First Note of Love (2024)

Started out really really well with that 2-episode premier, i initially thought they are releasing 2 episodes per week. The fire fizzled out in the middle but even the little smoke left died out in the last episode.

This is the type of story/show that should have been released in one single sweep to be binged or should have been edited as a movie - would have been a better experience. The basic story premise was good but the execution was as paper thin that as the show progressed youd start to wonder whats the whole point of the entire show. By the seventh episode as the relationship between the pairs are developing, i was already fearing that their journey as singers/performers will not reach the peak and sad to say i was right to fear it. The comeback concert we were teased turned into nothing but a bar performance. And that ending, why??? You will thik Im joking if i tell you all this turned out to be nothng but a school project (with an AI video at that). After telling us for 11 episodes that this is a journey of a washed up artist being paired up with an upcoming artist to usher them into new greater heights it all ended into nothing without any explanation whatsoever why the characters chose that route.

The camera work was ok at times and makes you think youre watching a Korean show with the extra shiny filter, but the limitation of the budget can be seen in a lot of scenes. For a show about music stars, they did have good songs, but are very few that its evident they cannot afford to make/acquire more songs. There is this one main song that was overused for so many episodes. By the final concert performance, i was already thinking do they really only have 3 or 4 songs made for the entire series? Its a wasted opportunity cause they could have produced an entire album of songs that would have elevated and provided extra boost to promote the show. Also the few "concert" performance scenes (there were 3 if i remember correctly) have very few watchers - maybe not more than a hundred which i suspect are mostly the production crews anyway (strategically placed like few meters away from each other to make them look a lot) that its obvious they cannot even afford to pay more extras. These are shortcomings that can detach you from believing the story they are selling.

Whats also very evident is that they didnt have enough material to last 12 episodes and with the limited story arc they should have compressed it into 8 and it could have made the weekly waiting less painful than it was. I am saying it again, and I really cannot emphasize it enough, that this show should have been released as a movie or a one-time binge. There were no cliffhanger endings and suspense in each episodes to make you want to come back the next week. This series only felt like an expanded version and very eerily similar to the KBL "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart".

Even if you consider those silly silly hairstyle choices, the show is not without merits. First, all the actors did a good job, and eventhough the story and pacing towards the end became unbearable, Charles and Michael were both believable as lovers and performers and were the main reason i stayed watching till the end. Second, I also have to mention that although i still dont like the multi-racial actors who dont speak the same language in the same scene, at least here it was bearable. Third i have to mention how lovely the sets and the posters are - i even use the main poster as my phone wallpaper for the past 2 months.

So as a final verdict will i recommend the show? Now that all episodes are out, yes, watch it in one bingeing. Will i rewatch, probably not.

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meandering note of love (watch suggestions)

Overall: it had an interesting start, but the writing didn't focus enough on the relationship development with the 2 couples. 12 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4605/first-note-of-love-2024-e01 ; Viki https://www.viki.com/videos/1252718v-first-note-of-love-episode-1 and GTV Drama English (1st episode is free, rest require membership) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLop44oNqUSC9xnGXttLCAEuk10CedGz3w&si=qNRALRx_1z8CBNeo Note: there are sometimes extra scenes after the initial end credits.

Content Warnings: past death, grief, mental health struggles, harassment, fight, kind of stalking

Watch Suggestions (to center on the relationships with the 2 couples)
- watch episodes 1-4
- episode 5 watch 7-17:20
- episode 6 watch 2:40-4:15 (flashback), 10:45-12:55, 22:45-end
- episode 7 start at 4 minutes because there were too many recaps/flashbacks at the beginning
- watch episode 8
- watch episode 9 beginning to 4:45
- watch episode 10 4:30-14 and 19:30-end
- watch episode 11 beginning to 5:15 and then 24:30 to the end
- watch episode 12 13:30 to the end (bonus scene after initial end credits)

What I Liked
- clear premise
- a character wasn't a pushover
- excellent makeover
- Mos and Bank cameo
- side m/m couple tension
- multilingual aspect felt realistic
- good that Sea did something in episode 7

Room For Improvement
- too much of the plot was not focused on the leads together, in episode 6 they only had 3 minutes out of 24 minutes and it wasn't until 18:30 that they had a scene together
- too many flashbacks/set in the past stuff
- the NSFW scenes were poorly edited, felt very choppy
- unclear about the timeline/time jump length, I think the characters were 19/29 in the present
- the age gap didn't bother me but the connection when 1 was a child and then having that character in a child-like bowl haircut and making him act like a deer in headlights was odd
- some scenes needed a bit more light on the actors' faces
- the asinine plan in episode 9

Question answered: in the beginning of episode 1 it said the band mates were brothers, someone commented that they were biological brothers (I wasn't sure because sometimes subtitles translate friends into brothers)

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Comfort and Love

Warning: If you are looking for a faced paced and overly dramatical BL, this series is NOT for you.

Overall, this was a great series. The script was good, but had some minor weak aspects. It’s always nice to watch a mature BL series that involved adults that act like adults, well most of the time. The first episode was creative and did a great job with giving us Neil’s backstory and setting up the storylines. The script also did a good job interweaving both throughout the series. I also felt the relationship development between both BL couples had just the right pacing for the number of episodes it had. One of the minor problems is the script didn’t fully develop various aspects of the story. The biggest one was Sea’s backstory. We receive bits and pieces but not a complete picture. All of the actors did a great job portraying their characters. Just a heads up that the character Orca is Thai which introduced a language barrier component to the series. However, the portrayal of the language differences between Orca and the other characters was more realistic than the last series I tried to watch. It also helped that the actor, Jame Kasama, did a great job interacting with the other actors. The cinematography was great with the exception of the time jumps. Most of them were ok, but there were a few that just happened with no visual cues. The music/songs they used were very good which helped make this series, about the music industry, more believable.

Random Notes:

Don’t stop watching after the picture montage in episode 3 and 12 because there is an additional scene afterwards.

The accidental kiss in episode 1 was ridiculous and unnecessary. The ending was good, but it had a lot of flashbacks.

I’m slightly confused on the age difference between Neil and Sea.

It seems that GagaOOLala received some funding from the Thai production company Star Hunter which explains why three of their actors were in the series (1 had a supporting role and 2 had cameos).

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Ten short sermons on how (not) to write (a BL)

1. If you're going to write a show wherein music is an important theme, the characters' fingers must at least touch the instruments convincingly. A few piano lessons (or guitar lessons) will go a long way.

2. A show about musicians must, well, be musical. No amount of autotuning, nor a liberal sprinkling of English words, can conceal a fundamental want of talent.

3. A rock star -- even a grieving washed-up rock star -- is allowed to age without unkempt unshampooed undeloused hair. It is unforgiveable to make Charles Tu look that ugly. Even more unforgivable to use a wig that looks like it was the sole survivor of a tornado that ripped through a FujoCon.

4. Bowl cuts are not markers of youth. Anymore than manbuns are markers of midlife crises.

5. Still on the subject of hair, are blonde mullets a thing now? Does anyone find them attractive? Orca, if you want to know why Reese resists, just look in the mirror.

6. Don't be a prick tease. If you're going to keep our lovers apart in the name of building up tension, you had better give us a good reason for doing so. Poor Reese. I still don't understand why he couldn't shag that idiot for so long, the one who thought it fit to add blonde extensions to his otherwise perfect hair, a stray strand of which, for the billionth time in BL, Reese felt the need to tenderly push away while he was asleep. (Sea did this too! In the same episode!) I know that blindness caused by a lock of hair is endemic to BL, and often fatal. But Reese, if you can tolerate that mullet, you must truly be in love. You do you.

7. If you're going to have more than a few supporting characters in a story, give them more individuality than a side-couple with no dramatic interest, a straight pair who are just supportive friends, and a dead brother whose main purpose is to be dead.

8. People don't need loud background music to tell them how they should feel. People know how to feel -- assuming that the actors and the script are any good. In a show where music is the main theme, it's just self-defeating.

9. Sassy secretaries are awesome. Use them more.

10. Don't worry about age-gaps or height-gaps. They are beloved for a reason. However, be subversive. Make the short twink the top, and the tall washed-up rock star the bottom. Then get a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the pandaemonium that follows. (But please don't save that bowl for another haircut.)

Reader's Digest:
DO SAY: If music be the food of love...
DON'T SAY: Play on.

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Directed by Lien Chien Hung ('Sally') and starring Charles Tu o Tu Shancun ('HIStory 4: Close to You', 'Plus & Minus') and Michael Chang ('My Tooth Your Love'), 'First Note of Love' explores in a profound, moving and thoughtful way the intricate relationship between music, fame, love and the human condition. Although it addresses universal themes such as loss, overcoming, and resilience in the face of life's adversities, its greatest strength lies in its focus on the transformative power of music.
The plot follows Neil, a singer with an extraordinary voice who, after losing his brother Matt (Chin Tai Yu), the keyboardist of the band "Magnet", in a tragic car accident, is devastated and announces his retirement from the stage. leaving his fans, including a young boy called Sea, with shattered dreams.
Six years later, Sea, who is now a virtuoso musician and a second-year college student majoring in Marketing and Digital Management, receives an invitation to work with none other than his idol Neil.
However, the time that has passed has not healed the wounds in the soul of the proud, extroverted and loud Neil, who now deals with problems of anxiety and stage fright, but neither has it managed to heal the spirit of the introverted and reserved Sea, who has not been able forget the young man who one day in the middle of the street, with the guitar in his hand, knew how to calm his heart in a moment of discouragement thanks to his emotional singing and melodious voice.
Will love be the force that helps them heal their wounds? Will music be the only vehicle that unites them? Can they make the world hear their new shared voice?
Screenwriters Ke Ying An, Huang Szu Mi and Zou Wan Zhen raise these questions as the guiding axis of the Taiwanese series, co-produced with Thailand, while giving some answers through the actions of their characters. And although Sea initially rejects being part of the band to relaunch Neil's career, he will discover that if he does not go on stage the record company will not renew his contract and "Magnet", the duo he has admired since adolescence, will be history.
When Neil and Sea meet again, they still don't know that an unforeseen romance is about to burn under the bright Taipei sun.
Although it is not free of clichés and conventions, the Taiwanese version of 'Begin Again' manages to keep the viewer's attention due to its authentic emotional outline supported by its credible characters and situations.
'First Note of Love' is an effective romance series, as it is accompanied by an interesting topic such as fame and music. In addition, the soundtrack is unmissable due to the powerful lyrics of each of the songs.
Yes, it is true that the two main actors are not musicians by profession, and the series lets us see their few musical skills, but for the filmmakers the main focus is not the music, but the story they tell. Therefore, they put plot before details.
Solid television drama, it achieves what many series barely dream of: palpitate, live. Of course, a large part of his success was forged before he started filming: he couldn't have chosen better co-stars.
That is to say, one of its greatest successes is the efficient choice of actors and the work in the musical section. The protagonist, Tu Shancun, who plays Neil, not only gives a memorable performance, but also performs some of the songs from the captivating soundtrack produced by Warner Music, which enriches the narrative in an energetic and dynamic way, like the songs "Broken Sun", "Shatter of the Sun" and "Ain't Gonna Stop", alongside TAIYO, and Kaia Lee will delight us with "Sleepless Night", among others.
This is not the first time that his powerful and deep voice has been heard performing a song in a BL. He already did it in 'History4: Closet o You', a series in which he sings "Be with me", a song he wrote.
Tu Shancun puts on the suit that suits him best and gives a very credible performance, and manages to convey the passion and internal struggle of his character with conviction and charisma. His interpretation in both the musical and dramatic scenes contributes to the authenticity of the story.
However, the musical skills of the protagonist will not be the only thing that stands out, because Tu Shancun is an actor who says everything with his eyes, with his gestures, with his entire body.
For his part, Michael Chang, the actor who plays Sea, also succeeds in facing his insecurities, fears and past traumas, and constantly testing himself. This, while strengthening the ties that will unite him inextricably with the street singer that one day by chance he meets as a teenager.
Michael Chang's Sea is something worth seeing: his face, his expressiveness, his ability to unforcefully reveal a wide spectrum of feelings, from his initial insecurity to the most infinite joy on stage and in his interactions with Neil. They are the consequence of a fine interpretive work that more than one established actor would envy.
The exceptional chemistry of Michael Chang and Tu Shancun on screen is the winning formula of a story that privileges both music and a love story - a deep and true love - above everything else.
Both will unite their destinies, since Neil needs to find himself in his own strength, and Sea needs to trust in her strengths to shape and achieve her dreams. For both of them, music is that magnetic compass that finds them, unites them and challenges them to give their best.
And in this sense, Neil will play with the initial letter of their names: «I am North, and you are South. We are a natural couple…” Just as the North cannot exist without the South and the South without the North, one cannot exist without the other.
'First Note of Love' stands out for its acoustic constructions and its modern musical approach, as well as for its suggestive lyrics that accompany the experiences and emotions of the characters. These songs not only function as a powerful tool of communication, effectively expressing what dialogue may not be able to convey, but they also enhance dramatic moments with emotion and highlight the richness of the characters' experiences. Don't lose sight of the original songs that make up the series.
Having praised the protagonists and, of course, the script that makes them such close and adorable characters, it must be said that 'First Note of Love' is a very beautiful series, which can make us remember some other audiovisual due to the importance of music for the main characters as a means to get out of a difficult situation.
The result is a kind, moving and addictive series that speaks to the viewer's heart without hesitation, skillfully mixing love and music, a combination that always works.
From their first scene, the viewer wants them to end up together. Something that, of course, we will have to discover in the next 10 episodes of about 30 minutes long.
The excellent supporting actors (all fair, harmonious and harmonious) stand out in their performances. Among these are Liu Min Ting ('Guardian') as Reese, the manager of the record company to which Neil belongs and to which Sea will join, and Thai actor Jame Kasama Kranjanawattana ('Big Dragon', 'Gen Y', 'Gen Y 2') as global superstar Orca. The two make up the second pair of lovers, both in the series and in real life.
Also starring are Kaia Lee as Ting Fei, and Lee Ying Hung as A Liang, who will also sigh in love, as well as Amanda Liu as Hsiao Mei.
From producers Jay Lin, Derjk Wu and Samantha Jian, the most valuable thing about 'First Note of Love' is its power to capture the essence of longings and the battles to achieve them, while providing us with an unforgettable soundtrack that becomes a fundamental pillar of the narrative.
The first episodes are truly amazing. There the strongest ties are formed between the characters - the birth of the relationship of friendship and love between the protagonists but also their relationship with Reese, the band's manager -, between the series and its audience, between the narration and his tone.
There is a scene in the fourth episode where Neil and Sea share the scene to play and sing an old "Magnet" song. And although at one point Neil's nerves betray him, Sea knows how to get him out of the mishap. Back, the camera never leaves the stage as the duo perform. He follows the performers, surrounds them, accompanies them. At times, the camera is positioned from the audience and, at other times, it chooses the point of view from the stage, which allows us to reflect both Neil's generosity towards the novice composer and musical arranger who plays the keyboard at his side, and his admiration for his new partner, as well as Sea's shyness when facing a huge audience and the emotion that overcomes him when he knows he is appreciated by a music veteran who returns to perform before the spectators after so many years of silence.
Filmed at a precise tempo, this scene – which has the most beautiful song of all those performed in the series, "I Believe" – exudes with absolute naturalness Sea's transition from caterpillar to butterfly, the artist's return to the stage after the trauma suffered, and records the birth of the couple's artistic and loving bond.
Simultaneously, the camera steps behind the scenes of a show, the adrenaline generated by a live performance, and, metamorphosed in the eyes of film viewers, invites us to the unique experience of feeling part of the show. With this scene alone – which is worth the entire series – Lien Chien Hung reminds us that he is a great director.
YA

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An easy slow-paced watch with repetitive flashbacks and a decent OST.

I seriously went into this without expectations at all. I am not sure what attracted me to watch this, maybe because it was a Taiwanese BL and I mostly have a decent time watching them. Then I realized “First Note of Love” is actually a Taiwanese/Thai co-production and that was interesting.

One reviewer commented that this should have been watched as a movie or binged. I agree because if I had to wait weekly for 1 episode, I would have given up. The pacing of the drama is slow and full of repetitive flashbacks. If I watched this weekly, I would complain I wasted 30 mins on basically only 15 minutes of substance. But since I binged it, the flashbacks got to me. Additionally, one song was played on repeat for half of the drama. Even though I like the song, I was getting sick and tired of it.

Having said all that, I have a generally good time watching “First Note of Love”. I like the acting, the story of healing and getting over a loss/trauma, and I was looking forward to a great comeback performance. The comeback performance was fun, but definitely not the grand finale I was expecting. The romance is sweet and angst-free, but I think Neil falls in love with Sea a little too quickly. I found the secondary couple really cute and want to know more about them. The use of both Thai and Chinese is better than I thought and I actually look forward to their conversations to see what language they will be using. We got some pretty good kisses but I wish the supposedly sexy scene was shot better and more passionately, and not in slow motion with filters of forced-romantic lighting.

The ending is not super impactful and the professional decisions made of their future is a little head-scratchingly vague. Objectively, this should probably be rated at 7.5 but the personal enjoyment factor is at an 8.0.



Completed: 11/2/2024 - Review #507

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First Note of Love But Flat Story

Conceptually, this series ‘sounds’ like a winner. A budding singing duo composed of two likeable brothers. Tragically, one of them dies on the way to a concert site. The other one becomes lost in his own malaise for 5 years. All of that sounds like a great connection story but the sequence of events for them were choppy and insufferably boring. Their relationship looked and felt creepy to me. Even though both were adults, it still felt off. Honestly, I never bought their relationship. Honestly, I was unmoved by this series. I felt little from it. A few good scenes to be sure but nothing sustainable. There was way too much reliance on flashbacks.

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A love story with familiar chords, strumming through clichés!

The drama follows the journey of Neil, a former popular singer grappling with personal trauma and Sea, a fan who aspires to become a musician like his idol. While the series does try to delve deep into themes of love, healing and the transformative power of music, the over-reliance on clichés made the story very predictable.

The premise is interesting - Neil's journey from grief to rediscovery of his passion again after meeting Sea. The chemistry between the leads is palpable and there’s a certain comforting dynamic when they are together on screen.
While the romance between them was nice , the story was pretty forgettable and the development of their relationship feels rushed, lacking a gradual build-up. However Michael’s performance as Sea shines through. He was so expressive especially with his eyes! This is a classic case of poor writing saved by decent acting.

Also Neil's wig at the start of the episode!!!! It was HORRENDOUS and I am glad it didn't stick around for long and they got rid of it.

The second couple, Reese and Orca had an engaging story but their storyline was overshadowed by the main couple and hence was left underdeveloped. Their chemistry was solid and the bilingual dialogue flowed surprisingly well. I wish they had focused a little more on them, it could have added real weight to the story instead of just being mere background figures.

Musically, the series does have some nice OSTs, yet I found the characters struggling to play genuine musicians especially when they were playing instruments. This story was about the transformative journey through and with music and honestly, the lack of authenticity sort of diminished the impact for me.
Also, several times I felt the key scenes intended to be climatic or emotional just fell flat. It made it difficult to connect with the characters's pain or joy. The artistic touch to pull this through was missing or was more like touch and go.

Overall, this attempted to be an exploration of love and music together but was hindered by clichés and uneven character development. Recommended as a one-time watch for the chemistry between the leads, but be prepared for predictability along the way.

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First Note of Love: A Sweet Tune to the Heart

First Note of Love is a 12-episode Taiwanese Yaoi series directed by Shiue Bin Jian, streaming on Gagaoolala from August to October 2024. It follows Neil (Charles Tu), a famous guitarist and singer, and Sea (Michael Chang), a prodigy composer and closet fan. The story blends first love, healing, and dreams as the two form a deep connection through music.

Six years after Neil’s brother and bandmate Matt passed away, Neil is still coping, grappling with anxiety and stage fright. Sea, a talented yet inexperienced composer, is invited by Neil’s manager to collaborate with his idol. Sea’s earnest love for music begins to chip away at Neil’s walls, promising a heartwarming tale of growth and mutual healing.

The series has already delivered touching moments and showcases a love for music that feels genuine. Neil and Sea’s relationship starts off rocky, with Neil viewing Sea as unworthy. But, their growth promises to be satisfying as they move from reluctant partners to a harmonious duo, both in music and in love.

The supporting characters, particularly Sea’s cheeky friend Liang, and Neil's colleague Mei add a fun dimension, and the unexpected subversion of character types keeps things fresh. With Neil and Sea’s strong past connection and shared musical passion, their romance is gentle yet impactful—a slow-burn love story focused on understanding and emotional connection.

The production quality is solid, with strong cinematography (though some time jumps could be clearer), and the music is beautifully integrated, enhancing the narrative and character depth. The actors bring maturity to their roles, which is refreshing for a BL series, and the language barrier with Orca, a Thai character, is handled realistically.

First Note of Love strikes a lovely balance between love and music. The original soundtrack stands out, with lyrics that mirror the characters' struggles and dreams, amplifying the emotional stakes. With its touching themes and addictive storyline, this series is a warm, soulful watch that will resonate with viewers on many levels.

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Could Have Been Slightly Better

The Taiwanese BL First Note of Love ventures into the universal experience of loss and healing, using music as its emotional language. Led by Charles Tu as Neil and Michael Chang as Sea, the series introduces two characters whose lives converge by chance but are bound by shared dreams and mutual healing. Neil, once an idol, left the stage after his brother Matt’s untimely death. Sea, a budding musician, admires Neil’s former band Magnet, longing to mirror its success. Through this journey, they find solace in each other while piecing together fragments of their dreams.

Music in First Note of Love serves as more than a backdrop; it captures the essence of emotions too complex to articulate. The story presents music as a force that empowers yet exposes vulnerability. It’s a voice of courage for Neil, who faces the paralyzing fear of stepping into the spotlight alone. For Sea, music represents a dream he’s yet to fully realize, which is ignited by his admiration for Neil’s former band. Together, they’re drawn into a world of harmonies, grappling with the inner turmoil of grief, self-doubt, and healing.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/02/first-note-of-love-series-review-ep-3-to-12/

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