Reviews

Human prejudice and judgment towards robots is real; Riiko ruins most of the episodes

I wish I had a AI robot boyfriend like Night! The best actor in this series is the guy who plays Night, the Ideal Robot Boyfriend. The creator of 01 the boyfriend robot who poses as an electrician and follows his robot around to update and repair him is also an entertaining character. Riiko’s mother as a man hungry flirt is also quite entertaining. The worst actress in the series is the female lead. She keeps lying about obvious things like “I’m not living with Night! I’m not lying!” Even though she clearly and obviously does. When her dad tells her off, she runs off like an entitled spoiled brat. Sulking throughout the entire series at those who love her, showing her venom and hostility to Night every chance she gets despite him being so unconditionally sweet to her, and sucking up to liars and manipulators like Mika. It’s hard to feel any sort of empathy or connection with her as a character. Her dad (who is a very similar immature character as her) says “You are lower than a carrot!” Which is true. While Night becomes more real and gains human understanding and emotion, Riiko keeps looking down on everyone (especially the robot) and acting like a spoiled child. Even when she is forced to send off her parents by her boss, she starts a fight with her dad once gain until Night intervenes and gives them the picture family picture that she had torn up.

Even after such a poor quality female lead, she has 2 robots, and 1 human after her- a love square! And 02 robot isn’t even good looking. Model 01 is has the perfect body- with the perfect face, hair, kind personality, and altruism.

The premise is great- awkward, unlovable woman getting a chance at real love with a handsome ideal boyfriend robot/AI that matches her exact preferences and bypass all the human nonsense of fleeting dysfunctions romances. But the execution of this concept is extremely poor. First of all the actress who plays Riiko (Saki Aibu) plays her the exact same way as she did the character Urara from “I’m Mita Your Housekeeper”- basically a hot mess with zero likability and empathy. She doesn’t come across as “The pinnacle of virtue” as the series intends, but rather comes across as an idiot who can’t do anything right and is loyal to all the worst people, while mistreating good people. For most of the episodes she is filled with hatred and outright rejects the robot that she filled out the preferences for, and rejects the kindness of the chief (who is extremely hot and looks like an elf) who likes her and is kind to her as well. “Night” is the ideal boyfriend who helps her out in so many ways including damaging his own parts to get her desserts which she took the blame for on behalf of an arrogant boss who she was crushing on. She is stuck on the men that treat her like dirt, but to those who are kind to her, she treats them like dirt. She is not virtuous at all, has a very poor character and is attracted to mistreatment and bullies. The way she treats the chief is completely wrong, and talks down to him despite him being her boss. And the way she treats Night is abominable too. It is said the way you treat objects is the same way you treat people too (as objects). She has no virtue whatsoever. She’s an awful character, does very annoying things (the way she keeps jumping to try to kiss Night reboot him is so irritating) and makes awful impulsive decisions. The only thing she seems capable of is making choux cream puffs which the chief likes. The actress is pretty, but she plays every character in every series in the same way- as an annoying, unlikable hot mess of a woman who basically has no consideration for anyone or anything except being a hot mess. The series could have been so much better without her- this concept has a lot of potential- showing that the robot AI/boyfriend/husband is so much better than the human version and seeing that love actually transcends the human sphere. Love can absolutely exist through AI too. Human love is fickle and fleeting and as you can see by the male characters, they play around and mess with multiple women. The AI robot doesn’t do that. He’s always there for Riiko, but she takes him for granted. That’s the kind of bad person she is.

The chief guy gives her the 400k yen that she needed to pay up for the repairs she caused to Night, and she rejects his money because of her pride. She seriously looks down on the chief being a temp worker even though he recognizes her baking talent and wants to give her a chance. She makes a half hearted effort with the chief guy to do cream puffs proposal that the chief guy puts his heart into because it reminds him of his grandfather’s, and when his brother blows off the idea she simply shrugs it off heartlessly. The choux cream puffs that she made with all her heart for the arrogant boss who threw it on the floor, was later being showcased by the chief in the bakery. There are those who throw away her cream puffs that touch the heart and are reminiscent of the Asamoto grandfather’s touch of his original dessert, and then there are those that truly love them. But she keeps denying and is so ungrateful for the loving opportunities that come her way, and continues to run after things that are bad for her.

By the way, did I mention that the chief Soshi is really hot? He kind of reminds me of Chishiya from Alice in Borderland.

Riiko trusts and likes all the wrong people (the boss and Mika) because she thinks so low of herself, and she distrusts and mistreats all the good people (Soshi the chief and Night the AI boyfriend). Riiko tries so hard to please and be best friends with Mika who is so obviously and actively trying to sabotage her love life and is jealous of her, but when Night comes along, she puts him down in front of everyone. That is not a good person. Riiko shouts at Night, “Mika is an important friend to me!” While dismissing him. Meanwhile Mika is not a friend to her at all and is actively trying to sabotage the relationship by hitting on Night relentlessly. Ahh the sheer stupidity that comes out this character!

Even though she buys the robot for 100 million yen, and puts Night to work day and night, she goes around telling everyone “He’s not my boyfriend!” Even though he lives with her and walks around shirtless in her apartment and tells everyone that he’s her boyfriend. Saying “He’s not my boyfriend!” Isn’t going to erase all that evidence. She keeps lying but it’s obvious to everyone around her that she’s lying. Even though she purchasing the bot for 100 million yen she goes around telling everyone that he’s not her boyfriend and they’re not a good match- then who is he? Why did you spend 100 million yen on him and paying his price for the next 70 years, why is he living in your house, and why is he saying that he is your boyfriend? Just for her to deny his existence? Then what did she sign her life away to? So she can keep denying his existence to everyone around her? What a stupid and annoying person she is.

After Riiko was so rude and cruel to Night from the beginning, Mika kisses him and he gets recalibrated to her as his new owner and girlfriend. It’s funny and a good karma for Riiko’a cruelty towards him, so that he can turn away from her and not feel a thing, while she hopefully starts to see the errors of her ways.

It seems like everyone but Riiko likes the AI boyfriend. The scene where Night leaves Riiko for Mika because her fake backstabbing friend wants to one up Riiko at any cost by kissing him, she runs out of food since Night cook all her meals- and she starts talking to her mustard bottle as if she is being cute, it’s so annoying and not cute at all. And when Night starts following Mika around, Riiko starts following Soshi around because she’s desperate for attention. She’s so irritating.

Even when she almost collapses from lack of sleep and Soshi hugs her for the first time, she pushes him away even though she has feelings for him. She then stupidly calls Mika for help who is programmed to destroy any love relationship involving Riiko and inserts herself instead.

Even though Night is so sincere and does so many amazing things and everyone appreciates him for it, Riiko is always putting him down. She’s such a horrible, cruel character.

This story could have been so much better, but first they would need to dump that main actress because she’s so annoying. Even though I like Soshi I don’t like the fact that he’s after her despite the fact that she has such a poor character.

I never thought I would say this but I’m assuming that the Korean version will probably be better this at this point.

An interesting comment from the creator of 01:
“Why do you think Izawa Riiko chose 01 over 02?
His love for her goes beyond his program. That’s what got to her.”

The episodes get more interesting from episode 9 onwards with the pastry competition. Riiko is still doing her denial of people’s kindness and blatantly lying about obvious things, but it’s less frequent. The scenes where Natsumi, Soshi, Riiko, and Night go to the waterpark together was actually really sweet. Natsumi isn’t the typical conniving ex girlfriend, and Soshi is quite sweet and is more laid back, humble, and kind compared to the usual 2nd male leads in J dramas. Everyone around him seems to see his feelings including Night and tell him to tell Riiko about it. But when Soshi does tell Riiko his feelings and Riiko reciprocates, poor Night witnesses the whole thing and feels bad (since he’s developed human feelings now). Poor Night- his entire existence is dedicated to loving Riiko, and now he’s heartbroken. The annoying woman at the bar keeps intruding with her archaic prejudiced beliefs that humans should love other humans only and robots shouldn’t be part of their lives, despite taking full advantage of Night’s helpfulness. She’s an opportunistic character and tries to derail Night and his love and relationship with Riiko. Even when she sees the loving way that Night interacts with her, she scoffs at him sarcastically. With that said, Night is so cute and sweet- he has the perfect face, hair, and body.. like a Japanese surfer dude.

Riiko is so stupid- when Night the robot gets overheated, she says “You have a fever!” What a stupid woman- robots don’t get fevers! Then she puts a wet towel on his forehead- what an idiot! Treating him like a biological body instead of getting him repaired! A wet towel does absolutely nothing for a robot, good grief what a stupid character.

Geez it took till the end of 10 full episodes to convey that Night’s love was real and for Riiko to get it into her mind- the love that moves through something that has no human ego is more pure than a human’s fickle love, attractions, and emotions. Riiko finally admits that he has a pure heart. The only sensible thing that Riiko does is to refuse her Paris trip to save Night and realize his importance and come save him after he saves her so many times. The most sensible thing she tells Soshi when he says he’s just a robot, she says “Even so, I want to be with Night.” Finally she realizes what love really is. His love is the only thing that can surpass a human egoic love.

The only time the show gets good is when Riiko finally acknowledges Night and his love in the very last episode. “Why wasn’t I kinder to him? I would have made much better memories with him.” That was the only sensible line Riiko said throughout the series. It would have saved me a lot of annoyance.

The robot was a much kinder being than any of the humans, but because of the innate prejudice against robots, he didn’t get a chance to be loved. He exited the stage, and for the first time the female lead is handed off to 2nd man in the love triangle. Usually that doesn’t happen.

The title song has these wonderful lyrics:
“I’m back home. In one word, a fulfilled heart. I’m back, sweet home. A place to return to, thanks for your love. I thought that adults who only think of themselves were unfair. But I finally understand there are also people frantically crying out to return home. That kind of natural happiness can’t be found anywhere in this world. I could feel that way for you these feelings arise inside of me. Welcome home. I’m home. Everyday speeds by. Welcome home, sweet home. The scenery that’s always there will never change. Sweet Home.”

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The dating pool it’s fighting for its life?

Okay so as a big fan of this show i think i might share my opinion on this season. I consistently watched season 1 , was a little disappointed but still it was a nice season overall considering the fact that its a totally new kind of show in korea. So when i saw that season 2 is coming iknew i will definitely give it a look. I just finished first 4 episodes and there are many things i want to talk about. First of all i prefer the cast much better this season people are more open talkative and very diverse i would say. I love that they bring all the people immediately so the game changers could still have a chance to fit in and do something. I love Su ji , my girl is doing amazing but obviously the men are not trying enough since everyone somehow is interested into her but no one shows it😭😭. I think jae so is the cringiest and most hilarious person out there but definitely not ready to date someone since he prioritizes chasing bigs over girls😅😅 still i love waching him hahah. Then hyuk joon is the most interesting man for now and peopel would say contraversional person and i want to comment the whole situation with him and the deep voice girl forgot her name sorry. So apparently he was inti her since the beginning and i really appreciate when men are consistent and honest when it comes to dating but you cant gain feeling in 1 or 2 days so people should understand if someone is interested in someone else that doesnt mean its love its just attraction and attraction could be gained anytime . So when he said that he want to keep his options opened and try to talk to other girls its completely notmal and understandable bc ithers are showing interest in him so he might be attracted when he get to know them better. He said he is only attracted the taht girl bc he hasn’t talked to anyone else yet so its normal to not have other people in consideration yet but it can be changed and its gonna be changed for sure. And girls who support the deepvoice girl are insane like how tf you hate hyuk joon for considering other options now but saying its fine to lie about a stupid thing like why lying to him i dont get it and even when she has a chance to come up with the lie on the speed date she just avoided it. And i agree on the part when he was worried bc she didnt even notice his fever yeah i get its not that big of a deal but when yoy like something its just tok natural to look for that person in detail like you will notice every single thing on him what he wears eats or does so he does has rights in this one too. And i am really glad that he decided to give other girls a try as well. The only thing i dont like about hyuk joon is what he said about su ji, that she is definitely not an option for him bc he thinks she is immature but he cant say that without knowing her . Like he sees her acting a little but he never got to know her on a deeper level to say she is immature cus people always bring the picture of themselves that they want to be seen by others not the real one. And i am not saying that he is right or wrong about that since i dont know her either but i know that he is wrong about judging the book by it covers . When we cane to the su ji and hyuk joon topic i am really rooting to see a date of both of them and maybe he change his opinion and somehow they end up together but i know this is just too good to be real and its in my fantasy but if somehow it happens i just want to share this before and be proud after but i definitely want him to end up with soneone else than deepvoice girl. Sorry about names again i just didn’t remember everyones name its too much for me 😭😭 . The bob cut girl is really cute i was constantly rooting for her but she is so unlucky with boys she got or the boys are just so childish and dumb since almost every single girl is too good for all of them. Hope she might gets allng with the guy she matched with on day one . And when we arrived on him, the laughing guy which is really popular bc he is funny and easy to talk with i just have mixed feelings with him. Its kind of really contradicting person bc he say something then does completely different thing and ghen he is confused about the outcome and others . Like gurlll he is type of person who chase person who shows interest in him and when multiple people do that he just dont know what to do and messes everything up . Maybe he doesnt listen to himself to his heart like just go with your feeling it doesnt matter if the person is attracted to you or not bc if you just date without being attracted it would work out at all at the end. Hope he will understand what he si doing is wrong and he will change that there js still time for that🤞🏻🤞🏻. Han ju is another girl i like she is type of girl that she know what she wants and she is going for that and i love it. Like she always gives others a try but focusing on people she see her future with and i guess its too hard for others to be like her when they dont know themselves that well yet so its much harder to find a partner and i think that the major problem for them why they are eternal singles not for alm of them ofc. The person i want to mention that its not ready to date is seo yoon bc i dont think she knows what she wants truly and she just dont know herself yet. Thats not bad at all, some people realize themselves when they get older some when they are very young so it really depends on a person. And about her the fact that she said that her type might be younger boys bc she likes to listen to kpop idols that are younger is definitely a funny and insane thing. Like gurll if you like their music and look that doesnt mean you would like someone younger bc they are younger . Like people wouldnt pook like them even when they are younger. And still dont get the thing about age why age matters like people could be immature even if they are older can look good when they have more age it really depends thats why i just dont thing age matters in terms of loving someone . And i know a crazy age gap is not normal but its obvious that they are all around same ages like no crazy age gaps . And i was a person who defended people who say taht looks matter zbut i can definitely say that looks matter but personality is the one who makes people stay so like its important to have both of them cus otherwise there is no point of dating people thats why there are friends too . All in all it was very cringe and hilarious but entertaining at the same time so i will finish it ofc and definitely write an update when otehr episodes come out . And please dont reply say g i am wrong bc this is my opinion so its subjective but i tried to talk as objective as j could on the show.🙂

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No tea, no shade, but this show wasn't that good and was severely overhyped.

I started watching this when it first aired, but I put it on hold until all the episodes were released. I picked it back up, then dropped it again because it was way too draggy, and the constant push-and-pull just didn't make sense. A few months later, I picked it up again because I hate leaving dramas unfinished, and new issues arose.

After a few more episodes, around the middle of the drama, I started feeling like the relationship and romance were way too one-sided. Yes, it was pretty obvious that they both loved each other very much. However, she learned about and even witnessed the many things he did for her and the countless ways he showed how much he cared, and she's just... I can't even put into words what I think of her character during that specific period. The words I want to use to describe her would make me sound mean. Anyway, I got past that since I guess they wanted to write San Yan as someone who deeply yearned for her.

Then I directed my attention to the second couple... Oh brother. I genuinely was not feeling their acting. I don't think it's a matter of whether they can or cannot act; I personally just didn't like their performances.

Another thing I DID NOT like was the styling in this show for any of the female characters; neither the female lead nor the second female lead. The second male lead was dressed sloppily as well. I honestly think the entire styling budget went to Jing Ting because he was the only person who consistently had well-fitted clothes.

They also did a poor job handling the female lead's trauma and mental health overall. That girl didn't only suffer from sleepwalking. Come on now, you're simply playing in my face. Furthermore, the rapist, the rape apologist, the classist stepsister, and the spineless mother were handled even worse. We saw that these characters were absolute monsters. We witnessed everything they did to the female lead and all the scars they left behind. Yet when it came time for them to face consequences, everything was wrapped up far too easily, especially for the aunt, the mother, and the stepsister.

I also wish they had put more effort into the storytelling surrounding the characters' careers. The way it was written, their jobs felt like nothing more than plot devices to create scenes, give the male and female leads an excuse to meet outside of town, wrap up another character's storyline, or introduce a new character. I'm mainly referring to the female lead's job as a journalist. Here's the thing: most of the time she was in the office instead of out in the field. The stories and exclusive interviews seemed to come directly to them rather than them actively seeking them out.

Anyways, outside of the romantic segments and the friendship scenes between the male lead and his friends, as well as the female lead and the second female lead, I found most of the writing to be boring.

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Feel good movie

One of the few things we wish for when watching vertical dramas nowadays is the ability to watch them without getting too stressed. Most of the time, we just want to relax and get the break we truly deserve.
I wasn't actually planning to watch this because I already had two or three other movies lined up, but I accidentally clicked the link! ⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄

However, once the drama started, I just couldn't give it up. Of course, it features your typical mind-reading trope; specifically, the "broadcasting my thoughts to the right people" concept- but the warmth of it really stuck with me. It has a certain charm (perhaps only to me, hehe) that I can't quite put my finger on. Again, while it relies on a typical trope, they made it so memorable that if you see either of these actors in the future, you'll immediately think of this drama and how well their chemistry worked.

I bet we will all agree on that specific scene of Huang Hao Wen as one of the iconic moves in the history of chinese vertical dramas. If you know, you know. (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

I have to admit that this specific movie became the reason and the gateway for me to start watching their other dramas. I truly hope they get to work on another project together—perhaps not exactly like this one, but something family-oriented and just as stress-free to watch. This drama has the warmth of those Hallmark films we used to love. It's endearing in its own way.

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I ended up watching this movie just because of a brief cameo of Xie Miao, who made an appearance in this movie while reprising his character Li Hongqi from the Fight Against Evil series. And I guess this was only possible due to the director also having directed the Fight Against Evil series.

So instead this time, rather than seeing the misadventures of Li Hongqi, we get served with a different police story featuring a female officer who may be as fiery and volatile as Li Hongqi.

The plot was pretty interesting, as we had a villain who was a bit too superstitious and ending up committing multiple crimes because of it. Qiu Yizhou was also an interesting character as well, who may be a bit tomboyish but still a very capable police officer who wouldn't lose against her fellow male counterparts. Though to be fair, I kinda wished that Hongqi's cameo lasted a bit longer since it would've been interesting to see Hongqi and Yizhou fight alongside each other as partners. But I guess it's not possible in this movie since Hongqi wasn't on vacation this time.

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Simple RomCom with a hint of Mystery and Murder

I usually take notes while I'm watching a drama so I can remember what happened throughout, but I went through this one so fast I forgot to to leave myself a single note. I don't have much to say about this. I was watching this the last few weeks while also dealing with the untimely passing of my father. It was a nice little escape.

The cast was great. There wasn't anyone I disliked except for the FL's mom, but that was the whole point of her character. She plays terrible mom really well.

ML was cute. My mom, who wound up watching some with me, pointed out he does a lot of acting just with his face and eyes and I couldn't agree more.

It was nice that this drama had a little extra with the whole murder story line. Definitely a curve ball or two when it comes to that. Overall, an easy and exciting watch.

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Tell Me What You See.... (Major Spoilers Ahead)

It was good but not extraordinary......From the start I kinda knew what was actually happening behind all the delusions he created so it was quite predictable, but maybe not for everyone considering how people were still shocked to see the plot twist.
He was totally out to get the professor from the start. Also,It became more and more evident to me that he was fabricating everything, the further the story progressed.

If you carefully take a moment to analyse, you'll realise that he never got involved in the KIM family's whole tragedy that he wrote except for one time when he admitted to putting the scarf in the housekeeper's bag. Which shows that although he seemed heavily involved into the whole tragedy, he was actually not involved at all. He was only fooling the viewers. He did not create alterations and he did not became the reason at any point in the story where things went the way they went. Because the sole destruction of KIM family was the plagiarism and any events surrounding that had no hand of Lee Kang at all into making the truth being discovered by the whole family, eventually leading to their death (supposedly).
Moreover, the professor never saw any of it unfolding irl except the accident, in which he was not at all involved into finding evidences or the truth. He believed all he was told to believe. That's how they blurred the lines between reality and imagination.

Why is it evident that he was out to get the professor?

Because everything he did rather led to the destruction of professor's whole life. Where every gradual event was supposed to be a strike at KIM family, it was in reality, being a strike towards the professor. It was not just how he made prof. lose his mind but was predominantly how he was silently breaking his life, his career, his family relations until nothing more is left. He gradually hooked the prof. into doing things which will slowly destruct his life in the name of writing a masterpiece. His intention was never to write a story, he was not interested in the slightest, all he wanted to do was to bring the prof. closer to the trap he had carefully crafted.

Why I could spot it and how you could have done too?

Rather than focusing on what is being told and taught to you, what the other person wants to express to you.....you need to question every single action and intention that is surrounding it.
Rather than believing what seems to be happening , you need to look closely and see what is actually happening. This is important in today's world where truth is often far away.

To illustrate this, if I tell you right now to look around in your surroundings for 1 minute and note all the red-coloured things in your head. Now I ask you to close your eyes and tell me....what was the closest green-coloured thing lying around you? You won't be able to answer because, I shifted your whole focus on the red and you forgot that you had to analyse every part, every action and every intention.

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Funny>Drama>Emotional>Romance

Sweet lil Melo with it's funny and emotional moments.
I was about to rate it 8.5 stars towards the end, but ended up rating it 8, as that's what it felt like all along. I liked the ending and some other arbitrary reasons were making me rate a lil higher (~8.25) but I think 8 should be fine for this.
The story is okay with its twist and turn with some emotional moments as well. The funny side characters were also landing the scene most of the time. The editing was good too, Hence I had no major complaint. Overall, the series kept me engaging enough that I enjoyed the good parts and wasn't too bored at the weakest parts.
I especially enjoyed the FL, who I saw for the first time in this drama. Her acting and charm made me stick to the episodes when I was about close and get up. The ML was okay too. Not to mention some side characters were also quite funny.
As for some of the criticism of the people who rated it quite low, I couldn't make sense of them at all honestly. Their reasons seemed to me extarnally influenced mostly. I could understand someone who would rate it as low as 7, or even 6 in some extreme cases, but over all this series avg should be around 8 honestly.

In the end, I would recommend it as a good and fun one time watch !

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Flawed, but I Fell in Love Anyway

I fell in love with this show so unexpectedly. I went into it thinking it would be just another rom-com, but it ended up being so much more than that. There are deeper and sadder things going on underneath all the romance and fluff, and I genuinely enjoyed it so much. It’s definitely a drama I can see myself revisiting because it isn’t just a typical lovey-dovey rom-com. It’s fluff, angst, sadness, yearning, and eventually a happy ending—and I loved it.

The show is definitely not without its flaws. The editing can feel quite choppy at times, and there were moments where I genuinely felt like something was missing. Certain parts could have been written or directed better, and some things weren’t wrapped up as nicely as I would have liked. I heard the drama was originally supposed to be 32 episodes but was cut down to 29, so maybe that explains some of it. I’ll give it that. Despite all of these issues, though, the drama is still so beautiful—and the chemistry carries it so well that I can overlook almost all of its flaws.

Now, the star of this show for me: Lu Xiaxiao. THAT MAN YEARNS. He reminded me of Sang Yan in the best way possible.

His character genuinely surprised me because I fully expected him to become a red flag. After everything that happened, especially after ten years apart, I expected a revenge arc. I expected him to hate her, punish her, or make her suffer. But he never did. He was the biggest green flag. He loved her through everything. He gave her chance after chance. He stood by her no matter what she did. Even when he said he would make her cry and make her regret leaving him, he could never actually bring himself to hurt her.

Even after ten years, he couldn’t hate her. He always loved her. He always forgave her. He always stood by her side. He did exactly what he had always said he would do: if she was willing to come back to him, he would forgive her.

I LOVED that.

He was never stubborn for the sake of creating unnecessary conflict. He was always there for her. But at the same time, my heart broke for that man SO badly, and a huge part of that is because of Daniel Zhou’s acting. I’ve watched him before, but never as the main lead, and honestly—give that man ALL the roles.

He moved so naturally between being a loving man, a yearning man, a successful and mature man, and then suddenly this childish, funny, playful character. At the same time, he was able to portray someone deeply depressed and broken. He had so many amazing scenes, but one of my absolute favorite scenes of the entire year has to be when he was dancing under the fireworks while hallucinating that he was dancing with her. That scene had SO much depth. The acting, the emotions, the visuals—everything was amazing. I loved it so much.

His pain also made complete sense to me. He had already been abandoned as a child, and that was a scar that never truly healed. Then the person he loved most chose to leave him too. It wasn’t exactly the same as what his mother did, but to him, it felt like being abandoned all over again. It completely broke him, and Daniel Zhou portrayed that brokenness so beautifully.

The phone call scene absolutely destroyed me. When he told her, “If you say you love me, I’ll forgive you,” and then later said he would make her regret it… Oh my God. His acting was incredible.

Also, his styling in this drama? Beautiful. I genuinely enjoyed seeing him on my screen so much.

As for Bao Zhuowang, I loved her character too. I know a lot of people blamed her, but I always understood where she was coming from. I kept trying to put myself in her shoes, and because of that, I could never hate her for the choices she made.

One line basically explains her entire character and everything that happened: “I’m only 18. I can’t do this anymore.”

She was SO young.

After the stabbing, everyone came at her—the grandfather, the mother, the father—and everyone told her that they shouldn’t be together. She blamed herself for him getting hurt, and she was left completely alone. In her mind, the best way to protect him was to move away from him. She had no one supporting her, and she was already so broken that I understood why she made that choice, even if it was painful and even if it wasn’t necessarily the right one.

I actually loved that, in this relationship, she was the red flag and he was the green flag. It was such an interesting dynamic, and somehow it worked so well.

Her acting was also very good, especially during her more emotional scenes. The scene where she got hurt was amazing. There were a few moments where I wanted a little more from her, but whenever she had a truly heavy scene, she delivered. Her funny scenes were also great, and she is just SO cute and beautiful.

And THE CHEMISTRY.

Oh my God.

The chemistry is genuinely what carries this show. I don’t necessarily think the drama itself is a perfect 10 because I do have issues with it, but the chemistry carries it SO well that I can overlook those issues and still give it a 10. They were electric together.

I absolutely DEVOURED the first part of the drama when they were young and still in school. I loved the high school arc so much. It was fun, sweet, emotional, and so enjoyable. More than anything, it really made me feel like I was watching these two people grow up together.

One of my favorite lines from him when he comforted her when her grandma died, he was telling her it’s OK. I will grow up with you instead.

That line perfectly captures their entire relationship. This really feels like a love story spanning more than ten years because we actually watched them grow up together. We saw their youth, their love, their separation, and then who they became as adults. Although I do think ten years apart was a little too long for the story—maybe five years would have worked better—I still loved their journey.

My biggest complaint is that I simply didn’t get enough of them. I wanted SO much more. I wish we had more scenes of them together because I genuinely could have watched another ten episodes of them just being happy and lovey-dovey. Their chemistry was that good. Also talk about a well made ending. Very beautifully done… especially when they addressed the audience directly. 

I also wish we had seen a little more of his “hate” era. Since the show teased the idea that he would make her regret leaving him, I think that part could have lasted a little longer if the drama had more episodes. But at the same time, I also love that he could never truly hate her. That was completely true to his character.

The side characters, unfortunately, weren’t that interesting to me. I didn’t really care about most of them, and some of the parents were genuinely annoying. I also didn’t love the brother’s character, although I do want to see more from the actor. I don’t think his acting is amazing yet, but I definitely think he has potential.

Some storylines also weren’t wrapped up properly or were resolved too quickly. There were moments where the drama seemed to just fast-forward through things, and I wish those parts had been handled better. Still, the show did such a good job of making me feel like I had genuinely witnessed their entire journey—from youth to adulthood—that I became incredibly attached to them.

There are also SO many beautiful scenes in this drama. The cinematography was gorgeous in certain moments, and some scenes had a surprising amount of emotional depth.

And the OST? OH MY GOD.

There are at least three songs that I absolutely love. The music made the emotional scenes hit so much harder and added so much to the atmosphere of the drama. I genuinely loved the OST.

I also really liked the costumes. I noticed that some outfits were repeated, which actually made the drama feel more natural and realistic. People repeat clothes in real life! It gave the characters a more believable, lived-in feeling.

The story itself is honestly nothing especially new or groundbreaking, but I would still absolutely recommend giving this drama a chance. It gave me one of my favorite couples of the year, so many memorable scenes, beautiful cinematography, an amazing OST, and a romance with genuine emotional depth.

You can also tell how natural the chemistry between the cast is. After watching some of the behind-the-scenes content and their variety show appearances, I genuinely get the feeling that they had so much fun filming this drama together, and I think that natural connection came through on screen.

This show has flaws. There are things I would change, things I wish had been explored more, and things I wish had been wrapped up better. But I loved it anyway.

The chemistry was electric. The yearning was everything. Lu Xiaxiao completely stole my heart. Their journey made me feel like I had grown up with them, and I already know I’m going to miss them.

Definitely one of my favorite couples of the year—and a drama I would absolutely recommend.

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When Light Fades, Hope Remains: A Deeply Moving Journey Through Love, History, and Resilience

Three episodes in, and When Light Fades has already become one of those rare stories that quietly settles into my heart.
Every season brings dozens of new dramas. New faces, new romances, new stories that promise to be unforgettable. Most of them leave an impression for a little while before slowly fading away. But every now and then, a series comes along that doesn't need to be loud to be heard. It simply reaches you. Somehow, When Light Fades did that from its very first episode.

What continues to captivate me isn't just the story itself, but the way it's told. There is a quiet confidence in its writing. It doesn't rush emotions or force dramatic moments simply for the sake of making the audience react. Instead, it allows every silence, every conversation, every lingering glance, and every small gesture to carry its own weight. It trusts us to feel alongside the characters rather than telling us what to feel.

Perhaps that's why every episode lingers with me long after it ends.

One of the aspects I admire most is the way the series intertwines fiction with history. Choosing to set this story against the backdrop of one of Thailand's darkest chapters—the aftermath of the 6 October 1976 Thammasat University massacre—is both courageous and meaningful. History here isn't simply decoration; it shapes every decision, every fear, every dream these characters hold onto. It serves as a reminder that behind historical events were real people whose lives were forever changed by injustice, violence, and the hope that someday things could be different. I deeply appreciate the care with which the series approaches such an important part of Thailand's history.

The relationships are equally compelling.

The connection between the two leads isn't built through grand declarations or dramatic confessions. It's something much quieter, something that grows naturally through trust, understanding, and the unspoken emotions that exist between them. Some of my favorite moments are nothing more than two people exchanging a glance that somehow says everything words cannot. Those are the moments that stay with me.

The friendships feel just as authentic. These characters are fighting for justice, equality, and a future they believe in, all while trying to hold onto their own dreams. They don't always agree with each other. They argue, misunderstand one another, and sometimes allow fear or frustration to get the better of them. But when everything begins to fall apart, they always find their way back. They continue to stand beside one another, reminding each other that even in the darkest moments, no one has to carry the weight alone. There is something profoundly comforting about that.

The performances deserve every bit of praise.

Lhongchang delivers an astonishing debut performance. If I hadn't known this was his first acting role, I never would have guessed. There is such sincerity and vulnerability in the way he portrays Rawin that every emotion feels genuine. Nothing feels exaggerated or artificial. His performance is quiet, deeply human, and incredibly moving. I truly hope this is only the beginning of what will be a long and successful career.

Bas did great as always. He has a remarkable ability to communicate so much through the smallest expressions. His portrayal of Yue feels gentle, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded. Rather than overshadowing his scene partner, he elevates every shared moment between them, allowing their relationship to develop with remarkable authenticity.

The supporting cast deserves just as much recognition. Every character feels important, every performance feels sincere, and together they create a world that feels alive rather than simply existing around the protagonists.

I also want to applaud everyone behind the camera. The directing, cinematography, editing, soundtrack, costume design, and overall atmosphere work together beautifully. Nothing feels excessive. Everything serves the story. You can genuinely feel the passion, care, and respect that the entire cast and crew have poured into this project.

What When Light Fades has given me so far is exactly what I hope to find every time I begin a new drama.

It has made me smile, laugh, cry, and sit in silence while processing everything I had just watched. It has frustrated me with the injustice these characters are forced to endure, only to restore my hope through their resilience and unwavering belief in one another. There are moments so quiet, so intimate, that they leave me with goosebumps—not because anything extraordinary happens, but because the emotions feel so profoundly real.

To me, that is the greatest strength of storytelling.

Not creating perfect characters, but creating people whose joys begin to feel like your own, whose heartbreak hurts, and whose hope becomes something you quietly start hoping for as well.

Only three episodes have aired, and I already know When Light Fades will stay with me for a very long time.

To Lhongchang, Bas, every member of the cast, the director, the writers, and every single person who worked behind the scenes—thank you for creating something so sincere, thoughtful, and emotionally rich. Thank you for telling a story that treats both its characters and the history that shaped them with such care.

I cannot wait to continue this journey.
10/10.

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