Reviews

this eatery

i still remember the first time i heard about this adaptation, i was skeptical with how much guts they have because the plot is not mainstream in thai bl. not only that, it's not like they came from a large company or had the initial popularity compared to some actors. but this ATE. licked crumbs off my plate just to savor it and make it linger more. as someone who liked the manhwa and followed it when it was still posting chapters, i am pleasantly surprised with this adaptation. i didn't know any of the actors aside from Boss and Max, and only knew Min from that survival show. Min and Toptap absolutely portrayed their characters so well. not to mention talented actors Shogun and Fuaiz too. i was surprised by the acting because i already knew the plot. what started as something i was nervous to start became something i looked forward to every week. the only thing i'd say not good is the fact that it wasn't longer, it ended too soon lol. anyway, huge props to the production team, because the show was certainly detailed to the point that it is only righteous to say that they did justice to the manhwa. it was a fun ride!

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A bit dissapointed

I was really looking forward to watching this drama because I was so excited to see Zhang Jingyi again. She’s an incredible actress and probably my favorite actress in China. As for Song Weilong, I wasn’t nearly as excited. After Shine on Me, I realized I didn’t really like his acting. Still, the drama’s aesthetics and the chemistry between the leads made me want to give it a try.

Right from the start, I wasn’t a fan of the adopted siblings trope, especially because they constantly referred to each other as brother and sister. Unfortunately, Chinese dramas seem to love romanticizing this kind of relationship, which I personally find really uncomfortable. But since I love the actors, I decided to stick with it.

Unlike Speed and Love (which I found bizarre and almost fetishistic), the characters here are mature and independent. We don’t have an infantilized, helpless female lead, and that’s something I really appreciated. Zhang Jingyi always delivers some of the best female characters. That said, her character did annoy me a bit after the time skip.

Song Weilong completely surprised me. His performance was fantastic, and honestly much better than I expected. Both leads did an amazing job, and as always with Zhang Jingyi, the chemistry was excellent. Their relationship developed rather slowly, but in a way that felt natural and believable.

That being said, I had a lot of issues with the rest of the story. There were simply too many plotlines happening all the time. Every episode introduced another twist, someone suddenly reappeared, someone else disappeared… it just became exhausting and boring.

Another thing that really bothered me was the directing choice of playing the exact same comedic background music every single time the leads shared a scene before they officially got together. It completely ruined the mood for me. Many of those moments could have felt subtle, emotional, or romantic, but instead they were undercut by this goofy a$$ soundtrack that made everything feel like a joke. It was such a strange decision.

One thing I absolutely loved, though, was the ending. I loved that the female lead was the successful one, the one in charge, which is still surprisingly rare in C-dramas. Then he became a stay-at-home husband, and she was the one who proposed. I laughed so hard and absolutely loved it. They truly deserved their happy ending.

Overall, I don’t regret watching it, but I definitely wouldn’t watch it again, and I’m not sure I’d recommend it. At the end of the day, the actors were what made this drama worth watching for me. Without Zhang Jingyi and Song Weilong, I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed it nearly as much.

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Visually stunning

After watching the first few episodes of Genius Girlfriend, I can honestly say that this drama has quietly become one of the most heartwarming surprises of the year.
At first glance, it seems like a simple coming-of-age story about two exceptionally gifted students. However, beneath its lighthearted tone lies a touching exploration of loneliness, friendship, family expectations, dreams, and the bittersweet experience of growing up.
Lin Zhixia is undoubtedly the soul of the story. Gifted with extraordinary intelligence, she constantly finds herself isolated from those around her. Yet instead of portraying her as an untouchable genius, the drama reveals her vulnerability, innocence, kindness, and unwavering determination. Tian Xiwei delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance, bringing warmth and tenderness to every scene. Her gentle line delivery perfectly captures Lin Zhixia's unique way of seeing the world.
The drama's greatest strength lies in its sincerity. It doesn't rely on exaggerated conflicts or dramatic plot twists. Instead, it invites the audience to revisit the small but unforgettable moments of youth: the pressure of examinations, the excitement of chasing dreams, the comfort of companionship, and the uncertainty of the future.
Visually, the series is stunning. The soft cinematography, nostalgic atmosphere, and beautiful soundtrack create a dreamlike world that feels both magical and deeply familiar. There is a quiet melancholy woven into the story, but it is always accompanied by hope.
Genius Girlfriend reminds us that even the brightest stars can feel lonely and that sometimes all we need is someone willing to walk beside us.

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A Revenge Story That Almost Forgot to Deliver the Revenge

I went into Payback with genuinely high expectations. A darker Thai BL centred around revenge, corruption and the entertainment industry sounded right up my alley. It's adapted from the popular Korean webtoon Payback by Fujoking and Samk, and everything about the premise suggested this would be more than just another romance. It promised a gritty revenge thriller with emotional stakes, morally grey characters and plenty of twists. On paper, it had all the ingredients to become one of my favourite Thai BLs of the year.

I wasn't familiar with Min Thanakorn or Toptap Jarukit before this, but I was already sold after seeing Fuaiz Thanawat in the trailer. His supporting role in 4 Minutes proved he could act, so I had confidence he'd deliver here too. He absolutely did. Fuaiz brings a lot of complexity to Sunny, making him difficult to read throughout the series. Min is excellent as Sun, carrying the emotional weight of the story with quiet restraint, while Toptap does a solid job as Jay despite the script not always giving his character the strongest material. I also have to mention Boss Chaikamon and Shogun, whose scenes together were surprisingly effective. Their chemistry was strong enough that I honestly wanted to see more of them.

The opening episodes hooked me immediately. Sun's motivation is heartbreaking and easy to understand. After losing his younger brother Sky and eventually his mother because of the betrayal of his former lover Bank, now living as the successful actor Sunny, he dedicates himself to revenge. Watching him infiltrate the entertainment industry to destroy the people responsible was exactly the kind of story I signed up for. The added layer of corruption inside Dream Entertainment made the series even more intriguing because it suggested the revenge would be much bigger than simply settling old scores with an ex.

Unfortunately, that's where my excitement slowly started to fade.

For a series built around revenge, Payback spends surprisingly little time actually executing that revenge. Instead, most of the story follows Sun trying to establish himself as an actor. By around Episode 7, it genuinely felt like the series was still setting up the plot rather than moving it forward. The pacing becomes incredibly uneven, and the first six episodes easily could have been condensed into two or three. It constantly feels like the story is delaying the inevitable instead of building towards it.

I kept watching because I wanted to see Sun and Jay systematically dismantle everyone responsible for destroying their lives. I expected each episode to reveal another calculated move in Sun's revenge plan. Instead, almost everything is saved for the finale, where years of build-up are resolved far too quickly. Most of the major confrontations happen inside one lengthy boardroom sequence, and after ten episodes of waiting, the payoff simply isn't satisfying.

I haven't read the original manhwa, so I don't know whether this slower pacing is faithful to the source material or a result of the adaptation. Either way, the television series never finds a good balance between building suspense and delivering meaningful progress.

The romance is another mixed bag. Min and Toptap work well together as actors, but I never fully bought into Sun and Jay falling in love. The emotional progression simply isn't there. I kept asking myself when those feelings actually developed. Was it because of genuine emotional connection? Physical attraction? Or did Jay simply become attached after their one-night stand? The script never convincingly answers those questions, making the relationship feel underdeveloped despite the chemistry between the actors.

Jay also raises another issue. While he's clearly written as a morally grey character, some of his actions cross the line into behaviour that feels manipulative and coercive. Considering Sun is emotionally broken and consumed by guilt, several of Jay's advances become uncomfortable to watch rather than romantic. The series never properly addresses those moments or allows Jay to reflect on them, making the relationship harder to root for than it should have been.

The revenge storyline, however, does succeed in establishing why Sun and Director Arthur become allies. Their motivations are clearly defined, and the series does a great job explaining why their goals align. In fact, I found their shared pursuit of justice far more compelling than the romance itself. At times, it almost feels like the romantic subplot exists simply because the genre expects it, rather than because the story naturally builds towards it.

The finale left me with mixed feelings. While I appreciated finally seeing the villains face consequences, several resolutions felt rushed or overly convenient. The legal aspects surrounding the transfer of company shares are handled far too simply, major antagonists receive endings that feel almost random, and one character's punishment relies more on shock value than meaningful storytelling. Instead of feeling clever or cathartic, the conclusion feels like the writers suddenly realised they had to wrap everything up within one episode.

Ironically, this is one of the few Thai BLs where I genuinely believe twelve episodes would've been better than ten. Usually, series overstay their welcome, but Payback has the opposite problem. It introduces enough plotlines to justify a longer runtime but doesn't give them enough space to breathe. Two additional episodes dedicated to the revenge plot and relationship development would've dramatically improved the overall experience.

Where Payback never disappoints is the acting. Every major cast member commits fully to their roles. Min perfectly captures Sun's emotional emptiness and determination, Fuaiz remains one of the biggest highlights of the entire series, and Toptap does the best he can with a character that often feels inconsistently written. The production quality is equally impressive. The cinematography looks polished, the soundtrack fits the darker tone beautifully, and the overall presentation feels far more expensive than many Thai BL productions.

I also appreciated that the series never became boring. Even when I found myself frustrated by the pacing, I still wanted to know how everything would end. That's a credit to both the performances and the premise. The story is engaging enough to keep you watching, even if it doesn't always reward your patience.

Overall, Payback is a series full of unrealised potential. It has an excellent premise, a talented cast, impressive production values and enough emotional depth to become something special. Unfortunately, slow pacing, uneven storytelling, an underdeveloped romance and a rushed finale stop it from reaching the heights it constantly promises.

If you're looking for an intense revenge thriller, adjust your expectations. The revenge is there, but it often takes a back seat to Sun's journey through the entertainment industry and his personal healing. As a drama, it's entertaining. As a BL, it's solid. But as a revenge story, it never quite lands the knockout blow I was waiting for.

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Beautiful Drama and I Cannot Find Anything Close

I am about to glaze the hell out of this drama, but for good reason. Like any piece of media I have minor nitpicks but other than that this drama is probably the best cdrama ive watched thus far. The chemistry is amazing, the plot is great, and the sexual assault is treated realistically but respectfully and there is no victim blaming from the male lead. The male lead is genuinely perfect like damn can I have a man like Sang Yan. The very few things I dislike about this drama are minor, such as the lack of development of the ML's rivals for the FL'S attention, as well as a kinda boring side couple, but other than that I loved this drama and I want more like it.

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Loved Everything but the Ending

EXTREMEEE SPOILERS BUT I NEED TO SAY IT.

I almost have nothing bad to say about this drama. Acting was amazing, the plot was great, the couple had amazing chemistry and buildup, the CGI was not half bad. But the only thing that irritated me was the ENDING. Hei Fengxi having like 10 years left to live after saving Bai Fengxi was sooo stupid. So much build up and amazingness just to find out bro is gonna die soon. Maybe im just a sucker for a fairytale ending, but I personally cannot stand it.

TLDR: If you hate bittersweet endings, only watch till episode 38 and pretend thats the ending.

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PRIMEIRA METADE AGRADÁVEL E SEGUNDA METADE TENEBROSA

Vamos lá.

Esse projeto é definido para mim como dois polos distintos que se uniram formando uma coisa só. O primeiro polo é a primeira metade e o segundo é a segunda metade. Ou seja, eu vejo como 2 coisas completamente diferentes, e o que difere é a qualidade.

Essa é uma história de romance de escritório entre chefe x funcionária e a linha escolhida para trabalhar foi a do realismo. E bom, no começo foi realmente bem feito, eu estava me divertindo bastante acompanhando o dia a dia do escritório e vendo as interações entre os protagonistas, mas quando chegamos na segunda metade as escolhas de roteiro se tornaram cada vez mais decepcionantes e frustrantes.

Kang Si U é um homem reservado, competente e divorciado (sim, ele ser divorciado é uma parte importante da história). Já Cha Ji Yun é uma mulher comum, frustrada com o trabalho, também competente e com um relacionamento passado fracassado. Juntos eles se tornam algo, mas esse algo precisava de mais atenção na hora de trabalhar para que pudéssemos sentir a química e sinceridade do casal.

A trama é cheia de embates que compõem a sociedade coreana. Temos o estigma contra pessoas divorciadas, o conservadorismo, o preconceito contra casais com diferença de idade, o abuso no local de trabalho e corrupção. Todas essas coisas criam uma temática interessante de se acompanhar, mas só funciona na mão de quem sabe trabalhar.

Como eu disse anteriormente e volto a repetir, a primeira metade foi muito agradável. Tudo foi muito calmo, leve e humano, você conseguia entender e torcer pelos personagens, afinal, cada um deles estava passando por suas próprias coisas e encontrando no outro aquilo que sempre procurou. Tivemos o leve embate inicial, o respeito e admiração mútuo, as dúvidas, as implicâncias e enfim o começo da relação, mas depois disso tudo foi só ladeira abaixo episódio após episódio.

Cha Ji Yun sempre soube que seu namorado é um homem divorciado, mas do mais absoluto nada e pelos motivos mais fúteis possíveis ela se torna uma mulher ciumenta e insegura num nível realmente irritante e fere propositalmente seu namorado diversas vezes. E do outro lado temos o Kang Si U que se acha inferior a Cha Ji Yun e cede em absolutamente tudo o tempo todo por ela, e isso não é positivo.

Tem uma frase que o Kang Si U diz em um momento que resume bem toda essa situação para mim, ele diz "eu a amo mais do que ela me ama" e isso não poderia estar mais certo (e não temos um real desenvolvimento e conclusão para essa questão ao longo da história). Ele constantemente pisa em ovos ao redor dela.

Ambos os protagonistas possuem ex, mas apenas ela se sente no direito de ter ciúmes e ainda se tornar amiga do seu. Ela questiona cada mínima coisa sobre o relacionamento mesmo não sendo uma adolescente inexperiente. Tudo bem você parar e ponderar aspectos do seu relacionamento, mas a frequência com que ela faz isso e pensa somente nela e não nele torna tudo maçante e cansativo, e quando somamos isso ao constante amor, apoio e compreensão que o Kang Si U da a ela percebemos que essa é uma relação desigual. Por exemplo, durante o tempo que ela pede para ele, apenas ele se importou em manter as coisas minimamente bem, ele até doente ficou nesse meio tempo, mas o orgulho fez com que ela não desse o braço a torcer. Foi realmente patético de acompanhar.

Cha Ji Yun passa esses últimos episódios tendo atitudes infantis, sendo egoísta e pensando em todo mundo (e nela mesma) antes do seu parceiro. Eu conseguia sentir até uma leve manipulação velada mesmo que não intencional. E no meio dessa trajetória Kang Si U perde peso e profundidade como personagem, passando assim a viver apenas para orbitar ao redor da protagonista e tornar sua vida mais fácil. O conflito final com eles tornando o relacionamento público e o Kang Si U desistindo do emprego por isso foi só a última pá de terra. A desculpa de que ele desistiu por estar refletindo sobre a carreira e não querer chegar ao topo foi a coisa mais deplorável que eu já ouvi. Isso não combina com ele e o público sabe disso, afinal, a audiência não é burra. Ele desistiu do emprego por ela e isso é triste e decepcionante.

Sobre o casal secundário não tenho nada a dizer pois eu os achei neutros, não tenho nada contra e nada a favor. E quanto a equipe da força tarefa eu os achei realmente divertidos.

Resumindo, esse foi um projeto mediano porque perderam a mão no meio do caminho. E novamente voltando a algo que eu disse anteriormente, a química entre Kang Si U e Cha Ji Yun não parecia a melhor, afinal, as escolhas de roteiro e direção tornaram o relacionamento deles polido demais e o excesso não foi positivo.

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Good Premise Bad Execution

I enjoyed the premise of the show. I love opposite aesthetic opposite personality couples and I like fantasy and all of that. To me this just fell flat.

What I liked:
Costumes. The costumes for every character made sense but didnt feel too cliche and they didnt look super cheap.
Visuals. The visuals were quite beautiful. They were well done and felt very dreamesque.
Music. Music wasnt that special, but I liked it.
Side characters. The side characters were for the most part well written and while the most time wasnt spent on them, they werent boring or forgettable.

What I didnt like:
Plot. The plot was decent at first, but after about episode 20 where they go to the human realm it falls off. Shit about destiny and tribulations and an irritating amnesia arc with the female lead that leads her to hate the male lead. BORING YAWNING SLOPPY.
Worldbuilding. In theory the world sounded cool, but literally nothing was built up. Destiny books were never explained, the conflict between the Moon Tribe and Fairies was never explained all that well. A lot of stuff was never properly introduced and just felt like it was shoved in there to seem cool or for plot devices.
Main characters. I wanted to love them so bad, but the female lead is sooo whiny and annoying for most of the show. I love me a good badass female lead, and she was not one. The male lead was badass and an interesting character at first, but once he got his emotion tree fixed he became just as annoying as the female lead.
Ending. The ending was so rushed. Male lead gets mega killed and then mysteriously pops back up despite being "dead for good" come the fuck on. Dumb as hell.

TLDR: if you like cliches with a million plotholes, this is your shit. if not, i wouldnt bother.

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The Beauty of Growing Up

After watching the first six episodes of Genius Girlfriend, I can honestly say that this drama has quietly found its way into my heart.

The cinematography is absolutely beautiful. Every frame is bathed in soft, nostalgic light, capturing the bittersweet feeling of youth with remarkable tenderness. There is a dreamlike quality to the visuals, as though we are looking back on our own memories through the eyes of the characters.

What moved me most, however, was the emotional depth of the story. Genius Girlfriend doesn't rely on exaggerated drama to make an impact. Instead, it gently tugs at your heartstrings through moments that feel real. I found pieces of myself in so many of the characters. We have all experienced the pressure to succeed, the fear of not fitting in, the loneliness of feeling different, and the desire to be understood by the people around us.

Tian Xiwei's portrayal of Lin Zhixia is especially captivating. She perfectly captures the intelligence, innocence, vulnerability, and quiet resilience of a girl who stands out from everyone else while desperately wanting to belong. Her soothing line delivery sets the tone for the entire drama and makes every emotion feel sincere and natural.

The original soundtrack deserves special praise as well. Every song complements the story beautifully, adding another layer of warmth, nostalgia, melancholy, and hope. The ending theme, in particular, lingers long after each episode ends.

Six episodes in, Genius Girlfriend has already reminded me why stories about youth can resonate so deeply. Sometimes the most ordinary stories leave the most lasting impressions because, in one way or another, they tell our own stories as well.

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Absolutely Loved It except the last 2 episodes.

Great amazing chemistry between the 2 leads. To me, this is Yang Yang's top 3 (with You are my Glory & Love O2O). I love their banter; especially when FL calls him "Black Fox". His collaboration with Zhao Lusi is top notch; even better chemistry than Zheng Shuang (Love O2O) and Dilraba (Glory). They should have kept the war scenes simpler and shorter. The only 2 things I did not like are ML shortening his life to save FL and the little boy dying at the end. There is too much mishaps in this world to show a little boy's death. They should have finished the story in e38 after the wedding and just show what happened to the rest of the characters after 5 year ie. the lady general and the elder prince etc and have the main villain die by either the curse or by his own hands. Finally, here's hoping that ML & FL collaborate in more dramas.

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A LIFE REALITY TURNED INTO COMEDY

behind the comedy of this show is the reality in love life nowadays, for the reason we dont know , we now have to think about stability when we date; we think about how will we able to support who we date and take care of them with the money and resources we have, it is now pressuring to date someone because both of your future is already handed on our shoulders ! if no resources and not stable, sad we better not date than to be a burdensome.
Inspite of that reality, this show reminds us that it above all of these things that needs to be considered in meeting someone and having someone in your life doesnt mean we stop loving; and to love means to fight for your love even when you have to start a business, even when you have to prove yourself, because sometimes when we are in those kind of situations, even when we do not like it; we have to prove ourselves in order to prove our love! And those things became more colorful with my Ultimate Bias TayNew; this guys have this unexplainable bubbly bond that even whatever genre they've put together, its was always like so so good together; justice was served althroughout this show with TayNew; proving no money no title can go against true love ♥
Some people were not pleased with this drama, and that is okay, but for me; in the situation of my life, this is all I've needed; the comedy was not too much, the Love scenes were wild but light in the heart; specially when To and Kanit role plays and the way the whisper talks ! You people will never understand why TayNew is my happy pill forever !
The Flow of the story is right on track all the way, The Second leads were just okay coz I did not pay too much attention to them coz To and Kanit is enough for me, but it was okay. I just wonder why of all the the days of their lives, emergency still happened on their wedding ceremony , but I realize as what they talked about at the end is that's what life is; we do not know when will emergency come that's why we always choose to be happy.
If I am to recommend something to make this show improve is that, I really hoped that the second lead's story were written better; it was just a bit awkward for me for the reason I don't know .. I am sorry that I cannot feel and see the chemistry of do they have that ? The Acting of TayNew it is already given ! bubbly mature roles , and can I commend Tawan because at some scenes, he looked like Karan and then turned into Toto again ! he is really a good actor ! I've noticed few awkward gestures to him anymore unlike before ! and of course Newwie .. He is a combination of Baby and Princess HAHAH
This drama will be added to my re watch lists one day and I'm gonna go back here! Thank you for reading and thank you for making this show ! 11/10 for me ♥

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Did they choose the wrong FL?

The drama should come with a health warning. It is draining on mental health and creates a negative & depressing emotions. In the age where political conflicts are happening all over the world, we do not need more angst & anxiety in our entertainment. I have nothing against the FL but like all her other dramas, FL can't act. She is stone faced and wooden in every expression except the crying and smirking. She spoils the show; just like she spoiled the "Fireworks of my Heart" with her bland & boring acting. The storyline is not bad if they had a better FL. Absolutely no chemistry between the two leads. Also, is it necessary to have so much makeup on! The eyeliners are so visible, especially in the ML, that they stood out more than the drama & the FL! Overdo? They should amend the title to Overdone (by eyeliners)!

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