A good time but could have been SO much better

I wouldn't have even known this had existed if not for MDL. That's how it popped up on my radar. You guys were seriously obsessed when it was airing. Lol. But despite the intense hype, the FMV's, and the fanfiction at the time, I didn't watch it. Granted, months later, I caved. This was one of the few times I decided to follow the masses like a fellow zombie to see what was so interesting.

Was it worth it?

Overall, yes.

I'm a sucker for anything with dystopia. This was at least in the realm of realistic dystopia, which I definitely enjoyed. The imagery was spectacular, the soundtrack was grand, the plot was unpredictable (thanks to one ML in particular), and the acting from the two ML's was no joke. Kang Yo Han as a character was just epic! Ji Sung (Kang Yo Han) nailed every scene he was in. He embodied the complex judge. And Park Jin Young did an excellent job too as Kim Ga On. He was just as good here as he was in He is Psychometric, if not better.

In my opinion, the first 10 episodes were enthralling perfection. Spot on. Highly recommend.

Now, after that was where the problems hit (though I did have some before but they were mostly ignorable, mostly). Not enough for me to hate the drama or want to drop it. But, enough to make me highly annoyed at times.

Rant incoming:

What was always annoying was the forced romance with the FL, Yoon Soo Hyun. That didn't work. At all. For one, we as the audience weren't given enough to care about her, or like her with Kim Ga On. And, for me, it was over the moment she admitted her true character. She admitted, aloud, that she confessed her feelings to Ga On every time he cried and was at his lowest and in emotional turmoil. What kind of fucked up person does that? Seriously, wtf? That is the definition of manipulative! And the drama frames it as romantic! Which it's NOT, in case you're wondering!

And, look, the chemistry just didn't work between him and her. She was like a sister, a mother, and a best friend rolled into one. Not a potential love interest. Sorry, not sorry.

Not only that, but him "falling for her" came out of nowhere, wasn't convincing at all, and felt like the writers just decided to shoe-horn in a Straight romance because "every K-Drama needs one."

When Soo Hyun died, I felt nothing. Because they didn't make me care about her.

Hot take, but not really:

This drama would have been bordering on fucking amazing if they had decided to buckle down and follow through on their Bromance-that-honestly-goes-beyond-Bromance and make Kang Yo Han and Kim Ga On be in a relationship. I said it. The chemistry between them was already absolute fire and you can't tell me some lines and scenes didn't make you think "Hmmm.... that seems questionably not straight..."

What also annoyed me to no end were the "fallouts" between Kim Ga On and Kang Yo Han. Whenever they "broke up" (for lack of a better phrase) it was because Kim Ga On was manipulated by someone/the writers decided to do a 180 on his character. I was yelling at my screen when he bought into things. And Kang Yo Han having no one to lean on anymore physically pained me. Pained me!

Lastly, the plot itself outside of the terrible romance and "break up's" got a bit too muddled and complicated during the last few episodes.

The acting and connection between the ML's definitely saved this drama when it got near the end. That, and the pure badassness of the first 10 episodes. Lol.

I may sound like I hate this drama. But, I really don't. I really enjoyed it. Or, at least, most of it. I seem that way because I'm pissed off that this could have been a 10/10 but wasn't.

Leia Mais

Oh what a tangled web we weave, inside this box where we continue to deceive

Definitely an out-of-the-box type of drama. No pun intended.

This is not a drama for most people. It is not something casual, generally pleasant, or easy. It is a drama that makes you feel uneasy and does not offer simple or generally expected solutions/problems or even characters you can always feel okay rooting for. Even the ending doesn't quite sit right. But, that's what I think they were going for.

Ritsu was definitely not-so-secretly the real main character as well as the twisted thread connecting everyone. He was by no means a moral person and was often difficult to root for though. Despite that, he was quite fascinating and I ended up feeling sympathetic toward him later on.

I think the main draw is how bizarre and eerie this drama is. You can tell just by the music that something is always off.

Representation wise, the complicated love hexagon we got offered some non-heterosexual people as well. We had two Bisexual ML's to my surprise, I saw the tags but I assumed it was only one. It was a nice twist for me. Ritsu was very obvious (lol) and I suspected Satoru and was glad they actually confirmed it instead of keeping me guessing.

With Ritsu you are either going to feel for him or dislike/hate him. Either way, if you are looking for a very interesting watch maybe give this one a go. Just, look at all the tags first for any trigger warnings that may be damaging for you.

Leia Mais

There's toxicity. Nevertheless,

I started this without meaning to. I was just going to watch a couple minutes out of curiosity, probably forget about it, and move on to watch episode 8 of Romance is a Bonus Book. But, I watched the whole episode. Nine minutes somehow turned into over an hour.

It intrigued me. From the artistry, great lighting and camera work, really cool creations, just enough subtly, to the right amount of flirty.

They had me. I was short on time. Nevertheless, I started this drama.

And you know what? I don't regret it. While I ended up disliking one of the main characters, Na Bi, I was still able to enjoy this by rooting for who I did like and just observing the character as a person I didn't necessarily NEED to like or understand. I could just find her interesting at the very least.

I was rooting for both Na Bi and Jae Eon in the beginning. Unlike most people though, by the end of the drama I was there for Jae Eon, not Na Bi.

While Jae Eon is declared to be manipulative and toxic, the really toxic person was Na Bi. And the ending only solidified that for me.

So what did I love about this drama? I loved that it was very out-of-the-box and didn't tell a typical K-Drama romance story. I also loved the soundtrack, the side couples, the representation I wasn't expecting to get that was incorporated into this very popular drama alongside the main couple and treated as normal all the while, the physical art, the acting, Na Bi's backstory, and the metaphors surrounding Jae Eon.

You know what upset me with the reaction to this drama? The level of absolute hatred for Jae Eon while Na Bi got little to no criticism. She was either seen as the victim, someone who was just being too easy and going with the flow, or someone who was just a bit toxic.

I have to wonder: Did we watch the same ending? Did we hear the same internal monologues?

Because I have no idea how anyone can walk away from this still viewing Jae Eon as the "evil mastermind," or "monster" who simply got his hooks in the naïve Na Bi.

Leia Mais

The FL owns this drama

This FL consumed the screen. I know this is a strange word to describe a person, but she is such a full-bodied character. When she speaks you can tell she's truly thought it through. Her words and actions have an indescribable weight to them.

A bit off-topic: Not gonna lie; I simped so hard for her. The hair, the boots, the intelligence, the strong will . . . She was just . . . everything.

The "grand scheme" of the drama was undeniably over the top. But, at the same, it could be quite grounded.

The villains were this drama's weakest point. Too often they were cartoonish and made ridiculous decisions that were to their own detriment. Its strongest point was its characters and their motivations/emotions (tagged along to that is the amazing acting, of course). What made me put off finishing the last two episodes for about a month was my desire to wait until I had the proper amount of time to savor the richness of the characters. Seeing the wide range of emotions that would flit across someone's face within seconds left me in awe.

Would I recommend this drama? Definitely! I would just tell you to keep your expectations moderate and not to binge-watch it.

Leia Mais

Come on. Really?

Where do I begin?

This feeds into every stereotype you hear about polyamorous people: They're greedy, selfish, wishy-washy, manipulative, and just "bad" people. The FL, Ji Soo, is the perfect embodiment of these stereotypes. Ji Soo knows she leads people on, lies to them, and cares more about herself than others. She readily admits it to her best friend, Hyeon Woo, out loud multiple times. I think it's worse to be fully aware of your bad behavior and do nothing about it than to be completely ignorant of how your actions affect others.

The story itself also pushes back against validating polyamory at nearly every turn. That will become clear later in this review.

Little polyamory lesson coming from someone who practices monogamy but knows a decent amount about it: Polyamory is when you engage in multiple romantic and/or sexual relationships with the consent of all partners involved.

This woman labels her loving multiple people as wrong, which it's not. She doesn't need to feel guilty about not being able to choose between two guys or date "normally." What she DOES need to feel guilty about is sneaking around behind their backs. It is not correct polyamory if you are not informing them. They think you are exclusive and you are lying by omission.

When Tae Oh and Ji Ho finally know what's going on and are able to give informed consent, we get a brief glimpse of what could have been. When she is with one partner unexpectedly she informs the other out of consideration, she attempts to give both men time out of her day, and she equally expresses love and physical affection.

But then, it's ruined again. She kisses Hyeon Woo—without his consent, I might add—without asking her partners beforehand, talking to them about what she's going through, or taking their feelings into consideration. And the cherry on top of this is that she never tells Tae Oh or Ji Ho what she did.

The end sees her breaking up with both of them because she feels they shouldn't continue when they each want to exclusively be with her, and she ends up dating Hyeon Woo while seeing other guys casually.

This left me frustrated for so many reasons. For one, there isn't much, if anything, to indicate she loves Hyeon Woo. When she goes to bang on Hyeon Woo's door and ends up kissing him, she's only thinking about how much she misses her best friend and wants him back in her life so they can do the activities they enjoy together. She's not thinking about how she feels differently about him now; she just kisses him out of the blue and says she was doing it to see if she liked him. Then he tells her that he wants to date her and that if she wants that she will need to break up with her boyfriends. He says he's not okay with her seeing other people while she's with him. He is very clear about this. This leads to my second reason, how in the hell do they expect me to believe he magically came around?! How? He is very firm about it just being them and then comes around out of nowhere. Out of nowhere! My third reason: what the people who made the show wanted to say. I think them going for her dating Hyeon Woo while casually seeing other guys was to give less endorsement of polyamory. They couldn't show her seriously dating two men and equally loving them. They went for the option that is closer to a "normal" relationship. Also, so they could continue to call her a "bad girl" for what she's doing. Basically saying, "She's messing around. Isn't that so bad of her?" And my fourth reason, Tae Oh and Ji Ho were starting to like each other (not romantically) and seemed pretty content staying dating Ji Soo together. It would have made sense for them to tell Ji Soo they want to stay as they are, not just go along with the breakup.

Okay, for my own peace of mind, I'm going to rewrite the end of this drama. Fanfiction/directing incoming:

Ji Soo goes to the restaurant to drink soju, feeling upset about the absence of her best friend (she doesn't kiss him). Her ex still shows up and says everything he did before, she is moved by her boyfriends' verbal defense of their relationship, and the fight still happens. But on the walk back to her place she takes both their hands and tells them, "I know we haven't finished the project yet and we said that's when I'd make my decision. But . . . I love you both. Equally. I can't choose between you, Tae Oh and Ji Ho. Please understand. I want to keep dating you. Can we stay together? Just like this?" Tae Oh and Ji Ho look at each other and then at Ji Soo. They give slight smiles, and she pulls them in for a hug. The guys look awkwardly at each other but then also embrace. The next day the video still gets released, and things look grim for all of them. She feels guilty, but Tae Oh and Ji Ho both comfort her individually, reminding her that they decided to fight. Getting courage from them, she stands up to the boss and puts her job on the line so they can stay on the project. While Ji Soo is shown giving a presentation, Ji Ho smiles to himself, noticing how lovingly Tae Oh looks at her. The project is completed successfully, and Ji Soo still hands in her resignation.

Flash forward to three months later, and we see Tae Oh dropping her off at her new job. He gives her a kiss on the cheek as she opens the car door. She sits at her desk and begins to work. The camera focuses in on her right, where there is a framed picture of her, Tae Oh, and Ji Ho at the park laughing together. Later she has lunch with Ji Ho at the cafe where they met. While waiting for their dessert, he holds her hand across the table. Finally, they are shown having dinner all together at her place. Tae Oh and Ji Ho bicker over the dishes they made, and Ji Soo laughs at them. Cut to credits. The end.

I feel better now.

Leia Mais

A fun drama with one flaw I had to overlook to rate it this high

(Spoilers regarding one character in Ep 8 specifically)

I went and watched it! It was as grand and ridiculous as I thought it would be: Amazing cinematography, epic music, great atmosphere, excellent acting, fun villains, a plot that is always moving forward in interesting ways, convenient solutions that know they're convenient, slow-mo shots that go on too long on purpose, constant murders, a badass pigeon, a FL that doesn't exist to be a love interest, and a cool Italian-speaking ML that is always one step ahead. It was an incredibly fun and bloody drama that heavily leaned into Mafia stereotypes that had jokes that made me lose my mind laughing. What's not to love?

Well, there's one thing.

Regarding Representation: Okay. The elephant in the room. The representation (Ep 8). Hwang Min Sung, CEO of Shinkwang Bank, is Gay. He has physically abused his exes in the past but wasn't punished because they were afraid of being outed. His character is very over-the-top but I had no problem with them leaning into that. It's the style of the show and all the characters are oddballs, villains and protagonists alike. That wasn't what I found problematic.

What I Did find problematic was Vincenzo's behavior. He has to pretend to be interested in Min Sung and reacts Very negatively to the prospect. The very idea of pretending to be interested in a man makes him shudder. And he freaks out multiple times while going on dates with him. He is not called out for this nor is it addressed in any way.

They did that for comedic purposes, which really upset me. That, and it doesn't even fit with the way his character normally is. Unless it's something that offends his "Italian sensibilities," he doesn't really care and will pretend and do whatever it takes. This tells us, the audience, that the writers really wanted to include this joke about his disgust/horror at pretending to be Gay.

In summary, we got a Gay SML here. But, we were treated to some problematic behavior on the part of our ML in regards to that SML. I'm disappointed. Not to mention, the jokes about any male affection continued from then on.

Leia Mais

The Good Not Great Drama

The Good Bad Mother: How true to its title. The mother in this drama is portrayed as having the best intentions for her son, wanting him to have power so as not to be hurt by others like she was. But while pushing him toward this goal, she indirectly and directly tells her son his life is not his own to live; he is being raised to fulfill a dream she couldn't.

Overall, I found this drama to be a genuinely healing experience. Through emotional gut punch after gut punch, this mother came to realize the full weight her abuse caused her son. When raising him, her intentional and painful choices were a gust of wind that would lead to a hurricane: The Butterfly Effect.

I am all for adults who have experienced abuse having the agency to decide how they move forward. Whether they attempt to heal that relationship with that parent (if it's even possible), keep them at arms-length, or cut them out of their life entirely. In this case, I could understand how Kang Ho found peace in maintaining a close relationship with his mother. For him, she understood what she did, and she had moments, even when he was younger, of her love getting across to him.

What ultimately held me back from rating this higher and embracing the message the drama was trying to convey was that I felt an in-depth, confrontational, and honest sit-down conversation with Kang Ho and his mother was sorely needed. Yes, she did apologize for many of her actions and express her regrets about how she raised her son, but, for me, I needed her to take 100% brutal accountability in person.

If you think humor would have no place in a story such as this, I don't think you'll enjoy watching this. I myself found many jokes out of place. Additionally, if you're not mentally in a place to handle watching scenes with parental abuse (including scenes where it is brushed aside or excused), I wouldn't recommend watching this. If you feel you can handle a topic like this and don't mind the mixing of serious with comedic, I think you'll find value in this.

Leia Mais

Perfection

This is one of only two dramas I've seen that made me feel unworthy of its greatness (the other being Stranger). That I needed to work to deserve watching it, which manifested in the form of my full rapt attention. Everyone is a mastermind, or, at least, close to a mastermind. Each main and side character is fully utilized, with not one person being forgotten or failing to play a key role at some point. The FLs aren't reduced to stereotypes, plot devices, or trophies to be won; they are portrayed as equals who are mentally strong and can fight as well as anyone. The bromance is a slow-burn epic. The dialogue is so well-written that I would not be surprised to know each scene was rewritten ten times so as to produce perfection, plant the seeds of things to come, and fill any plot hole the viewer could conceive of with their eager but small mind. This leads me to the point that I would be falling short of my duties as a reviewer not to stress: the incredible intelligence of not only the drama but each character and plot point. It is impossible not to root for everyone, if only briefly. The antagonists, protagonists, and morally grey characters are not minds you would dare imagine battling and are helpless but to admire. They point out flaws in their plans, consider each possibility with all the knowledge at their disposal, tactfully make allies, carefully plan not only their main and strongest course of action but multiple backup plans, and plot and plot some more.

Nirvana in Fire is truly one of a kind. I can safely say it is the best C-Drama I have seen (and, for now, the 10th best piece of Asian media I have seen. Yes, it has skyrocketed to 10th place on my Absolute Perfection list).

NIF can keep you in the dark without upsetting you or being nonsensical. It doesn't try to be something it's not or pull you in different directions, nor does it lay all the cards on the table for the viewer resulting in its characters appearing foolish and unable to see the bigger picture. From the start, there is a hint of a goal that slowly becomes revealed and then worked toward in the light, with added revelations and events only solidifying it and enriching and adding more scope. The viewer only needs the patience required to allow it to unfold as it will, attempt to guess what may happen if you can, but simply: give it the attention and respect it deserves.

By the end of watching this, you feel as though a massive weight has fallen from your shoulders. And it is a relief but also terrifying to feel so unburdened.

I cannot recommend this drama to you enough. I thank my lucky stars it was recommended to ME. Yes, it is 54 episodes, each averaging 45 minutes. But I promise you, it is worth it. The only valid question to answer is if you are a dialogue junkie. Because if not, this is most definitely not the drama for you.

Side Note: And, let us not forget, this is the sexiest of Sexy Brain dramas.

Leia Mais

Good but not a very satisfying ending

(Spoilers regarding the relationship)

This drama came along just at the right time in my life when I very much needed some comfort. For that, thank you, Record of Youth :)

This drama had the most wonderful, non-toxic, respectful, kind, and not-cold ML. For the majority of the drama his and the FL's relationship was beautifully communicative, healthy, fun, flirty, and understanding. They also had great chemistry together and had their own separate lives and goals apart from each other.

I wasn't truly mad about the break-up like I thought I would be. That probably had to do with how the drama wasn't solely focused on the romance. It was more slice-of-life with a slice of romance. Lol. Pardon my lame joke. That being said, I can understand why many reviewers and commenters were upset by it. I get it. I didn't like the break-up either. I think she should have held on.

Now, aside from the romance, I loved the side characters. Hae Hyo's story was very well done in particular. And the commentary on the difficulties right from the start of being born into a poor family versus having an advantage right from the beginning was hard-hitting. He started several feet in front of Hye Joon in the race of life. Of course it would be almost impossible for him to catch up or pass him when he lacks the support and resources he has.

I hate when those in power say "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." Easy for you to say. Sure, it's possible for someone from the poorest family in the poorest neighborhood going to the poorest school to become a millionaire someday. But, it's close to impossible. Possible, but close to impossible. And you can have all the talent and drive in the world but if you don't have connections it's almost impossible to get many jobs. They always ask if you know someone in the company/industry. And if you do you always have an edge over even the most hard-working candidate. It's sadly why the cycle of poverty continues. Generally, the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

Anyway, in conclusion, I found this drama very soothing as well as true-to-life a lot of the time.

Leia Mais

It had its flaws, but I loved it all the same (very minor spoilers)

Overall an enjoyable watch with real characters with real flaws, as the title says.

The crude humor can be a bit much at times but at a certain point in the drama they dispense with resorting to it. The rest of the time I was laughing or smiling hysterically. The jokes usually hit well, and I loved the "All by myself!" bit. In particular when any of the brothers were involved it was a good time. They played off of each other and the sister incredibly well.

I commend the actors for doing such a good job.

The FL was a bit hard to love at first. She was a fun character but was dense for quite a bit of the runtime. She kept assuming things and then getting pissed at people when she found out things weren't like she thought. It got annoying when all she had to do was ask/talk to people. However, she did have her own moral compass that she abided by (such as being protective of anyone who was Gay by making sure to not reveal their sexuality) and I grew to root for her in the end.

The ML himself was fun to watch. If you don't like childish ML's you won't enjoy him though. The SML on the other hand was incredibly difficult to root for in the slightest once his character was revealed. Yes, he did redeem himself later but I really don't like how they made him into a villain for so long. It just didn't work for me.

I must admit that the brothers stole the show often. They were all just the right amount of silly, arrogant, and/or sincere.

Finally, I would be remiss to not bring up the fantastic job this drama did at normalizing LGBT+ people. I really appreciated and liked how they had one of the brothers being Gay and working at a Gay bar be just another part of the story. It was the set for not just him but also just for his siblings and others to come by and tell their woes and other important parts of the plot to occur.

The Gay characters' stories were handled respectfully and not for the sake of laughs because of who they were but rather just the silly things they said/did. You know, like normal people. And not only that but they showed the different realities for them. Some have supportive parents but struggle because of their own self-hatred, others are completely comfortable with themselves but struggle because of their unsupportive parents and/or are worried about the judgement of everyone around them. Coming out was also treated with care and the idea of outing someone was judged by the characters as being horrible, as it should be.

This past year I got to witness a mainstream drama, Nevertheless, include a Lesbian Romance with one of their side couples and show how representation could be easily put into dramas and be well done if we were only so inclined and studios/companies took a chance. I'm happy to go back a couple years and find another drama, Love with Flaws, that in spite of being older managed to do (I would argue) an even better job.

For a good time, I will be coming back to this drama. And to cry, I will be coming back to this drama.

Leia Mais

Had potential to make a statement, but didn't have the guts to do it

The acting and music is great. And it does hit you with a lot of emotions. However, I was unable to sympathize with the FL after the threat she made and carried out. I couldn't see her in a positive light after that and that affected the rest of my experience with the movie constantly trying to get me to like her and feel for her and framing her as a good and sympathetic person. I just couldn't.

The actually in love couple (the two ML's) could have ended up easily and happily together if she had just done the right thing. And the ending we did get didn't satisfy or clarify anything. It's clear who Jon Wae was actually in love with. He said and constantly showed who he loved and valued more. See all the dates where he immediately went running to Dong Hwa afterward, etc, etc, etc.

I felt like this movie chickened out of the two ML's being together because of the year this was made in. I have no proof of this, I just suspect it. They couldn't actually have them clarified to be together, just the two of them, in the end because South Korean audiences wouldn't have been able to handle that. So, over half-way through the movie they made it a three-way relationship, but not really. And at the end they suggested that maybe all three were together in the end or just single and friends. This way things can be passed off as Jon Wae still having been in love with Ho Jeong (FL) the entire time and Dong Hwa (ML) was just an "experiment" that he wasn't serious about.

This wasn't like 3 Will Be Free which was a legitimate polyamorous relationship with a Bi ML at the center of it. Nowhere near its level. Not at all.

Basically, the movie should have ended about halfway through.

Leia Mais

A mixed bag that I enjoyed but you might not

Don't let my ratings fool you up above. I still have a lot of criticism.

The stories varied wildly, so I don't have much to say about the drama as a whole. Rather, I'm going to be talking about each of the different couples and their two episodes centered around them.

I like this concept for a drama with a lot of couples, and I was excited to see where it would go.

First Couple (Ep 1 & 2):

The first couple (Tue & Ake) started things off very well for this drama. Having just two episodes wasn't a problem in telling their story and the actors did a great job in developing believable chemistry. There were some plots holes about the Muay Thai boxing aspect, but I still enjoyed their episodes a lot. They make you forget about the plot holes and inconsistencies really.

I would rate them a 8.5/10, with the added .5 just because the tension was insanely palpable. I really enjoyed this couple.

Second Couple (Ep 3 & 4):

The second couple (Sun & Nuea) was a disappointment. At first, it seemed like there was some pretty good humor with their story and they had good chemistry. However, the direction the actors were given made some scenes annoying or just too cheesy. The second episode contained the majority of these problems along with Sun & Nuea acting very out of character by the end.

I would rate them a decent 7/10. I almost want to give them a 6.5/10 but I feel that would be a little too harsh as I still generally enjoyed my time watching them. Unfortunately, I would have to label this as the weakest couple in Y-Destiny.

I will say that Nuea is just a fashion icon who seems to be able to rock anything. My goodness! He is far too attractive for his own good.

Third Couple (Ep 5 & 6):

The third couple (Mon & Team) was pretty good. They were definitely better than the second couple. I found their cheesiness and shyness charming instead of cringey like I did for Sun & Nuea. Plus, their chemistry was much better. I thought they had believable chemistry, were cute together, and had a great kissing scene. I would call them the averagely good couple in Y-Destiny though.

I would rate them a 7.5/10-8/10. I think they deserve AT LEAST a 7/10 rating.

Fourth Couple (Ep 7 & 8):

The fourth couple (Pao & Thurs) was one of my favorites. I got emotionally attached to them and found both Pao and Thurs interesting and enjoyable on their own and together. We didn't get to see quite as much of their interaction as I would have liked in their first episode though, as the beginning didn't start with them right off the bat. However, this problem was easily and quickly resolved in their second episode with them having much more time together. I loved their chemistry and they were really sweet and funny together. It wasn't the masterpiece that is He's Coming to Me, but it was a very fun, charming, and emotional watch all the same.

Compared to the other couples I mentioned I would say they are leagues above the second and third couple for sure. And also the first couple, though with not as big a gap in quality/enjoyment.

They are definitely a 9/10 in my book. Definitely an 8.5/10.

Fifth Couple (Ep 9 & 10): Welcome to my Favorite Couple!

The fifth couple (Puth & Kaeng) was a huge surprise for me. I found myself adoring them and their unique story. I want them to have their own miniseries or something. Please! I don't want this ship to die yet!

Puth and Kaeng are THE most intriguing couple in Y-Destiny. Fight me. I realized that before I even saw the sixth and seventh couple. But, I knew it and called it early. And, I was right I felt so bad for Kaeng. He tried to change himself to make Puth interested in staying with him, even if it was only for sex. He just wanted to be around him, even if he couldn't date him. He must have caught feelings long ago but had been holding back his confession. And the fact that all he wanted before their "relationship" was about to end was for Puth to act like he loved him during their last night together just destroyed me.

My only criticism is that I wish we got to see a couple short scenes from Puth's point of view to see more how he felt about Kaeng. But, I was very happy with what I did get to see.

This was one of the most adult and intensely human stories we got to see in Y-Destiny (the other being the seventh couple). Loving someone so much that you will change/adapt yourself for them, no matter how it hurts. Seeing that pained me, in the best way possible.

Also, their chemistry and "scenes" are absolute fire! Good grief!

9.5/10. I'm not kidding. Damn this was so good.

Sixth Couple (Ep 11 & 12):

The sixth couple (Sat & Choke) was looking to be a favorite of mine. The fact that it was basically a remake of 13 Going on 30 had me intrigued from the start. And the first episode was very well done and didn't shy away from the more down-hearted/upsetting aspects of it's story. Especially regarding the lifestyle Sat realized he was living in the future and the toxic "friends" he had. Sat & Choke had great chemistry, maybe too great. Lol.

However, episode 12's plot twist of Choke already having a boyfriend was absolutely unnecessary and made his actions toward Sat seem really weird and not as sweet as they were before. I mean, what was with that kiss then?!

Other than that I also wanted to say that I liked their use of animation and I enjoyed the fact that English was incorporated. Also, the actor who played Sat did an amazing job capturing the behavior of a young boy in a grown-up's body, and Choke was insanely flirty, in the best way possible.

I WANT to give them a 8/10. But, because of the plot twist not making sense or working, I feel forced to give them a 7.5/10.

Seventh Couple (Ep 13 & 14):

The seventh couple, well really it's like two separate couples. There is Masuk & Tir, and Masuk & Jia. But, Masuk ends up with Jia so they're technically THE couple. I was continuously heartbroken in the best way possible during these episodes. Masuk & Tir's love story is truly tragic. I understood how Masuk would value Tir more than anyone else as he is the one he loves and therefore would want him to leave the theatre, but at the same time I understood how Tir was the type of person to do anything he could to help/save others because he has a lot of love for everyone and values their happiness above his own and therefore would stay to help the kid (who turned out to be Jia's nephew which was actually a pretty nice plot twist).

I liked how Jia wasn't trying to take advantage of Masuk's grief, but gave him all the time and respect in the world. He valued any affection Masuk felt he was able to give, respected that he would always love Tir and he would never/should never replace Tir, and was willing to wait for him to be comfortable.

Jia wasn't very present in the episodes, but that was the point. He was willing to leave space for Masuk to be with Tir. He was meant to be a patient, loving, and calming presence in Masuk's life. And, I felt they got that across very well.

I would rate episodes 13 & 14, and the combined couples and their story a 9.5/10.

Couples 5, 7, 4, and 1 were the ones I enjoyed the most, in that order. My least favorite couple was the 2nd one. Couples 6, 3, and 2 I still enjoyed. Just, not as much as the others.

As far as the final episode. I'm not going to lie: I thought it was major cringe for almost half of it and showed some of the couples' partners being controlling of their SO (which I was not happy to see). There were some cute scenes though and I liked the conclusion with each of them making a short speech. The last episode was basically filler, but at least I got to see a few scenes with some of my favorite couples that were pretty nice.

Leia Mais

It's Complicated . . .

I began watching this series many months ago. I got bored sometime around the first episode and forgot about it. Then, I watched a story video of RamKing on YouTube about a month ago. And I was intrigued. So, I looked up this series, remembered I had tried to watch it before, but decided to give it another shot anyway.

Bohn and Duen are fine, at first. Until Bohn decides to be insanely jealous if anyone other than Duen's close friends interacts with him. It's not healthy, and he does it 3 or more times. It gets annoying to see him repeat the same stupid mistake over again, learning nothing. Also, Bohn decides to pursue Duen, seemingly out of nowhere. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate them. I just didn't find their dynamic to be too terribly intriguing. Also, the whole joking about who's top/bottom got annoying fast.

Mek and Boss had the husband-wife name thing, but at least for them it felt more like nicknames they had for each other for a long time. So, it didn't come across as forced.

I'm not going to just say negative things about Bohn and Duen, don't worry. They do have some really cute moments, especially with the kids. This couple needs better communication skills though. So much conflict could be solved by a simple conversation right away and/or a quick apology.

Basically, the main reason to rewatch this (for me) is for RamKing. And secondly, for MekBoss (although that is heart-breaking for a very long time). Mek and Boss have a really touching relationship. I was moved by Mek's devotion for Boss. And Boss's loyalty as soon as they begin a real relationship.

It's difficult at first to get over the dubbing on Mek's voice at first, but it's worth it.

Ram and King had a lot more chemistry, no stereotyping, and they didn't have the "I don't like guys, I just like you." It was very real and exceeded my expectations of how natural an on-screen couple could be. The progression of their relationship was very smooth. And, unlike the main couple, King didn't pursue Ram out of nowhere. He found him strange, so he tried to talk to him, and then he became interested in him as a person. Eventually, he realizes he has feelings and only voices them at the very end of the show, finding them returned. Even though Ram doesn't talk much to King, or much to anyone in general, he conveys a great deal with his actions and the few words he does use. Also, I got a real kick out of him dragging King with him to eat to thank him. Lol. King helps him with his schoolwork, expecting nothing in return though, which was really sweet.

Also, the contrast and similarities between them are very interesting. King talks to his plants, is really smart and helpful, and is afraid of dogs. Ram is talented at boxing, has tattoos, loves dogs, and speaks very little out loud. He comes across as a deep-thinker who uses his words carefully to express himself. At the moment, I can't think of a relationship like theirs that I've seen before.

Personally, I'd first watch compilations/scenes of RamKing before I'd rewatch the series. My Engineer doesn't suck. It's just that the main couple taking up the majority of the screen-time doesn't hold my attention enough.

If I had to rate Ram and King's story, I'd give it a 10/10. But I really want a separate series with them! Please! Give it to me! Or, at least give me a second season of My Engineer that continues their relationship as a side couple. I just need them!

If I had to rate Mek and Boss's story, I'd give it a 9.5/10. Just because the husband-wife name was annoying for a bit. And Boss was a bit too unintentionally insensitive at times. Please don't recast Mek if you make another season! If you're going to do Mek and Boss again, you have to have the original actor! Or, just don't include them. He's too good to replace!

Leia Mais

Magic sorcery going on here!

I started it because of the possible Bi rep I was told about. I did NOT expect to walk away from it SO amazed by this short Thai drama.

I don't like sports. Like, at all. In real life I detest whenever football season comes around and fans around me lose their shit. In school I couldn't for the life of me understand the appeal. I found basketball, football, tennis, etc, etc, etc, to be absolutely boring and pointless. "How could you enjoy this crap?"

So, when an anti-sports person like myself falls in love with a drama centered around/about sports, volleyball, you know it has done a damn good job. Seriously, by the end of it I was cheering and stamping my feet like I was one of those fans in the bleachers rooting for my team. I just have to note that the music is energetic as hell and only made me even more passionate.

This was intense, badass, subtle (I'll get to that), and engaging. And the comradery and bond between the teammates was so satisfying to watch. It's a 9/10 overall and an added .5 for making me become engaged in a sport. Because, how did they do that? Lol.

Regarding representation, it was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Throughout the majority of the drama we get basically no clue as to Puen's sexuality (until near the end). He's focused on playing volleyball, and so are we. We don't think to stop and ask that question. We are given hints that Jern has feelings for him though. During one episode (6) she has a moment alone with him where they get talking about relationships. She asks him if he has a type and he says "All's okay." Then she proceeds to ask about height, weight, skin type, etc. And he just repeats what he said before. Then, she asks, "Girl or boy?" And he gives her the same simple smile, shrugs like it's as easy and inconsequential as the other questions she asked, and says "If it feels right, all's okay." So, Pansexual, not Bisexual. My jaw dropped from how easily and casually this was done.

This is a drama not centered around romance and yet they made the conscious decision to include this scene with these lines. They didn't have to do that, but they did it anyway. They included a Pansexual ML in a non-romance drama who doesn't have a kissing scene or a confirmed partner by the end. Am I happy? You bet I am!

Now, onto the subtlety I mentioned above. That would be Puen's feelings/potential romance. Because that is something where if you blink you miss it. So, don't blink! Whatever you do, don't blink! Blink and you're dead! If you get that reference I'll love you forever. Lol.

Singha and Puen are shown to be best friends who are incredibly close. Only during the last few episodes are we shown that, at least on Puen's part, there was something more there.

During Ep 7 there is a parallel shown between Jern's confession to Puen, she said her type was him, and a flashback scene with Puen and Singha where Puen seems to give a confession by saying, "You're the one whom I really wanna be with." Both of these characters make a confession that the other person doesn't understand because they don't see them as more than a friend. Like I said, if you weren't paying attention you wouldn't see this.

Then, during the finale we get a scene between Puen and Than that parallel's the scene I mentioned with Puen and Singha but specifically regarding their body language. Puen and Singha had been sitting on the court and when Singha leaned back a bit more their hands touched. Puen was the only one who acknowledged it. He looked down at their hands, back up at Singha, and then smiled and looked into the distance thoughtfully. During the finale, Puen and Than are sitting on the court and after talking they both lean back, smile at each other, and the angle widens to show their hands are quite close but not touching. Fade to black, roll credits, and the drama has ended.

Okay, enough of the parallels. Who do I think feels something for someone? Well, I think it's safe to safe Puen was in love with Singha, but it was one-sided. And, through many many subtle hints and moments from our main ML's and also from other characters, one specifically being Jern seeing Puen and Than interacting and her face/reaction being very telling and another being Singha's lines to Puen that felt very coded to put it lightly regarding Puen and Than's relationship, I think there is a romance brewing between Puen and Than. If we were to have a second season I would not be surprised if it would show they had just started dating.

Needless to say, there is a shit ton of subtlety regarding Puen's feelings/possible romance! And, I'm not even covering half of it really! I'd keep going with my observations but we'd be here forever. And, my wrists are starting to ache from typing. Lol.

So, in conclusion, this was fucking amazing. If you like romance and you don't mind extreme subtlety that keeps you on your toes, you'll like this. If you like dramas about strong friendships, you'll like this. If you like dramas about sports, you'll like this. Basically, just go watch this fucking drama and please come rant positively with me about how good it was and how you felt so amazing when you were able to put the pieces together from subtle moments! I have so much more I could say!

Leia Mais

The subtitles sucked but everything else was amazing!

What a silly premise! I had so much fun watching it. Right now, I'm rating this a 9.5/10. Though it could fluctuate from a 9/10 to a 10/10.

My only real criticism is that some jokes go on a little too long. But, there's generally a better joke made shortly after to make up for it. The many funny shenanigans that came as a result of the weird concept were truly a blast.

I grew to love this drama! They really show the importance food has with people as well how people can be devastatingly affected by loneliness/being alone. And not just that but what it's like to try and overcome something often debilitating due to past trauma. You can't suddenly get yourself to eat alone within a week. You may make progress one day and be right back where you started, or worse off, the next day. What matters is that you try. And you don't beat yourself up for failing.

Also, Diew is just a ray of sunshine, even without including his yellow clothes. His smile is addictive and his personality is warm and welcoming. And Mix is simply incredibly attentive, caring, and sweet.

I saw many in the comments section argue that this isn't Bl/doesn't have a "Gay Romance." It absolutely does. Now, if you ignore the constant quiet flirting, easy chemistry, deep connection, and sometimes obvious lines you may walk away from this with the impression that this was only baiting people and this was a story with simply straights. But, you would be wrong.

This drama was everything for me, and then some. It was wholesome, sweet, had amazing cooking shots and camerawork, symbolism through key colors, and an intense amount of subtlety in regards to romance (which I am a big big fan of).

To put it in one word, this drama was: Wonderful!

Regarding representation: I'm just going to say it. I think Diew is Pan. No, every part of my being screams he's Pan. I know my gut feeling is right with this. Though, I have no evidence for this other than that he seems to have great chemistry with everyone he meets (whether it may be something leaning more toward romantic, or just friendship). I could go into more detail, but we'd be here all day. In my opinion if there was EVER queer coding THIS is queer coding.

Side Note: The subtitles do get screwed up a lot in the later episodes, so that is something to keep in mind if you decide to watch it.

Leia Mais