Silly BL, a waste for such great actors m(._.*)m
I watched this series because I really like Off, Gun, and Neo. I understand that the producers wanted to make something funny and lighthearted. There was potential, but it fell flat. This story is just simplistic... No, stupid.PLOT: Ten, a rich and demanding medical student, tastes a dish made by Prem, a culinary student, after a day of fasting. He is blown away and pays Prem (a lot of money) to teach him how to cook. Prem has two friends, a sister, and a grandmother. Ten has two friends and relatives. At the same time, Dynamite (Team Prem) is madly in love with Fire (Team Ten) and stalks him. Prem and his team sign up for Top Chef.
+++ Off, Gun, and Neo, and a bunch of great actors. They did their best, but can't save a so poorly-wrtiten story.
+++ The storyline is quite realistic (especially regarding the sincerity of cooking shows).
+++ Part 2 (acceptance of gay couples by families) is more interesting.
### The production aimed for a comedy, but created too many over-the-top and ridiculous characters. Furthermore, many of the comedic situations are simply stupid.
=> I regret asking such talented, established actors to perform in such a poorly written script. What a waste!
**************************************************
Silly BL, a waste for so great actors m(._.*)m
J'ai regardé cette série car j'aime bcp Off, Gun & Neo. Je comprends que les producteurs voulaient faire qqchose de drôle et léger. Il y avait du potentiel, mais c'est raté. Cette story est juste simplette ... Non, stupide.
PLOT: Ten, étudiant en médecine, riche et difficile, goûte un plat de Prem, étudiant en cuisine, après 1 journée de jeune. Il est ébloui et paie Prem (très cher) pr lui apprendre à cuisiner. Pr Prem, 2 amis, 1 soeur et 1 gd-mère. Pr Ten, 2 amis et parents. //t, Dynamite (team Prem) est fou amoureux de Fire (team Ten) et le stalke. Prem et sa team s'inscrivent à Top Chef.
+++ Off, Gun et Neo et a bunch of great actors.
+++ Storyline assez réaliste (notamment sur la sincérité des shows culinaires).
+++ 2e partie (acceptation des couples gays par les familles) plus intéressante.
### La production a voulu faire une comédie, mais elle a créé trop de personnages excessifs et ridicules. De mm, bcp de situations comiques sont surtout stupides.
=> Je regrette qu'on demande à des acteurs confirmés, de talent, de jouer un script aussi mal écrit. Quel gâchis !
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A masterpiece
This series is a raw and emotional look at teenage love, identity, and loneliness in a hyperconnected world. Following four teenagers in Bangkok, it explores messy crushes, jealousy, insecurity, and the complicated ways young people try to understand what love actually means. It doesn’t present romance in an idealized way instead, it leans into the chaos and confusion of being young, where feelings change quickly and nobody fully understands themselves yet.One of the biggest strengths of the show is how realistic it feels. The characters spend a lot of time on their phones and social media, which might feel excessive at times, but it reflects how modern teenage relationships actually work. Playlists, messages, TikTok posts, and online validation shape the way the characters interact with each other. The series captures the awkward push-and-pull of having a crush, trying to look “cool,” and wanting to be loved while still figuring out who you are.
Fou4Mod is at the center of the story, searching for romance and validation, but what makes the series interesting is that the emotional dynamics don’t revolve around just one love story. The relationships constantly shift between the four main characters, creating a messy but believable web of feelings.
Baa is easily one of the most heartbreaking characters. He has been quietly in love with Fou4Mod for years but can’t bring himself to confess. His introverted nature and fear of hurting others keep him trapped in silence, which slowly builds into emotional pain. Some of the most powerful moments come from Baa’s perspective especially when he tries to express his feelings and then pulls back at the last moment. His loneliness and internal struggle feel painfully real, making him one of the most sympathetic characters in the story.
Bua, on the other hand, represents a different kind of vulnerability. As a mixed Thai-German teenager and a TikTok creator, he constantly seeks validation through attention and popularity. At first he seems confident and carefree, but underneath that image is someone who feels deeply lonely and unsure of what love actually looks like. His dynamic with both Chian and Baa adds another layer to the story: with Chian there’s confusion and mixed signals, while with Baa there’s a quieter emotional connection between two people who are both hurting in different ways.
Visually, the series stands out a lot. The cinematography, music, and editing style give it an almost scrapbook-like or documentary feel. Filming in real locations around Bangkok especially Siam Square adds to the sense that we’re watching real teenagers navigating their lives rather than a polished fantasy. The use of natural lighting, phone footage and street scenes creates a very intimate atmosphere.
The characters themselves are messy, impulsive, and sometimes frustrating, but that’s intentional. Teenagers make bad decisions, chase the wrong people and struggle to communicate their feelings, and the show doesn’t try to hide that. Instead, it embraces the emotional chaos of first love and growing up.
Overall, this is a unique coming-of-age series that feels very different from typical BL dramas. It’s messy, emotional, and sometimes painful to watch but that honesty is exactly what makes it powerful. With strong performances, a distinctive visual style, and complex character dynamics especially through Baa and Bua’s stories the series becomes a memorable exploration of youth, loneliness, and the search for connection.
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Love Story in The 1970s is a Love Letter to us all
I was TOTALLY CAPTIVATED by this beautiful drama!!!It was in many ways remindful of Korea’s When Life Gives You Tangerines…both beautifully and sensitively made dramas a caliber above what is out there to watch. I have said it before and will say it again, it should be a requirement to watch both WLGYT and now also Love Story In The 1970s to learn the quality of dramas Asian has the capacity to create.
I loved them both!
Each touched me deeply and will stay with me a long time.
Each raised the bar for their respective countries as examples of what an exceptional drama looks like.
And each are, in my opinion, truly works of art.
I believe they are both wonderful examples of Slice-of-Life stories…When Life Gives You Tangerines is a generational slice-of-life drama…A drama that shows us a picture over a longer length of time in a family. Yet WLGYT also gives us more beautiful moments then I can mention that will have you laughing and ugly crying throughout it’s amazing story.
Love Story In The 1970s is truly a “slice"-of-life drama. It gave us stories of a single family as they navigate daily, finding their place in a world within the backdrop of the new China. Gifting us with glimpses of such poignant sweetness when they discover simple happinesses; like when Fang Muyang brought home the record player and together they listened to some Mozart tented in their “bunk bed” (I so loved watching his face when he watches her), or their special rooftop spot or sharing a tin of melted ice cream or creating their wonderful mural out of a spiteful mess on their wall. And then there were other moments we struggled alongside them with their attempts to find their own voice, or tentatively reach out for their dreams like Fei Ni’s persistent pursuit to get to university or Fang Muyang’s struggle to create and be acknowledged for his own art.
The outstanding secondary cast from LSIT7 also portrayed their characters and their stories superbly, and I often found myself as invested in their characters as I was the leads. All were multiplexed real personalities with good and bad traits just like all of us and I’d find myself alternately rooting for them, crying for them, hating them or feeling truly empathetic to their plight. All their portrayals were deep, complex and full of humanity.
Ever since watching L&P, Yesterday Once More, My Best Summer and a few other earlier works, I have followed Chen Fei Yu. I think he is a very talented actor…BUT that said, his last two dramas I watched (and so eagerly waited for) were disappointing for me. So, I was a bit afraid he'd lost his way...and was a touch trepidatious about trying Love Story In The 1970s. But I need not have been…Chen Fei Yu was magical in this drama. His Fang Muyang sweetly reminded me at times of WLGYT’s Gwan Sik…a man often misjudged as maybe "not so bright" or not the “best choice" but both, in reality, have an incredible depth of love, integrity, caring and quiet strength we should all aspire to. Fang Muyang's powerful optimism carried himself and all he loved when life knocked them down throughout this whole story. He was the soul of this family.
Sun Qian was a perfectly cast partner to Chen Fei Yu with, I thought, great chemistry between the two. She genuinely made me believe I was watching a young girl in China in the post revolution 1970s. She seemed to epitomize a simple yet driven girl who was alternately strong, gentle, naive and wise beyond her years. If Fang Muyang was the soul of this family, Ni Fei was the backbone.
In the end Love Story In The 1970s teaches us ways to deal with hardships, teaches us to keep getting up…teaches us to care for others and shows us how we each need to stand tall When Life Gives US Tangerines.
And Chen Fei Yu?.....Welcome back, it's so good to see you again on the screen, being the talented actor you really are, in a work of such quality.
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good enough if you are looking for something light hearted. if not.. just skip
This drama is a sillier version of "something in the rain".Plot: a 31 years old single lady is courted by her way younger childhood friend. Will they or won't they?
Strong points:✅
Good acting.
The portrait of "older" women (I use that term loosely) as desirable and beautiful despite a society which constantly pushes for younger and cute girls as peak beauty.
The development of the "mean girl". I really like her ark. She starts as an immature girl with a broken heart and becomes a more mature person.
Weak points❌
The ml lead. I love this actor. I recently saw him in "love and speed" where he played a sad sexy boy. The amount of sex appeal he portrait in that drama is insane🤣🤣 which creates a big contrast with his role in this drama.
His character in this drama is frankly cute at first but extremely annoying from the middle point.
This guy has no life nor personality outside of the fl. Through flashbacks we discover that everything he does, feel, or want was influenced by his childhood sister.
Even music, which is his dream, is basically the result of his "sister " telling him she liked a singer when she was a kid.
He is way to dependent on her and acts like a love puppy.
He signed a contract to come back in town and basically get together with his beloved "sister" and disregards everything this contract involves.
He has no respect for anyone else except her and constantly tries to jeopardize his own carrier.
They get together too soon. She never saw him as a potential lover but after a couple of home cooked meals and some sweet words she is all over him. If you really considered him just a brother I feel the internal struggle should have been a bit more intense.
The parentification here is real. At the beginning of each episodes we get bits of their childhood and it's clear both of their parents just left 2 children basically unattended. These should be "light hearted" scenes but it's quite appaling to watch sometimes.
At episode 27 I started fast forwarding like crazy. These 2 elast episodes are basically fillers.
Conclusions:
This could have been a realistic depiction of a couple who struggles with age gap but at the end it became pretty unrealistic. That's not a critique. It is just a light hearted ROM com good if you are looking for something light hearted without much struggle.
Recommendations:
Recommended if your a looking for a cute , fluffy love story.
If you'd like a more serious version of this trope, I recommend "something in the rain".
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Very high schooler love story
I need everyone to sit down because I have news. I actually… LIKED THIS SERIES. LIKE ACTUALLY LIKED IT. And trust me, I was just as shocked as you are right now because when I found out Sea and Keen were the pairing again in one of the MuteLuv stories… My immediate reaction was MISS GURLLLLL IM TIRED.Because I swear these two keep getting the soft fluffy, comedic projects and after a while it starts feeling like eating plain toast every day. Not bad. But also… WHERE IS THE FLAVOR??? Like okay, Only Boo! was fine because that was their first series together so I accepted the fluff. But then Head 2 Head happened and I was like …girl this is kinda boring. So when I saw they were paired again I truly expected nothing. My expectations were on the floor. Actually no. My expectations were six feet underground.
But listen… I’M SO GLAD I GAVE THIS SERIES A CHANCE. Because BOYYYYYY this was actually refreshing to watch. Like I caught myself smiling at the screen multiple times like an idiot and I had to pause and ask myself "WHY AM I BLUSHING??? 😭
Also before we start — yes this review will be short. Because babes… IT’S A 4 EPISODE MINI SERIES.
What kind of dissertation do you want from me???
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a) Plot
Fast pacing. BUT it doesn’t feel rushed. And honestly for a 4 episode series, the pacing is actually handled really well.
The introduction works.
The slow burn works.
The comedy works.
Everything flows nicely from beginning to end. The only tiny thing I wish they added was a reunion scene after the time skip. Like imagine if after four years they met again at the airport and the series ended there. HELLO??? That would’ve been such a romantic cinematic moment. But it’s not a big issue. The ending we got is still cute.
Now let’s talk about the story. The plot starts when Err starts asking an online fortune teller for advice on how to win a scholarship to study abroad. And that mysterious fortune teller is Seer TK. When TK tells Err that the key to his success is to make his rival Mawin fall in love with him… Err starts paying attention to Mawin more and more.
And guess what happens next? BABY BOY FALLS FOR REAL. Classic. Predictable. BUT CUTE. And honestly the story captures that innocent 18-year-old type of love really well.
Not dramatic.
Not toxic.
Not overly sexualized.
Just awkward, sweet teenage feelings. And I actually liked that a lot. Even the cinematography looked really nice and clean for a mini series. So yeah… Plot wise? No complaints from me.
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b) Characters
> Err played by Keen Suvijak
Okay I need to say something first. I genuinely expected Err to be the same type of character Keen always plays. You know the one: Clumsy. Competitive. Talkative. A little annoying. But surprisingly??? Err is actually different here. Yes he wants to win the scholarship, but he’s not overly jealous of Mawin’s intelligence. And I like that his decision to contact Seer TK comes from his friend Benz suggesting it. Also THANK GOD the show didn’t drag out the sexual confusion storyline.
Because if Err spent three episodes going “OMG DO I LIKE BOYS???” I would’ve lost my patience immediately 🙄 Instead he just accepts his feelings pretty quickly and moves on. WE LOVE EFFICIENCY. I also really like that Err is willing to admit when he’s wrong and actually apologizes to Mawin. Communication??? In a BL series??? WE WON TODAY.
Honestly I have zero issues with Err as a character.
> Mawin played by Sea Dechchart
First of all… THIS MAN CAN SWITCH FROM HOT TO CUTE IN 0.2 SECONDS AND IT’S CONFUSING MY BRAIN 😭 Because in Head 2 Head he was giving full hot boy energy. And here??? Suddenly he looks like an innocent 18 year old student. SIR PICK A STRUGGLE.
Anyway Mawin as a character is actually pretty interesting. He’s quiet. Reserved. Doesn’t talk much. But he never rejects Err when Err wants to partner up or study together. He just kind of goes with the flow. And honestly… I kinda like that vibe. He’s calm and unbothered most of the time. My only tiny complaint is that he’s a bit too nonchalant sometimes. Like when Err confronts him about why he didn't attend the exam… SIR SAY SOMETHING. EXPLAIN YOURSELF. DON’T JUST STAND THERE LOOKING PRETTY 😭
But overall I still liked Mawin’s character.
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c) Overall
Honestly? I loved it. Sometimes the simplest stories work the best. Watching this series reminded me how pure and innocent first love at 18 can feel. And I really appreciate that the kiss scenes were simple and soft. Not overly sexual. Just two teenage boys expressing their feelings. That’s it. And it works beautifully.
Anyway y’all already know my rule: I never rewatch series unless it’s really good.
But this one??? Hmm… I might actually rewatch it someday. That’s how much I enjoyed it.
Final rating? 10/10. 🫶
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When survival is the only thing that matters
Better Days hit me much harder than I expected. What starts as a story about school bullying slowly becomes something much heavier — a look at how lonely and brutal adolescence can be when the system around you only cares about results.Chen Nian and Xiao Bei feel incredibly real as characters. Neither of them are perfect, but that’s exactly what makes their bond so powerful. They’re just two kids trying to survive in a world that has already given up on them.
The film is quiet, intense, and emotionally exhausting in the best way. By the end I didn’t just feel sad — I felt like I had witnessed something painfully honest about growing up.
Definitely one of the most moving films I’ve watched in a long time.
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OH HONEY...
YALLLLLL 😭 Okay… let me be honest from the start. I have been staring at my screen for 10 minutes trying to figure out how to review this series because there are… issues. Multiple issues. Acting issues. Visual preference issues. Story issues. Basically… we need to sit down and unpack this properly because I have THOUGHTS.And y’all already know one thing about me - I LOVE PRETTY MEN. That’s my brand. That’s my lifestyle. That’s my spiritual calling. So imagine my confusion when I found out Smart was the lead. I kept asking myself: WHY? No seriously. WHY??? Because on the other side we have Boom who is not only a GOOD ACTOR but also GORGEOUS. LIKE HELLO???? Why am I shipping him harder with Peanut than with Smart himself??? The math is NOT mathing.
Anyway… I actually have quite a few problems with this series so let’s unpack this mess one step at a time.
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a) Plot
Welp… it’s okay. Like… okay okay. The first 6 episodes were actually interesting. I was seated. I was invested. But after that??? It slowly became boring. Too many conflicts. Too much screen time for the main couple. And I’m sitting there like "HELLO??? WHERE ARE THE SIDE CHARACTERS???" Where’s the villain POV? Where’s Jin’s backstory? Does this man have trauma or not??? Because the show acts like he just spawned into existence with no emotional damage and I’m like "UM NO THANK YOU GIVE ME ANGST."
Also why did they spend 11 episodes focusing almost entirely on the main couple while the side stories were barely crumbs??? Actually no. Not crumbs. DUST. I was rooting so hard for Johnny × Naru but we got basically nothing. AND WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN JADE AND LIT??? Like excuse me???
You introduced that dynamic and then just… LEFT IT THERE??? I feel like the show had the potential to explore so many side stories but instead we kept looping back to the main couple over and over again.
And honestly… I wish they made Jin play hard to get after the breakup with Akin.
Give us tension.
Give us pride.
Give us longing.
Give us sexual tension that makes people pause the episode. But no. We were robbed.
Plot wise: not terrible, not amazing. Just… meh.
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b) Characters
> Jin played by Smart Chisanupong
I’m sorry but I need to say this. During the first two episodes I kept pausing the show because BOY CLOSE YOUR MOUTH. WHY ARE YOU CONSTANTLY GAPING LIKE A CONFUSED TODDLER??? 😭 Every scene I was like "SIR PLEASE SHUT YOUR MOUTH I AM BEGGING." And the eyes??? Empty. I genuinely couldn’t tell what emotion he was feeling.
Angry?
Sad?
Conflicted?
Baby I have NO IDEA. Also can someone PLEASE cut that baby bowl haircut??? This hairstyle has been annoying me since episode one and somehow it never changes even after he becomes an actor in the story. HELLO??? CHARACTER GROWTH??? HAIR GROWTH??? ANYTHING??? And the acting difference between Smart and Boom is so obvious that it sometimes feels like they’re in two completely different shows.
Character-wise, Jin is basically the golden retriever boyfriend trope.
Very soft.
Very emotional.
Very easy to sway.
Which is fine… BUT WHY DOES THIS MAN HAVE ZERO PRIDE??? At least pretend to play hard to get for five minutes 😭 But the funniest thing is that when it comes to sex suddenly this golden retriever becomes a dog in heat. The transformation is honestly impressive.
> Akin played by Boom Raveewit
OOF. This man is dangerously gorgeous. Like actually illegal levels of handsome. And I swear he reminds me so much of Peat Wasuthorn.
The sass.
The pride.
The dramatic energy.
It’s giving Peat vibes and honestly… I’m not mad about it. Acting-wise Boom absolutely carries himself with confidence and maturity. Every time he’s on screen I completely forget about Smart’s awkwardness because Boom’s performance is just that strong.
Character-wise Akin is stubborn, prideful, and always trying to maintain his image as an untouchable actor. Which honestly works really well for the story. But I wish we got more emotional scenes when Akin finally explains why he broke up with Jin. Imagine if he cried more. Imagine the emotional breakdown. The ANGST POTENTIAL was right there. And they didn’t fully use it.
I’m upset.
> Jade played by Toey Pongsakorn
No acting complaints here. If we’re being honest the only acting issue in this series is Smart. Anyway Jade is the perfect example of a good friend.
Always supporting Akin.
Always cleaning up his mess.
Always protecting his career.
A real professional king. BUT WHY DIDN’T WE GET A SIDE PAIRING FOR HIM??? WHY WOULD YOU CREATE A GOOD CHARACTER AND NOT GIVE HIM ROMANCE??? CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
> Johnny played by Peanut Peeranat
UM HELLOOOOO????? DID I JUST FIND A NEW BIAS??? YES I DID 👅 First of all I realized I’ve been following him on Instagram for a while and GOOD LORD THIS MAN IS FINE. Like dangerously fine. 🫦 Also can we talk about how he lowkey resembles Boss Chaikamon??? Because I swear I see it. That little mole near his mouth??? GOOD GOD. That mole alone deserves its own fan club.
Considering this is his first supporting role, he actually did a really good job. But his character had so much unused potential. He could’ve been the middleman between Jin and Akin. He could’ve created drama. Tension. Conflict. But instead the writers just let him stand there like🧍
I AM SO FRUSTRATED. THIS MAN DESERVED MORE SCREEN TIME.
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c) Steamy scenes
OH HONEY. Yes that pun was intentional. 😏 There are actually several steamy scenes in the show but let’s be honest… The only one people truly remember is THE HONEY SCENE. And honestly??? Yeah. That one was SPICY AS HELL🌶️ But the other scenes were a bit… vanilla.
Still good.
But vanilla.
_____________________________________________
d) OST
Who…?
_____________________________________________
e) Overall
This series became high-rated for many people mainly because of that honey scene. Let’s just be honest about it. But for me? It’s an okay series. Not the best. Not the worst. Just okay.
And y’all already know my rule: I never rewatch series unless it’s REALLY good. And this one??? Miss girl… once is enough thank you very much. 😭🙏
Final rating: 5/10
+1 bonus point because Peanut is hot as hell 🫦
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One Piece Season 2: Into the Grand Line
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Even better than S1!
I already loved season 1 but this season absolutely blows it out of the water — the world-building gets so much deeper and we're introduced to new characters that are such great protagonists and antagonists. You can feel the showing leaning so much more into the wackiness with the set design, costume design, and character designs, which adds so much more to how big and real the world seems.As someone who's already caught up on the manga/anime, it's so interesting to see the foreshadowing they've been able to include. It's so satisfying to see the show take its time setting up stories and plotlines that aren't going to happen until seasons later, and they're able to be fun easter eggs for existing fans and add intrigue for new fans.
I also just have to give flowers to the casting department and the actors they decided on — I think every single character, even those with only a few minutes of screentime, were chosen perfectly, and I love seeing how into it the actors are. Mr. 9 and Mr. 3 were the standouts for me this season, but I genuinely loved every single portrayal.
Can't wait for S3!
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The Definition of a Comfort Drama
I completely fell in love with this drama from the very first episode. From the start, it already had this warm and comforting feeling that made me want to keep watching.I truly love everything about it... the story, the actors, the characters, and the OSTs. Everything just works so beautifully together. The chemistry between the main leads is amazing and feels very natural. Their interactions are soft, sweet, and full of sincerity, which made their relationship even more enjoyable to watch.
One of the things I appreciated the most is the camaraderie, friendship, and relationships between the characters. It’s so refreshing to watch a drama where the characters genuinely support and care for each other. The friendships feel real and heartwarming.
What also makes this drama special is how simple and wholesome the story is. There’s no unnecessary drama or overly complicated conflicts. It’s mostly fluff, but in the best possible way. It’s the kind of drama that makes you feel relaxed, happy, and comforted while watching.
I’m really glad I got to experience the love story between Sheng Sheng Man and Qiang Qing Ci. Watching their relationship grow was such a sweet and memorable journey.
This drama felt like a warm hug. What a beautiful ride. ❤️
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I Promise I Will Come Back: Something Happen
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Meh
I didn't expect much after the series and that was a good thing. This was just like the series not great. There wasn't much of a story.The visuals and the music were ok.
The acting wasn't great, the chemistry was good and it has en good shower/intimate scene.
I will not watch this again, one time was eough.
You can watch it, but don't expect too much.
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this, not for the faint of heart
well this was majorly f*cked up, from the start Yu-Ho was suspect, there was something about him that made u raise your eyebrows, as his attitude & behavior didn't fit the situation he & Jeong-Su found themselves in.it makes me wonder WTF, why would anyone do that. but given Yu-Ho's wondering questions (in ep 2), am guessing that when he asked "...if "they" were gonna sell the footage overseas...", wondering "if they will be famous..." makes me think he & the masked guy work together & this is how they make money - i.e sex tapes & their genre is kidnapped men forced into "performing".
the main question; why he targeted Jeong-Su? or is that part of their MO, targeting unsuspecting guys Yu-Ho knows or is attracted too, drugging them & basically raping, humiliating & abusing them. & as they r drugged multiple times during the "session" it's easier to make them believe, it was all a dream. guess their own psychic will do that, just to help them deal with what they were put through.
either way, whomever thought this up is diabolic & evil(!) cause leave what was done to Jeong-Su physically (which isn't anything to trivialize) but f*cking with him mentally. where even if he thinks it's a messed-up dream, the brain doesn't forget & subconsciously he is carrying this trauma around... who knows how it will pop-up & what type of PTSD reaction will occur, the saddest part - he wont know how to deal with whatever, as he doesn't remember. so how can he come to term's with /accept/ forgive what he doesn't remember?!? plain wicked -
this wasn't a fun watch (even though Yu-Ho cracked me up cause of his weird ass behavior or rather Jeong-Su astonishment at his behavior, laughed out loud in ep 2) but the last ep broke me. the actor playing Jeong-Su pulled u into his break-down & how he slowly lost it. hard to sit & just watch detached from what was happening to him on screen, even the fact u knew it was just acting didn't lessen how bad it made u feel - very uncomfortable, yet phenomenal acting.
still, i don't know how to rate this cause i feel like giving this a high rating is being an accomplice in what was done to Jeong-Su - weird i know. but it is what it is
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A Snooze Fest
I went in expecting hot-and-sweet chemistry with a low stakes plot like Shanai Marriage Honey, maybe cute fluff like Marimi! or even something calm but interesting like Hold My Hand at Twilight. This drama was nothing like any of them, and there was nothing to redeem it whatsoever. The couple had meh chemistry and the plot was the most predictably boring thing ever Nothing and no one could save this show, and nobody even tried.The Japanese trend where the SML forces himself on the unassuming FL and getting no consequences whatsoever is something that just never dies no matter what. Might as well skip and watch something better.
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"Silent Life, Hidden Depths"
Shen is truly the life of this drama. Her character development, the hidden layers of her past, and her secret life were all incredibly well-done. However, the show struggles with its pacing. In the middle, many scenes felt dull and repetitive, to the point where I actually lost interest in finding out who her killer was.The story could have benefited from heavy trimming. Specifically, many of the scenes involving Li Dada felt unnecessary and didn't add much to Shen’s core story. While we eventually learn who might be involved in her death, the plot twists moved in circles too many times, making it easy to lose interest.
Despite the predictable story and "clumsy" twists that stretched the plot out longer than needed, the acting was excellent across the board. I also really appreciated the cinematography—it was gritty and atmospheric, matching the dark tone of the plot perfectly.
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Not what I expected, but in the best way possible. Kokuho is truly stunning.
I went into Kokuho thinking it might feel similar to Farewell My Concubine, but it actually turned out to be a completely different experience.While both stories revolve around traditional performance arts and the lives of performers, Kokuho has its own unique tone and emotional depth. Instead of trying to imitate that classic film, it focuses more on the dedication, discipline, and quiet struggles behind the stage. The world it portrays feels intimate and intense at the same time.
What impressed me the most was how powerful and beautifully crafted the film is. The performances, the atmosphere, and the storytelling all come together to create something truly captivating. It’s the kind of movie that pulls you into its world and makes you appreciate the artistry behind every moment on stage.
I expected something similar to Farewell My Concubine, but Kokuho surprised me in the best possible way. It’s absolutely brilliant and definitely worth watching.
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When the Past Haunts the Present”
I went into Blue Birthday with medium expectations and ended up enjoying it more than I expected. The drama managed to hook me from the beginning and kept me curious about the mystery throughout most of the story.The concept of traveling back to the past through photographs was interesting and gave the drama a unique touch. The pacing felt balanced, and the mystery element kept building as the episodes progressed. Some plot twists were predictable while others were not. Personally, I started getting suspicious around the time of Seo Jun’s sister’s accident, which made the investigation part even more engaging for me.
The main characters, Oh Ha Rin and Ji Seo Jun, were both likable and their chemistry was good. However, the romance was definitely the weakest part of the drama. Considering the emotional connection between them, the story surprisingly gives us very little romantic payoff. We basically only get one kiss, and it doesn’t even feel like a proper one, which left me a bit confused and wanting more.
As for the side characters, none of them particularly stood out to me, although Seo Jun’s sister definitely left an impression with how intense and slightly unhinged she seemed.
Emotionally, the drama leaned more toward tension and mystery rather than romance. It didn’t make me cry, but there were two moments that almost got me there. One of the most memorable scenes for me was the first time Ha Rin saw Seo Jun again after ten years and immediately ran to him. That moment really showed how much he meant to her.
The cinematography was good and fit the tone of the story well. The OST was decent but nothing particularly memorable. Overall, the atmosphere felt like a mix between a detective story, friendship, and a touch of romance.
My biggest issue with the drama is definitely the romance. With such an emotional premise and characters that clearly care about each other, there was so much potential for deeper romantic moments. I really wish the story had explored that more.
Overall, I would still recommend Blue Birthday, especially to people who enjoy mystery stories, investigations, and slowly uncovering clues. If you go into it expecting more of a detective-style drama with emotional moments rather than a strong romance, you will probably enjoy it.
It’s an intriguing and sweet story that keeps you guessing.
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