Reviews

I wasn't expecting much, but it was still very interesting. Despite leaving many loose ends, the script itself is fairly competent in developing the new incarnation of Jinga. That ending probably won't ever be followed up, and we won't get many future explanations either... but it was still enjoyable to watch this spin-off. Inoue Masahiro, as always, knows how to deliver solid performances as Jinga (I'm even starting to like/get used to his overacting). The effects are okay, nothing too spectacular in terms of tokusatsu. I would recommend it only to fans of the character Jinga or Garo enthusiasts.

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Good but not great. Would recommend but not a favorite.

The general overall story line was great. The characters and how they develop and grow fond of each other, was depicted well. From the get go, the tone of the series is generally realistic leaning towards the campy side (in a good way). Like I know going in, this was going to be somewhat of a fluffy series. A feel good one. One that makes you smile when one of the ML gets excited or nervous because of the other ML. I say campy because the whole driving force of the plot is structured behind the "video game" theme. Motives and directions were all guided by the constant ping of the game UI window. So imagine playing a dating sim - you get excited because your characters are falling for each other - thus, ultimately, you already kind of know what happens. Most people would play a sim game because they can control the outcome. Thus, similar in concept - the show is enjoyable because of this similar thought frame.

Then the last two episodes decided it wanted to try and be some boujee/intellectual show and the whole video game premise completely derailed the story, forcefully inserting itself as a deus ex machina - resetting - and then some random ass time loop by way of "The Lake House" but not really purposeful other than to add some tension and drama .... only to resolve itself literally 3 minutes later (like WHY even have that mess in it at all? Just make them run to each other...). The final two episodes really screamed it was trying too hard to be intellectual... the whole fate/destiny and even playing on portions on what I mentioned in the first paragraph (expectations/outcomes). Down to even the looming but unanswered question about happiness that the UI game prompt at the end sealed the deal on the show's misfired attempt to be this thought provoking show. It's not. Then the whole love theyself theme that popped up in the last three episodes just didn't fit in well with the overall structure because there was no foreshadowing of this theme and plot point. But since the characters are driven by plot, narrative, and emotion from the all knowing video game prompts - I guess these sudden introductions of tension points were acceptable. And the irony is that, that very thing is the show's own undoing. Sure - the overall concept of the show (video game) can be done. But not with how the show was set up and not within the time limitation and format (8 episodes and each episode being 40 minutes).

Overall, I enjoyed the romance. I enjoyed the show up to episode 6 and then later episodes - while not quite a train wreck - did rocked on the tracks wildly, making the show lose its composure. Watch it for the cute moments. However, if you are particular about plot, structure of a story, and a decent foundation in fantasy elements in a story - this show probably will turn you off. But just do what I did - ignore that part of the story and pretend it's just a contemporary show with no fantasy element. I know that defeats majority of the show's premise but that made it enjoyable for me. If I had that take the fantasy aspect into consideration this show would be like a 4/5 out of 10 for me.

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In recent decades, the proliferation of social networks has allowed the emergence of problems such as post-truth or distortion of reality in the creation of content. The lack of legitimacy of traditional media has given way to a collective thought that prefers to believe in content shared on networks by a family member or friend, rather than that which has been verified and contrasted.
This situation gives rise to a public opinion formed based on untrue information, giving rise to hyperreality. This favors fake news, as there is no proper selection, verification and construction of information.
Since becoming a public figure, FueangNakhon (Job Krisz Ahandrik), the protagonist of the Thai BL series 'City of Stars', has mastered the pressure from journalists and the persecution of his fans. Being a well-known face has not been easy for him. If you ever thought that being recognized on the streets would be a dream, reality proved you wrong. The pressure of always having the press watching his every move is exhausting. The emergence of his followers on social networks doesn't help either. After the latest “scandal” in which you have been involved, how to proceed on your social media profiles? Is it appropriate to take a season off to “detox”? Would it be preferable to abandon social networks permanently?
His “mistake” was to register and publish on “Zendaya” a first message that said: "let's transmit positive energy to each other." Due to the condition that each publication contains only positive content, the platform, whose offices are located in Silicon Valley, California, is not popular among Thai users. However, the message from the self-proclaimed “Thailand's most popular villain” will provoke an avalanche of attacks from Internet users in the Asian country. In response, Zendaya's managers intend to "monitor" FueangNakhon.
Who better to fulfill this task than Krommatha (Porsche Sitha Kanchana-alongkorn), Zendaya's only Thai programmer. Shouldn't he take his vacation in Thailand? Wouldn't he then be the right one to keep a close eye on “provocateurs” like FueangNakhon? How to protect the digital application from villains like this, if not by acting energetically so that situations like this are not repeated?
Who would have thought that Krommatha wouldn't have to work hard to track down the cause of the chaos, as he would take a seat at the same table occupied by Zendaya's programmer upon her arrival at the Bangkok airport? Who would think that the villain is called son by Krommatha's mother? Does Krommatha wish to pursue the “infamous” one or rest with his parents? What will happen between the two boys when they start dating?

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A very confusing yet entertaining show

All the cast worked really well on this drama, every actor matches well with their character, what makes it really fun to watch, but, it can be very frustrating to watch this when you think about the storyline. There are events that weren't well developed on the show, like how Seonjae dealed with his previous issues showed in some flashbacks or the reason for Soobin to do what he did in the last episode. Also, the last scene of the show is completely insane if you think about the events in the previous episodes, there surely were many other option they could've chosen.
There are chances of me rewatching the drama, but mostly for the acting, because I didn't like how the story went.

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Two great ships in one fantastic show

Look, I’m usually not someone who likes the one-night stand trope because I prefer the gradual development of feelings and two people getting to know each other. But omg. This was so good and we still managed to get that.

I really loved Jim and Wen and seeing how they started learning about each other’s lives and helping each other grow and make hard decisions, and that’s not even mentioning that the chemistry was off the charts both in terms of physical and emotional intimacy. They completely sold their characters, and it couldn’t have been done without the great second leads that were Alan and Gaipa.

Heart and Liming were also a fantastic second couple. As a foil to Jim/Wen, both of who were somewhat jaded about life and romance, we saw a much more innocent first love situation as two people started spending time together. The commentary on deafness and communication was really beautiful as well. They stole every scene they were in and between these two ships I found the show not having one boring moment.

It was actually so refreshing that there were no villains and no terrible misunderstandings between any of the couples. I was so impressed with how much JimWen and HeartLiming both communicated, and having the story focus on the theme of parenthood was also really powerful, between seeing Jim/Liming’s relationships, to seeing Liming’s mother return, and more.

I really do wish this was longer because the plot developments felt kind of thin sometimes when it came to Gaipa’s mother — who I didn’t really see enough of go get emotionally attached to — and also when it came to the chicken diner and the corporation that wanted to buy the land. Despite what we learned out about how the diner started, the place itself never really had “personality” after the first episode, if that makes sense, and I didn’t feel the high stakes of losing it.

Nevertheless, this is a comfort drama for sure and it just might’ve changed my mind about the “one-night stand” trope.

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Weak Movie, Too Much Action

Hmm, how can I say this? It was decent at most.

Yet another film with a post-apocalyptic premise, where the main threat is human instead of a natural disaster or wild animals. Wow, I did not expect that. Can we get something unique?

The introduction of the film is too fast; they might as well not show the earthquake scene. It was too brief, and the introduction of the seductive character isn't good enough. Secondly, how? How did the organization find those teens? How did the female sergeant find Nam San? Why did she need him? She specifically asked him and emphasized his name like she knew him but didn't bother to explain.

The plot is weak, with nothing interesting. The female sargeant (Ahn Ji Hye) and Suna (Roh Jeong Eui) acting is soooo bad. Especially Ahn Ji Hye, her acting is soulless. The action is brutal but at the second half of the movie, it became dragging, with to much action.

As much as I love Ma Dong Suk, I did not enjoy this movie. Not recommended at all.

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From the photo cover alone, it's clear that this film is promoted as an exploration of polyamory between two guys and a girl. And while that dynamic does eventually come to fruition, I feel like the plot is simultaneously more and less than that.

There's not much dialogue here. This film does most of its storytelling with showing, and not telling, which sounds better in theory than execution. Especially in the third act, where nothing that any of the characters do seems to make much sense.

At a few minutes short of being a respectable hour and a half long, this movie doesn't overstay its welcome. But it spends just about the entire first hour establishing the unconventional lives and relationship of two free-spirited roommates and occasional lovers residing in beachside China. So, by the time the girl enters the picture, we're already well into 2/3 of the movie.

That's where this otherwise slowly paced spectacle starts to engage itself a little more. Most of the film's dialogue takes place here but by that time, it's too little, too late. Just about all three character's actions and motivations feel shockingly sudden, given that the earlier portion of the film didn't explore them much outside of lingering and pensive vanity shots. The last 10 to 15 minutes were especially jarring with an ending that feels thrown together for shock value.

In closing, I feel it's necessary to mention that if you were watching in hopes of balanced bisexual representation, you won't get that here. Although the movie, to a detriment, introduces the female lead much later than it should have, the film aesthetically (and arguably, narratively) leans towards the hetero intimacy of it all. However, it's made in China so the queer destitution tracks. I'm sure that fault had more to do with censoring itself for cultural sensibilities and less to do with careless writing.

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A low budget drama with a soul (and death and brotherhood and symbolic meaning)

This series was surprisingly good.

It can be said the production had a very limited budget. This is particularly evident in the sets, which often seem empty, or in the lack of actors to play minor roles. Yet they manage to tell a meaningful story.

The drama was dark, sad and more serious than I expected. Although I'm not easily moved, I admit that I almost cried at the end of some episodes (and it's not easy to do that in 20 minutes). There are a lot of deaths and each one is heavy for the characters and the audience to bear.

But the most interesting thing is not the story itself, but the message it conveys. Many people are bothered by some strange aspects of the story, but you have to accept that this story is written to tell you something else. You can see from the quotes in each episode that the writer and producer had something to say, and even the charaters' names aren't random. (If you don't want to be spoiled, skip the next paragraph.)

The series talks about two types of death: The death of society and the death of the individual. Which is the worst? The story pits Kuma-chan and Tsubasa against each other. Kuma-chan wants to “sacrifice himself” to “save his country”, like kamikazes (“fallen angels” are these sacrificed souls). Tsubasa chooses to live to find happiness with his family in a crumbling society that he cannot change on his own. There are many parallels with World War II, but also an overall reflection on Japanese society itself, and how Japan continues to sacrifice its own people for its interests (the father and son's story says a lot about how society pressure people to be performant.)

Indeed, there is too much to say in too few episodes, so it's a bit rushed. For example, the burden Tsubasa bears due to his intelligence is not mentioned enough. The identity disorder experienced by Umi would also need to be further developed. There are a few plot holes, but they did the best they could with what they had and this series was lovingly made. It could have been ridiculous, but even the candy manages to pose a real threat and cause tragic events. The music is really moving and always used at the right time. It really helps to feel invested.

Let's also say that the actors did a remarkable job. Although I love Japanese films and dramas, I have to admit that many actors overdo their roles. In Fallen Angel, each character is very well represented. Their feelings and reactions seem coherent, logical, never too much or too little. This helps us easily believe the unbelievable.

Most importantly, this is the cutest, most sincere brotherly love I've seen in a long time. The way Tsubasa strokes Umi's hair with tenderness or carries him on his back, the little secret he whispers in her ear... you can also tell that Tsubasa and Riku know each other very well by very few words and gestures . This helps the viewer feel invested and will make the final message more powerful.

It's not a perfect serie, but it's a very enjoyable and unique serie with cute bromance and tragic situations. The actors are extraordinary, the story is meaningful and it help to forget the cheap budget. Definitely worth watching.

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A little too light, but not bad

The good:
- the main leads healthy relationship is nice to watch, they are actually smart resourceful characters and had an ok chemistry
- it's an easy watch, light-hearted and not too long

The not so good:
- The romance is very underdeveloped for all couples. Everything stays very surface level. The one actual kiss they try to put in there for the main couple did not convince me at all. The second main couple does not even kiss.
- The dialogues were at times very stiff and unnatural, making the characters seem rather simple minded.
- The plot was not interesting enough to keep me engaged and I skipped so so many scenes.

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While student-teacher relationships are really my least problem, I found it very weird that Toki didn't recognize Sahara from the past.. ? The story failed to feel smooth for me. It was okay to watch one episode each week, but when I imagine to binge this show..I don't know. I would probably have been pretty bored soon. Everything seemed so choppy. As if they just filmed several scenes and tucked them together. ? Like yeah, obviously they did this, but for the viewers it shouldn't felt like it. Although I liked the characters and the acting (I miss Rise already ?) But I have to agree when people say they didn't feel much chemistry. The show isn't really romantic. They have not much tension and the feelings for each other don't seem to be a problem at all. Guess this is more a script problem than an acting problem. I would say the actors did the best with what they've got.

Toki-Kun's personality was quite exciting. He is an interesting character who clearly shows that he is still a teenager, but at the same time also shows nuances of a very mature character. I really liked the communication between the two. Another thing I liked: show was low angst. That's always a plus point if such corrosive tropes are avoided, a la miscommunication for example. I'm still a bit unsure how to rate the show, just because it seemed so choppy. I just miss the feeling of “This is a well-rounded, complete, well-thought-out story,” you know? somehow the show was very superficial. as if it had touched on a lot of little things but not really concluded anything. I would also have liked to see more of the stepbrothers, in order to do without the endless flashbacks. ? There were really a LOT of flashbacks in the last episodes and this was tiring. I also feel like support characters in JBLs are truly not more than support characters. ? Would've love to see more of them!

All in all, it was okay. Nothing that I care much for, to be honest. The OST is catchy, so I will enjoy listen to it, but it's a story you'll forget fast.

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Just watch it.

Most of the people who watched this have a common opinion: the last episodes were boring and tiring. I disagree. To me, after episode 10, the drama It appealed to making the main characters suffer a lot, and that's really tiring, but it wasn't bad for me! To be honest, I love suffering, I love crying and getting angry watching something (it's my favorite hobby), so it was a good experience. The personal relationships between the characters were beautiful to see, and I felt welcomed, as if I were part of the family. So, just watch it. Don't listen to other people opinion because here is a fact: at the end of the day, the only one who can say if it's really bad or not, is you. (it's all a matter of opinion)

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