This is a story about friends and how they deal with their emotions, life, and the fact that they are growing into adulthood. Again the feelings that are delivered in this drama, all the emotions are just too refreshing, beautiful and really enjoyable. In fact, (I can't believe I'm saying this but) I fell in love with Choi Min Ho after watching this. I never ever considered him a decent actor he was just an idol like the rest of the idols getting casted with no acting skills. I've seen him in (To The Beautiful You) which I dropped and I remember very well that he couldn't act back then!! When did he improve like that?! He was absolutely AMAZING I was watching the drama and can't help but be taken by him (wait it's Min Woo I'm talking about o_O)!! I can't respect him enough for the hard work and improvement he has done for himself I never thought it's possible when you don't have "it" within you but he proved me wrong, any drama that he takes from now on is on my Watch List.
This drama makes you feel like smiling the whole time you will be watching it as simple as it was,,, What is love exactly? What's first love means? Can we really forget about our first love/crush and move on? Well let's watch and see,,,Simplicity is beauty indeed. I highly recommend it.
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Nostalgic and Humorous
I gotta say, the humor is spot-on. It’s a perfect combination of witty remarks, dry humor, and dramatic irony. There’s also a good amount of S1 nostalgia without trying to recreate the original show. Best part of all is the chemistry between the actors that makes these fictional relationships feel so real and unique. I’m also loving the historic setting!On a more controversial note, I’m glad Ji-ah doesn’t make an appearance in this so far, even though all the other main characters have. To me, Ji-ah and Lee Yeon’s relationship felt lacking. Perhaps it was the writing, the direction, or just the lack of chemistry between actors, which is hard to say, since the rest of the actors seem to have such great chemistry maybe it’s the character of Ji-ah that just felt flat…
Anyway, highly recommend!
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Simple light comedy sageuk.
Remember seeing the poster and telling my friend that this drama will be a no-brainer and it turned out to be exactly like that. Although I thought there will be certain amount of seriousness, which is indeed there, but even they carry the comic elements to some extent.It has a simple story. There is a secret royal inspector who sets out on a journey to discover corruptions by the Govt. appointed officials. On his mission he encounters a lady, who due to her situations, joins along the journey. They are accompanied with 2 servants of the inspector and 2 friends of the lady. As these six people move ahead to solve different cases, they unveil tragic truths behind the crimes and corruptions made by local authorities as well as seemingly big figures behind them. As everything becomes clear, rest 40% of the drama is how they bring forward the truth and establish justice.
Ra Yi Eon (Ok Taec Yeon) is the secret royal inspector, who initially had a simple dream of making a dumpling shop and living a simple life. But due to family pressure he appears the state civil service exam to become a inspector. Kim Jo Yi (Kim Hye Yeon) is a free-spirited, quick-witted and brave lady who believes in woman independence. Oweing to her will to beat the societal norms, she strongly supports women opting for divorce, as well. Park Tae Seo (Lee Jae Kyoon) is the son of left state councilor Park Seung (Jung Bo Suk), both of them are corrupt. Duk Bong (Bo Jong Ok) is the head of Tail Island shelter.
Some popular faces in minor roles are Yook Chil (Min Jin Woong) & Goo Pal (Park Kang Sub) as Yi Eon's servants, Ra Kwang Soon (Lee Sang Hee) & Bi Ryung (Chae Won Bin) are Joyi's close friends. Cha Mal Jong (Jung Soon Won) is a trader and Park Do Su (Choi Tae Hwan) is Park Seung's son. Lee Joon Hyuk as the crown prince and VIXX N as Choi Seung Yul are guest, yet key characters.
Acting in overall from the entire cast was okay-okay. Taecyeon has come way long and his skills can be used in better way. I'm not a fan of Kim Hye Yeon, she always has the same annoying character, who only knows to cry well. Lee Jae Kyon did unexpectedly well as an antagonist, loved his acting and expressions.
I didn't really mind the plot development bcs I watched purely for the light comedy but technically it's not a steady and proper one and I think their intention was that. Introductory episodes were slow but decent. As the show progresses, the gradual improvement in premises setup and script quality, constantly grow up. It wasn't exactly good but not unlikable either. However, that lasts till 8th episode, i. e. The 1st half of the show and as soon as the 2nd half starts. Everything comes to surface by the 10th episode and the last 6 are dragged to a great extent just to fill the quota. So, things become exaggerated and repetitive in the processs. The ending was smooth and I am happy the comedy elements were retained till the end.
In another opinon, the drama should have been a 10th episode mini series and made into a good story with flawless technical aspects, even with the light comedy. There were few things of no essence, unnecessarily added to the script, regarding the individual lives of the leads, I didn't like them. Those elements made the mood of the story inconsistent and unsteady.
Director Yoo Jung Soon might not be a rookie but he's not very experienced though I liked 2/4 of his dramas. Morever, it's his first historical but given the premise of the drama and the genre, the overall execution was up to par. It could have been better in terms of representation of elements, organization and connecting of events, etc. but I don't mind since it isn't a typical sageuk.
Writer Lee Jae Yoon is in the industry for a quite a while though the only memorable drama they've written is "The Undatables" The script written by them for this drama isn't something really good but if they had intended to keep it simple and light, I think their purpose has been served. However, the potential conspiracy plotline, which is mandatory in any sageuk, didn't feel steady and engaging. The entire effort to reveal the truth has been fragmented and dispersed throughout. The drama doesn't create great impressions at any point of the story, except for the chemistry betweens the leads.
I watched till 7th episode with normal speed and was quite enjoying the light comedy but when I realized it had started becoming slower and uninteresting, I had to fast-forward the rest at 1.5×. I had intended to increase it to 2.0× later but somehow I couldn't, because it actually not that shabby and boring.
The OST composition by Dalpalan is so good I swear and there are 3 OSTs, which are very likable. He's definitely one of the accomplished composers of Korea and he knew his homework for the drama well.
"Let's Get It" by sEODo is trot track, giving a perfect mood according to the comical mood of the drama. "Need Your Heart" by ONF Hyojin is a cheerful romantic track. Kim Sawol's soulful vocals in "At the End of My Day" is very heartfelt.
Things to like in the show:
#1 Comedy elements are the best thing about the drama. The entire show is full of comedy; in fact the king and ministers were parts of it, as well. I had a good time laughing out loud. Taec was obviously the funniest, it felt like watching the real Taec through this character. All of the characters were able to deliver the comedy through their acting.
#2 This is probably one of the sageuk with least involvement of the Royal affairs. Even though all the activities are indirectly related to the Palace and there are lots of political personnel associated, I was happy that most of the runtime was shot outside the premise.
#3 This drama aslo emphasizes on Women empowerment. The FL in here is not a typical Joseon lady who's either a assassin or only the ML's love interest. She's free-spirited, educated and promotes women rights. She even supports divorce and believes in overcoming taboos set for medieval women.
Overally, "Secret Royal Inspector & Joyi" is a drama average watch: average plot, average story and average execution. It could have better in some aspects but I don't wanna complain a lot because this drama, in no way, demanded to be judged wrt the technicality though I will be fair with the ratings. It's a simple and light watch which you can binge during leisure.
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The story was pretty decent until about the mid-way point and then it just went completely off the rails into unbelievable land. As an avid drama watcher, I know that I go into a drama suspending belief because if you've been watching a long time, you know that's how it is. Most dramas have a lull about mid-way even the best dramas, but this... yikes. It just lost its way and never came back for me. The end was highly anti-climatic for me, it wasn't satisfying at all because I felt the characters' problems were really only due to their own stupidity rather than any real outside threat.
The acting didn't really help much. Aaron Yan is adorable, especially as Xiao Luo, but I feel that contrasted with Tia Li's stiff and rather emotionless face almost made it seem like he was overacting. As great as Aaron Yan is, it didn't save the drama or the couple for me. I actually was far more interested in the supporting couples than I ever was in the odd love triangle/square. In other circumstances where the character's actions make sense, the acting probably would've come off a lot better, but when characters begin to act like 2 year olds and common sense goes straight out the window, it's hard to feel anything other than annoyance. I try to not skip through episodes, but in all honesty I did it quite a lot and still was perfectly able to understand what was going on and save myself from the urge to cringe with not my palm to my face but the keyboard.
The music was pretty good, nothing stellar or what would have me running to iTunes, but it wasn't bad. Had some catchy upbeat music.
Having said all of that, I will not be re-watching this or even recommending it too anyone. I really hope that Aaron Yan's next drama doesn't involve the noble idiot trope and that Tia Li loosens up and shows some real emotion (crying profusely and looking blankly down or into the distance does not a good actor make) :P
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This review may contain spoilers
WISH I COULD USE THAT ERASER
Yes, yes, Fourth is adorable as Atom. He's super cute, the babiest of the babiest. Give him a sippy cup and a blankie. Clouds, cotton candies, rainbows, poppies, whatever... cute!But listen. For the life of me, I couldn't keep myself from going 'SHAKE YO BOOTY, SHAKE YO 'AS' whenever Gemini came on screen! I am embarrassed. I am ashamed. No really. In that one episode where the poor guy got bitten by a whole arse snake, I went. 'PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR 2X.' Though, speaking of snakes, what in sorry arse reaction was that??? His reaction was literally like... oh...yeah....I guess a snake...bit me? CHILD???!
Anyway, this drama is not for people with rational thinking. I think it was made for a waay younger audience. Cuz like, Atom brought his blankie and plushie to a hotel! So yeah, that should tell you the audience this was made for. So if you are looking for something deep, my brother, go look elsewhere.
That being said, thanks to the many ads in this drama, (literally how many times did we have to see Kongthap poke himself in the eye to put in those lenses?) especially that yellow ice tea, which is in basically every drama, I finally went and ordered that yellow ice-tea, now tell me why it tasted like sawdust and cheap cargo shorts? It tasted like Wednesdays, don't hate it, don't like it. I supposed it's on me, should have known to stop ordering stuff in dramas when that seaweed snack tasted like chili and air condition.
Listen, I'm sure many people were frustrated with some of the decisions the characters made in this show. Like the nonsense misunderstandings , overreacting and miscommunications. Me personally, I wanted to reach into the screen and shake Kongthap in the last episode when he agreed with Atom that they should tell their parents about their relationship, but then immediately became a third party during the telling. Cuz how the eff you gonna sit there like a tree, blinking like a goddamn christmas light while Atom go through that alone? Mfer said and did nothing while Atom's self-esteem chipped away at the words his mother said. Arrggg.
As for Kongthap's mother, did she really need to be so vague and take those long arse pauses and make poor Atom cry like that? Damn woman made me yell at her and her son, while trying to wipe Atom's tears through the screen.
And yes, we can argue that Kongthap himself was nervous and scared, but literally he could have at least tried to say something instead of becoming a light pole with a flickering lightbulb. Even when it was Atom's turn to tell his mother, homeboy still went, 'ma'am Atom has something to tell you' This CHILD!!
PLOT:
Going in, I was afraid it wasn't going to live up to the hype and the wholesomeness of the Japanese version, which it sort of didn't. Because this version was much different. However Fourth held his own, orbit some over-the-top-scenes and Gemini had the whole clueless adorable house poppy look working for him, which frankly is his go to in all his characters, still, I think they did their best with what they were given.
As for the source material, they took the name of the Japanese series, a few similar scenes, then sort of threw the rest of the script in the rubbish, then did their own thing. Which gave us a fuller story, about first loves, the anxiety of getting into uni, and how hard it is to come to terms with your feelings and sexuality. It's sad that all those changes was packaged with over-acting, stiff kisses, awkwardness and childish behaviour. It would have been great otherwise. But personally, base on the changes, I think the writers did a good job adding something new so it doesn't just a repeat the original.
CHARACTERS:
First off, I'd like to give credit where it's due. Although the acting in this was nothing to write poems about, the finale showcased how far Fourth has come as an actor, and how far he can go! He did such an amazing job that I felt every bit of his emotions in those heavy scenes. I look forward to seeing him grow more in his acting, and to take on more serious roles, cuz I can tell he'd nail them.
Atom and Kongthap were frustrating at times with all the childish misunderstands and problems. Atom started the series with no dreams and in love with a girl, and ended up working endlessly to be a better version of himself. I liked that we got to see him struggle with what to study, it felt relatable. I cheered on him when he finally achieved his goals and grew as a character who didn't seem to have a care in the world, to a promising change man who had more hold on his future. I also liked how Kongthap opened himself to the idea of returning Atom's feelings and was supportive of Atom. I did like the relationship between Atom and Kongthap, although due to all that nonsenses problems, I came to enjoy the relationship with Half and Mudmee more at times. They felt so mature towards the end. Half knowing he wanted to be a better version of himself for her instead of following Mudmee's dream was great. I applauded that part, I was like yes, finally some grown-up decisions that doesn't come with overreacting and nonsense.
Also those kisses though. Damn. In the finally, I was like... Kongthap honey, at least move your neck, or lips, or head, do something child, you're in high-school. He gave Atom nothing, which makes me think Atom would have been better off making out with those chairs instead. But again, given the audience, I wasn't holding my breath that we'd get more than stiff kisses. They almost had me with the firework kiss though.
Half and Mudmee were such good supporting cast and made it enjoyable to watch them. Half is a whole mood on his own, he seemed so chill with everything most of the time, my kind of vibe. I look forward to more work from both the actors.
Anyway, although this wasn't deep, and came off mostly childish, I think GeminiFourth fans would really enjoy it. I'll recommend this to anyone who likes middle-high-school first love series. Watch it if you have time and looking for something light to watch. I look forward to GeminiFourth's next series.
SHAKE YO BOOTY SHAKE YO AS'... God, why am I like this? Wish I could use that eraser to erase that Gemini performance, cuz every time I come across him, it's the first thing that pops into my mind. ^^
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Cinderella Slapstick at it's finest
This show is hilarious. I laughed so hard. I love the chemistry btw ML and FL. It develops so well.If you like this kind of slapstick, this is a show for you.
You'll find some typical Cinderella themes, but with a ne interpretation.
Not a minute is boring.
This show is hilarious. I laughed so hard. I love the chemistry btw ML and FL. It develops so well.
If you like this kind of slapstick, this is a show for you.
You'll find some typical Cinderella themes, but with a ne interpretation.
Not a minute is boring.
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This review may contain spoilers
Love In The Air (aka a bodice ripper set in current times)
Overall/Note: This series is based on a novel by MAME (TharnType author) who writes "bodice rippers", i.e. a wealthy, handsome and aggressive pursuer goes after a naive and/or reluctant pursuee where non/dub con is involved and they end up happily ever after. This series has the very FICTIONAL 'mouth says no, but body says yes' idea. In real life, even if a person's body reacts to touch, it doesn't mean that they want it. Just one verbal or non verbal 'no' means to stop immediately in real life. In real life buying multiple burner phones/sim cards to contact someone who has blocked you isn't romantic it's stalking and creepy. In real life spanking someone when you haven't established a role play/boundaries/safe word is physical assault. I think/hope most people can tell the difference between fiction and real life. There are valid reasons for creating and enjoying non/dub con that I won't get into, however steer clear if this is not your thing. On iQIYI and YouTube (varies by country).Content Warnings: manipulation, dub con touching and kissing, non con touching and kissing, manhandling, homophobic comment, kidnapping, violence, stalking, harassment, past sexual assault references/brief scenes, PTSD/trauma, gang rape
What I Liked
- really was hooked in the first few minutes
- clear time jump
- Ple said that being gay is not a bad thing*
- bisexual representation
- liked the street racing aspect
- the NSFW scenes were well done, most like Rain/Phayu's
- the sweet/caring moments
- that university students were actually busy with school assignments
- how Sky was sassy in the beginning
Room For Improvement
- separating out the two couples didn't work for me, I was bored in the second half, felt like it went in circles
- not a fan of Phayu's "plan" or Rain's "plan"
- how Rain has a crush on a woman and says that he's not gay he just thinks one guy is hot seems to be setting up or is the gay for you trope, related to this
-* the whole conversation around 17 minutes in episode 1 was bad/odd, Rain said Ple's brother must be gay because he said something about another guy, it was good that Ple did call Rain out on it but the whole conversation was not needed
- scenes kind of jumped a bit a few times
- the second episode had too much recap from episode 1, this happened again in later episodes where they showed a lot of footage that we had already seen
- audio issues
- I disliked Pai at the beginning for the initial coercion and then the harassment/stalking but ended up being annoyed with Sky and his lack of communication with Pai and also making Pai do a bunch of chores to prove his love, then I went back to not liking Pai with the yelling in the final episode
- last episode felt rushed
- consequences not shown for those scum of the earth, only referenced verbally
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I started watching this drama because the plot read as something that would be right up my alley: dark, twisted, angsty and mature. A master plan to seduce one woman that turns into a terrible cycle of torture and turmoil was what I was hoping for but ended up being incredibly disappointed. I read a comment somewhere about how this drama was horrible because all the characters were so awful. On the contrary, my biggest issue was that the characters weren't horrible enough.
Characters:
Eun Tae Hee: One of the most boring characters in TV history, right up there with Cha Eun Sang from Heirs. Joy's acting was the least of my concerns. The character was two-dimensional, flat, stupid and yet strangely confident which of course made her even more annoying. The most interesting thing about her was her past which also turned out to be a dud. The producers shouldn't be mad at Joy, they should be mad at the writers.
Kwon Shi Hyun: Woo Do Hwan is super hot. That's the only good thing about this character. I wanted to see a hardcore cheating and womanizing douche-bag who sleeps around and doesn't give a shit about any woman's feelings. Instead I got an innocent school boy who was weak willed and far too predictable. He became a lovesick puppy after the first smile <-- this would be hilarious if it wasn't so goddamn infuriating.
Choi Soo Ji: The character with most potential, alongside Se Joo. I really wanted to see how low she's be willing to stoop to to get what she wanted but in the end her efforts felt half-assed. It almost felt like the writers decided to stop trying at some point.
Lee Se Joo: My favorite, and I assume everyone else's, the lover boy. He was the highlight of the show, the little sparkle of light that kept me hoping for something better and made me come back every week. His obsessive love for Soo Ji had the best potential at doing something actually damaging and his family background suggested that maybe we could have gotten some heavier gang stuff into the show but of course my wishes weren't fulfilled this time either.
Plot:
The plot of this drama was the biggest screw up and I have an explanation as to why that was: they tried to fit too much shit into 16 full episodes. The story moved way too fast so that we didn't have time to get emotionally invested in it. Get together, break up, make up. I have no idea how many times the main couple went through this process; it got real dull, real fast.
Tae Hee and Shi Hyun's relationship was all in all so boring I found myself getting distracted all the time while watching them together. Their "steamy" scenes weren't steamy enough and their relationship's highs and lows weren't black and white enough for me to get truly excited about them. There wasn't enough chemistry, nor enough tension. A very flat, predictable and unstimulating combo.
Next problem I have is the lack of maturity. This drama felt like a children's story. No sex, no drugs, barely any violence and nothing actually scandalous that would have made me sit at the edge of my chair wondering what would happen next. The outfits were occasionally childish, the pathetic attempts at dramatic plot twists were downright juvenile and even the colorful sets seriously turned me off. Even the climax of the story felt like a pathetic, undeveloped attempt to whip up together something that could be labeled as the orgasm of the story. Worst climax ever, I didn't feel a thing.
The side story with the main characters' parents was somewhat interesting whilst also being completely pointless. Don't really have much to say about it... Thank you for giving employment to various older actors, I guess.
Why watch?
Now I know what you're thinking; how can you give this drama a six without saying a single nice thing about it. Well, first of all, I find it hard to give any drama I finish a score under five because if things go that bad, I usually just drop the whole thing. And look, it's not a complete disaster. The ingredients for a great drama are all there. Somehow the end result is a mess but I can see why someone might actually enjoy this; hell, even I was able to finish it. In an attempt to be as neutral as possible, I'll also list out some good points.
The trio. Shi Hyun, Se Joo and Soo Ji are a pretty adorable set of friends. They have good chemistry and there are a lot of cute scenes in the beginning of the drama when the three spend the most time together. All of them are solid actors, so I look forward to seeing them more in the future.
Se Joo & Soo Ji are an actually suitable couple who will tear you down with how sad their story is. It's an unrequited love where he showers her with affection and she can't find it in herself to be brave enough to accept him. Honest to god, I finished this drama for these two. You might not, however, so approach with caution.
All in all, this is not worth the watch; not even if you're a fan of Woo Do Hwan. Trust me on this, his character is so horrible you'll just be disappointed. In conclusion the show was a huge disappointment as the array of negative reviews suggests. I will be looking forward to new projects from the main three, especially Kim Min Jae. It's so sad he got screwed over by a horrible writing and production team.
Hence concludes another one of my reviews that was once again supposed to be short but at this point, what do you expect?
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Disastrous
There's only so much you can stuff into a 6-ep series. Unfortunately, everything stuffed into this is awful.The first question is, what genre is this? It was marketed as a BL, and most of the couples in this involve two boys, although only one is just two boys. The other two are everyone's favorite thing, love triangles.
Or is is a murder mystery? Maybe, except the dead body at the beginning is not the same body as turns out to be the case, nor at the same level of deceasedness. Which makes me wonder if Thai emergency services frequently transport live people in body bags. If so, I hope they remember to poke air holes in them.
Or is it about a rivalry between two bitchy girls? On the surface, no, that's not what it is, but that leads us to wonder why almost the entire runtime of this series is consumed by two almost supernaturally unpleasant people who I'm sure almost the entire audience wishes were not in the series at all.
The all-male love triangle involves a boy who's into BDSM, which is handled with the usual BL sensitivity, i.e. none at all, portraying it as deviant and possibly evil - certainly PTSD-inducing, and instead of his partner finding a way to accommodate his tastes, BDSM-boy is forced to give it up in the name of True Love, which can never include "deviant" behavior in BL. There's actually a scene where non-BDSM boy wants to break up because he realized that BDSM-boy has a slight preference for being a dom over a sub, and so he feels that he is horrendously depriving him of pleasure. Seriously, that's the conversation. Then he goes on to describe how flicking him with a toy whip makes him feel like he's inflicting violence on someone he loves. Sigh.
The love triangle with the girl involves a self-indentifed slut (who had sex with a grand total of one person, so what is the message here? ) and two step-brothers. Another favorite theme of BL audiences. Let's combine cheating, an evil female, and incest into one storyline - yay? I don't actually mind step-brother stories, but I know that a large part of the audience does mind, a larger part of the audience doesn't like cheating, and almost the entire audience doesn't like stories to be chewed up by evil girlfriends.
The only reasonably uncomplicated storyline is between Burger & King (get it?), and it is cute largely because the two boys are adorable. It's certainly not because of their acting ability or the amount of time spent on their story.
Which brings us to the topic of acting. I don't want to be too critical, because these are all beginners and they were clearly doing their best, but each of them only has one facial expression and it's not really enough. Maybe if they had two each it would have worked better. Non-BDSM-boy has kicked-puppy face, King has "did I live the iron on?" face, Evil Girl #2 has "what is that smell?", etc. There are one or two experienced actors in this (like Art, as beautiful as ever, but he has at most 60 seconds of screentime).
Worse, there is, again, an awful trans character who is loud, ridiculous, and an awful person, because Thail BL is unable to conceive of anything but "straight" people as being "good" and "normal". That's improved a decent amount in BL in general, but that progress hasn't reached this catastrophe of a series.
Perhaps worst of all, it doesn't end. None of the relationships get anywhere, and even though we know whodunnit, that story isn't resolved either. Couldn't they at least have left it as a mystery if they were going to end on a cliffhanger? What possible motivation do I have to continue watching this into the next season?
This series is a ripoff of the Spanish show Elite, which is far better. A central problem with Hit Bite Love is that it's set in high school (because that's a BL law or something) and it's themes are adult. Because of this, and because most of the actors are underage, the series is crippled by conservative Thai morality and so the story can never dig its teeth into any of its themes. This is so serious an issue that even when boys are at the swimming pool, if there's any romantic connection between them, their torsos are wrapped in big towels, as if having two boys who like each other shirtless is Crossing the Line.
Other than the cuteness factor of BurgerKing and Art being on my screen, the only positive quality is the background music, which is better than usual, and actually supports the story, such as it is. Although the theme song has so much autotune I assumed it was on purpose - although it does sound like a malfunctining robot and I'm not sure why you would want that.
I would skip this. If you had to decide between this and watching, say, Gen Y 2, then I would probably just kill myself. But Hit Bite Love is a lot shorter, so more of your brain might survive if you were to choose it.
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This review may contain spoilers
players slayed and master of games.
(please note that this is my first time writing a review so it might not be very good! but i hope this provides you with an intel on the show!)it was long awaited but worth it! you need to watch the first season for the opening, introductions of characters. the second season is a continuation of the first season.
the storyline is simple, you play a game and earn visas. without these visas, you will die and a high chance of you dying when you lose in a game. continuation of the first season, this season focuses on the jacks, queens and kings which are the highest or highest, that only means that the challenges are harder and harder.
the games might be simple, but there are a lot of thinking and thoughts needed to outplay the other players. let's be honest, despite knowing that the main characters will not die, i feel safe about it. however, the suspend, the intensity is still there. there are surprises here and there for you to unwrap as the show goes on. one thing i would love is where they would explore more of different games and have a longer duration! like come on, i want more than 8 episodes.
i know there are some people that don't like/prefer japanese's acting but i feel like it is rather realistic. after watching many japanese dramas, i often feel like it is an autumn acting. i don't know what's an autumn acting but it is something more of feeling the autumn vibes. just because it is not up to your preference, it does not mean that it is not good.
an example would be arisu (kento)'s acting in the first episode where he was running super fast. the facial expression might be foreign to some but it was realistic. as you're running in your fullest speed, you wouldn't be looking good or near perfect. if you're wondering on the mature scenes, other than the bloody deaths, niragi, and yamapi's butt cheeks, the rest are fine.
what do i like about the show?
- games
- how the players play the game
- interactions between the players
- their acting
what i dislike about the show?
- too short
- niragi (this asshole never changes)
all the games are amazing but one that blew my mind was the queen of hearts. yes, it is the hearts. the ending is good, but i would love to see the other characters get back the memory during the time here. i just wish for a 3rd season with longer duration or more episodes.
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A Beautifully Haunting Love Story
Love Beyond the Grave opens with a striking and immersive introduction. The first few episodes immediately establish its mystique, fantasy, and emotional depth in a way that engages and draws viewers in. The storytelling unfolds smoothly, steadily building toward a larger, more intricate narrative.At the heart of the drama are He Simu, the powerful yet emotionally restrained Sovereign of the Spirits, and Duan Xu, an admirable and skilled general with secrets of his own. Their connection—through the sharing of senses—adds a unique dimension to the story. Simu, who has never truly experienced the world, and Duan Xu, who becomes her bridge to it, are written with a level of nuance that makes their relationship especially compelling. It isn’t driven by grand declarations, but by unspoken understanding—Mòqì (默契). The way he instinctively senses her presence, the way she always knows when he needs her, the quiet gestures between them, and their sacrifices for each other—these moments carry a surprising emotional weight.
What makes their bond so captivating, for me, is the subtle undercurrent of sadness running through it. Even in their happiest moments, there’s a lingering sense that something is just out of reach, that their time together is fragile.
The pacing stays remarkably consistent throughout. Rather than slowing down, the story steadily builds momentum, layering in tension and emotion as it moves toward a rewarding final stretch.
Visually, the drama is a standout. The cinematography, costumes, and settings are beautiful, with thoughtful composition and color tones that enhance the ethereal quality of the spiritual world. The special effects support the fantasy elements well, and the action scenes are well done. The OST is another highlight—it blends seamlessly into the narrative and elevates many of the key emotional scenes. Many of the songs will remain on my playlist.
The performances are what really bring everything together. The leads share a chemistry that feels both natural and intense at the same time. Dilraba and Arthur Chen fully embody their roles, to the point where it’s easy to forget you’re watching actors—they are Simu and Duan Xu.
As a couple, they’re incredibly endearing. I find myself rooting for them from the very beginning, holding onto every small moment they share because of how fragile their happiness feels. Their connection is built on strong, unwavering devotion, which makes their relationship all the more affecting. At the same time, as individual characters, both are likable, with their own strengths and vulnerabilities that make me invested in their journeys beyond just the romance.
What impressed me most is how well both actors emote. They don’t rely on dramatic lines to convey feeling—so much is expressed through their eyes, their facial expressions, and even the smallest shifts in body language. Whether it’s longing, gratitude for the time they share, or heartbreak, they make me feel it without overplaying it. It’s their excellent and emotionally rich performances that make the story resonate as deeply as it does.
The supporting cast also leaves a strong impression. Zhang Li and Miles Wei, in particular, stand out—especially Miles Wei, whose character is layered enough to be both evocative and deeply frustrating in the way a well-written antagonist should be.
Characters like Chen Ying, Feng Yi bring a welcome sense of warmth and humor, helping to balance the heavier emotional moments of the story. And beyond Simu and Duan Xu, there’s another tragic relationship that I found myself unexpectedly invested in.
By the final episodes, the emotional weight fully settles in. The drama leans into themes of obsession, love, sacrifice, and fate, and for the most part, it delivers. The ending strikes a balance between bittersweet and satisfying. Even without the special episode, the original conclusion felt complete to me, offering a sense of closure for our lead couple. The special episode simply gives a little extra for the romantic in me who wants something more complete and definitive.
Despite a few loose ends, Love Beyond the Grave succeeds in what it sets out to do. It’s a story carried by strong performances, a gripping love story, and a blend of worlds that feels both beautiful and melancholic.
This is a drama that will remain on my rewatch list.
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The overall story line was about the struggles of North Korea,which was amazing but it was too stretched out.Also the love story get very boring after awhile unless you enjoy romance a lot.
I rewatched this drama with my older sister and she also had a similar opinion but she said it was very boring at some points especially with the love story.
Acting was fantastic and the music matched the tension in the drama the majority of the time.I understand that they tried to use a commonly popular pop song to express how the information and freedom of creativity is limited but I found their choice of sound very random ,that's just a personal opinion though.
Personally If i had to rate this separately as medical drama i would give a 8-9 as for the love story i'd give a 4-5 to be honest i'm very bias.The only reason personally why i loved this drama was because the medical portion of it but if it wasn't a medical drama and just a love story, then i would have given a lower score.
If i do decide to rewatch it by myself I can honestly say i would just skip to the surgery scenes directly.
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unrealistic and frustrating
I tried giving this drama a chance to like it but finding it so disappointing and very frustrated with the story. It is very unrealistic for the female lead who had a crush on the male lead and following him around. Very unrealistic for a the male lead to allow a fan (stranger) to get into his circle. How can a stranger (female lead) who had a crush on a celebrity and be able to get through the security, mistaken as girl friend, allow to ride in the bus with the team and so forth. The way the female lead chasing and following the male lead (who doesn't really know her) around and able to get into his circle of friend and team is nauseating. The female lead is supposed to be intelligent and gifted but too stupid to follow her crush without thinking about her own safety makes me angry about the whole story.Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing + superb!!!!
What an acting, What a story, what an emotions I'm impressed by 2 episodes and waiting for more episodes ... The actors play thier role amazing they own it... it's gonna be amazing bl... love it ... Firstly i love the duration of episodes like not other bl 10 11 minuts... its sometime annoying because we love the series but it was so short we want story with more explanation... And in this bl there are some cute,crazy, movements and funny and sometime sad which touch the heart.. I'm in love with this bl love the actorsWas this review helpful to you?
The opening (ikenai taiyou - orange range) and ending (peach - otsuka ai) songs are really catchy as well, and if you hear those songs for the first time while watching this show, then here either song afterwards...you'll think back and feel like watching an episode.
Overall it's a great watch, it was my first and still favourite drama and really raised the bars for others IMAO. ENJOY. :)
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