The actors have also put up good performance but at the moment Barbara's Huang Rong still the best imo.
Michael Miu's Huang Yao Shi and William's Guo Jing are both very watchable.
Overall, great drama. Must watch. Entertaining. Nothing over the top. Perfect pace.
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The setting of the drama is what initially attracted me. At the turn of the century, it is an important time for Joseon, where their fate for the next few decades, even up to our day and age, would be determined during that time. One of the themes that were emphasized in this drama is the injustices some Koreans went through at the hands of their people, especially due to hierarchy. This resulted in many people with a grudge against their own country, especially against the nobles.
Another very strong point about this drama is the character development. Other than the Japanese antagonistic, and the depiction of some traitors, many of the characters were given layers and layers, that you can't help but feel for. Of course, it all bloomed thanks to the talented actors behind it. Starting with Kim Tae Ri playing the character with a mission Go Ae Shin. This character could've easily become overbearing (think Gaksital FL), yet here she remains constant. As the story goes on, you can't help but be driven by her plight. And that is what happened with all 4 other leads. Eugene Choi on the other hand is the character I connected with the most. The feeling of not belonging to neither country can be lonely. You see him struggle daily trying to understand where he stands. I admired how he never felt ashamed of his origin and felt for his pain and grudge against those who caused it. Then you see his grudge falter as he is met with people that kept challenging the preconceived notion of his birthplace. Lee Byung Hun really gave his all for this character, especially towards the end.
Watching Yoo Yeon Seok after seeing him in "Hospital playlist" it is difficult to accept that is the same person. Looks aside, his character is the most pitiful and toxic. He has no problem slicing anyone in half if they got on his wrong side, yet he won't hesitate to protect them if he sees anyone being unfairly treated. The most tragic character is Kudo Hina / Lee Yang Hwa played by Kim Min Jung. Having been sold off previously like some commodity really shaped her personality. She is all about being in control, however, the one thing she could never control is the action of her parents. This breaks her time and again throughout the drama. You can also sense the sadness in her eyes. Finally, Kim Hui Sung played by Byun Yo Han was the main reason for me for starting this drama. He was the actual sunshine here. His smile lightened my day, even when you could feel the heavy burden behind it.
Of course, what made this drama memorable is a large number of supporting characters. Gunner Jang was a character I followed and rooted throughout. This story was as much his story, as it was Go Ae Sin's story of a man who rejected the leaders of his country but chose its people. He was the forever rebellious Jang. Another character that stood out is the king. He was frustrating for most of the drama, but as the story went on, you realize how helpless he felt, and how carefully he chose his actions to protect his people. Being in his place is the most crumbling experience. There were many more, too many interesting characters.
The horror of colonialism is really well exposed here. The actions the Japanese did makes you wonder if it was possible to lose one's humanity to this point. Now, I do not know if what was portrayed was exaggerated. Some instances couldn've been, while others not. However, I do know the dangers of collective brainwash. When being constantly fed on how those "other" people are less than you, your brain accepts it and you become desensitized. Seeing what my beloved Japanese people did was really conflicting. But that is the truth of becoming a colonizer. Though they suffer a lot later due to losing the war, I think that was a blessing in disguise. It helped them reflect on what they have become and change. That opportunity was never offered to those that never lost a war.
Action scenes were great overall, but especially the sword fights with Gu Dong Mae. The scenery was beautiful, and some scenes were haunting. The train scene will probably go down as one of the most beautiful scenes in my memory.
While the drama had all those great things going for it, it still took me so long to finish. I lost my motivation to watch due to the lack of direction for the story to take. Each episode was between 75 - 80 minutes, with much of it had the characters walking around and eating dessert. The actual story starts at around episodes 19-20. Yes, it took THAT long for the story to take off. That is too much fat needed to shed. There is also the mix of history and myths that bothered me, and no reasoning given for actions that took so long to be taken. For example, the Mori character made no sense. They used it to turn the Japanese colonization of Korea to be some family centuries-old conspiracy when this had nothing to do with the truth, nor the overall story. Just added drama that didn't amount to anything. The portrayal of America is also in the same vein. On one hand, it's treated like this paradise, only to be brought down to reality by our Korea-American hero. One line said really stood out:
"America & Britain lent Japan a total of $410 million dollars, and 40% of it is being spent on the war. The two countries basically forced Japan into the war. Hence, America will never help Joseon. The Russo-Japanese war will result in a great deal of profit for America”
The music was overall negligible, but there was some sweet background that brought peace to the scenes.
It was overall a good drama to watch if it wasn't for the dragginess. I do recommend it to all.
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Very Brutal....
I think it's after Witch, i saw a Movie which has so many violence sequences. It's not a new thing in the k movie world. But it's been some time since a movie like this out from korean and don't think that it's an easy going film. It's very brutal after some point also disturbing.The whole story is happening on a ship. A ship with a bunch of criminals who was transferring From Philippine to korea. Started slowly but after some time some unusual things will fall under the place, from thereon it's horrible.
No story or screenplay or even performance stand before the violence. The way they captured those bloody Brutal and bloodsheding violence is unbelievable to watch. Very creepy and definitely 18+. So watch it own your risk. Surely you will get a different experience just like Witch Part 1
#N45views
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Don't have high expectations; good but not the best
Sinkhole, as I had expected, is nothing sort of very wow. Sure, it's a decent one time watch that keeps you stick to it till the very end, I couldn't find a reason it broke records in South Korea.The primary concept of the movie is nothing new, i.e. house ownership issues in modern Seoul days. The fact it being disaster survival movie plus a very powerful cast had interested me a lot but as I watched it, I ended up disappointed with it in overall.
I mean I also admit it's a decent movie but my disappointment arises from the news of its box-office records plus the cast but the movie not being anything very nice. There is a high standard of survival thrillers when we consider the Korean Entertainment Industry and their movie production quality. So I am simply saying that Sinkhole failed to meet that line. Also, it felt a lil short, as in, the movie ends even before you realize.
Different families move to a newly built five storey building with their hard earned money only to end up in a sinkhole which no one was aware of. After a few months the entire building falls into the sinkhole early morning which was very unexpected and the number of people fall into it along with the apartment are 9. So the story is how they survive the fall and get rescued in ghr end, accompanied by their back stories which are only narrated from the character.
The basic plot is short yet decent with many momentary peak points which are extremely enthralling, and somrtimes emotional. And as usual, this also has things to learn from and take a note about. Instances that makes you cry; either it touches your heart or stab it with knife, are suitably accommodated in the story. The movie starts on plenty of comedy that lasts for almost 20mins and in fact there were funny instances in between too but it's not a comedy movie, keep that in mind. The survival movie is a mixture of many emotions which were perfectly executed.
Storywriter successfully delivered an up to par work and the direction is reasonable as well; no complaints in that regard. The cinematography and VFX work definitely deserve brownie points. The setup inside the sinkhole is pretty much real to give the actual vibes and the camera plus editing work is intriguing enough to catch attention. The sound editing is somewhat dull, ngl. The screenplay is okay but screenediting is below average, like that of a pre 2010 movie.
Do I even bother talk about acting? Definitely, they are very excellent actors and justified their roles in here but given their skills and capabilities, this movie is a bad choice.
# Kim Sung Kyun as Park Dong Won, a hardworking section chief and a loving family man who saved for 11 years to buy a flat
# Cha Seung Won as Dong Man Soo, a single father of highschool teen, doing multiple part-time jobs to make the ends meet
# Lee Kwang Soo as Kim Seung Hyun, a nomad worker, always stressed about his financial and relationship status
# Kim Hye Jun as Eun Joo, a hardworking intern who gives her best but mad about the rude seniors and coworkers.
# Nam Da Reum as Jung Seung Tae, a student, not interested in schooling but cares a great deal about father
# Ko Chang Suk as the rescue team captain
# Kim Hong Pa as Department Head Seo
The ending of the movie was super overwhelming, I gotta admit. The way these people use their mind to rescue each other during extremely dangerous moments and also manage to get out of the sinkhole using their little intellect and comprehension was amazing and makes you tear up even. It ends with a mini reuinon of the survivors after years and that was a jolly closure to the misery.
FINE... SINKHOLE is definitely a good one time watch which is kinda refreshing too and best for a weekend movie slot. Don't expect too much from it but I'm sure it pleases you to some extent. Happy watching.
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From Manga to Live Adaption, What you need to know.
For those people who listed this jdrama as their first jdrama, this is what you need to put in mind when it comes in watching a jdrama especially in this kind of genre- the romance and was adapted in a josei manga. The pacing of jdramas can either be slow paced or fast paced but nevertheless they can still managed to deliver such a profound plot. So if you like fast paced story with tons of kissing scenes plus adult themed-age gap relationship, then this drama is for you. This jdrama was adapted in a josei manga with the same title and for those people who had read the manga before the drama aires were very much aware on how fast paced and how huge the age gap was between the characters. Furthermore, as one of those people who had read the manga, all I can say was that this drama stayed true to the manga and if there is one more thing that they have changed in the drama is that they toned down Hase Kei age from 40 to 38 years old and the manga is much more, let us say much more steamy compared to the drama. One thing that I liked about this drama is how our main couple communicates so well which lead their relationship to grew healthier regardless of how fast paced the story went and how steamy their kissing scenes was. Another thing that I liked is how they respect one another. I really liked how they were both mature on handling things and there is no contracdictive party between them. As per the characters, Hase Kei was such a loving, respecting, caring and a decent boyfriend. Plus he communicates so well and for Momoko, Hase-san didnt lie when he said that he will protect Momoko at all cost cause this girl is a gem! I loved how caring Momoko was and she noticed immediately what seems to be the problem and she is very kind. As per the actors, all I can say was that they were both perfectly casted on their roles. If you've seen Renn in a romance drama before, he was actually good in acting our romance scenes naturally and he is good in kissing scenes! And Sakurako who plays Momoko had done a mature scene in one of her movies before and their age in real life blends well in the drama so as per this drama, all I can say was that they both nailed their roles and it really seems they were both comfortable in acting out their kissing scenes lol. Also, I've heard that some people were complaining on Renn being casted on this drama because he was "too young" for this role. Let me remind you that he is 36 in real life and his character supposed to look younger than his actual age so for this set up, he is compatible. Other than that, the characters supposed to have 15 or 16 years age gap and Renn and Sakurako have 13 years age gap in real life so please put in mind that they cannot find an actors who have or close to their age and fake their ages in the drama. Furthermore, I hope you will give this drama a try since this drama was released in a legal platform worldwide and the cast were hoping (especially Renn) that you will enjoy this drama. BONUS: Both of the soundtrack are superb and I really liked how close the cast seems in real life.Was this review helpful to you?
Great Acting, Lovely Story, Super Cute & Funny
The xianxia genre is hugely popular among younger viewers, so I’m surprised this series isn’t rated higher on MDL. On other Chinese platforms, the ratings are even worse. Personally, I loved "Love Never Fails"—the story is intriguing, the acting is excellent, and the writing is coherent. Though it has similar vibes, for me, this story is so much better than "Ancient Love Poetry" and rivals "Love and Destiny" and "Eternal Love". The only reason I can think of for the low ratings? The leads, though seasoned actors, aren’t idol stars that younger fans usually go for.The Story
This is a love story between a god and a young camellia (a red tea plant) demon girl. They meet across lifetimes and realms, falling in love again and again—only for each reunion to end in heartbreak, loss, and death. Their love leaves scars, yet every time they reincarnate, they’re drawn back to each other.
Multiple antagonists try to tear Jin Xiu and Hong Ning apart, but their love endures. With each lifetime, more of the grander plot is revealed. There’s a conspiracy lurking beneath the surface, and the show slowly unravels it. For example, Jin Xiu is said to be the Heavenly Emperor’s son… but also not. Even the empress doesn’t know his true origins; Hong Ning is called a powerful demon king, yet she’s just a love-struck girl trying to protect the one she loves. By Episode 35, we still don’t have all the answers—and that’s part of the fun.
In her first life when she first falls in love with Jin Xiu, Hong Ning was heartbroken and jumps into the Cleansing Well, losing her memories and cultivation to be reborn as an ordinary human in her second life. Meanwhile, Jin Xiu is banished to the mortal realm as punishment for defying the Heavenly Emperor. He keeps his memories and becomes Hong Ning’s protector while running a cultivators’ academy. Fate brings them together—she becomes his disciple, they fall in love again, and get married. But their happiness is short-lived.
In their third life, Jin Xiu loses his memory and becomes a general, while Hong Ning (now a demon catcher) remembers everything, harboring a love/hate feeling for Jin Xiu for what he had done in their previous life, which was utterly a misunderstanding manipulated by the villain. Despite the initial hatred from Hong Ning, they fall in love again, and join hand to take down the devil demon and save the town.
After completing their trials successfully, they return to heaven. Hong Ning becomes the Flower God and Jin Xiu is preparing for the future Heavenly Emperor role. But power isn’t what they wanted. All they ever wished for was to love each other freely. Unfortunately there are more mysteries to unravel and pain to endure.
Characters & Acting
Jin Xiu (Liu Xue Yi) – A powerful god, heir to the Heavenly Throne, and the feared Punishment God. But his true form? A golden peony. As a child, he saved a dying camellia plant (Hong Ning’s soul) and sent it to nurture and grow in the demon realm.
Jin Xiu is disciplined, dutiful, and stoic—until Hong Ning crashes into his life. Liu Xue Yi’s acting is phenomenal. He nails the intimidating god everyone fears, then flips to being awkward, silly, and hopelessly in love. His expressions—whether embarrassed, smitten, or heartbroken—are perfect. You can’t help but feel for him.
Hong Ning (Hu Yi Xuan) – A camellia demon saved by Jin Xiu. To repay him, she cultivates, rises to the heavenly realm and boldly declares her love. Even after losing her memory and power during her first trial, she finds him, and continues finding him—whether as a disciple, a demon catcher, or a goddess.
Hu Yi Xuan shines in this role. She transforms from a naive, bubbly demon to a grounded disciple, then a sharp demon catcher, and finally a composed goddess. Each version feels distinct, and she plays them all flawlessly.
Many viewers complain about Hong Ning's naive character in the beginning and give up on the drama before seeing her remarkable growth. This is a shame because Hu Yi Xuan delivers an impressive transformation, taking Hong Ning from a lovestruck girl to a powerful goddess. The character development is actually one of the drama's strongest points - if only more viewers had patience to see it through.
Kun Lun Jun (Ao Rui Peng) – The adorable, mischievous little brother everyone wishes they had. Jin Xiu dotes on him, even when banishing him to count flower petals as punishment. Throughout his tribulations in the human realm, he's still as adorable and mischievous, and becomes Jin Xiu disciple in one lifetime, and cousin in another.
Ao Rui Peng is hilarious—his character is a walking disaster, but so lovable. He brings chaos and laughter every time he’s on screen, yet his growth into maturity feels natural.
Final Thoughts
Despite some confusing moments (like the dream arc in Episodes 8-9) and occasional pacing issues near the ending, Love Never Fails remains thoroughly engaging and delightfully humorous. The drama masterfully balances tension and comedy—one scene shows Jin Xiu intimidating his disciples with his stern presence, while the very next reveals those same disciples clowning around behind his back.
I firmly believe Love Never Fails deserves to stand alongside xianxia classics like "Love Between Fairy and Devil". In fact, I found it superior to "Ancient Love Poetry" in nearly every aspect—its storytelling feels more cohesive, the acting more nuanced, and the character development significantly deeper.
What makes this drama even more impressive is its behind-the-scenes story, which was brought to my attention by one of the viewers (see comments below): Filmed three years ago, it faced major setbacks when the original female lead (Yuan Bing Yan) was replaced due to legal issues. Hu Yi Xuan stepped in and reshot all the previous scenes—often working solo with green screens, juggling multiple character versions day and night. The fact that this seamless transition isn’t noticeable across 40 entire episodes speaks volumes about her professionalism and the production team’s skill. Knowing this only deepens my appreciation for Hu Yi Xuan’s phenomenal performance and the drama’s against-all-odds quality.
At its heart, this is a drama that blends swoon-worthy romance and laugh-out-loud comedy with the bloodshed and tragedy of classic xianxia. If you’re a fan of the genre’s emotional depth, intricate mysteries, and powerhouse performances, ignore the underwhelming ratings. This hidden gem isn’t just entertaining—it’s a testament to artistic resilience.
Strongly recommended!
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I have to admit, I have scrolled past this one many times and never thought much of it, but today, having run out of dramas to watch, I finally pressed play.
I watched it all in one sitting and here's why:
*In the first episode it established the characters, and not only was the casting down right it paved the way to a really interesting body swapping story line. A teen girl & an arrogant top model.
*It addresses many of the issues if it was to really happen :) making it funny and not too outrageous in an already outrageous situation.
*The cast played their characters well, didn't have a moment where I thought "er.... really?" on top of that the humour was well written. Not too cheesy, just enough.
*I won't spoil the ending but I am so glad it ended how it did, no weird drag outs. It ended with full closure for us.
I only scored low for the music because in dramas the music is important to me, and in this one, I didn't really notice it, no memorable song, nothing. I may have to rewatch to listen out for it. For myself, I generally fall in love with the OST and go on to research the songs but not with this series.
It's a short series compare to what I normally watch, but I definitely will be recommending this to others, fun and humorous comedy before we sit through another drama.
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A hidden gem
I dont know where to start but i just finished watching this wonderfully written drama. The story of Somang and Hamin is bittersweet but beautiful at the same time. Their acting was great too though not so much the others. I feel like they were there for the visual but its cute as they kinda balance out the heaviness of the story.This is my first review ever but i feel like should write one to encourage people who are hesitant to watch this a try because I was too but I didn't regret eeen a second of it.
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Too short to be great, competent enough to be good
If I had to describe The Fragrance Of The First Flower in one sentence I would call it a great show trapped in a good show.Words cannot describe how excited I was when I discovered this drama, I think that usually, Taiwan tackles LGBT+ subjects in its media in a very tasteful and impactful manner and on every level, from looks to premise, The Fragrance Of The First Flower looked like it was going to fill the GL-shaped void in my life. Needless to say, that I was gutted when I discovered that each of the only 6 episodes was going to be barely 18 minutes long. Still, I decided to give this drama a fair chance, even though I had the sneaking suspicion that that short runtime wouldn’t be enough to tell this story. And I’m afraid I was correct.
The Fragrance Of The First Flower is a beautiful portrayal of right person- wrong time. The show’s strength without a doubt lies in its gorgeous cinematography and especially in the colour grading. Every shot had purpose while still being aesthetically pleasing and I really feel like the colours dictated the mood and feel of each scene. Some people have pointed out that the actresses look way too old to play their teenage selves and I will have to agree but I still appreciated bot of the leads’ acting. I’ve also seen people complain about the lack of chemistry between them, but that is a sentiment I cannot agree with. I was fully immersed in the relationship between the two characters. There was a lot of subtlety in their performances which I feel like can be traced back to the subtlety of the script and plot. It was very fitting, in my opinion, that the thing that killed the relationship of the two protagonists in high school before it even began, the thing that triggered Yi Mins internalized homophobia, was the painful reminder of the inherent sexualization that comes with being a young woman. The scene in which the two leads almost kiss for the first time until they are interrupted by a pervert was the one that left the biggest impression on me in the whole show. I think it was a brilliant and subtle way of addressing how lesbians are viewed under the male gaze and how their sexualization makes it harder for young queer women to find themselves.
I also think the scene in which Yi Min finally confesses to her husband that she has fallen for someone else is a really strong one. She is desperately looking for another reason to break up with him because on a surface level, she should be happy. Her husband is not a bad man and she has everything she wanted in her teenage years, the house, family, and the role of a wife. Yi Min is looking for something wrong in their relationship so she doesn’t have to address what is really keeping her from being content.
Still, as I mentioned before, The Fragrance Of The First Flower ended up not fully living up to its potential and I really do feel like its main fault lies in the infuriatingly short runtime. In no way is this drama flawless but in my honest opinion most of its problems could have been addressed, if the show just had a few more episodes, or at least longer ones. Everything felt just slightly underdeveloped and it’s such a shame because all the ingredients to make this really special were there. But you just really need that time to develop a believable relationship between two people and unfortunately, time is the one thing this drama didn’t have and that might be the reason the ending fell completely flat for me.
Admittedly, I am a little salty. The BL fandom practically gets content shoved down their throat (eventhough most of said content to be fair, is not great) while I have to look for ages to find half-decent WLW representation. I just kinda had held on to the hope that this drama would be the one to kick off the success of the GL genre, and I doubt it will. But then again, I fully realize that what I am asking for is the same fetishization that gay men have to deal with, so maybe I should just be happy with what I get.
In the end, I feel like The Fragrance Of The First Flower did its best with what little it had. I have certainly seen way worse and at least I can confidently say that this was an earnest attempt at believable, well-meant representation. I have no problem recommending this show to other people who are also starved for WLW-content. The short runtime might have been what killed this drama but at least this way it doesn’t feel like a big commitment.
I will do my best to be optimistic about the future of GL and I’m sure that dramas like this one pave the way to better WLW representation.
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The main reason I watched this is because of Ji Sung. I've seen many of his works before to have realised that this guy is an amazing actor. I fell in love with his characters in the past and the way he executed them, that I literally cannot pass up anything that he comes in the future.
If you're a big Kpop fan then the cast will definitely be to your liking and in my opinion, they all did a good job in portraying their roles. The four boys together had great chemistry which made me wish that they were an actual band of their own. HyeRi does take some time to gel into her own character but she eventually does and it's a delight to see her.
The story is straightforward, failed manager guy decides to make a band and make them big. Obviously, many obstacles come in the way and this is all about the character development of all the characters and how they overcome these obstacles together. The boys as a band were great so was really sweet how they slowly open up to each other about their hidden secrets and how they support each other despite all the hard comings. The chemistry between Ji Sung and Kang MinHyuk was so cute because they had a genuine brother relationship that was so exciting to see.
Overall, I enjoyed myself thoroughly seeing the connection between all the characters and how they accept each other. I would definitely recommend to try this out as you'll definitely have a warm feeling inside whilst watching this!
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Brotherhood, Self-sacrifice, Touching, Funny, Great Acting
This is an uplifting youth drama. It is humorous and heartwarming with amazing story telling and fantastic acting. There is no romance, which I’m very pleased because I’m tired of the tropey romance that has been churned out repeatedly. This story is about brotherhood and friendship, set in the year of 2005 when flip phones were in use, in a third tiered city north of Beijing close to the border of Korea where the Korean language is widely spoken.Ye Xiaowen (Chen Youwei) is a 17 year old orphan living in the orphanage when Gao Yang’s (Xin Yunllai) father, Gao Bin (Lu Fangsheng), a divorcee, finds him and takes him home to live with them, without telling Gao Yang Ye Xiaowen's background. Gao Yang is also 17 years old and both kids sit together in class and sleep in the same bedroom. At the beginning, Gao Yang cannot understand why his father has taken home a boy whom he has never known, to live them and he’s pretty unhappy about it. In every way, he tries to make life difficult for Ye Xiaowen. Ye Xiaowen is an introvert who doesn’t show his feelings easily and endures all the abuses Gao Yang throws at him. Through misunderstanding and rumors, both Ye Xiaowen and Gao Yang had thought Ye Xiaowen a bastard child of Gao Bin, and this has created hilarious events until Gao Bin proves that he’s not the father. Gao Yang later finds out that Ye Xiaowen is an orphan and since then, he vows to take care and protect Ye Xiaowen with everything he can.
Gao Bin is a PE teacher but he’s not very well disciplined and Gao Yang has no confidence in everything his father does. Ye Xiaowen is a competent long-distance runner and Gao Bin becomes his coach and he aims to help Ye Xiaowen compete and win scholarships to get into his dreamed university. However, due to Gao Bin’s lack of discipline, his son becomes Ye Xiaowen’s second coach and both go through ups and downs together, never abandoning each other. Their relationship grows over the days and brotherly love for each other is solid and genuine. They encourage each other and want the best for each other.
This drama gives the viewers very strong character development, from an undisciplined teacher to a responsible one whom everyone loves and respects, from a lazy and rebellious boy to a hardworking compassionate young adult, from an introvert to a bright, hopeful, striving youth. All the other side characters also undergo strong character development and achieve their dreams.
My Verdict
This is a great story of compassion, selflessness, courage, and brotherhood. It is touching and yet very funny. All the characters are relatable as they are just like your everyday neighbors with similar flaws. There is a lot of genuine care and love with community spirit; everyone watches out for each other. The acting is very natural and believable, the directing and the editing are close to perfection. All the scenes are delightful, and the sad scenes can draw tears because we, as viewers, can relate. Every character has a story to tell and a dream to fulfill. The selection of actors is appropriate and the chemistry between the main leads is wonderful.
There is nothing BL about this drama. To me, the relationship is not even bromance, just simple brotherhood and trust, like a family.
This is a fun drama for the whole family. Don’t miss it!
Strongly recommended!
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I suggest all prospective audience to ignore negative reviews before watching it. Only audience with “taste”, “feeling” and “empathy” appreciate the story, beautiful soundtracks, excellent acting, superb chemistry, great casting and character development.
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This isn't what you're looking for and don't dream to have a better ending than the one from the drama!
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My Strawberry Film — When Love Exists Only in the Eyes
Many viewers claim My Strawberry Film is “not really BL or GL.”But this reaction says more about what we expect from the genre than about what this drama truly is. This is not a story about labels, kisses, or confessions shouted into the rain. It is a story about people who don’t yet have the words to name what they feel. And because of that, it is one of the most emotionally honest dramas I have watched in years.
A Story Built on Echoes, Not Declarations:
At its heart, My Strawberry Film is about how love is inherited, not biologically, but emotionally. Minami discovers that her mother, Mizuki, was once in love with her best friend Kaoru, now married to a man. When an old video of Mizuki is exposed online, Minami is forced to face the truth: her mother’s first love was a woman. This revelation doesn’t feel like a plot twist. It feels like a quiet earthquake. Minami begins to recognize herself in her mother. The same sensitivity. The same emotional intensity. The same instinct to care too deeply, too quickly. Her feelings toward Chika are not random; they are a reflection, a continuation of a story that was never allowed to finish. The series does not frame this as tragedy, but as inheritance: love passing through time, reshaped by a society that has only recently begun to allow it to exist.
Ryo and Hikaru: Love Without a Vocabulary
The emotional core of the drama belongs to Ryo. Ryo is an introvert who has been in love with Hikaru for a long time. But instead of confessing, he does what many queer people learn to do early: he supports from a distance. He hides. He waits.
For six episodes, he encourages Hikaru’s attraction to Minami, even though it quietly breaks him. The camera often places Ryo on the edges of the frame, watching from doorways, corners, behind glass. His emotional isolation becomes visual language.
Hikaru, meanwhile, does not understand himself. He is drawn to Minami because he projects onto her the look he once saw in Mizuki’s eyes in that old video—the look of someone deeply in love. But Minami never looks at him that way. The person who does is Ryo. The playground scene, where Hikaru finally asks Ryo if he has feelings for him, is one of the most painful moments of the series. Ryo hesitates. Hikaru’s eyes fill with fear. So Ryo lies. Not because he doesn’t love him—but because he does.
The Past as a Mirror
Episode 7 recontextualizes everything. Hikaru realizes that Mizuki’s gaze in the video was the gaze of a woman in love with another woman. He understands, perhaps for the first time, that love like this had no safe place to exist 25 years ago. And suddenly, he understands Ryo. When Hikaru finally says that Ryo looks at him the same way Mizuki looked at Kaoru, the series completes its emotional circle. Love has traveled through time, waiting for a moment where it can finally be named.
The final scene is not a spectacle. No kiss. No music swelling. Only two hands holding each other. And that is more than enough.
Why Some Viewers “Didn’t See It”
Many online reactions describe the series as “one-sided” or “not really BL.” But My Strawberry Film is not about resolution. It is about recognition. This drama belongs to the same cinematic family as His (2019), Taiikukan Baby (2008), and Asymmetry (2008)—stories where desire is expressed through silence, through gaze, through what is never said. It trusts the audience to feel. And if you were waiting for visible confirmation, you missed the emotional language the show is written in.
Final Thought
My Strawberry Film is not about who ends up together. It is about the moment someone finally understands why their heart has always been restless. If you thought nothing happened, then maybe you weren’t watching the faces. Because in this series, every silence is a confession.
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