There were definitely some surprising elements in this drama which made it all the more interesting. And even though it was very similar in plot wise to Big, I found it to have a different feeling. I also loved the humor in this drama.
The music was great but it did not really stand out to me.
I would definitely watch this many times over in the same day if I could.
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KelpiView : Dancing to the tune of a lovestruck teenager
Overall Impression :The japanese BL scene has done it again. This was nothing short of an entertaining piece of work. everything from casting, story to scene edits and voiceovers are done well. even the side couple of the show was done in an exceptionally good way, even though, i honestly wanted more side couple scenes, but i will take what i get lol. Even though, this show is slightly longer in terms of your common japanese BLs, but good in a sense that it doesnt feel draggy in a sense.
What I liked about it :
Awesome cast!
The cast members did an awesome job in bringing the characters that they portrayed to life. none of the acting that was presented was awkward in anyway, which is a huge plus. As main leads, Kusakawa and Nishigaki (Akira and Shin) did a great job in their respective roles. but the one that made a lasting impression on me was the portrayal of Shuu and Asuka done by Inaba and Oku. Sakurako played by Toyoshima was a great portrayal of a support role, which is great thus, an honorable mention here.
Unique story!
What i felt about knowing that this would be a love story revolving around an old laundomat? "Eh?" was my initial thoughts. but it did transition quite well and how it was properly integrated into the show. Saying the laundromat is a main hotspot is an understatement because almost all of the characters are, in one way or another, had encounters in the laundromat. Plus the age gap romance as well as comedic scenes / storytelling, it has become one of the best japanese BL i have seen. Not to mention the little tid bits of side couple history that makes me want more. i hope they do a spin off on the side couple.
On point costumes!
Very seldom that when i watch something, i thought to myself "Wow, that shirt is a nice shirt.." :Opens Amazon to search for that exact shirt: This is what it has done to me. The costumes for this show is done well in regard that it wasnt over the top and very realistic. Some shows, would put the cast members in outfits that looks awesome in shots, but generally would be a lil bit unrealistic. The outfit for this show is selected well and has good aesthetic feel to it, albeit being simple.
What I disliked about it :
Too little side couple moments
I think this is my common dislikes about almost every single show i see LOL. but, dont get me wrong, the main couple is good, but i think that the side couple could have been shown more in terms of progress to really sell it as a side couple. Yes, i understand the meaning of being the "side" couple, obviously they wont get as much screen time as the main couple, but a lil bit more would do wonders to adoring fans.
Did I enjoy it? :
yes i did, all 12 glorious episodes. really hoping for some spinoff or SP episodes for the side couple. i need that. i really do. lol.
Would I recommend it to others? :
Definitely! that is if you dont mind a slower paced show. If you're the type that wants couples to get together at least at the middle of the season, then this isnt a show for you though. i will just leave that as a warning. overall, this show was very entertaining. definitely put it in your PTW list or even better start now because the show just ending like one day ago (at the writing of this review lol).
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Heart touching amazing performance-Must watch for Xiao
Xiao did a perfect awesome shot in one take for whole 4 minutes. His voice modulation and the expressions are soo realistic to watch . This is short and sweet movie about happiness, pain ,love and hope life gave us every day.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
This is a must watch performance from Xiao. Dont miss it
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his is about obsession and Trauma depicted hauntingly beautiful yet disturbing
Let me start this by saying these actors NEED to get more recognition. Their performance and chemistry was DIVINE!This story never aims to be a romantic journey of love and trust.
It starts with Fan Xiao, who sees the world as painful and cruel. Good does not excist in his view of the world. When You Shulang shows signs of Goodness Fan Xiao is sure that that cannot be real. And to an extend he is right. You Shulang might be composed and polite, but he too has a different view on the world.
Fan Xiaos hate/obsession/love towards You Shulang stems from a deep hate of the world and his own existence in it.
His fear of You Shulang leaving him ultimately causes Fan Xiao to torture him (more than he already has to that point) by taking away everything from You Shulang including his will to live. But surprisingly that is where Fan Xiao draws the line. Because if You Shulang had committed suicide, Fan Xiaos only reason to be on his earth would have been gone. And as Fan Xiao has so nicely put: Fan Xiao will surely go to hell, but You Shulang won’t be there.
To wrap this very confusing review up: This is a masterpiece in Storytelling and slowly escalating obsession stemming from Trauma. I might even go as far as to say that To my Shore is not a Romance BL but a Psychological Thriller told through the world of BL. And I think it was perfectly executed!
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This review may contain spoilers
Mixed feelings. Could have been good if it was shorter.
OK:- The first part with the set up of the characters. Fast paced, fun and intriguing. Many couples and potential couples look cute (main couple, Sheng brothers and their love interest, Han couple, Pirate man and the girl hitting on him). Good for nothing ML becomes a reliable son and a general. FL enters the palace as maid. Some actions and they find each other and loose each other again.
- The third and final part. The evil guys have to come into the light as they need to finalize their schemes. The plotline is clearer but it is full of plot holes as the finale is rushed. The end is not satisfactory but there are some enjoyable plot twists. The main villain's demise is too easy. The schemers who caused so many deaths get away with it because they suddenly turn good and they are royalty. But it is ok because the ML and FL mend their relationship while fighting the bad guys and they have their happy ending.
NOT OK:
- The second part full of atrocious or illogical moves and schemes from most Royals and people seeking revenge, influence or Love or a way to own someone... People start to be beaten for free,. They drop dead like flies for a word, a paper, an accusation, bad luck... Or they are saved by a scroll or by Deus ex machina .The main couple's relationship is nowhere as ML is relagated to an extra role. More schemes from people completely immature, perverted, evil with no other goal than to have your blood boil.
OVERALL:
The drama could have been a lot more enjoyable. It had numerous and interesting characters but passed their introduction, the plot becomes messy piling schemes on schemes by unsufferable characters for rotten purposes just to enrage the audience. It was annoying and destroying the entertaining quality of the drama. I had the feeling the writer piled outrageous situations just to add episodes and make money without trying to tell a comprehensive and consistent story using the characters. Some important parts of the story are obviously missing and make the drama even more erratic in his storyline.
RECOMMENDATION:
This drama seem to have been quite successful in China. I don't know how people can like this kind of drama. All these inhumane palace plots are just physically hard to tolerate. Maybe they are people to like these "palace plots" dramas.
Would I recommend this drama? No. Because:
- The leads have a too little part. It's a sham. It is not a drama about them. It is a drama about Royals and their court and palace schemes.
- There is a huge part of this drama which is only made of useless schemes, useless violence and deaths, outrageous rotten or completely dumb illogical people you can't sympathize with. At some point you just don't care about them anymore.
- Many people get away easily with their wrongdoings. The end is like : Everyone is suddenly nice nice people.
- 55 episodes but not many opportunities to laugh and cry with the leads. Surely I won't say : I spent a good time watching this.
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First, I loved the entire supernatural romance theme, that is exactly what pulled me into this drama.
Pros: I always love how the lyrics to the music matches the storyline in most lakorns and this soundtrack was beautiful. The romance and chemistry between the two leads were sizzling. Khun Hem has some mesmerizing come - hither eyes and I love how the actor portrayed his emotions at times without even saying a word.
Now I think, that is where my admiration for this drama ends, and it is time to get into what frustrated me so much while watching this wonderful falling Jenga tower of a show.
Cons: I'm not really one to complain about bad CGI, but the special effects reminded me somehow of an 80's video game. I almost laughed out loud on parts I knew were supposed to be serious. Khun Duen exacerbated me to no end. I loved how the writers made her out to be very headstrong, but that was a false picture. It seemed like they did not know whether they wanted her to be weak or strong, and then when you think she has gotten stronger, she goes and does something stupid again and then rely on Khun Hem to save her all the d*** time. She is so naive to the point of stupidity.
Okay, I know that my Cons rant might seem like I hated the show, but I didn't (I think it was those bedroom eyes of Khun Hem). The show was really good with all of its cheesy and damsel in distress moments. The show has a happy ending and I am quite satisfied with how they wrap everything up. It' s like they say come for the cheesy romance and stay for the man with the sexy eyes. The show gave me all the satisfaction I would get from watching a Jenga tower fall down as soon as someone removes a major piece. Consistency is what was removed from this show, but it was fun watching it all play out.
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This review may contain spoilers
Dreams Rekindled: A Story of Loss and New Beginnings
I watched a beautiful movie on Netflix, a co-production between Taiwan and Japan, starring Greg Hsu and Kaya Kiyohara. I would give the movie a solid 9/10.Let's start with the cinematography and camerawork. The film features stunning shots of Taiwan and Japan's scenery, with elegant camera angles that provide a breathtaking experience. It takes you through the bustling streets of Tainan and the snowy mountains of Japan. One of the most unforgettable scenes is when Jimmy meets a kindred spirit on a subway. They exit a long tunnel and find themselves in a snow-filled wonderland, leaving Jimmy in awe and imprinting the moment deeply in his mind. It’s the kind of experience that transcends simply taking a photo with a camera.
The characters are exceptional as well. We see Jimmy’s growth from a tardy but energetic youth with a bright future to a jaded game developer at a crossroads. Kiyohara's enigmatic charm shines as she dances around a karaoke bar, injecting life into the people around her.
The story is exceptionally well-paced and told, juxtaposing a vibrant and cute slice-of-life adventure in Taiwan with the tragic, melodramatic ending typical of J-dramas. When the reveal happens, you can’t help but feel a strong sense of loss and contemplation about what could have been. As the memories start unraveling from Kiyohara's perspective, I personally couldn’t help but bawl my eyes out.
In conclusion, I feel this movie is a masterpiece—a truly excellent love story that marries the best of both Taiwanese and Japanese cinema.
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A movie that will leave with you when you leave the cinema
It has been four days since I watched this film, and not a single day has passed without me thinking about it. Stunning storytelling, exceptional exploration of emotion, and a voice for women and families who haven't had words the silence within their words, shared before. It's a film about choosing to live in a world that is often cruel and leaves little choice.I loved it, I felt uncomfortable at times, I cried at others and but found moments to laugh and smile. I experienced many of the emotions the characters shared, and I breathed deeply in its raw honesty.
At the cinema, we all sat through the end and truly felt it. And I believe that, that is it’s point.
While it does require a trigger warning, it's very much worth watching. It’s subtle but powerful, and a film that will stay with me for quite some time.
A fantastic cast too!
Let me know how you felt!
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The other stories are mere fillers, all following the time-tested formula of a single mother, a marital affair, an unrequited love and so on. After a while, the director seems to have lost track of the individual threads - with so many episodes focusing on particular characters and forgetting about the rest. There are so many unconvincing scenes, like when Xiao Fei says something like,"After we married, it seems like I make you angry so often", and I had to go back searching if I had missed any scenes, coz the only things I remembered were them quarreling a couple of times about watching TV and throwing socks on the floor. I think most of the actors did a good job, just that I didn't find their characters very interesting. Nothing exceptional about the music, but can listen to it a few times.
Rewatch value: 10 for the Crazy Dog and Yi Wan/Xiao Fei story, 5 for the Lian Qing story, 0 for the Xiao Xi story, 2 for the others.
If you like romantic stories, you must watch this for this one pair (you might like the others as well - I didn't). It has pretty much everything - the interesting first encounter, how they come to regard each other, one mom who tries to force them together, another who's opposed initially but comes around in the end, the interesting sidekicks and finally, no romantic triangle/ jealous lovers (there's a small one, but doesn't last long and had a graceful closure).
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Same old story,yet so new!
My first thought about this was "why the heck they decided a remake of this one?And with the same actors?Nah!Im not gonna watch it!"But i did watch it.And Surprise!I liked it.A lot!It was fresh and light and fluffy and sweet and...I don't have to apologize to anyone!I liked it!Lol!
Nothing new.Same good Bl University recipe.Cute characters.Angst.Jealousy.Same old good misunderstandings.The annoying girlfriend too.
So do not expect to watch anything you haven't already seen in the vast sea of BL World.
At first i was sceptical because of the length of each episode.Hourly eps are like a double blade knife.
Either you get bored easily,or you can't get enough of it.And the fact that i had to wait 2 days for the last episode to be translated, made me angry!
If you have already seen the old version iam sure you have definitely noticed the huge improvement and development in our MLs acting skills.I was amazed.I didn't expect this.From the awkward stiff and annoying acting to natural playful and enjoyable performances in this one.I felt like a proud mom bragging about her kids!!
Well done Yin & War! Susu Na!
There is no need to analyze it further.Tbh,theres not much to talk about.Simple story.Handsome actors.Many butterflies 🦋 in stomach too.Thats all you need.
And not forget to mention their shower scene and that kiss!Easily one of the best kisses of 2022 in Bls!
For this alone you must stop reading this and go watch it!
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One of the Best!
This is my first ever review because I feel so compelled to do justice to this drama.If you are a historical drama fan, you must watch this. Although the events and characters sometimes have some fictional elements (which I think they did on purpose to avoid censorship problems) the main plot and most of the events were played out nicely, down the the smallest details. As I watched this and read Wikipedia about each of these characters it really brought me joy in learning about Song Dynasty.
Some people don’t want to watch this due to bias against older actors/ actress (me included). But in the end I found them to be skillful and refreshing in telling this story. For those of us who knows the legend of Civet Cat replacing Crown Prince, this is the story itself but less vicious; more logical.
Wonderful to watch this without too much harem in-fighting and seeing a realistic portrayal of an Emperor, whom in spite of his status has a very hard life. He loves only one person and remains faithful through his embrace, gaze and need of spending time with her; yet he had to seduce other women in order to produce an heir (tastefully and sexily done …). He is also a fair person who doesn’t discard the women once he got his heir but to honor them best he could.
The main couple though in love evolved their love into a very mature relationship where they go through heart breaking decisions together. I sometimes feel so bad for them and wish they’re able to love like a normal couple.
Politically this drama also plays out the stress that the Emperor goes through and no wonder they die young whilst some ministers lived through 3 generations of Emperors. This is truly a bad for health job.
Everyone acts so well in their roles. Vic Zhou tends to have this pained , eye-squinting expression when he portrays the older weaker emperor. But he is very charming nonetheless. Even his consorts talk about his piercing eyes and good looks and how they all really love him. This includes the empress (Liu Tao) whom he loves so much.
This drama is a gem for people who likes to see a good quality set, high standards in acting, costumes, attention to every detail including etiquette and ceremonies. Amazing! Go watch it and you will be surprised how good it is. Some says initial editing was bad. I don’t think so. You just need to pay attention to the story. They make every episode counts and it’s paced so well that 61 episodes is not too long. I finally found something that is equal to Glory of Tang Dynasty which ‘wow’ me 3 years ago in a similar way.
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This review may contain spoilers
Since this lakorn is getting a remake in 2020, I thought I would write a review ^^I've seen this lakorn twice, my only reason for re-watching it is not because it was exceptional. It was mainly because I am a fan of Bee and Namfon. I've seen 3 lakorns where they are paired together and I really like seeing them as an onscreen couple.
The storyline is like a twisted version of Cinderella. TBH in 2000s era lakorns if there is a storyline where our FL is being manipulated/used/abuse by family etc the FL character is a push over. Tawan, our FL is a push over and is blinded by a depth of gratitude she has for her uncle and aunt that raise her when her parents died. She is our typical neang'ek - proper lady, big hearted, kind, generous, good at everything etc. Her aunt and cousin are truly evil, selfish and money hungry. They have no problem deceiving people and even killing people. The way they talk and make plans about it like it's an everyday and normal thing. Her aunt and cousin only loved and cared about themselves and each other and treated Tawan like dirt and garbage. I can't wrap my head as to why Tawan is still loyal and feel that she has a depth of gratitude towards them when they treat her like garbage. We see at times that she has spunk and can stick up for herself - like how she was firm with Suthi, when she was negotiating with the kidnappers for Toh and Yardfah.
Toh, for being a person who is smart he sure is pretty dumb and blind towards the Duangjai and Yardfah. How he could not see the manipulation with the mother and daughter pair, their attitude and treatment towards Tawan just blows my mind. He needed Suthi to spell things out for him numerous times. I didn't have an issue with Toh's character until he forced himself onto Tawan and just verbally degraded her. Blows my mind how he came to that conclusion and all. But hey, its a lakorn in the 2000s, that is the normal logic in these types of lakorns unfortunately. Personally I felt that he should have tried harder on searching for Tawan when she ran away. Like why are you so defeated when you have more at stake and you now know the truth but can't track her down?
Overall it is a decent lakorn but you just need to be aware of the "typical" lakorn logic especially the logic in the 1990-2000s era. It may not sit well with alot of people, especially in 2020.
I personally enjoyed it because I like Namfon and Bee, especially seeing them as an onscreen couple. P'Gew was honestly my favourite character, she's the only sane person.
I'm looking forward to the remake to see if they make our ML smarter (LOL) and our FL with a little more backbone.
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A Short yet Raw Portrayal of the LGBTQ+ Experience
‘Meet Me Outside’ is a short, honest, and sweet drama that has a runtime of a little over an hour about two broken souls who find solace in each other at resort. Juan Miguel Severo, the screenwriter behind the brilliant drama ‘Gaya sa Pelikula’, also wrote this so to say my expectations were high would be an understatement.While I didn’t love ‘Meet Me Outside’ as its predecessor I definitely enjoyed it. The plot was pretty straightforward and simple but the cast really made it their own. Both Genesis (Dale) and Kaloy (James) perfectly portrayed the characters. You could feel the chemistry between them right from the start and as the episodes progressed so did the chemistry. The main complaint I have with this drama is the length. I felt the sixty or so minutes we spent with Dale and James were not nearly enough time to flesh them out. But that’s less of a outright criticism and more of a personal preference.
The OST was not that memorable but it definitely helped immerse the audience into the story rather than pull them out of it. The cinematography was very pretty too despite the fact that the majority of the drama takes place in one place. I liked the way the director enhanced the characters feelings through the use of different camera angles.
One last thing I want to point out without giving away any spoilers is that ‘Meet Me Outside’ felt as if it’s truly meant to be a story for and by LGBTQ+ individuals. It was unafraid to dive into certain issues and certainly managed to capture the raw vulnerability of heartbreak.
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This review may contain spoilers
Following your fate blindly or having a bit of courage to challenge your fate, which do you prefer!?
What is it that you actually want to happen in life if you had the choice to choose from:1. Allow your life to unfold naturally; fall in love with the person who is entwined with you by a crimson thread of fate; and accept the outcome that fate has planned, happy or tragic.
Or,
2. Even if you are aware of your fate and the one that awaits you, muster some bravery and fight against it in order to have a happy ending and spend time with your loved one—not the one that is predestined.
Now, if I talk about this drama, what I actually enjoyed is:
1. The best female character written in kdrama history.
FL, Oh Baek Ryun knew from the get-go whom she liked, what she wanted from him,who was interested in her at the same time,how to make someone fall for you, how to handle third-party interest without playing with their emotions,how to sacrifice for your soulmate,how to fight against your destiny, and lastly, how to wait, praying for your one and only loved one.
I know it's super rare to find someone like her as your partner, but if you find one, you should thank your luck for meeting her.
2. ML, Chun Sang Hyuk. When I first started watching, it seemed like he was constantly falling for different ladies in different decades, all of which ended horribly. He was even warned against falling for any woman, but if he does, it'll end in tragedy. So I was actually worried about how the current timeline would end up. But after knowing that he had unknowingly fallen for the same soul in different decades,I had no choice but to admire his character wholeheartedly.
Although he was reluctant to openly date anyone after his first tragedy occurred, when he came to know that FL was actually the girl from back then, he let go of all other warnings, etc., and finally started to follow his heart to pursue his hidden feelings.
He also fought against his destiny, remained heartbroken for decades with a huge guilt in his heart, fought again against his destiny after learning the truth behind all of the tragedies,died as a fairy, and got reincarnated as a human to live the life he wanted with his loved one.
3. Chun Dong Chil, aka A Bad Day to Be a Dog. He practically carried most of the story as a major supporting character.
I'm not going to say much about him here; you should watch to find out more.
Now let's talk about what I actually hated:
1. Chun Dong Koo, aka the dumbest irritating fairy amongst the four. A man with a personality like his is a menace to society. His story is only here as a filler. If we can cut his subplot, I guess it'll easily be a super exciting 12-episode drama.
I just find it a shame that after spending so much time on him, the script writer wrote that horrendous ending for him, which makes no sense to me, like, WTF! Why spend so much screen time on him if you already have that shitty ending for him?
3. Seo Jae Hee, the most self-narcissistic delusional freak I've ever seen. He's the second-most pathetic SML I've seen in recent times! A man thinking of him makes my blood boil.
I never liked his character for my own specific reasons, which I shouldn't put here in words.
This feeling only cooled down almost at the end of the drama when he slowly started to let go of his obsession over FL after learning the truth from his past life, which can't completely wash away the fact that I was frustrated with him in the past episode, so kindly bear with me.
3. Chun Dong Pal, Lmao, he's a filler. That's it.
There are also other little but point-worthy things that I liked and disliked in this drama, but I can't include them in this list as it is most likely already very long.
Overall, I believe I will remember this story for a very long time, which makes it well worth my time. If I consider the re-watchability of this drama, I believe once a year is sufficient to reminisce about the leads' fascinating chemistry.
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