Reviews

BL to Thriller or Vice Versa?

At first, my fujoshi heart was all aflutter for some fresh BL content, but six episodes down the line, I found myself spiraling into a rabbit hole of thrills and chills instead.

Not a moment of fast-forward was needed through the saga: it's a wild ride through the eerie and the unknown, with narratives that grip you, suspense that keeps you on the edge, and a raw delve into the realm of mental health. It's a murder mystery adorned with a rich blend of folkloric whimsy and literary allegory, each scene more captivating than the last. This series is where the tender allure of BL meets the pulse-racing thrill of a mystery, all wrapped up in a cloak of cultural and literary elegance.

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Toxic, Not Naughty

I am still wondering why I bothered to watch this drama. I wasn't a fan of Cutie Pie, toxic relationships made to look cute are not my thing, but the trailer made me wonder if this drama would put some of that in the past. I should have known better. Naughty Babe, quite simply, is a disaster. I'm not sure what was worse: changing the original story, the lack of plot, the complete lack of character development despite years having gone by, or the acting. Honestly take your pick.

So let's start with the story. There really wasn't one. Honestly it felt like a toddler throwing anything and everything at a piece of paper and calling it a masterpiece. With only 8 episodes, they needed to stick to a central story line and they just didn't. The mystery of who messed with Diao's car and caused Yi to crash is probably the most consistent story line, but even it falls flat. The choice to change the childhood attack Diao suffered from a dog to a tiger was absurd. The CGI tiger was awful and the change didn't serve any purpose other than creating inconsistencies and erasing some of the development in their relationship from Cutie Pie. Because it was so disjointed, the pacing felt off. It never got a good rhythm going and I struggled to stay invested. Things like their plan for the wedding was just so nonsensical and out of the box, and not in a good way. They were in on the plan together, so why Diao kept going on about being afraid he was going to hurt Yi and break his heart and blah blah blah just didn't make sense. And the ending, maybe it was just me, but it felt like there was a level of favoritism for their son over their daughter. They interacted far more with him than they did with her, especially considering it was her birthday. Again, could just be me reading into it too much.

One of the biggest issues though truly was the complete lack of character development. It's supposed to have been what, 6 years or something since Cutie Pie and three since Cutie Pie 2 You and literally nothing has changed in their relationship. In fact, they've taken steps backward. I didn't watch it, but my understanding is that a lack of development was present in Cutie Pie 2 You as well. Relationships change over time, that's just a fact. That Diao and Yi's relationship remained so stagnant shows that the writers and production had no clue what they were doing. Because of the foolish decision to change the attack to a tiger, some of the issues between them that had been dealt with or at least acknowledged were rendered pointless and they were right back where they started. And you would think, after all the time they'd been together, that they would have figured some things out. But no, they are still unable to communicate effectively, they make assumptions, there's a clear lack of trust and understanding between them, oh, but they're madly in love. Cue eye roll. The imbalance in their relationship is still very present. There are times that Yi comes across almost as more of a father with his controlling ways than as a fiancé. And Diao, for all that he does stand up for himself on occasion, it never seems to be when it matters or when it would do the most good. Frankly, they're just frustrating to watch. And a bit disturbing, because, all joking aside, at the heart, their relationship is not one built on love, but rather years of manipulation and Diao being conditioned to rely on Yi. And that is simply not addressed. It just points back to the fact that nothing has changed since Cutie Pie and their relationship is just as toxic and discordant as it was then.

Lian and Kuea reappear and while Lian does have his useful moments serving as a sounding board for Yi and actually giving solid advice at times, Kuea causes some issues by sticking his nose where it doesn't belong and making incorrect assumptions that he then feeds back to Diao. Together they're alternately vaguely amusing and mildly cute. While their relationship in Cutie Pie displayed the same imbalance as seen with Diao and Yi, they seem to be on more equal footing here. Nuea and Syn also pop up briefly and bring a few moments of levity. The only other character that I actually liked was Yi's father. He had a decent balance of comedy and seriousness that worked fairly well.

Nat and Max are not the strongest of actors and expecting them to carry their own show was asking a lot. Of the two, Nat was the more compelling to watch. His expressions are limited and there's really no nuance to his acting, but it feels more authentic. Max is just wooden and his emotions always felt very surface level. It looked like he was acting.

The production value was meh. There was nothing special about it. The product placement was incredibly annoying and distracting. It's been a minute since I saw a drama that was so in your face with it. And the music felt pretty generic. Nothing like Cutie Pie which had some decent and catchy songs.

Naughty Babe is simply a continuation of the toxic relationship first shown in Cutie Pie and a further romanticization of it. I don't generally totally regret watching a drama, but I fully regret taking the time to watch this one. There is frankly nothing positive about it and unless you are a die hard Cutie Pie or Diao/Yi fan, I would avoid it like the plague. You'll never get those hours back.

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FAILED TO MATCH IT'S PREDECESSOR, BUT GOOD ON IT'S OWN

The 1st Season was impeccable in every aspect, from the production, acting, storyline, cinematography, music, and etc. I think one should treat this as a separate show away from it's masterpiece predecessor.

There are still good things about the show that might interest you:
• Polished and excellent production.
• Great soundtrack.
• Stunning cinematography and camerawork.
• Impeccable acting.
• Hyper realistic plot.

In my personal perspective, Teh became so unlikeable to the point that what he did is no longer tolerable. I can appreciate a flawed and complex character, but his action is exasperating as the show goes on. I would say, his character is irredeemable. However, objectively speaking, if we dig-deep into his character from Season 1, Teh is just being Teh. Messing things up, messing Oh-Aew, messing his life and other people's life as well. Still pretty accurate to his character right? I have to commend the writer for in that one.

Oh-Aew I must say has the a better character development. He was able to figure things out in his life and where he really wants to go. I just don't agree with his decision on the finale, but then, objectively, I think that decision that he made is what is always true to his heart.

Overall a decent BL Drama, still better than most series.

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It's on the 2023 best list without a doubt.

Well well well! This drama should be renamed Love yourself really,
Never have I been worried about a drama ending so bad that I was willing to go looking for spoilers on the internet 😆🤓.
I think I cried a little watching the last episode. And I'm glad ZXW is here for our Hua Qian. I would have appreciated another episode where they're back at home with a few kids being spoilt by ZXW's mother, but I'll take what I'm given and move on. Show had a good run. It has my stamp of approval, hard to receive in my 15 years of gluing my eyes to tv screens in the name of worshiping the drama gods 😂

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CINEMATIC TOUR DE FORCE

A thrilling masterpiece that fully absorb your emotions in every episode.

Highly recommend this show if you are looking for the following:
• A well-written coming of age drama.
• Impeccable acting of the whole cast.
• Roller-coaster of emotions throughout the show.
• Stunning production with great amount of effort into details.
• A 2nd lead that you might want to end-up with the lead "heroine".
• Drama, angst, and a character that you want to punch in the face.
• A series that feels like a movie quality.
• Music that is captivating and poetic.

I can't give a 10/10 Rewatch Value because even though this is one of Thai BL masterpiece, I don't have the energy to go through mental and emotional breakdown in watching this again. Regardless, it is undeniably a beautiful series.

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Captivating...An Emotional Journey

Based on the novel "Miracle" by the legendary Lin Pei Yu, this series is about a gangster and a high school student fighting for their impossible love.

What I liked about their relationship was that their obstacles were external. Once they admitted they liked each other, Bai Zong Yi and Fan Ze Rui were totally committed. They were unshakeable in their devotion, but they have to overcome threats from the outside.

The second CP have their own gut-wrenching plot line. Ai Di and Chen Yi were both raised by the mafia, and Ai Di has suffered from unrequited love for his friend. Watching Ai Di come into the realization that his love may not be as unrequited as he thought was a joy to witness. He deserves all the love!

The Big Boss of the gang has has his own romantic spark with another man but their backstory is not fully fleshed out in the show. I heard Lin Pei Yu suggest in an interview that the 3rd book in this trilogy is their story. I'd love to see their story on screen. Since Pei Yu is both a screenwriter and producer of this series, I'm hoping we can see this team film all three books in the trilogy.

Finally, I wanted to comment on the ages of the main cp. I've read the book. Bai Zong Yi is 17 and Fan Ze Rui is 22. Spoiler ahead: The fact Zong Yi is a minor is important to the story, because it means he gets a lighter sentence for the crime (which he doesn't actually commit). This point about his age is reiterated by the big boss in the series.

None of the characters have a problem with their age gap (because it isn't illegal in Taiwan) but I understand that many viewers may be uncomfortable with it. If this is you, I recommend not watching any further. It's a disservice to the series to dismiss it with a low rating just because of their ages.

Series Highlights: The acting and chemistry between the cast. The endless parade of cameos from BL actors. The OST. Ai Di's wardrobe. The rewatch value...I've already rewatched several times!

Tip: Make sure to watch the special episode called Kiseki+ on Youtube. It basically ep 8.5 and should be watched between eps 8 and 9.

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a mystery/thriller series that tried something different

Overall: I appreciate that this series had a unique premise. This is more mystery/thriller instead of horror/gore, there are some very heavy topics and things shown. Aired 14 episodes about 45 minutes each on GagaOOLala. Make sure to watch the entire post credits scene in episode 14.

BL content: I'll put this in a spoiler comment

Content Warnings: there are some really heavy topics, see my comment with a spoiler for the full list

What I Liked
- unique premise
- blended different elements well
- acting
- liked in episode 2 how Dan sought communication from Nai
- a few sweet moments (including the friend cuddle)
- production value

Room For Improvement
- unless I missed it, 2 characters should have been shown being arrested by police but the writing seemed to suggest that their own miserable lives were bad enough (but they should have been arrested)
- how much Josh & Nai believed Dan who they had recently befriended stretched credulity a bit
- where was the teacher at the pool???
- I dislike that the school priest tried to force forgiveness
- open ending

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This isn’t Penthouse, so stop comparing…?!?!

I keep seeing reviews about how it’s not as good as Penthouse. And while I get that the writer is the same… who cares. The goal likely wasn’t to recreate Penthouse lol. This drama is really good. I love how we learn new things as the story line progresses. It gives us something to look forward to and allows us the time to create our own thoughts on certain things/events that take place in the show. The acting is amazing! The actress that plays Da Mi was so believable in the beginning and the actor that plays Do Hyeok as well! They were making me tear up and cry. Ra Hee’d actress is so good too bc she pisses me off so much, I almost hate her. There’s not much of an OST in my opinion, but I love when it ends bc the song is catchy lol. Overall, it’s a really good show, with a good plot line, and acting. I think this is definitely a show that most people would want to watch when it’s fully released if you hate “plot holes” or waiting to know what happens. Would give it a 10/10 if this was release entirely, but again I also like the waiting factor lol.

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A Nation of Banchan was an interesting look at Korea’s culture of rice and side dishes. Just like the greetings and farewells, “Did you eat?” and “Don’t skip meals” this special begins and ends with delicious meals. Heo Young Man, Ryu Soo Young, and Mimi travel across Korea eating at world class restaurants, restaurants run by ajummas, and places in between. Rice, fermented food, and seasonal ingredients are all explored.

Banchan begins with the heart of the Korean meal---rice. The oldest rice seed was found on the Korean peninsula dating back between 13,000 and 17,000 years and the cultivation of it is still going strong. Approximately 3000 different rice brands are sold and instant rice has risen in popularity as well. They dine at a restaurant that specializes in serving rice in a variety of forms-chestnut porridge, alcohol, steamed, and noodles to name a few.

Side dishes are said to reflect the affection and generosity of the people. The cast travels to a restaurant run by women who have worked there for 20 years. The women bring in a sagging table that contains 24 side dishes. Then they brought in several more! The team barely made a dent in discovering different side dishes as Korea boasts more than 1500 types.

Next, they tackle wraps where anything edible is placed inside a leaf and eaten. Ssam dates back to Goryeo times. The leaf “embraces all ingredients.” They also tour where soy sauce is created and show a variety of jangs used to flavor foods.

The trio visits a Bibimbap restaurant next. Bibimbap is the food that shows “sharing and uniting the culture.” Whether using raw veggies or steamed, cooked meat or raw, it appears a practiced stir is needed.

Fermentation is investigated, the third style of food preparation---waiting. A food researcher is schooled by an old guru in how to make Jeotgal. At the fishing village the older woman demonstrates how fish and other seafood are salted and stored.

Episode 2-Seasonal Ingredients
“We can’t eat what’s grown in spring in summer…We can’t miss the time.”

Winter: Oysters are a winter staple and were cultivated in Korea going back 600 years. The trio goes to an oyster bar where they don protective gear to cook oysters on a grill at their table. They are also served oyster salad and pancakes.

Spring: In a country that is 70% mountainous, there is a long history of foraging for wild greens. They have lunch cooked by an older woman with nearly all of the ingredients either grown or found by her. Fried Acacia flowers, acorn jelly, and numerous wild green dishes are served with rice.

Summer: In a Bamboo forest, the three are treated to a feast cooked in a long bamboo tree called a “Steaming Dragon.”

Autumn: Rare pine mushrooms only found in the Fall for around 2 weeks are featured in an assortment of dishes at an upscale restaurant that Ryu goes to. Mimi is treated to seasonal raw fish at another high-end restaurant. Heo goes in the other direction to a small place that serves aged kimchi chicken stew. “Food that’s been aged a long time, like me, tastes better.”

I can’t say that all the dishes and styles of preparation made my mouth water, but I did enjoy how the meals were “built” and the history behind them. With the exception of a couple of places, it helps to be an omnivore as there were numerous meat dishes fermented or served. The three hosts were engaging and the two older ones informative. Mimi provided the wide-eyed wonder at discovering new flavors as a stand-in for the audience. Banchan means that a surprise guest isn’t a burden as there is always room for another at a table with plenty of side dishes. Korean meals are interpreted as a mother’s love, I think most mothers would approve of the love and dedication required to film this show about how seasonal ingredients and age-old methods are combined to nourish and strengthen those lucky enough to share a meal lovingly prepared.

11/1/23

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Best C-drama I've seen in a long ,long time

I've watched a LOT of this genre and rarely do you find a drama that does well at all the important stuff.

--The story progressed smoothly and introduced characters and kingdoms gradually so that it all made sense.
--The storyline kept me hooked and going back for episode after episode, never losing momentum as so often happens in C-dramas.
--The characters all had clear motivations and unique personalities and became more likeable as the story progressed.
--The romance factor was thoroughly enjoyable, with each love interest captivating in his own way.
--All the actors were perfect in their roles, and the FL did a good job creating chemistry with each ML, even when she was in male persona.
--And the ending--unlike so many Cdramas--was not rushed and disjointed and contrived; it arrived with perfect pacing, a logical progression, and provided a satisfactory end for what is only the first season. I usually don't watch a 1st season until there is actually a 2nd season underway, but other reviewers gave me hope and I agree with them that this was enough closure to be satisfied (but still excited for Season 2 which supposedly will come out in 2024).

I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with this drama.

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I would reccomend not watching.

Okay, so you may want me to mark this a spoiler related review but I need an opening warning to anyone who will watch this show: the main character is a minor until the last 3-4 episodes. The story has him engaging in a romantic and sexual relationship with an adult. Do not argue with me that “he’s 17, he’s almost an adult” when your frontal lobe doesn’t finish developing until you are 25. I could not like either of them beyond the fact that the actors get along well and you can obviously tell that.

I was severely uncomfortable with the fact it was romanticizing that relationship even if initially they had the adult realize it was wrong. I think it’s disgusting and will fuck over a lot of kids who don’t understand that it’s not hot or cool to have sex with an adult when you are a kid. It’s setting up younger fans who find this show to be exploited. He could’ve been a university student and it wouldn’t’ve been less creepy bc he wouldn’t be a LITERAL child.

I think whoever likes this and looks beyond the fact that it’s an illegal age gap should reasses what they actually like about this show beyond “ooo it’s taboo” and the actors having good chemistry. An adult preying on a child that obviously has no support system or parent around is fucking disgusting, and if you say it’s not you don’t get how much that fucks up someone.

The only redeeming part of the show for me was Ai Di since his age gap with Chen Yi was THREE years instead of 5+. He was the only character that actually felt compelling to me especially with how Louis played him. He was the one who didn’t have his whole personality revolve around his romantic interest, he had other things going on at the same time as everything. You can say I’m biased but he didn’t get start his relationship with Chen Yi until he was in his 20s after he and Zongyi get out of prison (but was still an ADULT when they had sex before he left).

Like no hate to the actors, they’re just doing their job, but genuinely whoever wrote this is gross. Literally as a gay man, especially one who’s been the older person in the room for some of younger peers, I can’t suspend any disbelief for this storyline. I can’t think an adult having a sexual relationship with a child is hot or sexy or whatever you fucking call it. It’s literally what us queer men have been trying to fight, because the impression made by conservative media of gay and trans people is that we’re predators, and then you make a gay romance out of an incredibly predatory relationship? You don’t fight for us. You only care about your fetishes.

I don’t recomend watching this show. (I’m not saying boycott the actors though, they didn’t write the story. They just did a job.)

If this review offended you, if it make you angry because I said the truth of what this show really is and you don’t like that, reassess yourself. Liking queer romance isn’t a crime but when it’s including shit like this, it’s doing the opposite of what mainstream queer media is supposed to do. It’s not advocating, it’s showing an adult and child having sex. It’s setting up impressionable minds to getting hurt. I can’t accept that, especially when there are more well written actual queer stories to come out of Asia.

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Great for a short drama

It was good for a short drama, I ama. Fan of s Chinese short dramas ( generally way better than korean ones) they tend to tell the story better , like a very long good quality movie.

The story was interesting, a bit cliché and simple revenge plot . Quite straightforward.

The episodes are very short and the pace is fast so you will be able to finish it in one sitting/afternoon.

Quite sexy and provoking. The chemistry is awesome and there’s a lot of good kisses and unexpected skinship between the main couple.

If you are looking for something interesting and simple with a bit of fluff and passionate romance, this will be for you.

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It wasn’t what you expected and I’m sad for the romance

I really enjoyed watching this series and the first time I’m writing a review! I waited every day to see every episodes that comes!
I wanted her to make a corrections of the mistakes she did in the her past life so I believe for her reincarnation!
As her wishes, I wanted to keep her family alive too but unfortunately it’s all a dream 🛌 and she’s been in a coma for over 2 years which made me disappointed 😢 from what the writer did ! She didn’t want to wake up from her happy dreams but when she finally accepted that the only one alive that really love her was Song Wie , she wakes up ! It’s not really romantic for me but I was hoping for a happy ending! I hope 🤞 so 😊 if his mother will finally accept her 🤞

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