Reviews

Hilarious: Captures Japanese Humor

I freaking loved this show. I went into it knowing nothing other than the main premise, a girl pretending to be a boy at an all boys school. Gave me mild "Twelfth Night" and "She's the Man" vibes from the premise, so I had to give it a shot.

It was absolutely worth it. I think someone who doesn't understand Japanese culture would struggle to enjoy this show because it was chock full of cultural references and specific scenario humor. I enjoyed every minute of it. The show was a riot.

At the end, I wished they'd been able to make a second season or something because I was so invested in the characters. I still think that the second main male lead was a better fit for the FMC, but I tend to always think that when I watch these kinds of shows. I somehow wind up disliking the main pairing for whatever reason.

This show is definitely worth watching at least once in your life.

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The Show Can't Decide What It Wants to Be

Overall, the show seems confused about what genre it wants to be, and that causes the ultimate downfall of the show itself. It's marketed as a gritty thriller where a serial killer is targeting a single friend group full of generally terrible people, and Jade's brother Jay is among them. When the new inspector, Kamin, arrives and takes over the case, he initially butts heads with Jade. This sets up the romantic plotline of the show, but the pacing is inconsistent and choices often don't make sense. The way the plot resolves is ultimately unsatisfying, and I feel no investment in the main characters. It’s possible to have a romance inside of a thriller story like the basis for this one, but this is so poorly executed because it was clear they didn’t know if they wanted to write a romcom BL or a gritty crime thriller.

The characters are initially given a deadline for wrapping up the serial killer case because of media attention, but that later vanishes entirely as they fully blow past the deadline with no consequences. Jade is almost completely unconcerned about Jay because his focus is taken up so entirely by trying to romance Kamin. The show fails to balance the tension of the serial killer's revenge on the friend group with the romantic elements often leaning toward romance far too often which places the whole basis for the plot in jeopardy. The cuts between scenes are incredibly awkward, and the after credits often includes extra “romantic” scenes between the main couple that often left me feeling more awkward than happy for the couple. It was often so jarring and opposite from the ending to the episode, that it would cause confusion about the timeline, as many of them were from scene that happened much earlier in the episode, or just gave me an icky feeling about the whole show.

The friend group who was caught up in the murders as well seemed to have so little care for the fact their friends were all being killed. They would discuss that they were “scared,” but I never saw that taking shape. They were constantly fighting against helping the police, and I understand they all had shady backgrounds that would get them arrested if they revealed the truth, but you are being investigated for murder! Tell them everything, you idiots. Jade and Kamin’s overall lack of interest in the serial killer case was what really killed it. They spent so much time trying to romance each other rather than doing their jobs that I didn’t feel happy when they “won” at the end. Several people in the comments on the main show page noted how a lot time was spent filming the actors staring off into nothing, and I agree. It wasn’t a plot device. I think a good portion of this show was for the purpose of making the actors look attractive to the audience. “Here’s this guy who looks like a model! Stare at him. Revel in his beauty. Isn’t he so gorgeous running into danger? Isn’t he so pretty kissing this other guy?” I honestly was not expecting a romantic comedy from the marketing of the show, and I was often messaging a friend saying, “Just focus on the murder! There are several people dead!”

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I love JoongDunk but this is a WASTE OF TIME

Not binge watch worthy, if you're looking for a series that would make you want to watcch the next episode after watching the another, this one is not for you. I just watched each episode for the love of JoongDunk and Ohm Tpk but other than that I can say it's not worth watching for. It's a shame they put this on Netflix. It's a crime themed series but the Police/Inspector did not have a chance to solve a single case. They just waited for the crime to unfold and let everyone die. I can't believe that a college student and a doctor are smarter, faster, and stronger than this cops. I stopped watching it on Episode 10, 20 minutes before it ends, because after they let everyone die, they immediately go back to flirting with each other. I mean, yeah we get it it's a gay series but at least provide a good plot, not just 2 men kissing and flirting. SUCH A DISSAPPOINTMENT.

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"People do not pass away... they die and then they stay."

This is a drama deeply close to my heart; I thought extensively about this review before writing it. While there may be some articulation errors in my writing, I hope that it compels you to at least consider watching Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC).

At first glance, MLC is nothing more than typical. It has all the elements of your conventional Wuxia C-drama: an overpowered protagonist; an up-and-coming Jianghu hero; some jealous one-dimensional antagonists; uncomplicated female characters; not-so-difficult to solve mysteries; and many more I am too lethargic to name.

But as commonplace as it may seem, MLC refreshingly breaks convention. Unlike most Wuxia stories, there is no real climax or overblown melodrama. The story's events—no matter how curious—proceed with a slice-of-life-resemblant matter-of-factness. Furthermore, MLC evokes genuine skepticism of the too-often-glorified Jianghu. Through the lens of our protagonist, the Jianghu is an uncertain environment where heroism—driven by ruthless ambition and self-righteousness—costs human lives. Most importantly, though, is that MLC's protagonist Li Lianhua is not on a legendary journey to becoming a Jianghu hero; he is a former Jianghu hero accepting a lonely and tragic decline.

The character Li Lianhua (formerly Li Xiangyi) is what single-handedly elevates MLC from a mediocre, enjoyable watch to a haunting and empathetic story. Li Lianhua is indubitably a case of "overpowered protagonist", a trope I harbor deep skepticism for; there are simply too many opportunities for characterization inconsistencies, over-indulgent author self-inserts, and extreme uses of plot armor. However, Li Lianhua is a character designed so intricately that he not only avoids those common pitfalls but is relatable for average audiences. He is perspicacious yet uncertain; cold yet kind; arrogant yet penitent; a compulsive liar yet honest; and accepting of fate yet deeply loyal to those he loves from the past. The contradictions and his struggling attempts at reconciling them make Li Lianhua thought-provoking, likable, and most importantly, human. Cheng Yi's performance of Li Lianhua is superbly compelling but may tend over-empathetic for some.

However, in the same way that a good conductor cannot singlehandedly "carry" an orchestra, the characterization of Li Lianhua cannot single-handedly define MLC's quality. While the remaining cast of characters are comparatively one-dimensional (with the possible exception of Di Feisheng), their relationships/interactions with Li Lianhua give their presence meaning. For one, the doomed romance between Li Lianhua and his former love interest (Qiao Wanmian) is portrayed with an unusual level of maturity, modernity, and sensitivity (in the context of Wuxia dramas and historical gender structures). Additionally, while the main antagonist has independently shallow motivations, his relationship with and perception of Li Lianhua create plot intrigue. In the show's more cliche and over-explored relationships (E.g. Li Lianhua and Fang Duobing), MLC successfully uses clever dialogue and surprisingly worldly insight to substitute for the lack of storytelling direction.

Finally, I'd like to talk about the BGM. While the OST is catchy, the BGM is immersive and extremely beautiful. Much of (40-50%) the BGM is structured around 4 sets of "Variations on [X] Theme". Despite revolving around the same theme, the separate variations are rhythmically and creatively diverse enough to feature in scenes with vastly different emotional tones. The fact that they all revolved around the same theme, however, added a subtle and effective additional layer of cohesiveness. Beyond the variations, there are tracks that are intimately beautiful (my personal preferences are for "涟漪" and "诉说“, which both have excellent guzheng solos).

MLC may begin slow, so perhaps give it 10-15 episodes before deciding whether or not you like it. But while the production is simpler than many of today's high-budget cinematographic "making-of-a-myth" stories, MLC—through its simplicity—leans into inquisition, normalcy, and the destruction of kitsch, apathetic Jianghu myths. Even though it is by no means perfect, it has left an indelible imprint on my heart.

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i am crying

I really like this drama they had me crying on like the last episode and I just really wish that it could’ve ended differently like them meeting again and I wish I could’ve gotten more time of them together at the end the overall story was really really good it was just the ending that made me cry because it was so emotional and I was just really hoping that I was leading up to them meeting again like him going to Japan or him seeing him at the airport to stop him from going but yeah overall it was amazing and I would watch it 1 million times if I could I really hope they make a two and a part two so I hope it has a better ending this time and it’s a little longer than four episodes but amazing 10 out of 10❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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World's Most Incompetent Cops

Going into this, I was super excited for the murder/crime aspect of this show, especially as someone who really loves crime dramas. If you're going into this for that like I was, SKIP IT! This show is a romance that happens to have a crime happening in the background. The cops can't solve a case for shit, and spend all their time flirting instead.

Jade (Joong) is the cop in charge of a new murder case when a new inspector Kamin (Dunk) arrives to help. The two of them investigate the murder of a college girl and the subsequent murders of the other students in her friend group. As murders continue to happen, Jade's brother Jay is also put at risk, as are the cops themselves. Even though the cops don't get along at first, they grow closer as they work on the case - and Jade's immediate attraction to Kamin is obvious to everyone.

I have never watched a crime show with more incompetent cops. These guys did not solve ANYTHING!! Even up to the very end (no spoilers here) they basically didn't do anything themselves. They quite literally just spent their entire time flirting with each other. The romance fully took away from the actual plot of the show. If you don't care about the crime and just want to see Joong and Dunk flirt, go ahead and watch it. If you care about the crime aspect at all, there are much better crime dramas....

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From Arranged Marriage to Unbreakable Partnership

Destined is much more than an arranged marriage romance. What begins as a reluctant union between two completely different people slowly grows into a deep partnership built on trust, respect, and shared struggles. Bai Jing Ting and Song Yi delivered beautiful performances that made Jiusi and Yuru feel real, relatable, and easy to root for.

Gu Jiusi was one of the most refreshing male leads I have seen. He started off playful, carefree, and a little immature, but he was always kind, respectful, and protective toward Yuru. Even when life forced him to grow up, he never lost his core personality. His maturity did not erase who he was. It strengthened him. Watching his transition from a sheltered young master to a responsible and dependable man was one of the most satisfying parts of the drama.

Liu Yuru’s journey was equally powerful. She began as someone focused only on securing a stable marriage because of her difficult upbringing. She lived cautiously and never allowed herself to dream beyond survival. But after marriage, she slowly discovered her own ambitions and strengths. Her growth into a confident, intelligent woman who built her own path in business was inspiring to watch. She was not just protected by the male lead. She stood beside him as an equal and often became his strength during difficult times.

What made their relationship special was their balance. They did not rely on dramatic misunderstandings or forced conflict. Instead, their bond grew naturally through shared hardships, mutual respect, and emotional support. They protected each other, trusted each other, and matured together. Their love felt steady, earned, and realistic.

The drama also stood out for its storytelling. It balanced romance, politics, family struggles, and personal growth without relying on exaggerated villains or unrealistic plot devices. The conflicts were grounded in society, war, business, and survival. The story showed how intelligence, resilience, and unity helped the characters overcome challenges rather than relying on luck or power alone.

The supporting cast and production were equally strong. The emotional scenes, lighter comedic moments, and political tensions were all handled well, making the story engaging from beginning to end.

Overall, Destined is a beautiful story about growth, partnership, and finding strength in each other. It shows how two people can enter a marriage as strangers and slowly become each other’s greatest support. It is emotional, inspiring, and deeply satisfying to watch.

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I wish it was so much better!

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT! BE CAREFUL!

I never leave reviews when I watch a bl and I've been doing this for 6 years but this is objectively one of the worst scripts I've ever came across. I was really excited when i found out joongdunk were doing a crime investigation drama but from the very beginning it struggles with internal coherence and narrative credibility honestly.

The issues start from the very begining, considering that Jade arguably should not even have been part of the investigation. This leads to one of my main beef with the series, Jay is protected by the police simply for being Jade’s brother and is never properly investigated even though he is one of the suspects. It just gets worse when Kamin casually moves into the house of one of the suspects (Jade's and jay's house)

The portrayal of the police is particularly problematic for other reasons as well. Officers conduct interrogations anywhere they please, arbitrarily entering people’s homes without warrants. At one point, Champ explicitly asks for a lawyer and is ignored, yet the interrogation proceeds as if due process were irrelevant. These procedural inaccuracies make the investigation feel unrealistic and poorly researched.

Even the fight scenes are poorly choreographed fight and shooting scenes make dramatic confrontations feel awkward rather than intense.

There are many problems with the plot development and the character's arcs are honestly weak. For exemple, Jay is just saved for the sake of the script cause it makes little sense that Puth would fail to kill him with that shot. Also, Jade and Yu’s backstory and motivation is so incredibly weak like why would you hate you colleague when you were the one who chose to save him like man...

In the last episode when kamin is alone with puifai and champ, why do you mean a trained policeman were tricked by a teenager?? He was pointing a gun to that girl's head and it didnt work, she did whatever she wanted in front of him. They didnt finish this case, this case finished them!

I also had a hard time understaning the moral framing of the story. I mean Jay literally assaults Puifai, he had sex with her when she was drunk!!! Yet the narrative treats his wrongdoing as if it were merely a failure to intervene and defend her from the rest of the group, it completely minimized the gravity of his crime.

Also pisses me off so much that after the explosion they chose to save champ and leave puifai to her own death. I mean, Puifai was only stabbed and could plausibly have survived, but the characters choose to save Champ instead. Like Puifai died just like that but Champ survived being shot and struck with an axe, and still manages to stab Puifai afterward?? There are so many exaggerations like that and it really undermines any attempt at realism.

There are also awkward moments like they flirt out of nowhere even in the middle of serious moments. Also, there's this scene that Jade and kamin are in the pool and jade's tattoo literally starts to fade and turn purple???

The script was bad, the directing was even worse. I never wrote such a detailed review like that but as i said before, I was excited for this new joongdunk series but i was severely disappointed.

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The most incapable police officers ever!

OMG... why did GMMTV decide to put this pile of crap on Netflix? If they wanted to promote BLs, this was the wrong series to do it. This series was also the wrong series for the actors. Would they be 15 years older, than their ranks would make sense, but so, it was completely unbelievable. While we all wish the actors do stuff besides school or university GMMTV does not comprehend that certain roles requires an certain age. What's even worse, they had considerable audio problems through many episodes where they (the production team) failed to check that the recording would be fine. For GMMTV this is inexcusable. It's not an independet low budget production where technical shortcomings can be overlooked, but not when they put it on Netflix.

The story itself is also boring as fuck, there is not even a real romance evolving, just one guy pushing the other and it just "happens"... no finesse, no real heartbeating moments... For a BL this was very disappointing. I don't have to talk about how incapable they both are as police officers, going first to eat and then go the location - while at said location someone dies... OMG.

Everyone rating this show high should take off their pink glasses and really question what they are rating. This shows has no heights at all. Yes, to watch JoongDunk is nice, but there are tons of tiktok/shorts seeing them together and that is WAY better than watching this. I did not expect much from GMMTV but even then it was a great disappointment and a waste of my time. I know the fanarmy will bash me and say I should not watch it if I don't like it, but the point is I watch it to write reviews for people who don't have the time to watch a lot and to tell them not to waste their time. There are ton more series even from GMMTV which are way better than this crap.

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hope to see the actors in something else

Overall: did not vibe with the plot. 6 episodes about 8 minutes each. Aired on Secret of Us YouTube Official https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7BSona1dmx5qAPZpNNjT9XEv_wyP_HzT&si=ouK5zhi2gVdEigwN

Note: in the trailer a character said they weren't related by blood, so they are step brothers who appear to have been raised together since elementary school aged based on that picture

Content Warning: manipulation

What I Liked
- the dreams
- visuals
- the younger character's plotting in the beginning*

Room For Improvement
- *he was way too manipulative later on, even when he came clean I didn't trust him
- the older guy was shown to be extremely straight and then the sudden 180 turn and open ending did not work for me

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a complete letdown

this was maybe my saddest watch in a while, not because the show was sad but it being so badly done it made me so sad.

I love joongdunk and was really excited. I love a murder mystery, a thriller and the og trailer really felt like this really cool balance of the push and pull of a relationship forming while working together in such a serious set of circumstances. The sad bit was that the final show was not that at all!

to start off with the good, I think the casting and most of the acting was really amazing! the acting is one of the things that kept me watching, otherwise I fear I may have dropped it. Another good think is Joong & Dunk chemistry, they do a good job at showing their tension pre-relationship and this pinning.

Now with the bad because there is quite a lot. I’m not one to think a show needs really spicy nc or kiss scenes or really either at all if the chemistry is good BUT their relationship literally hinges off of this sexual tension they have from the moment they meet and yet the show won’t even allude to the fact the they do anything more that give each other a peck on the lips and maybe kiss sometimes. Continuing with their relationship, it becomes such a weird intrusion in the show not because of them as a couple but because it becomes the main focus of most of the eps AND every time becomes a tonal shift. What I mean by tonal shift is that any time they have a sweet couple moment it seems like it’s a completely different show. ALSO why is the murder mystery bit treated as this side story??? The whole show feels sooooo dragged out but also wayyyy too short. They dragged out the romance and shortened the actual mystery. Now to the mystery, despite the reveal falling a bit flat to me my biggest gripe is with how it ended because wdym of all people Puth, Jay and Champ survived? OF ALL PEOPLE??/!!?!?! and don’t even get me started on the fact that half of the final ep was a cutie beach trip where right before the case is just done…

overall I’m just so heartbroken that to me this doesn’t really have rewatch value when my expectations for it being great were so high!

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Survives on the charisma of its stars but stumbles under the weight of its genre ambitions

Dare You to Death arrived with the promise of raising the bar for Boys’ Love productions by pairing one of the fandom’s most beloved duos, Joong and Dunk, with a suspense-driven police investigation. The premise is undeniably intriguing: a group of university friends burdened by dark secrets begins to be hunted by a serial killer who leaves behind “Truth or Dare” cards. What unfolds on screen, however, is a series struggling with a severe identity crisis, wavering between a grim psychological thriller and a sugary romantic comedy, never fully committing to either path.

The show’s greatest point of friction is its tonal imbalance. While the plot attempts to build an atmosphere of real danger, complete with brutal deaths and rising tension over who will be next, the narrative is constantly interrupted by extended flirtation scenes between the leads, Jade and Kamin. It is commendable that Joong and Dunk’s chemistry remains “smooth as butter,” but it becomes difficult for viewers to stay immersed when the investigators in charge of the case seem more invested in seaside banter and leisurely bath scenes than in solving the murders happening around them.

On the investigative front, the series falters with a glaring lack of plausibility. The police department borders on amateurish, with procedures that ignore even basic protocol, such as detectives taking entire episodes to interview victims’ families. Clues often appear out of nowhere or conveniently serve the script’s needs rather than emerging from sharp deduction. For viewers seeking a solid crime thriller in the vein of Manner of Death, Dare You to Death offers little beyond easy solutions and dialogue that occasionally underestimates its audience’s intelligence.

Despite its structural flaws, the series finds moments of brilliance in its supporting cast and its portrayal of villainy. Puifai stands out as one of the most complex and compelling characters, carrying psychological weight and trauma that justify her actions in a far more engaging way than the central arc. Her dynamic with Dr. Ruth delivers the kind of “fascinating strangeness” one expects from suspense, hinting at the denser, more provocative story the show might have been had it not centered so heavily on fan service for the main couple.

Technically, the production is uneven. The soundtrack effectively underscores moments of tension, yet the cinematography and editing fail to craft impactful action sequences. Some fight and chase scenes lack urgency, and the emotional continuity of the characters is frequently disrupted. Watching a group of friends continue attending university as usual after the violent deaths of two members, without displaying the expected grief or fear, creates a detachment that makes it hard to genuinely care about their fate.

The finale also suffers from poor time management. The last episode rushes to resolve the mystery while wrapping up romantic arcs, resulting in scenes that strain credibility, such as villains passively observing executions without meaningful intervention. The excessive focus on “cute” moments at the expense of a more detailed explanation of the survivors’ futures and the legal consequences of the crimes reinforces the impression that the series was shaped more like an extended fan meeting than a cohesive work of fiction.

Joong and Dunk’s performances show clear growth compared to their previous projects, and their effort to bring new layers to their characters is evident. Yet they seem constrained by a script that does not allow them to fully explore this different facet. For devoted fans of the pair, the series delivers exactly what they want: constant interaction and endearing moments. For viewers searching for a suspense narrative capable of standing on its own, however, the experience may feel frustrating, occasionally veering into secondhand embarrassment when serious moments are undercut by gratuitous sweetness.

In the end, Dare You to Death survives on the charisma of its stars but stumbles under the weight of its genre ambitions. It is serviceable weekend entertainment, unlikely to leave a lasting mark on Thai suspense drama. The series ultimately serves as a reminder that, even within the BL sphere, strong chemistry cannot replace the need for a tightly constructed script and direction that honors the tone of the story it sets out to tell.

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