Reviews

Thai romcom (watch suggestions)

Overall: it was great to see several actors again, but this style of comedy didn't work for me. 10 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on Viu.

Content Warnings: stalking played as comedy, bullying, vomiting, beaten up, manipulation, non con touching, manhandling, beginning sexual assault (not between the MLs), punch, harassment, attempted murder, blood

Watch Suggestions (if the humor doesn't work for you and to focus on the romance and take out content warnings)
- read the synopsis and skip episodes 1-4
- episode 5 watch 23:45-28:40 and 30:40-end
- episode 6 watch beginning-6:10, 16:40-21 and 31-34:45
- watch episode 7
- episode 8 watch 11:50-13:30, 18:45-20:50, 29-31:05 and 36:30-end
- episode 9 watch beginning-4:45, 7-11:40, 13:20-15:30, 29-35:40 and 38:30-41:20
- episode 10 watch 11:40-14:40, 20-34:20 and 42:30-end

What I Liked
- actors did a good job with the script they had
- good consent, didn't kiss him when passed out drunk
- intimacy
- easy to understand premise
- happy that a bullying survivor didn't quickly forgive the bully

Room For Improvement
- cringey sound effects that were constant
- the overheard and never communicated trope
- two of the other 3 romance stories didn't work, they didn't get much screen time and the former bully's victim was reluctant for too long for it to work as a romance, also 2 were unresolved
- terrible prank at the end of episode 9/beginning of episode 10

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Great until that last bit.....

Overall I had a good time with this drama but I found it sort of hypocritical at the end which frustrated me.

The first half did a great job showing us these really lively characters who had their own agendas. I'm usually more invested in the romances of these costume dramas but the plot was constantly moving in ways that captivated me. The romance was sweet and took it's time to nurture which I enjoyed. The growing maturity of the characters was really well thought out and explored.

I especially loved the exploration of friendship and love between Shaoshang and A'Yao. They might not have understood or been romantically in love but they are soulmates~

But... but...

Don't get me wrong, I believe in love but I also believe in being a human and the way the drama showed our characters being depressed for 5 years non-stop is sort of ridiculously unrealistic. I don't like how Shaoshang's character in the second half after she goes on about being stubborn and unchanging. Damn it writers, you didn't make her stubborn enough!!

When I was young and stupid I would have eaten this up but after having gone through a devestating break up myself, I just don't buy the 5 year cry fest lol. You would get tired and either kill yourself or slowly start to heal. Yeah I can imagine that Shaoshang and Buyi would be upset about it 5 years later but I don't think that they'd cry about it for 1800 days straight. Especially with how these two characters were portrayed in the first half.

I think what would have been more realistic and more true to the characters was to have Shaoshang happy and free but also missing Ling Buyi and sad but only sometimes. (And also have him do a bit more grovelling before she took him back.) Like Shaoshang went to scold the Third Prince about how she loved Buyi but she's still her own person and then the show was like nope nvm she's going to change into this shell of herself for the rest of the drama..... That pissed me off a lot aiyaaa

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fantastic acting with unrealistic plot

Overall: I enjoy slice of life series; however, so many rare things happened that it completely pulled me out of the story. I define soulmates as people with romantic connections, so in my opinion the series is misnamed as I felt zero romance. Aired on Netflix. Spoiler for the ending in the comment section.

Content Warnings: homophobia, vomiting, attempted suicide, xenophobia, blood, fights, past death, hate crime, death, grief

Watch Suggestions to take out content warnings
- skip episode 1
- episode 2 watch 15-end
- episode 3 watch 5:20-27:45
- episode 4 beginning-7:30, 20:15-21:45, 24:50-27
- episode 5 watch 13-29
- episode 6 watch 16:30-end (there is a photo that will tell you something sad)
- episode 7 beginning to 7m30s or 10 minutes
- skip episode 8

What I Liked
- acting
- production value
- support characters like the friends, parents, bar owner & more
- realistic portrayal of the struggle of having a child and working

Room For Improvement
- the first episode was confusing, I wasn't sure what was real or not
- way too many coincidental/rare things happened that the series felt fake and 'because the writer said so'
- I did not feel soulmate chemistry
- noble idiot trope

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Good cast and story concept but did not deliver its full potential

In the first few episodes, I was excited because of the cast and the potential of the story. I enjoyed getting to know the different characters, specially those in Deokpung Village. Knowing the tv/online shopping world is actually fun and new to me, but the plot about the sleeping disorder feels like so unrealistic. A huge plot about the 2nd male lead feels so forced and can be removed entirely in the story. And the vibe of the drama is all over the place, where in one scene it was full on drama, then the next it is so comical. By the latter part of the series, it started to feel hard to watch, but I was still able to pushed through finishing the drama.

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It’s a short series, six episodes of under 15 minutes each, that definitely won me over. It’s going on my list of "comfort shows" to watch on a rainy day, curled up under the covers. It was surprisingly fun and sweet. But what really hooked me were the performances by Hwang Dong Hee as Cha Do Gyeong and Kim Dong Won as Yun Ji O. I love body-swapping shows, and these actors were incredible. The way they switched personalities was so believable and flawless. Plus, the chemistry between them was excellent, and both seemed completely at ease in their roles. Despite the low budget, the series delivered a quality production. I just wish there had been a few more episodes or more screen time, as I’d love to know the backstory behind the homestay's matchmaking abilities. Who knows? Maybe a second season telling the story of Secretary Ha and the homestay? It’s unlikely, but it doesn't hurt to dream. Breathtaking scenery and a gentle soundtrack round out the production.

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A TERCEIRA FASE DA HISTÓRIA É A MAIS BEM TRABALHADA.

Vamos lá.


PONTOS POSITIVOS (o que eu gostei):

- A história é dividida em 3 fases e a fase final é definitivamente a melhor;
- Lu Feng é um personagem bem construído, ele é cheio de camadas.


PONTOS NEGATIVOS (o que eu não gostei):

- Como eu disse anteriormente a história é dividida em 3 fases, a primeira é deles na faculdade no começo do relacionamento, e esse período não me agrada. Começando por algo simples como a personalidade do Xiao Chen que sempre foi impessoal e arredia e indo até o ritmo da história que não é satisfatório. Xiao Chen não foi um personagem cativante para mim, ele não tinha carisma nenhum e prejudicou como eu via o casal, e quando isso é somado a bagunça que eram as cenas faz dessa primeira fase algo muito difícil para mim;
- A segunda fase que foi a chefe x funcionário é um pouco melhor, mas ainda ruim de uma forma geral. Mais uma vez eu tenho um sério problema com o Xiao Chen, mas aqui o motivo é sua covardia. Todos os movimentos sempre são feitos pelo Lu Feng, ele é quem obviamente ama e demostra mais, o outro apenas recebe e faz joguinhos, ele é imaturo e egoísta, o relacionamento não dá certo mais uma vez por conta dele;
- Dentro dessas duas fases temos outros problemas que vou citar em sequência, mas vamos começar pelo ritmo da série. A filmagem, o jogo de câmeras, a iluminação e até a construção soaram bem amadoras e por conta disso o ritmo da narrativa é estranho. Eu me senti vendo uma colagem de momentos ao invés de uma série;
- Mesclando com o tópico acima temos a falta de intensidade para um projeto que se vendia assim. No lugar dessa intensidade temos muita impulsividade. As cenas e diálogos se constroem de forma rápida e frenética, logo, a atmosfera de tensão e intensidade é perdida pois o público não tem tempo para absorver cada coisa de uma vez. Conforme a cena começa nós já temos vários diálogos e ações amontoados, não temos tempo nem para analisar a expressão facial dos personagens;
- O jeito desesperado do Lu Feng acrescido a personalidade arredia e baixa em carisma do Xiao Chen exigia uma boa equipe por trás para funcionar, mas infelizmente não tivemos isso. O que faz a gente se importar e torcer por um casal é a construção, e uma boa construção depende dos roteiristas, produtores, diretores e os atores. Quando alguém falha todo o projeto fica desequilibrado, e aqui vemos muito disso (embora eu não saiba exatamente quem eu devo culpar);
- E então temos os pormenores como as atuações medianas no elenco principal e de apoio, o Cheng Yi Chen que é um irmão e namorado terrível, afinal, ele é ainda mais mimado e imaturo, e as famílias tóxicas e disfuncionais de ambos os meninos (o que por si só não é algo negativo, mas da forma que foi trabalhado acabou sendo).


Para falar sobre essa série eu tive que ser extremamente detalhista, mas é porque o problema desse projeto é algo que vem de todos os lados. Infelizmente foi mal feito.

Agora, quando vamos para o presente que é mais ou menos 10 anos no futuro comparado ao início, temos uma grata evolução na história e nos personagens.

Xiao Chen sempre foi covarde e demostrou pouco o amor que sentia pelo parceiro, logo, Lu Feng se tornou obsessivo por conta da constante ansiedade e medo de abandono, afinal, ele foi abandonado fisicamente e emocionalmente diversas vezes. Ele nunca foi uma prioridade. É como o próprio Xiao Chen disse e ouviu de outras pessoas: Lu Feng sempre estaria o esperando e procurando por ele.

Por conta disso entramos na fase mais sombria da história que é quando ele depois de anos e um divórcio vai atrás do Lu Feng que se descontrola e o sequestra. E essa foi a coisa mais sensata que o roteiro poderia fazer.

Como eu disse anteriormente, a personalidade do Lu Feng é um dos pontos altos da história pois foi muito bem construída, ele tem camadas. No começo ele é só um garoto apaixonado, mas depois por pressão de fora ele começa a ficar cada vez mais agressivo e paranoico tentando fazer tudo dar certo no final. Quando não dá ele passa anos se afundando em profunda tristeza para logo depois reencontrar um Xiao Chen diferente do que ele deixou para trás. Depois disso quando o relacionamento engata novamente ele ainda é frágil e por conta disso ele sempre precisa de garantias de que eles ficarão juntos para sempre, afinal, seu namorado é facilmente influenciável. Ele abriu mão de tudo pelo Xiao Chen. Ele aceitou o ódio da família, os olhares, perder status e dinheiro, e ainda sim o outro não conseguia fazer o mesmo por ele. É uma relação desequilibrada. Xiao Chen sempre teve amor dentro de casa e por isso é tão difícil para ele ir contra a família, mas por conta disso o Lu Feng está sempre em último lugar em sua lista de prioridades. Ele é aquele que ele sempre pode renegar como uma escolha segura, afinal, ele é devoto e sempre volta para ele. O acúmulo disso tudo ao longo das fases e anos leva Lu Feng a um estopim.

Xiao Chen está pagando por toda dor que causou, mas no meio do caminho Lu Feng se machuca junto, o sofrimento é mútuo. O medo, a incerteza e a negligência de anos explodiram de uma só vez. A agressão, os abusos e as palavras duras foram muito coerentes e bem feitos, mas a adaptação foi obviamente higienizada (o que é um ponto muito negativo).

Agora já no final descobrimos que Lu Feng sofre de bipolaridade (o que retrataram muito mal pois bipolaridade não tem cura e sim tratamento) e o caminho que escolheram para fazê-lo se tratar é definitivamente patético. É pura manipulação. Não me entenda mal, eu não tenho nenhum problema com manipulação na história, mas isso ser usado por um médico e namorado do paciente para persuadi-lo a se tratar é realmente deplorável.

Apesar de tudo o caminho dessa terceira e última fase é muito mais coerente e engrandece o projeto, mas o grande elefante na sala que é todo o trabalho de adaptação e execução ainda é um peso muito sólido. O contraste de tom da história no começo e no final é muito grande e não deveria ser assim, a obra não tem um registro fluído e coerente. O começo e o final parecem projetos diferentes que não se encaixam 100% bem.

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Great Acting, Nice Mysteries, Where Was ZQL at the End?

This was on my watchlist. I just didn't expect it to literally come out of nowhere. The acting was top-notch, even though the choppy editing could've been done without. I was very impressed with DYX and his Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde switches on a dime. But everyone in general in the lead cast even the creepy antagonist did a good job. The costumes, the stunts and wire work, the CGI including the monsters and things, sets and OST's were great.

I feel this was a domino effect story they started off with these two adopted brothers who went to solve mysteries after being made official members of the archives from the mysterious Zhang family. So this was a combo of Mystic Nine and The Lost Tomb series from what I understood. I'm not as many people know a source material reader so to me it's just coming in as a viewer. But ZHL made the colossal mistake of being arrogant and spilling some secrets which caused the domino effect of the archives being discovered, and people within the archives being hunted and killed by the warlord. I think the story is incredibly engaging, especially toward the end when you find out that absolutely everything is connected from that very first case of twilight grass to what the warlord was really after or who rather. I feel insanely bad for ZHX because he was sort of like the sacrificial lamb in the entire thing, and even though he faked his death, he still didn't know the entire truth that the thing was a poison, and that the second part would erode his mind and turned him into Mr. Hyde, and he fought the bloodlust to the end. I still blame to an extent ZHQ for not telling ZHX the entire truth of the fake death and also keeping a lot of secrets from ZHL. But as ZQJ said at the end, "it's the one that's left that suffers the most" though I think given everything it's not the last we have seen of ZHX and ZHL knows it.

The only thing I didn't really understand was why ZQL only popped up when pretty much everything was over and why he didn't step in to help when he knew so many people were essentially dying due to things that he could get rid of or control and it didn't need to necessarily be a monster until the very last episode with the meteorite and those Kraken looking tentacles that came out of it. At least he brought ZHQ back to life, which is what essentially they were looking for but again why wait so long?

Given what Wu Xie said at the end and the note from Xiao Ge about “working together before” plus that snake that followed both bros around inside the hypnosis and finding out about the meteorite through that hypothetical 3 way convo, this makes a ton of sense more than the stab and done. ZHX who went through so much to just die like that, when I watched it that morning (after not sleeping all night) even then it didn’t make sense to me. I don’t believe he’s dead either; I think he’s in that suspended animation state waiting for a cure. Furthermore, just like ZHL said all adopted orphans into the family are special because their hearts are on the right side, not the left and when he stabbed ZHX, he stabbed his left side. Even at the very end of them fighting ZHL through words and actions let ZHX know he hadn’t given up on him (as he had explained to the two with him and the snake charmer dude as well as continuing with what ZQS had told him that we had the flashback too in episode 29. Though he wasn’t acting like everything was normal, he now understood the why and treated him like two different ppl sharing a body). Because of the world they’re in that’s where my head’s at plus I think Shifu knows it too. The all knowing look she gave ZHL on that boat at the end was a bit too obvious. The medicine formula dark shrimp burned wasn’t the real one (flashback was twice to drive the point home) and she either has it or memorized it as we know she’s good at that so other than Zhang blood they need the other ingredients. Whether we’ll actually see it or not is a different matter. Though the writer did leave a lot of little cryptic notes saying that there will be a possible season two I just hope it's with the same actors.

Would I recommend it? I 100% would recommend this if you love this franchise and universe despite the choppy editing and sadness for the life of ZHX I think it was executed very well and he did it very well. I don't want to tell the entire story because then what's the point of watching? I'm sure there are other reviews that have done that and mine are a lot shorter now so please watch and make up your minds for yourselves.

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utterly awful...

It's again time to drop a title... because while I have a hard skin, I can't watch this. The story is extremely weak but the acting is atrocious. This should have been an over the top comedy I guess... but even with skipping scenes I can't let go through the 2nd episode. While the first few minutes let you imagine it's a cheap imitation of Gelboys, it is nothing of the sort. Just the intro resembles it with a cute face in it, but every other actor does not stand out a bit.

While I hoped the Thai BL slump ended with June, this is a new low. A complete waste of time and money.

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A Thoughtful Story About Choice, Justice and Human Nature

To My Beloved Thief – 9/10

If you're happy to enjoy this drama simply as a historical romance with a body-swap storyline, you'll probably have a great time. But if you enjoy stories that invite you to reflect on people, relationships and human nature, I think To My Beloved Thief has even more to offer.

What I liked most about To My Beloved Thief was not only the romance or the body-swap element, but the deeper themes woven throughout the story.

The drama felt fresh, and I think that came from the way the characters were written. Everyone was allowed to occupy their own space. They had their own motivations, choices and emotional logic. There was no constant over-acting or over-reacting. Instead, the story trusted the audience to understand what characters were feeling through their actions, decisions and circumstances.

For me, the writing was one of the drama's greatest strengths. The characters were flawed, but understandable. They were not simply divided into heroes and villains. Many acted from duty, fear, love, loyalty or limited understanding, and the story allowed their perspectives to change over time.

Another point of difference was the second male lead. He was not written as a flat obstacle or a convenient rival. He felt fully developed, with one of the most interesting and life-changing character arcs in the drama. That is unusual in many K-dramas, where second leads often exist mainly to create romantic tension or support the main couple. Here, his journey mattered in its own right.

I especially loved the themes of justice, people's rights, equality, voice and the freedom to choose one's own path. Eun-jo never set out to become a hero. She simply acted from kindness, courage and a sense of fairness. The beautiful realisation was that her actions had mattered far more than she knew. By quietly standing up for what was right, she inspired ordinary people to find the courage to stand up as well.

The scene where the common people came together and pretended to be the thief was one of the most meaningful moments of the entire drama. It showed that lasting change did not have to come through a great war or one extraordinary hero. It came through ordinary people recognising their own strength and acting together.

I also appreciated that the drama showed women supporting women. The relationship between the Queen and the Queen Dowager was particularly refreshing because they were not written as jealous or manipulative rivals. Instead, they recognised each other's strengths and supported one another. It was a welcome change from a trope that appears so often in palace dramas.

The body-swap storyline was also handled beautifully. Rather than existing mainly for comedy, it became a way of building empathy. Seeing relationships from another person's perspective helped create understanding between parent and child and allowed characters to appreciate each other in ways that would otherwise have been impossible. It also drew me, as the viewer, into their emotional journeys. I also appreciated that the body swap never felt overused. It remained a meaningful storytelling device rather than becoming a gimmick.

One of my favourite aspects of the ending was how faithfully it stayed true to the ideas established throughout the series. The female lead did not have to abandon her values or her sense of freedom simply to fit the role society expected of her. Equally, the male lead respected her choices while remaining true to his own responsibilities. Neither tried to change the other. They discussed their futures as mature adults, built on mutual respect rather than control or sacrifice. I found that incredibly refreshing.

I also appreciated how the drama handled its antagonist. In many historical dramas, a villain's fate is simply imposed upon them through execution, poison or another familiar ending. Here, even the antagonist was given a choice. I thought that was a thoughtful decision because it remained consistent with one of the drama's central ideas: people are ultimately defined by the choices they make.

The pacing worked well for me. I was always keen to watch the next episode. Some viewers may find it a little slower if they are mainly looking for plot progression and are less interested in the deeper character journeys, but I never found it slow myself. Most of the plot also held together well. There were a few moments where characters conveniently appeared exactly when needed, and I did question one aspect of the timeline near the end, but neither issue significantly affected my enjoyment.

Visually, the production was excellent. Some of the cinematography, particularly during the romantic scenes, was stunning and added beautifully to the emotional atmosphere without overwhelming it.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give To My Beloved Thief is that it has made me genuinely excited to follow this screenwriter's future work. While the drama uses some familiar tropes, it approaches them through a very different lens. Instead of simply repeating familiar formulas, it uses them to explore empathy, respect, justice, choice and human growth. That made the story feel genuinely fresh.

If you simply want an entertaining historical romance, I think you'll have a very enjoyable time with this drama. But if you enjoy stories that invite you to think more deeply about people, relationships and human nature, I believe To My Beloved Thief has even more to offer. For me, those deeper layers are what elevated it from an enjoyable drama to a memorable one.

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Definitely worth watching but be prepared for the warnings and the roller coaster of emotions.

I was seriously not prepared for this series. There was a lot of abuse mentally, physically and emotionally.

At times they say family knows best what's best for you and that your family would do anything to protect you. Unfortunately, due to same sex love both families are very toxic and manipulating on both Male lead families. We also have to remember the story takes place in the 90s and early 2000 where same sex relationship was still not considered acceptable.

As much as I didn't like the abuse that followed in so many of the episodes, I'm glad the writer brought what caused the male lead to act the way he was acting. It gives us a lot of insight on what was going on with the male. It does not make it excusable, but it gives you a better understanding.

I'm also glad that the series changed it up and moved away from the novel /Book a little bit. The novel did not make sense to me and the series was so much better. I hope I didn't put out too many spoilers. It's always better to watch it yourself. Everybody has a different perspective on the same stories. It's always great to see what other people think and how they would rate this series.

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Worth to watch!

Wow! I'm going to miss "Your Dear Daddy" so much 😭 This was the series that Fluke deserves and I hope he gets all the recognition he deserves. Who would have thought that traveling for a one night stand and sleeping with the wrong person, would lead Saitharn to the love of his live 🥺

Also, beyond the companies dispute, this series was about found family and believe in yourself. The series main topic is that you're not define by the people whose blood is related to you. Muenphae had a horrible family that didn't acknowledge her value nor her talents. However, she found a family in Sila, who's the brother her real one can't be. Moreover, she and Saitharn learned to own their worth and not letting others dictate what they should or not be.

Sincerely, 10/10! My only complaint is that it had to end! I demand a special episode with Saitharn and Sila's married life 🫣

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Easily one of the best romcoms

I’m usually not a fan of romcom-centered dramas—especially modern ones. Honestly, they can be so boring and slow, which definitely doesn’t fit my taste because I want drama all over the place. But wow, this series completely changed the game for me. It gave me all the high-stakes drama and excitement I wanted, but without any of that bitter, toxic aftertaste.
​The way this series delivers the main characters' love story is so incredibly refreshing and heart-fluttering to the max. Every single episode had me smiling like crazy, especially watching how Tinn pursues Gun. Like, seriously, that has to be the sweetest, most pure execution of a crush ever.
​What really hooked me, though, was the pacing. You know those slow-paced dramas that just drag on and make you want to skip ahead? This isn’t that. It completely eliminates that usual boredom by staying laser-focused on the plot and the romance. There’s no useless filler. Plus, they did an absolute masterclass of a job showing the mix of music and love. The soundtrack and the performances blend so perfectly into the story that I can’t even fully express how much I love it.
​Also, can we talk about the first episode? It totally baits you into thinking you’re getting that classic enemies-to-lovers trope, but then it flips the script into something completely different and way better. It’s actually just Tinn being a total dork who has no idea how to express his feelings the right way.
​As for the acting, Gemini did a great job playing that total loser in love—especially those moments where he smiles just because Gun notices him. However, if I'm being fully honest, his overall expressions just didn't quite fit my expectations for the role.
​On an insignificant note, though: I really think actors being caged into fixed "love teams" is so degrading and doesn’t actually showcase their range. Because of this practice, I'm not really a fan of the Thai entertainment industry's setup. Fourth has such an incredible talent when acting, and I would really love to see him get paired up with other actors to see what else he can do.
​But overall, if you want a romance that skips the boring fluff, delivers pure serotonin, and keeps you hooked from start to finish, this is 100% it.

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