Reviews

Could be better

I just finished the drama and I have no idea what I just watched.

The premise was very interesting: two female spies infiltrated an enemy sect as potential brides to wreck havoc. "We must act as enemies!" they said. "So we can gain trust!" they said. And then it all fell apart. They did nothing except cozying up to the two males and then falling in love with them. There was no suspense, espionage, intrigue, betrayal, ANYTHING to fit into the promised plot. Weishan and Shangguan just spent time drinking tea and talking about what they should do, without actually doing anything.

And then there were long winded pointless side stories. Why should we care about Ziyu's mother? She was some chick his dad married who spent all her life pining after her lost love and ignoring her only son. Shangjue and Yuanzhi made a big deal about her being pregnant when marrying the dad, insinuating that the dad wasn't Ziyu's biological father, which would disqualify Ziyu from becoming the Sword Wielder. We were forced to watch a series of flashbacks of Ziyu's mom and Lady Wuji as if there was an actual point there. Was Lady Lan really Ziyu's mom? Or was it actually someone else...like Lady Wuji? That would've been such a cool plot twist. Ziyu was the secret son of the Gong family and Wufeng's super secret agent "Anonymous". SHOCK! But nope! Lady Lan was Ziyu's mother and Lady Wuji was just a nanny. Nothing to see here.

The drama was only 24 episodes, so I thought it would be action packed. Nope! The writers actually managed to make it mindbogglingly boring. The last 3 episodes dragged on and could've been made into one single episode. There were scenes of characters just standing around with snow falling in the background. I seriously couldn't wait for the story to end. I just did not care about any of the character or the plot. Too much screen time was given to secondary, less important characters and their irrelevant storylines, like Elder Yue and Yunque. Why was this important and why did we need to care? There were extended scenes of characters monologuing and telling us all about their plans, instead of showing us. The dialogues about poisons and fighting techniques were extremely convoluted and technical. I felt like I was reading a pseudo scientific thesis filled with confusing terminology that I did not understand.

For the entirety of the show, it was emphasized that Wufeng was the ultimate villain. So why was Ziyu's brother, who was killed off at the beginning, brought back as the bad guy AFTER Wufeng was already defeated? There was just too much plot entanglement and surprise twists that led to nowhere. Less is more.

The writers could have done a better job at Ziyu's character development. He started off as an immature and care-free guy who was forced into the position of the sword wielder. After becoming the sword wielder, he continued acting like an immature and clueless hot-head. The three trials made him grow up and improve his skills. But we didn't see the actual character growth. He just suddenly became mature in one episode.

I did like that Shangjue and Yuanzhi were not the actual villains, but more like competition for Ziyu. Shangjue was right for questioning and challenging Ziyu because Ziyu was an immature kid who did not deserve the position of the sword wielder. I am glad that Ziyu actually earned it at the end.

The finale was plain stupid. Shangjue watched Shangguan leave after she told him he was pregnant with his baby. Ziyu let Weishan go visit her family without any security escort. It appeared that Weishan was ambushed at the family home, so her fate was unknown. The last scene was Ziyu painstakingly waiting for Weishan to come back looking all sad. We heard the gate opening and him looking at it with an unreadable expression. Did Weishan come back? Or was it someone else? Did Weishan and her twin do a switcheroo? What was happening? If there was a sequel, this ending would make sense. But, we don't know if a sequel will follow, so the ending was completely nonsensical. It's ok to make sad endings. But an ending should have a logical conclusion. This was not an ending at all, but an end season cliffhanger.

Overall, the drama had very good visuals and fight scenes. The acting wasn't bad either. But the story progression, pacing, and the finale were disappointing.

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Nothing compares to this masterpiece

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Episode 1/The Little Prince, Chapter 21)
From the very first episode, I knew that this would become my new favorite series. It is one of the few shows that possess the ability to bring me to tears.

Let's talk about the characters.
Despite his past in prison, Mhok is one of the most genuine and caring individuals I have ever seen on screen. He manages to conceal his emotions behind a tough exterior, while simultaneously embodying a protective and affectionate nature towards Day. Mhok's attention to every little detail and his immense respect for Day are truly remarkable.
Speaking of Day, the blind character could have easily fallen into the shy and helpless stereotype, but he defies all expectations. While there are moments where Mhok comes to his rescue, they are so endearing that I thoroughly enjoyed them. Day's character is complex, filled with humor, self-confidence and foul-mouthed wittiness. He enjoys teasing Mhok just as much as Mhok enjoyed teasing him.

In addition to portraying their romance, the narrative goes deeper into the individual journeys of both Mhok and Day, shedding light on their personal struggles and hardships. This allows viewers to establish genuine connections with these characters on a profound level.
I also appreciated that despite the numerous romantic moments, Mhok and Day's unique dynamic and playful banter remained consistent, resulting in a refreshing on-screen chemistry.

And then, as if it was not enough to love both main leads, the writers somehow managed to portray every single character with such depth and authenticity. Even those with minimal screen time feel genuine and relatable, with their own lives and backgrounds. They are not reduced to stereotypes but rather fully fleshed out individuals.

Both actors deserve numerous awards for their performances. Sea's portrayal of a blind man was flawless and deeply moving, he portrayed Day's blindness with astounding realism and naturalness; there was never a moment of doubt. Jimmy's performance was equally impressive, particularly his ability to convey emotions through his eyes. The way Mhok gazes at Day is breathtakingly beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time.
Their on-screen chemistry is simply mind-blowing, and even the smallest gestures, like rubbing someone's hand or having them smell a flower are turned into the most romantic moments through their magic.
The chemistry between the second couple, Night and Phojai, is also adorable and adds an additional source of enjoyment.

The music in the romantic scenes enhances the beauty and emotion, making them even more memorable. The camera work is also outstanding, capturing facial expressions and small details at the perfect moments without going overboard.

Although the story may be simple and unfold at a slower pace, it undeniably works in its favor. The theme of a blind character adds intrigue, and it is explored in a well-executed manner. I also appreciated how new plot elements were introduced and skillfully interwoven throughout the narrative.
The attention to detail displayed in this series is truly commendable. From the carefully designed prints on the characters' shirts to the symbolic and metaphorical use of elements such as sunflowers, goldfish, the Last Twilight book, and even the band-aid on Rung's car, each element adds depth and a richer meaning to the story. Exceptional writing is evident not only in the development of the characters but also in the overall plot itself.

This series beautifully portrays love in its most profound and unconditional form. It emphasizes that true love knows no boundaries, surpassing limitations such as blindness, wealth, gender, or the constraints of societal judgement. Day doesn't judge Mhok for his past in prison, and Mhok treats Day no differently because of his blindness. This theme of unconditional love even extends to the second couple as well.

In summary, this might be the best drama I have ever watched. It surpasses not only the best BL or Thai series but also any drama in general. The story is touching, but not too heavy, striking the perfect balance between depth and lightness. The chemistry and acting are superb, and as a viewer, be prepared to experience a range of emotions. If I could, I would give more than 10 points. This series exceeded all my expectations and more.

Thank you, P'Aof, you're a wizard

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Last Twilight is like a healing book

Since the trailer, I was looking forward to this serie and when I've started the first episode, I was kind of mindblowing.. No, each episode, I was gradually endeared by the story and its characters.

It was like a journey filled with hope, acceptance, and healing. they made me go through some feels (mainly smiling and shed some tears haha), it was a rollercoster. They also captured some beautiful moments, nice and interesting details.

It has some flaws but at the same time, I'm too soft that I found it perfect. I loved everything about it, great production, directing and acting. Jimmy Jitaraphol and Sea Tawinan , the main leads improved in this and they deserve some recognition. The original soundtracks are also so good and so emotional.

Although, I was ok for another ending and I wanted some other extra scenes to be impactful and heartwarming but still, it was a good closure. So either way, I think I'm still happy.

And finally, Last Twilight is not my last memory but rather, one of my best memories forever. It's a slice of life serie that I would like to comeback to watch some good memories.

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Left me feeling anything but blue

This one is an underappreciated gem of a show!
Let me start of by saying I did not watch Kiss, nor did I watch Kiss Me Again.
What I did instead was watch a fan-made cut of Kiss Me Again (edited and linked here on MDL by the lovely Claudeville) which provided me with a solid grasp of all the characters' backgrounds and relationships and was more than sufficient for me to be able to fully appreciate DBKs continuation of the story.
Production quality wise, the series is excellent. The visuals are lovely, the music is fantastic (I am an absolute sucker for dramatic strings, so the intro is right up my alley), and script and performances are incredible.
I've seen some people take issue with the continuity errors between DBK and its predecessors, but personally I think the changes made were for the best.

DBK is still a soap opera, but it focuses heavily on the real issues many queer men have to deal with. The characters' overlapping relationships are complex and there is plenty of drama, but there is a sense of realism and authenticity to the story that is rare in this genre.
One thing the show does particularly well is the way it explores the many difficulties and issues surrounding a coming-out.
It shows the heavy relationship strain of one partner being closeted, the insecurities this can cause to arise, the resentment constant secrecy can breed. It highlights the painfully real social and financial concerns closeted people have to reckon with when they are considering coming out.
Where other shows main concern lies in whether or not their characters can find the courage to openly be themselves, DBK forces its characters to consider whether they even have the luxury to make that choice in the first place. Another user, Moonbyulie, elaborates further on this in their review, which makes for very interesting reading and I highly recommend having a look at that as well should you be interested.

Another strong point of the series are its characters. They are all (deeply) flawed, yet highly likeable individuals whose conflicting backgrounds and ideals lead to many painful clashes and whose individual journeys of character growth are both gut-wrenching and an absolute joy to watch.
They may at times make frustratingly poor choices, but they never stop calling each other out on their problematic behaviour and they never stop supporting and caring for one another.
Even Non, the show's ostensible "villain", is an incredibly complex character who walks the line between hateful and sympathetic perfectly.

In short, I highly recommend giving this show a shot. It's not perfect - some plot points certainly fall a bit short and some writing choices are questionable - but it also offers some of the most compelling and layered characterisations to be found in this genre.
If you enjoy well-written romance dramas that tackle real-world issues with skill and a good dash of humour, then this one is for you.
If you're in the market for a more serious and mature slice-of-life story which provides a well-balanced mix of romance and character study, then you will enjoy this series as well.

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Hope that the last Twilight will last forever

I was here just to enjoy another story,But Now,I feel like my Fridays are empty. I don't wanna let go of this show yet.

Everything about it is just awesome that I want it to run forever. All characters are wholesome and at the same time all have their own concern and problems. when will I get such an amazing story again.....

The story not just about love it also teached us about self love, second chance and most importantly HOPE.

Phi Jimmy and Phi Sea just lived the characters. Not gonna lie,I cried when they cried, I laughed when they laughed and I blushed when they blushed.

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Real blindness is the inabilty to see any hope

Ufff... What can I say (or not say) about this series?

Been following JimmySea for a while (didn't consider myself a fan before, how silly I was) and was eagerly waiting for Last Twilight as everyone else. Started this journey not knowing that it would become literally the best series I would ever watch.

Let's start with the story and the writing. It's not like we haven't had this or stories before, but the way this was put together was everything. At first we all thought that the story would only focus on Day's struggles as he accepts his disability but I was really surprised to find that Mhok was as much broken as Day. It was not only Day's acceptance journey, but also Mhok's. They both helped each other to deal with their demons and to heal. Each moment was meaningful and key for their development.

The chemistry between Jimmy and Sea just got thousands of times better than before (and they were already there during Vice Versa, it just got better). Their acting, specially Jimmy's have improved a lot and they made me feel all kind of things. The romantic moments between this couple gave me all the butterflies and I suffered with them when they were broken. They felt like a real couple with all the subtle (and not so subtle) touches and kisses. The way Mhok loved Day was really wonderful to witness.

The music was amazing, some of the best OST's from as series, specially William's song. We waited so long for it but it was completely worth it and it came out right at the correct time.

The ending for me was perfect, not because Day gained his sight back, but because he was able to live happily as a blind man for 3 whole years. He succesfully graduated from college and opened his book store. And most importantly he got the love of his life back. That was all I needed for him to be happy. Him gaining his sight doesn't erase everything he (and we) learned.

Overall for me this is a perfect series, full of romance and hope and I will forever be grateful for P'Aof, Jimmy, Sea and the rest of the cast and crew for putting this together with so much love and respect.

I hope the future will be as bright as Day and Mhok's life together and that Jimmy and Sea can continue to work together because what they create is magical.

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Violence with an art form and a touch of reality

As someone who enjoys kdramas, I come across dramas I love quite often. But never have I felt compelled to write a review on them before this one. Most of the time I see dramas that I really enjoy but rarely find one that has me hooked from start to finish, unable to take my eyes off the screen and obsessed. This one is the latter.

The story revolves around friendships, the dark side of school life and other real life issues. The action and violence is a plus. The numbness, helplessness and rage are so vivid.

Yeon Si Eun is an unique ML that I don't think I have encountered before. Park Jihoon deserves all the attention and applause for his acting here. The way the character starts getting more comfortable with Soo Ho and Beom Seok and developes friendship with them, quelling his long lived loneliness.

The ending took the cake for me. After he almost lost someone dear to him, we see the rage and hurt from betrayal encapsulated in Yeon Si Eun. When the moment arrives where he is supposed to take out his emotions on the perpetrator, he is overwhelmed by a sort of helplessness and understanding which leads him to not execute his 'revenge'.

Jealousy, miscommunication and many misunderstandings later, they all parted their separate ways but Si Eun's story hasn't ended. We're all left to wonder what else will unfold, a bittersweet longing in our hearts.

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Damnn, I am glad that I watched this one. I haven't watched anime or read the manga, so I'm going through this one blind, and I really think they totally nailed it. In my opinion, This drama is gotta be one of the hidden gems of 2023. Koshiba Fuka 's acting was superb, and she portrayed Minare so well. I liked her chaotic and energetic energy, and being a loud and crazy character was so fun to watch. I enjoyed the story from start to finish as it provided a great and fun drama experience, especially with how Minare interacts with other people. Overall, it is a 9/10 for me, and the drama is very worth watching ♥️

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tries to be everything and fails at being itself ; cliche edition!

This is gonna be a short review - (is what I am hoping) before starting to sing about my disappointment !

ＮＯ　ＤＩＲＥＣＴ　ＳＰＯＩＬＥＲＳ

The start was fun and that's about it - it wasn't good or perfect but just was my taste - i loved the petty bickering and I still care for you but imma make a fool of you and then i don't remember when they move to the lovey dovey stuff but I am sure that's where everything went WRONG ...! It is a perfect example of a drama that I knew would never get better, yet I still stuck with it till the very end for the love of humanity ig (clown face emoji)

first of all them assuming that the translation industry is so significant - I am sorry but it's too asumptious to be real !
then the ML being able to do all the things like magic ... he's good at AI okay, he's good with medicine ? he creates scents ? wtf ??? - like he's the company all by himself ...?? no specializations no departments ...he's touring the translators themselves ...don't they have work ? Also don't they have hot secretaries ?

Also the only problem ML's company faces in this 36 hour boredom is media articles and public opinion....like tf....no effort what so ever was put in even thinking about anything else.

the only practical bg is given to wei tian - someone who works hard is striving to be in the industry and someone who will never make it to upper management, a true friend , also the casting is top notch there ! - he's literally the guy they want him to be !

the side characters are too cliche, stereotypical and forgettable to even just be bare min likable and their plot line is like all over the place - be it the cousin or the sml which I believe moved on in the blink of an eye ! - oh what pretty love is ! - and when does the cousin have a change of heart and nature ! everyone here seems to be having a switch - press it and they become someone else !

I think the director is wasting too much time on everything except the things that actually matter - the ml and fl share a lot of screen time with side characters that seem to have a very stupid story line themselves and no time is given for the misunderstandings that drives people apart for 30 fucking years ! Then there are random twists in the story that should have made the characters seem more complex, but it just made the story more of a hot mess.

The last 4 eps did try to be more engaging than the whole second half but tbh I do not like the ending the ML is not even interested in how the FL is feeling and he's just so full of himself to think that the solution he is trying to use to help FL is the only thing that should or can be done. Like dude talk to her that's also a great option you didn't give a fuck about. And the end - I am not even disappointed bec what did I even expect. I could maybe increase a 0.5 rating but I don't want to bother doing so!
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Overall, I feel pretty comfortable telling people to skip this one because they have no idea themselves about what they wanted to create !
PS. There was a lot that was pretty unlikable but I did not hate the show ! - i do not care about the ending bec ik it's gonna be what everyone knows it's gonna be.

- only likable part was machine v/s human translation ! - which was lost as soon as the romance kicked in !
Watch for the leads or as a side show ! - nothing much to miss out on !

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Although I was a bit disappointed towards the end, this series was just too beautiful

My only tiny bit of disappointment was how the story went on episode 11. Why did they have to keep the infamous ep 11 curse. Although I understood the point of the breakup and having time apart. I never understood why the whole thing was about Mhok going to US, when he was soo clear about his insecurities about not being able to be close to his loved ones. I felt so annoyed by the fact that nobody is trying to understand a guy who practically has no one in his life just by the fact that he felt pity for Day.

I kept on asking myself , was this really necessary? Was it the only solution? Was this the best for both of them? Isn't it just human nature to feel a bit of pity for the underprivileged? If so, why isn't it normal? Why is everyone expected to be just perfect on the first place , rather then grow together? Isn't that what normal relationships are like, to accept each other's flaws? If not, what is actually the normal that Day expects?

I would have prefer to have a alternate shift in the story after episode 11. Atleast, Mhok not going to the US there could have been other alternatives as well for Mhok to find a better career. Prior to the fact that i was really not a fan of time leaps..

But all my disappointment disappeared with that one beautiful scene, where Day's mom tries to explain what a NORMAL relationships actually meant. It was just What I would have wanted to convey to Day. This scene and the writing is just a Chefs kiss...

Anyway. It was a beautiful series. So beautiful that even though with my slight disagreement in the storyline, it still was perfect... And one of the best..
This gem kind of a series only comes out once in a while. So be sure not to miss it!!!

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Unexpectedly extraordinary

JimmySea have not gotten any exceptional roles so far – ViceVersa fell a little flat and felt like unfulfilled potential – but their effort has paid off in Last Twilight. Every detail in the show demonstrates how they have paid attention to the little things.

And then there’s Mark Pakin. who has once again proven to be a versatile actor with range. The scene of him eating beef stew and exchanging a few (seemingly innocuous but profoundly meaningful) sentences with his mother and brother was probably one of the most skilfully-executed scenes.

The storyline isn't terribly original (unlikely caretaker becomes the caretaker of a privileged person with a disability) but it has superb execution: Exceptional chemistry, thoughtful writing, and spectacular acting.

Some fans took issue with the ending of episode 11 (the famed the episode 11 curse strikes back), and I thought there could have been a less abrupt way around it. But all in all, nothing too damaging that it completely wrecks the other merits of the show.

This one will go in the history books as a love story to rewatch.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/bl-last-twilight-2023-review/

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Basic premise that had promise but did not deliver

Entering this movie with low expectations, especially since it looks like it's geared towards a younger audience. However, I will write this review only as an observation of the entire thing based on someone who generally likes coming of age, young love and all type of romance.

Let's start with the pros.
* The acting of the cast is decent enough to carry the movie. It helps that these actors have a friendship in real life because it shows that there is a closeness among them. There is a fair share of shenanigans that would have fallen short had the cast not been as talented as they are. A very good plus.
* The score. The music aptly fits the entire movie and it's both moving and sentimental. Something that you definitely feel when it comes to first love.

And unfortunately, that's the most highlight you can get from this story.

Everything else is wishy washy and sometimes feel half baked.
Let's get into it.
* They have a group of friends, who-- apart from their share of shenanigans have nothing that indicates there is a deeper relationship among them. Which, if there was no intention on touching up on this, should not have had a large group in the first place.
*Liking Lin. I know it's a trope to have a group of guy friends like a single girl who supposedly has all these ideal traits. Lin is not just some girl-- at least to the eye of this friendship group. But apart from that, I see no reason why they would fight over this girl when they really aren't doing anything to show their affection. Especially when a lot of the montage of the movie shares more on Tong's feelings and these friends play along--giving the impression that they all support Tong.
*Speaking of friends, I especially disliked the part where Tong and Lin cool it off and these friends jump at the chance to be with her. One had the gall to cry to Tong while the other asked Lin out. I know they are "close" friends but there was not enough in the movie to substantiate how they are close at all.
*Lack of anything else really. If maybe we solely focus on Tong and Lin it's cool, but a story only makes better sense if everything else is used properly. Like none of the other friends had personalities or story lines that make you care for them.

I could go on and on about those parts but at the end of the day, when you introduce a story about a friendship group and a girl, you expect the friendship group to feel like a friendship group and the girl to have more interactions with said friendship group beyond shenanigans. Apart from that, you expect that the coming of age part where they all graduate and go to the next chapter to feel more relatable.

I do commend the ending. The parallel universe and the acceptance that not everything lasts forever. But other events could have been executed better and the story could have been told with more depth. In any case, all kudos goes to the cast for making this movie a bit more engaging despite the story that they were given.

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Good k drama but a little story is missing.

I like this drama because it was very fun to watch.I liked the cast and acting but I think the story is missing.Like when they separated there was no reaction shown of Ryu's mother and sister.When they reunited there the drama ends.I think there should be more things to it.Many questions aren't answered like what happened to Ryu's mother and sister? What happened to Tae Hyung? What happened when they reunited? What happened to Ryu's fiance? I think they gave us something but they kept alot of things from us.
In order to answer these questions they should make season 2 of this drama.

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Feel-good drama

I am having a mixed feeling about this drama. I am fairly new to Chinese Dramas ,which is why it is quite hard for me to stick to dramas with many (36 too many) episodes. I guess I have no patience for it. The first 15 episodes were cute and fun to watch. Even the ML is starting to warm up to FL. The way he looks at her can melt any other girls into puddles. The chemistry is definitely "chemistrying" for both leads but the FL....Oh god how dense can she be? Can't believe the writer is portraying the FL, who is supposed to be a lawyer but she is acting like a doormat to her ML/boss all the time. She is so dumb at getting the signals the ML is so desperately trying to send to her. And don't get me started on the ML. He is very good looking (probably why I am tolerating this drama) but he is acting like an inexperienced school boy in love. His lines can be cringrey and childish at times. Not cool at all for a so called successful 30 yo lawyer. If the drama keeps on dragging back and forth, without any confession from either of them anytime soon, God help me I will flip the table. It's starting to get on my nerves!
The lesson to be learned from this drama: BE HONEST AND CLEAR ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ALREADY!!! or else we'll be pulling our hair out going around in circles up untill the last episode.

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WORTH THE WATCH

I saw some reviews stating though they could relate to the characters and their situations, they still wouldn't condone the most hers actions. I'd like to say welcome to the real world, non woke one. Which you might not know anything about because of the snowflake environment you have been bought up in. I don't think it's the wrong environment, but just a different one. Almost every Asian household is like this. Parents are ambitious therefore the children are too. She understood the assignment she was given in life and made her best effort to make it a reality. For God sake the left over food from his plate was her food for that time. You're thinking she still made him eat less, she could have told him that they are short of food. I'm thinking she didn't want her child to know the bad situation they are in. She didn't want him to blame anyone (like his father or fate) for being in such shitty conditions. She wanted him to just concentrate on his goal and leave everything else to her. That is just Pure Love. Though she did it a different way doesn't make it wrong. Just makes it different. LOVE THE SERIES. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND TO WATCH.

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