Reviews

Plot:

The plot of the show was truly remarkable. It was a refreshing change from the usual light-hearted and fluffy shows that gmmtv produces. This show was bold, authentic, and full of raw emotions. The story was messy, just like real life, and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The characters were well-developed and their struggles felt genuine. The show tackled some heavy themes and did so with grace and sensitivity.

Acting:

The acting in this production was absolutely outstanding. From start to finish, every single actor delivered a flawless performance that left me completely captivated. Each character was portrayed with such depth and authenticity that I couldn't help but feel a strong connection to them. The way they effortlessly brought their roles to life was truly commendable. The emotions conveyed were so raw and genuine that it was impossible not to be moved. The actors' impeccable timing and delivery added an extra layer of brilliance to the overall production. It was evident that they had put in a tremendous amount of effort and dedication into their craft, and it truly paid off. I was thoroughly impressed by the level of talent and professionalism displayed by the entire cast. Their performances were nothing short of extraordinary, and they deserve all the praise they can get.

Chemistry:

The actors delivered their performances with such authenticity and passion that it felt as though their chemistry transcended the screen and became palpable. It was a delight to witness the sparks flying between the characters, as their chemistry added depth and believability to the storyline. The intense chemistry between the couples created a magnetic pull that kept me hooked, eagerly anticipating their every interaction.

Music:

The music in this series was absolutely incredible and I cannot stress enough how much I loved it. It was truly a perfect match for every single scene throughout the entire show.

I would like to give a special shoutout to sandray for stealing the show for me. Although I enjoyed watching all the couples, sandray's story and chemistry were the ones that captured my attention the most. Their journey was filled with ups and downs, and their connection was amazing. I found myself rooting for them throughout the series, and I was not disappointed with how their story unfolded.

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Dangerously Terrible

Dangerous Romance begins with a clever male lead (Sailom) constantly outsmarting the vicious bully (Khang) at school, fostering a growing interest in what is to become of the two characters' dynamic.
Khang traumatizes Sailom's friends and even intends to do the same to Sailom, but it just so happens to be that he saves Sailom from debt collectors. People tend to forget that Khang intended to scare Sailom with an actual gun.
After that, the bully's doings are dismissed because he is just a misunderstood rich boy; we don't get to see any real character development that's fitting.
The danger in Dangerous Romance does not exist until the last few episodes, and it's all over the place.
There is no chemistry between the actors.
There is no need for me to watch the last episode, it will not change my mind on how terrible I think it is.

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At least make the characters sing!

Do you want to see how TVB can waste a talented guy like Owen Cheung? If so, watch this drama. Here Owen plays a music composer and has fallen into some rough times because of being accused of plagiarism. He decides to move to a small village to get away from all the drama, and that is when he meets a Chinese opera loving female ghost played by Katy Kung.

There is only one interesting plot point with a bastard plagiarising Owen and making it appear as if it was the other way around, but they sort out this issue too early in the drama. The rest of it is all boring opera stuff that had me yawning the entire time. I don’t mind Chinese opera, but the issue is that this drama managed to make it so uninteresting. The worst part is that all the female singers are clearly dubbed, especially Katy Kung as the dub is very obvious as the lips do not match the singing. If TVB actors can learn gun fighting and choreography and so on, they can learn to sing Chinese opera music. And if mot just cast a person who can, why Katy Kung? Why Tiffany Lau?

The entire show was very predictable as well. Owen Cheung just happened to look EXACTLY like the boyfriend of the Katy Kung ghost, and yet it never crosses their mind maybe he is the reincarnation of the boyfriend despite Owen having dreams of his past life. Instead they spend the rest of it looking for the boyfriend as if he was alive. Then later - gasp - it turns out he is the reincarnation and that in his past life he was murdered! Whoa I did not see that coming (!). Later when the main big bad appears, it is right near the end of the drama so we don’t get time to get to know the guy, it is just boom - there he is - then boom - bad stuff. And - coincidentally - the big bad happened to know ghost catching magic as well. Like how much plot convenience crap can you cram into one drama?

And the funniest part? Katy Kung is a ghost and we all know this, but for reasons only known to the writers, she is the only ghost in the entire drama. She doesn’t meet other ghosts and we never see any other ghosts besides her. If she is a ghost then logically there would be others, and with a huge place like Hong Kong you can’t tell me that there would be no wandering ghosts hanging around. Come on!

As a result, I think this sucks due to the really poor and lazy writing.

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MDZS but if it was Lesbian!

I'm a huge MDZS fan. I love it with all my heart and this story just reminds me of it so much because a cold love interest who wears blue? and a fun-loving love interest wearing red? I'm curious already. Also this story reminds me of the Yi city arc in MDZS. The acting could be better and with more production funds, an experienced director and a great CGI team, they could make magic is all I'm saying. The story feels rushed because each episode is like 3 mins long and has only 12 episodes. But if it were longer and more fleshed out I'm telling you it would be a hit!

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I really wanted to like this drama

I really wanted to like this drama but sorry, it is just terrible. Charlene Choi plays JD, a forensic scientist who is great at her job but is completely socially awkward, similar to Temperence Brennan from the US TV series bones, but lacks her sex appeal. The story mixed her into some random stuff that made no sense; it is so contrived I actually felt my head spin.

The male lead is played by Jospeh Chang and he is definitely not a Seeley Booth, in fact he is a hot headed idiot who barely gets anything done right. The two mains have no chemistry at all so I didn’t care what happened between them. Watching Joseph constantly use mandarin to speak to the guys who ALL use canto got really obnoxious because he had no charm to him at all, he is just this hot headed bull that does stupid stuff and occasionally throws bad canto phrases at people. To be honest, I only watched this to the end because of Law Kar Ying, Kenny Wong and Michael Tao, legendary TVB actors. Everybody else was meh.

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Insufferably Decent

Only Friends follows an empty plot full of messes and unnecessary reconciliations between the most insufferable characters imaginable. An attempt to portray the different problems LGBTQ+ college students may face, its message remains unclear.
I enjoyed the first few episodes, but my enjoyment declined as it went on. I like to believe the shippers of these pairings ruined the show's initial direction.
These actors deserve more than to be recognized as part of a ship. Khaotung and Mark stole the show with their performances, and Neo proved his versatility as an actor.
A decent GMMTV series, I applaud it for its execution of mature content.

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This movie deserves a higher rate!

An 8.4 rate is so low than what it deserves. Now I watched this movie because of the plot and the cast. I also like how the synopsis was worded because it does not spoil anything about the characters thus, I was surprised by their individual capabilities. Some may find this corny, or the jokes have already been used too many times before, but what I like about it is how the cast delivers those jokes that makes it funnier. Even though you already know the punchline you will still laugh out loud because of how the lines were given and the expression of the character who delivered it.
So for those who are looking for a movie that will make you laugh while watching and will make you smile remembering then this movie is that movie.

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Why This Drama Left Me Scratching My Head

Introduction:
"The Perfect Deal" comes with a premise loaded with tension and high stakes, promising a roller-coaster of emotions. But does it deliver? Well, that's a complicated question. While the series has its moments, it also leaves you questioning the logic behind some pivotal decisions made by the characters.

The Plot Hole Dilemma:
The show starts with Lee Joon Sung and Song Jae Hyo staging a fake kidnapping of their friend, Park Min Woo, with the aim of extracting money from his wealthy family. Right off the bat, this decision felt illogical. Park Min Woo is portrayed as a benevolent character, someone who probably would have helped his friends financially if they'd just asked. So, why resort to a kidnapping? It's a question that hangs in the air throughout the series.

Character Inconsistencies:
Moreover, the characters themselves seem inconsistent with their actions. For instance, Song Jae Hyo is smart enough to concoct elaborate plans, yet he's in a tight spot because of poor choices he made in school. Similarly, Lee Joon Sung is depicted as someone who doesn't fit the profile of a gambler drowning in debt, yet here he is.

The Confounding Finale:
The ending of the series adds another layer of confusion. After going through the trouble of demanding a ransom, Song Jae Hyo inexplicably wants to return to school. But how does he plan to do that when he's a wanted man? On the other hand, Park Min Woo's decision to forgive Lee Joon Sung is perhaps the only redeemable moment in an otherwise convoluted conclusion.

Final Thoughts:
While the series has its moments, it ultimately leaves the viewer puzzled rather than satisfied. The characters' actions don't align well with their portrayed personalities, and there are enough plot holes to make you question the story's credibility.


My Ratings:

Story:
Given the plot's numerous inconsistencies and gaps in logic, a lower score is warranted.
Rating: 3.5/10

Acting/Cast:
While the acting was not the main issue of the drama, it wasn't enough to salvage the poorly-executed storyline.
Rating: 4.5/10

Music:
The soundtrack felt uninspired and did little to enhance the emotional impact of the story.
Rating: 3.0/10

Rewatch Value:
Due to the numerous plot holes and inconsistencies, this is not a drama I'd be eager to revisit.
Rating: 2.0/10

Overall:
While the series has some merits, particularly in the acting department, its story, music, and rewatch value fall significantly short.
Rating: 3.5/10

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Love Syndrome is more demented than amnesiac

When not one, not two, but THREE couples are a result of sexually assaulted victims falling for their assaulter, you know you’re in for a toxic mess.

Despite this series’ low rating, I gave it a go as I’ve seen Lee Long Shi in “Even Sun” and Frank paired with Drake in “Between Us”. Can't say I'm a big fan of both butttt I did enjoy them to some extent in said series. What’s interesting was seeing Lee Long ‘top’ here when he was the ‘bottom’ in Even Sun. I have to say his ability to do both makes him one of the more unique BL actors, not to say that not being able to fulfill both isn’t unique, but it doesn’t limit his acting or typecast him. (Also, I want to see a series where Fort Thitipong and Lee Long Shi are brothers because wow, they give me similar vibes.)

Before diving into the series, we need to understand that there’s a ‘Bad’ Day and a ‘Good’ Day (I honestly love that the character’s name is “Day” and they stretch the 'bad day' and 'good day' in him).
‘Bad’ Day is ruthless, jealous, and combative. He was born the day his parents were killed in a car accident that left him and his beloved younger brother, Night, orphans. Bad Day is a former mafia member who dropped everything bad about him two years ago. Good Day is the result of Day getting away from Bad Day and closer to Itt. He is mild-tempered, soft-hearted, responsible, and a bit of a pushover. Despite being the ‘Good’, he still possesses a dark side which is his openness and willingness to groom his boyfriend into becoming solely dependent on him.

This brings us to Itt, ‘Good’ Day’s boyfriend of two years. Right from the jump Itt is painted as a spoiled man-child who has an irritable cake obsession. Cake was his drug, he had to have it right then and there otherwise everyone suffer from his tantrums and inability to function, particularly Day. Despite Itt’s childishness and immaturity, he’s adored and babied by his peers, friends, and parents. Although Day has admitted to bending Itt into the role of a codependent boyfriend, it’s been revealed that Itt’s parents sheltered and spoiled him relentlessly growing up; never pushing him to do more nor asking him to help more with the family business. Cooking was also out of the question as he once burned down their kitchen. Therefore, when Itt, a grown man, lacks the basic survival skills it’s impossible to blame him or any party entirely. Itt’s codependency also allows him to accept abuse on an unhealthy level and I don’t care how many times a character says Itt is selfless, he’s the most selfish character.

Since Day suffers from memory loss and has returned to a character viewers aren’t familiar with, his growth, or lack thereof, is fairly acceptable. However, Itt has never truly grown. Itt doesn’t take responsibility for much of anything and this is because his friends and parents are always on his side. He shouts and raises his voice at Day every other four to five lines. Everyone but Day gives him more credit than he deserves and victimizes him on an unconditional level. The only time they called his childishness out was when he demanded cake and asked Peace to sleep beside him. I wish Itt’s cooking skills were developed and shown over the series and not him waiting until the final episode to show interest in learning because at this point we’re supposed to believe he’s been responsible for Day’s meals for months. I mean, did Night end up cooking all of them, or did Itt order delivery? Because we never saw Itt grocery shopping either and he clearly hasn’t shown any improvements when they went shopping with Bell.

The supporting and side characters were fine for the most part but they were too nosy and the amount of gossiping they did was excessive. There were a lot of times when I wondered why Gear and Night felt the need to control the direction of Day and Itt’s relationship. As a brother and friend, it’s acceptable to help but manipulating (i.e. Ball) is a different story. It gave the mains outs and excuses not to talk. It also skewed some situations i.e. when Day punched a wall because he couldn’t remember, friends miscommunicated that to Itt as Day punishing himself for punching Itt when in reality Day never felt bad for punching Itt on the racetrack because let’s be honest, was dumb and irresponsible on Itt’s part. The common person knows better than to jump in front of an oncoming race car at high speed. The part that further pissed me off about it was that Itt specifically asked Nan to be in the car with Day and still decided to put all of their lives in jeopardy. Had Nan not noticed and Day not braked, Itt would be 4-6 feet underground. Or had Day swerved, he would have crashed or flipped the car with him and Nan in it and they, too, could have been one with the ground. I’m so upset that when Day brought this up, Itt took ZERO accountability for it and never understood why he was in the wrong. Gear and Night also never asked why Itt did that, they just assumed that Day was in the wrong--he was, in the way that he overreacted and resorted to violence but I have to say Itt asked for it when he put all three of their lives at risk.
I also despise how selective the support characters are when it comes to over and under-sharing. When Day woke up with his memories of Itt wiped clean, he never got answers because everyone would just say ‘Curious? Figure it out yourself”. But then they would blame and get mad at him for not remembering. Day just couldn’t win as he was surrounded by Itt’s supporters.
Sometimes I questioned if Night was Day or Itt’s brother.
Speaking of Gear, I don’t understand his hostility towards Day in Night and Day’s house, especially when he once abused Night and knew Day hated him for that. Gear is a guest but he oversteps like he owns ¼ of the house.
I’m a huge fan of Nick. I love his humor and wit and wish there was more of him. He’s Itt’s best shield. I thought he and Neil were a compatible couple. Neil isn’t overly jealous of Nick’s flirtatiousness and understands that it stems from a cry for attention as the son of a mistress.
Nan and Mac…hmmm…at this point, I can’t gauge if they’re the second or most toxic couple but I’ve seen them being compared to Vegas and Pete from KinnPorsche and well…if you know then you know. Nan is Day’s henchman who instantly strikes us as someone who always has the upper hand and is quick on his feet. Despite his small screen time, he’s not a man to be trifled with. Although he doesn’t use his fists as often as Day, he’s proven to be just as good a fighter but with big brains. Aside from running a racetrack with Day, Nan’s toxic trait is to punish Itt’s molester, Mac. Mac is someone who went to high school with Itt and stole Itt's girlfriend, Meen, in the name of actually having a crush on Itt. As adults, Mac throws an out-of-the-blue confession at Itt while forcing himself onto Itt. Witnessing this, Day beats and shoves Mac into Nan’s arms and insists that Nan does whatever pleases him. And so Nan did, on top of threatening Mac with a non-existent video. Like DayItt and GearNight, Nan and Mac’s abusive relationship alas blossomed into ‘love’.

Guest roles and their purposes:
Meen - utilized to show us that Itt is bi aka gives Day more to be jealous of.
Kim - creepy guy #1 to prepare us for creepy guy #2, P.
Kamol - the mafia boss who never felt like a mafia boss. His motto is ‘killing creates an endless cycle of revenge so manipulate people to off themselves instead’

Other notes…:
- The mafia arc was done so poorly, it was over within 1-2 episodes
- The acting is passable, not great but not bad. In some scenes, one actor would overact as the other underacts. Frank’s acting can be dry at times, especially the non-red eyes and tearless crying.
- The script is…fair at best. I wish there were more industrial terms but meh
- Continuity error is a big one (the biggest offense is when Itt took the car to the waterfall but they kept cutting back to the house showing the car parked in front (establishing shot, I get it but c'mon now!). The first mistake I can laugh at but the second or third just tells you no one in editing was paying attention. And no one can convince me that was Gear’s car because it simply wasn’t.)
- The editing: they overused fade to black one TOO many times. The rectangle/zoom out in the middle was also used TWICE; it screams basic editing skills.
- Some camera angles need to go
- The comedy was satisfactory but lackluster editing killed it. And I’m not saying they should have added those overused sound effects but a change of song would have suffice. There were a lot of times when Nick delivered iconic, and I mean ICONIC, lines but background sounds never backed him up. It’s bizarre to laugh at a joke with soft, romantic music playing, just sayin’.
- Again, the misuse of music and sound throughout the show; they don’t match what’s happening on screen. (i.e. Itt passing out in the car due to Day’s speeding for one.)
- Opening song was chef's kiss though!
- Seeing that Lee Long Shi is a former Muay Thai trainer, I expected good action, and he and the series delivered! Although the pool table scene didn't quite work as Day was trying to pocket the 8-ball from two different angles but hey, at least we got comedy and romance out of it.
- Itt always has something of the five going on: he’s angry because cake, he’s happy because cake, he’s crying, he’s sick, or he has a bruise(s)/cut(s) on his face. (It’s ridiculous that they turned his running away into a camping trip for one but secondly, of the eight people present he’s always the one getting hurt. Like getting his jaw body-slammed and a leg cramp--there’s always something wrong with Itt.)
- Every. Single. Time. Day remembers something, Itt’s go-to reaction/response is ‘You remember?’. Istg, doesn't he have anything else to say? Seriously like no…he was just telling you what he remembers… The only time we didn’t get to hear it was when he had his panic attack.
- Day’s cast-off party was creepy, cringe, and a hot mess. I'm aware that its purpose was to reveal how sick all of the characters are and make Itt question whether he's Day's equal partner or property but I'm sure there are better ways to go about it. (Also, love that Itt was aware of that, however, he never got a direct answer because TOXIC RELATIONSHIP. Then again he said Day was his as much as he was Day's so...match made in heaven I guess...)
- Why is everybody gay?
- Why is everyone so taken with Itt other than his good looks?
- Why are all the villains men who are or were interested in Itt? Mac, whatever-his-face-long-hair-guy-who-pissed-everyone-off, and P.
- Why were characters introduced but nothing came out of them? Why wasn't Salmon a recurring character (he was one of the few healthy relationships Day had with literally anyone. And hello English-speaking Lee Long Shi!)?
- Why were issues created but never resolved or brought up again? What happened to the four teens that broke into the barbershop? Did Day ever replace Bell's stolen items as they never attempted to recover them? Why weren't the police involved in any given issue (SA, kidnapping, physical violence, attempted murder, stalking, you name it)? And why was Itt afraid of taxis, I don't think that was ever explained.

All said, this series isn't for everyone but I for one enjoyed it despite all the eye-rolling and frustration I went through. After episode 8, everything was redundant and even more unhinged but somehow it kept me glued to the screen. I wouldn’t recommend this series to the light-hearted but to the sickos such as myself, it's one of the must-watches!

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Some really mixed feelings about this one.

Part of me really liked this show. The visuals were lovely, the writing was great, the acting was absolutely stellar, and the production value overall was clearly high.

So why did I dock it so many points then? Well, there were unfortunately some real consent issues between the main couple.
Let me elaborate:
First, there is the age difference. True, it may just be 3 years, but the maturity levels between an 18 year old and a 21 year old are still vastly different which leads to a power imbalance in the relationship. I will say, that this power imbalance was not really very present with these two, especially during the second half of the series so I ended up feeling significantly less put off by the whole thing, but it's still worth considering if you're sensitive to these concerns.
The second and much bigger problem was the way Yui treated Sayuri at the beginning of the show. She showed very little regard for Sayuri's boundaries and there were two dub-con/non-con kisses which is always a big red flag for me.
On the other hand, once Sayuri actually initiated a proper relationship in the second half of the show, their dynamic was incredibly loving and respectful and I found myself genuinely invested in their relationship and how authentic it felt.
It was also incredibly refreshing to see young women, specifically young queer women, talk about sex and intimacy so openly and without shame, massive props to the screenwriters for that.
The supporting cast, specifically the two parents and Sayuri's friend Nao, were also brilliant and each added to the story line in meaningful ways rather than just existing to create conflict between the two leads.

In conclusion I am incredibly conflicted in my feelings about this show. I would however still recommend giving it a try. Everyone's mileage varies when it comes to what they find acceptable in relationships, so someone who is less bothered by the issues I brought up might really enjoy this show.
And those who are bothered might still end up getting something out of the experience of watching, just like I did. When the series does something right, it does it *really* right, which is an especially pleasant surprise given the time period during which the show aired, so for that alone I consider it worth watching.
Give it a go and form your own opinion, good or bad, this show is definitely worth talking about.

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It has its good moments but it moves too slow

A lot of side characters and moving parts and after a while, it just becomes agonizing slow after episode 9. By that point, you could already understand the characters and motivations and what they are going to do. So it's a bit agonizing to watch things develop but no new revelations or anything much new happening.

I thought leads acted well and realistically. It's as real as it gets and shows the messiness of relationships and love lost and love won. Pain of losing someone and jealousies and hurt that comes with it.

All the parents are shown as weak, ignorant, or manipulative.

The women are shown as mostly good people for the most part on the screen but damaged by their parents.

The men are shown as damaged, bitter, jealous, controlling, and childish for the most part.

Storyline was pretty good and I was enjoying it up to episode 8 or 9. Then started losing interest... and skipped to episode 16 and watched backwards a bit.

Overall, I think it's a good show.

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MING DYNASTY 1566: Political Court Factions Drama

MING DYNASTY 1566 is a highly political drama of 46 episodes length. Unlike other dramas, this one focuses far less on inter personal relations, family affairs and characters and more so rather on the political stage of the time, the warring of court factions, and all the intricacies of the delicate balancing act of governance.

The story tells of a Ming Dynasty which is ruled by Emperor Jiajing and his court, over a Ming nation that now has an exploding economy and booming culture, but that golden age comes at a cost, and often times at a cost for the people of the country. It heavily focuses on how the Ming Dynasty courtiers and magistrates strive to produce more silk at behest of the Emperor (as well as tea and other high demand goods) for foreign nations, but must weigh the balance of domestic demands as well, navigating obstacles and disasters along the way. This drama might be incredibly slow to some, but is a very valuable work in terms of historical context, political understanding, and methods of governance. Very fascinating if you are into this sort of thing.

I highly recommend this series to those that value history, specifically Ming Dynasty era history, as well as those that have an intellectual interest in politics, court factions and methods of government. This was a series one must pay great attention in order to really grasp its story, but certainly an excellent one. Worth the watch.

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My Lovely wife is a cute miniseries with a fake couple turned into real lovers storyline. This kind of story needed lengthier episodes for character development and a well elaborated revenge plot. The writing is choppy and the story lacks fluidity. Although the leading couple has a nice playful chemistry, their intimate scenes lack a sense of strong mutual attraction; still, the leading couple’s relationship is the best element of this drama since, for the rest, the acting was lousy, for the most part. The plot on this drama is simple but the antagonists were outrageous and laughable. Probably the worst character in this drama is the grandfather and his shenanigans, especially toward the male lead. Overall, there is nothing that is worthy of rewathching.

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SO COZY

If you don't like overcomplicated dramas full of misunderstandings and stupid characters, then I recommend you watch this. This story is just about two adult friends who are both confused about their feelings and living their adult lives. The chemistry of Han Eunsung (Lee Yooyoung) and Kim Raewan (Kim Sunho) is adorable. The flow of the story is great, even though there are only 4 episodes. I also loved the part where he draws the female lead. Maybe I just like men who are whipped for their women. I believe this is one of the best drama specials on MBC.

I'll rate this a 9/10. So simple and cute. I'm also hoping to see Sung Joo (Yoon Heenam) in other dramas too.

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