Thanks for the miracle

Before you even start this drama, don't try to find an explanation for all this supernatural stuff, just let yourself be carried away by the strength of their chemistry. This drama really gives meaning to the word "love".

The time between Mitsuri and Koichi is limited after the latter's accident. As a "living corpse", his future is uncertain and despite all that this implies, Mitsuru tries to remain as calm and rational as possible.

The contrast between the cheerful Koichi and the composed Mitsuru is one of the strengths of this story. It is clear why they fell in love with each other long before this event occurred that puts their story in perspective.

The drama will carry a sense of delicacy, discretion and melancholy throughout the episodes. Their relationship is one that doesn't need to be expressive to know that they love each other, their eye contact gives you butterflies, a feeling of sadness and happiness at the same time.

You will fall in love with Mitsuru's monologues which are poignant, sad, loving, he has such resilience. You will appreciate the message behind each dialogue, dialogues that make us accept grief, the grief of love, the grief of loss. When a simple conversation gives us hope, hope that there will be a tomorrow, hope that we will not be forgotten as long as our memory has a place in the heart of the beloved.

As a bonus, the OSTs are powerful, soft, catchy and accompany each scene very well.

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Give it a try, don't be drawn on the first episodes impressions.

I like this drama, the general idea, the setting are interesting despite some shortcomings in the script, direction, editing and acting. I wouldn't have believed it but the second part is much better and allowed me to appreciate it.

We follow the story of these 3 couples with different trajectories but with a common passion for sports.

If the couple Torn and Fah didn't impress me during the first episodes, I liked the evolution of their story from episode 6 onwards. Without realizing it, each wants to be the best in their sport, basketball. Here, there are no usual misunderstandings, no love triangles, no misplaced jealousy, just a guy who can't find his place in the shadow of his professional basketball boyfriend and the so-called boyfriend who doesn't understand his needs. Their relationship shows that love isn't always enough to make a relationship work, but also love on the other hand is what pushes one to understand the other, to forgive and to improve.

As for Aii and Saen, they are ultimately the most classic couple in this story, despite a beginning that would have made us think the worst. They support each other, they trust each other, they love each other and that's enough.

I conclude with the duo that has the most impact on me, by the simplicity and at the same time the complexity of their relationship, Dome and Wee. How do you react when you meet the right person at the wrong time? Is waiting enough or do you let your feelings fade over time and remain only a fleeting moment in your life?

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A recipe for pasta is simple at first glance, but it all depends on the seasoning, the addition of sauces, the quality of the ingredients to make the dish delicious. Some recipes bring back fond memories, others are forgotten as quickly as they were consumed.

Through the evocation of their common past or the glimpse of their current life, we feel that they have managed to preserve their good moments. I also felt the unsaid things, the affection that shines through, the care for each other and I think that maybe there is a possibility for them. Maybe the recipe at the time wasn't elaborate enough, or maybe it wasn't just right for the 20-year-olds they were.

Note: there is no predefined recipe for making a relationship work, each person finds the right fit in their own way to make it work.

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Short but what a gem !

It's amazing to think that 16 minutes of movie has such a big impact on you. Final note 8.8 / 10

A first love story has that lightness that you feel when you are in a place where you feel safe.

There's a kind of shyness, a modesty, an awkwardness in the way they express themselves, whether it's in the dialogue or in their body language.

I like the way this film is anchored in reality and pushes us not to have regrets.

It's worth to watch, well written, well directed each gesture has a symbolism and well acted, the actors manage to share with us this relationship between these two friends.

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An intriguing story with a lack of emotional anchoring

As the last episode concluded, a question emerged naturally: could different actors have deeply would moved me with their emotions?

Having immersed myself in the manga, I noticed this adaptation remained largely faithful, with only minor divergences in certain scenes and dialogues.

In the first episode, I was genuinely impressed by how the two actors restrained their emotions, perfectly capturing the essence of their respective characters. However, as the episodes unfolded, the enchantment of the beginning slowly dissipated, and their acting seemed to vacillate between underacting and overacting, lacking the depth that had initially captivated me.

Regarding the story, I may be among the few who truly appreciated the way Kazuma's declaration, "I only see Ren," was delicately and skillfully portrayed. It was no ordinary first encounter, but a poignant reunion after a decade of longing, anxiety, and concern for each other's well-being. A decade of cherishing an idea that finally materialized into reality.

Furthermore, the development of Ren's character resonated with me deeply. He fearlessly stated his sexual orientation, yet his unresolved trauma prevented him from fully embracing himself. Ren's self-doubt and perpetual quest for redemption left him unable to fully accept love, even when it stood at his doorstep, simple and unconditional.

The true brilliance of this drama lies in its ability to intertwine societal issues with the intricacies of romance, drawing me in with its relevance. It fearlessly explores themes like parental pressure in a conservative society, the objectification and exploitation of women, the perpetrators' impunity despite accusations, and the stigmatization of homosexuality reduced to mere lust.

However, one aspect left me feeling somewhat disheartened—the clichéd notion of "love heals all, love forgives all." While the drama fearlessly portrayed moments of ugliness, it missed an opportunity to delve deeper into the psychological journey of overcoming trauma or at least learning to live with it on a daily basis. It would have been intriguing to witness a more profound reflection on the intricacies of emotional healing and the complexities of acceptance.

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An Afternoon that Can Change Everything

Xiao Yu is accustomed to following his older brother and stumbles upon an unexpected scene one afternoon. This raises several questions: does he feel lost, confused, angry, surprised? One of the strengths of the screenplay is to let the audience draw their own conclusions about Xiao Yu's feelings.

Another intriguing aspect involves the father. I wonder to what extent he is aware or pretends to be ignorant. This ambiguity adds additional tension to the narrative.

While the focus primarily rests on the younger brother, the short film subtly hints at Feng's perspective as well. I was left questioning whether he doesn't feel secure enough to fully embrace his life, if he's waiting for the right moment to reveal himself, or if he simply values maintaining his privacy. It is evident that he cares for his brother while giving him the space he needs when he sees that Xiao Yu is drifting away from him. This decision may stem from the same reason he creates a boundary between his home life and love life—to preserve his personal space. Feng loves freely, yet simultaneously keeps it a secret.

Ultimately, "One Afternoon" brilliantly demonstrates that not everything needs to be explicitly stated for the story to convey its message. The unsaid and the silences contribute to the narrative power of the short film.

It's delightful to see Huang Chun Chih again, whom I previously enjoyed in "HIStory3: Make Our Days Count." His natural interaction with Lin You Quan and Ping Chen Wu is remarkable and brings authenticity to the entire performance.

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Romance is a bonus book!

Finally, the wait is rewarded, no fanservice, no bright smiles to seduce the audience, no PPL, no militancy, no questions about sexuality, no lover hunting, no unrequited love, just an ordinary story of two guys with their inner problems. I like the fact that the thread of this drama is the making of an autobiographical film (they major in filming).

Don't judge the book by its cover, it's a very good summary of their personal story. Yes, they are good looking and popular but no one knows them really because they don't let anyone get close enough to see the crack in their minds, in their hearts. This drama told a story of trust, trusting other enough to open up, to stop trying to be perfect, to believe in themselves, to close the scars of bullying / of past and move on.
As their friends said so well, they will be fine, they have found each other.

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So Long! follows Ran Ran's last days in Beijing. What caught my attention was not the story itself, which was too disjointed, but the synopsis.
Ran Ran is transgender and defines himself as pansexual. Yet the English description on Gagaoolala (which I intentionally left as is when I submitted the title to MDL), the female gender "she" is used. I wondered throughout the documentary if this was intentional to show that despite Ran Ran's trans-identity, he remains a woman to the administration, he remains a woman to the outside world, as was the case for some of his former work colleagues and academics.
At the end of the 25-minute documentary, I also wondered what happened to Ran Ran after he returned to his hometown. He had mentioned a rather serene relationship with his relatives during the interviews. Was he able to find a new job, did he meet someone? Is he still involved in advocacy for transgender rights? Many questions that will not be answered unfortunately.

Note: The Mandarin synopsis uses the pinyin tā to mark the gender neutral.

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Premonitions aren't so simple

The romance build-up is typical and at the same time atypical compared to what we watch in Thai productions. They were meant to meet according to Eve's premonitions, and although the realisation of her "love" dreams was not linear as she experienced in other areas of her life, the end result remained the same. While their relationship didn't really move me, I appreciated the change in both of them as they came into contact with each other.

What makes this mini-series memorable is that it shows another image of Thailand, one that deals with its own minorities, these hill tribes whose part of the population is still "stateless". It shows the difference in status between city and country folks, the language barrier, the labour laws, the importance given to social success, what is considered a priority depending on where one comes from and the conception of love.

It's for these kinds of dramas that I miss companies like GDH or Nadao Bangkok that not only entertain us, but also introduce stories that emphasize the human dimension.

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A better plot towards the end

Is this drama worth to watch?
There are definitely better ones but if you just want to enjoy the performance of the actors then yes it's worth it.

Is it predictable? Overall yes.
There are 3 investigations. The plot of the first two have been seen over and over with a banal approach and serve as an introduction to the last one. The last case is more promising as it digs into Ryu Soo Yeol's past. Nevertheless, there are some silly flaws, the transition between episodes 8 and 9 is too abrupt, the main thread is too superficial. There is also the eternal problem of the one-man hero in crime series. As for the villain, he is cruelly uncharismatic and turns from a smart guy to an idiot in the space of an episode.

Is it easy to watch?
Yes, it's quite well paced and the actors are excellent. It's not very boring but it's not overwhelming either.

Warning: The characters keep yelling at each other throughout the drama.

Final note: 7.8 /10

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I came for Tor and in the end the story surprised me

This lakorn is my second incursion into Thai romance.

Why did I choose to watch it? Because of Tor Thanapob who showed me an interesting range of acting skills in the movie Ghost Lab.

As the episodes went on, I began to appreciate each protagonist in this drama. The actors presented acting that met the emotional needs in each scene. There is still a bit of overacting here and there, but overall the acting remains fluid. And to top it off, the screen time for each character is balanced.

The writer has created a FL who is less whiny and less dependent on the ML. Despite a few decisions that I consider stupid on Orn's part she does well and you can feel Aff Taksaorn's experience in acting.

The writing of the second female lead (Ai) is well done. I like that she gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and makes the second male lead (Pham) grow up.

In a lakorn there is always a villain and even though I guessed him from the first few episodes I find it interesting how he was revealed. For once it's a non-caricatured villain.

What I like less:

The kissing scenes are too dull, I wasn't expecting French kiss but they are supposed to love each other and it doesn't show.

I don't know what the budget of this drama is, but I can't get used to the special effects.

I like the OST when I listen to it but I can't find any harmony with the different soundtracks of the drama.

The editing is not fluid and we go from a tender moment to abrupt scenes.

I came for Tor, his acting doesn't disappoint, in the end the story surprised me in a good way and makes me want to explore Thai romances a bit more.

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This drama gave me the same emotions as To My Star, it's a real gem in the stream of gay romance that Korea has been providing lately.

What I like: the story isn't focused on the homosexuality but on human relationships. And for this aspect, thanks to the scriptwriters because it's exactly what I've been waiting for ages.

Sang Woo's character is one of the best written I've seen in a long time, he's really rooted in reality, some of us can relate to him. Most of the time he's unconcerned of his fellow man feeling, he's gauche in his actions and reactions and yet everything he does makes sense. I like his rationality, I like how he's confused by what he doesn't control and in the other hand he accepted to take measured risks to make room for his feelings . As for Jang Jae Young, he's the perfect match. The fact that he accepts Sang Woo idiosyncrasies and at the same time helps him open up is what we want from a partner. He's straightforward, stubborn when he needs to be and knows how to withdraw when necessary.

The writer really knew how to highlight the complementarity in their difference. This drama is the good definition of the word "normalization" if that word should be used in romanceland.

PS: The nod to Jang Jae Young and Choi Yu Na's exes is my favorite part.

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"Deep Ocean" is the kind of film that demands attention to grasp all its nuances. Not only because it's a short film, but also because the scenes don't unfold in chronological order.

It subtly touches upon recurring themes related to romantic interests. We ponder why some people cling to relationships that are destined to fail, why some continue to love those who don't reciprocate their feelings, why it's so challenging to move on, and why others feel the need to be hurtful in their rejection.

Towards the end, I found myself wondering if the protagonist had managed to set aside his emotions. Did he bury them deep within himself to move forward? I like to believe that he will be able to move on, not forgetting this teenage love, but rather gaining a deeper understanding of who he is, a talented swimmer among other things.

To conclude, the short film has potential, it's not bad, it just didn't take me away emotionally.

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Love isn't always fair

What choice do we make when faced with fears? To run away or to stay, to fight for what you have the right to have and/or to live?

K and Cream decide to keep a status quo in their relationship despite a more than brotherly love for fear of hurting each other, for fear of losing themselves, for fear of losing the other and for the famous for you own good. But in the end what did they gain? Nothing except misery and loneliness.

It's a fairly classic melodrama with its share of sad moments, unknowns and angst. As a bonus if you feel the urge to get angry at characters for missing the main sauce to any relationship in a decent story "communication" then go for it.

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I have been you, I have learned and I have grown

This short film tells a story that many bi-racial children have experienced in a world where difference is often not tolerated and accepted.
This film teaches us that we should not wait for others to accept us for who we are before we accept ourselves.
Learning self-esteem starts at home from a young age, because we know that everyone's experiences are different depending on where they come from, what they have experienced and how much access they have to information. This film also teaches us that in a pool of people whose ignorance makes them fearful and mean, there is always a glimmer of hope, a human who simply sees us as another human being.
Nelson Mandela once said:
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

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