Reviews

My First Hong Kong BL and What an Epic Premiere. Ash Has Action, Romance, Crime and Insane Chemistry

I grew up watching Hong Kong 🇭🇰 TVB dramas throughout my childhood, so I have always had a special attachment to Hong Kong dramas. When Ash was announced, I was incredibly excited because this is my first Hong Kong BL, and after watching Episodes 1 and 2, I can confidently say this drama has exceeded my expectations. You can watch Ash on Youku or YouTube, with Episode 1 available for free. And despite the “Miniseries” tag, this definitely does not feel like a typical miniseries. Episode 1 is around 50 minutes and Episode 2 is around 45 minutes, so we are getting a proper full length viewing experience.

And WOW, what an epic premiere! I already had a feeling Ash was going to be good after watching the trailer, but the first two episodes completely sold me. This drama gives us action, crime, romance, police investigation, undercover work, fighting, suspense and intense chemistry all in one package. We have Hui Leuk Tou, our CEO, and our undercover police officer. During his undercover operation, the police officer goes by Cheung Wai Keung, complete with his dyed hair and completely different appearance. Once the operation is over and he returns to his life as a police officer, he takes on the identity of Mok Fei Foon. I LOVE this dynamic because it genuinely feels like we are watching two different versions of the same character. The change in appearance, personality and circumstances makes his character so much more interesting.

And then he meets Hui Leuk Tou. Their first encounter, especially the moment their eyes meet, immediately gave me love at first sight vibes. Their fighting scene together was also SO good. The action was well done, and I already knew these two were going to have incredible chemistry. Then we got the white singlets, and that scene alone deserves its own review. 😂 The chemistry between them was so hot and intense, especially when they were taking care of each other’s wounds. The slow romantic music playing in the background made everything feel even more intimate and sensual. And when they lit each other’s cigarettes? THE EYE CONTACT. THE TENSION. THE CHEMISTRY. I also love that this drama does not waste time dragging out the romance. Within the first 30 minutes, we already get an intimate moment and a kiss. There is no endless waiting around or unnecessary dancing around their attraction. The drama knows exactly what we came here for and gives it to us. And that intimate scene with the belt? WOW. The restraints, the kiss, the music and the chemistry all came together so well. It was intense without feeling disconnected from the story.

One of my favourite emotional moments was when they had been missing each other and finally reunited in the alley. I also love how the drama plays with perspective. At the end of Episode 1, we see the events from Hui Leuk Tou’s perspective, and then Episode 2 begins by showing things from Mok Fei Foon’s point of view. That was such a clever choice because we get to understand what both men were experiencing and feeling rather than simply following one side of the story. The flashbacks also work really well and gradually give us more context about their relationship and everything happening around them.

One thing that made me especially happy is hearing both leads speak fluent Cantonese throughout the drama. They are Hong Kong actors and the series was actually filmed in Hong Kong, so seeing the familiar buildings, taxis and streets immediately gave me that nostalgic Hong Kong drama feeling. 🇭🇰 There is something so satisfying about watching a BL that genuinely feels connected to its setting. The Cantonese dialogue makes the interactions feel so much more natural, especially because the actors are using their real voices. Unlike Sammy’s Children’s Day, where the actors’ voices were dubbed, Ash lets us hear the leads speaking in their own voices, which makes the performances feel more authentic and natural to me.

Both actors are absolutely stunning. This is my first time watching Kingston act, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he grew up in the UK and Canada while being fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Pairing him with Leo Peng, who is also a model and actor, was such a good choice. They look incredible together, and their chemistry is already one of the biggest highlights of the series for me. They have the looks, the acting ability and, most importantly, the chemistry.

It is honestly so difficult to find a BL that manages to combine intense kissing scenes with a genuinely interesting plot, good action sequences, fighting, crime, thriller elements and police investigation. Ash is ticking every single box for me. The story is not simply about two men falling in love. There are secrets, dangerous connections, an undercover operation and a much bigger criminal situation unfolding around them. The deeper they get involved, the more complicated their relationship becomes, and that is exactly the kind of BL I love. I want romance, but I also want an actual story that keeps me invested between the romantic scenes.

If I had to mention one criticism, it would be that some of the music and sound effects occasionally feel slightly off and do not always blend naturally with the scene. But honestly, this is such a minor issue for me that I am not going to be harsh about it. Everything else is working so well that it barely affects my enjoyment.

After two episodes, Ash has already exceeded my expectations. It has everything I want from a BL: intense chemistry, gorgeous leads, passionate kissing, romance, action, crime, suspense, undercover police work, fighting and an actual plot that makes me want to know what happens next. Most importantly, it finally gives me something I have been wanting for a long time: a Hong Kong BL that actually feels like a Hong Kong drama. The Cantonese, the locations, the atmosphere, the action and the overall style make this such a refreshing watch.

And those two leads? I am already completely invested in them. Ash gets a 10/10 from me after the first two episodes. If you enjoy BLs with strong chemistry, intense romance, action, crime, undercover police work and a more mature atmosphere, PLEASE add this to your watchlist.

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wonderful drama!

oh wow im so surprised about how this turned out! it’s exactly the kind of drama i love. let me tell you why:

first of all, it was a drama with a lovely friengroup and NO flat “side” characters. this is a struggle a lot of cdramas have lately, but this one was excellent! they all had a great interesting story that was fun to watch.

second of all, the time gap thing that again, a lot of cdramas are lacking, was done so well! i had the issue that the story before the time gap was way more interesting that the story after. it went really bland and not interesting anymore, but this drama did it better job. i thought that the past would’ve been my favorite but after finishing it, i can’t decide! both parts were great to watch and had a good transition, it lined up and was done well. i’m so so happy that this was done well, cause this exact issue is what i’m struggling with watching recent releases. soo im relieved!

and i loved how they covered some interesting topics, what made this drama even more interesting, such as the hardships of having a highly wanted gift: a really high intelligence. how this made her very lonely and hated, how she was misunderstood the whole time. it was done so good! it made it way more meaningful than a regular high school experience.


some people found it lacking in romance, but i think this is the best kind of relationship you can have. i prefer a slow romance over unnecessary breakups and annoying episodes getting back together. it makes me not want to watch it, so this was way better for me.
their relationship was so beautiful. having someone who truly understands you in a world where you are not being understood. because of her high intelligence, she lacked social skills and had a hard time in school. having a true friend that is genuine even after years of separation, is seriously something to look up for. they had a beautiful connection that was always special. so no, i don’t think the romance was lacking.
the side couples were also great in romance so i don’t think it lacked.

the youth part was also super enjoyable. slowly making a friend group that lasted forever. i wish that everyone can meet such great friendships. it was genuinely beautiful to watch it!

it was an amazing watch for me. i enjoyed waiting everyday to watch this beautiful drama. i seriously don’t understand why people are suddenly being overly dramatic about this drama, what is there to complain? this drama is way better than some popular dramas but okay, everyone has their own opinion.

i just hope people won’t hesitate and will watch it! if you like these warm dramas, i would highly recommend it!

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Simple yet Complex & Simple yet Grand

Whenever I begin a drama, my busy life often makes it hard to finish those with a long run of episodes. Yet, when I do complete one, it feels deeply satisfying — almost like an achievement. I care about the plot, of course, but I find myself caring just as much about the number of episodes. Short dramas help me reach that sense of fulfillment more easily, washing away the guilt of not keeping up with new releases.

This particular drama had a plot that was intelligently woven and carefully planned. I’ve always felt that writing a story with a massive cast is easier than sustaining intensity with only a handful of characters. Here, though the cast was small, the script made full use of every element, weaving them together with remarkable precision.

The acting overall was strong. I noticed the drama because of the actress who played Su Miao, and it was worth it — she wasn’t the driving force of the story, but she became the final key that unlocked the climax.

As for the ending, I wasn’t disappointed. In the novel, she had him; so at least let Su Miao have him in this space and time.

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Arguably the best 4 elements series

People had less hope from this series because all the main couples series ended already. Earth was good, Water was better , Air was subpar, now it was time for me to watch the Fire, it has a really firey and intense vibe and the story is really a great slowburn.

What I liked most is that it doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard.For the first couple of episodes Fai might annoy you but she quickly redeemed herself in the next episodes The characters are easy to get into, and there are enough little moments to keep things interesting. The acting also works really well for the kind of story they’re telling. I personally absolutely love Kaphrao. From the first episode i was already so hooked to know that Kaphrao will be Fai's one and only girl haha.

You might also know that they have been friends for 10 years. This make their story more interesting. Episode 5 was the turning point for me...i couldnt take my eyes off the screen from looking at them spending time together and Fai fighting so hard to keep her feelings in check. what i do not like is the grandma who creates unnecessary drama and has bounded Fai's hand to do absolutely nothing.

I absolutely adore them and hope that they get more projects in future.

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Became a couple in the last 2 episodes. What is the point of calling the drama "Genius Girlfriend"

I had been looking forward to Genius Girlfriend for quite some time. The premise sounded genuinely interesting, and of course, Tian Xi Wei being part of the cast was another major reason I wanted to watch it. The idea of following a genius girl from childhood, her academic journey, rivalry, friendships, and eventually romance had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, while the drama does several things well, its pacing and especially its handling of romance prevented it from fully delivering on that potential.

Tian Xi Wei's acting is, unsurprisingly, one of the drama's biggest strengths. She plays a genius student who is innocent, socially awkward, and initially struggles to understand other people's emotions and relationships. Her intelligence is established from childhood, her personality also makes her character more interesting because, despite being exceptionally intelligent academically, she is far less knowledgeable when it comes to friendship, social interaction, and love. The ML feels too passive, and his acting sometimes comes across as stiff.

The relationship and rivalry between the two main leads is another important part of the story. Their connection develops over many years, and the mathematical competition arc is probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the drama. Watching them compete while being on different teams, searching for members for their respective teams, and facing each other academically was genuinely fun.

What I particularly liked was seeing the FL experience defeat for the first time. For someone who had always been exceptional, losing becomes an important moment in her development. However, the experience also gives her something she did not have before: friends. Her growth from being a lonely genius into someone who discovers the happiness of friendship is one of the more satisfying aspects of the story. The friendship chemistry among the cast is also quite good, and I honestly found some of these relationships more convincing than the romantic ones.

The family conflicts surrounding the characters are handled quite well too. Each character has their own struggles and family issues, which helps give the story more emotional depth beyond school and mathematical competitions.

However, the biggest problem for me is the pacing.

The high school storyline lasts for around 17 episodes, which feels far too long considering that the drama only has 28 episodes. A slow pace is not necessarily a bad thing, but if the story wanted to spend that much time on the characters' younger years and gradual development, then perhaps it should have been a 30+ episode drama. Instead, the drama spends too much time slowly developing the school years and then suddenly rushes almost every romantic relationship toward the ending.

As a result, the romance feels forced and underdeveloped.

The main couple's romance is especially disappointing. I never really felt strong chemistry between them, and their relationship often feels more like a high school puppy love than a romance that developed naturally over many years. The FL is extremely innocent and does not understand love, while the ML is written and performed in a way that feels too passive. Personally, I also found the ML's acting rather stiff, which made it even harder for me to connect with his character emotionally.

By episode 26, the FL finally realizes that she loves the ML, and they officially start dating. But this left me asking: what is the point of calling the drama "Genius Girlfriend" when FL is only actually ML's girlfriend for the final two episodes?

Seriously, that is crazy.

And unfortunately, even after they finally become a couple, I still could not feel their chemistry. The drama spends so much time building their supposed connection, but when they finally get together, there is barely enough time to show what their relationship is actually like.

There are also several missed opportunities. For example, there is no meaningful interaction between the ML and the FL's parents. This feels particularly strange considering the FL says that she wants to marry the ML so that he can have a family after she is gone. If their future and marriage are supposedly important to her, then why not show more interaction between the ML and the people who would become his family?

The second couple also does not work very well for me. Their relationship feels more like two close friends constantly arguing than an actual romantic couple. Meanwhile, the third couple receives almost nothing. There are only one or two scenes showing that they might be attracted to each other in High School era, and then suddenly the drama expects us to accept their romantic ending.

By the final episodes, it feels as if the writers suddenly remembered that everyone needed to have a romance. The conclusions for all the couples feel rushed, forced, and lacking in proper development.

This drama is a drama that I wanted to love much more than I actually did. It has a strong premise, a good female lead performance, enjoyable friendship dynamics, and an entertaining academic competition arc. Tian Xi Wei is once again reliable, and her character's journey from an isolated genius to someone who learns about friendship and emotions is genuinely interesting. A good coming-of-age story with strong friendship and character development, but a surprisingly weak and rushed romance.

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set in the early 90s

I surprisingly enjoyed it. Didn't think I would. Xiao Fan isn't as week willed as he looked. Stop shorting out Fujoshi nerves by fleecing pics of them at the altar in white suites. Don't lead us on like that. Ain't no bl marriages taking place at that time in China, France or anywhere otherwise. That is bl bs, way too much fan service.
I like when the trades flat lined and all the numbers turned red at the same time on screen. That was really cool visuals. Xiao Fan never broke character, I'm impressed. They had good chemistry, I like that they were together ❤ on screen like 89% of the time.

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Maru Stole the show fr!!!!

I can easily say I like Love Class Season 2 a whole lot better than Season 3. Even though it suffers from the same frustrating issue of episodes being way too short, this season actually gave us so more depth for each couple and individual character.

Balancing three distinct college couples in such a short runtime is no easy feat, but the show manages to keep things engaging with its diverse dynamics. I especially love the Maru and Minwoo couple because I'm a massive sucker for the best-friends-to-lovers trope, and please—Maru is just so cute! I'll admit I was a bit confused at first because he always seemed to have people around him, making it hard to tell if they were just casual flings or true friends. But as the episodes progressed, everything clicked, and I finally understood the kind of person he really was.

While some of the subplots and past mysteries felt a bit rushed or thin, the emotional payoff and the sweet, campus-vibe execution made it entirely worth the watch. It’s a huge step up and definitely one of the more memorable multi-couple short KBLs out there!

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Not bad, but not good either

I wrote this in the comment section, but realized i wanted to actually remember why i wont be revisiting this one in the future. Apologies for any formatting issues as im doing this from my phone and not my laptop.
I'm not trying to be harsh when I say this, but the ML's performance was the weakest of the actors in the main ensemble. I thought the brother had better chemistry with his love interest. Sadly even their friend when he was talking to the restaurant owner had better chemistry. The other part of the love triangle and the goofier friend felt more real as people. idk maybe it's because I reread the little blurb recently, but ML is described as "sunny, charismatic, and a social butterfly"...im sorry where was that?
Overall the show for me was a 6.5...heavily dinged for it's lack of closing down their f-stop(feels like they were in portrait mode on a phone camera aka extreme shallow depth of field) and always feeling like they are in a computer generated environment for about 80% of the show. OST was pretty solid. And the 3 main girls' storylines, arcs, and performances were also relatively solid. but overall chemistry, cinematography, visual effects, & production just didnt do it for me. Im hoping others enjoyed it more than I did. it wasnt bad, but it's not something I'll be revisiting or even remember by this time next year.

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Entertaining but male contestants suck.

Starting off, I gave this show a high rating due to it's plot twists and several shocking decisions of the participants rather than shipping anybody in specific. However, near the end, I did adore jeongyeon and in kwon's pairing and was happy they ended up together. I believe they were a great match as her other option seongmo, was incredibly rude and ignorant during the family dinner with kang hyeon. I get not having interest but BOTH her parents had shown up yet his manners seemed to have vanished. With such a unstable job, he should've been grateful to even have been picked unless he preferred for his parents to eat alone. The lawyer on the other hand was the worst male contestant along with shin woo. The lawyer's horrible comment in the beginning of the show isn't spoken about enough. He said "I like my woman to have good body proportions, a small face, specially if I have a daughter.. I can give money for plastic surgery but bone structure is hard to fix." I was beyond disgusted as his ideas implied he would pressure his daughter to have cosmetic surgery if she wasn't attractive enough to him. It's not even his partner but his DAUGHTER. Absolutely disgusting. The lawyer also kept his feelings a mystery and calculated everything like a mad man. His top interest was jeongyeon yet his ego was so high, he waited until the 2nd last day to speak with her. In the end, he still liked her the best and dragged around Do yoon just to abandon her like her feelings were nothing. I felt truly bad for her as In kwon was also too blunt with her about her age which was strange because she was pushing 30. Shin woo on the other hand is the opposite of the lawyer yet just as worse. He is insanely direct and proactive which would make ANY girl uninterested. He also has this look on him that instantly gives you the creeps. He also had the audacity to blame his mother for his stupid actions and shouted at her shamelessly. Flustured, his mother begged dahye to like her son. The bag giving scene to dahye felt so embarassing that I had to fast forward. Pushing 40, I doubt anybody in real life looked at Shinwoo's direction as to why he forced the hell out of dahye. No consideration of her feelings whatsoever. That's how you know he will not care about her words and values in the relationship and will push his own opinion until she accepts it. Dahye's mother was another unbearable person with the way she spoke highly of dahye and praised her daughter's relationship with ye chan's mother, making everyone extremely uncomfortable. Dahye was not any better with the way she insulted Shin woo's mother by comparing her with Ye chan's mother and shit talked about Shinwoo together with her mother and Ye chan's mother. She dragged him through everything but after a few words about the lawyer liking her, she switched and gave Shinwoo a thousand excuses but never mentioned that she simply lost interest. In the end, to potray herself as a kind and generous girl, she picked him and told her mother to do the opposite, escaping him. She pissed me off so bad and her facial expressions, constant nodding, fake laugh, all seemed so weird. I could never tell what she was thinking but it was obvious that none of what she said and did was ever genuine. Dong young on the other hand didn't pick ha yoon in the beginning even though she picked him and embarassed her in front of everybody. I believe even if he was 1% interested in her, picking her was literally supposed to be an act of decency. It was not the final choice. After learning about her job, the mother and son chased her like crazy because obviously where else would Dong young with his bald head, low paying job and no manners find a beauty like her who's ALSO a doctor. Everything he did seemed so fake and I was so happy Ha yoon's mother didn't give in and Ha yoon also ended up not picking him. So, all in all, In kwon did seem the best option in the end so jeongyeon definitely got the better pick of the bunch. Ha yoon and Do yoon were lovely but it was a pity that they had to get their feelings hurt by these unworthy men.

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I had quite some problems getting into this one, because the start was very slow and long. It took me 7 to 8 episodes until I finally got really invested in this because in the beginning, I didn't get what the main focus of the drama was. Now I know how important that (long) built-up was because it manifests later relationships and makes them more understandable. Patience bears great fruits, you might say.

The story mainly revolves around the ML adapting to the new situation and with his unusual (and modern) approach builds new relationships in every (eventually powerful) group, that is out there. And with that he's unknowingly uniting them all.

The comedy in this drama is quite well balanced. I esp. grew very fond of his family. Man, they made me laugh so much all the time. I quite liked how subtle their behavior towards him changed throughout the drama, from unsympathetic to deeply caring for him.

I even more liked his growing bond with Master Wen (the leader of the Guardians). If you ask me, that was the actual main "love" story here, lol. The obvious love story was only a side branch, one of many relationships in the drama - and thankfully didn't take up much space. I didn't take much interest in that one at all. His different bromances/fellowships and comradeships (esp with the guardians) were what made the drama so enjoyable.

But with so many likable characters it's difficult to give them equal space throughout the drama, esp. in the second half. For example, I was very fond of the Gold Guardian Yang Yan, and I was quite sad that he didn't appear for several episodes later on, I was even worried that he might not appear at all anymore. Thank god, he did though.

I also appreciated that the court affairs/conflicts/intrigues didn't get out of control (didn't become the main force and didn't get too much weight) but instead adapted to the situations and went with the flow. No one-sided ministers and a quite obscure emperor.

If it wasn't for the upcoming 2nd season, I would have been quite disappointed about the finale, because it didn't feel like an ending at all. Too many unanswered questions, the wizard cult wasn't explained enough, etc. The end presented a big cliffhanger and I can't wait for the 2nd season. Hopefully with all those likable characters again.

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Connecting to You Is Colorful, Cute and So Much Fun, From Enemies to Lovers One Thread at a Time

It’s August and we have only had two Taiwanese BLs this year, so I was SO excited for our third one! After watching the trailer, I already had high expectations, and after four episodes, each around 25 to 30 minutes, I can confidently say Connecting to You has absolutely lived up to the hype. You can watch it on Viki or iQIYI.

As the title suggests, Connecting to You is all about connections. Chia Kai has a unique ability to see invisible threads linking people together, with each colour carrying a different meaning.

🔴🧵 Red represents love
🟢🧵 Green represents family
🟡🧵 Yellow represents friendship
🔵🧵 Blue represents hostility
🩶🧵 Silver Grey represents a connection that has not yet been defined

There are more colours with their own meanings, and what makes this ability even more interesting is that it is not only about the colour. The thickness and solidity of each thread also show how strong the connection is.

I absolutely love this concept. We have seen countless dramas where characters can see ghosts or have supernatural abilities, so seeing someone who can literally see the invisible connections between people feels so refreshing and clever. It gives the story a unique way of exploring relationships.

And the irony is even better. Chia Kai can see everyone else’s colourful threads, yet he cannot see a thread connecting himself to anyone. He has become used to being alone and having no connection of his own.

That changes when he meets police officer Tae Wei.

I am LOVING the enemies to lovers setup between these two. Their first encounter had me laughing so hard. Who on earth takes off all their clothes to save a girl who is about to jump from a rooftop? Chia Kai absolutely deserved to get handcuffed by Tae Wei because that whole situation made him look like a complete pervert! The comedy, awkwardness, and secondhand embarrassment were hilarious.

Then, after several chaotic encounters and plenty of bickering, an unexpected accident brings them even closer. When they accidentally knock their heads together, something incredible happens. For the first time in his life, Chia Kai sees a thread connecting him to another person.

And of all people, it is Tae Wei. 😂

A silver grey thread appears between them, connecting Chia Kai to the one person he least expected. 🩶🧵 I love how this supernatural ability is not just there for decoration. It actually becomes part of the romance and gives us a visual way to watch their relationship change.

I also really enjoy the supporting characters, especially Chia Kai’s friend Chaonan. He brings so much fun energy to the series and adds another layer of comedy to an already entertaining cast.

Even the police station scenes are enjoyable. This is not a dark police drama filled with violent crimes and murder. Instead, the police setting is used in a much lighter and more playful way, which fits the overall tone of the series perfectly.

One of my favourite things about Connecting to You is the atmosphere. The comedy works without becoming painfully cringe, the music is fun, the visuals are colourful, and the entire series has such a bright and cheerful feeling. It is genuinely the kind of BL that can instantly lift your mood.

The production and visuals are also really good. I especially love the anime style opening. It gives the series an extra bit of personality and immediately tells you that this is going to be something different.

And of course, Chia Kai and Tae Wei are both ridiculously cute and adorable. Their chemistry is already so much fun to watch, and I cannot wait to see how their relationship develops.

We are only four episodes in, which means we are roughly one third into the series, and I am already loving it so much. It has the perfect balance of comedy, romance, fantasy, fun music, colourful visuals, and a genuinely unique story concept.

Most importantly, I cannot wait to see what happens to that thread between Chia Kai and Tae Wei. Will their connection continue to change? Will it become stronger? And when will they finally realise what is happening between them? ❤️

Connecting to You is definitely going on my recommendation list. If you enjoy cute romance, comedy, fantasy, enemies to lovers, and BLs with a unique concept, please give this one a try. You won’t regret it!

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That's it??????? What's your thoughts?

I just finished this today (Aug 14,2026), and I feel like there is so much to say!

First of all, the episodes. I feel like I'm always being deprived because the episodes are only about 13 to 15 minutes long—including the intro, outro/previews—which is pretty frustrating.

Watching this made me think of my golden 7. I know all about their debut days, their trainings, and their documentaries, and I've always wondered what goes on behind the camera. Seeing this series really made me rethink what idols actually have to face behind the scenes. What happens to those who hear the words, "You're not going to debut this time"?

Second, the music: since it's an idol-themed show, I was really hoping there would be a lot of songs incorporated into it. But given the tiny amount of time per episode, I guess that wasn't even possible.

Third... what even happened to Khun's stalker? And why is it that no justice was served for Jae Min? Also, wait—we don't even know what happened with Ye Eun and Stella!

As for my opinion on Hyeon Jae, I didn't understand him at first, to be honest. Was it all just an act for him? But it turns out those were his true feelings, and when he had the courage to quit and leave his dream behind to give justice to Soo An, I really respect him for that. Though if I were Soo An, I'd probably feel a bit mad—that "I was already part of the issue, so why did Hyeon Jae have to figure it out alone?" kind of feeling. But it worked out well in the end.

For Soo An and the other trainees, I just feel so bad for them because they weren't even given a proper chance to show what they've been working so hard on.

Regarding Hyeon Jae and Soo An's relationship (or lack thereof, since I'm not even sure if they put a real label on it), it definitely felt rushed for a main couple. But then again, the drama is just way too short to really delve deeply into it.

As for Khun, considering how severe the stalking he experienced was, I wonder if his agency even knew? Didn't they do anything about it? He looks rich—he could pay for his termination or quit fee with PNJS, after all—so where he lives should be well-protected, right? But in the video he took once, it really looked like someone was right outside his door. Anyways, I like him.

Now, Jae Min is definitely my favorite. He has this innocent, sweet vibe compared to Khun's more cunning look. Regardless of whether it was his real voice or not when he sang that song, if Khun—who has 10 million followers and is well-known in Thailand—was amazed by him, the company seriously should have secured him! I'm still so frustrated that the trainer embarrassed him like that. My poor baby, and right in front of his crush, too!

As a couple, I like Khun and Jae Min's story. It wasn't too crazy since their main problems stemmed from their individual issues. The English dialogue wasn't great, but honestly? It's not their first language. Coming from different countries and cultures makes communication genuinely hard, so fumbling through different languages and imperfect English is totally understandable.

It's definitely not perfect. I mean, I tried learning Thai—and mind you, I gave up and just learned Spanish instead 😅, which was a little easier for me. I also tried Korean and couldn't understand the writing, so... But I still want to learn both of those languages eventually🥺. Please rec an online where I can learn easier...

I'll always be amazed by idols who still try to learn a language even if they aren't perfect at it!

And can we talk about how the agencies in this series are the absolute worst?!

They can't help their trainees debut, and they can't help clear or find out the truth for them!

There is just way too much craziness happening across all these agencies—from PNJS to Unicorn to Khun's agency—that I don't even want to list it all out.

Overall, it wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either. Every single episode felt rushed because they tried to cram everything into a 13-to-15-minute window, so I pretty much understand why the story flowed so quickly.

I just wish that since they already went to the trouble of creating this, they should have given it a real chance to shine with at least 30 minutes per episode, allowing them to truly delve into each character, plot, and problem.

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Bad Acting

Unfortunately, *East of Eden* just didn’t work for me. I watch a lot of Chinese short dramas, so I’m used to fast pacing, quick scene changes, and storylines that have to fit a lot into a limited amount of time. But even by short-drama standards, this one felt all over the place.

The biggest problem for me was the storyline. Instead of flowing naturally from one event to the next, it felt scattered and sometimes difficult to follow. There were moments when the plot seemed to jump ahead without enough explanation or character development. I found myself trying to figure out how we got from one situation to another rather than becoming invested in what was happening.

The acting also didn’t help. Chinese short dramas can have some surprisingly strong performances despite their smaller budgets and shorter runtimes, but I didn’t feel that here. A lot of the emotions felt forced or flat, and some scenes that should have had a strong emotional impact simply didn’t. I never really connected with the characters or their relationships.

I don't expect every short drama to have a huge budget or perfect writing, but I do expect the story and characters to pull me in. Sadly, *East of Eden* never did.

Overall, this was a miss for me. The scattered storyline and weak performances made it difficult to stay interested, and by the end, I was watching more to finish it than because I wanted to know what happened.

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