Not as good as I thought it was...

I'm going to spoil one episode, barely, but I don't really care right now.

Looking back, I don't really like this drama as much as I used to. And I definitely don't like this relationship anymore. I honestly can't believe I ever did. About a week ago I couldn't understand the more negative reviews I read about this show. But, I decided to rewatch it, and I can definitely see how messed up Uehara and Nao's relationship is.

Uehara almost never expresses his feelings, never really apologizes, doesn't put Nao first, doesn't consider Nao's feelings, waits too long to clear things up or never does, and doesn't pay enough attention to Nao.

Everything that is wrong with this couple, from the beginning and in the future episodes, can be found in season 1, episode 10.

Daichi summed it up best a third of the way into the episode: "What's wrong with you? Are you even thinking about Nao's feelings? If you make a promise, then keep it! You got her hopes up and played with her feelings. She just giggles and brushes off whatever you say. Have you ever thought about her feelings?"

Nao just lets Uehara walk all over her and is happy with the slight crumbs of affection and/or attention he gives her. She didn't have to start dating Daichi instead just because he also liked her. But, she should have Never dated Uehara. He is not a good person.

At some point you think Nao would finally realize that this relationship is unhealthy and Uehara isn't treating her right. She almost does for a brief moment in episode 10. But, then what does she do? She goes right back to him without him acknowledging that how he acted and continues to act is messed up.

He literally drags her home to make some sort of apology. But he doesn't apologize. Instead, he says, "Don't be stupid." when she asked if he kissed Yuri, when she has every right to be worried. And his idea of a "present" to make up with her is to buy her 25 milk puddings?!

Then he holds her, she cries and says "I like you," he says it back, and they kiss.

Yep. Totally romantic. Not manipulative and emotionally abusive at all.

Sorry for this rant. Can you tell I'm mad I got blindsided back then?

Lire davantage

Started off cute but was ultimately a disappointment

First off, my rating is a lie. It's actually a 6.5/10 for me. But because it's a Thai GL, and I want to see more of them, I don't have the heart to rate it any lower.

Now, as for my thoughts:

In the beginning, it had everything I wanted: A Pan FL, easy chemistry between the two FLs, a love triangle, and ALL the tropes that come with a Queer Thai Engineer series. Like, yes, give me tripping on air and getting dramatically saved by the FL's soon-to-be love interest, who holds her for a suspiciously long time!

But then, near the halfway point, my perspective shifted. While I liked that the conflicts were--so far--minimal/easily resolved, I felt they could have done well with extending the do they like each other/pining phase. It felt almost "too easy" for these FLs.

This problem would come back to bite the drama later during the last few episodes when conflict after conflict and misunderstanding after misunderstanding popped up. It seemed like the writers intentionally made Manaow and Gyoza's start to their relationship so easy and sweet so they could put them through the wringer at the end while banking on all their good times together to get you through it. Unfortunately, it did not work. At all. And don't even get me started on the horrible villain and her scheme and the nail-in-the-coffin trope that had no reason to be there.

By the end, I was just . . . *sigh*

It saddens me to say this, but I would skip this one, my dear MDLers. It's just not worth your time.

Lire davantage

Masterpiece! Just watch it!

This, and its sequel, are incredible! I haven't seen romance done this well in a long time. I'm not putting any spoilers in here, but if you want to go in absolutely blind with no clue about what happens, don't read my review. Either way, I encourage you to watch this movie.

I'm just going to write this review with both Seven Days: Monday-Thursday and Seven Days: Friday-Sunday in mind. I'll probably post this same review on the second movie.

So, how is this different compared to the LGBT+ movies/series I have seen so far? Well, there weren't any stereotypes, basically no silly misunderstandings, and no people interfering in the relationship. It was so refreshing!

It's a bit difficult to describe just how much these movies made me feel and why they're so amazing. I'll give it my best shot!

This story can basically be summarized as being about the slow and quiet exploration of a developing relationship between two people (Seryo and Yuzuru). While there are actually two movies that take the time to show this story, I personally consider them as being one. I wouldn't mind in the least if it were just one long movie. I understand that would make it around 4 hours long, but it's just that good!

For people who don't care for slow movies, you probably won't like this. And, if you're looking for intense "drama," this isn't it. There isn't any action to speak of, and it isn't missed or needed to make the story more interesting.

This movie (I'm just going to say movie instead of saying movies or this movie and its sequel, as it's getting annoying to repeat myself, and I already said I consider them one movie anyway) was the perfect length. It didn't feel rushed. And it didn't feel stretched out. It felt like, just as Seryo and Yuzuru took their time, the movie also took its time.

The actors did such a great job expressing their characters' emotions. There are scenes where they don't talk very much and only rely on their facial expressions to convey what they're feeling. You can sense when they have a revelation, are confused, etc., just by the look in their eyes or lift in their brow.

Also, their body language/physical acting was great as well. There is a gentle air that they carry around each other. And, when they lean in close to each other you feel the hesitancy as well. They aren't forceful with each other. And they don't suck each other's faces off. Lol. When they hold hands, touch each other's faces, or kiss, they don't rush. There is always this slow reaching toward each other as though they're being careful of the other, and they're always in the moment together.

Other than the initial premise not being realistic, the way their relationship/feelings developed was. It wasn't love at first sight or one person chasing another to try and make them love them back. It was two people dating each other because they wanted to.

There aren't very many side characters, and the ones that are there have very few scenes/lines. Because they aren't important. And they aren't the focus. It's all about the relationship between the two leads. And, when I say there isn't action, I mean that this movie contains mostly talking, not doing. This movie is all about feelings. It's about learning about someone, being open to someone, and love itself.

It's filled with quiet, reflective moments of the characters by themselves contemplating their relationship. And quiet moments together of discussing each other and their feelings.

There was an intense vulnerability to Seryo and Yuzuru. Just when you think they're going to keep their thoughts to themselves, they let something precious slip. They speak openly about attraction (including attraction to each other), dating, their future, and what they think of each other. The only "misunderstandings" consisted of when one of them took the others' words to mean something different from what they meant. But, those moments were short and/or resolved and were just a natural continuation of the reflective and deep nature of the characters.

The only thing I would say is that some retouching needs to be done to make the quality of the film on the screen a bit better. Sometimes it was a little blurry. But that may have just been because I had to watch it on YouTube.

In conclusion, this movie is everything. I could keep gushing about it forever.

Lire davantage

Mixed Feelings, But Still Good

How do I talk about this? This is a tough one. I'm sure I'm not going to make sense when I try to talk about this.

First off, the aspects that were fantastic as ever and generally we all agree on: The shots, colors, lighting, acting, and music is great. And the OST is pure gold!

Now, onto my own personal take:

On the one hand, IPYTM did make me very emotional and I was able to relate to some of the struggles the characters were going through. I loved and hated how this drama made me feel at the same time. It was purposefully soul-crushing at many points. I knew this wasn't going to be an upbeat and easy sequel though.

From the first episode and on they really hit you with how it feels to feel and/or be alone and out of your element in a new place far from home.

On the other hand, I think my biggest criticism happens to be everyone else's: They should have shown this drama more from Oh-aews's point of view, or at least half of it.

ITSAY was Oh-aew and Teh's story. But, at the end of the day, it was mostly from Teh's point of view. And that was fine. It was meant to be that way and it worked. Unlike others, I wasn't fuming mad about this being from Teh's perspective, however, I felt like we missed out on something by not showing more from Oh-aew.

I distinctly remember thinking at the end of episode 1 that the story was going to continue on showing Oh-aew's life/struggles for a while. And I was really excited about that. The camera angles and tone certainly seemed to suggest it. But, that's not what happened.

I Promised You the Moon was never going to surpass I Told Sunset About You. It was either going to continue the story in a meaningful or somewhat meaningful way, or not measure up to it's predecessor at all.

For me, I found this meaningful but not on par with ITSAY. I didn't feel angry. I just felt something lacking, but, it wasn't enough to leave me completely unsatisfied.

I think I'll give this an 8/10.

Lire davantage

Something amazing produced during difficult times!

Lots of sweet moments, and several more than sweet moments. They have such great chemistry and tension! Also, there are some really beautiful and artistic shots/scenes throughout. I was amazed. Especially since the budget, from what I heard, wasn't incredibly high.

Some parts of the plot could have been improved upon. But, there's really not much to complain about with this series. A couple of tropes are present, but there is enough newness and intrigue to overshadow them.

You begin rooting for the couple very early on. I am warning you though that there is a lot of buildup to Sky and Ace's relationship. It is a relatively slow-burn for the first 7 episodes. Then, prepare yourself. Their relationship does stay sweet throughout, but there are some moments :)

Sometimes you start to see this series as a fairytale. I kid you not that there are some legitimately Disney-prince-like moments. There are overdramatic falls, dances, kisses, and an overdramatic score to match. On top of that there is a great deal of comedy sprinkled throughout. You will laugh your ass off, smile stupidly, and feel like you should cover your eyes because you're intruding on a couple's moment.

Lire davantage

Acting, even in front of you

The pacing of this drama was a near-masterclass, at least to me. With an exciting lead-in, the MLs' relationship seemed to move at break-neck speed (on the surface) but was full of reflection, fear, and carefully said words. Many might disagree, but I found the flashback episodes a perfect "interruption" to dive deeper into both their current mentalities and past states, which put actions taken when they met again into a whole new light. I felt excited seeing everything laid out and awaiting their next interaction, armed with all the new information presented to me. In particular, I loved the execution of Asami's story.

Final note: I must say, the love scene? Felt like I was watching living, breathing art comprised of two people brimming over with feelings, desperately needing and reaching for each other, physically connecting, all while begging with their eyes, "Please, stay. Please, be here with me." Take notes, other dramas! Take notes!

Lire davantage

Orange Juice Meet Cute

This has to be one of the sweetest fucking things I've ever seen.

This showed from start to finish the embarassing and exciting experience of finally talking to that person you're interested in and actually having them reciprocate. And all the missteps and moments of barely-mustered courage in between. From initiating a conversation and agonizing over what to say so much that you say very little, exchanging numbers, typing, deleting, and retyping the first text, to going on a date for the first time and making things official.

What a treasure these shy and real moments in a developing romance are.

Bless these two sweet, terribly awkward men.

That's it. That's all I had to say. NOW GO WATCH THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT'S GOOD, I PROMISE!

Lire davantage

Messy and Gory Fun!

I will be the first to say that this drama was downright confusing af at times, and it often felt like they were digging their heels in down to the last second, trying to come up with ways to fill the runtime. But for someone like me who is not a Horror fan to like a Horror drama and a gory Thai one at that? That is an accomplishment.

This was all kinds of fucked up with a confusing-ass final "twist." But I kind of loved it? They had me biting my nails, covering my eyes and peeping through my fingers, and shouting at my screen, "You dumbasses!" every week. And you know what, it was fun not to have high expectations nor be bored but simply just be entertained watching things get messy, more shit be revealed, and how impressively realistic and nasty the effects could get.

Amid all this, I do think there is a message to be found here. I didn't see it until the end, though.

These teenagers did objectively terrible, even "evil," things to another teenager. A difficult truth to accept, though, is that evil people, or those who do something evil, are not evil 100% of the time. A serial killer can have saved a puppy from getting hit by a car. Does this now make them a good person? No. This just goes to show that people are complex creatures who cannot be boiled down into simple black-and-white categories, as much as we would like them to be.

I absolutely recommend this chaotic disaster of a drama. Mind the gore, though, because there is gore. And face stuff! Watch out for the face stuff!

Lire davantage

An Empty Space

It's definitely a quality drama. The team behind it cared about what they were making, and you could tell. They had a specific style in mind, evident from the color palette. Jung Woo's world is listless, drained, and hollow. And so the world we see is made of muted colors, conversations go round and round, and the days seem to repeat.

I found the commentary on passiveness and possessiveness interesting, as well as the under-the-radar—at least to the character—manipulation (you could see how, over time, one would give in).

Something just felt missing. I can't put a name to it. And I wanted more of the love-triangle aspect. The trailers and teasers made it seem like it would play a significant role. Unfortunately, we were fooled.

Lire davantage

Not for everyone, but it was for me.

This was refreshing. It just jumped right into it. You quickly realize there will be no hand-holding and very little leading.

Different. That's how I would describe the experience of watching this. It was a serious drama. Not in the way of intense romance, love triangles, physical fights, or big twists though. In fact, I didn't feel as if they shoe-horned in anything unnecessarily. I wasn't able to point out anything that was added in to drag out the runtime. It uses its time to seriously show the difficulty/horror of being a health care worker and the challenges and in-fights between hospital owners and staff, as well as carefully thread a message that becomes clear only at the end.

What sticks with me even now is the uncomfortableness they managed to make me feel by showing the "bad guy" show some humanity. I felt this "wrongness" from it, as if he didn't have the right to. But that is how people are. They aren't as easy to categorize into good and evil as we would like them to be.

And, the message. The ending isn't satisfying. It doesn't have a true "conclusion" as it were. It seems to say, "This is what life is." You get by, you face a fight, you manage to get your head above water, you find something to brighten your day, and the cycle repeats. One stumbling block is dealt with, only for another to come down the road. We struggle and we smile, alone and with others.

Did some part of me want the easy satisfying ending with a pretty bow on top? Of course. But it was a realistic ending. And one I didn't mind. Because, this is life.

Lire davantage

Jazz for Two Might be for You

This drama and the characters truly shined the most in tension-filled moments where it felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. I also rather appreciated the consistency of the character's flaws/toxic behaviors, with there also being guilt and growth. Also, the fake-out conflict being resolved through thoughtful perspective and acceptance? Loved that. More not dragging things out for added drama and instead having a main lead think rationally, please!

Based on this drama's description, I expected less than average—to not be excited at the prospect of seeing the story progress. I was glad to find I could lose myself in Jazz for Two for a while.

All this praise aside, I wish the curtains closed more smoothly on this drama. At least ten extra minutes were desperately needed to tie up the side character's stories as well as allow a smoother transition as to where the main leads ended up. When the credits started rolling, I legit thought I was being punked. I was like, "Come on, there's got to be five more minutes left, right? Did I skip ahead?!"

All in all, I would recommend it. Just keep your expectations moderate.

Lire davantage

Falling crazily in love with Hidden Love

Where do I even begin? I mean, MDLers far and wide got to witness my complete meltdown from heart palpitations while watching this drama. I could not keep it together to save my life! Don't look at me! Pay no attention to the Noir under the blanket, giggling and screeching at 11:30 p.m.!

The way their relationship and feelings slowly shifted and developed over time was so lovely, sweet, and respectful. My heart felt full. I truly watched them grow as people and as a couple, supporting and protecting each other. I can see them teasing each other and leaning close, wrapping their arms around each other, looking for comfort after a long day many years later.

I would be remiss not to mention how much I appreciated and liked how the drama started with Sang Zhi having a harmless crush as a child with no sign of Duan Jia Xu noticing, let alone influencing her to like him romantically. Can we say easily non-problematic? Yes! We like that.

Not to mention, their relationship dynamic was simply overflowing with caring and joy from caring for the other person. Let me also just say that Duan Jia Xi was so attentive and proactive in how he pursued Sang Zhi once he finally did. He put himself forward, yes, but respected any boundaries she set. Likewise, Sang Zhi wanted him to open up to her but never truly pushed for him to explain everything he went through to her. This is what we call mutual respect and understanding.

Also, just a side note: THE CONSENT?! I perish! Not only did Duan Jia Xi ask for consent just to hold her hand—excuse me while I shove my pillow in my face and scream—Sang Zhi also asked for consent and regularly checked in and expressed her desires and comfortableness despite her nerves.

In conclusion, I fell absolutely madly in love with this couple's love. If you are wary of C-Dramas like I have been in the past, are a slow-burn romance lover, and/or simply want to watch something light and fairly low-angst, give this a chance.

Lire davantage

Holy shit this was so fucking good

What can I say about it (actually I have a lot to say)? It was a masterpiece! From the incredible acting and electrifying chemistry to the intricate and intriguing plot. I started it with the intent to finish it in about 3 weeks. Instead, I completed it in 3 days. That should tell you all you need to know.

The narrative flowed well and the plot twists weren't just surprising, they also made sense in hindsight.

The first episode drops you right into the story and then proceeds to backtrack to the events leading up to the murder. And the chemistry between the ML's was already present as well. There were these wonderful intrigued stares they gave each other which created a solid connection and tension between them before they even really got to know one another.

I can't believe I waited this long to watch it! It was thrilling, shocking, horrifying, real, intense, sweet, and addictive. It reminded me a bit of Criminal Minds with it not shying away from dark topics and some gore but keeping some light-heartedness in it as well.

I especially loved how it wasn't solely a romance drama. The romance played a big role, yes, but it wasn't the main focus or the point of the plot itself. That's the kind of progress I want to see. See people, you can have a great drama with a great plot while ALSO having an LGBT+ romance in it. You can. So, make more of these please!

Us non-straight people like a cool plot that isn't just about falling in love too!

Side Note: Much as I like to see coming out scenes in dramas, provided they are done well and respectfully, I want to see more dramas where no coming out scene is even necessary. That was yet another thing I loved about this.

And also, the aspect of "I'm falling in love with another man, oh no!" wasn't a thing. And both Tan and Bun weren't mocked, ridiculed, bullied, or put down for being in love. Nor did they or their friends make "wife" jokes or anything of the sort. That was incredibly refreshing! It was treated as a legitimate and normal relationship like others.

This drama is a 10/10 in its blood. God, I hope we get more like this! Thanks to HIStory 3: Trapped for paving the way for this wonderful drama! Golden Blood couldn't do it, but (if we ever get it) KinnPorsche looks incredibly promising.

Lire davantage

In Your Heart: The Prequel

I want to make the creators step on Legos for 10 years!

Why do I have to say, "If not for the rape . . ." That shouldn't be something I have to preface a drama with! This is just In Your Heart all over again. The side couple has such great scenes later when it comes to caring for a partner's sexual health, etc. But it is virtually impossible to see anything as positive with the black cloud of sexual assault hanging over everything.

I don't really have much else to say except that they fucked this up so bad, and they didn't need to. What was the reason?! WHAT. WAS. THE. REASON. Actually, I do know the reason. Because it shows society that the drama isn't necessarily approving of Gay people (also to frame them as being predatory): "He's just like that because . . ." You get what I'm saying.

I have other things I could complain about, but I'm tired. Writing this review made me tired. This drama made me tired.

As far as the reason I watched this in the first place (the Bi rep), here are my thoughts on that: The ML, Fuse, is likely to be Bi. He seems to be in a state of simultaneously denying and accepting his attraction to another man though. So, perhaps Queer would be the best term for him.

Lire davantage

A teen drama but also a sort of heavy slice-of-life

(Spoilers at the bottom regarding a character's sexuality)

Such a down-hearted and sweet ML. He's such a good-natured person that he sometimes lets things slide or doesn't stand up for himself enough when he should though. But, he is true to himself and his morals, and he does stand up in his own way later on. 

The big "misunderstanding" was annoying but the payoff was perfect. The lesson was genuinely learned and the FL was apologetic and did better afterward.

This was a teen drama but also a sort of heavy slice-of-life. It's slow, but purposefully so. These are teenagers dealing with typical problems/more serious problems but also bigger things out of their control that they shouldn't have to face. It covers emotional/physical abuse, overdemanding and anxiety-inducing parental pressure, divorce, child abandonment, a form of self-harm, peer pressure, a victim choosing for themself how they handle things, bullying, etc. 

It's about being more present in life, realizing what you can and can't control, and accepting what is and isn't your fault. Parental pressure and abuse is never the fault of the victim, but maliciously taking out that pain on others is. And you can understand why someone would act that way because of their horrible environment but it doesn't mean you condone or forgive the behavior. Life circumstances can get in the way of us and being with our loved ones but it doesn't mean the relationship is lost.

We do the best we can and we still struggle. But there are moments to cherish in our past and moments to look forward to in the future.

Regarding Representation: We had a Gay SML, Jung Oh Je, who had unrequited feelings for one of the MLs, Ma Hwi Young. He didn't have a lot of screen time but he was a calming presence and his character had an impact, particularly when the drama was airing.

The way they hint at his real feelings is nicely subtle in the background. Even when he doesn't have lines, if you pay attention and follow his stare you notice who he's looking at. And he has a very openly thoughtful yet guarded expression to him that speaks of someone who is figuring something out within themself that they are scared of.

I think they did a good job. Realistically the outing likely would have gone much worse but I think them toning it down helped in showing acceptance of someone's sexuality as being the right and natural thing. Even Ma Hwi Young wasn't really a jerk about it in the way he would be about anything else.

Lire davantage