Reviews

Not worth watching it

I just finished watching this, and I can confidently say it’s not worth it. The story feels loose, slow, and painfully boring. Taishin is portrayed as an ignorant rural guy—to the point where it almost seems like he came to Tokyo from a completely isolated society. Nearly every line he has is either a question or something he doesn’t understand.

The secondary characters don’t add anything meaningful to the story. The episodes are slow, cringe-worthy, and honestly hard to watch. I kept giving it second chances, hoping it would pick up or take an interesting turn, but it never did. I even had to watch it at 2x speed because it felt so stagnant—no progress, no real entertainment.

Ironically, the episode after the finale was the best part. The girl documenting Takaro and Taishin’s relationship was actually interesting, and I wish they had introduced her much earlier. Also, Taishin comes across as such a stalker—it’s hard to believe a situation like that would realistically happen.

I also wish they had included more scenes with Takaro’s mom. Overall, truly not worth your time.

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Started off decent before it trails off...

The plot started off pretty well with engaging characters and good pacing. But for some reason, the dialogue starts to increasingly becomes more bland and both the plot and character developments just drops off a cliff.

Although the ML and the FL were decent individually, they didn't do a good job building up their chemistry. And from far away, one can see a good story but it starts to crumble with random inserts of events and people. It's as if they weren't sure how to connect the dots and just threw scenes in abruptly to fill in the blanks. The mysteries behind all the cover-ups are compelling for me to want to finish series but I've lost feeling any connection to any of the characters. It's a good-looking cast so it likely will still appeal to a wide audience (except they used slightly too much of that whitening filter).

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"You actually watch this s**t?"

This is the kind of BL that, if one of my normal, non-BL friends IRL watched it with me, they would turn and ask, "You actually watch this shit?" lol

By far, the best thing about the show is the love/sex scenes.
From acting, to blocking, to cinematography, they are feature film level.
Which is why I suspect a director other than the series's credited director handled them. Not kidding, they are that different and that much better.

There are far too many ridiculous plot holes and inconsistencies to mention, so I won't. If you choose to watch, skip ahead to the sex scenes. I think there are only three and a half of them, though.

As for the MLs, they'd do better to establish a co-OnlyFans account and stop inflicting their non-sexual acting upon us.

4/10 (For the four sex scenes.)

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Inesquecível e Emblemático!!!!

É OBRA PRIMA que fala né? Porque não tem outra forma de definir essa série LGBTQ+, acho que classificá-la como BL, é desmerecê-la em toda a sua magnitude, temática, atemporalidade e didática. Foi uma série que trouxe de forma crua, sensível e visceral, as vivências de jovens LGBTQ+ na era Heisei (1989 -2019) no Japão, particularmente em uma área rural isolada e conservadora. A história nos convida a acompanhar o período da juventude de três jovens e suas respectivas famílias, Mishima, Kirino e Taro. Inicialmente completamente opostos, mas que no decorrer da trama, descobrem terem mais em comum do que jamais imaginavam. A série foi extremamente didática em retratar magistralmente os desafios, a autodescoberta, o preconceito, a aceitação, a amizade, o amadurecimento, o amor, o sexo, o medo, as inseguranças, as expectativas e as escolhas de vida, tudo isso sobre a ótica de um jovem LGBTQ+. Mishino me ensinou sobre resiliência, sobre persistência, sobre empoderamento, sobre coragem e bondade, e me conduziu em seu caminho agridoce de entendimento, aceitação e felicidade. Kirino me mostrou o valor de uma amizade, o ser abrigo do outro quando ele precisa, o apoio incondicional, sua extrema empatia e o preço das escolhas que fazemos pela felicidade do outro. Taro me trouxe a negação dos sentimentos, o preconceito gerado por isso, a violência derivada da ignorância, a delicada e confusa descoberta sentimental e sexual, o atrito entre a fantasia e a realidade e a aceitação plena dos sentimentos. As relações familiares, também foram outro destaque dessa maravilhosa história, com as mães de Mishima e Taro me mostrando o significado verdadeiro de maternidade e amor incondicional. Como também a mãe de Kirino, me mostrou o peso das frustrações, da falta de amor próprio, das expectativas criadas e de infligir no filho a responsabilidade sobre sua própria felicidade. E já deixo avisado, que não é uma série para todos os gostos e estômagos, pois ela também aborda temas bastante fortes, sensíveis e delicados como bullying e abuso sexual. Foi doloroso e revoltante esse momentos, mas a série soube me conduzir para o entendimento e razões sobre esses comportamentos, derivados como sempre do preconceito, dos ditos valores e expectativas da sociedade e a negligência com a saúde mental. Nada justificável ou aceitável, mas compreensível de certa forma. Minha nota para esse BL vai ser 11, porque dez é muito pouco para a experiência única, tocante e inesquecível que foi essa história. Chorei muito, fiquei com raiva, mas sorri bastante também e tive uma sensação de identificação enorme com cada personagem e sua narrativa. Orgulho é a definição do que sinto por ter assistido algo que não me deu somente um história simples e clichê de amor, mas algo que me fez me sentir abraçado, acolhido, empoderado e grato. Eu ainda não consigo pôr, totalmente em palavras tudo o que eu estou sentindo nesse momento, mas espero ter mostrado o mínimo do que foi assistir essa série espetacular e preciosa.

Recomendadíssima ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Loved This Series

I know there are people who have complaints about this series, but I’m just not one of them. Although I suppose if I had to pick something the keeping track of what time. We were in was a little confusing but overall I loved this show. I thought it was just long enough . I loved all of the actors the main couple clearly, but even the supporting actors were all excellent. I thought the cinematography was beautiful. I thought the music surprisingly was very well done especially in the NC scenes this light piano music was always very lovely. I just thought it was great.

I wish there was more Korean BL of this caliber. Just loved it. I think it was a gorgeous love story even with the sadness of some of the plot points, which I will leave out because I finished it on fast track so lots of people haven’t seen it yet. In any event, I would rewatch this absolutely, and while I’m sure there are some valid criticisms, when I finish a show and my first thought is wow that was great then I want to give it a review right away. Kudos to the main actors, really really enjoyed them.

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A shared offering of the heart written together, across time

Some stories break your heart… and some, very rarely, come back to heal it. Forever and Ever is the latter.

As a companion to One and Only, this drama doesn’t try to recreate the tragedy but completes it. Where the former was defined by restraint, silence, and duty, this one is built on presence, choice, and quiet certainty. It feels less like a sequel and more like a promise finally kept.

What makes this series stand out is its gentleness. There are no grand conflicts or overwhelming twists but still enough to create tension. There are painful moments, ebb and flows, as every story should be. A yet it focuses on the beauty of the ordinary like shared meals, soft conversations, touches and lingering glances. And yet, because we carry the memory of their past life, these simple moments feel deeply significant. Every touch not withheld, every word spoken aloud, becomes an act of redemption.

The relationship here is not dramatic, it is intentional. It grows steadily, grounded in mutual respect and emotional security. This is what their love might have always been, had time and circumstance been kinder. Watching it unfold feels less like falling in love and more like finally coming home.

The symbolic “fu” (上共賦) in the Imperial Park captures the essence of the story. Traditionally a poetic expression, here it feels like a shared offering, something written not just in words, but across lifetimes. It represents what was once left unsaid, now quietly fulfilled. Their love no longer needs to fight to exist; it simply does. “What we could not say then, we inscribe now, not in words alone, but in the life we are finally allowed to live.”

If One and Only was about love constrained, then Forever and Ever is about love realized. It doesn’t erase the pain of the past, it honors it by allowing something whole to grow in its place.

And that is what makes this story so memorable: not just that it made us feel the loss, but that it gave us the rare gift of resolution.

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A long, long journey filled with hardship yet unwavering loyalty

To give some context, this was by no means a drama I was super into since the beginning. Actually, I was very close to dropping this drama. I was just so bored; the pacing was painfully slow. However, something deep inside me made me pick it up and tough it through- curiosity of the schemes and how the drama would redeem itself story-wise. I'm glad I did, it was worth watching for me. I cannot say the same for others, though. It definitely will not be everyone's cup of tea, so I strongly recommend the decision to watch, of one's own accord. If you do decide to watch, tough it out through the first 15 episodes, and it will get better.

Story: I think the story had potential. The characters were beautifully written. I appreciate how every decision the characters made was true to themselves. The schemes took time to build up and unravel, but were engaging enough for me to tough it out. I honestly find 40 episodes for this plot to be ridiculous. It should have been 36 episodes, max, and that is pushing it. I docked off 3 stars for the misuse of flashback scenes (too many and some were repetitive), pacing (some side characters were unnecessary and contributed minimally to the plot; talking scenes could have been replaced with more action scenes). My issue with this drama was the inconsistent pacing: painfully slow in the beginning, improved in the middle, dragged again, picked up again near the ending. If there wasn't a 1.5x button, I very well may have dropped this drama.

That being said, the scenes that did matter portrayed hardship and didn't shy away from suffering, tragedy, and obstacles. I do appreciate the themes in this drama- undying loyalty, friendship, family, love, and difficult, difficult decision-making. The characters showed us all sides of these, and there were numerous moments when even I myself couldn't even process how a decision could be made. It was deep with lots of challenging decision-making moments (What do you do when you're caught between your loved ones, the right thing to do, and the consequences? What truly matters most in that very moment?)

Regarding the romance- yes, the romance was there and was worth watching. Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao's chemistry was unexpectedly so good. It was also just the perfect amount of romance in between all of the dark schemes. I would say it was about 40% romance.

The ending was sad and tragic, but it actually wrapped up everything in the drama well. This is much better than those happy endings that are so forced that they leave you feeling empty and unsatisfied. The ending made sense. Realistically, if the emperor is your enemy, you're bound to sacrifice/die in return for your lifelong wish, if you're lucky.

Acting/Cast: This was the show's saving grace. The strongest backbone holding this drama together was the cast and their acting. The acting was PHENOMENAL. The cast really brought every one of their roles alive. They were fully immersed in their characters, it was impressive to watch. Not a single flaw. To top it off, everyone was good-looking. No one was miscast.

Ren Jialun was dashing, and every time he showed up on screen, I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was incredibly charismatic and charming. He was the perfect person to play Wei Zhao. This was my second drama of Landy Li (loved her acting in The Starry Love, but chemistry was a bit lacking on her side), but this time she pleasantly impressed me. Her acting was so different from her role in The Starry Love. She was the perfect Jiang Ci. Her chemistry with Ren Jialun on screen was off the charts. In the beginning, I didn't see any chemistry at all, but throughout the drama, I was thoroughly convinced by their love and loyalty towards each other. Despite everything, Jiang Ci couldn't abandon Wei Zhao, and he did everything in his power to keep her safe while constantly restoring her freedom, only for her to come back for him. Neither of their decisions were to blame, it aligned with their natures. Jeremy Xu was amazing as always. He was the perfect Pei Yan. I hated him the most in the beginning, but after his mother was out of the picture, his character truly grew into the hero he was meant to be. The growth was incredible.

Music: I loved the music. It came at the right time, had the right vibe, everything was appropriate, and served its purpose.

Rewatch value: I personally would not rewatch it. It took me longer than usual to finish this drama since I really had to push myself, so I would not rewatch it. It was a one-time watch for me.

Overall, I can't say I would recommend this drama or if it was worth watching for others- it's really not everyone's cup of tea. I struggled through it, but it was worth it for me. Heavy on the politics, an appropriate amount of romance, and probably the most complex, top-tier level acting ever. It has its pros and cons. Not a perfect drama, but if you want to give it a try after reading all of the above, then it may be worth watching.

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One of the better Transmigration stories

The focus is on a kickass spunky gal who goes back in time to rectify the false charges against her family and save them from massacre. So, you say to yourself, "again?" yes, but this was actually rather watchable and not as frustrating as other "I've gone back in time" stories and as a mini drama, it's rather watchable. It is hard to find on the web as the title is only in Chinese characters and came across it at Dramabox Mini.

Also, the actor is a fav-he's great in My Fantastic Mrs. Right--Zhang Jiong Min.
And there's a small role for the ever good looking Hei Ze.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhkqJh_wSso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPWXPdwEODo

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Serendipitous

For some, the drama is a cliche, or boring as it is like a simple love story. It may not have the action, heavy crying or even love scenes, but the conversations convey much more emotions. Though the female Kim Ji Ho has more dialogues, the male Kim Ji Ho has conveyed his feelings through actions.

I like the subtleness of the story. It seems their meeting together from the airport to the hostel and then Rose's lodging is serendipitous. Thanks to Hyun Chul - who seems to be everywhere, playing different roles just to bring these two Kim Ji Ho together.

This is one of So Ji Sub's subtle and quiet performance, very much different from his action dramas. When he was younger, he portrayed characters who have deep emotions beneath a quiet personality. His character may be misunderstood as he does not say many words.

As for Kim Ji Won, am not so familiar with her other dramas. Her character may be somewhat talkative and assuming but tried to understand the other person. Though she had first liked him, she did not openly confess for fear of rejection or perhaps making him uncomfortable.

I like the places they went especially the one with so many trees. I wish I can go there someday.

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Iconic Comedy

Blue Sky of Love didn’t attract much attention during its initial theatrical release and didn’t perform very well at the box office. However, it was later recognized as a classic Thai comedy that people should seek out and watch.

The film regained popularity after the passing of the famous comedian Kom Chuanchuen due to COVID-19, and viewers who revisited it have given overwhelmingly positive reviews, praising it as one of his iconic comedic works.

Set during the Cold War era of the 1970s, the story is grounded in real historical events involving students affected by the October 6, 1976 massacre, many of whom fled into the jungles to join the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT).

female lead is one of those who joins the communist movement in the forest, while the ml and his four friends enter the forest simply to escape city life. By chance, they miss their intended ride and end up boarding another vehicle, whose passengers are not tourists but members of the Communist Party aiming to liberate the people. Forced by circumstance, the 4 troublemakers end up embedded within the Communist camp, participating in their forest activities.

However, the 4 troublemakers end up causing chaos in the camp—for example, they accidentally harvest all the rice supplies, leading to a hilarious situation. This forces the camp leader to go into a nearby village to seek food supplies, with the four men tagging along, partly because the ml is interested in the fl.

At one point, while escaping from soldiers, the male lead and his friends get separated. The film clearly divides the narrative into parts, first focusing on the male lead’s friends, which is full of humor, before shifting back to the male and female leads along with the camp leader, where the tone becomes more serious. There are also light romantic moments between the leads, along with a somewhat melodramatic backstory for the male lead.

The movie concludes with a "Happy Ending" typical of the comedy genre, while successfully portraying the ideological conflicts of that era. While some of the humor is uniquely Thai, the core comedy remains universal.

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