Reviews

Great Drama - Recommending It to History Lovers

This drama is fantastic if you're into historical romances. It isn't 100% accurate to the true story, but how can we blame them? The influence takes place around 925 when Prince So was born up until, I believe, 970-980. Not talking about Hae Soo. Although, making that poor girl relive some crucial moments in history where she would experience so much pain is cruel. Her main goal changes from avoiding the murderous king to wanting to change him.

I do HIGHLY recommend watching this series with your brain turned on. All of the character's outcomes and stories are very tragic. But no matter how high their hair goes, don't fall for these types of men in real life. Hae Soo is an example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time in both life times. So, keep an open mind, and do not project for the sake of your own sanity, they will not be the same as these fictional characters.

I will say, when you get to episode 15 or 16, the writing gets a little carried away and reels more into filler. Those have to have been my least favorite episodes out of the two.

The score they set up for the heavy emotional scenes is very well-done. Really good music does set a nice tone for a drama, don't you think?

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Simple story beautifully crafted with a lot of life lessons

What I liked
-well written, relatable and easily understood.
-complicated characters but well introduced that's why as viewers you can easily relate to life experiences of the characters.
-well acted and the choice of casts is really good.
-good backdrop, cinematography, costume designs and music.
-great moral lessons that can be applicable in real life.
-slow paced drama but justifiable; it helped viewers understand what the drama and its characters are all about.
-visible character development
-family and community relations at its best
-the life lessons of this drama is applicable to real life situations especially of the youth of today.
-well written ending, everyone has given a second chance to amend their mistakes
What I don't like
-poor subtitles✌️

This drama isn't for everyone. Only those who has deep insights in life can tolerate such kind of drama, yet it's still recommended.

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Only sort of a love triangle

The plot is messy; agreed. The love triangle fizzles out a bit early, and along with it, presumably, an opportunity to better understand why the heck those two were friends in the first place. But, I came here just to defend Pyo Na Ri’s choice because the amount of folks claiming she picked the wrong guy is just… perplexing.

Yes, one guy is “nice” and rich, but he’s also controlling (all that consideration comes at a cost—she needs to do what he says or else get yelled out, or coldly shut out) and, most importantly, she’s never fully comfortable with him. We never meet his father, but the writing makes it pretty clear that Go Jung Won is a lot like him. Most importantly, says he’ll “never give her up” even when she asks him to. BIGGEST RED FLAG EVER. Run; don’t walk.

Meanwhile, while the other guy is “selfish,” sure, but that is pretty clearly demonstrated to be about his fear (of failure, of ridicule) rather than a lack of regard for others. He cares so much for the people he loves that he sometimes does or says the hard thing instead of the easy thing. Lee Hwa Shin shows Na Ri his vulnerability and he makes multiple real sacrifices for her happiness (overcoming the very fears that made him selfish in the first place). He’s even willing to let her go when he thinks (briefly) that that’s what she wants.

plot wise, lots of loose ends and weird red herrings (voice phishing…? what?!), and the bit about Chef getting “cured” pretty much canceled any wins for ace visibility, but big props for the breast cancer angle, great lead chemistry, and wonderful twin cougar supporting roles.

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Only Love You is a nice historical miniseries. It is about the love story between Jin Se, the demon fox Saintess (played by Zhao Qing), and Gu Yun Shen/General Yan Luo (played by Peng Chu Yue) that, due to Jinse’s responsibilities toward her clan, left Gu Yun Shen with a broken heart. Five years later, Jinsen, on her quest for revenge against those who hurt her clan, encounters Guy Yun Shen again who is now the powerful General Yan Luo. From then on, the former lovers find themselves fighting against a common enemy and, as they join hands and resolve prior misunderstanding, they rekindle their loving relationship and remain loyal through the end. The cast did a very good job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple has a very good chemistry. This drama is entertaining, enjoy it!

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Lethally Lackluster

This long winded mini ended lackluster. The ML and FL were okay yet the push and pull of emotions seemed too warm at times and detached in other times. The breakdown of truths seemed to build an arc of misunderstandings that weren't necessary. The disappearing act of 'lovers' only to reappear years later is an overworked trope that needs to go away. It is decent overall. Yet, there were missed opportunities within the story that could have been capitalized on in giving the drama depth and delivery in parts were it seemed like thrown together shallow lines to get to the end.

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A poorly “parked” relationship on the race track

Cinema and television, like all art that reflects the society in which they develop, have shown the trafficking of children through notable films, documentaries and television series. Numerous films and television programs expose this illegal practice and many of them are based and inspired by real-life cases.
Asian dramas are committed to bringing all genres to the public, including those in which their protagonists have a romantic bond combined with supernatural powers.
Has the fact that Thailand is a point of origin, destination and transit of human trafficking aroused the interest of Nopachai Jayanama (Peter), as director, and Kanokphan Ornrattanasakul and Issaraporn Kuntisuk, as scriptwriters, to tell us in 'Pit Babe' a story that mixes homosexual romance, sport, intrigue, action, human trafficking, fantasy and supernatural powers?
This drama, an adaptation of the web novel by _alittlebitch, winks at Thai reality: the value of child victims of human trafficking does not lie in using them as sexual slaves, in forced labor or to extract their organs for commercialization, but in possessing special powers.
Are we facing a social drama of denunciation of human commerce? I would like this to be its purpose, but consistent with its BL condition, 'Pit Babe' will enhance the romance. This arises between Babe (Naret Promphaophan-Pavel), the king of the racetrack, and Charlie (Krittin Kitjaruwannakul-Pooh), his supporter.
Will the series have a hidden message? How many of Tony's “sons” among the superpowered children are gay men today? Babe, Charlie, Jeff, Kenta, Pete, Way...? That is, the main characters with powers who were raised-educated by the person dedicated to human trafficking ended up being homosexuals. Is there a hidden message in this, simple coincidence or something of “destiny”?
Babe is a very popular racing driver and admired by everyone. His achievements in the sport have led him to be considered number one. Among his followers is Charlie, a young man who wants to be a racing driver like him. However, he does not have the money or the contacts necessary to achieve it. Therefore, he looks for an opportunity to get closer to the leader of X Hunter. When he succeeds, he asks for your help and to lend him a car so he can materialize his aspirations. The only solution he can think of is to reach a strange agreement with Babe. Against logic, he agrees to help Charlie realize his dream.
On this journey, will Babe be able to win Charlie's heart? Will he lose the race he most wants to win this time? Will Charlie be the one interested in captivating the racing driver? Will the relationship that began as a game triumphantly cross the finish line to become a real romance?
The most notable thing about the series is its exciting scenes and the attractiveness of the actors.
There is a secondary couple, made up of Alan and Jeff.
The cast also includes Supanut Lourhaphanich (Nut), as Way; Obrnithi Leelavetchabutr (Ping), as Pete; Natthapong Pathong (Benz), as Kim; Asre Wattanayakul (Lee), as Dean; Hemmawich Khwanamphaiphan (Sailub), as Alan; Thanapon Aiemkumchai (Pon), as Jeff; Michael Kiettisak (Michael), as North; Pataraphol Wanlopsiri (Pop), as Winner; Pantach Kankham (Garfield), as Kenta; Supakorn Saokhor (TopTen), as Sonic; and Vorarit Vaijairanai (S), as Tony
The chemistry between the protagonists and the bed scenes fail to lift a series whose characters are unrealistic and undeveloped. Pavel and Pooh have charisma and are attractive, but the script does not help their relationship connect with the viewer.
I must clarify that it is not that I find being 'passive' degrading. It's not that I assume that, in a relationship between two men, there is a "superiority" on the part of the one who is 'active' compared to the other who is 'passive', but the abrupt change in Babe's personality seems inconceivable to me. . This transformation comes at the same time as the loss of his powers, at the hands of Charlie.
Babe abandons his well-crafted playboy image for years. In all his previous relationships he played the role of seme or asset. In the words of the BL series themselves, he was, of the two, “the one on top.” He began his relationship with Charle by assuming this role in bed. Suddenly, without a convincing explanation, Babe becomes Charlie's uke. Babe swaps to play the role of the “bottom.” So, you would have to ask yourself: Did the loss of his precious powers lead him to be the passive one in their relationship? Didn't this move cause a loss in his character's potential?
Despite being in front of the cameras practically all the time, the actor who plays Charlie fails to connect with me emotionally. They are not facilitating emotions, but hindering emotions that are transmitted to me by a character who fails to sensitize me. By not feeling or understanding Charlie's emotions and feelings, I cannot essentially grasp whether it is love or just sex that drives him. Only his acting stands out in the sex scenes. Note that I do not say “when making love.”
The transformation of the character played by Nut, already in the final moments, is not logical either. About an obvious thing, the incurable remorse that must have accompanied Way throughout much of his life for betraying Babe for years, causing the rift between him and the man he loves, as well as many, if not all, of the problems that have hit to the positive characters by being infiltrated into their ranks, Way's evolution from evil to purity, from darkness to light is narratively constructed, sustained by the effort to achieve the viewer's identification with the traitor. It is necessary to save it, the creators thought.
Way drinks with Pete because “he wants to make the situation better.” He doesn't know “what to do next.” He does not know if “what I have always believed is the right thing.” He asks Pete why he decided to leave Dad, and Pete tells him, “Because the truth is not what I thought… I decided to leave to end the vicious cycle that Dad had created.” And he tells her that she still has the chance to choose what she wants to do. Way has been asked to show the despondency caused by guilt. Way has had the option all his life to choose the right path, but he has decided to be by Tony's side, even knowing what this means. But suddenly, some words from Pete whispered in his ear between sips of liquor and a few pats on the back invite him to “do the right thing.” And this would not be a problem if they had gotten rid of the rampant schematism in the character design and the all-too-evident desire to redeem him.
A story that fails to convince, clumsily designed characters, characters lacking development and therefore generating empathy, limitations in the explanation of the characters' decision making, poverty in the development of events and irregularities regarding changes of personality, are several of the main characteristics of the drama.
Peter throws together a few tropes and too many clichés. With fewer ambitions and fewer plot holes, perhaps the series would have become a full-throttle, full-speed car swallowing up the race track.

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It's all about Lies, Lies and More Lies!!!!

Watching this Taiwanese classic in 2024 is definitely interesting and my expectations are high (maybe too high). I can look past the fashion and ML’s ugly hairstyle, but “Autumn Concerto” has so many different tropes and illogical things. I also feel that I need to stop my critical thinking and enjoy the ride on a more emotional level. That way, the drama is more enjoyable.

I love the mature Aidy An in “Legend of Dugu”. She’s the best part of that show. But a younger Aidy An is somewhat annoying in this drama. Her acting is not quite there yet and gave me this bland expression. But I think what’s worse is I don’t like her character, Mu Cheng. She is definitely pretty in this drama, but Mu Cheng keeps a secret for way too long. She should and could have spoken up many times in various situations, instead of acting like a victim. I also do not like her voice, which is supposed to be gentle and soothing. I just find it annoying, unfortunately.

Despite not liking Mu Cheng as a girlfriend, I like her as a mother. Her relationship with her son Xiao Le is the highlight of the show. This little kid is adorable but I don’t think there’s any other 5-year old who speaks like him out there. I am going to look past that and just enjoy how kind-hearted, sweet, adorable and smart he is. Xiao Le’s interaction with every single adult brings me so much joy. Yes, even the little kid bully.

Vanness Wu is another draw to watch this drama. But I find his acting very inconsistent. There are scenes I think he did fine and was natural, but not when it comes to more emotional (angry or sad) scenes. I really feel for his character. Poor Guang Xi suffered so much and is being lied to by everyone. I was rooting for him and actually wanted him to not end up with FL. I think he deserves better.

When it comes to acting, Chris Wu is the best out of the main characters, only second to ML’s mother. I cannot believe “Autumn’s Concerto” is his very first drama (He did have a few movies under his belt). But compared to Aidy An and Vanness Wu, he’s the less experienced one but I love his acting the most. If it’s in any other drama, his character would be the male lead. His confession to Mu cheng is so touching and sincere. I want to marry him! Chris Wu is the best part of the show and he doesn’t seem to have aged.

The pacing of the drama is a little uneven as well. I found the first arc when they were all in college went by pretty fast. A lot of things happened but each mini subplot or misunderstanding is resolved rather quickly. But once we switch to the present-day timeline, the pace slows down. They spend a lot of time in the village with those loud villagers. I am not surprised they are loud but at least they’re not too nosy. Towards the end of the drama, the pace picked back up a little with the court cases. But also felt that the editing and storytelling are choppy. I also think that the drama waited too long for the shit to hit the fan (the big secret to out).

For a melodrama with a focus on romance, it’s really hard for me to enjoy when 1) I don’t like the female lead, 2) I don’t think the leads should end up together, 3) I think the secondary leads should just go and date each other and forget about the leads who don’t deserve them. For a romance-lover like me, if I am not rooting for the leads to be together, there’s no way I would end up enjoying the drama. I also need to shut down my brain because there are too many ridiculous things that happened. I don’t want to list them all as they could be spoilers.


But luckily, we have an adorable kid, a handsome Chris Wu, nice secondary leads who are not evil and Vanness Wu showing off his abs. This is enough to keep this at an 8.0 for me. Even though I like the songs, they are WAY overplayed. I wonder if I would have loved “Autumn’s Concerto” more if I were watching this in 2008 and not in 2024.


Completed: 1/25/2024 - Review #398

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SO DISAPPOINTING :( I WANTED to like it but...

It looked promising at first but then... the story was just so lacking?
It felt like the climax never hit? Just some sorts of problems here and there, and the couple (note, I love the actors separately) but the CHARACTERS they had to play just didn't FIT.

The dude seemed so mature and the girl seemed SOOO childish - like - it would have been a cute college love but just didn't fit together.

I just think as a couple they didn't really match well or mesh well - parts seemed awkward and almost too cringey. Uncle + Niece vibes were WAY more accurate.

I also loved the side loves/stories so much more - humor was there though. I truly did laugh a lot but I was NOT interested in the PLOT at all. I literally whizzed/skimmed through it to just find out the ending results etc.

The antagonists of the stories were also just meh and were solved so quickly - like no effort put in.

Overall, wouldn't watch again but still glad I did bc I know now. Wouldn't really recommend if you find your time precious but the main actor + 2nd leads were such eye candies.

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I am so enjoying this series - and have been able to keep up from the accidental time travel back for Soon (the meteor shower before the tunnel) to who is who thus far. I don't think that Soon intentionally traveled back but that it happened and that he found himself 10 years earlier in time. The acting is so amazing that you can see and FEEL the love between the 2 leads both younger and older. The age gap didn't bother me - I know so many couples gay and straight with large age gaps. But there feelings and emotions say it all. One can tell that they belong together. And that's all that matters.
I am looking forward to continuing watching this even though I am crying during every episode. I have been good thus far and not looked at any spoilers but if there is one thing we all know - it's that destiny (or fate) will not be denied. I am sure it will end as it is supposed to and with a lot more tears to come.
On an aside, think a minute about yourself accidentally going back in time - would you change anything???

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Confusing…

This show was realistic. But sometimes… that’s not always what you want in a show. I do think that the love triangle was a cute idea, as it shows how difficult love can really be. The only problem I had with it, is how long the carried it on for.

From episode 1 to almost the end of the 16 episodes, it felt as the main character barely existed. The two bonded well, until the side chacter came in. It’s almost like he completely forgot about the main chatcter, which I definitely didn’t like.

On the last few episodes.. it felt so absolutely random. At that point, I was so done with it all and had no hope. Until he woke up one random day and had feelings for him?? I didn’t understand.

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Let’s be real- it wasn’t that good.

If you’re looking for a short love story with no deep meaning, this is the one for you. Things went WAY too fast. It was cute, but as someone who likes to thing about the meanings of what I’m watching, this had no real story.

The actors were cute together, but it didn’t feel real. Watching this, it felt like one of those rip off reality TV series where the director is quite obviously telling them how to act.

I did like the idea of the Love Mate. I think the story was the thing that tied this show really together. How they met was cute, and I can totally see how people really enjoyed this.

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A refreshing drama to make you think about life.

If you want a show to put you through every emotion, ‘Twinkling Watermelon’ is the ones for you. I can say with no regrets that this is easily the series that has made me the happiest out of the hundreds I’ve watched. Saying that, throughout the duration of watching it, there was always a mixed emotion, such as confusion, sadness, even anger; but overall, joy pushed through these and became everlasting.

Without spoiling anything, this drama, as said by many others, felt refreshing to watch with its unique characters, bright colours, and cheerful music. Although it discussed some dark topics, such as death, depression, and abuse, the show was quite cheerful. For me, I am an emotional person who loves watching dramas that put me through many emotions, since I feel more connected. If you’re a sentimental one like me, this will always be a show I’d recommend.

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