Wasn't expecting to be hooked on this one

I waited a while after the series ended before writing this review because I wanted to be as objective as possible.

Went into this with very little expectation, seeing that it was yet another university-friends-enemies-to-lovers series by GMMTV. I was expecting a recycled plot (i mean it's engineering students again...) and lots of cliche but ended up falling in love with the entire cast. So much so that i didn't mind the cliche "everyone ends up as happy gay couples" ending.

Sure it was cute and fluffy, and the acting isn't quite IFYLITA or ITSAY standard, but some of the dialogue were well-written and tugged at the heartstrings. There were also great comic timing (kudos to JJ, Phuwin, Poon and Pond) and replay moments in the scenes between the MLs. Was pleasantly surprised by Phuwin's and Pond's natural acting and their amazing chemistry, and loved the scenes where the friends just gathered and were there for each other.

The script was well-written and although i did find the last 2 episodes a little draggy, i thought the series was overall well-paced with just the right amount of romantic tension. Overall this was a surprising feel good series (especially if you're in between other serious dramas) that didn't overdo the cliches, had well written characters (and bothered to develop these characters), good dialogue and a balanced focus on love and friendship. Peem is just such a wonderfully written character that you wished was real, cos everyone needs a Peem in their lives.

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Good until Episode 11

I'm not a big fan of cliche romance flicks, especially one involving weak female characters waiting to be saved by a rich, almost perfect male lead. Hence MMH was not on the top of the list of K-dramas to watch. However, after seeing some rave reviews on various platforms, and since I was in the mood for something light-hearted and fluff, I thought to give this a try.

The storyline was pretty captivating all the way until episode 11, then it really started to go downhill on logic, pacing, character development etc. Things just started going all over the place, almost like the writers were just throwing out options on which ending scenario might work best and doing some market testing.

The actors tried their best and as much as I liked seeing Na In Woo as the ML, thought there was decent on-screen chemistry between the ML, and was enjoying the character design and development of the villains, the last 5 episodes were a complete let down. Messy logic flow, missed opportunities to develop great sub-plots with the secondary leads, repetitive 'brave' talk that didn't really deliver in terms of action. The FL just kept psyching herself up and building up expectations on her 'revenge' plan, which in my opinion, was really weak.

I blame the script and the scriptwriter, it was like they swapped the original scriptwriter out after episode 11 or didn't pay him/her enough to produce quality work. It was like a 3 course meal with an amazing starter that whet the appetite (time-travel + revenge plot + character development plot), have a solid main (decent cast, good development of sub-plots and some plot twists), only to be disappointed with a terrible dessert that almost makes you forget how great the starter was.

Was gonna give this a 6/10 rating given the disappointing ending, but given i kinda enjoyed two-thirds of the whole series, gave it a +1.

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Great entertainment but not quite a Masterpiece

I love a strong female lead, and one that kicks ass is even better. One that kicks ass and has to play the role of a mother, pretty intriguing. While i thoroughly enjoyed the fight sequences, which were beautifully choreographed (fatal and feminine) and athletically executed, the movie lacked a sense of its own universe.

With the movie title, genre and timing of its release in contemporary times, it's inevitable that it gets compared with the likes of Kill Bill and John Wick, both cult faves. Although it narrowly manages to differentiate itself from the rest by focusing on the relationship between mother and daughter, and it was beautiful to witness how their relationship deepened and evolved within a very Asian context, the movie did not quite capture me as much as John Wick did. It was a waste that insufficient effort was spent building up an interesting universe around the characters as it had so much potential; i.e. developing the social structures of this world of assassins, and that could've captivated audiences more. Unfortunately, the characters stayed floating on the surface and didn't quite draw audiences in further.

That said, the casting was impeccable, right down to the choice actors for the younger characters of Minkyu and Boksoon. Jang Doyeon was and is a helluva femme fatale and Sol Kyunggu's voice just devours your soul. Some of my favorite moments include the last fight sequence (when Boksoon simulated the outcomes of the fight) and the moment Minkyu realised Boksoon was his soul mate. The ending was also subtle but appropriate, so people who enjoy embedded subtexts and symbolism in films would appreciate it.

Overall this was an entertaining watch, great actors, gorgeous fight sequences and great production, but I probably would pass if a sequel was made.

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Possibly the best Taiwan BL I've come across

Having tried watching a couple of Taiwanese BL in the past based on rave reviews online (i say tried because i dropped most of them eventually), only to be terribly disappointed by the story-telling, acting, production value etc (we *cough* best *cough* love, Kiseki) i honestly hesitated starting on this one. In addition to my bad past experience with TW BL, incest just isn't my idea of a good forbidden romance... Putting aside the borderline incest plot, yes they're not blood related blah blah, this was actually a pretty darn good BL. Possibly the best I've seen from TW so far.

The story-telling had structure, decent context setting, good build-up, running themes to anchor the storyline and the dialogues were natural and not overly cheesy. The cinematography (lighting, angles) was surprisingly good for a drama series with thoughtful choice of location (the stairs and alley leading to the house, the fishing scene), although I thought they could've dialed up the "slump" aesthetics a little. But the winning ingredient for me was the acting and chemistry of the main leads. Their sound understanding of the characters was evident in their gestures, speech, right down to their breathing (there's a scene where Yuan and Qian are at the fishing spot for the first time and Yuan is lost in thought, and as the camera pans out back to reality, you can see him breath in and his eyelids quiver, desire and guilt fleets across his face).

Qian and Yuan are also interesting characters with raw survival instincts, are both strong and vulnerable for each other, and are fiercely loyal to each other and their loved ones. The main supporting characters were also well-designed, imperfect people bound together by non-traditional familial bonds. The interjection of well-timed humour also helped to lighten the story (cue San Pang and XiaoBao).

Some gripes were the casting choice for the multiple versions of younger Yuan vs fewer versions of younger Qian. Just wished they either got more similar looking child actors or stuck to just 1 or 2 for both. I also wasn't a fan of the OST and it was an odd choice of bgm at times. The gun scene w the side charac was my least favourite scene as the dialogue was a tad unpolished and it was overall a little over dramatic.

All in all, i thought this was one of the better (if not the best) BL from TW for me and the actors surprised (and impressed) we with their acting chops.

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Moved up my list of best shows in 2023

With this line-up for a cast (I mean they had, Cha Taehyun, Ryu Seong Ryong, Han Jyo Joo, Kim Sung Kyung), a popular webtoon that already has a healthy following and Dalparan (music director/composer for the Good, the Bad, the Weird, and Secretly, Greatly, Kingdom) participating in the OST, this was firming up to be epic. The genre (supernatural, fantasy, action, romance) was also right up my alley and needless to say my expectations were pretty high; and i'm glad i wasn't disappointed. I waited for all the episodes to be out before binge watching and did not regret this decision; can only imagine the painful wait I would have had to endure for some episodes with the type of cliff-hangers they were dishing out.
This has easily become one of my favorite dramas of 2023. There's so much to like! The innocent, sweet blossoming romance between the 2 young leads (i struggle with identifying the MC because each character could well be a MC of their own), the heart tugging back stories of their parents and the villains which helped us understand why they did what they did, the amazing action scenes (ok there were some rather questionable CGI scenes, like when the characters had to be made to look younger, but it's a TV production so i'll give it a discount), the fantastic acting (MCs and supporting cast included), the comic book style inspired cinematography, and the satisfying OST. Happy to report that there weren't any overly cringey dialogues, which tend to happen in webtoon, manga or anime adaptations.
Rated the rewatch value lower only because I don't usually rewatch shows and I fear that a rewatch would just make the experience less satisfying given how good it was the first time around.

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the Green Flag series in a sea of Reds

If you're looking for a love story about a healthy relationship with deep connection, this is the one for you. I enjoyed how the characters healed each other and became better versions of themselves. Mok is such a likeable character and Day was a good balance of angst and hope.

There were some magical moments that were iconic like the "one palm distance close up", the "last twilight" scene at the top of the mountain, the moment when Mok's inner fears manifested as a result of their deepening relationship and he made the choice that he knew would hurt Day deeply, and when Night broke down during the family dinner over stew. These moments were magical because of the build up, the symbolism, the contexts that many can relate to, the raw emotions delivered by the actors, and they gave the characters depth and brought them to life.

While there were some stand-out moments in terms of cinematography and script (e.g. the last twilight scene) the musicality was odd in certain places and over dramatic in some.

The actors have a very natural chemistry and are able to portray a love that's mature and grounded in trust and respect.
Overall it was an enjoyable watch and I would have given it a higher rating if it had an alternative ending. I'm on team "should've been status quo" for this one...

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