Reviews

Cute, well packaged love story

OK, I have a bit to add to the halfway review I wrote below after finishing this series.

I will not change the rating of 7.0. I think that's about right because despite all of the big names coming out this summer, to me this is actually the most complete cdrama aired in 2023. The screenwriters showed ambition in adapting the book in almost its entirety, expanding from the family squabbles arc all the way up to the conflict for the throne in only 40 episodes. However this could have been an 8.0 drama imo if they had made one major change: Strengthen the villain character of Luo Zishang and his underlings.

In this drama Luo Zishang becomes a bit of a 2d evil guy. A great drama requires a layered and strong villain. The first arc of this drama was the most satisfying and well paced, being driven by Guo Jiusi's personal growth challenges. However after that our ML and FL by become basically a little bit mary sue, basically perfect people. So the latter arcs in Youzhou and in the palace are about court politics and meant to be driven by the plots of Luo Zishang. However it's made less interesting because Luo Zishang doesn't actually present that much of a challenge. He should have been able to do more but in terms of resources and brains he just can't compete.

However there are no other major problems overall. There are definitely plot holes induced by the scale of the story. And I wish the ML and FL in particular were less airbrushed. But in general what was needed to be done was done, and the ending also tied up many things better than I expected.

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Past the first episode, the pacing and production value of this drama is excellent. I thought it was strange there isn't any big names in this drama, but Bai Jingting is actually outstanding and has a very natural and charismatic performance. I haven't seen any of his previous stuff but for me, he earns a star and a half for this drama by himself. I guess I have a weakness for dramas where the leads have some family squabbles and start a business.

The bad: the pacing of the first episode or so may be a bit slow. But past that part, it's definitely bingeable. Song Yi is alright at acting, but her character is a tedious goody two shoes type at times. Lastly, the drama of political conflict that comes in around episode 15 or so is a bit overdone, and almost unrealistically tragic.

The good: pacing and plotting are generally good. Starts off from the ML and FL's squabbling to true love story which is quite cute. Then expands to the circumstances around their families, and the FL's business ambitions, with a natural pace. It's not the most tightly plotted but it's pleasing enough. Also the cinematography and costumes are very beautiful and shows the high budget of this drama.

The great: Bai Jingting's superb acting shows the growth of the ML. We can always tell he's a good guy but his wonderful character development holds together the storyline throughout, even in moments when the plot is weak. He is equally compelling when portraying the ML's immature sides as his heroic ones, without becoming preachy or naive. His expressions, tone of voice and little mannerisms when he's trying to express something are on point.
The genuine relationship between ML and FL is very sweet, if a bit idealistic. There's enough going on with Liu Yurui's business ventures that she is the rare cdrama FL with just as much plot around her as the ML has, and it's quite interesting too. Side character are generally well acted such as Gu Jiusi's lovable mom and dad, and the villain (Liu Xueyi's best acted role that I've seen so far).

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to be young and in love ??

i never knew that i'll love high school story like i used to, but this drama bring back those feeling and i looooove it. it remind me to K-drama : playfull kiss (?) but in a very different way. while in playfull kiss the ml is kinda jerk at the beginning, in here the ml is kind and caring and just Playfull. never knew this kind of simple highschool romance were perfectly portrayed in such beautiful way without losing its purpose to tell that in high school we just felt love at the first time, those awkward and fluttering moments, the friendships and the trouble we went through as a teenager the confusion abt the future. so so beautiful, kudos to the actors and the staff i really hard a good time watching this ??

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A collection of some really fun extras to beloved series

Unlike the first Our Sky series, I had made sure to watch all of the parent stories for this one in preparation for when it came out. Some, I watched a while ago so I'm glad each new story began with a recap to refresh my memory.

As a whole, I really enjoyed the series though some of the stories I liked way better than others. It's really impossible to rate the whole series as one thing with all the different casts and storylines going on so that's why I broke it down by series.

Episodes 1-2 (Never Let Me Go)
I liked the time travel aspect and how it felt like a true side story; taking these characters that we know and love and giving them a short "side quest" - if you will - that has a beginning, conflict, resolution and ending. It was well-paced for just a 2 episode storyline. It definitely felt lighter than the original series though that's to be expected with a format like this. There really isn't time to create a lasting, in-depth problem for them to overcome which I personally liked. Honestly, these two had gone through enough in their main story that they deserved a break and something a little more lighthearted.

Episodes 3-4 (Star In My Mind)
While Joong is very VERY nice to look at, these episodes were a bit of a disappointment for me. There was absolutely nothing new brought to the story. Not only that, but it was literally the same thing that happened in the main series with the group of them going to Prince's resort and the main couple being all cute together. There's nothing wrong with that, per say but if these are meant to be additional add-ons to the main story, at least do something different. I felt like I was rewatching the original series or was suffering from deja-vu. There are so many other couples in the GMMTV lineup that I would have rather seen have a continuation or even mini-story of. And, honestly, I don't really believe in their chemistry. Plus their delivery of lines is really distracting to me where it felt like they were just reading off the script instead of "acting" the script.

Episodes 5-6 (The Eclipse)
This was enjoyable and, even though the story wasn't all that original (the main lead being upset because he thinks his boyfriend forgot an important date) I liked how they executed it here. I especially liked when the characters were daydreaming and putting themselves into other classic movie roles which was a nice twist. It made for some funny moments, which was nice to see with these characters, especially when their parent series was more on the serious side of things.

Episodes 7-8 (Vice Versa)
These episodes had a lot going on as far as cramming 2 storylines into 2 episodes. The first half was a good peek into the future after we left off from the series. It was an honest portrayal of the struggles of a couple keeping things fresh and making time for one another after being in the workforce grind. Then the second half had the addition of the arrival of this unknown child on their doorstep. Personally, I thought it was an interesting idea, especially when thinking about the original series with Talay and Puen never truly knowing what Tun and Tess did while occupying their bodies while they were in the alternate universe. There were some really funny moments combined with some deep heartfelt ones that made it an enjoyable watch overall.

Episodes 9-10 (My School President)
While this was the exact same story as the original series, it was made completely different with the role swaps of all the actors. They even switched the mothers which I thought was hilarious. While some may consider it "lazy writing," I thought it was an interesting way to showcase the actors and how they can pull off the opposite roles from what they were originally cast. It also gave Gemini a chance to show his singing chops by playing the front man of the band instead of Fourth. The music video at the end was a funny and clever nod to some other popular BL series (He's Coming to Me, Bad Buddy, Tale of a Thousand Stars). The friends really made this for me as it was funny to see all the swapping there and their interactions together and not just between the couples.

Episodes 11-12 (Boss and a Babe)
At first I thought this was going to be another role swap kind of deal but it wasn't. Well, it was, but not like the episodes for MSP. In this case, it was within the context of the show and it was more of a "walk a mile in my shoes and then tell me it's easy" kind of thing. And it made sense within the story instead of being a completely out there concept. The only thing I wish they had addressed was how name-calling and insults are unacceptable, no matter how much stress a boss is under. And they never even brought up the fact that someone flat out quit because of his unreasonable attitude. But at least he redeems himself at the end... sort of. He says he'll be more mindful though we don't really see it.

Episodes 13-16 (Bad Buddy, Tale of a Thousand Stars)
I'm reminded of how impressive these leading actors are. There's no "reciting lines and waiting for the next one" feel like there are in so many BLs. These guys truly feed off each other and give little nuances in response that make for some funny and more in-depth connections. Ohm and Nannon, while they don't have much romantic chemistry in my opinion, they have off the charts bickering and playful chemistry which is just as, if not more, entertaining. In episode 13, we are brought back to the time where Pat and Pran first "break up" and have to pretend to hate each other while dating in secret. I know a lot of people were upset with this as the original series ended with the families beginning to tolerate each other and the two boys being able to be open about their relationship. It's understandable that people now want to see these two dating for real in the open but honestly, for me, their best moments were the bickering and the flirting while having to hide their feelings from everyone else. That extra sense of taboo added a different type of thrill to the whole thing and it was highly entertaining.
Throw in the crossover with Earth and Mix in ToaTS and watch the amusing chaos unfold. The initial tie-in was interesting enough and I liked how they showed all of the characters interacting with each other. Having Tian and Chief watching Pat and Pran acting as them in the play was a bit of a surreal moment but I thought there was so much depth to it where perhaps they see something new by watching it happen to someone else.
And then we get a glimpse of a "fish out of water" reversal with Chief running loose in Bangkok which made for a fun montage. Then, their ending had me crying right along with them as it was a beautiful conclusion, wrapped up in a neat, lovely bow. Honestly, I'm sad it's over but I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

I really do like this format of additional situations with already established characters and I certainly hope GMMTV continues to do it going forward.

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a true slice of life

Despite the magical premise, this show truly feels realistic. Kota's struggles and feelings while trying to fix his life are something I am sure every person can relate to. I understood Kota's apathy and depression, which made it so nice to see Ten help him get back on his feet.

While this show does have it's raw and depressing moments, it does not lack humor. At least once every episode I found myself laughing my ass off. I honestly commend the writers for not making me feel depressed the entire time I watched it.

As for the acting itself, I thought it was really really good. The acting can be goofy at times of course (to match what's going on), but the two actors show incredible range. During the serious moments of the show, you can truly feel what they are feeling. They show emotion without seeming forced or overdramatic. It genuinely feels like watching two real people go about their lives. Finally, the chemistry the two leads have is incredible. Just something about them makes them feel like a perfect pairing.

All in all, I would say get some chips, watch the show, and be prepared to laugh and cry (oh god, seriously, be prepared to cry) as you watch this heartwarming slice of life story.

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My first time writing a review it was an amazing drama

I was wandering why people are not talking more about the drama because it was so good, it make me remember MFIS(my father is strange, and honestly is was skeptical about it because of the 50 episode and the F lead I have not wach any of her drama before but she did not disappoin me am glad I wach it after waching episode 1 I was glue to my phone so far I have wach28 episode and waiting for the rest to be uploaded.
The acting and the chemistry between both the F lead and the M lead is just super fantastic I like how the writer developed it gradually and I just hope they would still be together at the end, and for the 2nd female lead from the start I dislike her character but after realizing that she was really in love with the M lead before he was taking away from her because of her family e situation changes I feel bad for her but she should know when to stop because she is loosing herself and the love as become obsession and for the 2nd male lead he is just a prick dapunnum, all there acting was great the Gramma really tried this is my first time watching her drama and she nail it she remembers me of the gramma in The King Eternal monarch

anyways there is still 22 episode left I hope the writer would not disappointed me and I don't know why they change the dad but the drama did not change because of that,

it was a very funny every episode got me cracking

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Could have been a gem, but poorly writed

Plot: "blended" family of 1 CEO with an ML legal but not legitimate son, and a FL, legitimate but adopted daughter, who love each other. But the ML wants to avenge his mother's life of suffering alongside the father who loved another. ML & FL end up getting married, but ML's revenge doesn't end there...

Very catchy, with the CL Pon & Bua = great chemistry! They are 2 very talented actors. The obsessive FL2 is also very convincing.
The production is dynamic, the support actors do the job, the music is not intrusive and the rhythm is sustained.

BUT the storyline is rather twisted, with the character of ML2, quite psychotic, who intervenes to destroy the ML's image ("friend-enemy").
- Moreover, episode 23 hyper dramatic, it's really rubbish! The "I'm going to kill you but immediately afterwards I cry and I repent", sorry, I don't buy!
- The FL2's disease, I do not buy either!
- The competent CEO, who is robbed of millions without seeing anything => one can doubt his competence too.
- the problem of embezzlement remains without explanation and consequences???

This lakorn could have been excellent, it remains good (actors, director), but wasted by a poor writing.
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Plot : famille "recomposée" d'1 CEO avec ML fils légal mais pas légitime et FL, fille légitime mais adoptée, qui s'aiment. Mais le ML veut venger la vie de souffrance de sa mère au côté du père qui en aimait une autre. Le ML & la FL finissent par se marier, mais la vengeance du ML ne s'arrêtera pas là...

Très accrocheur, avec le CL Pon & Bua = super alchimie ! Ce sont 2 acteurs très talentueux. La FL2, obsessive est aussi très convaincante.
La réalisation est dynamique, les acteurs support font le job, la musique n'est pas envahissante et le rythme est soutenu.

MAIS la storyline est plutôt tordue, avec le personnage du ML2, assez psychotique, qui intervient pour détruire l'image de son "ami-ennemi", le ML.
- De plus, l'épisode 23 hyper dramatique, c'est vraiment de la foutaise ! Le "je vais te tuer mais aussitôt après je tombe en pleurs et je me repens", désolée, je n'achète pas !
- La maladie de la FL2, je n'achète pas non plus !
- Le CEO compétent, qui se fait dérober des millions sans rien voir => on peut douter de sa compétence aussi.
- le problème des détournements de fonds reste sans explication et sans conséquences ???

Ce lakorn aurait pu être excellent, il reste bon (acteurs, réalisateur), mais gâché par une mauvaise écriture.

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What it means to be human beautifully captured

Easy to watch, easy to become engrossed in, easy to relate to. That's why I enjoyed this K-Drama so much.
All of us are hurt at some point in our lives, all of us know the feeling of needing to protect ourselves from pain and the vulnerability that comes from our longing for connection and the fear of its loss. This story beautifully weaves threads around this most basic human need into a rich tapestry of human experience.

We know from the very outset that the happy ever after from season 1 did not stay that way. What follows is an exploration of vulnerability. Past losses and rejections, trauma, all leave their mark and condition the way the leads relate to their lives and each other. The drama unfolds as a dance, as each character steps forwards and then retreats, not sure how to be together.

It has it all, great chemistry between the leads, tender moments, pain and heart break, frustration at the lead for being his own worst enemy and a generous amount of affection to leave the ending fully resolved.

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Almost like Clue/Cluedo

This drama reminded me of one of my favourite board games of all time - Cluedo (aka Clue). There was so much mystery, so much tension, so much animosity, it was so close to perfection. I love it when a murder mystery keeps the viewer on their toes for the near entirety of the whole drama. Unfortunately, the police/investigation logic is the reason why the overall score did not get up to a 10/10. Apart from that however, the story was faultless. Normally with these types of mysteries, I know who the culprit is within the first few episodes, and then wait impatiently for the drama to tell the viewer who the killer is. This is why I felt so refreshed watching this. But the actual story was amazing too. The story made sense in the end with the way it involved the characters, which by the way... the characters! Amazingly developed, and by the end, showed that whilst money means alot and is very important, there are still things more important than money.

Acting and OST were marvellous, and I wanted to give a special shout out to the way this had been filmed, not only with the scenery and the setting, but the way everything had been planned. Another positive I wanted to mention: the dynamic between each different sort of character. I could probably give so many more reasons, and so many more sentences about how I feel like this is like the Cluedo board game, but I'll leave it at here so you can start watching.

I highly recommend this drama.

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Fit my drama taste perfectly.

This drama was even better than I expected.
I usually like when there is romance in a drama. There are very few times I would hate it and find it disturbing. It's just my preference. I don't like it when romance takes a long time to develop and then suddenly everything speeds up because the drama ends. So that's already one of the advantages of this drama.
Another thing I liked was the fairly quick reconciliation between the brothers. We were given hints from the beginning that they didn't completely hate each other, so it was a good choice to pursue this subplot this way.
The third thing I liked was that the creators showed from the beginning that they took a specific direction, but at the same time there were also several plot twists.
The side characters also contributed a lot to this drama. The whole thing just fit my drama taste perfectly.

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From the First Ep, I loOoOOve it!!

I really really like the storyline and the actors, like it's so creative??? Although i'm late to watching this, but it's amazing.
Although i've only watched 2 episodes, but I know what i'm talkin' bout'-

So, I had a lot of friends saying this is the one kdrama i'll love, at first I didn't believe them, but I'm already in love!!
The plot, the actors, the acting, chefs kiss!!

I love this series so much because it gives you butterflies, but also laughter!
I actually really am out of words, like who ever wrote this is the one of the best writers ever.
I'd really recommend this so stop reading and go stream!!!

Sincerely, a happy girl :D

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brilliant , recommend to watch!!!

I've never been this satisfied when watching a dramas , this drama is really extraordinary, leaving no question and ending as expected. The actor acted very professional, the director was also creative, because the filming locations is in the same place perhaps it didn't cost too much to make this drama, but the most important isn't that, this film is very very good and I don't feel it was a vain to watch.

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