Reviews

Sorry but not sorry!!!... It's my totally Biased rating

Well, being honest... Does this series deserve a 9.5 ? No ... Did I enjoy it? Hell yeah.... Why am I rating this 9.5? Because this series got me hooked and invested in every single episode soo much, that none other series has done yet.

The charm of this series lies mostly of this series being able to create different human perspective and opinion. It was so fun and intresting to analyse the stories and characters after every episode and talk about it with our peers. This made the series even more entertaining that one would not feel of binge-watched.

At first my impression of the series after the trailer was that its just going to be another hot BL series with lot of explicit content(that most of the series are doing just for the sake of popularity). But right after the first few episode, i was proven wrong. I was so invested in the story that the hot NC scenes didn't matter anymore. What mattered was the story, the characters , the trauma the flaws and the judgement. There were definitely some parts of the story which i believe could have been manipulated, but I am not complaining for what it is now as well.

The casting director did a amazing on by casting ForceBook, FirstKhao, NeoMark and Lookjun. I cannot say more to them for their exceptional acting. They gave their best to their roles. We as viewers got to love, hate, resonate and emotionally get invested in all the characters. That means the actors did a really good job.

FirstKhao: What more should I even say
ForceBook: We really need more of ForceBook projects in future. When you watch them, it feels like they are really serious about their work and are hardworking actors. They are kind of actors who grow more and more after every project. Personally I would like to see them in some agressive and bad boy roles.
NeoMark: who would have thought that this pairing would become one of the most incredible pairing in the history. I am just speechless. I hope they better not ignore this one.

Also nonetheless the special appearance cast Papang, Drake, Mond and Mix were so amazing too.
They delivered soo much in such a little screentime.

Gmmtv should make more series like this... !!

Read More

historical masterpiece

Overall: I applaud the writers for giving us this series. I read the book but reviewed the series on its own merits. The cut version is 45 minutes and uncut episodes were over an hour. Aired on YouKu app, GagaOOLala (uncut), YYDS YT channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoqdmwJPCU35AqHWHKLdr5RWqQhBiVl61 (depending on your country) Check out these 2 official movie cuts which center on Yai & Jom
Part 1 of Jom & Yai’s Epic Love Story https://youtu.be/Tt5-Wa5z3RE
Part 2 of Jom & Yai’s Epic Love Story https://youtu.be/vT-HG57Nt7w

Content Warnings: (there were major content warnings that I put under a spoiler)

What I Liked
- sweet moments and excellent chemistry
- finally we had well written female characters instead of cliche stereotypes, these women acted/felt/reacted how real women would
- strong messages without being corny, they showed the unfairness of wealth disparities, they addressed something that happened in episode 3 as traumatic and not romantic, we almost never see this between a married couple in fiction though it sadly happens in real life and then they showed the trauma of what can result from that circumstance
- unique premise
- that Jom had agency
- intimate scenes were done extremely well
- production value

Room For Improvement
- Jom was a bit frustrating in the first half though he really went thru a lot, I blame the editing for unnecessary long pauses
- the ending was extremely rushed and not really clear of what exactly happened, they could have condensed some of the side plots/scenes in the first half of the series to more fully show the ending
- that mustache was awful and not needed in ep 1
- Jom should have said quietly what the year was when he learned who that ruler was as international fans don't know the date (but it's in the series summary)

Read More

Silent like snow.

It’s 2023 and I only just watched this series and I am so glad that I did. I didn’t get the hype when this was airing in 2022. But now I understand.

The cast. I know Kawaguchi Haruna (Aoba Tsumugi) from her previous dramas and movies and I like her. She has a subtle way of acting that comes out of her naturally. I think she is a great actress. I know Suzuka Ouji as well from his past works. I would say that I like his character here (Togawa Minato) the best among his works that I have seen. I didn’t know Meguro Ren (Sakura So) other than the fact that he is an idol. But he was wonderful in this series and now, I am glad to know of the actor Meguro Ren. He had very little lines given his character’s disability. And yet, he was able to express the emotions through his facial expression, his eyes and his gestures (not necessarily the sign language). This series has a wonderful, solid main cast and supporting cast (loved Kaho here!!!).

Story and characters. I was skeptical at first. I was worried how they were going to treat the disability and those with the disability. But hats off the scriptwriter and director for giving them justice. There are no villains in this series. There is no build-up and then an eventual climax. It’s simply a story of the journey of a man who started to lost his hearing at 18 years old, and how that affected his life trajectory, his relationship with his family, his friends and everyone round him. There are no villains here, just normal people with normal feelings like insecurity and jealousy. There is character growth (specially Minato and Nana). There is a most wonderful friendship (So and Minato). There are relationship break-ups, including one that is most heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. There is tension within a family trying to grasp a new reality for a son and brother. This is a journey of self-acceptance, that they are enough and that they are worthy of love.

Other than the story, the main thing that made me so attached to this series are the characters. All of them.

Aoba Tsumugi is such a strong woman who knows what she wants, is honest with her emotions and can look someone in the eye and reveal herself without shame. You see this with how she just jumped head on learning sign language just so she can talk to Sou again face to face. You see this with how she handled her break-up with Minato. You see this as she fights for her and Sou’s relationship.

Sakura Sou is a man who had to go through a difficult process of accepting his disability, his new reality and that he is worthy of Aoba’s acceptance. When he finally met Tsumugi and Minato again after 8 years, he has already somewhat become a man who has faced his demons. But it was different for his family. They had to watch him suffer from the very beginning of his illness until his hearing was finally gone and that definitely changed the family dynamics. In a sense, when Sou broke off all his relationships and connections from high school, in a sense, he spared them this kind of pain that he and his family went through. And so when they met again, all they could see was the Sou who seemed to have stayed the same.

Togawa Minato is the kindest, most amazing friend and boyfriend, who is human enough to feel insecure, but is strong enough to accept that and face it head on. [Spoiler!!!] I was shocked when he suddenly broke up with Tsumugi. Then I rewatched that episode again, and the one before that. And then realized that it was not so sudden. There was always some degree of insecurity that Minato felt in his relationship with Tsumugi. It was this insecurity that made him blind to how much Tsumugi loved him. It wasn’t because of Sou that he broke up with Tsumugi. It was just that meeting Sou again made him realize that he could no longer live with that kind of insecurity. He knew that staying in that relationship would make him start to resent Tsumugi and So, and when that happens, he can no longer be kind to them. And he would be hated, and he would hate himself more. The beauty in Minato’s character is not just his kindness (because really, he is the sweetest, kindest man), but also his honesty about his own feelings and shortcomings. And did I mention how wonderful his relationship is with Sou?

A supporting character that I really liked is Momono Nana (played by Kaho). Oh, I saw her feelings for Sou from the very first shot of them together. I understood how she thought herself and those who are Deaf are different from the rest who can hear. The experience is not the same and it is something that cannot be fully understood by those who can hear (and this was so wonderfully expressed by Masaki Haruo). I understood her jealousy and the always-present-under-the-surface desire to be able to hear and have “normal” conversations and relationships. And I loved watching her subtly change her point of view and grow into this happier woman.

This is a warm and comforting drama that would make you smile and feel all fuzzy. Definitely give it a try.

Read More

would you kill a person for someone's sake?

I watched this based on mydramalist recommendation from other similar dramas that I like. At first, I thought this was a common suspense drama like usual, but this drama turned out could make my emotions up and down because of the character's bond.

Three teenage girls were bound in a complex relationship. They didn't have a relationship like typical teenage girls at their age, but deeper, their bond was so strong that they even influenced each other in something darker, which is murder. I think that's why they titled this drama 'INFLUENCE'.

The tragic story that became the motives might be not so fresh, have seen such themes in another suspenses, but I love how they made me couldn't predict the story. This only has 5 episodes, so not many emotional roller coaster I felt but the revelation of the truth about how deep the characters cared about each other when I thought they despised each other made me cry.

Read More

Real Life Experience in a Show

Except for certain scenes and the ending: This was a series with the perfect depiction of real life and relationships. It showed raw emotion and how messy those early twenties can be. You think you are grown-up and know who you are. Its a show with no good-guy and no villain, just regular messy human-beings.

I was a little disappointed in how the series was tied up at the end, and it felt a little like a cop out. However, I understand why they chose to do as they did. We could have had the same ending, but written better.

I love the characters, the cinematography, the sets, the feelings and the plot. All in all this is one of the best BL shows I have ever watched. And I have already rewtched it in parts and will definitivly do a full rewatch later on.

Read More

Coming of Age

This is a great series exploring coming of age. Who am I? And what is my goal in life? If you look at this as a stricktly romance series I can understand that you miss a lot of the interesting underlying plot lines. I personally love how strings and crumbs were given in episode 1 and with a red thread throughout the episodes became clear how each character had multiple hidden agendas with their actions and experiences.

The series explore self-awareness into adulthood, how ties to family changes from childhood into young adulthood and romantical connections. How past experiences are carried with us and impact our future decisions and reactions in various situations.

Personally I loved how Dunk’s acting showed parrallels in scenes from the beginning of the series to the same scenes happening at the end of the series and you can clearly see his character growth. (Zo is supposed to be an awkward character in the beginning before he grows into himself over the couse of the series. We see Joke grow and learn more about himself as a person and how to approach his friends, family and situations.

The side couple wasnt showed much, but Aou and Boom did amazing in the few scenes they were present. And gave the perfect counter-balance to Dunk and Joongs characters.

Also, we cannot deny that Joong and Dunks chemistry carried in the low plot parts of the series.

Read More

Why Dylan Wang's Acting is Actually Good in Only for Love?

Overall, Only for Love is a well-made and enjoyable C-drama. It is a romantic comedy with a lot of heart, and it is sure to leave you feeling happy and satisfied.

Here are some specific things that I liked about the drama:

The chemistry between Bai Lu and Dylan Wang is undeniable. They have great rapport together, and their scenes together are always electric.

The drama is well-paced and there are no unnecessary filler episodes.
The drama does a good job of balancing comedy and romance. There are plenty of funny moments, but the drama also has a lot of heart.

The drama explores some interesting themes, such as the importance of following your dreams and the challenges of balancing work and love.

The first 8 episodes got me kicking and giggling and gave me goosebumps, I don't why the hate on this series?

Read More

Slow burn you need to watch

After episode 3 I was completly invested. It is a slow burn, but the chemistry is there in spades. If you appreciate a good romance story with undoubtly queer storytelling, this is a series for you. The side couples are also good and have engaging plot lines of their own, and not just as fillers.

The series is quite spicy, but it doesn’t feel added for shock value and misplaced. It feels as its there to drive the story further and as a tool to show the progression of the relationships between the couples. Also, they all have great chemistry in their pairings.

I just love the cuteness, affection, spicyness and clear love in this series. The actor who plays Sky is a standout to me, and I’m now a fan.

Read More

Recommend it for mental health insights!

I'm happy that they released a kdrama that focuses exclusively on mental health issues. I've always wanted to watch something like this and finally I got the chance to do so.
I definitely recommend "Daily Dose of Sunshine" to anyone seeking a comprehensive portrayal of mental health challenges. This kdrama felt real and was very informative for someone like me, who previously had limited knowledge in this area. Through its portrayal, it has provided me with a profound understanding of the experiences and emotions of those going through such issues.
Undoubtedly daily dose of sunshine is one of my favorite kdramas of 2023!

Read More

Wasted Potential

The trailer promised too much and the series didn’t deliver. I love Perth and I love Chimon, but them together was not it. We have seen both actors deliver amazing acting previously this year (Home School and Double Savage as examples) so the subpar delivery of the feelings the characters were supposed to feel is weird. The romance is not believable, however the enemies part of the show is really great. Wasted potential to drive up the tension and drama, but it never delivered. Also, the danger felt sprinkled in without direction.

The side characters are charicatures with no fleshed out story line or personality. Their actions confusing and strange at times because we do not get enough time to get to know them which made them boring. There were so much potential here to make great side stories but we never got it.

The plot was not plotting in my opinion and the chemistry couldn’t carry a series without drivers in the story. It started off strong, but then bellyflopped from the 4th episode and became meh. It wasn’t so bad that I dropped it, but it definitivly will never be rewatched.

Read More

It is too sweet for me that it makes me cringe.

*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)
Title : When I Fly Towards You - 2023 (Complete 24 Episode)
Personal Rating : 7.5/10

It is too sweet for me that it makes me cringe but still it’s a good, youthful, and full of positivity drama with a happy ending. ?

It’s a classic high school youth drama which begins in high school and continues into adulthood. Su Zai Zai is a cute, talkative, and straight forward girl who falls for the genius, aloof and introvert Zhang Lu Rang. They fall in love and get married.
Honestly, I watched this drama because they have the same writer of Hidden Love. Personally, I didn’t enjoy it that much because I have high expectations from it.

There are lot of scenes that are cute and sweet but sometimes it’s too much for me that it makes me cringe specially when I hear the word “Rang-Rang”.

I like their friendship though, the heartwarming relationship between the grandma and Guan Fang and the 2nd couple because they have a nice story line. The 2nd couple have love - hate relationship and one-sided love which is so natural. I feel that the 1st couple story is cute, sweet but flat. The only problem they have is the pressure of ML’s mother. No second lead or jealousy to make things spice up.

Overall, it is not my cup of tea. It is a good drama – classic, but maybe because my preference has changed a lot that this one doesn’t suit me. I watched A Love So Beautiful which almost has the same plot of running after their crushes or first love, but ALSB didn’t make me cringe. And I made a mistake of watching the intros that it almost spills the whole story of the drama.

GENRE – Comedy, Romance, Youth
CAST – Zhang Miao Yi , Zhou Yi Ran

Read More

At the end of the day family always matters.?❤️

*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)
Title : Romance On The Farm - 2023 (Complete 26 Episode)
Personal Rating : 8/10

At the end of the day family always matters.?❤️

“Maybe this is what home is. There’s sorrow, there’s happiness, there’s good and the bad. The meaning of family is for people not to be lonely in this world.” – Maner

Romance on the Farm" is a costume farming light-hearted drama in the gaming world.
Lian Maner (played by Tian Xiwei), a modern girl with a broken family, applied as the first beta tester for a new game because of her lack of funds. She needs to do the missions and collect 1000 taels for her to end the game and received an additional bonus.

After entering the game, she finds herself in an ancient rural village where she encounters the eccentric Lian family, who are her relatives which have farms. She also meets the enigmatic and "tsundere" male lead, Shen Nuo (played by Joseph Zeng). Shen Nuo is non-player character (NPC) with a hidden identity in the game.

Together, they confront troublesome relatives, engage in farming and business ventures. As they go through various hilarious and chaotic situations, their relationship deepens, and they promise to accompany each other through life.
ROTF focuses on family matters – the drama, chaos, favoritisms, and pressure of being renowned or making the family rich which most of the big-extended families have. You will hate the GRANDMOTHER on this drama. ??
Joseph Zeng & Tian Xi Wei have good chemistry. They are so cute together. Maybe in another drama or scenario their chemistry/couple will be one of the best.

Honestly, I am confused if Shen Nuo is playing same time as Lian Maner.? There is a special preview (after she finish the game) where they showed the ML leads name & picture on the organizational chart of the company, he called her name MANER and give her an animal leaf which Shen Nuo gave her inside the game but didn't show his face.?
Overall, it is okay for me, not great but okay. The lead couple’s romance is light, and they have few romantic scenes since the FL focuses on her family matter and the ML is focused on his mission too. Let me remind you, the story starts and ends inside the game only so after the game there is no other story.

GENRE – Costume, Comedy, Romance, Life, Family

CAST – Joseph Zeng , Tian Xi Wei

Read More

Refreshing piece amongst the masses of low quality dramas out there

At first one might think this drama is all about solving mysteries which all unlock pieces to the final puzzle at the end and everyone goes home happy. This is not that drama. It's so much more than that. MLC is ultimately a heartfelt drama where the writers gently invite us to go on an emotional journey with the main character Li Lian Hua aka Li Xiang Yi where he ends up being confronted by his past, the reality of his past self, and his reconciliation with all that he was during the height of his renowned fame and reputation.

As many here have mentioned, it is a story that evokes a lot of emotion because it's centred around the themes of letting go, forgiveness, the chance to change, and that we are all but mere human beings, capable of mistakes, guilty of having a past that we might not be proud of, and appreciating the simplest things in life.

While the mysteries weren't executed in a way that allows the audience to delve into the stories and use our own deductions to solve the cases, the undeniable chemistry between the three leads, the brilliant and engimatic acting of Cheng Yi, the natural ease with which Joseph and Aero assumed their roles, and the concise and beautiful storytelling that is consistent with driving the plot forward all make MLC a profound viewing experience.

I think viewers would love to see more of this kind of theme-centred and mature narrative with strong character development in a sea of disappointing cdrama productions that has been saturated with use of vulgar clickbait videos or contrived romantic storylines with pretty faces as a means of garnering attention to an otherwise empty storyline.

MLC stands out amongst the rest because the writers and the production team seem to care about what they are doing and have put a lot of effort into delivering quality and consistency to its viewers, proving that China can produce noteworthy pieces that don't compromise on the authenticity of the narrative as a result of relying on cheap plot devices for the sake of guaranteed viewership ratings.

Watch MLC if you want something different to all that other stuff going on in subpar cdrama productions.

P.s. I absolutely loved the ending! (Unlike most!)

Read More