This review may contain spoilers
The second instalment of HIStory3 for this year is a regressive detour into fan service that has neither the coherence nor the charm of previous storylines.One thing I usually say about the HIStory series is that it does good queer stories even if it doesn't do other things right. But Make Our Days Count is not working for me at all. Which is a shame because I was looking forward to it a great deal. However nothing can hide the fact the show is badly written, poorly characterised and has nothing to say.
This story about popular and oblivious Xiang Hao Ting who falls for the studious and impoverished highschool student, Yu Xi Gu, (whom he used to bully) seems regressive - annoyingly so. HIStory1 was little but cliched Fujoshi baiting and I have been enjoying how the series has been maturing and evolving through HIStory2 and then HIStory3: Trapped, which for all its many many many many flaws was ambitious storytelling with mature leads.
Not that my issue is with the highschool setting itself but with the awful seme-uke "gay for you" nature of the main relationship and its associated stalking, harassment and abuse. I felt like the first few episodes were basically a relationship post on the "Am I The Asshole" reddit (with the overwhelming responses agreeing that yes, you are the asshole).
I feel so sorry for Xi Gu who just wants to work and study and has this succession of classmates harass, bully, assault, stalk, abuse and finally sexually harass him. Also I have no idea when or why our male lead suddenly decided he liked him; the switch happened suddenly and without much preamble. The romance essentially came out of nowhere and, while I could believe that Meng Shao Fei's pursuit of Tang Yi could easily become a romantic pursuit, a bully swapping relentless harassment for wooing does not work as well. It's no surprise that Xi Gu assumes that the sudden sexual element to the harassment is merely a new ploy by the boy who has been torturing him.
Of course the other relationship is just as bad, with an older man, Lu Zhi Gang, dating a highschool student, Sun Bo Xiang . One particularly revealing (and slightly gross conversation) involves the older man denying he has a romantic interest in Xi Gu because he's far far too young - despite him being the exact age as his boyfriend. No one - even the writers who put that dialogue on the page - seem to have noticed the problem here. Bo Xiang (played with a great deal of charm and nuance by Wilson Lui, who impresses me weekly) is a physical and emotional child, treated frequently like a toddler by his so-called boyfriend . To make the whole thing worse, the writers inserted an unnecessarily graphic sex scene (unprotected sex, even!) between the two of them that, again, felt like fan service rather than a genuine narrative development.
I could argue that the relationship in HIStory2: Right or Wrong was equally as disturbing but there I felt like the show was saying something and had put some thought into the characters and the relationship. The whole thing was both wrong but also quite romantic and it was up to the audience to work out where the line was and whether they were fine with it or not.
I honestly feel like this iteration of HIStory3 was written to a formula containing things people liked about previous HIStory stories and BL generally. They don't have anything to say, they just pulled elements together as fan service. There is nothing that subtle or interesting about it. It's a copy and paste job that celebrates the worst of BL while romanticising harassment.
Worse than that, "gay for you" as a plot device has a tendency to whitewash homosexuality out of the picture, something that's both ironic and frustrating in a series that's supposed to be dedicated to queer romance stories. Writing gay love stories without the gay may be a standard element of Yaoi but that doesn't mean we're not supposed to be evolving past that. And this is where I see this series as mere Fujoshi baiting. And that is a depressingly regressive move from these particular writers.
The ending
This review has been updated following the final episode to make a spoiler-free comment about the ending. It kind of goes like this: OMFG!! No, just no. Watching this show is like watching someone dig a hole and every time you think it's as deep as it can go it turns out it can plumb new depths. Even people who liked this terrible drama hated this ending. Ponder that one for a moment.
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It was a bit weird because it seemed like each couple was like out of different genres of dramas.
I needed fluff right now so I still liked it. I watched it without much thought while it was in the background.
If you want something light and fluffy you can watch without much thought you will enjoy it. There are still better ones out there.
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Lower your expectations if you don't want to be disappointed.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED??? everything was going so well until episode 3, the ep cover launching feels like I'm watching a comedy that my uncles would laugh at, the story had everything to become interesting and the romance too, but it seems that the screenwriter wanted to try something new and now the story is uninteresting, boring, strange, a dubious comedy, and this HORRIBLE romance where ML seems to be fall in love with the girl in the second episode? like a drama made in 2023 with everything good, and yet the original drama crushes this poorly made work, the acting in this drama is HORRIBLE I thought that AT LEAST the acting could save this shit, but what happened to the actress? she does so many good works, all of are dead, your adults matter, her appearances are incredible, the Her productions are perfect, why did she have to put herself through that? the main character seems like a stupid and inattentive child, and on top of that the couple has no chemistry at all, i would rather have closed eyes and imagine that they never made a second drama of the original. simply despicable.Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
From Rock, Paper, Scissors to a Love Without Secrets - The Best Taiwanese BL of 2025
I’ve watched every Taiwanese BL released this year, and without a doubt Secret Lover is the best of 2025. It is not the usual formula. Instead, it is fast paced, emotionally rich, and captivating from start to finish. Not once did it leave me bored.From the very beginning, I was drawn to both leads. Tuo is obsessive and intense, while JunXi is sweet, gentle, and adorable. Their bond, rooted in childhood, grows naturally into something deeper, and watching them fall into love felt organic and inevitable. The NC scenes were tender yet romantic, their kisses full of sincerity, and the playful “rock, paper, scissors” moment to decide who tops or bottoms was cheeky, lighthearted, and unforgettable.
What makes this story shine is the shift in their dynamic. For once, it was JunXi who chased after Tuo, who kissed him first, who showed boldness where there was once only hesitation. Usually, Tuo takes the lead, so JunXi’s affection was refreshing and heartfelt. Their communication was equally moving. When Tuo admitted he had only dated girls to hide his true feelings for JunXi, his honesty was raw and deeply touching. His apology lifted a weight from them both, and in that moment, his growth was undeniable.
The smallest details melted my heart, cuddles, forehead kisses, waking up together, and most of all JunXi’s quiet back hug after Tuo’s fight with his father. Without a single word, that embrace carried the message: I am here. You are not alone.
Even Tuo’s father was written with nuance. A single parent abandoned by his wife, he worked tirelessly to raise his son, though his strictness strained their bond. I sympathized with his burdens, but it made me appreciate JunXi even more. He gave Tuo the love and reassurance his father could not, validating every piece of who Tuo was.
Many judged Tuo early on, calling him selfish or forceful. But episode nine revealed the truth. Tuo never left JunXi because he loved him less. He left because he loved him too much. He could not bear to see JunXi hide forever or carry the weight of secrecy. That is why the series carries the title Secret Lover. Tuo’s love was not possession but protection.
And then came JunXi’s powerful declaration: Even if my parents are against it, I still want to be with Tuo. I didn’t realize I loved him this much. At the park scene, it was JunXi who kissed first, who confessed first, who chose reconciliation. This was not weakness but extraordinary courage, especially in a culture where tradition and family reputation hold such power. I admired him deeply, because I know I could not be as brave.
Love often needs distance to return stronger. You do not realize the depth of your love until you almost lose it. This series captured that truth with aching precision, showing that Tuo was never the villain but always the protector of the one he loved most.
When JunXi finally cried, his tears were not born of sadness but of joy. They carried the weight of years of silence, and with them, the heavy stone pressing on his heart was finally lifted. For so long he had hidden his love, afraid of disappointing his parents in a culture bound by tradition and generational values. Yet as his hand clasped Tuo’s, he was no longer alone. Their love was no longer a secret in the dark but a truth they carried into the light.
The most moving moment of all was the parents’ reaction. They had always known. When the truth was spoken, they embraced their sons with warmth, kindness, and joy. Their smiles shone brighter than words, their love wrapped around the boys like a blessing. This is what every parent should give, the assurance that love is love, no matter gender, no matter expectation, and happiness is the only thing that matters.
As the story closed, it became clear this was not just another BL. It was the best Taiwanese BL of the year for me. No dragging storylines, no unnecessary jealousy, no forced third wheel. Every kiss, every touch, every NC scene was alive with passion, intimacy, and vulnerability. Their chemistry was breathtaking, transcending the screen itself.
It did not feel like acting. It felt like watching two souls discover one another. The glances, the touches, the comfort in each other’s presence, it was impossible to believe it was fiction. Even behind the scenes, in playful moments and tender gestures, they radiated a closeness too real to ignore. Perhaps this was more than a story, perhaps it was something lasting even beyond the cameras.
Now it has ended, and their absence lingers like a quiet ache. Secret Lover was not simply entertainment. It was a memory carved deep into the heart, a love story that breathed, that lived, and that will be missed long after the credits fade.
💯 Secret Lover is pure perfection. Romantic, emotional, meaningful, and bold, it is everything I could ever want in a BL. Without question, it is the best Taiwanese BL of 2025.
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1This review may contain spoilers
More Like A Hundred Disappointments
80s story that could have had potential but ruined by hundred dumb routes. They have promising setting, two female bus conductors at first having their own family burdens, social expectations, and dreams. Their contrast personalities give balance for their character. But the show reduce them to “love rivals” rather than an individual characters who have goals. The writer want to create story about girl friendship complexity but failed, no build up, no progress, no motivation, no solid story message. They wasted it with story being defined and revolved around the male lead and lost the unique identity they supposedly had.Oh yes, I understand it is romance. But then they didn't show how they develop the relationship, how and why they catch the feelings bit by bit, what push them to change, how they got to be who they are. The story becomes a disconnected events rather than a cohesive journey for the main characters. All of their purposes are pulled into shadow by the romantic entanglement rather than resolved by their own growth. All these forced emotions are craps.
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A Hundred Triangles?
Alas, I find the male lead out of place from the female leads's dynamic. Whereas Yeongrye and Jonghui's opening come from down to earth household, economic hardship and gender expectation; Jaepil comes from the contrasting background. Prince on white horse? His cliche "privileged rich cold boy" introduction failed me to connect with his character in their 80s setting.
Yes, ML owns his emotional wounds, daddy issues, and bankrupt era. But the drama also seems to rely on him being the “object” that the two female leads orbit, rather than giving him enough depth to make the audience care deeply about him as more than just a romantic figure. Even his "aspiring boxer" narrative is scrapped by "heartbreak". He also got no much role for female leads's development. At least other male characters play a significant part in female leads's ambitions plot / Yeongrye asking the brother duos about law as she lacks education but she still revolve the problem on her own / Jonghui with his criminal brother side by side with Ko's siblings.
Once again, the main character's dreams, are scrapped throughout the drama, removed, forgotten, then pulled back in last seconds just for the sake of dumb plot. Titled hundred memories then give us a whole 7 years timeskip with a minimum flashback with majority of dramatic tension still weight heavily on the male lead, who, is not given enough complexity, growth, or... good acting to justify that weight. Romance drama? Well, it is also supposed to be a youth family drama but the series fall back into hundred romance tropes.
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Not Enough A Hundred Memories, But A Hundred Cliches.
Anyway, some parts are great especially when they show Yeongrye's family dynamics and 80s economic straits through the open door bus conflicts and.... well, there isn't much arc in the dorm lmao, what else I can mention? Wait, there is another love triangles plot in the dorm! Rather than showing the fellow conductor's struggles, they chose to add another male-centered side story! Even the side character cant escape from the love triangle, sick how the writer sidelined Jeongbun's struggle and made her story all about cheater character instead of addressing pregnant without marriage issue in 80s. The ending is such a joke too, I would accept the writer's intention to push "friendship" narrative in the last minutes if they focus resolving the main conflict, the stab incident trauma between the girls, but then they pulled this foggy dream light crap and made Yeongrye scream "Jaepiiiill" !!
But really, this drama has some genuine emotional moments, especially during first half in portraying female friendship and societal pressures of eldest daughter, female labor etc.. Though it went down hill, jumped to the cliff latter part, especially with the makjang nonsense.
Overall I am disappointed. I gave it lower rating because I had high expectations with my fave starring here. I have much more to complaint especially the late 80s hair salon background setting and styling post time skip. I expected much more from both Kim Dami and Shin Yeeun. Why the hell did they accept this script? I wished the story prioritized showing the dorm characters's inner lives, ambitions, 80's conflicts, and especially more evenly. It could have been a strong 80s story. If you are looking for that, turn around! Don't get scammed like me~
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A Drama About Politics, Humanity, Power, and Emotional Survival
I just completed A Splendid Match and honestly… this drama completely exceeded my expectations. 🍂⚔️✨I had no expectations about this drama. I also had no specific intentions about the cast. I did not think they would do a great job. I liked the plot premise but not the cast. Actually, I thought about not watching this drama at all because the cast looked average and not prominent. And I have seen this type of plot before: historical romance with clever female leads, political scheming, wealthy noble families, and the usual marriage alliances.
But somewhere along the way, this story quietly transformed into something far more interesting.
Because beneath its elegant costumes, marriages, dowries, and aristocratic politics, this drama is actually about loneliness, emotional restraint, power struggles, morality, survival, class systems, sacrifice, and the terrifying cost of living inside political machinery.
And what surprised me most is how emotionally intelligent the writing became.
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🌑 FIRST IMPRESSIONS — A DRAMA THAT HIDES ITS TRUE DEPTH
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At the beginning, I enjoyed the drama, but I did not immediately think it would become something better than expected. The early episodes felt familiar: wealthy households, family rivalries, marriage negotiations, clever female lead, political officials, hidden schemes. And suddenly I realized this was not simply a romance drama. It was a drama about people trapped inside systems. Systems of family. Systems of power. Systems of reputation. Systems of political loyalty.
Every single character is constantly suffocating under expectations. And that is exactly what made the drama feel so human. No character here feels entirely pure. No character feels completely evil. Even the cruelest people often act out of fear, survival instinct, ambition, resentment, or emotional emptiness. This drama understands something many costume dramas forget: people are contradictions. 🎭
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🖤 CHEN YANYUN — ONE OF THE MOST COMPOSED YET TRAGIC MALE LEADS
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Chen Yanyun became one of the most fascinating male leads I have watched. At first glance, he appears calm, elegant, intelligent, and emotionally controlled — almost untouchable. But underneath that composure is a man constantly walking on political knives. What makes him so compelling is that his suffering is never loud. He rarely raises his voice. Rarely loses emotional control. Rarely dramatizes his pain. Instead, the drama shows his exhaustion through restraint. Through long silences. Through calculated words. Through the way he quietly carries responsibilities that would destroy most people.
One of the most unforgettable moments was the undated divorce letter. That single scene revealed everything about his love for Gu Jinzhao. Instead of trying to possess her after marriage, he gives her freedom. Instead of demanding loyalty, he gives her a safe escape. That is not performative romance. That is trust.
And the tragedy of Chen Yanyun is that he understands power too well. The more politically intelligent he becomes, the lonelier he grows. After the grain scandal arc, you can feel him emotionally distancing himself from Lord Fu while realizing he may eventually stand alone in court. His relationship with power is deeply tragic because he knows survival often requires moral compromise — yet part of him still desperately wants to remain humane. 🥀
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🌸 GU JINZHAO — A FEMALE LEAD WRITTEN WITH REAL INTELLIGENCE
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Gu Jinzhao — I really loved her as a smart female lead. Not because the drama constantly tells us she is smart. But because the writing consistently proves it. She understands politics, reputation warfare, commerce, law, emotional manipulation, and social psychology. What I loved most is that her intelligence never feels unrealistic. She survives because she observes people carefully. Even during terrifying situations, she remains emotionally composed enough to think strategically.
The Sun Shitao corpse-switch plan was brilliant. Her handling of Madam Wang during the tea gathering was brilliant. Her usury loan trap to neutralize Madam Wang was masterful. But despite all her cleverness, she still feels emotionally human. The night before her wedding day, the way she expressed her real self beneath her cleverness — I really felt it. She fears things. She hesitates. She questions herself. She feels guilt. She feels emotional exhaustion.
What makes Gu Jinzhao special is that she never sacrifices her humanity to become strong. Even when everyone around her prioritizes political survival, she still tries to protect people emotionally. Ren Min did a great job. I did not think she would play her role this perfectly. 👏
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⚔️ YE XIAN — THE MOST PAINFUL CHARACTER IN THE ENTIRE DRAMA
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Honestly… Ye Xian’s storyline devastated me. 🥲 He is one of the most emotionally tragic second male leads I have seen. The drama never portrays him as merely a romantic obstacle. Instead, he feels like a man constantly arriving too late to his own life. Too late to confess. Too late to protect his family. Too late to save his father. Too late to keep Gu Jinzhao.
The wedding and funeral procession scene was absolutely heartbreaking. A bridal carriage moving toward a new future. A funeral procession carrying away an ending. Ye Xian stepping aside and yielding the road. It symbolized an entire emotional era dying.
His love for Gu Jinzhao feels less like youthful romance and more like emotional grief. Gu Jinzhao and Ye Xian understand each other deeply, but they would have destroyed each other emotionally in the long run. They are too similar. Too stubborn. Too emotionally guarded. Too self-destructive. That realization made their relationship even sadder. Ultimately, he died gloriously and just as he wanted. I cried when he was pierced and hoped he would only be injured, but his death was beautifully tragic. 💔
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🏛️ THE DRAMA’S BIGGEST STRENGTH — POLITICS THAT FEEL HUMAN
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One thing I deeply appreciated is how political conflicts are never treated as abstract strategy games. Every political decision affects human lives. The grain scandal arc especially elevated the drama enormously. Two hundred thousand dan of relief grain replaced with wheat bran. That single act exposed corruption, faction warfare, bureaucratic cruelty, and the terrifying reality that ordinary starving people become disposable tools for powerful officials.
Lord Fu is especially fascinating. He is intelligent, cultured, patient, visionary, and yet terrifying. Because he genuinely believes sacrificing people is acceptable if it achieves political stability. That complexity made him far more frightening than a simple villain. Chen Yanyun is so underrated because even in the end, it is clear he was a visionary when he chose to take up his mentor’s book. Others might have disagreed, seeing it as the work of an evil man, but he understood that Fu Hailian’s policies weren’t the problem — it was his actions and power hunger that were evil.
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💔 THE ROMANCE — BUILT ON TRUST RATHER THAN POSSESSION
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One of the best things about this drama is that the romance feels emotionally mature. Chen Yanyun and Gu Jinzhao do not fall in love through endless misunderstandings or exaggerated jealousy. Their relationship develops through mutual respect, emotional understanding, trust, political partnership, and quiet emotional intimacy. They genuinely listen to each other.
Even after marriage, the drama does not suddenly turn them into a perfect fantasy couple. Instead, their marriage becomes another battlefield. Political enemies target them. Families pressure them. Rumors surround them. But they continue choosing each other again and again. Gu Jinzhao’s love for Yanyun is evident as she is willing to take poison and die, which is incredible considering how much she values her life. ❤️
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🌑 THE CHEN FAMILY — A HOUSEHOLD BUILT ON SILENCE AND ROT
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One of the most fascinating aspects of the drama is how the Chen family slowly transforms into something psychologically unsettling.
At first, they appear like a prestigious noble household.
But beneath the elegance lies emotional decay.
Fourth Master Chen especially shocked me. His confession about drowning the fifth brother completely changed the atmosphere of the drama. Suddenly the household no longer felt politically dangerous alone. It felt emotionally haunted.
And Chen Xuanqing’s gradual deterioration is equally disturbing.
At first, he seems like a melancholic young man trapped by regret.
But slowly: obsession replaces affection, silence replaces sincerity, and emotional instability replaces morality.
After that, he no longer feels romantic. He feels dangerous.
Especially during the kidnapping arc, the earring scene, and his emotional coldness toward Yu Wanxue.
The drama is quietly showing how unresolved desire can become destructive. 🥀
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🎥 VISUAL STORYTELLING — POWER, LONELINESS, AND EMOTIONS SPOKEN WITHOUT WORDS
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One of the strongest aspects of A Splendid Match is honestly its visual storytelling.
This drama does not rely only on dialogue to explain emotions or political tension. Very often, the directing, framing, lighting, costumes, and even physical distance between characters quietly reveal things before the characters themselves say them aloud.
And that is exactly why many scenes feel emotionally heavy even when very little is happening on the surface. 🍂
Contrast Between Warmth and Isolation 🌓
What impressed me most is how the drama constantly contrasts warmth and isolation.
Chen Yanyun is usually surrounded by grand halls, political officials, luxurious robes, and authority — yet visually, he is often framed alone. Even in crowded rooms, the camera repeatedly isolates him within the frame, reminding us that power in this drama is deeply lonely. He stands at the center of the court, but emotionally he belongs nowhere.
Gu Jinzhao's scenes often feel more "alive." Her environments contain movement, warm candlelight, busy markets, family courtyards, flowing fabrics, and softer colors. Even when she is suffering, the drama visually connects her to humanity and earthly warmth in a way Chen Yanyun lacks.
That contrast becomes one of the drama's quiet emotional foundations.
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💎 THE UNIQUE CONNECTION BETWEEN ML AND SML
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One thing I noticed in this drama that I have not seen in others is the connection between the male lead and the second male lead. They loved the same woman. They were love rivals. That means they must be enemies. But in their personal lives, yes they fought and were rivals. But beyond that, they worked together for the country. They served under the same ruler. They forgot their personal grudges and fought in the same battle for the empire. They were righteous. They put the people and their country before their personal grudges. When someone faced difficulties, the other helped him. They did not take revenge for love. They worked together against corruption for the sake of the country.
In episode 39, it was so heartfelt and emotional to see Yanyun embrace Ye Xian. The way Yanyun carried him. Even if they did not speak to each other as friends, they were friends at heart. I once thought the most heartfelt scene in the entire drama was the funeral procession meeting the wedding procession. But no, this was the one. Once they fought with each other, then fought together for the country, though they were destined to be enemies hated to the bone, yet Yan Yun cried bitterly for Ye Xian. Ye Xian was jealous of Chen Yanyun but held him in incredible high regard. Towards the end, he thought of him as a teacher and friend. 🫂
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🎭 ACTING PERFORMANCES — REN MIN AND CI SHA
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Ren Min’s performance can score ninety points. She is charmingly playful yet natural. About the mother’s death scenes: some say she was too wooden. But I think that was just right. When her mother apologized, Jinzhao was shocked, not moved. Her lifelong belief was completely shaken. When her mother died, Jinzhao was grief-stricken but even more enraged. She had no space left to feel sadness. Only after things were accomplished, while listening to Yanyun play the xun and reading her mother’s letter, could she cry quietly. That is nuanced acting. She cried bitterly for Ye Xian, her true friend, and I hope no one criticizes her for that. Too many dramas portray detachment from second male leads who were genuinely good, as if ignoring one relationship diminishes another. He was her best friend and held a special place in her heart. 👏
Ci Sha’s performance gets eighty points. His eyes are especially deep. His mouth is distinctive — sometimes slightly smiling, sometimes seeming not to. I especially love his emotionally exposed scenes: slapping Fourth Master, stumbling when rushing to rescue Jinzhao. His features do not fly wildly — fitting Yanyun’s character. As for his scenes with Jinzhao, those are the drama’s essence. Sending the cloak with eyes that drive you crazy. Confessing love directly. Once aware of his feelings, he never hesitates. 😄
🔥 FINAL VERDICT
Is A Splendid Match perfect? No. The OST is genuinely bad. Some shots are awkward. The ending felt rushed. I wish they had given us a longer ending. Even an extra 10 minutes would have been enough. We never saw Chen Yanyun receive the acknowledgement and rewards he deserved, nor did we get to see them as a couple after all the drama.
But honestly? That is exactly what made this drama memorable for me. Because beneath the beautiful costumes lies a deeply human story about loneliness, power, emotional survival, sacrifice, trust, and the painful cost of remaining humane inside cruel systems.
This drama does not simply ask who loves whom. It asks what kind of person can survive this world without losing themselves. And that question stayed with me.
Overall, it is an incredible drama. I hope the couple give us some special episodes, even if just 10 minutes.
Layered political storytelling ✨ Emotionally intelligent characters ✨ Mature romance ✨ Complex morality ✨ Beautiful symbolism ✨ Quiet but powerful acting ✨ Deep emotional atmosphere ✨
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The Moon truly does rise where the River is
Acting and Characters: Kim So Hyun was absolutely perfect as Pyeonggang. Na In Woo took on the difficult job of filling in On Dal after Ji Soo got dropped and exceeded all expectations. Lee Ji Hoon was the swoony SML that we grew to love and hate. Choi Yu Hwa did an amazing job portraying a cunning yet kind-hearted Silla spy. The side characters were all so lovable. Pung Gae and Jin were so cute. The Queen and Go Won Pyo were extremely well portrayed. Won (or King Yeongyang) was lovable as a teen and despised as an adult. King Pyeongwon was a character that we grew to love over the course of the show.Plot: The plot was iffy at times but it was bearable. It didn't help that they rush a couple of episodes and write a whole new set of episodes due to the allegations around Ji Soo. Overall I think they did a really good job of sticking to the history and folktale while giving us the viewers some fanservice with that ending. They did Geon and Won (or King Yeongyang) dirty in the latter half of the show, but at least we got their true character back by the end. The "death" of On Dal was kind of unnecessary but I get why they did it. They needed to stay somewhat true to the ending of the folktale.
OST and Cinematography: OST was amazing. The soundtracks used for the battle scenes so perfectly. The main OST was lovely. The cinematography was absolutely stunning at times. One of the better cinematographies I've seen. The setting for the scenes was absolutely beautiful. The camerawork was pretty good. Overall a very well-produced show given the circumstances.
Final Score: 9/10
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Weak Hero Class 1
89 people found this review helpful
1Intense. Brutal. Yes, I recommend it. And with a heavy heart I am also considering it valuable
"Weak Hero Class 1" leaves me with mixed emotions. It is an intense KDrama, in which the young people are remarkably slow-paced, sort of numb, at times bordering on apathy. On the other hand, there are violent outbursts. Extreme. Brutal. A cruel parallel world that actually should have no place whatsoever in the everyday life of high school students!What kind of society do we live in? It is simply too much, what young people have to go through and deal with. KDrama didn't invent it. Neither does the webtoon, the story is based on. It is a sad and scandalous reality in many schools, in many classes, in South Korea and elsewhere.
"Weak Hero Class 1" doesn't sugarcoat anything.
And it ends just the way it is... no end in sight...
I admit, I was about to drop it. Too much frustration and violence - it actually goes on and on. (Even if the 'weak hero' develops cunning, inspiring recipes to fight back... it still remains a world of violence.)
But then the relationship dynamics between the boys (and girls) are quite intense and what they go through inside and out is touching. Ultimately, it doesn't help to look away - even if it's painful to look at. In fact, "Weak Hero Class 1" is a great, impressive production. It is a disturbing inventory - disturbing because the story leaves no perspective, no silver lining, no substantial room for hope. (At most marginal sparks of light here and there.)
The largely indifferent attitude towards life that prevails in posture and movement of the young people is one thing, the massive outbreaks of violence another. Each soul seems to have long since fled its young body, so that there are only roughly apathetic youths on the move who occasionally act as numb thugs who kick helpless bodies on the ground, or vice versa. It's actually unbearable. It's traumatizing on both sides. And yet it is everyday life. This creates a very unique flow in the world of the students. In this world, one may search in vain for serious, responsible, courageous adults. They are lacking. The kids are alone in this world and have to find their way to live in it, or rather: to survive. Which side will you be on? Perpetrator? Victim? Rescuer? Spectator?
What agitates me the most in connection with "Weak Hero Class 1" is the enormous enthusiasm among der age-group of 13-17, who with this story obviously feel seen right on. This may be 'only' a fictional story, but it obviously tells the story of the youth, we (adults) usually dont´t get. Many are thrilled. In fact, I'm NOT thrilled. I'm impressed by the intensity of the production, yes. But primarily appalled by the dominance of bullying and the severity of violence among peers in everyday school life today. I am also shocked by the documented, self-evident aimlessness and helplessness of the adults. Ultimately, I am frustrated by the lack of a positive outlook and affected by such a disillusioning world of experience of the young, growing up generation.
"Weak Hero Class 1" is based on the template of a web toon and has (via KDrama) by now reached an even wider audience, especially among the 'adults', regarding bullying among schoolchildren. I appreciate that. The KDrama was released on the young streaming platform Wavve and was thus able to give plenty of dramaturgical space to the violent excesses. Maybe more than necessary? Or just right? The KDrama has a simple mission: to show what 'we' tend not to see because 'we' (adults) have no place in this parallel world of schoolchildren. And as a matter of principle, the story does not provide any answers in terms of a way out. No.
In the contrary: 'we' adults are in the pillory... What have we done (and also missed) that it could have gotten this far! Where is this going to end? What can we do about it?
Anyway, bottom line: I recommend the series. And with a heavy heart I am also considering it valuable especially for all those who call themselves adults, parents, teachers, social workers, officials in youth welfare offices, police officers, etc....
Hello, wake up!
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The drama itself was a pretty good drama, not one of the best I've seen but I did enjoy watching it. Its one of those dramas you have to keep watching to like.
I really enjoyed the acting, characters were really unique and entertaining to watch. I mean you get to see both No Min Woo and Park Ki Woong play completely different roles from what we are used to and on top on that they sing >< .....I just loved the music. The songs were really fun and catchy.
Any who definitely recommend if you are in the mood of watching a light romantic/comedy.
P.S NO this drama does not have anything to do with the first Full House but the name.
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Framing Weiyoung
Repetitive, boring, there may not be words that better describe Princess Weiyoung. Even a story based on conspiracy, betrayal and a hint of melodrama cannot abuse an appeal in this way. Okay, the protagonist is chased, she has many enemies, but is it necessary to use the framing tactics all the time? Didn't the writers realize that the protagonist being framed almost every episode tires the viewer, even those who like "tricks"? My discontent is huge that I refuse the biggest episode 34, which was the last one I saw, sad because the story seemed promising.EDIT:
I finish the drama but my opinion remains the same
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This review may contain spoilers
FLUFFY VAMPIRES
I never thought id say this but this is probably the fluffiest vampire romance ever . If you want an easy to watch, easy to finish romance then this is for you.This is an 8 - 16minutes episodes (which is really about 14 if you cut out the cheesy opening and closing credits) series with nothing but cute guys and fluffiness. Seriously. before watching the finale i had to rewatch the first episodes because i forgot about the events in them. Its a story about a vampire "family" living together with a normal human.
I love fluffy and light shows and i really iiked the series, however, to be quite honest, there is so much to be desired storywise. The vampire lore was so thin i wondered why they have to be vampires. I almost always ask why, for the love of god, does Koresn BL industry insist on being this short - the limited screentime allowed very little story and character development. It may have been better if it was released as a binge or compiled as a movie but i still think the plot is too thin to really make an impact.
Its pretty obvious the entire series has limited budget and that its possible the entire series may have been shot on a day or two.
The saving grace of the series are the main actors - Yu SIn and Park Dong Ju are real cuties and they did really well as Ju Won and Dong Ha considering the fact that they are almost brand new to acting and what limited material they have. I already loved Lee Tae Hyung from Match Play and its really good to see him in another BL i just hoped the series used him more. I specially loved the acting in the end of episode 7 between Ju Won and Seon Jay, with that alone id say Yu SIn has a pretty bright acting future ahead.
The other couple is mostly used for comedic relief and their kiss at the last episode was so fake i wonder why the series felt the need to add it to the story.
So would i recommend? Definitely. Would i rewatch? Im not entirely sure. Its a good and light series but its also quite forgetable i dont think id remember it after a month. Overall im giving it a strong 8 mostly for the cast and the entertainment value.
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Hoping for a season 2!!
Since im a huge fan of JU JING Yi, im super bias here, i liked the drama overall and enjoyed it HAHAH although it wasnt the best!! Still enjoyed it.Firstly, the starting part, ju jing yi is abit too outstanding for being a maid? Like make up and everthing but i understand because shes the mainlead and should be more outstanding, just found it abit funny hehe.
2nd, the plot of romance was too rushed i got abit confused, they didnt declare they liked each other and suddenly they kissed and make out if im not wrong a few moments ago they were just master and student? Nonetheless still watched it because im a fan of XIAO JU!! ^.^
3rd, they had 3-4 different lives i think and all had the same ending which is very sad though, why can’t the male lead do something different and not kill FL. Anyways still love both of their acting HAHAH i love their chemistry :) hope they will act again in another drama or season 2. Wished the director and writer could have not rushed the plots and everything :((
OST - my heart aches everytime i listen to the OST.. the lyrics relates so much to the drama, ju jing yi voice is just so mesmerising and you can actually feel her emotions from the song.. which makes me 10000times more emotional 😭😭 but still the song slayed love it! Do LISTEN TO the song even if yall dont really like the drama MUAHAHA
Ending was very confused and upsetting 🥲 I hope there will be a season 2 to continue where the left us wondering what actually happened.. WISHED THEY GAVE US A GOOD ENDING BUT QUITE DISAPPOINTED THEY DIDNT HAISS, im guessing the director wants us to assume and imagine the ending however we like? PLEASE GIVE US season 2 and i will forgive your confused ENDING SIR/mdm! hehe
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After that, the drama is just the typical romance in high school. And I couldn't even get myself to support the main couple because screenwriters made Haru look completely dumb in the beginning. I even wondered if he was supposed to have a handicap or something. I understand some scenes were for fan service purpose, but it could have been done in a less stupid way. So you might be happy if you're a fan of Rowoon to begin with, but I was just facepalming. Plus Rowoon isn't very good at acting, although it gets a little better at the end. So for most of the drama I couldn't believe he loved Dan Oh. And the problem is, that's the only thing his character is here for. He doesn't have a back story like Kyung that could have made me like another aspect of him.
Other than that, this drama is full of dramas' clichés (you'll even find one TWICE) and of "plot twists" that you can see coming from miles away. At some points I thought I would be surprised, that things will be less simple than I thought... and no. It never happened. This drama doesn't take any risks, and it's such a letdown with a promising plot like that. Except for one character (who is not even a main one) most characters don't have any evolution, or a veeery rushed one as if screenwriters just realized the end was near and almost nothing had changed. The ending was meh because again, it was nothing I couldn't predict.
The only things I liked in this drama are :
1) the two first episodes where Dan Oh realizes she's a mere extra in a comic.
2) characters laughing at the ridiculousness and cheesiness of their comic world, very similar to Boys over flowers. While actually, Extraordinary you is also very cheesy.
3) Kyung, only because he was the main source of things actually happening in the drama which is otherwise very plain. But I got sick pretty quickly of the lead/second lead dynamic with Haru.
To sum it up this drama is boring and couldn't live up to my expectations, and I really don't understand why some people love it so much.
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So it seems strange to write a review about his latest work and say that, while it no less beautiful or artful or well-framed, it's use of music is ear-screechingly bad and its portrayal of women's lives depressing. In fact, this is the most depressing Korean drama I've seen since Misty told us a woman can only have success if she destroys men - and she won't be happy anyway when she does it.
Which is not to say that there is anything wrong with the writing, acting or cinematography of this show. It is, in fact, a warm and often-visually beautiful representation of the ordinary life of a very ordinary noona and her very ordinary romance with her friend's dongsaeng. But it is in the show's realism that it fails.
Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) is the most everywoman portrayed on TV: told her job is to compromise, to keep the peace, to slide through without conflict. Basically raised to be this way and then simultaneously judged for being this way. Forced to be a participant, essentially, in her own mistreatment. In the end, Jin-ah will only be happy, and the people around her will only be happy, if she stops trying to make everyone happy. She's such an everywoman that I don't know why the writers and the PD told the story at all - unless it's to completely depress us as to the current state of feminism.
For those who want a fluffy, happy romance this is the wrong show, even if there's a lot of that in the first half. Love it seems can survive in a bubble but can't survive the real world, even if the two people in the romance are not doing anything wrong.
In the end, this show gets a seven because it was a very good piece of television despite the depressing overall theme. The one true flaw was the OST, which was so awful it had me muting the soundtrack throughout. If you told me a few weeks ago that I'd be muting the soundtrack in a PD Ahn drama, I wouldn't have believed you. But here I am. And if I have to hear 'Stand By Your Man' one more time, it will be one time too many.
Sometimes it is hard to be a woman. But only if you are brought up to embrace noble martyrdom as a woman's main role. It is ironic perhaps that the people who will truly hate this show are the ones who love shows that promote woman's noble martyrdom as a virtue to be rewarded - like Mischievous Kiss. And while there is a lesson in that for women, it's not a particularly uplifting one.
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Historical drama to an extend happened in real life, people may think that, the writers are not creative thus they decide to use history. Well yes! The writers did that and it was done wonderfully! It was such a nice drama, seeing history unfolding right in front of your eyes! The romance between the princes and Rouxi was so nice, you can't decide which prince you want to ship Rouixi with.
The casts was perfect for each of the characters they played. You can't hate any of the characters even if they have done such an evil deep, you'll end up feeling sorry for them instead. The acting was great, you will find yourself, crying then laughing and crying again and the emotion is just like a roller-coaster ride. It was perfect!
An other perfect thing for this drama is that the music was beautiful, i even downloaded their theme song onto my ipod and i dont even understand chinese! That's saying some thing. It was beautiful, the melody and the music for each scene was perfect for it. Oh let me warn you, once you're done with this series and the theme song comes up. You'll feel like crying cause you miss this series so so much!
Overall i'm rating this drama a 10! Just because it's perfect and i watched this drama 4 days straight! Once i got up, i turn on my laptop and continue watching it.
Reasons to watch this drama:
- Strong female character
- Handsome and pretty actresses
- Awesome Plot
- Roller-coaster ride of emotions
If you like those this drama should make your day!
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