Reviews

a RomCom it lacks

I watched this series because of Phuwin. He’s an actor I’ve followed with great curiosity because of his versatility and willingness to take on different roles. I’ve always enjoyed the chemistry between Pond and Phuwin, whether in more serious dramas or lighter projects, and they generally complement each other well.

That said, Me and Thee was a little difficult for me to follow. Perhaps it’s because it leans completely into sitcom territory rather than romantic comedy. It lacks the emotional warmth and gradual character development that I usually associate with a good rom-com. Maybe the intention was simply to entertain without asking the audience to think too much and perhaps that’s exactly how it should be watched.

I love comedy when it’s done well because comedy is all about timing. Robin Williams once remarked that comedy demands more emotional honesty and skill than dramatic acting, and I tend to agree. Making people laugh while keeping the characters believable is one of the hardest things an actor can do. Unfortunately, much of the humor here felt forced rather than effortless, making it difficult for me to fully connect with the characters.

I couldn’t help comparing it to Eddie Murphy’s performance in Coming to America. He played a prince with impeccable comedic timing, yet never sacrificed the sincerity of the character. The film balanced comedy and romance beautifully, proving that a rom-com can be hilarious while still allowing its characters to grow.

I’m certain Pond and Phuwin will continue to take on more projects, and I hope they keep challenging themselves with roles that push their range. Pond’s performance in Dalah: Death and the Flowers revealed a far more intense and commanding side of him. His portrayal carried a quiet anger and confidence, and his command of English added another layer of authenticity to the role.

The WillEst pairing also brought a refreshing dynamic to the series. Although they were only in supporting roles, they injected a different energy into the story. I just wish their characters had been given more screen time and substance, as they weren’t enough to add the depth the series needed.

Overall, Me and Thee may appeal to viewers looking for a lighthearted sitcom, but it didn’t quite deliver the blend of comedy, romance, and character development I was hoping for. The cast certainly has the talent; this time, I felt the material simply didn’t allow them to showcase it fully.

Leia Mais

Leggero, imperfetto, godibile

Metto subito le mani avanti con una premessa importante: quando ho iniziato questo drama sapevo già benissimo a cosa andavo incontro. Non mi aspettavo di certo il capolavoro della vita, né per la storia né tantomeno per gli effetti speciali. Ed è proprio con questo spirito di assoluta pace e consapevolezza che me lo sono guardato!

Cosa mi è piaciuto: Gli attori, le coppie e il recupero del passato
Il punto di forza del drama sono stati indubbiamente i personaggi e gli attori:

•Chen Zhe Yuan: Promosso a pieni voti! Mi è piaciuto tantissimo nel doppio ruolo: di giorno nei panni della guardia ingenua Li Xiong e di notte in quelli di Kui Mu Lang, il re della tribù delle bestie. Per me è sempre un piacere andarlo a recuperare nei suoi lavori meno recenti, proprio per vedere la sua evoluzione e ritrovare quelle micro-espressioni o quei piccoli movimenti che oggi amo così tanto nei suoi drama più recenti.

•Wu Xuan Yi (Qi Pa): Non la conoscevo ma è stata davvero una bella scoperta. Con il suo carattere solare e allegro è riuscita a trasmettermi una bellissima carica di gioia. Appena potrò recupererò sicuramente altro con lei!
La coppia principale: Insieme mi sono piaciuti un sacco, hanno una bella chimica. Mi piacerebbe davvero tanto rivederli in un drama un po' più serio e soprattutto con un budget più alto a disposizione.

Le coppie secondarie: Mi sono piaciute tutte e tre, ma la mia preferita in assoluto rimane quella tra la serva Hong Xiu (un demone gatto dolcissimo, magari un po' stupidotta ma che vorresti solo abbracciare sempre!) e la guardia del re Liu Jun. Lui è un demone serpente convinto di non meritare l'amore perché avvelena tutto ciò che tocca, ma alla fine riescono a stare insieme a dispetto di tutte le differenze.

Cosa non mi è piaciuto: La trama impantanata e la logica a quel paese
Sapevo che era un drama a basso budget, quindi non mi soffermo più di tanto sul comparto visivo: i costumi non erano male e anche il trucco da lupo del nostro male lead si difendeva bene... a parte le orecchie, che, perdonatemi la battuta, facevano davvero troppo "reparto travestimenti a due euro del mercatino" 😂!
I veri problemi purtroppo sono arrivati dalla sceneggiatura:

•Il blocco centrale: Ok per i primi 10-15 episodi dove lei voleva scappare a tutti i costi ed erano divertenti sia i suoi tentativi di fuga sia lui che si destreggiava tra i due personaggi. Ad una certa, però, la cosa ha iniziato a stufare parecchio. La sensazione era proprio che la trama si fosse impantanata in questi meccanismi senza la minima idea di come uscirne.

•La sospensione dell'incredulità portata all'estremo: molto spesso nei C-drama dobbiamo fare un salto di fede e credere che delle donne, palesemente tali, siano uomini solo perché indossano abiti e acconciature maschili. Ma dover credere per più di 20 puntate che lei non lo riconoscesse nelle sue due diverse forme era davvero troppo! Cioè, io ho dovuto credere per metà serie che bastassero due tatuaggi, le punte dei capelli tinte, una protesi dentale e due unghie finte per non fargli capire che era la stessa identica persona?! Diciamo che la pazienza ha un limite, e alla lunga questo meccanismo è diventato solo un motivo di fastidio.

Tutto troppo di corsa sul finale: La famosa scoperta infatti arriva solo attorno all'episodio 24 (a sole 6 puntate dalla fine!). Lì si sono ricordati all'improvviso che c'era una storia da chiudere e hanno risolto tutto alla velocità della luce.

Una morte del tutto inutile: La coppia che mi è piaciuta meno è stata quella tra la serva Chun'er e il generale Ma Ying Xiong, ma non per loro due in sé, quanto per il loro finale. Ho trovato del tutto inutile far morire il generale a un solo episodio dalla fine, una scelta no sense.

I Villain: Il cattivo principale non era male, non faceva paura a nessuno ma ha mantenuto la sua cattiveria dall'inizio alla fine senza cambiare. L'altro antagonista in realtà non era un vero villain, serviva solo come elemento di disturbo per creare un po' di dinamiche.

Verdetto finale
Alla fine il mio voto è un 6 pieno.
È il classico drama "stacca-cervello" che serve tantissimo quando arrivi da storie troppo impegnative o da serie che ti hanno particolarmente infastidito col loro finale. Lo consiglio a chi vuole semplicemente rilassarsi e magari fare altro nel mentre: anche se c'è da leggere i sottotitoli ci si può tranquillamente distrarre, e vi confesso che molte puntate le ho skippate senza problemi. Tanto, anche saltando un paio di episodi alla volta, lo status quo non cambiava di un millimetro!
Un buon passatempo leggero senza pretese, in attesa di roba decisamente più succosa!

Leia Mais

How did this series get all these positive reviews?

It’s slow, has repetitive narrative, unlikable characters, and a frustrating dynamic where characters hide secrets and easily fall for rumours.

I understand a few novels are completely on the negative side with red flag characters but this series adaptation has genuinely made me question why sexual assault is glorified and viewers are actually excited by shit like that!? Even if it’s fiction!

I started watching because of the reviews and gave it a chance till the sixth episode but no more. Done with this atrocious series especially when there are SO many epic and amazing BLs coming out these days.

Leia Mais

This was such a funny show regardless of how kooky the premise is. I didn't expect it to work as well as it did but I was pleasantly surprised on how much it managed to deliver, regardless of the unhinged plot points.
And there were some truly unhinged ones. Like the whole real-world villain plot point? Absolute kookoo town.
Loved the banter and chemistry between the main leads.
Really credible friends to lovers story, although I would have preferred they actually kissed at least once. But I get that the pecks fits the vibe of the story and serves the plot.
However, in the show world, as their dynamic was different, there could've been more than just pecks. But then again, that was another version of him, not really him so I guess it would've been weird...

Leia Mais

Fun feel good but a great thriller and satire too

No spoilers here, bc the movie has some **** AMAZING **** U-turns and twists that cannot be disclosed :)
It is a super fun movie. It is wickedly fun.
And it is deep. It is an amazing satire and social commentary on many things.

There are so many great actors here. It was fun to see Julien from High Kick 3, Stuntman from ,, ,Once Again? FL from Potato Lab - yeah this role is much better than that one!... FL actress was perfect with this ML here... , etc etc etc etc
And ML from Walking on Thin Ice, Haunted Palace, On Her Wedding Day, etc He is one of my fav actors, bc he is so creative in his acting, every role he acts differently, and always has complex cool roles. I am a fan, definitely.. It was so fun to see him in this goofy role.
The first Asian drama I ever saw was Pinocchio and the only thing and character I remember from there is this ML actor :) Oh I remember the opening scene with the boy in a hut on the beach ... like ... old Hawaii. But out of the entire drama, I just remember some scenes with this actor, he essentially took over the scenes. I can spot talent :)

So... enjoy :)

Leia Mais

Quality Femme Melodrama -- Give it a try!

As a Westerner, the only way I can feed my C-Drama and C-Feature addiction is to follow actors around. SHE AND HER GIRLS and WAR OF FAITH sold me on Lan Xi Ya, and her playing a deaf girl here sold me the ticket to WE GIRLS.

I was pleased to discover a supporting actress from BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI in attendance too! And ten minutes in I realized I knew the other female lead (Zhao Li Ying) from THE UNSEEN SISTER. So I was very excited to watch the movie, no matter what it was actually about.

I won't ruin the story, but I was surprised to learn right off the bat the movie starts in prison. This is the kind of story where our girls get out and find life outside of prison harder than inside. AI informed me that the film made prison life a little nicer than it really was, but the outside word of criminals and poverty and desperation rang insanely true, so no worries there.

In America this would be called a TV-movie or Netflix film, because it's low budget and most about humans instead of car chases. I learned that in China this did have a theatrical release and was a big success. This is why I watch Chinese media because I'm all about the human condition and couldn't care less about car chases and guns.

This film has it's violent moments, but you're here to watch these women struggle on the outside. And struggle they do. The story can run kinda bi-polar where a rotten thing happens, a great thing, a rotten thing -- etc. You watch because of the great acting across the board.

But I must confess that Lan Xi Ya is simply great. If you're new to her, she can emote like nobody can. She pulls you inside her soul and everything that happens to her -- happens to you. It's a very hard gift to describe, but she's got it.

I don't want to say anything more except see this when you can. As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. And the strangest bit of trivia ever: Lan Xi Ya plays a deaf girl in another movie from this same year I can't wait to see.

Leia Mais

A Beautiful Summer Story That I Hope Doesn't Break My Heart

I absolutely love the atmosphere of this series. Every episode captures the feeling of summer so beautifully with its bright colors, peaceful countryside setting, colorful red watermelon fruits and warm sunshine. The family scenes are wholesome, and the fluffy white dog is adorable every time it appears on screen. Like many Japanese BLs, this series finds a great balance between comedy, romance, awkward moments, and everyday life, making it feel relaxing and comforting to watch.

The story follows Natsuki, a high school student struggling with university entrance exams after being dumped by his girlfriend. Wanting to help him, his older sister asks her university boyfriend, Sota, to become Natsuki's private tutor. As they spend more time studying together, their relationship slowly begins to change in ways neither of them expected. The pacing is light, heartwarming, and easy to follow, making it a perfect summer watch.

I am more than halfway through the series and, so far, I am really enjoying it. The plot is light, fun, and full of heartwarming family moments.

However, I am not a fan of cheating, especially when it involves a family member. Natsuki admits that he always ends up liking the things his sister likes, but I really hope this series does not use that as an excuse if cheating becomes part of the story.

The sister is honestly one of my favourite characters. She is kind, supportive, and genuinely cares about her younger brother, even introducing her own boyfriend to help tutor him. If Natsuki develops feelings for Sota, and Sota eventually feels the same way, I have no problem with that as long as Sota ends his relationship with the sister first. But if they secretly fall in love, kiss, or start dating behind her back, then I definitely cannot support it. I really hope the story does not go in that direction because I am genuinely invested now and do not want such a good drama to be ruined.

If you enjoy summer settings, light and fluffy romance, family oriented stories, and the unique charm of Japanese BLs, then this series should definitely be on your watch list. So far, it has been a relaxing and enjoyable watch with beautiful visuals, lovable characters, and a comforting atmosphere. I am hoping it sticks the landing because it has all the ingredients to become one of the standout Japanese BLs of the season.

Leia Mais

Real Art Requires Breaking The Rules

This show is full of tough military men, but the strongest soldier was definitely Trin—for not wavering even just a little as a young man going through his gay awakening in goddamn 1969. While his student Victor, with whom he shares intellectual equality, social ideals, and deeply rooted empathy, goes in for a kiss on three separate occasions, Trin stays firm. He is written as entirely unaffected by romantic crisis. At that point in the story, Trin is not only fighting a heavy, dangerous political war, but his stability with Tanwa is fractured. When a human being is that exhausted and lonely, boundaries naturally blur. When Victor—who mirrors his intellect, values his soul, and is literally willing to die for their cause—offers comfort, leaning into that comfort is only natural. Maybe the books Trin read about homosexuality helped him know immediately who he wants? Maybe he just didn't feel attracted to Victor? No, I think Trin was written with unrealistic emotional certainty. Is this really what the confusion of a 1969 queer awakening looks like? Doesn't it look more like clean romance fantasy? By ensuring Trin is completely immune to Victor’s approaches, the script squanders the raw, electric screen presence of newcomer Peter Deriy, who steals every scene he's in. Trin could have been caught between a deep, revolutionary connection with Victor and a passionate, bohemian escape with Tanwa—and still ultimately choose Tanwa. At least this way, his relationship with Tanwa would feel earned rather than pre-programmed from the start.

True historical queer dramas are critically acclaimed because they lean into the messy, fragile choices people make under immense political and societal pressure. Even though "Be On Cloud" tries very hard to be more than "just BL," whenever they have to choose between artistic integrity and protecting their money makers, the commercial ship will win every single time. "Shine" simply can't outshine the corporate tropes masking as "prestige art". And it also can't hide its plot holes, which leads me to the real main couple of Shine: Naran and Krailert. Their forbidden romance wasn't only about filthy sex in a backroom; they were poetically intertwined, sending each other secret messages through a newspaper column and books in the library. Now that's the kind of romance that make all the girls and gays swoon. Almost every scene carried a narrative purpose and practically drove the plot of the series. But they don't get their happy ending because, all of a sudden, Krailert's wife Dhevi is a supervillain who threatens him to stay with her because otherwise it will affect Naran's safety. Sure, it makes sense that in 1969 she doesn't want a divorce, but her being this scheming, all-knowing mastermind is a bit... sudden? I would dare to say that her character is passive throughout most episodes, but in Episode 8 she is the scheming mastermind. That is just bad pacing, not a clever twist.

She instinctively knows that Moira must have cameras in her hotel, which makes me wonder: why wouldn't Moira help Krailert on her own initiative? Why does it require Dhevi to activate her help? It shows the writers didn't know how to resolve the political plot naturally, so they used a cheap plot device to force everyone into their pre-determined endings. Shine loses its momentum by leading to a solution that feels more like a theater play: "Ta-da! And that's how we won against corruption," instead of a clever political conspiracy. In the end, only Trin and Tanwa get their happy ending. By prioritizing commercial fan service over the dangerous friction of a 1969 narrative, "Be On Cloud" proved that their political plot was just a new playground for the same old BL tropes. But real art requires breaking the rules.

C'est la vie.

Leia Mais

Masterpiece

So far, this is the best Korean drama for me. The series truly embodied love from my perspective—a love from childhood that grows with experiences, through suffering, joy, and shared moments.

The father... and I have a weak spot for fathers. I cry with him every time. He exhausted his entire life, which is the real story of fathers: their whole lives are sacrifice and effort for their children and wives. He suffers in silence, strives in silence, and when he looks at them, he smiles—as if that smile is saying: it is worth it.

For me, this drama is a bundle of pure emotions... childhood love, maturity, motherhood, fatherhood... Two people united by love who supported each other, grew up together, raised their children, and held hands until the very end. My heart ached so much when she held his hand before he passed away... because I know that after a lifetime of companionship, when one spouse dies, the other feels the world become empty; everything loses its taste.

I don't even know how to describe this Korean masterpiece. From production to acting, storyline, emotions, and heart-touching dialogue—everyone truly did a great job themselves.

Leia Mais

An Emotional Story About Losing Everything and Finding What Truly Matters

The Servant Prince is the usual eight episode Japanese BL airing weekly on GagaOOLala. I have to admit, episode one almost made me drop the series. Naoya is described as someone as handsome as a prince, but I personally did not find him attractive. What turned me off the most was his selfish and abusive behaviour toward Takaaki. After he accidentally spilled a drink on him, Naoya demanded that Takaaki lick his bare foot clean. The hardest part to watch was that Takaaki actually did it without resisting. That scene was incredibly uncomfortable because it showed just how much Naoya abused his power and manipulated Takaaki, making it difficult to continue watching after the very first episode.

Thankfully, I decided to continue, and I am so glad I did. Ten years later, their lives completely reverse. Naoya, who once had everything, loses his status and becomes an unemployed man working as a waiter, while Takaaki becomes the successful CEO of a large company. Despite now having wealth, power, and the ability to have anything he wants, Takaaki still chooses to stay by Naoya's side. Their master servant relationship may seem unhealthy at first, but as the story unfolds, you realise it is built on years of unspoken love, codependency, and genuine devotion. Their reunion after so many years completely changed how I viewed both characters.

The most heartbreaking part of the series was not Naoya losing his wealth or his social status, but the way his own father and brother publicly humiliated him for working as a waiter. There is absolutely nothing wrong with honest work, no matter what the job is. This series reminds us that family is not always better than outsiders. While his own blood relatives looked down on him, his colleagues accepted and supported him without judgment. That message hit me harder than anything else.

What I loved most is how this story shows that money and status cannot buy happiness or love. Takaaki may now be a powerful CEO, but the only person he truly wants is Naoya. Their relationship is awkward, emotional, and unique, making every episode more meaningful as they slowly heal old wounds together.

Japanese BLs continue to impress me with their realistic storytelling and powerful character development. Even though the first episode was difficult to watch and almost made me drop the series, I am so glad I kept going because the emotional payoff was worth it. This story is about much more than romance. It explores pride, forgiveness, second chances, family, self worth, and proves that genuine love can survive even after everything else has been lost.

This is not a fluffy BL filled with sweet romance and fan service. Instead, it delivers a mature, realistic, and emotionally powerful story with excellent writing and believable characters whose struggles feel genuine. The unique plot, meaningful life lessons, and emotional depth are what make this series so memorable. Once again, Japanese BL has shown why it continues to stand out with some of the most realistic and powerful storytelling in the genre.

Leia Mais

Why I gave Tide Of Love 10/10 Stars

I gave Tide of Love Season 1 a 10/10 because it completely exceeded my expectations. The story was engaging from the very first episode, and every character felt well developed with believable emotions and growth. The chemistry between the leads was amazing and made every scene together feel natural and heartfelt. I also loved how the series balanced romance, drama, humor, and emotional moments without feeling forced. The acting was excellent, the cinematography was beautiful, and the soundtrack fit every scene perfectly. The ending left me excited for what's next, and it's definitely a series I'll be recommending to others.

Leia Mais

A depressing and pathetic waste of time

Another slow drama with young people suffering trauma. Ha Ran (FL) from loosing both parents and Chan (ML) from loosing his mum and having an overbearing father.

On top of that we have a case of amnesia, hidden identity, misunderstandings, self loathing and self flagellation (metaphorical) and so so many tears - so many cliches and so oh hum. Can’t writers come up with something different?

FL so narrow minded as if she is the only one in the world suffering. She knows that the ML has experienced trauma and the physical and mental damage that is ongoing but ignores it because of her victim mentality and needs and unyielding standards are all that matter- all the supposed growth in character was just a facade. Being open to forgiveness, even of one’s self, is not big in Korean dramas.

The second couple (younger sister ) and Mr Yeon were a better couple and she was the better female in love much more understanding, happy and mature despite her youth and impetuous behaviour.

It was obvious that the boy Han Ra thought she fell in love with (what a joke! She had just strung him along as she was more focused on her own interests ) was loosing interest. No intrigue it was so obvious. All very sad.

The show was so depressing and struggled to watch especially at the beginning. It had repeated flash back memories that just kept piling up and dragging it out. Why do I allow myself to be dragged into these quagmires?

Doesn’t anyone in Korea want happy, normal and real grown up relationships? Can Korean drama not come up with a formula that gives characters real opportunities to grow create sustaining relationships through shared goals, achievements and actions?

Leia Mais