This review may contain spoilers
This movie left me with a hole in my heart because I don't have the kinda friendship they have.
StoryI personally felt that the plot was a little bit fast faced and we were rushing to complete it. I know there is a drama version of this and haven't watched that yet, but I wish we could have this cast in the series instead because man I really loved the relationship of jae hee and heung su.
I got to know that this movie only covered the first part of the novel 'Love In The Big City' by park sang young(there was a little foreshadowing in the movie lol). And that made sense because we kinda got very less back story of jae hee and I will like to know it. I also wished to see more of jae hee's love story rather than directly jumping into the marriage.
I really wish they complete the other three part of the novel too.
Other than all this, loved the story. It was wholesome. Them fighting and then switching to caring each other, man that was so wholesome. I cried like a baby in the scene when jae hee was being assaulted by jae seok (that bastard) and how instantly heung suu knew what happened. The way both of them helped each other be truly themselves, loved it. After jae hee broke up with ji seok, she started to feel more like herself and went back to her carefree self because heung suu said so. Heung suu coming out because jae hee pushed him a bit. Loved all these moments. It was a comforting watch to see wholesome friendship moments.
Judging purely on the basis that it was a movie and might not have other parts, I will give it a 7.
Acting/Cast
Do I even need to say anything? Ugh, another kim go eun banger perfomance. I have been meaning to watch her whole filmography and this just makes me want to binge watch her. Steve noh was so good too. The cast was perfect, no complaints.
10/10 rating, without a doubt.
Music
Nothing much to say but the french songs were good to hear. So I will not use it to rate the movie.
Rewatch Value
I will definitely rewatch this! This movie left me with a hole in my heart to find a friendship like theirs, so pure and supporting. I will rewatch this just to cry that I lack a friendship like theirs for sure.
Oh a definite 10/10.
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Not Me shows how much potential BL Thai series have - It's addictive!!!
Not Me is awesome, all the elements work well together. There's great acting, especially from Gun portraying multiple characters and personalities. There's the music that follows brilliantly love, hate, dangerous and sad scenes setting the mood perfectly and making you feel excited. And there's a story full of social justice issues being discussed, so here I have to pause to applaud and reflect on that.It is rare for me to see a series not only tackling social issues but also making the viewers stop and think about their realities. I'm originally a jdrama fan, that's how I entered the world of asian dramas, but honestly I never really felt connected to their reality. The cultural difference is what attracted me. With Thai dramas, and more especifically BL Thai, however, it is the opposite. As a third world country citizen I can empathize and see myself in many things, and this series blew my mind. All the human rights, corruption, same sex marriage, law enforcement and issues presented here are part of my life as a Brazilian under my current government. I don't trust the police... This series really made me happy to see people fighting against the system. Kudos to the writers. It was impossible not to root for them and cry along when they got caught. The only thing that fell short for me was the open end, I really wish we could see if they're going to jail or not, and we have the unresolved issues with Todd. I could watch much more of it and there is enough material for that. You don't even get to know what happened to Tawi... Like, please, have another season or a movie to tell me?
The acting is superb, you understand both White and Black, you see the small differences in Gun's acting and you love their interactions. Gun is exceptional. I felt like hugging my sister even tighter next time we see each other, bc brotherhood should be like this, having each other's back no matter what. Off was also amazing, his Sean was so sweet under his hard skin, their love was beautiful to watch. Yok and Dan were also great, I totally understand Dan, he was forced to help the status quo, and although I'm happy they got to end up together, I wouldn't mind him dying lol. Kudos to the actors.
I can't recommend and compliment this series enough, if you ever come across this gem please don't wait and watch it. It is amazing!
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Romance for the Perfect Couple
This drama is a sweet story of two people falling in love. The beautiful Park Min Young in another significant role. Whenever she does a drama, you get the impression that she was born to do that role. Her role as Sung Deok Mi, the curator of an art museum and a secret fangirl, was believable and cute. Kim Jae Wook portrayal of the stoic Ryan Gold, the director of the museum, was the perfect complement to their relationship. Together they had enough chemistry to satisfy any romantic junkie, like myself. It was refreshing to see a couple come together and compliment each other with their love and care.At times it will seen like a slow process of getting there, but make no mistake about it, this drama is a romance. There were distractions to create the necessary bumps in the road to happiness, but they survived it all. The girl interested in Ryan, a distraction. The brother who wants to be Deok Mi’s boyfriend, a distraction. Director Eom, a distraction.The entire fangirl thing, a distraction and even the comedy was a distraction. Be patient, unlike me, and you will take a journey with a couple oozing with chemistry.
There were plenty of emotional moments that will tug the heartstrings and there were lots of amazing kisses.
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This drama isn't for everybody, I can imagine the quirks and humour won't appeal to many. I, however, really thought they influenced the overall feel in a positive way. It isn't your typical drama, if you take everything too literally you will miss out on a lot of the symbolism and underlying messages. It's one of those drama you can keep coming back to, every time you re-watch you will notice something new, a small detail you missed the first time around. These little details, in my opinion, really show how wonderful both the plot and execution are.
Acting wise, no complaints there, they all did a fine job portraying their characters. As for the music, the choices really helped build up atmosphere and fit well with the drama's mysterious vibe.
All in all, a drama I highly recommend if you want something completely different to the majority of other drama out there.
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Favorite Thai Drama To Date!!!
This is an ongoing drama (at the time this was written)..., so I haven't seen the end yet. But I felt compelled to write a review of this drama from what I've seen so far. The male lead is absolutely amazing! He's so adorable, and as the drama goes on, you can see the look of love in his eyes when he sees the female lead. He is green flags everywhere. I love how accepting he is of the female lead despite her crazy family and weird personality. I absolutely love it. The female lead, I absolutely love her too! She's adorable, kind, funny, and brings out more goodness in the male lead. She also gives him love that he never received while growing up. They are such a perfect match for each other.The story line is impeccable. The cast is so well picked, and the characters are so funny! They just add to the story. If you are considering watching this, I definitely say, "GO FOR IT!" I can't wait to see how the story will end.
UPDATE:
I have officially finished the drama and let me tell you. This drama is worth watching. Most people say it's a slow burn romance, which... it is. But for me it didn't feel that way. It didn't feel that way because I was entertained the whole show. The main leads romance was cute and adorable, and I loved seeing how the ML fell first. Were there characters that got on my nerves? Sure. But there are always characters we don't like. I enjoyed pretty much the whole cast, and they did a splendid job with this drama. If you like romance with green flag main leads, which includes a cute and perky FL who helps the ML break out of his shell, with fun friends, coworkers, and family, this drama is definitely for you. Watch this drama, you won't regret it.
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1Some dramas entertain. A rare few illuminate…
Set during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, this drama could easily have fallen into the trap of being another historical epic heavy on costumes and light on substance. Instead, it delivers something far more ambitious — and far more meaningful. It is breathtaking in its commitment to historical authenticity, not just in aesthetics but in its portrayal of governance, reform, and the fragile art of holding a state together during turbulent times.A Drama That Understands Governance
What has impressed me most — and what I reflected on in my recent Strategic Teams post — is how deeply this series understands the work of governance. It doesn’t romanticise leadership. It doesn’t flatten history into hero worship. Instead, it shows:
• the complexity of decision‑making
• the tension between moral ideals and political realities
• the weight of responsibility carried by those who choose to serve
• the quiet, unglamorous labour of reform
This is a drama that treats governance not as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing challenge — one that demands courage, restraint, wisdom, and sometimes painful compromise.
Historical Characters Brought to Life
The show’s greatest strength is how it brings actual historical figures to life with nuance and emotional depth. These aren’t cardboard cut-outs of “good” or “bad” officials. They are human — flawed, principled, ambitious, weary, hopeful.
The performances, especially from the Wuyue leads, are exceptional. Their portrayals carry a sense of dignity and restraint that feels true to the era, yet emotionally accessible to a modern audience.
A Visual and Emotional Feast
The production design is meticulous. The lighting — especially in the intimate indoor scenes — is atmospheric and painterly.
Ceremonial and wedding stills are rich with cultural detail. Ensemble scenes capture the scale and uncertainty of a fractured era. Every frame feels intentional, reinforcing the drama’s themes of unity, resilience, and the pursuit of stability in chaotic times.
Why This Drama Matters Today
What elevates Swords into Ploughshares beyond entertainment is its relevance. The governance lessons embedded in its storytelling resonate strongly with modern organisational life:
• the importance of ethical leadership
• the need for clear purpose during instability
• the value of steady, principled reform
• the power of listening, humility, and collective responsibility
It reminds us that good governance is not a slogan — it is a discipline, a practice, and often a struggle.
Final Thoughts
This is not a “slow” drama.
It is a thoughtful one.
It rewards viewers who appreciate depth, historical fidelity, and leadership stories that don’t shy away from complexity.
For anyone interested in history, governance, or simply beautifully crafted storytelling, Swords into Ploughshares is a standout of the year.
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It started off great then fell flat
I was very excited for this show because we were getting another story that wasn't highschool/college centred, and the BL genre needs more shows like that. Initially the series showed great potential but unfortunately it didn't fully deliver. The first half of the series was quite good. It was exciting, the characters were really intriguing and the chemistry between the main couple was excellent. There were some plot holes especially with the Singlehood rule, but they were things that could be looked past.What the show really struggled with was pacing. Initially the slow pacing worked well to tease the audience but eventually it began to drag and felt like the director and writers were trying to stretch 8 episodes of material into 12. The most frustrating part were the main characters, Jin Yu Zhen and Shi Lei who both repeatedly continued to not make a move on each other. It became severely frustrating. Then when the show became uninteresting around the 10th episode, the writers tried to add a new character which initially did bring some interest but the plot continued to get weaker and less interesting.
Okay, so back to what I actually liked about the show? Again Aaron and Hank's chemistry was good and they are both so good looking. The side couples were sort of interesting, but not enough to cover up my frustrations with the main couple. The straight couple didn't really get much screen time but I still liked them and they were funny sometimes. The acting for me was excellent and the production quality was top tier. So I must commend those who were responsible for that.
I believe this series may be more interesting if you binge it. Waiting every week for 25minutes and seeing basically no progress is almost torture.
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Great cast and storyline
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This review may contain spoilers
Strong Start that Petered Out in the Middle But Came Swinging for the Fences at the End
Wanted something cybercrime-CSI-ish and this seemed to fit the bill. Didn't know anyone in the cast save for actor who played ZY and Xu Lu a bit from previous series. Had a strong beginning that petered out in the middle only to come out swinging for the fences in the final 3 episodes. Definitely needs a season 2 with the same cast to properly finish the cliffhanger.Pros: Probably the first drama ever that I will say had a really catchy opening theme that I didn't fast forward before I get into favorite character and other things. It made you actually anticipate what you were going to watch even when that failed to deliver. Favorite character was the ML or QH; man had the patience of a saint and his straight path towards justice and finding out who wronged his best friend and Godmother were beyond admirable. Next favorite character was Ms. Lin the lawyer; even though she didn't know until pretty much the end that her boyfriend was a class A douchebag, she never changed her morality or ethics towards her partners or friends.
Though I liked CM in the very beginning and once he got on board with QH, his whole arc with MT was very unnecessary. The two ladies who worked in QH's office were alright additions and out of the villains, the only ones that made any real sense were MPC and LB, though the latter needs season 2 to figure out. Had some semblance of comedy here and there and meaningful moments of care between the protagonists.
Cons: This plot took a nosedive in the middle and became very boring and confusing. The MT/CM arc (shoving a relationship into somewhere it didn't belong) just like the MT/General arc were unnecessary and very confusing. We assume it was the General who scammed Godmother in the beginning though there's no real confirmation or admission of that. ZY also an alright character; great in the beginning but then was dumbed down into an arrogant and dumb kid who spilled personal information to complete strangers online. None of it made any sense given the industry he worked in and the responsibility placed on his shoulders. He regrew his brains towards the end.
For seasoned hackers, they couldn't pick up on pretty obvious things and it just slowed the entire show down. When they "killed" the General off, he should have stayed dead. Bringing him back just to give the running of the bulls ending some semblance of action after a lackadaisical middle that was constantly seeing QH getting nailed by one villain after another by pretty much brain dead problems, was honestly laughable. Instead, in the last episode the General nearly beats QH and CM to death and then is just nonchalantly arrested. And still the LB plot was not exposed so the reasoning is that there will be a season 2? Writer and director must have gotten drunk together.
Would I recommend it? I'm not sure to be honest. TJC did a great job as QH, so much so that I want to see him in other, better things. So if you're a fan of his, maybe you'll like this too. The beginning and end were the strongest even with the open-ended cliffhanger finale, the middle could have been totally cut and you probably wouldn't have missed much. So decide for yourselves.
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One of the Best Thai Lakorns
Having watched quite many Thai lakorns, I got to say this is one the best Thai drama's I have watched. The acting of the cast- main leads & support cast were all amazing, story is interesting , good editing (I have noticed some Thai drama's the editing is sloppy) & it was well executed. The male lead's character was really non toxic, kind, loyal & dreamy.- he's really hot - I don't know why I haven't noticed him earlier - after this drama's I have become a fan of the male & female lead. It was a happy ending for the main leads, but the death of brother was quite sad. There is great chemistry between the leads & the height difference between them was cute.Was this review helpful to you?
I hated this drama, Vin Zhang is the only good actor in this drama that why I sticked to the end
I like Esther Yu acting better in Moonlight than in this drama. The character she played in this drama was annoying, and the nasal voice didn’t help much. The storyline is so stupid and ridiculous. The drama could have been better if it was 20-24 episodes; instead, it dragged to 30+ episodes. It was too painful to watch, and I hated Esther Yu's character in this drama.In addition, the script is bad, and the 2nd CP for more screen time than the main CP. 2nd CP's acting is horrible, especially the 2nd ML. Overall, I am disgusted at this drama. It was a waste of my time.
I am giving it a 4.0 rating.
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An Interwoven Tragic Tale with Majestic Scenery
I think this is the first drama ever where what first attracted me was the gorgeous scenery. I knew both leads could hold their own in a wuxia and I was prepared for an SE; which was done so skillfully and artfully. This was an interwoven tragic tale with a majestic backdrop.Pros: Wherever they filmed other than Hengdian was absolutely stunning. I'm a photographer by hobby and though not a fan of the cold, that scenery was too beautiful to resist honestly. First time probably ever that that was the thing I spoke of when starting off a review. Also I wanted to point out how well they wrote and created the SE and not just for the leads but other characters as well. The near constant tragedies like of siblings reuniting after unknowingly living in the same location and hating one another for over 20 years only for one to be killed minutes later. Or of an entire family to be slaughtered just because a son in law said the wrong things at the wrong time and it was found out only years later. Our leads love story was more spiritual than obvious; it was never spoken but their bond was almost telepathic as each time HZB would be near death, something would fall over near XZY or the wind would blow harder.
Even if the prescription was fake, it saved 3 lives for at least 8 years and everyone was in some way, shape, or form intertwined; be it through blood or other ties and at the end though the closeness of the miss of ML and FL was almost painful, we knew it had to happen. Doctrine leader was by far one of the most sadistic antagonists I've seen in a while, killing whole communities and destroying, framing people just to steal gifted kids who then were raised to be as savage as beasts while unable to get away from him in a Stockholm Syndrome type of manner especially for MF/YM; as he himself said "unknowingly, I took the enemy as my father and ignored my sister's suffering." Only when MS revealed the truth did he truly understand what a monster he protected. Losing his sister seconds later and then ZY was almost more than he could take. After knowing all or most of their stories, you could forgive 3 of the assassins creed people because they were harmed, used, lied to almost their entire lives. As ZY said, "the only one to blame is the player" or the one who uses others as swords for his own monstrous deeds.
ZY was truly a hero here; even though it took the three of them to take the nearly immortal doctrine leader down; she had her cold disease, plus the king of all poisons already in her system from saving her brother and yet she still repeatedly fought until that thing was dead.
Other great characters included all of the brothers of the sect except 6th brother, MJ/Tong, the valley girls and granny, the other valley chief and the MVPs being the snow harrier and horse of HZB lol. The utter emotions of everyone especially HZB at the end when he realized ZY was dead was heartbreaking but powerful. Joseph did very well in all of his scenes; from the great fight ones to the total emotional breakdown at the end. The story itself was a bit repetitive (find medicine, fight, nearly die, get healed, repeat) but it was meant to bring their subtle but strong love story to life. Also the subtlety of them not being meant to be together in several scenes like missing the northern lights by seconds or the breaking of the hairpin in the snow, these were such great touches. As well as at the end HZB sharing the wine meant for the two of them with MJ and YM as they honored her in their own ways before her tomb; HZB being the lover calling her "Ziye", MJ the brother saying "sister Ye" and YM she being his redemption "Chief Xue." I'm actually totally ok with YM becoming the new chief of the valley instead of SH because it's something he can do well plus he's got an internal power he can use.
The ending was also done very artfully with HZB as an old man coming to ZY's tomb every year and drinking with her while the rest of time he's bringing justice to the world. MJ becoming a monk and YM the new chief was the hope for the story. Though with great loses and lifetime parting, the sun still rises and we must keep our loved one's memories alive through good deeds; I think that's what the story was trying to convey overall.
OSTs, costumes, were all pretty awesome.
Cons: I know that there wouldn't have been an original story if the Junior sister hadn't essentially created the problem by breast feeding her son when he was in isolation and specifically off limits. It's like going into a hospital room when you've been told by the doctor that it's life threatening and doing something irreversible. I wish there had been another way to go about that because she never really acknowledged that what set all of these things in motion was her own negligence. She said it once and it was never brought up again. Meanwhile, HZB is out there risking his life for them. I don't blame ZY for the fake prescription as she really didn't know one way or the other because it gave them all 8 years of extra life and experience.
Also the 6th brother was very much like his wife; arrogant and selfish. He volunteered to go undercover but that only added to his jealousy. That storyline was very weak. And I think it was the weakest arc of the entire thing plus the ending because you have 7 brothers racing to eliminate the threat while it's pretty much already been eliminated by ZY, YM, and MS. They don't know this and as Tong said, 6th brother should thank Sword Sect for giving him a few more hours to live because had Tong not known 6th brother had betrayed them and he was planning on trapping them, he would have killed him before. And of course this was also done to let the leads miss each other one final time. I think I would have just done it a bit smoother without such a burgeoning arc and let down.
Plus the Snow Harrier, couldn't locate either people that he was so good at doing for receiving messages so that was inconsistent. I also wish we knew at the end how much time had passed between HZB saying he didn't want to be chief to returning to the valley and drinking the wine because though he was wearing the same outfit; YM was already chief of the valley with vast medical skills which he couldn't have acquired in less than a year. So that was a plot hole. A few others were obviously deleted scenes where HZB found medicine and than was returning with it but we never saw what happened in between.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I would very much. Even if you don't like SE's, they're the most memorable if done right. The acting, storytelling, and again scenery is very worth it.
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One of the best verticals
This drama lacks these common vertical drama traits:* a stupid/ unrealistic plot
* a weak walk all over you FL and controlling ML
* the use of date rape drugs /
* slaps (lots of slaps)
* domestic violence that is condoned by the family
* endless misunderstandings caused by a lack of trust and/or communication
* terrible acting.
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This review may contain spoilers
Anthology is a freaking love story that we might dream of but will never happen in our damn life. One was a surprisingly good actor and his voice was just.... hawt
He is already in his middle 20s but he went on well with being a student and I loved it.
The chemistry between the two main characters were something I don't even have to mention (Duh man duh
The only thing that annoyed me (SPOILER ALERT)
should have shown a little grown up of him at the end... It was such an open ending...... UGH
anyways for a romance lover I watched this about 5 times? and Im still not sick of it. RECOMMENDEDDDD
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I love the fact that it's not about the main characters but it's about love, and for each episode there's a new couple.
The main characters manage anyway to grow somehow, but through their very peculiar work.
This drama also doesn't lack humor, which I always enjoy!
Just try to watch it, I'm sure you'll love it!
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