Reviews

I have to preface this with a little fact: I hardly watch HS dramas! I'm too old to really get into them and the stories tend to bore me silly! But this? Short, sweet and to the point! Covers everything you need in a drama. The OTP meets, fall for each other, have that antagonist in the background, the piggyback ride, not one but TWO kisses! What else do you need? The acting was superb! The music? I want some of these songs, especially the one that Jung Woo sung at the end at the Contest. I don't know what else to say but this is a must!! I loved the cast! From the leads to the supporting! This was near perfect! It deserved the perfect rating from me!

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So I finally got the time to watch this movie, which they show in cinemas in our country for good of one week, and I watched it on its last day so I barely made it LOL. I haven't seen the anime so I can't compare, I don't know how faithful adaptation it is but I really like what I've seen. I don't feel that the pacing is rushed so it didn't end up confusing and each scenes are so vital to the story like If you remove one the story will be affected so in that sense the movie didn't became draggy. But sadly I felt that the story was told in a simplistic way like there are not enough tensions and characters are a bit one dimensional that made me hard to care for them sometimes.

Before watching I already knew the this would be a sad story but at the same time I am confident that I would not cry, I am kind of immune to that since I've seen a lot of sad movies, and I am right, I didn't cry, but that doesn't mean the story is NOT sad cause it is, but I felt that that they made the ending bitter sweet because based on how people describe the anime it would have been a cry fest.

Now for the thing that I really like, the theme in the movie, I love how the movie conveys their connection thru music, I felt that it is so romantic like it is their love letter for each other, and just like the phrase they say to each other "will it reach you?". With that theme conveyed so well only made their performances so much better, technically they are already brilliant but with so much emotions attached to the performance made that scene EPIC.

Cinematography is beautiful, it is one of those colorful Japanese movies, seems to be the trend nowadays. Music is given to be excellent but what I am surprised is how well they play the instruments, one movie come to mind that could rival this in terms of the skills of playing the instruments in a movie and that is Jay Chou's "Secret". I like the ending song as well, I don't understand japanese but its melody captures the ambiance of the movie.

Great acting from both Kento and Suzu, you can tell that they come a long way especially Suzu but now I can say they are capable of portraying complicated characters. It is reported that they went intense training playing violin and piano for their respective roles and it paid off well as their performance is believable, which is important to be called a good adaptation and they nailed it in this department. Side characters are the issue here like I didn't feel them, probably lack of screen time I guess, such a shame though because I really want to see more of Anna Ishii, I felt that her talent was wasted in her role.

I feel that many guys will love this film like imagine one day you saw a beautiful girl under a cherry tree then from that moment your life change, happens to me (not under the cherry tree though).

Kaori: Did I find a place in your heart?

Arima: You step all over it.

-literally me

Check my Blog for other reviews & other JDramas stuffs. (｡◕‿‿◕｡)
https://thatjapanesedramaguy.blogspot.com/

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In the current trend of crime, medical, or complicated dramas, this show shined because of its simplicity and sincerity. It has such a big heart (just like Kahoko), you can't help but fall in love with it.

From the moment I saw Takahata Mitsuki's transcendent performance as Kahoko, it was love at first sight. From her multitude of expressions to her voice acting to so many intangibles, I have no words. Screen-caps and gifs alone don't do her justice. She made a flawed character like Kahoko feel real and lovable.

I also now have a soft spot for Takeuchi Ryoma, he's such a natural actor, and esp. gifted in comedy. His chemistry and comedic timing with Mitsuki was spot on. Their OTP was too darn adorable. This was such a funny, heart-warming show composed of all these talented actors, who all did such a great job.

Coming of age dramas are usually about school or career, but this is about family, which resonated all the more with me, with life truths that will stay with me long after the show is done. Some may have found Kahoko's childlike innocence and naivety off-putting. But that continuous hunger to persevere, grow and learn, and not lose that endless optimism and positivity for life is the perfect armor in this current world full of troubles. I'll always remember Kahoko fondly for being the beacon of happiness when I needed it the most.

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I think a lot of times we find ourselves looking for drama that is 'different'. Well, here's one for you. This drama manages to be cute and fresh without any makjang, birth secrets, evil relatives, amnesia, tragedy, abuse, crime or unbearable second leads. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

Not to say that this is a story wholly deprived of cliches. Of course, it does have a love triangle/square and some romantic conflicts between the main leads. Refreshingly, for a change the conflict between the leads comes from within themselves and not any external sources (which I usually hate).

What I liked was that the characters seemed realistic and relatable on a certain level. They are both very, very normal people trying to juggle their love lives and careers- like most of us do. So this drama has its relatable aspects to it like career, life, aging and love. But don't worry. It's not a boring drama and there are enough laughs and light moments to keep one entertained. :D

Anyway, it takes a long time for the characters to fall in love. So if you're like me who prefers a build-up before love, you'll definitely like this drama. It is nice to watch these two people become strangers to friends and then friends to lovers. After all, cohabitation between two people of the opposite gender has to lead somewhere, right? This IS dramaland we are talking about here. :D

The story on the whole seemed to me like a mixture of My Best Friend's Wedding and the Taiwanese drama In Time With You (I read somewhere that both shows have the same producers). At times, this story seemed to me like an alternative universe to In Time With You. There's even a reference to that drama in the first episode!

I have to say that I liked all the subplots in this drama. There are many sub-romances also which were all likable. The friends of Ji An Lei were hilarious (Tiffany!) and supportive. He Wei Ting was also a sweetheart for the majority of the show. I did have problems with the female lead's character at times but she grows later on so she kind of redeems herself. I also had doubts about the main pairing but they managed to have good chemistry throughout the show. Also, there is an age difference between them but it isn't so apparent.

I also liked the ending of the drama. Being a Taiwanese drama, it dragged more than required but it didn't get unbearable. Watch this drama if you're bored with usual cliches and are looking for a good story.

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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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Pleasantly surprised gets 3/5 stars.

After rewatching the series, I decided to come back and edit my review on one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas.
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Story: There's food, there's love and there's a slice of life. I loved that this drama had more than romance. I'm used to dramas focusing on one or the other, so it's nice that we get to see a healthy blend between Kai Qi's career goals and her chance encounter at love with Zi Jie. It's also a bonus that the food was also very well shot, so my recommend is to not watch on an empty stomach!

One thing that I was critical about was the addition of the drama that was unecessary to the plot and only served the purpose of dragging the show further. Towards the end of the drama, the conflict started becoming overboard. Although, I love longer dramas and I love the opportunity to see cute moments in a drama, at some point, a drama needs to come to a appropriate close. I would've preferred the show wrapping up with less episodes than prolonging the show with over-the-top drama.

Acting/Cast: I felt that the main cast did fairly well in playing the roles they were cast with the exception of a few (i.e. ah jie's brother, du kai's mother, hao wei's sister). I love how affectionate the main characters were and how natural they became with each other. While watching this, I got to see maturity with the main couple, they don't pry into each others business and then get mad about it, which typically happens in many dramas. In addition, I love that the characters have the ability to put two and two together, instead of a long wait for the character to discover the truth about something. Lastly, the great thing about this drama is that there aren't really any despicable secondary characters or multiple love lines.

Music: The music was fantastic, it fit perfectly with the mood and it fit perfectly with the scenes. It also gave you clues to what was about to happen which I found a little cheesy but, It was perfectly fine.

Rewatch Value: Yes, I would watch this drama again through clips because of the excessive dragging.

Overall: I think you should give this drama a chance because it is a unique drama and It will make you laugh and put a smile on your face. Although there are moments where you just feel like WTF, but after those WTF moments you actually enjoy it even more to see through to the end.

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Art is beautiful....

China can do bl and do it well enough to capture the important aspects of good story telling. From the beginning it is obvious that it doesn't have the funds to produce it on a grander scale but this is easily overlooked by the quality of acting. Riveted by the story and its pacing, it is a beauty. The interactions of the entire cast flowed so well to make the audience believe in their characters.

I was enthralled by the mains acting. The starkness of the environment aided in displaying how important each meeting was to the story. There is an anxious theme that permeates the story, informing the audience to enjoy each second of their love story, for in a moment this bubble could be broken and all will be lost. QL and QX embodied the intensity of their young love. QL's fiery determined confession matches well with QX's humble but intoxicating acceptance. The sacrifices they made for each other's happiness in the end would see them on different paths.

LMY and TY became a savior to each other. Ultimately, protecting and fighting for each other as real couples would. TY's round eyes and dedication to LMY would make him a favorite. Their responses to each other would make their age difference believe. TY's petulance and introspectiveness fought well against LMY's resistance and flawed thinking. Had this not been resolved, I could see TY waiting a lifetime for him.

The support cast did well also. Turtle, an early irritant, added to the spots of humor, making him a joy to watch at the end.

Production could have been better. With limited resources, the scenery and wardrobe became monotonous but overlooked. China's limits on BL physical interaction saw juvenile kisses but again forgiven due to the innocence of their relationships. The sudden appearances of characters and dissappearance added to some choppy scenes. The script in itself was brilliant (XQ's confession) and poor at times. The fillers used to lengthen the series was obvious.

The ending for each couple was beautiful. This is added to my list of series to rewatch as their confessions were charming and the piece that makes this shine.

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Princess Jellyfish...I felt like the anime wasn't really my style and I never did give it a try. I'm also not the biggest fan of live-action films since they always seem less magical (?) than the other adaptations. So, with that in mind, I have to say that I seriously regret not watching this sooner. It exceeded my expectations!

The storyline is simple but fresh. The movie was fun, it addressed some serious issues, and it was somewhat lacking in the romance department. Exactly what you'd except from a Japanese movie...and that's not a bad thing. What really made this movie great were the characters, none of them were forgettable! This is mostly thanks to the actors who were just amazing. Both of the leads knew what they were doing, they were both new to me but Suda Masaki has plenty of projects under his belt ( he has like three movies coming up next year! wow ) and Nounen Rena is also quite talented ( Amachan anyone? ).

This is a feel-good movie, funny and light-hearted...and I honestly don't have any complaints about it. I'd definetly recommend this to anyone who wants a break from melodrama, anyone who likes fashion, and anyone looking for a good weekend movie.

PS. The soundtrack was so great!

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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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Date is funny, sweet, deep and moving. The question of how do we know we are in love is probably asked by everyone at some point in their life. The question is answered from an individual perspective of life and what is important. Personally, I never ever dreamed of being in a relationship. Even when I was a child I did not fantasize about marriage nor did I play "house". Then one day after years of knowing the same people, but never meeting, I met my significant other. I fell hard and 14 years later we are still together. We were so straight forward with each other that some of this drama resonates true deep in my heart. The quotes and mathematics are also great quirky characteristic touches. I didn't care which character ended up with another character, because they were all likable. It is a relaxing, interesting watch.

All of the actors were great. Anne Higashide was really cute as Yoriko. That duck face was too funny. She is so smart and despite appearance and her practical approach is very caring. When she upsets or hurts some one, it is obvious that she doesn't mean it. I would love to have a friend like Yoriko. At least I wouldn't have to second guess her motivation or friendship. Hiroki Hasegawa is also amazing. That funny strange smile Takumi has like he isn't used to smiling but is trying to express himself is perfect. I loved his character as some one that had a scar and like most of us are want to do we let it change our lives. I'm going to get a little personal here, because his character was most important to me on a personal level. As someone who has experience agoraphobia for months after I had a mental break down over a trauma, I can say that it can become a habit. Mostly because a person can become comfortable not facing a harsh world. I felt like my perspective of reality must be wrong and I was confused for a while between what was real and what wasn't. I thought that every one was lying to me and had other social anxiety issues. I went to counseling once a week for months until I could venture out into the world again. i don't know where I would be if I had not sought help. Maybe I would have been like Takumi. Anyway, I was totally invested in the main characters.

The music was good.

I will probably rewatch this at some point.

I recommend this drama to everyone. It isn't action, thriller, murder, mystery, amnesia, lost family member, etc. type drama. However, the writing, character development, and humor over the question "what is love to me?" is worth the watch.

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Beautiful Funny Drama! Watch It!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Belated Joy Worth Every Minute
You 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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The drama started off with a more unconventional story - a concubine avoiding being noticed by the emperor to avoid the evil schemes in the palace. The story had a modern touch to it and had unrealistic parts so it's hard to take it seriously as a historical drama. However its saving grace was the comedy. This drama had many hilarious moments and it was a fun and light hearted watch. The romance progresses slowly but the friendships between the female lead and her close consort friends were great to watch.

The starting song was not my cup of tea and the osts weren't memorable. The cast was pretty great and suitable for their roles. Rewatch value isn't too high because there wasn't a lot of content.

Overall this is a great show to watch if your in need of comedy and funny dramas.

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