Reviews

This is more of an appreciation post/thoughts than review hahaa, major spoilers!!!

this drama was a beautiful watch.
it started out as something fluffy, and then turned into something very very DEEP. And i loved it.

Its really 2 souls healing each other and falling in love in the process.

first lets talk about the story and then get to the other aspects.
I would use one word, beautiful.
The story starts from Kanata's perspective. A guys who is (clearly) loved by everyone and is surrounded by people who love him, but seems disconnected from it all.

But then he is drawn to this guy with whom his eyes constantly meet but whose name or class he doesnt know yet. He follows that guy to the rooftop one day and then starts a friendship which would later evolve into something more.

Kanata has got his own sadness about which he opens up to Akira on the second day of them meeting. Akira's kind words make him look at it from a different perspective and ,eventually, encourages him to stop running away from it.

His trauma begins to heal thanks to Akira. In the process he slowly falls for him but does not realise it until that 'matsuri'. The show then pivots to Akira and his traumatic past.

Akira's character, in my opinion, is s lot more complex than Kanata's who 'wears his heart on his sleeves'. What a contrast hahah.

Not gonna make it too detailed but due to certain events from his past, Akira is
1) Afraid of falling for kanata
2) Has (very) low self esteem
3) Considers himself disgusting (idk if that is the right word to use)
4) Thinks he does not deserve Kanata's love

He has these issues. And he is not willing to talk it out (which ,i now realise, is a bit ironic since he sort of suggested Kanata to stop running away and confront his soccer stuff earlier) with Kanata. And he straight up pushes him away by saying 'do not fall for me.' ' i dont wanna be a stain' but Kanata is not up for this bullshit.

Eventually with some encouragement from his friends Kanata manages to get Akira out of this deep pit he had dug and put himself into. He makes him realise that he loves him for who he is (which hit me really hard btw when he said that). And that the past is the past and he should not dwell upon it.

Traumas begin to heal. But then nobody is confessing so they aren't dating. Eventually a rumour prompts Akira to confess.

And also i love how both changed each other for the good at the end.
Akira ends up taking the initiative of confessing foregoing his insecurity that Kanata might not reciprocate (but didn't Kanata make it clear that he likes him too?) and that he might get hurt. He says something like, even if i get hurt or someone else does, this is how i feel for Kanata and it is what it is.
As for Kanata, ha became more responsible and self reliant.

As for other aspects.
Cinematography, peak.
music, not very noticable,
i absolutely love how everything just goes silent during certain scenes, There's no dramatic music or even slow music playing, just complete silence. Like the opening scene where Kanata is standing and listening to the CD. (Btw this opening scene was SOOOO misleading. They made us feel somewhat a sense of loss. Made us feel that the following episodes would be Kanata reminiscing about his past and how they eventually broke up. Then would meet again, in the present ie after the opening scene and the story would continue from there(ykwim) but turns out it was just Kanata waiting for Akira in the present hahah)

Yeah, i found it really beautiful i wanna rewatch it to understand the character motives (esp Akira's) now that i know their past and how it shapes them. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED

Read More

A Beautiful Empty Shell

I have a love hate relationship with this one. This drama is like a beautiful empty shell. Zeng Qing Jie rocked this drama with its stunning visuals. The angles, color grading, lighting, color theories, visual effects, all work in synergy to create such an immersive visual feast. But that’s about it. This is too much of an idol drama that lacks depth, logic, and effort to its story and character development.

Most of the drama centers around Fan Chang Yu and Xie Zheng’s fake marriage relationship in Xigu Lane. It was beautiful and sweet. It was a cliché kind of love story that high school me would have loved very much! There were mentions and hints of politics here and there but it was all talks without any real impact whatsoever. The politics mentioned during the Xigu Lane arc felt less like an introduction or teaser, but more like unimportant fillers. If this was a short drama, Xigu Lane arc would have been cute.

Once we move out of Xigu Lane, everything starts to falter. The writer needs to research on how to write political arcs, while the director needs to research how to shoot action scenes and war scenes because whT the hell was all that!

The politics feel so messy and careless. There was no real impact to the politics and even the solution felt flimsy. I don’t even want to bother laying it out but it was just so bad. Worst of all is the action scenes. While Chang Yu had two empowering action scenes, Xie Zheng’s felt like a commercial. No action, only visuals. Like an idol shooting their ending fairy shots. Also, what was episode 39! What is supposed to be an intense most climactic final battle turns out to look like a comical comedy. Why rent such a big space only for that little group of people.. no.. only a duel to take place. Everything was clean and bright! No smoke, no dirt, no blood, nothing. It’s more like a practice duel than a real battlefield.

The character writing also disappoints me. Does butchering pigs really give this tiny stick woman that much strength?! Also, Chang Yu is one country bumpkin. It’s so frustrating how she’s unable to connect the dots herself and act so impulsively at the army camp. I also can’t believe she just acts so imprudently and talk so freely in court. Xie Zheng is no good either. First of all, Zhang Ling He being cast as Xie Zheng is definitely for the visuals. I love ZLH but he does not look anything like this dark ruthless marquis. Also, Xie Zheng literally spends most of the drama being injured and sick.. Where is the commanding aura that his character is supposed to have?! He does have some impactful scenes but it’s not enough, and most of it are just stupid. One of the examples is the scene at the tent when he said commands are not a joke or something. The speech, impactful. But the context behind it is just dumb. Why would you hesitate to tell your woman who you are. Stupid logic. Also, why are all of Xie Zheng’s action scenes close ups of his face?! Agh.

I need to stop before I start spiraling. Do I enjoy it? Only Xigu Lane. Do I like it? Only the visuals. Do I recommend it? Only if you don’t care about story depth and logic.

Read More

We are so back!!!

The wait was so long but SkyNani are back! And what a comeback!!! The first episode flew by quickly, with a vague introduction of the two protagonists but without yet delving into too much detail about their backstory. The characters are interesting, with a subtle touch of irony that makes them even more engaging. The directing, acting, and CGI are all top-notch. The chemistry between Sky and Nani is the same as in HSF; they manage to create a wonderful synergy with their way of interacting. This series is going to be another huge hit for them and I can't wait to see it. Kudos to all the cast members and Sea Tawinan's cameo.

Read More

Shin Soon-rok, welcome home. But the endgame was rushed.

I have been watching Yumi's Cells since season 1 came out. For some reason, I was not able to vibe with Ung's character despite likinng everything else about the show. The cells were the highlight of the show for me, like everyone else. Even that couldnt stop me from dropping season 2 midway because I was frustated with Babi's character. So I was skeptical going into season 3 just for the cells and Yumi herself (the growth is immaculate)

I was captivated from the first episode where Yumi meets Soon-rok. The one sided hatred was so fun and it is exactly what I came for: the cells dramaticising everything. The whole thing with the strawberry custard bread was really fun to watch. (also Hunger cell is my spirit animal.). I loved the way the system just glitched when Yumi fell for Soon-rok, because it is such a classic rom com move.

Soon-rok's cells are also the most fun to watch. The Love Cell as a doctor is a brilliant representation of his rationality and the Reason cell not being in control because he is always tired humanises the character of Soon-rok. The fact that Soon-rok is driven by love for Yumi after his principles break is so sweet because it just got redirected instead. Soon-rok just chooses Yumi. Something Woong couldnt do despite loving her and Babi...is well Babi. That is what strengtens the romance for me. But it made me realise that the reason why I wasn't into Woong and Babi. Yumi was happy but never in a way she is happy in her relationship with Soon-rok. That is a brilliant creative choice because love is a destination which you reach after trials and errors. Yumi's line, "Because two loves are not the same" anchors the whole thematic outline of the story. But here is where I was side-eyeing the creative choices.

Soon-rok's proposal came too early. I mean they were already moving fast but I wish they showed us more of how their relationship dynamic before the proposal so it feels more earned. It felt like they were rushing because of the honeymoon phrase but it was softened by Soon-rok choosing Yumi always. Maybe I am just salty that i didnt get to see more of their datimg era.

Read More

They are wasting the Sky-Nani chemistry with cute but tame scripts

It started off well...but became tamer with every episode....I was waiting with a lot of anticipation for this one, after the rollercoaster that High School Frenemy was, and though this was cute, I am disappointed with how surface it is. This was not even remotely close to the electrifying experience that High School Frenemy was

BL-Needle Score: 7. Reasonable BL-ness

Sky-Nani pairing up to fight Yao energy together while (B)Romancing with their angst-love energy......was supposed to be plain delish...but well, just that it was not...it was cute and had some arresting moments....I know this was supposed to be a bromance, but why waste Sky-Nani's chemistry and acting abilities for just decidedly tame, feel good stories? I am even ready to overlook/accept the Bromance fence-sitting that they have been asked to do...at least that somewhat added to the charm of High School Frenemy...but Wu was too surface and they are capable of so much more. I hope GMMTV Team finds them a more 'intense' script next time.

Read More

RANYA: The Prettiest Cry-Baby in Thai GL

SHADOW OF LOVE Ep 19 - This show has the most evil, most reprehensible villain-mother in all of GL.... Zero redeeming qualities, but her being so vile and detestable is what makes the show so interesting! Exhausting and exasperating to watch, but riveting, nonetheless.

And Bebell Patthanarat Ketkaew - sweet, vulnerable Ranya - Bebell is so pretty, even when she's crying! In fact, "Ran" is the prettiest cry-baby in 🇹🇭 GL.

* * *

SHADOW OF LOVE Finale Ep - The "kids" (Plaifah/Chat & Bebell/Ranya are both 22y.o.) just schooled the entire 🇹🇭 GL industry on how to have a long love scene that's simply magical (ep 24.1 1:50-9:25)! Ep 24.2 ties up all the loose ends ever so sweetly. For all its faults, SHADOW OF LOVE emerges as THE breakout GL series of the 2nd quarter of 2026! Good job.

Read More

Good story

Loved the first series but loved this one even more.. The 2MLs Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi didn't disappoint. Binge the whole series.. kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
First watched Woo Do hwan in My country..
Fantastic series and as a bodyguard in
My King.. Eternal. The fight scenes were brutal and bloody and I did fast forward a couple of times 😱 it felt that real. I hope there's a third series in the making. I didn't like the dubbing.. I prefered listening in Korean with English subtitles. Thanks to all the people who made this gem of series. Wait for the 3rd..
Love from the UK..

Read More

Waiting for All of us are daed season 2

I am from Bangladesh, and I am eagerly waiting for All of Us Are Dead Season 2. This is not just another Korean drama for me — it is my most favorite K-drama of all time. From the very first episode, the story completely caught my attention with its thrilling zombie action, emotional moments, friendship, survival struggles, and unexpected twists. Every episode made me more excited and emotional at the same time.

What makes this drama so special to me is the amazing cast and their powerful acting. I especially love On-jo and Yoon Chan-young. On-jo’s character is strong, emotional, caring, and brave. She showed so much courage during the hardest situations, and that made her one of the most memorable characters in the series for me.

And of course, Yoon Chan-young was absolutely incredible as Cheong-san. His acting was so natural and emotional that it made the character unforgettable. The final scenes of Season 1 were heartbreaking, and since then I have been waiting to know what really happened to him. Now that Season 2 is officially coming and there are strong signs that Cheong-san may return, my excitement is on another level.

I have watched many Korean dramas, but All of Us Are Dead is different. It has everything — suspense, friendship, sacrifice, emotion, action, and unforgettable characters. That is why it became my favorite.

As a fan from Bangladesh, I am counting the days and waiting patiently for Season 2. I really hope it will be even more exciting, emotional, and unforgettable than Season 1.

Let’s wait together for All of Us Are Dead Season 2. The excitement is real ❤️

Read More