Total run-time: 60 minutes over 5 episodes, or about 12 minutes each. Easy binge.
Much of this show is shot out-of-sequence and it's all brought together in the final episode. Bring tissue because it's so touching. It's a happy ending but very tearful.
ACTING/CAST: Ever since Grey Rainbow have I wanted to see Nut Rattanamongkol again. He is so sweet and charming. The actress is very beautiful also.
MUSIC: That last song was so bittersweet. In fact, another Thai drama with great music.
REWATCH VALUE: It's not long so I'll probably watch it again with a friend.
OVERALL: Some parts the pacing may seem a little slow but really this story just takes its time to be told. I think it's rather poetic and done well.
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So if you're a Sailor Moon fan you must watch this! Age is doesn't matter! :D
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I enjoyed the acting from all the main characters, save maybe the "villain" character. The music wasn't stand out, but it must not have been bad either. I probably won't re-watch this, but I could see the re-watch value in it.
This worked well for a slightly longer than movie length show, and I think it would be a great weekend watch.
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1profound without the fanfare: an understated exploration of identity and love
Watching this was like savoring a warm cup of tea. I didn't realize that I needed or wanted it, but the rich, sweet comfort that it infused me with leaves me content. Rather than being entertained, I've had something substantive shared with me.Unlike some of the other BL films/dramas I've watched, this one didn't brazenly shout "love transcends gender." Instead it was a tender exploration of identity, love, forgiveness, prejudice and community centered around the custody battle for a bubbly, head-strong 6-year-old girl. Gender-preference did play a big role in plot and character development, but the underlying themes felt more universal. And while generational differences impacted perspectives, they were not solely determined by age. This easily could have been shown as one of those polarizing situations with good and bad, but it did a beautiful job of exploring layers, intentions and desires to reveal worlds of gray.
And the language was sparse yet brimming with meaning, the dialogue percolated with surprising gems. For example, someone asked Shun if he knew why the elderly talked so much. The response was that they've lived so long they have so much wisdom and experience to share. I could share several others, but some of my favorite lines came from a gruff older man who was a dog owner/hunter in the rural community. He was full of wise perspective without being didactic. At one point (when the 2 MLs each say the other catalyzed his interest in reading) he noted that "meeting someone and being influenced by him is one of life’s great treasures." Basically, it didn't matter who influenced whom, rather the gift was in the symbiosis of the relationship.
Disclaimer: my ratings are fairly stringent, so an 8.5 is REALLY good. I don't pay attention to the OST (I know, oh the horror, for some of you) unless it grates on my nerves and I rarely want to watch dramas/movies again.
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An adventure
Beyond the absurdity and quirkiness , what shines through is the ability of the director/screenwriter to pull us in this world that they created. I had my doubts about Nam Joo Hyuk and his ability to match Yoo Mi but he is effortless here. This is probably the first drama of his where I was unable to see the model in him.
The story goes places that are unpredictable but once the central theme sets in, the social interactions are the highlight.
Dramas like this are such a breath of fresh air in a sea of cliche and I am glad that I stuck past episode 1.
Get ready for an adventure and be open minded. You will not regret it.
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One of a kind; heartbreaking, passionate, moving
Now that I have finished the show all I can say is that it was MORE than worth the time. This drama is CRIMINALLY underrated and you won't find another drama handling such topics so beautifully. Every scene kept my attention, even the side plots (which is a lot to say considering how easily I get distracted).STORY
The main thing that needs to be understood about this drama is that it is a romance. The two leads being Ms. Ji and Seung Yoo it's pretty much a given that the main story and romance overall is going to be focused on both of them. With that being said there is some give here for me to get past the main issue. That is the teacher/student relationship. The two are going to interact with implications of a romance no matter what way you look at it, that's just what the show is and just what it wants to show. Still, with it still airing I can't really tell just what way it will go about with their relationship and how.
I wouldn't call this a romance really though, it focuses a lot on corruption and the motives of the characters. There is a time jump about 8 episodes in, which wasn't forced or confusing. Overall the story was engaging, heartfelt and kept my attention and leaving me on the edge of my seat
CHARACTERS/CAST
Seung Yoo clearly has trauma that stems from his childhood, and the depiction of those feelings and raw emotions are portrayed insanely well by the main lead Lee Do-Hyeon. In all honesty the fact that Lee Do-Hyeon was starring as the main lead was the reason I started watching this drama in the first place. What is making me stay for the whole thing is the overall story. The experiences of someone who has a traumatic memory or past is something I can say has 'tried' to been portrayed well, but usually ends up falling flat due to the writing or the unbelievability of the acting. Lee Do-Hyeon is a scene stealer in whatever he is in, the guy is talented and it shows specifically in scenes where he is having a breakdown or some sort of remembrance of what had happened to him. Lee Do-Hyeon doesn't give me any doubt to his character, I don't have to think about the fact that it's a show and someone is acting, I just believe him and I can truly get immersed.
Ms. Ji is a likable character. Again that's my opinion. What makes a likable character to me is to have a character be genuinely a good person. She isn't trying to seduce Seung Yoo, and it may be argued that she is 'stupid' or 'ignorant' to the issue that could be seen with her relationship with Seung Yoo. I see that she has her dignity and sees a student that she can relate to (even more than her husband). Seung Yoo and Ms. Ji see the world in somewhat of the same way with their views on math and infinite possibilities and all of that. You just have to watch the drama and think, you can't go in hating the relationship or thinking she is a predator. Seung Yoo is the one who is drawn to Ms. Ji, there isn't anywhere where they've crossed the line (yet). It may come in the future but at least it was expected.. it's in the description of the show. I don't understand how people are getting so upset when it is said in the forefront. I see it more being there as shock value to get people to watch, even in the first episode. I believe it will be brought back and be a misunderstanding, even if it's not- it's just what it is. It would be wrong, but it wouldn't make this show the worst. There's a lot to like: Lee Do-Hyeon's acting, the portrayal of trauma, corruption, etc..
You have to give credit where credit is due. No Jung Ah (the principal) was one of the most compelling and well-written characters in the show. She was given a background and therefore a motive, and she was developed well enough yet not given too much screentime to take away from the protagonists. Jin Kyung is such a versatile actress and portrays this character eerily well. There were moments when I had to stop and pause as she reminded me so much of similar situations I have been in, specifically people that her character represents. No Jung Ah is selfish but blind to the potential damages she causes, she's power-hungry and is a character that is actually fun to not like as opposed to antagonists that are typical and easy to read.
ISSUES/CONCERNS
Another issue that people have with this show is the attention she gives to Seung Yoo compared to her other students. To that, I'd say that it's a drama with the leads being Ms. Ji and Seung Yoo. Of course, it's going to be the both of them alone, and going on trips, taking things too seriously makes watching things less fun. In the end, what I expect from this drama is for the characters to be developed, a time skip for years from where they are at.. acknowledgment of the flaws of the relationship.. closure..
I would've liked to have seen more development of Ms. Ji's and Seung Yoo's relationship regarding how they got together knowing in the end they were. Other than that the drama was wrapped up perfectly and had one of the most satisfying endings to a K-Drama or any show in general that I've seen. One thing that I also found a little weird was how Ms. Ji's father died at the end, only because I saw it coming.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This drama is one of my favorites, I could gush about it all day and wish I could write better reviews because there is only so much I can say to reflect just how good this show is. It's well done and wasn't typical, it wasn't cliche, it does it's own thing and it does it SO WELL. The music.. especially the OST. 'Darling' makes me tear up every time I hear it. This drama is realistic, acted so well that I didn't doubt any of what was happening or the acting even once. I look forward to more dramas coming from this director and any actors/actresses that were involved with this show.
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The cast is slightly altered and as opposed to the arch nemesis Miki in the first season, we gain the pretty boy Hanyu who will challenge Komikado in court.
The drama is still very charming and hilarious. Komikado is his over the top satirical self that still captivates you through the whole season. The writing is decent and is still comedically very strong, however, let's get down to the flaws. Some events felt ill planned and made the script feel just a tad loose. I'm a fan of plot twists when done right but this left me a little underwhelmed and felt quite forced. It felt like a "hey, let's connect shit and make it look like we planned it all along." Yeah, it just wasn't riveting.
Furthermore, I felt the legal and philosophical aspects in this drama were not as crisp as the first season. Especially, in regards to Hanyu's character. His goal is to make everyone happy through law but I expected the drama to tackle that issue more creatively. I mean really what the hell does that even mean? It may sound like a dumb question but I have to hold myself back on going on a rant of what exactly happiness is if not bursts of temporary feelings induced by different things. Should we use a utilitarian perspective to determine happiness? I digress, but really, most of the time, Hanyu's happiness philosophy made me want to throw my hands up. It eventually just made me accept his philosophy as nothing more than a word. After all, to create a utopia, you must first understand and define what exactly a utopia is. Nonetheless, let's let that slide.
I really liked the growth of both Komikado and Mayuzumi but it wasn't enough. I still lust after Komikado's personal history and should there be another season, I really hope we get more than crumbs about his history. In fact, it was one of the things, I really wish was touched upon in the first season more. I want that history! However, in terms of Mayuzumi, I felt her character developed the most. She becomes clearer about what her goals are and is much stronger in court.
Nonetheless, this drama still makes me anticipate another season because the characters still remain very well done. While the plot is not as solid as the first season, it is still very decent. I still marvel at the ability of the writers to consistently be humorous yet very strong. I look forward to another season.
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my remaining bit of innocence is gone lmao-
I had pretty high expectations from this show and I was certainly not disappointed. It was one of those shows that the plot was so over the place that it made me wanna watch more. I couldn’t not finish it.Although the plot was a little questionable, like almost too abstract, it was still very good. I was never bored.
Bible is also a very good actor and I think all of them did a good job portraying their characters.
I must say though, the amount of red flags throughout this series was crazy. Literally, not a single character was even remotely nice. I’m not complaining though!
I swear though, almost every episode had an explicit scene. I felt as if I shouldn’t be watching it, if u know what I mean lmao- Like why did Tonkla always want it raw 😭😭😭?! This was one of those shows that I made sure to watch at night. The amount of questionable scenes would be too risky to watch out in broad daylight.
Anyways, I quite enjoyed this series. I have some opinions about the ending, but other than that it was pretty decent!
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Hormones had a boys' love (BL) side story but the first popular Thai drama series with BL as main story was actually Love Sick (2014). I love Love Sick! I don't think it's entirely fair to assess Love Sick based on current artistic and social standards since Thai BL series in general have improved a lot the last couple of years. Love Sick should be appreciated because it's a forerunner in the history of Thai BL series. It's not simply an imitation of Japanese BL series but an improvement of the traditional Thai lakorns. It also blurs the heteronormativity found in most Japanese BL series and traditional Thai lakorns. When Love Sick came out, it was actually revolutionary. No one was producing Thai BL series then compared to now when it's almost like a dime in a dozen. I remember during that time, the conservative sectors of Thai society even made a big fuzz about this Thai BL series (the same way they criticised Hormones). Some were even calling for the boycott or banning of Love Sick. Luckily, Thai BL series are more accepted now not only in Thailand but also in other parts of Southeast Asia, hence its current popularity in the region.
In terms of plot/storyline, Love Sick is very simple and yet very charming. It's about school boys falling in love with fellow school boys and how they navigated not only their school lives but especially their homoerotic and romantic relationships. Of course, aside from their homoerotic and romantic relationships, boys have other problems that could have been given more focus in Love Sick but let's understand that this is the first popular Thai BL series; everything's new, so let's give it a pass. The script was more natural and realistic compared to traditional Thai lakorns although there were a few times when the dialogue did not really make sense. Acting was generally ok if we take into consideration the fact that most, if not all, the cast members were newbies. The portrayals of Noh, Phun, Earn, and even Pete were actually cute. The chemistry between Noh and Phun was good. Noh was particularly endearing. Editing was awful especially of the first two or three episodes but it did improve in the succeeding episodes. With most probably a very low budget, not much can be expected in terms of production value. But Boy Sompob's official soundtrack (OST) "Shake" for Love Sick can be considered as a template for Thai BL series OSTs. No one does it better than Boy Sompob in bringing sensitive and touching emotions to Thai BL series OSTs.
Overall, I would recommend to watch and rewatch Love Sick. It's always good to look back and learn from the history of Thai BL series and see how far the genre has improved and still needs to improve.
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So stupid, it's funny sometimes...
Of course I do not expect much from vertical formats, but this time the show did not take itself serious which is a plus in my book. There is a lot of overacting, a lot of slapstick comedy and at least the action scenes do not look especially awful compared to many other shows.This is not a good show by any means, but it's not as bad as many other shows. So, it's mildly entertaining and I had some laughs even when the script isn't stellar, the acting is ok, the production value is decent. I can confidently say, I have watched worse. 🤣
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I find the story very unique. Having a mountain clinic despite the decreasing human resources of doctors and nurses is somewhat for me is very noble. They may have lack of facilities and equipment in the clinic but they become resourceful to be able to save the lives of the patient.
It's a moving drama. It shows the bond of the people who became a family protecting and loving nature. Reminds me of a saying, "Don't change the mountain, let the mountain change you."
The cast did a great job. Their acting is good. And I think it must have been tough and dangerous filming this drama because of the setting.
The scenery is so breathtaking. It would be nice if I could climb up there someday! haha!:D
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Frostbite.
The Frozen Surface is a dark and suspenseful northeastern revival mystery thriller. It is set in the desolate, melancholic northeastern suburbs of Harbin, Heilongjiang, a part of China known for its dastardly dry and freezing cold winters. The dialogue is mostly in Northeastern dialect, which I am not familiar with enough to comment on its authenticity. Despite its wild natural beauty, this area is among the slowest growing economic regions in China. The general lack of economic opportunity and the dominance of a largely industrial manufacturing base forms the general remote backdrop for this narrative. The timeline alternates between the 1990s which were very difficult times and 2005, when things are notably better but still a far cry from China's advanced coastal cities.The violent death of a crime boss and two others throws Lanhe County in disarray as various vested interests scramble to position for the fallout. There are almost too many suspects from a jilted lover, mob rivals, the nephew and heir apparent, the ex-wife and an ex-con; all with motive, means and opportunity. Police captain Guan Yu and his team investigates under time pressure to solve this high profile case. The waters are further muddied with an unexpected confession. Very much like 2023's hit The Long Season, the social commentary about the cruel times, hardships the main characters endure and the desperate, heartless and at times tragic choices they make eclipses the mystery itself.
This drama starts out very well but tries to do too many things. What anchors it is fantastic acting by Chen Jianbin (Guan Yu) and Hu Jin (Yang Si). I thoroughly enjoyed their cat and mouse and how a silent empathy developed between them. Even though some characters do bad things, I feel quite sorry for them. There are also a number of absolutely crazy, bloody and scarily violent maniacs in this drama that adds to the growing sense of dread as the plot builds to a climax. Unfortunately, the main villain's origin story isn't empathetic and they made too many bad decisions along the way to qualify as smart. Some plot points are too obvious or are revealed too early. The logic of many characters collapses into the final two episodes and the plot does not tie together tightly at the end. By then, both the director or scriptwriter's brain must have succumbed to frostbite because so many things just don't make sense or are not well explained.
This is a drama that starts slowly but builds up suspense quite well in the first half. The character stories are quite interesting but sad and they are well portrayed by veteran actors. Unfortunately the mystery part crashes at the end. As an avid mystery watcher, I can only rate this a 6.5/10.0. Viewers who are more interested in the setting and the character stories may rate it a bit higher.
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Realistic show
Dr. Cha" on Netflix is an engaging and thought-provoking series that kept me hooked from start to finish. The show beautifully portrays the journey of the main character, highlighting her resilience and strength amidst challenging circumstances. The storytelling is compelling, and the character development is impressive, allowing us to deeply connect with the struggles and triumphs of the protagonist.-ABOUT THE ENDING-
I was ecstatic about the ending of "Dr. Cha," and I couldn't wait to read comments about it. However, I was disheartened to come across people calling the main character "disgusting" and claiming it was insulting to women. Seriously, what more did they want her to do? Seek revenge and hurt her own family? She's a mother with kids to consider!
And let's talk about the criticism of her not ending up with Dr. Roy. Come on, let's be realistic here. He's so much younger and has his whole life ahead of him. It would only complicate things if she left her family for him. Think about the kids and the future problems that would arise between them. I prefer it this way, where the female lead doesn't need anyone else to be happy. Her self-dependence is truly admirable, considering all that she's been through.
In summary, I was genuinely content with the ending and the choices made by the main character. It's frustrating to see such negative reactions when she showed strength and resilience, proving that she can find happiness on her own terms.
The realistic portrayal of family dynamics and the choices she faces adds depth to the narrative. The performances are stellar, bringing the characters to life with conviction. Overall, "Dr. Cha" is a must-watch series that will leave you inspired and captivated until the very end
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Familiar reborn tale given gothic superpower treatment
This drama appeared on my dashboard last weekend. When I clicked 'Play', the character names were familiar. I have watched another version (starring Zhou Hang & Yao Yu Chen which I enjoyed immensely). In the starting scene, ML eyes turned red and I was intrigued by supernatural element. Oh boy, I wasn't disappointed.What I liked:
1. Elements - I love the gothic and superpower treatment given to this drama as it distinguishes itself from other versions. The VFX was cool despite the short screentime. Some scenes remind me of Evanescence's Call Me When You're Sober music video.
2. Wang Yi Lei - I was delighted to see him as ML because I enjoyed his performance as SML in his others dramas (one with He Jian Qi and Zhai Xin Ran & mini drama Ready for Love). Fu Ting Shen in this drama was cool & mostly calm. However I wish he had upped the ante when FL first met ML while his superpower was on.
3. Styling - Gorgeous! FL had one of the best outfits I have seen in vertical dramaland. The 1940s style short dresses & fascinators. I also liked her wedding gowns.
4. Romance - Oh, mostly sweet with a dash of spice. Good balance of push and pull. The wedding gown scene was hot.
5. Supporting characters - Wen Jianran made a lasting impression despite short screentime. I also like the actress who played villainess Jiang - her character had substance compared to other 2 antagonists.
What I disliked:
1. Superpower arc - I wish this arc was given more screentime and perhaps a twist. Given that the superpower had been surpressed all this while, I was perplexed by how the power was handled at the end.
Favourite scene
The start when FL witnessed ML's love for her
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