Reviews

Nice slice of life with some touching moments, but annoyingly jealous ML

TL;DR at the end with no spoilers.

I've been debating with myself for the last couple days over whether I liked this one or not. You know that feeling when you generally like what you're watching but there's something about it that really, really bothers you? Yeah, that's me with this show. But let me start with the good.

For the most part, the characters are likable and their interactions are entertaining enough, although it's kind of episodic in that not a lot of things carry over from previous episodes. It feels like it tells you bits of their lives while it's implied that significant time passes in the background. It's mostly events that seem to be contained in the episode where they take place, though; relationships between characters do evolve. Also, some episodes focus on particular (secondary) characters and, for me, those are the highlight of the show because of the way they portray relatable situations. I tend to value stories much more when they make me feel something, so this one gets points for that. The plot is secondary in character-driven stories like this, so I won't get into much detail. If you like the dynamics between the characters, you'll probably like the show.

However, in my opinion that part is also the problematic one. To be exact, I'm talking about the dynamics between the ML and the FL. I don't have much issue with the rest of the cast, since they're pretty normal people with their own quirks, but the ML gets particularly bad. At first, the ML and FL have kind of a quarreling relationship, which is not ideal, but many people do this to some extent growing up and they stop when they mature. Okay, mildly annoying if you're not into that, but bearable. The issues I have with the ML start when he realizes he likes the FL. From that moment on he becomes an overbearing, jealous prick that defaults to sulking whenever anything to do with the FL doesn't go his way. Some things that come to mind:

- When any guy her age attempts to touch her or display any kind of physical affection, he immediately separates them. This includes their male childhood friends from their own group, who have no interest in her.
- There's an episode where students are told to pair up with other students that complement their weak subjects. He doesn't have the guts to put down her name, so she gets assigned to a random guy. Of course, he gets jealous and forces his presence on them in their study session and treats the other guy like shit.
- There's another episode where she gets chosen to participate in a writing contest in another city, and the guy from the previous point appears for only the second time in the show because he's going to the contest too. The ML takes it upon himself to convince her parents that it's dangerous for her to go alone and that he should escort her as her guardian. During the trip, he treats the other guy like shit again, interferes with their conversations, fakes illness to get her attention, and groans when she dares to do her own things.

Now, don't get me wrong. He does have his good side with his friends and also treats the FL well when things go his way. It's just that, with all the cold-shouldering, belittling of her and other guys, and overall obsessive impulses, the times when he behaves himself around her look more like a manchild atoning for his sins rather than a well-intentioned but insecure teenager being his ordinary self. There were some episodes where he was so damn insufferable I had to pause many times to take a break from his antics. That might be only me, though, but you get the point.

You could argue that it's legitimate to portray unlikable characters because the world isn't just made up of perfect people, and I'd totally agree. But the show doesn't even acknowledge that he might be wrong; in fact, all the characters are enablers who brush off his bullshit and ignore the contradictions in the excuses he makes up for his actions. You could argue that it's still legitimate to portray unlikable characters with enablers, and I'd agree again, but it irks me to see it onscreen anyway and I'm leaving this warning here just in case you're like me. The happy ending just doesn't feel satisfying when you don't believe in the process that was supposed to bring it about.

I'm also not sold on the strategic appearance of guys who like the FL and girls who like the ML at the exact moment the plot needs them to move forward, but that I can live with. It's just something I noticed and you'll notice too after reading this.

Finally, to play the devil's advocate for a brief moment: I don't have the absolute truth, and I'm sure I must've also breezed through shows in the past that other people found unwatchable. It's up to you, really.

TL;DR:

It's a show with entertaining characters, some touching arcs, and some romance (that doesn't fully take off until they turn 18 and graduate high school because apparently liking people before that is a bad look in China). It's no masterpiece, but if you like character-driven stories, you'll probably dig this; if you want plot, not so much. Also, the ML turns into a jealous, obnoxious mess whenever he feels threatened by the presence of other guys in the FL's life, so bear that in mind because that was my number one reason for writing this review.

Read More

A Gentler, Sweeter and More Romantic Remake

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“Stay with Me” is like the gentler, sweeter and more romantic little brother of “Addicted”. “Addicted” is the more rebellious, sex-crazed older brother, but it also paved the way for many future Chinese BLs (or caused censorship to put the hammer down).

The leads in “Stay with Me” are quite likable compared to their counterparts in the other drama. Wu Bi is quite adorable when he’s so in love with Su Yu and gets all pettily jealous over little things. In “Addicted”, Gu Hai annoyed the heck out of me with how pushy he was. But that was a 2016 drama, and times have changed. Back to “Stay with Me”, the drama never had Wu Bi or Su Yu declare their love for each other, but you know for a fact that this is not a bromance, but a romantic story between them. There are so many moments, gestures, hugs and subtle lingering touches that they shared and I wonder how these scenes pass censorship. I am trying to recall if I’ve seen a Chinese BL with kisses on the cheeks recently.

The main focus of the drama is definitely on our leads, Wu Bi and Su Yu. Two lovely teenagers go from enemies to lovers, complete and fill each other’s hearts with love and care. Surrounding them are Su Yu’s very supportive father and stepmother, an adorable little stepsister, Duo Duo, who is wise beyond her years. We also have a few friends who don’t take up too much screen time. Technically, there isn’t really a character that I dislike, except for Wu Bi’s cousin’s ugly pig tail. That is definitely not fashionable at all. LOL.

The bond between this newly found family is the best part of the show. None of the parents are evil, they just show their love differently. However, the broken families have a big impact on the leads. They both just want to be loved. Simple as that. I love it when there are scenes of the new family together and the theme song, “The Meaning of Family” starts playing. The lyrics are perfect for these scenes, especially when Duo Duo starts singing if you need to look similar or have the same last names to be called family. The scene of this new family celebrating Wu Bi’s birthday is so heartwarming.

This drama is not without its faults. I think the acting of the leads could be better. I am also disappointed that they are both dubbed and not using their original voices. Heck, even Duo Duo uses her original voice and that adds 10000 points to her adorableness. There are a couple scenes with very fake green screens. There are only four songs in the OST and it lacks variety, though they are lovely. This is definitely not a big budget production, so maybe that’s why I am having all these minor disappointments.

Overall, I had a good time binge-watching this drama. The pacing is not bad but the ending might not be satisfactory to all. I knew what kind of ending it had before starting this. I am prepared, still not happy though ?


Completed: 11/3/2023 - Review #372

Read More

want to see the actors in something else

Overall: the leads' excellent chemistry couldn't save Twins' poor writing. 12 episodes about 45 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3782/twins-2023-e01 ; re-aired on Lovemedia Thailand YouTube channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIFuZIdAgzTjbXN2ypTCNBGNY0PQQTgxG&si=TmjC1-YF7k_mWZTd

Watch Suggestions (unless you enjoy slow pacing, stupid decision-making and poor communication)
- read the synopsis/watch the trailer and skip episodes 1-3
- episode 4 watch up to 10 minutes, then 29 and then at 36 minutes
- episode 5 start at 17 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 6 watch 18-20 and 23-24 minutes
- episode 7 start at 18 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 8 start at 10 minutes and can watch on a faster speed to the end
- episode 9 watch 24-25 and 29-31 minutes
- episode 10 watch 15-30 minutes
- episode 11 watch 12:20-15:20 side couple
- episode 12 watch entire episode

Content Warnings: violence/fight/beaten up, manipulation, non con picture taking/sharing, cyberbullying

What I Liked
- a sports based BL
- good chemistry with the main couple
- a side couple grew on me

Room For Improvement
- needed the twins to be better differentiated similar to Not Me, even if one was dressed like the other, the voice and mannerism should have immediately signaled to the audience who it was, there were a few times I wasn't sure who was supposed to be who in a scene
- slow pacing, entire first episode was set up, watched most of the series on 2x speed
- Sprite needed to say something way earlier, his brother Zee was a nonredeemable jerk and all the characters shared 3 brain cells
- way too many side characters introduced quickly, took awhile to figure out who was who and then several plot threads weren't developed well
- toilet humor at the end of episode 3
- for one couple, the pursuer was a bit too aggressive and the pursuee was a bit too reluctant for too long
- choppy editing
- in episode 10 the fictional 'so drunk can't remember in the morning what happened but was an active participant during' cliche
- final episode rushed several character endings
- terrible characters that didn't get any consequences, just the "leave us alone/don't do this again or else...."
- plot holes/nonsense writing

Read More

Promising start butgradually became a huge mess

When I first heard of this I was really hyped. More from KinnPorshe staff? Hell yeah, I'm in!!
Ep1 promised a lot, it was great to see Mile again, and to get to know the "contestants", however, the goal of the game was pretty blurry for me to understand, tell a story, but lie, find liars, etc... It didn't really work for me but I enjoyed the episode a lot.
Later episodes started to feel cheaper and cheaper, and got more and more boring. The second section with the outdoor trials was kinda fun to watch, the guys also had fun, and a tied-up Ta Nannakun is a priceless sight as well hahaha
The last, acting section was a catastrophy. Disorganised episodes, horrible acting, it was a total mess. The last two episodes are the worst ones in my opinion. No more high stakes, the whole show bacame a plain, cheap and boring mess.
I don't recommend spending 1+ hour watching each episode. Fast forward to the actors you like or find symphathetic, so you can save 30 mins per episode...

Read More

You don't need Accounting Knowledge to enjoy this show

This is a great show! Don't be put off by the fact it's based around banks and accountants, I know nothing of those things and I enjoyed this series. Also to show greed and power, most of these situations were extreme.

The hero - An awesome actor wo holds his character throughout, he certainly was the right person for the role,

MDL throws in bromance as a category, not true at all. The slight romance in the story is all M/F - and it's very, very slight.

Some of it can be a bit confusing, because there are so many different characters, but if you stick with it, it will make sense.

Read More

The way this ended and the after credit scene are just calling for a season 3. I desperately need a season 3 asap, although I’m pretty sure the show was discontinued. If you decide to start this show just be warned that you’re definitely gonna feel like the show left a lot unanswered and I have tons of questions. Despite these facts I still very much enjoyed the show and it’s still worth a watch even with the cliffhangers. Honestly since watching I have come up with many scenarios, to fill in the unanswered, in my head but I really would have loved to see what happens.


If you wanna know before watching here are a few things left unanswered:
-Yoo Han in the hospital (after credit scene)
-Why/when Yoo Han left the lapis at Se Hyuns house
-etc.

Read More

Will a arrogant girl with only grit and bad temper be able to revive her father's failed company?

Rich and Spoilt Jiang Hu is the daughter of a father who caters to her whim and fancy. An intelligent, spunky woman, she has never had a care in the world. Arrogant and headstrong, she gets what she wants without a care in the world.

Her world comes tumbling down when her boyfriend advises her father to invest in a fund that loses its value overnight. Her family loses all their wealth, and her father passes away in shock, leaving her with a lot of business creditors to satisfy. As her assets are auctioned, she upholds her father's reputation and pays off the debts before trying to restructure the company.

Xu Si, an investment expert who returns to mainland China from a position at a Hong Kong investment bank, crosses paths with Jiang Hu. Xu Si is good at making investments because he understands the myriad permutations and combinations that go into making one a success.
Xu Si, who has always been driven by ambition, targets the rubber-soled shoe brand "Tengyue," founded initially by Jiang Hu's father. With an unwavering determination to rescue "Tengyue" at any price, Jiang Hu, despite her own downfall, becomes embroiled in a fierce battle against Xu Si. Ultimately, their interactions and challenges will shape the destiny of "Tengyue" and decide whether it can be rejuvenated.

Jaing Hu, having met him on several occasions, approaches him for investment. He set her a target of selling 20,00 shoes in her inventory in 30 days before deciding to invest in her.

Fallen from grace but not in her attitude, Jaing Hu and Xu Si bring their egos to the relationship and engage in explosive discussions with each other as they try to work together.
READ MORE at Desis.live

Read More

cuzudo

noss gente que odio eu esperava algo mto mais uuoooouu mas tipo ele eh Ok eh descontraido e a cada episódio te faz pensar uma coisa, porem eh chato em alguns momentos e contem cenas que nao avançam p desenvolvimento da historia

e jaebum querido amor vida nos estamos com vc ta te amo ta querido ?

Read More

bellissimo dramma!

Dramma davvero molto carino e divertente piacevole da guardare e molto coinvolgente.Si merita a pieno un bel 9.5 per la storia e per come è stata raccontata.La storia racconta del solito ricco ereditiere e di lei,una ragazza semplice e troppo gentile.Un sfortunato caso fa che finiscono per passare la notte insieme senza nemmeno rendersene conto,le cose si complicano quando scopre di essere incinta e da lì innumerevoli problemi che però pian piano li farà innamorare,poi le cose si complicano di nuovo però alla fine le un happy ending come si deve per un dramma così romantico.Non è un 10 solo per quelle parti esasperatamente esagerate della risata di lui e certi comportamenti e atteggiamenti strani,va bene sono momenti comici e divertenti ma sinceramente troppo esagerati.
Comunque vale davvero la visione,ottimo dramma.

Read More

Finally the real gay community

I was so excited to see the chaos this would be. I was so proud of GMMTv for the audacity. Realistic stuff always get me, it's a love-hate thing.
But let's go to the character analysis.
Everyone sucks. The only character who is an actual angel is Sand.
Mew: was descent until he became Harley Twink and turned toxic as well.
Force and Boston: both can't keep it in their pants. Except Force was willing to join monogamy at the end, but Boston couldn't, that's not who he is.
Nick: did some fucked up shit and was very colorblind when it came to red flags, but he was not a bad person at the end of the day and I'm glad he teamed up with the best person in the "group".
Ray: messed up, poor little rich kid... nah 'cause Ray fucking sucked and would make a scene out of every little thing. He definitely doesn't know how to deal with anything and that could be because he doesn't got a mom and a present dad but took him too long to even want to try to be a better person. He hurt too many people. Sand was a saint for pulling up with all that shit.
Sand: I think he is flawless, but he gave too many chances to Ray, also kinda colorblind. It went well at the end, thankfully.
Chuem: I was so happy that this actress would be gay in the show. Also was so happy that she was dating Nanon's sister. But damn, she was so annoying and had no own opinion. She would just believe anyone that came up to her and said like '"your girlfriend said "blah blah"'. She wouldn't even ask or talk about it, she would just come for the person. There was also kinda of a lack of chemistry between her and April tbh.
April: is only there to be Chuem's girlfriend, barely appears.
Yo and Plug: I wish their story had more screen time, cause they meant nothing to me (which is sad 'cause I love Jennie)
Atom: bro was filthy. I tried to understand that he was very confused and fell for the first guy he hooked up with right after he found out he likes men too, I was kinda sorry for him but he fucked up still.

We can see most characters are very well written and developed. I really liked that and the fact that everything was very real, like getting out of that romantic perfect bubble. I kinda wish the couples wouldn't end up together, because that could be like a lesson about real life: some things don't work out and that's okay. I loved that Nick and Boston didn't get together in the end, Boston tried but he was unable to be monogamous, so he should just try and stop making other people's lives miserable. Overall the drama was very nice to watch, chaos is very entertaining. Seeing our beloved actors getting out of their comfort zone and playing shitty characters was an experience.

Read More

Not likely to be remembered

Typical GMMTV fare that isn't their worst but not a classic either.
I do like both Chimon for his charm and Perth for his visuals but unfortunately neither really have the charisma needed for good leads.
Whether it's true or not about them not really getting on I did see an interview they had and there was certainly no chemistry between them unlike with most other BL couples, and their kissing/NC scenes just looked awkward and unbelievable.
It was probably stronger nearer the start and I found the finale the weakest episode being very drawn out at times.

Read More