Reviews

A missed opportunity

I have been contemplating for some time whether to write a review about this, but I was struggling to get my thoughts together as I was left feeling quite disappointed by the end of this series. It held quite a lot of promise, and the premise of the show was good when it was first introduced. It also had an overall good cast with talented actors, and incorporated mature themes about real life and real life situations.

Did it deliver? Only partially. I'm going against the grain here I know - I've seen a lot of reviews give it a 10. Come on guys a 10? The perfect series? Is any series perfect? Please be realistic in your reviews. As the famous philosopher Socrates said: “Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.”

I don't know about you, but I personally ignore any review that gives a series a 10.

Anyway, let's start with some positives.

1) Acting. This was probably its strongest point, although at times it was a bit hit and miss and there were a couple of miscasts.
2) Production. The production was good with decent locations, settings etc.
3) Messaging. I think some of the messages and points it conveyed were valid and important.

So why do I think it only partially delivered. My issue is with the writing and story. It was too overengineered. Too many undeveloped arcs, events that took up time but did not add to the outcome, situations that were unrealistic etc. I found myself wondering what this series was about. A love triangle? Being poor? Homophobia? Working class people? Inequality? Growing old? Cheating? Relationships? Growing up? Teen angst? Coming of age? Sadness and loss? Unrequited love? Disability? It's almost like they tried to fit all of it in and it fell flat.

Bearing in mind that only 8 episodes were filmed (albeit some more than 1h long so it's more like 10 based on a normal series), there's only so much you can fit in and I think the story went way overboard with stuff which ended up distracting me as a viewer. Examples:

1. The property development project. Time was spent on this as if it was integral to the storyline and outcome but nothing came out of it. In the end Jim just walked away.
2. Jim's search for a title deed to get a loan. Didn't come to anything in the end. Again, he just walked away.
3. All the deaths and accidents, like Gaipa's mum dying and Alan getting into an accident needing therapy, and Jim's ex-bf's death in a fiery boat accident (this one was absolutely ridiculous).
4. Saleng getting his girlfriend pregnant and somehow making it Jim's problem.
5. Wen taking up a job at the restaurant (even though he's a full time architect?).
...and my biggest issue...
6. Time spent on Heart / Li Ming's relationship. Almost half the time is spent on their relationship. This series is (was?) supposed to revolve around adult relationships and situations, and the hardships they face, yet the majority of the time is spent on Heart / Li Ming hanging out. Don’t get me wrong, the characters were well acted and portrayed by Fourth and Gemini, and I am a fan of both, but the amount of airtime their relationship received overtook much of the rest of the story. It would have been better to "introduce them" and give them a separate spinoff series.

There were other things that just did not make sense or were factually incorrect. Here's a few:

1) Jim's attempt to get a loan. I know I already mentioned this but what was it for? If your landlord is selling the property to a developer to tear it down, and your lease is up, what do you need a loan for?

2) Wen working for the developer/architect didn't seem to bother Jim. "Oh don't worry love, I know you and your employer are trying to destroy mine and other's livelihood, but I'll shag you anyway. As long as we don't complicate things". Wouldn't you say Wen's involvement in the project is a wee bit of a complication...?

3) Gaipa's mum's life insurance . His mum had a precondition so she wouldn't be able to get insurance in the first place. And why was her insurance important? Comments at the funeral: "I know his mum has died but he's set for life now!". Wow. Really? Or was it all so the writers had a reason to introduce Alan to Gaipa? Gaipa obviously couldn't just visit the bank to open a savings account and bump into him.

4) Li Ming's move to the US. Come on, some lady with dodgy English hands you a form to sign and you're off to the US? All this after reading a pamphlet? There is no chance in hell he would be allowed anywhere near the US.

It's lazy writing. Character development at times is all over the place. We go from nice guy, to douche bag, to selfish. Too many things distracting the viewer. A common thread is missing.

They should have picked a story to focus on and developed it properly. In my view that should have been the love triangle between Alan, Wen and Jim and possibly Gaipa as well - along with the business/property developer. Episode 5 (and parts of 4) with the breakdown of Alan and Wen's relationship is very good. First is excellent in it and and so is Mix. It felt like it had taken inspiration from Ingmar Bergman's masterpiece film "scenes from a marriage" (brilliant film by the way, you should watch it). I actually thought it was finally starting to get better but unfortunately past episode 5 it just went downhill again. Alan just dipped in and out - this time with crutches, Wen and Jim had long walks at the beach while Heart and Li Ming were drinking more boba tea.

Stick to simple and effective, with the focus on the relationships between the people, the feelings, the emotion and the dialogue. This would be my idea:

- Alan and Wen have been together but their relationship is starting to get shaky. Alan doesn't understand why Wen is being distant. They have a fight, Wen goes out stumbles upon the chicken shop, gets drunk and has a one night stand with the owner. Alan finds out and drama starts.
- Wen grows more distant and goes back to pursuing Jim, who doesn't want the drama as he has better things to worry about, such as a failing business, a developer trying to tear down the property and a sulky teenager. Gaipa also has a business with his mum nearby, and is equally worried about the future due to the proposed development. He has fancied Jim for some time, but Jim is not responsive.
-Wen is involved in the project threatening the businesses. Jim finds out and more drama ensues. Gaipa is also mad. Wen is torn between his career, his love for Jim, the impact his company has on Jim's business and on top of that he still struggles with Alan.
- Wen and Alan have another massive argument and Wen leaves again and goes to stay with a friend. Alan thinks he's gone to Jim so he goes to face him and they end up fighting. Alan and Wen finally break up. Wen approaches Jim again and something begins. Wen begins to re-evaluates his career choice.
- Meanwhile Gaipa wants to help save his mum's business from the developers (and in the process save other local businesses too), so he rallies the locals including Jim to preserve the historic location and starts a campaign to make it a historical tourist destination.
- He goes to the bank to see if he can maybe get a business loan and perhaps be able buy the property himself where he meets Alan. He approaches the local council to see if the buildings can be listed as historical so it can't be bought and redeveloped.
- Alan likes him and his passion, loyalty, and is starting to fall for him etc. He gets involved in the campaign and gets closer and closer to Gaipa and their relationship blooms. Wen and Jim also enter the campaign with the locals.
- The campaign is finally successful and the area and property is eventually listed as historical with funds assigned from the council and government to restore it and making it a destination. Businesses are saved.
- Wen and Jim get together and so does Alan and Gaipa. In time mutual respect develops between all of them. Li Ming grows up and goes to University with Heart.

There you go.

And finally, in the above I would have made Jim/Alan/Wen/Gaipa around the same age, i.e. late 20s early 30s. Poor Earth was terribly miscast as a 40 year old man and, through no fault of his own, has received a lot of criticism for his portrayal.

This review ended up being longer than I expected. Apologies for that. But it's my two cents anyway. On to the next series...

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Worth Watching.

This drama is interesting so far. I look forward to new episodes each day.

**Update after completion**
I loved this drama. One thing I learnt when watching this drama is to never skip scenes or episodes, every conversation or action will connect to the next episode or future episodes at some point. My expectation for the ending was 🤗.

Acting - Both FL and ML development of character was amazing to follow. Their acting skills was amazing. ZJM as always never disappoints. Her delivery of lines was exceptionally done. She may be young and maybe people preferred an older actress for this role, but i think she portrayed her character really well. I can't see anyone else playing Li Rong but her, and that goes for ZHL as well. I loved their chemistry.

Story - I will quote from someone in the comments. "You ask for chocolate cake, but you get a beautiful fruit cake. And even though fruit cake is not what you ordered, it is still beautiful and delicious. " Exactly how I felt with the TPR last few episodes. I only expected a happy ending, and I got that.

Ost - not full points for me, but that's ok.

Rewatch - I will definitely rewatch this, maybe not soon but sometime later.

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Could have used a change in direction

Newtonian physics may not bind the Laws of Drama Writing, but it is a helpful starting point for examining “Bulgasal: Immortal Souls”. Newton’s first law states that a body that is at rest or is in motion at a constant speed in a straight line will remain at rest or continue at the constant speed in a straight line unless it is acted upon by a force. In other words, for something to change, we need some sort of object or mechanism to trigger a chance in action.

With the drama in question, we begin with events that occurred 600 years ago which is where we find our object moving forward. To summarize, Goryeo era monster hunting ace Dan Hwal became a bulgasal (an immortal monster which feeds on human blood) and he loses his family. He sets out to wreak revenge against those who put him in his predicament. We flash forward to present with Hwal seeking Sang Un, once a bulgasal, now a human, reincarnated. Every other character of any note is a reincarnation of someone or something other creature from hundreds of years ago. As the storyline progresses, Hwal and Sang Un encounter Ok Eul Tae, an antagonist from the origins of the story.

Let’s set the storyline aside for other matters…

The production is outstanding. Whether it was set design, photography, soundtrack or the physical monsters themselves, this crew was tops. The monsters are exceptional. Whether the settings are the Goryeo era forests or present day mountains, the settings are gorgeous. The special effects are above average. There is not a copious amount of OST but the few entries are solid. And there’s more than one underwater sequence that are some of the highlight scenes.

There’s some fine acting too. Park Myung Shin is the standout as a Goryeo era shaman and present day aunt/butcher for Hwal. Lee Joon creates a compelling and vibrant character for the twisted and scheming Eul Tae. Han Seo Jin plays a young Sang Un and continues to create one of the most impressive filmographies of any young actor anywhere.

It’s a mixed bag for the leads. Lee Jin Wook as Dan Hwal has the imposing stature and gravelly voice to pull off a character that is part dark monster and part former human bent on retaining some of his humanity. But the character has shortcomings that no actor could really work around. He’s smart enough to clandestinely coordinate a complex manhunt and amass a significant collection of assets but has lived hundreds of years learning almost nothing. He follows a predictable cycle where he is introduced to a new side to his backstory, he refuses to believe it then just decides that it must be true. And despite the fact that he wants to end his troubles, he’s got the worst sense of self-awareness on the planet. He’s supposed to be the hero, albeit a non-traditional type of one, but he’s so determined to derail any effort to make progress that he’s nearly impossible to sympathize with.

As for Kwon Na Ra’s Sang Un, she’s got enough sense to diagnose Hwal’s issues, can formulate a basic plan and know that she needs to invest in and maintain relationships. That’s all good but the direction for the character was to overwhelm everything else about the character with a damsel-in-distress aesthetic. Even when her actions should signal strength and determination, the visuals instead emphasize her weakness and impending panic. That’s the present day visuals. Have to recognize that her appearance in the historical eras is simply stunning.

Without spoiling too much, there’s no end to this saga unless there’s an end to Eul Tae or Hwal or Sang Un. But two aren’t easy to kill and the other one will just reincarnate so something out of the ordinary has to happen to end this.

Here’s where Newton comes in. We have this trio that has been on the same path for six hundred years with this seemingly unsolvable problem. What would have made for an outstanding drama is that at some point of the storyline, the viewers are given some somewhat comprehensive understanding of how our object in motion at a constant rate of speed in a straight line was put in said motion at said constant rate of speed in said straight line. Then the production could have adequately built up over multiple episodes to a climax where new big force is brought forward to bring about the cataclysmic change in motion and to put an end (or new beginning) to our heroes and villains story.

Instead, a full reveal of the real origin story only happens far, far, FAR! too late leaving little time to build any appropriate amount of tension for the climactic showdown. Pending the full reveal, Eul Tae is left as a likely evildoer but possibly ambiguous character which fatally hamstrings his actions. Instead of going full dark and crazy, there’s only glimpses of his true nature. To keep a semblance of mystery about him going, he winds up a disappointing antagonist who spends too much time politicking with Hwal and plotting in the background than being, y’know, a bloodthirsty and invincible monster. And instead of Hwal and Sang Un spending far too much time wondering how they ended up this way, they could have been doing something much more interesting like, y’know, fighting monsters.

It’s a tremendous shame because the scenario was promising. There’s lots of interesting monsters and the show was terrifically entertaining when there was action. But it is invested so heavily in a painfully slow reveal of backstory and keeping the main characters and viewers in the dark that the characters are unable to develop. And, y’know, move forward in a new direction.

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a masterpiece with multidimensional/flawed characters (please give it a try)

Overall: I think some people won't start or finish this series due to the premise and Ritsu's character in the beginning. I would highly encourage people to watch the entire series because it is 100% worth it. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.

Content Warnings: there are several some of which might be extremely triggering, I will put them in a comment with a spoiler

What I Liked
- flawed/multidimensional characters (I could write an essay on Ritsu)
- realistic and very well done NSFW scenes (including talking during and not overpowering music)
- relationships between characters (enjoyed the found family theme with the four of them)
- how Meguru was not a cliche/stereotype and the actor (used as a gender neutral term) is non-binary so that's pretty awesome
- production value/cinematography (you can tell it's the same director from The Novelist & Mood Indigo)

Room For Improvement
- the flashbacks kind of took me out a bit from the story in the present
- not a fan of some of the one lipped kissing
- the special effects near the end were low budget/cringey
- definitely could have used a longer run time to more fully develop characters
- I wish they'd go with something that could actually happen like a deadly virus, nuclear war or a large natural disaster but I realize they had source material

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SWOT Analysis

A business proposal without a SWOT Analysis? Sacrilege. The following are some strengths and weaknesses of the drama; and opportunities and threats to the main couple’s relationship.

◾Strengths
The casting of all characters was impeccable. Totally ship the pairing of Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Se Jeong as the main couple; as well as Kim Min Gue and Seol In Ah as the secondary couple.

A few support characters stand out from the rest as they provide some comic relief and are such a joy to watch. Grandpa Kang, the drama-obsessed chairman, who wants to see his beloved grandson married. Jin Young Seo’s cousin, Jo Yoo Jung, the Konglish speaking and spoilt rich girl with the infamous line “You know I have no 친구 (chingu)”.

12- episode format as opposed to the current Kdrama standard of 16 episodes - it forces the story to move along at a faster rate.

◾Weaknesses
The secondary couple tends to overshadow the main couple throughout the drama. It was love at first sight for both Sung Hoon and Young Seo, and they became a couple before Tae Mo and Ha Ri. Communication between this duo was mature, and any misunderstandings were dealt with on the spot.

Kang Tae Mo is a character who knows and is good at everything. Yet, he could not discern Shin Ha Ri’s disguises at the beginning. Hmmmmm….

The usage of a time skip. I do not mind this trope, however it feels a bit of a cop-out. In a romcom, the last episode is where we get our final warm fuzziness. The time-skip in here is akin to the editors realising they have 10 minutes left in the drama but still have 40 minutes of story to tell.

A few opportunities and threats to the main couple’s relationship:

◾Opportunities
- Goobne chicken (Shin Ha Ri’s parents’ business) should bottle and sell their chicken rub. In episode 10, Kang Tae Mo tried it with his astute taste bud and liked it. If he likes it, it will be a hit!
- Shin Ha Ri’s brother can get a new phone from Kang Tae Mo. Make sure to get a new Samsung, Shin Ha Min!

◾Threats
- Grandpa Kang. Shin Ha Ri needs to put extra effort to get his approval of their relationship.
- The chef and his girlfriend. Either they want or are jealous of Shin Ha Ri
- Daddy Shin. Kang Tae Mo must have a man-to-man talk to his future father-in-law regarding the safety of Ha Ri.
- GoFood employees and netizens. Gossiping about the CEO who is dating an employee.
- Cousin Yoo Jung liking Sung Hoon.

The above SWOT is an incomplete list. What would you like to add to the above analysis?

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Misaeng is an amazing drama, but it is not for everyone. If you don't like first episodes you probably won't like the rest of the drama. In my case, I loved it from the 1st episode.

This drama may seem boring to some people as it is about office world, but the script writers did a great job and to me, personally, it didn't seem boring at all. It is a serious drama, yes, but there are also funny elements. It portraits the office life in a really realistic way.

While watching this drama, I felt like I was a part of the company, that I am part of every character there. Whenever there was something emotional, you could feel the emotions yourself. Whenever there was a funny scene, I was so happy, it felt so good and the funny scenes were always in a place. They just fitted.

STORY
As for story, I loved it. Some people might say that the plot was kind of about nothing, but I disagree. So much happened in those 20 episodes. The story and the characters will captivate you. I just can't express how much I love this drama!

ACTING/CAST
Everyone in this drama was well-chosen and their acting was superb. I guess, I loved every character, well, almost every character.

Lee Sung Min - he is a king of acting. I loved him since King 2Hearts and here, he proved that he is a 1st class actor. I loved his character Oh Sang Shik, in the future, I would also like to have a boss like him. After this drama I became his fan even more.

Im Shi Wan - I was a little worried at first that he would not be good for this role. Oh, how I was mistaken. He was perfect for this role. "Jang Geu Rae, fighting!!! You can do it" that is what I was thinking whole time. He was so hardworking, nice and pitiful.

Kang So Ra - I love her! I think that she is the best actress of her generation. I was so pleased with her English and even her Russian wasn't so bad. Her character Ahn Young Yi was great as well, she was tough, hardworking and clever. Great female character!

Kang Ha Neul - I am so in love with him! He is so good-looking but a great actor as well. I didn't like his character at first, but then Jang Baek Ki grew on me. He needs to get a proper main role! P.S. I was a bit disappointed that there was no love line between Jang Baek Ki and Ahn Young Yi, they were so cute together.

Byun Yo Han - first time seeing him and I must say, what an actor! I loved his character of Han Suk Yool, he was so cheerful and full of life and then at one point when he was so devastated by work, I was so sad, I wanted him to return to his old-self as soon as possible. This actor has definitely a bright future ahead. P.S. I loved the moments of those four (Im Shi Wan, Kang Sora, Kang Haneul and Byun Yo Han) together, I couldn't help but smile all the time. They had a great chemistry together.

Kim Dae Myung - I also has to mention him. His Kim Dong Shik was so nice and his acting was so believable.

MUSIC
Music was not outstanding nor special but it fitted with the drama very well.

I seriously must congratulate the actors, director and scriptwriters. They did an amazing job! Misaeng is now on my list of the best dramas I've seen so far! And after re-watching, it might become one of my favourite dramas!

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I had so much fun watching this! Things just go boom when the leads meet.

Ep 1: I have realized that Lovely Runner set the bar too high for all the romcom's to come, so I can't help but compare everything that comes out to it. However, I can't deny that I laughed a lot throughout the first episode. I was looking forward to the show, ever since I heard about it. The ML is the real draw, the FL doesn't look so good with those bangs, however her character is actually funny to watch. Honestly, at this point, her sister who eats her feelings is more relatable. I can't yet figure out what kind of a person the ML is but he is fun to watch. Bubbles are such a good substitute to cigarettes. Let's see if he actually sues her for murder.

Ep 2: Oh wow! Since the moment they first met, they have been going at each other and it is so fun to watch! The verbal match is amazing. The first 10 minute of the show so far are so hilarious, I just had to pause and write it all down so I don't forget things as I go. It was interesting and kept me engaged throughout the whole episode. I like watching dramas like this, especially while eating food, it makes me appreciate and enjoy the food more. For a moment there, I had forgotten the drama description that said the ML has a gf and she hasn't broken up with him yet. I kept thinking maybe she was an ex. But she is not just a gf but a fiancé. That was fun to watch!

Ep 3: Okaayyy. Fair warning, don't watch it on loudspeaker with your family around you. They make very explicit noises that make you feel like your family caught you watching a kissing scene on TV. I have my earphones on now so it is safe to watch. I got to laugh a little less compared to the last episode but it was still a fun one. They are all so silly, our FL's friend adds to the nuisance, making it more interesting.

Ep 4: Half of the time it feels like you are watching looney tunes, the scenes are so cartoonish and that's exactly what the show is all about. It brings back some of those funny cartoon memories patching it together with a comedic parody of Cinderella. You discover that her step sisters aren't that bad and her step mom is actually pretty decent, but all of them are just a little bit crazy in their own way, expect for the older sister. She seems rock solid so far. I wonder if the new guy they introduced in the episode just wants to take advantage of her because he is being too obvious about it. Well I was right, poor Cindy.

Ep 5 & Ep 6: I enjoy the interaction between the leads, but the bickering was toned down in these episodes. That kiss could have been better on the FL's part, but it looked good. That almost second kiss would have been better than the first one. The angle was right. The ML going out of his way to marry her off to other guy because he doesn't want to be abandoned is a bit sad. The fiancée and her family are so funny. I get that she has anger issues but I'm not really sure that she likes Cha Min. She rather considers him a possession. I hope the FL gives up on the SML, because it wasn't jealousy that made him say he liked her but competitiveness. In contrast the ML's feelings for her are quite real no matter how much he doesn't want to accept them. They are both so blind to how beautiful their life could be if they just stopped trying to live a loveless life.

Ep 7 & Ep 8: Cha Min blows so hot and cold, only Jae Rim can tolerate that kind of nonsense because they are both equally crazy. The SML has improved a bit but not by long. They totally got me with that imaginary scene with the leads kissing! I thought the drama was going in an another direction. He was kinda right, his mom was a little too late with the apologies. She could have made time despite how she may have been perceived. I just feel so sad for the boy that grew up being brainwashed by his father who couldn't keep his resentment to himself. He didn't give the boy a chance to form his own opinion but tried to indoctrinate him into his crazy beliefs about women.

Ep 9 & Ep 10: I wanted to see who the crazy ex fiancé was going to end up with & what happened to her crazy uncles as well. Overall, it was a nice story. I thought the last two episodes would focus on the happy ending, but we got one where they separate even though they weren't really dating. The last episode was good though. This should have been 16 episodes, so that we had some more crazy Cha Min & Jae Rim moments! They were adorable when they got together. This is definitely something worth rewatch.

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I kinda feel like an alien because of my poor rating. I've read so many reviews and they were all perfect 10's.
The acting and the whole vibe from this drama was outstanding and powerful. I loved the tragedy aspect so much,nowadays you can't really find stories like this one, it had the kind of angst that can linger on the viewers heart for a long time but...after watching the first half,my excitment for this show slowly went down. Some things were dragged out constantly and their moral choices made me lose interest. I wish i had enjoyed the story more without the main female lead annoying me and without rolling my eyes everytime the brother and his girlfriend spoke.

The ending was brilliant but again,i wish it didn't end so abruptly,perhaps it could've been more extended.

Overall,this drama has a lot of potential but it just wasn't what i wanted. Watch this for yourself,this was my honest opinion and it might be just mine.
Also,everyone of us is a Moo Young in our own world trying to figure out this life.

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I tried to watch it thrice last year but gave up each time due to bad picture quality. Finally found a decent print on YouTube and I swear I was glued! :) Everything about this drama was perfect - A beautiful story of love and fate. And the fact that it was hilarious - icing to the cake. Hehe. Xin Yi kept getting more and more pretty with each episode. I really liked her character and the transformations she went through throughout the drama.

Cun Xi was pretty annoying in the beginning. I mean, obviously his heart was at the right place more or less. But when he asked her to leave after giving birth I wanted to slap him! I mean, how can a mother (especially someone as gentle as Xin Yi) give up her baby without dying a little each second? I liked his character more after ep 12. As for Dylan, I really really really liked him in the beginning. But after they left for Shanghai (ep 12?) - Bleh. He just got annoying. EPISODE 12 T-T It was so sad! I dare you to watch it without crying! Seriously! EPISODE 12. The reason I still can't get myself to like Anna. I'm sorry.Generally I do believe in giving second chances to evil characters ( I DO I DO XD). But what she did pissed me too much. So even if the whole world is ready to accept her reasons for what she did (including Cun Xi and Xin Yi)- I CANNOT.

So, basically, Xin Yi and Cun Xi end up sleeping together because she thinks he's her cheating boyfriend and he thinks she's Anna. Now I know it sounds kinda ridiculous but he's so horny (long story) and she's so dizzy and it's dark. So yeah...after they're done he's like "Gu Chi?" and she's like, "Who's Anna?" and then lights on and TA-DA! BAHAHAHAHA XD XD

On top of everything she becomes pregnant with his child while he's still in love with Anna who (in short) is a selfish Beeaach. They decide to keep the baby and not get it aborted while the supercool grandma somehow manages to get them married. And then Cun Xi drops the bomband tells her to leave after giving birth and that Anna could be the mom to the child -.- But they keep getting closer and closer and now Cun Xi becomes conflicted about his feelings. Then comes ep 12. Honestly, I never expected the story to turn out this way. It really surpassed my expectations. Really nice story.

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After having watched the Japanese version and loved it so much that I sought out the Korean version - this was the third adaptation of the Hana Yori Dango manga for me.

The most addictive qualities of this series are very much present in this version as well. The things that Dao Ming Si say, and his endless longing glances at Shan Cai, are enough to make anyone weak at the knees.

However, at the same time it's his love for her that give birth to a couple of truly disturbing scenes.
Violence and possessiveness is a part of Si's nature in a shocking way. This wasn't there in the Korean or Japanese versions. It made Meteor Garden hard to watch.

Hadn't it been for those scenes I would have had no qualms giving the drama a 9 or 10. Simply for how kick-ass Shan Cai is and the way Si makes my knees wobble.

As I see it, HYD is a mash-up of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and her other books. The arrogant Dao Ming Si and the introverted Hua Ze Lei represent the dual aspects of Mr Darcy's personality. Si's domineering mother is Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Don't let the fact that this is from 2001 scare you off. It's a timeless story. Even crazy hair, bad outfits and old cell phones can't distract you from the heart at its core.
(Plus, he loses the headband and pineapple-hairdo a couple of episodes in. :) )

My advice is:
Watch! But be prepared for a flawed hero that wouldn't work outside of the realm of pure fantasy.

The pluses:
+ Shan Cai's reactions feel more convincing than in any other version of the series, and are full of girl-power
+ The way that the character are explained and the story plays out makes more sense than in any other version
+ The music is less imposing and annoying than in the J&K-versions

The minuses:
- Si's violent and possessive tendencies are on occasion creepy and downright shocking
- The sound and other production values leave something to be desired

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✿ which version is better ✿

"The thai version is better" , these words is coming from person considered the Korean version one of her favorite .
why ?
the difference between them is great. If it was not the same basic idea, I would have thought that two of them are two different dramas . The acting is clearly much weaker than the Korean version, but I felt the FL/support actors acting was getting better as the episodes passed .. The ghost stories are more realistic they are somewhat better than the Korean version even the villain ghosts have sad stories which broke my heart (warning the ghosts here is more scarier) , plans of the villain was different and I did not expect what is his next step would be .
chemistry between ML and FL was perfect they both looked like 2 high school lovers *cuteeeee*
What annoyed me in this version :
FL and her red dress I was so happy when she changed it xD , ML gives Weird looks and smiles ( he was trying to be sexy i think lol) , there was some silly scenes i couldn't take, also villain is supposed to be a nice person in the beginning, but from the first start he was suspicious and weird however in general I do not regret watching this drama. I have been suffering for some time from not being able to complete any lakorn finally i did it....
Won't forget uncle's quote
"No one can escape their karma"

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Heartwarming, and beautiful

** I didn't read the manhwa so this is fully on my perspective as a viewer of the drama.

PLOTS

First, of course the story. This web drama is basically a light mini-series thus the plots of this drama is not that complicated, basically easy to understand, easy to follow the flow. It started with some fresh beginning, everything going on smoothly but somehow there's a little glitch towards the end. I don’t want to spoil it to new viewers but all I could say is that the writer decides to compress everything there, thus making it seems a little rush but thankfully it's going well towards the end. I believe this story is not completed yet because there’s a lot of things that’re not happening yet, but if they do want it left cliff-hanging just like this, I think it’s fine. The main couple already got their happy ending, and we can’t imagine how bad some characters would be later in another season (if it’s based on the manhwa.)

SETTINGS

It's basically a typical high school kind-of story so for sure they focused on them being highshoolers//teenagers. Having to deal with academic, talent, bully, and free-spirit things are one of the things focused on here. Above all that, this series values friendship and love the most, how important to have someone who will be there when you're in need. Someone to understand and help you when you’re needing them. This value is the most beautiful thing happen in this story.

CHARACTERS

The main leads; Gong Ju-young, played by Park Jihoon. His character really is a cute and fresh one, literally a high-spirit teen which is so blinded by love towards the female lead, Wang Ja-rim. Some of his scenes are weird, childish and unpredictable yet making sense to the drama itself, a romance-comedy drama and somehow portray our real life when we were at their ages. Park Jihoon's character is also this lively and fresh, justifying him playing the role of Ju-young, and he really did great in in his character. For the female lead, Wang Ja-rim played by Lee Ruby. At first, I find it a little uncomfortable to see her playing the role because she seems a little awkward. I don't know if that really is her character in manhwa so please forgive me if it is. Ja rim's character is actually fun to look at, because we don't know what would she do when she's with Ju-young. She can be very tough, scary but at the same time, she's also can be cute and kind to others around her.

Move on to the 2nd lead; Lee Kyungwoo, played by Kim Younghoon. To be honest, as his first acting role he played his character really well despite being 180⁰ different in real life. I heard that he attended an acting academy before being an idol so I guess that’s explained well. His character is a big one, he played a role as the best friend, the mature and and the problematic one to the story. The problem of him being the 2nd lead is that his chemistry with Ja-rim is not that strong since they didn't have many scenes being just two, plus the writer kind of hurry things up. Above all that, honestly, he played Kyungwoo’s character flawlessly so I’d really hope there’ll be more acting opportunities for him in the future.

As for Minji, Jung Daeun played her character really well, being the sad girl in the story, holding everything in her heart; really does portray a teen who has a crush on someone, but couldn’t express herself. Apart from all that, we have characters that making we smile through the story which is Ah-ram (WJSN Dayoung), Byunghoon (Ko Chanbin), Kyungmin (Ahn Dokyu) and Seunghee (Hong Jinhee). They has made us full of laughter throughout the whole series and I’m so thankful for that.

That’s all my review for this cute web drama. Whoever thought about watching this, go on. You’ll never regret it. ^^

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3 Epic Stories in 1!

Review Part 1 out of 3 = Beside the Sky
Finally, after waiting 16 long months for Season 2, Fourever You Part 1/3 shattered me in the best way possible. This first story didn’t just meet expectations, it blew straight past them.
I already loved Bever as Tonfah and Tonliew as Typhoon from Season 1, even with their limited screen time. Season 2 finally gives them the space they deserve, and the emotional payoff is devastating. Every scene hits harder because we can now fully feel the depth of their pain, history, and connection.
What I thought would be a soft, cute story quickly turns into something deeply heartbreaking. Typhoon’s trauma is painful to watch. His fear of the dark, the loss of his sister when he was already an adult, and the cruelty of a family that blames him instead of comforting him is hard to witness. Being forced to grieve alone leaves scars that never fade, and the series does not sugarcoat that. Typhoon’s loneliness feels absolutely suffocating.
Years later, his reunion with Tonfah, the neighbor who once protected him, feels like a fragile lifeline. Tonfah is clearly the light Typhoon desperately needs. Someone who can sit with his pain, understand it, and slowly help him breathe again. Their bond feels raw, tender, and earned, never rushed or forced.
And can we talk about how they are one of the most green flag couples I’ve seen in BL? Their relationship is so cute, natural, and genuinely sweet. Every glance and every quiet moment between them carries warmth and meaning.
I also loved Typhoon’s group of friends. They are genuinely supportive, warm, and protective in a way that makes his world feel a little less lonely. I also really appreciate how seamlessly this season blends with Season 1. Seeing familiar faces like Johan and North and Hill and Earth again felt like a gift and honestly made me so happy. It reminded me why I fell in love with this universe in the first place.
The acting across the board is outstanding, filled with quiet anguish and unspoken emotion. The music amplifies every heartbreak, and the chemistry makes every touch and every look feel loaded with meaning. This series doesn’t just tell a story, it makes you feel it.
Emotionally devastating and beautifully told, Fourever You Season 2 Part 1/3 earns a powerful 10 out of 10 from me. 💔✨

Review Part 2 out of 3 = The Sun from Another Star
After watching Hill and Ter, Johan and North from season 1, and recently Tonfah and Phoon from season 2, the second couple of season 2, Arthit and Dao, already feel very different from the others.
Arthit is hot, chaotic, and has such a funny personality. He always feels like the highlight of the group and brings a lot of energy to every scene. On the other hand, Dao is quiet and gentle, but he has the unusual ability to see and speak with spirits. This immediately makes their story stand out because after more than 24 episodes in this universe, this is the first time we get a supernatural element with ghosts and spirits.
Their dynamic already feels interesting because they are such opposites. Arthit is loud, bold, and playful, while Dao is calm and mysterious. Opposites really do attract here, and I am very curious to see how Dao slowly starts to fall for Arthit.
The story still keeps the familiar university setting that fans love, but the supernatural twist makes it feel fresh and different. After just two episodes, this couple already feels fun and unique.
For me it is easily a 9.5 out of 10 so far and I am excited to see where their story goes next.

Review Part 3 out of 3 = Lately, Its Winter Season
The final part of Fourever did not disappoint. Across almost 40 episodes over both seasons, the story wrapped up in such a cute and satisfying way. Set in a high school setting with a friends to lovers storyline, the series balances light romance, family drama, and emotional moments really well. Pie as Tiger and Golf as Nao are adorable together, and their chemistry had me hooked from the very beginning.
Tiger, the lonely youngest son of a powerful and wealthy family, first meets Nao during football tryouts. While Tiger grows up surrounded by arguments and pressure, Nao comes from a poor but loving family that always feels warm and welcoming. I really liked how the drama showed that money cannot buy happiness. Tiger would rather spend his time relaxing with Nao on a small couch than stay alone in his giant mansion, and those moments made their relationship feel genuine and comforting.
How ironic that in one family, the older brother is completely oblivious, while in the other, the younger brother is the one who cannot see what is right in front of him.
Singha has had Ben by his side for years. A loyal bodyguard, a constant shadow, a man who has quietly loved him for more than a decade. Yet Singha remains utterly clueless, never realizing that Ben's devotion runs far deeper than duty.
Then there is Tiger, who has spent more than six years loving Nao. And somehow, Nao is just as hopelessly unaware. The funny part is that everyone else can see it. North, clumsy as he is, took one look across a soccer field and immediately understood Tiger's feelings. Nao's own twin brother knows. Practically the entire world seems to know except Nao himself.
So we end up with this amusing parallel: in the mafia family, the older brother is the oblivious one, while in the other family, the younger brother is equally blind to the truth. Two different stories reflecting each other in the most chaotic way.
The only part that feels a little hard to believe is how quickly someone who has always considered himself straight suddenly starts trying to navigate feelings for his best friend after a confession. For years, girls were the ones he noticed, the ones he thought were cute. Then his best friend confesses, and now he is genuinely considering dating him. It is a dramatic shift, though feelings and self-discovery can sometimes be far more complicated than people expect.
Still, that is part of what makes the story entertaining. Between Singha being oblivious to Ben's decade-long love and Nao somehow missing six years of Tiger's devotion, this felt like a double episode built entirely on beautiful, ridiculous cluelessness.
The slow burn romance was done so well, making every small interaction between them feel meaningful. Along with the school setting, athlete male lead storyline, flashbacks to the past, and touches of mafia family drama, the series still keeps a fun and soft atmosphere without becoming too heavy.
Overall, this is a cute and entertaining BL that is easy to watch and enjoy. The romance feels natural, the emotional moments hit well, and Tiger and Nao completely carried the series for me. Definitely one of the more enjoyable light BLs

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Don't even start this piece of shit.

I haven't seen anything worse than this drama. I literally thought in the first 5 ep that the main lead is someone who is obssessed with having sex with her. It literally seems like some sort of abusive relationship.
Their chemistry sucks plus when I google the story of this drama there is a line that she will learn about his "DARK PAST" but but there isn't anything about his past in the whole drama and don't even get me started on the female lead I mean anyone can kiss her or harass her and she is like ss...sorry I mean wtf ? even a 7 year old child can be better or bold enough to say STOP and her boyfrnd is like I'm here now and booom that thing ends there. Like what the fuck.
and there isn't any explanation on why people keep harassing here, what is wrong with the guy's work is he even a normal person or someone who is just obssessd with her.
I'm so frustated that I can't even describe.

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