Completed
Someday or One Day
4 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
13 of 13 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.5
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 7.5
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 4.0
This review may contain spoilers

A love story more than a time-loop mystery plot

I watched this fucking show only for Greg Han Su ("Li Tsu-Wei" in the story) and the first impression it gave was so diabolical I cannot overstate how asinine the first two episodes are (all episodes are an hour long), considering how there are some lingering plot issues down the line aside from a quick fix ending with some loose ends this pacing decision irks me even more than it should, which brings me to my first point of complaint

NEGATIVES
(-) Pacing
The show, even with it's literal theme of time looping, felt like it kept looping and reusing the same romantic/thematic beats again and again, "Huang Yuxuan" (Ko Chia-yen) can only come back to the past and have touching moments with her soulmate THIS many times before it becomes an egregious hairpulling annoyance, it's cute until it feels like the story is freezing up because the person at the receiving end of the feelings can feel conflicted to reciprocate the same feelings again and again and again and again

I love Greg and but the screentime that's given to their budding romance almost feels like the only thing the romance ever does is keep budding, the feelings will pace forward but pseudo-reset when she travels again to the past (the momentum of the plot kind of forces them to not COMPLETELY repeat this weird romantic tug of war of loving/not loving)
Despite how I put this issue here at the start, this actually is to be expected, for some reason this does fit Taiwanese show-making it's this really weird pacing that makes different scenes feel the exact same because they are meant to DO the exact same thing, anyways the fact that this is a noticeable issue even though I watched this show at 2x speed just shows how much downtime there is

(-) The ending
The story wrap up is bad, there's always a copium case to be made for "it's not about the end it's about the journey" and that kind of applies to this show because even with my grievances they actually did a lot of effort into the sequence of events that shape it all up,

That being said it's just such a letdown, the actual conflict resolution for the time-based murder mystery plot kind of happens in the last 10 minutes, insane that this is how little time they give to it after 13 hour-long episodes, THAT'S 13 HOURS of set up with 10 minutes of pay off

(-) Loose-ends
The first loose-end is actually related to Wang Chuan-Sheng, him being gay is dropped in here OUT of the blue, there's like a short introduction to the episode where he's shown to be a gay guy who confesses to his crush, gets rejected, outed and bullied........ then proceeds to drown himself, the show genuinely never uses this AT. ALL.

By the end even Chen Yun Ru gets to repossess her body and have a final arc dedicated to her (which I actually liked), but Wang Chuan-Sheng whose body is paraded around for the entirety of the plot, a person who much similar to Chen Yun Ru decides to take his life is not extended the same courtesy of finding peace with himself, given the outcome of the show Wang Chuan-Sheng actually ends up drowning himself.... a not so happy ending I assume

How do they resolve the paradoxical time loop? They kind of......................... don't? The sophistication of the mechanics of the time loop are irrelevant to the plot it's just moreso just in-place for the sake of the story if anything, they never explain what the conditions really are for making it work (idk if the track glitching/skipping is what causes it I could NOT tell),
But then afterwards we don't really understand WHAT happens, the story hints a lot in different episodes that Mo Chun-Chieh and Chen Yun-Ju would end up together but aside from Chen Yun-Ju abandoning the idea of suicide out of the blue (which is just....... wow that was easy), how does Chen Yun-Ju fall out of love with Li Tsu-Wei? What actually informs her change of heart? The "don't kys" speech by Mo Chun-Chieh? (I'm reading these names from imdb god forbid i remember them)
Also Li Tsu-Wei meets Huang Yu-Hsuan when she's a kid, how the hell do they end up together? Don't they have like a generous age gap, they just DID NOT try for the ending it's such a bad send off (don't tell me to watch the movie version)
What actually happens to the class-monitor turned psycho villain? I guess the crime he commits are only possible when the music recorder allows him to go back in time and commit the crime but.... does he then NEVER commit any crimes? What are the logistics of his psychopathy is he a persona that ONLY existed due to the time loop? It's a very strange loose-end

(-) Mo Chun-Chieh
The mistreatment of Mo by the plot feels genuinely outrageous, he's just a TOTAL cuck, he gets cucked and re-cucked so many times it just felt like why was he even there? Just to get cucked into oblivion? He walks on a cuck carpet to sit on his cuck throne with his cuck crown with his cuck scepter adorned with cuck jewels and with a flick of his wrist he can summon a legion of cuck slaves just my god the show HATES this guy.

The way he's put on the poster makes you believe that he has valuable significance to the plot, and not to say he doesn't but his significance is just stamped with the word CUCK, EVEN IN THE POSTER HE ISN'T HEARING FROM THE EARPHONES HE'S CUCKED OUT OF THAT ARRANGEMENT, neither Huang Yu-Hsuan or Chen Yun-Ju want him (until the very end where it's implied Chen changes her mind)

Just some hateful shit

POSITIVES-ish?
(+/-) Plot
I like and hate the plot at the same time, time looping is a saturated genre but elements of the show are able to stand out, there's come crumbs in the distance that made me just want to keep watching, there's a lot of eyerolls, like how many times will Huang Yu-Hsuan spot Wang Quan Sheng on the street before she has to stop the bus only to miss him again and again COME ON,

But despite some of the corniness the idea of this youthful friendship and these 3 friends having these moments in the summer of 1998 just feels right, Huang Yu-Hsuan patching a lot of the issues Chen-Yun Ju experiences by stabilizing her family and social life and then having that back fire when Chen-Yun Ju repossesses her body and cannot fit the mold that Huang Yu-Hsuan left behind, this way Huang Yu-Hsuan leads Chen-Yun Ju to her death the more she effortlessly fixes her life in small ways throughout the show is GOOD writing, the delivery felt too short by the end but it still works,

The romance is repetitive and drags but it still feels juicy every now and then when the setting freshens up, Lee studying up the ladder to get into the same university as Huang and stealing her heart as he originally did, them re-telling the same horrible joke to each other in different timelines, it's this youthfulness that it captures that is really captivating to watch

The mystery is decent and some revelations such as Lee actually being the guy Huang ends up dating in the future are great, the idea of the villain time travelling is interesting on paper but SO poorly delivered it's outrageous with him straight up nonchalantly visiting Huang and just time travelling casually and then we don't even get why he puts Huang to sleep instead of killing her but decides to kill Lee.... well I guess that would end the plot right then and there

(+) Acting
With some glaring misses, I think the main case did a pretty good job and it was pretty easy to tell who was in whose body and at which time because the actors did a good job of channeling some mannerisms that set their personas apart from one another which I actually thought was cool

(+) Greg Han Hsu is insanely hot

(+) Production is actually surprisingly good, there's a lot of different shooting locations, there's some scenes that are repeatedly shown with different new smaller insights and perspectives, some dream sequences that aren't even real are fully shot and put in that really enhances the experience (I particularly love the one with the psycho hall monitor's backstory where they show that he was behind the curtain when Lee came to visit Huang after the "car crash" even though it looks comically stupid it just makes the scene a little bit more sinister than it originally was)

Conclusion
Even with how much critique I've packed into this review, I watched it till the end because I do think there's elements of the show that are very compelling, but the ending is just NOT even there it's such an afterthought and the show feels like it's constantly rehashing thematic beats throughout

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
TharnType
2 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 4.0
Story 2.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers

WTH!?

I watched this years ago but I'll write a review now. Honestly after watching this I did not watch any films and dramas for atleast 2 years, that is how traumatised I was. I am writing a review now because I saw people comment how awesome this drama is/was. Anyone who thinks this one is good needs to see a doctor immediately.
Type is a victim of SA and what do we get? A male lead who forces himself on drunk Type and has xxx with him. "But he liked it", these type of comments make me question humanity. What I hate about thai especially thai bl dramas are these type of plots were SA is swiped under the rug. Don't touch it if you are not going to give these type of storylines justice. Only one scene, Type's trauma is shown only in one scene and then it is forgotten and what Tharn did was okay because he is the male lead. BS! I hate Tharn with a I have, his friend is no different than him. He druged his ex boyfriend and hired men to gang rxxx him. What did Tharn do? Wail in pity how he has been cheated on. The poor boy had to go thru such a traumatic experience only for his boyfriend to call him a hoe. Not even a sorry, not one single word from Tharn to his ex boyfriend who suffered and developed a mental illness even after learning what had truly happened. He only took action after his friend tried to do the same to Type what a hero right? What about his friend? Nothing, nothing happens to him. They just brush it with a "he loved Tharn, that is why he did what he did." Oh he got punched by Tharn for trying to touch his man.

I'll give it a 2 and only for the music nothing else. Such dramas should be banned. Honestly my brain froze most of the plot since it was triggering. I dont recall much but anyone who thinks this one is a good one needs help asap. Anyone who says this is just a drama does not understand the severity of the ever-changing mindset of humans.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
My Only 12%
1 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
14 of 14 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 2.0

The dynamic is nice but the execution was mediocre

I really was just watching this for the SantaEarth vibe, and that was lit, but the rest was okay at best. There was a lot of them both crying, a lot of sitting in misunderstanding and unwilling to reveal things, the jealousy was low key annoying when Santa finally realized his feelings, and all the side characters felt flat as cardboard cutouts. Rather than talking about showering and laying in bed together, I feel like they could have used however many precious minutes were wasted doing that to actually tell a story with dynamic, complex characters. And I can agree w everyone else that the last two episodes didn't really add to the content as it was. It didn't show a new side of any characters, didn't change their relationships at all, and overall was just...filler? I'm disappointed bc I feel like they both could be great actors with scripts that made them come alive more.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Warm on a Cold Night
2 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
36 of 36 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

Such a Sweet Drama

this is actually one of the few Dramas that made me cry. I connected with the female Lead fast and it was really fun to watch this stubborn duo solving crimes. it got a little annoying in the middle when those two male leads were kind of fighting over the Female lead even when it was kind of obvious that she had Han Zhang already in her heart.
But the acting in this drama is so good. The funeral scene from her Godfather made me cry. It is just a shame that we didn't get so many fight scenes. And the few we got were really good with the choreography.
But all in all a sweet Drama to watch.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Casanova Begins
3 people found this review helpful
by RoseQ
Aug 27, 2023
2 of 2 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 4.0

Was very confusing most of the time

It got confusing quickly. We are thrown into the middle of this whole thing with a bunch of characters who we don’t know who they are, adding some flashbacks on top of it made it very hard to follow. There are obviously a lot of different connections between all characters, but the lack of explanations means we don’t really get familiar with those connections.

The premise is quite interesting, I’ll admit that, but things are rushed. And that makes it choppy and hard to follow. Pluem / Kim is an interesting character, but he’s not the smartest. Also, slightly creepy at times. Khunkhao is not my favorite, and while we know Pluem is the one in Kim’s body, he doesn’t know that. Yet he’s flirting with a man who broke her sister’s heart. I’m sure that would make family reunions interesting.

The ending though… I should have expected something like that. Am I happy with it? Not really. Could it have been worse? Yes. Could it have been better? Yes.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
W Series: The Way You Shine
2 people found this review helpful
by XmeX3
Aug 27, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 5.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Give up!!!

I really loved the series, I'm also really happy that the two finally got together and are about to marry.
It was clear with the video that it would come up again at some point.

I don't think that's necessarily an indicative of a second season (nobody needs that). Rather, it means that it just won't be easy for the two of them, even if they are married, because so many are against it. So life goes on as usual ? .

Well, the fact that both of them have had a partner before and therefore also sex should be clear, the video is just a real mess from her ex-husband, but all in all it won't change anything in their relationship.
Maybe the beast will do herself and her silly brother a favor and delete the video. Both siblings should have slowly understood that they never have a chance.

If you could just get someone who's solo, oh god who would I have had... LOL!!!
That must be a bit of a reciprocity thing. That's why I don't understand the point of still not giving up after the 100th rejection.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Nirvana in Fire
4 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
54 of 54 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
I'll be honest, it took me a while to get past the first episode as there are a lot of characters and things to set up carefully. I started and stopped multiple times. But once I sat down to watch it earnestly, the story doesn't let up and continues inexorably to its explosive climax towards the end. Fully-fleshed characters performed by a phenomenal cast, sophisticated writing and overall great production values make this a timeless, highly re-watchable instant classic.

Here's hoping there will be more dramas like this one in the future.
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Vice Versa
1 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

Charmed the socks off me!

I started watching this after a long string of incredibly written and mature K- and J-Dramas and was immediately reminded of why classic Thai dramas hold such a firm place in my heart.
This show is zany, over the top, and filled with an irreverent charm that leaves you wanting more at the end of each episode.
It has an interesting plot but keeps its focus firmly on developing a slow and gentle romance, allowing the characters all the time they need to grow both as people and as partners to each other, which lets the viewer form a closer bond with the characters and lets them (the viewers) get invested in these characters' lives which makes the whole story, ridiculous as it may seem on the surface, a lot more grounded and makes every single emotional scene all the more impactful. This is still quite a rarity in queer dramas and makes for a refreshing change of pace.

Now beware, slight spoilers ahead.
Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The loving attention to detail the writers and directors clearly paid while designing the alternate universe. These details range from the simple (e.g. cone bread), to the hilarious and silly (e.g. off-key singing as an art form), to the genuinely meaningful (e.g. the legalisation of same-sex marriage) and cheekily remind the viewer every now and again to expect the unexpected and stay on their toes
- The bond shared between Puen, Talay, Up, and Aou, and later on Kita and Fuse as well. They are the boys, the lads, the gang, utterly inseparable and always, always there for each other. I'm a sucker for good depictions of (queer) friendships and these fellows delivered big time. This show says hug your homies, hold their hand, kiss their cheeks, tell them you love them, let them know how important they are to you, and they are so right about that actually! I will die on this hill!!
- The pacing and development of Puen and Talay's relationship. As I already mentioned the buildup to every major step in their relationship is very well handled and given ample time to unfold at a slow but steady pace, but it's not just that. The way the show approaches their connection to each other hit me like a thousand bricks and made me shed actual tears a lot more often than I'd like to admit. From almost the beginning of the show these two are incredibly fond of one another and their friendly bickering becomes increasingly gentle and tender until it becomes a dynamic of "I love you so much, so there, take that you idiot, I'm expressing my genuine affection for you, suck it nerd!" at which point I think I lost my heart to this show for good.
- Dol and their understated defiance of gender norms and expression. Dol may not have been explicitly written as a trans character, but their character serves to gently question what gender identity really is and what it means for our lives but also to us personally. I absolutely adore them and wish we'd gotten to see more of them, although they do play a significant role in developing several important plot points.
- The show's approach to love in all its forms. This story boldly and deliberately blurs the lines between platonic, romantic, and queer love and emphasizes the importance of true human connection over trying to force a relationship along a predetermined course. Sometimes love means getting to know somebody over the course of several years until you've come to adore every single facet of their being and it doesn't even matter what type of love you're feeling for each other as long as you get to stay together. At the same time love can also mean the specific labelling of feelings and relationships and the boundless joy and excitement that come with being officially "in love" or "best friends" or "the most important person in each others' lives". This show says "No matter what happens, I'll go through it with you". "Remember, where there's you, there's me", it says, "Thank you for teaching me not to be afraid of tomorrow".

Some personal lowlights (aka Things I Didn't Like):
- How quickly Talay manages to resolve all the problems Tess created after returning to his own universe. I'm glad there were no great, drawn-out conflicts, but I did find myself thinking "Boy that was fast" every time Talay magically fixes whatever Tess broke. A very minor gripe in the grand scheme of things.
- How unresolved Tess and Tun's story felt by the end of the show. I know they weren't the focus of the show, but all the plot threads of Tun's unrequited love for Tess, Tess and Tun's reconciliation and subsequent separation in the alternate universe, and Tess' eventual return to his original universe, were all just barely touched on before being dropped completely. I know they play relatively minor roles in the story as a whole, but given the interesting dynamic that was hinted at between them and how solid the chemistry between Ohm and Nanon (their actors) is as we all know, I wish we'd gotten to see just a little bit more of these two.

In conclusion: A slow-paced, charmingly written and acted story about love, love, and once again love. If you want a show that provides a window into the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances who come to love each other deeply and fully while tugging at your heartstrings with how achingly gentle and real it feels, then this one is most definitely for you.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Don't Say No
8 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 5.0
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 7.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Missed opportunity ?

This had great potential. What a missed opportunity. Honestly, I had great expectations since everyone seemed to praise it. There are too many nc scenes and too many misunderstandings, zero communication, especially at the beginning. The misunderstanding at the end was redundant. What were the screenwriters thinking? It made zero sense? "He had a reason." No, he did not, Leo should have talked with Fiat. Another point: The nc scenes overpower the actual plot. Honestly, such a story should not have needed any at all, i feel like they felt unnecessary and overshadowed the depth this series should have had. They never really talk about Fiat's trauma and what he went thru. They only take it to bed, "oh he had a mental breakdown and just calmed down? Let's take it to bed!" It made me upset, as if what Leo loved was not Fiat himself but his body. One point they touched on but never really talked about and brushed aside was Fiat's mom. The dangers of pregnancy, she turned out the way she did after she gave birth. Baby blues, post partum depression, and even going crazy and many more issues can arise after giving birth. It happened to my great cousin. Honesty it is terrifying. What made me frown was like how the dad never noticed or anyone else for that matter, I understand it can go completely unnoticed but never thought of treatment? Just kick her out of the house and get a new wife. What an ass.

I'll give it 2 and a half. Just because the acting wasn't that bad and they touched on some real issues albeit with no success. Honestly as someone with trauma I did not like how they handled the whole issue with Fiat's trauma and his terrible experiences, no real actions were taken. They pretty much had the mindset "love will heal it". Which is complete bs.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The Untamed
2 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
50 of 50 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 8.0

The Must-See Wuxia avec Xiao Zhan ❤❤❤ et Wang Yi Bo ❤❤❤

I hesitated for a long time to watch this drama, yet highly recommended, because I'm not a BL fan. But I ended up immersing myself in it and I do not regret this choice. It really is The Must-See Wuxia with Xiao Zhan ❤❤❤ and Wang Yi Bo ❤❤❤.

PLOT:
Great epic (50 episodes) of struggle between Good and Evil (sects of immortals / martial arts + cable fights of all kinds).
Meeting, alliance and super bromance between Wei WuXian (from a spiritual sect - big family with powers & rules) and Lan Zhan (from the sect of Lightbearers, very strict more than 3000 rules:). They investigate strange events, fight together against evils & ghost puppets, try to thwart the plans of several villains who want Yin Metal & the Tiger seal to have absolute power.

PROS:
+ no explicit BL (like the novel) but a palpable chemistry in the CL, with adorable Xiao Zhan, with a cute smile, as mischievous and mischievous Wei Wuxian.
+ Super OST, epic, perfectly adapted to the emotions (especially the duet of the ending song with Xiao Zhang and Yi Bo)
+ Excellent actors, all of them, even the most annoying ones (whom we hate with all our hearts :)
+ Excellent special effects
+ Very successful fight scenes
+ costumes & make-up at the Top
+ beautiful scenery & landscapes

CONS:
- Complex story & characters (a bit hard to get into).

=> MASTERPIECE, A must see for the quality of the cinematography, but especially for the 2 TOP leads!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J'ai longtemps hésité à regarder ce drama, pourtant chaudement recommandé, parce que je ne suis pas fan de BL. Mais j'ai fini par m'y plonger et je ne regrette pas ce choix. C'est vraiment The Must-See Wuxia avec Xiao Zhan ❤❤❤ et Wang Yi Bo ❤❤❤.

PLOT:
Grande épopée (50 épisodes) de lutte entre le Bien et le Mal (sectes d'immortels / arts martiaux + fight câblés en tous genres).
Rencontre, alliance et super bromance entre Wei WuXian (issu d'une secte de spirituels - grande famille avec pouvoirs & règles) et Lan Zhan (de la secte des porteurs de Lumière, très stricte + de 3000 règles :). Ils enquêtent sur des évènements étranges, se battent ensemble contre les evils & les marionnettes fantômes, essaient de déjouer les plans des evils qui veulent le Yin Metal & le sceau du Tigre pour avoir le pouvoir absolu.
CONS:
+ pas de BL explicite (like the novel) mais une alchimie palpable dans le CL, avec Xiao Zhan adorable, au sourire craquant, en Wei Wuxian malicieux et espiègle.
+ Super OST, épiques, parfaiement adaptés aux émotions (notamment le duo de la ending song avec Xiao Zhang et Yi Bo)
+ Excellents acteurs, tous, même les plus agaçants (que l'on déteste de tout coeur :)
+ Excellents effets spéciaux
+ Scènes de fight très réussies
+ costumes & make-up au Top
+ magnifiques décors & paysages

CONS:
- Histoire & personnages complexes (1 peu dur de rentrer dedans).

=> MASTERPIECE, A ne pas rater pour la qualité de la cinématographie, mais surtout pour les 2 leads TOP !!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Brushes Of Destiny
2 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

Sweet and funny transmigration story

This is a small gem. The storyline of a hand-illustrator entering the novel she is about to work on, is great. It’s funny, sweet and interesting. The ending is a bit of a letdown, but I chose to see it as a potential open ending towards a second season.
Character wise:
FL is a modern day hand-illustrator who is sweet and righteous.
ML is a conflicted and skilled martial artist who is under pressure to become a painter.
Acting wise this is really good and the actors do a good job within the limited timeframe.
So, if you love a sweet and funny romantic comedy - and don’t mind the somewhat open ending - this is definitely well worth watching.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The Stranded
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 1.0

cosa ho appena finito di vedere?

questa recensione è molto breve e credo si basi tutto sul fatto che se all’inizio le cose più o meno si capiscono perché il signore delle mosche lo abbiamo letto tutti e tutti sappiamo come si comportano i capponi di Renzo quando l’aitante uomo va dall’amico (che poi amico non è) Azzecca Garbugli) che si vogliono uccidere e quindi dovrebbero fare gruppo, ma non lo fanno? ecco, prendi questi presupposti, aggiungici una coppia BL (che ho apprezzato, easy, erano Mark e Perth), un po’ di GL, gente che si da da fare nel bel mezzo del nulla e hai la trama dei primi due episodi. poi va tutto downhill e non si capisce più nulla. poi non è che gli attori non siano bravi (anzi, amo Perth e Mark, e si sono l’unica ragione per cui ho visto la storia, quindi non voletemene se parlo solo di loro)(e no, non lo ho visto perché loro sono la coppia BL, ma solo perché mi piacciono molto (e molto è riduttivo) come attori), però tutto il resto di capisce poco, male e ci sono dei mostri. lo salvo per Mark, Perth (mi piace che ogni tanto inverto l’ordine), Nawin (che avevo scoperto in seguito essere presente nel cast) e i luoghi in cui è stato girato. overall è carino, forse avrebbe giovato di una seconda stagione che ahimè, vista la prematura scomparsa dell’attore non si è potuta fare

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Made on the Rooftop
1 people found this review helpful
by Giuca
Aug 27, 2023
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers

Acceptance

On the surface, it is just a silly romcom about people meeting and breaking up. Something seen so many times. But just on the surface. Because the moment you throw in the mix gay main characters the story gets to be so much more than a simple romcom.

The plot follows two best friends, HaNeul and Bong Shik and their relationships. HaNeul has been in a long-term relationship with a closeted man who does not dare tell his family that the person he loves deeply is a man. HaNeul finds that so frustrating and they keep fighting and breaking up repeatedly. Until one day HaNeul is kicked out and goes to squat with his friend Bong Shik. He is a youtuber who pretends he plays badminton. One day he catches the eye of a real badminton player who persist in hitting on him. Bur BongShik is does not want a relationship because he is HIV+.

The main characters are worried about acceptance, how the others see them and will they like them for what they are be it gay or ill or both. The actors are all extraordinary and the award goes to the actor who plays HaNeul, Lee Hong Nae: he is handsome, cute and so talented. He manages to bring to life the emotions and conflicts and fiery temperament. The other actors are just as good! And of course there is the staple of korean cinema and tv: the ajumma herself, Lee Jung Eun, brilliant as always.

Production values are rather low: this looks and feels like a short web movie. The kind you find loads of on youtube. But a bit longer. I guess they did not have much of a budget and the cameras they used must not have been very sophisticated because everything is so cold and clinically sharp. Because of it, I had a bit of trouble getting into the movie, I could not feel anything special about it. And then I realized I did. There is one song and it was hilarious: the guys at one point sing a silly song during their podcast and it is to be seen to be believed. Magic!

The director managed to make the film seem light and fluffy while correctly treating serious issues. Kudos! Well done!

This is a lovely movie and definitely a very good, uplifting rewatch! Go for it!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Stay with Me
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 27, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5

A series so good that it will stay with you

Amidst the backdrop of Chinese content restrictions on LGBTQ themes, this emerges as a remarkable series that transcends limitations, delivering a heartwarming tale that lingers in your thoughts. Witnessing the transformation of the two main characters from adversaries to lovers is a truly gratifying experience, subtly portraying their blossoming affection in a context where explicit declarations are constrained.

Even as the narrative draws inspiration from the original "Addicted" series, "Stay with Me" unveils the lives of two high school students, Su Yu and Wu Bi, whose personalities clash vehemently. Oblivious to the fact that their estranged parents are now married, the series deftly navigates their interactions as their connection deepens, unravelling the complexities of their family dynamics.

Within its narrative, the series embraces a spectrum of emotions, including drama, nuanced romance, friendship, unrequited love, and the intricate relationships between parents and children. It effortlessly weaves mystery and action, making each episode a captivating chapter in their journey. At the heart of the series is the brilliant portrayal of the lead characters, showcasing the remarkable talents of Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min. Xu Bin brings Wu Bi's fiery yet compassionate persona to life, capturing his internal struggles, love, and longing. His portrayal of a young man who values love over material wealth resonates deeply. Zhang Jiong Min's performance as Su Yu is equally mesmerizing. He masterfully conveys the layers of emotions beneath Su Yu's academic prowess, unveiling a character driven by unresolved feelings, yet undeterred in showing his affections.

Together, Xu Bin and Zhang Jiong Min convey the intricate relationships their characters share with family members and with each other. The series adeptly navigates their evolving bond through moments of conflict, jealousy, and an irresistible yearning to be together. Amidst their squabbles, the underlying affection remains unshaken, reflected in their mutual support and sacrifices for each other's happiness.

The subtlety in portraying their love is a testament to the series' finesse. While misunderstandings and fights occasionally punctuate their relationship, the unspoken emotions remain intact. Their mutual protectiveness and genuine care are reflected in their actions, whether it's Wu Bi's watchful eye on Su Yu or Su Yu's unwavering support for Wu Bi's aspirations.

In conclusion, this series triumphs as a superior adaptation, filling the void left by “Addicted”. The exceptional performances, engaging music, and heartfelt narrative combine to create an emotionally rich experience. While the series concludes with a cliffhanger, one can only hope for a second season to continue this captivating journey of love and self-discovery.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
The Starry Love
1 people found this review helpful
by Pupusa
Aug 27, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
The comedic elements are what set this series apart from its kind. It’s most enjoyable when it doesn’t take itself too seriously or tries to be deep. It’s light entertainment and is best viewed with that expectation.

The Voidwalkers carry most of the comedy here. Special mentions to Chen Mu Zhi, who has the most priceless of expressions, and Cao Bo as the best sidekick ever. Yuan Ran as Consort Xue is delightful as a mother who is sly yet supportive. It’s hilarious to watch these guys run around trying to outmaneuver each other and manipulate the poor, oblivious Qing Kui. Their generally attitude is “yeah, Kui is a naïve and dumb princess, but she’s *our* naïve and dumb princess.” The Void itself feels more real than our Mortal realm with so many rich details woven seamlessly into the dialogues and subplot. They also get the best costumes: dark, form-fitting, and downright sexy, especially the palace maid outfits. And it doesn’t hurt that the Void men have great physique (yes, the Void King rules in more ways than one).

By comparison, Heaven and Mortal realms are bland. Maybe it’s the cast, maybe it’s the direction, or maybe it’s a little bit of both. Ye Tan and Xuan Shang are ok as our Heavenly lead couple. Their chemistry is like a flickering light, sometimes it’s there, a lot of times it’s not. Their best moments are when he is in his La Mu form. Their worst moments come when they try to be funny and cute. While Landy Li and Chen Xing Xu are capable dramatic actors, they are not comic actors by nature and it shows. Chen Xing Xu’s dubbed voice is much too deep and detracts from his performance.

Watch this for the Void realm and its deliciously cheeky denizens. Watch this for Qing Kui and Zhao Feng's bad boy and naïve girl romance. Watch it for the great looking cast. Most of all, watch it with your FF button close at hand.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?

Recent Discussions