Reviews

If you don't watch this, you are literally missing out one of the best things ever.

I respect the Bad Buddy Series Team for creating such a beautiful masterpiece. The most iconic BL drama in my opinion. I don't think any other series can ever surpass my standards after Bad Buddy. Everything was beautifully done. There were no stereotypes, no toxic relationships, no forcing others to accept; it was pretty realistic. The acting was superb. I felt connected to each and every character. Couldn't hate anyone, and even if I did for a short period of time, loved them anyway. Y'all know, how every series or movie advertise products in their dramas, I don't like that, but Bad Buddy changed my opinion. I loved the way how they portrayed the advertisement without me getting mad at it, rather I was happy. The actors gave their own touch to their on-screen character. I salute the whole team. I couldn't stop smiling whenever I saw the episodes, like it was so tough not to smile by seeing them. There were times when I cried a lot thinking about "What would happen next" , this is how powerful this series was. Chef's kiss, I would say.

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A Beautiful Slice of Life of Kuea and Lian

Cutie Pie 2 is a ‘happily ever after’ series. It tells the story of Kua’s and Lian’s wedding, with the plot being more of a slice of life style rather than actual force driving it forward. I think the main purpose of this show is to gift us scenes with beautiful chemistry between ZeeNunew and to make us anticipate Naughty Babe.

Plot wise there really isn’t that much, it mostly revolves around the preparation for the wedding, different ideas people have, plans not going well, etc. But what I really appreciate is the clear communication between Kuea and Lian this time around. Cutie Pie was a very frustrating watch for me, because there was more assuming and misunderstandings than talking things through. Cutie Pie 2 doesn’treally have that problem, it’s really a green flag show.

What really makes the show worth the watch - besides Foei providing us 24/7 comedy - was the raw portray of emotions between Zee and Nunew. I think this was really a one of a kind opportunity - having real life boyfriends portraying character madly in love and getting married. Their love for each other could be felt from every scene together, not only the NC scenes. Sometimes it really felt like we were disturbing their private moments. And of course, the rest of the cast pulled through too, making the series really enjoyable in many aspects.

Now, about the NC scenes. Wow, just wow. I still insist that LITA has the best portray of intimacy and showing love through sex, but Cutie Pie 2 definitely takes the cake for the emotional rawness. Their NC scenes don’t actually show the act itself, so it’s mostly the pre-sex emotions, but it’s raw, filled with love and just beautiful. Especially the scene after the wedding, the way they both surrender to each other literally took my breath away.

WHAT I LIKED IN CUTIE PIE 2
- CINEMATOGRAPHY was on point, provided us with many beautiful scenes
- MUSIC was excellent as always, Nunew’s OST was the sweetest and the performances in series were well performed
- CHEMISTRY between all pairs
- COMMUNICATION and CONSENT

WHAT COULD USE IMPROVEMENT
- PLOT was okay if taken as slice of life, but even then there were some not so amazing places. Especially with Kuea wanting to become Kirin - it is supposed to be a big rift and get the pair to find a way to make it work, but it all goes unrealistically smoothly. Isn’t performing as an idol while being married impossible in Korea (cause jeslous stans)?
- CLICHÉ TROPES in the series. I enjoyed it nevertheless, but if you’ve been around for long enough, you could basically predict the whole plot of the show, as it really is the standart ‘wedding going wrong but saved at the last moment’ trope.

IN CONCLUSION
Cutie Pie 2 is a slice of life of our favourite pairs with the added bonus of good communication. It provides many comedic and heartwarmingly beautiful moments. If you feel like you need some love in your life and you want to turn into a puddle of goo, Cutie Pie 2 is the show to choose.

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Great sport-focused drama about the life of top athletes. Drama focuses a lot on the different aspects of training, and the people don't really do much outside the skating training place (which is quite realistic). Many people have ambitions to make it, but in the end, it is a combination of luck, skills and timing that determine who can be the top athletes. The story is well constructed, but nothing special. Trajectory of main lead is also very cliche and predictable. The story is mostly carried by the conversation between people.
The acting is really strong, especially the cast of the earlier timeline. I really loved many of the "side" characters as well, character development is really good here, wish we had seen even more of some of the athletes' background. The story is a bit complex and slow in the beginning, but after a few episodes you will start making sense of every connection between the past and present. It also ramps up and becomes better the second half (surprisingly for a c-drama). Would recommend to watch.

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Robert Durst voice....what a disaster.

I will never understand how this show fumbled the bag so badly down the stretch. I forgave this show a lot because I liked the leads so much and their romance worked for me. I tolerated the thin, slowly paced (non)plot, the potentially compelling but ultimately uninteresting supporting characters, the half assed fantasy world building, all because I was confident at the very least that the show would deliver a well earned and emotionally satisfying happily ever after, a baseline expectation for the genre. How did anyone think audiences would want to see a cute, silly comedy devolve into boring, mopey dreck and then end with a poorly executed unhappy ending. The writers should be ashamed of themselves.

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"Actually, when I decided to watch the show, I didn't have high expectations, especially because Korean shows are known for all the participants just seeking fame and not really wanting to date. I felt that the people on the show forced themselves to think about dating even though it wasn't their goal. The hosts also excessively tried to interpret everything as romantic, even though I didn't feel that way. I wished the show focused on participants wanting to improve their acting skills instead of a dating show, and that they could meet as friends rather than lovers. I also didn't understand why Japanese women were brought in with Koreans and forced to speak Korean while Korean actresses could have been chosen. But again, the goal is just to make money or maybe the show is originally Japanese and involving Koreans is a new idea.

Now let's talk about some of the characters.
I didn't understand why Dong Kyu treated Nozomi the way he did. Even if you don't like her, you need to separate work from personal feelings. Maybe something happened off-camera that we don't know, but his acting is definitely bad. His relationship with Rio seems sincere, and I felt that he really wanted to be with her, but his expressions seem very cold and hard to read.

As for Tae Gyun, I feel like he's eccentric. Everything he does is strange, and his facial expressions are odd. I don't know if I'm being harsh or if he really is creepy, but I didn't feel any love between him and his partner; they just seem like friends.

Woo Shik and Nozomi, I honestly felt the sincerity in Woo Shik's relationship, and his Japanese has improved a lot. He tried to talk to Nozomi in all ways, and it's clear he's not just doing it for the show. His acting is the best among them, but I was shocked when he chose Honoka; it seems like he forced himself to choose her even though he doesn't have feelings for any of them, they just seem like friends to me.

As for Ji Hyuk, maybe he's the best person among them. His personality is great and he knows how to deal with women, but he needs to improve his acting because he goes overboard sometimes. But I expect to see him soon, it's clear that he wants to become a professional actor and didn't come just to play."

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if you are appreciating a character full of layer and emotion to overcome their struggle in the workplace world ala Misaeng, but with a darker tone, you might be like this drama alot. Who said a love story can't mix with realism and as your way of telling a good message ala THe dancing the waltz alone?

Once again, not alot of writers is dare enough to throw character reggresion/redemption on viewers .  The character struggle in here is real and the writers write her/his own character with heart,  and far from conventional drama we are used to. They are  trapped in their own anxiety and fear due to the pressure from the world they live in. The plot never defined what path you should take, more about the result decision in your own making.

The metaphore between the waltz dance and relate it to their relationship is just a billiant touch from the writers.

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STORY:

Whenever you have anything related to women and ancient Chinese royalty, it's almost always going to be a story about scheming, plotting, and manipulation. I would say Princess Wei Young excels in that area but it's also one of its major drawbacks. While watching this drama, from start to finish the plot is essentially just people trying to frame/kill Wei Young because she's so clever and witty and outsmarts them. It gets a little annoying because it feels like nonstop plotting against her. On the positive end, compared to other dramas, where the girl in trouble gets help from other people and seems helpless at times, Wei Young's character really shines in these points because she almost always solves the issue herself (using skill and cunning and not just sheer luck).

The bad guys for the most part are obviously bad. On their first introduction you're just like "Yup, these are the evil ones." Again, it's an Asian drama, so there's always that need to link everything back to the main character. So of course, all of the people who dislike Wei Young find every reason to hate her and blame everything on her. By the middle to end of the show though, there are a few good twists with the villains of the show which you might be able to pick up on at the beginning, or it'll come as a relatively big shock when the show starts hinting towards the twists.

The relationship between Wei Young and Tuo Ba Jun is one of the highlights of the show. Tang Yan and Luo Jin have been in 4-5 dramas/films together and are now together in real life, so you can tell that the chemistry between them is fire. They have that somewhat standard "Hero who saves her again and again and they fall in love" relationship, but the personalities and chemistry of the two leads makes you really fall for this power couple.

ACTING:

Tang Yan - As popular as she is, I feel like some people just don't like her as an actress. I disagree.  I've seen a good few of her shows by now and I've yet to dislike her or think she did a bad job in any of them. She portrays emotions very well. All of the characters she plays are very distinct from one another, so you can tell she is a very versatile actress. She is just as good in this show. Tang Yan balances out the different aspects of her character very well. She is very smart and cunning but  she is still fragile and weak at times. She is another actress who isn't afraid to be ugly and doesn't restrict her emotions and whatnot to keep a beautiful, composed face.

Luo Jin - In the few dramas I had seen him in, he was always the second male lead, so coming into this drama (not knowing that he and Tang Yan were together), I was weary about watching this because I didn't know how good he'd be. Definitely a good surprise. He was a good actor in the other shows I had watched as well, but I wasn't sure if he had that leading male energy that you need to carry the show. Normally I feel like the lead actress outshines the male (especially in a show like this where Wei Young is CLEARLY the main character), but Luo Jin and Tang Yan's chemistry really showed in this drama and Luo Jin did a great job keeping his character in the spotlight and expressing his emotions very well.

Vanness Wu - This was the first mainland drama I'd seen him in. As an Taiwanese actor, I had only seen him in TW dramas (the most recent in memory of him was Autumn's Concerto), and TW dramas and epic ancient mainland dramas like Wei Young are very very different. I wouldn't say he had a groundbreaking performance (there were times when I questioned his character), and I couldn't take him seriously at any point with the braids hairstyle. But I think he did a good job for the most part.

Mao Xiao Tong - I had first seen her in Love O2O and she played a very bubbly character. Her character in this one had a similar feel, but definitely not as bright and happy (due to everything her character goes through). She did a pretty good job imo and you could definitely feel the development with her.

REWATCH VALUE:

I've seen this 2 times now, so definitely not a hard drama to rewatch. It's not the best thing I've ever seen (again, the endless plotting gets a little repetitive at times) but the chemistry between the two leads and the strong personality of Wei Young make it definitely worth at least one view.

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wooow i dont even know what to say.htis movie was definately meant to mess with u. so theres three guy friends. one is a schizophrenic who is obessed with some gal from his past and so he takes so many pics and post them on his wall. the other is a sex addict, he is a plastic surgeon with a wife but he just cant help himself. the third one i dint get his addiction except he liked his friend's wife/sister. the story is very interesting i just wished that at the end they would unveil and explain what just happened. i was left wondering and confused but i liked the plot. so was it a dream or not i dint get the end

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A lot of viewers seem to have something to say about Krist's acting and the views are rather polarized. Some think he can't act and has no chemistry with Punpun, the female lead. Others think he's a great actor has has wonderful chemistry with Punpun. He is not at the level where he he's so convincing in every single role that we see practically no trace of facial and verbal expressions that are probably a result of Krist being himself rather than the character. I feel that he is surprisingly good in the parts that require him to act funny and some parts with very strong emotions, but where the script doesn't offer much, he doesn't offer much either. And unfortunately, in One Night Steal, the character of Nott isn't very well written (or directed). The only really interesting character in One Night Steal is Charm, the actress with an apparent multiple personality disorder. Jonjam, who plays Charm, gets the mix of creepiness and hilarity just right.

I'm not sure if the series is an official or legit adaptation of a movie, but it has been pointed out that the story is basically taken from a movie. That aside, the premise promises fun --a man who has the worst of luck swaps his luck with a woman who has the best of luck due to their one night stand. However, there is missed potential to play up the supernatural element regarding reincarnation and karma, especially at the end of the series where one wonders if the couple have broken the cycle of taking turns to killing each other in different incarnations. (I mean, it would be more moving if their love in this lifetime were so strong that it broke the karmic cycle, wouldn't it?)

The story about Nott and Jee can get insipid at times, and one appreciates the side characters the most when this happens. Sing is so natural and does not disappoints as the hilarious GD while Pleum is really likable as the nice guy, Nueng, who is in love with Jee but never going to get a chance. (Now, one wonders what such a nice guy has done in his previous life to deserve this.)

The sad thing is that the characters are not well written in general. Jee starts off wanting to get back her luck, and I'm not sure how she falls in love with Nott along the way. Nott at one point practically turns villainous when he thinks that Jee has lied to him about being the girl with whom he has had a one night stand, but the turn in the story no sooner occurs than it is dropped. And then Nott and Nueng uncharacteristically have a huge (physical) fight over Jee--I guess for no other reason than to serve the plot of having Jee abducted by Charm. Even Charm, the most interesting character, suddenly switches to her good self soon after abducting Jee, presumably because the drama cannot drag on much further.

If nothing else interests you, perhaps the songs in the series might. They are performed very well and blend into the story. Nott, Nueng and GD look convincing as a band. (Pleum looks especially charming when he is singing.)

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A kid learning to act

I really liked this short because it shows clearly and in a beautiful (and painful) way how a gay kid comes to discover his feelings, all without needing a long time for everything to unfold. I also really liked the choice of making Chul Soo part of an acting class - I believe it delivers a powerful parallelism.
I'm keeping this review vague when it comes to the plot because, as a short movie, I believe it can't be said much without spoiling almost everything. All I want to say is that it hits very hard, and it might hit much harder if one had a similar experience as a queer child. The entire movie feels so plausible that I wouldn't be surprised if this was based on a true story.
The acting was incredibly good. I had no expectations since the main actors are all children, but Nam Hyeong-Jung delivered an amazing performance. The piano pieces of the OST also match the different scenes very well.

I recommend watching if you have the chance!

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It would be so wrong if i don't write a review for my favorite drama.
At first i hesitated, judging from not-so-intriguing poster and trailer, it feels like your typical boring rom-com with the handsome rich but arrogant male lead chasing for the poor ignorant female heroin as the main plot. Then i decided to try it (because of Jo In Sung, most of it, i couldn't resist him). But i was wrong. I think it was one of my best decision..i'm surely and deeply in love with this drama after watching a couple episodes.

This drama has flaws here and there (see, i can't give a solid 10 here, no matter how much i love this one) especially about the mental illness subject. I study medicine and i have met and seen schizophrenic patients before. i think that..some symptoms and signs do not match with what they call the schizophrenic here. Okay i'm going to stop here lol.. Apart from that, the acting, the chemistry (the best one i've seen, believe me), the music, covers that all.

I think of this drama as my first love in dramaland, it's really, perfectly, my style! (just like the couple say). No matter how many dramas i watch, i keep comparing those to IOTL. I blame my love for this drama because they set the bar so high for the others. If you're hesitating to watch this..please, don't be.

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