Reviews

Monster Next Door IS that show…

To be young and scared to show your true self to the world… to want solitude, yet secretly wish for someone who’ll accept you even when you can’t accept yourself. To feel the fire of creativity burning, which makes you desperate to make art and find a space where you belong, but then be held back by a lack of courage to take that big leap. To hate change and wish everything could stay the same forever. To lie, not just to protect the person you love, but to protect yourself from repeating past regrets. And lasstly, to gather the strength to face your truth and change the world, one story at a time.

What makes this show precious is how it handles those raw, real emotions. Like it doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of growing up, and experiencing relatable issues in friendships, love or family. The main couple, Diew and God, have one of the healthiest, most genuine dynamics I’ve seen. They are totally committed to each other in that they communicate openly, accept each other. The whole picture of “green flag” relationship. But the show don’t just stop there and dares to show us another side of young love.

The truth is God and Diew are both new to love, they are still learning about each other as they go, and the beauty of it lies in their imperfections. Soooo many people overlook Diew’s background and past traumas: he was bullied and isolated by an ex bf who didn’t stand up for him. So, when Diew puts on a happy face for God, Pretending that nothing is bothering him, it freaking stings. Because I know what it’s like to feel like you have to hide yourself to feel normal! God, with his radiant positivity and bubbly golden retriever energy that brightens up any room he enters, has never been the “weird” one so Diew feels like he has to live up to that, not showing his true self to avoid being judged.

But that’s the real lesson for diew: learning to trust someone enough to show your flaws and still believe they’ll love you anyway.

I admittedly got frustrated with the side couple for many times. This is my perspective personally but I think both Beer and Wan at the beginning of the show have already been somewhat in love with each other. Beer shows his affections openly while Wan ignores all the signs and chooses to burry his feelings deep inside. It is until they go to meet with Tan that Wan digs out those feelings for closure, and all this is possible thanks to Beer, who must know that Wan needs this, in order to move on.

Live in the present, Beer keeps telling Wan, but that message doesn’t get across until Wan is about to lose Beer… I am so glad they show the possibility of Beer moving on from Wan, which triggers Wan to accept the truth in front of him and finally confront the truth between the two of them. I at first hated that Wan kissed Beer four times and still called their relationship a friendship but reflecting on it, it is how things go in life: messy and exciting and ugly at times but it is so damnn human.

Okay now to how the villains are written… they are with depth and not just bland 2D characters. Doctor Pee is shitty, we all know that, but people like him do exist. He is such an intriguing character. The intention of him approaching Diew is to make himself feel less guilty perhaps, or maybe he is sincerely very very sorry and regrets it. Then why did he manipulate God with those nasty words? Why did he act so authentically with Diew? What a character. Does he still holds feelings of possessiveness over Diew while at the same time wanting to right the wrongdoings of the past?

But that is not the point! True… in life people who’re supposed to be close to you hurt you. Sometimes you forgive them, sometimes you don’t. The show makes it clear that both choices are valid. It’s refreshing to see Diew’s choice, and I felt so proud of my babyy watching that, how far he has grown for standing up for himself finally.

And the mom and grandpa… i have no words to say i just cried so much ? ??during those family confrontation moments that reveal the past. Iuet prepare yourself a box of tissues and a glass of water to hydrate yourself because you WILL cry, a lot.

To me, Monster Next Door is that show of the year.

It has the best fluff and the right amount of angst. A show that makes you see the differents perspectives and asks for nothing but empathy and love. I personally connected deeply with the characters especially Diew, and his journey of growth.

Monster Next Door is not just a show about being introverted or extroverted, it goes deeper than that and always manages to leave inspiring messages for you to think about, making you think that the most mundane things can be special too. Like the book the Midnight Solitary that brought Diew to God together from the beginning, the choices you make are no coincidence, even the smallest…. can change your life if you let them!

Daamnn after finishing writing this I am missing the show and the characters haha i am planning to go back and watch the episodes later. Maybe on the days i feel tired from the burdens of the world so I can be with my friends Diew, Game, God, Wan, Beer and Biu again. Those monsters have my heart ❤️❤️❤️❤️

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An Exciting New Series with a Fresh Pairing!!

The first three episodes of Kidnap are a mixed bag of hurt/comfort foregrounding a relationship that begins with a kidnapping.

To describe the show so far, first and foremost, Kidnap is a misleading title, a more appropriate one could have been Cohabitate or Protect. The relationship between Min (Ohm Pawat) and Q (Leng Thanaphon) begins when the former kidnaps the latter with the help of his senior, James (Title Kirati). Even before the titular kidnapping, the episode stresses multiple times how much of a green flag Min is, that he would never take part in illicit activities, but is forced to because he needs to pay the medical bills of his brother Mhen (Ohm Thipakorn), as well as prevent their house from foreclosure.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/26/kidnap-series-first-impressions-ep-1-to-3/

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enjoyable

the romance aspect is pretty decent. i really like shen du. fl is quite annoying ik they want to make her independent but she can’t defend herself so he has to save her every time which ruined the whole point of making her independent and strong. the crime and mystery is very lack luster the autopsy are bland and not interesting. i hate that every case keeps relating to the fireflies sect so it’s never truly closed. the side characters are boring and her family is annoying. overall i enjoyed it but it’s definitely not that amazing or well written. the crime and mystery sucks but the romance between the main couple is cute.

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Perfectly short and sweet

I had a stupid smile glued across my face watching this show.

The beautiful visual presentation and the character's interactions and dialogue really draw you into the story. Their connection feels so genuine and sweet, it's lovely to watch. Although it's quite short, I think it's the perfect length for the story they're trying to tell and it makes it a nice little binge.

It's incredibly refreshing to watch a BL that doesn't use misunderstandings and lack of communication to try to keep the story going. It's an added bonus that they were able to create a story with little to no conflict yet still make it thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable to watch.

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This was bad...

I just wrapped up the series, and I can't believe people actually enjoyed it. Anueng behaves like a pre-teen, almost like an 11 or 12-year-old girl, which is really off-putting.

The pacing felt incredibly rushed, especially regarding Nueng's feelings for Anueng. There was no believable transition from annoyance to love. One moment, Nueng is frustrated with Anueng, and then suddenly, she gazes into her eyes as if she's in love. It all felt too quick and artificial, lacking any genuine development.

The age difference doesn't bother me since they're both adults, but as I mentioned, immature behavior is unsettling. It's hard to believe that any woman over 30 would be attracted to someone who behaves like a child. The plot twist involving Nueng's ex-friend having feelings for Nueng, and the fact that Nueng's ex slept with her friend, leading to Anueng being their daughter, felt rushed again.

The relationship between Anueng and her mother feels strained, yet suddenly, the mother seeks to connect with her daughter. Meanwhile, the guy accepts Anueng as his daughter in 1 second. He says he doesn’t need a paternity test since Anueng is so cute, implying that her charm is proof enough lol. If I were in his position, I’d pause to think. I would certainly wonder if she’s truly mine.

The pacing is so hurried that it diminishes the emotional weight of the story, leaving me unable to invest in any of the characters.

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Wonderful, heartfelt coming of age drama about a sheltered young adult

I chose to watch Overprotected Kahoko last week after finding out that this drama would be leaving Netflix on 14 October. What a compelling coming of age drama!

What I liked:
1) Kahoko's characterisation - I enjoy watching Kahoko's character growth. At the start of the series, she was a sheltered young adult who never had to make her own decisions. Thus this affected the way she expressed her feelings and emotions. When she received criticism from her peer, she pondered and challenged herself - I like this about her! Despite being sheltered, she was observant and cared so much for her family. Just like her maternal grandma says about her - Kahoko is the glue that binds the family.
2) Hajime's characterisation - He was empathetic towards Kahoko. I like that he was aware of Kahoko's inability to express her emotions and instead of making assumptions or stopping Kahoko from expressing, he gave her a safe space to voice out her emotions and listen to her concerns. What a great friend! I also like that he says what's on his mind especially during the chat with Ito.
3) Masataka's narration - The narration is actually Kahoko's father's thoughts and feelings about Kahoko and his family. It's a shame that he was not able to voice them out but they provided wonderful tidbits on his family members.
4) Supporting characters - It's great that the supporting characters have depth to them. Brilliant acting by each cast member.
5) Kahoko and Hajime's relationship - I love how their relationship evolved from stranger to friends to best friends and lovers. They had honest and raw conversations that I cried twice - when she confessed her feelings to Hajime and when they argued and broke up.

What I disliked:
1) Izumi - I don't like her parenting style and I don't understand her reasons for objecting to Kahoko's decision. She's stifling.
2) Ito - What an ungrateful brat! I can't believe her behaviour even after learning about her grandma's situation.

Favourite scene
When Kahoko confessed her feelings to Hajime. I knew how he would react but couldn't help feeling heartbroken. Great acting by the two!

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Drama should be called replay!! It drags on way to long

I do not write many reviews on Dramas. But this one is a must. I have never seen so many flashbacks in one show. The show should be called Flashback. You don't need Season one because you will watch it all with the "memories getting replayed over and over. The acting was ok but it got old really fast. Main actress loved on guy in school 7 years later they meet up while she is working for his "brother" in the family company. 1st love wants her back but she falls for the brother. Brother doesn't like her, then he falls for her. Mothers and grandmothers will make you nuts. I lost count how many times the MFL was slapped and just stood there saying nothing. From her "sister", mother, the brothers grandma. I mean she never tried to explain anything that was going on. Everyone treats her like crap and she just takes it.
The only reason I stayed was for the neighbor David who was her only friend. He really needed more parts in the story and I can't wait to see him in another drama. The whole drama could have been 1 season if they stopped all the replays. I will be watching to avoid this writer in the future.

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The Trailers Promised Much

Season 2 was watchable. However, what should have been a blockbuster continuation, failed to materialise. It took some time for show to get its game face on.

The acting was superb. The relationships well done. The production values, top notch. The direction, very good.

The story however, lacked the level of world building we experienced in S1. I guess it begs the question: How interesting is today’s world?

Some of the elements I didn’t enjoy: the use of Putty Men type characters we see in Power Rangers. Lady Maeda’s beautiful but menacing character gets lost in today’s palette. The creature was watered down. The Korean Drama ending.

When show flashed back to the past and showed us a glimpse of what happened in the handful of years post S1, it felt like the rich experience we were used too.

I’m not sure I will be back for Season 3.

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Ok series with a few flaws

Mame always writes the most cliché and toxic stories, this is no different. I went into it thinking I would not like it because I often just roll my eyes at the stories Mame creates. That said, I enjoyed the series for the most part.

The guys are cute, and I thought they did a good job acting. I think Fort and Peat saved this series. Their chemistry is great, they act like a real couple. Oh and props to the actress who played Meena as well. That girl, despite being so young, does an excellent job. I think she has a bright future in acting.

There were a couple things that let this series down in my opinion:

* The girls story seemed like mostly filler, and didn't add much value to the series. Their parts either needed to have more depth to expand and explore their relationship, or less depth so they are truly supporting characters. The dynamic here is strange, it almost feels like harassment at times.

* I question the Dad's storyline and how that played out. Without spoiling too much, I can't see how Dad was allowed to get to this point without someone calling the police or involving the authorities in some way. Beyond that, the resolution to his storyline was odd. Like they just threaten to take away the money, and he never bothers anyone again? Why not do that 10 years ago?

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Action-packed mini drama with great chemistry

This mini drama was recommended to me when I was looking for action romance. I was engrossed in the story that I could finish it in one sitting.

What I liked:
1) Acting - It's rare to get well-acted male and female leads in a mini drama. Leo Yang fits this agent-gone-rogue personal. I didn't find his visuals outstanding but there is something about his gaze and smirk that captivated me. That scene at the hospital impressed me. I also like Han Le Yao's acting. She matched the intensity of Leo's acting.
2) Romance - I like watching the relationship between A Sen and Ling Yi progressed from strangers to fake relationship to real lovers. There aren't many kisses but when they kissed, they were really into each other. I like the back hugs, the hand holding.
3) Ling Yi's characterisation - One of the best female leads in action-thriller mini dramas. Her character isn't coy nor dumb. She knew her place in each setting even though at times she did act impulsively.
4) Shooting locations - Some locations were exotic and very pretty like the riviera, desert and flat roof house.
5) Action scenes - Well choreographed and shot scenes. The fighting, gun shooting, bombing - they looked real.

What I disliked:
1) Elena - I knew she was the culprit way back when she complained about her passive role within the organisation. Her decisions baffled me and dislike her seducing A Sen.
2) Ending - Feel like there is loose end with Elena and Tai. I understand the time jump but would have liked more scenes between A Sen and Ling Yi.

Favourite scene
When Ling Yi was sulking then bickered with A Sen in episode 16. I like seeing A Sen's smirk and smile.

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Not scary and made me cry :<

Nice zombies, but the plot was lacking and the ML and a few others were REALLY irritating top watch the ENTIRE length of the movie. Expected more zombies, and as others have pointed out tehy could go from not being able to open doors to holding onto the train and creating a rope pile to climb.

Of course a good lead we were enjoying dies off (the pregnant womans husband) and the movie especially near the end keeps getting more sad so I was just crying. The ML cant even say decent things to his daughter at the end.

This was not horror, and barely scary I am suprised its hyped as one of the greatest zombie movies. Its not terrible, i wouldnt call it bad. It was a rough start to our horror movie nights we're hosting though in our discord, so watch with tissues in hand.

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I had high hopes for this series

Before I jump into this, I’m just gonna say that I really did enjoy this drama and it was an entertaining watch. There was not a single episode that felt too boring for me either.
I’m gonna start with the good things:
The actors/acting of everyone - This story’s acting felt so genuine practically the whole time. Just by the way the leads looked at each other conveyed so many emotions without them saying a word. Something about this factor made the series more compelling and realistic (I’ll talk more on realism in a sec).
The plot - The premise of the story was very good! I really liked how the characters disabilities were portrayed. Not once did it occur to me that these actors can in fact hear because the way both Kohei and Maya acted was so convincing.

Now, here’s where things kinda fell off for me:
What romance? - Come on now, the faked camera angle?! I thought Japan was progressing and yet the actors can’t kiss? I know in the manga the kiss wasn’t exactly shown, but that’s because it’s a damn manga, not a TV series lol! I’m sorry but the actors could not convince me that they were really in love with each other.. not with that awkward hug scene too ?. They looked more like close friends who cared about each other rather than lovers (just my opinion though)
Next, yes the plot was good, but I’m a bit confused. Like wasn’t Kohei’s hearing declining? Why did it suddenly stop declining? I was really interested to know what was happening to him, but everything seemed to lead up to nothing since I still don’t understand.
I wished they had given more clarity on Kohei’s situation.

Either way, it was still a decent series and I would recommend!

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