Dominant Yakuza and Wimpy Corporate Slave
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Nothing worked for me on that one
Unfortunately I was not able to enjoy the series. It might be a me problem but I found the story quite bad in the way it set up the romance and even more in the way it all unfolded. I don't think the chemistry was well balanced between the actors, but honestly neither the script, nor the production and format were helping them.I would not recommend this BL. On paper the story could have been great but on screen, it did not work for me. Still, you might want to give it a shot to see for yourself as it is very short.
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Underrated series
This GL series has completely stolen my heart ❤️ The chemistry between the leads feels so natural and emotional. Every episode keeps getting better and leaves me excited for the next one. The acting, storyline, cute moments, and emotional scenes are all beautifully done. I’m seriously obsessed with it ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
As for the characters, they literally went through no development throughout the entire story. From the very first episode to the last, their personalities and decisions never changed, and none of them gave up their habits or ego. The ending was very logical if you are a logical person, but for emotional people, they probably won’t like it.
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It honestly could be a great promotion for a new K-band
This short movie makes a very good job at building a compelling story around a South Korean band, just before they go on stage. A lot is happening, in a very short time, the script makes the viewer immediately understand the stakes as the relationships between the various protagonists unveil.The casting was really good : especially, with Yunho from ATEEZ who was outstanding (which is not surprising, as he get really immersed in his characters in each MV I saw him in).
I would recommend this to people that enjoy stories featuring music and relationships in turmoil. Story wise, it did feel full fleshed, even if of course I wish it was longer to provide more meat to this interesting youthful story.
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Such a stereotypical old school weak SECOND female lead
The story is fun and mostly interesting. I really like the female and male leads a LOT. If not for the characterization of the female second lead, I would have ranked this drama higher. She is written as a female who ONLY cares about having a boyfriend. She falls in look solely based on seeing someone and nothing else matters to her except her friendship with the female lead which saves her a bit. Why make a character act so dumb and only care about having a boyfriend? Surely we can do better these days! I am never one to fast forward through parts of a drama even if I dislike it or I am bored, but the writing of her was over the top and I ended up fast forwarding through ALL of her scenes. You don't lose anything from the story by skipping those parts so you can still watch this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why it's NOT soulmates (at least not between yohan and Ryu)
It's supposed to be romantic but it's not, I actually went in with low expectations such as that they won't kiss or be too affectionate in general so that's not even the thing that bothered me.What did bother me though was that sumiko moved to Ryu and stayed there to raise kanau with them. I don't have a problem with sumiko herself, but making her move in and stay just took the focus away from Ryu and yohan. Ultimately yohan moves away and those two keep living together, raising the baby.Ryu just completely accepted it that yohan moved out, from one day to another, without even trying to stop him. Without ever contacting him after that. That's how deep his "love" for yohan was. Literally stopped caring for his "soulmate" as if they didn't had a bond for multiple months, as I said he clearly didn't even check up on him not even with a call or text message. They went from friends to strangers again.Then at the end after idk how many years he goes to yohan and they act as if they weren't apart for multiple years, as if their bond is still as strong as in the beginning. Like they want to tell me that it was OK for them to not see each other again etc while they should have been full of emotions then but years later everything is OK as if none of them could have "fallen out of love" with one another. Besides Ryu says at the end that he loves him, implying he cares for him, but at the same time he's moving to a new house with sumiko and even marrying her. If anything he is more soulmate with sumiko than with yohan in the first place and I don't even mean this in a romantic sense, clearly sumiko is his childhood friend, they lived together shortly in Germany, then shortly in Japan when sumiko came back and then longterm after seiichi dies... Their bond is much deeper because seemingly they cared and helped each other much more, as far as to marrying each other and raising a kid together. Thats probably one of the reasons why it fails to portray yohan and him as soulmates, romance aside although it was promoted as such. That's my opinion at leastWas this review helpful to you?
An amazing short series. One of the best I have watched.
It was on my list since they had announced it. I've watched all Taecyeon's series. I had high expectations since it's a new genre. They didn't disappoint me. Story line and acting was really good. Its not just a Queer story, there's friendship , love, family. It's something I'd recommend to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
From Theatrics to Investigation
This is another drama I watched well before I started writing short reviews, so this is based solely on memory and general impressions.This was a really fun watch for me. I remember finding it hilarious from beginning to end. At the same time, it also had a few twists, hidden identities, and more serious moments that gradually shifted the theatrics into genuine investigations of past events.
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Suspense, Secrets, and Emotional Depth
I really enjoyed watching this. I was hooked for almost the entire drama (disclaimer: one subplot felt unnecessary). There was suspense and mystery. Longing between people, unresolved experiences, and complex interpersonal dynamics. I thought the scriptwriting was smart and highly engaging. The storytelling felt interactive, and I spent countless episodes entertaining a million different theories.I especially loved the time shifts between the original case and the points where each timeline branched off, juxtaposing past and present investigative steps. It kept the storytelling fresh, layered, and mysterious. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I’m really glad I spent the time watching it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Thought Provoking
Here are characters you really want to root for.Our ML, Taesoo, is a pure soul, smart young man, disciplined student, devoted brother/grandson and academic star. His work ambitions suit what seems a need for routine, control, and availability to respond to family responsibilities in his home town. From a world view that such potential = endless life possibilities, some letting go is required to take the journey of this coming of age, loss/return of first love, career and life choices journey. He identifies his highest value early on: self-reliance, though you wonder as you watch if this is acquiescence and “settling” or the actions of one with the soul of a servant. Especially when it comes to his relationship with the FL, Eunha.
Eunha. She chases Taesoo in high school until he chooses her, too. A bright personality, gutsy (sneaks him into her bedroom). And she is able to define her big wish in life: freedom. Independence from her father. Again, I had to keep going back to her reality. Mother left the family (not sure timing), whereabouts unknown. Father has chronic depression and a history of suicide attempt. They’ve come back to the town where grandma resides to regroup, run a homestay. She studies hard but fails to secure a college plan that synchs with Taesoo’s, then finds and follows a different opportunity in a hotel training program, leaving university life behind.
The characters’ early adult life choices are followed pretty quickly by a 10-year jump and re-connection. Taesoo is in Seoul but still deeply rooted in family responsibility. Eunha has had several different experiences with her hospitality career, including a stint in Hawaii, the most recent one managing a remote guesthouse, disrupted by an unplanned ownership dispute. Her career is uncertain and she has suffered more personal loss. She seems shrouded in unhappiness and depression.
This juncture is where you’ll spend most of your time with these two.
And with secondary characters. The best developed: Taesoo’s very likeable younger brother, a former soccer player, who courageously faces a likely lifelong rehab with a leg injury, gainfully employed as a postal worker. An old crush (on Taesoo). Should we root for her? A long-time admirer, supporter and 3-month BF of Eunha. He is a bit annoying and creepy. But quite handsome. Maybe creepier because of that.
A sort of step-mom. I never trusted her. Good acting on her part.
I was deeply invested in all the goings-on in the leads’ circle of life at this juncture. Choices are made. I reacted very emotionally. Not happy. The idea of love with “let’s not make it hard on the other person” vs. “let’s be together and be happy” is not something easily grasped if the love is for the person you want to spend your life with. But this is not romantic love nor is it a romance story. Perhaps that would have helped: their recognition of the nature of their love.
Might have been interesting to have Taesoo letting go…
And Eunha realizing that she suffers from abandonment issues and depression (like her father) and maybe looking for the missing piece of the puzzle…her mother. Her choice in the end…the stepmom she had hated and her step grandmother (we don’t know her at all, but she was nice to her)…did that make sense? She had a very loving grandmother in her hometown.
This one stuck with me. I respect the writer’s choices. Thus, the high rating. But….Still Shining? Weird title. Here’s an alternate: Ask the Fireflies. Or Second Chances. Frustrating but makes you think. And I like that.
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AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T REWATCH SERIES, I HAVE REWATCHED THIS A LOT
Wow. I have to say, I watched this back in my "Take a break from bl" time so I could focus on my book but the edits on tiktok was so intriguing that I had to just give in. I thought I'd get bored but oh my heavens, this is the perfect thing. Beautifully done and great writing. I love everything about this.Was this review helpful to you?
Very powerful and impactful
This story of this movie felt very important to tell. It is set in 1987, at the end of the martial period in Taiwan and shows the brutal reality of that era, the discrimination and the protests. The relationship that it depicts in that context, felt super powerful and underlined by a very solid writing.I'm not sure the epilogue was really that needed, as it made me take a slight stepback in terms of emotions...But other than that it was extremely impressive in its writing, showcasing a strong militant point of view and well constructed. The acting was excellent, the production was really good at featuring the social context of the story and the OST was very fitting, even if I was not necessarily the biggest fan of one particular song.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for an impactful coming-of-age story set in a rough period of time.
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Fate Chooses You Has Me Confused but Hooked
This will be a basic review without spoilers.Fate Chooses You is one of those shows that leaves me completely confused, but somehow still very entertained. It is hard for me to fully explain what exactly is confusing me, but something about the story, pacing, or the way things unfold keeps me feeling a little lost.
At the same time, I am still really enjoying it. Even though I do not fully understand everything, the show still has something that keeps pulling me back in and makes me want to continue watching. Sometimes that mystery can be frustrating, but it can also be part of what makes a drama interesting.
Reading other reviews is great, but watching it for yourself is even better.
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Twoever Would Have Been Better Than Fourever
The story and acting were good. I didn't like the character Ter very much. Ter cries and whines far too much, which makes him very annoying in the beginning. Also, the chemistry between Hill and Ter is not that good. They make believable friends, but definitely not lovers. Their part didn't really go above 6 stars, but because of North and Johan’s story, I give the series a total rating of 8 stars.North and Johan, on the other hand, have great chemistry! They were the best couple, and I can't wait to see more of them in the future. They really show their emotions well, so you totally get caught up in their story. I loved the flashbacks of them as well.
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This review may contain spoilers
the drama gives strong Princess Hours and The King: Eternal Monarch vibes, but with a more mature and melancholic tone. What makes the drama stand out for me is the emotional atmosphere: the romance already feels less like a cute fairytale and more like two lonely people trapped by status, image, and royal expectations.IU fits this kind of emotionally restrained character perfectly . She has the same quiet emotional intensity she showed in My Mister. And Byeon Woo-seok naturally has that soft, melancholic prince aura that makes the relationship feel believable instead of overly cliché.
My only concern is that the drama could become too focused on aesthetics beautiful cinematography, palace scenes, dramatic stares without enough emotional depth underneath, like The King: Eternal Monarch sometimes did.
But honestly, the chemistry and atmosphere alone already make it feel more ambitious and emotional than most recent romance dramas.
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