Reviews

The actress (Park Shin Hye) playing the female lead in this show is truly remarkable and brings a unique quality to her performance that stands out from what we typically see in most K-dramas. The series itself feels refreshing, offering something different compared to the usual trends in Korean dramas today. A lot of credit goes to the female lead, as her outstanding acting seems to carry the entire show. It's clear that her talent is elevating the overall experience, making it a standout in the current K-drama landscape. Great job to her for bringing such depth and uniqueness to the role!

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A Powerful Exploration of Growth and Healing

"The Only One" is a standout BL series of 2024 that transcends its "enemy to lovers" trope to deliver an emotional exploration of personal growth, trauma, and the transformative power of love. Through the forced bond of stepbrothers, Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, offering a compelling narrative that echoes long after the credits roll.

The series excels in its portrayal of character development. Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian's complex relationship is anchored by Liu Dong Qin and Benjamin Tsang's exceptional performances. Their nuanced acting brings to life the characters' inner turmoil, making their journey of healing all the more relatable. The series skillfully explores the impact of past trauma on present-day relationships, showcasing how even the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome with love and support.

Beyond its strong characters and performances, "The Only One" boasts impressive cinematography and direction that enhance the storytelling. The series' visual aesthetic complements the emotional depth of the narrative, creating a truly immersive viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Only One" is a must-watch for fans of BL dramas seeking a series that goes beyond surface-level romance. Its exploration of personal growth, trauma, and the power of love is both thought-provoking and heartwarming. With exceptional performances, a compelling narrative, and stunning visuals, "The Only One" is a standout series that deserves recognition as one of the best BL dramas of 2024.

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Love is Beautiful and Messy but worth it!!!

Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian did a COMMENDABLE job !!! OH MY GOD.....the chemistry , the touches , the stares, the covert glances, the slow burning and sizzling overflowing emotions, everything was just perfect. I felt the actors did justice to the characters.... I do not want to say much but urge you to go and watch it please. This is how characters should be developed , the relationship stared because forced proximity and situation, where they went from strangers to special someone for each other.

The ending is perfect and it made me hungry for season 2. Please we need to meet them again and see how the love blooms between them.

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Not A Typical Romance

Before I start, I just have to say that the FL, when dressed in her red and black clothing, reminds me of an anime character. Now that this is off my mind…

Cons:
Some of the characters were overacted to the extreme. The evil stepmother, the evil sister, the self-absorbed sister who wanted to slap everyone, the angry crazy crown prince. Everyone seemed to have a penchant for yelling to prove how angry they were with everyone they encountered. Although their characters were more sinister in nature, they were always angry even when their scheming minds should have led them to a level of calm before the storm.

There was a lot of information the viewer had to put together to make sense of scenes that should have been explained, but probably left on the censors cutting room floor.

The FL’s animosity toward the ML right out after he comes to her home also leaves me scratching my head a bit. If she’s trying to blend into the background why was her character so antagonistic to the law-man?

The 2nd ML gave away the plot to have him fall in love with the FL way too soon. I would say that is the fault partially of the script. There should have been some time for him to struggle with the way his feelings would impact the way people saw him, his ‘sister’ and the family business rather than walking around with puppy dog eyes around her. His role was kinda creepy.

The ML and FL needed to have more time together. One day they were enemies, next day in love. Probably more cut during the review process.

There was no resolution with the evil stepmother. She was a driving force that was put in prison and the poof - she was never mentioned again.

And, while the two evil sisters were living on the streets, there could have been more development of the self-absorbed sister. She’s there, then a brief glimpse of her gathering coins being tossed at her by another angry girl, and then hardly anything after that until the end. More could have been done with her character to contrast her learning about her egotistic behavior in comparison to the middle sister and her constant manipulations and angry outbursts.

Pros:
Once I got past the disjointed and bizarre first few episodes, the drama actually started coming to life. And even though some parts were a bit draggy, the pace was pretty consistent. There were a few holes, but overall it was a good story.

The acting - even the perpetually angry people - was done well.

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The Best BL Series of 2024

In my opinion, this is the best BL series of 2024, it’s a beautifully crafted series that stands out for its heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth. It masterfully blends the slow-burn romance genre with complex character development, allowing the relationship between the leads to unfold naturally and meaningfully.

The chemistry between the leads is undeniable. Both Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian deliver heartfelt performances that convey vulnerability, longing, and hope.

Visually, the cinematography is stunning, as usual making Taiwan series stand out, especially in genres like BL dramas and romantic storytelling. Taiwan series often excel in visual storytelling by using cinematography as a tool to elevate the emotional and narrative experience. The soundtrack complements the series perfectly, heightening emotional scenes without overpowering them.

One of the highlights of The On1y One is its ability to explore themes of love, longing, and self-discovery in a mature and thoughtful way. The slow-burn approach might not appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate a more nuanced and subtle unfolding of romance, it’s incredibly satisfying.

The ending, while bittersweet, leaves a lasting impression. It provides enough closure while still leaving room for viewers to reflect and imagine what the future holds for the characters. The story may end, but its impact lingers long after the final episode.

Overall, The On1y One isn’t just about romance—it’s about connection, growth, and the quiet, meaningful moments that define our relationships.

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Umi no Hajimari: An Emotional Journey Through Parenthood and Love

“Umi no Hajimari” is a drama that stands out for its emotional depth and ability to approach complex themes such as family, love, and fatherhood in a nuanced manner. The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives, allowing viewers to reflect on their own experiences and relationships. This ability to touch on universal issues gives each scene significant weight, creating an impact that resonates far beyond the screen.

Ren Meguro’s acting is one of the series’ greatest highlights. He delivers an impressive performance, capturing the inner struggle of a father trying to balance his responsibilities with his desires. Despite facing difficulties during filming, his ability to convey authentic emotions shines through, especially in climactic moments, where his character’s evolution becomes palpable and realistic. The audience is made to feel every nuance of his journey, making his emotional experiences resonate deeply.

Japan’s picturesque settings also play a key role in the drama’s atmosphere. The stunning seaside landscapes not only embellish the narrative, but also symbolize the characters’ emotional ups and downs. This combination of natural beauty and the emotional depth of the story creates a rich visual experience, intensifying the viewer’s lore and almost shifting the setting into a separate character.

The drama’s intricate narrative intertwines the lives of multiple characters, each with their own emotional struggles. This authentic development allows viewers to connect and empathize with their stories, reflecting the reality of human interactions, often filled with love, conflict, and growth. This complexity makes “Umi no Hajimari” accessible and moving, resonating with a wide range of personal experiences.

Finally, the immersive soundtrack perfectly complements the narrative. The carefully chosen tracks elevate key moments in the plot, contributing to the emotional atmosphere and keeping the viewer engaged. The harmony between sound and image is one of the reasons why the drama leaves such a strong impression, making it perfect and worthy of revisiting.

All in all, “Umi no Hajimari” is an emotional journey that sensitively addresses the complexities of parenthood and family bonds. The series not only entertains, but also provokes deep reflections on love, resilience and the beauty of life's imperfections, making it a must-watch for drama lovers seeking meaningful and authentic content.

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Rom-Com or Rom-Don't?

After watching this quirky rom-com, it’s clear that it heavily relies on familiar clichés. If you’re not into the genre, you might want to pass—think of it as the fast-food version of romantic comedies, missing the depth of a well-crafted drama.

The plot is straightforward, featuring the classic tale of a working-class girl meeting her Prince Charming in a modern setting. However, the dialogue falls flat, and the love rivalry between the male lead and the supporting character, who has a one-sided crush, lacks excitement. Plus, those two coworkers can get pretty annoying—how does someone so self-centered and gossipy fit into a PR team at a big company?

The breakup between the leads drags on longer than necessary, and while the female lead starts off as smart and independent, she quickly becomes rather dull. As a viewer, I found myself caring less and less.

Interestingly, the most compelling character is the male lead's brother, who genuinely cares for his sibling and navigates his arranged marriage with a heart of gold. The mother also adds a unique touch; she’s not your typical “evil step-mom” or “evil mother-in-law.” Instead, she's a realistic woman balancing the roles of mom, dad, and a company chair.

With the right expectations, this drama can be an okay watch, even if it’s not one you’ll feel compelled to revisit.

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I will wait for you

When I thought nothing could touch Unknown, along comes The On1y One, which effortlessly outshines any other for 2024. It's that great. Lead by the director Lui Kuang Hi who gave us Your Name Engraved Herein, nothing but an intense slow burn insightful unique piece of perfection should be expected. He definitely knows his art. With each episode he teases and plays with our emotions, giving the viewer the belief that with every other episode, we will be satisfied. We are not, we want more. He knows how to tell a story and tells it well. The script was mastefully brought to life by a truly gifted cast.

Wang and Tian's story unfolds in a way that shows with clarity the angsty teenage years. The urgency of emotions are hidden behind stoic facades that fool everyone but themselves. Their bond is unbreakable. One would think that the pouty Wang needs to be constantly taken care of, but we see that he is the one who creates a 'home' for Tian to feel safe. To rest the burdens he carries. Little by little their worlds fuse and being without each other becomes painful for them and us. The beauty of their relationship is the innocence and sincerity in which they hold onto each other. At 17, with past hurts, their emotional insightfullness is more mature than their peers.

Xi and Benny's relationship shows that at any age, love is hesitant, confusing and frustratingly emotional. They're both the other's anchor. With 15yrs of friendship behind them, they too struggle to shape what is truly between them. Xi sneaks moments to embrace Benny's acts of love without anyone knowing. Benny, hinting at his true feelings, is the one to actually bring to the fore what cannot be ignored any longer. His round hesitant eyes look directly at Xi, "I like you." I'm left to wonder, why Xi previously pretended not to know. Is he unwilling to lose an irreplaceable friend if something goes wrong? Has a past hurt made him cautious? Benny, I'm rooting for you.

Rather than putting every nugget that made this series gold, I will not. This is a series that everyone should experience with fresh unknowing eyes. I will say, the whole gamut of emotions will be felt. With the hint of a proposed season 2, I will be waiting.

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I don't like police/crime series. And yet I LOVED THIS

So I'm gonna make it short and simple
I usually don't watch this kind of stuff. The kind of drama that includes only police, crime with very little romance is REALLY not my type : i'm not afraid to say it but I'm more into cheesy romance. It's not that I think that police and crime dramas are not good but I'm the type who watches dramas to cheer myself up from a boring reality, not to watch the harsh problems of reality.
But guess what ? Even I liked it. Even acknowledge the quality of this drama. I watched it initially to see Lin Bo Yang again, that I hadn't seen much since Blood of Youth, despite liking her very much.
But I still find myself sucking into, expecting next episode, being interested by the themes and the various characters.
Fighting scenes ? Awesome, not too present so they're obviously not here to compensate a lacking writing
We don't have just investigations about various but the characters have all their personal stories, with distinct personalities and psychologies. We see how their backgrounds intertwine with the cases and this is heartgrasping '(lol, i just invented a new word). We're touched with them, worried with them, and when they get into difficult situations, our heart breaks for them
There's never a dull moment. We always get some new event, new revelation, making us hold our breath, with a sense of mystery floating above all of this
Therefore, the writers succeeded into making this not only a story about crime and investigations but also about the human being and his psyche, and human relationships
And I think the best part about the writing is that it shows how think the line between bad and good can be : the "villains" or aren't stereotypical, one dimensional characters and criminals. Many of them found themselves sucked up into the underworld and therefore have no way to get out of it, as it is part of them now. They're not part of it because they wanted to or because they were greedy and they're not necessarily evil. I'd say the most striking example would be Jiang Xiaohai, who, despite first appearing as being of little importance, also became the most remarkable character of the show (great applaud to the actor's performance), as it was sometimes very unclear how much he was involved in all those crimes and conspiracies and yet, very often, he appeared as someone with principles

Edit : however, there is a thing that bothers. There is a character at the end to whom they did REALLY dirty by not even giving him a proper ending.
But I think the screenwriters were somehow trying to show some realism so I’ll let that pass. Nevertheless this felt both heartbreaking and frustrating, which makes me take out just one little half-point
So in short : really, even if you're not into this, give it a try for at least the first episodes. Just like I said, even I liked it

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Could've been a 7 if not for the last 3 episodes

Got started on this series with very little expectations and enjoyed the first 9 episodes, not because of the romance or the actors, but because of the characters (especially Pah and Pie) and great comic timing.

The struggles and growth the characters go through, how they form-break-mend relationships and chart their own break-through, how they overcome self-doubt and discover themselves, were very nostalgic and feel-good.

It really started to go downhill for me because of 3 things (most of which happened in the last 3 episodes)

1. Judy's character development and her relationship with BM just came across as v flippant and poorly thought out and done just to catalyse Tae's character development. I would've much preferred if she had not reciprocated BM's feelings because that felt rather out of character, especially for someone who maintains a strong professional image, it felt unrealistic that she would start a relationship with an intern who already had a boyfriend who was also an intern.

2. Phi Jo's comments to Jane felt very out of character, after his chat with Pah, and the subsequent justification for his actions felt very forced (not sure if it was a translation issue). Jane's flashback made me dislike Phi Jo after growing quite fond of him, especially since he was built up to be a non-judgemental coach type of leader. The office culture also felt very toxic and seemed to be deemed "acceptable".

3. Jane's sudden departure to study overseas and his decision to do so without talking it out with someone he just started a relationship with. And them not speaking for years and then conveniently getting back together again was simply unrealistic... the amount of disrespect to the audience for being made to believe it was ok...

Sadly this series did not end on a high for me but thought it still deserved a rating above 5 because i truly enjoyed two thirds of it.

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Emotional damage, but I love it!

It's not just a bromance , and not yet a full boys love. But everything is here, we just need to wait...maybe because they're teens, underage high schoolers or because it's 2012. and same sex married wasn't legalized at the time ( 2019 was a breakthrough year).

I'm glad they didn't have characteristics of Thai bl- humping, jumping and d-ucking on every corner.

This was/is a beautiful story , where you finally try to understand your feeling and still you don't know how to react, cause you're still immature but the feelings are here and won't move on. You need to keep swimming, unit it's the right time. We saw how much time 2nd 'couple' needed to express themselves.

Main actors were fantastic, how they manage to express their emotions with just facial expressions . Let's hope there'll be 2nd season and the cast would be the same .

This show really stole my heart ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
I'll definitely read the novel .

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Youthful shenanigans with slow burn gallore on the side!

This was all about youth, love and identity through the lives of two boys - Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian. The story begins with their parent's unexpected marriage and them sharing a roof but it goes beyond that and the typical BL tropes. As the drama progresses, it deals with loneliness, self-discovery and healing from past traumas.

What stands out for me is the pacing. The slow-burn romance allowed us to savour each shared moment between them - be it a glance or a subtle accidental touch. Every interaction between them felt special and gradually deepened their connection. The intimacy between them was chef's kiss. It was captured beautifully along with the confusion of young love. All the emotions were felt but none was spoken.

The character development of both leads was a treat to watch. Sheng Wang was portrayed as friendly in contrast with the stoic and often guarded Jiang Tian. As the polar opposite duo began to interact, the façade melted revealing their vulnerabilities and a new version of themselves. Their understanding of each other formed the emotional core that maintained a perfect balance between friendship and then the budding romance.

A special mention of literary element and small stories at the start of the episodes. The subtle references and metaphors for every episode and then the story revolving and unfolding around them was interesting and engaging to watch.

Though the ending feels incomplete and bittersweet but considering there would be a season 2, it gives a fitting closure. It is symbolic of Wang's realisation that they are just not brothers and friends. I am looking forward to season 2!
Overall, recommended if slow burn, character-driven romance is your thing.

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