life is in the way. So they decide to become friends and of course feelings start to surface the FL tells the 2ML that they have to break up.

I really like the fact that they break up not because of the ML, but because of the issues they have had during their relationship. Also, the FL tried to give herself a time before she jumped into another relationship.

It seems like there is no cheating unless an emotional connection is actually consider cheating. As I said before, we can discuss it, but the FL said it a couple times "I cheated" "I'm a bitch" and is self aware of the fact that her feelings have changed in her previous relationship so they might change later on.



The second I want to highlight is the relatable characters and story:

I like the fact that in this drama they don't try to portray innocent people that cannot break a thing. There are real adults with moral issues, problems, consequences and ego.

I love the relationship between the three sisters and their mom, females bonding, protecting each other like real family. Even if each one of them have very different point of views in society, their love is there to protect and help one another.

The 2ML was really annoying by how obsessed he was with the FL, just because of status and ego he was willing to do anything just to go back to his ex and get her. Sadly this is something that actually happens in real life, many times you don't love someone you just live how they boost your ego and how they give you status in society.

I love how they speak volumes about our patriarchal society and how hypocritical law is when we talk about about domestic violence, is very relevant to educate people properly in these topics.

The ML's friends are amazing, they are honest and kind, supportive and each one have a story to tell.



The third main thing is:

Acting, the main actors had an amazing chemistry that made me feel all fluff any time I saw them together, I was wishing to have something like that.


The fourth thing:
Scenery and music: Jesus I looooove it. I'm gonna download every single song is played over here. That's all.
Also, the title makes sense at the end because of the scenery, is so romantic I can't.


Finally, I recommend this drama for people that like strong healthy love relationships but are not judgemental, if you are into slice of life, healing, type of drama, this is for you.

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Highschool romance drama? or existential dread?

I went into this drama with no knowledge of what it was about whatsoever. I had heard an idol i know about, Woongki, was part of the cast. I thought, hey lets check it out, go in with no expectations, enjoy it for entertainment only. Then! i was thrown in head first into reflecting on what is happiness and what must one do to make themselves, or others, 'happy'! And i am not mad about that toss, to be honest i am thoroughly and happily surprised about how much i enjoyed this drama to this extent. Casting? amazing. Cinematography? some of the best in the space (up there with icons like Eighth Sense). Script? Heartwrenching.

Highly recommend, definitely a way to start BL shows in 2024. Other countries, step up! Korea is making waves in this space!

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A convoluted mess that even the handsome faces look confused

The poor leads are buried in this convoluted mess of a story, which is made worse by appalling editing choices and weak direction. No matter how good your actors are, which they just passably so, they look confused at times by the illogical decisions made by the characters. The villains are poorly cast, all coming off as caricatures with OTT acting. If the editor or director is reading this, please understand that what you may think is smart, such as multiple cliff-hangers and flashbacks, are just gimmicky devices that frustrate and alienate the audience. What is worse, these flashbacks don't even reveal any particularly smart twist or plot device. Do learn how to narrate a good story, for starters.

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A masterpiece

What to say... this drama was just a masterpiece !!!
It was my very first lakorn and I'm not disappointed at all, I just took a little bit of time to settle myself into the language but honestly it is perfect.

Regarding the scenario, don't expect a romance, each episode tells a different story (except the ep 6-7 & 12-13 which are connected episodes) with different characters except Nanno and the similarity is that it takes place in high schools. I absolutely loved the fact that it was several stories in one drama and the concept of punishing bad people. It shows their real themselves and give them a sanction depending on how serious their actions were. I appreciated all the episodes although there are some I loved a lot and some other a bit less.

My top 5 :
1st : ep. 2
2nd : ep. 8
3rd : ep. 11
4th : ep. 5
5th : ep. 4 and ep. 12-13

About the actors : choosing Kitty as Nanno was a very good choice, she plays magnificently this character. I heard mixed opinions about her artificial laugh but it didn't bother me because I think they asked her to laugh like this on purpose because she is not really human and we can see her ''devil's daughter'' side. All the actors of each episodes were playing well too, I had a little firm favourite for Best Ekawat Niratvorapanya who plays TK in the ep. 8.

Trivia : each episode have been made by a different director and all the stories told are miscellaneous news item that really happened in Thailand's schools.

In conclusion this a super lakorn, I recommmend it at 100% ;)

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Stunning martial arts

The YouTube trailer for Snow Tower showed a lot of martial arts promise, and after seeing it, I decided to try Snow Tower out. One episode in, and I knew that I was going to watch Snow Tower from the very first episode down to the bitter end, 55 episodes later. That being said, I will review Snow Tower along these parameters: martial arts, storyline, plotting, characterization.

Martial Arts

The martial art depicted in Snow Tower is extremely reminiscent of the martial arts scenes of the old wuxia martial arts dramas from the eighties to the mid to late nineties; hard, brutal, stunningly choreographed, and breathtakingly executed. From the female characters, to the male leads, it is easy to see what makes this series to stand out amongst its fans.

Snow Tower martial arts and fight scenes are lethal and fast, breathtaking and spin-tingling, its execution flawless, like incredibly fast ballet dancers moving their boneless, limber bodies to the beat of some unseen music.

Any lover of Wuxia dramas will surely be taken in by the martial arts scenes of Snow Tower, from the beginning of the storyline, down to its middle, before the scenes seemed to slightly peter off into a more “traditional leaning” drama style that focused on more acting and less skilful, perfectly choreographed fight scenes, before picking up dramatically towards the end, with stunning ferocity.

For its martial arts, Snow Tower is a must-see, for lovers of Wuxia.

Storyline & Plotting

Snow Tower is pretty much straightforward acting, with a very strong central core plot and with numerous sub-plots focusing on love, hate, treachery, power, betrayals and revenge. While Snow Tower maintained its fidelity to its central plotline, some of its sub-plots were weak and could have been dispensed with, without in any way affecting the central storyline of the blood feud between the two warring sects Moon Sect and Snow Tower.
Snow Tower moves slowly, almost languidly, seriously, from day to day and through year to year, to burn through the story of the central plotting that bound all these characters in the Wuxia drama to each other, each with their own agendas, both innocuous and sinister.
Snow Tower did however receive negative reviews from critics of the series, based off on the fact that the series deviated “entirely” from the central plot of the novel of the same name it was adapted from.

Characterization

Snow Tower boasts of two main characters: Xiao Yi Qing (Tower Master, Snow Tower) and Shu Jinrong (or, Lady Jing, Ming Er). To be honest Shu Jinrong was presented in a very weak light. For a character billed to be the main character, one who wields the Blood Rose sword of her father the Blood Demon and who is expected to burn blazes through the pugilistic world in the series, Shu Jinrong is weak. That is the best word for her: Weak. She is pig-headed, stubborn, does not see the big picture and how her actions can come with terrible (future) consequences, and she shows restraint when she should not.

Fans of Snow Tower have criticized the portrayal of Shu Jinrong in the tv series, which they have bemoaned to be a deviation of her strong nature and character in the novel of the same name.

Xiao Yi Qing—the Tower Master of Snow Tower—is portrayed as an ailing young man with some incurable jin disease which leaves his body weak. Fortunately, Yi Qing is armed with incredible martial arts skills. In spite of all the great martial artists that made their appearance in the pugilistic world in Snow Tower, it is an easy bet to say that Xiao Yi Qing is literally unmatched, a cold, lethal presence armed with a short dagger—a dagger matched only by the Blood Rose sword wielded by Shu Jinrong—which he uses to ruthlessly cut down any and all enemies that threaten him and the Snow Tower. . .by a thin, smooth line in the throat. Yeah, he’s that lethal and that effective. Like every man, he has his Archilles heel, three in fact: his mother, Elder Xue Wen, who has been trapped as a prisoner in the Moon Sect since he was a little boy; his health, which remains a serious throughout the entire series, and his love interest, Shu Jinrong. However, Tower Master Xiao Yi Qing is quite cold, ruthless, appears emotionless and unaffectionate, which makes other characters to questions his feelings and his humanity, above all else. Still, to give him credit, he is portrayed as fair.

Asides these two main characters Xiao Yi Qing and Shu Jinrong, there is a slew of other secondary characters that appear throughout the series, each with their own perks and perspective. Young Hero Gao Meng Fei comes off as very playful, a small ray of light in the bleak, blood-soaked drama of Snow Tower, but that playful nature is weathered by a ruthless ambition that is quite shocking. Chi Xiao Tai comes off as playful as well, though blinded by unrequited love and driven by hatred. Ming He is the most colourful secondary character of them all; beautiful, innocent-looking and quite beguiling, this angel-faced monster has so many aces up her sleeves, you can’t help but compare her to some devil.

All in all, a solid cast made Snow Tower a success.

Having worked through my thoughts on these characters, I must add that Snow Tower came in with a shocker: emotions. Watching Snow Tower will, at some point, get your emotions involved, such that you might even shed a tear or two, hope that a specific character is mercilessly knifed to death, and even drop your mouth in shock and horror at some of the betrayals and shifting alliances that play out in the course of Snow Tower.

Would I recommend It? Yes, I would, absolutely, though I must warn, Shu Jingrong is a weak, emotional presence that keeps upsetting plans through the series.

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This is a beautifully written drama. I wish there are more episodes but I am still content with it.

All actors are great and fit to their roles. Both
main leads are superb in this drama. They have a really good chemistry. They both made me feel the happiness, struggle, fear and pain that they are experiencing. Ohm was just so natural and his smile was one of the best thing I have seen in my life. That is why when he cries you just want to hug him. Singto was perfect he is cute, lovable and a great actor. All the support roles did a great job. One great thing about this series is that all cast have a good chemiatry with each other.

The story may be unrealistic but the feels are so real. I love how they incorporate in the story the struggles of a young boy in coming out to his friends and family. It was not an easy journey and how it was told was so real, the fear of being discriminated, the confusion, the struggle not to disappoint your loved ones, everything happens in real life. That is one of the reasons why I said it was so real despite of its unrealistic plot.

The love story was a classic romance of two lover that came from different worlds. That is how I see it. The way it was shown was so heart warming. The lack of means to touch did not hinder to make me feel the love that they have. This is what I mean by LOVE. It can be shown and felt in so many ways.

Overall this is a really really must watch series.

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This Show Didn’t Give What Needed To Be Gave

Overall, I would say that is show was meh. Sometimes the worst a show can be is meh because you can see the potential that the show had to be better.

When I first read the sypnosis, I thought that the show would focus more on the liberation of the main character but instead the show dragged out the divorce and drama throughout the entire series and it kept running in circles over and over again. The show I feel was a little too surface level to me. I feel like they could have gone more in depth when it came to certain storylines. After awhile, it felt like they really didn’t know where to take the show.

None of the characters really resonated with me either. These are not characters that will stick with me or frankly that I will remember because the material given to them just didn’t call for it.

The standout performances for me were the main character, Cha Jung Sook played by Uhm Jung Hwa and her mother, Oh Deok Rye played by Kim Mi Kyung.

The characters of the husband, his mistress, and the mother in law were all horrid people to me and my feelings didn’t change by the end of the show either. In reality, I think my feelings of dislike got even worse to be honest. I guess you could say that since they made me dislike their characters so much that they were doing their jobs well though lol

I felt bad for Dr. Roy because he seemed like a great man for Dr. Jung Sook. He was a good foil to her horrible husband. But, besides his adoption backstory, I feel like they still could have done more with his character.

By the time I got to the last two episodes, I was over it. This show didn’t have enough “meat on the bones” if that makes sense and as a viewer it makes me sad to see.

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Not your typical kdrama

I understand KJW' character here. She fell inlove with JCW but she was afraid that he might not accept her because she has a lot of insecurities and disappointments in life. However, JCW proved that there is someone who will accept you and love you, just the way you are.

Excellent storyline, OST, cinematography and superb acting of the casts. I must say it is one of the best performance of Kim Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook. Their chemistry is also unbelievable.

To those people, who got bored and doesn't like this drama, don't assume that since you didn't liked it, doesn't mean it's not good. Actually, it's way better than I expected especially the outstanding acting skills of the main lead.

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Sweet, light-hearted

I enjoyed this cdrama a lot. I was watching the newly released raw episodes just because I was eager to know what happened next. It's not like the story was very deep or intense, I was just curious. It's just what I needed after a long day of school or work.
The acting was good, what really irked me were the voiceovers, especially in the Korean ones because they did not match the actors at all, but this dabbing thing is a problem of Chinese production overall.
What really surprised me was the great music. The playlist features stars like Seventeen and WayV, and of course many more artists FROM THE CAST. The music was the best I've heard from a Chinese drama so far.
I would rewatch the drama for the music and sweet moments definitely. There is no gian plottwist without which the drama isn't enjoyable, so that's great.

Overall a very sweet and easy watch.

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Dominator domineering

The story was very intriguing, engaging and keeps people going from start to finish. First, let me start with the character. It was very well written for both protagonist and antagonist. Xu Fengnian is not your usual aristocrat's son. His character is very convincing and realistic. Usually, the story always beautifies ml, meaning that ml usually considered as a good guy, never does anything wrong, never lies and somehow always gets fooled. But Xu Fengnian is different. He carries the charm domineering aura of Grand Commander while still had that humor of foolishness here and there.

Oh this drama had some serious humor where it was super funny in the place you least expect. Sometimes even makes you confused, do you want to laugh or do you not.

I like that he was in full control of his emotion - we can see the determination, intelligent and affection. Zhang Rou Yun is truly a great actor. I don't even know how much screenshots I take because every scenes that he's in just mesmerized me. Jiang Ni actually surprised me a little. Her character justifies her personality. A little bit necessary proudness in the name of a princess make me understand why (the actually scary) Fengnian keep it cool about all the 'assassinations'. Don't forget that Xu Fengnian take after Xu Xiao's charm and aura, so he is actually scary not in the way that he hurts you, but in the way that he studies you. Enemy who study their enemy is lot more dangerous than you think. I won't say about Jiang Ni's acting, I found a bit lacking from Fengnian but the eyes of affection and determination was still there so it doesn't disturb their chemistry and acting in general. Xu Xiao, Old Huang, Shu Xiu, Ning Emei, Qing Niao and that Lin guy, I can say that they give their all.

Secondly, I was relieved that it doesn't mix romance in there just because they want it to be interesting. The story is not of romance genre, but I can definitely see the affection and longing, which was 100 times better that romance. I'm a sucker for slow burn so this is my tea, and if you're not, I suggest don't watch for romance. I'll always ends up complaining if the strategy and revenge kinda drama always mix up romance as if the main lead doesn't have the strong resolution at all. They suddenly become weaker while I myself believe love is about become stronger (and smarter). Fortunately SSS doesn't have that bullshit. Their story was interesting thorough and thorough, it makes everyone a third wheeler.

For the plot, the story buildup was perfect. The rising action was a bit confusing since you can't see the 'chess board'. But I promise it was super engaging. They played well. Really hope season 2 can came out soon, tho I don't want they rush things and make a ruin out of it. SSS, signing out.

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Amazing show!

Everything about the Joy of Life was done very well! By far one of my favorite CDramas.

The plot is very interesting and hooked me from the very first episode. I love that it’s a story within a story and that it mixes ancient and modern themes. There were so many twists within the plot and subplots and always had you guessing.

The acting was amazing. Every character had so much depth and so much offer to the story that it made you want to know more about each. There were so many things going on with each character but it was all related to the main story and main ML.

Normally, I hate to see cliffhangers at the end of shows but this one had me so anxious. That’s what you call good writing. I very excited for season 2!

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worse than season one

Okay so, season one did many good things, but this season was just so flawed.

Ait constant acting like a 5-year-old and not believing James telling him that he and Marco haven't done anything. Then Marco (being in love with JAMES for FOUR years prior to all this) goes and has sex with Bas who just hours before tried to commit suicide? It doesn't feel very realistic to me. Plus, with Bas's background with sexual abuse - him having no struggle with being intimate but having PTSD from it overall made it all look so unrealistic. Like what the f'ck!
They could have done so much good stuff with this series and Michaels's acting as Bas was extremely talented (I would never be able to cry that much in a series, and with so much feeling sharing to the public through the screen). There are so many themes and topics in this series that are so important to talk about - suicide, self-harm, non-supportive family, toxic masculinity, abuse and so much more. It was like they tried but failed halfway.
Still, there are a few good scenes but I couldn't really appreciate all that because of all the small (and big) details that made me so frustrated and almost wanting to quit the series. If it would have been any longer I'm sure would have.

- samuel

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I watched this film at 3AM. Yes, 3AM. And I shat my pants because I'm a massive wuss. Still, I'd recommend it.

I'm not a fan on any type of horror so the shift half way through had my anxiety sky rocketing. But I'm a guy that likes to finish what he starts so I watched it to the very end.

I feel like the music (or lack thereof) was incredibly suspenseful and had me hiding behind my hands in complete terror at what the protagonist was going to find next. I like the fact that it was just silent at some parts as it made the feel even creepier.

There was one scene that made me screech and cry like a banshee (I'll say it again- not a fan of horrors) which left me hiding behind my hands for the rest of the film singing the Go Compare advert to calm myself down.

I'd say if you want to watch this- be prepared. I knew it was gonna be creepy when I started but the film kinda makes you forget and then BAM you're pooing yourself. Needless to say I personally will probably not rewatch this film as I don't fancy crying in bed and messaging my friends at god awful times in the morning.

This review is all over the place I'm sorry it's 4AM and there are dried crusty tears on my face I'm a mess.

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For all the BL-Fans ,please watch it!

First of all, please watch the movie „The Boy foretold by the stars“before, cause this series is a continuation of the movie.

This Genre crossover is so easy as brilliant. Just take the vibe from a classic rom-com of the early 2000s, mix it up with the struggle of an LGBT-Drama and put on some tropes from the BL-Genre and you have a series that satisfies everyone.

This series has so much good to offer, be it an openly effeminate Mainactor who doesn’t only come across as a bad joke
or some of the best LGBT side-characters (Baby R is just iconic!).
And That the Location is a catholic School brings also some extra spice in the dramedy.

There are many conflicts like bullying, homophobia, and uncomprehending parents and sometimes the series treats them too superficially.
But in return, we get a light and fluffy series, with an great and emotional happy ending, that will put a smile on anyone's face.
All in all, "Love beneath the stars" has succeeded in being a feel-good series without being trivial.

So for all fans of cute, positive, and romantic dramedies. This is your series!

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One of those shows you won’t remember

This is an odd mini-show. The storyline is quite simple. A modern day woman travels back in historical time after being in a coma because of a falling turtle (yes a turtle). While being in a coma she experiences the life of an empress/queen.
Acting wise this is not a high quality show. The FL is exaggerated in terms of facial expressions (pouting, laughing and so on) and sometimes her reactions to money/jewelry and when eating (which she does all the time). This might be a directing thing, I don’t know.
One thing that really annoys me is all the eating and cooking all the time. It gets boring after a short while.
The subtitles on YouTube are close to crap but at least I got most of what was going on.
So, if you like mini-shows and don’t mind the food-theme, this is an ok watch - but nothing more.

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