Reviews

One of the great bromances however...

I loved watching spirealm! I loved the bromance, the stories, the characters and the cast in general was great! Even though the show doesn't follow the novel ending, it is still a satisfying ending considering censorship.

However, I have had one big problem with this show and it was Huang Junjie's acting. In my opinion, he failed to show some emotions and in some scenes his acting was pretty awkward. So while the bromance in general carried the show, the emotions were mostly seen from Xia ZhiGuang. Huang Junjie's ling ling had the same angry face, crying face, thinking face, he just squinted his eyes and that's it. And in some of the scenes where he was supposed to act surprised seemed exaggerated. This took out some fun from his character but otherwise the show was really good ?

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Do not snack while watching

Sifeng was easily the best character in the show. He was loving, patient, loyal, and had convictions. The writers did a good job developing his relationship with Xuanji. Although, she was frustrating at times due to her cluelessness, it wasn't completely without merit. She was missing her six senses, so it was natural for her to not understand love. But, she understood friendship and bonds that brought people together. And, due to her bond with Sifeng and his help to get her senses back, she gradually fell in love with him.

Normally, a slew of misunderstandings would be frustrating. But, here, they were necessary to show character development and Xuanji's struggle to reunite with Sifeng and to get him to forgive her. I liked that the writers did not just make Sifeng take her back as soon as she showed up. She had to work for it and she never gave up. This showed that her love was as strong as his, which I liked.

Now, the worst part of the show was the constant blood spitting. We really need to go away with that. It's disgusting and completely unnecessary. Characters don't need to spit blood in every fight or with every physical injury. It looks forced and ridiculous. Watching the show completely destroyed my snack time.

I also did not care for most of the secondary characters. Linglong was spoiled and annoying. The sixth brother was boring. Wu Tong falling in love with Linglong was completely nonsensical and poorly written. If the writers went down the redemption route and wrote Wu Tong as less of a psycho, their relationship could've been interesting. None of the sects had any redeeming qualities. They were narrowminded, pompous, and thought very highly of themselves while committing atrocities. The demons were a lot more relatable and sympathetic.

Because I absolutely hated Hao Chen/Bailing for his continuous meddling and self-righteousness, I wanted to see him die a horrible death. But his defeat was rather underwhelming. He just realized that he was wrong and was demoted. I thought it was anticlimactic. I wanted to see him defeated in battle like the villain that he was.

Overall, I could watch this show again because I absolutely loved the love story.

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The Perfect Mix Of Mystery, Laughter, And Friendship

This series just keeps getting better with each season. This series is great at shifting focus on what's important and giving enough spotlight for all the girls to shine at the right moments. I also love that they don't just focus on the girls solving the mystery all the time and show some proper backstory with each important character. The puzzles keep getting better every time. I didn't have much expectations when I started watching this season because I usually watch these series for fun but I couldn't help myself from getting hooked. I tried solving the puzzles with the casts and tried guessing the culprit/villain with them. Even the ending, I love how the production team tied up the entire storyline into one big plot. I hope we get to know more about the High School Mystery Club universe in the next season, along with its main villain's full backstory just like what BIBI requested.

The casting with the "NPC" or side characters has been very interesting this season and I couldn't stop laughing when Yena's brother appeared as the brother of Mina. I don't know how he managed to keep his composure while acting but Yena's reaction was just hilarious. I also laughed so hard when the teacher who was a colleague of Doyeon in Comedy Big League was first introduced. I hope they cast more people whom the girls know because their reactions are just too funny to pass up on.

I saw improvements with the casts in terms of skills, however, I feel like some cast members need to improve more because there are still moments when only 1 or 2 members do most of the work. I love how the girls trust each other so much whenever there are tasks that need to be done separately. I also LIVE for the cute moments when the girls get excited over the food at the store. Please give these girls a bigger allowance for next season, or at least let them experience eating at their school's cafeteria just like what they requested. Overall, their chemistry as a team has gotten so much better compared to season 1 and I can't wait to see what PD JJY has in store for us and the girls.

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A hidden gem

I can say that drama is a hidden gem because I only watched it now in 2024 when it was shown in 2015 it was a 9 year old drama but still it was that good. I heard so much about this drama but it never catches my attention, until one friend of mine recommended this she said it was good. And I decided to watched it. I didn't expect that I would loved it, its a melodrama that touches your heart.
The story is about friendship and family. You will treasure more the value of your friends ahen you witness their downfall, you will never leave them instead you will guide them and let them learn from their mistakes.
Its about family wherein you will have to choose between your family or your lovelife. Its a vary complicated situation wherein you need to weigh in who you must follow because you don't want to hurt them.
Later on they come to realize that their love prevails. It maybe hard to manage but they faced it together. It maybe complicated at the beginning but they handle it well enough. It ended well because they are true within themselves, at the end they both gain a happy and fulfilling family and friends .
I can say that Lee Dong Wook don't aged, his a living vampire I guess ?, his so good looking now and then. ?

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Liked Squid Game? Then gotta WATCH THIS!!

I just randomly started this drama seeing the protagonist from Atypical family. BUT DAMNNNN Totally did not expect the transition of her acting. The plot was really unpredictable and New. It made me wondering if people with money can really achieve anything in this world just for their timepass.

The drama made me hooked up, i literally watched all the 8 episodes continuously. I know i know but it made me really curious of whats goi g to happen next, or will the oppressed people be able to stand up in a society. The stairs typically symbolizes the rich, middle class and the poor. It gives kinda squid game and Alice in borderland vibes. I suggested this drama to my sis and she finished it in one whole night. The cruel depiction of abuse and blood is something that u have to endure, if you are planning to watch.

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All love doesnt always work and its fine /good inspirational sports drama

This drama really made me ?? workout and exercise properly lol. Yes, it depicts the struggles of every sports person in the world, and how getting up from your injuries or trauma and giving a comeback, is something not at all easy. The teacher was supportive to train her, and i really appreciate the protagonists hardwork to train in fencing. All sports is not easy. When her life is going better, her love life is completely breaking apart. I really wanted them to workout but i guess some love is meant to be and others doesnt. It bring out the great message that the couple were together in their hardships but not in their most happiest moments or were able to spend time with them later. I guess some relationships does end up like that. Each has their own expectations and goals in life, i guess finding someone who appreciates you even in your happiest and saddest is the most important.

Other than that, the show was really funnyyy, especially the scene where she tries to draw and fix the comic book, and her embarrassed crying.

Overall, the drama breaks the convention of happy ending with the main couple and bring a diff plotline.

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City of Pure Enjyoment

Oh, I'm so surprised how much I absolutely loved this series. It's been hard for me to enjoy any Thai series outside of GMMTV, so I'm elated that I actually enjoyed this series. City of Stars was definitely not perfect, but it was such a genuine delight to watch and sit back and enjoy the series for what it was.

Let's Dive In.

City of Stars starts off with a trope that I absolutely love, a famous guy falls for a regular ole dude, and then it takes off from there. I'll admit, it takes a minute to really get into this series, just cause the first couple of episodes are only okay, while it doesn't start to get really good until the closer Fueng and Krom get. The last few episodes were ultimately the best for me. I think the structure of this keeps itself in balance with everything that it needs, while connecting you to these characters so that you actually start to enjoy them and their journey on screen.

For our main couple, I really enjoyed them more than I anticipated. They work so well, except there were a few times where I don't a hundred percent believe their relationship on screen (there are some rather awkward moments when they're looking at each other, or sometimes when they kissed they stood a mile apart lol) but for the most part, I really liked it. They had some great NC scenes and they know how to kiss, so I can't be too upset.

Oh, I loved Kor and Namsom. They didn't hook me in the beginning, but by the end, I was rooting for them so hard. The way Kor spoke to her and made her feel worthy had me in tears. Their relationship is so fragile, but in such a beautiful way that it took me by surprise how much I really enjoyed them.

On to some more nit-picky things, I kind of don't see the appeal with Fueng having fallen in love with Krom. Because his parents talked about him? And not to be mean, but there's nothing out of the ordinary about Krom, so it's a bit of a weird concept. I think it would've just worked out better if they met when Krom got back and fell in love then.

We were also teased with another side couple, but then it never advances anywhere, so that's pretty annoying. IDK if they were setting up for another BL, but we got practically no screen time between them, not even a canon.

Ratings:

Story: 8/5/10 - really good! Their build-up to dating is done so nicely and then they execute it perfectly. I also loved how they nag on some of the bigger problems in the BL industry, like the actors not being able to date outside their pairing, or when they come out and then lose brand deals, or when the entire community harps on someone for something minuscule or irrelevant. I love the portrayal of all of that, including how it can end up working out in the end.

Acting: 8.5/10 - This was Porsche's (Krom) first time acting ever and I think for what it's worth, he did an excellent job. I don't know why he went from being a dental student to an actor, but he did good. It explains now why some of his scenes can feel a bit awkward, but for the most part, he did an excellent job. Job (Fueng) did well too, and I loved seeing him shirtless, So I'll add a half point for that. Kimmon!! I missed him so much, it was so nice to see him play a somewhat serious character for once, and his partner was delightful. Everyone else also did an excellent job.

Music: 7/10 - I didn't pay much attention to it, but it wasn't distracting so that's good.

Recommendation Value: 8/10 - I really liked this! Not the first I'd recommend, but out of the Thai BLs I've seen so far in 2024, this is at the top of my list. It was so well done!

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A Harsh Look at SKorean Society: Struggling with Love and Tradition

Story 10/10

Beautiful

Two people find themselves falling in love on a spring day, drawn to each other like magnets despite the obstacles in their way. One is in an unhealthy relationship, and the guy is a single father. It turns out that this is a kind of stigma in SKorea.SK is a very conservative and patriarchal country that upholds family values, while in the background, it struggles to Westernize, to become more free and feminist.

Although I knew this and appreciated it, there is also a very negative aspect to it. When you live it up close, it makes you despise it to some extent. It's very hard to balance between normative family values and liberal freedom values. I was surprised that even couples who aren't married have the same status as married couples. The resistance from the family, the environment, the annoying and intrusive interference, are very frustrating issues that are hard for a Westerner to understand. On the other hand, this is why the conservative and religious world loves Asian series and expects this.

If it were a funny romantic series, I suppose it would go down more easily. But when you're shown the realism and the ugly sides of Korean society, it's hard to digest. I suppose through the series, one can understand more about Korean women who suffer a lot, as well as single parents.

The disdain shown towards the single father was unbearable.
They treated him like garbage, as if he had no value, and he also saw himself that way until he couldn't take it anymore. I guess it's supposed to serve as some sort of re-education series for Korean viewers. Look at yourselves up close. That's why you see all the seemingly boring conversations between the couple's friends and between the couple and their families, and even at work with colleagues and managers. Every conversation has the significance of the weight of separation, the desire to feel valuable in a very closed and conservative society. Even though I knew this, I didn't imagine how hard it could be for these people who choose to deviate from the path.


Music 1/10

The music is horrible, unbearable, and ruined a lot of the viewing experience for me. I skipped many scenes just because of it, especially romantic scenes that I would have loved to watch if not for that dreadful music. They remind me of Chinese songs in their nature—uninspired and repetitive. Usually, indie films use folk music as if it were some elite and unique style, but the opposite is true. If it were Korean folk music, it might be forgivable. Here, you are watching a hardcore Korean movie and expecting to hear Korean music in the background, and then they bring you uninspired American music.


Actors 10/10

The two actors are beautiful and talented, and there was great chemistry between them. The lead actor has a baby face. He's not the manly type, but he's definitely charming, romantic, and cute. You can see the process of them growing closer to a relationship, and it's very heartwarming. They are convincing. All the other actors are excellent.


Rewatch Value 9/10

If not for the music, I suppose I would watch it again. I skipped episodes 14 and 15 because people wrote that these episodes are depressing. Maybe I'll watch them later.

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A very overrated drama

Many people are going to hate me because they have mostly good grades.

But I really don't think this is good at all. Bringing out the chemistry and acting of the actors.

There really is no story here. He's like a complete copy of Goblin, even when he disappears from the from the human world lol

Why, if he is a demon, and even though he has lost his powers, does he not use them at crucial moments? I don't understand it, honestly. He just had to take Dohee's wrist to use them.

And when he got them back, why couldn't he take on a simple human? lol

The cinematography is okay, I wouldn't say it's spectacular but it's decent. The office looks nothing like an office of a rich company. You can see the difference between the office they used in Marry My Husband with this and you'll see what I mean.

The OST was decent but it's not something you would never forget in your life. It's actually pretty forgettable.

I think I understand why people like this drama, because of the actors and the chemistry. But you know even though their chemistry was good and their acting too, you can't just save a drama when there is no story itself.

It seems like a compilation of several dramas, not united, and with a lot of cliché.

I really tried to like it but if there is no story and it is just a set of dramas and scenes from popular dramas of this style, there is no way I will like it.

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A solid, worth-your-time watch if you really love horror and mystery

Although this was more of a mystery-thriller than a horror for me, nevertheless there was a time when I felt like there was someone watching me beyond a door at night while I was in the middle of watching this series. I loved the overall idea, the premise, the twist and the ending. I also liked that the police were involved as well, and there was a nice overlap of natural and supernatural. I could not stop clicking on the next episode, one after the other.
The only complain I have about the drama is the motive behind the actual spirit's hatred/resentment. That could have been more fleshed out. But overall, I really enjoyed this.

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