Reviews

Suitable for newcomers, a disappointment for experienced watchers

Spring Cleaning Challenge made me finish this after I dropped it twice. I needed a whole year to watch it.
---- If you loved this drama, keep scrolling ---
From my enjoyment, I would rate this 6/10, but objectively speaking, depending on what you prioritize, it could be a 7/10. Visually, it's absolutely stunning, and although I put the drama aside for months, I listened to the OST a lot during that time. The acting was great as well. I loved Jang Uk as a character and seeing his development.
The rest was...not even remotely as noteworthy.

I think Alchemy of Souls is a great drama for those who just started getting into Kdramas, especially Romance ones. But I can't get over the disappointment of getting a a fantasy setting with a badass FL only to end up with "damsel in distress FL in an average romcom but make it fancy" setting.

I will spare you the details of all the ways I was let down, but let me mention this: Although I really liked Jang Uk, I was team SML. FL had chemistry with literally everyone but ML. I still don't get why the mains fell for each other except for the fact they went through a lot together. Don't get me wrong, I don't always need a "reason". But the romance developed so weirdly paced and felt sudden and...like a plot device.

Now, imagine your main selling point is only a plot device and then the plot is only mediocre, too. It's interrupted by misplaced comedy, full of plotholes and entirely predictable. As the characters stumble from sidequest to sidequest, they solve their issues with luck rather than the wit, competence and effort you'd expect from their position. The whole storytelling was exactly that - telling. With all those visuals that could have shown something truly outstanding, they decided to prioritize telling over showing. I am almost sure the writers also forgot about 90% of plotlines and backstories they opened as they wrote the consecutive episodes, since many main plot issues introduced once never resurfaced again.

I should add that the description of Season 2 I saw on accident got me spoilered so hard it ruined the last bit of suspense that kept me going. Hence, my enjoyment was heavily detrimented by that. But experience told me those spoilers, especially coming from Netflix, aren't necessarily true, so I kept hoping.
It wasn't as bad as I thought.
But what was that ending? I made it through 20 episodes of 90 minute length, which, if I may say so, is longer than some movies I've watched, yet they still had to rush the ending? And...that's it? Shouldn't a drama rated this highly at least be one of the few exceptions that have a great, well-balanced, timely ending?
I expected more of this. So much more. But in the end, I only kept watching because people kept promising me season 2 was different. They better be right.

Would I recommend watching? Actually, yes. But only if I knew you're the kind of watcher who can leave their brain at home when they watch something and you prioritize visuals over content.

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it bored me to death!

on paper this looked like a light, funny show. the reviews were good and I trusted them..

I made it just until episode 3.
I know that some drama need a bit of time to start kicking in but after 3 episodes I was so bored I couldn't keep going on.

plot: I girl has a crush on a guy, which Is also a famous Mangaka.
she ends up joining his team along side other characters which help the artist complete his work.

the first 3 episodes are used to basically introduce the characters. they are over the top, cartoonish, which is not bad per se. unfortunately "cringe" humor has to be done right.

I read reviews about people holding their stomach because the show was so funny. I guess these "funny moments" come later in the drama because every attempt at humor in the first episodes lands flat.

I didn't even smirk. chuckle. nothing.
the only cute scene I can recall is the one where the main couple is holding an umbrella and still getting wet.

the characters as I said are really exaggerated which is fine, but I didn't find them likable in any way.
corny dialogues are probably the main culprit.

I don't even get why the female lead has a crush on the Magaka.
she basically knows nothing about him, even thinks he a sort of gangster (which she doesn't like) and doesn't know he is the famous Mangaka she likes.

he on the hand is like a robot. in 3 episodes I couldn't pin point any trait of his personality.
I guess he could be called "methodic" when it comes to his work.

I don't find him believable as a Mangaka either. he basically stalks people and just drawns what he sees. inspiration is one thing, a one on one copy of poses, statements is another.

I know that the show is probably targeted at a younger audience but that doesn't excuse poor writing.

Disney movies are for kids, butt adults can still enjoy the story and the artistry.

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The show I didn’t know I needed!

I came to this drama because I love Kim Go Eun’s acting.
She will always be my the first Goblin wife!
And now I'm mad at myself for waiting so long to watch it, because it was the cutest thing ever!

I ADORED those little cute cells. I laughed out loud so many times at their dramatic antics. My faves are emotions cell, rational cell, hungry cell (I can relate lol) but the standout cell is naughty cell in their little undies! He just cracked me up laughing every time he was in the scene.

I never read a romance book or watch a romance show that doesn’t have a happy ever after, but this was the exception, and while Yumi’s break up was sad, vividly acted, not having a happy ending didn’t bother me, because I was enjoying the cells so much.

Even the ML's cunning female friend/colleague trying to interfere in their relationship didn't irk me as it would a regular drama, because the cells hated her too!

I’m already half-way through season 2 so I can get to the final season and the cuuuuuute Sun Rok. But more of my cells, too.
I now want all dramas to include animated cell scenes lol.

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An Unexpected Gem in a Martial Arts World

I loved this drama, and I wasn’t expecting it. I hadn't heard about it beforehand and I’m not familiar with most of the performers—they aren’t actors I’ve seen in other dramas. Still, there was something about the storyline that drew me in almost immediately.

The opening sets up an underlying premise that isn’t fully explored beyond the first episode, but it’s something the plot continues to build toward throughout the series and helps keep you engaged. The story features recurring sect competitions to become masters of martial arts and alchemy, along with character development and minor subplots that come together near the end. This may be a niche within a niche: it’s heavy on martial arts, with high-level techniques tied to elemental bloodlines, making the characters feel more like deities than traditional martial artists. I’m not typically a fan of this genre, but I found it quite interesting.

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The psychological warfare in this show was insane!

The toxicity in this drama came in so many waves, I don’t think I’ll recover lol.

We all thought it was just some regular psycho fighting over a toy, but then BAM! Plot twist! Kim Su Hyeon wasn't the crazy one after all. (like he, was… but he wasn’t….) and he is the character I latched onto, and I liked him ( for the most part) I kept hoping he’d have a redeeming moment. I was rooting for this raving sociopath – but he was just too angry and violent for him to ever be the leading man who won Da On. But oh, the actor rocked this role!

After all 8 episodes, I'm still stumped about why those two super-smart but totally nuts psychos were into Da On. What made these two men latch onto him from their school days and make him into a disciple puppy, because, as cute as Da On is, sweet and unproblematic, and his doe-eyes were adorable, he had the personality of uncooked bread and butter pudding!
And you want me to believe two lunatics, plus a green flag all chased him like rabid dogs?!

Because I love dark romances, I definitely would have chosen Kim Su Hyeon. I think having all of Da On’s love would have calmed him right down – says my delululu side. LOL.

A fun show I’d recommend, if you want to be wide-eyed every episode from their psycho antics.
Also, what a little shit Jae was. I’m glad I never liked him from the start.

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A solid story with outstanding performance by the A-listers

When it comes to female-centered drama series, Thailand might not have as many choices compared to other MDL countries. However, within this limited selection, "Hangout" stands out as a remarkable and refreshing example. This high-quality social drama delves into the lives of five high-society women, peeling back the layers of their seemingly flawless existences to reveal complex personal issues.

The story unfolds concisely through the perspective of Dujdao, the oldest among five women, guiding viewers through a world of privilege, secrets, and emotional intensity. The series features Thailand's top-tier actresses such as Pock Piyathida, Kwan Usamanee, Pancake Khemanit, Donut Manatsanun, and Chippy Sirin. Their impactful performances amplify the show's intense atmosphere, drawing the audience into the characters’ intertwined lives. Honestly, it's so satisfying to soak in their incredible acting. I’m not going to comment on the production quality because, to me, it's nearly flawless. There's a reason why Director 'Off' Pongpat Wachirabunjong is considered one of Thailand's legendary directors.

At first glance, "Hangout" might appear to follow the familiar formula of female-centric dramas like the well-known Korean series Sky Castle or The Penthouse, which often focus on rivalry, betrayal, and personal strife among women. However, what sets this series apart is its nuanced portrayal of female friendship and love, presenting these relationships in a more hopeful and positive light. While betrayal remains a pivotal theme, the core message emphasizes how friendship plays a big influence on characters’ reactions to hardship. My only issue is that 4 out of 5 women are dealing with similar marriage problems, just stemming from different underlying issues. If only the storylines dived a bit into their friendship during college, it would make the whole series more impactful.

Overall, "Hangout" offers an engaging and sophisticated exploration of female relationships within an elite social context, broadening the limited field of Thai female-centered dramas. Its balance of intense drama with a more uplifting view of women's friendship makes it a compelling watch and a noteworthy addition to the genre. It might seem like a series for the "aunties," but if you are one who appreciates a solid story with outstanding performance, this series is highly recommended.

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We enjoy doggy position not a doggy acting ?? Over hyped and cringe af ???

I don't know how novel is but let me be honest here, we enjoy doggy position but doggy acting? Fucking No, behaving like dog from start to end is fucking cringe af, damn i was so fucked up after seeing same irritating voice and behavior. There should be limit of everything. Story is so basic, there is no element for hype but still it is over hyped. Trust me i am still having trauma after seeing the doggy acting of duang 🤦🤦🤦🤦 i mean who the fuck fall in love if he acts like that irl?. So fucking irritating. Almost 75% time i was skipping the story🤦 somehow i completed but seriously i am still in coma. Wtf did just watched🤦🤦🤦

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It's a sweet and tender drama that's a breeze to watch.

This show was just green flags everywhere. From every character!
Rarely do you find a narrative without toxic characters who act as interfering antagonists. Each person brought a profound mature attitude, especially toward the leading couple.

I’m going to talk about Xiao Dong, first. He was our second male lead.
And when we first see him, we learn he’s the female lead’s cousin, not sure if it’s by blood – but at that time, just looking at his stern face, and how he was giving instructions to female lead, I was all, ut oh – he’s about to be the love rival. HOW WRONG I WAS! I’ve never seen a more supportive second ML before. Talk about perfect, sweet, he was always rooting for the couple, paving the way for their relationship, and also trying to get back his close friendship with our ML. There was a frisson of a relationship for Xiao Dong, too, with his ex, they danced around each other, but by the end, we still don’t know if they ever got back together. I really hope so! If anyone deserves love, it’s that adorable, suited man. He’s going to be one of my favorite second MLs.

I could do a section for each supporting man – there are so many adorable ones, but I’ll group them altogether and say they were a great support for our leading man. The brotherhood, taking them back decades, was clear in every scene and I loved how they were always there for each other. Never a jealous, petty moment.

Let’s get to our yearner – Lin Yiyang. I swear, the actor has eyes made for yearning scenes. You’ll hear me say “It’s rare” in my review, because it really was rare to have a 30 episode drama and neither lead ever lost their temper – we never had one argument. Yiyang loved Guo from the first time he laid eyes on her and it clearly showed in his every action. This was an attentive man! Everything he did was for her happiness and comfort. He called himself a poor man, but he was such a hard worker and talk about spoiling!
It’s the first time I’ve watched this actor’s work, but I’m sure it won’t be the last, this was a perfect show to introduce me to him. My eyes were swooning so many times at his sweet, loving actions.
The man gave good hug!

My initial decision to give this show a watch was because of how much I adored Zhao Jin Mai in Shine on Me – she was my ideal heroine in that show. And while I really liked Guo in this one, too – she was unproblematic, never threw tantrums and worked with their long distance relationship – I wished the writer had matured her a little over time and gave her more confidence.
I'm a sucker for romance novels, and I'm super sensitive to repetition. So, I spotted this thing in the drama that kept happening, and I'm baffled as to why. Guo avoided about 90% of the kisses Yiyang went for.
Knowing she was a timid girl, not used to romance, and possibly felt self-conscious kissing in front of others – even though it was in private – I still considered all that. It's not like Yiyang was leaning on her for more.
It got me thinking why the writer gave the FL that trait. I will say though, she was a great hugger and I loved all those intimate moments. Especially the hand holder. Super heart fluttering.
And then! Toward the end, we suddenly have a pregnancy scare!
Like how? I was hardcore side-eyeing at that moment, with my eyebrows somewhere in my hairline!
This FL was avoiding even the smallest smooches, and you want to be believe they had unprotected sex?
Was it an AI baby?
Did the sperm get delivered by FEDEX?
This was just a little thing that made me chuckle at the time, but at least it tells us Yiyang got past the stiff kisses, right? LOL.

I only included the above section in my review for anyone who is like me and reads reviews to either to find things that might irk me ( cheating, etc..) or to validate any thoughts I might have had about certain scenes. This is your validation if you, too, found the avoidance of kissing to be odd, lol.

Ignoring my minor critiques, I genuinely loved this show and would readily rewatch it for a stress-free escape with its simple, drama-free content. I get why other reviews have said the slow pace didn't suit them, but for me, it's like a show to reset your nervous system!

What a stunning location! I really liked that a good chunk of it took place in another country. And honestly, since I've never watched snooker before, I figured I'd be bored, but wow, I was totally hooked on the games!
Now, I will add Yiyang to my list of ultimate yearners.

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It’s underrated!

I wanted to drop after the first few episodes. However as I went a long, it’s getting very good. If you hold prejudice because you watched Princess Agent, like myself at first, then I suggest you to keep watching. The story is getting much better than a few hit dramas lately. It is underrated because one production mistake: It should not be heavily linked to Princess Agent. The cast is great, the stories are great. If it has not been a sequel, then it would have been much better than the Female General. The FL has a lot of potential as young as she is. The cast are slowly getting into their roles and they won’t disappoint. The vibe is much different than Princess Agent and I do enjoy it. So give it a try. The rating of 6 is not justified. I would give it at least 7.9 (should be 8, but I hate the first few episodes of past reflections - so unnecessary)

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A Heartfelt Story of Family Bond and Drugs

Welp, before "Eight Hundred" aired for the first time, I'd been banking on it since the story involves drug traffickers and a police papa (a conflicting trope which I love to see). FYI, it's an OG source, meaning that I can't predict too much from the synopsis given. On the other hand, I've turned into Xu Kai's anti (being an anti doesn't mean I'm bashing, criticizing this or that, and whatsoever you call names about, but I just simply have no interest over the actors I dislike, that's all) and reuters' leaked pictures had shown that he would be paired with Ancy Deng as his co-star. Okay, so let's just rock, shall we?

The story takes place in 1990s in Fengyang Town, a little suburban district of 800-radius-meter which houses the coal mines and entertainment sources for the populace there. Chen Hongbing is a very dedicated and upright police officer who vows to dismantle every single crime scene for the sake of justice. He also has a loving family including his fussy wife Ding Yue, his son Chen Hui, his father Grandpa Chen, and Chen Hui's lover Gao Songge. The family always spends their mundane life peacefully in Fengyang until the appearance of Peidun Cough Syrup disrupts the peace in the little town. Through several investigations and raids, Hongbing and his crew manage to secure several downlines of the cough syrup, but they never find out who the mastermind behind these scenes. Unbeknownst to them, it is Chen Hui and Songge who stage the layers of deception to gather money for Songge's kidney transplant. As they are risked of being discovered and arrested by the police, the couple has no choice but to create multiple webs of deception to lure the police away until they earn enough to perform the transplantation. Chen Hui has a golden heart to save Songge's life, but his method is clearly wrong as he was led astray when he encountered Tian Jinhai, the cough syrup's tycoon who coerced Chen Hui to join the underground market of drug traffickers. And I'm guaranteeing 100% that you will see a super duper BE in the end.

First of all, I need to appraise the screenwriter for being able to develop such a heart-breaking story while not being explicit in the process, giving the audiences chances to guess how the story works out and what kind of plot twist will happen in the moment of suspense. "Eight Hundred" also manages to incorporate Hongbing's daily life as a police officer and his mission in tracking down the traffickers (it reminds me of "The Truth" by Gong Jun and Sun Yi, but the former turned out to be a fiasco that I dropped it in ep 7), which I appreciate very much. Another thing, we can see Chen Hui's unhinged personality being unveiled, as he strangles Tian Jinhai to death. When the father and son confront each other, I feel their pain and love simultaneously since they just want to be an ordinary united family who can stand against all odds together.

For the acting, I must say Xu Kai nails Chen Hui character seamlessly as he transforms into an ingenious outlaw yet obedient son. His micro-expressions are always accurate, which helps you feel his emotional impacts whenever he breaks down or just wants the best for his family. Ancy Deng also does well as Songge, though I wish Songge could pry more into Chen Hui's issues instead of letting him settle everything by himself. As a couple, Xu Kai and Ancy Deng complement each other pretty well and the two of them have palpable chemistry, as romance isn't the main focus of the drama. Ding Yongdai captures the essence of Chen Hongbing the police papa too, as his emotional turbulence always takes me drifting into the story. Special mention to Hu Ke (as Ding Yue) and Qu Zhazha (as Liu Na) too because they have a unique sisterly bond although they only meet several times. And don't forget the car crash staged by Huo Kaiming too.

OSTs are not published openly, so I can't comment on that part much further. Sets, backgrounds, and costumes are full of 90s retro vibes, which can make you feel deja vu if you're one of those in that era. However, I wasn't born in 1990s, so I can't make any comparisons with the real 1990s.

Would I rewatch this? Maybe yes, if I'm in a drama slump period again. To date, I'm still waiting for VIP tracks as I have no penny to purchase express package. But, I've seen leaked spoilers of the ending, so I might as well include it here. Overall, a ten out of ten and one of the best crime dramas I've ever seen in these years. Good luck and happy watching!!!

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No: I’m sorry, I love you. Yes: I’m sorry I watched this drama. lol

If you want to get pissed, exhausted, and frustrated with anyone but the main lead, just watch this K-drama! I started it because it is a “classic” and wanted to give it a try because I love tragedy. However, this K-drama was everything except enjoyably sad. In my whole 13-year K-drama fan journey, I haven’t seen such an annoying series, except for some rare cases. The upcoming comment included spoilers about the story and characters.

Our selfish, “beloved” Yun:
Imagine a guy who plays with you however he wants and doesn’t care about what you really feel or want. Yes, he knows you down to your “pants and bra size,” but he uses that knowledge for his own benefit and needs. He acts caring and loving at times, but the moment something doesn’t go exactly how he imagined, he immediately says, “Whose fault is this?” blaming the people around him, especially Eunchae, his crush, etc. A purely narcissistic personality. It takes him so long to realize that his childhood friend likes him, and on top of that, he keeps asking her for support to get the attention of his three-year-long platonic love. He tries everything to make the second female lead fall in love with him, and when everything finally works out, she betrays him, only then does he realize that he can’t live without Eunchae. Imagine such an emotional guy who needs betrayal from his current crush to realize that he can’t live without you and when I say “without you,”.

The BIGGEST Problem Eunchae - worse than Yun:
First, she is obsessed with her childhood friend who turns out to be her foster sibling. Yun is already just a selfish jerk who uses her for whatever he feels, and our main girl doesn’t have a developed, mature character to choose what she will do for herself. No matter how much the main guy Muhyeok gives her, loves her, and protects her, she keeps choosing Yun. The question appears: why Yun? Tbh…idk. The actions of Eunchae after finding out she fell for the main guy are so reckless. Without any valid reason, she starts to push Muhyeok away and tells him to die and disappear from her life. The whole show is just about her toxic obsession with Yun, even after she confesses to her dad that she can’t forget Muhyeok anymore. She still hurts him and pushes him away just because her beloved Yun gets sad and heartbroken over her irresponsible reaction. She can’t even say no when Yun is forcing her to marry him and lets Muhyeok get hurt by that.

This drama is just full of so-called “tragedy,” which is nothing but horrible decision-making due to stupidity and lack of intelligence of the characters. The only good things about this drama were the song and the main character who carried the whole show. There are two main reasons why Muhyeok falls in love with Eunchae: first, he sees how tragic they both are so he feels a connection with her; second, whenever Yun’s family messes something up, she takes care of it no matter what, pushing her own feelings and needs to the background and suffering because of it. He sees the silent goodness in her after watching over her and protecting her so many times (which later she thinks Yun did, and she never gets to know what Muhyeok did for her behind the scenes, and our main has to watch Yun take all the credit). All I could do is empathy for the main lead because it felt like he was the only one with common sense .
However, all the thoughtfulness and kindness she has for others are not included to Muhyeok. He never gets sincerely loved or cared for, and she doesn’t show it either. The only time she cares about him is after she hears from her father that Muhyeok is going to die, while Muhyeok told her so many times about giving his heart to Yun and saving him. He openly says that he will die, and there are obvious signs that he is preparing to die and that she should take care of his sister and nephew (yet she can’t even take care of them and decides to kill herself). But of course, our caring girl doesn’t even realize these signs despite her supposed thoughtfulness, and instead pushes and hurts him more and more. And when she gets the reassurance that he is going to die, she feels guilty not because she loves him, but because she feels guilty for being “mean”. So logically, if someone is not dying, you can just tell them to die and hurt them with horrible words? Before she even gets to know about his situation, she keeps misunderstanding him, despite it being clearly shown to her how much Muhyeok cares about her anytime and everywhere. She even dares to offer him even a one night stand quoting”I can do anything for yun ahjusshi” Exactly, no matter how much i think it is very annoying and out of place. All Muhyeok wanted is a shoulder to lean on while he was already in physical and mental pain due to tragic things in his life. But no someone specific had to be so focused on saving Yun, which is for me extremely upsetting and exhausting.
The mother of Yun and the father of Eunchae:

Eunche acts as if she is completely fine without him and still sticks with Yun, yet chooses to kill herself on his grave. I’m sorry, but this is not real love, this is some chronic brain dysfunction. Her father is not better either, he took the twin children of the mother he serves as a chauffeur for 27 years. Why? He thought this was the best option for her. Why? Because the child was from a married man. So? So..? actually nothing thats it as absurd it sounds.

Moreover, the mother is shown as overly dramatic and easily influenced by her adopted son and her emotions. There were many opportunities in the story to make this drama much better and truly tragic with at least some logical decision-making, yet they kept disappointing me every single time. Logically, if you took her children away from her and saw her struggle so much for the adopted child, then you could have told her at least at some point later! But no, if they decide one thing, they have to stick to it, just like the father and then the daughter.

My only applause goes to the main character and the music. If you’ve read this far, thank you for your patience, though that is nothing compared to the patience I endured until the last episode of this drama. lol <3

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AMAZING!!!! BUT THEY BETTER GIVE US A SEASON 2

When i 1st started it i didn't have much hopes from this cz of the dubbing but thank god i did. I feel the series is really well executed. I love how the power bottom actually looks like one cz i think this is the 1st CBL where I've seen a muscular and badass bottom. Yes we had sheng but... he was also kinda a damsel in distress 🤭. Overall it's good but i feel this really needs a season 2 cz a lot of questions are not answered like who killed the sister, the BIL and the police kid? What happens to Lui yi? How is chusan and lui yi's life after this mess? What happens to the 2nd couple?? Etc.

I really hope they do a season 2 although there's a risk cz this is a cbl & chang zi was also removed from pursuit of jade for acting in this drama... i hope they don't end up like the other cbl couples❤️🥺

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