Reviews

Just go watch it.

I was screaming the whole season. Not only do we get to see some of our favorite ships, but the acting is out of this world. They seriously outdid themsleves. Khaotung is an acting phenomenon and seeing with him First once again makes me sooooo happy. They kill it! You'll feel every emotion watching this. And its definitely NOT vanilla. The first "intimate" scene between khaotungs character (Ray) and Firsts character (sand) is so fire. The smoke... i mean..... 🤤 And we have to talk about Neos character (Boston) because ive never both hated and rooted for a character as much as i have here. He sucks but we are whipped for him anyway just like Marks character (Nick). Marks character earns so much merit in the show because we get it man lol. I mean First and Marks characters are our favorite masochists after all. And last but not least we get to see ForceBook once again and man is it chaotic lol. The character development in this show is wild. Especially with Khaotung and Books characters.

Just go watch it. And
also.......

********* SPOILER***********


They tease at a season two where we get to see our baby Mix about to fuck shit up.

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Just go binge watch it!

Lately ive had a harder time finding BLs that i can binge watch without skipping some more cringy scenes but this one hit home. We obviously love Santa and Earth together and i feel like this is their best yet (that i have watched at least) . There are many cute moments but dont be fooled. Its a pretty deep and intense drama. The storyline is phenomenally done and the acting is amazing, as to be expected. And let me just say their "intamate" scene is one of the best i have seen whille still being tasteful. And when Santas character (cake) speaks in english to Earths character (see-ew) .. i mean.....lol The conflict between characters has really great resolve and bring tissues. Seriously. Youre going to need them. We also get to see a tiny bit of Prem so thats always a win.

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Viewer Discretion but LOVE

I love this series. I will say it starts off pretty hard and has many trigger warnings. If suicide is a hard topic for you, steer clear. Otherwise go watch it! Its an amazing show that had me in tears many times. Though it is emotional, it also has some pretty funny moments as well. And if you feel confused while watching it, just have patience. They explain everything in time and its actually really well done. Also pay attention to Prem and Bouns characters because you will see them again in "Between us", which is a spin off show that takes place at exactly the same time but focusing on their relationship. I actually like Between us even more but you have to watch this one first.

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Watch it once for the actors

There are many things I liked and the same amount of things that I didnt. I dont regret watching it because the chemistry between characters is really sweet, as to be expected, but the show tends to be pretty cheesy. I like that they break the fourth wall a lot but there a a few frustrating/cringe moments as a viewer. I will say the intimate moments are actually really cute/sexy even if they were brought about in pretty forced ways. Pond (Mork) is amazing as always. And of course i will watch anything with Pond and Phuwin together at least once. The relationship between Neo and Louis characters are also just as cute as the main characters. And any chance i get to see Mix in a series I'll take it, even if he isnt really a main character.

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Loved from start to Finish

This is a must watch. The chemistry between Mix and Earth is always fire. The way they look at eachother literally melts your heart ( as it should) . I dont even mind it takes so long for them to actually get together. Its such a beautiful story and pretty emotional at times. Not to mention khaotung is an acting phenomenon. Even though we dont see as much KhaoFirst as we would like, their talent is not overshadowed even slightly. And of course we love our GeminiFourth duo. Their story is so adorable and they do an amazing job. Lastly we cant forget Mark. He is such a light to the show and I love him so much in this series. Will watch again and again.

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Overall good, but annoyed by the ending

To be honest I was disappointed with the ending, specifically Junmo's coldness towards Eui Jung. I think kdramas really tend to think that it's heroic for the main lead to leave a relationship when things get too difficult, aka sacrificing his love to keep overall peace. But it's just annoying, literally, some couples' therapy and PTSD work would've benefited both Junmo and Eui Jung, rather than them splitting. My ideal would've been that the investigation, and arrests, are wrapped up in episode 7, then the remaining episodes are Junmo and Eui Jung reeling with the aftermath of the events, arguing and communicating. Instead, we get a rushed ending because the drama drags out the arrests until the end. It felt too predictable, and because of that I'm only giving this drama an average rating, it could've been a very amazing drama had it gone into the nuances of the emotional state of their marriage.

On the flip side, this drama did have some great parts to it. The acting was downright amazing, so many scenes are captivating too and express how Junmo's character goes from innocent to traumatized. My favourite scene is when Junmo is over a body, fighting with the other gang, and he looks up towards Eui Jung all covered in blood. It's such a perfect angle to show how much this operation has changed him. I loved the cast so much as each actor did an amazing job portraying the characters.

Surprisingly my favourite aspect of the drama was how they portrayed the forced cheating aspect of the investigation. It's the first time I've seen a drama effectively pull off cheating in a way that makes sense. What was amazing was despite the cheating both Junmo and Eui Jung's love remains strong. The kiss scene between Junmo & Haeyrun is so uncomfortable in a way that shows just how much Junmo loves Eui Jung. Both of them didn't waver and it made for an entertaining side plot because we're left to interpret the true intentions of the characters. I strongly believe that both cops didn't waver, which is why I get frustrated at their separation at the end, it just feels like, after everything they went through.. what was the point if they weren't going to end up together again? Why did they, Jumno and Eui Jung, struggle so much? I blame Junmo for this because again the trauma makes him cold and distant...but again some serious therapy would've helped him heal, instead, he just suppresses the pain. I don't think he fell for Haeyrun, to me his feelings are more like a concerned friend. He realizes that Haeyrun is being used by her family and that she isn't entirely evil, so he wants to help her. I don't think he actually caught feelings for her.

Overall I enjoyed the drama but had hoped for a more throughout ending that would've dealt with the emotional side/psyche of Jumno & Eui Jung.

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Biggest disappointment, last 2 episodes ruined the drama

At this point, dramas that fumble the ending just feel like a disrespect to the audience who invest hours into these shows. I'm shocked that people praise Gil Chae's actions as 'realistic' and 'powerful' when, for me, her actions seem pathetic. The root of her choices stems from her unwavering view that Jang Hyun is a womanizer who is unfaithful, it kills me to the core that even by the end she still doubts him. Of all the people I'd expect her to realise how true and deep his love for her is. This man went through physical torture when he was captured, for her sake. He would've never risked his life or joined the war if it wasn't for her sake, yet she has the audacity to say that he left her?? That he's always leaving her? The whole marriage plot at the end was so unnecessary and stupid. Ryum Eu's lie hits the nail on the head as another useless obstacle placed at the end for the sake of drama. I was hoping he'd develop a little, Ryum Eu, since he saw firsthand how much Jang Hyun risked for Gil Chae's sake, but for him to remain as stubborn and cruel in the end made me lose any form of respect I had for him.

I absolutely love Jang Hyun, he's a very nuanced character. First, he's known as a man who doesn't agree to marriage (finding that during that era many marriages were superficial) he comes across as a shallow man, but later on we realize that his love for Gil Chae changes his outlook on his stance, he finds true love and completely commits to it. I also understand why he didn't tell Gil Chae that he saved her, he wanted for once Gil Chae to want him for him, not because she felt indebted to him. It's like throughout the whole drama Gil Chae never matured enough to realize that she can love Jang Hyun because he's a kind soul who would sacrifice anything for her-instead she's always looking for reasons to doubt him, and when she finds any reasons (grasping at straws) she sticks with it.

Gil Chae only ever loves Jang Hyun when he's not with her. She's too immature to communicate her frustrations with him when they are face-to-face. It creates a predictable cycle where, only when, Jang Hyun leaves does Gil Chae realize how much she loves him and takes him for granted. Then when they are back all they do is argue, mostly because of Gil Chae's dobutfulness.

I'm so disappointed in Gil Chae's character development, it really felt like in episodes 6-8 she was finally realizing how wrong she had been in the past, and then in episodes 9-10 she reverts to her naive self who lacks communication. In the beginning, Gil Chae isn't a good person either, she manipulates the men around her for her benefit. Then when war breaks she's forced to mature and realize who she cares about. Yet every time she had any semblance of peace, she goes back to her naive self--finally, she breaks out of that when she realizes she does love Jang Hyun. So WHYYY in the last two episodes does she once again reverts to her immature self, it's just frustrating.

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Kongpob's Evolution and Arthit's Emotional Development

For me, the series started well. I had no expectations for the series, good or bad. I liked the Kongpob character very much right away. I watched the general story with love and pleasure. But after a while, the progress in the relationship of our main couple decreased so much that it started to make me feel like I was watching a youth drama instead of BL (at this point I started to be unhappy). After all, I came here to watch BL. If the system, school events, etc. are not too disturbing, I usually don't care. I look at the realism and passion of the love presented.

In the first episodes, Kongpob's rebelliousness and small-scale flirtatiousness and secret anger was what excited me, but this gradually started to diminish. He started to become more of a normal, good student. I wanted it to get deeper. We should have seen more details about the character.

Arthit's suppression of emotions in the first chapters and his hiding that he was affected by Kongpob amused me, but after a while this progress stopped, as if there was no increase in his feelings.

Imagine that you are in control and everyone is afraid of you.
A first-year university student challenges your authority: REBELLIOUS. The favorite of the whole school, everyone who knows him/her loves him/her a lot: POPULAR. Probably the teachers will like him/her very much: STATUS. You insulted him/her, and now he/she is using that insult against you and flirting with you: ATTRACTIVE. Has excellent grades, hardworking: INTELLIGENT... This list can go on and on.

When you have such a person in front of you and this person respects you, you fall in love very seriously with jealousy, anger and feelings of total possession that accumulate inside you. This is where Arthit was supposed to take on an obsessive character and desperately crave Kongpob, but it didn't happen. In short, it was supposed to be Arthit, not Kongpob.

So how to say, the story is very suitable for being much more passionate and intense. But overall a good story especially the first half but the series is not memorable for me.

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A little illogical and unrealistic but I still enjoyed it

If you’re looking for a show that you can binge-watch within a couple of days, this one will do the trick.

As a pouty but highly sensible and emotionally sensitive teenager, Zongyi can be a little cringey at times. There is no shred of subtlety in this man. Remember when you were young and dumb and felt the need to proclaim your love as loudly as quickly as possible? That’s Bai Zongyi.

The love story between Chenyi and Aidi was slightly more interesting because of their backstory – both were orphans who grew up in a life of crime after being adopted by a gang leader – and had potential for some real emotional depth. They had good visuals but their acting was a little weak during the emotionally-charged scenes.

An interesting point that the show brings up: “Is this love or is this admiration?”

But overall, the storyline is a little cliched, there are some gaps in the storytelling, and the story is rather illogical and unrealistic. But is it still worth giving it a try? Yes, absolutely.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/30/kiseki-dear-to-me-2023-bl-review/

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Never-ending schemes ?

If you think Xie Wei is one step behind, he’s actually two steps ahead. These types of revelations are actually my favorite because they’re satisfying and slightly unhinged. Making me believe that the situation is hopeless, but actually that was just a farce? The scheming and palace politics were really good, I liked how the characters all walked a fine line between being good and “bad”. Those who deserved a bad ending got one, and man was that satisfying. The scene with the eunuch giving Xue Shu the poisoned wine was so funny to be honest😭. The man was too happy to kill that evil woman; it is quite sad how she ended because she did everything to survive but that is what you get when you can’t scheme properly. In the end, she simply couldn’t match Jiang Xue Ning and Xie Wei😏.

At first, I wasn’t very emotionally invested in the show to be honest, BUT it pulled me in regardless, which is why I kept watching it. The more I watched, the more invested I got with the intricacies of the plot, the scheming and how the characters would act next.

The romance was an interesting one: sort of toxic and possessive, and I think Zhang Ling He did a good job playing Xie Wei, I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. I can say the same for Bai Lu! Can’t wait to watch more of her dramas, she has a long catalogue!😎💗

Overall, sort of different from what I usually watch but really nice!

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A VERY REWATCHABLE stoy: A beautiful and funny story of an Assassin's journey to finding a family.

Just caught up to ep 10 and I gotta say I'm really enjoying this show so far. The storytelling is good so far and while the pacing might seem slow sometimes, it's because they have a lot of things to introduce us to. The characters are still settling into their roles. I do like all the characters so far. So props to writers and director!


One thing I really like about this show is how the ML is not your typical cold, show no type of emotions ML. infact, though he's an assassina, he's the one teaching the FL how to be affectionate. And the actor playing the ML is really good in his role.

Our FL is such a BAD AZZ! Omg I really love her character. She DOES NOT HESITATE to kill or fight. Lol I was so shocked when she killed that guard on the spot. The first person on her list (you will know once you watch it). I really love that unlike other dramas, this drama don't just tell us the FL is smart or brave, etc... but we see it in action. Her character is written really well so far.

There's a lot of intriguing threads that have been introduced so far and I'm excited to see how it will turn out. Especially the sub plot with the third prince and the empress in the state of An. Lol that relationship is quite interesting...

I didn't think it would be so FUNNY. It's making me really laugh out loud, especially with the interactions between the ML and FL. Such a determined FL. Let's hope she gets what she wants😂

I will update at the end

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Just to give a different perspective

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Seems it’s so so hyped, so just thought of copying the comment I have written earlier.

Not so great, unless u have time. Plot is pretty weak. No depth in characters or relationships. No thrilling moments or suspense, bland.

Acting was good. Decent action sequences. It’s 7 imo.

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