You Go Girl!
If you are looking for a show with strong female characters, then look no further! From the female lead, her best friend, her grandmother, the main villain, the ex girlfriend, and even the secretaries, this show was all about female empowerment. The ultimate message that I got from this show was that women did not always have to be independent badasses to be strong. Instead, they can draw a collective strength from each other.Compared to other dramas, this was a refreshing and wholesome watch, considering that most Thai lakorns tend to portray females as damsels in distress who exist solely to be rescued or to serve a male character’s journey. Not only that, most of the male characters in this show respected the women’s viewpoints, seeked out their opinions, protected and supported them as well.
I was interested from the get-go, so much so that I watched it without subtitles, and then again with Google Translate and finally with subtitles. Not surprisingly, I have rated the rewatch value highly.
While the main plot was nothing new - the CEO who fell in love with his beautiful bodyguard, the show had twists and turns that kept me entertained and engaged. What I thought would be cliched outcomes turned out not to be what I expected. It was a good emotional roller coaster ride as the show balanced the triumph and defeats between the good guys and the villains nicely. Plus I got the most satisfying ending ever with lots of endearing scenes of the lead couple leading up to it.
The show hit the jackpot with the casting of Vill as Saraphi and Ken as Thewan, our main leads. The chemistry between those two was sizzling and it didn’t hurt that they looked gorgeous together. I loved how committed the main couple was towards each other. The moment they decided on each other, there was no one else. Both were also sensible and intelligent enough to come to the right conclusions about each other's actions. As individual characters, they were likable, and as a couple, they inspired relationship goals.
Whether she was saving the day with her smarts or her physical skills, Saraphi was a well-written strong female character. She’s physically fit and skilled in combat. She was brave and resourceful, with a take charge attitude and possessed an unbreakable will that refused to be tamed and a stubborn optimism that refused to be broken. Yet, Saraphi also had her vulnerabilities and had moments of weaknesses that made sense. She was not so scrubbed of imperfections that she lacked depth or development.
I was surprised to see Vill in this role initially but she delivered an excellent performance as someone strong and smart enough to take on anyone threatening her loved ones. She was an admirable female lead with strength and intelligence bottled up in an undeniably attractive package.
Empathetic, fair and devoted to the people he loved, Thewan was the perfect counterpart to Saraphi. He was no wimp, and can hold his own in a fight. Saraphi and he protected each other, and they also understood each other well. Thewan is one of my favorite male leads - intelligent, calm, rational and his level-headedness tempered Saraphi’s hot-headedness. Interestingly, Thewan displayed more jealousy; those scenes were funny, and he was so adorable!
Ken was perfect as the charismatic and clever CEO, and to me, this role was his most attractive yet.
There was a secondary couple whose relationship was also fun to watch although I was annoyed at the SML. For someone who was supposed to be interested in the FL, he was way too flirty with the SFL.
Some of the characters fell a little flat and perhaps some overacting, like the main villain, but the cast did well overall. I enjoyed the dynamics of Saraphi’s relationship with her grandmother and close friends, as well as Thewan’s devotion to his nephew, Ek.
The OST list was short but memorable. I particularly like the opening song and the song sung by Film Thanapat that played during the poignant moments between Saraphi and Thewan. I have included the list of songs that were featured below.
If there was anything to complain about, it was how loud the background music got when it came to the suspenseful moments, and sometimes the music did not transition well. It is a common problem in many lakorns, so I am not going to take off points for it.
Overall, it is a drama that I think most will enjoy. Just let the story unravel and surprise you.
OST List:
ขาดเธอไม่ได้ - POTATO (Ost.หัวใจรักพิทักษ์เธอ)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WjqJ_oZ0p0
https://open.spotify.com/track/5ohIOZKF4E1SqxD3WEgMad
ชนะไปแล้ว [OST ฉันชื่อบุษบา] – ฟิล์ม ธนภัทร
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz9g-6Y3ykQ
https://open.spotify.com/track/6LItqWbHupqrmdWM6RD8d1
รบกวนมารักกัน - K.AGLET (THE RAPISODE)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIR7m2nM0n4
https://open.spotify.com/track/5kOOfHpddpYnj86u4dZB3H
ขอบคุณที่รักกัน (Acoustic Version) - Potato
https://youtu.be/pdcyz9VLEs8
https://open.spotify.com/track/5FKB5Ro2mXfjUVbSK5zFn8
นี่แหละความรัก (This is Love) by Peck Palitchoke
https://youtu.be/2f0TeAc0AYg
https://open.spotify.com/track/13jEKU2J3JJPe3tpo8p4vY
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1. I could really feel the chemistry between the male lead and female lead.
2. When Prajak, played by Tik, looks at Wanida,(played by Aff), I felt like he truly loves her. It was very believable.
3. The main lead doesn't always believe the evil characters lies blindly like many other male leads.
I would recommend this drama because it is one of the most romantic dramas in my opinion. This is a story line that has been used over and over. The man marries a girl but he loves another woman and promises to divorce and marry her. Even though it had a typical story line, I was worth the watch and I didn't get tired of the story at all. From beginning to end it was very entertaining.
Lastly, this drama is a bit more slow paced and the ending is pretty predictable but overall I loved it.
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enjoyable m/m reality dating series
Overall: pretty well done, however there was definitely some misleading/confusing editing (especially in the finale) to create additional drama which I could have done without. When watching "reality" series, I always keep in mind that producers might tell the guys what to do/say and that editing can be extremely misleading (not showing things, change the order, etc). My goals were that the guys have some fun and being on the show helped (or at least doesn't hurt them) in their personal and professional lives. I have zero problem with them promoting their businesses as being queer has likely given them personal and professional disadvantages (and perhaps more so after appearing on the show). 14 episodes about 1 hour each. Aired on Gagaoolala & iQIYI (depending on your country)Content Warnings: discussion related to homophobia/life experiences
What I Liked
- I like how they started with a date and the twist gave a bit more drama
- the 30 second phone call thing was good (I personally think it's best if the guys say who they are and call someone they are romantically interested in to avoid mixed signals/increase the odds of a mutual match)
- the twists were well done
- once again a good decision to not let them say their age or occupation right away. I think people get fixated on those things when in reality personality, values and goals are much more important compatibility-wise and it will make a good reveal in ep 3
- jenga game was a good way for everyone to learn more about everyone else, and although it got kind of serious, it seems to have brought them together and is an important thing for viewers to see/learn about
- production value such as nice music, set design, editing, etc
Room For Improvement
- too many phone calls, would have liked to see some more larger group games
- needed a graphic at the end of each episode to see who called who/was interested in who because I get confused and wanted to see if there were mutual matches
- needed nametags or nametag necklaces at least for the first few episodes to get familiar with all of their names
- there was confusing/misleading editing that I don't think was needed
Life Advice: I really want to have heart to hearts with a few of these guys, but here are my main takeaways/advice
1. Being "nice" is frequently much more hurtful if you are leading someone on verses being honest and saying you aren't interested in a person romantically
2. (related to number 1) Honesty is the best policy - make it clearly known from the beginning who you are romantically interested in, I know it can be embarrassing, but if you aren't mature enough to be honest then you aren't mature enough to be in a romantic relationship
3. Be careful of changing yourself for a romantic partner - it's fine to change things that you want to change, but don't change yourself to fit someone else's desires for how you should be, otherwise you're at risk of losing yourself and your happiness
4. Work on your own self esteem - don't expect another person to complete you but rather complement you. Using another person to prop up low self esteem is likely not going to end well.
Comparison to other m/m dating shows
1. Sparks Camp (Philippines) on YouTube. 10 guys, anyone can pursue anyone else, too many group games that are not getting to know you types, but overall done well
2. Love House seasons 1 & 2 (Vietnam) on YouTube (most have English subs, this is ep 1 of season 2 no subs though https://youtu.be/TKzT_nHfVTA ). I liked this set up more than Bromance because the guys could all pursue one another. I didn't like the "secret couple" aspect and dividing them up based on sexual position seemed odd (can't they discuss that in private???) Season 1 was also the most brutal "rose ceremony" I've ever seen in any dating reality show. Season 2 was better.
3. Bromance (Thailand) is also on Gagaoolala. This is the typical Bachelor/Bachelorette set up with a bunch of people competing against one another to be with the 1 bachelor. I didn't like this because they could have all been hitting on each other and we have multiple couples! I got kind of bored and skipped a bunch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Expected more, but satisfactory
I’ll start off by saying that I’m writing this after binging this entire season without break so my brain is fried. I apologize if this is incoherent lol.Firstly, I love this drama overall and would rate s1+s2 a 9/10 bc overall, the story flowed well and the conclusion was satisfactory. However, I think season one is definitely better than this season, in all aspects.
Season one had interesting and engaging games, as did season two, but the problem was that the games this season weren’t showcased as well as the previous games. I felt like there was something missing in each one, I’m not sure how to explain it. Honestly, I just found the games this season quite boring. Still, I can see how this might’ve been intentional since this season is more focused on them finding answers to their questions and conveying the main messages of the drama. Additionally, the games this season were made by previous players that defeated the games but chose to remain in borderland so I guess it makes sense for the games to be easier. Personally though, I still wish this season had the same momentum as the first one did in terms of games since that’s one of my favorite parts about this series.
In terms of acting and performance, I have no complaints. Everyone did really well in their respective roles. The action scenes were amazing and the cgi was done so well, you can tell how much time and money went into this season.
Lastly, I’ll talk about my thoughts on the ending and the explanation for borderland. I’m honestly very conflicted on if I liked the ending or not. Don’t get me wrong, the explanation makes sense and I appreciate that we got a closed ending for the most part. But, I feel like there could’ve been more to it? For example, I would’ve liked to know if borderland was actually real and the meteorite had to be created after the players chose to return, or if borderland was just a metaphor for something. The ending is meant to be interrupted in different ways though, so that’s why I don’t hate it. I like that we got a completed ending that everyone can still make different meanings of. It was a great conclusion to the series.
From my perspective, borderland is self explanatory, it’s literally a borderland between life and death. The meteorite hit and everyone near it was left to fight for their life and in this world, the borderland between life and death is a game world where people’s will to live is tested. Throughout the journey, players question their lives and whether they even want to go back to the real world aka if they even want to live. Those that make it to the end and choose to become citizens give up on life and die/remain in a coma state while those that deny citizenship wake up since they chose to live. I love this interpretation of life and death, especially in the context of the series since everything makes sense. We also get to see different perspectives of life, each of which is important. In the end, you can’t really judge those that remain citizens since there’s a reason they made that choice, whatever it may be.
Overall, I enjoyed this series a lot and would definitely recommend it to everyone. It delivered an engaging story and provided conclusions without leaving too much to interpretation. Alice in borderland, I’ll miss you. :)
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This review may contain spoilers
I love this drama. It is a unique and beautiful drama!!
Warning:For the ones who want romantic scene a lot. Please don't watch this drama. It won't satisfy your demand. It's a subtle and pure romantic drama. Instead of love scene, they always use math metaphor for their love. If you want detective drama, this drama is also not for you. Sometimes the writer make a plot hole so the plot is not logic perfectly.
Here are some reasons if you want to watch this drama:
1. There are some different aspects you can see only in this drama. The way they use math to describe something is beautiful and the love of characters for math are so amazing. I don't like math but the characters make me curious about it.
2. The ending is perfect. Even though the writer can make them become a couple sooner like in ep 13-14, I think the wait is worth for ML that he will become more mature and have more time to pursue his career. Like what Ji Yoon Su said after becoming a real man, the answer would find him. In the end, Ji Yoon Su meet Baek Seung Yoo again in the place where they met the first time. In my opinion, it is more romantic than a kiss scene. There is nothing better than when you meet a person you love at the right time. In the past, They were exactly the right person for each other but the wrong timing destroyed everything. Now they can live happily together and never regret everything happened.
3. I love the way the writer build BSY character that he is a genius but also a human. He has a lot of mistakes but these mistakes make him stronger and more mature. If you don't know that Albert Einstein is also a imperfect person, he cheated a lot and made his wife hurt many times. If someone is a genius in a field, you can't conclude they are good at everything in their life. Sometimes emotion make them do something wrong. I hope all of you can think about it and stop criticizing two main characters.
4. The way Ji Yoon Su supports and helps Baek Seung Yoo. When there is no one cares about him, she is the person who is always there for him. She is always knows what is the best thing for him. That's why she rejected his love when he was a student and even when he became a adult. 21 years old Baek Seung Yoo was still childish and stubborn, he loves her but the way he showed his love made her get into trouble. Finally he can understand what Ji Yoon Su said and use his time to pursue the right thing for him. When you are in twenties the most important thing is improving and proving yourself, love can come after that. She rejected him many times in drama, it doesn't means she doesn't love him but she loves him so much that she can let him go to become a better person. The unconditional love between two main character is amazing. I hope you guys don't misunderstand their love.
5. The acting of every actors and actresses is awesome. From the supporting roles to main roles, they acts so well. Sometimes I thought everything is real. I immersed in drama so many times that I forgot about time. 10/10 for the actresses and actors.
Conclusion:
I love the drama so much. It's really brave to choose a different way to go instead of making a similar plot like other drama. I have experienced a new thing, so fun!!! I watch this drama because of Lim Soo Jung 's beauty and end up loving the drama. This drama will always be one of the most special dramas I have ever seen.
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An underrated gem!!
I watched it without knowing anything about the donghua or the novel. And I definitely think that people who have seen the donghua or read the novel are doing the drama a disservice. Yes, they might have changed Su Beilu's character a bit, but it added a very nice touch. Also, I don't think Su Beilu's character was stupid or silly; on the contrary, he was very sweet and cute!Ah, this drama should have at least an 8! Why was it given such a low score?? It was one of the best cdramas I watched in 2025.
A great bromance drama that gave me a bit of a BL vibe.
The acting was very good; they made me feel every emotion wonderfully. The locations chosen for the drama and the cinematography were captivating!
As a bromance fan, I watched it with great pleasure. The bond between Su Beilu and Bizhi was truly very strong. The finale ended in the best way possible. I don't know if it could have been better, but it made me a little emotional 🥹 I wish it had 40 episodes instead of 30; I would have watched it without ever getting bored.
It's definitely a series that will stay in my mind, make me smile when I remember it, and that I'll want to watch again and again. It's even become one of my favorite series.
Please ignore the negative comments and start watching it right away, you won't regret it!!
(Oh, I just wrote a very long comment, but then the page refreshed and it all disappeared. I could just sit here and cry...)
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This is definitely a good drama.
Those who watched this drama while it was airing would have been frustrated. But I binge watched it so I feel the drama is really good.I don't know why but I can relate to the emotions of characters in the drama.
Especially FL, she is such a good actress!!! Her acting is soooo good. She played her character so well, we can feel all her emotions. I mean it's hard for me to explain but whenever she used to accept all the hate and bullying I could see the pain in her eyes. I can relate to her pain. FL character is really determined to do what she wants. She's such a kind soul but problems can't be avoided. :(
And ML!!! What can I say about him. He is ONE OF THE BEST MALE LEADS IN THE KDRAMA HISTORY. He's such a good boyfriend, we can see his emotions in his eyes. He handled the situation really well I'm really proud of him. I mean I can really feel this drama is fictional. My love Tae Jun has really set the bar really high. Where to find such a good man!!!! Such men doesn't exist. I LOVEEEE HIM :"-(
Main lead relationship was so cool i would say. They were really straightforward. The problems between them were unavoidable but they handled it pretty well.
Except some irritating characters liked this drama. Irritating characters also got a character development, so no problem.
We got a really good closure and this is what I'm satisfied with. With all the open endings recently this drama has such a good ending.
Everyone gets to heal themselves ❤️
Also the intro was so good. I like the graphics!! ヽ(^o^)ノ
So overall I liked the drama. Acting is REALLY GOOD!!
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This is the love story of a virgin book editor Tsukishiro who has never been in love. She is assigned to an author (Kagaya) who can't write love stories. How they fall for each other and how they handle the situation is portrayed in this drama. Tsukishiro's colleague Mochizuki has a secret crush on Tsukishiro but have never had the courage to profess his love. He sees Kagaya as his potential competetor. Mochizuki is your sweet gentle second lead who takes care of the girl when she needs someone the most. Here the main lead Kagaya isn't that much of a jerk he seems to be, so you kind of ship Tsukishiro with both of them. My inclinination was more towards the main lead, but I do not mind if Tsukishiro ends up with Mochizuki either. Characters like Nanase isn't fully developed in the drama and I wish Nanase had more screen time.
This is one of the few dramas which I wish had more episodes than just 8 . I have neither watched the anime nor read the manga(I am planning to read the manga today.). So I cannot compare how true the live action is to the manga.
I liked the subtle way the love story developed in this drama. I need more of Tsukishiro and Kagaya. Completed all 8 episodes in just one go. That's not enough for me, going to read the manga and watch the anime now. That's what this drama does to you. It leaves you wanting for more.
Give this a try, it is a short sweet love story. There's definitely scope for a season 2.
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Beautiful Funny Drama! Watch It!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Belated Joy Worth Every MinuteYou Are My Fateful Love is the kind of drama that reminds you why you fell in love with the genre in the first place. This sweet, charming romance follows Ruan Yu and Xu Huaisong — two people who secretly carried a crush on each other through high school, only to reunite a decade later under the most unexpected circumstances. The result is pure magic.
What immediately stands out is the production quality. The cinematography is absolutely stunning — feels intentional and beautiful. The costumes are equally impressive, adding an elegance that perfectly complements the tone of the story.
The casting is spot-on. Miles Wei and Zheng Hehuizi have effortless chemistry, and the supporting cast holds their own with memorable performances that keep the story fresh. The writing strikes a wonderful balance — funny and light-hearted in the right moments, yet genuinely moving when it counts. The humor lands naturally without ever feeling forced.
What keeps the story engaging is its stream of unexpected twists and layered characters. Just when you think you know where things are headed, the drama finds another clever way to surprise you, all while maintaining a pace that never drags. This is not a show that overstays its welcome.
Whether you’re a long-time C-drama fan or just dipping your toes in, You Are My Fateful Love is a delightful, feel-good watch that delivers on every front. A beautiful story, beautifully told.
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This review may contain spoilers
Almost a masterpiece
Not me has so much positive things, omg. First, the direction of the scenes, the OST, the development of the main characters, everything is well done. The topics addressed are important for today's society and they deal very well with the topics. There are also symbologies in some scenes that makes everything so poetic.The couples are also good. First OffGun, as always, had an amazing chemistry together and their acting were on point. I've known them since Theory of Love and for me they just outdo themselves. I also loved both characters, Sean and White/Black. Their scenes were beautiful. But for me, YokDan were scene stealers in a lot of moments. FIRST WAS JUST AMAZING!! He threw himself completely into the character and it didn't even feel like he was playing a character. Everything felt so true. And oh my god, YokDan scenes were perfect! The relationship of an activist and a policeman, the morals of both characters and how they handled things was perfect. The scene when Yok draws Dan, it was a symbology and a clear reference to the painting of Lucifer being expelled from heaven, and it blowed my mind how they even thought about doing this because if fit so well with the characters, it was just amazing. I also loved how this couple revolved around art, it made all their scenes look extremely poetic to me. And honestly, if OffGun weren't the main leads, First and Gawin would have stolen the scene completely and would have outshined the main leads from the series.
Now talking about the things I didn't liked that much, its a few things but yeah. The relationship of Gram and Eugene seemed so forced. I didn't feel chemistry between them at all and they were just flat. Its funny because I shipped Gram with EVERYONE but Eugene lol. Todd`s ending was so cringe to me lol I actually thought it was a little strange that nobody died in this series because they were dealing with heavy topics and strong people so the ending it was kind of...too light I think.
Also, 14 episodes felt short...episode 13 and 14 seemed SO RUSHED. YokDan`s scene was beautiful but like...a little abrupt. Dan just said sorry, Yok punched him and thats it? lol We should have seen Dan's perspective about things, him leaving the police and a little more of a conversation about everything that happened. I know this couple doesn't need necessarily to speak because both of them have THAT CHEMISTRY but come on, Dan betrayed them and Yok almost died. So yeah, I wish we had more scenes to give a perfect ending for them, as they deserved. But I have to say..even with this unsatisfactory ending, they stole the show in the last episode. A lot of people were disappointed about the politic thing but for me it was fine and even realistic. They will have to fight for a long time because the problem is in the system so the open ending seemed right. But I do agree that maybe we could have seen more things about Tawi and stuff.
So yeah, for me Not me it was.a big and satisfying surprise and unfortunately a little underrated. But I do hope people will give a chance and watch because its really deserving!
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This review may contain spoilers
The age gap may deter you from watching this series, but I believe that this drama was much more than just a love story.First of all, the point of this drama is far from just condoning or justifying sexual relationships between a minor and an adult. The point of this drama was to masterfully exhibit the complex relationships between these characters and their growth through intentional storytelling. The way the story was put together and told made it so worthwhile.
All of the characters were so dynamic, especially the main characters (Wako, Fuuta, and Yumeaki). I found myself getting tired of watching so many dramas where the characters were never faced with any real conflict that would cause them to make crucial decisions that would shape their character. This drama was different. Wako, Fuuta, and Yumeaki were faced with real and applicable internal conflict that forced them to make decisions. I was able to understand who these characters were through action, rather than blatant dialogue telling me who these characters were. This is a perfect way for a director/writer to present a character's beliefs, morals, and personality; it made watching the show more interesting and worthwhile since sometimes, these characters do irrational things. But that is the point.
Wako irrationally fell in love with Yumeaki because human emotions are more complex than just believing in certain things. Even though Wako promised herself she would never cheat, she ended up cheating because humans are irrational beings that can sometimes be driven by emotion rather than their brain. Whenever Wako was faced with the opportunity for stability, she never took it, no matter how much it seemed to be the best decision for her. It's easy to be frustrated with Wako because she may not be making the "right" decisions, but I think that's what made her character so profound and refreshing from cliches.
Additionally, all of the main characters were flawed, flawed in a way where you possibly can't sympathize with them. Wako is easily swayed by men, Yumeaki is overly possessive, and Fuuta doesn't care about Wako's feelings in terms of her career. But we all have flaws in real life, it's just that we actually know these characters' flaws. If we in the real world knew everyone's flaws, we would probably hate everyone, too. Aspects like these from the drama made this show realistic, reflective of the real world, and purposefully accurate.
The fact that Yumeaki is 15 proves more that the stars just don't perfectly align when we want it to. Love is not always convenient nor paved in a way so that is was meant to be or an easy decision. That is why he HAD to be 15 for the sake of the story- it was utilized to make the impact of the story more obvious. Yes, the sexual relationship made me uncomfortable, too. But I just ended up skipping those scenes since I was in it for the storytelling! Also, I do believe the sexual relationship wasn't necessarily being justified or condoned. Nor is cheating. I believe the writers are using these as flaws to the characters, making the man-vs-self-conflict more apparent. The writers are not necessarily saying that it's good or that it's evil. They just want to stir thought and have you form your own opinion.
The production & cinematography was also extremely pleasant to watch, despite the harsh story. There's symbolism within everyday objects that were shot during this drama, like the capsule toy machine, a cup being overfilled with water, the ocean, and the socks that Fuuta leaves out at home. I appreciate how natural these objects were intertwined with the story while also enhancing the storytelling. It's not every day when these little details are added into dramas just for the sake of storytelling. Additionally, there were many beautiful shots, especially within the made-up film within the drama when the moon fell into the ocean. The music fit very well, as it perfectly hit the feeling of desire, nostalgia, and curiosity.
It's no surprised there are mixed reviews about this drama, this drama was MEANT to be controversial. It was written so that the audience can really think about the decisions of these characters and take away the fact that human relationships are complex and not as easy as sugar-coated stories make them seem. The writing wants you to reflect on what your moral beliefs are, what you would do, and what your social standing is. The drama is not forcing you to accept sexual relationships between minors and adults, it wants you to truly question it. To stir conversation.
Note: I've never written a review before, but I had to after watching this because it had moved me to realize humans are complex and we may never really understand ourselves. I'm sorry this is so long, I obviously got carried away, but I really wanted to try to provide a new perspective on Love and Fortune. If you read all of this, which I highly doubt lol, thank you and I'm sorry!!
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I'd probably only recommend this because of the two main characters – Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei – and their relationship... which is kind of ironic, since it is overtly romantic in the source material, but comparatively subtle in this drama. It looks identical to queerbaiting in western television, but in this case it seems that they probably tried to retain as much of the essence of the relationship as they could given the restrictions placed upon it by Chinese censorship.
Perhaps it is because they are so different that they are so drawn to each other. Shen Wei is a distinguished but modest, mild-mannered professor. Zhao Yun Lan is unrefined, messy, and brazen. In the process of working on cases together, they seem to naturally counterbalance one another and quickly become an integral part of each other's lives. They're referred to as friends and they're characterized as a "bromance" in the synopsis, but that is misleading in my opinion. Yun Lan shows zero romantic interest in any other character, and it's indicated that he doesn't really have an interest in relationships generally; he's been single his entire life. He doesn't flirt with other characters – but he is frequently flirtatious with Shen Wei. He is quick to deny having feelings for another character, but when insinuating comments are made about his relationship with or feelings for Shen Wei, he never denies it. Moreover, despite only knowing Shen Wei a few months, there is a clear distinction between how he regards him and how he regards his other close allies he's known for years. It is even more quickly apparent that Zhao Yun Lan is the most important person to Shen Wei. There is an intensity to their dynamic that just doesn't seem platonic to me. It's a censored romance, not a bromance. (Nothing against close platonic friendships, I just don't see this as one.)
There's a secondary "bromance" in another odd couple, Chu Shu Zhi and Guo Chang Cheng. The dynamic between most of the Special Investigation Department co-workers are quite sibling-like in that they enjoy teasing each other and there's clearly some affection there, but they don't seem especially close. Therefore, the time spent on developing the intimate relationship between these two characters makes them stand out. Chang Cheng reminds Shu Zhi of the brother he lost and that surely accounts for a lot of his affection towards him; he wants someone to fill the void that his brother's death left him. But by the end of the story, it doesn't seem to me that Chang Cheng is just a placeholder for his deceased brother. Rather, Shu Zhi comes to genuinely admire him for his own strengths – and Chang Cheng, for his part, is unwavering in his adoration of Shu Zhi, even when Shu Zhi tries to scare him off for his own safety. The lines of this relationship are more blurred to me than the one between Zhao Yun Lan and Shen Wei. The intimacy and implied commitment seems decidedly less brotherly and more romantic, but there is still an element of brotherhood there. I guess it doesn't matter much whether it is one or the other or both; they're a cute duo regardless.
The other characters who work at the Special Investigation Department are enjoyable enough, but a little more forgettable for me. (Especially Wang Zheng and Sang Zan, who seem the most under utilized.) Zhu Hong is probably my favorite of them overall, although watching her struggle with her one-sided crush on a co-worker was a bit painful to watch. Da Qing and Lin Jing both sort of have romances with minor characters, but they matter so little that I wasn't able to feel particularly invested in them. The minor characters who fall into the "monster of the week" category were also pretty forgettable overall. Many of them make reappearances, but I found myself struggling to recall which one was which – a problem I don't typically have even with large casts of characters.
As far as acting goes, Zhu Yi Long stands out the most to me given that his roles are the most diverse. In addition to portraying the various sides of Shen Wei – the awkward professor, the Batman-esque masked hero, and the naïf he was 10,000 years before the present – he also portrays his villainous twin brother with dramatic flair. He is really able to showcase his versatility in this drama. Bai Yu also does an excellent job at conveying the multifaceted nature of Zhao Yun Lan. Aside from the two main actors, Jiang Ming Yang has some standout moments as Chu Shu Zhi. Although the character is generally very gruff, the actor really went all out during a humorous "personality changing" episode, and his more serious moments were some of the most emotional parts of the drama for me.
The OST is quite lovely overall. The opening theme is catchy and I'm afraid I'm going to have it stuck in my head for a while. I don't typically bother watching the opening or ending credits of dramas, but I often watched the opening of this one. The soundtrack really drives home the bittersweet sentimentality of the story.
Which brings me to the weakest part of the drama. The premise of the story is reasonably good, but it is not executed well. The plot is messy and the pacing is uneven. Even taking into account that I'm mostly reliant on English subtitles, the dialogue is very awkward at times (mainly between secondary/minor characters). Fortunately, the main relationships and characters are able to carry the show (at least, for me); had it not been for that, I would have dropped it because calling the rest of it mediocre would probably be generous. The CGI isn't particularly good, but I honestly don't expect a whole lot from Chinese dramas in that regard, so that doesn't really factor into my evaluation of it. Probably the most perplexing flaw is that there were many occasions where the audio switched between the actual voice of various supporting characters and the voiceover. It's a relatively minor detail, but it makes the drama seem unprofessional.
In spite of its flaws, I do consider Guardian worth watching because I think many viewers are like me - if you make me fall in love with your characters and their relationships, I'll be wiling to overlook a lot. Indeed, I did become quite attached, so I will definitely be giving the novel a shot.
tl;dr:
- the two main characters are multifaceted and portrayed well
- the main relationship is the highlight of the show, despite being played down due to censorship
- some of the supporting characters are good, many are forgettable
- the plot isn't particularly great, the dialogue is sometimes awkward
- production quality is poor
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Hands down…Best CH7 Lakorn of 2020
-I'm gonna be in a drama slump after watching this :(It has everything: angsty romance, emotional father son scenes, plot twists, and best of all some good revenge.
Where do I start? Story, story, and more story. The story is literally everything for this lakorn, forget all the cliches there’s something about this lakorn that keep you on the edge of your seat!
Story: Plot revolves around Paul getting revenge (and rightfully so) on his real father that kept Paul’s mother’s assets and abandoned both of them for his mistress and adopted daughter(Nai). Paul comes back years later to take back what rightfully belonged to his mother and should now belong to him. This is a revenge lakorn gone right, nothing he did was unreasonable IMO. Smart and planned out revenge with no unnecessary BS and no forced kisses or anything, good development for the romance aspect as well.
Acting: EVERY SINGLE SCENE with Paul and his real dad is acting gold on Donut’s part because you can really feel all the emotions, the hurt, the secret hope for his father to be proud of him, and Paul just yearning for his love. Paul and Nai’s chemistry was intense! I mentioned this before but 14 episodes with no kiss and that literally wasn’t a problem, you could feel the love and longing they had for each other, just goes to show that romance isn’t all about physical stuff.
Nai’s acting/ character could’ve had some more development but Prapye did the best she could. I will say Donut’s acting just shone through the whole show he kept the audience really captivated, this dude is going places I tell ya.
Music: Music was pretty good!! I listened to some of the songs audio only because they were pretty catchy (especially the one by “Big Ass”- I still can’t get over their stage name XD)
Because the story is so important, rewatch value is a little less, however its very rewatchable due to the amazing acting by pretty much all of the cast and the angsty romance between the MLs.
only reason i took off 0.5 was because the cousin and niece scenes were a little filler and unnecessary, and also Nai being a little stupid sometimes.
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Usually, Korean gangster movies are either a hit or a miss for me depending on how well the execution and the storytelling are done. Nameless Gangster managed to get the good points out of the general theme.
This movie is set in the 90’s Pusan when Korean government announced war on organized crime. The gangster world got shaken in a way that threatened its existence but that’s not the main focus of this movie. It takes us back in time to tell the story of two gangsters and the struggles they encountered to reach the top. This is a story about a wannabe gangster and a hot shot gang leader that deals with loyalty, betrayal, gangsters’ codes of honor and clashes in the underworld where those two individuals tried to co-exist like a united soul: One is the muscles and the other is the brain. However, creating harmony in the gangster life is almost impossible.
While the story of the movie isn’t exactly exceptional or flawless by any mean; the acting was. I am sure that I would’ve not liked this the same if there was a different set of cast. Choi Min Sik is the lord of Korean cinema when it comes to versatility and flawless roles’ portrayal and his “gangster-like” character was quite hateful in a loveable way. Ha Jung Woo on the other hand is climbing way too fast on the top of my favorite young Korean movies’ stars. He’s creating a shiny name for himself whether by the roles he accepts or the way he makes them feel so attractive. At this rate, I am sure he will become another lord of Korean cinema soon. In this movie, Jung Woo was so fitting for the “gangster aura”; he did so well with the process of his character’s development.
The other set of cast were also well-chosen even if some characters felt a little unbalanced for the setting.
I’ve got to give some credit for the cinematography since it was well fitting for the gangster mood. The music was also quite good.
Watch this if:
-You like gangster movies.
-You’re in the mood for something different and dark.
-You like Choi Min Sik, Ha Jung Woo or both because they were great in this.
Do not watch if:
-You’re not into crime/gangster movies.
-You’re not a fan of the main cast.
Nameless Gangster is a movie about survival, friendship and loyalty in the underground gangster world from the viewpoint of a wannabe gangster and a proclaimed gang leader portrayed by two of the best actors in Korean cinema.
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This review may contain spoilers
Well-deserved 8.2 rating on Douban- give this a try!
How do I even begin to describe how unexpectedly good this drama turned out to be?I went into it completely blind, barely reading the synopsis, knowing just that it was a crime drama focused on one murder case in this apartment building. With just 16 episodes, the length is perfect, giving enough screen time to focus thoroughly on each "suspect" and to add in on the back story of our victim, Mei Bao. Everything tied up beautifully and logically together by the very end with fast pacing and plot development. The pieces of this mystery fit together at the end intertwining flashbacks as the detectives investigate the crime in present time.
Plot: Focused on a murder case in this "tower" apartment building. Two detectives work on this case and investigate a bunch of "suspects" as the drama goes on. Through flashbacks, you'll find out Mei Bao's life and how things led to the way it turned out. I won't say any more than that to keep you in suspense (so go on and watch it!) Also, this drama also raises some current issues women face in our society today, which I did not expect either but I liked it.
Characters: Mei Bao and Detective Yang Rui Sen were the stars of this drama. As the investigation goes on, you'll learn more about Mei Bao's painful story and in that process, you also get to know our young detective and her passion to get justice for the victim. Mei Bao's family and friends as well as the other people living in the Horizon Tower will share their stories as well and it's really clever to designate 2 eps per character's story. I want to say more but that would ruin the fun of this drama as you try to find out who the killer is. I just have to say the emotions of each character were so understandable that I could see why a specific character ended up deciding to do this certain thing.
Acting: I have to first say Angelababy did an awesome job. I don't usually watch her dramas because her acting is not that great, but she has improved! I love how she did her role as Mei Bao, conveying the pain in her emotions. Moving onto the rest of the cast, everyone did great too. Quite a few of them are experienced actors and others are new faces but they all did very well. For the young actors especially, I can see their potential. The young actress who plays young Mei Bao played Pu Pu from The Bad Kids!
Music: Beautiful music. There's just one, which is the ending song, and it's so good. It's in English and with the sadness of the melody, it matches perfectly to the tone of this drama. Not only that, the BGM was excellent in setting the mood of each scene, especially the sad and suspenseful parts. They definitely kept me on my toes!
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