Flashback Galore + Hot Guys with Hot Abs

Completed - 1/15/2022

The reason I picked this drama is because I want to watch a William Chan modern drama. Having seen him in "Lost Love in Times" and "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse", I am not convinced in his acting. I hope to see him in a different role (not the cold/bland type) and in a modern setting. I am glad that I watched "Only side by side with you" as now I have a small crush on him.

As for the drama itself, what the reviewers and commenters said about flashbacks are totally true. Let's address what I don't like in the drama first.

What I don't Like:
1 Flashbacks - You need the fast-forward button with you to watch this drama, esp. if you are binge-watching. For the first 12 episodes, the flashbacks aren't bad as they are telling the history of the two male leads when they're in military school. So, there's a purpose and I am fine with that. After that, the flashbacks happen every single episode multiple times. These are long flashbacks and sometimes what happened earlier in the episode. This drama is really testing the audiences' patience and it's the main reason I can't give a high rating.

2. Product Placement - It's been a while since I watched a drama with SO many products featured. Is it because it's an older 2018 drama? Or because they need a lot of money to purchase drones and create fancy white offices? I have no idea. Products include: face creams, insurances, mobile apps, delivery service, drinks (OJ and bottled drinks), different types of alcohol, and of course, Macbook Pro for everyone. But the worst product is the cold medicine. Because the medicine has a sticker, the characters are not necessarily taking the meds, but use them as sticky for notes, like post-its. I have to applaud how creative they showcase this cold medicine.

3. Secondary Romance - I am not quite interested in this romance. I do not like Rachel Wang's acting as Ou Yang Qi (pet store owner). I don't feel the chemistry between Ou YangQi and Hao Jie, no matter how much Hao Jie tries and tries. I also don't see a reason for this love-at-first sight.

What I Enjoy:
1. Nan Qiao (FL) - It's so refreshing to see a smart, sensible, hard-working, independent woman CEO in a C-drama. Oftentimes, CEO are portrayed either as super cold or super bitchy. Nan Qian might be a little nerdy in the beginning, but she's never rude or dumb. I enjoy her character being slowly revealed as more than a nerdy engineer. Even when she fell in love, her sensibility did not go out the door. She's honest and direct when expressing her her feelings to the ML. I enjoy Bai Bai He's portrayal of Nan Qiao. She's not particularly pretty but she gives off a genuine vibe that fits this role.

2. William Chan - As I mentioned, I watch this drama because of William Chan. I am so happy to see him in a role where he can flex his acting chops. Shi Yue is a character that has a fun side and a dark side. William is able to portray the funny, adorable and flirty side of Shi Yue. And then in another scene, he's boxing and fighting and turned into a boss. When he smiles, I melt. So much better than the blank look I get from watching him in Pearl Eclipse. And there are so many scenes where he's topless or showing his muscles. He also looks dashing in all his clothes, whether it's casual wear or a 3-piece suit.

3. Fashion - Aside from Nan Qiao's earlier dorky fashion, all the leads have a wonderful wardrobe. Even Nan Qiao dresses a lot nicer after the first 1/3 of the show. It's nice to see an office drama where people dress appropriately to their age, and their work environment. Both An Ning and Wen Di have sophisticated and fancy outfits throughout the drama, and both women look beautiful and smart. Nan Qiao's early dorky fashion eventually evolves to a more sophisticated office look and more fashionable casual wear when she's on dates and not in the office. Our two male leads look super handsome in shirts/pants, or suits, or casual sports wear. They are both tall and lean, and basically look good in anything.

4. Plot/Pacing (minus flashbacks) - If I take the flashbacks out of the drama, the story has pretty good pacing. Although there isn't anything too unpredictable in the plot (a couple common tropes), the story keeps me engaged. There's a good mix of drone engineering/romance/rivalries/dark pasts to keep me entertained. I was never bored or felt that the storyline dragged for too long. It's unfortunate someone decides to use so many flashbacks. This drama could easily be a 30-episode drama.

5. Dads Unite - ML and FL's fathers are so funny together! Individually, they could be overbearing for their children. But when they are together, they are hilarious. Their conversations, banters and attempts in getting their kids together. The scene at the dating show registration is so funny!

Other Observations:
1. The bromance is pretty good in this drama.
2. I feel the rivalry between the two MLs resolved too easily and quickly without much fanfare.
3. Watch this if you are a fan of William Chan and Li Xian.

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Sweet, Fluffy, No-stress watch

Completed 12/31/2021

Normally, I would not pick this drama to watch. However, I want to end 2021 on a sweet and stress-free note. Therefore, I intentionally choose "Sparkle Love" because I know it's going to be cute and sweet and fluffy. The premise seems interesting enough.

I would recommend this drama to those who like:
1. Super sweet and cute romance
2. Cliches - slow motion glances, accidental kisses, accidental hugs, accidental falling into someone
3. Pikachu!
4. Hot guys with nice bodies with a decent number of topless scenes
5. Decent amount of decent kisses
6. Male chases Female romances

Most of the characters in this drama are pretty likable. There isn't anyone annoying or frustrating. The acting is not bad either. I've seen Zhang Ling He (ML) previously in "Maiden Holmes" and "Love Crossed" and also Ling Mei Shi (FL) in "Love by Hypnotic". I would say their acting are on par to those previous roles. They are cute together and I root for their little romance. If you like kisses, these two leads do kiss quite a bit in this drama, before and after they get together. However, having seen their previous dramas, I am slightly disappointed in the kisses. I know they can do better than that! LOL.

For a quick 24-episode drama, the pacing is not bad. If you cut away the intro and ending themes, each episode is only about 30 mins long. It's a easy binge-watch to kill time. I would say most plot lines are pretty predictable. There are multiple couples/romances in the drama, and I don't think there's enough time to spend on each to make them great. I also question the fashion choices of our female lead. She's the one that dresses the worst out of everyone.

Overall, if you want something a simple, cute, and sweet, and doesn't mind cliches and a predictable plot...then go for it! Sometimes, we all need to watch one of these dramas to make us feel good and loved.

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Leo Wu carries this drama...don't watch this for Sean Xiao

10/9/2021

As I continue to search for great martial arts dramas with amazing fight scenes, I stumbled onto "Fights Break Sphere". This is actually not a traditional wuxia/martial arts drama, but more of a fantasy drama. The drama ends with a small cliffhanger as to what would happen to our ML next. But don't worry, it has a good enough closure that I think it's safe to watch Season 1 and patiently wait for Season 2 with a totally different cast.

Leo Wu, not Sean Xiao - First, watch this drama because you are a fan of Leo Wu. His acting is great and carries the drama on his back all by himself. Do not watch this drama because of Sean Xiao, Li Qin or Xin Zhi Lei. This drama is all about Leo Wu's character and how he developed from a 15-year old without any great martial arts skills to be the savior of the world. Sean Xiao has a very small part in this drama. He's only one of the side kicks. Li Qin also has a very small role and only appears in a few episodes. I even find her character quite annoying and she appears a little too old to act young and naive, and definitely looks too old to be Leo Wu's love interest. Xin Zhi Lei's part is even smaller. I don't think she has more than 30 minutes of screen time.

Strong female cast - Even though all the female characters are only in the supporting cast, I am happy to see that they are all strong women with great martial arts skills. They are no damsel in distress and are not whiny and naive. They get stronger throughout the drama as they themselves continue to learn and develop their skills. Our FL supports ML in his fight and is always ready to come and save and help him.

Romance - Romance plays a very small part in this drama. I was hoping to see more developed between Xiao Yan and Xun Er. After the side story of Xiao Yan and Xia Yi Xan, I was waiting for Xiao Yan to realize that he truly loves Xun Er and not only sees her as a sister. I never get that satisfaction. Even up till now, I don't really know if Xiao Yan loves any of the girls. Maybe I have to wait for Season 2 to find out.

JianNan Academy/Hogwarts - Jian Nan Academy reminds me of Hogwarts (from Harry Potter). Students learn to fight, to cultivate and to make medicines from different teachers specializing in their crafts. Doesn't it sound like the different lessons in Hogwarts? They also have different colored uniforms, like the different Houses. JianNan Academy is protected by a seal cast by the Fight God, just like how Hogwarts is protected from enemies. There is even a marketplace for students to buy and sell, just like Hogsmeade. The snake that they fought against reminded me of Nagini, the sword that ML uses is like one of Voldemort's Horcruxes! Isn't the big bad guy Voldemort? Ok, maybe it's just me because I love Harry Potter so much.

Fighting/CGI/Music - I was excited in episode 1 when I saw our ML practicing his martial arts skills, the Fist Techniques. I was impressed with Leo Wu's movements and can see how much he's rehearsed. His movements are full of strength. I was cautiously optimistic that I found a good wuxia drama. Unfortunately, this is not it. The rest of the fight scenes are full of CGI and not actual fighting. The CGI is ok, nothing to write about. Music is not memorable. Well, except for the ending theme sung by X Nine. The ending theme is so upbeat and modern that it felt out of place. But then, the more I listen to it, and think about the drama about a bunch of teenagers trying to make it into the world, I start to enjoy it more. I then looked it up and realized 4 members of X Nine are the side kicks of our ML, including Sean Xiao.

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Training for mental toughness vs Abuse/Bullying - Amazing Acting

9/9/2021

I see Jung Hae In, and I am there! He's the main reason why I watch D.P., as such drama is usually not my cup of tea. Jung Hae In does not disappoint. His acting here might be his best yet. As much as I love seeing his adorable smile and his soft/romantic roles, I am happy that he's taking on more serious roles like this. I hate for such a talented actor to be typecasted only in romance dramas. We have seen a glimpse of him in a military uniform in "Prison Playbook" (I strongly recommend!) and our favorite second-lead syndrome police officer in "While You Were Sleeping". This role is more serious, more gritty, and raw. He did an amazing job, esp. in Ep 6.

However, the rest of the cast shines as well. Dare I say, at times, they outshine Jung Hae In. Every single actor/actress did an amazing job, no matter how big or small their role is. The acting in Ep 5 and 6 will stay with me for a while.

I don't know anything about Korean military service, and my knowledge all comes from watching K-drama. But it seems like issues depicted here are quite similar to what the US military deals with as well (knowledge from American shows/movies as well). What is the necessary training for soldiers to be mentally tough, so that they could fight in a war? What is going overboard with inhumane treatment and bullying? This drama tries to convey a more human side of the deserters stories. Aside from one deserter who left because of his grandmother, all others left due to mistreatment in the military. As they say in towards the end of the drama, someone got to do something about it.

One criticism - how could these guys be so beaten up and yet they don't die, and can get back up time and time again to run and chase? Isn't that a little too unrealistic? I guess they need to show all the violence and can't kill off anyone.

This drama is not for everyone. There is no romance. It's full of blood and hitting and abuse. But it's a great drama.

p.s. Oh.. don't miss out on the little epilogue in Ep 6, after the first song was played at the end.

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Everyone Frames WeiYoung + Beautiful Shades of Blue

8/22/2021

I really want to like this drama more and I am rounding this up to 8.5 (I debated to keep it at an 8). However, the repeated framing and dragging of the show prevented me from doing so. If this drama is about 40-45 episodes long instead of 54, the pacing would be a lot better. It has all the right ingredients: good general plot, great acting and characters (love strong, smart leads), beautiful costumes, decent background music and songs.

Negatives:

1 . Repeated Framing - The show is basically someone framed WeiYoung and tried to kill her, then she got out of the crisis due to her own wit or saving from others, then repeat again and again. I was bored from Ep 20-30 and lost my attention. It's so predictable that it's not fun anymore. It's unfortunate because I really like the general plot of the drama, but the pacing was off. This is my biggest critique of the show and why I did not rate it an 8.5, since I am judging it against other big historical drama.

2. Plot Holes/Plot - The writing is not very tight. There are also lots of convenient eaves dropping throughout the show by the villains. There are also some illogical/impractical plot holes and I noted down two incidents but there are more: 1) ChangLe tried to burn down the lantern shop but how could she walk in without anyone noticing? Where's the shop owner? Was TuoBaJun (ML) really so far away that he didn't notice anything until the store was half-way burnt down? 2) When WeiYoung (FL) and TaoBaoYu (2ML) were stuck in the secret room, why didn't FL shout out the location of the secret ring to open the door to ML? They apparently could listen through the wall/door with no problem. 3) How come all the doors of the rooms in the Li family are see through? Everyone can hear your secrets!! There's no privacy!!!

Positives:

1. Acting - I enjoy the acting by all cast members. Our main leads and secondary leads are great. You can feel their love and obsession, their pain and evilness. This drama has a large supporting cast and no matter they are veterans or the younger actors, they are did a pretty good job.

2. Romance - One minor criticism I have is that I want to see more scenes and romantic development between ML and FL before they officially fall in love. Their love story is so strong, romantic and heartbreaking that I wanted a stronger foundation or evidence. Having said that, I love their relationship - their undying love and trust. I love seeing their banter and their open communication. I was pleasantly surprised that ML is quite funny and outgoing, and not the cold-on-the-outside-but-warm-on-the-inside type. You can feel the chemistry between the two leads and believe in their romance. The other romance/obsession storylines are pretty well-developed (though a little draggy). It's so sad that in a way, none of the significant relationships ended well. I am not as interested in the romance between the Little Princess+Prince and the two bodyguards.

3. Costumes - Blue is one of my favorite colors and I LOVE the different shades of blue in the costumes. You see light blue, royal blue, navy blue, indigo, dark blue, etc. Most of the time, Chinese dramas are dominated in gold/red/white in the palace, and blue/yellow/pink for the ladies. I am so happy to see that it's different here. Aside from that, their costumes, jewelry and head pieces are elaborate. Not only does the royal family have elaborate head pieces, but the ladies have beautiful hairpins and flower arrangements that match each of their outfits. I love seeing the different designs and patterns on the male characters outfits. The ladies dresses are all beautiful and multi-layered. Aside from the color palette that I enjoy in "Legend of FuYao", this is the only drama that I am so obsessed with the costumes and really pay special attention to each outfit.

4. Music - I would like to praise the use of background music in this drama that did not overpower the drama itself. I've seen too many C-dramas where the music is so loud that I couldn't hear the dialogue, or the songs are played over and over again when a romantic scene occurs. The music in this drama complements the scenes and let the acting speaks for itself without the use of music to manipulate viewers' emotions.

Overall, I like this drama. I wish it had a happier ending after what the leads have gone through, but I am satisfied with it. If I watched this drama before the many historical dramas I've watched, I might have given it a solid 8.5 or higher and be less critical.

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A raw and realistic depiction of a gay man's search for eternal love and himself

This is quite an emotional roller coaster of a story. I never read the novel and didn’t know much about the drama. I thought this might be your typical romantic-comedy but actually, this is a very realistic portrayal of a gay man searching for eternal love, and growing up along the way.

From the first episode, you know this is not your typical BL. The portrayal of the friendship, late night clubbing and hunting, and the drunken hookups are raw and real. “Love in the Big City” doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of finding love, and the difficulty compounds when you are a gay man in a conservative society.

Ko Yeong’s growth is shown through his different romantic relationships with a few men. You can see him grow from a fun-loving young man not believing in love, to realizing he might have lost the love of his life. Each relationship is unique and all have a very interesting start. This drama reminds me of the American TV show “Queer as Folk”. It might not be as daring, but daring enough to cause controversies in Korea.

When Ko Yeong met Nam Gyu, he was young and not ready to be loved. Nam Guy’s unconditional and persistent display of love did not end on a good note. When Ko Yeong was ready and met Yeong Su, it was the other party that’s not ready. It’s unfortunate because they had such a sexy vibe going on between them. Gyu Ho is the match made in heaven. They are both so adorable together and just click. At that time, they are both fighting real life’s challenges and unable to balance romance with career’s demands and reality’s tests of their love. By the time Ko Yeong realized what he had lost, it was a little too late. His meeting of Habibi is interesting and also somewhat of a half-baked story. I was having a hard time understanding Ko Yeong’s last message to Habibi. I thought it was just a fling without much deep feelings, but his message sounded more serious than I thought.

A highlight of the show is the friendship between Ko Yeong and Mi Ae. When you are an outcast, it’s really a blessing to have a friend like that through the highs and lows of your life. But as they grow older, such a friendship has to evolve as they get on with their lives. I had wished to see more of Mi Ae towards the second half of the drama, and not just that somewhat useless drinking scene with her sister-in-law.

I gotta give props to Nam Yoon Su for going all out in this drama. He really didn’t care for the criticisms directed at him. Not only was his acting great, he did not shy away from all the kisses and sexy scenes. In fact, I think he was a little too earnest like he’s going to someone’s face each time. I would have liked him to pull back a little on a couple kisses to show a more romantic side.

As I mentioned, the whole drama is about Ko Yeong’s growth through his relationships. Personally, I am not a big fan of this style of writing. At one point, I find it becomes repetitive when all we see is him going from one relationship to another. However, I am emotionally invested. I cry with Ko Yeong as he gets hurt and suffers through life. Throughout the drama, I was rooting for him to live happily ever-after, either with Gyu Ho or someone else.

I do recommend “Love in the Big City” but don’t go into thinking this is another fluffy BL. The strength of this drama is its realism and how Ko Yeong lives with the scars of each relationship and grows from them, and finds himself.



p.s. the drama synopsis doesn't seem to be 100% correct.


Completed: 10/21/2024 - Review #501

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Complex characters, good acting but very slow-paced without much happening

My expectations of “The On1y One” were quite high due to the comments and reviews I’ve heard. Unfortunately, it might not have met what I was hoping for. It was still a pretty good drama, especially the acting of the cast. But if I have to compare it to my recent favorite, ‘The Time of Fever’, it’s not up to that level of enjoyment for me.

What I Like:

1. Main Acting
I will complain about the ages of the main leads, but maybe a younger cast might not be able to deliver such nuanced acting. Liu Dong Qin is an experienced actor, and even though he looks way too old to be 18 (he’s 30 in real life), he was able to portray Sheng Wang really well. Benjamin Tsang was a surprise since he’s quite new to the industry. He only started acting in 2023 but his Jiang Tian is so believable. The perceptive, contemplative and longing looks he has for Sheng Wang really deliver all the emotions with few words.

2. Sheng Wang + Jiang Tian
Two very different teenagers who have nothing alike are able to find comfort in each other. Sheng Wang is a lonely boy, who wants to be surrounded by friends, but is afraid to owe a favor. He’s rich, spoiled and picky but has a good heart. Jiang Tian, on the other hand, had a tough upbringing, never had a place to truly call home. Knowing he never unpacked his suitcase pains me. He’s used to being left behind and has built a tall wall around him, so he will never be abandoned again. Both of these characterizations and how they become close to each other is beautifully written. This is also the strength of the drama. Romance is secondary, but how these two individuals grow is central.

3. The Moments
I love all of Jiang Tian’s moments. He’s a man of few words, and these moments give us an inside look of how he really feels. I might complain about the flashback, but the first moment when Sheng Wang called out his name, is significant and symbolic of their relationship. Jiang Tian is my favorite character. He appears tough, but he can never truly say “no” to Sheng Wang.


What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:

1. Age
First look at Liu Dong Qin, and I thought he’s way too old to play the part. I don’t think I was ever able to get past these feelings, even though he was acting young and pouty.

2. Pacing + Flashbacks
12 episodes are way too long for this drama without much going on. The pacing is already slow and when you add on the constant flashbacks, it feels even slower. Though I enjoy the writing of the main leads character development and their relationship, nothing much really happened. The drama could have spent more time on the other side stories. Season 2 was not even announced or may not be in the works when season 1 was written. But it’s written as if it’s dragging its feet and hoping for a second season.

3. Side Plots/Characters
While the banter between Pepper and Gao Tian Yang is cute and fun, the crush Pepper has on one of the main leads could be more obvious and developed better. The love triangle between the teachers happened towards the latter half of the drama, and could use more screen time and a stronger focus. I want to know and see more of the two teachers’ background stories (one is not enough), instead of just telling me they were close. Is the kidnapping really necessary? The only NC scene of the drama felt out of place. All of the kisses in the drama are very G-rated, described as “4 lips touching together.” The NC scene feels like fan service because this is considered a BL, so we need some sex? It’s longer than necessary to tell the story.


There’s a lot to love about this drama, it just didn’t meet my expectations. I will recommend this if you enjoy a slow burn relationship (not necessary romance) with complex characters. The drama is an easy watch and very character-driven. But if you enjoy a more plot-driven drama, this might not be it for you.


Completed: 10/21/2024 - Review #500

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Smart characters scheming and fighting, while two different kinds of love blossom on the sidelines.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

Surprisingly, “Love of Nirvana” is not as romance-focused as I thought. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a love triangle that lasts for a long time, and romance is definitely present. However, it does not feel like I am watching a romance drama for 40 episodes. Instead, this drama has a strong focus on politics, fight for power, maintain power, revenge and the reveal of truths.

I am having a hard time writing down a proper review, so I am going to dump my random thoughts here:

1. It’s lovely to see smart characters in a drama. Not only are the three leads intelligent but they try to outsmart each other every step of the time.
2. I love watching them try to scheme and one up each other. They never lost their intelligence throughout the drama.
3. One love interest tries to obsessively protect and keep FL safe by his side.
4. The other love interest believes in, supports and protects behind-the-scenes, and lets her be who she wants to be.
5. It’s also lovely to see true platonic friends. No spoiled princesses or annoying jealous suitors.
6. The pacing is decent. There are a couple episodes that I was losing attention (or probably because I was tired). But for the most part, there’s enough going on to keep me invested in 40 episodes.
7. The emperor and the ‘villain’ had few but powerful scenes. Props to veteran actors!
8. Acting is pretty good overall. Landy Li is such a talented young actress. Playing against Jeremy Tsui and Allen Ren, I think she wins!
9. Unfortunately, the voices are dubbed. I can’t hear Jeremy’s sexy deep voice, or Allen’s sexy raspy voice. But it seems like Landy Li dubbed the drama herself.
10. The drama does not seem to be a high budget production. For the most part, this is not a problem and didn’t quite affect my viewing pleasure, except for the war battles towards the end of the drama.
11. Pei Yan’s obsession with Jiang Ci lasted for quite some time. But when he’s out of it, after much pain and suffering, it was great watching the trio together.
12. I was worried about the transition from hate to love for Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci, given how much Wei Zhao tried to harm her. But I feel that the transition and romance develops naturally and realistically.
13. Both Wei Zhao and Pei Yan are standup individuals and are very similar. They have burdens and tremendous responsibilities on their shoulders. They respect each other as competitors and as friends. I actually wanted to see more of their friendship and brotherhood when they are on the same side.
14. I enjoy the understated and quiet romance between Jiang Ci and Wei Zhou. There are no sweet talking or fluffy cute scenes. But the time they spent together felt so intimate and romantic. I enjoy their playful banters and witty remarks and also quiet moments of caring and concerns.
15. The revelation of what actually happened 20 years ago is quite a surprise.
16. And the ending...... I wish it was different but I am not upset.



Completed: 10/19/2024 - Review #499

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Mature, Gloomy, Thought-Provoking

“Imperfect Us” is a mature, gloomy and thought-provoking drama. I wasn’t really expecting it to be so depressing. I don’t resonate with these characters, but I feel their pain, anger, frustration, and regret. One paper, this is a story about a love triangle - two women with the same birthday (not year), working in the same company and falling in love with the same man.

But “Imperfect Us” is so much more than that. Each character is imperfect and they make choices that make it easy for viewers to point their fingers at them and criticize. I have to be honest, I do not like Chien Ching Fen (played by Ariel Lin) very much in the first couple episodes. I find her pushy, calculating and annoying. I don’t like how she forces herself into Ho Re Chich’s life and schemes herself to be the favorite daughter-in-law.

As I follow Ching Fen’s obsession with Rebecca, the trio's background story slowly unveils. A wife who is unsure and not confident that her husband really loves her, drives herself insane with jealousy by prying into her the private life of her ‘enemy’ via social media posts. The grass always seems to be greener on the other side, from both female leads’ perspectives. But since I, as a viewer, isn’t really quite certain if the husband’s love for her wife is gratitude + responsibility or real love, I don’t really blame her for being paranoid and obsessed.

Poor Rebecca seems to be the unluckiest of all. Is she really enjoying her carefree, single lifestyle? Was her decision to leave based on selfish reasons, or selfless reasons? Episode 7 breaks my heart. It’s the most impactful episode to me. How desperate is she to lower herself and ask to be loved despite her flaws? How hopeless is she to bare it all and be vulnerable? Or is this all a selfish act so that the decision is made by someone else, and she can be pitiful and blame others?

All their complicated relationships are exposed in the last episode when the two female leads go head-to-head in chess playing. At first, I thought this episode was a filler episode because they really didn’t do much. But once you pay attention to what they are saying, you discover their conversations are full of hidden meanings, and each is trying to bait the others to reveal more.
Each move is calculating and setting up for the next turn.

I would only recommend this for those who like flawed characters with mature storylines. This is not a happy drama but one full of real life difficult decisions. It did take me a couple episodes to get into the groove, but the second half really hooked me in. The acting of the small cast is great, and each of the characters hit you differently. Actually, Ariel Lin just won the best leading actress award at the Asian film festival for her role in “Imperfect Us”.


Completed: 10/9/2024 - Review #497

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Fun for Contract Marriage lovers, but disappointing & messy writing in the last few episodes.

If you are a fan of marriage of convenience/contract marriage, “the Sand Princess” is a pretty binge-worthy series. You might have to suspend belief with the initial set up. It’s quite outrageous someone would agree to a deal like this. But if you can accept this fact, “The Sand Princess” is a lot of fun.

I am a big fan of contract marriage and guessing each other's feelings. I am actually quite surprised that this Thai production is quite ‘normal’, as in not lakorn-ish or in a slap/kiss kinda way. You might have seen something similar in a Chinese or Korean drama.

I had a really fun time watching the first 10 episodes. I like the crazy set up and the three-way parenting. The love geometry isn’t too irritating. Kod and Ji have great chemistry as best friends, while Kod and Ki have great chemistry as the fake couple. The little girl is adorable, but was used more as a device to move the plot or as an accessory, instead of fully integrating the little girl. Maybe she’s a little young to really direct her to seriously act.

Kod (FL) is a very likable character and I was rooting for her. Baifern is a great actress and really delivers a great performance as our Kod. Ji, on the other hand, is not as likable. I actually want to punch him in the face in the first few episodes, but he grows on me and as the story develops, he’s better than was originally portrayed. I personally think that March (as Ji) is better-looking than Dan (as Ki). Aside from wanting a more handsome actor to play Ki, I really like his character. I think Dan’s acting could be inconsistent. But Ki is such a good guy. He basically sacrificed his own happiness for the greater good after being lied to by multiple people.

I was going to give this drama a solid 8.5 rating until we hit the last few episodes. Those episodes were rushed when trying to tie all the loose ends. The writing appears messy with loopholes. The romance isn’t as fun anymore. I cannot for the life of me understand how Kod would still think Ki doesn’t like her after he has repeatedly seriously and jokingly confessed, and has set boundaries with his ex. You can’t chalk this up because of her low self-esteem.

Throughout the drama, we have been told repeatedly how unfortunate Kod is to be abandoned by her mother. Oh, where is her dad? But when that situation was resolved, it was done so quickly that I thought I missed an episode. Additionally, what happened to the company’s financial crisis? Aff just dropped a bomb in the end out of nowhere and we’re left with nothing else?

“The Sand Princess” could have been so much better. I was really disappointed with the writing in the end. . The whole plot and how things evolved are pretty predictable. However, I can’t deny I really love the first 8-10 episodes. Averaging the good and the bad, and my enjoyment level, I am giving this an 8.0


Completed: 9/29/2024 - Review #493

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One of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories of love and regrets

“Seasons of Blossom” caught me by surprise as I didn’t really read the synopsis closely and thought it was just another high school drama. But this surprise is a good one. This drama has one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking high school romances I’ve seen from South Korea.

Past - Ha Min + So Mang
I LOVE their story SOOO much. I have no complaint at all! Ok, my biggest complaint is that not enough time is dedicated to these two lonely souls. I wish the whole drama was about them. But I understand we need to tie their story to the present-day timeline as well. I really enjoy following their friendship that develops quietly in the art classroom. From two lonely strangers to soulmates, their story makes me smile and cry (and I cried a lot). Sadly, what Ha Min went through seems to be quite common in South Korea. Seo Ji Hoon (as Ha Min) and So Ju Yeon (as So Mang) deliver such an amazing acting performance with great chemistry. I love their innocence, their bickering sassiness and their painful times together. I was so touched by their story that it pains me to binge this all the way through. I had to force myself to take a break because my heart can’t take it anymore. I’m so glad to see them closing out this beautiful drama in the end.

Present - Jae Min + Bo Mi + Jin Young + Sun Hee
Unfortunately, I do not have such high praise for these teenagers. I had a hard time getting into their friendship/love problems in the first few episodes. It all seems so childish compared to the other storyline. I think if this is an independent plot of another drama, I might have lowered my expectations and like it more. I didn’t start getting into it until Bo Mi and Jin Young start to interact with each other more. I can tolerate the simple friendship/romance if the acting is better. Kim Min Kyu (as Bo Mi) and Kang Hye Won (as Jae Min) make a pretty couple visually, but their acting is so bland. Kang Hye Won consistently has an emotionless look on her pretty face. It was hard to watch towards the last few episodes. Kim Min Kyu isn’t that much better. Yoon Hyun Soo (as Jin Young) is better but the best of the quartet is Oh Yu Jin (as Sun Hee). The latter two do have more acting experience and it definitely shows.

Past and Present - Healing
The regrets and uncertainties are hard to watch. Not because it was written poorly, but because it was written so realistically that I can’t stop crying whenever So Mang’s voice comes on and she’s sharing her side of the story and her regrets. The What-Ifs are going to kill that guilty conscience - the missed phone call, the deleted text, words said that couldn’t be taken back. The guilt eats you and destroys your heart and ruins your life. We can clearly see that manifested in a few of the characters here.


Despite not liking the present-day high school students' stories much, I still recommend this drama. It’s worth just watching Ha Min + So Mang, and the healing of those left in this world living with regrets.


Completed: 9/9/2024 - Review #483

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Could have been great with better writing, acting and execution

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I can’t help but compare “Century of Love” a little bit with “I Feel You Linger in the Air”. Even though they have completely different plots, the historical context and the main house give me a very similar feeling. Unfortunately, IFYITA is so much better in every single way - acting, writing, chemistry, production quality and cinematography.

“Century of Love” is unique and a breath of fresh air among the sea of Thai BL’s with a focus on high school or college students. The plot is interesting but unfortunately the writing is not. There are so many plot holes and unexplained storylines. You will have to suspend reality to truly enjoy it. How can a 100-year old man who couldn’t ‘perform’ have grandchildren and a family? How come Vee can help reduce San’s pain when he first moved into the house, yet never ever repeat that again? Who are those villains? What is their background story? How did the sick guy come to know of the stone? Is the reason for the betrayal due to debt and nothing else? How come the other character does not have the same healing aftermath of the stone? I have so many questions and I can’t seem to calm my brain to ignore them.

But I am not surprised there are plot holes. After all, it’s hard to do that with a supernatural/fantasy plot. I might overlook some of these shortcomings if the acting is good. Unfortunately, I find Daou and Offroad’s acting only average and somewhat inconsistent. I think Offroad performed a little better, except for a few crying scenes. He looks great as the fox demon. Daou’s grumpy personality is a little awkward and his acting is not subtle enough. The exaggerated ‘thinking’ is all over his face. However, I do think he got better as the drama went on, especially when he doesn’t have to act like a grumpy old man anymore. Among the cast members, I am most impressed with Pond (Doctor Third) and he gives me a little bit of second-lead syndrome. Pond almost made me want to check out “180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us” just for him. Cookie (as Wat) also did pretty well. Luckily, there aren't any annoying characters. I like San's descendants. The 3 generations are quite fun and provide some pretty comedic and heartwarming moments.

The chemistry between the leads is decent with a few good kisses. I was more interested in the first half of the drama before the leads are officially together. The pace starts to slow in the second half, especially the last few episodes. The plot becomes predictable and there’s more repetitive crying. I think the drama will benefit from a couple episodes shorter.

It’s unfortunate that an interesting general plot was not executed well. The drama seems to be of a lower production value (maybe that’s why there are so few product placements), with poor CGI. Luckily, the fight scenes are decent, even though they are not of good C-drama or K-drama quality, they are better than other Thai dramas.

“Century of Love” is not a horrible watch due to its more mature and interesting plot. If you have time and are fans of the actors, it’s worth checking it out.


Completed: 9/1/2024 - Review #480

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A simple and easy watch with amazing songs.

“to.Jenny” is a sweet and simple drama special. There are no plot twists and you can pretty much tell where the story goes. Though simple, it’s such a comforting watch if you have a couple hours to kill. This special features a couple wacky songs such as ‘Pork Belly’ and ‘Tiramisu Cake’, but also a few very lovely songs performed by Kim Sung Cheol. I would never have thought he has such a great singing voice. But looking up this little brief description on MDL, I realized he started out as a musical actor. Anyway, I already added a few songs to my Spotify playlist (well, maybe not the songs about food).

Despite loving the music, the special itself actually did not grab my attention in the first 15 minutes or so. I actually paused and resumed on another day. I found Park Jung Min (ML) very awkward in the first 30 mins or so, and only when he started teaching Kwon Na Ra (FL) guitar lessons did I find him awkwardly cute. Once the leads have more scenes together, I am more drawn to their chemistry and their friendship/romance. I especially like how creative and sweet the guitar lessons payment system is.

Our leads are very likable and nice, and maybe too nice that they seem very naive in different aspects. The little sister is smart and mature, and really is the best support and winggirl ML can ask for. It’s also lovely to see a mother who is supportive of his son’s dreams and shielded him from the hardships of reality. The two friends are obnoxious in the beginning, but they grow on me. They really are good friends. I very much enjoy the jamming and music session between Kim Sung Cheol/Park Jung Mi and Lee Sang Yi/Yum Dae Sung.

If you are looking for good music, a simple and comforting watch, then “to.Jenny” might be a good option. The acting is pretty good and you won’t feel like strangling any of the characters.


Completed: 8/26/2024 - Review #477

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Good Moral of the Story but Lacks Good Execution (repetitive and boring)

Although the English title of this drama is “Man Without Love”, this drama is not just about one of the male leads, Kume Masakazu. He might be the narrator, but the drama includes stories of 6 other friends. It talks of perseverance and pursuit of your dreams, knowing and loving oneself, learning to love others, the courage to love and be loved, forgiveness of past mistakes and familial bond. This all sounds really good, right? Unfortunately, the execution for me is lacking.

Each of the main characters has their own challenges, and primarily challenges about love involving the three main couples. I understand each couple’s issues and hesitation. Unfortunately, there’s too much back-and-forth, arguing about the same thing over and over again. This is a character-driven drama with no real central plot. Therefore, the pacing is off and it feels like nothing of substance actually happens in the 9 episodes. It is really rare that I think a Japanese drama is too long.

The acting is OK, except for Maeda Goki’s character of Go Yuma. He’s just way too over-the-top and ‘fake’. He is so much more likable when he acts normal.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this drama. It’s OK if you are a fan of one of the actors (Fukushi Sota is still very good-looking in a more gruffy look). “Man Without Love” is unable to hold my attention and I was bored.


Completed: 8/18/2024 - Review #473

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What a weird time-traveling drama full of makjang plot lines

Wow… this is an interesting and unique drama to say the least. I thought I was going to get a typical time-traveling drama, and laugh about how the two Joseon women adjust to the present-day timeline. Little did I know I was on a crazy ride.

I actually thought the first half of the drama was quite entertaining. The Joseon timeline is well-made with a coherent story. Even though nothing was extraordinary, it set the stage for Du Ri An and Kim So Jeo to time travel. I still don’t quite know why and how that happened, but that’s not too important as most time-traveling dramas don’t elaborate on that.

What I like best about the drama is the way these two Joseon women came to adapt and learn to live a different life. There isn’t any over-the-top comedy or second hand embarrassment. Their experience was written in a very likable and natural way. The two female leads are very likable and I root for them to be reunited with their loved ones and love interests.

Unfortunately, the rest of the drama is a big makjang of crazy plotlines of the rest of the characters. First crazy plotline is the lesbian obsession. That daughter-in-law is one of the two annoying characters of the drama. The drama spends so much time with her harassing her love interest that it’s becoming very uncomfortable to watch.

The other crazy plot line is Madam Baek’s romance. Why waste precious screen time on these two lovebirds. I don’t need a whole episode on their date. I would consider their story romantic and sweet if the age gap is not so ridiculous and if they have their own show. Now, it’s just cringey and a waste of space.

The writers seem to have forgotten the drama’s name is “Durian’s Affair” and should have dedicated the most time and effort to Du Ri An and Kim So Jeo. They are the time-traveling duo and center of attention! I want to see the love connection between So Jeo and Deung Meyong. I want to see them slowly falling in love while acting in their drama. I want to see sweet, cute and fluffy romantic moments from this good-looking pair. Additionally, I want to see more sizzling chemistry and longing looks between Ri An and Chi Gam. Unfortunately, these stories become an afterthought.

The ending is up to your interpretation. The modern timeline ending is a lot easier to understand. The Joseon timeline threw a curveball to my understanding with the very last scene.

I won’t say I hate this drama. It was just a bit looney and unexpected. I enjoy the first half so much more than the second half. I don’t think I will recommend this unless you are a fan of makjang and crazy storylines.


Completed: 8/17/2024 - Review #472

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