Reviews

I LOVE JIMMYSEA….

This is my first series that I’ve watched with JimmySea and I definitely fell in love with them. Their chemistry is off the charts and it fit the story so well. I was skeptical with watching it because I didn’t know if GMMTV was gonna give this story justice but it definitely was amazing. The story was heartfelt and so emotional which I feel like fits JimmySea. I loved the ending (even though most people didn’t), I thought the ending was something positive and happy. I love happy endings so I enjoyed the ending.

I also loved Mark in this series. He literally has chemistry with anyone he is put with so I’m excited to see who his next partner is.

Read More

Wish it could’ve been more…

For this to be Ja and First last bl, I was kinda disappointed. I love them in don’t say no so I was excited for this bl when it first came out. I watched the first episode when it aired and was immediately disappointed. The acting was obviously good since it is Ja and First. But Ja’s character gave me so much second hand embarrassment with the way he was acting. It just was cringy, even after they got together. I liked First’s character, because we get to see him as a more mature character which is suitable. The story was very boring at first which is why it took me so long to finish it. It was ok but definitely not the best bl I have ever seen.

Alsooooo Ben was in it so immediately when I saw him, I was happy. I love Ben and to see him in this Bl was interesting (even though he was barely on screen)

Read More

Just Alright.

An average melodrama, not really grounded in reality in any way, but at least a semi-entertaining watch. The writing is overly indulgent and completely commits to all kinds of classic BL tropes and fantasies.

Qian was an interesting character. He was the parentified child who served as not only a brother, but a father, mother, and provider. Yuan had some of the more interesting emotional scenes, and because I love angst, I liked his portrayal of repressed feelings. Both of these characters didn’t really change all too much throughout the series, so their actions oftentimes felt repetitive. I liked Lili and thought the dynamic between the siblings felt real. There were a few times I thought Lili acted overly childish despite being in high school. One time being her basically outing Yuan by showing Qian his novels instead of just asking Yuan herself.

The actors had great chemistry. The main cast all had interesting dynamics, and character interactions felt genuine. There were also some good comedic moments. I liked the pacing, and I thought the episodes flowed well.

Despite having good characters, acting, chemistry, etc. the plot itself was nonsensical and founded on a bunch of unlikely scenarios. I was able to suspend my disbelief for most of the show, but most of the time the story came off as self-indulgent and cringey. For example, the workers casually chatting about their superiors’ sex life in the workplace was weird. (Though the fact they were also kissing at work is unrealistic in the first place, and really doubles down on BL fantasy logic). There was a lot of drama for drama’s sake. The tired tropes that were thrown in for dramatic effect were quickly glossed over as the plot moved forward.

Despite this, it was still a decent watch. If you’re interested in watching it, go ahead, you’ll probably be entertained and the main leads are both eye candy. Also be prepared to hear near-constant dramatic ballads in the background.

Read More

"We live and we die"

Shogun is based on the popular novel by James Clavell which in turn was very loosely based on historical events from Japan around 1600 C.E. I devoured the book years ago and watched the original mini-series starring Richard Chamberlain and Mifune Toshiro. I have been both excitedly and trepidatiously waiting for this updated version to come out. There were some improvements and also disappointments with the latest rendition.

“Why is it those who have never been in battle are so eager to be in one?”
English pilot John Blackthorne is one of a handful of survivors aboard the Dutch ship Erasmus that lands in a Japanese fishing harbor. He and his men are taken prisoner by the village’s manager, Omi. Elsewhere, Lord Toranaga is called to the Osaka castle to meet with the other four regents of the Taiko’s heir who are bent on taking him down. He tells them he has no intentions of starting hostilities with them, but they intend to force him to commit seppuku. Back at Ajiro, Omi and his uncle and lord, Yabushige, decide the ship and its weapons might help them to make allies when the war starts. Though they are vassals of Toranaga they believe him to be a dead man. Before they can put any plan into action Toranaga’s right hand man, Hiromatsu, shows up laying claiming to the ship and its contents for Lord Toranaga, including Blackthorne. Toranaga has Mariko serve as Blackthorne’s interpreter as they can both speak Portuguese. All three, Toranaga, Blackthorne, and Mariko will face death and deception on numerous occasions and will have to use all of their abilities to change the fates laid out before them. The Portuguese and changing alliances of the regents and the heir’s mother’s influence are a powder keg of explosive political desires.

“A woman must stare without fear into the cruel eyes of fate and make herself seen”
Blackthorne was disappointing in this version of Shogun. Gone was the inquisitive and crafty personality along with the better relationship with Toranaga. As played by Cosmo Jarvis, he came across as a punch-drunk prize fighter. The slow build up in the book to understanding the language and world around him seemed fast tracked. Also, the key moment when his mental shift went from English to Japanese in the book was disappointingly left out. The scene would also have bookended Mariko’s emotional scene in the 9th episode. That key scene was also what caused the bonding between him and his interpreter. Shoving it in near the end of the drama felt awkward. Another awkward development was that it took a moment to figure out that when people were speaking English, it was supposed to be understood as Portuguese. In the book Latin, English, and Spanish were also spoken, so I suppose it simplified things for the actors and writers, and especially for English speaking audiences and making it more accessible to them to use just the one language. Okay, rant over. Mariko was more severe in this interpretation of her character, but she was as always highly capable and intelligent, understanding the political undercurrents of people’s actions. In fact, Mariko’s actions were as important and vital to Toranaga’s mission as any man’s, maybe more so. Like Toranaga, she was thankfully introduced earlier in this drama than in the book. There were other women who played important roles—Fuji (Fujiko) the reluctant but devoted consort, Kiku the courtesan, and Ochiba the heir’s plotting mother.

“She hides herself in the sun. Conserves her energy, waiting for her moment. You might never know she is there.”
What was well done was that they didn’t just show the story from the Englishman's perspective as an introduction to Japanese society and history. Much of the drama was in Japanese and though the political maneuverings were narrowed down for the small screen, many of the primary characters were fleshed out. Sanada Hiroyuki as Lord Toranaga gave a quietly powerful performance as the most cunning man in Japan. Toranaga was introduced early and used often to exploit his screen presence. Outwardly, Toranaga proclaimed he had no desire to be Shogun, but he used his extensive network of spies to lay in place a long-term plan to do just that. As a falconer, he broke many men to his fist. Everyone was a possible enemy and he kept his plans in his secretive heart. He even manipulated disasters to his benefit, always knowing when to use his human chess pieces and when to sacrifice them. The English pilot, Anjin, came at the right time, a chess piece that might prove valuable. Sanada’s scene with Nishioka Tokuma as Hiromatsu when all seemed lost was one of the best and most touching of the drama. The two actors traded deep feelings with flickers of their eyes and micro expressions that conveyed the depth of their friendship, loss, and commitment.

“Some are born under a banner of greatness, others must claim it”
The sets and costumes were luxurious. I wish they hadn’t been so committed to using blue filters because it looked as if the land of the rising sun was perpetually in twilight and fog. There was gore, but more for the shock value of the realistic violence without being overly gratuitous. There were scenes of sexual intimacy that also didn’t delve into gratuity. But fair warning, the writers weren’t afraid to use Clavell’s salty language.

“Loyalty does not have an end”
Despite some of my reservations about Blackthorne’s character and actor, and a few of the changes made to the story, I enjoyed this drama. The production values were of a high quality for television. Clavell had a great regard for Japan despite having been a POW during WWII. It was clear he felt Blackthorne was indeed the barbarian in need of civilizing as evidenced when the pilot met his crew later in the drama. The original mini-series didn’t subtitle the Japanese dialogue so that the audience would be as lost as Blackthorne. This time, we were treated to what was going on with the different characters as they made allies, betrayed each other, and played a dangerous game to have their man become the next Shogun or as in the case of the Portuguese, do whatever was necessary to maintain their monopoly in the region. And there were those like Yabushiga constantly trying to play both sides against the middle to survive the coming storm. Having read the book and watched the original mini-series when I was much younger, I am favorably biased toward this story. This was not a white savior tale, the book and the drama tell you who the was pulling all the strings. As did the historical figure he was based upon, Blackthorne had his uses, but ultimately this was Toranaga’s journey to becoming Shogun.

“If I could use words
Like scattering flowers and
Falling leaves
What a bonfire my poems
Would make”
-Mariko

23 April 2024

Read More

Let's be honest, it's mid.

Story:
Starting with the story, it's all over the place. I felt like I was watching 3 different shows. The first part is when Laor is trying to steal the gemstone. This part was fine. It was nothing special. The classic one person fools the other to get what they want and then they fall in love, etc. I was ok with this part of the story. It was a bit boring though. The second part is when they're in the forest trying to find the temple. What was the point of this part?! Why the hell was it so long?! I get that they were trying to repair the relationship between Laor and Phu, but it was way too long for its own good. It was so boring that I skipped most of it. The climax felt rushed and didn't live up to all the tension that was built. The last part was finding out how Laor is related to the Devaphrom. I know why they did it. They had to make her related to the Dhevaphroms somehow, but it was highly convoluted and unnecessary.

Acting:
It was ok. The main leads had no chemistry, however. They did not make me believe they were in love with each other. I was more convinced that Laor was in love with Sun than Phu. Gulf was holding up the show for me. All Gina gave me was blank stares and no emotion. I liked the supporting cast's acting much better. Orm(Kanthika), Peterpan(Sun), Smith(Satarassamee), and even Artz(Nutjari) were much more believable in their acting than the main cast. Kanthika probably being my favorite among all the characters because she just seemed so natural in her role.

Music:
I liked the music. I wouldn't listen to it outside of the show, but it went with the atmosphere and theme of the show. The prequel's opening was much better though.

Rewatch:
No, thank you. I'd rather watch their parents' love story.

Overall:
Mid.

Read More

Happy Ending!!

I’m so happy that they decided to end the story in a happy tone. Sorry for the spoilers but lie many of my fellow drama followers, a lot of Asian LGBTQ dramas end in a horrible way so when I was watching the show, I would take brakes so I can mentally and emotionally prepare myself for a horrible ending that, happily never came 😊.

Please, if you are one of me that thought about it twice because of that particular problem, do yourself a favor, read this comment and fully enjoy (and sometimes cry your heart out) this wonderful drama.

The acting is superb, and the emotions are all over the place (for a good reason). I truly enjoyed this one and I hope they keep doing more (with a happy ending of course).

Read More

This series has only one hospital in it, that does not make sense at all.

"Mouse" stands out for its exceptional cast and compelling storyline. The actors deliver stellar performances, drawing viewers deeper into the intricate plot with each episode. However, one aspect that leaves audiences puzzled is the portrayal of a single hospital and doctor servicing an entire region. This oversight raises questions about the realism of the setting and the lack of alternative healthcare options. Despite this inconsistency, the series succeeds in keeping viewers engrossed with its suspenseful twists and character dynamics. The revelation of the killer being someone trusted adds an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. While the scarcity of medical facilities may strain credibility, "Mouse" remains a captivating watch for those enthralled by mystery and psychological thrillers.

Read More

Too Dark.

Coming from watching The Legend of Shen Li, This drama wasn't the best one to follow. Season 1 is just a constant game of tag between love triangles or squares I'm not even sure. But the relationships are too dark and disturbing to watch especially how beautiful Shen Li's story is. This one just takes too long to resolve issues. Too few action scenes. Too much focus on unnecessary love angles and the story takes a back seat. The most disturbing part is the characters the main FL "falls" for are either a sorry pathetic clingy rich boy or a psychopath who treats her like a slave in a plantation. Like falling in love with a crybaby or your sadistic torturer who whips your skin off or breaks your legs or tries to drown you every time you go on a date. I mean if that's your type of Romantic drama, this one is for you.

Read More

Ninguna adaptación me recuerda al anime

Vi el anime hace mucho tiempo y, cuando salió la adaptación tailandesa decidí verla, porque guardaba buenos recuerdos. Ese drama se convirtió directamente en el BL peor valorado de mi lista hasta el día de hoy, con esta película. No sé quién tuvo la idea de convertir una obra larga en una película de 80 minutos, pero sus esfuerzos de resumen no dieron con la tecla adecuada. Todo se siente apresurado y falto de verdaderos sentimientos. Otra oportunidad perdida de ofrecer un producto mínimamente aceptable. Y con ello no quiero decir que el material original fuese sublime… pero había más donde rascar.

Read More

"Blossom in Adversity" isn't just a title; it's a promise of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity. As the men of the Hua family face exile, the burden of survival falls upon the women and young boys left behind. At the heart of the tale is Hua Zhi, with her skills, courage, and bravery she steps up and brings the family out from the countryside back to the city life with her business propositions and tricks that wow the city. She makes enough money to get her family out of starvation and they bond over time learning to lean and love each other.

What I love about this series:
What sets this series apart is its authentic portrayal of human interaction. The chemistry between the leads feels refreshingly natural. Rather than being a constant savior, the male lead subtly supports Hua Zhi. Moments like their journey from the jailhouse back to the countryside lingers in my thoughts after it ends. I also loved every conversation they had. He told her enough not to reveal his identity but he never lied to her. And with FL, her intelligence and kindness she extends to strangers not only touched ML heart, it also touched mine.

The OST is also another favorite, I truly think they make or break the drama. I love Curly’s voice and was super excited to see her sing the opening. But the song that won my heart is Night and Day by Baby.j and Liu ZhiJia. I have to say Baby.j has been singing a lot of OST I love so I look forward to them each time. This particular song when it played each time it was usually when they were overcoming a situation, brave and strong. Just like the lyric “I don’t admit defeat or quit; I just run towards the first light” it just tears me up!

While the spotlight shines on the main characters, all the side characters shine just as brightly. I grew to love each one of them even though I couldn’t stand some of them to begin with. Personally love Shao Yao nuanced portrayal of autism and how her character grows as she later becomes a part of the Hua family. Chen Qing and Fu Dong mini love line is also another favorite! I’m rooting for them and hoping to see to grow.

What I didn’t like:
I’m going to get hate for this, but personally I've seen some of the actors and actresses in other series and I had a hard time watching some of them in here because there was something different about them. And because of that, I felt some of their facial gesture just looked a bit stiff, so knocking off a star because I couldn’t thoroughly enjoy it.

Anticipating:
As the series hurtles towards its conclusion, anticipation hangs heavy in the air, especially for me. I truly hope the ending is not a disappointment.

In the meantime, the allure of the series proves irresistible, beckoning a rewatch as the countdown to the finale begins.

Read More