Reviews

A lot of wasted potential

“Our Skyy 2” was meant to give us more of the good stuff (for those who – unlike me – enjoyed all the shows it was based on), but with a twist. At least that’s what I thought after watching the official trailer – which led me to believe, that some (or maybe all) episodes will be somehow connected with an overarching plot. That was proven as false very quickly; what we really got were 16 episodes of similar or lower quality than the original shows; see my thoughts on each special below - in the order in which they aired.

“Never Let Me Go” was a terrible show and its “Our Skyy 2” episodes aren’t better. For about 30 minutes of the 1st episode Phuwin’s Nueng continues to be the same annoying jerk he was for almost the entire original series, while Pond is the same boring, stiff Palm. Again, there’s no chemistry between Pond and Phuwin – something I got used to by now; GMMTV should seriously rethink pairing those two together. The twist, plot and basically only new thing this special brought – the time-travel induced role reversal – wasn’t interesting nor amusing; it wasn’t important either. Both episodes suffered from surprisingly low production quality. I rated NLMG at 2.5 (overall) and see no reason to rate the special any higher.

“Star in My Mind”. The original show wasn’t great, it was at best decent (and a good study on why communication matters in relationships), with a few finer moments (the script of the original show had much more potential; the show could have been a much better one). The special had almost no substance; fluffy, but dragged on forever and got boring very quickly. Easily forgettable piece of BL entertainment. Dunk and Joong always seem to be more interesting off screen, but at least there was something between them – not full blown chemistry, but a spark. The Satang-Winny thing came – show-wise – out of nowhere, as their characters had no interaction in the original series; it looked like an attempt to copy their good dynamic and decent chemistry from MSP. Overall rating: 7.0.

“The Eclipse” wasn’t my favorite BL (with the plot often bordering on idiocy), but Khaotung and First did a very good job there and deserved praise. Same happened with the special – which, by the way, was the first bit of “Our Skyy 2” that I enjoyed. Overall rating: a solid 8.0 for the chemistry and originality.

“Vice Versa”: the original show was okay, albeit it was a bit disappointing with the whole parallel universe thing being merely a canvas for a BL love story (rather than an important part of the story itself). I appreciated the special for standing on its own, with a self-contained small story. Jimmy and Sea look good together, but I was never fully convinced by their acting; I won’t be the first to say that they give off buddy vibes rather than BF vibes. Overall rating: 8.0.

MSP was great (I rated it at 9.5) – which can’t be said about the special. We got more of the same fluffy and cute goodness as in the original series with some minor twists and tweaks as well as some fan service added for a good measure (#TiwPorisreal). Unfortunately all of that goodness came from recycling the original show and reusing its plot. Even the title of the special – “Multiverse of Cuteness” – was misleading, as it was implying that we’ll see a different story, a new approach, familiar characters in a new setting, facing new problems etc. None of that happened, as all we got was a rehash of what we knew. We didn’t get episodes 13 and 14 of MSP; we got episodes 1-6 again, but condensed into 2 episodes. Some will say that it was great, as many have missed those characters – and now got them for 2 more episodes; other (like me) will feel disappointed by lack of any originality. Overall rating: 7.0 due to the disappointment.

“A Boss and a Babe” was a weird, partly successful attempt at comedy merged with a BL story, mixed (very poorly) with more serious stuff; tonaly the show was all over the place. The special is more consistent – It’s a comedy. It also drags a bit and feels like 1,5 episodes stretched into 2 episodes. Overall rating: 7.0.

“Bad Buddy meets ATOTS”: I won’t event try to separate the stories of episodes 13-16 of “Our Skyy 2” and will have to rate them together – which isn’t easy. “Bad Buddy” and ATOTS are wonderful (two of my all-time favorite BLs), but very different shows and merging them is a tricky business. It should happen for a reason – and I don’t see one. Pat and Pran’s plotline isn’t a continuation of “Bad Buddy” – as we already know how that story ends; this makes their part of the special seem unimportant and a bit pointless. There’s no character development and very little of what we could consider added value. OhmNanon are in good form, but have to work with too much of (deliberately) rehashed scenes and lines – hence the freshness of Pat’s and Pran’s relationship I remember from “Bad Buddy” is absent. The 4 episodes special seems much more about Tian and Phupha and their story. The script is far from being perfect, with some key issues handled in an incomprehensible way, but the main message (eventually) does come across. I got all teary during the second half of ep. 16; EarthMix did a wonderful job there, while P’Aof actually wrote a new (but not final) chapter to the Tian-Phupha story. That saved the special, making it a worthy successor to the terrific original ATOTS. Overall rating: 8.5.

Overall rating for “Our Skyy 2”: 7.0.

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Awesome characters... on a high-speed rail.

Not going to lie, this one deserves an 8.5/10 for the first six episodes and a 5/10 for the last two episodes.
Also, it ends in the blink of an eye. It's like they mashed together clips of the whole thing, particularly the last two episodes. I don't know whether to be upset or angry. The actors were good, the premise was good and it had plenty of potential to be one of the better short dramas out there. And to an extent, it is.

This is the one time I truly wished that a drama had a longer run time. Or a second season even. (If it's an 8 episode series, it needs at least 20 minutes per episode. Or 10 episodes, if it's going to be 15 minutes each.)

So… what do I think? Take off the "BL spectacles" and view it objectively as a simple story between two childhood friends, Han Joon and Yoo Jae. However, their bond becomes uncertain when Han Joon starts to realize his feelings for Yoo Jae. Moreover, the struggles of their families puts a further strain on their lives.

The characters and the performance by the cast is what carries the whole 8 episodes. Kudos to them for managing to bring so much depth and emotions to life while being handed like… half the story?
There is so much angst in this one that I decided that the 'best friends to lovers' trope is one of the worst out there. (This one has a particularly noteworthy confession scene.) But, it gives a strange satisfaction when beautifully portrayed. It was stressful to see both Han Joon and Yoo Jae keep trying to keep their friendship alive.

I'm surprised by both the leads. Kim In Sung could really make the viewers feel 'broken'.
While Yoo Jae is getting pummeled by the majority of the viewers, I liked that guy. While Han Joon was more emotionally receptive, Yoo Jae struggled to express his emotions.
I've not looked much into the idol group SF9, but I did not realize how popular they were until Star Struck. Baek Zu Ho can definitely act.

Their chemistry was not bad at all. But, as the concept of time isn't conveyed well, it can appear off putting to many.

The characters needed time: they were not just dealing with their feelings, but also had troubles with their families. This was one part that was well paced in the first few episodes, but got thrown into the bin during the last two. Not that it was bad, but it was all too sudden. Han Joon with his mom and Yoo Jae with his parents.

Another thing? The timeline. The first four episodes took place over a span of four months. The next two focused on their college. The last two took place in about three months. (That's three months in twenty minutes, I tell you.)

On a side note, I never cared about kisses ever since I watched the Taiwanese movie Our Times (2015) and that had literally no physical interaction between the leads, but was just sweet. So, I forgive the directors because the rest of their interactions were gold.

The bad stuff is definitely the runtime which impedes a better written script. I also suspect that they cut off a few remaining bits too. Also, I'll never look at Ferrero Rocher the same way again.

Am I disappointed? Yes, badly. The slew of well plotted short dramas with a longer runtime or more episodes with a tight plot might've made viewers expect better from 'Star Struck'. I'll rate this a generous 7.5/10. Han Joon, Yoo Jae and even those smaller supporting characters are too sweet to not be given a second chance by anyone who stumbles across this review.

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I have no words

I'm afraid I have no words to say how much I love this series, but I'll try my best. Saying that this is the most beautiful BL series I've ever watched is true, but still sounds like it isn't enough. So in this review I won't even try to be objective, because you can't be objective about someone or something you're head over heels with.

I wonder if the series can be categorized as ”BL” at all, as the main characters are 23 years old, so not really ”boys”, and in this series you won't find even a single of the numerous ”BL-tropes”. What does make it ”BL” is the fact that the main characters experience – as far as we learn in the series - their first love, and especially their first gay love.

I won't elaborate on the plot here – just so much: ”Our Dining Table” tells the story of two 23-year-old men who are utterly unhappy. Yutaka (Inukai Atsuhiro) is an outsider and isn't able to enjoy a meal with other persons as he suffers from a childhood trauma which was caused by his misconception that he wasn't welcomed in the family who adopted him after his parents' death. Minoru (Iijima Hiroki) stopped attending college after his mother's death and took up a part time job at a ramen restaurant to be there for his little brother Tane (Maeyama Kuuga) as their father doesn't have enough time for the little boy.

The series displays the way how Yutaka and Minoru help each other overcome their loneliness and sadness. The script must have been written by authors who experienced similar situations, because it is so sensitive and at the same time so true-to-life that the actions of the main characters are completely understandable, however awkward and clumsy they may appear.

Little Tane is the katalyst of Yutaka and Minoru's relationship. He's the one who asks Yutaka for his riceball, thus initiating Yutaka and Minoru's alleged first contact (although they had met before, but Yutaka forgot about it), and later it is again Tane who encourages Yutaka and Minoru to get closer.

There is a scene that made me cry like a baby, because it is so heartwarming: Tane notices that Yutaka has been crying, and he pats Yutaka's hair to console him. In another beautiful scene, Tane notices that Minoru is very sad. He asks him whether he had a fight with Yutaka, and again he made me cry when he hugs Minoru and says: ”I will go with you to apologize to him.”

The authors have found many subtle ways of making the viewer notice how Yutaka and Minoru cautiously, in tiny steps, get closer to each other, opening up to each other very slowly as not to destroy the little progress they have achieved. When Yutaka tells Minoru the sad story of his childhood, he hides his face behind a drawing of himself that Tane has made. In another scene, Yutaka instinctively pats Minoru's head which shocks both of them because the gesture reveals Yutaka's feelings for Minoru way too frankly and early.

The finale is another emotional highlight of the series. When Yutaka realizes how much he loves Minoru he is scared that they may separate one day. It is Minoru's father who reassures him, and it is no surprise, but a most beautiful moment, when Tane – asked by his classmate who Yutaka is – declares ”He is my family”. Yutaka finally overcomes his fear and asks Minoru to stay together forever. In every BL series, there should be a kiss in the final scene, but here the final minutes are so full of emotions and love that a kiss isn't needed.

The unique and beautiful script requires first class actors, and they all deliver perfectly. Inukai has proven that he is a great actor as he has been able to shine in many different roles, e.g. in the gorgeous comedy ”The Man Who Defies the World of BL” or as a Yakuza boss in ”Kei x Yaku”, so it's no surprise that he is able to show Yutaka's pain and panic, but also his cautious – and, given his trauma, brave - way of opening up to Minoru and to his own family.

I hadn't seen Iijima before ”Our Dining Table”, but he is a very experienced actor, too. It is amazing how he is able to express Minoru's inhibitions, fears, and the love of his little brother. Iijima is easily one of the best actors I've ever seen in a BL series. The supporting actors are on the same level, especially Harada Riuji, who plays Minoru and Tane's father, and Ichikawa Tomohiro (Yutaka's stepbrother).

But the actor who stole everybody's heart is Maeyama Kuuga. I am sure that one or all of the directors must have spent all their skills, patience, and love to make the little boy act the way he does, but he must also be a huge talent. The same can be said about the child actors who play young Minoru (Arata Hinata), Yutaka (Kobayashi Ikuma), and Hozumi (Nagano Sora).

The cinematography matches the beauty of the script and the brilliance of the acting, and the soundtrack is as sensitive as the series as a whole – it never intrudes the characters' intimacy.

This series is so well written, brilliantly acted, and heartwarming that I can only recommend you to watch it in case you haven't already done that. ”Our Dining Table” reminded me a little of the Taiwanese series ”Papa and Daddy” which had a season 2, and I'd love to see Yutaka, Minoru, and Tane in a season 2 as well.

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Good initial start but it never really went anywhere

This show started of really well with the first initial few episodes. It was well paced and the story telling was on point. The two main leads acting was also good. The last 2 episodes is basically how a decent show just went downhill so bad. So many key points were skipped or glossed over to focus on aspects which were not really needed for the story. I know this had a short runtime but they really should have focused on what was important.

TBH i could not feel yoo jae romantic connection for the ML at all apart from the jealousy here and there. He clearly just wanted a friend and somehow ended up where they did. The lack of chemistry is telling also but i guess zuho is an idol and may be limited on what can be done then i guess different actors should be casted then.

This show could have been so much better with the correct pacing, storytelling and chemistry. I wouldn't recommend tbh

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A DRAMA TO LIVE IN MY MIND FOR DECADES ❤️

This has been an easy 10/10 from me..I don't know how to start this review because I have alot to applaud but I'll break it down

This drama was like a mixture of different genres done in an amazing and smart way

The story has been an emotional roller coaster, I've cried each and every episode but I absolutely appreciate how it remained consistent and how it got better every episode, every single reveal had perfect timing and it was well explained and ellaborated with absolutely no drags..or fillers just amazing story telling from the first to last episode.

The characters, I admire when K dramas make imperfect and relatable characters, characters you can try to empathise with or root for and all characters in this series felt human, they had flaws and problems and made wrong decisions and also had regrets, they just felt relatable and it made viewers like me connect to them and feel for them easily..that's one aspect I admired about all the good bad mother characters.

The acting was AMAZING or can I have another worf better than amazing..I've seen lee do Hyun act before and I admire how his acting reflects his feelings and longing..iam proud to see him pull off all the challenging characters and I can absolutely say he nailed the KANG HO role..he potrayed over three different characters and each with a unique touch..I absolutely iam going to fight if he doesn't win some award for his role

Ra mi ran as Youngsoon was the right choice, I had never seen her before but she won me over with her acting, I got angry with her and sympathised with her and cried with her..that's the power her acting held throughout the entire series

Both lee do Hyun and Ra mi rans scenes had this impact and so much power and emotion..I was impressed.

The rest of the cast did an amazing job too, Mijoo has to be my best written female lead of all time, natural and absolutely lovable, the twins were the light of the series and Samsik was the comedic relief...the rest of the villagers did an amazing job too so I'd saw overall the acting from everyone was AMAZING.

The cinematography and osts were amazing..and I absolutely loved the ending..it's all I wanted to see after how thrilling hectic and emotional the series was..that kind of happiness was absolutely well deserved

I want to say more seriously I could go the entire night..but one thing is for sure this is one of those really amazing and we'll written MASTERPIECES

I have no complaints except recommend this to all who want a family drama with a splash of revenge and comedy and emotions

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Role Swap? Yes and yes!

I laughed throughout the entire show, like really out loud. It's SO funny...the humour isn't cringy or goofy, its just really funny.

I love the idea of role swap (instead of body switch). It adds freshness into the storyline and character.

They are one of my favorite couples in the "Our Sky" series. Honestly, I didn't finish watching "boss and babe" as I got fed up by the storyline in the last 2 or 3 episodes.

But, as a couple, I really love them, it's just a more realistic healthier depiction of couple. They try to understand each other, and learn from one another. Although Cher is younger, he is constantly inspiring and teaching P'Gun and vice versa. This makes it so different than the typical school BL romance which is often just childish with no depth lol...

One last important point, did I mention that P'Gun is just so handsome? lol

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Love the relationship dynamics but plot is boring

I'm saying this at the start because it's important: make sure to watch episode 37 which is a few minutes of epilogue to the story because in most websites you will only find till episode 36. I was drawn to watch this because it's a BL drama and I've never seen one before.

WHAT I LOVED:
I absolutely loved the relationship dynamic between the two male leads. One is a grumpy introvert with his love for bombastic side eye while the other is a flirty extrovert with his love for crazy eyes (with his loved ones he is a ray of sunshine, with his enemies his looks can kill you). At first glance it does seem like they are the total opposites but later down the story we are revealed a lot of things and see how similar and connected the two are. I love how they were able to portray their love and care for each other even though the drama is censored. Their relationship is the definition of actions that speak louder than words. They also call each other soulmates which is just the sweetest thing. There are also two young characters that are disciples of each male lead - one girl and one guy. The four of them have such a fun and crazy family dynamic that for me is the best part of the drama.

The fight scenes and setting are worth mentioning because they look very beautiful. In typical wuxia style you have people flying around but what is quite different in this drama is that they incorporate parts of the settings to the fighting. You see really cool fights on a bridge, river boat, around pink trees. One of the male leads has his signature belt sword while the other uses a super cool fan. I especially loved seeing how the young girl fought like a true badass.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
My rating went down because unfortunately I didn't like the plot. There are tons of sects and names which I couldn't remember. The backstory is done as a mystery but the reveal is quite confusing because of all the names/places etc and honestly quite underwhelming. None of the other characters interested me and I skipped most of the scenes with the villains and sect talk because it was just boring. The whole plot is about opening an armoury to gain some secrets which does sound realistic but it was just not interesting to me. It is a shame because I love the main characters, if the plot was different I probably would have liked it a lot more.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Overall I think it's a great BL drama and I'd still recommend it because of the relationship dynamics. One of the male leads has become now a favourite character so because of him, the drama is worth a watch.

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From Stricter to Stronger : A Tiger Mom's Path to Healing & Redemption

Watching this drama was an incredibly fulfilling experience that evoked whirlwind of emotions. From laughter to tears, anger to sympathy, I was fully immersed in this masterpiece.

The heart of the story lies in its emotional depth. Every aspect of the plot is driven by the characters' emotions creating a very captivating journey.

As an Asian viewer I felt an instant connection to the FL, who portrayed the role of a tiger mom. She exemplified the essence of Asian parents who deeply care for their children but often express it in unconventional ways.
Despite their flawed methods their ultimate intention is always the well being of their loved ones.

The drama also provided many humourous moments, particularly the scenes featuring of Mask lady & Samshik. Their antics had me laughing like maniac.

However the most emotional moment came during Young Soon's death scene. Having already endured so much in life witnessing her in such a vulnerable state shattered my heart.

The acting performances in this drama were exceptional across the board with Ra Miran delivering an outstanding portrayal. She deserves the Best Actress award at the next Baeksang Awards without a doubt.

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Some were better than others, but I quite liked them all

I didn’t expect that I would be making a separate review for each couple / series, but there was just so much to say about each one of them! Some of the reviews for just two episodes are longer than some of my reviews of full series. I don’t even know how that happened! So, I linked the more in-depth reviews for each couple, and this will be like an overview of everything.

All in all, I really like how they kept the general looks of the main series for the Our Skyy 2 episodes as well. The individual couple stories feel more like they are a part of their original series than they feel like a part of one series. And I like that. Why? Because even though all these special episodes were put into one series, they are all still separate, their universes are separate. And the overall look and feel of the episodes shows that.

I liked certain plots more than others, but that was expected. We all have different preferences about topics and genres. It did feel like GMMTV might have tested certain themes with already established couples to see how the viewers would react to them – especially with the Never Let Me Go and Vice Versa episodes. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind a full historical series or a cute family series.

I think out of everyone Akk & Ayan really had the most “we are boyfriends” moments and overall vibe. There were little touches, kisses, little fights… They really looked like a couple, two people in love with each other. I think that is something most other couples lacked. I am not saying the rest didn’t have their cute moments or that they lacked chemistry, they just weren't anywhere near the Akk & Ayan level.

GMMTV is really spoiling us with new side couples! I do like seeing them, but I am also a bit sad that we don’t get to see some of the original side couples and how they are doing at the time. I guess it’s due to the fact that some actors left or are busy with other projects.

We are getting spoiled with special OSTs as well. Every couple had a new special song (or two) in their parts. They really are showing all the talents the boys have. There are quite a few that I had on a loop since they came out.

Another thing I absolutely love is how the characters kept the important items from their own stories. It also makes a lot of sense, because when we find something important, we don’t just stop using it or wearing it with no explanation. So, seeing the necklaces, the bracelets, the necklace… even if they are not explicitly mentioned, it’s a sweet detail. I am not as naïve not to know that selling the merch related to the series also plays a big role in reusing the said items.

Never Let Me Go (overall rating: 8.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/271229
I really enjoyed the two episodes. I like the fact that the two switched roles from how they were in the main series. Palm as a lord and Nueng as his servant is a combination, I didn’t know I needed. I think Palm was enjoying that dynamic a bit too much. My one complaint is the historical inaccuracies, like I am no expert but even I can tell that most of the things Nueng did as a slave would not go over well in that historical period.

Star In Your Mind (overall rating: 8.0): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/272699
This really feels like two episodes of fluff. It suits Kluen and Dao, the two are permanently stuck in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. I do admit that I got a lot of Sarawat and Tine vibes from Kluen and Dao. Another thing that I absolutely love about their relationship is how they handle jealousy. When you trust someone completely and you know they only have eyes for you, there is absolutely no reason to feel jealous when they are talking with someone else.

The Eclipse (overall rating: 9.0): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/274353
I absolutely love the friendship between Akk, Kan and Wat. The three are so supportive of each other. They might not be family by blood, but they are family by choice. Kan and Thua are adorable together. To be honest, there were a ton of cute moments between Akk and Aye too. All I can say is that Akk and Aye (and First and Khao) have became our space a long time ago. A space that they (and many other series) created for us. Something I will be forever grateful for.

Vice Versa (overall rating: 9.0): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/275703
Puen and Talay are in their domestic, family bliss era. And I’m here for it. Jigsaw is adorable! I like how they didn’t turn Jigsaw showing up into a reason for a fight between Puen and Talay. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face for pretty much the whole time. Honestly, I could watch a full 12 episodes of them just being a family, and I probably wouldn’t get bored of it. The truth about Jigsaw was surprising, I am not really happy about it though.

My School President (overall rating: 7.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/276977
It’s adorable! I like the switch in characters, I think everyone did a great job in the role they were given. A lot of scenes were just redone from what we got in the original series, but we also got some new scenes. It did feel a bit choppy at times. I wish they didn’t try to squeeze so much of MSP plot into two parts. Also, is it just me or does it feel less lively? I feel like the energy of the band is really low in comparison with the main series. The new OSTs are great though.

A Boss And A Babe (overall rating: 9.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/278283
With all the body and role swaps, this one seems to make the most sense. Both with the plot and the way it is done. I never knew Cher had such a wild imagination, but I am living for it. I really liked how different Cher and Gun were in their roles – Cher trying to be a strict boss but only coming across as adorable, and Gun trying to be a good intern but ending being a grumpy one. Three and Zo are still adorable. Yuck! As Cher would say.

Bad Buddy (overall rating: 8.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/279527
This takes place three years after Pat and Pran got together. I both love and hate them giving us another take at their iconic scenes. Sure, it means nothing changed between the two and it brings back a ton of memories and feelings, but at the same time, it does come across as just a little bit lazy writing. I’d pay to see Korn take on the role of one of the dwarfs in Snow White. Which one would suit him best though? There is no Naughty. Maybe Grumpy?

BB x ATOTS (overall rating: 9.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/280581
I didn’t expect that I would be enjoying Pran & Tian and Phupa & Pat dynamics as much as I am. I really thought that Pran and Phupa will have more in common, while Pat and Tian would be the wild ones. I do think I should be concerned about the fact that both Pran & Tian and Phupa & Pat have great chemistry though. It felt like Phupa and Pat ended up flirting more with each other than with their actual boyfriends.

A Tale of Thousand Stars (overall rating: 8.5): https://mydramalist.com/profile/RoseQ/reviews/280733
Phupa is obviously struggling with the social differences between him and Tian. And while it might be less obvious while they are on the mountain, once they return to the city, it becomes much more obvious. I love seeing the two on the mountain, but they look adorable while in the city. Especially Phupa, it’s interesting seeing him this shy, and in his sugar baby era. I wish it would be a bit more focused on Phupa and Tian though. The ending was perfect!

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Wish it was more Phupa & Tian focused

I am not entirely sure about the timeline, but this takes place a few years after Tian returned from his studies abroad. There seems to be quite a bit of tension between Phupa and Tian, even before Pran and Pat arrive. Their way of handling their problems might be quite childish, one would expect them to talk about it more seeing they have been together for a long time. But at least they are dealing with it now.

I do think that the problem that the two have is quite realistic. It probably should have been dealt with earlier into their relationship, but still. Phupa is obviously struggling with the social differences between him and Tian. And while it might be less obvious while they are on the mountain, once they return to the city, it becomes much more obvious. I think that makes Phupa feel like he is not good enough for Tian. Maybe he even fears that Tian might realize that and leave him. Which is why he always avoids going with Tian when he visits his parents. Tian loves him fully, but that doesn’t make Phupa’s insecurities any better.

I love seeing the two on the mountain, but they look adorable while in the city. Especially Phupa, it’s interesting seeing him this shy and in his sugar baby era. But damn, Earth looks absolutely stunning in black. It really suits him. And their chemistry is amazing, as always.

I like the episode. It was fun, but I wish it would be a bit more focused on Phupa and Tian. I do love Pat and Pran and Ink and Pa, but this was supposed to be Phupa and Tian episode, so I really wish we would have seen more of the two and less of the others. Especially considering the fact that we had a BB focused episode before the crossover.

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Emotions, emotions, emotions

Before I start, let me just say that I am a sucker for emotion and Star Struck has it in spades.
Talk about pining!! But it's much deeper than that.
Both ML's genuinely love each other, protect each other, have a NEED for each other. It's a beautiful thing, and both actors did a phenomenal job of portraying this. From childhood on they clicked, they are connected, and they will remain so forever.

The writing was done well, especially since the episodes were so short and looooots of content, and subtext, needed to be jammed into what were essentially mini episodes.

While both ML's have their flaws, we can see their growth as they mature, entering into adulthood, as well as settling into their new relationship. Throughout it all, their love for each other shines through.

Music is decent, for those wondering. Nothing majorly great but it goes good with the mood and doesn't detract from the show in any way.

My two complaints:

1) I wish the episodes were longer so we can explore more. While I don't think more time would have changed anything in the story, I'd have loved to fall deeper into what the story already tells us.

2) Lack of kissing.
I know I know!! Kissing isn't everything. And as this show has a heavy focus on the emotional (which I love!!) one might argue that kissing is secondary BUT!!
At the start we are teased with physical attraction. Then there is one kiss that we're shown, except it's zoomed out, and we get to see less than a second of it. So....teasing but not revealing? Not nice writers! Not nice at all.
Beyond the kissing, I'd have settled for cuddles. Sleeping in the same bed? I don't know. Something, anything, that pays tribute to the physical side of their relationship but nope!! We get none of that. So...yeah. I'm disappointed.
This couple is definitely physically attracted to each other (earlier episodes show this) but we're only let in on their emotional relationship after they become a couple. (I don't know if this is because one of the ML's is an idol. )

{{I will say that 8'th Sense spoiled the hell out of me. We get beautiful emotions + wonderful physical connection. It's my candy, my addiction, my all-time standard of Korean BL's. So learn from 8'th sense Korean BL actors/writers! Learn and repeat (please and thank you) !!}}

Re-watch value is like a 7 I guess? I will come back to this one day. And it's definitely worth a first watch. <3

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Refreshing! Amazing ending for a lakorn!

Is it a bit too long? Yes. Is it over the top sometimes? Well, it is a lakorn so yes, of course! If you are looking for an all logical and calm storyline, where everything makes sense stay away from lakorns and watch Kdramas.
I was literally blown away, that the bad guys really had a BAD ending here. This is sooo soooo refreshing!
Normally - in lakorns - the bad guys rape, steal, kill and so on and they are almost always getting a happy end with hugs and kisses, sunshine and roses....disgusting. Here? NOPE!
Story 7/10 but with that kind of ending it is a 10/10 for me.

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"I'll stay with you until you stop feeling lonely."

First, I just have to say, I started this directly after watching A Christmas Carol (2022). After such a dark, harrowing film, I had no idea what a perfect palate cleanser this would be, and I'm so happy it's what I chose to binge. Tooth-rotting sweetness that had my cheeks hurting after almost constant smiling every single episode.

For me, this is close to the perfect fluff-style BL drama. Adorable fluff mixed with tender, heartfelt moments with a dash of reasonable angst that didn't stray into too-heavy territory, just adding the perfect amount of depth and stakes for our main couple. That angst (and hurt/comfort) was rounded out and resolved very nicely as well. The pacing was perfect, and I continuously found myself thinking 'already?' whenever an episode ended, because I was so wrapped up in every moment and was never bored.

I have noticed some comments about the main pairing being "dry". Now, I'm all for 'to each their own'; if that's your opinion, who am I to say your wrong? Except... maybe you are? A little? No hate, I just feel like the people who think relationships and couples like this in BL are "dry" are looking for instant sparks, mutual intense pining, and lots of spiciness. There are plenty of BL series of that nature. But it's this kind of pairing in BL's that I think is exceedingly rare, and is my absolute favorite: quiet, solidly built, based on respect and day-to-day interactions. It's not an instant heart-eyes romance: it's more realistic, arguably more meaningful, and much more introspective. You come to love the characters for who they are and their roots, and from there, you come to root for something more.

As for the main pairing, I personally love their chemistry. There was never a single moment where I felt anyone was reaching too much, trying too hard, nor was there any awkwardness. They met each other perfectly at the middle, and it felt effortlessly real in that way; I found myself completely convinced in the way they interacted each episode. Everyone was fantastic, but I do specifically want to shout-out Iijima Hiroki. The way he portrayed Minoru was equal parts sweet and heartbreaking: the care and absolute love and devotion he had for his brother while simultaneously struggling with the thought of no longer having that independence of someone his age was beautifully done. Further, in the development of his relationship with Yutaka, he really did a great job in portraying that silent battle with his own feelings, how he slowly came to terms with how he felt, but struggled deeply with it, because he so badly wanted to stay close to Yutaka no matter what, valuing his company over anything, even so much that he harbored deep guilt every time he reached out a little with how he felt (which made moments like the cheek kiss, the confession, the hand holding, etc) so much more impactful. Iijima just knew exactly who he was playing, and brought him to life brilliantly.

I also can't end this review without giving a quick mention to little Maeyama Kuuga. Seriously, where did this kid learn to act? For example, the scene where he saw Yutaka crying and instantly broke down himself? What a little talent. I'm usually not into dramas that revolve around a child in some way, but he really made it impossible for me not to love him.

All in all, if you're into sweet fluff, realistically built relationships, and tender/adorable family moments, I would highly recommend this one. As someone with family troubles of my own, I found this extremely cathartic and just such a nice watch. Japan yet again proving that they're owning the BL game atm.

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