Reviews

Oke but not Okay

drama terburu buru yang pernah ditonton, drama lain ep dua itu perkenalan. Drama ini udah pemberontakan wkwkw

ceritanya buru buru, gaada napasnya banget. beres konflik satu lanjut konflik selanjutnya. intrik istananya kompleks banget agak capek nontonnya.

cinematography jujur agak kureng, cg dibeberapa scene agak aneh. banyak adegan yang didramatisasi juga. bahkan seinget aku di eps awal tuh ada sempet kamera geter jdi keliatan kayak short drama gutu huhu agak sad yah.

tapi untuk akting, yiran dan dudu udah gausah diraguin lagi dua duanya oke polll

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Very strong beginning and ending, middle part drags

This is going to be really long, because I just finished it and I have a lot of feelings about it lol. This show could've been a masterpiece, but it unfortunately failed to deliver. The first 15 episodes are absolutely brilliant, if I had known that would be where the story peaked, I would've watched until they jumped into the river of forgetfulness and dropped the rest of it tbh. They set up the story so well in the first arc with her being carefree, happy, loved by her family and Gu Jian, riding horses in the desert. It was amazing story building, so when all that gets taken away from her, you really feel her pain. She was ultimately betrayed by the person who she trusted and loved the most, him pushing her unto Li Chengyin on that bridge was heartbreaking. She kept looking back at him but he was set on betraying her, I was yelling No don't go please because we knew what was coming. If only she had managed to elope with Gu Jian none of this shit would've happened, but he ended up making a choice he would regret for the rest of his life.

Then she meets the crown prince again who lies to her from the beginning about his identity and manipulates her trust to get her to lead them to her grandpa so he can annihilate her whole family. A grandpa who loved her and doted on her, warrior cousins on whose knees she would rest her head and who had always protected her. Once again the love for her family was established well, so the climax of the betrayal hits even harder. The main leads fell in love along the way, but never does he stop going for his goal even though he knew how much it was gonna hurt her that she was the one who brought the prince to her family.

The fact that her family took him in and treated him as their own added another layer to the betrayal, it was hard to watch. Some scenes that stood out is the prince suddenly riding over and switching sides on the battleground and putting on his Li armor, that was absolutely brilliant and gut wrenching. Then when he beheads her grandpa and she sees it and just absolutely loses it in the tent while screaming in so much pain. My heart broke for FL. At least ML had the decency to act a little bit sorry at that point. Another great part was when Gu Jian ties her to his back and takes her away, the prince tries to stop them but she just hangs there without looking at him and silently cries, utterly defeated so the prince lets them leave. She then finds out Gu Jian betrayed her too, that her mother is dead and her father went crazy leaving her with basically no one and it was all her fault for falling in love with the enemy. I felt so much for her. The first part was emotional, gut wrenching, beautiful 10/10.

Now, while I understand that they had to give her amnesia, because how could she live with the guilt of this all, I hated that they made him forget too. After they jump in the river the show takes a serious nose dive. She wakes up at the palace and the next 30 episodes it's just ML being mean to her to "protect" her. Even making her believe he's in love with that concubine and openly favoring her. It's even implied that he sleeps with the concubine to keep up pretenses, they hug so many times it was just gross. I know he was using her to "protect" FL but he could've let FL know about it like in 10 miles of peach blossoms where the ML tells Susu he has to be mean to her to protect her. Here though, he never explains his behavior to her and almost to the end she believed he only loved the concubine. What was even the point of marrying her if he couldn't even show the most basic decency to her. He was yelling at her, sticking up for the concubine but not her, he slapped her (!) and then was like "i had to" to his general, no wtf you could've just fake yelled at her again, what do you mean you had to slap her. And then after all this she still fell in love with him the second time? I don't buy that she could've loved him with how he was treating her, even though it was an act from his part.

What I would've preferred is for their marriage to have been happy, preferably with his memories intact making her fall in love with him again while navigating the guilt of what he did to her. Imagine the pay off if she had a loving marriage, gets her memories back and realises it was all based on a lie? That's why I think him forgetting ruins the show after the first arc. He literally only remembers in the last episode, so we don't even see him deal with the guilt for what he did to her. It was a waste of 30 episodes of bickering, her being annoying outside the palace and contstantly causing trouble. Safe to say I skipped a lot in the middle as there was no character development and the scenes got repetive.

But then the last 5 episodes or so become brilliant again. I know a lot of people hate Gu Jian, but I just couldn't. Him betraying her in the beginning caused him so much regret and pain that he could only be by her side to protect her and drink himself to death every night. He was also a victim of the circumstances and pushed into it by his obsessed godfather, who was willing to hurt innocent people to get to his goal. What's important to me is that Gu Jian regretted it so much it was killing him (Something ML never does after he loses his memories) and during her time at the palace where she was isolated and lonely, he kept her company. He shouldn't have lied to her, but he had her best interest at heart which was taking her away from that place even though she didn't want to go. But ultimately taking her away from there was the best option for her, proved by the fact that she tries to leave several times after she regains her memories. He was the only one who saw how cruel it was to leave her there with everything ML had done to her in the best. Adu and the general just kept the truth from her, never intending to tell her or take her away and save her like Gu Jian. Yes he lied too, but at least he was trying to help her even when she didn't know she didn't belong there among her enemies. Another reason I can't hate Gu Jian is when the prince shoots that final whistle and Gu Jian rushes over even though he knew it was a trap, tells me what kind of person he is. He would do anything for FL and by protecting her and taking her away he had already made up for his sins in my eyes. FL said he wasn't gonna come cause she's not that important, but of course he came. He would do anything for her. Him getting pierced by the arrows was so painful for me, especially with ML going all psycho pulling her head to force her to watch and FL just absolutely breaking down. Then when she cradled his body and sang to him, I totally broke down. Also when he gave her the hairpin and she told him "I'm gonna put it in so you can see how it looks", man so sad. The flashbacks to their happy past intertwined with the sad memories were brilliantly done. She had ultimately forgiven him for what he did. That one mistake which he regretted for the rest of his life was undone by him coming to her for the last time when she needed him. So I can't hate him for betraying her nor for lying to her. He was the person she loved the most in the world, even if it wasn't romantic anymore and he got shot by her husband. That was the point where there was absolutely no going back anymore, ML had become a straight up cruel villain and it was brilliant.

What I loved too was when she leaves the city and runs into the general and despite being all about duty the entire series, he decides to let her leave. He too cared a lot about her and was a victim of guilt for what they did to her. I loved his character so much and him letting her go was one of the climaxes of the show.

Unfortunately it came down to a war again and FL ends up sacrificing her life to prevent it. I unexpectedly felt sorry for the ML, he had just gotten his memories back (in the last fucking episode, another missed opportunity) and I can't imagine what was going through his head and then to lose her like this immediately was horrible. He didn't even have time to process his memories, I wanted to know if he regretted not loving her better in the palace, even when only in private. And if he regretted not telling her he treated her like that to protect her. And a proper apology for everything would've been nice. I wish they gave them more time to talk about the past, the fact that he gets his memories back isn't really explored.

I do like that they referenced the 3 wishes from the very beginning, and living well being one of them. She knew he'd off himself so she used her final wish as an oath to keep him alive. She's a better person than me. I liked it honestly, though I wish it wouldn't have been a war she was preventing but more of a private moment with the ML where she could've told him what he did wrong and they could've said what needed to be said and then she could've killed herself because she couldn't live with him and with herself. But yeah her dying was the only possible outcome, this story couldn't have ended up happy.

All in all the first 15 episodes and the last 5 are brilliant, the middle 40 episode or so are basically filler and I feel like a wrongly chosen plot because a happy marriage with his memories intact, knowing he's deceiving her would've made for a much more tragic ending once she gets her memories back. This way there was barely even love between them with the fighting non stop and her thinking he doesn't love her. I don't regret watching this, the beginning and ending were so good 9.5/10, but the middle is a 7/10 for me, with the amnesia being the biggest reason.

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A must watch if you liked prequel beat coin. But a great variety show in general

The reboot of Beat Coin is one where you can feel the original series while introducing a fresh spin that keeps it exciting and engaging. It might be a good idea to watch the original series BEAT COIN because they have infused numerous references and nods to the show's classic moments, making it a loving nostalgic experience for long-time fans. The show itself is super fun and chaotic as always. Their dynamic is great The reboot maintains a similar vibe to the earlier I will call it 'seasons', especially with its witty dialogues and also keeping some of the concept of "luck of the coin."
Why should you watch it I say?
Well. Not to spoil anything but, a funny moment in the first few episodes, there is a particularly memorable scene where the humour and absurdity the show is known for. The cast find themselves in a scenario where they must act as cold-blooded killers while simultaneously trying to keep their composure, all while a whistle is placed in their mouths. Watching them navigate this ridiculous situation is nothing short of hilarious, showcasing their comedic talents. My favourite of the performance comes from Wooyoung, well other than being a cast member on variety he is also a well-known member of the idol group 2PM. In these episodes, his character faces a situation where his dignity is humorously put to the test. This particular moment has become a talking point among fans in the Hottest fandom (2pm fandom name), who find it amusing . You can really feel that they do indeed have a screw loose sometimes when they film.

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WHAT A THRILLING ADVENTURE AND EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

First things first, I 100000% recommend watching.
This is what happens when you cast the Best Leads and supporting actors as well as have a great production team👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾YOU CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPIECES!!! As an audience member, I can tell everyone involved in this film loves their job!!! I’m dreading the next few days cuz I’m already miss Zhang Hailuo, Zhang Haixia and Shifu(Zhang Haiqi). The ending aside, the story was beautiful told and the process had me laughing and crying. My biggest flowers to Steven Zhang and Ding Yuxi, they are masters of their craft. Their expressions really brought the characters to life. I’m VERY SATISFIED with the drama, tbh it exceeded my expectations!!!!

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Sometimes low ratings make you miss hidden gems, and this series is definitely one of them

Just finished this series and I'm honestly confused by the low rating.

The concept is fresh, the actors are handsome, and their acting is really good. I only found it recently because the rating made me overlook it before, which is a shame.

Compared to so many dramas that are packed with unnecessary scenes and dragged-out storylines, this one felt refreshing and enjoyable from start to finish.

I genuinely don't understand why it's rated so low. It deserves a lot more love than it's getting.

"Don't let the rating stop you from giving it a chance—you might end up enjoying it as much as I did."

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Sweet Sweet Boys, Sweet Sweet Loving

I’ll admit the beginning felt a bit slow but DO NOT DROP IT!!!

This show has to be one of the sweetest and loveliest BL I’ve ever watched. It’s such a feel-good fluffy series with the right amount of spice.

The acting is perfect, storyline interesting, chemistry between the two actors is too cute, I’ve never seen anything like it!!!

If you love power bottom and sweet sweet cute BL romance shows, you better be watching this one!

There’s not so much to say than it’s a relaxing and amazing BL show to watch. Lol, made me want to fall in love!

10/10 for me!

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They could have done better

I honestly was looking forward to this drama, but it left me disappointed.
Heo Nam Jun's acting was excellent. I just didn't like that Lim Ji Yeon was speaking with a Joseon accent for the entire duration, even though she learned the technology and everything; otherwise, her acting was good as well.
The story just did them dirty. They could have finished it in 10 episodes, and a lot of things would have made sense then; I don't know why they had to drag it for 14 episodes. That's what ruined the whole plot.
Too many plot holes, things ignored, details missed out, the same scenario repeated in different scenes, and the drag was awful. I feel like towards the end, they just came up with random scenes to fill the number of episodes. Honestly, a waste of talent and time for the cast. Some scenes were so long for no good reason. And even though it is a fantasy drama, they just did not care about things that they should care about and put effort into making the drama make more sense.
Sad that this didn't meet the expectations of a lot of people. I feel bad for the cast as well. The writers should have done a better job.

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Action, adventure and a lot of unanswered questions

I watched the first half mostly in the background, because the story was a chaotic mess and the production lacked authenticity. Everything felt staged and over-directed, pushing for surface-level drama and leaving little space for genuine storytelling.

The story takes us on an erratic rollercoaster of emotions jumping from mystery to mystery with a lot of action and comedy on the way, but I wasn’t swept away. There’s very little word-building and contextual explanation, which made many of the dramatic twists seem avoidable and unconvincing (like how could a careless spilling of a single (fake) name lead to a complete destruction of a century-old secret organisation or why was one of the mains tricked to go to a deathtrap region and left to run wild with no supervision). I guess the writers thought the less we know, the better the mystery but it didn’t work for me. Instead, it made the story feel choppy, investigations unfinished and the character motivations very confusing.

The investigation part was peak unintentional comedy. The brotherly duo closed cases with awe-inspiring nonchalance. Why waste time solving puzzles, when you can just spectacularly blow shit up! If only they managed to actually kill someone… Why no one they killed ever stayed dead was the real big mystery of the drama;)

I also had a hard time grasping the emotional ties between the three main characters. On the surface, the two adopted brothers and fellow agents of the mysterious Zhang family are each other’s opposite. Zhang Hailou is a reckless brat who craves danger. Zhang Haixia is the reasonable and calculating brains behind the operation. However, his unwavering loyalty, indulgence towards Hailou (and danger), and self-sacrificing tendencies hint at codependency and emotional complexity that barely gets explored. Their mentor, a centenarian called Zhang Haiqi, loves to be cryptic and unhelpful. I had the hardest time understanding her actions and motivations, because she often seemed to hinder the two instead of aiding them …or more accurately she hindered one of them which seemed counterproductive. I questioned her leadership qualities a lot.

I wish the story included more details about their past, how they met and how their bond changed and grew over the years, with more natural interactions between them. The part of the story where Haixia and Hailou spend three years together cut off from the organisation begged for a deeper exploration of their emotional states - Hailou’s daily caring for Haixia while struggling with guilt and Haixia feeling like a burden to him. This was a huge turning point in their lives, yet it's treated very briefly and only skims the surface. The lack of detailed character arcs is another reason why I never got fully immersed in the story.

I don’t want to go into too many details on this, but I really didn’t like the cinematography and chosen aesthetic. Special effects in the early episodes were bad and were probably responsible for the unnatural lighting that made a lot of scenes lack physical depth. I also didn’t like how the action scenes were filmed. I assume they were going for a stylized, comic book vibe with the speed ramping and freeze frames, but the effect was a disjointed mess.
And who's idea was it to give these beautiful men ghostly faces?! Heavy make-up and dramatic, blue-tinted lighting should never ever go together! It made them look like photoshoot models come haunting and kind of broke my immersion.

Comedy and acting were the two bright spots for me. Zhang Xincheng is brilliant. In goofiness or in sorrow, I always connect with his acting. If you liked him in Young Blood, then you’d like his role here too. Ding Yuxi’s stylish badass persona was really fun, complete with a rakish gaze and indestructible haircut;)
Their chemistry worked better in the explosive moments than in the quiet ones. The reunion in the temple was probably my favourite of their scenes together. I’d love to see them as adversaries in a future drama:)
Jiang Peiyao as Haiqi fit the other two leads with her playful stylized acting. I never warmed to her character, but that’s more on the writers than the actress.

After the first 10 episodes the plot gets more focused and engaging, the stakes heartbreakingly personal, and we finally get some explanations. As to whether those are convincing, you’d have to judge by yourself;) The comedy shines in the second half with verbal sparring between Hailou and Haiqi as they spend more time together, but some scenes are unbearably cringe (almost every moment with the phoenix lady really). The visual side also improved …or my tolerance for it did;)). In any case the sets and locations were more immersive and the costumes gorgeous!

Step by step the board gets set for the final showdown between two surprising opponents, which held a lot of promise. The tension was rising all the way till the finale… which turned out to be an utter disappointment with a lot of nonsense writing. The way the final confrontation went down was especially underwhelming after such a long build-up and all the heartbreak the writers put these characters through. The last thing I needed at the end was more off-camera secrets and cryptic statements:/

I’d only recommend this drama if you want something light to play in the background or are a fan of one of the actors. Maybe light isn’t the right word, because I saw people in the comments bothered by the amount of death and corpses. There’s definitely a fair amount of murder, tragedy and supernatural monsters, but the overall tone is more in line with adventure comedy than horror.

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It was one of a kind ~ we need more dramas like this

The plot is One of a Kind delicately captures the political nuances and shifting dynamics in China and its surrounding regions after World War I, particularly following the fall of Germany. Over the course of 48 episodes, we witness the profound influence of Russia, Japan (most prominently), the US, and the UK in North China. Given the historical context, I can't help but feel that this is the version that made it past the censorship filters of the CCP-affiliated board,... leaving me to wonder what the real cost of freedom must have been in those times.
If someone asks me to recommend a similar show i cant... Sure genres can be replicated but the plot was entirely unique .

The pacing is deliberately slow, as the story doesn't strictly begin or end.. it simply follows two years in the lives of AMA cadets during their graduation period. What surprises me, however, is just how much happens in that short span: military standoffs, shootouts, undercover operations, kidnappings, bombings, political intrigue, coups, and financial crises. The odds feel stacked, and at times it seems as though the writer mistook this small military academy for the only functioning institution in all of China. From something as pivotal as the Twenty-One Demands to something as trivial as an underground fight club, everything ties back to the academy and its cadets. It's a lot—even for fiction. That said, I was never bored, so I'll let it slide.

Where the writer truly shines is in character development. The first half is heavily dedicated to the parallel leads, especially Qu Manting. Wu Jiayi delivered a phenomenal performance, completely overshadowing Bai Lu in the first 20–25 episodes—something I never thought possible. Her character is written with immense care, and she plays it with savage precision. Every single-breath-dialogue-delivery, every expression, and her chemistry with Xu Kai? Chef's kiss.

As for the leads, Xie Xiang (or Xie Liangchen) felt lackluster, and Bai Lu struggled to bring much depth to the role. For most of the show, she wore the same dull expression. Even Gu Yanzhen wasn't given much to work with, but Xu Kai's effort and expressive acting made his character worth watching. The type chemistry (in-organic) between the leads wasn't my cup of tea, for most of the series they were not involved with each other so that romantic aspect was very much missing.
On a side note, Bai Lu must have been injured multiple times during filming—her hands were visibly wounded even in scenes with no prior action.


The OST is just okay. I wasn't particularly fond of the "Romeo and Juliet" track, so I won't rate the music highly.

However, the costumes, weapons, set design, and impressive casting all reflect the high production value of the show.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this drama. It could have been improved if the writer had involved other institutions or cadets in filler plots—centralizing everything around AMA felt a bit forced. Still, One of a Kind is absolutely worth watching.

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This is one of my favorite dramas, even though I initially started watching it because it stars Bailu, who is my favorite Chinese actress. But after I started watching it, I found myself eagerly awaiting the release of each new episode, and it became a source of inspiration for me. Maybe it’s because I really love romance and angst-filled dramas, which made me enjoy this one even more. The plot is full of twists, so it’s hard to predict and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The soundtrack is pleasant to listen to, and the acting by the cast is excellent. ˃͈◡˂͈

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some of the best written thai gl characters

this is less of a review and more of a very long think piece read at ur own discretion lol

honestly, i didn't particularly care for the storyline during the first half of the series. one of the main reasons i kept watching was because of how brilliantly the characters were written. right from the start they felt incredibly real, flawed, and three-dimensional, even when i wasn't fully invested in what was happening around them. but then episodes 7-8 happened and from then through to the end of episode 10 (which i think is the strongest-and my favorite-episode of the series) i was completely hooked and that is easily my favorite stretch of the show. the final two episodes were slightly weaker in comparison, and the mafia plotline completely threw me for a loop ?? lmao, but by that point i was already very emotionally invested in the characters that it didn't take away from how much i ended up loving the series.

what i think the series excels at more than anything else is character writing. these are some of the most believable protagonists i've seen in a thai gl ever. the show never tries to force them into neat categories of "good" or "bad". it allows them to be contradictory, selfish, caring, impulsive, immature, 3 dimensional characters. they make bad decisions, and hurt each other, then they regret those decisions, and continue making mistakes because that's literally what real people do. the biggest strength of the writing is the show understanding and showing you that flawed people are still deserving of love.

the push-and-pull dynamic between pun and ploy works so SO well. from the get go, the relationship is complicated by pun's plan to get close to ploy because of her brother, (something we later learn ploy already knew about, which adds even more layers to the conversation), but there's a much more interesting emotional layer underneath that, ploy. she completely shuts down the moment she senses abandonment, betrayal, or emotional pain. she refuses to communicate, lashes out, she is avoidant and becomes intentionally hurtful, she hides behind an emotionally cold exterior. the series makes it clear that it stems directly from the way she was raised. i loved that they allowed her upbringing to have lasting consequences on the way she navigates relationships and how that seeps into her every day life, they don't treat childhood trauma as something people just "get over."

and then, pun. her characterization might be truly one of the most realistic i've seen in a thai gl. almost everything she does is so so believable to me, down to the smallest details and quirks. her artistic side especially resonated with me specifically. the fact that she writes down her thoughts, folds them into little paper butterflies, and creates an entire butterfly wall out of them is such a beautiful piece of characterization!! small stuff like that to tell you what kind of character and person she is. i think her choices throughout the series are so incredibly grounded and realistic as well (count how many times i use the word realistic or real lol). sometimes she acts selfishly, (ex. using ploy to get closer to her brother, using bee, and kissing her just to make ploy jealous.) other times she makes impulsive decisions without thinking (and still the series does not reduce her to a dumb character whatsoever!), or keeps very important things to herself, like refusing to tell her family about the money she lost because she's worried, because she doesn't want to disappoint them, especially when she constantly compares herself to prang in her parents' eyes. i don't view her as a bad person because of these choices, but i dont think they automatically make her a 100% good "pure" character either, i loved that!!! that's good!!!! the series consistently refuses to moralize ALL of its characters (but esp pun and ploy), you are forced to sit with the choices they make and the consequences of them and you are forced to think about them and spend time trying to understand.

THIS!! is how you write toxicity🙏🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭😭😭. both pun and ploy are deeply flawed, but the narrative refuses to romanticize or excuses the ways they hurt each other. their actions have consequences, they're forced to confront those consequences, and their character development feels gradual and earned. so many thai gls are guilty of introducing conflict simply for the sake of creating angst before resolving everything an episode later with a quick apology or confession. this series does not fall into this pattern. i think every conflict pushes the characters forward, and every reconciliation feels like something they have to work for.

despite dealing with heavier emotional themes, the series also has an incredibly fun personality. i loved how quirky and unique so much of its execution was, esp in the 1st half. the "angel" persona on pun's shoulder that's actually the devil in disguise (literally lmao) , alongside the pun-in-a-mustace man / sherlock persona (?) that acts as the sensible voice of reason, were such funny additions that made her internal conflicts much more entertaining to watch.

im not one to be thrilled for romcoms usually, but i need to admit that the series does comedy so, very well. at the same time, i think the show is at its absolute best during its quieter, and more vulnerable scenes where the writing and performances shine the brightest, and where i find myself able to emphasize most with the characters and join in on this vulnerable space that the actresses manage to create.

another small aspect that i think is worth mentioning is the friend group. it felt like an ACTUAL group of queer friends living their lives. it's such a small thing, but it made the world feel so much more lived in. one other creative decision i absolutely loved was episode 10's choice to never actually show pun in the present. we only experience her presence through a video, or flashbacks and memories other characters have of her after she's disappeared to the other side of the world. very deliberate choice to heighten the emptiness her absence leaves behind, and i 100% think that episode wouldn't have hit the same if the audience had been able to see her normally.

i legitimately stood up and started clapping when pun chose new york despite ploy still being in thailand. i loved that the writers allowed her to choose herself. new york is her dream. it is one more reminder on top of tens of others the writers sprinkle throughout the story that these women are individuals before they're partners. they have their own ambitions, identities, and agency outside of each other. media so often strips female protagonists of that agency by having them sacrifice their dreams, careers, or education ect.. for love because everything magically works itself out in the finale. the series doesn't exactly do that. it frames pun as her own person first and foremost, and i was seriously glad to see that thank you player

one could argue though that ploy leaving thailand is maybe in itself a sacrifice , but i also think the series addresses that through their conversation where she admits that acting was never truly her dream, pun was, she made a deliberate choice that her character does not suffer from or 'lose' something from.
regardless, it is a deliberate writing choice that feels like a breath of fresh air.

pacing is another thing i thought the series handled exceptionally well. i might have mentioned above how the show took their time with conflict resolution. i also just found the story itself coherent. outside of the mafia subplot, which felt almost completely disconnected tonally 💀, i don't think i found myself questioning the internal logic of the narrative and i dont think there were any plot holes that were left unresolved. i also have to mention the supporting cast because i seriously enjoyed jay and prang just as much as pun and ploy, and at certain times even more than them. they work beautifully as a couple, but they're compelling as individuals too, especially prang.

to further highlight just how strong i think the character writing is, ying's character has what i think is like less than thirty minutes of total screentime (if even) and STILL comes across as a fully realized interesting person. the same can be said for most of the other minor supporting characters. that is something i find a lot of thai gls struggle with, with their side characters usually ending up feeling very flat, but this is absolutely not the case here. and this to me is another testament to just how much care went into the writing.

one of the very first things that caught my attention, and something that continued to impress me throughout the entire series, was the cinematography, post-production and overall editing style. the framing is i think unlike anything i've seen in a thai gl before (ik i still have a lot to watch ok). the camera lens choices, the barrel distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, color grading, and lighting all come together to create a really distinct visual identity for both parts of the show. and past episode 7 (i think?), the series undergoes a very deliberate shift in its color grading that mirrors the emotional shift in the story.

i also really appreciated that the soundtrack wasn't just the same ost playing over and over again. the sound design is some of the strongest i've heard in a thai gl i think?, i dont think i can remember even a single moment where the audio felt awkward or poorly mixed

i think my criticisms are fairly straightforward? the abusive parent redemption arc strikes again... we're tired......... i'm always put off when stories decide to go in that direction. the mafia plotline was actually so random that i'm choosing not to even unpack it because... what the f*ck was that?

while some of the romantic dialogue felt a little clunky during the earlier episodes, that completely disappeared for me in the second half. the 2nd half honestly feels like a completely different series. i absolutely LOVED how the tone gradually shifted from something quirky and fun and very classically romcom-y into this much heavier, angsty and emotional almost melodrama. that's also where i think the actresses really shine. icememi are fantastic in the quieter, and more emotionally demanding scenes. that’s also where the acting feels most natural i think. the acting was absolutely phenomenal all throughout the second half and the slight doubt i had completely vanished.

overall! i can very obviously tell just how much love, care and hardwork was poured into this series. i can only hope more writers and directors look at shows like player for inspiration because this is the kind of character writing i want to see more of!!

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Watch for Heo Nam Jun and Supporting Cast - NOT for Storytelling ⏳☄️✨

Let’s start with our leads and the foundation of our story, its romantic arc. First, I gained so much respect for Heo Nam Jun through this series! I have seen him do decent work in the past, but this character gave him an opportunity to shine, which he did brightly 🌟 His character went from two dimensional chaebol, to emotionally complicated prince, to a love stricken, heart driven man - fluidly - with a clear evolution that we could follow and get behind. He very much carried the romance, particularly when our comedic time slipping aspects needed to mellow so we may connect to the heart of this love story. If you are a fan, i would watch the entire series for him, easily.

Im Ji Yeon, on the other hand, doesn’t exhibit the same fluidity between comedy and melodrama. Through this series, i am noticing that I have a preference for her realistic characters, which of course this one was not. She tends to rely on outside/in personality development in comedy, which works for short pieces, like a comedic film, or the theatre. This character, however, was complex. The script didn’t fully sell it, so in the end it landed on her to make us believe it. For my taste, her farcical/comedic approach to her astronomical time slipping character was very appealing at the top, but needed to melt at some point to support the romantic arc, which was the absolute core of this world. Further, she needed to be able to meet the emotional development of her co-actor / romantic interest. Unfortunately, for my oreference, she opted to stay with the personality driven character that was relevant at the top of the series, but not toward its more heart wrenching aspects toward the end. The director is ALSO very much responsible for this. Although I enjoyed her plant whipping 🌿 chasing antics when it was appropriate, we needed to FEEL this life altering, time bending kind of Love.

As for our supporting cast, it was mostly A list actors, and i truly celebrate them. It would have been a blast to be part of this set, with this group of diverse and talented actors. They also carried the piece in the places where our directing and screenwriting disintegrated. I laughed a lot and cursed them often (as appropriate for the narrative 🫰🏽).

The directing was decent and mostly supported the story, minus the already mentioned lack of support of the romantic unfolding. Unfortunately, It was a mediocre script. They took a crazy risk with this concept, and it had potential to be great, but it needed to be fully developed in order for us to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy it at face value. Dramaturgy (script development) needs a home in Kdrama land. In this case, aspects of the story seemed added part way, while others fell away, leaving holes in its stead. In general, our script lacked coherence. Yet! It was entertaining, at that superficial level.

All in all, i enjoyed the ride ⏳☄️✨ even with the disappointment of the script and imbalanced depth of our romance.

(Initially a comment, but thought it might be helpful to others later 🤓)

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