Reviews

I Love William and Est, but Chemistry Alone Is Not Enough

I know fan shipping is not really a big thing in Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese BL, but it has a massive audience in Thai BL. Personally, I do not mind fan shipping as long as it works. What I do not agree with is giving a series a high rating just because our favourite couple is back together.

For example, Gemini and Fourth were great in My School President, Moonlight Chicken and Ticket to Heaven. All three had completely different stories and I loved seeing them together in those roles. But for me, My Love Mix Up was a completely different experience because I thought the plot was extremely weak.

My point is simple. Just because your favourite couple is in a new series does not automatically make the series good. If the plot is bad, then it is bad. Do not give it a 10 just because you love the pairing.

Now back to You Maniac.

The first two episodes is only around 40 minutes, yet there are already so many 10 star reviews calling it a masterpiece. Yes, William and Est are back. They look absolutely gorgeous together, and the chemistry is definitely there. I love them from ThamePo and gave that series a 10/10, so I was genuinely excited to see them together again.

But honestly, after Episode 1 and 2, I was disappointed.

Where is the plot?
There was literally not much happening in this first two episodes. The setup has potential, with Dean trying to win over the cold and hard to read Moth, but I did not feel like we were given enough story to become invested yet.

Instead, I felt like GMMTV was doing the copy and paste formula again. Take a popular pairing, give them great chemistry, make them look incredible together and let the fan shipping do the rest.

And this is where I have a problem with all the 10 star ratings already.

I am not saying You Maniac is bad. I am saying it is far too early to call it a masterpiece based on one 40 minute episode. You can love William and Est and still be honest about the quality of the story. I love them too, but I am going to judge the series itself, not just the pairing.

Maybe the story will become much better. I hope it does because I really like the cast and I want William and Est to have another great series together. This review is based only on Episode 1 and 2, so my rating can definitely change once I watch more.

For now, though, the chemistry is there, the cast is great and the leads look amazing, but the plot is too weak for me to give this anything higher.

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Nothing is too sweet till it gives you cavity

The had a great idea which they failed to execute on screen. The show gradually does become better but what makes me disappointed is the wasted potential of a great plot and acting with lack of substance. I still didn't hate it.

The plot goes beyond just being a sweet fluffy romance. It had a deep meaningful plot. The characters and the story had layers to explore. What it lacked is a good execution that kept viewers hooked. The pace was too slow, the characters designed to act too silly sometime. The comedy was fun, the emotional scenes made me tear up too. I wish they could have done the script writing a little better. Every character showed real deep back story and the plot mostly revolves around getting over their past traumas with each other being by their side but we lost it at a bad execution that made it little wearying. I loved the dynamics of the second couple too because wow that came as surprise. Yet again a little more substance could have made this what they planned it to be.

The direction and script writing was where they lost the great plot. They needed more work there. We needed to see more things in 11 episodes and they couldn't deliver it. But I do love the style and theme of the drama. It is cute, almost little whimsical. The outfits were also a perfect fit. While I wasn't as much into the drama the sets and theme really stood out to me for being fun.

Acting was great. The emotional scenes were played really well, considering it is difficult to shift the atmosphere to something deep from being comedic just a few seconds ago. They had a great cast indeed. MarkOhm showed amazing chemistry.

I think this drama is just not made for adults who seek more mature scenes even in fluffs. I don't mean it in a negative way but I feel like a young teenager or older kids might enjoy this more (just don't show them the NC scene at the very end). Still should give it a try if you love fluff and whimsical dramas.

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Love Is Definitely Better the Second Time Around, The Married Couple Energy Is EVERYTHING

I absolutely loved Season 1, so when Season 2 was announced, I was honestly so excited. What I love most about the first episode is that we do not get another fresh start where Miyata and Iwanaga are still figuring out their relationship. They are already two years into their relationship and living together, and I absolutely loved that decision.

There is something so satisfying about seeing a couple who has already made it through the beginning stages of their relationship and is now simply enjoying life together. They live together, cook together, cuddle, and their house is filled with couple photos and little reminders of their life together. They are so happy together that they genuinely feel like a married couple.

Honestly, their relationship is my ideal love life.

The holiday at the pool and the kissing scenes were so refreshing to watch. There was nothing overly dramatic about them. They were simply enjoying being together, and that made the moments feel even more romantic. Even something as simple as Iwanaga making freshly squeezed juice for Miyata in the morning to help with his hangover was incredibly sweet. If that is not love, then what is?

I also really loved the flashbacks to Season 1. They only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was such a nice touch because it brought back memories of what Miyata and Iwanaga went through before reaching this point. It reminded us how far their relationship has come and made seeing them living together now feel even more meaningful.

And their bed scene was so romantic. The soft kisses, their chemistry, the gentle background music and the way they looked at each other all felt incredibly mature. There was no need to make the scene overly dramatic. Their connection was enough. They genuinely feel like a couple who have been together for years and are completely comfortable loving each other.

But of course, even the strongest relationship can have problems.

When Miyata asks about Iwanaga's watch, Iwanaga reveals that it was given to him by someone special from college. His ex. Iwanaga clearly does not like talking about his past relationships, and before long, that past unexpectedly comes back into their present.

I know the ex returning trope is not exactly the most original storyline, but honestly, I do not mind it here. I am actually really interested to see what happens because Miyata and Iwanaga have built such a beautiful and stable relationship. Will this make them even stronger? Will Miyata's jealousy and insecurity create cracks between them? Or will Iwanaga finally be forced to confront parts of his past that he has been avoiding?

That is what makes me excited for the rest of the season.

One thing I continue to love about Japanese BL is how mature and realistic the storytelling can feel. There are no unnecessary cringe sound effects or exaggerated reactions. The romance feels natural, the conversations feel believable, and the characters are allowed to behave like real adults in a real relationship.

Episode 1 was honestly so special and emotional for me. Watching Miyata and Iwanaga living together, caring for each other, cuddling, kissing, cooking together and simply enjoying their everyday life made me genuinely happy.

At the same time, I cannot lie, I was also a little jealous and envious of what they have. Their relationship represents exactly what I want in a relationship. To come home to someone you love, live together, take care of each other, share ordinary moments and still have that tenderness between you after years together. That is such a beautiful thing to watch.

This is already one of my favourite Japanese BLs of 2026, and if the rest of the season can maintain the same emotional depth as Episode 1, I think we are in for something really special.

I cannot wait for the next episode!

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Doldam Has My Heart (even when its characters annoy me) ?

One of the K-dramas I found myself constantly rewatching, despite having multiple seasons—and honestly, it doesn't really matter which season. Personally, I really like Season 3, but the other seasons are definitely worth watching too. I love seeing the character development throughout each season, and all the lessons Kim Sabu instills in the younger doctors. The support and guidance that the other senior staff members at Doldam give to the younger ones are also admirable.

Doldam started as a small, almost unoccupied countryside hospital—an underdog. But as the seasons progressed, Doldam Hospital slowly grew bigger and stronger. What was once just Kim Sabu's dream gradually started becoming a reality, and honestly, seeing that happen is so incredibly fulfilling and almost speechless-worthy. I really love how each season portrays Doldam's growth as it slowly becomes something much bigger.

However, as much as I would love to fully love the main leads—or the main couples—especially Cha Eun-jae, I just can't always find myself loving them, even though I've tried many times. I found Cha Eun-jae's attitude more irritating than relatable. I understand Dong-joo's perspective, and honestly, I get where he's coming from—the only problem for me was his rigid approach. Woo-jin annoyed me at certain parts too, but overall, I found him more understandable and acceptable than Eun-jae. I understand their perspectives to some extent, but there are moments when they can be totally irritating. 😭

I understand that the characters aren't meant to be perfect and that they're supposed to have flaws. But what frustrates me the most is when a character has flaws yet refuses to recognize or acknowledge where they went wrong. That was what frustrated me about Cha Eun-jae in Season 3. It also made me appreciate Dong-joo more and admire Woo-jin's mindset.

But yeah, regardless of that, I still like Eun-jae's character. There are just times when she's incredibly frustrating—which is honestly the same feeling I had toward Dong-joo, Seo-jung, and In-beom in Season 1.

Also, I was personally more invested in the second couple than the main couple this season. Eun-tak and A-reum's relationship is like any other relationship, but sometimes, relationships like theirs are the easiest to appreciate and accept compared to the others.

Some people might have different opinions about their relationship throughout Seasons 2 and 3, but one thing I really liked about them was that their relationship never felt rushed or anything. The angst was there, and I think that made their journey even more interesting, exciting, and likable. Instead of immediately giving us everything, the story allowed their relationship to develop naturally, which made me more invested in them than the other couples.

Regardless of some characters frustrating me, though, I still love Dr. Romantic as a whole. Personally, I really love Areum (she's soooo cute), Eun-tak, Kim Sabu, of course, and Nurse Oh. I also really enjoyed Dr. Park Min-guk's character development this season.

Anyway, I really love this K-drama. Kudos to Dong-joo, Woo-jin, and Eun-jae in Season 4, Episodes 13–14, and to the entire Doldam staff in Episodes 15–16.

Definitely a must-watch medical K-drama.

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First impression

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first season, but I still want to watch the second season, hoping that this series will be better the second time around. So far it's not bad, and I'm pretty hyped for the next episodes.

You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8904/love-is-better-the-second-time-around-2024-s02e01?noresume=1

Things I liked:
1. I like seeing main leads in their day-to-day life since we didn't really get to see that or their relationship overall in the first season.

Things I disliked:
1. Not too bad of a thing, but I really liked the music in the first season, but here it is rather unnoticeable.

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You Maniac Series EP1 has set the standard for me

Episode 1 of You Maniac opens with a disquieting energy that sets the tone for the entire chapter. The narrative wastes no time in immersing us in DeanMoth’s world, a place where brilliance and instability coexist in a fragile balance. Their characters are introduced not through exposition, but through moments of silence, erratic bursts of laughter, and piercing stares that suggest a mind constantly at war with itself. This choice of pacing allows the audience to feel his mania rather than simply observe it, making his portrayal both unsettling and magnetic.

WilliamEst’s performance is the undeniable centerpiece. Every gesture, every flicker of expression carries weight, hinting at layers of vulnerability beneath the mania. Both of them emerges as a crucial counterbalance to one another. Their interactions are not just grounding but revelatory, offering glimpses of tenderness that contrast with his volatility. The supporting cast, though introduced briefly, adds texture to the narrative. Friends and side characters are sketched with quirks that promise deeper involvement in the unfolding drama, ensuring that no presence feels incidental.

Cinematography plays a vital role in amplifying the psychological tension. Tight close-ups on WilliamEst’s face capture the restless spark in his eyes, while wide, dizzying frames mirror the instability of his environment. The deliberate pacing, neither rushed nor overly explanatory allows the mania to breathe, creating an atmosphere where every silence feels heavy and every sudden outburst feels dangerous.

The cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 1 sets the stage for what promises to be a gripping continuation. Episode 2 seems poised to explore the push and pull of DeanMoth’s erratic choices, potentially exposing their craziness to the world. I anticipate sharper psychological confrontations. The series appears to be building toward a battle not only between characters but within DeanMoth’s own mind, a conflict that could define the trajectory of the entire narrative.

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WilliamEst is here to dominate with You Maniac Series

When I watched Episode 1 of You Maniac from GMMTV, I felt immediately pulled into the chaotic yet magnetic energy between Dean and Moth. WilliamEst’s performance stood out to me because the chemistry was so natural. Dean’s playful warmth clashed beautifully with Moth’s cold arrogance, and I found myself grinning at every sharp exchange. The supporting characters added layers of authenticity, making the world feel lived in rather than just a backdrop. What impressed me most was how the premiere balanced humor, tension, and emotional beats without ever feeling rushed. By the end, I wasn’t just curious about what would happen next. I was invested in these characters and their messy, unpredictable journey.

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From tragedy to tragedy

This show represent full of tragedy I simply don't like story but outfit, acting and music is unbelievable amazing....
Just director play with audience heart who specially love romance, love story etc... I think director made great contribution in this drama for making full of heart breaking it remind me another show that I regret to watch where Fl survive but ml died....
This my first republican era based drama but my right now is not good...

I hope future viewer enjoy this if you simply prefer Fighting, tragedy, thriller etc. Actually I am also good any type of drama that's why I gave this drama 8 rating but not more than that...

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Please watch EP1

Watching Episode 1 of You Maniac felt like diving headfirst into a whirlwind of emotions. From the very first scene, I was hooked by William and Est’s (WilliamEst) dynamic — Dean’s playful charm had me smiling, while Moth’s icy exterior pulled me in with intrigue. Their chemistry wasn’t just good, it was magnetic; every glance and clash between them carried this delicious tension that made me lean closer to the screen. I’ll admit, a couple of moments felt a bit stiff in terms of acting, but honestly, that didn’t matter because the energy between them more than made up for it. The visuals were stylish, the pacing kept me engaged, and I walked away from the premiere feeling like I’d just witnessed the start of something messy, addictive, and impossible to look away from. For me, WilliamEst are the heartbeat of this series, and I can’t wait to see how their complicated relationship unfolds.

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It wasn't great, but I had fun

There was this moment early on when this show clicked for me. Ko Mi Nyeo had already broken into Hwang Tae Kyung's room and destroyed a bunch of stuff, and got yelled at about it. Feeling sorry for what she did but lacking object permanence, she proceeded to take a U-turn back to Tae Kyung's room to destroy it even more. Because of course she would. I knew I found a gem here.

Jang Geun Suk carried this show on his waifish blouse-covered back. His facial expressions and comedic timing were fantastic. I loved every spat he had with Villainina. He elevated every dramatic and emotional scene, too. I'll admit to tearing up along with him during some of the scenes. I want to watch more kdramas with him in it.

Everyone else wasn't so good. Park Shin Hye's bad acting really stood out. When the twin brother character returned, Park Shin Hye had to try playing a sly smirking bad boy. Boy did she... try. Those scenes were hilarious, and had me cackling every time the character was on-screen. Moments of pure joy here.

This is the usual flower boy fare. Department Store Jan Di must contend with musical twinks three: the mean one, the quiet one, and the other one. Rich and spoiled Villainina gets really invested in this boy band's inner workings and wants to claim ownership of Hwang Tae Kyung for... no reason, actually. They're not childhood friends or anything. She just kind of dropped in and started wreaking havoc. Lee Hong Gi elevates vestigial flower boy Kang On Yu by way of pure charm. The glossily lit flashback to him as "Jeremy" dressed in an all-white marching band uniform holding hands with Generic European Girl in Castle Place was hilarious.

Compared to other dramas of its time, this show has very good pacing. It only took eleven episodes for the writers to realize they ran out of plot and direct our plastic starlets to chew the scenery in a supermarket for a quarter of an episode. 11 episodes of well-paced kdrama isn't bad, though.

The boy band thing is just set dressing for the melodrama. All of the side characters related to the music industry - the fans, the bombastic main producer guy, the comedy relief manager guy, the fashion chick who only exists to feed plot-relevant info to Villainina, and the fans - don't have anything to do. They shoot a high school music video, record a single, and the old rich chick really wants Hwang Tae Kyung to record a song. But it never feels that important.

Over time, the show settles into the usual 00s' era kdrama schlock, and doesn't really leave. The female lead finishes her transition into Late Drama Depression and looks sad with her eyes bulging out 99% of the time. That One Dramatic Love Song plays on loop at this point, becoming a toxic earworm I have to mentally swat away for a while. The femboys admit their love to heterina and snap at each other's wigs. The boring B plot, which has been dragging its feet the entire show, takes center stage. In this case, more scenes with the boring rich lady and the least interesting birth mystery plotline I've seen from Asian media.

A kdrama doesn't settle into the schlock quickly. It takes time to settle, and for the viewer to realize they're waist-deep in the schlock with the main cast. Upon realizing this, a decision has to be made. Has the show been good enough to justify trudging through the shlock enough to see how it ends? For me it was. Barely. Though my finger got sore from tapping the screen to skip forward.

This is one of those shows I had fun watching, but it's just junk food. Thinking about it too critically ruined any chance to actually earnestly engage with the media. Instead I watched it like one would watch The Room. My entertainment came in part from knowledge about romantic kdrama tropes, and how this show met every single one with the subtlety of cannonfire. I don't think I can watch these shows earnestly anymore. I think this is it. I think I'm done now.

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