This review may contain spoilers
you will fall for Shin Hye Sun,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, very less spoilers
STORY IS PERFECTACTING IS PERFECT
OMG CASTING IS AMAZING
EVERY CHARACTER AND THEIR STORY IS RELEVENT TO THE THE MAIN STORY AND ITS IMPROVE THE MAIN LEADS CHARACTERS
I HAVE WATCH ALMOST 9 TIMES
COMEDY IS ALSO SO FRESH
YOU WILL NOT FEEL BL SERIES VIBES BECAUSE ITS CLEARLY EXPLAIN THAT QUEEN LOVES KING NOT MALE SOUL WHO INSIDE THE QUEEN MALE SOUL ENHANCE THE QUEEN CHARACTER YOU WILL WATCH IN QUEEN THE BAMBOO FOREST THAT KING FALL FOR QUEEN IN FIRST SIGHT BUT KNOWING THAT HE BELONGS TO HIS ENEMY'S FAMILY HE STARTS HATING HER BUT MALE SOUL WHICH INSIDE THE QUEEN HELPS TO PROVE THAT QUEEN IS NOT LIKE THAT AS KING THOUGHT AND THERE IS ALSO A OLD CONNECTION B/W KING AND QUEEN THATS A INTRESTING PART
OMG ACTINGS ARE AMAZING SHIN HYE SUN IS DAM GOOD SHE MAKES YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE IS NOT MISS QUEEN INSTEAD OF MR QUEEN
COMEDY B/W QUEEN AND COOK WAS ALSO AMAZING
AND THERE IS HAPPY ENDING
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This review may contain spoilers
A story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.
Story: I’m writing this as a lesbian who experienced the same events as Cairo within this drama as I can understand and appreciate the plot in a different way because of this. I also struggled with my sexuality the same as Cairo, and was outed when I was still not ready. I (like Cairo) was outed by my now ex best friend who I thought would accept me, but turned completely against me. Being outed by the person you thought was your best friend completely breaks your trust which explains why Cairo is so closed off. Dealing with the burden of such a huge secret weighs you down and having friends by your side is the most important thing you can have when you’re struggling with your own identity. The way Cai also handled it, when she apologised he accepted her apology but did not forgive her yet, made me happy. When someone hurts you that much, especially a close friend, it’s almost impossible for your friendship to go back to the way things were before, so I love that they didn’t make what his best friend did as a minor issue and showed the consequences of her actions both for him and her. The slow but quick progression of their relationship was fast but also felt quite natural in some ways. When they finally met you could see so much love in their eyes I actually teared up when I saw them crying. This was not just a story about a simple internet romance during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is a story of love and acceptance even in the worst of times.Cast: Elijah Canlas as Cairo- At first I did think Elijah’s acting was a little awkward but as the series progressed we saw an actor who took on a role giving it his own interpretation and completely taking on the role of Cairo. It wasn’t even the big things, but the most subtle actions made his role so believable. When I first realised I was interested in woman the term ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ felt so foreign, so when I finally confronted my sexual preference I remember getting choked up and it took me a few seconds to even say the word ‘gay’. When Cairo did the same when talking to his mum I had to pause the episode and breathe because of how emotional I felt. I can officially say that Elijah as Cairo is the best actor to have played such a role in order to represent the fear those of the LGBT community still face even to this day. When he portrayed his father dying, it wasn’t the case of quickly moving on, but it also wasn’t portrayed as him being constantly depressed, it was more he was sad but wanted to continue living his life and carrying on his father’s memory which I loved.
—Kokoy de Santos as Gavreel- Kokoy created a character for Gavreel that was more than just the simple playboy he may seem on the outside. He created a confident but secretly insecure character who always wanted the people around him to be happy. He was a character that was pushy in some ways, but also understood when Cairo needed space and would back off but still show and send his love and support throughout all the tough times he faced. Gavreel was also just as prone to jealousy as anyone would be, and although he clearly struggles to communicate he does try and we watch him grow through the series.I really loved the character of Gavreel and I think describing him as “boyfriend goals” would be especially fitting.
—Adrianna So as Pearl- Wow, Pearl was literally my favourite female character not just in this series, but possibly ever. She was the shipper female friend that was there for the couple, defended them, but also knew when not to interfere with their love lives. She had a strong sense of right and wrong and would even argue with her best friend on Cairo’s behalf if she thought he did something wrong. My favourite quote of hers is “if you did something stupid don’t use mental health as an excuse, own up to your mistakes make up for it and don’t do it again”. She even drove all the way out to help Gav and Cai meet for the first time, and left as soon as they were together so they had chance to be alone as if she knew how important this meeting was. She’s someone that seems like she would be easy to make friends with and talk to when you go through tough times. I can’t wait to watch her own series when it comes out.
Music: It was pretty enjoyable with some good backtracks and sound effects, but nothing I thought was incredibly memorable.
Rewatch value: I can definitely say as soon as this series ends I’ll straight away be rewatching it, and I can imagine that I’ll go back to this series many times.
Overall: I’m so grateful for this series and I believe this series alone will help so many people in Cairo’s position. This is more than just a simple BL series and I can’t thank The IdeaFirst company enough for creating this. This will definitely be a game changer, not only for Filipino BL’s, but the representation of gay characters as a whole. I’m so glad I was able to watch this series when it first began.
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This review may contain spoilers
Great Chemistry, Questionable Plot Execution
This drama was a mess and parts of it didn't make much sense, but I enjoyed it mostly because of Mos and Bank.What I didn't like
This 8 episode drama had too many plot points packed in, none of which were fully developed. We had:
Child acquaintances
Dealing with the loss of a parent and a new step mother
Enemies to lovers
Playboys falling in love
Working together on a work project
Arranged marriage that the main character didn’t want
Studying abroad opportunity
Love triangle with the friend coming back from overseas
Going to the same university but in different faculties
One person falling in love with the other years before they actually fully met
Date rape (whatever happened in the first episode)
Any of these plot lines or maybe even 2 or 3 of them fleshed out properly would have given us a great drama but because they decided to include all of those plot lines, the drama was all over the place.
The editing could have been improved because scenes didn't seem to fit together and some felt unnecessary. There were also enough cliché shots to make it noticeable (like focusing on some kisses too long, the rain falling randomly during the fight and the lights at the claw machine). Some of the kisses were really good, but others not so much.
Don't even get me started on the messed up premise of the show, that they never even full addressed/ explored. Like I'm all for a dark storyline, but it needs to be done well.
What I liked
Mos and Bank's chemistry. I'm talking about the way the look at each other and the natural skinship that Mangkorn and Yai had in the series. Just beautiful.
The conversations about equality and same sex marriage in Thailand, even though not always well incorporated, these conversations are still important.
The OST is amazing, though it might not capture the vibe of the show, Bank has a beautiful voice.
The drama itself is visually pleasing in terms of the contrasting of colours Mangkorn and Yai wear, the expensives cars and the pretty locations.
So, if you are watching this show because you saw how adorable Mos and Bank are in their interviews and vlogs, then this show is worth a watch to support the actors or even if you want something to pass the time and don't want to think too much, then watch it. However, if you are watching it for a logical plot and good progression of the storyline, then I'd say skip it but watch ep 7. It's so cute.
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1
1A Deep Dive into Human Emotions ft. Frustration and Sexual Tension
Between Us is a series that is mainly focused on deeply exploring each characters’ emotions. It’s slow paced (EXACTLY like UMWA was too), but unlike its predecessor it doesn’t contain any action / mystery elements that made UMWA interesting even to fans who prefer plot-focused shows. So it’s definitely not everybody’s cup of tea, but if you like relationship focused shows, this one is a MUST WATCH for sure, no matter if you have watched UWMA before or not.The big debates around the rating of the show and it being a 'masterpiece' or a 'disappointment' come from the fact, that it focuses on the side couple from UWMA - which was hugely succesful - and also from the fact, that people didn’t do any research about the show / its plot / its novel whatsoever and went into it blindly, expecting UMWA pt. 2. But it is not, in fact, UMWA pt. 2 - it’s Between Us, a beautiful show that will drive you crazy with frustration, give you butterflies with its cuteness and make you drunk with its sexual tension all while making you cry too.
So I would like to talk about those issues and comparisons with UWMA and then I will try to objectively review Between Us as a stand alone series.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN AND BETWEEN US
Like already mentioned, most of the viewers who are watching Between Us have already seen UWMA before. Expecting Between Us to be a “UMWA pt. 2”, many have not even noticed that Between Us is a different genre and went into watching the series with false expectations. And when it became apparent that Between Us is different from what they imagined, they felt disappointed.
UWMA has become a staple bl - it started a new era and was on top of bl lists of majority of viewers when it came out. Even though it was a relationship focused and a slow-paced series too, because of its action / mystery elements it became enjoyable even to people, who usually prefer action and plot-focused shows. It also carries the feeling of nostalgia, as it was the first bl show for many, with the bonus of the "pre-covid times" nostalgia too. And while it really was that good at the time, if you rewatch it now you'll likely find it not as grand as we all remember it being. It was an s-tier for 2019, but would be considered an a+ tier today. Which adds another point to the “disappointment” of Between Us - many viewers expected an s-tier series (by today’s standarts) and got an a+tier one.
Another thing I'd like to point out is the belief that "Between Us has been made purely because of the fans' love for Win/Team". It stands from the fact that the series took 3 years to release and fans hyped it up throughout them all. But here's the thing - it was stated by Boun and Prem that they were told about filming Between Us at the end of the filming of UMWA - before it even aired. The series is based on a hugely popular novel called 'Hemp Rope', which is set in the same universe as 'The Red Thread' (a novel from which UMWA was adapted).
If you look at other bl releases, you'll find it very common for directors to adapt all novels set in the same universe. A lot of Mame's novels - like Tharn Type and Don't say No, LITA (it adapts 2 novels), but also the amazing Manner of Death, Triage and Transplant (which is coming soon). Still, some fans believe that they are the sole reason for this series' existence, thus feel somehow entitled to it and criticize of every little mistake.
PLOT
Some people are saying that the plot is not moving forward and “what else could be expected from a side couple”, completly disregarding the fact that BETWEEN US IS FOLLOWING THE PLOT OF THE NOVEL. If you feel that the series is stretching the plot, that’s exactly what UMWA did too - even more so, as they stretched a 29-chapters light novel into 17 episodes. And it’s also P’New’s (the director’s) style of doing things - he likes to play with our emotions, letting us hang at the end of episode while laughing about it at home (at least that’s what his friens said).
Between Us focuses on deeply exploring the protagonists’ emotions. The plot is focused on the relationship aspect between the pairs and it takes its time exploring everybody’s point of view. Basically, the relationships are the plot. Every pair also explores different topics / traumas, so the whole series takes a somehow deep dive into a human psyche. Especially the uncertaity that Win / Team face throughout the whole show - being afraid to take that step forward - is very well portrayed. While mildly frustrating, it’s also very relatable and gives the show a more realistic vibe, which P’New also mentioned. (More explained at the end of the review)
WHAT I LOVED IN BETWEEN US
- CINEMATOGRAPHY - it's simply beautiful. It has a very high production feel to it, the portray of scenery is great and every shot feels well planned out.
- MUSIC. Not only did this series use some of the most beloved sounds from UMWA, it came with another set of musical masterpieces. This is the place I feel that P’New's productions never disappoint.
- CHEMISTRY between the main pairing is amazing. Scorching hot at places and sweet at others, it really delivers everything we have longed for.
- CONSENT in this show is exemplary and should be applauded.
- PORTRAY OF EMOTIONS. They know exactly how to make us laugh, cry, coo, thirst and how to give us butterflies.
- TOPICS being explored. This series takes its time in exploring interesting topics through their pairs - self blame, forgivness, mental health, trauma, following dreams, meeting parents' expectations, meeting your s/o online, the sacrifices of being in the entertainment industry and dating a celebrity.
- A, BEE, SEA are a nice comedic relief that doesn't feel forced.
NEUTRAL
- SLOW PACING of the show and the FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS. Some people love it, some people hate it. Eighter way, that is personal to everybody, so I’m putting it in the neutral section.
- Between Us has a lot SEXIER TONE than UWMA's sweet one.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH
- If you've watched UMWA, you pretty much know what is going to happen in terms of Win / Team (like the result of the competition), so the expectation and built tension is somehow lost. I actually feel that it would be better to watch UWMA afterwards, as Between Us doesn't give away that much about Dean and Pharm.
- This one is a clump of topics that is criticised a lot, but since they are connected, I wrote them as 1 point: TOO MANY PAIRINGS -> too many topics to explore in too little episodes -> paradox of a show being very slow at times, while also overloading viewers with information.
TOO MANY PAIRINGS ?
If you haven’t seen UMWA before, then yes, there may be too many pairings in Between Us that are given too much priority.
The main pair: Win / Team. The side couples: Bee/Prince, Wan/ Tul, Manaow /Pruek. A couple that we see occasionally: Dean and Pharm. Yes, it's five of them.
During the promotions and the New Year Special there were only 4 couples, Dean / Pharm (Ohm and Fluke) were not included. It may be because their own series - 609 Bedtime Story - aired very shortly after Between Us and there were clashes with the promotions, but I feel like it also represents the structure in Between Us fairly well. Dean / Pharm are mostly mentioned, with only a few scenes together. But even then, they are an acknowledged pair, thus being an official fifth couple.
That makes the series a bit confusing for non UWMA watchers, who are served 5 couples to get familiar with. Nevertheless, the series does its best at introducing them and exploring each of them slowly. That’s the only real problem I see when it comes to Between Us’s performance as a stand alone series.
WIN / TEAM
Boun and Prem have really delivered. Their chemistry is impeccable and the sexual tension can be felt through the screen. They can be the comedic duo, the fluffy bunnies or deliver the sad feels, they can do it all. Their acting in ep 11 was their best yet. They also explore a variety of interesting topics in this series. For Win it's the impact of being the middle child - being afraid of owning things and then losing them, keeping a family together and always having to be the perfect, responsible son. That’s also where his fear of falling in love comes from.
For Team it's dealing with trauma and guilt. Usually in bl shows we see a childhood trauma from an accident that the child thinks they have caused, but it actually wasn't their fault. In Team's case it was his fault, but still, he was a child. Navigating this trauma, self-blame, insomnia and being in an unconfirmed realtionship creates a very strong, onion cutting cocktail. But no matter what, Win is always there for Team and I love that, together with him alway asking for consent.
WAN / TUL
Although their love story is interesting, I think that they don’t fit into the story as seamlessly as the other couples. Their story is happening somewhat outside of the others - a bit like Kim and Porschay - and their chemistry is just okay. Obviously it's because they talk online, as they are exploring the topic of dating online and falling in love without knowing each other irl, but still. And because all of their interactions happen through a mobile game (that we don't even get to see), the cinematography gets mundane very quickly - it’s 2 guys sitting down and playing a game on their phones.
Still, I think the actors did a good job and I really like the hesitation about keeping the other’s trust while staying anonymous, or possibly losing the other’s trust but getting to meet irl. The whole ‘meeting in a game’ concept is very fresh and we’ll definitely see more of it in the future.
BEE / PRINCE
This pair quickly became one of my favourites. I simply adore their interactions and wish they had more screen time. I like how both Bee and Prince are a little unsure but still go for the relationship. Prince deals with a few different problems - dating as an actor, past scandals and the sacrifices you have to make to stay in the industry. I feel like other bl shows that talk about 'the industry' focus mainly on the relationship aspect of it, so it’s really refreshing to see the sacrifices in terms of personal time. When you think about it, balancing school, studies, hobbies or other jobs with acting is something that actors go through on daily bases, so I appreciate this topic being brought up.
For both Bee and Prince there is the prominent topic of dating: Prince has his set of worries, as an actor who may get hate because of dating, while Bee - as a person outside of the industry - worries that he won't be able to match Prince's level and protect him from the harm. I very much appreciate Prince coming out as gay and Bee acknowledging that he's gay too - in so many shows it's "You're the only guy I like, that doesn't mean I'm gay", whereas Bee clearly said "I like you, so that means I'm gay". Thei chemistry is great and I genuinely love all of their moments.
MANAOW / PRUK
They once again deliver flawlessly, though I feel like they may be cursed. Despite being great together and having an awesome chemistry, they got little to no screen time as a pair in UWMA, so I was super excited to see bigger focus on them in Between Us. And while we got many much needed cute and funny moments, there were little intimate moments. I understand that their relationship is based on Manaow's quirky personality and they are used as a comedic relief at times, but I really want to see some actual intimate moments between them. Especially since their actors irl have very cute chemistry.
I think it has to do more with the fact that it's a straight couple in a bl series more than anything, but I think that Manaow - the best supportive girl she is - deserves better. But in terms of their on-screen performance, their pair always delivers and you cannot help but to fall in love with them. Plus they explores the topics of dreams and expectations, which is a familiar struggle for many people.
DEAN / PHARM
Do I even need to say anything? Top-notch performance as always, there’s no doubt about that. Though they only appear occasionally, as they already have a whole series dedicated to them. So if you'd like to see more of this OG couple's beautiful and sweet romance, check out UMWA after you're done with Between Us. But be prepared to grab some tissues - their story cuts very deep and you'll find yourself crying a lot.
OVERALL
Like stated at the beginning, Between Us is a MUST WATCH, it’s easily an a+tier stand alone show. If you are the target audience - you enjoy shows focused on relationships - you will enjoy Between Us very much. It’s a beautiful series with good acting, beautiful cinematography and top-notch music. There are some flaws, but the pros outweight them by a giant margin. It has many cute, funny, sexy and sad moments to offer. The topics being discussed are diverse and we really dive deep in some places. The chemistry between the pairs is awesome, plus the main leads’ sexual tension Between Them is very prominent, so take a few deep breaths and feel free to dive right in.
PS: A year ago, Between Us Special was released. It was a little project initiated by Boun and Prem themselves. These are short episodes without any plot, filled with Win and Team’s fluffy and funny moments in their domestic life. It’s one of the cutest and most hertwarming things, so if you haven’t yet, please give it a watch, it has healing properties.
PPS: About Between Us and P’New. P’New appeared in the reaction channel “NungNaRong” during reaction to the episode 6 of Between Us. He has talked about many things including filming of the series, but also working in the film industry while making BLs. He even said that Love by Chance was almost not aired, as the station it was supposed to aired on cancelled 3 days between the release date. He also mentioned that he has wanted to make Between Us more realistic than his previous works. The whole episode is interesting (he talks throughout is, it’s not an interview) and their channel also invites other guests (usually actors) to watch some episodes with them, check them out if you’d like to.
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Fighting Hand-in-Hand
This drama is a much-needed drama with a sweet romance to compensate the angst in the recently aired Love and Redemption, and numerous other open-ended dramas. It has a super handsome new actor who is making his debut and it is also one of the many cross-dressing dramas released lately. The story is semi-serious with cute and funny moments littered throughout. The pace is good and the storyline is not complex. It is certainly a very relaxing watch.This is a story about palace power struggle. Right from the start, the antagonist is already made known to the viewers. Though unknown for the protagonists with no concrete proofs that all the mysteries and crimes they’re trying to solve are linked to the antagonist, nonetheless, the eventual outcome does not surprise them.
The Prince of Qi (Zhang Ling He) is a wandering prince who holds no political power. He has a great relationship with his younger brother who is the Emperor, but a nemesis of his uncle who wants the throne. He disguises as a wealthy aristocrat as Pei Zhao and frequents the brothels. There he meets and falls in love with Su Ci (Sebrina Chen) who disguises as a man working as a high-level investigator. Pei Zhao is patient, forgiving, condoning and protective towards Su Ci. He is strategic and very intelligent. Su Ci is upright, unbiased and detailed which makes her a great investigator. Together with their friends, a medical genius, a skilled sword man and the best cook, they make an ideal team with enviable friendship. Right from episode 1, Pei Zhao and Su Ci begin to work hand in hand, literally, solving crimes and unfolding a bigger conspiracy. They’ve never been separated since, everywhere they go, they go together and everything they do, they do it together. It is really very comforting to see they are always at each other’s side and trusting each other. Any misunderstanding is resolved almost as soon as it arises because they are being very honest to each other; it is indeed very heart-warming to see the couple holding hands all the time.
I’m delighted with Zhang Ling He’s portrayal of Pei Zhao/Prince of Qi. This is his first drama but his performance is beyond my expectation, far more convincing than many other more experienced actors. He has a very handsome face and a well built body. Acting as a flamboyant playboy and later as a devoted lover, Zhang Ling He’s performance is believable and lovable. I cannot help myself but looking at his handsome face all the time.
Su Ci has a calling – to find out what had happened seven years ago when her whole tribe was massacred, leaving her the lone survivor. Her investigative prowess helps her unravel the conspiracy and eventually bring justice for her tribe. Sebrina Chen has cross-dressed in several other dramas and she is very convincing, dressing as a man. Having a matter-of-factly demeanor, Sebrina Chen’s portrayal is authentic and wonderful.
The second couple is perhaps the cutest and sweetest side couple. Their love for each other is unmistakable and they help solve many crimes together. The other cast members are both good looking and wonderful in their respective roles. The ending is concluded properly with justice served - the good is being rewarded and the bad is being punished, and the lovers are happily ever after.
This is indeed a very enjoyable drama not to be missed.
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TO THE POINT!!
This drama is so To The Point. This is what dramas should be like. where can i find more dramas like this? T-T also., why does this not have any reviews?? (guess im the lucky one to be writing the first, lol) So going back to the drama, The drama ooof, ...Its so good that I cant find out any single flaws here. well, maybe there ArE but idk they were unnoticable to me. Soooo, You should watch this drama cuz it has:No complicated storyline
No love triangles
No jealous SFL/SML
No sad ending
No useless quarrels between ML FL & misunderstandings
No complicated court shit
A SuPeR hawt, badass, attractive & sometimes cute looking ML (he made me a simp bro)
cute FL
Excellent visuals, settings, costumes, makeup & camera quality
& Finally, No reason for you to not watch :DD
By any chance if you stumbled upon this drama, DONT SKIP. Its actually VERY GOOD for a short drama. It takes like 2hr or so to finish this & i would totally love to rewatch this anytime soon. The rewatch value is 8/10 for me. The story is repetitive & not that unheard of so. i would give it a 7. As for the acting/casting, im not the one to judge but for me its a 10. & the music too, i really liked it. Its so sweet and calming to my ears..
moving furtherr, I believe that the ML here has a lot of potential in the entertainment industry and should be recognized more. In my opinion, he is perfect for playing ''cool & badass'' roles. Even though he is not portrayed as a baddie in this drama, he gives off such a bad guy vibe. I would love to see him play a badass character in the future." & coming to fl now.. The fl did a good job with her role. She should get more opportunities to roam in different genres and characters in future. Also not neglecting the side characters & other guest roles, they also performed their roles to their fullest aswell.
Sooo, in short, The drama is very nice. The characters execute their roles perfectly & the storyline and eps are very simple to follow. Its good to watch when you are free and have nothing else to do. Basically, VERY MUCH RECOMMENDED FOR YALL to watch when you feel like you have nothing to watch. If not for anything, just watch for ML bro lmao.
signing offf,
yours Angel
Thanks for reading the review <33
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What I got, however, was a very real story of broken individuals with difficult family lives who deal with very believable and relatable situations just trying to figure things out as best they can. There is no antagonist in this piece other than life itself.
In the first half of the movie, we see Jeon Do-Yeon playing a very stoic mother of a mentally handicapped boy who we later learn seems to be the glue that is holding her marriage together. Once she is back on home ground, however, we see her in a different light as she is successfully running her family fashion line and seems more confident that she was in Finland. The moral conflict caused by the affair is more apparent in her character and she portrays the hesitation very well.
Gong Yoo’s character is one that pleasantly surprised me here. Granted I am biased with all matters Yoo, however he lost points when choosing to depict an adulterous father of a depressed child and mentally unstable wife. This role portrayed by any other actor would have come across as sleazy and stalker-ish but with him there is an innocence and vulnerability that oddly makes you root for him and the couple.
Finland itself seems to be a character in the movie as it visually depicts the isolation felt by our protagonists as well as the lack of any warmth in their current relationships. I could go on about the symbolic significance of the sauna in the woods, the hotel suites where our couple has their trist or their train ride in the second half of the movie but that would take forever.
If you are looking for a bubbly romance or are watching with boxes of tissue ready at hand, then this may not be the one for you. If however, you want to see the world from an alternative point of view or just really feel something down to your soul, then I highly recommend this movie.
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A Letter to the Ordinary You and Me
I have so many thoughts about this drama that I am not sure I can even fully express it.This drama takes us on a journey with Su Cheng Cheng, an ordinary woman (but also incredibly strong) who gains this filter bracelet that allows her to learn something new about the world and herself with every transformation. Filter is not just about her transformations; it is also about the filters people have on each other that influences our views of each other. Once we have a bad impression of someone, we tend to only view their behaviors in a negative light and vice versa. This drama showed us what we thought was correct might not be the actual truth. Through these trials, Su Cheng Cheng learned what it means to love herself, the platonic loves she had from the very beginning, and a romantic love that shakes her core over and over again.
On the other side of the story, we have Tang Qi, an incredibly intelligent man who can also be awkward. He too had his own filters on which prevented him from seeing the person who was next to him all along. However, Tang Qi proved over and over again that he has the sincerest heart, and he loves with his entire being. He is able to self-reflect and try to see Su Cheng Cheng's POV on why things escalated the way it did. He is one of the best male leads I have seen in terms of development and viewers can't help but fall for him.
This drama has it all; comedy that you don't even see coming, friendship that is mutual and solid, family that is supportive, sci-fi that adds a layer of mystery, case-solving that actually gets intense, introspection about beauty standards, gender, societal norms, and a romantic love that is so pure and sincere that you can't help but smile every time you see Su Cheng Cheng and Tang Qi on screen. It is a story of misunderstanding and a story of relearning each other again. Thank you to this amazing drama and this excellent cast. I was so happy chasing this drama for the past 2-3 weeks and losing sleep was 543753345% worth it.
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This show is short and sweet, leaving you with a smile on your face. Because Of You almost gives me Long Time No See vibes, just because its something you can sit and watch all in one sitting and not feel tired.
The series itself seems a bit shakily produced, as if they wanted to put in a deeper plotline, but gave up halfway through. It's not exactly bad, but you can definitely tell something's missing there.
I also felt as if three couples was too much for this little series to handle. There's only about two hours of air time, if even that, and yet somehow they expected to fit in three love stories?
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy all three couples, because i did. They each had their own charms and strong points. I just wish perhaps they could've focused on one main couple instead of trying to fit in an hours worth of screentime for a couple into only a few minutes of each episode.
I do admit i favoured one of the couples over the other two (although, i think we all do haha). Jun Cheng and Lin Xun's chemistry is just out of this world, and i hope they're able to do a full-length series together in the future.
All-in-all, i thoroughly enjoyed this drama as a quick watch as i wait for the next episodes of the full-length series I'm watching.
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Cute, Sweet, Precious, Inspiring, Touching
I consider a drama good when it captures my emotions - it makes me laugh as well as it makes me cry - it touches and relates to me. Unlike those crappy dramas that I cannot wait to jump to the final episodes to watch the conclusions, with good dramas, I carefully watch every minute of every episode and relish every moment without wanting it to finish; I want more of the story. Legally Romance is a story like this - a captivatingly good story with amazing acting and memorable characters.I picked up this series randomly in between releases of new episodes for Royal Feast and Dine with Love. The title, in both Chinese 才不要和老板谈恋爱 (literally means don’t want to date the boss) and in English Legally Romance, sounds cliché. Initially I thought it was an office romance in a law firm. Turns out, for two-thirds of the drama, it's a youth romance of law school students. I am taken by surprise how enjoyable this drama is. This is another version of the Michael Fox’s Back to the Future movie (1985) whereby in both productions, the main leads go back to their youth and try to change their choices, hopefully getting a different and better outcome.
Qian Wei (Song Zuer) is a feisty, struggling but upstanding and smart paralegal assistant for Lu Xun (Huang Zitao aka Z.Tao) who is a partner of a renowned law firm. Lu Xun is wise, mature and intelligent. He was also Qian Wei’s classmate from law school. She attributes all her current hardship in life to Lu Xun being always on top of her throughout her college years, from academic grades, to winning all competitions in debates, student council etc.
On that fateful day, Qian Wei gets into an accident and in her unconsciousness, she dreams she goes back 11 years ago to her first year in law school. The dream is actually her subconscious mind that gives us the backstory. There, back to 11 years ago, she vows to start over in her second life and to work doubly hard to win back everything that she has lost to Lu Xun, and to right every choice she has made before, hoping she can change her fate and have more favorable outcomes in the future. She also meets her ex-boyfriend whom she vows she would never date this time. Most importantly, she wants to help her father so that she can avert his untimely death. However, she hasn’t anticipated something that she has missed all these years: Lu Xun is in love with her. This time, she notices everything Lu Xun does for her, from blood donation to fixing the streetlamps to distributing public notices clarifying her innocence etc, all done without telling her; he has always been there for her, protecting and loving her, quietly.
The drama is inspiring as our main leads strive to help the vulnerable with their pro bono legal services. To them, even when something is deemed legal, it doesn't mean it's ethical or right morally. Though a lawyer's role is to protect his/her plaintiff's interest, it should also be done ethically without unduly harm done to the other innocent parties. This is the stance our main leads are upholding firmly throughout.
Though this drama makes me grin from ear to ear most of the time, there are moments that touch me so hard that make me shed my tears. And here is the most touching letter from a father to a daughter.
Song Zuer is a first-class actor; she is cute, beautiful, natural, real and so convincing. As Qian Wei, she brings out the wittiness as well as the silliness of the character. She makes the character so enjoyable to watch and to relate, at the same time, very heart-felt and touching when it comes to her love for her father.
When I first saw Huang Zitao in Episode 1, like many viewers unfamiliar with the actor, I thought, "What's wrong with his hair?" I believe some viewers even get turned off by his outrageous mullet hairstyle and drop this wonderful gem prematurely. But, oh boy, Huang Zitao is charismatic! After the first episode, I grow to like him and by the end of the drama, I love this gorgeous actor. He is genuine, his acting is natural and very believable. As Lu Xun, I love his dynamics with Qian Wei and their exchanges are so adorable that I don't want to miss a moment of their scenes. I particularly love the moments when he sends her love letters in the form of origami which are mistaken as his sarcasms and are returned in an undignified way – she throws them back at him. Being feisty, Qian Wei tends to push Lu Xun around and he goes along with her all the time. I love how he loves her but always gives her space. Even in tense moments, Qian Wei is still so silly and Lu Xun still so funny. Their interactions are simply adorable and hilarious. If you want to watch Huang Zitao's kissing scenes, this drama is full of them.
The whole cast is amazing, including the actors who play Qian Wei’s good friends and ex-boyfriend, both Qian Wei’s and Lu Xun’s parents, and the second couples. There are also the unethical and greedy antagonists who turn murderous. Bravo to the production team.
The plot starts in Episode 1, temporary stops in the middle of Episode 2 when Qian Wei returns to the past where the backstory explains and the plot builds, and then continues from Episode 23 when she returns from the past. Some viewers lose interest after watching the first episode because they find it boring or confusing. If that is the case, I would suggest to start from the middle of Episode 2 when she goes back to 11 years ago, bringing with her today's experience and wisdom. There's a lot of flashbacks of what she has done then when she was younger and what she would do this time to change the outcome.
My verdict
This is a delightful and sweet youth drama with unexpectedly well storytelling and plotline. The story is cute, the characters are lovable, the romance is sweet, and the acting is commendable. Don't be deceived by Huang Zitao’s wild haircut. Once you get through the initial shock, you'll start to love his mullet hairstyle. I do. As both Lu Xun and Qian Wei are excellent speakers and they are very eloquent in debates, therefore they speak very fast especially when they fight. Non-native Mandarin speakers may find it hard to keep up with what they are saying. Huang Zitao is also a singer and he sings the ending song You are the Rest of My Life which is very good. The other OSTs are equally good and unforgettable.
The story reminds me of the song, I See the Light, from Tangled, a Disney production, when the lyric sings ".... suddenly I see ... Now that I see you". For more than 10 years, Qian Wei doesn’t see Lu Xun while he is around her, quietly watching her, loving and caring for her. Now she notices all the things, big and small, that he has done and are still doing for her; she sees him.
If you get a second chance to live your life again, would you want to change anything for a different outcome? If so, what would it be?
This is a MUST WATCH! If you love to laugh, you'll love this drama. Don’t miss this great story.
TWO THUMBS UP!
P/S Don't miss the epilogue at the end of the final episode after the end credits. It is life after a few years later ....
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This review may contain spoilers
dark, disturbing, disgusting, but beautiful
Such a story makes speechless. It's a story of two man who suffered a lot, especially one character has a deep trauma because he was sold as a child to a sick man who sold him out to other sick people who sexually abused him. It's a story of two people changing each other and heal each other, first in baby steps but later their bond grows strong.I can't describe what feelings go through you when watching this, It's the whole bandwidth from disturbing, disgusting, aghast, angst to beautiful when you see both getting closer together. Due to the theme it's not a fluffy, funny show, you normally expect a BL to be. This is not really a BL but a drama where two man happend to be gay and finaly love each other.
When you can stormach such heavy stuff, this is a must see. If you are too sensitive seeing abusive scenes, you may watch with friends and help each other process the episodes one by one, If you are suffering from depression or other mental problems, you should not watch it at all. It was extremly brave for the team to take on such heavy non mass compatible material. The actors did an incredible job, cinematography is top notch and we get an intro which does not spoil the whole series which is so common in many series. My respect goes out to all involved in this project delivering such a unique show.
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this is a drama with a story that i doubt i will ever find it again, i love it as much as i hate it, and i have this kind of mixed up feeling while watching it, what they did is really bad and wrong but i really want them to be together and happy bcuz they suffered enough for their whole life and their relationship is really beautiful (exclude the crime).
i will recommend it to everyone who wants something different and unpredictable, it's dark and heavy though but it's a great drama, the music is good too, overall i love it, but i won't rewatch it, i don't want to endure the same torture i had while watching it. you will understand what i'm talking about if you watch it.. enjoy.. :D
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Glad I stuck with it
After the first couple of episodes I was tempted to give up on this one. I thought it was lacking in lots of ways and really wasn’t keen on the flashbacks. I kept hanging on because I liked the actors and wanted to know Amber’s backstory. Also, it’s a long time since I watched a Taiwanese BL and I like the vibe. With a small budgets they rely heavily on the story being good as they don't have the money to gloss over / disguise a bad one. In this, they literally walk you through some scenes (the slow motion car crash for example - no spoiler - it's the very first thing you see) to tell the story. As a viewer, it is perfectly do-able to fill in the gaps and makes a refreshing change after being spoon-fed so often. It was imaginative with the way they framed the shots too - it’s a bit like reading a comic. Some of the things I initially felt were lacking in the production I decided to embrace as part of its charm. I sped through the flashbacks which are mostly at the beginning of each episode. By ep 6 I was into it, and after that it just got progressively better.Cast/characters:
I really liked Tannie Huang as Yu He. She's a bit in your face and surprised I didn’t find her irritating – but it was cute her being unfiltered and direct - came across very human. The way she behaved after discovering Amber’s secret was a disappointment to me but it was (sadly) the most realistic reaction. It was true to her friendship with Ah Le and maybe turned out to be the catalyst everyone needed in the long run. I liked how honest she was about her feelings and thought her relationship with her brother was really touching - esp during their conversations in episodes 9-10. The actor playing her brother is also in Plus & Minus but I'm finding his role in that a bit limp, so wasn’t expecting to like him so much in this.
The second couple were sweet and funny and wholesome. They didn’t dominate the story and I didn’t feel I wanted more or less of them but was glad they existed. Lin Wei Jie is so fricking cute.
In love with Eric Lin's performance as Amber. His acting was understated - and the character came across painfully lonely in his self-containment.
I don’t want to slag Lukas Huang's acting off because I got a strong sense of Ah Le as a character - I was convinced of his good nature and he carries this reassuring solidness - but the scenes in which he needed to convey extreme emotion seemed a little pained - particularly during the scene with his mum in the final episode. That conversation though was really moving – the words just kept rolling out of him. Really beautifully written.
The relationship between Amber and Ah Le is so gentle and pure - it's the main reason I liked this drama so much. Pre final episode (which I loved every minute of) my favorite part of the show was in episode 11 - their conversation and hug, followed by the teddy-shaped coffee. It felt like a real interaction and comforted me.
Also loved the music.
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A highlight in KDrama history in terms of the processing of women´s beauty-dilemma
Admittedly, "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" is comparatively old. Here you can experience Hyun Bin very young, almost boyish in his early 20s. Nevertheless, I consider this series to be a highlight in KDrama history in terms of the thematic processing of its content. Yes, there's a lot of nagging going on in Korean style. But the arguments and what is being carried out, it has it all.It's about women's beauty ideals, especially about being slim. About last-minute panic among women over 30. About romantic ideals and the reality of relationships. About professionally successful women (and those who want to become or thus have big dreams) - not only the protagonist, but also her mother, her potential mother-in-law and the male protagonist's restaurant manager and ultimately also the male protagonist's ex.
The underlying question is whether a woman, who does not define herself by her slimness and beauty, has a chance of 'getting' a handsome, nice man. Is she even perceived as a woman? Taken seriously? From what else can a woman draw her self-esteem beyond 'beauty' to find her place in life - self-confident and happy. Is that even possible? Is attractiveness in the sense of the ideal of beauty a prerequisite for marriage, family and/or for success at work? And is all this the prerequisite for a happy life? Or maybe the question is completely wrong? Shouldn´t it not be a happy, healthy life at the beginning and then you see what else might be added to it? ...love and self-love - the thing with the chicken and the egg...
"My Name is Kim Sam-soon" tells the story about the female flaw without miraculous transformation. At the beginning (and at the end!) there is a self-confident young woman who is overweight (I would say ´normal´ (vs ´ideal´) weight, but obviously not by Korean standards). She has quirks and doubts, talents and visions, hopes and charm. She doesn't let the adverse winds in her life get her down. Her courage sometimes fails her, but she knows exactly what she wants and even better, what she doesn't want. Although her body dimensions do not meet the standards of the fashion industry - she is painfully aware of this, because that is what those around her tirelessly mirror - she does not question herself. As best as she can, she stands by herself and what she thinks is right.
Kim Sun-ah has won multiple awards for her portrayal of Kim Sam-soon. I have the greatest respect for her, because she lives her role to the fullest, just as if she were Sam-soon for real. In a world dominated by the eyes of men, she convincingly fights on behalf of several generations of women for gender-independent self-confidence, for quick-wittedness and for unconditional self love. She had put on quite a few kilos for this role in order to get away from the usual ideal of beauty. So she wins tons of hearts of women (from all over the world), for whom she carries out her inner and outer struggles on their behalf. In 2004, ratings at times reached almost 50 percent. ...The topicality of the subject has not diminished around 20 years later (one could say: "unfortunately").
The original title is: 'My name is Kim Sam-soon'. Internationally, the KDrama is marketed with the title "My Lovely Sam-soon". That's actually an insult (in my opinion). Didn't the 'decision makers' (they must have been men) actually see the series? Why do they focus the narrative perspective on the male protagonist and also emphasize his possessiveness with this possessive pronoun? And why do they only reduce Sam-soon to her appearance again? I do not get it. I assume that these ´decision makers´ probably didn´t understand anything. Even if it's possibly meant to be ironic, I consider that impossible... In any case, I choose the appropriate international title "My Name is Kim Sam-soon".
By the way, "Sam-soon" is an old-fashioned name for the third-born. It has a certain charm that this 'old-fashioned' birth name represents a bigger self-esteem problem for the female protagonist than her looks...
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Ok, let's talk a little bit about the story:
It mainly focuses on the relationship of nine students from the fictional Nadao Bangkok high school where they course 11th grade.
The drama tells us several stories step by step, focusing the attention on every character and not giving too much importance or relevance to an specific one.
Something that I really loved about this drama is the pace it follows. It is divided into 13 episodes but each episode tells a different story focusing in one or two and sometimes 3 characters per episode and their individual stories. Of course it also follows a main-central story but what makes this drama so good is each character and what they have to face, we'll encounter several teenage problems like sexual orientation, confusion, sex, pregnancy, first love, alcohol, parties, school, stress, family, future, friendship, love and first times... For example the first time going to a concert or joining a band or the first time having sex or falling in love, the first time cheating on a test and so... And, who didn't have a “first time”? We all had a first time doing whatever, so we'll be able to relate with the characters.
The reason why I loved this story so much and the reason why you'll probably love it too, is that we can identify with the characters. When I was watching the drama I was all the time like “omg I already lived this”, “I did this too when I was at school” or -I also was in a band-....This drama manages to connect with the viewers because of that.
Hormones undoubtedly took me 4 years back in time, the time when I was still 16 years old and was at my last grade at school and everything was new to me... *sigh* My teenage days...
This show put a smile on my face all the time, and sometimes it almost led me to the tears, I remembered my first time going to a concert with friends, or my first time falling in love, and the exciting feeling of experiencing something new, the feeling of growing up and the feeling of getting mature and independent and also the pain of that process... This drama made me realize how beautiful my teenage years were and how much I enjoyed them, and I’m sure it will cause the same effect on you.
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