Reviews

Too Much Potential, Too Little Payoff...

I feel like this drama is either a hit or a miss. I can totally understand why some people love it, but unfortunately, for me, it was a miss.

I think the biggest problem is that I went into this drama with really high expectations without actually knowing what to expect. I quickly realized it was going to be a slow burn... but after 7 episodes that each lasted between one hour and one hour and a half, there was barely any progress. I actually enjoy a good slow burn, but the problem here is that the romance was pushed completely into the background. So if you're looking for a beautiful love story that slowly grows stronger, I don't think this is the right drama.

The most obvious issue with this BL is the episode length. The first few episodes completely pulled me in, and I could see so much potential. The story seemed to know where it was going. But around episode 5 (or maybe even before), everything started losing its direction. I genuinely felt like I had to sit through every episode because they were so long while barely moving the story forward. Seriously, everything became so over-the-top and unrealistic. It tried to mix comedy that wasn't really funny, thriller that wasn't thrilling, and romance that was almost nonexistent.

I'm sorry, but I was bored. The constant plot twists became so ridiculous that they made me want to scream. It's frustrating because the story had so much potential, but I feel like it got ruined by trying to stretch everything out just to make more episodes.

Honestly, what frustrated me the most was how the romance lost all its impact because it was buried under a plot that became more and more absurd. I got so tired of it that I ended up watching a cut version that focused mostly on the main couple... and, surprise, most of their scenes lasted five minutes at best.

I didn't even watch the final episode, and I honestly don't think I ever will. I truly believe that if the story had been condensed into just six episodes, this BL would have been so much better.

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4ever in my Heart !

Even today, I randomly think about KinnPorsche. The opening song still plays in my head, and every time I hear it, I get emotional. It honestly feels like my whole soul is being transported back.

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it's really hard to find another BL that made me feel the same way.

What makes this drama so special is that both the plot and the romance get exactly the attention they deserve. Every episode keeps you on edge and awakens all your senses, while at the same time watching Kinn and Porsche slowly fall in love is absolutely addictive. I still remember desperately clicking "next episode" over and over because I cared more about knowing what happened next than maintaining any kind of social life.

This review probably won't be very objective or constructive because it's been more than five years since I watched this drama. Still, I'll never stop recommending it because even after all this time, its impact hasn't faded at all.

The only thing that really bothered me was the side story between Kim (Jeff Satur) and Porchay. Honestly, besides giving me second-hand embarrassment, I don't think it added much to the main plot except creating extra problems. (⇀ˬ↼‶)

As for Vegas and Pete... I think I'll write about them in my future book. They are probably one of the most toxic couples I've ever watched, yet they're also the couple that made me cry the most. I've never been on such an emotional roller coaster because of two characters.

So thank you, KinnPorsche, for still being able to make me feel this wave of excitement every time I remember certain scenes. Even years later, this drama still has a special place in my heart. ♡✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚

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A really good quick watch for when you’re bored

8 episode kdramas truly never miss! I expected a lot from Nam Joohyuk and he always delivers with his amazing acting skills and honestly he always chooses the best shows to star in.

This was so entertaining from start to finish, if you have an entire free day- you could definitely finish this in one sitting. That is if you enjoy supernatural/joseon era kdramas. This type of genre reminded me a lot of Alchemy of Souls, although I never finished that show, this one was a bit more better (in my opinion) it wasn’t focused on romance at all and only the plotline- they gave us two main characters who have an incredible chemistry together, it made me wish it would have romance! But I digress because not adding romance was truly the right call and it made them have a better stronger bond with one another.
The cute little monster that follows Gucheon around is an added bonus.

Amazing acting, and a really interesting plot that had me hooked. The ending made it seem like there will be another season, which I truly hope happens. I will be tuning into season 2 should there be one!

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Slip episodes and save yourself the headache

This show reminded me of Avengers: Infinity War, so many heroes and characters that it became hard to keep the story together. The only thing that held it together was the ultimate villain. Unlike Infinity War, which told its story in one movie, Burning Flames stretched everything across 40 episodes with endless 15-minute conversations, the usual Chinese drama blood-spitting scenes, and the classic “win the battle but lose the one you love” ending. In the end, this is really a love stories of the hero and the villain. Add the cartoon-like CGI, and the whole show often felt like a live-action cartoon.

I skipped many conversations and even a few episodes just to get to the ending, yet I still understood the whole story. That tells you how much unnecessary filler there was. Long dramas like this often feel like Swiss cheese—full of holes that are filled with scenes that add very little.

I’m a big fan of Allen Ren and have watched several of his dramas. I know he can act, but a weak script gave him very little to work with. The rest of the cast often felt like they were overacting, which I think was more the fault of the direction than the actors themselves.

The repeated flashbacks, always with the same emotional music, became tiring. Once or twice is enough. I didn’t need to watch the same sad scenes over and over again. Instead of adding emotion, the loud music just became irritating.

Some people will probably disagree with me, and that’s fine. But I don’t think mediocre should ever become the standard.

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Cute boys, with no plot

This was sadly one of the series that will go in the "I will never remember it" pile. There was no plot. The only real redeeming factor was that the actors were cute and the acting was okay.

When I started the series, I was undecided about watching the sequel, but by the time I finished it and they left us on a "cliffhanger," I had just lost all interest. I'm sorry, but the situation wasn't interesting enough to continue. Especially since the problem shouldn't even cause that much of a fuss; they could have most likely solved whatever is going to happen by just adding another episode to this season.

If you're interested in watching this series, I would still give it a try because it has a very short run time & is easy to watch, and honestly, it's far from the worst thing I've seen.

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Bouquets or brickbats?

This series surprised me and not always in a good way. I am conflicted. The first half tested my patience. Just when I was about to give up, the show turned the corner and I am gobsmacked!

To be fair, this drama has good bones. Our leads have strong visuals and they extrude charisma. Their chemistry is next level. It ebbs and flows like a force of nature.

By setting the drama in the Pearl Delta and turning the clock back 20+ years gives the show a unique vibe. It is also a brave decision to focus on the underbelly of society. There is an authentic grittiness that many contemporary romance drama lack. This gives the narrative a sharper edge. This also creates a lot of head wind for our OTP.

This is not helped by the series spending 10 eps going back to the 1990's. Every key events of our leads are marked. To be fair, these events shaped them and reinforced the found family trope. I do wonder if we need to devote so much screen time to them.

When the OTP reunite 6 years later, they have technically moved on. However, their emotional cores are frozen at the moment they parted ways. They never stop pining for each other.

How cruel is our dear writer. She spared no efforts on their monster sized push-pull. There is so much angst, guilt and longing. It pains me to watch our leads dance around each other. They can't help being drawn to each other, yet they are like the same pole on two magnets.

This is not helped by the FL's constant teasing and barbed remarks. The ML's stoicism only adds fuel to that fire.

BTW, did I mention the ML is the biggest Noble Idiot in town? He thinks by hiding his true feelings, he is keeping her safe from his enemies.

His life was turned upside down while they were apart. That memory is too painful to share. It makes him guarded and sullen. His over protectiveness irritates her. She wants him to treat her as a woman, the object of his desires.

It took several more eps before we finally see some minor progress. Baby steps . . (groan) . . baby steps. They finally arrived at an understanding. That will do for now. The pressure continues to build, like a super typhoon.

Let's take a step back at this juncture. I can't tell you how "weird" I felt about this series. They had me by the end of EP.1. I almost quit out of frustration by mid run. Then I binged the last half like my life depends on it. Should I give the writer bouquets or brickbats? The answer is complicated.

Where most dramas are happy for the OTP to motor along until the inevitable confession. Our dear writer dug several deep holes in their psyche/history and dropped them headfirst into them. Yes, it is schadenfreude, but it also allows our actors to tap into strong emotions and test their mettle. It can be both exhausting and exhilarating.

Many scenes are emotionally charged. It is draining to watch at times. Nothing is ever black or white. Your senses will be assaulted. Your moral fibre stretched. There are many triggers . . so many.

Just when you think they are on the verge of a leap forward, they would walk back from it. I won't lie. It is frustrating. The reward is rich, if you can hold out.

This brings me to the nitty gritty of the show. As I mentioned before, the production is solid. I loved the little details, local customs, period eccentricities, etc. So much of that is missing in modern c-drama where generic offices and urban sprawl fills the screen. Bring on the location B-reels! You get desensitised until those details hit you in the face and then you realise what is missing.

Usually, the support cast will get a passing remark in the last paragraph, but this lot is a class above. They felt real. They have personalities and are given some space to grow. Special thanks go to Uncle Zhou for watching over our young leads and his unwavering support. Respect! I feel your pain, sir.

As I mentioned before, the ugly underbelly is ever present. Organised crime and shady business cast long shadows. Something wicked this way comes.

Ok, this is one show I refuse to spoil the last few eps. I need someone to scream next to me on this rollercoaster ride. It might as well be you. You can thank me later. 😉

In the end, I am shook. This show is Jekyll and Hyde for me. For every scene that troubled me, there is a one that made me swoon. I finally settled on a score of 8.5. I need my therapy teddy, stat!

Final warning. There are plenty of triggers and pain points. This drama can be frustrating at times. The reward is worth the journey . . at least for me. Peace.

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A gem among the mini-dramas

Honestly, don't let the bad subs stop you. This is REALLY good, although the synopsis seems nothing extraordinary.
A woman whose husband leaves her in an inheritance war after his death, especially when a mistress shows up, saying she's pregnant... She must also face her mother in law's schemes to get the shares in their and her husband's cousin...
Not to mention another mysterious character...

In appearance, this is a very cliche story,nothing original with . But when you watch it, you realize that the process is doing is more complex than you expect : the show tends to play with the usual cliches/tropes to counter these.
For example, the greatest rival of the female lead is not a female but a male (I won't say too much to avoid spoilers).

The show has a lot of assets :
- first of all, my favorite : the relationship between the lead couple. OMG, a lead couple in a short drama with a healthy relationship, that feels like such a breath of fresh air ! OMG even better, the male lead is just a GEM ! The guy is nice, entirely devoted to the female lead, whether it is during her marriage or after her husband died, but never steps out of his boundaries : he doesn't try to hit on her, whether it's when she's married or when her husband just died. The guy is determined to be a pillar of support for her who has to fight this power struggle, having no time to mourn her husband, or to cry over the discovery of his unfaithfulness. Together, they remain united through the whole drama, forming a real team. Their love also feels natural and not forced upon. I also feel like we have to thank the actor, Wang Xing Wei, for being able to play all of the character's different sides : his professional side, his devotion to the female lead, his bond with her...
- the female lead. Man, it's rare to see a smart, classy, badass female lead and again, I think we have a lot of thanks to the actress, Zhao Jia, who was definitely PERFECT as this strong, awesome businesswoman who had play the ice queen when facing her opponents but who also had her times of weakness when she was alone.
-all of the actors did a great job and thank God, no dubbing. Moreover, all of the character are multi-dimensional : even if it's for a short while, they all show a moment of weakness, even the antagonists (the dead husband may be the only whose part is quite one-dimensional but come on, we can let that pass)
-also, I love the mix of mystery which is intelligently set up. It's not obvious from the beginning who did what, and we can't help but want to know more. Everyone, even our female lead, has their own secrets (except the male lead, but again, we can let that pass, as it could have burdened the plot). The plot never stops moving on, doesn't waste time and also doesn't bother with useless tropes
- I also especially like the sober setting : no stupid dubbing, no excessive stageplay, dramatization or acting. Although there are some tropes that may seem a bit stereotypical but it's played with, so it's not ridiculous or unrealistic.

Anyway, I think this should receive more attention as this is really a gem among all of these angsty, ridiculous, cliche short dramas

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me gusto, pero..

Me molesto que cambiaran a la actriz que hacia de rival de nika, la reina de los monos, pero fue divertido como hacían chistes sobre "esta quien es?" ajjaja, Es que esa actriz era tan linda. como lo opuesto a nika, en cambio la otra hasta se parece en el fleco y tono de cabello. pero en si me gusto mucho la serie y las dos temporada, definitivamente la volvería a ver. Ahora tengo un ship con la mejor amiga de nika y masamune ajajja, los actores la química es bonita, porque se siente la timidez del protagonista (casi no recuerdo los nombres pq me la vi de largo) La hermana y la mamá de nika también me gustan mucho son muy divertidas cuando se trata de descuentos las tres.

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They should've been their own movies

Before anything else, I just want to say I watched this with no subtitles. So, I really had to go off of context clues and the little bit of Thai I know. I just really wanted to watch it since Nani was in it. Anyway, since this is broken up into three stories, I'll also breakup my thoughts for each story.

Story one:
This one was my favorite out of the three. I thought the story was the most interesting. It was a pretty standard story of homophobia but also added that the gay character was also disabled and overweight. I do think the two were cute friends, but they really didn't respect each other at all. Gent was embarrassed to be friends with Gent and wanted to keep it a secret and Nana posted about him anyway. I'm not condoning how Gent treated him at all, I just wanted to point out that Nana wasn't perfect either. I think this story could've been better if it also showed Gent's perspective and not just Nana's so we could see how both of them were truly thinking. It was a good concept, but it could've used some tweaking a bit.

Story two:
This one was really boring to me and pretty forgettable. I think it was because it needed to be longer and more fleshed out but instead was the shortest out of the three. I loved the concept of this one a lot, but it was so rushed. It would've been nice to see more of it all. I like that he returned home accepting and even with a boyfriend at the end, but because it was so short it just felt like we didn't really get to see him struggle with it all and then come to terms with it.

Story three:
This one I think was the longest out of the three. Tae was such an unlikeable character. I feel bad that he has to prostitute himself out, but he was such a jerk. He was awful to everyone. I didn't like Nont either since he was sleeping with high schoolers, but somehow, he was still more likeable than Tae. This story was entertaining, but you really will hate everyone in it.

Overall, I did enjoy this movie especially for not knowing what exactly is being said half the time. I think even without subtitles though, it was pretty easy to understand and follow along to. I think all three stories could've just been better as a movie of their own instead of all crammed into one.

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Cute, Modern, and Easy to Watch

I loved how scheming and manipulative Wanwan ( FL) was. Even after falling in love, she couldn't let go of her desire for revenge. She was incredibly determined, independent, and strong-willed. At times she almost felt like the villain, and I loved that vibe 😏

Despite all the hidden agendas and everything that kept pulling them apart, their relationship was beautiful to watch. I loved their dynamic as a couple. It felt very modern and mature.

I also loved how the mother was written. She was deeply flawed, but never a one-dimensional villain.

Great OST (I actually saved a few songs on my playlist).

If you liked *The First Frost*, you'll probably enjoy this one too. It has a similar vibe, but with a more outgoing female lead and a more youthful feel.

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Wonderfully Witty

Wit + Want = If there is a will there is a way!

All Done - I definitely felt like I went on this journey with them. This was great story-telling.

I really enjoyed this because our FL was not portrayed as overpowering and overly smart. She was cute, quiet, considerate, and most importantly strategic. She was fighting(mentally) against a bull with brains and she did not back down and that bull allowed her to fight. Leaving room for something more powerful (😍) to be explored.

Our 2 main leads journeyed this out well. Family, Feud, Politics - are what kept them a part then eventually brought them together.
_____
FL - Her most beautiful aspect was her character, - wise, humble, she knew when to speak, when to stay silent, she viewed the whole picture before making judgments. She was truly a graceful presence in this series.

ML - Loyal, honorable, dedicated, stubborn with reason at the same time - open minded and willing to change. The actor for ML - did an amazing job. He delivered the very different aspects of this character very well.

Side characters - were not overplayed, they contributed greatly to the story
This series gave us a few new things to see - the creativity was great. From sudden deaths and alluring intimacy - they delivered.

I loved this. I definitely recommend it.
Those who read the novel may feel different - but as a drama just being a drama - I thoroughly enjoyed almost everything about it.

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