Reviews

I don't get the high rating.

I was really excited to watch this drama. I heard many good things about it and the rating was super, but I was quickly disappointed.
this drama is really boring! I skipped so many scenes I was almost tempted to leave the drama halfway into it.

we follow the main leader which is born super strong due to a curse. she tried all her life to help people without letting the world know about her powers.

it could be a good premise but the curse is almost never addressed, only briefly, there is no depth to it.

in the first episodes we get introduced to whom will be the main leader's romantic interest. at first the series tries to imply a "love triangle", but this plot line is abandoned shortly after. the "friend" never gets a real chance even though boon su has been "madly" In love with him for years. no trace of doubts, not for a second.

the president of the ainsoft is kind of a "quirky" character which sometimes Is endearing but many times appears as caricature. he is so over the top. I skipped so many scenes where he basically talks to himself about how sweet his girl is, how cute she acts, even though boon su does literally nothing.

the secondary characters lack in personalities. her best friend, which we know nothing about except that she's from Busan; her brother , which has no depth and a "out of the blue" relationship with another forgettable character.

the whole gangster plot lines was totally unnecessary and frankly boring.

the jokes were corny as hell.
the Indian monk.... I don't even know what to say about that...

the main point of the drama should be the kidnapping case... but that also falls flat. we never get a real motive. the culprit liked a play...and that's it? no backstory, no motives..

let's not forget the "video game" stuff. maybe once in the drama boon su plays a video game, but we are supposed to know that she LOVES games and has always dreamed of creating one...

I don't know why so many people liked it.

the actors are good but the story just isn't there.

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Drama Doesn't Suit Both Main Leads

Please beware of spoilers....

I'm a fan of both Bai Lu and Dylan Wang but there's just something missing in this drama. Both characters seems lacking. The writing and plot are just so-so. There isnt any real emotions coming from either actors because the storyline and writing is limited. The problem I think with Dylan and Bai Lu is that when we see them in other historical/costume dramas, including ones that either have the fantasy genre, wuxia or martial arts, these actors have action scenes and CGI to fall back on. Things like special effects and CGI, mystical powers, brillant costumes, cable wiring and martial art scenes all give the actors that extra flair. But take that all out and put Dylan or Bai Lu in a modern day drama, well, there's not much but their own acting to fall back on. And of course, shoddy writing is a killer too.

Major spoilers:
First, when the FL's bf cheats on her, you don't get feel any emotion from her character. And she even allows herself to get shoved aside by the "mistress" and then she goes out and pouts like a little girl. Even when another colleague steals her interview, again, no real reaction from the FL. We're supposed to take her seriously as a reporter but at the same time, we see her crushing hard on the ML. For someone who was betrayed, the FL has no problem quickly trying to target a rich person. I expect highschoolers to act the way she does but she's supposed to be a professional, grown, mature woman. We have to repeatedly watch her stare at the ML and in slo-mo too. Her staring-while-awkwardly-smiling scenes are so much that it's giving off cringey, stalkery vibes. Also, too much dead space when she just stands there uncomfortably smiling and making no eye contact. Her inner dialogues are often immature and overdramatic. We don't need to hear everything she's thinking if it's just going to be about dumb assumptions. All annoying. It's doesn't make the FL look any better and doesn't complement nor highlight Bai Lu's acting skills at all. Also, her hair and makeup is all the same. Very bland.

As for Dylan Wang, he plays this no-nonsense CEO but he has his doubts. Instead of playing to that emotion, he just seems like he's boringly competitive and jealous. Like how do you make jealousy boring? Apparently the lack of compelling writing and direction can. I'm not sure who the stylist is but some of his suits and jackets don't look properly fitted to him. He sometimes looks like a kid in big clothes. Don't even get me started on his glasses. It's like instead of making him look "dashing" and model-like, his clothes look baggy and often makes him look "aged". He has a good physique so it's disappointing to see him in ill-fitting clothing. The only time he looked really good was when he wore riding clothes. Also, what's with all the camera angles always panning from under Dylan's chin when he make some kind of grand entrance? Not exactly flattering. There's always that low panning of the camera angle on Dylan and then a higher camera on Bai Lu. And is his character supposed to have some kind of "super hearing"? As for his acting, he's the typical Dylan Wang and his character is pretty basic.

I really don't understand the purpose of Dylan's niece. She's just another woman being made to play a dumbed down and immature character. Why do cdramas make women like this? Enough already. And even the FL's best friend just seems like she likes rich dudes too.

Anyways, I'm hoping that the storyline improves. It's a bit draggy. I'll update this later if necessary. (Ep 10.)

Updated:
I just realized I dropped this drama after Ep14.

Every time the two leads were in the car, the car trips are a waste of time. The FL is always avoiding eye contact but then she smiles and giggles when texting and their texts are even boring. So much texting because afterall, they can't have grown up, decent conversations. And then in one scene, the FL runs away and hides from her cheating ex. Why? Because it was the same restaurant they went to? Like who cares? She was sitting with a way better dude. And let's talk about her running away from the ML half the time especially after the FL kissed him... which was... meh.

Apparently the FL lead has no idea about relationships because she keeps calling her bestie for advice who gives the worst advice. She even gave advice when there was a guy in the room who actually knows the ML. Like every woman knows that's just ain't something women do. The bestie can't even get her own sh*t together either.

Then we have to watch the young niece pursuing one of her uncle's friends and she had the audacity to ask him if he was gay when they barely know each other. She's basically stalking him. Actually, everyone is stalking each other! Lol!

And lastly when we finally see the two leads holding hands, it bothered the hell outta me that her jacket belt was undone. Sounds ridiculous, but I telly ya', it was distracting.

Overall, the whole push and pull theme is just boring and unoriginal. There's only so much awkward smiling I can take from the FL.

I read some comments and everyone is complaining about the pace. I don't care how long it takes for the leads to get together, so long as the build up to get there is interesting. I understand that others are also saying that it does or doesn't mirror the book but a show should be able to stand on its own and make you want to read the book afterwards. That's just my opinion.

I'm passing on this for now and if I do pick it up again, I'll be fast-forwarding to only the leads' scenes together. Lowered my rating from a 6 to a 4.

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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... !!

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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

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