Reviews

boring.

I ditched the drama two episodes from the very end. I know it is a very short drama but it was sooooo fricking boring. nothing new on the horizon.

the story ( if we can call it that way) is about a shy guy who was excluded from his peers opening up after meeting the "nice" girl from his class.
her "trouble" is that due to her parents jobs (I guess, it's not that clear) she has no free time to spend as a normal teenager and stays home all the time .
they start meeting at her house and spending all evenings together. they obviously fall in love and .. that's basically it.
the side characters are really irrelevant. there is not much happening.
it is cheesy in a very boring way.
I saw better high school dramas and this really add nothing up.

skip it, you wont miss anything.
the only cute thing is the main character that looks like a lost puppy.

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Enjoyable for the most part

I actually enjoyed this show for the most part, but it has a lot to be desired. A lot of it was unnecessary... Let me get the bad stuff out of the way first...

The story had so much potential, but I think the execution was a bit mediocre. They had me in the beginning but it quickly turned to confusion; unless I don't understand the law, you usually can't get married a second time unless the first is nullified. I am always sickened by people treating their children like cattle to be married off to some family for power plays, that is sick. Get a hobby. The acting was a little forced at times but it wasn't horrifying, just mostly over the top at some cringy moments. Also, no way the legal team wouldn't recognise the name that frequenting the documents in their office as the wife.

Honestly the best character in this show is Woo Gwang, I honestly wish I had a ride or die friend like him. Always looking out for everyone's best interests, despite always being treated like he isn't good enough. So many people did him dirty, but he still smiles and supports everyone. Most of them didn't deserve him. I hope he finds happiness.
Ji Ho was kinda hilarious to watch, I don't think he ever fully became human and that was a nice touch to his development. It would have been nice to know why he has no social skills, the small flash backs didn't really do anything to support his character but at least we know he was like this from young.

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Full of lessons

This drama will make you feel seen.

As we enter our 20s and finish our degrees, there's always this unshakable feeling of anxiety about the type of life we'll be able to live. At some point, we're optimistic and full of big dreams, and we expect the world to see the light that shines through us, to see that we're trying, to understand us, and to help us.

So, not only is the journey toward stability complicated since the job market is so hard on recent graduates, but we also feel anxious when we finally get that short-term job position. We can't figure out if we will even get a fixed position or if we are prepared for the responsibilities. And things get worse when it's hard to work with the people who are supposed to be on your team. But as juniors, we must prevail, lower our heads, and keep showing that we're trying.

This drama is for us, 20-something young people who are just living life for the 1st time. And the beauty of this drama is in how by the end we get to see that there's always an alternative, a better place for us, a new opportunity, etc. So whoever is reading this, keep walking, keep moving forward, don't give up on your dreams, please, because if things are not working now, maybe you just need to take a break, or change your environment or start doing your own thing. Believe in yourself and in your talents. You got this.

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Confusing mess

Great production values but.....

Spoiled by characters doing stupid things, getting scared of nothing, not communicating properly and running in circles for most of the movie. This applies not only to "good guys" but also to "bad guys", the entire plot makes little sense when considered from bad guys perspective as well. Clearly the focus here was to throw plot twists at the audience without much logic binding them together.

The movie is also sacrilegious. It felt like the author tried to mindlessly throw random references to buddhism, christianity and other religions without much knowledge or depth in them. Example: in the final scene where the antagonist revealed himself looking like oni from japanese mythology, with stigmata on his hands (suggesting he's a christian saint) and calling himself a devil while making photos with old style camera I couldn't help but laugh.

There were many other moments in the series that were supposed to be scary but ended up laughable (like the "zombie" fight scene, seriously, wtf was that? Bunch of armed guys can't deal with a limping dude trying to bite them?).

Ultimately this title is more confusing then scary. What made me keep watching is desire to solve the underlying mystery behind it all, only to have a messed up ending that provided more questions then answers. I've read some theories online and all of them feel stretched and not at all convincing, also the director apparently admitted in some interview he made the movie confusing on purpose.

"The Wailing" fails as both horror and mystery, but thanks to good cinematography and direction it succeeds at giving some one time thrills.

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One of the best dramas all-time, a k-drama veteran verified thriller masterpiece!

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OVERALL

I really enjoyed this drama, i think that any other thriller fan will enjoy it the same. If you're someone that has begun watching the drama but the earlier episodes don't suit your taste, just hold on as it changes as time passes. It gradually picks up pace as the drama goes on. This is definitely a must watch and probably one of the best k-dramas.



STORY

As a person who immerses themselves in various cinematic and dramatic media, I would say that I am somewhat hard to please. I tend to find myself being very critical towards any type of content I engage with. Having said that, I loved this drama. I have watched many thriller k-dramas and "Blood Free" (BF) takes a place amongst the top ranks. I've seen many people mention that the drama was quite slow especially in the early episodes. However, I felt that I was enticed from the first episode itself. The first episode was almost too uncomfortable to watch and it was gruesome but it was that explicitness that conveyed the emotions in their message of advocacy. I do have a very small attention span and I get bored quite easily, even-still I was fully engrossed in the drama. In my opinion the drama was well paced. The more I watched, the more I wanted to watch. From scene to scene, the story kept me on edge, waiting to see what would happen next.

The concept such as of BF's feels very new and novel. There have been many before BF that have had their attempts at creating an advanced world in the near future and most have failed in their execution. BF did very well in executing a large combination of elements: medical, sci-fi, thriller, power-play, and drama.

With all the appreciation that I have for BF, I don't think that it was completely perfect. The earlier episodes took a path of storytelling where advocacy for environmental protection was tightly intertwined in the dramatic elements. However, mid-series that advocation aspect disappeared and it began more of a typical (still well written) power struggle. I would have appreciated the drama keeping its consistency and bringing in a stronger element of advocacy into their storytelling. That would have kept this series unique throughout. There were other loopholes that I had noticed while watching the drama but they aren't gaps that most would notice on their first watch.

The characters were all very interesting but I wished that there was character building that was done, somehow their backgrounds and foundations felt incomplete. This could be the writers intentionally keeping information in order to reveal them in a later season. However, the characters felt slightly surface level. I loved the main character (the female lead - FL). I thought that her personality and mannerisms were quite unique and interesting. I hadn't come across many FLs like that, she was different in a good way.

The drama left so many unanswered questions that it practically requires a second season. I am very excited for this new season that hasn't even been announced yet!



ACTING & CAST

The casting choices were on point. It was the cast that elevated this series from average to exemplary. The phenomenal acting by the cast brought the story together. From mannerisms to speech, it felt that the cast had truly embodied their characters. Han Hyo-Joo and Ju Ji-Hoon rightfully stole the show as the main characters. Ju Ji-Hoon exuded a mature aura to him. He was the textbook definition of a hot bodyguard. Han Hyo-Joo played a more complex role, Hyo-Joo had lived her character in even the smallest mannerisms.

To me, Han Hyo-Joo stole the show with her acting skills. She truly proved herself as a versatile actress. Ju Ji-Hoon is talented in picking characters and dramas that suit his style of acting, he delivers every role with perfection. Over time, I have felt that the characters that her employs are all quite similar at their base. That does not change the fact that he plays his roles phenomenally or that he is most definitely one of the top actors out there.

When it comes to Han Hyo-Joo I truly feel that she is underrated. She is very popular and well known but she still deserves even more recognition. She has played roles which are vastly different to each other. Spunky and sassy characters, cute and lovable characters, badass and strong characters, Strict and model characters, adventurous characters, played mothers and daughters, physically fit to intelligent geniuses... she has acted it all. She deserves more global recognition for her talents.



CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITING

Honestly, i didn't love the editing and cinematography. There was this specific cut where it's a tour through the hallways of the BF company building in a spiral motion and it felt so out of place to me, it did not match the serious and warmer undertones of the drama. The colour grading was good, but i felt the cinematography could have definitely been better. If it was better, the drama would have been even more exceptional. Even though I say this, the cinematography wasn't horrible or even bad, it was good - better than most.



Thank you for reading my review!! <333

o(>.<)o

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One of the Best KBL

Okay, so I watched this before and the first time I did, I think it was so-so.

Then I got to the behind the scenes and some interviews for the MLs then OMG. It became my favorite. I am so happy to know that the actors really had a great chemistry even off screen.


Aaaand that kiss!! It was epic that they actually won the Best Couple Award. Like they are the only BL couple to achieve this. What more can you ask for? This is something light. You might think some scenes will be cringe but nu-uh! It works. Two good looking MLs with cute story. NGL, the webtoon material is wwwaaaayyy steamier but they kept the spirit of the story.


The OST is also a banger. Give this a try. It’s one of the best.

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amazing

this was an amazing special episode for the “You are Mine” series.

it was so dang cute and I’m pretty sure I now have a toothache with how sweet this was. I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.

I’d been looking forward to the special for months once I found out they were doing them for the series and I was not disappointed.

I adore we got to see their relationship progress, and it aligned so well with the story.

my heart is so full. if you loved the series you will for sure also love this added episode. I just want more of their story, this was so unbelievably loving an so well done. the perfect end to their story ❤️❤️❤️

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A poetry in motion.........

I haven't read the book, yet this drama clearly indicates that if you pick a good book and follow it to it's minute details, you end up with a classic drama. As compared to the screenplays that are hashing out clichéd crap just to meet deadlines and make a quick buck,

This drama takes the c industry to the next level. It's absolute poetry, smooth, delicate, yet hard core feminist.
Sometimes feminist dramas trample on males, but here it is a sheer sense of admiration and respect for the ML.

And add to that the sizzling chemistry, heart fluttering relationship, beautiful landscapes, wonderful supporting cast.......
This drama is a gem.......

I had stopped watching c dramas because it was embarrassing to watch female leads speak like a baby, act like a teenager and wear crotch revealing outfits.

But wow.....the last 4-5 c dramas have beaten the so-called popular k dramas of 2023-24.

Way to go.......congratulations to the full team!!

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Will be waiting for the 2nd seasonn

With some high and low moments, getting better by each the episode. For me this season ended perfectly, with the desirable suspense and all. The main actors are amazing veterans, not news, and it was very nice to see Moo Saeng acting a good and trusty character for a change.
It's not a lightly drama but also not that heavy to watch. it brings a new concept, not very far from todays society. It was fresh to have a perpective of a possible outcome and consequences. Although I felt the story was not highly focus on that but instead on the characters own stories and the terrorist attack. Worth watching it.

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This drama is stuck in purgatory

This show is not bad. The real problem is that it doesn’t know when to stop. The initial premise is interesting enough. Multi-generational curse is nothing new but it is functional. The show pushed it for all its worth though. There are plot holes here and there but the show has enough momentum to push through most of them, at least initially.

Once it gets started, it gives off a similar vibe to several other wish fulfilling style fantasy shows such as May I Help You. While other shows are more focused on the “clients” and their backstory, this show used them as fillers when the main plot needs to take a breather. The overarching plot is focused on the ML and the curse he inherited. In that sense, it is a nice change from other series where the leads tend to fade into the background and only pops up at key moments. Our OTP is definitely in the fore.

However, this is a double-edged sword. With the focus firmly on the ML, this series struggles. As the saying goes, the tank is running dry. It seems to slice and diced the same plot into different combinations and pad things out. What was novel at the beginning become rather passe by the half way mark. Several times the show seems to have reached its logical conclusion only to be dragged back into the fray just to stretch it out a bit more.

On the positive side, not only are our leads more in focus, his two ghost helpers also have their moments in the sun which is rare in such shows. I appreciate that because they are both interesting characters and they deserve some growth and attention. Deputy Go does fairs better than Mr. Baek and I'm keen to see Yoo In See in other roles.

Acting wise, the ensemble cast did a decent job with what they are given. The ghostly makeup is rather low rent though and more Halloween than scary.

The last episode is probably the most problematic. It really ties itself in knots with its own DIY mystic mumble-jumble. A case of narrative purgatory, I suppose. It all ends well which came as no surprise. The series is watchable but could have been better and tighter. If only it ended 2 or 3 eps earlier while the going was good. One time watch for me.

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Apotheosis!

Constancy, consistency, and comedic. The three best words to describe this triumvirate of OSSAN’S LOVE, which is one of the best, if not the best BL series and franchises out there. It classically defines and shapes what this genre is all about. Perhaps not to a core of current fans who are zealots of the plethora of BLs with gorgeous young men in stories, that, for the most part, are forgettable and whose ‘love for one another’ is defined by the amount of ‘shipping performances’ they do together. This season and the ones before it are the true pioneers of what BL storytelling is all about and how to carry on with a narrative that remains as fresh and original as the first one. And as poignant.
I laughed and I cried. A lot in this season. But most of the time I simply sat there and watched as if I was reading a good book. It gives you that kind of a feeling.

I shall be devastated if this is the last season. I want and need more. They are family. Their last words were, “We are family.” Nothing can be more earnest as this defines and expresses and shows every form of a family imaginable. This franchise is exemplary and, dare I say, an apotheosis in every sense of that word. You will find no better defining example of what a BL is or ought to be than in any of these series and especially in this latest season. Humor, poignancy, charm, affinity, love, and most of all human warmth. What a ride it has been. Please tell me it is not over yet!

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Cute and Enjoyable Modern Fantasy Romance Drama

I only watched it for Zhanglinghe and the story is cute. The sweet moments are the best part for me. I skipped some parts i don't find interesting especially because sports dramas are not really my cup of tea.The fl is cute not the annoying type which made me really enjoy the show. Zhanglinghe's character is very sweet and funny especially the part when he was first shocked by the fl and ended up mistakingly falling inlove. The school part of the story does not really interest me but it's quite fun. There are some things i really find annoying or hard to watch but maybe it's just me being overly critical to the show. The Osts are quite fine but and pacing is also fast. It's worth binge-watching if you ever want something that is sweet, fun and not stress-free plot.

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The bare bones of a good show

There's the foundation of a genuinely good story in here somewhere, but unfortunately you have to dig through a lot of meaningless-at-best, annoying-at-worst filler to get to it.
But let's focus on the positives first. This show genuinely has a lot going for it, the cinematography is good, the pole and aerial silk performances are surprisingly great, and most of the characters are genuinely likeable, realistically flawed human beings.
My personal favourite being Wela, who honestly could have been milestone for the genre on top of being incredibly charming, if only the script had been, well... better.
There are also middle aged lesbians in a thriving relationship as well as polyamory representation which we love to see. Yes, the latter could have been handled a bit more smoothly and I think that plot line would have benefited from more of a romantic buildup between Pan and Ken as well, rather than just between Seji and the other two individually, but all in all it still works surprisingly well and I am hopeful that this casual inclusion will open the door for more series and films to showcase healthy, loving polyamorous relationships.
Finally, and arguably most importantly, the show focuses on sex work and sex worker's daily lives which is an incredibly mis- and under-represented group of people, so I was understandably excited for this story.

Unfortunately, however, this is where the series really crashes and burns.
It does treat its characters with the respect they deserve and even tries to address certain topics like social and systemic discrimination of sex workers, or the fact that sex work is a paying job like any other which pays the bills and puts food on the table (which is quite an important point to highlight seeing as, statistically speaking, quite a high percentage of Thai sex workers actively use their income to support family in their home towns). But any deeper exploration of these topics is hindered by bad writing, a meandering, unfocused plot, and So. Much. Product. Placement.
There is a certain point in the series at which I thought the story was going to address the vicious cycle of repeat criminalization which allows corrupt government forces to profit off the sex work industry endlessly while publicly condemning it, but no. To my great disappointment it's just another opportunity for the almost offensively cartoonish female villain to do her thing.
The series also spends way too much time on people making out with one another and while yes, the portrayals of physical intimacy are very good and yes, I understand this can be a draw for some viewers, these scenes take up vital screen time that could have been much better spent on more important things like fleshing out the plot and weaving more cohesive storylines.
Personally I also really dislike the ending of Wela's character arc, it feels completely contrary to his previous actions and kind of devalues most of the show's core messages.

All in all, this show tries, in its own convoluted way, to offer a nuanced and respectful portrayal of sex work and shine a light on the serious issues facing people working in that industry, and for that it is to be commended.
It does, however, mostly fail to achieve what it sets out to do, making it quite difficult for me to wholeheartedly recommend watching it.
Instead I would recommend doing your own research on the issues of sex work in Thailand and around the world before watching the show and forming your own opinion :)


P.S.:
If you don't know where to start you could, for example, read some articles published by EMPOWER, a Thai sex workers' advocacy group and non-profit, or by the NSWP, a global network of human rights organisations advocating for sex workers worldwide, which offer some highly educational material.
Hell, even just reading through the wikipedia entry on sex work in Thailand can offer some reasonably nuanced insights on the topic.
For any visual learners I recommend watching John Oliver's segment on sex work (it's available on youtube for free) - it does strike a fairly satirical tone and focuses mostly on America and other western countries but a lot of the points made are universally applicable and it covers a lot of ground in a relatively short time span, so I feel it could work well as an introduction to the topic.

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