The casting for this movie was perfect. Kang Ha Neul and Park Seo Joon just work SO WELL together. As reluctant police academy students, they were the best of bros and I was 100% here for it. Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's brain-brawn dynamic made for a wild ride, and I can't think of anyone else that would have delivered like these two did. They played off of each other, and after hearing that they ad-libbed quite a bit during the movie I was sold -- that friendship did not seem like acting at all. The bromance was so strong in this.
Midnight Runners was a great example of what a buddy-cop movie should be (though if you want a super serious police procedural, this isn't it). It balanced Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's light, easygoing antics with the gross (and tbh, kind of scary) villains. Also, it was INFURIATING, and I do mean infuriating at one part. I mean, ignoring a very real, serious issue just because protocol had to be followed?? I was about to tear my hair out. It was so, so frustrating.
Midnight Runners' only issue is that the action doesn't really pick up until around the second half of the movie. The beginning is more of a buildup of Ki Joon and Hee Yeol's dynamic, which I'm not complaining about, but the actual conflict doesn't really begin until about an hour into the movie.
Overall, Midnight Runners was a solid film. It's not anything heavy, and I can definitely think of worse ways to spend 1hr 50min. Even if cop movies aren't really your thing, the bromance and the way the two leads build off of each other is worth watching.
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It follows four main couples, whose relationships are considered... "questionable..." I suppose by Korean standards: Living together without being married, a huge age difference, homosexuality, and (?) deciding to be married after only dating a few months.
The amount of screen time goes mainly to the first couple, who live together and yet aren't married. The conversations between this couple is realistic and relatable, with laugh-out-loud scenarios or serious and loving relationships that the actors have no trouble in showing the viewer. It was real, it was lovable, it was raw, it was sexual... it was beautiful.
The second couple I found the most entertaining; a thirty-three year old woman is dating a twenty-one year old starving artist who lounges around all day eating ramen obnoxiously. Of course, there's going to be some crazy moments with pillow fights and petty jealousy, but it also showcased some amazing character growth, especially in Young Joon. The couple works together in a sort of symbiotic way, and you can see how much they care for each other. Plus is just hilarious watching Young Joon. That guy's a riot. I image the actors are thinking: "Sigh, the things I do for my career." Because they nailed it.
Dear authors: do you want to get your reader shipping like crazy? Follow this screenwriter's lead when it comes to Takuya, the Japanese traveller, and Joon Jae, the hermit. These two had the sexual tension from the moment Takuya put a single foot in the threshold of Joon Jae's home. Hilarious angles lead to misunderstandings I didn't mind all that much, feeling that second hand embarrassment. This couple probably had it the worst in this series, with only two minutes or so per episode of screen time, but the relationship is developed, and by far my favorite couple. These boys... watching Takuya made me listen to some of Cross Gene's music, and it's really very good. Both of the guys playing these roommates may not be gay themselves, but they made me believe it, with a full course of Awwws and sexual tension.
The fourth couple had next to no screen time through the entire series, and are easily the most underdeveloped couple living in this apartment. I will admit, the competitions between the girl and Man Goo over who was more feminine (who had bigger boobs, longer legs, more successful boyfriend...) were absolutely hilarious, but the relationship between the engaged couple themselves was a rare thing. Which I didn't really mind... I wasn't paying much attention to them, anyway. What little time these actors had to develop their characters, I'll give them some credit there.
The music was very beautiful, and connected in lyrics or tune to the mood of the drama. And luckily, the name and artists of the songs are put on screen for you, so you don't have to look it up!
Overall, this is a wonderful, hilarious, real, and emotional drama that tackles almost any kind of relationship hurdle it comes across, from jobs and careers to confused sexuality and identity. Its a real, relatable drama with relatable characters, and the moments that each of the couples spent interacting with the other couples... (I love Joon Jae and Takuya being so much taller than Oh Do... HEHE) It's a must-watch.
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STORY
PCBM's story is completely unique and one of a kind. It centers two men who die wrongfully but are sent back to life in different bodies to conclude any unfinished business they might have. Help their loved ones with their problems, give them closure and help them move on, but most importantly they are sent back to get to know theirselves better, understand their mistakes, and try to right them. This is exactly the show's main premise. We need to look at our lives in a not one-dimensional way. Life isn't about just working, no matter how pure our intentions are, people might get hurt because of our ignorance. Life isn't about being in the background because we believe our loved ones don't deserve us. We are perfect the way we are. PCBM gives several messages about life decisions, family, friendship, work place attidute and problems, marriage and more.
This drama was literally a gem, not because of its uncommon story, not because it blends several genres together in the best way possible, but because superficially is the funniest show ever, but if someone decides to scratch the surface and dig deeper the show assesses life itself and sends tons of messages and meanings that were all truly wonderful and heartwarming. Beware that this is not your average romcom -thank god-, this is deep, it is serious, it is emotional, it is heartbreaking but still it is safe to say that the comedy is executed perfectly.
Furthrermore, another thing that deserves mentioning is the fact that this drama broke the 16-episode drama usual plan. You know how everything is amazing in the beginning, and slowly everything falls into place around episode 10 and the last 4-5 episodes are just filler ones, pulling and dragging the story around. PCBM, not only broke this stupid rule, not only it was the only 'comedy' that had actual plot twists but it managed to never be boring, always have a purpose and be interesting until the very last minute.
ACTING
It was widely argued that the acting here was bad, either i missed something, or .... 'people' missed something, or were just dead set on hating. The acting here was impeccable, coming from an amazing ensemble cast. I have learned from my stay in kdramaland that it is unrealistic to ask the actors to have great chemistry when the dramas are so small in lenght. They don't have the time to develop a chemistry and when it is there (rarely) i am thankful and grateful. The actors here not only managed to have great chemistry in their possible romantic connections, but literally EVERYONE had excellent chemistry with everyone in their respective relationships. This is possibly the most unique thing about this drama. The cast clicked so perfectly together, it was completely unrealistic!
I'll start with my favourite, Oh Yeon Seo. Her character was difficult to pull off, and very fundemental for the show to make sense. She needed to act manly, tough, and still stay femine, not look stupid, look badass and emotional. The woman was IMPECCABLE, a standing ovation from me, she was shivering in everything she did. No words are enough. In many ways she was the show.
And when i thought she was going to overshadow everyone, Rain came to the picture. His quixotic talent to slip through different emotions in a matter of seconds shocked me. He could go from crying to laughing in a split second without ever looking fake or his emotions forced. First actor in kdramaland that pulled that off, and he was completely up there with OYS for what -if i may- could call THE BEST DUO EVER in kdramaland.
Lee Min Jung, Lee Ha Nui, Lee Tae Hwan, literally everyone was exquisite in their role, no words are enough to describe this awesomeness, that nobody should overlook.
RECOMMEND/REWATCH
Overall, this show might not be for everyone, since it is completely different from your usual kdrama. The humor is different, the romance is present but not the way people want it, the plot is completely innovative and might not be accepted by everyone. In my book innovation=win, but from what i've gathered from my stay in kdramaland, kdrama fans like their chiche stories. So, if you are ready for something completely different than what you are used to, ready to laugh and cry at the same time (i'm not exaggerating), you should definately give this a chance. This is a marvelous show not to be missed. Definately rewatch-worthy, first show ever that triggered so many emotions simultaneously.
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Revenge of Others
96 people found this review helpful
1A sad & highly topical social issue, dealt with in a palpable, exciting, sensitive, touching way
"Revenge of Others" is set in the world of South Korean high school students. No teenage squabble, but a story with substance and depth. With flexibly intertwined subplots, it offers a sad and highly topical social issue, dealing with it in a palpable, exciting, sensitive and touching way. Should you watch? Yes!"Revenge of Others" (like "Weak Hero Class 1" in 2022) deals with the topic of mobbing /bullying. In Korean, the slang term 'wang-ta' is quite common, and for me helped for a better understanding of the special and increasingly dramatic situation surrounding bullying at South Korean schools, which can even lead to suicide. (See side note below.)
This KDrama spotlights a Seoul high school where there appears to have happened a suicide. Everyone is shocked. Some know more. But if the sister of the victim, who has been living separated from her brother for many years, would not try to get to the bottom of it, then this would be a sad case of suicide without a murmur. It probably happens all too often in one way or another that fundamental questions in an apparently obvious case are left unanswered. However, this KDrama bravely wants to get to the bottom of the matter and its circumstances - here in the person of Ok Chang-mi.
As so often in the context of bullying, the adults don't look too good and don´t offer anything promising for making a difference regarding those fatal peer group dynamics. They are left outside. The high school students have to find a way for themselves to get along with their classmates - if possible highly adjusted underneath the social wang-ta radar (or at least with a solid network).
"Revenge of Others" is a production for the international streaming market. Things rarely get too brutal at Disney, though. The amount of violence is therefore limited (compared to e.g. "Weak Hero Class 1") and instead there is more room for relationship dynamics in side plots, causal connections and shades of gray.
By the way, in connection with "Revenge of Others" there is also a whole series of promising actors to admire!
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SIDE NOTE: --- Wang-ta in South Korea ----
With Wang-ta, the focus is not so much on the 'act' - bullying or harassment - but rather on the entire context of active and violent marginalizatin of an outsider. For example, it can be used as a swear word for the excluded person or as a description of the bullying activity. In a collectivist society like South Korea, group affiliation and group interest is paramount. This applies not only to the family, but also to the school class and also to the peer groups within the class or school. Unfortunately, this value system results in a fatal situation when it comes to actual bullying: bringing shame on the group, the outsiders are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Whether it's because of school performance, family background, origin, belonging to an undesirable minority, looks, dress, a handicap, an unusual belief or an abnormal inclination: Wang-ta is a label that no one wants to personally be confronted with. Everyone agrees on that. At the same time, Wang-ta becomes a free pass for more or less cruel mobbing/bullying. Worryingly, perpetrators, victims, and witnesses alike accept the premise: all forms of bullying, almost anything related to Wang-ta, is permissible. The perpetrators take advantage of this, the victims immediately feel even more inferior in terms of their shortcomings (of whatever kind), and the bystanders silently nod the action as justified - or even actively join in. There is no moral barrier against this specifically cultural, collectivist background. It can even get out of hand. There are cases where the entire school has ended up participating in one person's wang-ta. From a Western, individualistic point of view, this is perhaps difficult to understand, because apart from group norms there are other socially recognized ethical principles that could be introduced as a serious confrontation of wang-ta behavior. Unfortunately, this hardly is the case at South Korean schools with a collectivistic social culture.
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SIDE NOTE: In connection with this KDRama also an additional side note on
--- Punishment vs. Suffering of Victims ---
The psychological trauma for the bullying victims are with long-lasting effect. Unfortunately, the punishment of perpetrators is not proportionate to this day. Punishment is rather harmless - it may be annoying to the perpetrators, but not really a deterrent. Far too much must have happened before expulsion actually occurs. A corresponding entry in the files is actually completely deleted two years after graduation. In fact, nothing is left behind on the perpetrators' side. On the other hand, from the memory of the victims the experience cannot be so easily erased ...
The documented cases of wang-ta in South Korean schools (yet many are not officially reported) have steadily increased over the past three decades. According to a study by the Ministry of Education, between 2013 and 2017 the cases have more than doubled from 11.749 to 31.130. There are also increasing numbers of victims who saw suicide as their only way out. It has now been empirically documented that South Korean pupils with a personal Wang-ta experience are more suicidal than those without. Suicide is by far the most common cause of death among 10 to 24 year olds. Almost 1.000 young people took their own lives in 2020 alone.
In respect of the lack of serious consequences for the perpetrators in Wang-ta cases and their comparatively unsatisfactory punishment, a kind of vigilante justice has been established among the families of the victims concerned. "Revenge of Others" picks up on this (similar to "Angry Mom" a few years earlier) as a theme in variation.
In fact, facing a lack of serious alternative punitive measures it seems not uncommon for relatives of victims to pay someone of the same school age to take care of an appropriate 'punishment' - i.e. 'undercover'. Clearing up violence with violence is of course a dubious solution. Sadly, this seems to be the only way to show real consequences to the perpetrators and give the victims at least minimum size satisfaction. ...Although it should be probably considered more of a satisfaction for the relatives of the victims, because the victims themselves still have to deal with their psychological wounds and scars for a long time. Revenge does not undo the painful experience of mentally and physically harassing exclusion...
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1A cliché done right.
My Unicorn Girl proves how clichés can be entertaining if they are done properly. I started watching the drama with slightly low expectations, I expected it to be another silly and overly cheesy rom-com and guess what, that's exactly what it is. And that's exactly why I loved it so much.Honestly, the drama is full of clichés - we have prosopagnosia, cross-dressing, fated love, a questionable amount of accidental kisses etc etc. But they somehow made all these clichés work. The drama never pretends to be something brilliant, it is as simple as possible. What saved the show with its mediocre at best plot, was definitely the chemistry and the acting of the two main leads. I didn't know I was into such cheesy romance stories but now I watched this and I started doubting myself. The drama somehow makes you root for the leads, you want them to be together, you wait for each scene of them with excitement, you smile like an idiot whenever they do something cute and you can't help but feel happy when they tease each other. They make your heart flutter with their innocent, playful love interactions. They are your daily dose of happiness.
The main leads, as individual characters, were also very entertaining to watch. Wen Bing is absolutely one of my favourite male leads ever. He is michevious, extra playful, pretends to be cold-hearted but is actually a small ball of fluff inside... he was just too adorable. God bless Darren Chen for accepting this role, it suits him perfectly and I must admit, I kind of fell in love and I don't know how to recover. Sang Tian was a cutie and she actually looked like a boy, but they should have probably made a different decision about her lipstick, it was a bit too obvious, lol.
Overall, My Unicorn Girl is an amazing show especially if you're looking for something more light-hearted. I mean, it's not perfect, it's a bit far from perfect, but it's good enough. The plot not always makes sense, but the chemistry between the leads is worth seeing. I'm not a fan of Chinese rom-coms, but I did enjoy this one a lot and was always excited to watch more episodes. I'm a bit sad that it's over actually.
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So bad it's good? No. Just plain awful.
Well, that happened.You know how a lot of BLs have eight episodes-worth of story stretched out to 12 and have 4 totally unnecessary characters that just chew up time? Well, this series has 4 epsiodes of story stretching into 18 with 40 totally unnecessary characters that just chew up time.
So again we have Fluke Natouch paired with a talking mannequin that makes him cry a lot. That's OK, though, because we have the sublimely handsome Peterpan Thasapon and Noh Phouluang, who I had thought was dull because he was in Nitiman, but he's actually really sexy and appealing, and together they make one of the better BL couples I've seen in a while.
So naturally, they're separated for literally half the series and their story is resolved offscreen. This is so frustrating that it's hard to express how much, especially as I had to wade though 9 episodes of utterly static story hoping to get more Rain and Payoo - but nope. They did manage to introduce an entirely new couple in episode 17, but no Rain & Payoo. There are 5 secondary couples. Only one of them gets together.
Nothing in this makes sense. All the characters' lives are perpetually in danger, accentuated with truly OTT music cues, and since you know nothing bad can ever happen to anyone, even if they jump out of an exploding helicopter from 50 meters in the air (this happens), there are no stakes. Ohm's character's brain is bleeding for 9 episodes, and instead of hospitalizing him and having bodyguards protect him, he's dumped in the middle of nowhere for three months to engage in archery and equestrian sports. Is it a good idea to race horses when your brain is bleeding? I don't know - I'm not an expert, but intuitively it feels like a bad idea. Fluke will die unless he eats apples. You know this because whenever he goes without one for too long, he melodramatically clutches his heart and keels over. Or at least that's what I think causes it. He's an uke, so it could be sunlight, or walking, or maybe he didn't dry his hair thoroughly enough.
Speaking of which, we reach a new low this series when an uke manages to cut himself with a butter knife. I'm waiting for one of them to accidentally garotte himself while trying to floss.
Whoever wrote this series doesn't know anything about music, despite it being about musicians. They couldn't even be bothered to get a real cellist - it's all synthesized, and sounds like a casio keyboard from the 1980s.
I think we've gotten to the point in Thai BL where we need some self-examination. Are we really so desperate that we're willing to be exploited like this by productions that aren't even trying anymore? This story is infantile. I'm not exaggerating, it feels like it was written by a 12-year old (no offense to 12-year olds - I realize most of you could have written a better story than this). It's so boring, repetitive, poorly thought-out, overstuffed with characters and endless melodrama that it's just tiring.
Story: 1 - There is one, sort of.
Acting: 5 - This is generous. Peterpan and Noh have a certain presence in the first half. Fluke cries a lot, and Ohm is there. Everyone else is passable and the villainess (the villain of the story is hidden. It's a big mystery. Who could it be?) would be twirling her mustache if she could. She almost literally shouted "And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those pesky kids!!!"
Music: 1 - it's awful. Oppressively schmalzy, with overblown dramatic cues, MY brain was bleeding by the end listening to that synthesized cello.
Rewatch value: 3 - There are a lot of hot guys in this, so there are individual scraps I'd watch again.
Overall: 3 - probaby generous, but the first half did have a "so bad it's good" vibe. Then it just got bad.
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The writing in this series is incredible. There are so many twists and turns, it will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat.
The acting is absolutely brilliant. Yeo Jin Goo does a brilliant job of portraying the duel roles. Lee Se Young is superb as the regal yet strong queen.
I highly suggest this drama to everyone especially if you love historical dramas.
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1This review may contain spoilers
The P'orn Supremacy
It has become clear to me, from the very first scene, that the producers of this magnificent show must have hired someone from the gay porn industry as a consultant. This, I believe, is how their pre-production meetings went.Day 1.
The Producer: Alright, everyone. The results are in, and the trends are clear. There is now a clear north-south divide in the BL audience. Those who seek chaste BLs of cute boys go to Korea or Japan. If they want stepbrothers, they go to Taiwan. If they want pure spice, they come to us. Now, the greatness that is Mame showed us how low — I mean, how far — we can go. We now have to up our game. So, I have hired a consultant, Thunder Thighs, from the world of gay porn…
Writer 1: Oh god.
The Producer: …to help us improve our offering. Let’s give him a warm welcome.
Thunder (to thunderless applause): Cheers. Now, let’s get to work. Show me what you have.
Writer 1: I think we’ve covered all the basics. At least 3 couples; tall tops, short bottoms; rich tops, poor bottoms; boss tops, subordinate bottoms; slutty tops, virgin bottoms…
Thunder: Yeah, I get the idea. Any of them dom tops?
Writer 2: One is, absolutely; the other is for chaste-chasers, or, chaters, if you will.
Writer 1: We also have the tried-and-tested office setting, token women, time jump, accidental fall-and-catch, ten-percent body fat…
Thunder: Good, good. Any openly gay guys in it?
Writer 1: Not really. "Don't say 'gay'" is sort of our policy here.
Thunder: Good. Nothing is more off-putting in gay porn than having gay men in it.
Writer 2: Really?
Thunder: Yeah, the thrill is all about seducing a straight guy. What about the other guys? Are they “straight”?
Writer 2: Well, technically, they would be bisexuals.
Writer 1: But we don’t acknowledge them. Or use that word.
Thunder: Promising.
Writer 2: Do you want to hear the story?
Thunder: Oh, no one cares about that. People just fast forward to get to the good stuff.
The Producer (puzzled): Why then have it in the first place?
Thunder: To give the illusion of reality. You have to be able to believe that there is a world in which you can “pay the pizza guy back” by servicing him, or that you can “convert” a “straight” guy gay…
Someone at the back: Ah, so this is another form of “conversion therapy”?
The Producer: You’re fired.
Day 2.
Writer 1: So, this is how the story begins. An inexperienced youth is initiated into the rites of gay romance by a brash senior. Time pulls them apart. But then, a few years later, they end up working at the same office, and…
Thunder: How does the initiation happen?
Writer 2: What? Oh. Well, we thought that they could spot each other across a Buddhist temple, know that they were meant for each other, bump into each other -- literally -- the top will then catch the bottom...
Thunder: What the fuck is this? The Hallmark Channel? This won’t do. Here’s how you do it. The old’un’s the top, yeah? Have him wank off secretly in a public place…
Writer 2: Secretly… in a public place?
Thunder: Yes. Then have the bottom catch him in the act, by hiding clearly where the top can see him.
Writer 2: Hiding, where he can be seen?
Thunder: Yes. Then the top catches him watching, pulls him in, and says, ‘You’re so hard! Come, I’ll give you a hand shandy and make you come." He'll go: "But I thought you were straight?" Wait… can the top be his stepbrother?
Writers (together): No!
The Producer (at the same time): Sure!
Thunder: Never mind. You’ve seen gay porn. You know what comes next. One of them says: “Have you ever done this before?” The other guy says: “no”. Then, "Do you want to try?" Then, "Sure." Now, you must avoid kissing if possible, yeah? Kissing is “gay”. But if they must kiss, have the top say: “Can I kiss while I wank you off? It’ll be hotter.” The bottom says: “What if we get caught?” The top goes: “We won’t…”
Writer 1: You want us to put all of this in the first episode?
Thunder: Are you kidding? This is the first scene!
Day 3.
Writer 1: Should we talk about the other couples?
Thunder: Must we?
Writer 1: Yes.
Thunder: Okay. What's the deal with the other gays?
Writer 1: Well, we were going to have them as a sweet, romantic alternative to the spiciness of the first.
The Producer: We have to cater to the non-horny people, Mr Thighs. Otherwise, they’ll go to Korea.
Thunder (looking at the cast photos and finding Yoon): Wait… Isn’t this the guy from Unforgotten Night? Are you telling me we're not going to see his back tattoo? That he won't fuck his chump against a desk in his office?
Writer 2: His Champ. And you do know that wasn't a real tattoo, right?
Thunder: What's your point?
The Producer (getting up): Perhaps now would be a good time for a break.
Writer 1: Wait, what about the lesbian couple? (To the Producer): Are we allowed to say “lesbian” in Thai BL/GL?
The Producer: No.
Thunder: Sorry, love, I’ve nothing to contribute to that. If you want to fetishise or demean lesbians, go to straight men.
Day 4.
Writers (walking into the room and slamming the table): What the fuck are you doing to our script?
Thunder: There was a script?
The Producer: Let’s all calm down.
Writer 2: Why have you butchered half the scenes? And why does each episode read like a sex-ed class from a gay porn star?
Thunder: Because, darling, it is. What else have I got to work with?
Writer 1: Plot? Characterisation? Dialogue?
Writer 2: There *is* a story here, can't you see? Jun is the only one with integrity. Sorn is lying to himself and to Jun. But as the story moves along, their roles will reverse. Sorn's girlfriend...
Thunder: Can you show me where in the script you've written all that? Because I can't find it. The only thing I can find is horniness. If sex is what brings them together, why not make it front and centre? No one's staying for the dialogue.
Writer 1 (to the Producer): You hear that? That’s the nail in my coffin.
Day 5.
Thunder: Alright, where are we so far? We’ve had the handshake, the kiss, the steam, and the straddle. We now have to do the… Wait... Wait a sodding minute. (Thumbing through the whole script.) This thing has 12 episodes? How the fuck are you going to drag it out that long?
Writer 1: Oh, don’t worry about that. We have it refined down to a fine art.
Thunder: How’s that?
Writer 2: We'll start with some denial. That long river in Africa. We'll then introduce an unlikeable girlfriend for the top, and a gentle love interest for the bottom. We'll make them all jealous. Then, we'll use the two most powerful weapons in our arsenal...
Thunder: Which are?
Writer 2: Misunderstanding and miscommunication. Believe me, you can mine these two babies to keep the plot turning for at least six episodes.
Thunder: And the rest?
Writer 2: That’s where the side couples come in.
Thunder: So, what you’re telling me is that this time, you don’t even have enough material for 8 episodes that you had to bring me in.
The Producer: That is correct. So, what’s next?
Thunder: How bold do you wanna go?
The Producer: I mean, we opened the first episode with a handjob…
Thunder: Then how about we open the fourth with a flatiron?
Writer 2: What's that?
Thunder: Google it.
Day 6.
The Producer: So, we're all in agreement? We’ll keep Thai and Chump — I mean Champ — for the softies: soft, gentle, and with flags so green that all of Ireland would be offended…
Writers: Fine.
The Producer: Now, as for Sorn and Jun…
Thunder: You’d better let them breed like rabbits if you want the people hooked. You've got to put the Dom back in Condom; the Ass back in passive.
Writer 1: Oh, does that mean we’re allowed to show some realistic elements of safe gay sex on screen? Condoms, lubes, preparations?
Thunder: Don't be a douche.
Writer 2: Yes, douche too.
Thunder: Funny. But people don’t wanna see all that mess, yeah? They just want a clean shot. Geddit?
Writer 1: I'll add that to my list of reasons to die.
Writer 2: So what's next? What do we do with Sorn and Porn? I mean, Jun?
Thunder: Well, you've vetoed 'stepbrothers'. We’ve done 'straight-to-gay'. So, I guess the next big thing would be ‘roommate' porn, and almost ‘getting caught’. Run with those.
Writer 2: Right in front of my salad?
Day 7.
Script Editor: I quit. There is no meaning to life anymore.
(Storms out of the room.)
Thunder: What’s her problem?
Writer 1: Let’s see, we've gotten so bored with Chai — Champ and Thai, that is — that their storyline's now as bland as camomile tea. Penny breaks up with P'Sorn in a scene so amicable that Gwyneth Paltrow would look at it and say, ‘that’s bullshit’. And then, all of a sudden, Penny is just ready to scissor Jun in the middle of the office…
Thunder: Oh please, as if you BL writers were ever interested in the romantic life of lesbians.
The Producer: I mean, that's fair.
Writer 2: But you’ve mangled the script so much that nothing makes sense anymore.
Thunder: You loved the nipple play though, right?
Writer 1: Yes, the dialogue is scintillating. “Don’t mess with my nipple.” “But it’s so tiny and cute.”
Writer 2: I can’t believe I’m about to say this: but the writing is better in porn.
Thunder: Why, thank you. I'm flattered.
Day 8.
Writer 1: What next?
Thunder: Cottaging.
Writer 2 (to the Producer): How far are we willing to push it?
Thunder: Swallowing, if you want to be demure. Cum shot, if you want to be bold.
Writer 2: Jesus Christ.
The Producer: Meanwhile, please welcome our new addition to the team... Chad.
Thunder: He’s straight, isn't he?
The Producer: Yes. I’ve brought him in to advise us on the GL scenes.
Thunder: You do realise I was joking last week, right?
The Producer: So?
Day 9.
Thunder: Missionary Accomplished!
The Producer (raising his glasses): Here's to Oat and Boat!
Everyone: To Oat and Boat!
The Producer: How did you come up with the scene against the mirror? It was inspired.
Thunder: It's from one of my movies, Willy Wanker.
Day 10.
Writer 2: Oh, you haven’t shredded our script for the next two episodes?
The Producer: I’d argue that it reads somewhat better than before.
Writer 1: How come?
Thunder: Here’s the problem with you ladies. You seem to think that sex is something supplementary to a story. It isn’t. Sex is an integral part of the story. The human story. Evolution shaped us for it. And sometimes, as here, sex *is* the story.
Writer 2: What’s your point?
Thunder (sighing): The emotional connection between the boys is built on sex, innit? It ain't books or music. It 's also their main way of expressing trust, distrust, pleasure and pain.
Writer 2: That's suprisingly thoughtful.
Thunder: So, when their physical relationship falls apart, their emotional relationship falls with it. Even if the reasons you give for it are daft, as is the case here.
Writer 1: Daft?
Thunder: Please, you thought Sorny’s backstory would convince anybody? Why don’t you give him a spray-on beard while you're at it and show people how sad he is?
(The writers look at each other, wondering if it’s not a bad idea after all.)
Day 11.
(Back from the actors’ workshop):
Thunder: No, no, no, no, no. Nope. I can’t work with those two. I can’t.
The Producer: Why not?
Thunder: Did you take a look at their "acting"? There was more sexual chemistry between oil and water than those two. They touch each other as if they had visible eczema. Can’t you abandon them, like you abandoned the lesbians? Subtle, by the way. What, did you fire Chad after one day?
The Producer: But Yoon & PunPun have signed a contract saying they’d do at least three sex scenes. We’ve already paid them for it.
Thunder: Baffling. Who’d want to watch those wet wicks instead of real fireworks?
Writer 1 (sighing): I told you. We could have done without the side couples. And we could have spent that time to properly allow the characters to come out and be happy together. But no, you insisted on at least three to cater to everyone.
The Producer: I need to hedge my bets, okay? I'm only in it for the money. So stop hounding me.
Day 12.
The Producer: Alright, everyone. It's the last day. Let’s go out with a bang, shall we?
Writer 2: Two bangs, according to the script.
Thunder: A bang and a whimper is all you'll get. Can’t make a horse drink water, can we?
Writer 1: ChatGPT will soon take care of that. But what do you suggest for now?
Thunder: Tell Yoon to stop poking his tongue out like a goldfish. That would be one. Then, standing doggy in the staircase?
Writer 2: For whom?
Thunder: Both. I don’t care. Nor will the audience. They'll have tuned out by Ep. 10, trust me. So, just wrap it up, and churn the same stuff -- jealousy, aggression, possessiveness, horniness -- one last time.
Writer 1: Done.
(The Producer sighs.)
Thunder: Just make sure Boat’s shirt is unbuttoned, yeah? It leaves something to the imagination.
Writer 1: How about we also drop Oat’s trousers as well? To further fire up the imagination.
Thunder: My work here is done.
Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Your Oat Floats My Boat
DON'T SAY: Bring back the back tattoo
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Wish I could delete my brain and rewatch it from start to finish!!
I’ve never wrote a review on this site but damn this drama got me buying iqiyi vip 🥲 This story is a little bit cliche but they differ from all the drama in china , there’s no annoying background voice (actually kudos to the audio team), the director did a good job on shooting this one . The male lead acting is very well carried out although he’s new to acting ( at first I thought he was really blind lolllll) and there’s no need to say for wen pang also the plots are well written and the camera works are aesthetically pleasing there’s no need to say that this drama is a perfect 10 yall!!! I hav to give it the best drama of this yearWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This PART 2 Should Never Have Happened
If you loved the first part, DONT WATCH THIS. You have been warned. This series suddenly made All of Us Our Dead a masterpiece.The first part was an ok mess, there were some things that can be improved if you are nitpicking but still it was a fun gory watch.
Then this happened. The awaited conclusion, that sadly wasnt what it was expected to be. There was a sudden shift in tone and genre - what was initially an apocalyptic scifi horror show became a teenage psychotic drama.
Unlike some people who enjoyed it till episode 9, i was already dreading the ending from episode 7, the shift in pacing was noticeable after the action sequence at the beginning of the episode, and was constantly waiting for the action and the momsters to attack. By the end of episode 8, i already had the feeling the cute alien monsters are never coming back.
I can only conclude that the studio decided it is not worth to give this series the budget for special effects but they're already shooting so they changed plan mid-way that forced them to give it a totally different ending.
Dont get me wrong, these whole second part is not a bad drama - if it wasnt the conclusion of Duty After School Part 1. The problem is, this is not what i signed up for. I was waiting for a gory end, a satisfactory conclusion. I want answers to the questions that arised from the first part, but none of that were resolved. In the finale, suddenly we are led to believe that after 2 years, a magic wand was brandished and everything is back as it used to be. Where are all these people during the war? What we get is a drama that reminds me so much of the series Happiness.
There was a line in the last episode that perfectly summarizes the whole PART 2, when Chi Yeol said that a weapon was developed and ridiculously all the spheres were eliminated. This part 2 is exactly that - a total pointless waste of time and money.
Whats even worse is how they treated the actors - because everyone was quite good in it. Their characters doesnt deseeve their endings and its such a waste as this could have been a career-launching show.
It is such a shame because there could be a wealth of ideas to mine from the original story that could have been used to extend the span of this series into multiple season.
Avoid at all cost. Not worth your time.
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An aesthetically pleasing, original fantasy drama
When I saw that IU would be cast in this drama, I felt that I had to give it a shot, and I'm glad to say that for the most part, it did not disappoint. Without a doubt, Hotel Del Luna is my favourite kdrama of 2019. There is plenty to love about this drama, ranging from its stunning cinematography, decent storyline, excellent cast, oh and how could I forget: the most beautiful OST in kdramaland.Plot/Storyline:
I thought that the writing was pretty solid throughout the drama. It is refreshing to watch a drama that ventures into foreign territory and breaks free of the traditional kdrama tropes and cliches to explore the less commonly visited genres of horror (though I wouldn't really consider this drama to be scary at all) and fantasy + romance. The plot is layered and has some depth, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge. The main character Man Weol's story captivates you right from the get-go, as the show uses flashbacks very well to reveal small snippets of her past at a time, causing you to be curious about her past, and eager to find out more. The generous use of humour also helps to balance out some of the heavier, more emotional scenes, while also allowing the drama to be easy and fun to watch throughout its lengthy episodes. Personally, the ending did not play out exactly how I had hoped it would, but it was fitting to the themes of this drama and very beautiful to watch, as well as very emotional. The drama explores the themes/ideas of 'letting go', 'resentment', 'unselfish love' and 'forgiveness', which are all very meaningful, thought-provoking ideas, not just in the context of this drama, but these themes also have a place in our lives as well.
Elaboration on themes for those that are curious:
For example, the drama shows that it takes a greater act of love to let go than to hang on, which the same can be said about many situations in life. Suppose this: a severely ill person is given a few months to live. His family can choose to convince him to receive the surgery that would extend his lifespan by a significant amount, but which would also drastically reduce his quality of life (place him in a vegetative state), or let him die naturally of his illness. One may argue here that the greater act of love is to let go and allow the man to live out the rest of his days to the fullest, eventually dying a dignified death, rather than trying to desperately hang on and cause the dying man even more pain. Don't quote me on this sketchy analogy, but this is my best effort at trying to explain the themes that the writers explore in this drama.
Cinematography:
the cinematography of this drama is frankly top-notch, and can be compared to the likes of dramas such as Goblin. It is that good. The elements of fantasy were conveyed by great camerawork, skillful use of special effects, and excellent editing. The drama truly bought the supernatural fantasy world of ghosts to life, creating a vivid and charismatic viewing experience. It is difficult to describe in words, but once you see it for yourself I'm sure you'd agree that it is spectacular. The production team also did a phenomenal job of picking out Man Weol's outfits. IU looked absolutely incredible in pretty much all of her scenes, and I've lost count of the number of unique, beautiful outfits that she wore throughout the drama.
Acting:
the cast for this drama is a highlight for me. After watching IU's brilliant performance in 'My Mister', she was one of the main reasons I came across this drama in the first place. The drama is largely centred around her character Man Weol, and she absolutely nails her performance. She plays her character like it is second nature to her, effortlessly conveying emotions through her facial expressions, while also managing to bring out the complexity of her character. Her character is the focus of the drama, and IU does an excellent job in portraying her character's growth arc in the drama, all while making it seem very believable and authentic. And as a bonus, she looks absolutely gorgeous flaunting her giant wardrobe of high-end clothing. Furthermore, this drama exposed me to Yeo Jin Goo, who also delivers a very commendable effort and holds his own against IU. He appears to be much more mature than his age (considering he is only 22 years old), and the scenes of him breaking down emotionally feel raw and sincere. The chemistry between IU and Jin Goo both on and off the screen is also evident, and the relationship they develop seems to be very natural and genuine. The supporting cast also complements our two leads well, providing some comedic relief and some interesting side-story.
Soundtrack:
Although the soundtrack is supposed to complement a drama, Hotel Del Luna's soundtrack is far from ordinary and deserves a shoutout. Not only does the OST include big-name artists including the likes of Taeyeon, Punch and Heize, the tracks also have excellent synergy with the drama. The OST helps to effortlessly set the mood of multiple scenes and makes the emotional scenes even more powerful. There are many excellent tracks in the OST, but the standout for me is the special, unreleased OST by IU that is used at the end of one of the episodes. This track only plays once throughout the drama, but it merges into the emotional scene perfectly and elevates it to another level. (end of ep 12, )
Overall, this drama performs strongly across the board and ticks many of the right boxes for me, other than a few imperfections here and there. Although I wouldn't call this drama perfect, it comes pretty damn close in my books. I think I'm already experiencing withdrawal symptoms having finished the final episode an hour ago. It has been one heck of a ride, and now that it's over I feel like there is an empty void within me that's not going to be easy to fill. But giving credit where credit is due, hats off to the Hotel Del Luna team, as they have created something quite special and unique. Worth a watch, especially if you're an IU fan, as this drama is all about her.
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So, Bo Jin Yan is criminal psychologist who solves difficult cases with help of his newly hired assistant, Jian Yao. At first like almost in every drama they concentrate on seperate cases. And like in most of crime dramas, there was something bigger in the background but I still say this is one of the most unique crime dramas ever.
Very professional, high-quality writing. Just as you have decided you have conclusion how a scene is going to end writers make a turn and will make you go like 'whaaaaaaat?!' I enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of being surprised and not knowing what happens next. I'm sucker for good mystery/crime drama and this is the best I have watched for a long time! Ending episode threw me off the course and I was staring my computer screen mouth open :D
Leads had great chemistry and I enjoyed every awkward moment they had because of Jin Yan's serious character. I'm always drooling for handsome lone wolfs and it was adorable that IQ genius was struggling with romance.
Side roles were important and well written into plotline but I wish they would have had more depth into Zi Yu's character. He was the only side role I was excitedly waiting for to appear in every scene.
I liked how this drama didn't totally evolve to concentrate on romance element because most of dramas make that mistake. Instead they concentrated on Jin Yan's character and especially how he sees things inside his mind analysing criminal's mind.
Music was actually pretty good! I'm not a fan of chinese music, especially ballads but I fell in love with ending song~
So if you enjoy crime dramas with mysterious and exciting cases, adorable characters and little bit of romance, this is totally made for you!
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A power-struggle between morals.
I started watching 'Extracurricular' on a whim, I didn't think much of it and just wanted to see something that was on Netflix. The simple action of watching one episode turned into a 10 h binge, and I have to tell you it was one hell of a ride. This drama didn't hook me on the first episode, I felt a bit hesitant: Will this be another unrealistic shitty teen thug type of story? But nonetheless I continued.After the second episode I knew, this is something else. The premise seems simple enough, a normal setup for a Korean thriller/action movie but this took it deeper. During the 10 episodes the viewer get to know its main character Oh Jisoo and his contrasting behaviors as well as his partner Bae Gyu Ri. The character work on these two was phenomenal, I loved seeing their facades crack little by little to show what these young humans held within themselves all along. Although they commit actions that goes by the law of morals you cannot help but route for this unfortunate pair. I personally related to the characters, especially to Bae Gyu Ri and her struggles to keep her image in front of her parents, the school and Jisoo. Although the circumstances that these characters goes through is unrealistic you can draw similarities to their struggles of fitting in, money, grades and love.
The acting was simply amazing! Nothing more is needed to say, all cast members seemed to act well in their parts and the production was done so smoothly that I almost forgot that it was all an act.
Well all I can say is that this blew me away, I was chocked at the amount of enjoyment I felt watching this short but thrilling drama. Everyone that enjoys to feel nervous and wants to see something a bit fucked up and dark: 'Extracurricular' is something for you!
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This drama is excellent. Love unexpectedly blossoms through music. I can so relate to Oh Hye Won. Sometimes a person feels like they are just moving from one necessity to the next (even if she was a little greedy) with out really thinking about how you are living your life. Then some one walks into your life and changes everything. The way the director portrays every emotion through music is so wonderfully done. I love that the writer actually assumed we would know what the character was thinking. The music is amazing. I even cried. Crying while watching a drama is rare for me.
Yoo Ah In is combustible. His emotional portrayal of Lee Sun Jae was perfection. I don't know any actress that could have played the roll of Oh Hye Won better than Kim Hee Ae. I really don't know how she gave off a feel of innocence. I felt like she was reliving her youth. Good for her. I was totally invested in the main characters. The rest of the people were good too, but I could have cared less about their characters. I think that is what the writer wanted. There is no second male lead. No one for you to care about except the two lead actors.
The music is phenomenal.
I say watch it. Maybe younger people wouldn't really be in to it. It isn't action packed or anything. It is a real romance.
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