Reviews

One artsy series with high production and directing quality

I'm not so crazy about the story (to each's own), but some people might like it. I give it a 9 because this is one of the few martial arts series I've seen with a high-quality production value—especially the directing. The director is an artist. He did the slow motions perfectly, not over-abused and repetitious. The music is top-notch. Very fitting of the moods. The OS is excellent with a Blues undertone. The storytelling is a bit confusing., but due to the production value, you stick with it. This is not a typical roll-out martial arts series where the ending will spoil the entire series after you binge-watch and feel burnt out and disappointed. The length is just right. A build-up of surprising elements. As I mentioned, the director is someone to watch after. I am looking forward to his other works.

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The actors in the show are all amazing, but Khaotung steals the show with his exceptional acting skills. He is beyond amazing and has become one of the top Thai actors in the industry. His portrayal of the character is so convincing that it's hard to believe he's not the character himself. The other lead actor is also commendable, and his performance is so moving that it will leave you in tears.

The chemistry between the characters in this show is absolutely astounding, and it elevates the overall quality of the series to new heights. The way the actors effortlessly connect with one another on screen is truly mesmerizing.

Overall, it's a beautiful story that will leave you feeling inspired and moved. The acting is top-notch, and the storyline is unique and unpredictable. So, if you're looking for something new and refreshing, this drama is definitely worth your time.

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Messy, Messy, Messy

Frankly, it could’ve been even messier. Still disappointed they cut out the scene with Sand and a baseball bat from the teaser trailer lol
Anyway, I really like that GMMtv took on a queer centric drama directed by an accredited gay director. He clearly had a vision and you can see the influence of series like Queer as Folk and other media.

They delivered what you expect: a messy, somewhat toxic series about a group of LGBTQ+ young adults. It’s got solid acting, decent flow, and overall delivered an entertaining experience.

Acting is really solid. They pulled several of their heavy hitters for this. Khaotung was especially impressive as he managed to balance a flawed yet sympathetic character struggling with alcoholism. His scene in therapy was probably the most impactful of the show.

Since it’s a BL, I should discuss the relationships. Each relationship had a full arc and for the most part they felt fairly complete.
MewTop is probably most central to all the drama. I found them the least compelling and I honestly don’t think they are going to work out long term lol. They’re like rushing to move in together at the ending after the cheating debacle. I just don’t see Mew ever fully trusting Top again and I frankly don’t think he should lol.
SandRay are probably the healthiest and they communicate the most out of all the pairings. Their arc is primarily about working through their baggage and helping Ray toward sobriety. Sand is a bit of a desperate character when it comes to Ray, which I didn’t like much for their dynamic. Overall though, they seemed the most likely to work out.
BostonNick has caused the most discourse between fans of the show. For the most part, their relationship can be nailed down to two people wanting completely different things out of their relationship. I’m glad they did not end up together because it would not have worked out.
Boston is a polarizing character and personally I think he got the most screwed by the narrative in the end. He’s a promiscuous gay man who prefers casual sex over relationships. Should he have slept with his friend’s bf? No, that’s shitty and he deservedly lost his friend because of it. But then there was all this stuff about people having sex tapes of him without his consent and lying about him assaulting his friend’s brother. And it’s treated like that’s not a horrible thing to happen to him… like damn.
I did like his conversation at the end with Nick. Nick broke it off but he acknowledged it was just because he didn’t want to force Boston to be someone he wasn’t. And that Boston was fine as he was.

I’m honestly not sure how I’d feel about the show if I binge watched it. It was fun to just kind of tune in every week and not worry too much because all of the characters were going to be messy regardless lol.

Either way, it was fun and I would recommend.

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Recognizable, Real, Bittersweet, And Hopeful.

If you've ever felt taken for granted in a relationship with someone you love, you'll probably understand the character Fumiya easily. If you've wished you could go back to the start of a relationship, this series explores that "what if" in a way that is thoughtful and realistic even though there is an element of fantasy to the premise.

The relationship and characters were so recognizable in multiple ways that every moment and emotion resonated. For me, it was a little emotionally difficult to watch at times because of this; it brought up a lot of my own bittersweet memories. There was hope and sweetness too though, and wonderfully nuanced acting, and I binge-watched it without pausing or fast-forwarding. [Update: I even re-watched it 3 months later and still loved it.]

What I like about many Japanese BLs is that everything is *not* always spelled out for the viewer. The dialogue and internal thoughts are realistic in that way.

The story starts off at the peak of a fall-out that seems unreasonably abrupt. As the story progresses however, we are intermittently shown memories of Fumiya's that show both the good times of their relationship and what lead up to the fall-out.

The psychology, emotions, and actions of both characters are things I've either experienced or seen and are very realistic. (I have not known anyone with selective amnesia but that plot point doesn't change how real the rest of it is.)

I see in reviews that many people don't understand Fumiya, but the screenplay and acting continuously give us breadcrumbs to his experience that were more obvious to me, so I thought I'd share a general summary of the character's psychological state:

The main point, is that Fumiya's growing hidden hurt means that any small new hurt triggers ALL of the past hurts, *whether directly related or not*! This leads to abrupt mood changes and shutting down or blowing up, even over seemingly small or mundane things. In addition, accumulating frustration can lead to resentment and biterness, which comes through when Fumiya snaps out something harsh. Eplained more below.

The cinematography is good, the differentiation between the present and flashbacks are clear, and the music was very emotionally fitting without being obvious.

GENERAL SPOILERS below.

The way Fumiya reacts to any type of praise may be subtle, but is extremely telling. There is surprise, small pleased smiles, shyness in the way he ducks his head or eyes flit around, biting or compressing his lips to hold in just how good it makes him feel, and an eagerness to do more. There are similar reactions when Ritsu gives him attention or makes him a priority in situations where he has learned to no longer expect, or even hope for, it.

Fumiya has been feeling increasingly taken for granted and of low priority to his boyfriend for a while. His major flaw is he doesn't know how to talk about this and keeps his frustrations bottled up; he says okay, that's fine, I'm not mad because he wants to keep the peace.

On Ritsu's side of things, he has not been intentionally trying to hurt Fumiya, but has made work his highest priority and has fallen complacent in his relationship. Like he says to Fumiya though, he won't know what's going wrong unless Fumiya tells him straightforwardly. Ritsu can tell there's friction but Fumiya often says 'it's okay' when Ritsu asks questions or apologizes.

The only reasons why this got a 9 instead of a 10 from me had to do with the last episode. This episode felt rushed (unlike the others).
1) I liked how the turning point for Ritsu was triggered, but his conclusion felt a little contrived to wrap things up quickly (what was there to be "afraid" of about sharing that part of his past?) Though it gave a symmetry or balance to things, it didn't quite make sense.
2) I wanted more time with them together at the end processing the relief of reconciliation. I also needed more time seeing them moving forward together for my own emotional state to transition to a more hopeful equilibrium after going through all the heavy feels. I feel emotions really strongly though, so this may not be as much of an issue for others.

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Entertaining and Worthwhile

The title “Trillion Game” intrigued me, but was far from what I’d envisioned. I found it to be entertaining and refreshing. The characters were played well, and I was especially fond of the main characters: Haru (played by Maguro Ren) and Taira (played by Sano Hayato). Both-really-all the primary players were new to me; at least, they were not in my memory. But these guys, I won’t forget! Immediately, Haru’s mischievous smile and cunning laughter drew me in, compounded by his sway, swagger, self-confidence, and shrewd antics. To talk about Taira’s character would give too much away, but he was the perfect pairing for Haru. I liked the storyline, and how Director Yoshiaki guided us through each episode with resolve. It is fast-paced, a mixture of comedy, drama, suspense, and romantic waverings. Of notable mention, Rinrin (played by Fukumoto Riko). My research of the leading actors revealed a very youthful bunch, which I found shocking, because their acting abilities were seasoned and mature. “Trillion Game” is already on my list for rewatching.

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NEED S2 PLS

Why don't many people talk about this drama? Is it maybe because the storyline is heavy and about politics? But you know this is a hidden gem drama!!! The story is about maybe you can say the daily life of people who work in the government, and I got to know how the process and what government people do.
Maybe for people unfamiliar with politics or who have never liked politics, this is a heavy plot.
But I really suggest this is a good story and makes you all suspicious of the cast and don't forget the mind-blowing plot twist that should be watched at least once in a lifetime!!! And you have nothing to regret, a little advice if you watch a drama that has never tried the genre is better to watch without any suspicion first thanks me latter

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it's very engaging but overall not so great

Due to personal crisis, Joon Sung and Jae Hyo made a deal to kidnap their friend Min Woo, asking for ransom from his wealthy family. Right away I was excited for a suspenseful thriller experience. On the production side, it is almost perfectly executed! From camerawork, music, and the acting. I was impressed with the powerful acting of our leads and the mother! The use of classical music in few critical situations are strangely fun, it's the best treat for my sensory. The opening credit is very creative, it tickles my imagination and I never skip it.

It is dark and serious tone throughout and the first half kept me on the edge of my seat. I feel bad for Min Woo and what he's going through during the kidnapping is slightly psychologically unsettling, knowing your trusted friends suddenly tied you and pinned you down in their closet. While episode 1-5 provide great momentum, the storyline fell flat afterwards. It's getting weirder and weirder the more the trio try to execute "The Perfect Deal". I found them making illogical decisions for the sake of keeping the plot going. I don't get why don't just help one another if they're friends? The resolution was also unrealistic and left me unfulfilled. Overall, not so great but I enjoyed. For any thriller fan, it is still an engaging watch due to its' short and fast pacing, there's no boring or drag part.

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What is going on??

I thought these type of totally senseless dramas only happened in the past and on less prominent platforms.

Episode 1 started off very shaky but I persevered thinking the story might improve but it becomes more and more absurd as I reached Episode 3. The ministers are behaving like children demanding for the execution of the FL just because their daughters’ faces were injured using water from the the FL’s basin. (The basins of water was by the palace servants and each maiden had their own basin of water but a funny wind blew leaves into the other basins and only the FL’s water basin was unaffected and she kindly offered the other maidens the use of her water) Even common sense dictates an investigation but nope, this drama paints the ministers as imbeciles who need immediate action without any concrete proof.

This requirement for the maidens to wash their faces in the courtyard just before meeting the Prince in itself is very odd as I have never seen this in any other drama. Not to mention that the Prince is old around 50 and looking for a concubine just because he cannot forget his wife who died 30 years ago after giving birth to his heir. He didn’t look for a concubine earlier? Then where did his younger sons come from? Another possible plot loophole as it looks like he has remained single after the death of his wife… if this doesn’t get explained, it will be totally ridiculous.

Can it get better? I’ll try it out for a bit longer… one good thing about this drama is I am not sleeping late as I have no desire to binge watch!

Update: For the next episodes, the story moved on to the harem and becomes the typical so-so drama with lots of back stabbing and plotting. Thankfully not as senseless as Episode 2 & 3, but the story is choppy and I am not feeling it with the ML, FL or SML even after 5 more episodes so it’s time to drop it.

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Something sweet... Something spicy

When I first started this series, I did not expect much. Granted that it had a lot of "spicy" scenes, but I had hoped to some degree that it will provide a semblance of depth among its character.

Which they did-- to a degree.

But, reading other reviews that had tackled on those topics, I will simply list Pros and Cons of this show. Warning on spoilers.
Pros:
-OST and the Intro video. It just matches well with the overall show aesthetic.
- First and Khaotungs characters Sand and Ray. These two could have a series all on their own and it wouldn't be much different, to be honest. A lot of the characters in this show are quite human -- meaning they are both good and terrible. Sand is not perfect but compared to Ray he is a saint. An absolute wonderful person that from start to finish I only wished he got the best ending. Ray's complexity is spot on, and for someone like me who had been in close contact with someone extremely alcoholic, their portrayal is eerily familiar. That and the chemistry of the two actors is just beautiful.
-Boston. Don't get me wrong, he is terrible. Like the walking red flag. His lack of remorse and his selfish nature is not an uncommon trait. It's seen in the real world, and I have to praise Neo's acting because people did dislike Boston a ton.
-Mew. I like Mew, and I like his transformation era but his character sometimes came off as trying too hard.
-Nick. I love Nick, despite him bugging the car and falling deeply in love with Boston, he still ended up with the best version of himself. And that's someone who will love themselves and choose themselves. It's always hard to waste away when in love, and it's beautiful that Nick recognized that and decided to step away.
-Nick and Sand. Friendship is top tier despite the hiccup here and there.
-The way they ended one friendship as well, which shows that sometimes we outgrow people and we can't expect that same level of closeness there when it had crumbled to dust.
-Therapy session as important to get over addiction is a plus.
-Recognizing that growth is not linear.
-Mond the actor.
-I know people say that this show is very queer-- which I agree, it is. But it feels more like the show showcases strongly just how much a person's sexuality can evolve and how much that can reflect in how they interact with people around them.
-Mixx~

Cons:
-Debating if this is a pro or a con, or it should be it's own genre but these people - Mew, Ray, Cheum and Boston had never felt like a friendship group to me. Even at the beginning. Which supposedly is the thing. There was lack of anything to prove they all had gone through things together, unless you can see them drinking and starting a hostel which really doesn't show much. Apart from Ray and Mew that had a scene that showed how or why they are close-- the other two seemed like props to me.
And don't get me started on Cheum, that character was a bad friend no matter what anyone says and quite oblivious to things that matte
-Mew and Top. I do not understand why they still ended up together. I felt Top is such a boring character. He is like Boston but not, and the whole fire trauma wasn't nicely done enough to make him more human. I get second chances and whatnot, that he was tricked or whatever-- but he sometimes just come off creepy and nosy and people like to say that's because of love. After people commenting that Mew is his type, how come Mew was the one that converted him to being monogamous? There' s just so many things about this couple that could have been executed better to have that satisfying end-- all I got out of them was they should not have been endgame.
-Top and Sand past resolution was a bit rushed and strange. Hating them, then exposing Top and then by the end they are both buddy buddy. Meh. Did not expect a fight but a better situation that would have connected them better despite the past, would have been better.
-Atom and in extension Cheum again, just you'll get it when you watch it. Before this, Cheum was a meh character to me, then that scene happened and she was just-- deplorable. Her only redeeming quality was her when she was with her girlfriend.
- Mond the character Boeing. I get that his past with Sand and Top can be a moving force in their respective relationships, but the execution only made it feel that his existence to the story was so unnecessary.


Other creative decision you can ignore or accept but those listed above is really what stuck with me. However, overall, I still did enjoy the show. It's quite a journey, especially when you had to wait for the next week. I slightly envy those who would be coming in now and can binge watch it until the end. And I praise the actors for giving life and personality to the characters they portrayed. A different kind of series from the usual GMMTV produced ones, that's for sure.

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Wuxia done badly

This drama draaaaaaags and has zero propulsion. Everything is foreshadowed. I mean what are the chances that all three male leads just happen to converge at that particular town at that particular moment? Come tf on. I tried so hard to stay with this but it's so fucking boring. Can I also say just how low budget the set design is especially given this is Wuxia and most of the set could have been computer generated? That palace was empty af. Sigh. I just didn't like any of the male leads and I wanted XY to fucking stop smiling in the face of abuse and unending degradation. How was this even a popular book?

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About the acting

This drama became my one of the most favourite drama all the time. I don't know why i had missed this masterpiece and i absolutely loved it. If any one wants to change their style on watching i will recommend this one as it was a very cute, friendship and romantic drama. This drama made a great impact on my way of thinking and i loved it. Now, well may be i also need that type of boyfriend. Go and watch this drama and the cast was superb. loved this, especially music.
WOW....... And mainly I can't overcome from it well, my parents had suggested me to leave this country and move to china that we can't bear you.

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Watch Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun Shine!

The two leads (Jun Ji Hyun) and (Kim Soo Hyun) really keep this series afloat with their dynamic performances. There are a number of flaws and inconsistencies in the series, especially with the depictions of Do Min Joon as the alien who has been living in Korea for 400 years.

Do Min Joon seems to be a cross between E.T. and Superman in the sense that he seems to have been left behind and won’t be able to return home until our current time. He’s used a number of different identities, systematically “killing off” previous ones so as to not arouse suspicion that he’s an ageless alien living among humans. He’s also a bit like Superman in the sense that he has enhanced strength, speed, and hearing as well as the ability to stop time. With only three months left, he finds his abilities are becoming more unpredictable.

What is interesting about Do Min Joon, is that he appears to be a rather primitive alien in the sense that he’s not very long on wisdom. For a species that has mastered space travel as well as time manipulation, he doesn’t have much wisdom to share in how to live, thus demonstrating that his species is not very evolved. Do Min Joon is a bit temperamental, doesn’t like to be touched, and has some serious trust issues. In other words, he doesn’t trust anyone or find the need to do so.

Enter Cheon Song Yi, arguably the most popular actress in Korea, and she knows it. I lost count how many times she says to someone, “I’m Cheon Song Yi!” as if her very name demands attention, respect, and immediate capitulation to any request that she makes. She’s spoiled, conceited, immature, a bit dimwitted, and yet, she is also incredibly captivating and loves with all of her heart. It cannot be understated how well Jun Ji Hyun plays this part. To take a character with so many unappealing characteristics and to make that character so appealing and likable demonstrates Jun Ji Hyun’s mastery. Cheon Song Yi is also a horrendous tease! Lee Hui Kyung is the son of a powerfully rich family and a long childhood friend who’s had eyes for nobody by Cheon Song Yi. And yet, despite not having any feelings for him, she strings him along because she simply loves the attention. She also has a gold digger for a mother who mooches off her wealth, believing that her daughter owes her everything. I can’t imagine a worse person for a parent. Parents who treat their children like property and commodities aren’t parents at all. They’re parasites.

Most of the series is spent with Cheon Song Yi and Do Min Joon teasing and dancing around each other, obvious that they like each other. Do Min Joon acts as though he could care less and finds Cheon Song Yi annoying. They end up neighbors, each living in massive penthouses. Cheon Song Yi finds Do Min Joon cold and aloof, but as someone who demands and commands attention from everyone, she initially sets out to find a way to get Do Min Joon’s.
Now, Do Min Joon does have a viable reason for not getting romantically involved. Well, he has a couple of reasons. First, he’s leaving in three months, so what’s the point of getting into a relationship? And second, his body chemistry prevents him from prolonged physical touching, especially kissing which incapacitates him to the point of a high fever and requires long periods of time to recover. In that sense, they are incompatible.

The charm of the series is watching these two beloved characters figure out a way to acquire the courage to simply confess their feelings for each other before it’s too late. And the chemistry between Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Soo Hyun is undeniable as well as being the central reason why the series works.

On a less effective side story, we have the brother of Lee Hui Kyung as a very bland and uninteresting sociopath who has a long history of murdering anyone who stands in his way. Actor Shin Sung Rok was the least impressive to me of the mostly talented cast. His portrayal just as no flavor or uniqueness to it. He’s almost robotic and wooden that it nearly ruins the character. Seeing him and Do Min Joon has an ironic similarity to Superman and Lex Luthor. In fact, I wondered if they were the inspiration for this rivalry.

The series is heartwarming and has some very humorous moments. As with so many K-Dramas, it also has some tender moments that might tug at your heartstrings. Actress Jun Ji Hyun really sells us the last couple of episodes when Cheon Song Yi realizes that she’s likely to lose the love of her life, and how devastating that blow is to her, even when she knows it’s coming.

Overall, this is actually a very good series that rests upon the strength of its two lead actors. The story, especially when Do Min Joon is suddenly “found out” borders on the ludicrous. Scientists from around the world would have converged on Korea in a heartbeat to find out more about him. Sometimes, the writers fail to fully consider the ramifications of such a ploy rather than simply find an easier out. But fortunately, this doesn’t do too much damage to the story. Sometimes, charm and sweetness can outweigh the rational and the obvious, which isn’t always a bad thing.

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Just another chaebol + ordinary FL bland love story with an extra shock factor

I have had this title on my watchlist for a long time now and was excited to one day give it a try after seeing all the high ratings and good reviews, all which seemed to be solidly justified by the interesting premise of the show.
The first episode was interesting and got me hooked. Loved the main OST title ("Hallucination"), although after being overplayed at every single "dramatic" scene with flashbacks from the past (which was like 20 times per episode) it got rather lackluster. Loved the switch between personalities and was impressed with Ji Sung's acting, as this was also my first time watching one of his shows. Despite not initially liking the FL (and I don't understand exactly what it was, maybe the hairstyle, but it looked so weird to me when she was fighting with her brother and him mentioning he's older than her so she should call him oppa because to me she seemed way older than him like they were noona and dongseng), I was hoping it would get better. Oh boy, was I wrong.
The writing for this kdrama was so generic and bland, it seems the only times the screenwriters took any steps away from the traditional kdrama recipe was when the other personalities of the ML were involved, but ultimately only Shin Se Gi's actions actually had any sort of impact on the plot. The original ML personality was pretty boring and felt like he had little to no character development, along with the FL. The love story was also bland, full of tropey scenes that instead of bringing comedic relief, only managed to bring the quality of the drama even lower, once again relying on the "childhood connection trope" which is obviously enough for 2 characters with very few meaningful interactions to become soulmates (/s).
There were no real resolutions regarding the 'villains' of the drama and to be honest they were so unmemorable I already forgot their names.
Her brother was such an unecessary character I don't think he was in any meaningful scenes in the last few eps. And his storyline with being a secret writer didn't add anything to the main plot. Not even mentioning that at some point it's revealed that he's actually in love with the FL.. wtf was that? I know they're not blood related, but still, they grew up as siblings.

Overall, if I were to make a pro-cons list, it would look like this:
pros:
+ very entertaining acting from Ji Sung taking on 7 different personalities (more specifically impressed with Shin Se Gi, Perry Park and Ahn Yo Na).
+ Shin Se Gi everything
+ the main OST.
cons:
- sort of everything else.
Overall I wouldn't recommend this drama unless you're a big fan of Ji Sung or you're not necessarily interested in a good watch, just something to have on the screen when eating.

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Everything is a 10/10

Everything is a 10/10
I love how serious and cute at the same time the actors are. Love te leads chemistry and the plot line. It has been a while since I could honestly say I love this show. The music is fascinating and I am in love with the color palette of this movie. The director better not break my herat and give a sad endinv because then it will be more sad than the 2521 ending. The leands and secon leads have chemistrywith each other and I really hope we will get two happy endings................................................................................

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