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Scammed Out of Both Mark and Junior for Myself!?
This was very wholesome by the end of it. It was very messy, very questionable if I would forgive either of these scamming men even after they were on their knees begging for me back. Either way I enjoyed it! This is what I mean by some toxicity to move the plot along is alright sometimes! I really did end up loving both couples, I originally watched though because I wanted more Junior & Mark. I really like them both and if neither gonna end up with me its gonna be with each other LOL!Was this review helpful to you?
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Overall a nice series, I have questions tho ?
I think this is a 8/10 for me. I have questions tho.# So was Tim sleeping with all that woman that ended up crashing his wedding party?
# The younger cousin, why was he in the series, is he a special needs kid? Why does his mom baby him like that and even when he was staying by Pai, why the heck did Tim have to walk him to the bathroom to shower. That was just weird. He is not 5.
# Did I read it wrong in the beginning thinking that aunt is evil and up to no good.?
# What was up with Pai's hair...it looked too full at times, like a curtain or something, it looked too "big".
# Anyone else find it disrespectful that the grandpa outed Tim to his parents about being a scammer? I didnt like him much, he seems arrogant and a dickhead.
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Carried by the plot and performances
For me, what really makes this series work is the acting, especially from Arisa and Lalin. The way their emotions come through, even in quieter scenes, feels very natural. There are a lot of small expressions and pauses that say more than the dialogue itself. It makes their dynamic believable, even when the situation is complicated. I also like how neither character feels one-dimensional, which helps keep the story engaging over time.Was this review helpful to you?
The Female Doctor
First of all, I wouldn't watch short dramas. This is one of the few I've watched. I found it successful. Although it's short, it tells the story of a female doctor working in the Chinese Palace and how she rose to that position. I understood it. I found the success story good. Because it's short, it's superficial, fast-paced, and simple. It doesn't go into detail, which we can see as a shortcoming. Or, we can say that it's better because it's short and simpler to understand.It was a beautiful success story. I found the lead actress, Hong Xiao, successful. She suited the role and carried the series from beginning to end on her own. She gave a good performance. Yang Ze accompanied her well. Zhen Shi Yi was good in the role of the villain. She made me hate her. Xu Zian and Fan Lei also portrayed the villains well. I liked them. Evan Wang was also noteworthy. It's a good series for those who like success-themed dramas. It's very short. I recommend it.
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Pulled in by the story
What really keeps me watching is the main storyline around Arisa and her revenge plan. The idea of her going after the person responsible for her mother’s death, while getting involved with Lalin, adds a lot of tension to every scene. It’s not just drama for the sake of it! There’s a clear motivation behind her actions. I also like how her character feels guarded but not emotionless. The mix of revenge and complicated feelings makes it easy to stay invested in where things are going next.Was this review helpful to you?
More than just a simple story
What I appreciate most about this series is how it takes its time with the characters. Their choices feel thought-out and not rushed, which makes the story more believable. The dialogue flows naturally and doesn’t feel forced, and there’s a quiet tension in many scenes that keeps things interesting. It’s the kind of show that slowly pulls you in without needing big dramatic moments all the time, and that works really well here.Was this review helpful to you?
What Was I thinking?
9.5/10? What was I thinking? Now that I’ve finished the last episode, it’s a 10/10.I also rated the rewatch value 10/10, but personally, I don’t have the heart to rewatch it, not right now at least. All I can say is this: Hollywood should take note and stop philosophizing about the ‘modern audience.’ Write like a human, act like a human, and your audience will accept you as one. That’s how you tell a great love story. ❤
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A Massive Waste of Potential
TWELVE is the textbook definition of a wasted opportunity. Despite having a stellar cast that promised top-tier performances, the execution is incredibly frustrating.1. Empty Script and Repetitive Pacing
The biggest issue is the narrative imbalance. Too much time is wasted on repetitive racing and chase scenes that add nothing to the plot. Meanwhile, actual character and story development are non-existent. The dialogues feel out of place and disconnected, prioritizing mindless action over the meaningful context we actually wanted to see.
2. Cheap "Cosplay" Aesthetics
It’s unforgivable that, given Korea’s rich history and stunning traditional attire, they opted for an aesthetic that looks like cheap cosplay. The wigs are unintentionally hilarious and strip away any seriousness the drama tries to project. Instead of immersing us in a fantasy world, the artificial look constantly breaks the immersion.
3. Visual Effects: A Disaster
Maybe my expectations for something epic were too high given the theme, but the special effects are simply horrific. Instead of breathtaking scenes, we get a visual mess that doesn't meet the standards of modern productions.
Conclusion
Too much fighting, not enough substance. Despite having a great cast, TWELVE falls completely flat. It’s a shame to see such talent trapped in a production that chose endless, contextless battles over solid world-building and visual respectability. A total disappointment.
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A hidden gem! Why not?
In an era of countless quick rom-coms, In Your Radiant Season stands out like a lone ray of light – a hidden gem that rekindled my passion for watching dramas. It's been quite a while since I've found a drama that's so concise, impactful, and emotionally resonant. Everything is perfect, both the lead actress and lead actor deliver incredibly emotional performances. While watching, I could feel the emotional shifts in the characters' lives – this surprised me because I never thought I'd cry looking into someone's eyes like Ha Ran's. Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop truly complement each other and have amazing chemistry. I hope to see this couple in other dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
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Love this
This series grabbed all my heart strings and tugged tugged tugged. It had me crying in some spots and kicking my feet and others.I enjoyed all the stores, but I wish the first one was at least one episode longer.
I thought it was very creative how they were actors playing in a role for the other movies and how it brought everything together with Pun and Inn as a couple.
Definitely going in as one of my favorites ♥️
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Breathing Life Into History and Watching It Bloom
Hongsawadi: The Last Duel offers a new take on a famous period in Thai history that culminated in the last duel on elephants by two monarchs and the independence of Ayutthaya.The plot weaves together historical figures and events from the wars between Burma and Siam back in the 16th century when city-states vied for power, but re-imagines it by presenting the Burmese Crown Prince Mingyi Swa and Prince Nares of Phitsanulock as having grown up together, being childhood friends and sworn brothers. Both princes are polar opposites in terms of character but their devotion and loyalty to one another creates a tension and force that tries to push against the hand of Fate. Their stories are parallels of one another, with markedly different outcomes.
By adding a human element to the characters, the drama succeeds in presenting every historical character as multi-layered and relatable, driven by their own goals and desires in life. The Burmese side is not made up of cartoonish villains here, rather it is presented as a clash of cultures and ideals where everyone desires something but at a cost they may not be willing to pay.
The plot and script are well-crafted: the foreshadowing begins from the first episode and keeps increasing the tension like a bow pulled to its full length only to loosen with devastating effect by the final episode. The dialogue in particular is full of concise, yet powerful lines that punctuate the fog of human behaviour and strike right at the heart of the viewer with many thought-provoking arguments.
The cast is superb: the older actors are all industry veterans and household names in Thailand. The younger actors are also perfectly suited to their roles. The two leads, Tre and Naphat, give what is perhaps the best performance of their career yet as Naris and Mingyi Swa; it is their skill in acting, both facial expressions and body language, that draws viewers to this drama. Without these two, the drama would have no “heart”.
Production values are very high by TV standards: cinematography and OST are at the level of a high-budget movie. Post-production in terms of video and sound editing is nearly flawless. Costume design is sumptuous and detailed, with fabrics sourced from India and jewellery and accessories hand-made to match each character. Make-up and styling is on point; the actors look their best here.
I would prefer not to but let’s address the elephant in the room (pun intended): this drama was suddenly plagued by plagiarism accusations just when it was about to air its last two episodes. Motives and suspicious timing aside, as someone who has watched the TV drama and read and owns the comic book, I can say the two are very different and share only the historical period and character names, though even that is debatable.
In brief: this is a highly recommended drama with an excellent narrative and acting and requires no prior knowledge of Thai-Burmese history to enjoy. I will be re-watching it many times in the future, to enjoy Naris and Mingyi Swa’s bond and the promise of what might have been. I can’t help but feel that the drama’s central themes and message of peace, diplomacy, and cultural tolerance are more relevant than ever in today’s world.
PS: I might sound very calm in this review but I was cheering madly and crying desperately while watching Phra Naris and his Maha Uparaja! XD
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Infomercial for China's Photovoltaic Panel Industry Mixed w/ a Boring Romance
I'm perplexed thinking what did I just watch? It felt like a giant infomercial with so much tedious dialogue about photovoltaic panels, then layered in with a romance storyline that had zero foundation. I finished the series with lots of skipping and contemplation of dropping during each episode.The Good (not much):
- Scenery is beautiful, especially the snowing scenes
- The parents, besides the FL's dad, the other parents and grandparents of the ML and FL were not controlling or toxic
The Bad (Oh so much):
- FL (Zhao Jin Mai) - I truly don't understand why she keeps getting lead roles. She's average looking with very mediocre acting abilities. Limited facial expressions and emotional range. In all her roles where she's supposed to be youthful, charismatic and feisty - it feels very contrived (this series, Our Generation, Amidst a Snowstorm).
- ML (Song Wei Long) - first time seeing this actor. His acting was so one-dimensional, almost robotic.
- SML - the worse character ever. Mopey, self-loathing pity party the entire series with no real validity in his claim to her love or devotion.
- The love triangle made absolutely no sense at all. They dragged on the first crush heartbreak way too long for a seemingly one-side crush. They were never in a relationship to justify the forlorn heartache.
- Support characters (the college friend group) and FL's co-workers...had no backstory, just props to discuss and add substance to the FL's relationships.
- Propaganda pushing how China excels in photovoltaic panels, neuroscience, etc was excessive
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A good BL
I was just expecting a bit more better ending but except for that the entire series was very good. I'm glad I watched it cause I didn't really have any expectations I jumped in without watching the trailer or knowing the cast. And at the beginning of the series I was thinking the pair was PorTeetee lol. So you can imagine my astonishment when I realized that was not the case as the plot progressed though I definitely agree with the TeeteePor cause damn they cute as hell man. I've never written a review here but I just wanted to tell it actually is a series worth the watch.Was this review helpful to you?
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A modern day Tora-san
One year after the 50th anniversary of the first Tora-san movie this drama went on the small screen. It re-tells the story of our hero Tora-san as it would happen in present time. After 30 years on the road, Tora returns to Osaka (opposed to Tokyo in the movies), where his family runs a dango shop in an old shopping street. He meets all the characters we know from the movies: his sister Sakura, her husband Hiroshi and son Mitsuo, his uncle and aunt, the company president from next door and the priest from the nearby temple. Even the dango shop looks similar to the one from the movies.Storylines are taken from the first movie and at least 2 more: Tora-san's Dear Old Home (with Sayuri Yoshinaga as Utako) and Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset (the one about his meetings with painter Ikeuchi and geisha Botan).
The actors are doing their jobs well, the stories already had proven to be entertaining and even the location change to Osaka is fine with me. So everything seems familiar, but unfortunately it completely lacks the charm of the movies and the 5 episode prequel Shonen Torajiro. Maybe simply re-telling the known stories with a different cast is the reason why it does not work, at least for me.
Even fans of the movies don't have to be disappointed that no subtiles are available (as far as I know).
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