Reviews

A lesson in life and also a lesson on how to make a BL

What started as a small university project for Mean (who we've seen in plenty of BLs like "Until We Meet Again", "Love by Chance", "Love by Chance 2", "Make it Right" and as a guest in "TharnType") became a full series that has really surprised me on many levels and here is why.

1. The plot is something we've seen in the past with one of the main leads running away and leaving the other lead all alone for several years until its time to come back (see Taiwan's "We Best Love: No. 1 For You" or Thailand's "Waterboyy" for a few examples). However, what makes this plot a bit unexpected is the reason for the character to leave. Normally it has been because he goes abroad to study or because the parents are against their son being gay and in a relationship, so they send him away for some time. This time, Phob, our main lead who runs away, comes back around episode 4 to reveal he left his best friend, Nut, all alone because he has cancer and was undergoing treatment. BLs have not really ventured into one of the main characters having an illness... we've seen the topic of suicide in "Until We Meet Again" and murder in "He's Coming to Me" but not the issue of having one of the main leads with cancer. So, having a character that undergoes cancer treatment and then suffers the amputation of an arm is quite new for a BL.

2. The acting is something that is also a surprise. Man and Title make their acting debuts playing Phob and Nut respectively, and both do a very good job in portraying the different emotions their characters have to go through. From Nut slowly falling in love with Phob and thinking of a future together studying medicine. To Phob finding out his cancer diagnosis and deciding to leave Nut to get treatment without telling him. To Nut being surprised that his best friend missed the university exam but not getting an explanation of why and then finding out he just woke up and left him all alone. To the moment they find each other again and Nut tries to ignore Phob by pretending to not recognize him. To Nut finding out about Phob real reason for leaving him and then all the issues with Phob's diagnosis. Both actors, but particularly Title, showcase their emotions quite effectively and move from being angry, to being disappointed, to being sad, to being hopeful and to being happy in the 8 episodes of the series. Their acting is not perfect but it was an outstanding debut if we consider other actors like Gun Napat in "Golden Blood" or Plan in "Love by Chance" and "Love by Chance 2" who despite being a bit more seasoned actors, still have many flaws in their acting. Title and Man do a terrific job in their first series, particularly in the last 2 episodes when the emotions really explode and Nut gets to see Phob alive but having lost an arm due to cancer. Instead of falling into depression, both characters try to be happy but this time, together.

3. The secondary actors like Tonnam (playing Nut's older brother Note), Fah (playing Phob's older sister Pat), well-know BL actor Prem ("Until We Meet Again", "Long Khong", and "7 Project") and even director Mean who also acts as Dr. Sarut all provide enough support in the series without being annoying or interfering with the main plot. Note is especially good when having a conversation with his brother about the situation with Phob and asking Nut if he is really ok with what is happening. It was nice to see a good brother-bonding moment with the older brother providing good advice and listening to what his younger brother had to say. All the secondary roles do not have many lines and actors like Get (playing Note's best friend and boyfriend, Tar) do not even appear in most of the episodes, but still deliver when needed.

4. The only minor issue I have with this series is the amount of flashbacks. I understand some are necessary to get an explanation of what happened with Phob in the past, what Nut was feeling when reading the files he found on Phob's USB, or what Phob was feeling when he finds out his diagnosis, decides to leave and then comes back to town. However, the final episodes were almost full of flashbacks that we already saw not too long ago, so it seemed a bit unnecessary to include so many flashbacks. But, that being said, the series is nice enough that I can overlook that.

In the end, I believe "The Yearbook" is not perfect, but it has to be a lesson in life for all us given the circumstances both Nut and Phob had to experience and also a lesson for many other companies in Thailand who produce plenty of BL shows without a hint of quality, that have directing issues, low budgets, terrible plots/storylines, and rookie actors that are not well-trained by capable acting coaches and directors, resulting in mediocre series (and I'm being kind with some of the disasters we've seen lately). Mean just showed us that a very decent series is possible, even with rookie actors or even with low budgets.

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You Will Laugh And You Will Cry!

A surprising, hilarious, and touching film about a straight police officer (Wu Ming Han) who gets married to a gay ghost (Mao Mao). The circumstances around his why Ming Han agrees to marry the ghost will make you laugh, and the grandma's adoration and support of her dead grandson (going so far as to arrange his marriage after death) are moving, even while bizarre.

Their marriage becomes the set up for an overarching plot point: solving the mystery of Mao Mao's death. And as the mystery is solved, you will be surprised. Talk about plot twist!

While Ming Han brings Mao Mao justice and needed closure to a certain conflict in his life, Mao Mao brings to Ming Han the love of his grandma and father. At the end of the movie, there's genuine love and affection between them, and Ming Han remains committed to remembering Mao Mao, even keeping his memorial alter in his home. It's clear that Ming Han accepts Mao Mao as his husband.

The film challenges us to stretch our imaginations about what a marriage can be and what loyalty to a partner can be. At the end, Ming Han demonstrates a kind of commitment to his husband that, even if not romantic or sexual, is no less true.

A little detail not to miss in the closing scene: Ming Han picking up his portable tumbler with a rainbow heart sticker front and center on it!

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Could an ad be this touching?

I honestly didn't expect this short film to be THIS good. Well, given the main cast's potential and the well-executed plot, it is no wonder. Especially Kim Go Eun was a show stealer. Simply in awe with her. Her emotions were genuine and on point. And someone tell her to start a vlog asap?! She is a natural?! Count me in as a subscriber already!
And I never would have imagined that something good could come out of the mandatory 2-week-quarantine due to COVID 19, but here it is, the movie proved otherwise. These two-week restrictions really give space and time for a lot of self reflection and past reminiscing.

So overall, this was a heartwarming, simple, yet moving story. Even though the short film was supposed to be a lengthy product advertisement, the focus stays on the character's relationship, very much alike Makoto Shinkai's (Your Name, Weathering With You) anime ad "Crossroad" or the short film "Relumino" with Han Ji Min and Park Hyung Shik. Now that I think about it, I believe that one too was for Samsung. Also, the product placement was way smoother than in some of the K-dramas I've seen.

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ALL OVER THE PLACE

Story: At first I love the intesity of this drama, like you can't take your eyes off from every scene. But I think the story start to get messy after that 10 years later. I see how the writer do not care at all about the consistency of the character, and some scene just do not make any sense, especially towards the end. I think the writer only care about the tension and twist after twist. Too much twist also not good tbh.

Cinematography&Video Editing: I have no comment with the cinematography but their editing was so lackingly noticeable, how they cut the scene and move to another angle, also the billboard news scene like idk if you guys notice but I can't really explain with words.

OST: Tbh all the ost was good! I do have few song that I added to my playlist so I don't have anything to say about OST

Acting: The reason why I stay watch this drama until the end was the acting of the cast. Especially Sungjae... I watch him since School 2015, Goblin, Mystic Pop-up Bar and I would say his acting was the best in this drama. The emotion, facial expression, his narration and tone was really good! Chaeyeon also good this is my first time watching her acting and she will do good in the future
But overall the acting was superb, also Choi Wonyoung as villain seriously giving me a goosebumps, indeed I can trust him with any role

Ending: The ending not satisfying but I'm okay with that

The conclusion I don't think I want to watch any work from this writer of the drama but looking forward to all the actors next project

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Very serious drama

It kept my interest all through it. I loved the story, loved the acting, especially Kim Jae Young. He is such a good actor, and also nice to look at. Jung Hee Joo kind of got on my nerves with the same blank expression and fake smile, but that was her character. If you don’t like slow moving dramas, infidelity, revenge, rage, or obsession, you won’t like this, don’t bother. That’s virtually the entire drama, but is was done well. I liked the ending, but it was a shame, because nothing was accomplished with any of their lives. There is a million different ways it could have ended, but one thing is for sure, none would have been happy. With this kind of drama, with this story line, there is no way it could have ended happy, with any of the characters. As I watched it, I disliked all of them, but that was how the story was written. Every one of them was out for revenge, but in the end, did they all get it? You’ll have to watch to find out…

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Lovely short series

This is very well-written, acted, and produced - it's very visual and takes full advantage of the medium to tell the story with real economy of force.

The story is non-linear, but easy to follow. The writing and acting manages to effectively convey through small details how the boys feel about each other, and the dynamic of their relationship. The ending was perfect for their story.

The acting is understated, but the tension is there when it needs to be. There is a coffee metaphor, but it's used effectively and we aren't beaten over the head with it.

I would recommend this - but if you watch it, don't try to judge it as you would a 12 hour-long episode series. It's a completely different type of story told in a much more visual way.

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Okay am I the one who actually like the show???? HAHaHAHAHahahah

Yeah, I know the bad points of this series: too short, not so good execution, somehow the chemistry is not giving, lazy writing and that recap in every episode is so annoying. But why did came up with an 8.5 rate?

Why I really like in this series is the music. Yes, the MUSIC. The songs they came up with every scene, and the opening song is too good not to talk about. And also I give them points for they have something different from other bls by telling a unique love story but yes it should have been better, but they tried yeah. we're getting there...

On the other hand, I will really eat this up if they continue the light, cute , sweet storyline but it wasn't like I was expecting. Still the cast acted it good. (Oh all of them are visuals!)

Yeah, the kbl formula and its short runtime is getting tiresome, and this is the last show I will be considerate because I really love the music lol. <3

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This drama is one of the best dramas I have ever seen! It is based on a true story of a girl called "Aya Kito" who wrote a diary while she struggled with an incurable disease called spinocerebellar ataxia. She battled with the disease for 10 years, before sadly passing away on May 23, 1988. In 1 Litre Of Tears, the story is outstanding. Watching the drama, left a huge impact on me and my heart and I wasted packs of tissues by just watching this- trust me I cried LOADS watching it! The acting was magnificent, Erika Sawajiri ( Aya in the drama) was so amazing. Her crying and scenes were so natural and you could actually see she wasn't forcing her tears. The cast chosen for this drama was perfect as they all fit their characters perfectly well! The music was great as well; the chosen music fitted the scene amazingly and I recommend to you 100% to watch it; this drama is so outstanding. There wasn't a single episode in which I didn't cry! If you are going to be watching it, don't forget your tissues!

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There is a saying at the beginning which reflects just what this drama is about; Silent Poor, represents the homeless, the sick, and others that cannot afford to take care of themselves and that is the drama in a nut shell. It is not about love, romance, conflict or anything you generally see in a drama but about a woman who is working through her grief of watching her younger brother die during a horrible earthquake when she was young. In the hopes of "giving back", she becomes a social worker. What I liked about this drama is that they showed me the distinct differences between Asian cultures and their attitudes towards the poor, sick, mentally ill, adoption, foreigners, everything! Every episode is a different story and it was those stories that I liked the most. If you have no interest in these things, I'd skip this drama. So why the lower rating? At times, it could have been better, the lead actress's acting was kind of stilted at times but thankfully she was surrounded by better ones. Overall, if you are interested in the role of a social worker in Japan, you will definitely find this interesting.

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Story (9) - It is a very simple story about an ordinary couple making the best of work and life. Though I have trouble with the whole housewife image, dramas push on women, but this drama depicted that in a very positive light. While a husband tries his best at work, a housewife tries her best to keep him going. It is the little things like a lunchbox that really show how much a woman cares for you. And it is as difficult being a housewife than being at work. This show perfectly showed how two people complement each other, motivate each other and what it truly means to be a partner for life.
Life hack- Everything can be solved, if you just talk it out.

Acting/Cast (10) - Nishikido Ryo is my favourite Japanese actor. He is also the only actor that can make me cry - just by his expressions. And he did not disappoint me. Mayu was a treat as well, and despite the age gap, their chemistry was heartwarming. Also, all the side characters were lovable - despite their quirks. From an acting standpoint, you could feel the emotions properly conveyed.

Music (9) - This show has small musical dream segments in between. Most of them starting with the line - “He had the eyes of a deadfish”. At first, I did not know how to take it in, since it felt a little over the top but later I was looking forward to them. The music was catchy and they were hilarious. I have been replaying them now.

Rewatch Value (8) - Maybe some fine day, when I am not feeling good, I’ll rewatch this to warm me up.

Overall (9) - It is a perfect, feel good, slice of life drama. If you’re looking for a story with plot twists and melodrama or villains, this has none of it. It is just an everyday journal of two ordinary people trying to make each other happy.

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Overall - Pretty bad. Watch it only if you really love the casts.
Story - Horrible pacing and storyline. It started off promising, but the story had no resolution at all until the very last episode. It went round and round wasting screen time with useless and repeating scenes, mainly about the two male leads fighting over the female lead. FL was very indecisive, masquerading her supposed 'innocence' to manipulate both MLs. MLs were both stupid and hot headed. I never once believed they truly loved Danika(and vice versa), and felt more like they were only stroking their toxic masculinity. The moms/parent figures were selfish, manipulative, and just plain horrible parents. The story could've so much more, but unfortunately falls flat because the scriptwriter decided to focus on the wrong things.
Casts - The main ML and FL were both okay for their roles, but they had no chemistry at all. Sky was quite believable as the tough son of a mafia boss. Unfortunately, Kiri was severely miscast. He was okay in the first half as the actor has a very gentle look(and suited with the good son character), but he was not believable at all as a rough-gangster type.
Cinematography/Music - Very good. It had one of the best look for a Thai lakorn(I've seen a few). Scenes in the Himalayas were very nice. Music/OST was quite good as well.
Rewatch Value - None.

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A romantic comedy that executes itself with maturity and few cliches. Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook had overflowing chemistry. The looks in their eyes could deceive you for off-screen romance with their multitude of kisses being passionate. This drama had the most mature couple I've seen in a drama that really understood each other and helped each other achieve their own happiness. Park Min Young is truly a great actress, proven by her years in the industry. No noble idiocy, no misunderstandings - this IS the perfect couple everyone wishes to have in real life. The side characters like Cindy and her mom had a nice character development, and even our 2nd lead didn't get too caught up in his love triangle and redeemed himself. The story wasn't anything special, but the writers pulled it off so well. The OST is also fantastic and fit every scene.

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The story is, in itself, pretty simple. The plot is sort of divided up into parts, with different people being the 'main character'. Because of this lay-out, the story does get slightly repetitive and with that also more predictable.
However, having said that, I loved this movie. It fits perfectly to the "slice of life" genre, a glimpse of real life, and in this case real life is just a little bit funny to boot. I love the main character, and how she is portrayed by the main actress. I love the easy-going mood throughout the movie, the breezy and fresh theme of renting cats to lonely people.
The music and the cinematography elements of this movie are both important reasons to why I enjoyed it so much. It's beautifully done, shot, and persecuted. It also gives the feel of japanese traditions, the japanese life style that we all know and love (at least I do).
Lastly, because this is such a lay-back sort of movie with no particular goal or end line, I feel it's the kind of movie I could watch and re-watch many times.

Basically, I would recommend this to anyone that adores the slice of life genre and of course, if you adore cats, or mori style (because in my opinion this movie has a very mori-ish feel to it).

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