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Lost in Dramaland
Amazing Friendship, Exciting Badminton scenes but dragged down by Outsiders' side plot
“Racket Boys” is one of those dramas that is universally praised as amazing. To have an 8.8 MDL rating is no small feat. It has been on my PTW for a long time but I just couldn’t find the right mood to start watching it. Even now, it took me two tries to get into it. I blame this on a slow first episode and not a very fun start. But nonetheless, this is a great drama but with some areas I am not a fan of. Let’s start with what I don’t like first.What I Have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like:
1. Slow Start - As mentioned, it took me 2 tries to get into it. The introduction of Papa/Coach Yoon is not really that exciting. He does not seem like someone I want to root for but of course, I expect some type of character development later on. Nonetheless, the first 15-20 mins did not suck me in, but I persisted and binge-watched the rest with no problem.
2. Villagers/Adult Storylines - This ‘negative” is the main reason I am not rating “Racket Boys” 9.0+. I like the story of all the villagers interacting, caring and loving our young badminton players. But I fast forwarded all the scenes regarding the City hikers and the redevelopment. I don’t care for them, and they have nothing to do with my beloved players. In fact, those scenes happen during exciting badminton matches and cutting back-and-forth between villagers and matches annoy me big time. The drama could have given me more screen time for the players and for me to get to know their backgrounds/families more. I do like some of the villagers' storylines, especially with Grandma and her playroom and the mural.
3. The White Wolf - I don’t dislike the White Wolf storyline but am not sure how I feel about him being away from the boys in the latter episodes to wrap up the story of the other player. I knew we would eventually see this player on the screen since his name was mentioned so frequently throughout the drama. I just feel if we take away that side plot, it would not have made a difference.
What I Like:
1. Racket Boys - I love all the boys! They are the stars of the show and the reason why everyone loves the drama. They each have distinct personalities and complement each other so well. I love that the drama focuses on their friendships and how they support each other through disappointments, rivalries and successes. There’s no jealousy or childish arguments. They are a joy to watch! I enjoy the rivalries between teams and that nothing really malicious happens.
2. Yoon Hae Kang - Hae Kang is an interesting male lead and I enjoy watching his development. He appears cocky and arrogant, but deep down he is the sweetest kid with a kind and gentle soul. That becomes evident right from the start of his introduction to viewers. He works hard for the scholarship and never brings up how poor his family is. He is always so sweet to his younger sister and immediately shows his kindness when he first moves to the village and meets Grandma Ki. It’s lovely following his journey of being a lone wolf to be the best of friends with other players is heartwarming. Personally, I would like to see him pitch a few innings to show me what an amazing ace he was, but we never got the chance.
3. Badminton Play - If you are a fan of badminton, this is an excellent drama. There are so many badminton scenes and matches, and all look so good and realistic. In the first episode, I thought the badminton play was a little subpar compared to “Love all Play'' and “Nothing But You”. But these are middle schoolers and college or pro players. But after the initial episodes, the badminton play improves a lot. It shows the hard work all actors put into their training. I love all the badminton scenes. However, I can also see some viewers might find these scenes a little excessive.
4. Other Characters - Aside from the Racket Boys, I also enjoy watching the coaches' stories. I knew Coach Yoon had to improve after the first episode, and I am glad to be right. He has changed as a coach and it’s nice to see the hard work he put into coaching the kids. It's nice to see the opposite of Papa Yoon, his wife, Coach Ra. Their styles are so different, and their journey of growth as a coach is different. The two female players might have a smaller role, but they are in no way inferior to the boys. In fact, the drama shows us the top female player of the country in Han Se Yoon. Even the villagers are sweet and caring. Oftentimes we see villagers or country folks as boisterous and irritating and I am glad that none of them are annoying to me.
5. Guest Stars - Since the writer of “Racket Boys” is the same writer for “Prison Playbook”, it’s probably not that hard to invite PP actors to guest star in this drama. It’s lovely to see so many of them just showing up for a scene/episode here and there. Hey, if Lee Kyu Hyung is reprising his role in PP, I am very happy that he’s moving to the countryside ?
Overall, this is an excellent drama about these young badminton players. It’s a story about friendship and growth first and foremost. I strongly recommend this if you are a sports or badminton fan, or a lover of such teen dramas.
Completed: 6/3/2023 - Review #314
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Mr. Walking Green Flag with amazing chemistry with FL - BUT draggy, illogical and repetitive plots.
Subjective Gut Rating 7.75 (all because I love the leads chemistry)There are elements of “Flash Marriage” that I love to pieces and then there are others that bored me to death. I was initially attracted to this because I am a fan of contract marriages. But mid-way through the drama, I realized the contract marriage parts that I love are not the main focus of “Flash Marriage”. The focus is on revenge and siblings/family rivalry.
What I Love:
1. Mr. Walking Green Flag/Pokpong - I am so surprised to find a Lakorn male lead who is funny, sweet, considerate, smart, quick-thinking with good comebacks, patient, kind, makes good decisions, can fight and acts like just a regular guy. Where do you find a guy like that in dramaland, and not just Thai dramas? I am not physically attractive to the actor, Tono, but I am in love with his character as Pokpong. The best part is that his personality remains consistent throughout the drama. He does not lose himself when he’s in love. Is he too perfect? Probably but I don’t care. LOL
2. Leads Chemistry - The chemistry and romantic journey between Pokpong (ML) and Lalin (FL) are what keep me going. Otherwise, I might have dropped the drama midway. They are so cute together. I bet the actors have a lot of fun shooting this drama. I can see them grinning, smirking and couldn’t hold their laughter in some of the scenes, e.g. exercising together to get ready for childbirth, or when they were both in the tub together. There are quite a few suggestive flirty sexy humor sprinkled here and there, and they are so funny. The only thing missing are good kisses. Argh…. I wish we got some passionate kisses but FL doesn’t seem to want to move her lips much. Oh well…
3. Smart characters - Aside from Pokpong, Lalin is a pretty smart woman as well. She’s feisty and is not afraid of a challenge or danger. Though the other family members couldn’t figure out who the other villain is, most of them are actually not too dumb. There are some dumb decisions made, but mainly due to the writing (more about that below) and not the intelligence of the characters per se.
4. Best Friends - Love the BFFs!! Tat (ML’s bff) is hilarious. He’s our go-to comic relief guy but he’s always there for Pokpong, no matter what crazy and last-minute requests Pokpong asks of him. Fang (Lalin’s bff) is the other comic relief, along with her husband, Korn. Though their screen time is limited, they are there for Lalin despite not knowing the full story and are asked to do something dangerous. It’s so nice to have great supportive friends.
5. ML’s parents - A set of amazing, funny and supportive parents in lakorns! No wonder ML is such a walking green flag, and that’s probably contributed to the upbringing by these wonderful parents.
6. Comedy - I have a love/hate relationship with Thai humor. Oftentimes, I find it too over-the-top and cringey. However, I love the comedic moments in “Flash Marriage”. They are a little crazy, but they are not prolonged, thus reducing the cheesy factor. You can somewhat expect when the funny moments will happen, e.g. with the two BFFs and their interaction with leads, and when the main leads are together. They hit you with the funny bits and then move on without dragging the second-hand embarrassing moments out. I kind of miss some of these moments when the plot becomes more serious and draggy.
7. Fashion - The women are all wearing sexy, skin tight dresses. They look beautiful, especially our female lead, but they don’t seem to be too work appropriate. FL has so many off-shoulder dresses. The guys look handsome in suits, and our male lead looks great in casual wear, a tank top, a leather jacket, a suit, or nothing. LOL.
What I Dislike:
1. Too Much, Too Repetitive - I think the drama tries to do too much. It started out as 1) romantic comedy about contract marriages and romance, then 2) it becomes sibling and family rivalry to see who would be the President of the company, then 3) it becomes how dysfunctional the family is the the weird way a father shows his love to his children, and 4) finally the plot of revenge (businesses and personal attacks). The writers cramp so much in 17 episodes, yet I still find everything to be draggy and repetitive. There is the same repetitive scheming to kick ML out the door, FL feeling unloved by everyone in her family, crazy family members saying crazy things to each other, and attempted murders with the most useless assassins hired. The drama can probably tell a much tighter and better story in 12-14 episodes.
2. Illogical writing - I am not sure if it’s the writing or it’s just part of the lakorn-viewing experience, it’s really hard for me to see these people being chased by the bad guys, and you stop and look back. Shouldn’t you run for your life? Why would you stop, pause and wait for them to come at you? Additionally, once you escape into your car, shouldn’t the first thing you do is to lock your door, turn on the engine and get the hell out of there as soon as possible? Why would you just sit there with doors unlocked and try to make a call? With all the chaos that’s going on with the revenge plot, I cannot fathom not bringing the cops in to help you. You are risking everyone’s life, and you still think you can do it all when the other parties are stalking you and hiring assassins (though they are useless). It seems like the weapon of choice is a piece of wood, much better than guns. Even the ladies could pick up a piece of wood and beat up men who are stronger and have guns in their hands. Killing people in broad daylight is no big deal. There is never anyone around and the cops are nowhere to be seen.
3. No work - The drama spends so much time talking about fighting to be the President, yet I hardly see Lalin or Nat (sister) work. I would have liked to see some business dealings and showcase their professional side. If they were to fight, show me they deserve the title. All I see are cat fights and jealousy.
The repetitive and draggy plots plus the illogical writing really affected my viewing pleasure. I was so close to giving up but I stayed because of the two main leads. I love their chemistry and fun interactions too much. I wish this is more of a contract-marriage romantic comedy and not all the other stuff. Do I recommend this? Mm… I can’t whole-heartedly say yes. Is it a horrible drama? Not, not really. It really depends on what you are looking for and know what to expect. For me, it didn’t meet my expectation of a fun contract-marriage drama, so I am slightly disappointed. I am rounding my rating UP to an 8.0 instead of down to a 7.5, because of Mr. Walking Green Flag. ?
Completed: 5/29/2023 - Review #312
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Flower Scholars Love Story
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Keep me guessing the secret identities in the beginning but the main romance lets me down.
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75The romance in “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse” isn’t that romantic. I think the title is giving me false hopes.
Let’s do a quick fire bullet-point review;
1. Supposedly smart leads making dumb decisions - Is that really a good idea to send a secret message by throwing it over the wall into the pond, when anyone can pick it up?? Why would you leave an ornament by the grave for others to find and know that you are alive?
2. The secret identity was kept for 8 years and all of a sudden, everyone found out. People can't keep their mouths shut.
3. The main romance is not working for me. I don't feel the chemistry and am not moved by their challenges. Ryeoun is cute and has boyish charms, but his acting is not as good as the other two male leads. He also lacks charisma.
4. I much prefer the sister's story and romance.
5. Kang Hoon as Kim Shi Yeol is probably my favorite character. I think his acting is the best out of the 3 male leads.
6. First half of the story is interesting and kept me guessing their identities. The bromance/brotherhood is fun and interesting. I love the family feel.
7. Then the pace becomes slower when the secret is revealed. It continues to be moderately slow through all the politics.
8. Well, at least there is no annoying character and the overall acting is quite good, esp the veterans.
9. Does this drama need to be 18-episode long? At least you don’t have a rushed ending.
10. The crazy king is entertaining and the actor did a pretty good job.
11. No fish kisses!
Do I recommend this? Only if you are a fan of the actors and you have time to kill. It’s not bad, but also not as good as I thought it would be.
Completed: 5/24/2023 - Review #310
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Watch if you are a fan of the Leads and their Chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75Bringing back the team from “Mysterious Love”, hot male lead Tsao Yu Ning, female lead Yilla Yu and second male lead Wu Hao Ze joined forces in “Love of Replica”. This drama was listed as a sequel to “Mysterious Love” but you can treat this as its own entity. My review does do some comparison between the two dramas.
The similarities of the two dramas:
1. Tsao Yu Ning is as sexy and hot as ever. You can’t deny those muscles and abs.
2. Tsao Yu Ning plays the role of a bodyguard in both dramas.
3. Yilla Yu and Tsao Yu Ning continue to have great chemistry and good kisses.
4. I am still not a fan of the secondary romance, but this is at least better than the annoying one in “Mysterious Love”.
For a 16-episode drama, it is weird for me to say that I find the pace slow in the middle and I got a little bored. The mystery does not hold my attention and there aren't enough action scenes. I actually find the plot in “Mysterious Love” a lot more engaging. A few weird plot holes and I don’t really buy the reason for Xu Xi Xi’s deteriorated health. I find the ‘thriller’ part very questionable and laughable (?).
I also dislike all the slow-motion romantic scenes. They become annoying fast. There are also quite a few flashbacks that I don’t need to be reminded of so frequently. This might also be because I was binge-watching, so it might not affect everyone. The romance also seems a little cheesier and less mature than “Mysterious Love”.
On a positive note, the acting is not bad. You can tell apart when FL is Xu Xi Xi and An Yue, and that is a credit to Yilla Yu’s acting. Tsao Yu Ning also improved in his acting. He was a little more wooden in “Mysterious Love” but is able to express more subtle emotions here. His character also is a little friendlier and smiles more, compared to the former role. I like all the supporting cast, and find the two secondary male leads and secondary female lead likable as well. No one really irritates me in this drama.
The biggest selling point of “Love of Replica” is the chemistry between the leads. I wouldn’t call it smoking hot, but pretty good. I’m glad the kisses are back with a couple sexier scenes. However, I think the scenes and the vibe in “Mysterious Love” might be sexier.
I think both dramas share the same OST, or at least some of the songs. I like the rich and modern outfits that the female leads wear. No more oversized jackets and sweatshirts wherever they go.
Since this is a short drama, if you have time to kill and like the leads, this might be worth a watch. However, if you are looking for a well-written thriller romance, there are better options out there.
Completed: 5/16/2023 - Review #307
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Communication is still lacking - but sweeter than the parent/main story
Note: You should watch the original drama first before watching this spin-off. This one is full of spoilers of the parent story. If you watch this on Viki they mixed the original and the spin-offs together. Spin-off episodes are #5, 7, 9, 11The spin-off focuses on the story between Deno and Nao during that 4-year separation between the other couple. Narita and Ishi did make some appearances in this spin-off, but they just exist as side characters to help tell Deno and Nao's stories.
Deno is such a mature, caring, and kind person that throughout the drama, I keep on wishing him a super happy ending. Due to their own circumstances, Deno and Nao are unable to open up to each other and communicate their feelings and thoughts openly. This lack of communication is a lot less frustrating than watching Narita and Ishi in the main drama. Although most of their interactions are only limited to staying at the apartment having sex and eating, everything feels so sweet and gentle. This spin-off has a much different tone than the parent story. At the end, I truly wish they could resolve whatever situation they are in and live happily ever after.
This spin-off could easily be a lot longer and tell a richer love story. 4 short episodes are not enough but good enough for fans of Furukawa Yuki.
Completed: 3/18/2023
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Disappointing and rushed Ending
Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75I’ve been putting off watching “Song of Youth” because I was worried the comedy might be too much for me, and I need to be in the right mood to watch a comedic slice-of-life drama. I finally watched it and realized it’s actually not as funny as I thought it would be. I thought it would be on par with “New Life Begins” but actually, it’s a lot less funny and only with comedic bits sprinkled throughout the drama.
It might not be official but I feel like “Song of Youth” takes on an omnibus-style, where the drama tells the stories of many characters that are interconnected. Our female lead, Lin Shao Chun, is the one that connects all the dots. She also seems to be the superwoman that solves everyone’s problems with ease. Unfortunately, I prefer all characters’ stories to be integrated and weaved throughout the drama. With such an omnibus-like style, our main leads disappear to the background for long periods of time, and only show up to save the day.
The drama starts with the romance between the main leads, Lin Shao Chun (FL) and Sun Yu Lou (ML). Their story takes up about ⅓ of the drama. From a storytelling point of view, it’s interesting enough, especially with how different they both are and the ways Lin Shao Chun wins the hearts of the Sun family and is welcomed into the family. But the romance to me is unconvincing. I do believe Bai Lu and Wang Yi Zhe acted their characters well individually. However, when they are paired together, it’s lacking in chemistry. Even though both actors are the same age in real life, Bai Lu looks like an older sister. Additionally, Sun Yu Lou’s personality is a lot more immature compared to Lin Shao Chun.
The second big arc focuses on the story of the eldest brother. This is when I started to get annoyed and bored. This arc lasted for waaaay too long. Spending another 10 episodes on just one brother and his troubles, limits the screen time for the rest of the cast, and this drama has a huge cast. I also think the drama could have done away with the story of the 3rd sister. The story of the 2nd sister only serves to highlight the 3rd brother’s personality. These two sisters are married off and were barely mentioned in the drama. Then all of a sudden, they both showed up and fought for screen time. I much prefer to have a better written plot about the eldest brother (shorter), 2nd brother, 3rd brother (longer), and maybe the parents.
In the last few episodes, I got really confused about the revenge and case investigation. I still have no idea what they did to FL’s father and how he was betrayed. What were those three 3 senior officials scheming about? In the very last episode, we finally found out who the real villain was, but it was told but not shown.
I would have given this an 8.0 for the solid acting, and actors using their own voices. But I was dissatisfied with how the last 5 episodes are written, so I am lowering this to a 7.5-7.75.
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Simple and cute office romance
I am quite surprised that this drama is only getting a MDL rating of 7.5 at the time of this review. I've seen other BL dramas with worse quality and worse acting that got close to an 8.0. "The New Employee" is nothing extraordinary, but its simple ordinariness is what makes this drama charming.This is a cute office BL romance about two adults meeting, falling in love and supporting each other at work. I would have loved to see more of how and why they fall for each other, as it does happen a little too quickly. I guess that is to be expected as it's only 7 episodes long. The leads have good chemistry and they are quite cute together. We got some decent kisses, though no steamy bed scenes (maybe that's why the rating is low?). There isn't any annoying character, as almost all co-workers are pretty supportive and nice, with a minor plot of some office politics and picking on new interns.
Even though the romance is sweet, I do wish the new intern makes better decisions. It's his first love but some of his actions of avoidance and the reason for the first big fight are quite immature for a 30-year old man. Luckily, Kim Jong Chang is a bigger person who actually apologizes first. I actually don't think he should but the intern should be the one to apologize for making a big deal out of a simple situation that could be resolved by speaking up.
Nevertheless, this is a simple and easy watch. I recommend this if you are looking for a non-school setting BL drama.
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Amazing Leads Chemistry & Friends-to-Lovers, but disappointing formulaic ending
Subjective Rating - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0 because I love the leads so much.Objective Rating - 8.0-8.5
It’s really unfortunate that “My Calorie Boy” does not have a better title, otherwise, it would be a lot more popular. I actually hesitated to watch it due to the title, but decided to check it out because of Zhai Zi Lu, who plays the main lead. This drama has the best friends-to-lovers plotline I’ve seen in a teen drama, or any drama.
What I Like:
1. Friends-to-Lovers: This is a very common and popular trope in high school dramas. What’s different in “My Calorie Boy” is that we have two main characters with very similar personalities and you can totally see them as best friends. They are both helpful, friendly, cheerful, sarcastic and funny. Oftentimes, in high school dramas, you would get a cold, genius lead matched with an overly positive and optimistic lead, or a tomboy. Kang Jia Wei (ML) and Xu Jing Jing (FL) might have started their friendship due to a misfortunate event, but we do not have dragged out misunderstanding. They actually become fast friends and help each other out. Their feelings developed slowly and realistically.
2. Main leads chemistry: They are just so fun to watch and I love every scene they are in. Zhai Zi Lu and Dai Lu Wa are so well casted in this drama. I love their bickering but also how honest they are with each other. They might not always agree with each other, and might say some hurtful words when angry. However, they are not afraid to apologize. They really have a very healthy relationship for 99% of the drama. I love the little things that they do for each other, with feelings that couldn’t be verbalized. I love some of the jealous moments, too. They are cute and not over-the-top.
3. Zhai Zi Lu/Kang Jia Wei - I finished watching Zhai Zi Lu in the historical drama “Lost Track of Time” not too long, and was really not very impressed with his acting. His character in that drama is a walking green flag, but his acting was too subdued. I am glad to see him in this drama. His acting is so much better. He is more animated in many of the fun scenes, yet he also did extremely well in the emotional scenes in the last third of the drama. His loving gazes and knowing smiles at FL melt my heart. His character, Kang Jia Wei, is almost a 100% walking green flag except for the last few episodes. What a shame. I love that though he is overweight, he does not have low self-esteem, and has such a friendly and outgoing personality.
4. Dai Lu Wa/Xu Jing Jing - Dai Lu Wa is fun to watch. Her character, Xu Jing Jing, is easy to root for. She’s friendly, helpful and caring. She is smart and independent, and honest with her feelings. She is so adorable! Her Taekwondo moves might not be very convincing, but I appreciate seeing an actress who plays an athlete that is not so skinny. DLW’s acting has come a long way since I first saw her in “Cross Fire”. Her character reminds me of her other role in “Love Crossed”.
5. Acting - The acting overall in this drama is pretty good. There are a couple weak links, e.g. the PE teacher. But overall, the main supporting cast remind me of high school students, and not adults pretending to be students.
6. Supporting Cast - We have a very lovable supporting cast with great friendship. There might be a third wheel here and there, but no one is annoying. The second male lead is awkwardly cute. I am glad he is not the usual cold/arrogant 2ML. He’s just…mm.. Not good with anything other than his studies and his interests. But when he finally recognizes his feelings, he becomes really adorkable. 2FL might have a storyline that’s quite typical and predictable in a way. But I am glad she’s not an evil, jealous, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer 2FL. The other minor supporting characters have their own small plotlines but do not take away too much time from the main leads.
7. FL’s parents and ML’s father - Love them!!!! So great to see supportive parents. FL’s parents are hilarious. We can see where FL gets her personality. ML’s father is less crazy but still very understanding and supportive. I enjoy watching him give advice to ML, especially the cryptic conversation they have about love
8. Actors own voices - I believe everyone was using their own voices in this drama. I also enjoy hearing a lot of live recording, instead of post production dubbing. This is especially true for many of the main lead’s scenes, especially the emotional ones.
What I have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like:
1. Last 5 episodes of the drama - When FL was asked to keep a certain secret, I knew where this was going and was dreading it. The uniqueness of this drama goes down the drain when I could see from a mile away how and when the leads might get together in the last episodes. It’s very unfortunate that the ending is so formulaic, just like many other high school dramas. The editing also seems off. The transition from scene to scene was rough, and it seems like some scenes were cut out. Is it due to censorship or budget constraints? I am not sure.
2. Always that one parent - You know, the one that forces their dreams on their children? Yes, we have one of those parents here. The one that complains about how much they sacrifice for their children’s education/future and won’t let their children follow their dreams? Yes, we have one of those parents here.
3. Lack of fluffiness - Well, as much as I love the leads and their chemistry, from a romance standpoint, “My Calorie Boy” is lacking romance and fluffiness. I wish the ending episode was not so rushed and gives us more romantic scenes. Unfortunately, this follows the script of many other similar dramas. These dramas only give us a few minutes of happiness in the end.
Overall, if you are interested in a high school drama with good acting and amazing leads chemistry, I strongly recommend this. The first ⅔ of the drama is excellent. I do wish there are more teen dramas that are not so focused on exams (aside from “Summer Again” which I strongly recommend).
Other Random Observations:
1. No Taekwondo gear and protection when FL and 2ML are fighting??
2. Best product placement - Integrated frozen meals into the plot lines of FL’s mom bad cooking and ML’s need for food.
3. The fat suit is quite believable
4. Weight Loss is a difficult plot to please watchers. I think it did OK here.
Completed: 1/4/2023
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Mork/Fluke is the best thing about this drama.
First official drama I started and completed in 2023 and I was welcomed by Fluke's cute dimple and sweet smile. He's the best thing about this drama. I am quite surprised to find out that this is his first drama as he did an admirable job. He reminded me of a mix between Chinese actors Zheng Ye Cheng and Riley Wang. Cute and adorable!The selling point of this drama is supposed to be the sweet romance between Mork and Tawan. I did enjoy the first half of the drama because of them. I liked how they met, how they became friends and then slowly fell for each other. Those episodes are sweet and cute. Tawan's acting is only so-so, compared to Mork. I felt the drama dragged Por's secret on for way too long. In the end, there's not enough time for Tawan to find out the truth, wallow in his misery and then come to the conclusion that he could be with someone who has loved him for a while. After the secret was exposed, the last couple episodes felt rushed. The development of Mork and Tawan's romance was not very satisfying for me.
There are two other romantic storylines in "My Ride" but unfortunately, they are not good enough for me. I did not like Toy or Boss, nor their relationship. I don't see how they are attracted to each other. I expected better development between Mayom and Nadia. Unfortunately, Mayom turned out to be a different character than I anticipated. I thought he would be cool and mature, but he ended up being another love sick puppy.
The driver trio is quite fun. They provide comic relief and commentary on Mork and Tawan's relationship. But the two uncles are the MVPs. They are so caring, funny, understanding and realistic. They give good advice to the young couple on what makes a relationship work.
The production quality is decent. There are product placements, of course, but they are not as in-your-face as some others I've seen. At least there aren't any ridiculous scenes where they need to force the products to be part of the plot/scene.
Overall, "My Ride" is a simple and predictable drama. I did not quite fall in love with the drama but I did fall in love with Mork/Fluke and I am glad I discovered him here.
Other Random Observations:
1. They have the smallest and tightest Ferris wheel ever.
2. The confession and apology scene is so inappropriate. These are professional doctors and not med students anymore. Doing at the hospital lecture hall in front of the professor is too over-the-top.
3. Many of these characters act like high school students instead of doctors in their mid to late twenties.
Completed: 1/2/2023
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Don't enjoy 2FL's storyline thus not enjoying the drama (very subjective review)
7.75 rating - rounded up to 8.0 because of Feng Shao FengI started watching “Prince of Lan Ling” at the end of 2022 and it’s the first drama I completed in 2023. At times, it does feel like it took me a year to finish watching this. Watching this drama almost 10 years after it’s aired, I came to the conclusion that there’s one trope I really dislike, and that’s the main reason I did not enjoy this drama as much as I thought.
What I Like:
1. Feng Shao Feng - A younger Feng Shao Feng exudes charisma as the tall, dark and handsome general. He might not fit the historical description of the real Gao Chang Gong, one of the 4 most handsome historical figures, who was described as more feminine and gentle. But putting that aside, I love his portrayal and his acting. His acting moved me, more so than in “The Story of Ming Lan”. Since this is an older drama, I guess China did not use white filters or makeup to make all men look like women.
2. Acting - The acting of the cast is good, including supporting characters. I enjoy all the emotional scenes and cry with them. I hate the villains, especially Zhang Er soooo much, because the actors were so good.
3. Male/Female/Male Love Triangle - I was pleasantly surprised to find out Yu Wen Yong is actually a good and understanding third wheel. I thought most of the romantic angst is because of his doing, since he’s the Emperor and is used to getting his way. Imagine my surprise when he knows when to let go, to love unconditionally and never really forces FL to do anything she doesn’t want to. No wonder some watchers are rooting for him instead of Gao Chang Gong. I didn’t really have second lead syndrome since I find GCG a lot more handsome and dashing. LOL
4. Grandmothers - Love both grandmothers for different reasons. Blind grandma is strict but kind and caring. Empress Dowager grandma is hilarious and lights up the show. Not enough grandma scenes in this drama.
5. Production - Looking via my 2023 eyes, I can tell money was spent on set designs, props and even battle scenes. Palaces in both kingdoms though look similar at first sight, actually have their own unique styles. Empresses wear elaborate jewelries and give off very different vibes, one’s elegant and the other’s imposing and commanding. I love all the costumes, especially for the men. Gao Chang Gong (ML) and the 5th Prince have the most unique and colorful outfits. Not a big fan of Yu Weng Yong (2ML)’s hairstyle and his royal robes look a little too big on him, not as fitting as what the two princes wear. Yang Xue Wu (FL) has a more simpler look with fewer accessories, and she fits her well.
What I Don’t Like or have Mixed Feelings:
1. Evil/Jealous 2FL - This is a personal hatred. After watching so many xianxia dramas, I’ve come to the realization that I really dislike second female leads who won’t take no for an answer, and are clingy, jealous and obsessive. I empathize with her sufferings but still. I could not stand misunderstandings between the leads especially if they are caused by evil 2FLs. Unfortunately, this whole drama is about this evil woman, and I couldn’t help but have to watch some episodes at 1.25x speed because of her. After watching newer dramas such as “Love Like the Galaxy” where the angst of the main romance is caused by understanding each other too well, watching this show’s misunderstandings hurt my soul.
2. Female/Male/Female Love Triangle - Continuing with my previous point, I do not like this love triangle between Yang Xue Wu/Gao Chang Gong/Zhang Er. I am mainly more disappointed in the two main characters where they would fall for Zhang Er’s tricks over and over again. They’re supposed to be smart people, yet Yang Xue Wu couldn’t stop herself from believing in those lies, when she KNEW Zhang Er was evil. My blood boils!
3. Dubbing - Ariel Lin is the only one who used her own voice in this drama. I applaud her for doing so, and it did make a difference. Unfortunately, I was expecting a different voice from Feng Shao Feng. His voice actor doesn’t seem to match him. I also dislike the voices of Emperor Gao Zhan and Zu Ting. They sound weird and a little cartoonish.
4. Main Romance - The main romance should have been good and right up my alley. They have sweet and fluffy scenes, romantic and emotional scenes. I would have loved a few more good kisses. I think the evil 2FL just took too much enjoyment out of the main romance for me to appreciate what I usually like. I enjoy the earlier episodes when they just met each other and started to fall in love. Once they became a couple, there’s something missing that I couldn’t pinpoint. I would not say the chemistry is bad. I love some of the scenes, especially the 2nd wedding and the portraits. I love that they mostly are very honest when communicating their feelings to each other. But this star-crossed lovers plot should move me more.
Other Random Observations:
1. The writers must know people hate the second female very much and try to compensate by showing a quite long scene of her getting sexually assaulted (no explicit skin-showing scenes).
2. The writers also don’t hesitate in burning a small child alive or throwing a baby on the floor to kill it.
3. Blind loyalty is the death of the male lead. He could have a good life with his wife but no, he chose to be a martyr. Reminds me of Zhou Sheng Chen in “One and Only”.
4. So much time was spent on FL helping out the disabled soldiers in the village. Well, it’s somewhat anticlimactic when ML just heard of it but never fully appreciated the effort. It’s just another plot device of the evil 2FL.
Completed: 1/1/2023 - First review of 2023 and I couldn’t keep it short and succinct.
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The Secret Life of My Secretary
2 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
Cute and Sweet Rom-Com with Excellent Main Leads' Chemistry
“The Secret Life of My Secretary” is a funny, sweet and fluffy rom-com. There are moments where I shed a few tears but if you want a feel good drama and a couple with excellent chemistry, this is it for you. Just don’t expect too much from other subplots outside of the main romance, as everything else pales in comparison and isn’t very exciting. The drama is very bingeable and I had a good and easy time watching it.What I like:
1. Main romance - Do Min Ik (ML) and Jung Gal Hee (FL) make such an adorable couple. I can’t help but smile ear-to-ear when they have scenes together. I like their boss-secretary relationship in the beginning, the secret but romantic relationship in the middle, and of course their cute, shy, and adorable official relationship. It’s been a while since I last saw the main actorss in a drama, and I am totally captivated and in love with Kim Young Kwang’s portrayal of Do Min Ik, and Jin Ki Joo’s portrayal of Jung Gal Hee. I am so glad we have enough scenes of the leads together and not resort to the last 5 mins of fluffiness. They also give a few good kisses, not like the secondary couple. The first kiss they share at the end of their 12-hour date is so romantic and so sad. I LOVE that kiss.
2. Do Min Ik (ML) - He’s not the typical cold and narcissistic chaebol, like the male lead in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim”. He’s business savvy, level-headed, and maybe a little spoiled since he is the Director after all. But he had a rough childhood that lacked familial love and trust in others. He’s not afraid to show his vulnerable side to his close loved ones, is honest and communicates his feelings. I fell in love with his shy and adorable (a little clingy) personality, but he’s also so gentlemanly, considerate and caring. Kim Young Kwang played this role perfectly. I laugh at his silliness, smile at his adorkableness and cry with him when he’s sad and hurt. He attacks his challenge head-on, and does not shy away. He studies hard and tries to live as much a normal life as possible. He is not pitiful despite the circumstances. I would say he might be one of my favorite rom-com male leads.
3. Jung Gal Hee (FL) - So glad to see another female lead who is not a pushover, despite being a secretary. She might have bent over backwards for her boss in the beginning, but for good reasons. When it matters, she speaks up and fights back. Jin Ki Joo is strong, independent, feisty, quick-thinking, and cares about her siblings. It’s not hard to love this character, and Jin Ki Joo plays the role beautifully.
4. Veronica Park (2FL) - Even before I watch this drama, I’ve heard of the character named Veronica Park. Now I know why she’s so famous/notorious. She’s just hilarious. I was afraid that her over-the-topness might annoy me, but she actually doesn't have that many scenes. So, I can tolerate her “Awwwwesome” and “Verrrronica Parrrrk” for 32 episodes. Before we have Shin Ha Ri and Jo Yoo Jung in “A Business Proposal”, we have the OG Veronica Park from “The Secret Life of My Secretary”.
5. Jung Joon Hee (FL’s brother) - He doesn’t have too many scenes but he’s a hilarious scene stealer. I am glad to see a character who is visually impaired, but lives like a regular adult with a great sense of humor. He’s not pitiful but actually knows how to take advantage of his disability and others (e.g. ML). I love the very short scene about the audiobook that he purchased based on the title of the book.
6. Funny scenes - There are quite a few memorable comedic moments throughout the drama. Without going into spoilers, I already mentioned earlier about the brother’s scene regarding audiobooks. We also have a funny scene with compression stockings, and just a simple scene of Veronica Park holding this camera with a ginormous lens. I am in the right mood and I had fun with all the craziness, but it might not be for everyone.
What I am Mixed Feelings About:
1. Secondary Romance - For me, this romance doesn’t work. I think it’s mainly because the second male lead seems a little bland. Maybe it’s the acting or maybe it’s the writing. I understand we need someone calmer to contrast Veronica Park's big personality, but the chemistry is lacking. I was quite disappointed in their kiss. I was expecting something more passionate and crazy, and a lot more PDA.
2. Secret - I feel the secret dragged out for a little too long. I would like the reveal to happen sooner, and a stronger focus in slowly repairing the main leads’ relationship.
3. Business twist - It was somewhat anticlimactic when I finally found out why the male lead is in such danger, and why someone is trying to steal that USB. Not that the cause/reason is not an important one, but I was just expecting something totally different and more controversial. The secret meetings and gatherings seem like an afterthought and not enough is shown to make me root for them.
4. Fight for the Crown - The other business part of the plot is OK. I understand the fight to be the next Chairman, but aside from the uncle trying to sabotage his nephew dethroning him here and there, this is not an exciting subplot to the drama.
Completed: 12/27/2022
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Poor execution of an interesting premise but good romance and chemistry
The premise of “The Eclipse” sounds interesting and it actually has a decent plot and not just another school-setting Thai BL. I was hoping it would be similar to “The Gifted” which I quite enjoyed. Unfortunately, the execution of this interesting premise did not quite meet my expectations. But the overall acting of the young cast is actually pretty good, compared to other Thai BLs I’ve seen.For the longest time, we have a group of THREE students, who call themselves “The World Remembers”, protesting against wearing school uniforms. I guess that could be a start in fighting back unreasonable school policies and rules. However, these same three students don’t seem to do much and the uniform issue lasted way too long before the protest gained traction to attract more people. The curse is supposed to be something scary but the threats do not seem that scary at all. They just seem like pranks to me. Ayan’s goal to find out more about his uncle’s suicide is executed a little better than the protesters. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, so I was pleasantly surprised. I also think it’s a waste of the female teacher. She could have done more and taken a more active role, but she’s just on the sidelines for most of the drama, and not contributing much.
Ayan is the best part of this drama. He brought joy and fun, and also facilitated the changing of Akk's character. The two make a very cute couple and one of the healthier relationships I’ve seen in a Thai BL drama in a school setting. I enjoy the teasing and the opposite-attract romance. I like how they communicate and Ayan patiently waits for Akk to come to terms with his feelings. The pair not just act well individually but also have great chemistry together. There may not be sexy scenes in this drama, but there are many romantic, cute and shy moments. There are also quite a few emotional scenes by Ayan and Akk, and I like how they support each other through tough times. I also quite like the secondary romance between Thua and Khan, and it’s mainly because I find Khan to be adorable. Thua is ok but his acting is only so so. I thought there’s more to Thua’s relationship with his stepfather, but then nothing happens.
Other Random Observations:
1. We have all good and supportive parents in this drama. Wow!
2. I love the main romance but Akk giving Aye a sponge bath is a little too much and cringey.
3. I see a pattern with Thai BL - swimming pool, underwater kiss, beach and guitar.
4. Why are students (even if they are prefects) patrolling school grounds at night?
5. A rare Thai drama that I only remember 1 product placement of drinks and they are not that bad.
Completed: 12/11/2022
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I Told Sunset About You Part 2
2 mensen vonden deze beoordeling nuttig
A successful and more mature sequel
“I Told Sunset About You” (ITSAY) is my first ever Thai drama and I really liked it. It also sets the bar very high for Thai BLs for me. I was hesitant to watch “I Promised You the Moon” (IPYTM) because I worried it might not live up to season 1, and it has a topic that I am not very keen on. However, I am glad I watched it, because the topic that I didn’t like was done tastefully.The tone of both dramas are quite different. ITSAY has a very youthful coming-of-age feel to it. There’s a lot of fun and excitement, while navigating new feelings and relationships. The cinematography was excellent and I remember feeling like I was watching a movie in the first episode.
On the other hand, IPYTM has a more mature tone to it. Moving away from home for the first time and living independently are stages of one’s life that we probably have experienced. Romance is central to the plot but it also touches upon topics such as homesickness, loneliness, difficulties in fitting in and making friends. Anyone who moves away from home for college has probably experienced all this. While in college, our leads, Teh and Oh-aew continue to learn and grow, to chase one’s dreams and realize that dreams and reality don’t necessarily align. College is also a time to discover who you really are. We continue to discover and change, thus, how others view you might change.
As Oh-aew continues to learn about himself, Teh is unsure if he is still in love with this new version of Oh-aew. While Teh continues to pursue his dreams, he runs into temptations and cold-hard truths. Despite facing new challenges as a couple, I appreciate how they are always honest with each other and are not afraid of confrontations.
Another aspect that I like about this drama is learning about acting, script-writing, and backstage productions. I’ve seen quite a few Thai BLs in a high school or university setting, and the students rarely go to class. Even if they do, they don’t seem to be learning anything at all. But in IPYTM, I actually learn with the actors, and I find that quite fascinating.
However, I have mixed feelings about the last episode. The pace is very slow and I have hoped for a different ending. I wouldn’t say it’s a rushed ending, I just wish the journey would take longer to arrive at the same conclusion/destination.
Overall, I would still recommend this drama if you are a fan of ITSAY. Just know they are quite different, and I think in a good way.
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Good pacing and enjoyable, but with Unrealistic ending.
Subjective Rating - 8.5 (exceeds my very low expectations and enjoyable)Objective Rating - 7.5-8.0
Taiwanese romantic comedies are usually a hit-or-miss to me because I am not quite used to the humor yet. And maybe because of that, I have low expectations for “Falling into You” and am pleasantly surprised that I had a very enjoyable time watching it. “Falling into You” follows the journey of injured and retired Taekwondo champion, Chen Zi Tong (FL).
What I Like:
1. Fang Zhi Sheng (ML) - FZS reminded me of a milder version of the male lead in the K-drama “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”. He’s a little over-the-top, narcissistic, petty and childish, but actually very sweet and caring. I was worried that I might not like his character but luckily, I find the humor to be tolerable. I enjoy seeing his character development and how he has become a caring, supportive and understanding boyfriend, yet doesn’t change his personality to always think about money and business (according to him, always a win-win situation for him).
2. Chen Zi Tong (FL) - Independent, competent, hardworking, self-sufficient, and not a damsel in distress. She never gives up on her dream despite life’s tough challenges. She’s not perfect and can be very stubborn. She has changed a lot from when we first met her in the first episode, to the woman she’s become in the last episode. I would have liked to see her cheerful self a little bit more when she’s with ML, but also appreciate the fact that she doesn’t lose herself once she’s in a relationship.
3. Chen Tian Lin/FL’s brother - A tough, dedicated and no nonsense journalist/reporter, who is always trying to find out the truth. Yet when he is with the one he likes, you see the tenderness in his eyes as he gazes lovingly at Yang Qing. I also like the interesting bromance he has with Fang Zhi Sheng.
4. Taekwondo - I think Puff Kuo and Xi Wei Lun did a pretty admirable job in all their taekwondo moves. Of course they are not as good as professionals, but I can see the effort they put in to make sure each punch and kick look as realistic as possible.
What I have Mixed Feelings About:
1. Fang Qing (2FL) - She does not sound or act like a 40 year old woman. She seems like a pretty good teacher and doesn’t teach her children good lessons. But her behavior doesn’t always seem mature, e.g. slapping Chen Tian Lin on the face at the hospital when she doesn’t know anything about him and his family. That was uncalled for and definitely not what a teacher should be doing in front of her student. She also acts like a teenage girl in love most of the time, when she’s already had experience in the romance department. There are times she could have an honest conversation about her feelings, yet she chooses to avoid and lie. I think her high-pitched voice also makes her sound really whiny and young.
2. Romance - Both the primary or secondary romances are enjoyable enough but not great. The chemistry is decent. I wish Chen Zi Tong (FL) can show more emotions and there are more cute and fluffy scenes between the main leads. I think after they get together, they dive right into a mature relationship (which I like as well) but somewhat skip the sweet and fluffy honeymoon phase. That’s partly because the drama needs to focus on the FL’s comeback. I am also a little disappointed in the kisses between the main leads. Luckily, we get a couple steamy kisses from the secondary leads. The male characters are so smitten by the ladies. I always love the loving and secret looks but also would like some more from the female leads.
3. Editing/Storytelling - In the second half of the drama, the editing got weird. Instead of straight storytelling, there are many flashbacks and scenes that are cut short or stopped. The scenes are cut back and forth, and only show enough information to keep it ‘suspenseful’.
**** Spoilers****
4. Unrealistic Ending - For an athlete who is injured and stops training for over 2 years, there’s no way FL can compete at a high level without enough training/prep time. The Olympic qualifying tournament is laughable with a cheap venue and is sparsely attended. In the last match, there’s no way Wu Qian Ni would just stand there and not attack to try to win. But of course, this is Chen Zi Tong’s comeback story and we know she is going to win eventually. Now that she wins and is injured again (possibly unable to compete ever again), what is going to happen to the investment Fang Zhi Sheng has made in her and her mother’s dojang? He spent so much money on them and probably is not going to get his money back.
Other Random Observations:
1. Both male leads have nice six packs. I wish to see them more. LOL
2. The characters in this drama like to secretly record a conversation on their cell phones.
3. We never met Chen Tian Lin’s ex-wife or Gao Yu Qian’s girlfriend.
4. The child actress is cute and does a good job, but her voice is too high-pitched.
5. Love FL’s dad - sweet and caring and reminds me of his role in “A Thousand Goodnights”.
Completed: 11/14/2022
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Beautiful Cinematography and Paintings + Excellent Acting
“Iribito” aka “Stranger” is a beautiful short mystery drama set in the world of art. Female lead, Naho, is pregnant but is left in Kyoto alone, while her husband and family stay in Tokyo. Feelings of abandonment and disconnect filled her and she does not feel the joy of pregnancy. But after she comes across an undiscovered talent in Tatsuru, she is adamant in introducing this genius artist to the world, no matter the cost. You slowly see how Naho changes because of this artist.Actress Takahata Mitsuki plays the introverted and depressed Naho beautifully in the first couple episodes. But her eyes light up whenever she is looking at Tatsuru’s paintings. Her character changes and grows, and you can see her true personality and how she outsmarts everyone. Surmire is so believable as the abused and mute genius artist. Her big eyes speak volumes and are able to convey so many emotions. The overall acting for the whole cast is great, and there’s no weak link. There are no over-the-top or annoying characters.
5 episodes are enough to tell this story. In the first half of the drama, I kept on thinking I needed more background information on certain relationships. But as the story unfolds, the information that I want is slowly revealed. So be patient, pay attention and wait for the twists and turns.
I am not an artist and don’t really know how to appreciate fancy art. But the paintings shown in this drama, esp. Tatsuru’s paintings can easily be appreciated by novices like me. The lighting and camera angle excellently showcase the beauty of these paintings. There are many beautiful shots of scenery or people, expertly shot that they become paintings themselves. Tatsuru’s style and size of her paintings grow throughout the drama, as she finally found someone who believes and encourages her development as an artist.
“Iritbito” is not a fast-paced drama. It’s one that you need to be in the right mood to appreciate how the plot slowly unveils the twists and turns, and with excellent and appropriate background music to set the mood. I'm giving this a rounded up 8.5.
Completed: 11/8/2022
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