Kiseki: Dear to Me (2023)

The Triumph of the Second Couple Compared to the First Couple

The initial episodes of the series are enjoyable and engaging. After a while, following the first couple becomes entertaining as well. It seems that generating a storyline for the scriptwriter became challenging after the first couple became a couple, as we start to witness a forced plot, making the series less interesting. Especially towards the end, I found myself fast-forwarding through scenes involving the initial couple.

I absolutely loved the second couple in the series. In fact, the reason I started watching this series was because I had seen a scene of the second couple on TikTok. For the first time in a BL series, I saw that the story of the second couple was much better than that of the first couple. The introduction, development, and conclusion - everything about their story was well-executed. They even managed to skillfully tie up the absurd and nonsensical events related to the first couple. Even now, thinking about scenes with the second couple makes butterflies flutter in my stomach.

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A little illogical and unrealistic but I still enjoyed it

If you’re looking for a show that you can binge-watch within a couple of days, this one will do the trick.

As a pouty but highly sensible and emotionally sensitive teenager, Zongyi can be a little cringey at times. There is no shred of subtlety in this man. Remember when you were young and dumb and felt the need to proclaim your love as loudly as quickly as possible? That’s Bai Zongyi.

The love story between Chenyi and Aidi was slightly more interesting because of their backstory – both were orphans who grew up in a life of crime after being adopted by a gang leader – and had potential for some real emotional depth. They had good visuals but their acting was a little weak during the emotionally-charged scenes.

An interesting point that the show brings up: “Is this love or is this admiration?”

But overall, the storyline is a little cliched, there are some gaps in the storytelling, and the story is rather illogical and unrealistic. But is it still worth giving it a try? Yes, absolutely.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/11/30/kiseki-dear-to-me-2023-bl-review/

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Apakah semenarik kiseki 2021?

Di awal tahun 2021, muncul sebuah trailer yang menurutku cukup bagus, judulnya adalah Kiseki (miracle) ; diperankan oleh seorang aktor bernama Stan Huang (sekarang merupakan pemain series VIP Only) ; banyak sekali penonton yang ingin menjadikan series kiseki ini menjadi terealisasi. Dua tahun berlalu dan rilislah series ini, Kiseki: Dear to Me, awalnya aku sebenarnya kecewa karena para pemainnya benar-benar diubah total, padahal aku berekspektasi bahwa Stan Huang dkk. lah yang memainkannya. Tapi, tidak masalah, setelah saya mencoba menonton episode pertama dari series ini, ternyata series ini punya ciri khasnya sendiri yang membuatnya menarik untuk di tonton. Dari segi alur dan cerita, sebenarnya punya bentuk cerita yang menarik ya, tapi entah kenapa series ini seperti "melompat-lompat" sehingga membuatnya kehilangan detail, inti ceritanya memang tersampaikan dengan baik, alurnya juga mudah difahami - namun beberapa bagian menjadi seolah-olah hilang. Dari segi dialog, menurutku series ini mampu membuat penontonnya menjadi "iya-iya" saja karena beberapa dialog (di-awal) agak kurang difahami, tetapi walaupun begitu saya sebagai penonton dapat menangkap inti cerita dan inti masalahnya. Satu lagi, entah kenapa series ini menurutku lebih menampilkan adegan kuat di main role ke dua "Ai Di dan Chen Yi" dibandingkan dengan "Fan dan Bai" ; banyak series bL Taiwan yang seperti ini, aku tidak tahu apakah ini perasaanku saja atau bagaimana.

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Didn't expect this to be so romantic

The beginning of this drama is a little confusing, because there's a short opening scene in the present and then there's a long (!) flashback that lasts for more than half of the entire series. I recommend ignoring that and just focusing on the rest of the story, which luckily doesn't use flashbacks and flash-forwards as much as I feared.

The story itself is good, but nothing exceptional: a fated encounter between a member of a gang and a high-school student leads to them having to live together for a while and slowly develop feelings for each other. The plot also follows the story of two other members of the gang and the love triangle between them and their boss. I feel like the organized crime aspect of the plot should have been explored more, especially in terms of who is aligned with whom and what do these gangs actually do other than fighting each other whenever they meet.

The romance can be good or not, it all depends on personal taste: it feels like the love stories don't have solid foundations and they're mostly based on the ideas of "fate", "soulmates", and more in general the will to give up on anything for a lover. The main characters seem to share this extreme sentiment when it comes to love, so if that's too much for you, I can't recommend watching. I personally found it very romantic - maybe a little too idealistic to feel real, but it's also nice to dream every now and then, isn't it?
I believe that the couples featured in the drama are the best part. The acting is not stellar, but they deliver their performances very well and their chemistry was enough to glue my eyes to the screen.

I can't say that this story was great, or that I'd recommend this drama for its plot. On the other hand, I had fun and the couples are very sweet and memorable to me. I believe you should give it a chance if you like romance with a good amount of angst.

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Okay Storyline with Great Cast

I think I would have hated this show if the cast wasn't as great as they are. I am going to break this review down into parts

Rui/Zong Yi-- I hated Rui at first and thought that I would never be able to like his character, and to be fair I didn't for most of the show. I had a very big problem with the fact that Zong Yi was a minor and Rui was forcing Zong Yi to house him and was also being weird and flirty with him. I thought that they would at least age up Zong Yi before the actual romance/intimacy was happening but Nope. It was important to the story that he was 17 but I don't really like that there was a sex scene when one of them was a minor and the other was in his 20s. I thought the part where Rui was hidden in the house went on way too long and I was honestly getting bored of it, but then it ended. AND THEN HE WAS HIS TEACHER???? I also don't really understand where Zong Yi's feelings came from since all Rui has done for him was help him with homework (in exchange for cake may I add) but once they got together I didn't hate them. Towards the middle of the story, I started to like this couple more and was rooting for them to get back together when Rui was out of prison, but then they pulled the amnesia thing which didn't really make a lot of sense because he was injured from being punched in the body?? but whatever lol. Once Rui and Zong Yi were back together I liked the storyline with Zong Yi's dad having a problem with them because obviously he would his son went to jail because of this dudes gang/mafia/whatever it was. By the end, I was happy for them and thought their ending was very cute. This review seems like I hated their entire storyline and I wanna add on that I dont!! Just compared to the side couple I did not care all that much for their story. Im sure that many people probably loved their story!!

Chen Yi/Ai Di-- For me they carried this entire show and I think they should have been the main couple, to be honest. I'm kind of a slut for childhood friends to lovers and especially in a mafia show like this I was just bound to love them. Ai Di was my favorite character in the entire series. He was so cute but crazy at the same time and honestly very mature for his age, WHICH WAS 18 THANK GODDD why does every show have to have so many minors??? Chen Yi was also a favorite of mine. Him being in love with the boss at first (who was like wayy too old for him idk why nobody told him this) made the scenes between him and Ai Di even better because I never knew when he was just gonna realize that hes in love with Ai Di (which was so so obvious I literally thought they were dating when I started the show) . These characters had soooo much chemistry I was literally biting my nails wondering when they were gonna get together. I was sitting there so sad for AI Di when it showed him celebrating their birthday alone every year TT. I did not like the fact that the first time they slept together Chen Yi was drunk, and then they didn't see eachother for years. I also did not understand why Ai Di went to jail I dont think they ever explained it. After the time jump I loved this couple even more. Seeing straightfaced, always serious Chen Yi try to figure out how to get Ai Di back was so funny (I liked when he gave him the face pillow lmaooo). When they finally got together I was so much happier than when the main couple got together tbh.

I did not care about the two old dudes at all and everytime they were on screen I did not pay any attention to them at all Im sorry. Im sure their story is interesting but I have no interest in the love story of two old annoying awful dudes.

I would recommend watching this just for the awesome cast, and for Ai Di and Chen Yi. It also has some cameos from other Taiwanese bl actors! Overall I definitely enjoyed this series.

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Watch it If You Enjoy Action, Romance and Drama

This series has everything.

Gangsters, drama, unrequited love, comedy, action. What's not to like?

This show literally had me in a choke hold until it was over, and when it ended my only thought was- Wait, there isn't more?
I wish this show had thirty episodes. I'd keep watching these characters for a good stretch longer.

I really like the world they set up (Who wouldn't like a world made up of impossibly hot gangsters who are all secretly in love with each other?) and both couples sold the romance for me. I even enjoyed the little cameos we got, and I thought they were tasteful and not over done.

That's it. My only critique is that I wish it were longer, because I did feel a little bit like they had to rush all of the flash forward scenes just a bit.

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Hablar de milagros es hacer terrenal lo imposible

Kiseki: Dear to Me es una obra mayúscula. Una propuesta voraz que te arrastra hacia el final de una madriguera de la que no quieres escapar. Había visto a tanta gente hablar de ella, recomendarla haciendo comparativas con KinnPorsche por su temática relacionada con la mafia... Pero no, Kiseki no es KinnPorsche. KinnPorsche no podrá ser nunca Kiseki. Porque aunque KP tiene una química arrolladora entre varias de sus parejas, lo que Kiseki ha conseguido en mí no es ni mínimamente comparable.
Las actuaciones de Hsu Kai y Taro Lin son sobresalientes, perdí la cuenta de las veces que sentí que la montaña rusa de emociones me arrastraba y me hacía terminar llorando. Cada cliffhanger, cada momento específicamente elegido, el simbolismo, los dobles sentidos, el vestuario de Aidi.
Kiseki tiene todo para convertirse en uno de mis BLs preferidos de todos los tiempos y en uno de esos a los que vuelva cuando me vincule con alguien y quiera que comprenda partes de mi concepto de amor. De mi concepto de dedicación hacia los demás.
Ojalá el equipo de producción y el plantel de actores tenga siempre una almohada fresca en verano, una sombra en la que refugiarse y el ronroneo de un gato cuando se sientan ansioso. Porque no habrá forma de que yo les repague que esta obra haya llegado a mi vida.
Kiseki significa milagro. Así que ahora creo en los kiseki.

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It's been a while since I have been THIS invested in a show & couple!

I started watching Kiseki without too much expectations. I'm generally a sucker for mafia-setting BLs, so I was sure I'd enjoy it enough but I was not ready for just how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this show!!!!

And the main reason is, as I guess for many others, the incredible chemistry of the side couple! Don't get me wrong: The main couple did a great job, too, but Chen Yi and Ai Di just instantly stole my heart and I rewatched all their scenes several times already despite the show just wrapping last night.
This couple's story is heartbreaking and beautiful and both characters are intresting and lovable despite their obvious flaws. It also helps that both actors are incredibly hot and very skilled in their acting.

Especially Louis, who plays Ai Di, did just such an amazing job at portaying his character! I have never seen him play in anything before Kiseki but I am definitely going to follow up with his career from hereon out as this man has some serious skills. He is able to portray pining & vulnerability in such a raw, open and realistic/subtle way to a level I don't think I've seen in any asian drama for a loooong long time! What a talent!!

The show definitely has its FLAWS - Sometimes pacing is a bit off (things moving too slow or too fast), some of the acting here and there is a bit wonky by main as well as side characters (in a sense of overacting. But overall, acting from everyone was decent enough to not pull me out of the immersion!), sometimes getting a bit heavy on tropes (especially the 'everyone is gay. do straight people exist??'-setup ^^; ) - but THE GOOD - the well written main 4 characters, HOT actors (I can't stress this enough!!), some really likeable and well-played side characters, great opening song and a storyline sending us on wonderful emotional rollercoaster in regards to all couples involved - definitely outweighs these by far!

I also loved the intimate scenes for both couples and the decent amount we got of them. I feel it's enough for people looking for some hot kisses but also little enough to not make people uncomfortable. And it definitely sparked my as well as other fan's creativity to extend their stories in fanworks - and I can't wait for so much more fanfiction and fanworks to come out until we hopefully, hopefully get a chance for a second season or spin-off series (fingers crossed!!)

Generally, if you haven't seen Kiseki yet I definitely DEFINITELY RECOMMEND you watch it!
One of my new absolute favorites that I, for a fact, will rewatch several times for sure!

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Such hawt steamy story.

I simply adore their chemistry with each other. Love-Hate, Jealousy, Friendships! everything is there. Protecting your love ones till you're dying breath - how sweet! I love their soundtracks, especially MarryMe <3

My ultimate favourite scene is when Fan Ze Rui climbs on Bai Zong Yi and straddle his lap; most definitely HOT! I repeated it many times :P Even just by looking at each other, can really see the sexual tension. Those soft yet steamy kisses is merely stairway to heaven.

ChenYi and Ai Di, well; these two naughty boys really can't lay off each other afterwards. Their relationship truly evolves throughout the series and their shirtless moments is.. MAIGAWD! What AiDi did to Zong Yi is true friendship!

Nevertheless, the story did have few shortcomings; the ending was too jumble up when the previous 12 series the managed to explain things. What's more, having the villain at the last minute and simply be bygones is just messy for me. Really feel like they should really focus more on the mafia sides of the story more; rather than the school life.

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Este bl me volvió loca

Está serie se va de un extremo a otro, con una trama muy fuerte que en momentos es tratada con demasiada ligereza, y en otros con demasiado dramatismo. El desarrollo de la pareja principal se sintió un pelin forzado al principio, y si bien las escenas fueron preciosas, no se sintió realista. Aún así, tenían tremenda química y me enamoré de su amor y pasión, pero DIOS MIO, cada dos segundos un dramón. Todos los personajes casi mueren 30 veces, pusieron demasiados problemas y escatimaron en dar un mejor desarrollo a las parejas (sobre todo la la 1era), ya que lo único que le falto a esta serie fue realismo, y hubiera sido perfecta. Sumado a esto, hubo varios baches... o muy poca información o demasiada información, me volvió loca!!
Pero lo que más me da bronca, es que pese a todo, la ame un montón, la incondicionalidad de las parejas, la forma en la que se aferraron al amor en un entorno de lo más desolador, la manera en la que me hizo llorar y emocionarme, la química, las actuaciones, los besos... Fue preciosa.
La pareja secundaria me gustó un poco más porque sus sentimientos si tuvieron tiempo en generarse hasta que se les salió del cuerpo, entre el amor y el odio, fue muy fuerte y me encantó demasiado.
Se que pudo ser mejor y por eso la crítico tanto, porque lo que si llegó a dar me gustó muchísimo. Me engancho, me entretuvo y emocionó mucho, si te gustan las series apasionantes y con sentimientos fuertes, la recomiendo mucho

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é uma obra dramática

A minha primeira preocupação com a série foi o age gap que acontecia entre os personagens. Eu não acompanhei a série quando estava saindo então não pude acompanhar como foi a reação das pessoas nesse quesito. a minha maior birra com age gap é quando se trata de uma relação problemática, não necessariamente uma relação abusiva mas problemática mesmo (envolvendo questões de dependência, uma clara hierarquia etc) não é o caso aqui (enquanto a relação ainda envolve um menor de idade) mas ainda fica esse fator no ar.

Sobre a história, eu realmente acho que é uma boa história, com um bom enredo e bons personagens. Quando se trata de BL se tem uma variação muito grande de conteúdo mas ainda é possível perceber um certo padrão de obras e acho que essa foge um pouco desse padrão. O que me incomodou foi o fator de muita informação e pouco tempo de solução, algumas coisas me pareceram apressadas demais e alguns momentos que eram para serem tensos não tiveram tempo suficiente para se criar essa atmosfera.

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Hard Series To Dislike

This is a hard series to dislike, even if it is a bit unpleasant to watch. While these guys are ‘bad guys’ they have sanitized them so much and made them redeemable, you literally sympathize with their plight. And honestly, I was completely entertained by them, even though the story is nearly incomprehensible. It is another ‘Mafia-type’ criminally related series with a lot of tropey chest-thumping bravado ‘action’ that I frankly did not understand and was disturbed by its gratuitous violence. None of it made a lot of sense to me and it had a feel of familiarity about it as it is full of clichés. What is really essential are the two solid love stories and the third, rather peripheral and underlying one.
Read my fill review at BLBliss.com.

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