Hands down the best historical I've ever seen
Yi San and Sung Deok Im's chemistry is out of this world incredible, my heart raced for their sweet but sour love story.If I were to sum this drama up in one word, I would say "emotional" because I have never been so in love with a main couple in my entire drama loving life, they are the literal definition of soulmates and managed to perfectly portray their feelings through their eye acting, it was so enchanting to watch. Ugh the affection, the adoration, the determination, the tension, the anger, the frustration, the angst, the pain, the passion, THE FEELS!!
Likes:
• Romance!! It's nuanced, realistic for the era, and mature but also childish in the sense that this is their first love. The dialogue is so poetic and because of it there were countless times when I covered my face with my eyes wide as I grinned from ear to ear (in a 'omg I'm screaming' way).
• The acting was simply magnificent from the main leads to supporting characters to guest roles, they all did an amazing job. Also the visuals? Huge plus! Eye candy for real.
• Majority of the time when watching historical's, the politics side of things usually makes no sense to me and that might've been the case for this one (from time to time), but one thing I loved about TRS is that there is no unnecessary politics, no white bearded ahjussi's wanting to seek revenge over the prince lol it's great.
• The plot was juicy and full of life, so much was happening but not to the extent that I was lost, it played out well and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!
• I liked how the "villains" had their moments that kept the story engaging but weren't focussed on for too long and were dealt with smoothly (unlike some stories that overuse them, eventually leaving me annoyed and bored).
• Pacing. I'm not one to like slow paced dramas but this was paced so well and I never once skipped a scene as they were all entertaining and had some significance to the plot.
• Sung Deok Im's way of words and knowing her true desires in life as a woman. I LOVED her character, she's so strong and independent, it was so refreshing to see. She knew herself and knew exactly what she wanted for herself in life, I truely admire her for continuously standing up for herself (and the crown prince) throughout the drama.
• The OST ahh it's soo pretty someone give me a box of tissues I need a moment... I listen to it religiously. Historical's never disappoint with their OST's, the music just soothes my soul!
There are really no negatives from my experience of watching this, the first few episodes weren't anything in particular but the following episodes made up for it with each one getting more and more exciting and interesting, so if you like the things I listed above I'm more than sure you'll enjoy this beautiful masterpiece that is The Red Sleeve!
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STORY:
The Good:
This film actually started really strong with a great steamy opening that slightly gave us what was promised in the trailer. The story follows the main character, Nack, who is in his last year of High School and on a journey of sexual self-discovery after an eye-opening event at the start of the film. I actually really enjoyed the first half of the film and I must give praise to the director for his artistic approach. Shots where there was not much communication between characters used a lot of symbolism which gave each scene a bit more depth. It's nothing groundbreaking or thought provoking, but it does add weight to the very simple dialog. For example, Nack's character's religion is christian and so Toy (his love interest) gifts him a religious pendant to wear as a gift. It's these little things and the reasoning behind them that give the story layers. A lot of the films strength is used in the films imagery and the deeper meanings behind the characters actions (ie. a hug, a stare, giving a git). It reminds us how even in real life, the little things can mean so much more when you think about the intention behind them. The interactions between Nack and Toy are also adorable and sincere as you see them get to know each other and go on cute dates.
The Bad:
The second half of this film really falls flat as it feels like a plot that's been done many times before. It makes this film feel like a remake of another Thai BL movie called 'The Love Of Siam', and even though I loved that movie, this just seems like a rehash of that plot to a tee. I also find that this movie spoils itself when trying to be too symbolic with it's dialog and making setups for predictable endings. The weak and predictable conflict of the film comes off as lazy writing to me and really overshadows the beauty and depth of the first half of the film. It also left me confused as to the motivations of Toy's character and whether his character was trying to be friendly or romantic. It's this confusion that creates a conflict of it's own between the two main characters and it just doesn't make much sense. There was also a huge lack of kissing scenes. I was just really confused at how the actors could rub crotches against each other and cuddle half-naked but not even give us a single smooch!
ACTING/CAST:
I actually thought the cast did an amazing Job with the script they were given and at giving these characters a great deal of personality with the minimal dialog they had to work with. Overall they were very convincing. My only complaint was the last scene between Nack and Toy by the pool. It just felt so dry and I wasn't feeling the emotions that the scene was supposed to convey. But I think that's mostly the script and directors fault more than the actors.
MUSIC:
The music was very nice and it fit the tone of the overall movie. I especially enjoyed the ending theme when the credits rolled up.
REWATCH VALUE:
Honestly I don't think this is an easy rewatch for me, unfortunately. The ending really put a damper on the whole movie and just negated all of the great things this film had to offer at the beginning. It was somewhat a disappointment
OVERALL:
This film had a great start with a lackluster ending. The cast did a great job in creating a believable, enthralling atmosphere and environment. The intimate scenes where nice, despite the lack of kissing scenes. I'd say this movie makes a good one time watch to fill the gap between seasons of other dramas. Other than that, I don't think this is a movie I will remember from years to come.
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This review may contain spoilers
infuriating writing, hope to see the actors with a better plot (watch suggestions)
Overall: the refusal of a character to communicate with the other character was infuriating and I cannot believe what they did in episode 8. 10 episodes about 50 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/reloved-episode-1-1p5zs0832d8?lang=en_usContent Warnings: vomiting (ep 2 around 47 min), non con kissing turned consensual, blackmail/coercion, manipulation, non con kiss, death, grief
Watch Suggestions (to focus on sweet relationship parts)
- episode 1 watch 4:25-7, 25:45-27, 42:25-45:10
- episode 2 watch beginning-5:20, 18:15-24, 28:15-30:30, 39:35-42, 48-50:45
- episode 3 watch 4:15-9, 14-17:20, 50-51:20
- episode 4 watch 24-40
- episode 5 watch beginning-10:50
- episode 6 watch 9:30-13:05, 15-19, 28:40-34:15, 38:30-52
- episode 7 is skippable
- episode 8 watch beginning-3:30 and 48:50-end
- episode 9 watch beginning-6:15, 12-16:05, 37:30-53
- episode 10 watch beginning-3:30, 17:30-end
What I Liked
- adults who were taking care of kids
- past intimacy and sweet moments
- visuals
- supportive parents
Room For Improvement
- terrible communication in the past (a 5 min conversation would have fixed everything) as well as the present, the other guy repeatedly ignored boundaries/looked so desperate/had no self respect
- the blackmail/coercion with the side couple was not appealing though they grew on me, but then episode 7 made no sense since their relationship was casual up to that point and then 8 came out of absolutely nowhere and was awful
- nonsense, who goes to the scene of an accident instead of a hospital???!!!!
- I wanted to throw my computer with the writing in episode 8, one "I'm sorry" and everything was fine, 5 YEARS!!!!
- tonal shift in episode 8 from grief to fun gym photo shoot
- love rival (and I felt bad for him, they should have given him a love interest)
- the sound effects didn't make things funny
- they dragged the bad communication way too long and then rushed the finale with an alternate timeline and a ton of time skips
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This a complete pack of comedy with boss and secretary typical romance
First of all, this drama brings an uptight mathematics genius with narcissist personality and a his secretary which is serving him more than a year. The story picks up on very good note.The plot majorly focuses on the Lee Shin A (Krystal Jung) who somehow concludes that her boss is the sole culprit of her mental state. And after that, her revenge plot begins (which is itself a pack of comedy). What I like the most is that whatever she tries to do to her boss she somehow fails to make him remember his old personality. With amnesia twist, Noh Go Jin (Kim Jae Wook) plans to find the real culprit who is threatening him while Lee Shin A acts as her fake fiancee.
As a typical romance Kdrama, Noh Go Jin suffers from a heartbroken past which will be revealed later. And both of them fell in love with each other in the end on a happy note.
What new does the drama brings to the viewers:-
- A complete new type of boss but with same rude and arrogant personality
- A secretary with high motivation to achieve something and kind of hate her boss
- A new set of comedy
- And a romance which is build up to hide an accident.
- Some good OSTs
What I personally like about this drama is Krystal Jung's acting. A psycho type girl who is doing everything to satisfy her hatred towards his boss and in her heart gaining sympathy towards him. As always Noh Go Jin doesn't disappoint with office romances, as he worked on Her Private Life (worth checking out).
My suggestion for romcom viewers just hop on to this drama and you will not be disappointed. Till now, episode 12 this drama is holding its high standards.
With a good character development and with nice flow the story continues. Hope it deserves a good response from the viewers worldwide.
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ACTING/CAST: The boys did well together and I liked the mom.
MUSIC: "Jigsaw Heart" by Boy Sompob is such a beautiful song; my new favorite Thai song.
REWATCH VALUE: I've seen it many times.
OVERALL: An almost perfect short BL movie.
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it was a fun ride
Overall: I enjoyed this series, though I watched most scenes at a faster speed. 13 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI uncut & YouTube cut which reduced NSFW scenes. Later aired on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/watch/82761765 Note: this was based on an omegaverse novel which I read but reviewed the series on its own.Content Warnings: murders, sexual assault, blood, kidnapping, parental abuse, punch/slap, beaten up, stalking, manipulation, stalking, non con recording/sharing, violence, child trafficking
What I Liked
- supportive friends
- sweet moments
- Jeff & Alan
- excellent truth about how family isn't always the best
- pretty good NSFW scenes
- visuals
Room For Improvement
- quite a few characters were introduced at once and it took awhile to figure out who was who, there ended up being too many characters and not enough time to fully develop the relationships
- I realized they wanted mystery but it made it difficult to really support the Charlie/Babe relationship and the fact that they changed that plan from Jeff's idea to Charlie's was a mistake
- total nonsense/huge plot holes, many characters shared 1 brain cell
- cliche ghosting trope, Babe also shoved Charlie a bit too much/frequently
- the NSFW needed to be a longer (even in the uncut version) and were choppy at times
- cartoonish villains (and stupid)
- I wish they had either leaned into the omegaverse and explained it more or just omitted it entirely
- not sure how I feel about a certain character's redemption arc
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A nice, sweet adaptation
Kanojo wa Kirei datta (She Was Pretty) is shorter than the Korean version, so expect the drama to be less draggy, more fast-paced, and more fun in general. Downside is that it is indeed fast-paced, even until the end. The final episode is so eventful and rushed to the point that there is no time to fully comprehend their thoughts and actions. However, this can also be viewed positively as it is also the reason why the angst is never prolonged. But true to any other Japanese adaptations, the story managed to exactly follow the original drama.Overall, this Japanese remake is memorable because of the main leads. Hasebe Sosuke is less of a douchebag than the original Ji Seung Joon, while Sato Ai is much calmer, more loveable, and less of a doormat than the original Kim Hye Jin. None of the overly loud screaming from the female lead too.
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This review may contain spoilers
If you are interested in a self-aware romantic comedy that doesn't take itself seriously and is refreshing in its use of cliches, then this is the drama for you. If you ain't about that life and don't like anything silly, best to walk away now. This drama is truly a pleasant surprise! I thoroughly enjoyed every episode and felt each one had something to offer. The FL and the ML, of course, are the absolute best part of this drama as they keep you interested in the story and their overall developments. You see growth in a lot of characters, some smaller than others. But hands down the love between FL and ML is true and true. There was a cliche Noble Idiocy moment, but for me, it worked better than most because the situation was calling for it. What I truly loved was how they solved their problems. The ML was not a complete idiot with Tsundere Syndrome, and the FL wasn't an idiot either. I adore the FL, she is a scared-y cat who when it matters most won't let you down. ML is also one to root for as he falls for her and starts changing his way of thinking. He was LOYAL to his love even when he doubted her actions, you knew his love for her wasn't shallow. This couple is who you freaking ROOT for.
Now on to other things....Of course, you do have you classic SFL (aka was suppose to be the originally FL in the novel this takes place in) but you slowly watch her descend into her crazy. I feel many viewers were rooting for her to change her ways, but other than admitting that she was wrong near the end, don't be too hopeful!
SML was legit annoying as fuck. I actually found him more annoying than SFL, who had at least reasoning behind her. This guy got rejected time and time again and still tries to get close to FL with his love. He also keeps believing ML doesn't love the FL which an intelligent person can tell you that HE FUCKING LOVES HIS WIFE. So he was frustrating to deal with but I did like that he changed the prejudice and became Minister.
There are so many side characters who played their roles, and the story really doesn't giving you much care for them because they are the side characters and in a breaking the fourth wall kind of way, tells you "Nobody cares about the side characters". It still gives you side character stories and development, nonetheless. It is just up to you to see if you like it or not. I enjoyed some of them.
The FL & ML are so freaking good though, that its hard for others to compete, at least, it is hard for me. THAT ENDING, thank you.
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Brilliant acting, but goes around in circles
I started watching this series due to all the hype and awards. It's a psychological thriller (not a mystery) so you do need patience and the willingness to understand the motives, behaviour patterns and relationship connections for all the characters. It's a very intricately woven story, with a lot of nuance and some phenomenal acting from all the cast members.However, I found the pace inconsitent from episode to episode, and it was annoying to have a lot of the story told with flashbacks ranging from months to years to days to hours! It also had a gimmicky approach towards some of the characters, making you suspect this character and the other character quite randomly, and then the story heading in a completely different direction. They could have done without these gimmicks.
Overall, it's a good, though slow, watch and worth it purely for the performances of all the cast members.
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Challenging Watch with an Ambitious Realism Theme
This Kdrama was an addictive watch that had me tuning in weekly to find out what will happen to its 4 protagonists. There aren't any clear good guys and bad guys in this show - there are simply people who do sometimes do honorable things and at other times do shady or evil things. Sometimes, you're sympathetic to the situations that the characters find themselves in. Other times, you're mad because how-could-that-character-be-so-manipulative-and-why-won't-they-be-honest-with-each-other. This is the series' greatest strength and greatest weakness: it tries to capture the nature of the human condition with a lens of looking at love and interpersonal relationship. However, to me, it fell just a little bit short of this goal. Still, it's worth a watch.The acting was mostly top notch. The cinematography of this Kdrama had a muted, melodrama tone, so it demanded a similar flat-affect from its actors and actresses, with the appropriate outbursts of emotion when the situation calls for it. Of the leads, I found Moon Ga Young, Yoo Yeon Seok, and Geum Sae Rok to be the most effective at displaying this kind of style where most of the time, they are just acting like normal people wearing typical faces, but occasionally, they need to dial it up to 10 and display tender love or extreme indignation. The only person I took a little issue with was Jung Ga Ram: he seemed a little stuck in that passive look most of the time, and I didn't really buy his moments of tenderness, and felt that his anger seemed unnatural but that may have just been how his fictional character was written.
The music was appropriate for its setting and has a lot of those tracks with a coffee-shop feel. I don't think it will go down in history as a legendary OST, but it had some pretty catchy beats. In particular, I enjoyed 손을 마주 잡고 ("With Me"), which ended up as the signature lovey dovey track.
I think the reason this Kdrama gets a bad rap around these parts is because it's pretty atypical: it isn't a wish-fulfillment-type of romance where you're watching two gorgeous, fictional characters fall in love on screen. It tries to capture some of the normal pettiness that comes with real human relationships, which involves a lot of things that don't make sense to an omnipotent viewer: characters lie or manipulate for their own purposes. I think this also makes it a hard watch. But, if you enjoy muted melodramas, I recommend you give this one a try - it's not perfect, but I think it tries to stay true to the realism of its source material to deliver a satisfying show.
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A Vampire Romance That Sinks Its Teeth In Deep!
I just finished all 12 episodes of My Golden Blood (2025) and I have to say—it was such an entertaining and memorable ride. I gave it a solid 9/10 for its unique concept, strong chemistry between the leads, and a fresh take on the supernatural BL genre.🩷 What I Loved:
All the NC scenes were hot and steamy 🔥—Mark (Joss) and Tong (Fluke) had amazing chemistry. Every kiss and intimate moment was filled with tension and passion 💋.
Both actors were not only talented, but also tall, handsome, and visually stunning. Serious eye candy all around 😍.
Loved the English OST 🎶—emotional, catchy, and perfectly placed.
The university campus setting was probably the most modern and high-tech I’ve seen in any Thai BL 🏫💡—really added to the production value.
🧩 Room for Improvement:
The ending felt a little rushed—I wish they had spent more time wrapping things up emotionally .
Some of the fight scenes were a bit underwhelming compared to Korean or Western standards ⚔️—could’ve used more impact and polish.
I was really hoping Tong would turn into a vampire after Mark bit him 🧛♂️💉—and then they’d have a wild, passionate love scene 😅. That didn’t happen, but I’m holding out hope for a special episode!
✨ Final Thoughts:
Despite a few minor flaws, My Golden Blood really impressed me. It blends romance, fantasy, and suspense in a way that feels fresh and addictive. With sizzling chemistry, striking visuals, and a touch of mystery, it’s definitely one of my top BLs of 2025 so far.
Rating: ⭐ 9/10
Rewatch Value: Yes! Especially the steamy scenes and sweet romantic moments
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Aesthetically beautiful and good acting but what a frustrating romance story
I am a massive fan of Guo Yu Xin. I have only started exploring Liu Xiao Xu's dramas and so far I enjoy his acting. This drama was released after My National Husband so I expected Summer Rose to be as good as My National Husband. However I was disappointed once I finished the drama.What I liked:
1. Framing - Beautifully shot drama that reminds me of a small but well-written indie film I used to watch. Directors certainly knew how to capture scene that are aesthetically memorable.
2. ML characterisation - It was endearing to see a stuffy ML who wasn't able to articulate his feelings. His personal struggle is different from other CEO MLs I have seen.
3. Acting - Both LXX and GYX employed a lot of "restraint" in their performances for this drama. They had magnetic chemistry which was more evident in the behind the scenes clip.
4. FL characterisation - I liked that her personality contrasted with ML's personality. She expressed most of her feelings including desire freely.
5. Supporting characters - I liked ML's grandmother and guest characters played by He Jian Qi and Wang Ge Ge.
6. Styling - What a gorgeous pairing of LXX and GYX. Beautiful outfits worn by both FL & ML. I am a fan of pyjamas and I loved the pair worn by GYX.
What I disliked:
1. FL's actions - She was stringing two men along when she broke off the engagement and pursued other man. I didn't like her at this point.
2. Writing - There was too much time spent to tell this story. I'm sorry to say some parts are draggy and boring and I struggled in the final hour of the drama. I must say that the writer and director wasted the talents of LXX & GYX.
3. Romance - Unfortunately I didn't buy their romance. There was too much push and lack of honest conversations. By the time they got together I already lost interest in this drama but just pushed through to mark this drama as complete.
Favourite scene
When FL seduced ML and succeeded.
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Horrendous, nauseating, and yet still boring as f.
That was awful. I'll start with the positives:- Mos is supernaturally attractive. Every bit of him is stunning - hot body, porcelain skin, handsome face, those eyes, sexy voice, all of him.
End of positives.
This feels like it was written by a very sheltered 13-year old girl who inserted herself into the story as Bank's character. I'm not sure how else to describe his total lack of agency and relentlessly female wardrobe. You might think he has agency, but think about it - he's just a plot device, not a person. Even the one ability he has, designing jewelry (and the necklace is hideous), only exists when it's needed to move the "plot" "forward", and it's usually inspired by the supernatural elements of the story that are totally pointless and have no effect on anything.
I feel zero chemistry between Mos and Bank except insofar as Mos is so hot that he has some with anything that's in the same room with him. Partly because Bank's character is so vacuous and unrealized that there's nothing to be attracted to. Think about it. Describe his character: he... uh,... well,... he dresses like a girl. And wears so much makeup that if he actually were a girl, he'd look like a sex worker. That's really it. Oh wait, he faints a lot. A LOT.
This was the worst example of the worst kind of uke, who is incapable of surviving an average day without a seme to save him from drowning in 1 inch of water (this actually happens). Lin wants to use lovey-dovey nickhames, so he decides to call Sun "Dad". Not "daddy", which is at least an accepted slang term for an older (and generally wealthy) man, but "dad", which is only ever used in reference to your biological father (or occassionally a father-in-law) - is it possible for something to be more cringe? It's the ultimate infantilization.
The vaunted NC-17 scenes are so bad it's unintentionally funny. You get to see Mos's ass in the paint scene, so there is that, but that they didn't take off their high-fashion clothing first took me right out of the story. You could feed an entire village in Bangladesh for a year with what those outfits cost (in story). There's a BJ scene with slurping sound so loud that it would disturb Japanese people at a ramen bar. I guess Sun must have a micropenis, because otherwise there shouldn't be enough room in Lin's mouth to slurp anything.
One of the secondary couples has bird sex in a toilet stall while one of their fathers is watching while bent over backwards in a disturbing pose.
The only couple that's vaguely engaging also goes full uke-seme, the absence of which dynamic was what actually made them appealing - Yo behaved like a man, until he had a boyfriend, when he reverted to acting like a very sheltered 13-year old girl.
The production seems to think that loud = funny. All you need to do is have your characters scream their lines, and it's all very ha. (Or I guess it's "all very 5" for our Thai viewers.)
But worst of all, this was just dull. It wasn't fun to hate-watch, like Unforgotten Night - it just made me cringe almost continuously - and thank God for the +10 seconds button on iQiyi.
I can't recommend this - the only thing in it with appeal is Mos, and you can get anything you want of him and more on his instagram.
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