This review may contain spoilers
How to Ruin Something in 3 episodes
I wrote this as a way to empty myself rather than anything else. Everyone’s taste and perspective is different so I have never made an effort to convince someone to like or not like anything. And I also debated a lot on whether to post it or not. But since I already wrote it, what the heck… This is a description of how a perfect 9.5 rating peddled itself into a 7.Now I’m going to be honest, I feel some unexplainable attachment to N’Bright. Sort of maternal. I don’t know why, maybe because he’s the same age as my baby sister and my protectiveness for her is transferred, maybe because I can sense some vulnerability behind his aloofness? I don’t know, let’s leave that to the therapists to untangle that web. But the point I wanted to make before I went down the path of self-analysis and discovery is, my biased feelings also flowed down to the character which meant I tend to gloss over some issues either with the show or the actor. Don’t say I wasn't upfront about it.
Where to start; the actors?
N'Bright - Besides his good looks they say he brings all he's got to the set. I do like his acting. Although admittedly when I first saw the cast interview before the series aired, my first impression was, this is not going to be challenging for this guy. Character and his own personality seem to be too similar.
I found his strength to be when he is playing the seemingly cold, detached, flirty, cute, shameless parts of his character. His biggest weakness would be sad scenes. He squints. Basically, that’s it. I found that in scenes where I should have been more inclined to empathize with his character instead I felt disconnected. These are the scenes specially where Win has outshined him.
N'Win – I don’t even know where to start about our breakout star. It is hard to imagine that this is his first role. I guess some things just come natural to some people. When he is playing the mash up of legally blonde and clueless, I kept thinking, “this guy would make a damn good villain”. That is a testament to his ability in convincing me that he is a talent that should not be underestimated. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have areas to work on but for a first run, he hit it out of the park.
The Plot
If you’re looking for a series to tackle serious issues, with intricate plots and multi-faceted characters you won’t find it here. This was a very straightforward simple unoriginal plot. What I like about the series was that particular fact. It never tried to be more than what it was; which is the equivalent of a chick-flick. It is a simple story of two people falling in love. It wasn’t a question of will-they-won’t-they but rather WHEN will-they. The trill was watching the chase and the fluff unfold until the expected happy ending arrives.
Whatever minor faults could be forgiven as long as it delivered what I needed; which was an uncomplicated entertaining love story.
Tine’s oblivion to his fake boyfriends real flirting, and Sarawat’s one step advance one step retreat was what excited me, asking will Tine realize in this episode or the next episode that his fake boyfriend is actually in love with him.
The choppy editing and some of the directing mishaps can quickly be dismissed. Why spend over analyzing something simple that wasn’t trying to be more than what it is, I told myself.
When people pointed out the scene with Sarawat getting beat up was unnecessary, I said no they are trying to show Tine who only saw Sarawat’s popularity, that there was another side to his life. A not so pretty side that Tine was oblivious to. For some who don’t believe boys would punch someone because their girlfriend liked their IG, I’d like to counter with my own experience with stupid, where in college I had a close friend who’s boyfriend regularly gets into a fist fight with any man who made eye contact with his girlfriend (no I’m not exaggerating, going to clubs or bars was definitely a stressful situation when my friend and her boyfriend joined us) But I digressed again, I was trying to say that I can come up with any explanation or excuse for a scene that may come off less than perfect.
The Problem
Then episode 10 happened. The first couple of minutes showed us what we have been waiting for. Finally! Tine realized his feelings and accepted Sarawat and they are now a couple. So, what comes next? Of course, the honeymoon phase! Where we are going to witness firsthand these two people we have been cheering on for 9 episodes, go on a date. We are going to see Sarawat who shamelessly flirted his way into Tine heart, is as a boyfriend. We are going to see how awkward, shy Tine is with his first boyfriend and watch him fall deeply in love ugh so romantic hu… NO! That’s not what happened. What we got was a fast transition from “we’re boyfriends” to “we are cohabitating” in a matter of 15 minutes. If it was just the cohabitation, I wouldn’t be so bitter. What they went into is from flirting and making eyes at each other to bromance territory. I mean they were one chest bump away from turning into two white frat boys “dude”! In a matter of 15 minutes the spark that had carried us for 9 episodes started fizzling out in front of my eyes. Man and Boss should ask for refund on that bouquet of condoms. But I moved on, I declared it the weakest episode, which was bound to come along in any series.
Episode 11 busted in with the Halloween special. I mean to this day I still can’t tell you what the thought process was that went into writing and approving that episode. The only saving grace was the last 6 minutes where we finally got to see from Sarawat’s perspective on what it was like for him when he met Tine again in ep 1. That part was cute and in perfect theme to the beginning of the series. I feel like N’Bright did his best work there. Now another milestone for this episode was Tine said “I like you too” out loud for us to hear. Now I’m no director or writer but shouldn’t this be an opportune moment to get in a kiss? Mind you, I’m not asking for tongue or exchange of saliva (I feel like I have to keep pointing out this part for some to understand) but a simple peck. Would it have killed them if Sarawat and Tine had leaned on each other or gave a back hug while they were stargazing?
But hey, let’s not get hung up on the missed opportunity here when episode 12 brought on a new bucket of mess. Ep 12 was a cast call for all clichés. You name it, it had it. Here, because of this series, I had to eat my words once again. Around ep 5/6, here on MDL I praised this series for not having negative female portrayals. One commenter pointed out that it still had “Sarawat’s fans”. I said I don’t consider them as normal females, at least we don’t have an ex or something trying to raise havoc. I guess this is why they say you shouldn’t put something out into the universe?
Why what was supposed to be a simple Hallmark drama has devolved into c-drama world with its melodrama is beyond me. Well as you’d expect, the last ep could not save the descend into the bottom with the regurgitated plots, cliched love triangle, last minute drama.
In our very last episode we got a strong montage and a character I barely recognized. I have theories, hear me out… when Sarawat broke his leg and they took him for his x-ray follow up, by any chance do you think the hospital messed up and gave him a lobotomy? Or, in the Halloween ep, did he maybe get body swapped? Guys I have over a decade worth of knowledge in this area from watching Supernatural. It could happen. And this is the only explanation that I can come up with to explain the unexplainable character personality shift. People expect you to accept that Mr. Sarawat expo, Mr. cop-a-feel even when beaten to a pulp, now gives strong shoulder hugs and high fives. Mr. I'll kiss you till you drop now gives head pats. The Sarawat, who crawled to Tine with a broken leg and wouldn’t leave his side just because Tine fainted now sees his boyfriend puking and being taken to a hospital but instead goes home for a good night sleep and a change of fresh cloth before going to see him? I mean WT actual F! To top it off, Sarwat 2.0 didn’t even say “I’m sorry” or make any effort to win Tine back or anything remotely sane but instead sang a song that he barely even finished. Man and Type showed more warmth with that hug than our main couple, who technically had just made up. To be fair, Man and Type showed more warmth than our duo in the last 3 episodes.
I have a lot more to say but I fear the only thing to be gained would be carpal tunnel. I will forever treasure you, Gunsmile and Toptap. Episodes 1-9 will be remembered fondly, especially since as far as I'm concerned this series ended after the first 15 minutes of episode 10. I loved, loved everything about the music. Thank you for that.
And at last, I will dedicate a verse from one of my favorite song to it:
“it could have been love, but it’s over now;
It could have been good, but we lost it somehow”
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I fall in love at first sight with Rosy Zhao since early episodes, I can't imagine another actress playing Sheng Nan besides Rosy Zhao.
The male lead Lin Shen as the CEO Lu Jin with prestigious character, I started to fall in love with his acting in the middle of drama when the story becomes more captivating. I never watch his drama before and I found out he is an extraordinary actor, very experienced and has many achievements in the world of drama and film. I love all his suits in this drama, all suits he wears always looks good on him.
In the last few episodes the story is no longer about the allure of cooking/food flavored with romance, but more about hatred between brothers and take a revenge. I wish the writer didn’t put too much drama at the last episodes as this drama is very charming on most of all episodes.
Overall I love the romance between Sheng Nan and Lu Jin, this couple is so sweet, you will keep on smiling to see their silliness in love. Short drama, beautiful cooking/foods, sweet & happy romance, enjoyable to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Ultimate slow-burn in the bustling nerve wrecking imperial palace
This one genuinely won hearts; it won’t leave you craving for more because they gave us everything.The initial lack of romance pointed out, is a crucial stepping stone for the development of the relationship between the main characters. This might change from person to person but the trust, bond, and belief they had in each other that came together the way it did due to all those episodes that literally serve this purpose.
In many dramatic works, the characters are often portrayed as one-dimensional and lack the depth that is required to fully engage the audience. However, this particular drama stands out in that each character possesses a unique set of traits and motivations. The character, Xue Shu, is a prime example of this well-developed and multi-faceted approach to characterisation. Her actions not only facilitated the meeting between the female lead and the second male lead, but also had a profound impact on the entire court, leaving the powerful Duke Xue speechless in the process. Moreover, her actions served to reverse the plans of the female lead which was a strong move from Fl’s side. This is a rare and impressive feat in the realm of dramatic works and serves as a testament to the author's ability to craft complex and nuanced characters.
Initially, I thought that there would be a couple of episodes specifically devoted to flashbacks. However, it turned out to be surprising as we were able to get an idea of the events and storyline from the past through brief glimpses, without actually having to witness them visually.
Kudos to the actors who made those characters alive.
Jiang Xuening is definitely a rebel to the social norms back then when it came down to the people she cared about, she went all the way to not let the past repeat.
Xie Wie, if confident, visionary, scheming, cold, possessive, and talented was a person he is the one. He’s a 10 (only for the FL *cough possessive cough*) but definitely can’t fight.
Yan Lin grabbed us with his charming, extroverted personality, let’s not mention the fight scene which definitely hooked and gave us relief with his entry when Duke Xue surrounded Xie Wie and Zhang Ze.
Zhang Ze (the righteous man who can’t be real) has the kind of judgement everyone would crave, his vision into other's perceptions and diverse view of the situations will leave you all wondering his IQ level. He’s a 10 and there’s no but…
Xue Dingfei, Dao Qin, Lyu Xian, You Fangyin, Xiao Bao, Princess and Jiang family each have unique personalities, which will keep us invested in their character build up. Each of them true to their character had one or another scene where the attention to the drama reaches maximum.
Duke Xue, Xue Shu, The Emperess and Zhou Yinzhi will keep the edge and rage alive, that itself says how well the characters were portrayed.
Even though politics and drama rule this drama, the scenes cut to a different level will bring you back to laughter immediately from the tense situation. The realization of getting finally attached might be too late. For me, it was You Fangyin’s fate that made me realize this.
The scheming plots were executed with great precision, and many aspects of the plan felt natural and logical. The decisions made were not forced or repetitive, and everything flowed smoothly even in the most challenging situations. This was definitely a 10/10 for me.
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Story: It's the most developed one that I've seen until today.It's the full package of romance, action, drama and mistery.It made me fall off my chair from laughing sometimes, but on the other hand it made me use so many many tissues most of the time.Is a very serious story which touches ideas and problems that were never touched once before.
Acting/Cast: What can I say about this....I really loved the chemestry between Barbie Hsu and Vic Zhou since Meteor Garden, but here was really outstanding.I love Brbie Hsu..she is my favorite TW actress, not only she is beautiful but also has great talent.It always seemed to me that she and Vic were soulmates because of their interection and underestanding with each other.The characters were so well portraid that it made the story come alive.
Music: It was really beautiful.Trust me..I don't like TW music..I really find it annoying most of the time but this one was so beautiful that I don't know what to say.The song Ling/Zero described so well the drama that only listenig to it brought my tears.
Rewatch Value: I really don't rewatch dramas often because it's boring for me to know what happens next and so on...but I would definetely rewatch this one..I don't know why but only rewatching some scenes or listenig to the songs makes me shed tears of sadness.For me this drama is one in 5 years or so.
Overall: For me a drama can get 10 points only if it can remain in my head for a long period of time and it can make me compare it with others.This one succeded in this and it also made me to open my eyes and to be happy for what I have because their are many more people more unhappy and with more problems out there than me.
So I think that when you are in a state of mind of watching a REAL love story not a "fantazy" one you should give this try and let it get into your heart
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This review may contain spoilers
Interesting story, terrible ending
From the beginning, this series was characterized by an interesting premise that started slowly but surely, with characters that promised a lot and plots in which you hoped that the antagonists would receive what they deserve, however, all this was eclipsed and I could say forgotten with the last 7 episodes, with very abrupt editing cuts, plots that were not relevant that were closed very quickly without any sense and closures of character arcs that left a lot to be desired like Chen Xuan's Qing or Ye Xian's. And the worst thing is the end of the series, a hasty ending that does not feel like an end at all, which leaves us with a disappointment and a feeling of not having absolute closure to the story or the characters that we were loving so much in the previous episodes.It would have been a better series if it had another ending or at least another additional episode to close the plots that were left unfinished and at least see the lives of the main characters without intrigues involved.
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Watch this only for Kang Ha-neul
This series could have easily been shortened to the usual K-drama length of 16 episodes, but I guess the producers stretched it out to 20 episodes to milk as much money as they can from the TV network. That's why the show dragged starting around Episode 11. The writers should look for another profession.Gong Hyo-jin, who played the FL, is a terrible actress. She had a blank expression on her face throughout the series or cried that looked so phony. She cried in almost every episode (sometimes several times in the same episode) and whined that she was abandoned as a child. I didn't mind her whining about her sad life for 3-4 episodes, but EVERY episode? It gets old really fast. I blame the writers for this. By Episode 18, I was really hating her - so pathetic and irrational. During Episode 19, the tale of FL's mother's early years, it was supposed to be sentimental and tugged at your heart, but it bored me and I fell asleep. At Episode 20, with every character's storyline wrapped up nicely with a bow, I felt like puking. At the end, the kid had grown to an adult but the ML and FL had not aged - not one single gray hair after being together for 15 years (they met when he was 34 and she was about 1-2 years older)!
All the Korean mothers were overbearing: ML's mother who initially can't accept her son falling in love with a single mother, the model wife's mother who schemed to have her daughter take as much alimony from the baseball player, female lawyer's mother-in-law who is a nag and a bitch. Is this a cultural thing or do the writers hate mothers?
The only acting that stood out as exceptional were from the ML, the baseball player, the dead friend/coworker and the little son. They all showed a great range and depth of emotions. It was good to see Kang Ha-neul, the ML, in a comedic role after seeing him in a serious role in Moon Lovers:Scarlet Heart. I watched this show specifically to see him after seeing his outstanding performance in Moon Lovers but felt his talent was wasted in this show.
I would not rewatch this show or recommend it to anyone unless they absolutely needed to see Kang Ha-neul.
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This show and particularly the movie, are so much more than just your average drama. I have already reviewed the Jdrama Nodame Cantabile and I would only add one really important thing you should know. Nodame and Chiaki live in Paris and their journey is set in a much more adult world past college into apprenticeship and learning to become Pro. They have a new group of friends, harder challenges and also a deeper, more mature place in their relationship.
But trust me, it hasn’t lost all of its comic book slapstick and silliness. I think the way the writers made both Chiaki and Nodame grow up is very smart of them and cool for us viewers. This movie is a fun. Because Nodame is still sloppy and she still has all of her core craziness intact. Chiaki is still a stuffy, cranky commitment phobic but he is also still tender and kind of a sucker for Nodame. They have become in my mind eccentric because they are genius and geeky, not because they are comic manga characters with no depth. Again, the writers of this show/manga are smart.
Of course the cinematography is great. They are in Paris! Everything looks great, all the time. (Accept Nodame’s apartment.)
The music is a 10. It’s Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Revel and on and on.
If you haven’t watched the Nodame Series, you should give it a try but
I suggest definitely watching before you watch this movie. And when you do, you’ll think this movie is the best part of the series.
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This review may contain spoilers
I really apreciate that the story emphasizes them not being gay. I have seen people criticizing this aspect, but I actually think this is the advantage of the movie. There are so many colors of queer, and it's good that there are a few movies that do not depict just the standard hetero/homo/BL (I am not gay, I just fell for this one guy) relationships. There are hints that Yashiro is transgender, but we do not actually know whether they are not a crossdresser or a genderfluid, or something else on the genderqueer spectrum - and I don't think they as a character know. They probably didn't put a label on themself. And we don't know whether Momose is gay, bisexual, pansexual, or simply fell in love with Yashiro's femininity and takes them as a woman. And again, perhaps they do not know either, yet. It's their time to discover themselves and each other and it's perfectly fine that nothing is strictly defined yet. Also, yes, Momose's behavior was problematic, but it is not a bad thing to show problematic behavior in a movie. He forced himself on Yashiro, then acknowledged that what he did was wrong, apologized, and tried to better understand his love interest so he could be with them without causing them harm. I liked this aspect of the story, too. Sure, the whole thing could have been handled better, but it's an hour-long movie touching several problematic topics, and I think they did a good job in that amount of time.
The actors did a great job as well in roles of their insecure and impulsive characters confused by their own feelings.
Overally, I found this to be a really sweet love story that's definitely worth watching.
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Don't Give Hate a Chance
I decided to watch Dark Hole first because of Lee Joon Hyuk and, boy, does he look fantastic. Secondly, I am a sucker for survival dramas, especially zombie and resident alien-like themes. The first thing I noticed was the camera work, which I really enjoy, but as I continued to watch, I realized that whatever the black hole was, it appeared to feed off and grab an even stronger hold off those whose souls were darkened by whatever was buried deep within them. So, the vibe quickly changed from resident evil to more like an Age of the Ultron kind of feel where resentment developed over time over humanity's brazen maliciousness and corruption in the face of the many injustices leads one person to participate in the eradication of all those they believed deserved to be punished, acting as a judge, jury, and executioner all in one.So, in that sense, Dark Hole is not a typical zombie drama, making it an even more exciting watch. It was funny, disgusting, and at times scary -- based solely on people's emotions and perceptions. The different perspective it takes in combining zombies, mystery, shamanism, science fiction, and horror altogether that is amplified by emotions, ranging from injustice, rage, fear, anger, disgust, and even anxiety, all of which are regulated by an opposing range of emotions that clearly signify that disasters tend to either make leaders or cowards out of humans. I liked Dark Hole for what it was; it doesn't necessarily clearly articulate the how, which for me was one of the biggest questions I wanted to be answered, but it does deliver on its overarching theme, which quite befits our present-day global situation.
Dark Hole is not a drama that will win awards, but it is a drama that tries to impart quite a few meaningful messages. One of the most significant is not to give hate a chance because it may allow for the deepest desires to become the deadliest when one does it. And that humans, more often than not, are their own worst enemies, for, at times, the monsters that rise from the dead are nothing compared to the ones humans carry in their hearts. And the most powerful message of all is that whoever fights monsters should see that they do not become monsters in the process. As they say, if one gazes long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into them. I enjoyed Lee Hwa Sun and her great fighting skills but loved Lee Joon Hyuk in the role of Yoo Tae Han the most. A man of action rather than words. So different than his role in the Stranger series yet just as appealing.
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This review may contain spoilers
I fully intended to start this series when it finished airing because I invest an unhealthy amount of my time binging shows, and it's a better experience for me, personally, when I can watch the whole series in one go and rewatch to my heart's content if I like it (like I've done with several other BLs). There are certain shows that I start with the idea of just wasting time and coming back when they're done if I'm interested in them enough, but, honestly, based on the premise, this wasn't one of those shows. I was just gonna watch it later.And then we got quarantined here in the US, and it popped up in a 2gether episode where someone mentioned it might get dropped. Now, I may not have been wholeheartedly sold on the idea, but I didn't want the series to be dropped, so I hopped on and watched the 4 episodes that were out.
And that's all she wrote, honestly, because this show is SO MUCH BETTER than I expected.
Let's just start with my favorite couple, okay? There are three main-ish couples (four if you count Mr. Smiley and his doctor friend, which I'm not just yet because their screen time together isn't as much so far) with a good balance of screen time, and my favorite has to be RamKing, the quiet first year who loves dogs and the plant-lover second-year who happens to be great in school. Their relationship is what keeps me coming back every Saturday if I'm being honest. I just love the way King reads Ram, the way they both look at each other, and did I mention how cute King is when he's talking to his plants? He's such a dork, but he still manages to be cool at the same time. He's so understanding, and he really does read those around him like a book. And the venus flytrap metaphor? Even if it's not intended as a metaphor, I'm gonna say it is anyway because venus flytraps are hard to take care of and they take, like, 6-12 weeks to germinate, but King went out of his way to find the seeds and raise it just to give it to Ram because Ram liked it. If that doesn't explain the way King is willing to be patient and take care of Ram to get him to talk, then I don't know what does.
MekBoss is second despite how much I didn't necessarily care about them in the beginning. They stole my heart pretty quickly because, even though Mek likes Boss, he never gets in the way of what he thinks Boss wants, and I think that's so important, you know? They dub over Mek's voice, as I'm sure everyone has realized by now, which can be a bit of an annoyance since the voice honestly doesn't match Mek's great acting--sometimes, when Mek is doing great expressing his exasperation or heartache or even happiness, the voice-over is very monotone and takes away from how wonderful Mek does as an actor--but I've managed to ignore it pretty well. It does suck that they just didn't do a "Beause of You" scenario where the actor speaks his native language and everyone just understands him, but I digress. I still love this couple way more than I expected thanks to how Mek treats Boss. It's honestly the sweetest, most selfless form of liking someone. Add it to the fact that the only reason Mek confessed to Boss was because Boss was being hard on himself and Mek wanted him to know that not everyone thought he was worthless? It's precious. I love them~
Last but definitely not least, we have BohnDuen (DuenBohn? XD). Don't get me wrong--I really do love this couple--but their story has yet to really make me SQUEAL. Like, RamKing had me giggling as soon as they met (with King looking at his plant saying, "You don't answer me just like a certain someone."), but BohnDuen is more of an "aww" kind of thing. I also wish that Duen would stop being so darn Tsundere now that they're together (it's been 12 episodes, Duen; start admitting to yourself that you're a cheeseball just like your boyfriend). They're a hoot, though. Especially when they start fighting over who's the 'wife.' I don't mind that whole "I don't like guys, I like *insert person's name*" trope because I'm a firm believer in gender not mattering and love breaking people's barriers, but I also understand the want for a strong, proud LGBT character.
The acting. The ACTING. All of their acting is superb, especially when you compare it to the events they've held. All of these actors really capture who the characters are, and they make it feel authentic. I was almost surprised when I found out Tay (King) isn't actually afraid of dogs (he even has a cute little puppy of his own) because of how well he portrays King. And Perth (Ram) is anything but shy, but you would never know that from his character Ram. I'm really impressed with these actors, and I'm definitely stanning Tay and Perth, not to mention Cooper, Poy, Inntouch, and even Ryan (if he can redeem himself from his poor attitude).
The OST. I mean, I'm in love with... I think it's "Are You Okay" in English (จะเป็นไรไหม) by Merry Dancers and Goh M (don't quote me on that one--I'm still working on my Thai), but, so far, that's the only song I care for as far as the soundtrack goes.
Overall, I'm invested in this series now, and I didn't think I would be, but here we are. The characters are cute and quirky and a little weird (looking at you Dr. Thara), the acting is wonderful, and the story is definitely pulling me along despite how simple it seems at times~ Definitely recommend~
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Like it yet dislike it ?!
So I've seen tons of Asian shows from many years, but this is my first Thai Lakorn. If I'm not wrong, Thai Lakorn are basically Thai soap operas (please correct me if I'm wrong). I've not seen many soap operas, so maybe my opinions would be directed to the genre itself rather than this specific show. But I've tried to be as reasonable as possible in my review.I never thought I'll watch a show which will be liked and disliked by me at the same time. But Hua Jai Sila proved me wrong....turns out I can have this conflicting feeling for a show. There are so many things to like about this and so many things to dislike....so without further adieu lets jump into it.
Likes !
1. It’s a very fast paced story. In every episode there is so much happening, you can’t skip episodes. The narration is pretty consistent (thanks to good screenplay). Even though the core elements of the story aren’t new, its tight execution makes it interesting to watch. You won’t know what to expect next, there is a surprise element.
2. Superb acting! Every single person in the cast did a great job. I cannot fault anyone. This is the first Thai show I watched which gave a memorable performance (according to me). Definitely impressed. Special shout out to Wattanajinda Sirapan, this woman is breathtaking. If she’s onscreen, you can’t dare to look anywhere else. I’m her new fan.
3. The main lead, Thanapob Leeluttanakajorn is mind blowing. His character not only demanded intense emotions and acting skills, but also charisma and an overall majestic aura. I have seen few clips from Project S (one of his earlier work), and man it took me some time to figure out that it’s the same person! He has transformed himself in every possible way to get inside the skin of his character in HJS, and kudos to him for that. I’ve got my eyes on him, will definitely be keeping track of his future projects. Hands down the next big thing in the Thai entertainment industry.
4. The Romance. Where do I begin? If you want to watch a couple which gives you the vibe of Romeo-Juliet; the couple that’s only made for each other and no one else; the couple that can die for each other and will die without each other…..then you have to watch this show. There is something extremely special about Thanapob Leeluttanakajorn and Fern Nopjira Lerkkajornamkul. Their chemistry is something which very few artists are able to create. The onscreen ease, sexual tension, passion, and melt worthy emotional moments between them is quite a spectacle to witness. I won’t be surprised if I get to know that these actors dated or are dating in real life….they are that good.
Dislikes!
1. SERIOUS TRIGGER POINTS ! If you are someone who is sensitive to violence of any kind, especially against woman or feels personally about injustices/discrimination of all types….then please either avoid this show or watch cautiously. There were many moments that made me pause this show so that I can watch a cartoon to divert my mind from this insanity. It’s not that I’ve not seen more mature content in the past, but there is something very icky about some aspects of the story. I won’t say much otherwise it’ll be considered a spoiler.
2. Please divorce logic when you start watching this show. There will be gazillion moments in the show that will make you go what the hell….I’m not kidding. If I start dissecting this show purely on logical terms then it won’t get more than 4 from me. Some moments are bizarre, random and completely unnecessary…..and some downright stupid. So if you decide to watch this one then forget logic and try enjoying it for what it is.
3. The characters are either one dimensional or at the most two dimensional. If you expect to see complex characters that have layered reasoning behind their actions….or a story that relishes character development then this one isn’t for you. The characters are either good or bad….they change from good to bad and vice versa overnight without much development so please don’t feel frustrated if you see that.
P.S- The OST by Yes’Sir Days is a complete earworm….I’ve been listening it on Youtube constantly.
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There were too many times when a misunderstanding occurred between the main couple. There was overuse of phrases like "my destiny is to..." "but I want to live like this, but I've got no choice" " I must avenge my father" "I love you" then "I hate you" (Lol. They probably ran out of lines to say)
I was like, I get the idea, the characters are confused due to what they've been though but it was over elaborated and it felt over complicated.
Add in a few extra plot twist and unnecessary new inputs to the already tangled plot line, you get WTF IS GOING ON?
However, character development is shown as the drama proceeds. Basically, all the chaos and pain is caused by the idea of revenge and betrayal, which got really really annoying since one moment everything is fine the BAM!-- it gets worse, then slowly everything is peaceful BUT NO some other trouble stirs it all up again and again and again.... and that kind of replays that through the episodes.
There were sweet and funny moments with Ye Kai and Ding Ling Ling which were really cute. There were nice fighting scenes and special effects. Costumes were really nice too and the music was alright, that middle eastern tune was overplayed whenever they danced. I also liked the casting and felt they did as best they could with the role given.
The ending was so FRUSTRATING!!! It was really sad, disappointing and a little confusing.
I watched 50 episodes and this is what I end up with? I guess the unhappy ending is refreshing....?
#givememytimeback
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Wow, the finale!!
A struggling lawyer with a secret dark side gets pulled into the dark world of a notorious criminal. But what leads him to the line of evil and will he survive the ordeal of events?Evilive is a noir-themed kdrama with a dark vibe, focuses on the advent of online gambling. Those who love watching ambiguous characters dive deep into crime, with suspenseful and thrilling events will love watching it. I was rushing in head first without watching any trailer/teaser because I already know these men have proven themselves from their previous roles. Anyone who've watched them know how ‘good’ Shin Ha Kyun, Shin Jae Ha and Kim Young Kwang are when they are bad.
Evilive does not disappoint. The first scene bait is intriguing and you discover what really happen sooner than you think. They set up its character well: their inner struggle and what are at stakes, such as their family, marriage and most importantly... their moral values.
I was having a big fun with the friendships and bromance among our leads. Ha Kyun and Jae Ha's characters are supporting each other like siblings, while Ha Kyun's and Young Kwang's characters are like enemies to bromance relationships, they both don’t trust each other but they stick together throughout. My only nitpick is that cinematography and action are of mediocre quality, but it doesn't matter much as the premise is very strong, the plot has rarely any dull moment, the characters are peculiar, the storytelling takes you deep into the world of law, crime suspects and unexpected twists and turns, none of it disappoints... To enjoy the drama to the fullest, I recommend you to binge this.
-Nov 2023, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge
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This review may contain spoilers
The Best of 'Kiss'
Of all the ‘Kiss’ series this is by far my favorite. The pool scene in the first episode was incredibly cute and then the way they tied it in in the last episode had me swooning. While the story line is a tad cliche, I enjoyed watching Pete and Kao work through all their drama (a lot of it self inflicted). Normally characters as overly possessive as Pete are hard for me to like, but I enjoy Tay's portrayal so much and I know the added stress of dating a closeted person amplifies Pete's insecurities. I am confused about how supposedly no one in the gang, besides Sandee, knows about Pete and Kao when their relationship was outed in Kiss The Series. I'm not sure if the writers forgot or if they were just trying to have added pressure on Kao's reluctance to come out.One of my favorite elements in the show are the parents (Pete's dad and Kao's mom) . I especially love the relationship between Pete and his dad. I wish every parent would be that understanding and open. They did a good job with Non's character because I really wanted to fight him haha.
There were enough romantic scenes to satisfy me. Sun and Mork’s love seen was so well captured and tender. Pete and Kao are #3 in my heart (after Arthit/Kongpop and Pete/Ae). The drama in the last couple of episodes really had me clutching my blankets and tearing up. Overall well acted, good script, endearing characters. High re-watch value for me. And I have to add that wow Tay really lives up to his name, he is indeed very handsome.
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Story: what couldn't be entertaining about young guys turning into grandpa's in the span of a few seconds lol - this drama takes them on the journey to trying to find the culprit who made them old so they can return young again.
Cast: My FAVORITE: Jung Woo (Heechul) <3 I loved him on this drama - and I shipped him with Eun Ji since episode 1 <3 - after him I like Mr.Pink lol - he was so funny (the most comedic one of the bunch I swear lol) - Of course I started this drama b/c I heard Choi Jin Hyuk was cast ;) but he wasn't the reason I continued to watch the rest of the drama - it was a really great drama - it would have been a shame if I had missed it!
Music: Very Entertaining - all of it lol the BGM and the sound effects - hilarious and very fitting to all the scenes -
Re-watch Value: Very High - I seriously feel like re-watching this right away.
Overall it was a very good, very entertaining drama with a great plot.
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