Reviews

two green flags, could have been a 9.5

Overall: the leads were mutually interested, sweet and flirty so this could have been a 9.5 with some changes. Series got better as it went on. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on iQIYI. Re-Aired on YouTube. Star Hunter Entertainment also produced: Big Dragon, What Zabb Man, Gen Y, My Mate Match and The Moment I Need You

Content Warnings: non con recording/sharing, cyberbullying, past death, homophobia, sexual harassment, transphobia, manhandling, unwanted public outing

What I Liked
- dynamic between the leads including: mutual respect, communication, ongoing physical affection (although Krom needed to work on his communication skills, even at the end)
- sweet/cute moments
- a few funny parts like the bubble tea catch
- supportive friends (although the 1 friend put his friend into unnecessary pain with his "plan" in episode 4)
- worked in anti-smoking messaging in a less preachy way, also added other messages however the 'respect a person's privacy' was undermined by Krom's friends taking video/sharing without permission and spying on them
- the interaction with his fans in episode 3 made me tear up, very sweet
- a trans character that felt like a real person instead of the stereotypical characters that we normally see
- excellent dreams
- good intimacy
- conversation about preferred position, willingness to adapt to a partner's needs
- avoided ep 11 curse

Room For Improvement
- too many comedy sound effects that actually detracted from the comedy (seemed less prevalent in the second half thankfully)
- the second couple needed more screen time and he needed to mature more
- several exposition dumps, the voice overs were used too much to tell the story
- too much time spent on the talk show stuff in episode 3, overall this could have had tighter pacing
- nonsense stuff: why didn't his (obviously not American) coworkers use AI translate apps/websites?, someone else filling a person's prescription, an allegedly good friend letting a very drunk person go off with that guy, not coming up with an obvious solution to the problem shown at the end of the series, etc
- how much time passed was unclear at times
- showing a character texting when using the bathroom

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Sure it's old-fashioned and full of cliches, but sometimes that's exactly what you need . . . .

When 'Demon' doctor Tendou Kairi is about to be too overbearing, and callous for words, he all of a sudden does or says something incredibly romantic, kind or protective. This addictive formula creates an enjoyable 10 episode series. There is a lot of screen time between the leads, creating emotional and physical chemistry. This romance was fully fleshed out compared to series double the length.

Yes, there is a large age gap (I'm guessing about 10 years), a power dynamics issue (he's one of the lead doctors in her department, and whilst she is technically managed by the head nurse, he has a lot of power over her workload), and an experience issue (he has romantic and sexual relationship experience, she does not). But, I actually never felt like a boundary was crossed in practice. He never removed her from work or put her on work based on their romantic relationship, jealousies etc., he didn't pressure her into sex.

In the end, you get to feel the vicarious thrill of your first romance being the best romance with a man you think is attractive, competent, wealthy and powerful, and willing to change and give it all up for you. It's exactly what an old-school shoujo should do, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

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This was personal!!!

Cause it hit me from a very personal point, I've never cried so loudly in anything I've watched or read. I don't think I'll ever experience something similar again. The series really touched me from a very personal point and deeply. It was a very good, sweet series that made my heart move until the 8th episode, and I was not expecting the slap in the face in the 8th episode. Myungha's suicide gave me goosebumps and made me gag from crying.

Since I am someone who is suicidal and struggles with depression, I saw myself in Myungha. I have seen other suicidal characters, but Myungha made me feel like I was looking in the mirror, I felt her loneliness to my bones. While I was stopping the episode and crying, I was always thankful that I had my sister with me. Despite my sister, I feel so alone and once again I realized that I don't get support from anyone emotionally, if it wasn't for my sister, I would be as lonely as Myungha...

It made me think about my own life, what I have. It made me feel grateful and made me say "I still have my chance". Her saying that this life is a chance really impressed me. Myungha'a getting a second chance after committing suicide made me say to myself "You won't have such a chance in real life". It made me think that I should appreciate this chance, that is, this life of mine, and I think this is very important.

The fact that "sunbae" said "I thought if you learned to love, you would love yourself too" hit me hard. I always say that I am a "hopeless romantic", I really want to experience love, but months ago, I realized that I don't know how to love anyone because I don't love myself. And the fact that Myungha said "I want to disappear", it really made me feel like Myungha was me in another universe, because I always say this sentence when I'm at the bottom. The fact that he wrote "like minded friends" to the question about happiness and said "I want someone" while looking at the stars really destroyed me.

Myungha is the character I can relate to the most, no matter how long I write, I cannot adequately describe how the series made me feel, it also taught me a very good lesson. People who experience or feel similar things will understand me.

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Fun , Fast, Slow and Intriguing

Dramas with a bit of twisted romance including supernatural tricks always pique your mind.
And it's the same with this drama
The plot is fascinating.

The acting is outstanding, brilliant!
The plot starts fun and fast but then gets so slow, the plot revolves round and round the same lame thing which kills the curiosity, and it feels like a drag.
And by the time it comes to an end, you lose your patience with all the melodrama and the biggest plot twist one could expect.

This is where I feel this drama should've been 16-18 episodes only and then it would've been perfect.
This is one of those rare plots where you can experiment with pretty much anything.
I can insert tragedy , mystery , action , Noir , supernatural , historical and this script would work flawlessly.

Too bad this didn't live up to it's full potential , but then again this drama do has a special place for being spectacular.
If I had to redo the script , I would remove the Idol part and make it as an actor instead .
It will work better.

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Blending Romance, Intrigue, and Emotion in 2024's Standout BL Series

"Love for Love's Sake" doesn't just raise the bar for BL shows; it vaults over it, offering a captivating blend of compelling story, engaging characters, and powerful emotions. This 2024 series masterfully combines the three core elements of a successful show, resulting in a unique and unforgettable experience.

The story hooks us instantly with its premise: Tae Myung Ha, a serious and responsible man, suddenly finds himself thrust into a game world where his mission is to ensure the happiness of Cha Yeo Woon, a talented athlete burdened by misfortune. Lee Tae Vin and Cha Joo Wan deliver impactful performances, portraying Tae Myung Ha's determined care and Cha Yeo Woon's initial skepticism that gradually melts into love.

However, "Love for Love's Sake" goes beyond a simple romance. The game mechanics, introduced through on-screen notifications and quests, add a layer of intrigue and danger. Glitches and forced corrections introduce uncertainty, keeping us guessing about the game's boundaries and Tae Myung Ha's fate. Each completed quest brings him closer to his goal, but also closer to a ticking clock with potentially disastrous consequences.

Oh Min Su shines as Chun Sang Won, the initially antagonistic character who undergoes a compelling transformation due to Tae Myung Ha's influence. His rivalry with Cha Yeo Woon for Tae Myung Ha's affection adds complexity to the dynamics, highlighting the emotional stakes involved.

The series transitions seamlessly from comedic moments to romantic scenes, exploring the evolving dynamics between the main characters as they navigate love, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of the game. As the stakes heighten and the game's influence grows darker, "Love for Love's Sake" delves into themes of sacrifice and resilience, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats until the final episode.

"Love for Love's Sake" is a must-watch for BL fans and anyone seeking a show that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Its intriguing concept, layered characters, and impactful emotional journey solidify its place as a standout series in 2024.

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turning unhappiness into happiness

Overall: the focus was on two characters who weren't happy with their current situation in life and how they figured out how to change things. I haven't read the source material and am basing my review on the live action series only. 6 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.

Content Warnings: non con touching/hand job maybe turned consensual?, workplace harassment/bullying

What I Liked
- a forthright character
- sweet moments
- supportive colleagues
- realistic how it is difficult to get away from a toxic work environment, even when a person knows it's unhealthy
- production value

Room For Improvement
- the dub/non con was not needed and could have been handled differently
- had the aggressive pursuer/reluctant pursuee (and by reluctant I mean unwilling, he verbally stated his boundaries only to have them steamrolled over)
- too much time spent in the office setting/that jerk boss
- the intro vibe was super fluffy but that was not the overall tone of the series, we also never see any of those fluffy scenes which was a bit disappointing

Age Info (I didn't put an age gap content warning because I don't think it's needed, but here's the age info thanks to a commentator :)
- in the past, their ages were around 11 and 17
- in the present, their ages are 21 and 27

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BEST KBL

Great and unique story though I found the story quite confusing at the very end. But the message of the series is really timely esp to those who are struggling. Taevin's acting is topnotch. Him and Joowan has a great chemistry, love and hope to see them both again. Supporting characters are very nice too. This series deserves the attention and fame it is recently getting. It would be better if this has been like 16 episodes and 1hr per ep. You shouldn't skip this masterpiece, you will not regret it. I just really hope taevin and joowan works with a longer BL series again. Maybe a lighter or romcom story. Please don't do a second season, it is fine as it is right now. :)

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I finally decided to watch this drama. Villains are overtly vicious. Demon who we believe the worst evil ( No pun intended) can’t do much and seems too humane.
Then in the last couple of episodes, the priest revieled what he heard in a confession . This is an act which can get him excommunicated from the Catholic Churches elsewhere for good. So I am guessing it is another church that only Koreans go to worship. Any Christian priest would never reveal confessional details to another individual. Except maybe under duress to law officials under extremely exceptional circumstance. So I am thinking did the story teller did enough research on this story details . Is that why it’s a mismatch of most popular K drama’s shown before. It’s watchable. Nothing special. I always watch Kim You Jung’s dramas . She has the best chemistry with any ML that’s for sure.

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Creative, fun, but incosistent

This drama is a Korean BL, and by that, we all know what it means - it's simple, the acting is mostly okay, but it has technical problems and script inconsistencies. It's no surprise that this drama became popular; it was fun to watch. The plot is really creative, and you will have a good time watching it if you can ignore some plot holes (that honestly are so small they become unimportant) and the awful pace and cuts.

The major problem with the script is how inconsistent the characters are. Myungha is the only character that, I believe, the writers put some effort into. Sangwon is a plot device, and so is Yeowoon. They both change personalities based on Myungha's conflicts. Sangwon feels like an NPC, not the main love interest. And then there are the siblings. What's the point of them, exactly? What did they even add to the story? For the girl, is she just the quota female character? (something that always annoys me in BL because most of the time they create a female character only for the sake of a female character, and they NEVER give them any development, or they are just annoyingly obsessed with the main character).
The characters were just lazily created. At least Sangwon should have more of a personality, but following the BL recipe, he went from "I don't like you, and I don't like people" to "obsessed with you, I will do anything you want" really quickly. His character is incredibly boring.

After saying all that, people will probably be angry already (because the drama is popular and I bet people will get angry), but wondering what's with the high score I gave this show. First: it was good, like I said, for a Korean BL. We don't have a lot of interesting things in the KBL industry. Second: fantasy is always fun to me, and the high school setting is good (so we can justify some actions as "they can be annoying because they are still teenagers").

The story also had some lessons about loving yourself that, again, is only about Myungha. He was the only character with real development. It gave some RuPaul's "if you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else." It also mentioned about finding happiness in a simple things (but the whole plot was nothing but simple, come on. He was made to play a game, and the other guy falling in love with him was literally his mission).

I believe if the characters were better written, this show could become Korea's best. At this point, after so many examples of it, the KBL industry should realize that people don't want the cold CEO character type and their dumb naive bottom; people want relatable characters like Myungha.

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Forced chemistry but good story

Gyeonseong creature takes us back to one of the hardest and struggling phase of Korean history and mixed it with an appealing sci-fi plot and created a perfect recipe for mass entertainment. ( Read summary for plot you will get the basic idea) From cinematography to cast everything is well thought and I am sure it was something that people who are sucker for some more 'stranger things' and 'sweet home' would like to watch.
First episode started with a bang especially the opening that already set the tone for the drama and you will find yourself at the edge of your seat from the suspense and the horrifying things that the army was doing to create their biological weapons and the tension between the two countries and then we are introduced to our main leads. FL: Cold, bold and have a mysterious aura. ML- Typical perfect, rich, know it all character but obviously with a difficult past. I love both of them however the more I loved their scenes separately I did not find myself feeling any chemistry between them whenever they were together. Even in the first meeting, that chemistry building looked very forced ( some people might not agree with me). That slow motion scene just took me out of a perfect action moment that was going so well. ( very typical Kdrama scene). I do not know why but ML is one of my favourite actors but here I just couldn't feel anything for his character same goes for FL. Like I really couldn't connect with his or her character throughout. I had nothing to watch so I continued watching it. I don't think this show needed romance arc but it garners more audience with that subject matter so why not... anyways that is just my opinion. The creature created good suspense in the beginning but the moment they showed it...it wasn't really that much frightening tbh. The mother and daughter arc was really good though and I really enjoyed the performance of all the side characters . And they could have explored their characters a lot more but they remained just side characters. There will be a second season and it remains to be seen how it will turn out. Overall it was a good drama no doubt but predictable after some time. Not much for a re-watch but yes definitely a one time watch for sure.

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Sweet and Funny

First: There's a lot of pearl-clutching in the discussion section about the age gap, and particularly that Toki is a minor when the story starts. If you're uninterested in this topic, skip down to ANYWAY.

I really don't see how this is objectionable. So Toki has a crush on a handsome and charming teacher - haven't we all been there? My junior high PE teacher was so hot I spent all day in the restroom "imagining" things he could do to me, and I was 13 and he was 20-something.

The point is that Sahara makes it plain that nothing is going to happen, although he does say he'll wait for Toki to grow up, and there is a time skip at the end to when he's 18. It's hard to tell how old Sahara is because the same actor, who is 26, plays him in flashbacks. I would guess he's 6-7 years older. Big deal. My first positive experience was with a 26-year old when I was 18 - it was wonderful to have someone experienced and kind to ease me in, as opposed to boys my age, who just wanted what 18-year old boys are wont to want.

17-year olds do - almost invariably and universally - develop crushes on people of varying ages, and let's be honest, there is nothing you can do about it if you're an adult who has a crush on a minor. If he's 10, there might be something really wrong with you, but if he's 17 with an adult body, it can happen. You just don't act on it. There is a huge difference between having feelings for someone and acting on it. One you can't help, the other you can.

There is an accidental kiss, but it's not sexualized in the least - in fact they're both mildly injured by it and Toki reflects sardonically that his first kiss tasted like blood.

ANYWAY.

Toki is a fascinating character, immature in behavior, but unusually mature in moral fibre and inner strength - it's no wonder what Sahara sees in him, not to mention his looks. The actor does a wonderful job, making Toki both vulnerable and strong, affecting and really funny. Sahara is a less interesting character, but he's not without complexity either.

There is a lot of comedy in the series - most of it is pretty funny, and some of it is too obviously adapted from manga - where running screaming offpage works better than it does in live action.

This is a sweet story with a lot of charm and one of the best BL characters I've seen in a while with Toki - I'd fall in love with him too.

On the negative side, way, way too much time is chewed up by Sahara's former love interest, who brings the narrative to a screeching halt for a character that isn't introducted until two thirds through the series and who it's nearly impossible to care about. I found myself internally screaming "I DON'T CARE GO AWAY" You will want, no, NEED, to take clippers to his ridiculous bangs. I think his stylist must be the ghost from The Ring. There's a flashback to a confession in the rain that we're shown so many times that I nearly bought a plane ticket to Tokyo to go slap someone. Nekoto is dull, depressive, irrelevant, and takes forever to say anything - he should have been limited to one scene, not stretched out over 2 episodes.

Anyway, the payoff at the end is worth it, but I do wish that time had been spent on Toki & Sahara or on the secondary couple, who I hope get their own series.

I highly recommend this - unless you're one of the abovementioned pearl-clutchers, in which case you should probably just go to church instead.

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My Demon ❤️

My Demon was one of the best dramas in 2023 it had everything in it I enjoy about k dramas. Song Kang and Kin Yu Jung was perfect together they had amazing chemistry together which made the drama even better. All the actors did a wonderful job. This drama had everything i enjoy about kdramas it had romance and beautiful scenery plus a happy ending together. This kind of roll really suits Song Kang he is a amazing actor I realky liked him in Neverless and know like him even more. Kim You Jung she has always been my favorite female actress since I started watching kdramas. I hope they will do a historical romantic drama together as the ML and FL wuth a happy ending together. I do not have and negative thjng to say avout this drama abd I will mist definitely rewatch it.

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Honest Review

This movie made 3.8 billion RMB box office so I was curious and after watching it, I totally get why. It is off the bat captivating and a very realistic subject we can all relate to. Who doesn't want to make some fast cash? Cyber fraud is very real nowadays playing into the minds of those struggling wishing to make a quick fortune. It is base on a true story which is totally my thing but I would not trust all the details with any China movie/drama. However it is directed beautifully, well cast, fast pace, engaging, relatable and a great subject to warn society about a very real problem. I would say every actor did their job but female lead and the villains shined the most and their characters are more challenging.

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A good K-BL? In this economy?

“But the game isn’t about saving your favorite character. It seems the game is about saving yourself.” - tumblr user dropthedemiurge (thank you for the pain)
As soon as the first episode starts, you can already tell the efforts that went into it. My problem with K-BLs is that most of the time, everything is lacking : acting, story, cinematography, etc etc. But here, you start the first episode and you are met with quality. Good BGM, good camera work/ quality, interesting story and absolutely heart-stealing characters.
It has one of the quality barely other K-BL has : It uses its time wisely. The ending/ last episode does feel a little rushed, but the overall serie? It’s well paced, in my opinion. The story flows, they don’t add unnecessary plot they can’t give closure to.
Tae Myungha is one of my absolute favorite BL character, and probably one of my favorite character in general in a while. He transmigrates in a ‘video game’, and his mission / main quest if you will is to make Cha Yeowoon happy. The thing is, Myungha is such a genuinely nice person. Not only that, but he is also super bad ass. So we have a cutie, bad ass and a sweet heart on top of of that. He doesn’t judge anyone, he is caring and he is supportive.
It is not perfect, some things did confuse me a little. That being said, it is such a worth watch, in my opinion. I saw the ‘twist’ at the end coming, but it didn’t hurt any less. The drama started cute and sweet, then proceeded to destroy me and rebuild me. I already feel the need to rewatch it,

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