dodoubleg1785
Toronto, Canada and New York, USA
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Not at all what I thought it would be..
.. which actually turned out to be a good thing. There was a lot of hype around this series being geared toward a more mature audience and having adult themes, not just in the NC sense. There was a lot of talk about it incorporating aspects of Omegaverse so I was interested to see what they did with that... whether it was going to be a major plot point or just a passing mention like "Oh, by the way, I'm an Alpha, just so you know."What I thought it would be, based on the trailer:
-sports drama based on racing
-"playboy denying he's falling for a guy" type of romance
-rivalry between racers as main source of conflict
-father trying to cash in on son's success
While the first few episodes make it seem like it is setting up for some of the above.... Spoiler alert.. it's actually about none of the above and only mildly focused on the racing aspect. The story we actually got was much more involved and, quite honestly, more interesting to me, personally, than if it were simply about car racing. The "omegaverse" aspect was actually the main focus of the overall plot although it's not quite the omegaverse that is commonly portrayed in novels/webcomics/etc which typically includes the secondary sexes, mPreg, going into heat, amongst other things. In this series, they do have Alphas and Enigmas where both can have supernatural abilities and strengths. Scenting plays a small part as well though that is more because of the fact Babe's specific special ability is heightened senses, which obviously include his sense of smell.
But in this series, the big focus is on the Alphas being rare "super human" beings that all have different abilities which manifest as they get older. It was very X-Men to me, quite honestly, as every Alpha had different "powers" and I found myself keeping them straight by comparing them to their X-Men counterpart.
The overall plot was very involved and nerve-wracking while at face value it just looks like the good guys are going after a super villain and his cronies. However, as agendas are revealed and the entirety of the situation unfolds, it actually turned out to be some of the most interesting story writing I've seen in a BL to date. It's very rare this happens, but I would dare say that the story was what kept me more invested rather than the acting. A lot of times, an actor's performance will save a series for me and keep me from either dropping it or giving it a bad review because of bad or uninteresting plot. But here, it was the opposite.
I wouldn't say the acting was "bad" per say, but there were definitely some better than others, which became evident when they all had scenes together. Pavel was really good, especially when it came to the emotional scenes in the later episodes. He wasn't afraid to "ugly cry" which made it that much more believable. Pooh wasn't bad but he certainly wasn't outstanding. I feel like he either got better over time or he just grew on me throughout the course of the show. (most likely the latter since these things don't typically shoot in chronological order.)
Nut's performance was very good and, honestly, I think he pulled off the complexity of his character very well. We don't find out much about him as an individual until about halfway through but there's always this underlying question of "what is his deal?" from the very beginning because something just seems "off." Nut portrayed this extremely well with little nuances sprinkled throughout and it's almost like a "blink and you miss it" kind of thing.
There's actually quite a bit of that going on throughout the series with multiple characters and I found the guessing game to be very captivating. I think the only characters I never questioned their motives or true feelings were Babe, Mr. Tony and Alan. They were pretty much "what you see is what you get" all the way through.
This was also one of the few times I've seen a series where everything is explained, tied together and resolved by the end. There's nothing introduced for the drama aspect only to be forgotten about or given a half-assed resolution. Everything that happens is important and it all gets wrapped up by the finale. It was a breath of fresh air not leaving the series with questions or feeling like something is missing. All of it is very satisfying in that regard.
That being said, I can see this not being for everyone as it is very heartbreaking and frustrating every time the "heroes" are thwarted and they have to start over. People looking for a more mature love story may also find it somewhat lacking as the romance part takes a back seat to everything else going on. It's certainly NOT a light a fluffy watch. But I assure you, it truly is engaging and it had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next pretty much from start to finish. I definitely liked it a lot more than I thought I might and I would gladly watch it again in the future.
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Mixed feelings but overall good watch.
I'm kind of torn how to rate this series because it was really good in some parts and then others, I found myself fast forwarding because it was either repetitive or unnecessary.Starting out with the cons, I really couldn't stand about half the characters. I pretty much only liked Ace, Sky, Jam, Kim and Jake. Sky's parents were sweet and I loved how supportive they were but they sure didn't intervene when they should have a lot of the time. I mean, I can understand that Sky is not a child and he needs to make his own mistakes and all but he really could have used some tough love in some areas. I liked how his brother was supportive as well but his entire purpose was to sell the products of the sponsors so it got annoying pretty quick and I skipped almost every scene of his. He had one sweet moment with Sky and then everything else was all about product placement. Same with Miss Becky. She was a good support for Ace but honestly, there were way too many montages of her twirling around the mansion that added absolutely nothing to the plot or series in general.
Moira was an over the top baddie that was somewhat well written but, in my opinion, if you're going to make them THAT bad, they need to get their just rewards. And unfortunately, everyone hugged it out in the end and forgave her horribleness. Now, granted, I know nothing about law in the Philippines but she must have committed at least 3 crimes with her shenanigans. She did a full on B&E, kidnapped (dognapped) ChukChuk, planted a hidden camera without consent then released the video illegally.. oh and almost committed murder by putting peanuts in his food to purposefully trigger an allergic reaction. So then she comes to their house and sobs that she loved him and wanted to be with him while she was the one who broke it off in the first place. And we're supposed to feel bad for her? Honestly, they should have been hauling her ass to jail instead of hugging and apologizing to her.
There was a lot of time spent on her and other "time wasters" that really could have been skipped over (which I did). It would have easily cut down the series to maybe 9 or 10 episodes but it also would have gotten a higher rating from me...
.. because the pros of the series were actually really good. The story for the main couple was believable for the most part (crazy ex aside) and they had really good chemistry together. I actually liked that there were no side couples because Ace and Sky deserved all the focus on the romantic front. Their progression felt natural even if the acting was a bit over the top at times. It also felt like they bounced off each other well. In some parts, it seemed like there was no real script and they were just told to act a certain way and they ran with it.
I like how Kim was a good friend to Ace throughout and didn't turn into an ex like Moira. Granted Ace and Kim were never technically an item, but when she finally realized Ace would never feel the same way toward her, she didn't turn into the crazy, vindictive ex that Moira was. She supported Ace and his feelings.
While Ace's father was horrible and also pretty over the top, he did present a more realistic hurdle to their relationship which was worth watching. And even at the end, when he said he would work on himself, it was also good to see the more realistic portrayal of a parent not quite doing a full 180 turn overnight (because that kind of thing wouldn't happen in a "eureka" kind of moment in real life either) but we see the effort and the regret he has had for his previous way of thinking and realizing that it will cost him his relationship with Ace if he didn't change.
I think this is also the first series I'd ever seen where there was a reverse - or maybe it could be a double? - coming out conversation where Ace's mother explains her past with Ace's father and why she left.
While there was a lit of filler, I feel like the core conversations were really important in this series (like when Ace's father has his self reflective moment near the end.) There were a lot of poignant moments full of truths that I wish more people would grasp.
While I'm not certain if I would watch this often, I could see rewatching this again, especially as part of the trilogy with other people. It was enjoyable and I would recommend it as a lighter series with a few serious dramatic moments that will certainly hit all the feels.
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Better than I thought it would be
The idea for this story was intriguing for me as I've seen a couple of mafia series now and have enjoyed the added suspense aspect it brings. This series was definitely more on the lighthearted side of the serious spectrum mainly because the main characters are not in a business of "questionable legality." Even the mafia boss is not in illegal activity so it's a nice change from the idea that we root for a bad guy, despite what he does for a living.I was concerned that as soon as the bodyguard showed up that Sky was going to become a whining brat and purposefully get himself in danger just to defy his father. It didn't really happen though he did at first become very defiant and stubborn against Sun. But the fact was, Sun nor Father told Sky the severity of what was going on so he was just trying to live his life like he normally does. I mean, I can't really blame him because I would have probably done the same if I lived a certain way and then all of a sudden had a babysitter when I'm an adult with no explanation why. But I was pleasantly surprised when Sky found out the threat against his life that he immediately became more careful; listening to Sun and even asking his permission to do things. And the threat felt very organic.. the way the two bosses were going back and forth with their attacks. And I really liked how Sky was saying it's a never ending cycle that someone has to break by not retaliating. That was very mature of him to see that when the adults didn't.
One of the things that brought down the rating for me was the acting... it was sometimes distractingly amateurish even though the bulk of the mains have a decent acting history/background. And while the MC had good chemistry, they almost looked uncomfortable whenever they had to kiss. At that point, I wish they just wouldn't put it in at all and let us fill in those gaps with our imagination because otherwise is pops the chemistry bubble they had going on.
While I didn't like the way Sky used the girls to make Sun jealous, I also couldn't believe that they never picked up on Sun and Sky's attraction to each other nor did they get the hint when Sun always shot down the advances. I mean, come on, if a guy is into you, he'd be thrilled at how much you touch him and cling to him but he always had to pry her hands off him... was that not obvious enough? I'm glad that all they did was cry when Sun and Sky announced their relationship because if the girls had gotten pissed or wanted to cut ties with them because of it, the rating would have gone down more for me. I'm glad they were all friends still in the end and can be mature about it.
Which is more than I could say for Father... seriously.. as if the boys' actions of putting the others' life before their own was not a testament of their sincerity, he makes them live apart for 6 years and waste precious time together? So silly.
Anyway, overall I thought it was an enjoyable watch and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a series with a progressive, interesting plot that doesn't require too much brain power.
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So much going on without anything actually happening.
While I wouldn't say this was bad, it really lacked in a lot of ways for me.This was all over the place as far as storyline, as if the writer or director or someone just couldn't decide on what story did they want to tell. Was it a university drama? Was it a countryside drama? Was it a rich boy/poor boy drama? Was it a workplace drama? Was it a winning-over-an-opposing-parent drama? No one knows because this series had ALL of that at some point.
And that's all just withing the main couple. Then there are secondary couples that tackle secret crushes, questioning sexual identity, using someone to get closer to someone else, violence rumors, school bullying and the list goes on and on and on..
Yet, with all of this going on, there seemed to be a serious lack of development between the couples / characters. It played almost more like a sit com where every episode was a standalone thing and there MAY be a hint or undertone of slight progression of relationships. But the constant change of story direction made it hard to get invested in which is unfortunate because they could have had a solid series if they just focused on one thing and did it well.
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Entertaining watch
I honestly don't understand all the hate this series gets. It was highly entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery aspect of it in the search for Enchanté's identity. It filled the time of the series really well (especially since we already know who Theo is going to end up with anyway) by creating the drama somewhere else rather than constantly throwing things at the MC like other dramas do. Yes there was a little bit of potential crushes looking to get with Theo but I personally liked how all the 4 Enchanté's had different reasons for claiming to be him.The fact that Akk was willing to help, despite his surfacing feelings for Theo, also made us wonder if perhaps Akk was in fact Enchanté and hoping to prove to Theo that he was there all along. It helps showcase the care and investment Theo and Akk have in each other while teaming up to solve the mystery while also realizing their feelings along the way. And, personally, I didn't see a hint of it coming when they finally revealed who the real Enchanté was. I was even going so far as to guess it could be his father trying to anonymously befriend him to sway his feelings on trying to keep the literature program going. (Spoiler alert: it's not the father.)
I thought the acting was well done, especially by the supporting cast. I felt like everyone bounced off each other really well and all the clashes of personalities and motives made for an entertaining watch. In truth, I think they probably could have gone on with the different stories from all 4 Enchanté's a little longer, which is rare for me. Normally, I'm thinking a series could have been a lot shorter because most of the "filler" is unnecessary or boring or repetitive or a combination thereof. But here, I was so curious in all of their reasons and would have been just as happy to see more of it explained. I feel like out of the 4, Saifa got the least amount of explanation but it kind of makes sense once you find out his involvement.
(Can you tell I'm trying really hard not to say who Enchanté is?)
Speaking of which, I would suggest, if possible, watch the series without finding out who Enchanté beforehand. I admit, normally I am one to check spoilers and such but with this series, I managed to hold myself off and I think that really lent itself to the enjoyment of the watch. That being said, I'm actually looking forward to watching this series again in the near future to see if I can spot extra hints, now knowing what I know.
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The rare case of misunderstanding done right
Normally when the main obstacle for the couple is miscommunication or misunderstanding, I spend the entire series internally screaming at them to just talk already.But at least in this series, there was a reason for Namnuea to feel torn about Lom's flirting with him when Lom is supposed to be getting married; there was also a reason for Lom to keep the truth hidden as it meant protecting Yiwa's secret from her parents. As much as we, the viewers, want them to clear the air, there was reasons to keep their true feelings hidden and I felt like it really worked in this series.
It's interesting how, when there's a well written story for the MC, there isn't as much of a need for a secondary couple. I didn't miss the constant change of pace when looking at one couple then the other as they tend to have very different experiences. There were other couples in this series but they were already established and firmly in their relationships with pretty mild drama. I think it also helped that the series was only 7 episodes long as they didn't need to fill in time with unnecessary BSing.
I don't know how Me Mind does it but they tend to have great luck with relatively newcomer actors who are actually really good, considering. Their production quality is always really good too, whether it has a strong story/plot or not. It adds to the overall quality which makes for an enjoyable watch. I know a lot of people have issues with MAME stories but I personally find them entertaining and consistent with the acting and production.
I would definitely recommend this series. I hope more series take notes from this to show how you can still have misunderstandings but make them less annoying/frustrating to sit through.
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Misleading from the very beginning.
I won't say this series was bad but it certainly wasn't great. For the most part, I was confused and getting whiplash from all the different plot points they were trying to throw into a 10 episode series which really did not flow well together. And there were a lot of choices made that didn't feel like it would fit the character, whether it was a good or bad choice. The whole thing was just misleading from the get-go.Let's start with the first impression aspects: The movie poster and the synopsis. The dark, night-time city look of the poster gives off a dark, serious vibe akin to Big Dragon or KinnPorsche but the series was anything but serious or dark. The synopsis makes it sound like Dino is a bully type who stalks his prey when in reality, he was the nice guy protector to counter Rak's "helpless boy" type.
But even that didn't make sense because, actually, Rak was very vocal about his boundaries and his limits. If there's one thing I will say this series did right it was that Rak actually stood up for himself, at least verbally if not physically. He said "no" to the ex, he cut off the best friend after he found out about them, he set boundaries for them as well as himself when he continuously stood his ground in telling Dino "I'm not ready." And this kind of became important when Dino was clearly trying to get intimate and Rak was having flashbacks to the ex forcing himself on him. But this time, when he tells Dino to wait, he listens, unlike the ex. It's pivotal in how Rak sees Dino and it shows that Dino respects Rak and his boundaries.
All that being said, I couldn't help but feel bad for Pepper in this role. I mean, he is a great actor and they paired him with someone who was.. well, not. I don't know if it was a director's thing or Kong's attempt as seeming insecure or if it was Kong himself, but his constant looking off to the side as if he's looking at a camera or crew member off screen was breaking the fourth wall, and not in the "funny because it was intentional" way. It made me think Kong was uncomfortable himself instead of it being a Rak, as the character, trait.
The entire cast, in fact, seemed to be a mixture of highly seasoned actors or the very basic first-timers with little in-between. The cameos made zero sense whatsoever and felt like they were just introduced for shits and giggles. Much like many of the short-lived storylines that were introduced for the drama then completely forgotten without much of a resolution. It felt like a young teenager, at best, wrote this with all the experience a teenage has with life and relationships.
I will say, the best cameo and character in this entire series was Pepper's tongue. Whenever it made an appearance, the show got 10x better each time. It was almost enough to make one ignore how obvious the difference was in experience between Pepper and Kong, and not just in acting.
It was clever, though, how they gave a bit of an intro to the other Buddy Line stories at the end because, at least for me, it made me curious how their stories would go. I just hope they get to work opposite actors that fit them better than Dino and Rak did.
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This series has everything
I was not expecting to like this show as much as I did but it was truly fantastic. It was funny, sad, frustrating, satisfying, goofy and serious all in one. As someone who started watching Eastern series because of BL, I had put this one off for a long time since it's not BL. But honestly, I should have watched it sooner for how great it was.There were so many great elements to it that didn't even include the abundance of skinship of hot men dancing and grinding. Actually, besides the fact that they are hosts in an adult bar, there wasn't much about the show that I would consider 18+ besides some colorful language. Even the romance aspect with the different couples don't get more than one, maybe two kisses in and that's it. But if stripping men make you uncomfortable then sure, there's quite a bit of that. I wasn't a fan of Magic Mike but I did like this and didn't feel uncomfortable during those dancing for money bits.
There is a lot of second-hand embarrassment in this as the guys figure things out and get their footing as well as a lot of cringe-worthy moments (Mostly from Kampan) however it becomes quite obvious really early on that it is intentional and it's meant to add a lighthearted and silly tone to the show. Kampan's cheesiness in particular was over the top and sometimes ridiculous but it still somehow worked and I absolutely loved how Earth played the role. It just did camp and obnoxious so well, I was surprised at how different it was from other shows I've seen him in. And when he and Tina team up and have screentime together, I liken them to Izma and Kronk from Emperor's New Groove with how much comedic chemistry they had.
I found that in general, all the actors played their roles well. Everyone has such different personalities that it added a lot of depth and substance to the show. Probably the only character I was tempted to fast forward through was Fifa because i just hate whiny, bratty teenagers who disrespect their parents. Although, I kinda get it because we've seen her mom say multiple times to her daughter's face that "my life would have been so much better if I didn't have you" and that shit stings. She mellows out a bit when she's wth Mikhael though so it gets better. And Mikhael is so stinkin' cute and adorkable that I was rooting for their happiness anyway.
And Chen is relationship goals, that's all I can say. He's the most lovable cockroach (you'll get it soon enough) I have ever seen.
Last but not least, Annie is such an interesting protagonist... she's not a good person by any means yet you can't help but root for her. We see her character grow over the course of the series and ultimately get her act together but it is a long, winding and bumpy road with more than a couple of detours along the way. She's an interesting puzzle because, while she helps out her boys and tries to do right by her daughter, she is still very self-centered and thinks the world revolves around her pretty much right up until the second half of the final episode. And, while some of the resolutions seem a bit sudden, I do like that all loose ends get tied off and there's not a single aspect that is left as a question mark.
The ONLY thing I wish we had gotten was a dance battle between the ex husband and Chen...
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Deserves more recognition..
..although I understand that part of that is due to the fact this series is pretty hard to find, at least on official websites. Even the ones on youTube are a cut version that is missing a lot of key parts. When each episode should be just over an hour and the cut version is 45-48min each, that's quite a bit left out.And the thing with this series is that every moment has purpose. There was no unnecessary filler or drawn out drama.. the story moved along and anything you see is crucial in understanding what is going on. It made for a slow burn as far as the romance was concerned but I didn't mind it in this case since the story was intriguing and engaging enough on its own. And, really, it made the moment they finally got together that much sweeter in my opinion.
I also liked how there was really no villain in this story. Everyone has their pros and cons and most have made mistakes that they regret. I was actually really happy that they showed the consequences of bringing your child up with certain beliefs in the character of Nuan. Her parents put pressure on her to marry and carry on the family name and, while they passed away thinking it wasn't as important anymore, Nuan was stuck with that mindset because they never told her otherwise. The series also showed how keeping secrets, thinking it's less cruel than knowing the truth, can lead to further misunderstandings and overthinking. It was a bit extreme in this case, with Phob essentially committing suicide because everything was going wrong from what he saw, but still it is a very poignant message that communication is important, even if the truth isn't pretty.
I found the acting hit and miss throughout the series though the two mains (Nut and Plan) did a great job in my opinion. A series like this that has some light-hearted funny moments woven into the more serious nature can sometimes be hard to pull off and seem disjointed but I thought they did a great job with it here. Part of that is the writing which flowed nicely and carried out well by the actors.
One sequence that really stood out to me is when Ben's play is going on and it switches from what's being shown on stage to the actual memory of what really happened. I thought the visuals and use of the stage lighting worked well in communicating which was the play and which was the memory. Especially with the fact that you have Nut playing Phob who is supposedly being portrayed by Win in the play but as Phob is watching from the audience, he sees himself in the character on stage. I know it sounds confusing but trust me, it worked.
This is one of those series that I feel bad for seeing as it doesn't have the same kind of reach as other ones but it definitely deserves a watch. I think it even has re-watch value in the sense that once you know what's going to happen, you can go back and look for hints and foreshadowing.
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Mixed feelings
Let me start off by saying this was a fantastic story and there were so many things I loved about it. But it really did drag on with a lot of repetition for a 14 episode series.The main reason I'm torn is because I loved how there wasn't any unnecessary drama (love rivals, jealous ex's, homophobia, misunderstandings, etc). But when a show doesn't have any of those components, I can see how it could feel slow and uneventful. There were so many episodes where I felt like there was little to no progression in the storyline. The first half while they were in high school, it was basically Eiw pining for Cake while Cake was oblivious. Then the second half was Cake being jealous of anyone who comes near Eiw and Eiw being oblivious.
There were so many great moments during the "slow parts" though which had me feeling all the feels. Like, Eiw's realization of how he loves Cake more than a friend/brother and his struggle to accept himself, thinking he's abnormal. Then all the moments between the siblings were so heartwarming, especially in the last couple of episodes. I feel like all the relationships in the series, whether they were romantic, family or friends, were really well portrayed and developed, especially with the lack of "exciting drama."
Santa really blew me away in this series. I was surprised to find out how young he really is after watching this. He really conveyed every thought and emotion so well and it was hard to look at anyone else whenever he was on screen. I love Earth and have liked everything I've seen him in so far though I feel like he tends to play the same type of character every time. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing but I would just hate for him to get type-cast because I believe he's more capable than that.
Overall, this was an enjoyable watch and, while I may not keep it in the constant rotation, I could see watching it again at some point in the future and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
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Better than I remembered
I watched this a while back and I think I saw it right around the same time as KinnPorsche. That, unfortunately, didn't work in this series' favor as, out of the two, I personally think KP was a better production overall.However, after watching this again, it's actually so much better than I remembered. As it's own story, without comparing it to anything else, this is actually quite good.
I don't want to say Unforgotten Night is "more simple," because it is certainly complex in its own way, but it didn't have as many plot points trying to war with each other like KP did. It was very straight forward and the storyline flowed together with progression pretty well.
One of the gripes I remember having with this series the first time around was the chemistry between the MC. I felt like, for a story that is supposed to be centered around instant love and obsession and melding of preferences, it lacked that aspect upon first watch. This time, however, I realized that the version I had seen previously was a cut version where they didn't show much of the intimacy or full version of the NC scenes and boy, does it make a difference. I mean, come on, if you don't know what you are getting into just by the movie poster and synopsis, then you are not paying enough attention. It didn't make sense to skimp on the smut so might as well enjoy it.
I liked that the main couple was the focus throughout which helped understand the characters better. There was enough of the mafia element to add the suspense without becoming stereotypical and there was enough intrigue with the supporting characters to keep things moving along. There was sort of a secondary couple but they didn't force too much time on them to make it awkward and left it open in a way to make us wonder will they or wont they.
I thought the acting was slightly above average though there were a few times I was like "okay, that was a little cringe." But there weren't awkward pauses or people standing around waiting for the next line and felt like a lot of it was reactionary as it should be. Yoon did a great job in keeping his stoic persona and when his emotions threatened to overtake, you could see the struggle he has to keep them at bay. Cherry was an interesting character where you love her one moment and hate her the next. I thought her arc was just as meaningful and went hand in hand along with the MC well.
And last but certainly not least, the lack of miscommunications and misunderstandings is a friggin breath of fresh air. Actually, the communication between the MC is bang on right from the start where they clearly state what they want and what they are looking for and go along accordingly. There were no hidden motives, no catfishing, none of that stuff and yet they still had an interesting story that made me hit the "next episode" button every time. There needs to be more shows like this where they can have dramatic storylines without the "silly drama," if that makes sense.
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Another classic case of "don't listen to reviews and form your own opinion."
I came across this series a while ago when YT suggested it. After reading a lot of the reviews here, I put it off and put it off though still kept it in my "to watch" list because it was short and I figured if there was a night where I wanted a quick, low mental investment series, then I could pull this one out.Well, last night was that night, and I have to say, I should have watched this sooner. The reviews for this series are unnecessarily brutal and, while it certainly isn't the best series I've ever seen, it sure as heck isn't the worst.
Was the acting great? Not exactly. Was the story original? Not in the slightest. Were there any groundbreaking moments that stood out at all? Honestly.. not even close.
But was it an enjoyable watch that met my incredibly low expectations of being entertained for 5 hours? Yes. Yes it was.
I also personally liked how the ending was left somewhat open: you don't know where Play and First will end up in either their relationship or their careers. But it does hint that they get their priorities on the same page of wanting to put their relationship first.
Even if the acting left something to be desired, the MC chemistry was actually really good and palpable. Some of the side characters were a bit annoying to me but I guess it was the series attempt at comedy to balance out the more emotional side. Plus I think some things got lost in translation because the subtitles didn't always make sense but you can get the gist.
Honestly, if you're looking for something cute and not too deep or intense, I'd suggest giving this series a try. Again, it's all about expectations and not holding the series responsible for what someone thought it should be.
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Do not watch when you're hungry...
Honestly, this show (along with other recent BL shows that featured food as a major plot point) makes me want to learn more about cooking in general. Every single thing they made looked delicious and I especially liked how they tied it into the story here. The idea of traveling the world through food is fun, different and challenging, especially when it requires ingredients that are not native to where you live. And the fact that Sota was doing this to honor his grandmother made it particularly sweet.The smaller stories within the overall plot were nothing new.. office worker bored with his day to day, a coworker with a crush, the MC having a link to each other via past school life and unrequited love. What I liked was that Sota wasn't against being attracted to a man but rather he was confused because it had never happened before. I don't know how old he is supposed to be in the story but sexual awakenings can happen at any point and I liked that he wasn't just fighting against it because it was a man.
They had a lot of cute moments together though the parts that were meant to feel more intimate felt a bit flat to me. And the one kiss you get (if it can even be considered a kiss) was so anticlimactic.
But besides that, I enjoyed the series very much and would suggest it to anyone who enjoys BLs on the lighter, cutesy side of things.
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We Best Love: The Runner-Up Strikes Back
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Highly recommend!
To start off, let me just say right off the bat that this review is for both We Best Love: No. 1 For You and We Best Love: Fighting Mr. 2nd. Partially because I binge watched both back-to-back without stopping to write a review but also because it's practically impossible to separate the two once both have been seen. Some of that is due to the flashbacks and reminders in season 2 but also all the references and mentions of things that happened in the past, the series were clearly made with 2 parts in mind. When the first one leaves off with such an open-ended cliffhanger like that, there's no way they were ever considering ending it like that. And if they did, they would have had so much backlash.Anyway....
As a whole, the series was very good. I thought it would be a quick watch, seeing as each season is only 6 episodes at 30min a piece. But each episode is so packed with content and things going on that were actually relevant that a 6 hour watch-a-thon felt like 2 days of non-stop watching. I'm not complaining, as I enjoyed every second of it... but I didn't realize how much of a mental break it is when a series is lighter and longer with fluff filler that seems so superficial. It makes watching a series with substance so much more fulfilling.
Speaking of which, I can't remember the last series I watched where I felt as empty and sad that it was over than I felt after watching this. I just didn't want it to end.
The pacing was really well done though there is that weird peek into the future at the end of season 1 that causes the whole tension for the beginning of season 2. Admittedly, I was watching season 2 thinking "the misunderstanding better not last for the whole season" and thankfully, it was somewhat cleared up by episode 3. I hate when series have misunderstandings to begin with, let alone using it as the main conflict for an entire run of a show. Thankfully, that didn't happen here. The only thing that never really gets cleared up is who the girl with the child were though it's clear to assume it is She De's half brother and step-sister from the mother's new marriage. I mean, we find out that the mom was pregnant when they arrived which would mean by the time Shu Yi went to the US, the child would have been just over a year old.
I enjoyed the transition from University life to the working world to see their growth as individuals apart from the relationship. Even the supporting cast was great to see in a different light. I almost didn't recognize Zhe Yu and Bing Wei at first but then was happy to see they were still hanging around Shu Yi, even in a professional manner. I thought all the actors portrayed their characters well though I was really impressed with Shih Chih Tian as Zhen Xuan. It is extremely hard to portray an affective disorder without being over the top with it but I thought he did a great job with little nuances and ticks that showcased his struggle with it all.
Some reviews I'd read thought a chunk of the intimacy (mostly in season 2) was unhinged and messy but I personally didn't feel that. I can only assume they are referring to when Shi De was drunk and it looked like he didn't know what to do with his hands. It may seem sloppy on the surface but, at least for me, it is pure and real and passionate. A good portrayal of wanting to cherish but also wanting to devour the guy that got away 5 years ago and you finally managed to have within arms length, even if you are three sheets to the wind.
Not only would I recommend this series but I would watch it over and over again; it was just that good. It's also one of those series that once you know the ending, you'll want to watch it again to see if there were any hints or foreshadowing.
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Dear Doctor, I’m Coming For Your Soul
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Have the tissues handy..
From the synopsis, it's pretty obvious this series would be an emotional roller coaster. However, when I managed to get to episode 8 without any tears, I thought I might just make it. Then episode 9 hits and it's nothing but the pulling of heartstrings in both happy and sad ways till the very end.The story was well done from start to finish with no real unnecessary filler or plot points that barely make sense. There were a few storylines that were suddenly introduced out of nowhere and then resolved just as quickly that had me wondering if I missed something being mentioned earlier. But as long as the issue was resolved and not just introduced to create tension between the MC, I can overlook the randomness.
The acting/chemistry between the MC was fantastic and, while it is a slow burn, there are clear traces of it as it develops and blooms over time. The connections between them made sense and wasn't an overkill of coincidences which these kinds of stories could quickly turn into. The secondary couples were okay though it felt forced to me. Especially between Nathee and Keeta.. there was zero chemistry there in my opinion. It even had me wondering if Tae was at all comfortable playing the role in the first place.
I've heard some people compare this with Triage, especially since both series came out the same year. But besides being about doctors and having a more serious tone than a light-hearted BL, they had absolutely nothing in common and I don't know why one is even brought up whenever the other is. That's like comparing something like Cutie Pie and SOTUS just because the main character is a University engineering student. Or really any University BL, for that matter, which there are a lot of.
I believe this is definitely worth a watch. If I had to give any heads up, I'd say take it for what it is and don't overthink the ending. Sometimes, open ended isn't so horrible and I feel like it works well here.
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