Poor Acting, Writing and Execution of a Very Common Plot.

If I am not watching “Step by Step” due to the Clown Challenge, I would have dropped it within the first 1-2 episodes. The general plot is nothing special and we’ve seen many similar boss/subordinate relationships before. If the plot doesn’t stand out, then the acting, writing and execution must. Unfortunately, I don’t think this drama delivers. I also question if I should have watched the regular version, instead of the uncut version.

The first thing that bugs me about this drama is the poor acting of the male lead, Pat. I understand that this is Ben’s first acting gig and it really shows. The character he plays, Pat, is already not a super likable character. He’s childish and whines way too much. Unfortunately, Ben’s portrayal makes it even more intolerable. His angry, frustrated, and sad faces are all the same. When he cries (and he cries way too much), there are no tears. When he pouts, I find him annoying instead of cute. Aside from him, Saint (who plays Jaab) is just as bad. This is also his first role and his acting is so unnatural that the supposedly cool guy Jaab acts like a lovesick teenager.

I also really dislike the annoying and loud coworkers. The first few episodes are really hard to digest when Ying can’t stop screaming and Prem can’t stop being nosy. Both of the characters are so inappropriate in so many aspects. Luckily, there are also a few fun and good supporting characters. Ae and Chot save the show. They are fun, bossy, flamboyant and the life of the party. The actors did a great job in making these characters come to life and not annoying.

I am not sure if I should categorize the romance to be slow-burn or delayed. But the development is not written well. There are some indications that Jeng likes Pat from mid-drama on. Not much comes from Pat when he seems to respect and fear Jeng as his boss, after the initial attraction when they were strangers was gone. Their interactions before they become a couple are not fluffy or heartwarming. The introduction of a love rival definitely delays their romance. I waited for 10 episodes for them to finally get together. Then within 3 episodes, their relationship goes through a roller coaster ride. Everything feels rushed in regards to their romance in the last episodes, as well as the final business arc in the drama. I wish their romance had started sooner, like in ep 7 or so, to allow their relationship to develop at a much better pace. I also didn’t find closure with the Jaab/Jane arc.

Am I the only one who didn’t find Jeng to be that bad of a supervisor? I found his ‘demands’ reasonable as a boss expecting good quality work from his subordinates. At least he is respectful when pointing out mistakes. I must have watched too many mean bosses in Chinese and Korean dramas. Does Jeng warrant all that criticism and talk behind his back about how evil he is? I guess we need Jeng to have some flaws and a character development plot. Otherwise, he’s just too perfect of a character and too handsome. I was just writing down on my notes how perfect he is (+ a hot body) when the troubles of episode 11 happened and he didn’t want to talk about the issues when he should have.

If I watched the regular version instead of the uncut, will the extended product placement and filler be reduced? There's so much screen time spent on actors just holding a bottle of sugar free green tea and other products, describing how good they are. I chose the uncut version because I wanted all the kisses and intimate scenes. But what I get are boring bits.

The only positive things about this drama are the kiss scenes and the intimate scenes. Unfortunately, they are mostly jam packed into ep 10, instead of spread throughout the drama. At least, we have two participating actors who are not shy in going at it. The intimate scenes are also done well without feeling cringey.

I would not recommend this drama unless you really like the actors. If you are a fan of Man (who played Jen) and his handsome good looks and hot body, then go ahead. I also enjoy seeing Up (who played Put) again after watching him in “Lovely Writer”. This is a very different role and I quite like him here. I am giving this a 6.5 rating, which is quite low on my personal rating scale. But given the fact that this does not seem like a big budget production, with two actors in their first roles, and some good kiss scenes, I am not going to rate this any lower.


Completed: 2/25/2024 - Review #408

Leia Mais

Unique Plot with a Deeper meaning, but Execution could be better.

I applaud the writers of “Love for Love’s Sake” for thinking outside of the box and coming up with quite an interesting plot for a short high school BL drama. This drama is so much more than transmigration into a video game, which we’ve seen quite a lot of those from different countries. As we learn more and more about our male lead, Tae Myung Ha, we get to know more of him as a person, and not just a character in the game. The story goes from a cute rom-com, to a darker melodrama.

Towards the middle of the drama, you can slowly see hints dropped about his relationship with Cha Yeo Woon, and a deeper meaning to their encounter and experiences. However, despite having a unique plot, I feel that the execution is not quite up to par. When the drama ended, I am still quite unsure if it’s all a dream? A prank? A real transmigration? The work of god? The work of death? What and why did it all happen? In this case, I wish the drama would be longer so that it can explore the backstory of the characters more, especially for Tae Myung Ha.

The acting of the cast is average at best. I would say Lee Tae Vin (who played ML Tae Myung Ha) delivered the best performance of the bunch. And Cha Joon Wan (who played 2ML Cha Yeo Woon) delivered the weakest performance. The rest of the cast is just OK.

Although you can tell this is a small budget production (wearing the same clothes, the same few sets, limited OST), I have to say the drama does not look cheap.

Overall, I had a decent time watching “Love for Love’s Sake”. I commend this drama (or the webtoon it’s adapted from) for an interesting plot, but just wish the execution, storytelling and acting could be better.


Completed: 2/20/2024 - Review #405

Leia Mais

Good main character development but OTT acting, full of one-sided loves, too many side plots.

Watching “Moon River” in 2024 is quite an experience. There are so many tropes and over-the-top acting that seems to be quite common with Taiwanese comedies. This drama also gives me a very Meteor Garden/F4 kinda feel. I have to remind myself to curb my frustrations and be understanding. Having said that, this could be a fun drama if you don’t mind over-the-top and loud acting.

Note: I could not find the complete version of ep 25. YouTube and sites-that-shall-not-be-named only have the first 15 minutes. Because of that, I missed the most important non-romance plot/reveal and have to gather info based on flashbacks and conversations in the last couple episodes.

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What I Like:

Xiao Xi (FL) Character development - If I have to overlook the portrayal of her over-the-top personality and how loud she is, I quite enjoy how she was introduced as an inexperienced villager in the big city. She was never portrayed as someone you could take advantage of physically or emotionally, never too naive or dumb. She just doesn’t know. Oftentimes, she realizes the real intentions of others. As her romantic relationship with Liu Bing (ML) grows and matures, you can see her grow and mature as well. In the end, she’s his support system and is there for him no matter how many times he pushes her away.

Liu Bing (ML) Character development - Similarly with Xiao Xi, we see how Liu Bing grows from an arrogant, super smart, King of the school, to someone who needs to learn to start from the bottom and learn the real (poor) way of life. As he matures, there’s a very distinct part of his personality that never leaves him - his stubbornness and unwillingness to express how he truly feels to protect. It could be frustrating to watch as a viewer, but I am also glad that in a way, he is still the same Liu Bing in ep 1. I hate to see someone who changes for the better (?) and loses who they truly are in the beginning.

Headmistress Dong - I have a girl crush on her! She’s so cool. I love Grace Ko’s elegance and voice. It’s too bad her screen time is limited to the beginning episodes. I wanted to see more of her.

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What I have Mixed Feelings:

Main Romance - The romance between Xiao Xi and Liu Bing is central to the whole drama. It was fun to watch them from bickering, to living together, falling in love, and experience challenges together. What I dislike the most is the introduction of misunderstandings, evil deeds from Sha Sha and then add CoCo to the mix. That seems a little too much to try to cause troubles to their relationship. Luckily, despite all that, they both stay strong and their love never wavers. Additionally, aside from a few cute (and somewhat cringey) things that Liu Bing did for Xiao Xi during the initial courtship, he doesn’t seem to have done much as a boyfriend. He’s lucky his girlfriend is sweet and understanding. I actually would have loved to see more of their cute relationship, skinship and kisses, but unfortunately, the drama is too busy with many extra side plots. Their kisses are not great and not very romantic either (except for the last one).

Feng Jiang Che (2ML) - In other dramas, he would be classify as the perfect boyfriend, Mr. Green Flag. But in this drama, I find him to be so perfect that it’s a little annoying. I also think that the acting of Evan Ma might have contributed to my very slight annoyance. If Che has expressed his feelings for Xiao Xi early on, he might have a fighting chance. He is sweet, caring, considerate and always there for Xiao Xi in action and in words. Her happiness is the most important thing to him. He would be a perfect main lead in another drama.

Pacing - The pacing is quite good in the first ⅓ of the drama. There are a lot of fun events happening at school and in their lives as the characters are introduced. Then in the ⅔ of the drama, the pace slows down considerably and we have repetitive one-sided romances which go nowhere and repetitive animosity and sabotage to FL and the main romance. The drama picks up the speed in the last 5 episodes, but because the focus has switched to a revenge plot, it doesn’t feel quite right either.

OST - There are only two songs and they are SUPER overplayed. The opening theme by SpeXial is fun and upbeat. The ending theme by Pets Tseng is romantic and beautiful. As much as I love both songs and have added them to my Spotify playlist, they are just played way too often.

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What I Don’t Like:

One-sided Love - The romances in this drama are quite something. I think I counted 6 STUBBORN one-sided, unrequited loves. That’s way too many! I don’t care for a few of them and wish they did not take up so much screen time, and then the drama could be a few episodes shorter.

Annoying side characters - 2FL Sha Sha’s animosity and obsession towards Liu Bing lasted too long for my taste. Her bitchiness started from ep 2 all the way till almost the end. I also hated Xiao Xi’s two roommates in the beginning. They are selfish and frustrating and I fast forwarded a few of their scenes. Luckily, they got a little better later on. Those girls at school are just as annoying. They also have too much screen time. These scenes and ‘evil’ acts become very repetitive and boring.

Flashbacks and Inner Monologues - Usually you will see inner monologues from the lead characters once in a while. But not this drama. It seems like every single character has them. This contributes to a lot of telling instead of acting. Additionally, I also notice many flashbacks that don’t seem to serve a purpose of advancing the plot. These flashbacks are not short either. But I do have to say, thanks to the flashback, I was able to get a little info on what I missed in ep 25 when I couldn’t figure out what was the important info on ML’s father.

Villain - This villain acts as the almighty God. He can control and destroy everything. For all that he’s done to everyone throughout the drama, his ending is half-assed and way too simple.

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Overall, this is an OK drama. I might have enjoyed this more if I watched it in 2015. I personally have a love/hate relationship with Taiwanese comedies, so in a way, it’s not my cup of tea. I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this drama until I wrote this review and list what I like/don’t like. It’s not horrible but it’s not a drama I would re-watch, not even clips of certain scenes.


Completed: 2/17/2024 - Review #403

Leia Mais

An Exhausting Watch! I need a shoulder massage after this. It's too stressful, in a Good way!

Subjective Enjoyment Rating: 8.5
Objective Drama Rating: 9.0-9.5

Disclaimer: Horror is usually the genre I avoid as it’s not really my cup of tea. I am a scaredy cat, though I am Ok with violence. My review is from a novice perspective.


I want to emphasize that this is a very stressful drama-watching experience for me. My shoulders were all tensed up from Ep 1 to Ep 16. I am not sure if it’s because I am a novice and not used to this, or if this drama is just so exciting and full of plot twists. This is a whole new experience for me and I’ve watched many, many dramas in the last 3-4 years, though not this genre.

The acting is excellent - from the youngest to the oldest, from the main cast to those with very minor roles. It’s nice to see Kim Dong Wook play a regular dude, not a CEO or professional. This is a side of him I haven’t seen before, and he’s much more expressive than when I saw him in his last drama, “My Perfect Stranger”. It’s also great to see my beloved Kim Jae Wook, not as the perfect boyfriend but as a stoic priest who really needs to act to show a range of subtle emotions. Jung Eun Chae as the main female member held her own in the trio. It’s so great to see a badass female cop who actually could come in and save the day physically, and not a damsel in distress. Additionally, this drama also has a pretty stacked veteran supporting cast.

Special effects, creepy and scary sound effects, hair and makeup, all added to the overall viewing experience. This is a top notch production and there’s really nothing I can pick on. From a horror perspective, it’s not too scary for me. I think the horror aspects are more visual (violence, gore, blood). It’s less of a psychological horror, thus, I wasn’t really scared at all. But if you don’t like violence and gore, I would not recommend this drama for you. Those exorcism scenes are quite a sight to behold.

Even though I was tense from the beginning to the end (what a crazy, exciting and an emotional last episode), I do feel that the pacing of some episodes is somewhat slow. These are hour-long episodes and at times, they felt longer than one hour. There are also times when not much happened and the main cast was running around in circles. I actually wanted more action. I also don’t feel the urge to keep on pressing the “play” button to go to the next episode.

For someone who is inexperienced in this genre, I do think this is a great drama. I am not going to pretend I have a very enjoyable time, because I was stressed out and exhausted. I definitely do not recommend binge watching this. But if horror is your thing, please do check this out. If you don’t like violence, gore and lots of blood, then skip this one.


Other Random Observations:
1. Hwa Pyung reminded me of Harry Potter, and Park Il Do reminded me of Voldemort. LOL.
2. I keep thinking the three main characters plus all their friends and relatives should all carry a cross with them at all times.
3. Shamanism working hand-in-hand with Catholicism? That’s interesting.



Completed: 2/5/2024 - Review #401

Leia Mais

Good chemistry and interesting plot, but overall nothing special

Quick and easy, finished this in less than 3 hours. It's just your run-of-the-mill low budget web drama. Nothing sticks out like a sore thumb, nor is it anything special amongst a sea of very similar dramas. The time loop plot is quite interesting and I do like the execution of it. But the mystery/thriller part feels very out-of-place.

The leads have good chemistry and they look good together. ML is handsome and quite young (21 years old). He reminds me of a younger and less chiseled Dai Gao Zheng, though we didn't see his abs. FL is a very experienced actress and has appeared in many dramas. The acting is decent, and nothing is too cringey.

However, it has the usual things that I don't like in a Chinese drama - accidental falls/kiss/tripping in slow motion & poorly dubbed voices. The kisses are disappointing. I was really expecting more because censorship is usually a little more relaxed for these short web dramas. At least the male lead is not drowned in white foundation and white filter. He actually appears normal and good-looking.

Overall, it's OK. I can't really rate this as if it's a high budget production. A 7.0 seems about right.

Leia Mais

A very average and short romance drama.

“Since I Met U” is an easy-to-watch romance drama. The plot is simple. It’s not 100% cute and fluffy because there’s a backstory of family trauma and mental illness. But the drama really doesn’t go into details in exploring that. Everything is very surface-level. A cute romance without any angst, misunderstanding or evil ex’s.

The production quality is average. Though the desserts are delicious-looking and ML’s Sol Bakery looks modern and welcoming, you can also see where they skim on money. FL has an awful wardrobe (why is she wearing old lady PJs?), the car riding scenes look pretty ‘green-screened’, and they keep on re-suing the same few filming locations. I personally do not like the dubbing, nor the English theme song that plays pretty loudly and repeatedly.

The acting is decent and not awful, not great. ML is cute and I’m watching this drama for him because I liked him in “Story of Kunning Palace”. We also have the cute kid from “Unforgettable Love” and he’s as cute as ever. There are a few good-looking guys at the bakery and am I sensing a closeted gay couple? I got some vibes from one of the guys. The secondary romance is OK but the tertiary romance is annoying.

Overall, this is a very average drama if you want something simple and short. I was in the mood for a romance drama for stress relief, and this fits the bill.


Completed: 1/5/2024 - Review #390

Leia Mais

Beautiful Drama of Romance, Family, Comedy and Healing. Brings me so much joy!!

Subjective Mood Rating: 9.0

“To the Moon and Back” is my last drama completed in 2023 and it’s a big surprise!! I was just browsing around trying to find a romance drama to end the year on a happy note, and stumbled upon this treasure. This is one of the very few Thai modern dramas that is not about fighting for inheritance or a company that I watched. Is this drama a masterpiece? Definitely not. But it brings me so much joy that emotionally, I just need to give this a high rating.

Main Romance:
Romance is what I was searching for and this doesn’t disappoint. This drama tells the story of opposites attract and it’s done so well. FL does take me a little to get used to since she’s so outgoing and talkative. ML is the quiet, reserved and repressed type. But they complement each other so well and bring out the best of each other. ML is patient and caring, while FL teaches him how to feel and understand his and others feelings. It does take them half a drama to be officially together but the cute scenes of them together starts from the very beginning. ML understands FL’s thoughts and actions (and clumsiness) so well, and FL is so in tuned with ML’s feelings. I love how she worried about his feelings after the surgery, when he tried to stay strong for her and didn’t say much. When he finally opened up and broke down, it pains me as well. I can’t help but smile whenever I see them together.

Auntie Grace
I am awarding FL’s dad the “Father/Mother of the Year” title. She experienced so much pain due to her sexual orientation but yet she taught FL to live with kindness. Auntie Grace raised a beautiful child and you can see that especially in the last ¼ of the drama and when FL has to face ML’s parents at the birthday party. The lessons taught in this drama by Auntie Grace should be taught to everyone. She also comforted ML and 2ML and allowed them room to breathe, to be themselves and to feel. I love Auntie Grace so much!!!

Family Relationships/Healing
A big part of the drama is spent on broken families and mending relationships. ML’s father is controlling and does not appreciate ML’s efforts. ML has been brought up not having a childhood and with feelings repressed. His mother is unable to support him and stand up for him. On the other hand, Auntie Grace’s father did not accept her new identity. There’s so much anger in me whenever I see these two fathers and how unreasonable they are. But of course, no one is a true villain. They both want what’s best for their child but are unable to communicate. FL is integral in mending both relationships and her persistent, kind and happy personality helps heal these relationships in the end. On the other hand, a smaller part of the drama is about 2ML and 2FL relationships with their families as well. No one comes from a ‘normal’ family.

Loving Non-traditional Family
They are loud, they are crazy and they are fun! That is FL’s family. A group of drag queens, transgendered and gay aunties that help raise FL. It does take me a little while to get used to how rowdy they are, but I love them! I love their fashion and always look forward to their outfits/costumes. I love all of their performances. I love how they always say they are “kind and pretty” because they truly are. They step in to help strangers, even those they might have a beef with at times.

Villains
Can’t really get away from evil parents in a Thai drama. They are not truly villains, but characters that have so much pain and jealousy in their hearts that they don’t know how to express them appropriately. Therefore, they cause our main leads a lot of pain and hassle. I hated seeing ML unable to fight back when he’s in front of his dad. I hate it when 2ML tries so hard but his mother just doesn’t get it. Do I find these villains irritating and want to punch them in their faces? Definitely. But I also know that they did not have a happy childhood or life. Luckily, FL’s family balances out the toxicity.


If you like Thai dramas, I definitely recommend “To The Moon and Back”. It is a great combo of romance + family + comedy + healing. In the end, it gives me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. This is in no way a perfect drama, but it brings me so much joy.



Other Random Observations:
1. FL is said to be the “hippie” and “Bohemian” type, does that mean she doesn’t wash her hair??
2. I love ML trying to learn how to braid hair.
3. Two handsome male leads with 6-packs. LOL
4. There’s some useful, simple medical advice for the general public.5.
5. Didn’t like ML’s acting in the early episodes, but he grew on me.
6. Pacing is decent, maybe a tiny slow in the middle. But that’s also probably because I binged 13 episodes in one sitting. LOL



Completed: 12/31/2023 - Review #389 (First review of 2024 and I still can't keep it short and succinct.)

Leia Mais

Unsatisfying Second-Chance Romance with a handsome Steven Noh

Soundtrack #2 is another short series with music in the backdrop. This time, the drama focuses on a second-chance romance, which is a trope that I like. Unfortunately, and as other reviewers have said, it’s not a satisfying drama. I don’t quite remember what happened in Soundtrack #1 aside from the friends-to-lovers theme. So this review is based solely on this drama.

Although the acting is fine and everyone is nice to look at (did you see Steven Noh’s chiseled and masculine face? 😍 ), the writing is lacking. I am missing the longing, the angst and the sizzling chemistry from the leads. The first part of the drama is more interesting with the supposedly love triangle and a jealous ML. Kei is cute and sweet, but we know he’s never a contender. I do enjoy the music he was making with FL, but the song was played so much that I got a little bored.

The drama did not do a good job in resolving the problems from the past. As much as I love the kisses, the lingering problems are still present. It tries to resolve that by showing us FL’s enlightenment of her problem but was done unconvincingly and too late. Viewers don’t see FL’s point of view until very late in the drama and by that point, I don’t think she deserves ML anymore. The ending also doesn’t quite make sense when ML showed up. They need to either break up or temporarily separate before meeting again. FL needs to work on herself before rushing into another relationship.

I will only recommend this drama if you want to look at the handsome Steven Noh, or want something really short to kill time.

Completed: 12/23/2023 - Review #385

Leia Mais

A little cheesy, A little corny, A little embarrassing but quite Addicting!

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

The general plot of “Romantic” aka “Love Strikes Back” is pretty simple. These mini dramas are getting quite popular. You can binge it all in less than 4 hours. YouTube (US) has the combined version for all 22 episodes, so that makes it easier to watch.

A few quick notes on the drama:

1. Good-looking leads - Pretty lady in pretty clothes + Handsome guy with hot abs (just too much make-up).
2. Good chemistry between the leads.
3. Kisses are a little awkward. I expected more from them.
4. Acting is pretty good for a mini drama since the main leads are experienced actors.
5. A lot of slapping each other's faces..
6. Second-hand embarrassment and a few funny scenes - 2ML’s dancing and 2FL’s bubbles from her mouth.
7. Many slow mo romantic scenes with songs playing at the right ‘romantic’ moments. Songs are quite overplayed.
8. Many accidental falling into ML’s arms.
9. Too many flashbacks, especially in the last third of the drama.
10. I enjoyed the first half more than the second half.
11. FL is being saved way too many times by her bodyguard.
12. I think the actors use their own voice, which I GREATLY appreciate.

This is not a bad watch if you enjoy mini dramas. A lot of the things I listed above are not enjoyable, but for some reason, I had a good time watching this drama and it’s quite addicting.



Completed: 11/11/2023 - Review #376

Leia Mais

Being a Martyr is a RED flag!

“Usokon” features a pretty common fake marriage/relationship trope. It doesn’t give us anything unique but does offer a comforting, familiar and cute contract relationship. This is a pretty easy watch and very binge-able. The pacing is good for a short drama (12 episodes, 20 minutes each).

Takumi (ML) and Yae (FL) are both likable characters, well, only to a certain extent for the female lead. Their contract relationship is fun and interesting, and the chemistry is pretty good. I was rooting for them all along. The first two episodes hooked me in, especially when we see the perspectives from both leads. Except for one annoying ex who showed up towards the end, the rest of the supporting cast contributes and supplements the main romance/plot pretty well. Acting is not too over-the-top for a J-drama.

The drama was going so well until the last few episodes when they introduced ML’s ex-girlfriend to the story. What a nosedive! The biggest issue is how Yae dealt with the meeting with the ex. Yae already has this martyr-like annoying personality when she was first introduced (such a big red flag). I thought there would be character development for her and she would behave less like a martyr. But no, she continues on to make one of the dumbest decisions ever, when it was made VERY clear to her how Takumi feels. At this point, I don’t think she deserves Takumi at all.

It’s really unfortunate because I was enjoying this drama so much, right up to this point. I like how the childhood friends reconnected, getting involved in the fake marriage, trying to keep this a secret, faking it in front of everyone, slowly falling in love and even the return of the other childhood best friend. All these are the makings of a classic fake relationship and I am eating all this fluff and cuteness up.

Unfortunately, I need to dock points because I was annoyed how it all went down in flames in the last few episodes.


Completed: 10/14/2023 - Review #366

Leia Mais

Cute and Fluffy moments with a dose of Realism - An average Korean BL

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

“Bon Appetit” is a simple drama that gives us some cute moments and fluffiness but also a small dose of realism. This is an easy watch and can be completed in less than 4 hours. It’s not the best/worst Korean BL out there but it’s very bingeable.

A few quick notes about the drama:

1. I appreciate BLs that are about more mature individuals and not students.
2. Main lead, Jung Do Hoon, looks the youngest out of the characters, yet he’s supposed to be older than Lee Yoon Soo and Park Sang Woo.
3. Acting is decent. I’ve seen worse in low-budget web dramas.
4. The advertiser part is a little over-the-top.
5. I enjoy the integration of cooking and food, but at times the explanation seems out of place.
6. I love and found it hilarious to give a raw chicken as a gift to someone who you are not close enough to have beer and fried chicken with, but not quite a stranger.
7. Does every K-drama college want to take the “Marriage and Love” class? Is it even a real class in Korea?
8. People really need to learn to ignore phone calls when they are in the middle of something ‘important’.
9. I was wondering why YoonSoo cooks with such a small burner for a chef in the earlier episodes. Then I found out why.
10. The ex is annoying and such a douche.
11. Did DoHoon pick up all the kimbap on the floor and eat them? Ewww..
12. I’m glad DooHoon eventually learned to appreciate YoonSoo. I was getting frustrated for YoonSoo for all the thoughts and love he put into liking him.
13. I actually quite like SangWoo and don’t mind him ending up with DoHoon. I think he’s handsome 🙂


Completed: 10/7/2023 - Review #364

Leia Mais

Interesting topic but lacking in acting, storytelling and execution .

Subjective Gut Rating - 7.75

I wanted to check this out to see what's all the buzz about. It's usually not my type of drama but it's still an interesting watch. However, Netflix disappointed me in not translating all the text messages or even some of the IG posts.

A few quick notes instead of a full review:
1. Park Gyu Young is really pretty in everything she wears. But acting is only so-so.
2. No chemistry at all between the leads. I would not call it 'slight romance'...more like no romance.
3. Oppa is hot but he's as bland as a white sheet of paper. Is Kang Min Hyuk usually this bad, or is it just this drama?
4. Lee Chung Ah also looks very expressionless in her portrayal of Yoon Shi Hyun. Sometime is missing from her portrayal of a rich, high society wife.
5. All the other ladies aka e-celebrities are over-the-top and loud, but I guess that’s all part of their characters and the makjang-like portrayal of these influencers.
6. It is interesting to take a peek into the glamorous world of these social influencers. Not sure how exaggerated everything is.
7. The reveal of the livestream is interesting but rushed and not executed well.
8. The reveal of @bbbfamous is disappointing. I would never have guessed it’s that person. The drama is not giving us much time to hate or pity this character.
9. The shoe scene is indeed iconic and memorable.

There’s so much potential to the plot, but I find the acting, execution and storytelling lacking. I probably won’t recommend this unless you really like this genre and this topic. Of course, if you want to turn off your brain and check out the lives of these rich fake celebrities and enjoy all their glamorous lives and fashion, it could be fun.


Completed: 9/10/2023 - Review #351

Leia Mais

It's better than the current 7.3 rating. Worth a shot!

There are many “Painted Skin” movies and dramas, and they all are adapted from the collection of “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio”. I think this newest movie version deserves more than the current 7.3 rating on MDL. For a lower budget web movie without any big name actors, this movie has a simple plot that flows well. There’s a beginning, middle and end, and they all make sense. I don’t feel that the movie was too rushed or too draggy within its 1 hr and 20+ min runtime.

This “Painted Skin” has a different story from the 2020 movie, which is more of a BL. Maybe it was rated higher because of the BL craze? I actually like the 2022 version more and felt that the production quality is pretty good for a web movie. The intro is a little creepy but really reels you in. The tone is set right from the get-go. The costumes, sets, fight scenes and especially the CGI is really good. I’ve seen other big budget productions with way worse production quality and make my eyes roll with crappy green screen scenes.

The acting of the cast is decent, though not extraordinary. At least, I don’t feel distracted because of anyone’s subpar acting. Nita Xia and Shi Guo Hui are both beautiful actresses and could definitely play the role of a demonic seductress. Kenji Chen is a handsome fellow and I don’t blame the female lead for falling in love with him at first sight. The supporting cast is small with many veterans, who all play their roles well.

Overall, I recommend this movie if you enjoy a fantasy forbidden romance, with a slight horror tone to it. However, don’t expect a star-crossed lover type super romance. There are no fluffy or cute scenes. “Painted Skin” is an easy watch and nothing really stands out for me to say is annoying, irritating or terrible.


Completed: 8/26/2023 - Review #345

Leia Mais

Not an Excellent crime/gangster drama, nor a BL romance drama

Browsing through MDL, “HIStory 3: Trapped” is rated pretty high for a Taiwanese drama and/or a BL drama. Unfortunately, I am not sure if it’s worth the 8.4 current rating. I feel that it tries to be a very good crime/gangster drama, and also a very good BL drama. In the end, it lands right in the middle: not excellent in either or both directions.

It was a slow start for me. I did not like the cop ML at all. I understand his motive of trying to find the killer of his mentor for the last 4 years. But the way he approaches gangster ML is unprofessional, unrealistic and super clingy and stalkerish. The acting is also a little over-the-top for me. On the other hand, gangster ML’s stoic but bland expressions distract me from his handsome looks and beautiful physique in a suit. You know, if you can’t act, no matter how good-looking you are, the drama is never going to be good.

Luckily, the acting of gangster ML gets better throughout the drama. When he’s not forced to act all cold, his emotional and normal scenes are pretty decent. Cop ML’s acting also gets more natural but his professionalism and unrealistic approach to solving the case never goes away.

The gangster turf fight is uninteresting and the pursuit of the murderer is half-baked. It tries to be a crime investigation/gangster drama but the writing is not up to par.

What about BL romance? The first half of the drama is more fun before the leads get together. Yes, cop ML is clingy and stalkerish, but at least the chemistry is quite good and sizzles a little. But once they got together, I was expecting more kisses and skinship. We have maybe 3 decent scenes with intimacy and skinship. However, the quality of the kisses is disappointing given this is the HIStory franchise.

On another note, the side romance is quite cute and sweet. Jack is the most attractive of the guys for me, and his character is interesting. I keep on thinking there’s more to him that meets the eye with his smirks and smiles. But his counterpart, the young cop, is way too naive and especially unbelievable as a cop. The pairing is cute but unrealistic.

Having said all that, I do appreciate a BL drama not set in a school setting and tries to be a more mature drama. There really aren’t too many BL dramas out there about real adults and not students, and good ones are even harder to come by. A few of the action scenes are quite good and not slow-mo fighting. Both leads look like they trained for these scenes. This is a quick and easy binge since each episode is only about 25 minutes long. From an enjoyment level, I will round this up to an 8.0. If I am judging strictly on writing/acting/execution, this will be a lower score. I will recommend this if you are looking for a more mature BL drama, just don't lower the expectations a little.


Completed: 8/26/2023 - Review #344

Leia Mais

Could have been good BUT ruined by poor editing, plot holes and illogical actions.

I didn't have high expectations when I first started watching “Miss Truth”. I was just in the mood. A female lead who loves to do autopsy? Sounds good! However, even with low expectations, I am greatly disappointed. The drama started out promising and had a fun first half. But then I don’t know what happened in the second half. The editing was horrible and there were so many illogical things happened. Was the drama slated for a lot longer and then got cut by censorship? Or just bad writing and editing?


Acting
This is female lead Zhou Jie Qiong’s first drama, and she did fine. I don’t find her character too annoying and she wasn’t too bad. Toby Lee probably wins the prize for acting in this drama, and he wasn’t exceptional either. His face and expressions look funny when he’s supposed to be angry. But I enjoy his bantering with the female lead. Unfortunately, Tim Pei is the most disappointing for me. I understand he’s a cold assassin, but he’s completely emotionless throughout the drama. He did not improve at all! Even when he’s faced with the love of his life, he still has dead and bored eyes. The rest of the supporting cast isn’t too good either, and that includes some of the veterans. The minor roles are the worst and watching them act is difficult. The thing that bugs me the most is there’s no subtle acting. You get that “wink wink” acting with the eyes to convey to the audience openly what is going to happen. There are too many occasions like that and I blame the director for it.

Romance
I initially really enjoyed the bantering between Ran Yan (FL) and Xiao (Song). It’s a lot of fun watching them argue and solve crimes together. Su Fu as the second male lead is also the type of character I like. In another drama, Su Fu could be the main lead. Both Xiao Song and Su Fu love noble idiocy and also show their love by doing a lot of things behind-the-scenes for Ran Yan. However, this love triangle lasted way too long and I was tired of it. I just want Ran Yan to decisively pick one guy and stick with it. But misunderstandings and noble idiocy take center stage in the romance department and the chemistry between the three of them disappears. There aren’t enough sweet and cute scenes, and the sad/heartbreaking scenes do not move me. For a romance junkie like me, romance really disappoints me.

Crime Investigations
The autopsies and investigations are my favorite parts. I am sure what Ran Yan said during the autopsies are not 100% true, but these are some fun scenes. The mysteries are interesting and they are all tied to the big mystery and plot about the pearl and treasures. Execution is the problem. If you are worried about dead bodies and gore, the drama doesn’t really show the details of the autopsies.

Plot Holes/Editing
As I mentioned, the second half is just weird. Scenes seemed to have been edited out. I was expecting the drama to show me what will happen next, but instead I was shown the result. There are so many illogical things that happened and many plot holes.
* A spoiled brat villain knew acupuncture? No way she could learn that in record time and all the characters let her poke needles on someone who everyone cares for.
* It seems like a commoner can go in and out of the palace with no problem. Oh, you can even argue with the King and consequences are an afterthought.
* A man can also enter a princess bedroom in the middle of the night, question her about a crime and can walk out unscathed. * The princess barely scolded him and left the room after being confronted.
* With the three intelligent leads gather together, no one thought of preventing assassins/culprits from committing suicide in front of them when so many of them died in front of them?
* The ending of the two leads - can they really see each other like that?

Production Quality
This appears to be a low budget production. It might not bother many viewers, but it bothered me that I see cheap clothing that is oversized and looks super heavy, draped on the actors' and actresses’ tiny bodies. The accessories, sets and ornaments all look very cheap. This has to be one of the sparsely- and cheaply-decorated palaces I’ve seen in a Chinese drama. While I appreciate actors using their own voices, the post production dubbing is inconsistent. There are times I wonder if what I heard is the actor’s internal monologue, or the audio/lines spoken and the lips are not matching.


I would not recommend this drama, unfortunately. Maybe it’s just me as I had a very hard time finishing it and it failed to hold my attention throughout the 36 episodes. The drama did have closure but also left it open for another season. The drama was shot in late 2018 and aired in 2020. As of this review in 2023, season 2 is nowhere in sight.


Completed: 8/6/2023 - Review #338

Leia Mais