Reviews

A show that shoots for the sky - succesfully!

Oh but I adore this show! I expected to like it just fine, but I never would have thought I'd fall as head over heels in love with it as I did. Miracles upon miracles, it even made me start to care about basketball!

From the very first episode it's clear that this series is different from other Thai productions - the lighting and cinematography are absolutely gorgeous, the script is expertly written and feels true to life, and the pacing and editing are unique but utilised to their full effect.
I've seen a lot of people complain about the show's pacing and its use of time skips and while I understand why these choices weren't everyone's cup of tea, I personally think they worked perfectly and added a lot of nuance and depth to several important story-lines.
Even the sports aspects, which I expected to enjoy the least, are well thought-out and serve to establish and advance story and characters, as well as being very engaging to watch.

If I had to sum the atmosphere of the series up in three words I'd describe it as quiet, warm, and sincere.
Instead of comedy sound effects, we get an understated, often purely visual type of humour that I personally greatly enjoy.
Instead of dramatic plot twists and evil villains, we get a cast multi-faceted, flawed, yet deeply likeable characters whose personal journeys of growth drive the plot. There is no antagonist for the characters to go up against, there are no highly tragic outside circumstances they have to fight.
Any conflict stems from the characters' complex relationships - to themselves, to their dreams, to each other - which are all treated with an astonishing amount of care and respect.
Even the topic of cheating (a trope which I usually deeply dislike) is handled exceedingly well here without degrading or vilifying any of the characters involved.
Another thing this show excels in is its depiction of queerness. Instead of viewing its characters through a strictly hetero-normative lens and forcing them into rigid boxes and relationship dynamics, it depicts sexuality as something fluid and complicated. While it doesn't go into great detail on issues of homophobia or the complexities of labeling one's gender or sexuality and these topics clearly are not the show's focus, there is still a lot of care put into exploring the various difficulties young queer people face every day; from figuring out who you are, to coming out, to navigating a first relationship.
And of course there is Fluke - a trans character who breaks the mold by simply... being a whole, three-dimensional human being with their own goals, their own struggles, and their own personality. I won't lie, after the years and years of enduring trans characters depicted as nothing more than caricatures with no purpose other than providing comic relief, seeing someone like Fluke not only existing, but *thriving* was incredibly meaningful not just for me specifically, but for trans viewers in general.

So if you want a well-written, highly character-driven romance drama with beautiful camera-work, good music, and a whole host of lovable, authentically queer characters, then give this one a go.
I'd also recommend anyone who enjoys classic, sports-themed coming-of-age stories give this show a shot, I think you might just love it!

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Best xianxia drama in 2023

Although this drama “the starry love” was aired in 2023, I just finished watching it so it is abit late reviews.
I watched this drama due to I heard some good reviews from Facebook posts and main lead actor Chen XingXu.
I like his acting is so natural without overacting. He is talented in acting skills.
He is also good at wire fighting scenes!!!
The starry love is totally different with other typical Xian Xia drama (such as mentor and his disciple plots).
It has solid plots and well-written scripts with a lot of humour scenes!!! Weak points is some special effects on some scenes!!
Main lead couple romance is heartbreaking and heart touching!! They have chemistry in their characters too!!
Overall this is best xian Xia comedy drama in 2023 because I rarely watched xian Xia genres!!! I enjoyed this drama a lot!!!!!

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it's good but kinda a love triangle you can say...

it's a really good series and I had really fun watching it it's also in my opinion one of the best K drama's I've watched because it's about romance and girl power I wanna say that in the start she has a crush on someone else and the main male lead (I can't remember his name) gets a little jealous so if your not into love triangles you can say then it might not be a drama for you but U promise it's not a like real love triangle so don't worry nobody will get second lead syndrome. and a little note it's like kinda krimi so if you like that you should definitely watch it but it has some kinda uncomfortable scenes where it's like not scary but uncomfortable so be aware of that but overall it's a great series I watched it in a day because it was so good and I really recommend this series for the people who love kdramas or want to start watching them or overall just like to try new things please like my review and I hope it was helpful

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masterpiece story and mesmerizing chemistry

I have rewatched, I'm rewatching and I will re-watch this again and again and again. I was not planning to write the review until I have finished but I can't wait to say this..what a masterclass drama.. I was waiting this type of bl from Korea. we will get everything from this series, top notch acting, melting chemistry, bold characters, and the main thing, the way they carried the story line and the character development. simply amazing. There is a scene where a homophobic will get the right reply for his behaviour.. and those scenes will give you the perfect goosebumps (that kiss was historical).
And what to say about tae myung ha, who will never fall for him.. even I fell the minute I saw him.. when you are his favourite, he will do whatever he can to protect you from the world. This series will give you the right amount of laugh, cry and you will experience the love for sure.. like the legendary words from TMH ' it's not the icecream, it's you that I like..', i hope we all get that kind of confidence in our life.
This series is about our main lead gets trapped inside a game and I'm have way through.. and now I can sense a heart break, me crying but also a happy ending.. I wish everybody get the chance to watch this drama.. and by the way they have one of the best OST.

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I love opposite attracts and this drama really bring the best out of them!

Dali, who runs her family's art museum in Korea, was in Amsterdam as a visiting art curator. She met a successful businessman Moo Hak by accident, and he falls head over heels her at first sight. The two part ways, but he intends to meet her again. Shortly after, Dali needs to go back to Korea because of her family emergency, while he’s looking for her all over Amsterdam. When fates finally bring these two together again, they ended up as as a creditor and debtor over the art museum.

“Dali and the Cocky Prince” is an art-inspired rom-com. Normally I’m not immediately sold on romcom, but this was a surprisingly heart-fluttering watch! I love how this drama really highlights our lead couple’s personality and quirks. Their journey as a couple so sweet, from them being open to each other, trusting, to them relying on each other. At times when Moo Hak doesn’t reply Dali in sensible ways, she’s not belittling him, but she smiles and it’s so heartwarming. It’s comfortable watching their progression and was satisfied with many romantic moments. Episode 14 is my favorite, where there was a super dreamy and beautiful scene of them, and also a bit spicy, I love everything about them! Kudos to our leads’ perfect chemistry and acting. Kim Min Jae is genuinely cute as the silly undignified Moo Hak, Park Gyu Young is so charming, genius and beautiful.

There was a conflict which was not my favorite part, but it didn’t take a dramatic soapy turn and the romance kept its’ fun and airiness and beauty throughout the episodes so it was super satisfying and memorable! Later, I found out that the director was Lee Jung Sub. He was also the director of Healer, btw, one of my favorites of all time! This is probably why I love the romance so much!

-Feb 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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Don't worry, you won't be disappointed!

I was a bit hesitant starting this season, as I noticed the plot seemed really similar to s1. But it was actually a lot better than I had expected! No doubt s1 is still better imo. Obviously, we still have our naive and passionate Yankumi with her class of delinquents. But I love that the class in s2 just slightly differs from those in s1, and it just makes it all the more better.

We still have the cool and collected class leaders with their group of 5 friends, but instead of only 1 (Shin in S1 ma boi), there are actually 2 here, which I found quite interesting. And unlike Shin they seem terrible at keeping secrets too, which really made me crack up hard a few times.

I love that Kuma made so many appearances throughout the season, really proves that Yankumi still has connections with her past class, although Shin's still missing TT

Overall, I really love the story, it may be similar to s1 with her jumping into action for her students and all that dramatic life-speeches, but it still gives me the same warm fuzzy feeling, so don't hesitate and start watching it!

PS I actually love how Head Teacher seems to be accepting Yankumi's way of teaching, this is some great character development!

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Definitely recommend !

This review contains spoilers from all episodes so beware.

This drama is so so good and Def did not regret watching it. To be honest, I think it is too short for 8 episodes and Def should be longer. This drama has all sorts of genres like mystery, romance, suspense etc. I love the chemistry between the female lead and male lead. Aside from the romance, the revenge and murder mystery plot line is so interesting. It never fails to make me keep watching.

Now on to the spoiler zone and brutally honest review.

Love love love the plot line of murder mystery, hiding identity, childhood best friend and romance elements. It is so freshing compared to other jdramas. However, as other reviews call "soapy" or "soap opera", this drama tend to have soap opera elements so it was kinda cringy and cheesy in some of the scenes, not only acting wise but also production. Like sir I do not need a recap of your shocked face twice. Also, I feel like the storyline after ep 5 was a bit rushed. I personally think that it is ok to drag the episodes a bit since there were a lot of plot twists. It feels like every plot twist was packed at the last few episodes. I think that should have been unpacked slowly little by little and continued with the aftermath of it.
I'm quite surprised when Tsubaki and Nao just suddenly agreed to the idea of marriage on ep 1. Plus Tsubaki doesn't even know her identity yet! It feels quite weird to just jump straight to the "fake marriage trope" when you didn't even saw eachother more than twice. Also, even though the chemistry of the main characters were spot on, there were NOT 👏ENOUGH 👏SCENES👏 OF 👏THEIR👏 ROMANCE👏 DEVELOPMENT. What do you mean you liked eachother after two days and now you're kissing. (Well I'm not complaining tho) Isn't Nao supposed to hate Tsubaki or sm? Why is it that when he seduces her she suddenly can't back up for herself?? Yeah I can't get Tsubaki at first too. Like literally why is he hugging and kissing her when he knows he's in a fake marriage with her. Well maybe they're downbad, idk. I think they should have more scenes when they don't like eachother initially but gets more interested later on. Lastly, I wished we got to see what they're up to when they are reunited in the end.

Well that's all for my review, ik it's long but this is how much I wanted to say. Nonetheless, this is such a great story and I literally can't stop thinking about it the day after I finished it 😭💞. Their chemistry is sooo good and I hope they cast in another drama soon.

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A fun show to watch

Chen Xing Xu looks fabulous in his role as Qian Heng. The stylist did a good job on both his and Zhang Ruo Nan's outfits. They were both so visually pleasing to watch. Honestly, the entire cast was filled with beautiful people.

As for the show, the plot was pretty cliche. However they tried to make it slow burn and that made it interesting to watch. The ending was satisfying and I was glad to see Cheng Xi and Wu Jun happy together. Wu Jun was such a adorable character to watch. Even when ML and FL were in the room, Wu Jun often stole the show.

While I understand the demands of the character like Cheng Yao, however I have seen Zhang Ruo Nan act better in other dramas. The character was just very agreeable and timid. There is some spark now and then that makes it from becoming boring.

The only part that I didn't much care for was woman who was interested in the ML maligned FL's reputation, and no-one actually suggested to check the camera footage. At the time the ML was away, so when he came back, FL had already resigned and then ML suddenly thought to check camera footage, because none of the other bright lawyer had the same idea. Too unbelievable. Thankfully, they didn't drag that for long and got it over with in around 3 episodes I think.

Apart from that one story arc which was completely unnecessary, the show is fun to watch.

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Tell Me That You Love Me (2023): A Touching Symphony of Hearts in Silence

Tell Me That You Love Me isn't a show you simply watch; it's a story that dances into your heart, weaving threads of tenderness, frustration, and the bittersweet beauty of connection through silence. The drama masterfully explores the challenges and triumphs of a love story where sound takes a backseat, replaced by the eloquent language of eyes, gestures, and the profound resonance of unspoken emotions.

Jung Woo-sung embodies Cha Jin-woo, a kind-hearted artist grappling with deafness. Shin Hyun-been shines as Jeong Moo-eun, an aspiring actress yearning for love and expression. Their paths collide, sparking a connection deeper than spoken words. Theirs is a love built on stolen glances, shared smiles, and the subtle magic of understanding hearts beating in unison.

The show's true brilliance lies in its nuanced portrayal of communication beyond sound. Each scene paints a vibrant tapestry of emotions through lingering touches, expressive eyes, and the delicate play of light and shadow. The silence isn't merely an absence of sound; it becomes a character itself, amplifying the unspoken volumes that words could never reach.

Prepare to be moved by Jin-woo's poignant struggle to express his love, Moo-eun's frustration at being unheard, and the bittersweet joy they find in their shared world of silent understanding. This is a story that will stay with you long after the credits roll, a gentle reminder that true love speaks a language all its own.

A Tearful Verdict:

If you yearn for a story that tugs at your heartstrings, a love story that transcends words, and a cinematic experience that speaks in the hush of unspoken emotions, then "Tell Me That You Love Me" is a must-watch. Just keep a box of tissues handy, because this symphony of hearts will leave you with tears of both joy and bittersweet longing.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars (with every star sparkling with unspoken words)

P.S. If you watch this show emotionally, consider it a badge of honor. It means you've opened your heart to the beautiful melodies that love whispers in the silence.

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BEST SHOW EVER ❤️

It's so great to watch character development....and this is so incredible example of character development... I love everything about this series
Everyone did a great job in this show.
The acting, the actor, the director,the music, the story.
Everything was so perfect. ♥️♥️
I hope Jimmysea get another series together. Their chemistry is incredible.❤️
I know some people upset that day gain his sight back.
But If you put yourself in Day's shoes, wouldn't you be happy to get a second chance to see the world again?
I don't care about what other thinks...but for me it's truly a masterpiece ♥️

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Greedy Youth

My first impression is that these 2 male leads weren't suitable to play this type of scenario in this "youthful" setting. It's hard to see them attempting romance even when they were in their 30s. Something doesn't click no matter what! Although the drama was long but it kept you entertained watching the car crash. The revenge was tame, it never went too far but that was the drama's intent to begin with. You can get the gist of that just from reading the synopsis. However, there were some cruel parts in the process which helped selling the injustice, better than a lot of modern ones who attempted similar approach. The dialogue was fairly good, usually we don't get extended dialogues that let the characters to actually talk even if it got a bit melo along the way. The opening theme was good but when I listened to the full version I wasn't a fan of the rest. The characters went through a reasonable development without neglecting the secondary ones which typically get neglected because of their wrong doings. It did such a good job showing the wrongful side being genuine in repenting. The drama wrapped things up better than I expected, it gave an actual proper conclusion to its leads. While the drama isn't perfect but it offered an appealing package.

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Mr. Quit-it-already

The drama started on an objectively stupid and trashy conflict that couldn't have been written by a real human in 1998. I enjoyed the journey of the group and whatever they had going on but the atrocious attempt to shove in the love triangle and romance of the leads was unbearable and killed all redeeming qualities all at once. This was one of the worst trio leads combination I've seen. The drama is actually a great example for how adding a romance can completely ruin a show. The female lead was as dry and boring as they could come, easily the worst character in the drama. Even the guests had a better impression. The male lead always felt out of his place. Kim Min Jong has been uncharming as always even in his prime play-boy phase. Song Yoon Ah had changed completely, she's now a different unrecognizable version of her past self. Going under the knife did a big number on her. Not even her voice was matching. It had me double and triple check to see if she was listed in the cast by mistake but it was actually her. At the end of the day, there was a lot to dislike about it and little to no likeable elements.

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"My Demon": Song Kang & Kim Yoo-Jung Deliver Sparks in Supernatural Rom-Com

"My Demon" like two friends over coffee. So, picture this: you've got this icy heiress, Do Do Hee, running the world with a frozen smile and steely gaze. Then boom, this cocky demon, Jung Koo Won, crashes into her life, all smoke and shadow, only to lose his mojo in the most embarrassing way possible. Talk about awkward! They're forced to team up, navigating a world of hidden powers and simmering secrets, all while trying not to set each other on fire with their undeniable chemistry.

Sure, the storyline might trip up here and there, but the banter between these two? Pure gold. Song Kang and Kim Yoo-jung have this crackling energy that just pops off the screen. You're laughing one minute, swooning the next, and wondering how someone can be so infuriatingly attractive. And the whole good-versus-bad, demon-and-human thing? It's not your typical love story, but that's what makes it so addicting. You're rooting for them even though it feels a little forbidden, a little dangerous.

By the end, you'll be misty-eyed (okay, maybe that's just me), but mostly satisfied. It's a show that leaves you wanting more, not because it's unfinished, but because you just want to hang out with these flawed, lovable characters a little longer. So, if you're looking for a fun, spicy ride with a touch of the fantastical, "My Demon" is definitely worth your time. Just grab your favorite drink, some tissues (just in case!), and get ready for a wild, heartwarming adventure.

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Rewatching this in 2023 (Relationship between Narumi and Mizuho)

i watched this back in my high school days and I don't think my opinion of it changed much but I got to understand it more now that I am in my late 20's and I must say that the writer of this show is a genius when it comes to psychology and complexity of people's emotions. The show rather explores the realism of human emotions. It isn't just a light romance nor a mystery drama.

Something about Narumi Hikaru is different and quite misunderstood. His emotions cannot be read. and we only get an occasional glimpse of them that might make us wonder, but that is exactly why Narumi is such an interesting and unpredictable individual.

He grew up as a secluded individual, with a cruel mother who gave him no proper attention a mother should give a child and we can say that how he views women in the future is distorted by his mother. It is highly possible that Narumi's image of someone who sleeps around comes from the urge to kill the emptiness and loneliness he felt over the years which is why he needs a constant presence of a female figure. Another possible explanation is that what he does is some sort of a punishment, punishing other women for the crimes of his own mother.

However, what he has with Suga Mizuho seems different from other girls and no, this isn't a trope of a woman who's different than every other. On the contrary, our female protagonist isn't a special individual and the drama doesn't undervalue other women to show her distinction. Just like other students, she cannot resist Narumi but she yearns for him in other ways. She is not there for pleasure but Mizuho's main reason for not being able to stay away from such an individual is her wish to understand his pain and get closer to him by learning about his troubled past. Through Narumi, Mizuho also seeks to learn more about herself as Narumi is the only person that can make her act out of character causing her heart to waver.

At first, the show makes readers hopeful that it will follow the trope of a woman with an ability to change a man who falls in love with her and she changes his whole life, but that wouldn't be so real wouldn't it? But still , Mizuho has a much bigger impact on his life than we think. She replaces lust with careful physical touch, mostly spending time at his house to sleep next to him, eating warm meals with him or to keep him company so he doesn't feel lonely. Mizuho gives him a comfort of a friend rather than a lover and Narumi finds comfort in her gentle presence. She is not just a potential romantic partner but also a genuine friend.

A great way his slight change was portrayed in a contrast of his room which seemed dark and messy at first representing a turmoil in his mind, which later turns bright and clean during her presence when they cuddle on the floor in a deafening silence as he isn't alone anymore.

The series continues to give us hope in Narumi and his different view on Mizuho until one day, when he catches her looking at the tapes of his past. Mizuho's curiosity towards Narumi, coming from an urge to help him heal, brings an end to their growing relationship.

But the readers are made to misunderstand his reaction to Mizuho's discovery. First time watching, Narumi's reaction might seem toxic and terrifying but it actually comes from the fact that this image of a healthy and playful individual he portrayed is now smeared by truth of his past. Narumi doesn't hate Mizuho as he claims nor he would ever go that far to hurt her but he in fact, hates himself. Unable to bear the fact that she saw his vulnerable side he does what he does the best and pushes her away. What Narumi was saying were impulsive lies triggered by his inability to understand that the feelings Mizuho harbored towards him are not those of fear but pity she feels out of love towards him. As much as she couldn't read him, he also was unable to fully understand her feelings until the very last moment. I truly think that Mizuho holds a special part in Narumi's heart but he cannot reciprocate it like a healthy partner.

If you are watching this show, try to see it from a different perspective. It's main message might mean a lot more if you see it from a standpoint of growth. Mizuho, who is mostly calculative and cautious, a cold woman that doesn't open her heart to anyone and cares for no one grows to genuinely care about another person and finally gathers courage to confess her feelings to the one she loves despite her knowledge that he is not capable of love.

And our old Narumi wouldn't be as troubled as he was in the final scene but would say goodbye with a fake smile like he usually does. But this time, it was different. It is visible that her presence left something in him and at that moment he did not hide his tortured self in front of her as she held him tight in her arms.

At the end of the show, Narumi, who was always the one to walk away first now stood still while Mizuho turned away from him and we are left to guess what his gaze meant as it lingered on her walking away.

A fantastic execution of two troubled people leaving an important impact on each other that changed the trajectory of their life.

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