Reviews

You can be cool even if your not the coolest person

I’ve never seen a drama where the trope was about who’s the coolest man in the world, and I have to say I actually kinda liked it. I always saw this on Viki and I never watched it, but I decided why not and it actually was pretty good and I don’t regret watching it except for that weird ending. I originally only watched it because Keito was gonna be a guest star on it (sadly for only 1 ep) and I wasn’t thinking I was gonna continue it, but I actually became obsessed. Just a warning spoilers ahead. So Ryoma accidentally got accepted into a high school that’s only meant for cool boys and he was turned down by all the other schools so he basically went to the school, but what did he see? It was a whole bunch of cool boys while he’s the opposite of a cool boy because he isn’t the most attractive, he’s not strong, he doesn’t have a hobby, his hair is a bowl cut, and he even stepped in poop and if you are a cool boy you never step in poop. While his time at high school he made relationships with other cool boys for example Wakabayashi-kun he’s a very zesty cool boy and was Ryoma’s first friend, Jingu he only knows kendo and wants to be in the tourney to help promote Kendo, Shu who is a poor cool boy that was judged for eating grass and bread because he can’t afford stuff and his apartment was run down, and lastly Ichinose who doesn’t know what love is and even helped him find his lover and save her from trying to k!ll herself. Also Yanagi was Ryoma’s rival to win Sakurai’s love since Yanagi fell for her ever since they were children and they were childhood friends. Yanagi also promised Sakurai that he will take her to the coboy tourney. Also I have to mention my favorite Todo (keito) even though he was only in ep 4 he slayed it so much and even helped make Ryoma feel more confident about himself and even got him to rizz Sakurai up, he also helped Jingu get seen by girls because people were tired of him doing Kendo, but Todo helped jazz it up and girls then noticed him again. I also love Ryoma’s parents because there so hilarious. Through all the hardships and gacha pon cards this show was absolutely amazing, but the disappointment was that we never saw who won the cool boy tournament even though the show was revoking around it.

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I do feel if you watch this you need to have food with you

I really enjoyed this drama, it was so cute and nice it was like having a nice meal while watching this there wasn’t any annoying characters, but it was actually one that you could get through it was calm and nice. Although I did feel that t wasn’t like a drama, but more like it could’ve been like a cooking ad since in each episode there would be a new recipe being made. I swear to god I’m just like Ji Hoon because he’s literally the only single guy in the whole friend group, I’d pay for a season two just to see if the new part time worker would be his lover. I did love Han Ji Yu because he was so adorable especially whenever he became drunk and also when he literally fell down on the front porch of Gi Hun’s restaurant and I would always be bursting out laughing because he’d just be rolling around and tripping. Also I get that the smell of beer is disgusting and smelly, but like wouldn’t it be good for business since Gi Hun did make a whole lot of fried chicken. The main couple was so cute that when Ki hoon would freeze on stage it reminded me of light on me when Tae kyung also freezes on stage and it would be their lovers who could make them be normal again. Anyways I really recommend this drama I loved each second of it.

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such a refreshing dating reality show

i watched this, not really expecting much. but
DAMNNNNNN i loved it so much. the cast was so amazing. the drama was entertaining and honestly crack up.

i related a lot to shun with his insecurities + walls he built up, as well as him constantly testing dai to see if he was genuine or not. he was so dramatic that it was just so funny. like wdym he got angry because dai wouldn’t wear his T-shirt, but his ex would ? BWAHAHAHAHHA STOPPPPPP ? oh their last date was BEAUTIFUL ! i already knew what was gonna happen when shun went onto dai’s bed. but it looked like something was happening underneath that blanket … ? the kiss needs to be recorded in the history of best BL kisses to ever happen. BL dramas/ shows need to study this exact scene, bc the build up, eye contact, whispers, everything led up to such a romantic and intimate kiss. hopefully shun matures so that when he has children he won’t get them in trouble for having to much fun, or being too enthusiastic (cue flashback of their first date ??)

i was amazed at the maturity, loyalty and consideration dai had. how he was able to so easily compromise for shun and try to understand his reactions. how he was willing to keep trying even if it wore him out. he was very expressive and talked about his feelings, which is so important in any type of relationship. i thought it was a great idea that he enjoyed the picnic with new guy, because it would have been refreshing for him and showed shun how he really felt. BROOOOOOO i swear, dai has the patience of a saint, because shun was just confusing with wanting his physical touch, only to push him away.

they were so realistic and enjoyable (sometimes frustrating) to watch. AND NETFLIX PUTTING THIS SONG WHEN SHUN CONFESSED ?! perfection! honestly, my main focus was them. i wish them both happiness together.

i can remember kazuto picking the guys up like pokemon. i was LAUGHING MY HEAD OFF that one time it was his shift and everyone put their hands up. honestly so valid, bc me too. usak and his chickennnn OMG the whole budgeting thing was so funny, like they were so serious about chicken ? he was adorable and i’m kinda sad he left early. gensei thinking ryota liked him was funny as well. like i never thought i’d see my level of delulu on tv. ryota was like seeing the second lead in a kdrama. he just kept giving his heart to kazuto, only for it to be crushed #unrequitedlove . taeheon being on the show even though he wasn’t out, was such a brave move for me. it made me admire his courage to do so, knowing his family will inevitably see it. i loved that everyone comforted him and assured him that his emotions were valid and his presence is needed. i felt sorry for ikuo when daishun were having lover quarrels 101 ? homeboy only wanted to help. alan was very understanding of everyone and gave really good advice/ words of comfort.

only thing i wish they would improve is more content please ! how did they stay together for one whole month, and only have 10-45min episodes ? in the end they all respected each other and it was refreshing to see.

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FROM INTRIGUING TO INCOMPREHENSIBLE

I just finished watching this intense historical fantasy drama, and wow, do I have thoughts! Right from the beginning, the drama sets a dark, intense tone with Minister Sajo Seung beating his son, Sajo Hyun, for drawing outfits. I thought this scene perfectly showcased the dysfunctional relationship between them, setting the foundation for Sajo Hyun's inner torment. The drama only gets more complex from there, introducing Wol, the assassin, and her tragic backstory tied to Sajo Hyun's father's massacre of her entire family.

One thing I loved was how deeply flawed and multifaceted the characters were. Sajo Hyun is fascinating, with his split personality—Ak Hee, the wild, charismatic fighter, versus Sajo Hyun, the quiet, blood-averse fashion designer. The dynamic between them was one of the most captivating aspects, especially as they both vied for the attention of Kyera (Wol’s assassin identity). Watching Ak Hee's interactions with Kyera, particularly the love-hate tension, was thrilling. Their chemistry was undeniable, and Ak Hee’s jealousy over Sajo Hyun's growing bond with her added a lot of layers to the story.

However, the drama took some unexpected turns, and not all for the better. Around episode 12, things started to get a bit confusing. There were moments where I felt like the plot was trying too hard to keep us on our toes, throwing in elements like random amnesia, unexplained plagues, and complicated political schemes. Sajo Yoong’s rise to power and the constant switching of identities between Ak Hee and Sajo Hyun, especially towards the end, made it hard to keep track of who was in control.

Despite its flaws, I really appreciated how the show built the tension between the two personalities and how they both ended up working together for a common goal, at least for a while: Kyera. The ending, though, left me with mixed feelings. Ak Hee’s disappearance felt like a betrayal of his character, and while I get that Sajo Hyun had to let go of his fears, I had grown attached to Ak Hee and his complexity.

Overall, the drama started off strong but lost its way in the middle. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, with some beautifully executed moments, but I can’t help but feel like it was a bit of a mess in parts. The soundtrack, though? Absolutely amazing—I’m definitely downloading that one track that kept playing during the emotional scenes. It’s a drama I wouldn’t necessarily recommend to everyone, but for those who love complex characters and don’t mind a little chaos in their plotlines, it might be worth a watch!

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a gem in the rough, but a gem nonetheless

though the story starts off slow, confusing, and a little awkward, this series gets better as it progresses. i do also think we have to take into consideration the time that this was filmed in, there was COVID going on, restrictions in group gatherings, and a generally pretty rookie cast.

you really see a lot of the challenges this production had to work with, especially in regards to the games, crowds, and how they used it to portray "loneliness" on the court. i wish they had gotten the chance to film this without a pandemic going on, but they honestly did a great job despite it all. i also think the cast, despite being pretty new overall, did a great job.

the only downside of this, is that the time skips were very jarring. one episode thorn gets hurt, and the next one he's already had a surgery (that he doesn't seem to be using any recovery medical equipment for?) and it felt like i missed an entire episode. honestly, i had to make sure i didn't actually skip anything... still, it was a great watch, and i think it highlighted the complexities that come in sports and relationships well.

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A Recipe for Gastronomic JBLs (II)

Ingredients:

For the series:
10-15 year age-gap
6-10 inch height gap
2-4 side characters with no depth or individuality
1 small kitchen
1 knife and 1 pair of ryouribashi (cooking chopsticks)
1 serving (at least) of onigiri
1 serving (at least) of a Western dessert
2-4 instances (at least) of misunderstanding & miscommunication, or forced separation
1 episode of illness or indisposition
Story optional

For each episode:
10 mins. of food porn, of which
2 mins. for broth-based dishes
2 mins. for rice-based dishes
2 mins. for curry or sauce
2 min. for lingering shots of chopping
1 min. for serving
1 min. for presentation
2 min. (at most) of interaction with side characters
Plot and character development optional

For serving:
2-4 shots of chopstick choreography per episode
3-5 near-kisses per series
1 fish-eye or camera-angle non-kiss per series (optional)
Payoff optional

Preparation:
1. Toss the ingredients together in a medium-sized series
2. Be careful to keep the right proportions for each episode
3. Simmer slowly to break down all chemistry and tension
4. Gently stir the camera around the top of the pan and apply suitable filters
5. Decant the bland broth into 25-minute containers
6. Garnish with the non-kiss
7. Serve lukewarm immediately, or tomorrow, or five years from now. It doesn’t matter.

Special Notes for Mitsuya Sensei:
1. I have not seen two actors/characters with less chemistry and less suited for each other since Elon Musk and Grimes. It is the first BL, ever, in which I actively did not want the men to kiss.
2. Yamazaki Masayoshi is an amazing actor, and made the role of Mitsuya his own.
3. Caramel Popcorn is the new birthday cake.
4. The dog was the best thing about the show. Fight me.

Note: This review also appears under Sugar Dog Life, but with a different set of notes.

DO SAY: Itadakimasu.
DON’T SAY: Ittakimasu.

See Also: Sugar Dog Life, Bokura no Shokutaku, Kinou Nani Tabeta, Perfect Propose.

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i love seeing the gays win

"i want to thank you for coming into my life and changing my world of grey and turning it into the beautiful pink." i absolutely love how mon fell for sam, but sam fell harder. their love was secretive and messy at the start - trickled with miscommunication and big issues outside of their relationship. arranged marriage and homophobic grandmas to name two. slowly but surely, though their love for each other surpassed all hardships. by the end, they filled the gap and got the happily ever after beyond their wildest dreams. gonna miss kicking my feet to mon and chamcham's passionate kissing scenes, but now it's time to watch the loyal pin! >:3

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An Endearing Sapphic Romance Indeed

“Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!” (Ayaka-chan wa Hiroko-senpai ni Koishiteru) is an office romance between Ayaka (Kato Shiho) and her superior Hiroko (Mori Kanna). It starts off with Ayaka’s attempts to woo Hiroko and to get her to notice Ayaka’s feelings. Her initial attempts end up in comic failures because Hiroko presumes Ayaka is straight and her gestures don’t have any meaning behind them. As the show proceeds, we find that Hiroko’s supposed obliviousness is actually a defence mechanism of wilful ignorance that she puts up to shield herself.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/09/24/ayaka-is-in-love-with-hiroko-series-review-ep-3-to-8/

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The Best Sismance in a Long Time!

This was one of those dramas that I had a “Love-Hate” relationship with!

The show was obviously promoted as sismance between the leading ladies and for most quarters, it is. Sparks fly when veteran divorce lawyer Jang Na Ra (Cha Eun Kyung) has to mentor rookie lawyer Nam Ji Hyun (Han Yoo Ri). First of all, their values are invariably different; while Yoo Ri is too straight laced and principled, Eun Kyung only believes in winning her cases, no matter the cost. Clashes are inevitable, but slowly down the line, both of them settle into an amicable professional relationship which helps them grow in different ways. Because of own custody battle, Eun Kyung learns the importance of family and gets to know her daughter better. Yoo Ri on the other hand learns to separate her personal and professional lives. The male leads didn’t have much to do, apart from supporting the lead ladies; at times, their presence was overshadowed by the female protagonists who had an impeccable sense of justice.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/09/24/good-partner-series-review/#more-1217

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Best drama of recent times

The name Hope Man is and will be forever stuck in my mind. This guy made my childhood, and got me into tvb dramas for real. Vincent Wong became my favourite actor because of this role, and of course with him leaving tvb this year it makes me very sad.

I simply cannot stress how much I loved this show. If you have the time, I highly recommend you watch it.

Lets get down to the reviewing:

Plot:
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. They somehow balanced crime, love, action, suspense and heartwarming scenes all into one single 28 episode drama. Every case, every character has the perfect backstory, and the perfect ending. The scene when Golden died saving Hope Man killed me emotionally, and Never’s death was even sadder.

The main theme of the story was prejudice and bias which appeared throughout the drama impeccably. My favourite was when Hope Man gave up the chance to see again to remove all bias from his heart, ultimately allowing him to stop the villain. I can’t go on for too long but just know its the best plot for any drama ive seen for a while.

Maybe they could have removed the part when Never came back from the dead but I think it didn’t affect anything much.

Acting:
There is a reason why the plot is so good - and that’s because of the remarkable acting from the cast. Not just Vincent Wong, Sisley Choi, Owen Cheung and Ali Lee all acted incredibly in their respective roles. The villain acted so well I wanted to punch him :). The actors in each individual case all put up a commendable performance too. Also, I have to acknowledge the amazing casting choices made. I don’t think anyone else could have played Hope Man, 癫姐, GoGo and Never.

Songs:
Obviously 心眼 was my favourite theme song for a long long time so easy 10/10. Vincent Wong really can sing! 爱近在眼前 by Stephanie Ho was also great although not as good as the main theme. I felt like another sub theme song could have been added to improve this category.

Rewatch:
Any day of the week.

踩过界 was a masterpiece. It hit all the right notes and is a highly underrated drama that you should watch. Can’t really say the same for 踩过界2 which will be tomorrow’s review.

Thanks for reading.

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A Recipe for Gastronomic JBLs

Ingredients:

For the series:
10-15 year age-gap
6-10 inch height gap
2-4 side characters with no depth or individuality
1 astonishingly small kitchen
1 knife and 1 pair of ryouribashi (cooking chopsticks)
1 serving (at least) of onigiri
1 serving (at least) of a Western dessert (preferably cake, preferably for a birthday)
2-4 instances (at least) of misunderstanding & miscommunication
1 episode of illness or indisposition
Story or plot optional

For each episode:
10 mins. of food porn, of which:
2 mins. for broth-based dishes
2 mins. for rice-based dishes
2 mins. for curry
2 min. for lingering shots of chopping
1 min. for serving
1 min. for presentation
2 min. (at most) of interaction with the side characters
Plot and character development optional

For serving:
2-4 shots of chopstick choreography per episode
3-5 near-kisses per series
1 fish-eye or camera-angle non-kiss per series (optional)
Payoff optional

Preparation:
1. Toss the ingredients together in a medium-sized series
2. Be careful to keep the right proportions for each episode
3. Simmer slowly to break down all chemistry and tension
4. Gently stir the camera around the top of the pans and apply suitable filters
5. Decant the bland broth into clean 25-minute containers
6. Garnish with the non-kiss
7. Serve lukewarm immediately, or tomorrow, or five years from now. It doesn’t matter.

Special Notes for Sugar Dog Life:
1. I-su-mi-kun! I-su-mi-kun!
2. Do people really check for fever by huddling their heads together?
3. Kyosuke is coded as the husband and Isumi as the wife, right? Look at the poster.
4. What on earth is a sugar dog life? Is it a Japanese idiom? Can someone enlighten me?

Note: This review also appears under Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke, but with a different set of notes.

Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: Itadakimasu.
DON’T SAY: Ittakimasu.

See Also: Mitsuya Sensei no Keikakutekina Ezuke, Bokura no Shokutaku, Kinou Nani Tabeta, Perfect Propose.

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Will they? Won’t they? Do I care?

This is not a bad show, but it never reaches any real heights nor offered anything fresh. It is not exactly draggy, but it lacks a certain spark. It is happy to amble down a well-trodden path at its own pace.

To wit, the A-plot is the classic trope of a hard working FL falling in love with a chaebol heir. The slight twist in this case is that rather than rejecting the offered bribe to leave the ML, the FL accepts it and set a deadline to break up with him.

That is a little unexpected but promises an interesting twist. It came as no surprise then that she found this an impossible task as she discovers how much she truly loves him. Ditto, the ML was initially hurt by the sudden change of heart, but he clings to her like a lovesick limpet. There are cute and swoon-y moments and the pair looks good together. However, 10 hours is a lot of empty space to fill when your A-plot is one sentence long. Half the show is just their slow dance around each other.


Needless to say, to fill the hours, we have the token SM/FL who didn't contribute much. There is a little bit of angst from that quarter but there are no real antagonists. Rivals become friends, evil mum becomes fairy godmother, and everyone gets their fairytale endings. The older brother and his "estranged" wife actually provided some much needed sweet diversions. Their journey of falling in love long after their arranged marriage is a proven trope but a nice counterpoint nevertheless.

On the flipside are the FL’s coworkers. Ye drama gods! They are caricatures of the worst kind, so cringey.

In the end, the show is delivered with workmanlike efficiency but little imagination. I think It would have work better as a fast-paced movie romp or even a mini series with a bit more depth but its current length is just a bridge too far. A decent filler with all due respect.

If you are looking for a superior example of this genre, check out Something About 1%.

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Oppa!

There is a whole lot to like and a whole lot to dislike about this show. If you are looking for a medical drama about curing mental illness and showcasing good medical ethics, look elsewhere. The show rather focuses on over-the top characterization of mental disorders and a love-conquers-all plot.

Watching Ji Sung act is pure delight. He effortlessly switches from comedy to tragedy and skillfully changes tone and characterization between personalities. One moment, he is a cunning, eyeliner-wearing bad-boy, the next, he is a teenage girl screaming "OPPAAAAA!". His acting truly shines where the plot fails, making the drama very performance driven and flat on storytelling.

The worst thing about the show is Oh Ri Jin. I know that a dorky and messy female was a popular stereotype at the time the drama was filmed. But, Ri Jin is frustrating and mostly annoying. She is loud, sloppy, and unintelligent. And, she screams all the damn time. The writers build her up as an empathetic doctor, but they make no attempt to show her medical skills or have her treat patients. Instead, she is always between jobs while being praised for the skills she does not seem to have. Her character lacks depth and goes through very little development. While childhood abuse is the source of Do Hyun's torment, Ri Jin happily bee-bops through life with amnesia. When she finally regains her memories, it does not seem to sway her or have any impact on her at all.

Secondary characters don't do anything relevant, but hijack a lot of screen time. I like Park Seo Joon, but Oh Ri On is an eyesore. He has no purpose and the writers constantly insert him between Do Hyun and Ri Jin with no push-back from her, making the show often a frustrating watch. He is meddling and manipulative, but the writers never addresses it and portray him as an overprotective brother with one-sided incestual love for a woman raised as his sister. Instead of creating a deep brother/sister bond, the writers follow a cliche formula where multiple males must fall in love with a weak heroine without her actually deserving it.

The storytelling is very inconsistent with too many tonal switches. In one episode, Do Hyun's teen girl alter ego is chasing after Ri On. In another, Do Hyun is tearing up for multiple scenes trying to deal with his never-ending trauma. While I enjoy good comedy, it is out-of-place here because the show's focus is on past abuse and mental illness, which are anything but funny. Some of Do Hyun's personalities have no depth and only serve as comic relief. But, personalities that are the most impactful disappear for episodes at a time. The writers try to do too many things at once by sporadically flip flopping between hilarity and tragedy and thus creating a very choppy story.

Overall, the drama has consistently good pacing and Ji Sung's versatile performance makes it entertaining. But, it would've been much better with 16, instead of 20, episodes. Too much time is spent on the secondary characters and flashbacks. Editing needs work as episodes haphazardly jump between scenes before finishing them. The final showdown between Do Hyun and his relatives for the control of the company is very anticlimactic. And, the writers drag Han Chae Yun's obsession with Do Hyun for way longer than necessary.

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