Reviews

Slow and Steady Story

I must say with pride that I am always blaze through 30-40+ episode in a week, but this story is not meant to be like that. There's a lot of things that going on, a lot of nuances that would be lost if we went straight to the end. I feel like I need to take a break after watching 1-2 episode to break down what's really happening in the story. I want to applaud the storywriter to be able to make the story a bit more complicated and not straightforward.

for now, I'll give this rating 7.5 as I'm only a third from the end. Nonetheless I'll just enjoy the story bit by bit

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Toxic ML but damn, the visuals & chemistry ?

I saw a short clip of this series on Youtube which peaked my interest. I used to read Eastern European mob boss love stories 10 years ago. Anyway I have iQiyi but surprisingly couldn't find this series. Anyway 'Captive love from the mob boss is my first vertically shot drama. Oh boy, this drama is insane.

What I liked:
1) The chemistry - Whenever both Zhang Chu Xuan & Ma Xiao Yu had electrifying chemistry. I could sense the sexual tension between them that could combust at any time. I never say this but I would love for them to date each other in real life. Their consensual kiss and the morning after were 🔥 ! Wish there were more kissing & affectionate scenes.
2) Acting - I was surprised by the quality of acting by both leads. Zhang Chu Xuan & Ma Xiao Yu were able to portray different facade of their characters. I am looking to watch their other work.
3) Visuals - Both leads are extremely gorgeous. Ma Xiao Yu is freaking tall and has nice build (his shoulders just wow). The styling also helped. I love Wan Ni's outfits especially when she wore white. Her wedding gowns were beautiful - I love the second one (strapless) the most. I like whenever Song Cha wore all black outfit.

What I disliked:
1) Song Cha characterisation - Damn, this dude is toxic! He gave me stress! So aggressive with his wooing & proposal. I cannot stand the manhandling.
2) The plot - I wish the writer would make tighter connection between Song Cha, Wan Ni's brother and Wan Ni's former fiancé so that Song Cha could be more redeemable. It's weird that Song Cha at the start of series claimed to be businessman with no ties to the mob but his actions later proved otherwise.
3) The first meet - The way Song Cha's injury was tended to in first episode was funny. He also managed to raise his injured arm immediately.

Favourite scene
The mutual kiss that led to their lovemaking

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good enough?

so much potential that unfortunately never came to life because of an underwritten female lead, too much focus on comedic aspects as opposed to a more serious tone, boring and insufferable 2nd ML plot that when it didn't put me to sleep, made me want to gouge my eyes out; also other fluff which could have been cut down

ultimately the show excels in its use of symbolism and exploration of philosophical concepts regarding death and life, woo do hwan's character was exceptionally flawed and some of the side characters were very enjoyable to watch as well; while the cinematography and directing were great, the production definitely started slacking as the episodes went on as it failed to capture the charm of the first few episodes. the nostalgic and evocative atmosphere that initially hooked me in just wasn't there

it was great to hear California Dreamin though

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Just because we can do it, should we?

I placed potential spoilers at the end of this review.

This series asks the biggest ethical question (not just in Thailand, but worldwide) about the drastic advancements involving science and technology. The great part about this series is it more like a compilation of sci-fi movies. You can skip one section with no worries because none of them are linked together. Overall, some sections were better than others.

Story Section Breakdown (Don’t worry, no spoilers):

Black Sheep
This was very interesting section. This one had serious tone to it. I did not see the story twist coming, but realized they did give subtle hint throughout the script. There is a small reference about a vaccine in one scene which may be foreshadowing the last section (Octopus Girl). The script did have a few weak elements, but was still good. The cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I would rewatch this section.

Paradistopia
This was a bizarre, but interesting section. This started off with a comical tone that drastically turned very dark. I apricate the different visual approach of the future in this section. They used what sci-fi movies of the 60’s/70’s depicted what the future would look like in the sense of technology, décor, and fashion. The cast was incredible, but the cinematography style was a little off at times. I think they were trying for a mock documentary, but did not do it successfully. The one problem is it switched to the mock documentary style at very random times. However, the special effects and make-up was awesome. I don’t see myself rewatch this section.

Buddha Data
This was also a very interesting section. This one had a more serious tone. The script was well written. As with the other sections, the cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I would rewatch this section.

Octopus Girl
This section was, well something. I guess they wanted to end this series with a comical note. This could have work, but the script did not have the right mixture of comedy and drama elements. At least the cast was incredible. It also had great cinematography, special effects, and make-up. I don’t see myself rewatch this section.


******Spoiler Alert******

Just my thoughts about the endings:
Black Sheep – The ending was very bittersweet, but kind of happy.
Paradistopia – Like the rest of this section, the ending was very bizarre.
Buddha Data – The ending was too ambiguous for me.
Octopus Girl – This section made a complete 180 in its tone. Most of it had a comic undertone, but the ending went very dark out of nowhere.

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Life is About the Connections and Relationships You Have With Others

It's been awhile since a Kdrama had me bawling like a baby, but this one did it. It will not end as you hope, but the ending is important. The entire storyline and message is a good one. Life isn't about status, money, prestige, or stuff. It's about the connections and relationships you make with others.

A very hurt boy...hurt by the stupidity and selfishness of parents...shuts down, puts up walls, and wanders through life cold and unfeeling. Only, really, he is feeling, but doesn't realize it until he is diagnosed with a fatal disease and not much time to live. Then he realizes the relationships in life that are important to him, so he pursues these relationships relentlessly. The viewer is taken on an adventure of his last days. He finds his lost love, he finds his true father, he finds the people in his life that love and care for him, and can die feeling good about his life even though he put on an act of being aimless and cold for so much of it.

Thank you to the screenwriter, Jo Young, for this wonderful and important story. The actors were amazing. This was a very emotional drama, and there were scenes that could not have been easy to film. But they were amazing, especially Woo Do Hwan, Lee You Mi, Oh Jung Se (a favorite of mine since It's Okay to not be Okay), Kim Min Soek, and Lee El. The production value was high, the story flowed well from scene to scene and kept the viewer engaged with the storyline. The filming was sublime, the scenery was beautiful, the music score was top notch. I loved, loved, loved that Alex Landi was part of the story!! I've been a fan of his since Grey's Anatomy, and I hope to see him in more dramas.

I have to give a special note about the last scene. The Jeep all alone on the highway driving into the sunset with the music playing reminded me of the See You Again music video paying tribute to the death of Paul Walker of the Fast and Furious franchise. The car he was driving heading off alone on the highway into the sunset as the music was playing. It is sad, bittersweet, but also gives a sense of closure, as the viewer senses that a life was not in vane, but complete... when one lives as they dreamed.....excuse me....I need a Kleenex....sniffle, sniffle! I highly recommend this Kdrama!

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wonderful

Brilliant!
I didn't have high expectations. I started watching because of the actors.

It's impossible not to watch something produced by the talented and wonderful Gong Yoo and the phenomenal Seo Hyun Jin.

But wow!!! I loved it. It went way beyond my expectations.

Impeccable acting, amazing script, perfect OST, and stunning chemistry.

The entire supporting cast was wonderful... the psychopath, my goodness! Excellent performance.

I never thought I would see Gong Yoo so handsome and flawless... I was so impressed that I'm even thinking of rewatching the unforgettable Coffee Prince (2007), by the way, one of my all-time favorite dramas.

Anyway, highly recommended!

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Not Just a Cute School Drama

I went in expecting a cute school drama, but got so much more. When We Were Young is a coming of age drama that follows a group of five friends through their last year of high school. Together, they share many experiences, both positive and negative. The show is set in the late 1990s. This, despite growing up across the world, resonated with me. The show does an excellent job at portraying adolescence and issues teenagers go through. While watching, I was reminded of the antics I used to get up to as a teen. It was both nostalgic and, to be honest, a bit embarrassing. But fun nonetheless.

There were scenes that were so funny I cried tears of laughter. These were so much fun. However, there were also scenes with serious undertones which tackled more profound issues, like taking care of an elderly family member. I was invested in both equally. Some of the characters were annoying, but I focused on the main ones and their stories. The acting was really good, the story was good, accompanied by excellent cinematography, and the ending was realistically bittersweet, evoking a feeling of nostalgia and unfinished business. And I wouldn’t change it for anything, even if it left me contemplating my life and my own choices as a teenager. As a bonus, Neo Hou sings two OST tracks for the show which fit really well with the theme and further drives home the feeling of nostalgia. I hope these friends find their way to each other unlike many of us.

Thank you to dusty for being my drama partner and Ari for keeping us company. You made the experience that much more enriching and enjoyable.

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In Response To Negative Comments...

I've been seeing a lot of negative comments about this show saying that it's americanized etc. so I wanted to write a review in response to this.

I disagree that this kdrama is trying to be more Americanized. I genuinely like that they tried to make something more suited for adult viewers with the dark themes, intricate plot, and some nudity. It's refreshing to see such an amazing cast take on a much more daring role and it really shows how talented they are.

I will say that the plot was a bit confusing at points. The jumps between present day, the past, and the future were done well for the most part but there were times where I wasn't sure where we were. Another negative is that I hate when shows split the main couple up after they've been through a lot because they need to "heal". I personally think it's a bad choice and unnecessary.

I will also say that the show could have used a bit more depth on the relationships between the characters, there was limited dialogue when the leads were on screen together and instead we just see them trauma dumping all the time. Maybe if the show had been slightly longer to accommodate some more character building, I would have liked this aspect more. Or even if they just got rid of the friend's plot line - this felt so unnecessary... like okay she doesn't want to just be a mom, she wants to work blah blah blah but like where did this story actually go? What was the point? They either needed to develop this WAYYYY more or take it out IMO. I wanted to see his ex-wife's downfall, I wanted to see the leads accepting this new love, I wanted to see more healing in the characters... What I really mean to say by all this is that I think this show could have been a solid 10/10 if they had a more solid focus on the emotional/psychological themes rather than throwing in some of the other side plots.

Onto the positives - I really like the relationship between the leads. Their chemistry was amazing and I felt compelled by their stories. It was heartbreaking at times too when you see how unsure the leads are about what love is meant to feel like and how they should be treated by their loved ones. I like to crochet whilst I watch kdramas and this was a show where I would just constantly stop and just watch because I was so hooked on what was happening. I know my paragraph on the negatives is so much longer but that's just because there were a few key positives that really make this entire show so worth watching.

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Didnt like at all.

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I found this show so weird. It's such a messy storyline, too. It's definitely a different and out-of-the-box drama. I didn't like it. I had a problem with almost every character and plotline; it just wasn't for me. I found the ending funny; if you're a cheater, you'll be lonely for the rest of your life lmao. BUT I also had a problem with the ending, the daughter?!?!?!!! That's crazy?!?!?? (Unless I misread the situation). Anyway, I always finish a show if I start it, so that's why I finished this one. Otherwise, I would've dropped it. I'd say it's not worth watching at all unless you like unlikeable main characters and dumb storylines. Personally, a waste of time.

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"Prettyboy" é um dorama encantador que combina comédia e romance de maneira cativante. A série é repleta de momentos divertidos e apresenta uma proposta interessante com seus dois finais, permitindo que os espectadores escolham a conclusão que mais ressoa com eles. Os personagens são bem construídos, e Qingcai se destaca como o meu favorito, graças ao seu humor e charme irresistíveis. A química entre ele e Gan pu é excelente, tornando suas interações um dos pontos altos do drama. Além disso, a amizade de Qingcai com Wang Yi Shao traz momentos hilários, enquanto a paixão de Hong Hui por Qingcai adiciona um toque romântico à trama.

As habilidades de atuação de Darren Chen estão em constante evolução, enriquecendo a profundidade emocional da série. Em resumo, "Pretty" é uma recomendação imperdível para quem procura uma comédia romântica leve e divertida, perfeita para assistir e formar suas próprias opiniões!

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Beautiful set up of the main leads story, but ending execution is disappointing.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75 (rounding up to show support)

Watching “Blue Canvas of Youthful Days” is to show my support for uncensored Chinese BL, even though I knew this drama is not perfect. Hopefully, the success of this show will encourage more uncensored Chinese BLs to be picked up by other countries to be distributed. Also, what a lovely drama title!

I agree with many reviews and comments that the first half of the drama is great. I enjoy the set up of how the leads met and their school interaction. Was it a little stalkerish on Qi Lu’s part to be clinging on to Qin Xiao? Probably. But I also applaud his courage to do so, knowing the consequence of when his father finds out what he’s up to. The growing friendship and affection between the two are developed nicely and convincingly. Xiao’s desire of having his own family is strong, but not enough to withstand his love for Qi Lu. However, we do have two young adults who are still quite innocent about first love. The ending would be different if they had talked to each other and figured things out together. But well, they were young.

I was not as invested in the secondary couple, possibly due to the age gap. Tan Yin just acts too young and naive compared to Liu Ming Yang’s maturity and as a teacher to our main leads. But I can see why Tan Yin would fall for Teacher Liu, and how Liu would eventually fall for Tan Yin. I just enjoy the dynamics between the main couple more. I also personally don’t like the blonde hair (LOL) and find Xiao Zi Zhou’s portrayal of Tan Yin to be the weakest of the cast (though not horrible).

Speaking of acting, I generally enjoy it. I was surprised to find out that this is everyone’s debut project. If that’s really the case, their acting is quite good. I especially enjoy Zhang Xuan Yu’s performance as Qin Xiao (I also find him to be the most attractive one 🙂). I also enjoy all the scenes related to art and the art school. We actually see students painting/drawing and not just pretending to be students.

Unfortunately, there are still quite a few things for me to pick on. The second half is definitely not as strong. Tan Yin’s hearing loss and the ease of him speaking fluently in just a few minutes is unrealistic. The last couple episodes are jam packed with different plotlines. Everything crashes down on our main leads in a matter of minutes. I was disappointed in the ending. The drama wasted a lot of time in showing Tan Yin and Liu Ming Yang’s happy moments, and failed to show the audience Qin Lu and Qin Xiao’s story. I want to know the ‘HOW’ and not just the ending result. Because of the somewhat blurry filter used in the last episode, I was wondering if that’s really the ending or was it one of those dream-like endings that happened in an alternate universe.

I did have a decent time watching “Blue Canvas of Youthful Days”, and especially in the earlier episodes of the main leads. Their story and acting are both good. If you have time to kill and want to support this drama, it’s worth checking it out. I watched the YouTube consolidated version and binged it all in 5.5 hours. The drama could have been better with editing and storytelling in the end, but that could have been a result of censorship.


Completed: 12/7/2024 - Review #525

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