Reviews

10/10 Most Underrated Drama

Korean dramas are known for their stereotypes. The overarching story may change, the genders might be revered (figuratively but in some cases literally), the girl might be rich instead of the guy, the witch may get the man instead of the princess, but the major beats are always the same; guy and girl are meant to be, blah blah gets in their way, they get together in the end. True that some of the recent entries have tried to shatter major stereotypes (take Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo for example) but no kdrama breaks stereotypes the way Be Melodramatic does. Most kdramas start off funny and light hearted, then quickly shift to the same gear that every other drama does with over the top melodrama and sadness, oh so much sadness. Be Melodramatic has surprisingly managed to balance the tears-in-your-eyes comedy, heart throbbing romance and poignant melodrama that never goes over the top in such an effective manner that I doubt any other kdrama comes even close. The fact that this is such an outlier in the cookie cutter world of kdrama might be the reason behind it's low ratings. In being so different, it may have alienated some of the typical audience members for this type of media. But if people aren't hyping this kdrama up to the max, they are making a mistake. This drama is awesome. To those who are skeptical of this show, just watch episode 1 till the end. You won't regret it.

Leia Mais

Insane Chemistry.

I think that this show was written very well. The casting was well done and so was the pacing. Surprisingly all 28 episodes felt necessary and none of them really felt like they were a filler episode.

The main leads had so much chemistry and I loved their interactions so much. Honestly I think the female leads acting carried their relationship. I understand that the male lead is supposed to be somewhat broody and emotionless but near the end there were like one or two scenes where I feel like he needed to show a littl emotion like microexpressions but he didn't deliver. But thats just me being nitpicky. Overall he performed well.

I'm also so happy that this male lead actually had some weight to him and wasn't extremly skinny. It fit the character well. I also really liked the pacing of their relationship like it took long enough for us to feel that yearning and the jealousy. I also enjoyed the second leads storyline. I like how they were involved but their story didn't overpower the main characters

Anyways I would definetly rewatch this show since it lowkey has every element of a romance story that I like.

Leia Mais

Not what i expected

theres so many boring episodes and useless scenes like so much filler and we get to see so little of the son and what happens with him and his family like he cries about not being number one and as soon as he gets bailed out he’s forgotten again, but the casting for the younger and older actors of everybody was extremely good. i just expected better because of all the good reviews i’ve seen and so many videos. there was a lot of the same things going again, the episodes could’ve just been shorter without the useless fillers. but still very wholesome and i enjoyed most of it.

Leia Mais

10/10 Once again Truly amazing

I love this bl so much. This drama excels at conveying the intensity of first love, vulnerability, longing. I can feel their emotions. I just need it's more parts. It's really beautiful yet painful. o tro I'm just crying mess. I know ending is
just perfect the way it had to be. But trust me I want their happy ending with all of my heart. The actors perfectly portrayed their emotions, they are so good. I hope to see then together again in future. I want to say Please go give it a try you all Please. Sometimes love stories don't have happy ending, but I want their happy ending tho (fo).I loved it.
I love this bl so much. This drama excels at conveying the intensity of first love, vulnerability, longing. I can feel their emotions. I just need it's more parts. It's really beautiful yet painful. a
Good I'm just crying mess. I know ending is
just perfect the way it had to be. But trust me I want their happy ending with all of my heart. The actors perfectly portrayed their emotions, they are so good. I hope to see then together again in future. I want to say Please go give it a try you all Please. Sometimes love stories don't have happy ending, but I want their happy ending th fo fo).Iloved it.

Leia Mais

10/10 Outstanding drama; one of the best BL dramas.

A truly outstanding drama. Complex, emotional, affirming and very well executed. The story of first love, lost then found, told over a decade. Starts with a declaration of finding first love, and then goes back a decade of backstory.
Reveals itself to be a complex, innocent, quite dark at times, but always with a sweet overtone. It then ultimately is a story of finding, losing and regaining that love.
Performances are exceptional, across all characters, but the leads are outstanding (both as teenagers and adults).
Completely believable, totally compelling. The ten year span allows for dramatic use of the changing norms. The sincerity of the storytelling is powerfully done.

Leia Mais

10/10 One of the most recent outstanding bl drama released

This is probably one of my current favourite bl drama along with the other dramas that are currently airing at the moment. This one has more episodes than the other dramas but I actually prefer it more than short ones (short eps) just cause it is slow burn yet engaging viewers. It doesn't feel rushed and every scene is something that is memorable which makes a good build-up for each upcoming episodes.
Another thing 1 want to mention is the amazing chemistry of both pairs in the drama. They all are very good at their roles and they are also very captivating with their outstanding acting skills. I am very attached mainly to the main characters but 1 always get excited whenever the 2nd pair shows up too haha. The OST is FANTASTIC-- and I mean like I really wanna compliment it but I can't come up with the right words. Overall, this bl drama is very beautifully produced and delivered. There is so much impact in this.
Good job to everyone who worked on this drama. *Claps*

Leia Mais

WATCH THE UNCUT VERSION AND FINISH ALL 12 EPISODES

Please stop rating this beautiful BL after only watching the cut version on YouTube or just 2–3 episodes. The 2 episodes will tell you NOTHING. In other words: Stop judging a book by its cover.
Finish all 12 episodes in the uncut version, and then come back and share your opinion.

If you’re going to watch the Cut version, don’t expect any NC scenes or other important moments that help you understand the characters better.
If you want to watch the Uncut version, please watch the show on IQIYI or another platform. Tip: Find out where else you can watch it.

Of course, I recommend you the uncut version after watching Duang With You MANY times. Otherwise, like I said, you’ll miss a lot of important scenes and you‘ll be confused.

Thank you for understanding. ❤️

Leia Mais

8/10 light and heartwarming

A Breeze of Love is a South Korean BL series that aired in November 2023, with 8 bite-sized episodes of about 18 minutes each. Directed by and starring Shin Jeong You as Ban Dong Wook alongside Woo Ji Han as Lee Do Hyun, the show is adapted from the Weather Forecast Love webtoon.
The series tells the story of two former high school classmates who reunite at college through the basketball team, reigniting an old flame and unresolved feelings.
The plot kicks off with Do Hyun, the captain of the basketball team, preparing for a championship. When an injured teammate needs replacing, team manager Hye In introduces Dong Wook-Do Hyun's first love. These two have history, and it's clear from their interactions that their past is filled with angst. They'd kissed back in high school before Dong Wook had to transfer schools. Now reunited, they must navigate their feelings while playing basketball together. To add a bit of fun, they make a bet: if Dong Wook wins, he joins the team. When he does, Dong Wook suggests they live together, claiming that he only sleeps well around Do Hyun. The plot focuses on their rekindled relationship, peppered with unresolved tension and tender moments.
The pacing is one of the show's biggest strengths. With only 8 episodes, there isn't room for complex plotlines, but this works in its favor. The story zeroes in on the two leads, giving them maximum screen time and development. Their chemistry is palpable, though it leans heavily on angst and the trope of someone being a "sleeping pill" for another.
While some of the drama (like the rainy sports scenes) feels a bit cliché, it's part of the charm.
The cinematography, as expected from a K-drama, is visually pleasing. The lighting, close-ups, and camera work all add to the romantic atmosphere. The leads are also a big draw-Shin Jeong You and Woo Ji Han are not only good-looking but bring a certain depth to their roles. Woo Ji Han, in particular, has a charm that's hard to resist.
What I enjoyed most about Breeze of Love was its focus on the couple. While there is a supporting cast, they never overshadow the main storyline. The show also avoids rushing through the finale, allowing the audience to fully enjoy the sweetness of the leads' relationship once they've overcome their obstacles. The final episode is a lovely wrap-up, dedicating time to their happy ending rather than squeezing it into the last few minutes, as many BLs tend to do.
If you're into BL dramas that deliver on angsty tension, intimate moments, and strong performances, Breeze of Love is definitely worth checking out. It's short and sweet, though I wouldn't have minded if it were a bit longer-maybe 10 episodes at 30 minutes each would've given it more breathing room. Still, for what it is, it's an enjoyable, feel-good series with all the aesthetics and romance you'd expect from a K-drama.

Leia Mais

Molodrama sob festival

For sure red flag ML's (both of them), but more in an obsessive negative kind of a way instead of a passionate way. 100% melodrama and not a drop of comedy at all, which is not something I usually enjoy, but I gave this drama a chance anyway. The chemistry was good, but the ML's (both of them) character was very difficult to like and repelled me as a watcher. This drama is full of angst, heartbreak, loss, loss and more loss, with no calm moments just all melodrama all the time. I enjoy angst and watching people overcoming that angst, but there was just so much injustice and abuse, it was would not be something I would watch again. If you have a tender heart, can't stand watching women abused/used, or need more tender/funny moments in life, than dramatic ones....than this drama was not for me or you.

Leia Mais

Visually Stunning, Narratively Hollow — A Missed Crown (ongoing review, updated through Ep. 8)

Main Points:
Shallow female lead lacks depth, stringent story line or some kind of relatability, lacks story/character building especially in the beginning (high school years). Also the story with the king, the royal prince, and the "bad" king's mom is stereotypical — potential not used, makes it very hard to keep going. Often also very unrealistic plot lines — like wtf was that car episode… Artificial creation of suspense → non-authentic. However, episodes 7 & 8 show genuine improvement — read full summary for the full picture.

Summary:
I've never felt the need to rate a series that early on, but this one is taking on my nerves… and sadly not in a good way.
So what do I have to criticize or highlight in a positive way:
Let's start with the good things: Visuals and OST. This drama is visually really pleasing and the costumes are great. I love how embedded the older Joseon dynasty style was woven into the modern 21st century business-casual style, and all of the cast (main + supporting) are looking fantastic.
The soundtrack is very subtle and fits the story line very well (coming from somebody who also watches a lot of C-Dramas, where the same songs are played 24/7, making it an annoying stretch in some scenes and utterly disturbing). I had to laugh for a sec with the K-Pop reference of EXID's UP&DOWN — that was hilarious (props to the secretary of the prince, he is such a good actor, loved him in his other dramas as well :))
Now to the not so nice things about this drama:
Let's begin with what initially actually caught my attention and till today makes me hang into it: Matching Joseon monarchy into the 21st century, having influential families of royal descent and on the other hand "normal" people or "just" businessmen. I loved the start with the high school scenes, the drama evolving there and the hierarchies, but that was like what? 5 minutes in total. It totally lacked in depth and threw out a lot of potential for this series.
This was also the main reason I felt this drama was very rushed in the first episode — switching between timelines, making up new dramatic plots, but lacking the most important thing: authentic storytelling and building up interesting characters that I, as a viewer, can either resonate with or despise in a good way, where a villain or unlikable character is also multi-layered.
However, in this case the female character is just utterly bizarre in her acting, non-relatable and honestly — should I be empathetic for someone just striving for a title, but coming from riches as well? Her younger self was rebellious in a "good" way, making it interesting to wait for more… but the more never came, as the story was too rushed. It all, and especially the interactions with the prince, felt so unnatural (not like it was intended), but also when they had 1-on-1 time without the official press beside them. Those scenes where I expected true feelings and honest reactions were mere disappointment. IU is a great actor — she perfectly nails the annoying FL — but that depth and acting to provide some insights into her "history" for the viewer just aren't portrayed very well, and those flashbacks also can't make up for that.
The same way I also feel for the prince. While he conveys his feelings to the viewer more (I still can't believe how the FL doesn't catch on to that, but nevermind), he has so few lines and it feels like a blur sometimes watching him… This is not to criticize the actors in any way or to incite hatred, I am just disappointed in how badly written the drama is.
The story jumps from one "happening" to another to create artificial suspense, whereas the main thing I am missing is depth and sometimes just a "rest". I am currently on episode 5, after that weird car episode which honestly just made me cringe, and this episode with less story and more genuine interaction felt like a relief after so much nonsense drama. I still dislike how the writers take on the same stereotypical villains as in the OG historical dramas. Also the idea of a "stronger" female lead is just not well-written. I get it — she wants to be independent and from a young age has to fight for herself, but making her a puppet of the media and a striver for a sheer title ruins it completely at that point. Like, that is not the strong female lead we preach for — it is a portrait of a FL with too great of an ego and at the same time so pitiable with her lack of a sense of belonging or greater achievements.

Update after Episode 7:
Heck yes — this drama is finally moving in the right direction. We're getting more genuine interactions and deep feelings, which aren't overshadowed by overdramatic acting or that disconnect where what a person says and does doesn't reflect their personality. Especially with the background stories getting more attention and, most importantly, more time to fully develop, it gives — especially — the female lead more character layers, and for the first time I felt like I could actually connect with her. Some dialogues still seem odd and my critique on most of the points named above still holds true, but there is IMPROVEMENT. Hoping we will see more of that in the next episodes and that the drama will fully thrive in the end. :)
Update after Episode 8:
The rising suspense and conflict are doing the drama and its figures a real service — we're now seeing how far these characters will go for what they love or desire, and their intertwined, opposing goals make for a nice guess-who-the-culprit-is dynamic. The female lead and her odd acting in some scenes bother me again — by odd I mean selfish and unbothered by how her actions affect others and influence their feelings. But props to the scene where she finally shed some tears — finally some genuine emotion from a character who is mostly a wall of stone. It might be a little too much happening a little too fast and out of "nowhere" at times, but in general a good episode that sucks you in and finally keeps up the tension so you actually want to watch the next one.

I think this critique might come off as very harsh at times — I am sorry if my words do not resonate with you, I just had to express how I am thinking about it and what I am truly missing. I am still disappointed by the earlier episodes but cautiously hopeful. Since I am not one to abandon a series, I will continue watching and keep updating this review as the story progresses. Current rating: 6.5/10 — and with any luck, that number will keep climbing.

Leia Mais

10/10 Aurora of Love

Japanese writers often convince us into weird plots. I think it is advantageous in a way for exploring possibilities. I liked the child inside of two grown men playing the roles of "Agira' and 'Yuki' closely resembling the original work by Tokokura Miya. Strangely I fail to place this drama into either genres, romance and tragedy because the storyline truly mirrors an entangled existence of glee and grief. Moments conceptualized between the two leads are novel while ensuring its overall viewership sound for all ages. A snippet of contemporary CP from MODC definitely warmed hearts of BL fandom though they were not as impressive as 'BoXiang-CHihGang' to me. Many have opinionated upon this drama as an 'underrated masterpiece' and I concur. Why has it's rating dropped over the episodes during airing? No idea.
One thing that lingers with me is Yuki calling Akira's name.
Ending leaves you content with tears. Evidently, soul of a person extrapolates the happiest self throughout their lifetime.

Leia Mais

Unpopular Opinion: I Don’t Get the Hype for "The Best Thing"

I’ll be blunt: I really tried to see what everyone else is seeing in this drama, but it was an uphill battle. I understand the premise was supposed to be a "healing rom-com," but there’s a fine line between "healing" and "empty," and this show crossed it early on.
Calling this "slow-burn" is being generous! It felt like a show with no plot for the vast majority of the episodes. There was zero narrative momentum, making it an incredibly difficult watch. I found myself skipping through massive chunks of episodes because literally nothing was happening. It had a spark of potential at the very start, but it quickly devolved into a repetitive, mid-tier slog.
The Female Lead: One Expression, Zero Impact
I have nothing personal against the actress, but her performance in this was painful to sit through. She seemed to have exactly one expression for the entire show: a perpetually shocked face. Even the emotional beats were off; when she was supposed to be crying, it actually looked like she was laughing.
Adding to the frustration was the voice....whether it was the dubbing or her actual delivery, she whispered her way through the entire show. It made the character feel ghostly and hollow, and honestly, it’s made me want to avoid her future projects entirely.
As for the male lead, he’s the ultimate example of a "cardboard green flag." He was so over-the-top perfect that he became insanely bland and one-dimensional. There was no depth to work with. Furthermore, the "insane chemistry" people are raving about? I didn't see it. Without that spark to carry the thin plot, the whole thing just fell flat.
I am genuinely confused as to why this is such a hit. It’s a whisper-filled, plotless drama with a lead performance that made it nearly impossible to stay engaged. If you value your time and actual storytelling, you might want to skip this one.

Leia Mais

10/10 Amazing

It looks gorgeous but the looks also have a purpose the lines (grades/latitudes in Geography are, after all, lines separating and uniting humans, it's in the title, it's mentioned through the script and it's also all over the photography), the colors, the house interior, where the house is... Fantastic.
And then there is the script itself...
The series can be read on multiple levels, you can just follow the personal dramas as they are told, you can focus on the diversity aspect or you can do a whole lecture on generations. All of them, for me, are valid interpretations.
But the most just towards the script is probably to take in all its layers.
Wang, the main character, is probably the most "fantastic" character of the 3, he's quite realistic, but he also represents unlimited possibilities of a maybe better future so he's also the most idealistic of the 3. While Mol and In are hardcore reality.
I can't say much about Inthawut, because I didn't get to meet one IRL. But I did grew up as the child of a Mol, and I can say she's extremely well written and absolutely consistent. It was entertaining (but also true to reality) to see how other viewers perception of her changed through the episodes. From initially seeing her as a cool Mom until the last seconds where they got one last realisation of how truly nightmarish she is in that last scene.
All in all... If you come across this series... This is, IMHO, a must watch. But... It's probably not for everyone. If you are not sucked in by the 2nd episode, if you feel uninterested and bored... Then just drop it, it's probably just not the type of story you'll enjoy and there is no point in torturing yourself. But if you fall in love with it... keep going, it won't disappoint. But maybe don't binge it, leave space between episodes to digest them.

Leia Mais