Reviews

Teen Masterpiece

I started watching with very low expectations because I had just finished a lot of heavier dramas and wanted something silly and coming-of-age.

What I didn't expect was a character study disguised as a cheesy teen romantic dramedy.

For me, this was also the first love triangle that made sense psychologically, not simply because of fate, pheromones, plot armor, or "the script says so."

First there were three friends. Then there were two estranged people. Then somehow they became three again. The triangle felt deeply tied to grief, guilt, abandonment, friendship, and reconciliation.

What I find interesting about Seo-jun's feelings is that I don't think they can be reduced to "first love" or "not being able to get over someone because you never confessed." I believe that, just as he initially coped with his pain by blaming Soo-ho, he also coped by holding on to this connection. This isn't meant to undermine his feelings at all. They're clearly real. We watch him grow tremendously throughout the show, especially after Soo-ho leaves. I just think both things can be true at the same time.

I understand why so many people preferred Seo-jun. He was generally less flawed and easier to love because he wasn't carrying the same amount of emotional baggage as Soo-ho. But the aspects of Seo-jun that make him so attractive to the general public are of no concern to her. Actually now that I think about it, after her heartbreak with Hyun Bin (the cafeteria worker guy from first school) I could see her at least subconsciously developing an ick to cool guys.

Soo-ho and Ju-kyung's relationship felt purer to me.

Yes, Soo-ho made questionable choices. But most of them were completely understandable for someone who had experienced that level of abandonment and who had spent years pouring himself into everything except intimate relationships. What mattered more to me was his willingness to grow.

I can understand why some viewers feel Seo-jun never got the chance he deserved. Honestly, if I were Ju-kyung I probably would have given him a chance too lol. But I'm neither Ju-kyung nor monogamous, so looking at it through the lens of the characters themselves, I found the strength of Soo-ho and Ju-kyung's connection very believable.

She was the first person to truly enter his secluded world, while he was the first person to read the book "regardless" of the cover.

Seo-jun, meanwhile, is presented as someone who is more experienced and emotionally sheltered. He has a loving mother, a bigger support network, loyal friends, and eventually a clear path toward success. I never got the feeling that Ju-kyung felt as needed in Seo-jun's world as she did in Soo-ho's.

The abandoned child and the middle child whose mother later grieved not having raised as a princess but almost as an adopted child. Their wounds reflected and complemented each other.

In less words: Soo-ho's abandonment wound mirrors Ju-kyung's need to be needed.

I also loved how the show visualizes this. Ju-kyung's house is full of people, color, texture, noise, and life. Soo-ho's house is empty, cold, flat, and sterile. Her keepsakes often need close-ups because affection is already overflowing in her environment. His keepsakes stand out immediately because there is so little emotional warmth surrounding them.

The locked music room is probably the best example. To me, it's a visual representation of Soo-ho's heart. We only really discover that room through Ju-kyung entering his life, and by opening that room, she is effectively opening him.

One thing I rarely see mentioned is how much support Ju-kyung actually had throughout the series. Sure, she was bullied, but later she also recognizes that she often kept her pain to herself instead of seeking support, opening up, or fighting back. Her mother was awful at first, but she grows and repents once she knows about the bullying. Even that dynamic is an interesting gender-role reversal, since the harsh breadwinner parent is often the father in these stories.

As someone who had to deal with the death of a parent in a foreign country with almost no family and very few friends, I deeply related to Soo-ho's actions after his father became ill. He was stuck. He was exhausted. As heartbreaking as it was for Ju-kyung, I'm convinced it was even worse for him as both a grieving child and a caretaker. The fact that he never changed her contact name says everything.

Because of that, I never felt Seo-jun was the one who got "done dirty." If anything, I felt that Soo-ho was simply incredibly unlucky.

You can survive heartbreak.

Heartbreak combined with the looming death of the only parent you were finally beginning to reconnect with can push someone to the edge.

In the end, I think Ju-kyung's decision comes down to something very simple.

She didn't want Soo-ho to live with regrets.

The same way she didn't want to live with her own.

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I just couldn't.....

No matter how I tried, I just couldn't get past how choppy, nonsensical and boring this was. 12 episodes that basically lived on a loop for 10. The ending, the tatooed butt thong and the father being gay. Make it make sense and maybe my opinion would change. I struggled through the last 3 episodes ending with a headache because of nothing having any impact to warrant this.

Were there any moments that were endearing? I can only think of one - When they were in the hospital room and he weepingly begged him to live for him.

I was blindly rooting for the second cp until they allowed an older ex teacher to kiss a younger student on the school compound infront of the entire school. Now, where is this acceptable? All sanity left the script at this point coupled with the revelation of the thong. Another thing that felt very unrealistic: older brother is gay, younger brother is gay, sister is a lesbian, father is gay. I was waiting to see if they'd make the mother surprise us, too.

Their acting skills were passible. The older brother's face had one emotion. Dead. The script existed just for shock value. In entirety, it was not horrible but it was too much for me to care that much about. Easily forgotten.

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Amazingly thought provoking series, though very much old school J drama style

(I don’t normally write reviews, usually just comments, so forgive me if this review isn’t good. SPOILER FREE)

I started this drama while it was airing in 2019 & watched all the way until episode 9 but got too busy & forgot to come back to the last episode. It’s been 7 years but I finally came back to finish it since it got put onto Netflix in the US.

Yes, it’s got some pretty heavy cheesy moments & probably even seen as cringey. The style is very much old school J dramas (even though it’s not from all that long ago). However, the message of the series is really good & very thought provoking. I won’t spoil it, but there are so many lessons taught throughout this series. Things like truly believing yourself, asking for help when you need it, don’t judge others so easily, help those around you, don’t blame yourself for things you have no control over, don’t follow the herd, be there for those you care about before it’s too late., & many more. However, the last episode really ties together the real message of the whole series; think before you speak/act. You never know how your words or actions can affect others.

I’d definitely recommend this series, though if you’re not used to old school J drama cheesiness, it may take a bit to get through some parts, but nonetheless, I’d still rate it a 9.5/10.

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It works but the ending was trash

I started this drama without much expectations, mainly out of boredom. But here's my review anyways
It started with Zhang Wang coming back to Hong Town after a long while because he was diagnosed with a tumor and he wanted to visit his grandma one last time before he died and he met this kid who lived in his grandma's house. He grew hatred for him but still cared about him, Typical enemies to lovers.
I have to admit it was a low budget show, the kisses were totally rubbish and the so called ''spicy scenes'' were a mess. It's a bit cliché and cringe but it works. I guess it was something to look forward to. The last episode was kinda disappointing. Anyways it was okay in all but I will never rewatch it. It had great potential but oh well 🤷

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Crappy ending!

This was one of the best BL dramas i have seen, but that ending was one of the worst i have ever seen!
This story was very good and very well executed by the actors and production. It had beautiful visuals and music.
I loved the lines the couples said at the beginning of each episode.
The tattoo scene was a bit unrealistic but still beautifull.

The main couple had great chemistry, the kisses and NC scenes were very good.
The second couple had good chemistry and good kisses and NC scene.
And we even got a bit of GL as a bonus. No kisses, but clearly a couple.

The ending was awfull.
My interpretation of the ending is: they died. And the end clip means, you make your own luck instead of wishing for it.
But that was one of the most crappy endings i have ever seen....
I'd rather have seen them die, being together and telling how they love each other than this...

I do recommend watching this amazing series, but just keep in mind that you will be mad ad the last 5 minutes.

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Untamed???

Starting with the cinematography... who handled this series? They deserve to be hired for every GMMTV series because it was absolutely stunning. Every shot looked so well thought out and cinematic.

The story was good too. I won't say it's completely new since it shares some similarities with other fantasy series I've watched, but they executed it really well. I also like how they mixed fantasy with political issues, which made the story feel even more relevant.

One thing that made this series work so well is the casting. This is where I realized I really can't act because I would probably be laughing through most of these scenes. Everyone did an amazing job. As for Sky and Nani, I already expected great performances because I know they can act. And of course, Nani absolutely nailed the action scenes.

One thing I couldn't stop noticing though... why does the ending of Wu remind me so much of The Untamed? Even the OST gives off a similar feeling. Is this becoming the trend for bromance series? 😂

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What was the finale?

While I watched the show, it was the typical stuff I expected from such a show. We had the evil dad, who turns out to be gay in the finale, we have misunderstandings and we have even two gay and one lesbian couple... And because any show needs drama, we have the bullying. So far, so good.

But the finale... WTF? The both stand of the rocks and watch the broken up comet which were toooooo far away to have any impact directly, but of course could have made a tsunami is they would have hit water. Normally they should have the comet up their faces and then ok, they both die - for what is the question? Xu giving in so willingly did also not make much sense. When you are already out, you should not care about others anymore. Period.

So for me, the finale did ruin the whole series, because for me it makes no sense whatsoever. Dad being outed as being gay came too late, that would have had more impact if we had seen his past also. That he then turned 180 degrees also makes no sense. When you are in denial for DECADES, you do not change over night, It would have made more sense, when Wang had beaten him up about it, but no. But I guess they did not think about that or they run out of time (and budget) becauase they wasted it through the whole story. The series did have it's lengths, they could have compacted the story and put in some other focus like the dad to have much more impact.

And because the finale ruins everything I don't get the high praise from some reviews... what is wrong with you people? While the acting of the MLs was fine, the acting of the side couple was weak. They did not feel natural in the series, but when you see them in private they have the chemistry which is missing in this series. Production quality was also fine, but that can't save any series. Because of all the factors I deducted my rating heavily... it could have been a 7.5 with a proper finale, but this felt rushed and imprudent. And I don't like it.

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Good show, not so good ending

I started this series blindly and it quickly became a fave. I was always looking forward to this series every week but the last few episodes and the ending were disappointing. I usually don't mind open endings but this just feels like the writers didn't know what to do and just finished it randomly...
Positives
-Interesting story
-Interesting characters
-good acting and chemistry
-beautiful cinematography
Negatives
-Unfinished ending
-poor execution in last 3 eps
-Comet and dad storyline were handled poorly and the comet one just unnecessary
-uninteresting 2nd couple (imo) and would've preferred more time with the main
All in all I liked it but i ended up a bit dissapointed.

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Good show, without the ending

In this serie, the storyline of Zhan Wang and Xu Yuan was my favorite, truly loved their chemistry, the slow build up of their relationship, ZW who went from arguing about his grandma house to doing everything to make XY life better, to make him believe that he isnt jinx as everyone claim, the tension between them felt sensual even when it was not, XY loved ZY a lot that he risked his life by making a wish in dangerous weather, i fecided to believe they both survived and living happily.

I didn't care about the sister and the ex fiancé after the girlie outed ZW's brother, i couldn't look past that.

The abusive dad deserves hell, him turning out to be gay wasn't surprising to me at all, smh, ill ignore bs writing of last ep.

Overall this was a nice watch

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This show feels like petered out somewhere along the line. It started out with so much excitement and I was engrossed watching them peel the layers back of what happened on the mountain. And as we were slowly working through the Lishan mystery, the show kept us fed with a heartwarming, mature, slow burn romance.

Ah, the first half was heaven!

But somehow in the 2nd half all that tension starts to die off. Xiuyao's arc to clear his brother's name is resolved in one of the most anticlimactic ways possible. In just a few minutes' screentime, Ye Li goes from being imprisoned and very likely facing death, to singlehandedly clearing Xiuyao's brother's name in front of the whole court.

I think that was the start of the downfall. You can't have such an important arc end so unimpressingly.

After that, the only thing to really care about was Ye Li's illness. And credit to both the writers & actors: it was handled brilliantly. I have zero criticisms. They spent enough time on it to allow us to grieve with Ye Li. And by letting us live with her on Lishan for those few days, we were able to feel the sadness and the horror of what her life had been like before she met Xiuyao.

I think the show should have ended there, with them coming down the mountain and going back to the mansion.

But of course, it couldn't end there because we had to deal with one of the most bleh villains I've ever met: Mo Jingli. Jingli was a failed character from the start because he's not even around for half the show. I was so indifferent to his rebellion, I believe this storyline could have been dropped and the show would still stand on its own. Anyway, with neither Xiuyao's revenge arc or Ye Li's healing journey to root for, I don't see the point of continuing.

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A beautiful story + perfect cast let down by a shallow storyline

I really thought this was going to be an iconic drama for me. It felt like the book Pachinko, watching a family's rise and fall across multiple generations. I was so convinced this was prestige TV.

But by episode 26, I've accepted that perfect casting and amazing cinematography can't fully make up for a shallow storyline.

How many times can we watch Li Zhen be set up, people turn against her, she proves her innocence and they accept that they were wrong to doubt her. And then just a few episodes later, it happens again in the exact same way. My final straw was the case with the bad glue by Uncle Decai. It was so obvious that she was being set up by someone from within the family, but still the characters act all confused and even want her to hand over the family seal. It made no sense. I couldn't believe that these are the people who have been running a centuries-old relatively successful business.

This whole "doubt Li Zhen then she clears her name and everyone likes her again" happens so many times to the point that it becomes unbelievable. It's clear the writer didn't know how to create conflict without over-relying on this trope.

When I realized that this is a story that just goes round in circles, I realized I don't need to watch the rest. Watching Li Zhen prove people wrong and stand in her integrity the first few times is enough for me - I don't need to see it happen 10 more times with the same characters over and over.

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feelings

mình xem bộ phim này cũng khá lâu rùi, từ lúc chiếu rạp ở việt nam, theo mình thấy thì diễn viên diễn khá ok, nội dung cũng ổn, nhưng để quá kinh dị gây sợ thì mình nghĩ cỡ 6/10 thui không quá sợ thích hợp cho mấy bạn sợ kinh dị nè. Về nội dung thì mình thấy khúc đầu hơi nhạt nhưng về sau cũng cuốn nè, nhưng tiếc là movie này chưa gây được tiếng vang đến với khán giả cho lắm. Nhưng nếu có cơ hội, mọi người cứ thử xem và trải nghiệm thử nhen, vì mình nghĩ phim cũng khá ok để xem trong ngày nghỉ hay dịp rảnh đó

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The First Jasmine: All Fragrance, Not Enough Bloom

The First Jasmine started like a banquet but somehow ended up serving leftovers.
The opening episodes had everything going for them. A clever heroine, political intrigue, palace schemes, hidden identities, revenge, and a prince who was far more interesting than the usual cold, brooding male lead. The story grabbed my attention immediately, and I genuinely thought I was about to watch one of the best historical dramas of the year.

Then somewhere around the middle, the writers seemed to lose their own map.
The pacing slowed to a crawl. Several episodes felt like fillers designed to stretch the runtime rather than move the story forward. Conversations dragged on, misunderstandings multiplied, and the plot kept circling the same emotional roadblocks. Instead of building momentum, it gradually leaked it away.

The biggest disappointment was the truth behind Lishan Academy.
For dozens of episodes, the drama built this mystery into something that sounded earth shattering. I expected a shocking conspiracy, a massacre, treason, or some grand political crime that justified years of revenge and suffering. Instead, the final reveal landed with all the impact of finding a fly floating in your cup of tea. After all that suspense, the payoff felt surprisingly flimsy. It was a mountain giving birth to a mouse.

The endless angst also became tiring. Once again, another historical drama leaned heavily on the familiar idea that children must spend their entire lives paying for the sins of their parents. It is a common Cdrama theme, but here it felt overused, creating conflict that often depended more on stubborn misunderstandings than believable character choices.
The acting certainly wasn't the problem. Bai Lu and Cheng Lei gave solid performances and carried their characters with grace and quiet strength. Unfortunately, the script rarely gave them the emotional fireworks they deserved. Their roles often felt restrained, making two talented actors play characters that were far blander than they could have been.
The production was beautiful, the costumes elegant, and the cinematography never disappointed. Even when the story slowed, it remained pleasant to look at.

Overall, The First Jasmine is a good drama if you're simply looking for something enjoyable to pass the time. It begins with real promise, loses its footing through an overextended middle, and finishes with a reveal that simply doesn't justify the enormous buildup. Not a bad drama by any means, just one that could have been far greater than what it ultimately delivered.

Final verdict: A jasmine flower with a wonderful fragrance, but one that wilted long before the final episode.

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I will forever remember this series

I have been on a BL slump for a very long time before this was dropped. I couldn't even find anything to watch. And when it aired,I fell in love with this show.
I know it has some very problematic things,but aside those it was a lovely watch. The character Lu Feng showed so many emotions that I find other actors actings bland compared to his. I just loved loved loved ayden's acting. The story wasn't unique,but they made it unique with their acting and chemistry. Elio was good too.

All things aside,it leaves behind a good bittersweet feeling. I will probably rewatch it many more times and I already have. Did I mention it made me feel many things? I loved loved LOVED it. Hopefully they will act in another bl together.

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