Reviews

Deception and Courage.

This drama transcends the ordinary, presenting a facade of normalcy while concealing layers of deceit within Dereve, the company led by Jang Nara's character. From start to finish, I was deeply engaged, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. Jang Nara's portrayal was captivating, as she navigated the complexities of her character's motivations within her own company. What initially seemed like a simple tale of betrayal and revenge evolved into a multifaceted narrative, with each episode delivering unforeseen twists. The character development was masterfully executed, leaving me constantly guessing about what would happen next. Despite facing numerous challenges, the protagonist remained resilient, with Lee Ki Taek providing steadfast support. Overall, it's a compelling watch, reaffirming Jang Nara's talent and the drama's ability to keep viewers enthralled till the very end.

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When the evil characters are more interesting than the main ones

- **Story/Plot**: 2/3
1. Synopsis (0.25)✅
2. Initial Impression (2eps) (0.25)✅
3. Genre Adherence (0.25)✅
4. Emotional Engagement (0.25)✅
5. Logic (0.25)❌
6. Plot Coherence (0.25)✅
7. Dialogue (0.25)✅
8. Pacing (0.25)❌
9. Character building/Development (0.25)✅
10. Story Richness (0.25)❌
11. Plot Twists (0.25)❌
12. Messages (0.25)✅

- **CAST/Acting**: 1.75/2
1. Lead Actor Performance (0.25)✅
2. Lead Actress Performance (0.25)✅
3. Main Cast Chemistry (0.25)✅
4. Supporting Actors/Actresses Performance (0.25)✅
5. Casting Precision (0.5)✅
6. Character Transformation (0.25)❌
7. Scene Stealers (0.25)✅

- **Directing/Camerawork**: 1.25/2
1. Camera Movement (0.25)❌
2. Editing (0.25)✅
3. Continuity (0.25)✅
4. Visual Effects (0.25)❌
5. Visual Details (0.25)❌
6. Cinematic Tension (0.25)✅
7. Lighting (0.25)✅
8. Flashback Integration (0.25)✅

- **OST (Original Soundtrack)**: 0.5/1
1. Background OST (0.25✅/0.5)
2. Overall OST (0.25✅/0.5)

- **Style**: 0.5/1
1. Costumes (0.25)✅
2. Set Design (0.25)❌
3. Colors (0.25)❌
4. Poster (0.25)✅

- **Ending**: 1/1
1. Closure (0.25)✅
2. Emotional Impact (0.25)✅
3. Logic (0.25)✅
4. Personal Satisfaction (0.25)✅

Total Rating: 7/10 +0 Bonus
>>>>Final Rating: 7/10

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An easy drama for easy audiences

Couple had decent chemistry. Although ML was really annoying in the beginning, I liked the turn things took when she was dumped by him and he started to go for her. It really balanced things between them. However, they spent a long time in this dynamic. So much that when they finally do get together it was a little anti-climatic. Let me explain: ML wanted to confess his love for FL, so he prepared the moment and place to do it. He tried two times but smth always happened that prevented him from doing it. There was also the date their moms set up for them but he didn't show up. So, anyways, when he is eventually able to finally confess his feelings, it's like this in the middle of an alley, with some random clothes hanging to dry and some nosy children barging in. It just didn't give me the feels. Their first kiss was a little underwhelming as well. Actually, everything after they get together is a little underwhelming. They had cute scenes, that's true, but they were scarce and writing was sloppy.

I didn't like how the focus switched to the company's problems in the last eps. The couple was totally overshadowed by that. This plot had a lot of twists which were rushed and poorly explained. Mainly due to the fact that it was introduced later than it should. And let's not mention how the leads went from uni straight to good positions in a big company. ML was even the boss! I still can't understand that.

Personally hated when FL started working for both departments. She gave her all to keep up with the double workload but they kept putting the blame on her for anything. Like when she first presented her drawing for the new game character and everyone roasted her, forgetting the fact that 1) she had just arrived in the project so she didn't have all infos, 2) she never had to do that kind of work, and 3) she was working there bc ML had insisted A LOT for her to help him. Besides that, she missed meetings in one dept. bc she was attending meetings in the other one, and everyone judged her like she was the one deciding those things when both of her bosses were the ones who made a deal for her to work for both of them bc they didn't want to lose her. It didn't make any sense!

I didn't like that they rivalized the two departments. Director Jiang was a good guy and a good boss, he didn't deserve to not be recognized for his hard work. There was no need to put many of his subordinates leaving him to pursue AAA games with Gu Xun. It was like only triple A games mattered and Jiang's game was inferior smh. The moment that Gu Xun's team got the award, I felt sorry for Director Jiang. He was nice, I liked him.

Second couple was... ok idk. I liked him, he was a nice leader and the main reason why she continued working in the project. I liked her too, she was cute. But when he started dating another girl and became a coward and an idiot, I just didn't know where things were going. He basically made her do half things he should be doing as a boyfriend. Like buying gifts and making excuses for when he couldn't meet his gf. Glad he realized that in the end. He is really a nice person. But a terrible bf. Hoped they would focus more on them as a couple after that. They did, but not in the right way. Basically they were one of those second couples that only get together at the last ep.

It was a nice watch anyways. The drama is light and fun at times. There was no annoying side characters or draggy plots. Although last eps could've been way better, they didn't last long so that was a relief. Their chemistry is not much explored after they become a couple. None of the OSTs caught my attention although they weren't bad either. It's an easy drama for easy audiences.

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This is one of those rare incidents where the sequel captures me better than the original did. This second season took their love story and not only gave it complexity and realism but also enhanced the characters giving the viewers a much richer viewing experience.

In the first season we meet charismatic and shining Seo Joon who is an actor that needed to hide as a scandal shakes his world a bit. He finds himself cohabitating with the stone faced Ji Woo whom in every way is his opposite. Despite his cold exterior and very high emotional walls Seo Joon finds himself drawn to Ji Woo and wanting to become closer. Each interaction leaves its mark and Seo Joon begins to fall for him. As Seo Joon realizes his feelings he confronts them head on without shying away even in the face of Ji Woo's seeming indifference. Ji Woo who is afraid of being hurt can't resist the magnetic pull of Seo Joon and the pair find couple bliss.

But as in life, this second season explores the complexity of their relationship and differences. A seemingly perfect romance and happy couple that loses their way and courage. In the first episode we see that Ji Woo has left Seo Joon with just a note before he disappears and Seo Joon spends a year trying to find him not understanding what he did wrong. The season then takes you on a journey of their relationship that can feel totally different from each perspective. Ji Woo's fear and avoidance is expressed in his cold and often mean demeanor as he tries to run away while Seo Joon's honest and sincere heart won't allow him to let go just yet. The pair must face what went wrong and will have to be vulnerable in a way they had not been before. This journey of heartbreak and reconciliation will pull at your heart strings and keep you attached to these characters rooting for their happy ending.

The way the team expressed each characters emotive states, the beautiful cinematography, and shear realness in its depiction of relationships truly leaves a lasting impression. There is not some unrealistic villain that tears them apart of some overly dramatized reason for their separation and instead you are left feeling their raw emotions along with them, reflecting on your own past relationships and mistakes.

Well worth the watch. If I had to nitpick reasons for the not perfect rating then I will say that Ji Woo's character/background could have been better fleshed out. His cold and aloof demeanor remains for almost the entirety of the drama but his breakdown and understanding of himself and what he wants fits into the picture they paint of him; it just may irritate you as a viewer while watching.

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Senseless story

The drama started on a promising note with the intriguing concept of a love affair between a devil and a human. However, as the story progressed, numerous flaws became apparent.

Firstly, when Xuan Li's mother died, her memory was supposedly removed, but later, when she started remembering her past, her mother's memory inexplicably returned.

Secondly, Xuan Li's marriage was supposedly arranged by God, yet there was no flashback or explanation provided. Only glimpses of the scene were shown, and there was no further reference to it.

Thirdly, when the human incarnation of the god was introduced to the others, one of the girls kept mentioning that they had been together for many years ,how it is possible when they were all new to each other . It seemed implausible that the human incarnation would be so deeply connected to Xuan Li upon their first meeting, and I expected there to be a flashback story to explain this sudden connection.
Throughout the drama, there were numerous coincidences and inconsistencies that were difficult to understand.

Furthermore, the ending was extremely disappointing, to say the least.

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Flawed yet somewhat healing

The story is about Chen Maidong and Zhuang Jei who met again after years in a small village Nannping while they heal from their past wounds.

The main concept of the show, revolving around "death," made it heavy and uncomfortable to watch at times. Constantly discussing it can be triggering for some of us, viewers. Although I didn't mind it most of the time, it still wasn't an easy watch.

FL portrays herself as free-spirited , extroverted and mature person yet she continually hurts ML due to her insecurity. While it's understandable for her to feel insecure, it's not acceptable to treat others poorly because of it. Her character was a red flag for me, especially since she doesn't hold herself accountable for her behavior but instead gets angry at ML. On a positive note, FL was a good actress, her acting and dialogue delivery was on point.

She cannot communicate for the life of hers, and then blames ML, make sense girly? Her behaviour really made me lose interest in the couple, and I just couldn't connect to them anymore:/

ML is not the most perfect character, but he does have a conscience. His job might not be particularly comfortable, but he doesn't feel ashamed of it. The actor was good at acting, but his dialogue delivery lacked the emotions necessary to connect with his character. This was the main reason I couldn't connect to many of the "death" stories in the show.

I enjoyed the SL couple's story much better, but they had less screen time, what a waste;)

Some aspects of the story dynamics were enjoyable and saddening while some lacked emotional depth and felt tedious and filler to watch.

Her mother's behaviour was reasonable at some extent but rest of it was a headache. She made it veryy annoying and ruined the overall vibe of the show for me.

Overall, the show was average for me. While the first half kicked off very promising, the character growth and narrative felt underdeveloped. The FL's character mainly ruined it, and the lack of emotional connection in a show centered around "death" speaks for itself.

Thank you for reading my review ^^
END

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Not Amazing but better than a lot of other Thai BLs

Let's start with getting all the bad stuff out of the way first:
1. A lot of plot points are not well fleshed out. There are tons of conflicts that should be discussed and resolved better but most of them either gets resolved hastily or are just not talked about anymore. To be fair though, I'd rather have this compared to hugely prolonged conflicts.
2. Acting is subpar. But then honestly that's the case for a lot of Thai BLs except for the very exceptional few.
3. They are still clinging on to a lot of heteronormative gender roles and tropes. Especially with Nai taking on the "wife" role and having that typical reluctance to sex, naggy, and needing to be saved type of character. This is supposed to be an LGBT drama guys, we can do better than this. Although I have to say, Nai getting lost and being forgetful isn't that farfetched, he might just need an ADHD assessment.
4. No real character development. But again the characters started out more emotionally developed and less annoying than most main male characters at the end of shows so I didn't really mind.
5. Ai being attracted to Nai because he reminded him of his stepdad is kinda weird BUT it's literally just Freud's theory in action. And Freud is a psychologist (a weird one but a psychologist nonetheless) so who am i to question his theories.

Now onto the good stuff:
1. Both boys are so proud of their relationship. It's so refreshing to have a drama where both parties are not so deeply entrenched in internalized homophobia. Both Ai and Nan are actually so proud that they bagged each other and that is absolutely adorable. Love it when Ai's dad told Nan that he knew about him because Ai kept bragging about how amazing his boyfriend is to his dad. Seriously, we need more of this in BLs.

2. Friendship group is adorable. I know some people find the friends underutilized and had no real development, but I honestly just love seeing BL leads have actual friends man. I find a lot of Thai BL friendships very stilted in picture (this one is a lil stilted too but better than most).

3. Older gay couples!!!!!! Love seeing Ai having two dads who are still so in love. I also love seeing how supportive and adoring households lead to kids who are generally well adjusted (for the most part).

4. Generally an enthusiastic consent on a lot of aspects of the relationship. I am not only talking about sex in this. I am talking about how Nai, although has not ever considered liking men before, was so open to the idea of "trial dating". The moment he acknowledges his feelings for Ai, he was instantly all in. Yes, Nai gets that "more reluctant to sex" character but he does initiate a lot of intimacy. He also tells Ai that he IS flirting with him and wants Ai to get his hints. In an ideal world, we will have a BL couple who actually displays enthusiastic consent to things but honestly this is a step up compared to other Thai BLs.

5. The other love interest does not get villainized!!!! Sometimes a girl gets infatuated and let's go when she realises that it's not gonna happen. This drama gets the memo. We need to stop turning girls into villain just because of a man!

6. Skinship feels more natural than most other Thai BLs I see. I love how there's a lot of non-sexualized skinship happening in this relationship. The cuddling, hand holding, and the casual side hugs!!! Those things are better to me than sex.

7. Ai's actor is hot. I'm a sucker for that hairstyle man.


Anyways I like this, not enough to recommend to my family and friends, but enough to recommend it on this site.

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"Star-Studded Letdown: The Plot Twist"

It was the 1st time watching korean movie in india that to you know the actors like kim go eun and lee do hyun oppa will select good story, so i had a hope.

When i was watching the movie in threate, i felt nothing like if you are fan horror genre may be you can guess what is going on but as kdrama fan i can't understand movie properly that to from pre climax i was struggling a lot what is going on!

The good in this movie was BGM and cinematography should get an award and actors did a fantastic job too. The story and plot disappointed me badly .

Special mentions about kim go eun deserves a award for doing a shaman role infront of original shaman ?. As usual our lee do hyun oppa did nyc job. But our girl stoles the shows with her unique personality in the movie.

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The Sweetest Drama Ever!

Teasing Master Tagaki-san is an absolute delight to watch. This live action adaptation is reminiscent of a time when Jdoramas delivered well written and beautifully told stories, not unlike (similar to) last year’s Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san.

I found myself transported back in time to when I was a youth living in a much more simple world faced with similar experiences. Teasing one another was something that happened. Sometimes, it had the desired effect, a reaction that actually meant something, other times it was not so great.

What we have is a young couple, in all but name, sharing the common bond of enjoying each other’s company even if Nishikata was forever on the losing end of the teasing exchange.

I thought the young actors did a marvellous job. Takagi with her smiling face and Nishikata always looking dazed or confused when he had lost another exchange.

There are some beautiful moments: being with each other at the beach, reaching the shrine at the top of the hill or simply walking to and from school.

This show is worth three and a half hours of your time. I’m looking forward to the movie which is set ten years later. It has its release in Japan within the next two weeks.

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Loved the OST, the toxicity not so much

Pros:
• Kisses/Chemistry of Leads
• 2ML for 98% of the time
• OST - wish I knew the name of that main song
• FL parents are so green flag

Cons
• Script - it gets beyond childish the further progresses
• Everyone in the except the 5 mentioned above
• Toxic plot of adopted siblings in delulu one sided romance with other sibling. Raised together as siblings. Thats GROSS. China, do better.
• Adult actors being forced to act like 6 yrs olds, with tantrums, manipulation and unending drama
• Plot repeats itself multiple times, same plan by baddies. Clearly the writers had nothing fresh
• Starts out tropey but fun and plenty of hope for a nice sweet cdrama journey, but quickly takes a massive nosedive in last 10 episodes
• Typical ideology of “parents did me wrong so by default its all the inocent childs fault” = you owe me everything you have
• Proceeds to take it
• “I like you/known you longest, so it is my right that you will love me” mindset with second leads - it shows up in most cdramas, I’ve started to wonder is that how people hook up in China?!?!
• ML becomes a total doormat
• FL sacrifices everything when she should just hold her ground
• Only viable business competitors are less interested in doing actual business and are petty and ridiculous the whole way through
• Slapping granny
• Drinking culture yet again being pushed as ok. No, forcing someone who chooses to not drink for whatever reason, to drink by a superior at work is harassment, disgusting and shameful. Cultural or not, stop it.

As you can see, the cons far outweigh the pros of this show, and full disclosure I watched to the end because of the leads and their chemistry. They carry the show. But this sadly takes a nose dive, beyond the typhcal tropey cdrama I show up for all the time, to take me into “time to skip” land, as the plot and the acting by the supporting cast goes into you’ve got to be kidding me, why????!!

Still overall the things I did like are the reason I gave this a 7. But when there are times this late in the drama you start wishing the FL will walk away from the toxic mess of what was going on with ml and 2fl sub plot. and that she will run away with 2ml, you have problems.

Casting was great, this show had some real potential but oh boy was that wasted. Sadly.

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