Reviews

Goblin had me like…, that’s it ???

Like many international K-drama fans, i got soo many recommendations to watch Goblin. Considering its legendary status, I went in expecting to be completely obsessed. Instead, I finished it wondering... what exactly was all the hype about?

First of all, the romance, the heart of the drama just didn't work for me. The chemistry between the Goblin and the female lead was questionable from the start. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see them as a couple or root for them to end up together. It just felt uncomfortable. She was a high school student, and that age gap was impossible for me to ignore. I know she grows older in the second half of the drama, but by then it was too late. Her image as a high school girl was already firmly established in my mind. Since this is primarily a romance, I wanted to be invested in the main couple but how can you enjoy a love story when the relationship itself makes you uncomfortable? I had to rely on the 2nd lead couple’s romance to keep me going.

Beyond that, the first few episodes were entertaining. The humor, the bromance, and the quirky interactions were all there. But somewhere along the way, the drama seemed to lose its direction. The comedy faded, and the plot started feeling like it was making things up as it went.
Goblin disappears... then comes back. Okay, now what? Kill the female lead... and then reincarnate her? It felt like the writers kept pulling out one cliché after another instead of giving the story a satisfying conclusion.

I can appreciate the cinematography, the soundtrack, and the performances they were all excellent. unfortunately the story was really mid.

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Jasmine with barely any fragrance ?

This drama is the perfect example of how a terrible beginning can sabotage an entire story. Episodes 32, 33, and 34 were genuinely outstanding. They contained everything I'd been waiting for; the real emotional tension... Under normal circumstances, I would've been bawling my eyes out.Instead...

I felt almost nothing~

Not because those episodes lacked impact, but because the first 31 episodes had already drained every ounce of emotional investment out of me. Sitting through ten soporific episodes followed by eleven more that were merely mediocre is no small task. By that time, I had already run out of patience.

If you're someone who enjoys melodrama for the sake of melodrama, you'll probably have a much better experience than I did. The drama serves plenty of noble suffering, sacrifice and emotional speeches. But if you like your stories seasoned and spiced...you might leave the table hungry.

The first ten episodes contribute almost nothing beyond a prologue, character introductions, and a handful of painfully uninteresting assassinations. The story doesn't begin to take shape until Episode 12, when the leads finally start moving in the same direction.
Episode 12...... In a 40-episode drama.... I mean come on ... !!!

"Writer clearly forget to light the fire"~

The only reasons I made it this far were Bai Lu, Ryan, and my respect for the friends who recommended it. Otherwise, this drama delivered absolutely nothing close to what its trailer had promised.

As for the cast...

Bai Lu once again proves that questionable script choices and acting ability are two completely different things. She can pick a drama that disappoints me, but she never disappoints me as an actress. She's effortlessly talented. That said, *Jadewind* and now this one do make me wonder how long I can keep liking her as my fav for her acting talent alone. Her scripts are not scripting to me anymore. She's at her absolute best when a feel good story gives her emotional moments to elevate. Watching Bai Lu cry during an otherwise engaging dull-plot drama is heartbreaking.

I mean ..'Even her magic has limits'~

Ryan...My man is back with his trademark micro-expressions. So microscopic they should come with a complimentary microscope...... Except for scenes like thanking Ye Li for saving his legs or his first visit to the Mountain Academy, he wore almost the exact same expression throughout the series. The frustrating part is that I know he can act. He was fantastic in *How Dare You?* So why does he keep returning to his *My Journey to You* default settings????

Why~

As for the production, the costumes looked good, the sets were perfectly serviceable, and the visual effects were... fine. There wasn't much opportunity for them to shine anyway.

The OST wasn't particularly memorable, but I did love the background score during Episode 1, the entire bride departure sequence. Those sanskrit shlokas chant like BGM was unique ... In a nice way.

Would I recommend this drama?

I wish I could.

But I can't~

Three excellent episodes simply aren't enough to compensate for nearly thirty hours of waiting for the story to wake up.

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Might just be my favorite show

I've watched other shows in this universe, such as Legend of Zang Hai, Ultimate Note, and Time Raiders, but this is by far my top 1 out of all of them. This story makes you laugh, cry, and feel emotions throughout the show. I finished this drama within 2-ish days and put aside all the other dramas that i was currently watching. When watching this drama, i lost track of time, and it felt like each episode took only a little bit of time, instead of 30-40 minutes.

I have not watched any of Zhang Xincheng's work yet, so this was my first impression. It wasn't bad, but it definitely lacked more of the need to cry when the sad scenes came. Zhang Xincheng was better on the funny scenes. Ding Yuxi, on the other hand, is crazy impressive. I've seen plenty of Ding Yuxi's work since he's one of my favorite actors, but seeing him play this role as someone who has 2 consiousnesses in one body is truly fascinating. Whenever he turned into the actual zhang haixia during the sad scenes near the end, you can just feel what zhang haixia is thinking and you can feel his emotions. Seeing the real zhang haixia during sad scenes made me want to tear up.

I really hope that there's another season to this drama 🙏🙏

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How should I describe this

This show is just another regurgitated puke of chiche. Even though, I like chiches, this one, I just can't.
This is one of those shows made for viewing on second screen as you do your main work. But even for that, you are better off just watching political debates on second screen than watch this.
How, this show has this much rating (7.8 as of writing this) one might wonder. Well, here's a golden rule, "if a show was made by some OTT platform, released just now and shoved in you feed every time you open OTT app, then just subtract 50% total rating from that show's ratings and you get the actual rating. As OTT's rather make cheap bad show and make returns based on marketing and fabricated ratings that invest time and money in making good show.

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Finally found what I was looking for in entertainment. 'Actual FUN'!!!

It has sloppy action scenes, cringy morality/motivation speeches, plot gaps and many more flaws. But, despite of everything, IT IS A TRUE FUN, ENJOYMENT. It is amazing really, how you can forgive everything a show does wrong if in the end it truly entertains you, and that's what this show is. It is not perfect, not the greatest, but if you could give it a chance, you will CHERISH this drama.
I have watched hundreds of dramas until now and this is the first review I write. Over time I was becoming zombie viewer of dramas, just watch a drama with dead emotions, all these new dramas felt like writers, producers were just checking checkboxes. You watch them and after finishing them you just feel nothing. Most of the time, you don't even know the name of the drama till the end of the episode. But, with this drama, I finally felt something. The cast, writers, producers made this drama with love and you can feel it. After finishing all three seasons, I could actually feel the emptiness you fell when you finish a good show. The drams name will live inside you head a long time after you finish it. Just watch this, it is not your typical checkbox, spreadsheet show.

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A fun detective story

I'm pleasantly surprised by this series of EngLot because their previous series weren't that great in my opinion.
But this one is really good!
Their acting has improved a lot

I love detective story like this. It made me curious who's the culprit and I love how this stories unfold

The reason I only give 6 for Rewatch Value is because I anticipated every week because I'm curious on how the stories unfold and who's the culprit. But now that I know, its value decrease a bit
But I really enjoyed every single episode

Really great job to EngLot and all the casts!!

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A Captivating BL That Blurs the Line Between Fiction and Reality

Honestly, this is the best Chinese BL of 2026 for me. I've watched a lot of Chinese BLs, and **Deep In** is easily the boldest and most emotionally intense one yet. The intimacy is passionate, emotional, and completely earned. Every intimate scene serves the story instead of existing for shock value. Combined with its psychological themes, romance, and drama, it creates an unforgettable experience.

The premise is incredibly refreshing. Two seemingly straight men, Zhang Zhun and Zhen Xin, both with girlfriends, are cast as the leads in a gay romance series. As they immerse themselves deeper into their roles, the line between acting and reality slowly disappears. What begins as performance turns into obsession, desire, emotional manipulation, and a complete loss of where fiction ends and real feelings begin. The title **Deep In** perfectly reflects how deeply they become consumed by both their characters and each other.

Episode 2 completely shocked me. The NC scene was one of the hottest I've seen in a Chinese BL. The director calls "cut" three separate times, but they keep on doing it because they're so lost in the moment. That scene alone perfectly showcases the incredible chemistry between the leads.

One of the biggest surprises is how young the cast is. Ollie, who plays Zhen Xin, is only 20 years old and was likely just 19 during filming, yet he delivers such a confident, commanding performance with remarkable emotional depth. Shu Yuan, who plays Zhang Zhun, is only 22. Together, they have phenomenal chemistry that feels effortless and completely believable. Their performances are far beyond what you would expect from actors their age, and I genuinely hope they reunite in another series.

I also loved the behind the scenes perspective on acting. The story constantly shifts between the drama they are filming, where they play Dr. Fang Chi and Gao Zhun, and their real lives behind the camera. Watching them step in and out of completely different characters while their own emotions begin to mirror the script adds another fascinating psychological layer. It truly feels like you're watching two stories unfold at the same time, and the director executes this concept brilliantly.

The acting is absolutely top notch. One scene that really stood out was when Gao Zhun revealed that he had been SA’d, the crying and emotional breakdown felt so real. Then the director calls “cut,” and they instantly have to switch back into a completely different role. Playing two different characters in the same series and constantly adjusting between them is incredibly difficult.

Can we talk about Episode 7?
I have watched over 500+ BL series, but no scene has stayed with me the way this one has.
That kiss beneath the falling snow was absolutely breathtaking. I have already rewatched it five times, and it still gives me the exact same feeling every single time.
Instead of saying, "I like you," words that have been said countless times before, Zhen Xin simply said, "I walked 472 steps following you from the hotpot."
That one sentence carried every feeling he could never bring himself to say out loud.
Those teary eyes held every unspoken emotion, every moment of longing, every silent ache, and every ounce of love that had been buried deep inside his heart. Before anything else could be said, Zhang Zhun stepped forward and kissed him.
No grand confession. No poetic declaration. Just two people who had finally found the courage to let their hearts speak for them. It was such a quiet and gentle moment, yet it carried more emotion than a thousand love confessions ever could. The snow, the silence, the tears, and that kiss came together so beautifully that it became something impossible to forget.
This is not only one of my favorite scenes in this series, but one of the most unforgettable and emotionally beautiful kissing scenes I have ever watched in any drama.

The cinematography is another highlight. I really appreciate that the intimate scenes aren't crowded with unnecessary people on set. Instead, the environment stays minimal while the director monitors everything from outside the room, making those moments feel much more natural, intimate, and immersive.

It's even more impressive knowing the director, Liu Jun Hao, is only 27 years old. He's both an actor and director, and the way he brought this complex story to life is seriously impressive. Seeing such a young director and two incredibly talented young actors create something this polished makes the series even more remarkable.

The music is fantastic, every episode leaves you wanting more, and the pacing never loses momentum. If you're looking for a BL with psychological manipulation, an obsessive and manipulative male lead, an unhealthy yet compelling relationship, incredible chemistry, memorable NC scenes, and a truly original concept, **Deep In** absolutely delivers.

One tip if you're watching on Viki or GagaOOLala. Stay until after the credits because every episode includes extra scenes that you definitely don't want to miss.

Chinese BLs continue to raise the bar, and **Deep In** has quickly become one of my all time favorites. If you enjoy mature romance, psychological tension, blurred lines between fiction and reality, and performances that completely pull you into the story, this is a series you should not miss.

For me, this is already shaping up to be the best Chinese BL of 2026.

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There is such a thing as "too much"

The 2nd series by FreenBecky is a period drama and let me tell you, I love period drama

Because all Thai GL are romance series with happy ending, I'm very curious on how they could get their happy ending, especially in the times and situation where those kind of relationship were not accepted

Overall I enjoyed it BUT I don't know whether it's because they wanted to make 16 episodes or not, but the story kinda drags a bit so there are few episodes and scenes that I found boring

But I love all those places and costumes, etc, I found that captivating

I think Freen & Becky's acting has improved from Gap and I know they are popular for those heavy kiss & love scenes
HOWEVER! There is such a thing as "too much"
For me, I really enjoyed the love scenes in Gap, all those anticipation is making me hot and bothered.
At early episodes in The Loyal Pin (TLP), those also made me hot and bothered as well.
But as the series unfold, those scenes became more and more and longer and I don't see the use for putting all those excessive scenes in the series. Sadly, those scenes started to make me feel bothered because it became boring and not exciting anymore

But I watched it because I was curious how their relationship and the stories would unfold and overall I could enjoy it even though I don't think I would ever rewatched it, unlike Gap

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A different and varied series, but perhaps not for everyone...

The series has a unique and different concept. I wish it were available to everyone, not just Thai viewers, so it would receive more attention and perhaps appeal to more people.

The series incorporates traditional Thai culture as well as new and innovative content. From my perspective, I started watching it just for GuideDech, but I really liked the concept. It felt like they were showing us how they came up with the idea. The series truly felt like a real story and very logical.

It might not be suitable or everyone will like it because of some of the events, the traditional performances, and so on, but it's a series worth watching at least once.

The acting might be one of the things I didn't like most about the series, as some of the actors seemed a bit stiff, but that didn't detract from the series' appeal. On the contrary, it seemed more realistic to me.

Finally~~~ The chemistry between GuideDech (NineGuy) and PhetchPloyying was absolutely brilliant.

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I'm sorry but this is the worst series that's full of plot holes, I'm so dissapointed

The 3rd series in 4Elements played by FreenBecky is surprisingly so dissapointing for me

First of all let me tell you this:
I've watched all kind of series and movies from many many countries and cultures so I don't judge that "something is bad" easily because every one has their own charm, strength, and weakness.
And also I've watched almost all Thai GL.

What I hate the most when I watch something new is the overall production. If it gives the feeling of a really small production, I would skip it and I wouldn't say anything bad about it either because I get it, it's a small project with small fund and usually it's a passion project, so I respect that.

BUT!!! The 2nd thing I hate is plot holes.
And The Air is so full of them. I've watched 7 eps, next week is the last ep but lemme give my review now because I don't think it would change even if I wait until next week.

I've watched Gap and TLP and overall I like those 2 series by FreenBecky.
But this series, I very very much hate it and so dissapointed
I think this series is the most series with plot holes I've watched in my entire life
I couldn't enjoy it at all but why I still watch it? Because this is the 3rd out of 4 series in 4Elements.
And I want to watch The Fire next so I feel like I need to know this series first because all 4 series is kinda connected one way or another

I love watching western action series and movie so this much plot holes especially the episodes that have action in them, is bothering me way too much for me to be able to enjoy it

And no hate to Freen, but as a detective who's kinda goofy (in my opinion that's the character's personality, but I'm not sure) I think her expression is way too flat
I actually noticed it since The Earth. I don't know whether that's the direction or just her acting because I've never read the novel. But for me, I don't really like it.
And as a detective who's supposedly very great at her job that makes her very famous, and a complete player, she made sounds like squeels like "kyaaa" is so not cool. I think she should grunt or at least make it sounds cooler, because if she squeels in fighting scene, it suddenly made me feel like I'm watching a cat fight. At least that's how it feels for me.

I don't know if it's because my opinion about this series already bad because of the plot holes, but somehow nothing in this series works for me. The funny scenes doesn't feel funny, the sad scenes doesn't moved me, and the romantic scenes doesn't give me giddiness I usually felt watching other series, it all fell flat sigh


I'm sorry this is a very long review but I really hate plot holes and this series in intolerable to me in terms of plot holes so let me rant about it a bit:


------------------------------------------ SPOILERS ABOUT PLOT HOLES ---------------------------------------------

Now about the plot holes, I didn't take notes because never have I ever thought I could find this many plot holes in 1 series, but from what I can remember after watching 7 episodes:

- How the heck many people from Madelline can speak Thai? From Princess Blew (Becky), her dad the king, her brother the prince, Grace and Henri (Blew's bodyguards and traitors). How do I know they spoke Thai? Because there is no single interpreter in the scene and all of them can talk to common Thai people without any problem so I'm pretty sure they're not talking in English either. Especially Henri because he talks to many lowly thugs and hired mercenaries, and even talks to nurses in hospital while dresses as a doctor. If he talked in English, I'm pretty sure the nurses would be surprised, but they didn't

- The early runaway scene --> Vayo was riding motorcycle but choose to dump it and instead change it to public transport.
And as expected, people in the bus look at Blew strangely because of course, she looks caucasian so it attracts attention.
I think that's a very stupid decision because in doing so, she always have to use public transport and hitchhike and increase the risk of Blew being recognized by bystander

- Many action scenes have many holes, like their positioning that's too open and would be able to be shot easily. One of the worst decision by Vayo is telling Blew to sit on a big log in between 2 trees with her back completely exposed and opened to be shot freely from almost all sides even though they weren't in safe place yet. Like, why don't she told Blew to crouch behind that big log is so strange. And for a detective that's supposedly very good at her job, she made a lot of decision and movement that's kinda stupid. When the bad guy come from the front, she didn't pull Blew to hide behind her but Blew is standing still beside Vayo at an arms length

- The episode 6 is the worst of them all in my opinion, here's why:
(1) Vayo told Blew if she saw the board sign, she should run away to the back of the island. But how does Vayo know where to put the sign? Because Blew was walking around the island with Bua before the invasion so there's a chance Blew wouldn't see the sign
(2) Blew was told to run away to the back of the island if invasion happen, but there's only 1 police on the boat? And sure enough the police was shot sigh
(3) The shootout happened and the bad guys were pushed back and ran away to the back of the island. If Vayo wanna make the back of the island their escape plan, why would they push back those bad guy with clear path there? And after seeing the bad guys ran towards there, Vayo didn't look worried or immediately pursue them but she's like just stand there and watching them run away
(4) Blew already on the boat sailing through the sea when the bad guys saw her and those bad guys ran towards the front of the island to fetch their boats but could catch up easily?
(5) Ok, let's move away from the action. After Vayo was shot while wearing bulletproof, she fell to the water, being rescued by Blew and found unconsious. Blew gave NOT cpr because she just put her lips on Vayo's lower lip, not blowing air into Vayo's mouth lol
(6) Vayo is hospitalized I don't know how long and for what because from what I've seen, she's perfectly fine. How do I know she doesn't have internal damage or something? Because she let Blew slept on her hospital bed while Vayo slept curled up besides Blew. If she had bruises or internal damage, wouldn't that hurt like hell? I think this scene is just made to give romantic moment even though it doesn't make sense
(7) When Vayo's dad visited her at night, she told her dad she is suspicious of her dad's right hand man. In the morning Henri come to take Vayo out in the hospital and the hospital is still in normal situation. But when he found out Vayo isn't there anymore, the shootout happen in the hospital lobby, BUT suddenly the hospital is already empty. I don't think they could organize it that fast, it's just not logical

- In the episode 7, Grace shot Henri just because Henri wants to shoot Vayo but Grace wants to be the one to shoot Vayo herself is just the stupidest decision ever. Especially because they already suspected the police would be there shortly but she chose to shoot her own trusted man?
- After Grace, who is holding a gun to Blew's head, is surrounded by Vayo and the police, why the police bunched up in one position and not spread out even though the space is so big because it happened in open space?
- Grace was at complete disadvantage so why would she shot Vayo only in her arm and leg? She should at least shot Vayo dead because Grace is only surrounded by 2 sides: 1 is Vayo, 2 other polices who's bunched up only in one side. If she shot Vayo dead at the spot she could moves freely because she still has a hostage
- When Grace shot Vayo, her gun completely pointed at Vayo while her back is completely exposed, so why don't the polices there shot her right there and then?

------------------------------------------ END OF SPOILERS ABOUT PLOT HOLES ---------------------------------------------


So, in my opinion, there are too many plot holes that's unreasonable.
If they want to make an opening for romance or suspense, they could make it better, but it's done and I'm dissapointed
I know making action series is not easy but as someone who watches many action scenes, the holes in this series are too glaring to be dismissed

After watching The Earth and The Water and enjoying it, I'm really sad about The Air
I hope The Fire would be good

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