Reviews

hit close to home!

watched this as a new Thai BL watcher, fell in love with LYKN!💙

as a huge kpop stan who recently had a member leave from one of her ult groups (Heeseung leaving Enhypen), this hit very close to home! this really shows the reality of the pop industry, and how little we as fans know about what goes on behind the scenes. I love how this drama tackles with the issues of members being forced to leave, some members being favored over others, idols being unable to date, etc..all very realistic issues!

I feel like this drama had the potential to be so much better, but the execution didn’t quite meet that potential. my favorite part was William and Est’s chemistry. I love how effortlessly they fell in love with each other. them “dropping each other off” on a loop was the cutest thing ever😂

the pacing was generally good, but the last few episodes felt a bit dragging. while i loved seeing the MARS dynamics, i also wish we got to see a little bit more of ThamePo, as the drama is literally called that.

best part about watching this was discovering LYKN! I knew of their existence, and I knew Lego, even before i knew much about the thai entertainment industry. but before watching this drama, i had no idea that the entire group was in this drama. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out all these actors were idols, and that MARS is basically LYKN!!

overall, this was a good watch! I will be looking forward to any work William or Est have in the future 💕
😅

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yamato's eye are captivating!?

plot🗯️🗯️
Yamato is a highschooler. since forever he has been in love with his childhood best friend but never felt confident to express his love fearing he would be rejected. as time goes on Yamato is no longer able to keep his secret. how will kakeru feel?

the drama:🗯️🗯️
this is a pretty standard BL highschool drama. I saw this plot many times but there is just something about it that keeps me coming back.

being gay is not easy anywhere (unfortunately) but especially in a society like Japan. through these drama we see a more "accepting" environment and maybe this is what makes these drama so sweet. there are a safe space.

I cannot say there is something special about this drama but the actors do a good enough job to keep you watching.

both Yamato and kakeru are good in their respective roles even though I must admit, I fell for yamato's actors. his eyes are so intense and I really liked his voice. it was warm, soothing. a delight.
kakeru was also a good match. his chaotic energy was entertaining.

the drama is pretty short and I don't feel like criticizing anything in particular.

it was sweet but not over the top. I liked that kakeru loved his friend so much that he took his time to really sort his feelings out. it must be a shock to receive a love confession from an old friend.

overall they did a good job at showing yamato's pain and kakeru though process.

just a note for you guys.
if you expect skin ship this is not the drama for you.

there is a kiss at the end of the show to signify they becoming a couple.
this is a sweet drama not a passionate one.


If I have to nitpick I'd say that the other characters are pretty irrelevant. the sister is just there and the friends are basically background.
I was kind of wondering if the blond guy was dating that other friend he always brought along but the drama doesn't give us an answer.

overall if you are looking for a low stake drama, short, without much of a plot, this is a decent choice.

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A Decent Watch with a Charming Lead

In Love with Loving You turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It’s not a brand new storyline, but the way it’s executed makes it enjoyable and both leads deliver natural, mature performances that make the romance easy to watch.

At first, the relationship might come across as something shallow, almost like it’s driven by attraction between an employee and her playboy client after an accidental encounter. But as the story unfolds, it adds more depth, especially with the reveal of the male lead’s long-standing feelings. Knowing he had been in love with her for years gives a different perspective to his actions. For some, that backstory might feel a bit questionable or even slightly obsessive, but it does explain why he approaches things the way he does in the present.

The male lead is definitely the highlight of the drama. He is caring, patient, and consistently supportive, making him very easy to root for. His dynamic with his friend and assistant also adds a nice touch to the story. The second couple is also fun and interesting, adding a lighter, more playful layer to the overall narrative. On the other hand, the female lead can be frustrating at times. Her decisions and reactions don’t always match the situation, which can make the relationship feel a bit one-sided, with the male lead putting in more emotional effort. Still, their chemistry works well enough to keep you invested.

For a debut project, the male lead does a solid job, and the overall production holds up well. The story is simple, the romance is light, and it doesn’t try to be overly complicated. It’s the kind of drama you can watch when you want something easy and engaging without too much emotional heaviness.

Overall, it’s not perfect, but it’s a decent and enjoyable watch. If you’re in the mood for a light romance with a strong male lead and a straightforward storyline, this one is worth checking out.

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PREPARE TO LAUGH YOUR BUTT OFF AND CRY A RIVER AT THE SAME TIME ?

Oh. Em. Geee.......

I can't believe how fast this time has gone by 😭 What a beautiful universe of stories 😍 Finally a series that had me crying, laughing, and finding such warmth in characters again 🧡 This was so beautifully done so far because of how natural the characters felt!

I personally think this show would have done insanely better with each of these being stand alone shows part of the same universe! Mainly because that would've given them more time to delve deeper into the stories and honeslty felt like I was watching different shows with each of the stories being so different anyways. The cinematography was also different for each of them, so it really felt like separate shows! But I'm not part of the executives team who make these decisions so who am I to say anything amirite? Plus, if that happened, who knows if we'd even get to all of these stories cause we all know the pain of waiting YEARS for shows like this to come out, only to be cancelled after like 5 years of waiting 😭 So yes, it was crammed and it felt like some stories needed more time, but I'm glad we actually got it nonetheless!

Here's my 2 cents on each of the stories so far:

HillTer: I do not for the life of me understand the hate this story got. I thought it was cute, lighthearted, and gave a great intro to the rest of the characters! I also think it was one of the more funnier stories in the show. The story itself was so darn cute and nostalgic! Like don't we all wish our first crushes turned out like this??? Ter being so low self esteem that he didn't think a guy like Hill would like him was too relatable 🥹 I just wanted to give the kid a hug the whole time 🧡 It overall was such a cute watch!

JoNorth: Okay, like most people, I got into the show because of them! Super hot chemistry, and North was such a refreshing lead it was insane! Hot take though, I didn't find the story all too appealing. It seemed so forced to me from Jo's part for some reason, and something about Jo's character screamed ENTITLED to me. His character just wasn't my cup of tea. They totally gave alpha and beta vibes though so that was cute asf 😍 What got me through it was most definitely North's character, the humor, and JoNorth's chemistryyyyy ❤️

TonfahTyphoon: OMG adorable BABIES. LIKE HOW CAN SOMEONE BE THIS CUTE???? I was really looking forward to their story becuase of all the hints we get from season 1, and I will say, I was not disappointed! Typhoon literally SLAYED his role ✨️ I have cried and laughed throughout the story with this guy, like genuinely felt his pain 😭 The angst was killing me, and I could not wait to know what turn the story took next! P.S. The scene between Phoon, Ter, North, and Dao when they listen to him tell his story was so precious! I think everyone deserves friends like this ❤️

ArthitDao: Okay, I am genuinely crazy about this couple. HOLY SHAT their chemistry was CHEMISTRYING. Like... I literally have no words for them. They played their characters so well and with so much depth and I so wished they had more screentime! I also love how Dao is so sweet with everyone, but really made Arthit work for him 🤣 I think one part that didn't make sense to me in the story was how they kinda forgot about Dao's ghost-ability part. Like, what happened to Emma?? Did I miss something? Did I sleep through an episode? Cause they had some explaining to do! But everything is forgivable for me in their part simply because of how Arthit holds Dao's hands. Like do you understand how precious that is?? Dao is an ARTIST for F's sake and Arthit holds his hands like they're made of GOLD 😭 I'm never getting over this couple.

I have not seen TigerNao yet, obviously because it ain't out yet, but I already have some comments. I honestly think it is so hard to watch them as a part of the Fourever You universe because they were barely present in any of it! Like, they should have called Five-ever you, not Four-ever you (lame joke but it relates to the point 😭)! The only downside I picture with this is I'm going to desperately miss the rest of the gang, which I felt was the most important part of this show. I really hope they end their season with all of them in a scenario cause otherwise, the point of the show would seem useless. I want to clarify that this is NOTHING against anyone in the show, just my two cents on it. I will absolutely watch this and probably love it just as much as the rest, and will add to my review after! But I can't help but feel like something will always feel missing if the show doesn't end with all of them together in some way!

Overall, so so so much love for this show! Was it perfect? Absolutely not. But it made me feel so insanely happy, sad to the point of grieving with them, and also made a whole zoo in my stomach because of the chemistry with some of the characters ❤️ The friendships in this were beautiful and each charcter had something important to them. Won't be getting out of this one for a while 😭

P.S. 10/10 for the humor, cast, and stories in this show. Again, not perfect, but so so so nostalgic for some reason ❤️

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lacking a bit but still shirt and cute

The story and premise of the show had potential, and I found myself genuinely enjoying it at points. But J
just as I started to form a connection with the characters, however, the show came to an end. It felt like there was so much more to explore,in the characters and around them if that makes sense. Also,, I believe that if the episodes had been longer and the production budget slightly higher, they could have effectively concluded in at least 10 to 12 episodes to get that part extra in.
Although the series brought a smile to my face and featured adorably sweet moments, there were parts that I struggled to get a connectiuon to—something about it felt off. It seemed like there was a noticeable void or lack of substance in the storyline. Ultimately, I didn’t feel compelled enough to wait for all the episodes to air or to binge watch it, as there wasn’t enough plot development to keep me fully engaged from start to finish.

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this is the skin of someone with jaundice, bella

it is i, the niel.

i have no idea what i just watched. kind of perfect??? objectively, this show is bad in every way, but it's so entertaining. the low-budget flop that it was made the experience enjoyable. the episodes were incredibly short, so it was very easy to get through. nothing really happened plot-wise. i was kind of confused.

the acting wasn't bad, it was just funny. i appreciated that the actors were giving their all for a script that was nothing. i also liked the vampire's facial expressions. he had some really goofy moments. shoutout to my favourite uncredited character, the foundation-caked turtleneck.

the amount of ai used, foul. some scenes were ai-generated, music was ai-generated, and visuals were ai-generated. i understand you all had no budget, but oof. in no world was this worth the water it used. sheesh!

best,

the niel.

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this is what i needed

the moment i set my sights on this series, i knew i'd leave it with a full heart and warm feeling.

contrast beautifully explores two different boys and the completely different lives that they live, the experiences that they both go through yet they're slowly brought together.

although it's definitely not ideal that akira beeing groomed by kanda was not addressed, i disagree that the series should be rated so low with a star or half a star - the story still does so well in showcasing the feeling that akira is left behind with, especially through the performance of akune haruse which strongly relies on his eyes and his facial expressions - the pain that lingers within his eyes, flickering whenever he sees kanata truly reflects not only the impact from his past but the impact that kanda had on him. (i also feel it's unfortunately quite realistic that this would not be addressed in anyway as this happens in so many places and is never truly addressed (which needs to change !).

iuchi haruhi as kanata was fabulous too, his acting and body language coupled with his facial expressions completely and entirely immersed me as a viewer and clearly showed his yearning for akira, the small little touches, the hidden gazes and the gentle smiles - his love for akira was overflowing every time he was on screen.

the final episode was so beautiful, especially the moment of akira crying and kanata reassuring him and mentioning his significance to kanata. the cinematography and lighting in that scene was also just soft and gentle, especially as the light rays slowly started to basically bloom onto akira's face as kanata told him he's supposed to light up his life

i love kanata and akira so much, their love is tender and caring, they're gentle with each other and soft, just how everything about them become more clear by the end.

"so, you're the one who's supposed to light up my life."

AND I CRIED. 😭

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Could have been the perfect Chinese BL but....

This had the elements for being one of my favorite Chinese BL's so far. We had very interesting set up for the couple, there was very much plot involved, with the story evolving trough the whole series, however unlike with some of the longer Chinese BLs, the plot was not complex to the point that it took away the entertainment value of the show. Unfortunately where this failed for me was the aspect of relationship development which is kind of the whole idea of a romance themed series.

As separate characters both He Chu San and Xia Liu Yi have complexity to them that ties together really well with the main plot. The characters actually evolve trough the show quite a bit, which we don't always see in the genre. Sadly it just feels like forever until things start developing the relationship part. I would understand the slow development arch, if this would have been another +10 ep Chinese BL. However, with nine episodes I expect to see a lot more than few kissing scenes and both of the characters just trying to avoid facing their feelings most of the series. Right when there is finally realizing of mutual feelings Xia Liu Yi gets dragged to prison and the show ends.... Considering that there has been some hints but not real confirmation on a sequel this type of ending as a viewer leaves more questions and then feeling of closure. With a fully confirmed season 2 I might have been able to be more lenient on the ending choice.

Aside from the first couple not delivering on the relationship side of things, the second couple desperately needed more on screen time. They should have brought them to the show earlier, bc right until the last episode it felt really unclear why they were even introduced to the plot and what the relationship between them was. Even after the very open ending to the show, still not 100% sure where they would go from the situation the show ended in.

Conclusion:
- Generally plot and length wise a perfect show, with great individual character performances.
- Unfortunately the romance part for both main and second couple leaves a lot to be desired.
- There is quite a bit of violence and other heavy themes covered in the show, so this is not for sensitive ppl.

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another disappointment

i thought this series could be great based on the premise, but i don't understand why it ended up being such a disappointment.

the beginning and the ending were good, but many things in between weren't good. thankfully, poon joined the cast. his silly antics always manage to make people laugh. juniormark is a couple i like, but junior has a problem: even though his character shouldn't be in love with mark's character, junior always looks at mark with love. this really ruined his character.

we expected the series to have angst, but that pain in between never reached us and the story started to get increasingly boring. i was watching it currently, but i stopped after a while. even the actors said it was related to director new. i don't know how he manages to ruin every script. ohmpoon, despite being new couple, weren't that bad. as I said, despite having a new and good premise, the script was handled terribly.

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you made mother cry, now i'm angry.

it is i, the niel.

i can't even begin to explain how frustrated and annoyed i felt while watching this show. the level of toxicity and problematic tropes made me feel exhausted. toxic storylines can be done in an interesting way, but this was not that. there was barely any story to be told. there was no plot after the first two episodes. the same plot was reheated throughout all 8 episodes. toxicity was done in a way that boils down to miscommunication, manipulation, and bullshit. i did not want them to end up together.

as for the production of this show, i was disappointed. the sets were bad, the lighting was dull (it was giving institutional), the cinematography was nonexistent, and the costumes were questionable. the acting was probably the best part of this show. the evil one's actor committed to the bit well. he was the only one i found entertaining and fun to watch. wanna one did his best, but his character was pathetic most of the time. the writing could've been better, and the dialogue felt repetitive.

also can we talk about how jeonghan is operating under the assumption that they're cousins?? frankly, incest?? what? why?? if you want a toxic korean bl, just watch secret relationships. it's like this, but better in every way. at least that show was entertaining. in all these bls, they just want that cookie. chow down!

best,

the niel.

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Desgarradora. Cruel. Como el ser humano.

Lo mejor de esta película es el control del ritmo, del momentum de la narrativa. No tanto la cara constante de Billkin con la boca medio abierta, pero sí su soberbia actuación. Hubo momentos en los que me habría encantado golpearle… a él y cada hombre de esa familia.

Hay varias escenas que me atormentarán durante mucho tiempo. Amah pidiendo a sus ancestros que se la lleven para no sufrir más. Amah diciendo que ya no le queda nada. Amah en la cama de esa residencia de mayores comunitaria. Amah sola, con su móvil y sus filtros.

Dios, esta película me ha roto un dique por dentro.

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