Reviews

Body swap and more!

I came across this drama precisely a year after it ended. I didn't even know it existed, but a dear MDL user suggested it and here i am!
First and foremost, it's a romantic comedy fantasy drama. Initially wanted to give it a 10, but the ending was with an unnecessary twist and that wasn't to my taste. Unlike many Cdramas i have watched till today, it's not cringey and it doesn't get draggy at all, which is a bonus. And, it's so light-hearted that you can relax and watch it. There are mishaps and adversaries, but they are solved eventually. In addition, it has no stiff love triangles! The leads only have eyes on each other.

Story:
I was kinda shocked to see a Cdrama with decent writing. Except for a few plots, most of the problems are addressed in the end and no loopholes are left. Some say the second leads should have been paid attention to, but i think not all friendships should turn into relationships and that was fine. I liked the body swap aspect, and it was elaborate enough to get invested in the story. Until then they decided to change the ending and make it realistic, rather than a fantasy drama. They could've stayed with the actuality of body swap happening to the leads and that was just beautiful.

Acting:
I was already familiar with Liang Jie in Eternal love and i was expecting to see some fun, naughty acting, which she delivered quite well. The ML, Zhang Xincheng, delivered a magnificent act. We get to see a shy, introverted guy with a traumatic past fall in love with an ordinary girl with a warm heart. The lead's acting and chemistry were 10/10 for me. Plus, they bring about the kiss scenes so genuine and beautiful that you can't take your eyes off them.
The second leads and supporting cast were decently portrayed.

Music:
I loved the pieces played throughout the show, especially "my soul" by steven zhang. He has such an angelic voice.

Chemistry:
I wanted to add this section, because i think it's as important as other aspects. nowadays, we get to see so many dramas where the leads have zero chemistry but go on kissing, hugging and etc. These two love birds actually have hot chemistry. Their love is believable and you get to feel the sorrow they are put in.

Overall, a pleasurable binge-watch for me. I will definitely go back and rewatch some of their lovey-dovey scenes.

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Suspension of disbelief needed, and not because of the fantasy elements.

I’m usually one to say that we cannot excuse lackluster execution simply based on the short length of a show. Here though, I feel like that was truly the biggest issue, and no matter how they would try to approach the story, it would not improve much without additional minutes of runtime.

The story itself, the premise and idea behind it - great. It was truly a refreshing concept for a BL. Dealing with past trauma was the major theme in the show, but I feel like we get to that idea only by the end of the show. That’s when it hit me and the ending made a perfect scene in the context of the whole drama.

How about romance? It was decent. Lee Hyun Jun and Moon Ji Yong had a rather good and natural chemistry, but the way Shin Jae Woo was written made it hard for me to truly appreciate their scenes together. His antics and rather child-like demeanor makes more sense by the end of the show, but it still makes it hard for me to see them as more than just friends.

The thing about Shin Jae Woo’s character - he acted like his younger self. At times, I felt like his behavior as a child in the past, and now the grown up did not differ that much. Did it make his interaction with Ji Hoon cute and entertaining? Yes. Did it interfere with the romance for me? Also yes.

Then there was also the problem of realistic progression of the feelings. I kept asking myself “when, why and how did Ji Hoon fall for Jae Woo?”. They barely meet, Jae Woo was acting borderline creepy and weird around Ji Hoon. Does the guy just have a peculiar taste in men? Not to mention the strength of the feelings. My man, you barely met this guy. This is not a Shakespearean story to have people deeply in love on the first meeting.

That was one of the issues we usually have to deal with when watching short BLs. I kind of started to accept that, but it’s still worth pointing out with hopes of improvements in the future.

I have some thoughts about the ending, you can find them in a comment under spoiler below. Overall… I’m just not completely sure I understand the mechanics of it… It was also the part that made me question how far I am supposed to ignore logic and reality.

Acting wise, better than many K-BLs. Were these groundbreaking performances? No. They were believable though, and that’s all I need. Moon Ji Yong for sure did the best, especially in the last episode - one scene truly impressed me.

The OST - perfection. All songs worthy of being added to a playlist to listen outside of the show. “Time” was my favorite. The melody and the vocals were just amazing.

Overall, it was fun. I liked the characters and their interactions. I wish the show was longer so the pacing would feel more natural, and the relationship progression would not feel so abrupt.

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Surprisingly warm and beautiful pink

Did You cried big tears with Ae in "Love by chance 2"? Did You suffer from seeing the Mains in "Lovely writer" beeing apart ? Was it hurtful to watch "Miracle of the teddy bear"?

Vice Versa is the medicine.
It's heartwarming and soothing.

I started to watch this with the expectation of an interesting SciFi plot. But this is just the frame for the really beautiful love story. One doesn't have faith in love, the other one tries to win his heart over. It's a sweet (sometimes literally), comfy and vanilla series. Easy to watch for beginners.

The series tells the story of two guys, which changed the universe because of their deaths. And their 2 years of longing and searching for a way back home. But it was never a painful waiting. They live the life of the guys in which bodies they transferred to the fullest to not disappoint the owners or ruin their careers.

I personally had to mention, Sea isn't my type of men, but his calm and wise aura and his beautiful smile, melted my heart. And Neo, the funniest character in so much series, plays another wonderful warmly and clearly funny character.

I also liked the cameos of other GMMTV Boys. That was always a little joy of reunion.

So, just give it a try =O)

available on YouTube

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Love to hate

This is one of lakorns that I've re-watched several times, yet every time I watch it, I am so angry at the ML and annoyed by the FL. But I keep watching it! The ML is unreasonable, over the top jealous & possesive, sexually abusive, verbally, mentally & emotionally abusive...in short ,he belongs in prison. The excuse is his intense love for his dead wife. This informs all his actions and drives him to acuse, abuse & assault the FL, and he manages to do all that while not even bothering to check his facts first on who really caused the accident.

This intense love is also the reason he becomes besotted with an evil look-alike, before realising that she is not the same person and his unwilling love for the FL becomes more conflicting for him before he finally surrenders to it. This trope was no doubt included to forward the romance of the two leads, highlight the ML's confused emotional state and introduce the other story elements of murder, mental instability, obsession, manipulation etc.

Something I found really triggering was (as part of his emotional abuse) when the ML told the FL that it was a race to see whether he or his brother could F*** the sister first. Disgusting! And then there were the multiple rapes. In a way it proves that the character was well written because he was really hate-able and unsympathetic. At no time did I feel sympathy for him or understand his actions. Dome's ML character is realy eye-candy but unfortunately, although he was trying to look vengeful and scheming in the first episodes, he came across as just looking creepy.

The FL is a real door-mat. That is the most annoying part of this drama for me. She just puts up with everything for the flimsiest of reasons. And she cries a lot, giving off that 'poor, poor pitiful me' vibe which can wear thin pretty quickly. There were a couple of times when the character stood up for herself with the ML and that was satisfying.

In the end I did feel sympathetic towards this character because she did resolve to leave the situation and stand on her own two feet, so she at least showed some backbone then. I understood the way she wanted to keep the pregnancy from him because it would have been perfectly in character for him to take the baby from her and cast her aside.
The actress is a real beauty though and some of her outfits were stunning and highlighted her voluptuous body shape, while others were quite dowdy.

The side characters were endearing, except perhaps for the sister, who was quite flirty with the ML at first. This was supposed to be because she was innocently fun-loving but really it gave me the impression that the character was slutty. Again this was introduced to further the ML's revenge theme. The rest of the characters were sweet and it leaves you with a warm and fuzzy family feeling, even amidst all the negative stuff swirling around.

For the first time, I really wanted the ML to at least suffer a bit and experience some emotional growth. Instead of forgiving him so readily in the end episodes, I wanted the FL to flee and get away from him, at least for a time. So she could heal and he could grow and repent, but alas, it was all too quick and easy for him.

Rewatch: Yes, I'm ashamed to say I've rewatched this several times. The tension runs high throughout the show. There are bits that are hard to watch, satisfying endings for all characters, and some good acting.

I think a lot of people will enjoy watching this. You'll either love it or hate it or be like me and love to hate it!

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Why so much hate for this drama?!

I’m not sure why I watched this one, considering how awful so many of the reviews here make it seem. But I’m glad I did.

The relationships in this drama are more complex than the usual fare. Maybe that’s why so many viewers thought badly about them. This was a problem for Nevertheless, too.

So many reviews say the ending was awful, and… I’m not sure what drama they watched. In the last two episodes, I kept thinking, “Okay, the terrible ending is going to start here, right? Nope. Here, then? No… huh.”

I’m not going to post any spoilers but there’s a happy ending—well, there’s always that one second male lead who has to be lonely in the end (>cough< Baek In-ho, Yoon JiHoo >cough<), but otherwise, it was good.

This drama portrays what deep betrayal can do to a person (I also like Lovestruck in the City in this regard). The reviewers complaining that the decisions characters made were selfish or nonsensical must be lucky folks who have never been betrayed by a good friend or lover. It messes you up! It makes you distrust!

There *are* three very selfish characters, only one of which sees the error of their ways… but the leads are self-preserving, not self-serving. Many people made mistakes in 2003 in this film, but nearly all of them were trying to do the best they could with only part of the story. That happens, especially in many peoples 20s! If anything, I’d say the healing quality of this drama hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.

Is it perfect? Nope. There’s an over the top action side story that felt unnecessary, and —& I don’t think this is a spoiler— how can having to poop become blackmail fodder? It wasn’t laugh out loud funny and what romance there was wasn’t heart fluttering—but it was complicated and the attempts at mending these relationships required leaps of faith that I thought were handled well. I loved it whenever the suitors had to work together & especially loved Ha-nee’s conversations with her various father candidates.

Standouts elements include the Cranberries cover, the daughter and halmoeni, the the depiction of a messy breakup and it’s fallout.

Things other reviewers were worried about, but I didn’t mind, include the lack of deep dive into the “movie industry,” the FL turning down help over and over—she didn’t ask to be rescued!— and Dae-o’s whining. Anyone who carries a burden for 14 years will take some time to shift their worldview.

Things that *did* drive me nuts: “Guido Orefice” (COME ON), the last time jump, the other teacher (that guy, seriously), one ruthless character who wasn’t ever punished, the release party for a major film looking more like a lame office birthday party, and there really should’ve been more kissing.

I’m not sure if I’d rewatch it, because there are so many in my rewatch pile already, but I wasn’t mad about watching it once.

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Sad Ending

This is a very good series. The male leads have a good chemistry and the series is well directed.
Jae Woo travels 15 years back in time, to try to save Ji Hoon. Ji Hoon saves 10 year old Jae Woo's life by sacrificing himself. Jae Woo is riddled with regrets. 15 years later he returns to the Dormitory that Ji Hoon had been living in, days before it is to be torn down. After being allowed to stay in Ji Hoon's old room for a little while he is transported back to the year 2007, where his 25 year old self meets Ji Hoon again. Slowly they develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately the fateful day of Ji Hoon's death arrives and having figured out that the 25 year old Jae Woo is actually the same person as the 10 year old boy he had saved weeks earlier from a kidnapper. Jin Hoon, despite Jae Woo's best efforts, decides not to change fate and again intervenes and saves 10 year old Jae Woo's life at the cost of his own!

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I love every second of it.

For those who are wondering, this story is a *happy ending*

It's like the ITSAY of Japan, but this time, there are no deep conflicts. There are no conflicts about being both men, or that it is embarrassing, etc. Just plain love, and making sure of cherishing each other everyday.

I love that there is no major conflict to the story. Just two people discovering how to take care and express their love for each other. It is sweet in a sense that there is clear communication with each other and expression of their feelings.

One thing that I mind though is that it is short. It is just 4 episodes. However, the story concluded it well. I just hoped that their future lives are discussed more and their relationship defined more. Also a conclusion of the school festival. I would love them to have more time with each other.

I think the overall theme of this series is just plain love. Just love. Whether its the side couples and the main, they just showcase plain and simple love, and I love every second of it.

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Jae Woo's smille sends me over the moon

As the headline, Jae Woo won this drama with his smile. He offered his sweetest smile to Ji Hoon and us (audiences ) which is to me, one of the cutest and sweetest smiles in BL history. Moon Ji Yoong transformed into Jae Woo and successfully displays his feelings, pains and unstoppable love for Ji Hoon after holding them for 15 years.

I believe they can do better if they (the production and creative team) have all support (budget and time) for their need. As of now, this is good enough for this web series.

The ending, though, reminds me of the Korean drama series in the early 2000s; melodramatic and a need to separate the couple, which is unnecessary my opinion. I wish they could come up with a better solution so audiences feel more entertained and could sit with a smile, not a tear. Man, people already have bad things in real life, maybe a good and happy ending drama in the fiction world could bring joy to them and suffer less anxiety. A good closure is needed during this dark time, am I right?

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True Boredom

True Beauty is essentially the high school version of My ID Is Gangnam Beauty.
It has its good-hearted, clumsy girl who was bullied for her looks, its cold and extremely good-looking male lead, who is again played by Cha Eun Woo, its second lead, for whom the viewers root more than for the main lead because he is a better person, and a group of supportive friends. The story is a cliché – one of those in which you have no idea why the male lead fell for this particular girl and you are not motivated much to care about their romance. Furthermore, it requires you to suspend a lot of disbelief because the idea that someone can wear enough make-up to transform her face completely and no one will notice that thick layer of make-up is ridiculous.

The couple in whose story I was invested were Soo Ah and Tae Hoon, the classmates who have been together for a long time and still managed to be more interesting than Joo Bal and Su Ho. The other thing that kept me watching until episode seven was that I wanted to know what happened to Su Ho and Seo Jun's friend and if the two of them will become close again – they had more chemistry with each other than either of them had with Joo Bal – but I eventually stopped caring about that too.

Overall, this series did not manage to hold my attention because it is too predictable. Unless you enjoyed My ID Is Gangnam Beauty a lot, you like the actors, or you want to watch sixteen episodes of Cha Eun Woo's being handsome, there is nothing interesting to be seen.

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Surprisingly good

As someone who doesn't normally like sad endings, I, too, am shocked by my rating. But honestly, I think if it had ended any other way, if Ji Hoon had somehow survived... I don't think I would have liked it as much. Because I feel like most of us, having watched like the first two episodes, knew how it was going to end. We hoped it would be different, but we were able to predict it based on the tone of the show. And honestly, the predictability made me enjoy their sweet moments more, since I suspected what was coming. It's not the destination, it's the journey. (Though I will say, the very last bit confused me, but I'm choosing to just write it off lol)

The acting from both actors, but especially Moon Ji Yong (who played Jae Woo) was good. It wasn't amazing, but honestly they did really well, especially with the emotional scenes. It's hard to get that type of emotion out, and Ji Yong did it very well.

I loved the study dorm's manager, though I forgot her name. I really enjoy those characters who know more than they let on and help push the main characters. And the friend, Hyung Jin, was super sweet. I need a friend like him!

And lastly, I actually really enjoyed the premise. I do think it would have been better to have more episodes to flesh out the characters, give them more time to get to know each other, etc., but the team did really well with what they had. Time travel is hard to navigate through (no pun intended) and they did it pretty well.

I'm actually excited to see Korean BLs start to explore other topics and plots. Hopefully this will give us bigger and better shows!

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First review of an cinematography addicted

As the head line implies, it touched me way too much..
I have watched many dramas, from different countries and idk how to write a proper review so bare with me.

Even though this plot was done endless times, this one was perfect in my eyes.
Why? It had all of them in the same series
- the chemistry
- good directing and screenwriting
- every single character was done properly, not only the mains
- wasn't full of tipical clichés (I love them tho)
- the sound, lighting, places, wardrobe, hairstyles, all the props
- the little and immaculate hints and details, from expressions, touches, movements, props
- the good and satisfying ending for a tragic outcome

From now on full on spoilers

What I personally loved?

- my favorite scene was the last part, when they were older, it hit me so bad, bc I've imagined myself living such an incomplete life, to the point I wished for his suicide attempt to succeed or not show the outcome in so much details and stages so I could just put this drama in the pill with the rest dramas I've watched and call it a day and move on.

Like he seems that he lived a good and happy life, he never truly felt entirely happy.

Bits I remember and liked

-her brother and the scene in the back of the truck and his realization, the start of him truly maturing and it impacted him so much and become a helper for the ones in need
- I loved the bff's family, their character development was well done, she annoyed me a bit at times, but still liked that I felt this about her
- the fact that bad guys can also be the evil souls as long as the cowards or indifferent ones
- the leads characters seemed common, but at the same time it didn't
- misunderstandings and secrets were quickly showed, not dragged for decades, but not too quick to the point that why bother putting them in the first place
- the attention to the details, like were the May was shown on the calendar on the desk while the bff's brother received the note and such detailed, I liked those touches, it proves that the crew put all their hearts in the project
- I liked that mains had lots of happy and cute moments, like they at least enjoyed most their times while they've been together
- the mains didn't miss the chances like every damn drama
- the mains dinamic
- his brother character, I really liked his maturity and bravery, from the punch to saving the sister in law and the scene were he rejected his father was amazing and the flashback of his happy moments with FL was a great idea
- the step mother and her finally having enough strength to leave the toxic marriage, I couldn't hate her throughout the series
- every single character and the fact that they had decent screen time and felt important to the story, not just fillers to make the series longer
- the SML was amazing, I liked that they didn't just put him there to be our tipical kdrama SML and didn't focused on only his love for the FL

Bits that I wished for

- a bit more screen time for her mom, they brushed her away, like she's not the mother and wife of two important characters, some scenes when the boy comes running home or when she receives the news of the deceased loved ones.

- a bit more scenes between the bff and policeman, that was damm sad.. Her realization of his feelings after it was too late.. She had so many love potentials and they hinted them, but nothing never, I liked that she was focused on her goals, but I wished they didn't introduce so many potentials and making the audience crave amd wish for her to go in that direction

Not wished, I'm actually fine they didn't show what happened right after with everything, with his father and let it open to our imagination and focused on romance aspects, bc I think I wouldn't be satisfied with any revange/ punishment for the ones that were in the wrong, so a smart move for not giving us concrete follow ups.

Why I rated the re-watch so low?
-I could go lower actually, it's such a sad one that I don't wanna feel this pain ever after watching a series.
My heart felt real pain.

A top recommendation?
Most definitely, it was an amazing drama over all, truly satisfying.

I sure have more thoughts, but I'm afraid it will be longer than the script of the series, so I'll stop here.

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