Typical storyline done brilliantly
If your'e new to Gay Films/BL movies/series then this is a 10/10. (don't read the rest and just watch it)If you're not new to the viewing scene, then I knocked off a star because the storyline itself is very typical and nothing unique. The storyline is the classic Gay lead is struggling to come to terms with coming out to society so he tries to prove to society (and himself) that he can convince himself to live a "normal" hetero life. We all know how every single movie/series that did this ends and this one is no different.
But I give the remaining full points because this did the typical storyline EXTREMELY well and has sort of a modern twist to it by giving the main female lead a love for BL. The main male lead also has a love for Queen and this series brilliantly has woven Queen's music and lyrics into the storyline and it is very tasteful. Using the idea of honing into what each character loves/obsessed with, gives each character the instant depth that is sometimes hard to achieve in storytelling. The layers of friendship and motherhood that tie into the main lead are also tastefully done!
I am a Gay, Japanese, & American, and I 100% recommend this series to anyone new and old.
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Death Proof.
This is a good but very dark comedy, one that I am pleasantly surprised to see in a Chinese production. Although with some modification, this is an obvious knock off of a fantastic but much darker Western production that many are likely to be familiar with. I don't have a huge problem with that and must applaud the effort to localise the story and tone it down for Chinese audiences. That said, it is an incredibly dark theme and at times the macabre gallows humor accentuates rather than distracts from the underlying despondency.Mi Chong is an introverted, anti-social young man who can just no longer be bothered to live. He meticulously winds up his affairs and plans his exit but is rudely interrupted by a drowning girl, Zhi Liao. Zhi Liao is his polar opposite, a bad-ass, extroverted and rebellious girl who is nothing but trouble. As he gets reluctantly drawn into her affairs, the hapless Mi Chong cannot seem to be able depart in peace; all of his efforts to do away with himself are comically disrupted. As he gets swept up in a whirlwind of danger and whacky mis-adventures that seem to plague Zhi Liao, he begins to wonder if he suddenly became death proof. While they go on the run together, this unlikely couple starts to recognise they are each other's mutual salvation. As their enemies encircle them, is the final irony that Mi Chong ends up fighting to save his life rather than end it?
Most of the time the whacky plot hits the right notes in terms of dark humor, irony and quirkiness. That said, there were also many times I found nothing funny about the depth of Mi Chong's despair and I am surprised something this dark got pass censorship. And I was not satisfied that Zhi Liao does not have the slightest inkling what Mi Chong was going through. It is a big flaw in the relationship design, the fact that she never comes to appreciate how disturbed he was. While the actress Vivienne Tien did a good job overall, she overacted notably in the ending arc and her rage and anger failed to move me. Although it became clear that they grew to trust and rely on each other, the chemistry between the couple didn't change enough to convince me that the dynamics turned romantic. The surrounding cast was unexceptional with some cringe performances, notably Zhi Liao's brother. This is clearly a modest production but overall a uniquely enjoyable, quirky short watch.
My rating for this is a 7.5 for a delightful attempt at dark comedy. It still has rough edges and the wit and humor in places veers too far off to the slapstick and does not match the wit, audacity and sheer magic of the drama it obviously drew its inspiration from. Where it does exceed it is that it closes with a very positive message about life, how it should be lived and how not to let the past define the future.
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Short but better then some full length BL
So I am being brutally honest I didn't have much of interest, because I was like another love triangle. And they don't have time so they are going to rush, but when I watched the first episode omg like our main leads chemistry Haewon and Eun Kyu was so strong and even JiSoo and HaeWon chemistry was so good, and even though it's love at first sight. But it didn't look unrealistic. Like they are able to serves a better story then Bite Me. Like it's thousand times better then Bite Me. Like they are able to show a love Triangle and give it a proper ending then Bite Me who have 12 episode but still can't able to show a good confession. Like let's talk about the acting they were so good in terms of chemistry to dialogue delivering everything is better,Music Oh La La Oh La La welcome to my Florida, like one of my all time favourite Osts
Re-watch I am gonna re-watch this right now
It's deserves your time and efforts
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Modern drama actually worth watching!
I absolutely adore the modern drama " The Rational Life" on Netflix: What a pearl!I usually don't watch modern dramas because they either turn too unrealistically dramatic or they're simply boring with their office work. But this one is soo wholesome and reflective of society. It reminds me a bit of the book 'Kim JiYoung, born 1982' in its way of portraying societal struggles for women. On top of that we have a slowly developed romance between the FL, Qin Lan, and the ML, Dylan Wang, which starts out as a friendship and builds up. I really enjoy this set-up of a romance drama.
Furthermore, all side-characters presented gets their story told. They don't get too much screen time in comparison to the main couple, like in other dramas, but at the same time they don't get too little time to develop their storyline; a storyline that is actually worth watching as well. I particularly love the storyline of the childless couple, the female lead's best friend and her husband, because it is so rare that such a story gets told.
My overall score is 10/10, despite the music and rewatch value was deemed lower. Personally, those two categories aren't my most important ones. Yes, a great OST can enhance the experience, but an awful storyline will forever be an awful storyline no matter if the music is great or not. And for the rewatch value: sometimes dramas should only be watched once; this is one of them. I might go back to find some life quotes and scenes with the side couple, but that's the only thing. I wouldn't like to destroy the wonderful feeling I had when watching this.
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Of course, like a lot of Asian action/romance dramas I've watched there was a lot of overly exaggerated "gotta be cool" fight scenes that came off almost silly and a lot of situations and problems could have been solved to easily or weren't logical so it made it a bit dumb in somethings.
Also the feelings didn't always touch you the way I think they were supposed to which would have made the re-watch value for me higher, but I smiled so much through this drama I didn't mind the not so great parts. I just smiled away through whole scenes, not just funny bits but the sweet, cute, bring a tear to your eye cause I wish that would happen to me though it's cheesy as hell, kinda smiling.
Also, there was trust and understanding for the most part between the leads, though, as usual, there are communication issues, but it was overall very likeable, fun, cute and super sweet.
Not high on physical romance, lots of hugging but not so much kissing or set you on fire type stuff but still very romantic and sweet, also I liked that the couple were together as a couple before the end of the drama. The writer did do a good job of keeping the couple together while trying to overcome outside problems.
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What I think saves this drama is the cast, particularly Joo Sang Wook and Han Ye Seul's chemistry. Han Ye Seul plays Sara, the beauty in the title, who has undergone a complete transformation due to a tragic past. Joo Sang Wook plays Han Tae Hee, who has a mysterious past of his own, and who helps Sara adjust to her new life. They are very cute together, which will probably get romance fans hooked early on, but it doesn't take long before the melodrama takes over, and by the halfway mark romcom fans may be ready to abandon this drama completely.
Eventually cute banter between the two of them (I loved that he calls her Ahjumma) turns into frustrating obstacles filled with clichés. There's also a cast of villains that are really good at being horrible, that inspire an elaborate revenge plot, and the quintessential kdrama battle over the family business. Now I love a good melodrama, but like I said, I think the plot made very little sense, and was full of holes. This is why I had to give the cast a 9. They really are what kept this drama watchable. Sure, some characters were definitely more one dimensional than others, but in such an overdramatic drama, they did managed to keep the story somehow believable enough for me to want to see how it all would all end.
Another issue I had with this drama is that 21 episodes felt way too long. They do manage to pack in lots of extreme plot points, but I think they mostly backfired and made the story start to drag and feel boring. I was tired of getting mad at characters for making dumb choices, watching repetitive scenes between characters, and seeing too many flashbacks. I could not see myself ever watching this drama again, which may seem harsh, but the good parts just weren't good enough for me to want to sit through all of these episodes again.
This drama does attempt to reiterate the idea that what makes a woman beautiful is more than how she looks on the outside, but the problem is that it still makes Ha Jae Sook's looks the punchline of every joke possible. In my opinion she's the real MVP of this drama, and her scenes were the only ones that made me feel even slightly emotional, but I hated the fact that she was basically branded as practically hideous. I can't imagine looking like her and feeling good while watching this, no matter how much this drama tried to make the plot about self acceptance, and inner strength, the damage was already done. Some parts literally felt like a commercial for diet pills.
Overall, I thought this drama was a cute romcom about an unlikely couple overcoming obstacles together, that got hijacked by a bad revenge melodrama. I say this as a person who is normally a fan of epic revenge stories, but this story just made too little sense. By the end, I wasn't disappointed that I completed it, but most of the interest I had in the beginning was long gone. I can't recommend watching this knowing that there are so many other dramas that tell a similar story much better... there are even some dramas that I thought were mediocre but I would recommend them before this one. Still, I didn't hate it, so if you're a fan of anyone in the cast, that might be an incentive to watch this one just to say you did.
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One of the worst dramas of 2021
Stay away from this one guys, it's horrible. Really, I can't find one single reason to watch this. I finished it with the strength of hate and lots os fast-fowarding.There is nothing redeeming about this drama. The script is bad, the scenarios are boring, the characters are dumb, even the plot twists are awful.
It was supposed to be all fluffy, and teen, but iended up being 24 episodes of nothing. Really, they start with a plot, but they don't finish it. Then start another one, and guess what? They don't properly give it closure. I have the feeling that they got a drama that had 50 episodes, badly chopped it and then stitched it all in one that has 24 episodes of bad editing. There're so many loose ends that it almost makes no sense a lot of times.
Just save your time and put this one aside.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nirvana not to be found in this lifetime
Enemies to friends to lovers - a simple way to think of this story, but there is much more to enjoy about this drama than the two leads falling for each other. In fact, there are truly three leads in this story - and the interconnectedness of their lives and fates really drives this story forward as they learn to love and fight for what is right in a world of deceit in the quest for power.The story sags a bit towards the end - I feel the whole war with the state of Wei was unnecessary. There is no build up with the king/emperor of Wei, and I would have rather the story focused on the complicated emperor of Liang instead. And while I would have liked for a better end for Wei Zhao, there was probably no feasible way for him to be alive after what he does to the emperor.
Be warned: the first 10 or so episodes have some hard-to-watch moments as the male and female leads go at each other while being enemies - some of it is downright torture. It's a testament to the pacing and development of their relationship and the actors' performances to make their romance eventually believable with some palpable chemistry.
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UNEXPECTEDLY GOOD, FUNNY & ENTERTAINING
I was surprised watching this series,though I had finished watching the original drama but this one got me hooked up till the end. I found myself enjoying every episode of it!Character and acting wise for the main leads are good. I love the second lead here, he is the 2nd lead also in Eternal love (my fave series). Furthermore, the FL & ML has chemistry and they convey it well.
Story wise, I am amazed how they wrapped it up and I found it satisfying though. Not as the same as the original one. I love that they add some addition in the series and adopted some which is applicable to their culture.
TOTALLY ENJOYABLE, FUNNY AND SATISFYING!
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There are bad point's about this movie though. As already stated by another reviewer, beauty is one of the themes in this film, and most probably know that, not only in thai media, but in most asian media, light skin is seen as beautiful. Luckily, in this movie, they make up for it by the end of the movie. I don't want to spoil the movie so i won't say why. Another bad point was the ending. I just felt it was a little childish/unrealistic, but don't make that stop you from watching the film. it isn't THAT bad.
Overall, the movie isn't one to skip!
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Perhaps love is one of those instances. The movie by Peter Chan has been compared to Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge" and indeed it shares with this last the same theatrical flavour, between reality and dream. One can't help be reminded of classical operas such as La Traviata or Tosca, with elements of melodrama and tragic mingled with grand musical pieces and modern settings.
With the help of the music, this movie could be watched without subtitles and still be understood by those who don't know Mandarin. This goes to the director and the actors credit.
The plot is simple and very classical, but the style is new and the music original. Not an everyday movie by all means, but one which will linger in your memory.
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✨Rebirth, Blood Magic & Vampire Aesthetics: A Love Letter to Peak C-Drama Chaos✨
Ok homies, this little chaos goblin of a mini-drama rolled up to my screen wearing a cloak of nostalgia, vampire cosplay, and the emotional bandwidth of a caffeinated squirrel… and somehow? It worked. It’s strangely familiar yet weirdly original, like the writers rummaged through a bargain bin of fantasy tropes, found pseudo-vampires, flower magic, and one extremely burgundy-flagged ML (that is secretly a devoted puppy), then said, “Yeah. This is dinner.”It starts off with your classic “I died, now watch me destroy everyone with a polite smile” rebirth setup, but shortly it mutates — like a butterfly dipped in glitter and trauma—into something that absolutely insists on being its own category.
The writing? Surprisingly competent.
The pacing? Shockingly coherent… until it isn’t.
The vibes? A fever dream but make it premium.
But let’s get to the heart of the chaos:
The romance is not fluffy. Not cozy. Not even borderline cute. This is two unhinged intellectual gremlins flirting through warfare. It’s “I hate you, but also if you died I would demolish the entire kingdom” energy.
He’s openly not nice.
She matches his freak without even blinking.
Their interactions feel like a speed chess match where both players are cheating. Absolutely enthralling. Buuuut, to be fair… for all the knives, chaos, and emotional warfare, they do grow into a surprisingly wholesome, strangely tender duo in the latter part. And the ML? That man has been secretly in love with her since before the plot even woke up. Dreamy, chaotic sigh.
The trio of main characters is deliciously messy. No cardboard NPCs here. The 2ML walked in giving me “vanilla villain starter pack,” but he unfolded nicely into a morally-seasoned, jaded mess. Growth!
Now, because the drama gods enjoy mischief:
The editing sometimes snaps like a glowstick at a rave. The FL oscillates between “I’m a brilliant mastermind” and “Oopsie I tripped over my last neuron.”
They also styled her like a youthful auntie, which made both MLs look like they were her mischievous nephews auditioning for mischief scholarships.
Second half? The plot said, “Let’s soap opera this b*tch,” and suddenly everyone’s IQ took a lunch break. The FL stabs the ML a millions times and he behaves like durability is a hobby. At this point he should genuinely be classified as artisanal Swiss cheese.
And LET’S TALK about that same cabin by the waterfall. I swear that place needs its own IMDb page. It’s in EVERY drama. That place is the Eiffel Tower of dramaland at this point.
But listen: despite it all—
this SLAPS.
They knew their lane and sped down it with rhinestoned sunglasses and no seatbelt.
This drama is an enthusiastic little creature—messy, dramatic, self-aware, and fully committed to its vibe. With limited budget but boundless confidence, it gives you revenge, magic, morally injured men, funky editing, unhinged chemistry, and enough entertainment to keep you glued to the screen, as well as a well wrapped up happy ending for the leads.
Very much worth checking out—just bring an open mind, flexible expectations, and a sense of humor.
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but things get hilariously complicated when she sneaks out of the hospital and she ends up on this unplanned trip with her dad. on the other hand we get a lighter comedic family trip with Young Soo, his daughter and Saet Byeol's grandmother xD
the 1st half of this was simple, funny and silly, but when they start to explain the backstory it gets really heartbreaking I couldn't stop crying :)
overall this turned out into one beautiful heartwarming story that brings people together! even the gangsters were nice people ;(
I honestly love this kinds of stories, it's a sad happy movie I wouldn't mind rewatching~
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Heartwarming, Riveting Story with Surprises
I was pleasantly surprised with this series and loved it. When I first saw the trailer, I admit that it wasn’t at the top of my list to watch in terms of upcoming BL series. But I am so happy that I decided to try it upon the recommendation of some friends because it enthralled me. I found myself binge-watching 6 episodes in one day and each episode is quite long at approximately 1.5 hours each. I just couldn’t stop watching as I needed to know what happened next immediately!Kuenchai the dog was super special and he stole my heart very early on. He made me smile on multiple occasions in the midst of the heavy topics that are covered throughout the series. The series was an emotional rollercoaster, toggling between anger, sadness, pain, and happiness. It covers real-life themes and isn’t your typical lovey-dovey BL series, but that’s precisely why I loved it and recommend it. It conveys the concepts of acceptance and forgiveness that are so vital, but often forgotten in our world that is filled with so much hate and judgment.
Regarding the ending, I feel like it did the characters justice and fulfilled their individual wishes for happiness. I know some strongly disagree and hated the ending, but I enjoyed it. Please watch this realistic, captivating and unique BL series for yourself and perhaps it will help you reflect on how to live your life to the fullest and never take anything for granted.
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