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ryoato
Sisheng Peak
The Lighter and the Princess' Gown
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romanticizing toxic relationship for 36 episodes!!
I was rooting for this drama to be good, namely because Arthur Chen is in it. His other projects aren’t watchable for me as I’m waiting for Immortality… but for now I will watch this drama and take my crumbs here and there.At first the drama was good, then good enough, and now it’s getting hard to watch. Simply because it is too long of a show for the narrative it has. And it’s a shame, because with the story it had potential.
One of the main things that really sends it home is that the main characters aren’t like able. Li Xun, played by Arthur Chen, has a lot of problems and acts rashly and behaves horribly to others around him without any conveniences. And the whole reason why? Well .. there is no explanation. You get half an episode (20 minutes) on his background to explain why he is closed off.. meanwhile you get full few episodes for plot points that don’t advance the story along at all. As for the story it’s hard to tell what it is, but it should’ve been wrapped up sooner.
The whole thing with their coding is hard to watch and boring because I know how coding works. I code, and they language they use may not be the same I do, but the story around the coding isn’t working. Arthur Chen is just good at is, there was no build up or reason why, and Zhu Yun is even worse. He keeps her by her side and she never has a chance to show her being good, she just picks up where he left off etc.
The show is pretty at times, but other than face value it isn’t great. The tonal shifts are so jarring, I don’t know why C-Dramas do this thing where the dynamic between the leads is so toxic but they play it off as charming. Li Xun is not charming, realistically no one would respect him with the way he is acting even if he is good at coding.. he’s got pretty privileged.
Now the kicker for me is the part I’m at where they just now introduce a childhood friend of Zhu Yin’s that took her own life.. and it’s tone deaf. It’s weird to me because they have a character that clearly has things to explain about his upbringing, but Zhu Yun- who has never had any moments building up or any recalling of this friend .. suddenly remembers? She is triggered for the sake of more episodes and I’d be fine with it if they didn’t have Li Xun’s character where they could have time to develop him. And at this point the drama is offensive when she tells another new character that he killed the girl, meanwhile mental issues like that shouldn’t be solely put on one person to blame, she is immature for that and I don’t like her for that. That behavior is so wrong and should’nt be portrayed as righteous. The guy who she pins it on wasn’t perfect, but you never blame someone for anyone’s death unless it’s murder. Mental issues are horribly misunderstood and it’s shameful.
I don’t hate the drama though. I just have issues with it because I’m sick of waiting for Arthur Chen’s Immortality to release because he put a lot of work into that also. This drama for him is on, he gets time to shine and recognition. Other than watching it for him I don’t recommend. Maybe for the hater to lover trope.. honestly watch something else for that. This is taking too long for these two and it can be over shorter and written better overall.
… update… they really are not having any redemption for this drama here. I am really at odds with all the amazing 10/10 reviews.
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A not bad but very good drama
Admist the title, I know that it has its purpose.The first episode I've seen sets up the story very well. So far it provokes so many feelings and it's hard to truly find anything wrong with it so far. Lee Do Hyun is an amazing actor and is the main reason I am watching this, I find the man has no faults and is a pure soul, I support him in everything he does.. so this drama is the same for me. Although I won't be shy to point out its faults.
What I like about this drama is the setup, as that is all there is for the first episode. The characters are fully effected by the setup that has been done, and that leaves Lee Do Hyun's character, Kang Ho, resentful towards his mother for treating him harshly. There is no gaps as to why she treated him as such, she kept her husbands life work and wants more for her son. It is pretty straightforward but the acting is done so well that you don't need solid explanations that are in your face. So Kang Ho is incredibly resentful, and he fulfills her wishes, but there seems to be a twist. I like the cliffhangers at the end and its just interesting to me.
The characters are likable, but gladly they are human and have faults. Lee Mi Joo might be a sore spot for this drama, but she has her own backstory with her family that I hope she isn't fully put into a girlfriend spot, or someone that just liked Kang Ho. As of now they have had their time together, and I think she is a good friend to Kang Ho, who hasn't really got to make any friends of his own. She is interested in him because she was young and they shared the same birthday, sort of a hopeless romantic like they share some fate together. It is child-like, but I can see a more adult relationship between the two of them as the story really unfolds.
Unfortanely I am iffy about their relationship and the closure that comes to it. I don't like Mi Joo for lying about her kids not being his, I think he deserved to know. I think she is immature and their relationship is immature. I don't know Kang Ho that well other than himself being in his injured state. I think the drama spent too much time with him like that. I understood that it was to show him and his growth with his mother, but not a lot of that happened while his mind was all there and that frustrates me. The plot with the legal stuff moved too fast because of this. I liked the comedy, but at times I was feeling it was out of touch at times.
The revenge plot fell flat entirely, but I don't believe that is what this drama was going for.
With Kang Ho being left in the state he is after his accident, it is both touching and heartbreaking. The main selling point of this show is the mother and son relationship- I won’t pick it apart as I could for a while.. it’s just really good and wouldn’t be able to be that way with bad writing- and acting. So the acting is amazing (as expected). What I again see as a sore spot is Mi Joo and Kang Ho developing a romantic relationship. With things as they are I don’t see it being ok because Kang Ho is really underdeveloped mentally atm. I hope and pray to god it stays on the route it is going, that being mother and son relationship growth over any romance.
Again. What was there I wasn't too fond of.
Finishing up this drama I can confidently say that the highlight is the mother/son relationship. I also give the drama credit for going through with the storyline of Young Soon having cancer. Still I think it was dumb for that to come up, to me it was to give Kang Ho a reason to 'grow up'. I wanted to see them truly reconcile and see their relationship as mother and son more while he was an adult.
This drama did drag at times and there were unnecessary parts. It's no masterpiece or anything, but there are glimpses here and there.
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The High Priest Rembrary
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the dumbest kdrama I have ever watched
I’ve anticipated this drama since I heard Kim Min Gue would be playing the male lead. So far this drama is very funny and I’m enjoying it.The fish out of water story can either go right or wrong for me. And with the approach being more of a comedy than anything else I’m really enjoying that. I need a good feel good drama that isn’t taking itself too seriously and with the first two episodes it does that. This drama isn’t anything too spectacular, not saying it can’t though.
The thing I don’t like is the female leads character Kim Dal. She is kind of a sasaeng with the following of this male idol. I don’t really buy into the romance if there is one between the two. It’s sort of hinted but I don’t think I’d like it and it wouldn’t make sense since this guy is completely different than the idol she’s been well.. idolizing. Hopefully she’s more of a helper than a lover. This guy so far is the least interested in the world he’s put in so I really hope they don’t get together like that.
The whole backstory of her character is iffy for me.. hopefully they don’t make it offensive but there is only so much I can say. I don’t buy into the whole idea of a romance forming, that makes this show more dumb. I don’t like how she hinders his success by telling him what to do, it’s her image of the perfect idol. Instead I wish the show would do more of the fish out of water, but in all honesty I think that mind wear itself thin. I like the content of him going about idol life but doing it in his own unaware way. Kim Dal sucks the fun out of that, and overall sucks the fun from this drama. That’s how it is for me at least.
I haven’t read the webtoon so this is coming from that sort of perspective.
Kim Min Gue does a really good job with his role(s). The concept of him being some heavenly figure being put into the real world is working now because of the reactions of other people. It’s hilarious this guy Rembrary working his way around not only being a guy in the real world but an idol that is expected to be someone he just isn’t. I like his nonchalant attitude and how he doesn’t at all know the concept of the idol and also many things about the human world. And that’s the most interesting part for me. So if this drama keeps up with these funny scenarios I’d really like it all the way through.
The whole plot is so out there so I wish that the writing went all the way with that. Sometimes it takes itself too seriously and that’s when I start to get really bored. I REALLY don’t want a romance from this drama with the two leads but I guess I’m expecting it. The plot with the devil is so boring. Shows can be engaging in all parts of it, this show isn’t engaging with its subplots. I want more of the idol doing promotions, etc. and the reactions of other characters to that. I don’t need devil plot being shown as much as it is because I don’t understand it nor care because I do not understand it. It’s one dimensional villian and I’m not watching this show for that much cheap tension. I’m watching because of the over the top plot.. maybe I should watch Welcome to Waikiki instead ..
Let me emphasize. That if the plot is stupid, at least be funny. It is a funny show without the whole ‘other world’ plot. The female lead kills the fun, it’s just getting old after each episode with her draining and draining.
The whole plot threads about self hate and suicide or so wrongly interpreted. Especially when you have the ‘devil’ giving a character depression.. the representation there is used as a plot device and I find it offensive how it’s done. I hate the Rizzle sub plot, I hate the devil sun plot, I hate the other world sub plot, the cult, I only like the idol fun happy things going on because that’s why I started the show in the first place. The mental illnesses aren’t treated like that
, they are to move the plot along and are cheap ways to try and get sympathy.
Down to the whole idol life it gets dull. The interesting one was the singing competition and after that it became unbelievably unrealistic yet so cheap and unoriginal. Especially the awards show, there was hardly any build up and it just seemed to happen all at once.
I’m really impressed by the other idol characters and the writing there with them. The dorm life scenes are fun and his members also play off this new character really well. I can put myself in their perspective because the writing is done with me knowing that they all were a group with the real Woo Yeon Woo.
Each episode takes more and more years off my life. This drama is just plain stupid. I can’t :(
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Refreshing like a watermelon on a hot day
Here is a drama that is about youth, coming of age, with hints of romance. Overall the whole feel to this drama is nostalgic and friendly, tragic sometimes, happy sometimes, it gives a lot with just the first two episodes alone.The first twenty minutes of this drama is really good. The chronology of events are easy to follow, and I personally love how they had the childhood backstory at the beginning. It is a smart way to get you to know your characters upbringing, and you will understand them better because of this. The child actors are amazing and for the most part none of the actors I have a problem with.
Ryeon gives an amazing performance, and his parents and brother have hearing loss so the communication between all of them is nice to see. I like to see how they adapt to their circumstances, and how it holds them back, etc. Ryeon's character Eun Gyeol has a lot of depth to him, and it is a hard character to fill. He acts as a bridge between hearing and silence, a communicator and a 'trophy' for his family. He is a very good son and doesn't put himself first other than his music. So that right there is a well written character/family.
The pairings and relationships between characters are where this drama shines. I loved all of them and was looking forward to each episode to see how the characters grew. I can tell they had fun filming and everyone really cared for the roles they were in, so when watching it didn’t feel like roles, everything felt natural.
For Seol in Ah and Ryeon The chemistry between the two is so fun and credit to Seol In Ah, she really is good at differentiating her roles here. It’s really fun to see her character develop. She seems at first to be arrogant and not caring about how she affects others around her, but she is actually very perceptive and has tragedies that shape her to who she was, and she also grows as a person through the drama and her journey. I am finding her to be one of my favorites if not my favorite character.
These plot lines of time travel are tricky but very interesting. Because in the end it is about growing and learning about characters, rather than them shaping their own fates. Maybe Gyeol's future will change because of this. The logic is confusing with this, that is ok thought because it is a drama and its just fun.
As the plot developed those stories and characters become more clear, personally I am rooting for the parents to get together (as I’m sure we all are). I love how this drama just gets better and better with each episode.
This drama really was a gem out of all the dramas I have seen this year. The amount of care and learning that went behind the roles particularly amaze me. I enjoyed this a lot and it is one of those I would recommend to anyone honestly.
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all my senses tell me I'm attracted to you
Let me just say. This drama feels more like a film project than a kdrama, and that is all meant in the best way.
I can't emphasize enough just how aesthetically pleasing this show is. The cinematography right off the bat is stellar, this drama simply isn't shot like any other k drama. It is done in a way that emphasizes scenes to be more intimate, intense, vulnerable, etc. With two episodes alone, and even with a first few seconds to the opening alone I can tell how every scene, every look, every thing is intentional in this drama. All the way around this drama is impressive because of that. I feel a lot of time and care because of how good the cinematography is, it feels intentional and that because the scenes and camera shots are.
For example of these scenes where it really shines is the shower scene, the changing room scene... I would get into them but I could go on and on all day.
This is just me telling you I feel bad for you if you don't watch this drama. It came out of no where it seems but it has a great start to it.
The acting is done so well and feels natural. The chemistry is so intense that I find myself holding my breath with most scenes between the two leads. Especially from the freshman, Ji Hyun. This is his first drama and he fits this role so well that I am watching without telling myself it is acting. It feels so natural and real, and Jae Won is the same. I can tell they both are attracted to each other, and I will see how they get together....... there is a lot I'm anticipating for this drama...
This is just a short and sweet review telling people to watch. This show I don't see as a BL, meaning to me it doesn't have the tropes and isn't selling itself out just because it is two males who will be together. This drama is like any other and is honestly better than most long k dramas I've seen. I don't even know what genre to call this other than excellent.
Let me just talk about the shower scene to emphasize how well done this show is:
So it is Jae Won's attraction that tells him to go. He isn't aware exactly what kind it is yet, but he wants Ji Hyun to shower with him and it gets across why pretty clearly.
The fact he tells Ji Hyun to come over tells me he is growing aware of how different his feelings are for him at this point. He tells Ji Hyun what is he going to do in the military if he is shy between them. To him they are both men, but also Jae Won just got out of the military. He just got done having no problem showering with other men, but now with Ji Hyun there is a problem. As soon as he realizes this he just leaves, and I found it so interesting because he was acting so confident before.. when he wasn't. I really thought the idea of him bringing up the military was so brilliant because it tells several things at once, it's efficient. That is why this drama doesn't drag on right now. It doesn't have to tell you in your face that Jae Won is curious and is getting confused about his feelings for Ji Hyun, because you feel them with him.
You are confused to why he would leave and can pick up on the fact that he is sort of being a hypocrite as he has been in the same positions like showering with others before. He is calling out himself really like he's trying to deny it.
I also really liked the scene of them walking across the shoreline together. Ji Hyun matched his steps with Jae Won's and that shows he pays attention to him and again begs the question why? It is curiosity I wonder how far that curiosity will take the both of them.
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Now to sum it up... I really need a continuation of this story. It is amazing as a standalone, but there is so much potential that has been set up in this season that can be continued upon. I think the creators are aware of the demand and am anticipating any continuation from them and everyone involved.
Watch this show as a melancholic romance. It has mellow vibes and isn't campy, but it has its fun moments. It isn't over satirized on one way or the other. It's realistic, moving, thought provoking, and smart.
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The Circumstances of Pungdeok Villa Room 304
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best haters to lovers trope done so far
Within the realm of BL I understand the tropes and have seen them all before. Not saying they are bad, I enjoy them a lot actually. But this drama is just refreshing for the drama.Korea is putting out a lot of BL’s.. a lot that which completely blow past me. I’ve been looking forward to this one since Kissable Lips. And I was right when I said that the leads were good actors and that it was unfortunate they didn’t have the script of budget to back them up. Now that they do- wow- it is good.. maybe amazing… we will see.
I love the approach with the power dynamics between the two leads. They each have their ways to one up each other and that leads to a lot of comedic moments. More than that it’s the charm coming from the actors themselves. Jo Ho Joon could just be your grade A jerk if Kim Ji Wong didn’t play his character with the finesse he does. He balances the line of being a complete arrogant jerk, to self aware and charming in a way. Needless to say I love his character and the over the top way his attitude is shown. He is a brat, a rich guy, he knows he’s hot, and I love it. Can’t really put it into perfect words…. but it is done well enough .. so good that he’s my favorite character for it.
I’m proud of Kim Ji Wong and Yoon Seo Bin for this drama. The budget is higher and they keep up with the script. Their characters are much older than the last ones they played and their characters also have so much more lively things to do and say. That means that the actors are expressive here and we’re truly limited in their last drama. Absolutely no hate to Kissable Lips; that was a dream come true for me to watch- this one is even better than that- it’s a million times better
The story is easy to follow and this show is hilarious. It’s entertaining and I’m glad that Korean BL’s are being treated more respectfully. Hoping for a day that we will see a full length Korean drama that’s a BL. This one feels exactly like a k-drama, it’s not tropey either. If I didn’t know that the two leads were going to get together I might just be pleasantly surprised. It’s fresh, witty, worth your time. One of those dramas I’d feel like someone was missing out on if they didn’t see it.
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I want and NEED more of this
The thing that gets to me about Semantic Error is that it treats its premise in a way that is fun, and not taken too seriously. The drama is based off a webtoon and I’ve seen dramas fail when trying to adapt the plot from that to a show. Semantic Error succeeds in so many ways and keeps everything it needs to to make sense.I understand the chemistry, the acting is phoenomanal and coming from a BL when comparing to a full sized drama, the effor the actors puts in needs to be recognized. I wish BLs’ could be longer, but as for now we only get 8 episodes. Every moment I’m enjoying, and I want more honestly but beggars can’t be choosers.
To sun it up, the chemistry is there, the story is easy and fun to follow, and most importantly the drama isn’t upsetting and makes sense. The motives of the characters whether petty or not are adorable, and the profession of the relationship is well paced out.
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More than meets the eye. Success can come from small places.
Overall this show is good and a step up above most C-Drama's I've seen. I really like how easy the story is to pick up on because it isn't too intense. This show so far is handling it's comedy/relationships very well. I've seen only a handful of episodes but I didn't see a review and figured that I'll share the main points that could help recommend this to others.The main female lead is very likable as she's ambitious and a hard worker. She also has this adorable quirk of pushing her glasses up on her nose. The main male lead is played by Kenny Lin and he does an amazing job at balancing arrogance with charm peaking through. He is perfect for the personality he is portraying and looks very good in a suit. I can't wait to see the dynamic between the two leads be more fleshed out. This show is perfect for an easy lighthearted watch without forced fluff and romance.
Now finishing up the show I am truly impressed. The writing of the female lead was done so well, Ning Meng is very strong and never once had been swayed by her feelings. She is loyal to her family and has really good morals, watching episode 29 hearing Ji Ming compliment her personality really made me happy. She is recognized by him and always was, and although there isn’t too much romance, I really find it fresh. A lot of C Dramas have coincidences for characters to be together, they get together early on and a lot of unrealistical and annoying antics occur between them. In Master of My Own it focuses on Ning Meng’s work and her growth in her career. Ji Meng is cold, but he warms up with Ning Meng by the familiarity they have with each other. I really like this story when comparing to other C Dramas, the females are much more powerful and aren’t just objects to be married too. A lot of dramas don’t blatantly say that, but there is a lot of focus on a women to get married and then her husband leading her. Ning Meng is mature and is never openly pursuing a relationship, she really is a great role model. She’s not too serious and isn’t one dimensional.
I really thought this drama was going to have her lose the glasses and put her hair down and then turn into a romantic comedy. But it didn’t, instead she made the move for herself and wasn’t seen any better than she was before or “prettier”. She just looked different but was never once perceived as ugly just for having glasses. Also as rude as Ji Meng could be, he put up a front as the bead of what once was his dads company. But he always wishes Ning Meng the best and realizes his faults while helping her out in small ways. I love his character the most if it wasn’t for how amazing Ning Meng’s is. And together they are even better.
The thing that I have criticisms over are the other side characters being forgettable, luckily they weren’t focused on too much so it wasn’t an issue. Ms. Shi is the expedition, she is a CEO of her own company and gives Ning Meng a chance. There’s a lot to say for this drama, I am just so glad how they handled its story. It was never hatred from Ning Meng for her to become successful, and she never looked down on from where she started. Ji Meng developed nicely as a character as well and also a person. Another criticism is writing off the second male lead the way they did, where he would just become creepy or unlikeable for the sake of him not being a contender. They didn’t have to make him be a jerk like that because he really never was a contender in my eyes to begin with.
To sum it up: the whole success story is done really well. There isn’t any cliches to put the female lead into, and she is by far the best written female lead in a story like this that I’ve seen. A smart and capable women who truly doesn’t depend on a man, although even so she’s not 100% cold and one sided towards them. The male lead compliments her and they naturally develops a relationship from what they have. This drama is just really soothing to watch, and I recommend it over Love is Sweet any day. This story does office romance so much better and is natural and not too cringe to watch. It’s a perfect balance of everything.
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A Complete Knockout
This drama is amazing. I’ve been waiting for it because I really like Park Ji Hoon and was excited to see this project in the works for him. The aura of the premise and the snow overall sold it to me, but with most things I highly anticipate.. they either don’t come out, or they fall flat.Weak Hero Class One soars beyond my expectations and delivers a gritty, thrilling, and clean drama that is full of everything I love to watch but haven’t seen enough of. It isn’t over saturated in any way, neither on the end of being too dark that it takes itself too seriously, or not taking itself seriously enough.
This drama doesn’t have things it doesn’t need, like unnecessary adding romance, it focuses on its characters and keeps its tone throughout. This drama is binge-able (which I did do) and leaves more to be wanted, but not in a way that it didn’t wrap up what it needed to for the first part.
It’s short with 8 episodes long, but it doesn’t lack budget or care. The script is as clean as the visuals, and the fighting is beyond what I’ve seen in a k-drama for a while. It has a lot of fight scenes that are pretty brutal and not for the feint-hearted, and a lot of them. It’s not redundant or sprinkling in fights; they all serve their purpose
I love Yeon Shi Eun uses his smarts to beat people senseless in unorthodox ways. How he goes over what he’s about do do/doing, with theories and proven facts is engaging. The actors on this drama are all young and they look like high school students.. which is a plus plus. The main cast are amazing in this and very impressive.. especially Park Ji Hoon. He takes his character and brings him to life believably, bringing heartbreaking moments, and pure intimidation with his attitude towards other characters. He’s not out there with his intimidation, he’s just way smarter .. and that’s scary. In a good way. It’s so satisfying to watch his overpower those physically stronger with his knowledge. I like how he orchestrates the fights for himself rather than completely letting others do it for him.
The dynamics between the main three is also very good. I love seeing Choi Hyun Wook play this character of a jock again like in 25-21, but this time it’s still completely different of a character. He’s morally a good guy, and he fights for others but keeps an aloof attitude. The flight choreo for him is insane and engaging the whole time as well as the fun and charismatic lines he delivers. The character of Oh Beom Ho is also very interesting and adds a mellow balance to the main three, his story is also heartbreaking and full of deception.
This drama just falls right in line with my interests in what I like to watch. I love dramas like this to the core. It’s got action and it’s got the grit to back it up. It’s not scared to keep its tone but still has its funny moments. Park Ji Hoon is so impressive with the acting. He portrays the looks of pain and anger so well. It’s all believable and there isn’t a sore spot with any of the cast. Everything checks the right boxes with this one and I can’t wait for part two.
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How to do a Romantic Comedy
This show at the core is a romantic comedy. That’s just how I see it before seeing it as a BL, and that’s because there aren’t overplayed scenes or tropes like forced kisses or any tropes. I’ve seen plenty of BL to understand the tropes that are usually sprinkled in. Cutie Pie has all the good ones and acknowledges the bad ones. I really like how they brought up how gay characters (in the context of a commercial) are satirized and usually comical. Hia criticizes the idea and throughout what I’ve seen he’s a pretty solid person overall.The main couple has amazing chemistry and I’ve been looking forward to Zee being in a new drama. His chemistry never fails, he’s such a talented actor and this project is another example for that. I’m wishing to have more self reflection from his character so he can showcase his full acting potential. The relationship isn’t toxic at all although there are flaws, and Hia has a front to hold up for his image, this show has a lot of potential and I’m guessing it will continue to be a fun watch and not agrivate me.
Kiren’s character is also complex and his alter ego makes the plot all the more interesting. He’s conflicted with his feelings but in a way feels obligated the same way Hia does. Kiren also holds a front but in a different way, he isn’t ready to be himself around Hia because of the business relationship. Kiren is generous and honestly the cutest ‘bottom’ in any BL I’ve seen.
I really like how gender isn’t a big deal in this drama and how the fact that they are engaged isn’t surprising or disgusting as in some BL’s I know they could’ve went that way. So far the complaints have come for the lack of chemistry between Zee and New, which stem from the age difference. I don't see it and either way how you see the chemistry is all opinion and personal preference. One way of the other if you're not into it then you aren't. I see the effort the actors put in and to me there's that spark.
So far I recommend for anyone wanting an easy watch that’s not too melodramatic. Cutie Pie made me laugh out loud many times and has witty and charismatic characters (specifically Kiren and the maid). This drama is super cute, and Kiren is also super cute. I had to pause a few times to take in how cute Kiren is. while Hia is super hot. I can’t stress enough how good Zee looks like in a suit, if you won’t watch it for anything else, watch it because Zee is hot in a suit. Skip through the side couple if you get bored, Zee X New is the breadwinner here.
UPDATE: Chemistry did not disappoint.. as of episode six I remember why I like Zee so much. The acting he is able to do with zero to no dialogue is all up to the capability of the actor and the direction. Zee is so good at giving off loving and concerned looks, he is so talented and with the kissing that talent shows. I'm not just a pervert everyone, he acts through it all and you can tell (just watch episode 6 to get what I mean).. and again by episode 8.. this show really does know what it's doing. The whole relationship is developing so well, and considering Zee felt comfortable enough to try new things for it.. watch to see what I mean but this show really is showing how BL is evolving. Consent wise, dynamics between two people, acceptance, etc.
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Never Let Me Go.. how could I ever?
This drama is off to a promising start. There isn't much for me to go off of development-wise, but I can see a lot of potential with the characters here and the situations they are in.Neugdiao is the main focus of the first episode and he has a great amount of potential here and I'm interested to see how they will develop him. His father died and he is now the heir to becoming the head of a conglomerate.. I've seen things like this before but the tone of this show is very mellow so far so I'm thinking that it won't be overplayed and instead we will see him feel the weight on his shoulders but try to keep it together. He already does not like being called young master, and I can already see several scenarios play out in my head of him breaking down and admitting he doesn't want anything to do with the company he already is destined to be the president of. I don't have anything else I can really say other than speculation, but as for the acting for his character it is done so well. He has a lot of emotion to give in scenes but also has emotions to withhold. It's a tricky character to get right, but the acting isn't fake crying or sobs.. it is really good for a the first episode and I know that this is only the tip of the iceberg for him.
Palm is the counterpart to Neugdiao and they will be the main couple. They have tension in their scenes but it is restricted enough that this drama isn't comedy. It is a breath of fresh air to see something like this come out of GMM, the last show to feel like this was Not Me, and that was so good. I am glad to see another more mature drama from them. Palm's character also has a lot of potential and mystery behind him, which is slowly shown through meeting his mother. She isn’t winning mother of the year at all and it’s heartbreaking when she admits she loves herself more than him. Palm has little to no grounding in his life with parental figures, so I get why he chooses to love Neung. It’s the fact that he chooses to do things for Neung that he is not obligated to, Neung and Palm contrast eachother so much but that makes their dynamic interesting.
Someone who doesn’t know love and the other who knows exactly what it isn’t. Neungdiao had been showered with his parents love his whole life while Palm was cast away. And Palm isn’t the bitter one, instead it’s Neungdiao who feels so sheltered that he expects others to only be nice to him for their own benefit. Palm isn’t going to be a perfect bodyguard because he’s a flawed person, he is in high school and hasn’t trained at all and was asked on a whim. The only motivation to protect Neungdiao initially is his father telling him they have to and are indebted. Really I think it would be horrible if Palm was perfect at protecting him, and I’d much rather have what is shown here. Neungdiao doesn’t need complete physical protection, his emotional state needs to he attended to way more. And Palm loves him naturally and they grow a beautiful relationship.
The settings in this show are new and very good looking.. so is the main cast. The camera work is clean and so is the editing. I really like the direction they are going with this show being more mature. So far it is so promising and I'm happy that GMM is giving us this show. They are taking a step in the right direction with this one.
With the plot holes I just have to say you are watching a drama. The idea is to be immersed and I get that plot holes can pull us out of the drama to a degree. But I really am not a stickler about them with this drama, they are too jarring to me. Instead I’m glad that the drama is taking the risks rather than shying away.
Episode 5 really is a game changer for this show and made me impressed enough.. I am really in awe that this show is delivering where others seem to fall flat. The plot and every scene has an impact on characters and is well rounded as a whole. The payoff scenes deliver so well where characters open up and break down. It is phoneomonal to see this on YouTube really, for the general public to get amazing content like this for free? GMM really is confusing me with this one because it is just so marginally more sophisticated than anything they have done, and they can fall short before with others or take it too seriously.. but Never Let Me Go keeps every aspect of what it delivers so tight nit. The acting over a 10/10, the story isn't too complicated but the characters have depth and keeps it interesting.
Now Palm and Neung are starting their romance and I was thinking how could it possibly be natural? But it is, there are little details of buildup between them that it isn't out of the dark. Palm and Neung have a connection and are just starting to tap into it, with Neung and Palm both being very insecure they can open up to each other and have beautiful moments. I can't really give a review that will give this show justice. I am not overstepping anything though. This show is thought provoking, excellent in every way. I can't find any part to pick apart. Each episode has higher stakes and it gets better and better until you are completely immersed.
This show is beyond a BL. It is two people being able to be vulnerable around eachother, it's not hyper sexualized in any way and is so refreshing to see. When I watch this show I feel respected.
All this praise isn’t me saying the show is perfect. It’s really me saying I enjoyed and looked forward to this drama admist the flaws.
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Most Disturbing show I’ve ever seen
So I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. To this shows credit, I really think it wants to be disturbing.. but beyond that what is it trying to say? What is the story? It’s kind of on the nose, but isn’t functional in the end because of the inconsistency it has. .. let me explainSo I think this drama had a lot of potential. I haven’t read the webtoon nor do I want to, but if it’s anything like this show then I am going to say again that I think deviating from the source material for the benefit of the story being told is good. But what was the story?
In the first half I liked it, but after that it just kept the same beats again and again. There was no triumphant end for anyone, and if it could be argued that there was who was it for? I can do shows with multiple main characters, but at least one character out of all with a niche is a good person that is realistic. Here they leaned into the crazy too much with them all, floor number three was good but he also was just as hard to watch because he had no backbone. For something so disturbing being told I would’ve thought that maybe, somewhere someone would outsmart a game in a satisfying way that was righteous. Instead every single character is inconsistent with a loose goal that they all share. There is a little character build up with them, but really most of the characters actions are so disturbing and irredeemable that anything they’ve done before as a person cancels out. What fun is there in watching horrible people do horrible things to helpless individuals ? It’s not. At some point I felt so disturbed I wanted to quit.
Episodes in and closer to the end I realize this show is just passing beat by beat and has shock and horror just for the sake of it. There is a little story to be told, but it’s pretty cheap in the end. The ratio of good things and bad deeds here is god awful. I see some artistry with the set design and score, but beyond that when you strip this show down it’s just disturbing. It wasn’t fun in the end to watch because there was no satisfying conclusion.
If you have the decision to make people so bad and horrible then please have one character be good. I thought maybe one of them would truly outsmart the game as a whole, but no. It was people torturing others because they were crazy and horrible and that is just what I found it to be. It was honestly a shell of what it could be. I can’t help but compare to the predecessor that was Squid Game. Which in comparison is a whole million times better than this. That built up characters naturally and Decisively. It showed what was the common evil as well as showing how bad human nature can go to exploit eachother for money. It knew what it was. Here the characters don’t start off torturing eachother, they have the choice to not do it. But they do for money? I mean I got it I guess, I watched it. But time and time again the top floors of people just abused the bottom and not one person showed remorse, and if they did they fooled me because they just tortured them again. It wasn’t realistic to survive that much brutality, and if it was it wasn’t realistic the decisions both sides had.
So this drama was unrealistic and that is a given. I sure hope it would’ve be real. But at least have consistent characters that act like people instead of just caricatures. If they are caricatures and a study of human psyche than it’s just on me for not being able to stomach this. I am a person who can take disturbing content, but I’m also someone that likes to enjoy things. I’m simple and want the good guys to win and the bad to lose. I didn’t need justice with violence, I just wish there was wit to this story. Instead everyone was really dumb and unbelievable. It was hard to watch most of the time. For that I don’t like it, it was not good but not horrible.
If someone really doesn’t want to get tortured then lock yourself in the room. They can’t play with you if you are locked in the room. Power in numbers is a thing. Buy a weapon on the first day. It was like these people were so unlucky to the point that it hurt. It really hurt to watch this, it wasn’t fun.. but I didn’t hate it either? It was artistic enough that I watched.. but I feel a bit sick saying that.
Not bad but not good. If you want a commentary on class watch Squid Game or Pyramid Game. If you really want to watch this you can. I really wouldn’t recommend it. I wouldn’t watch it again either. To see what people would do for money is interesting, but I can’t believe people would end up in some places people did in this show. Why?
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Confusing but worthwhile
I really enjoyed the first half of this series as it was easy for me to pick up what was going on. Someone imprisoned on purpose to pick up intel for a case. The twists and turns are really good and this show is very suspenseful. It’s really too bad it got too confusing for me to be fully immersed.Kang Ha Neul is an excellent actor. This drama really couldn’t showcased that more, but when it did it was amazing. It’s a good thing he’s a scene stealer because he’s the main character. But as for his character Yo Han? I didn’t know whether to like him or not. At the beginning I liked him as some sort of underdog, with his grandma dying I sympathized with him. But his character started to fall flat when he got out of prison- and that’s when the show started to really get confusing for me.
It’s not the genre of suspense/thriller that makes things hard for me. Flower of Evil does an amazing job at having plot twists and tense situations and mystery but I understood all of it. Insider has too many things going on for me to understand. It started getting really dicey when the little boy Minhowas introduced (and sadly died).. it’s like all the most intriguing characters get the shaft here. The show focuses on the bad guys too much.. there’s a lot so I can’t even remember the names.. but they all jumble together for me. I watch and go - oh this guy is bad so that’s why the main characters are doing this. I had to do that a lot, just accept things without understanding. And I hated that. But to the shows credit, when you do understand the show is really really good.
As I said earlier, everything that goes down in the prison is phenomenal. The gambling and hierarchy is amazing. The cinematography is really good. This show has so many good things but I think it just needed to ground itself. Instead of showing the bad guys so much, just show a few moments of their plotting to add to the suspense and twists. It was hard trying to find their motivations and what they were planning the same time as Yo Han.
My favorite character was Seon Oh, coming from the whole prison arc he was a wild card. I loved him and was disappointed how his character arc ended up.. in sort of no where. He had the main character energy for me. Yo Han’s character was all over the place with the revenge.. I didn’t know where he drew the line- like killing or letting someone die. It’s not bad when a main character is an anti hero- but Yo Han didn’t explain.. you don’t know much about his childhood (unliked Seon Oh). You just know he has a grandmother that was murdered and have to fill in the gaps of his life from there. So Seon Oh was better. He had the experiences that we know about so I sympathized with him more, and even thought he wasn’t doing the best things I still rooted for him. His dad was murdered and he was forced to do bad things with the impression that if he didn’t he would be alone again. I understand why Yo Han is the main character, but I wish the writers would’ve picked up on Seon Oh’s potential. Yo Han isn’t the cookie cutter good guy, so that’s good- but Seon Oh is better. To me.. I could go on and on about why but this is just my opinion.
Lastly I’ll recommend to very smart people. I’m not dumb, it’s just hard for me to understand more than several plot lines at once. This show is thrilling but gets tangled up after the prison arc. That is my review 8/10
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Why is this show so fun
The original because it was campy and fun. I expected a more mellow tone only because the Thai drama add the sound effects and have this feel that is super over the top. I was surprised to see that the tone is just as hilarious and even got moments for me to laugh out loud. This drama is just as fun as the original for me and maybe it’s my deep love for the original but it could go both ways.I was happy hearing about this remake but can understand the comparisons. Since I have seen the original series a million times I can’t help but compare. So far that double edged sword it a good thing. I am comparing how they are adapting rather than being a word for word remake. It’s a given it would be different because of the length being much shorter. With that I was worried about the chemistry and how some story beats might class. My only issue is the pacing, but they have title cards come up to break up the awkwardness.
Moving onto the chemistry I can already see it happening. I love the look of the couples. The sister is killing her role, and they cut characters who aren’t needed. I do hope they keep Sun Woo’s (Tutor’s) sister as she really helped with his character ark. I also am interested to see how Yoo Kyeom (Fighter) character will be. They are very similar to the originals and of course I have no problem with that.
Lee Won (Zon) is played wonderfully as someone who antigonizes Ji Oh (Saifah) to no end. Their dynamic might just be my favorite which I thought would be hard since I really really loved Fighter/Tutor in the original. Here Lee Won and Ji Oh are stealing the show, but I could see Sun Woo and Yoo Kyeoms story coming in and grounding this show down with a bit more emotional scenes because of their circumstances.
The freshman orientation scene was amazing and I especially loved to see Max and Nat. They weren’t in the original but they are a very famous BL couple from Thailand. It’s fun to see where they fit in and how it sort of ties this show back to the original. It’s a completely separate story with changes so far that work.
The switch from them being actors instead of in the music department is golden. Sun Woo still works his part time jobs and Yoo Kyeom still is clearly so interested in him. Here Lee Won and Ji Oh have more of a focus than their original counterparts. The original aired during COVID so they had little time together, here it’s just nice to see how that couple is working out. Their misunderstandings are hilarious and I’ll say it again, this show is hilarious
My complaints are going to be the short length and that it cuts a lot from the original that made me love it so much. The heart is gone in some areas, but it compensates with the amazing chemistry.
I could hate it as a WhyRU apologist. I could want them to keep the original untoutched. I see this remake as more of an adaptation and it’s done so well. I am having fun and reccommend.
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Headliner of 2022
Alchemy of Souls was one of those show that I at first was hesitant to watch. At first it looked confusing and something that I wouldn’t be too invested in, that it would just use its budget to entertain and not put much more effort into itself. But I was wrong and I’m so glad I was.I’ve been looking for a new show to watch and just feel that I’d never be able to find anything like it. Alchemy of Souls is that show and it couldn’t have came at a more perfect time.
The story is easy to follow and I pick up on all the names of the characters because they are all interesting. So far I’m really liking the dynamics and relationships between the characters. There’s not a single one that I find written poorly and they all have a lot of potential.
As for the main characters it’s amazing how they are the best part of the show for me (as a lot of the times I watch more for a side character or the antagonist ) Jang Uk is so likable and a bit naive at times, but he is determined for very compelling reasons. He’s realistic and not over the top with his decisions, I find them charming because of his motivations and overall he’s my favorite characters. As for Lee Jae Wook who plays him, I’ve never a have saw a drama with him but now I really like the actor and an definetely going to keep up to date with his projects. None of the rolls seem out of place and the designs for the characters are stunning.
Mu Deok and Jang Uk are so good together in terms of the master-servant relationship and the the student-pupil. Mu Deok could’ve been one sided and flat, just wanting her powers alone. Instead she grows to care about others and realizes her actions have concequences. She’s not all evil but she’s not all good, I love anti-hero’s and to see a strong female lead come out of that trope is amazing.
I’m looking forward to each weekend for new episodes and for each one I just wish they only lasted longer. This drama isn’t perfect as none are, but it’s so good. It’s really really good. The idea of getting powerful and strong and being an underdog is always so entertaining. I can see how amazing this drama could be in the end and am positive about where it will go.
The slow burn is really amazing. To the last episode from the start it just gets better and better. And the finale episode was SO good. It was traumatizing and heartbreaking and tragic, I’m so excited for the second part !
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