Another staple in K-drama romcoms, filled with cliches, but I mean that as a compliment!

Plenty of cliché-filled shows are outright bad, while others fall into the usual cliched patterns to hit certain required emotions without packing any punch. "So I Married an Anti-Fan" stood out because it managed to work within its confines, made the best of what it had while maximizing its potential by using certain tropes in a fresh way. It is so nice not having to sit through tedious and frustrating misunderstandings!

For me, I'm down for all romcom cliches as long as there's fantastic chemistry between the main leads, and I find their romance believable. Even better still if I can see passion, and that was where this show hit the sweet spot for me. Watching Hoo Joon's gradual change of heart towards Geun Young and how their relationship shifted into high gear after he realized his feelings for her was an incredibly cheeky, fun, and "feel good" ride for me. Choi Tae Joon showed how he can kiss a woman, and there was this intensity every time he as Hoo Joon kissed Geun Young. The way he held her neck, caressed her face, and pulled her in for intimacy. It's like a fierce "this is no accidental kiss, woman" vibe. I enjoyed Tae Joon's portrayal as Hoo Joon - an idol who rose to fame, fell from grace, and triumphed again but in a much better way. His character growth was well-written and well-acted, and that was one of the show's strong points. I hope Tae Joon continues to get lead roles since he certainly has the charisma, looks, and skills!

I liked Choi Soo Young in "Run On" and she did pretty well in this drama. Her acting was not as strong as Tae Joon's, but it was still fine. As Lee Geun Yung, she displayed a certain vulnerability underpinned by a quiet strength. No matter how low Geun Yeung felt, she always bounced back, and she was resilient to move on by herself. She was neither a pushover nor a strong, stubborn woman. I simply love how Geun Yeung gets all girly with Hoo Joon, and their moments together were always sweet and smile-inducing.

The best part, though, is the ending. So happy and lovely to relish! There was forgiveness and redemption, reflection and discovery of new purpose and direction, reconciliation and progression. Absolutely gratifying!

The OSTs were great and varied, but for a show that focused on the music industry, it would have been better if the music producers were more prolific. I enjoyed the songs and instrumental pieces since they lent a romantic and charming tone that underscored the show. Some songs, however, were overplayed and, at times, were not fitting for some scenes. I always like it when the actors contribute to the song tracks, and Choi Tae Joon sang two songs. For posterity, I have included the songs that I like the most below.

So far, I have focused on the positives, but there were flaws as well. Like the toxic relationship of the second couple, JJ/Choi Jae Joon and Oh In Hyung, which I have no doubt will infuriate many viewers. The story did provide enough details and background information for me to sympathize with JJ and In Hyung, although I did feel more for JJ than In Hyung. Ultimately it will all work out, though!

Overall, I hope that people will give this drama a try. It provides more of an emotional roller coaster ride with a good-looking cast than the run-of-the-mill romcom. Echoing some commenters, it would be great to have season 2 filled with more of the main couple's chemistry and kissing!

"So I Married an Anti-Fan" OST:
Pop Star - Choi Young Jae (GOT7)
Pop Star - Choi Tae Joon
Bittersweet - Choi Tae Joon
네가 분다 (When U Blow) - Kwon Min Je (권민제)
It's You - Moon Kim (문 킴)
이보다 더 좋을 순 없어 (As Good As It Gets) - Lee Shin Seong (이신성)
봄날 (The Spring Days) - Onew (김온유)
들리나요 (Can Your Hear Me) - Onew (김온유)
작은 아이 (Small Child) - Chae Myoung Joo (채명주)
Starlight - Ro Min (E'LAST)
Be lost in thought - Lee Cheol Won (이철원), Park Min Woo (박민우)

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Totally recommend it for a quick binge when you are craving more fluff than usual

I enjoyed this drama a lot more than I expected. It is a web drama, much shorter than the normal ones, and it is definitely not a drama that you watch for quality. However, it is one that you can binge-watch for the fluffy romance, good kisses, and hilarity.

I quite like the plot where a non-human or, in this case, an herbal root immortal, Song Lan, was somehow transplanted into the body of Jiang Qingyun. There is the usual cliche of a past connection to the male lead, Chu Zhimo, but it fitted well into the story. The pace was good, and even though it was mostly light-hearted, there was some angst and noble idiocy. Overall, the story was not the best with an odd villain, and I did not quite get her motivation. Still, I am glad that I watched it.

Ding Yi Yi was cute as Song Lan/Qingyun, but I did not find her particularly attractive. Acting-wise, she was ok, limited to what she was supposed to bring to the character. However, I often wished that she would stop shouting so much, and that they used a better dubbing voice for her. I found her character quite annoying at times, and I have to remind myself that she was supposed to be ignorant, being a plant deity with no awareness of the human world and behavior. I made it to the end mainly because it was really quite funny, and Yan Xi was a huge draw for me. That man can kiss, and he looked good, like a character out of a manhwa or manga. I don't know if Ding Yi Yi is just so petite, but the height difference between them added to the charm of their romance. I have to admit that I am totally biased towards Yan Xi, but if I judged his acting objectively, I think he did better in 'About is love".

Another character that caught my eye was the SML - Xiao Zi Ming. In a way, he was a more complex character who could be considered as the bad guy but, at the same time, also the good guy with his devotion to the FL and his family. To me, Leo Yang gave a slightly better performance compared to the others, but at the same time, I think all the main actors showed their inexperience. I also love the FL's father - he was just so protective and quick to over-react! Liu Yu as the City Lord really reminded me of another actor - Huang Xing Yuan from Oh! My Sweet Liar.

All in all, it was an interesting and fun watch. Totally recommend it for a quick binge when you are craving more fluff than the usual c-drama.

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Following One's Heart

I stumbled upon this drama after getting hooked on My Cherie Amour and, lucky me, found all the episodes fully subbed in English! Like My Cherie Amour, it’s set in the 1940s, and wow, the outfits were stunning! Think full skirts, cute tops with capri pants—the kind of vintage glam that never gets old.

I was totally drawn into this story of a contract marriage between two polar opposites. The character growth for the leads (and a lot of the side characters) really kept me invested. I enjoyed watching Prajak, the male lead, struggle between his gentlemanly principles to honor the promises he made and his heart’s desire. Sure, his reasoning for ultimately choosing what he wanted felt a bit flimsy—he justified it by saying others didn’t keep their promises to him, so he didn’t have to honor his. But hey, it led him to follow his heart, so I was all for it!

The chemistry between Prajak and Wanida was just chef's kiss. They were perfect together, though I could see some might feel badly for the second female lead, Pisamai. She had her own struggles, but honestly, her snobbish attitude and "noble blood" nonsense made it hard for me to root for her. Wanida outshined her in every way, making it an unfair fight from the start.

Prajak was such an attractive male lead - super handsome, principled, had much to offer but he definitely had his flaws. His jealous fits often clouded his judgement and he had a very sarcastic tongue. His sense of fairness was both his best quality and a negative trait in some sense. He respected his mother but refused to mistreat Wanida based on others’ gossip, which was refreshing. Yet, he kept trying to be fair to Pisamai and hurting Wanida indirectly by paying attention to Pisamai even though he’d clearly lost interest in her.

Another big plus for me was Prajak’s respectfulness. Unlike some Thai dramas from that era, Prajak was a true gentleman. There was one surprised forced kiss, but even that felt like an outpouring of his pent-up feelings rather than a predatory, boundary-crossing moment.

Wanida was a total star—gorgeous, talented, and smart. She wasn’t some damsel in distress, either; she could give as good as she got. Raised a bit spoiled with a mischievous side, she could be impatient, quick to judge and unreasonable. Her unconventional interests like horse-riding and car-driving clashed perfectly with Prajak's old-fashioned values which deemed such activities as male ones. By the end, both of them grew—Wanida became more grounded, and Prajak opened his mind.

Some viewers called Prajak a "cheater" due to the emotional tug-of-war with Pisamai, but there was no physical cheating. The skinship was mostly arm-clinging and hugs from Pisamai’s side. But Prajak and Wanida's mostly accidental physical closeness—the longing looks, the unplanned touches—created all the romantic moments I needed. There was definite chemistry between those two and the way Prajak gazed and stared at Wanida was quite swoony.

The one downside? The background music. It felt out-of-place in many scenes, dated and, at times, way too loud, but that could just be the version I watched. The OST wasn’t quite my style either, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.

Overall, this drama was worth every minute. The leads’ back-and-forth dynamic had me entertained from start to finish.

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A Good Choice For When You Crave Something Light

If you can deal with the inconsistent behavior of the FL and the somewhat forced and uninteresting side stories of the 2nd and 3rd couples, you will likely find this fluffy rom-com highly entertaining. I found the pace towards the end a little draggy, and they had to spoil the fun ride of romance for me by deploying the noble idiocy trope. To me, some melodrama felt more like filler episodes for the FL to do her noble sacrificing and then for the ML to do the same. I am not a fan of angst-filled scenes that last more than 2 episodes when it comes to a rom-com. Still, the angst factor is very low overall.

Plot-wise, there's nothing new - independent, plucky FL ending up with a ML who started as an emotionless machine but discovered his human side as he fell in love with the FL. However, this particular drama did feature a super adorable child whose acting deserved high praise and added the extra oomph to a run-of-the-mill story.

The best part of the show was the chemistry between the lead couple. They played off each other well, and their relationship's progression was delightful, despite the numerous disruptions from external factors. I like how the ML came to realize and become sure of his true feelings for the FL. How the FL fell for the ML was also nicely done. The development of skinship looked natural, and the kissing scenes were good. Nothing super steamy but nothing awkward either.

Miles Wei, who plays He Qiao Yan, the ML, once again did not disappoint as the lead role. Besides being so fine-looking, he also showed a good acting range, especially when it comes to his facial expressions. He is also a fantastic singer, and he sang one of the OSTs, "Obviously Like You" for this show. So did Hu Yi Xuan who sang "Sunny Date".

Hu Yi Xuan as the FL, Qin Yi Yue also acted well, and she cried so prettily. However, I did not like the FL's inconsistent behavior and lack of professionalism as a child psychologist. There were scenes where the FL behaved too childishly for someone who should know better, especially in that profession.

As for the second and third couples, I felt that the setup and their relationships were unnecessary. Having the 3rd female lead together with Ning Fang seemed like a consolation prize for Ning Fang, who was the second ML. Something was lacking, not enough chemistry perhaps, plus I felt that Ning Fang was suave and matured enough that he would have stood out on his own without needing a partner. Wu Chen Xu, who portrayed Ning Fang, is another one to keep an eye on since he appears to have the looks and talent. I first noticed him in the Long Ballad, and I thought he did well here.

Another high point for me was the OST. The song choices were great, very fitting, and evoked my emotions. The theme song was fun and reflected the cute tone throughout the drama. I have listed my favorite ones for posterity at the end of this review.

Overall, this is an endearing drama with a heart-warming ending, good-looking actors who can act and laugh out loud moments. I would recommend for light watching.

OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqCymajl_8I
Ding Ding (丁丁) - It's You
Wei Zhe Ming (魏哲鸣) - Obviously Like You (明明喜欢你)
Tian Dan (田丹) - Circumstances Change With the Passage of Time (时过境迁)
Hu Yi Xuan (胡意旋) - Sunny Date (晴天约会)

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Adorable Main Couple and a Super Cute Elephant!

It's been a week and I am still missing the main couple, Lookkaew and Saran. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them together in this Lakorn, and their chemistry was palpable. There were many sweet and cute moments as their relationship transitioned from hate to love. I have seen Tita Chayjaroen in Thong Ek, her first Lakorn, and I am glad that she got the leading role despite being new to Dramaland. There's something about the way she, as Lookkaew looked at the male lead, that got to me. It's not your typical deep stare but rather a more soul-searching gaze like she was genuinely trying to understand Saran, probing to determine if she can trust him. Likewise, with Saran and how he responded to her looks. Just using his eyes, he can emote so much care and invite trust. Phet Tawanpong was truly perfect for the male lead role. Not only does he have the tall, dark and handsome vibes, but he also has charisma. It was unfortunate that their skinship did not go beyond hugs and nose sniffing - haha! Lookkaew was an awesome female lead, smart, brave and confident but also had her flaws which were tempered by Saran's maturity and calmness. As for Saran's character, he was a strong, intelligent and prideful type who transformed into this adorable guy after he finally confessed to Lookkaew.

I cannot really get into the storyline since the synopsis is pretty general with no spoilers. The Lakorn itself was pretty good and overall quite entertaining with the plot twists. That said, there were loopholes and "convenient" moments, and at times, the story became quite predictable. Still, the villains did a great job raising my blood pressure and kept me engaged. There were a few selfish bitchy characters, a couple who screamed a lot but is almost a norm in a Lakorn :)

I have to say that the most useless character was Natty. Janis Phomphadungcheep played the annoying character well, but I think Natty's character development could have been better. In contrast, the show's hero has got to be P'Thanu, the most selfless, understanding second male lead. I was actually shipping Thanu and Lookkaew together initially, but I am glad the plot played out the way it did. I like Judo Tharinpirom and have seen him in a couple of Lakorns. Hopefully, he will get more male lead roles in the future.

Also, a lot of drama happened for drama's sake which can be frustrating at times. Some viewers like me might feel that certain characters deserved more punishment, but as with many Thai dramas, there was a strong focus on forgiveness and karma. Minor spoiler - it's a happy ending...for most characters. There was a secondary couple, but their progression was more towards the end and was not super exciting.

There were not many songs played in the drama, but two were memorable for me. The theme song was fun and reflected the saucy tone throughout the drama, as indicated in the title. The other one is the song that played during the romantic moments. As expected, it heightened the romantic experience for the viewers. For posterity, I have listed those two here:

OST Kaen Kaew | แก่นแก้ว

1. อย่ามอง Don't Look - ปาล์ม (Chilling Sunday)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A4zNmc5tyI

2. ตอบกันได้ไหม Ost.แก่นแก้ว Can We Answer That - ว่าน ธนกฤต (Wan Thanarit) (03:19)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdEcuMliQvw

Will I watch it again? Yes, but mainly for scenes of the main couple. On the whole, I do recommend this Lakorn. It's fun and entertaining with a happy ending. If nothing else, perhaps the good looks and the side character of a super cute elephant would be enough to keep you watching.

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An emotional roller coaster ride worth getting on!

Intriguing mystery, sweet glimpses of romance, and amazing chemistry between the leading roles are some of the reasons you might consider watching this lakorn. For me, it is also the great acting by Bua Sakulongumpai, Pop Karnthip, and Kem Chuaykua that makes it a highly recommendable show.

The main narrative centered around betrayal on multiple levels, from childhood abandonment to adulterous spouses to inter-family backstabbing and rivalry. The writer did an excellent job weaving the various subplots into the primary storyline, one so filled with twists and turns that it kept the suspense up in every episode except for the predictable ending. However, it was predictable in a comforting way because it gave me the proper closure I wanted after experiencing this emotional roller coaster ride. Seriously, if you want to experience frustration, joy, laughter, sadness, anger, and heartaches, then my friends, this lakorn may be just the one to give you that.

In her quest to find the culprit who failed to murder her twin but left her disabled, Sina, our FL, had to pose as Siriya, her sister, throughout most of the show. Playing identical twins is not easy for most actors, but Bua pulled it off to great effect! The tone of voice, mannerism, attitude, and the way of speaking - the differences were subtle but effective, and her portrayal of the two characters was believable. I appreciate that there was no over-acting from Bua to contrast Sina's confident, straightforward, no BS character against Siriya's, who was softer, quieter, and timider.

Due to Siriya's entanglement with Pipop Sutharak, Sina found herself (acting as Siriya) in a cohabitation/contract marriage situation with Athirat. Pop was excellent as our ML, a nuanced and complex character; charismatic and generous but emotionally shuttered due to being abandoned by his mother at a young age. Even though his father's family accepted him and raised him well as part of the influential Sutharak family, being the son of a mistress also added to his emotional baggage. Pop was really on point with his expressions and body language; one could tell when Athirat was angry, disappointed, or happily in love. Even when he was torn between doing the right thing versus following his heart, you can see the conflict on Athirat's face. Speaking of "doing the right thing", the characters in this show were all about doing things correctly/properly; so much so that I added a new word to my Thai vocabulary - อย่างถูกต้อง - Xỳāng t̄hūk t̂xng.

Kem Chuaykua deserved a shout-out as Khun Nat, the primary wife of Pipop. Kem did a great job building up Nat's character and how she slowly lost her grip on reality as she silently but gracefully bore with the humiliation of being betrayed by her husband, especially under the scrutiny of gossipmongers. Nat's fashion, by the way, was GORGEOUS and drool-worthy. I lusted after her every outfit!

In general, I find the characters well-written, and no one was one-dimensional - all good or all bad. The good character had flaws, and the villains had a backstory that made them relatable and their actions understandable. Sina, for example, was a great FL, smart, sassy, and skilled in fighting, but she had her reckless and rash moments. Many commenters found Siriya too weak, but I saw her to be a good complement to Sina, tempering and slowing her down. Athirat was deeply loyal to his family, but he always chose justice and fairness over family bonds. I did find Darika's obsession with Athirat rather extreme, but she was not the worst nang rai I have come across in the lakorn world.

Romance-wise, there were more heart-fluttering moments due to accidental skinship, deep stares, longing gazes, and near kisses compared to actual love scenes. There were some bonus moments when Athirat was so flirty with Sina even when he was suspicious of her. Our two couples had to deal with the challenges of forbidden love, so it was not surprising that viewers had to wait until the end to see our couples finally being together. Bua's chemistry with Pop and Judo Tharinpirom (who played Kritt, the SML in love with Siriya) was fantastic, but ultimately, it was the push-pull relationship between Athirat and Sina that kept me rooted to the screen. That said, I did find the show somewhat draggy in the middle and felt that they could have gotten to the big reveal sooner by cutting out some unnecessary twists. Still, I did like the way the show executed the final showdown with the villain - it was a touching scene, well played by the actors.

The other criticism I had was how the show mostly failed in using fitting sound effects or background music. What I heard did not match the mood appropriately, especially in the first part of the show. Although, it did seem that the music producers/editors got better towards the end. Also, I did like the featured songs listed below:

อยากจะรู้ / Yak Ja Roo (I want to know) by Arnon Saisangchan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnBCtvuPJ6k

อย่าวัดด้วยสายตา / Yah Wad Duay Sai Dta (Don't measure me with your sight) by Beam Jaruwanna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjW7D7Xnh74

Overall, this lakorn was highly entertaining. It's packed with drama and action with multiple murder attempts, actual murders, love obsessions, betrayals, and secrets galore, with a good amount of underlying romantic currents and comedy to balance things out.

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This show is off-the-charts crazy, but in the best way

The King 2 Hearts is a dark comedy, filled with tension, humour and heart. Starting from the first episode, the show did exactly what it was supposed to do - kept my interest and made me invested in the characters and story. The writing was solid and the directing sharp. The story moved fast but was executed smartly. Overall, the setup about the North-South conflict was dramatic, but the tone was farce.

To me, what sets this drama apart is how it was able to fluidly change the tone from deadly serious to laugh out loud hilarity. One generally knew what will happen, but there were all these twists and turns along the way that kept me beyond entertained. I cringed and I laughed, I cried and I rejoiced, and I felt my heart swell up with love or pride only to have it shatter into a million pieces.

The cinematography was realistically rich and the show effectively used different angles like the fish eye and bird’s eye views of conversations. It also transitioned nicely from past to present and present to past (like Jae Ha with the window in episode 1 and Hang Ah with the compact in a later episode).

I appreciate the time the show took to develop its characters and making them multi-faceted. Across the board, the acting was solid and the casting was perfect.

Ha Ji Won’s portrayal of Kim Hang Ah, the tough Special Ops North Korean agent provided a nice blend of deadly force and girly innocence. I love her tough “I can beat any man in combat persona” while being so earnest and pragmatic when it came to finding a husband. Her acting was so good, transitioning from ass-kicking to being all girly in a flash. Her micro-expressions were so well-done like her hardening stare as she took down someone. She was also relatable - her fan-girl reaction when she saw celebrities on the billboards is how I would react, especially at the thought of training with them. BTW, nice job, Show for the nods to her other dramas - Jo In Sung from “What Happened in Bali” and Hyun Bin from “Secret Garden”.

I also admire the range that Lee Seung Gi got to play as Lee Jae Ha, our entitled prince. Spanning everything from being petulant, mean, and cowardly, to the complete opposite, where Jae Ha showed immense depth, strength and honor. These moments of maturity were often hilariously conveyed as unexpected pockets of goodness couched in lots of bratty behavior but when push comes to shove, our male lead ultimately stepped up and protected what matters to him.

Ha Ji Won and Lee Seung Gi were OTP gold! From reluctant teammates to friends to lovers, these two made a excellent romantic coupling. Their energy crackled and the show scored big by quickly scaling up the emotional tension between the OTP right off the bat in believable and meaningful ways. I was constantly at the edge of my seat, waiting for these two to either have a major showdown with punches thrown, or to make out madly. Either way, their chemistry was off the charts.

Ha Ji won proved her ability to bring out the sexy in her male co-stars. I thought that when I swooned over Yoon Kye Sang, her co-star in Chocolate, and now, who would have thought that Lee Seung Gi with his puppy look could look so manly next to her?! To give the male leads some credit, I am always so impressed by the actor who can alter my perception of his physicality - it's another level of skill entirely.

I enjoyed the hot-and-cold, push-and-pull between the OTP, especially when set against an international, political backdrop where their messages were conveyed through generals, kings and the press. Their banter tickled me immensely, both equally witty and idiotic and it was so refreshing to find a couple who actually possessed the chemistry to make their back-and-forth rapid dialogue sound so natural.

The drama also fleshed out the side characters very well, and this added much more depth to the story. I like that the North Korean characters were not presented as caricatures, and instead as relatable people with their own unique cultural background. It was fun seeing the comradery of the North Korean team, and having gruff Kang Seok become interested in SNSD added a funny touch. That said, I also like the through line of prejudice that the characters embodied. The show did a good job of pushing the envelope, using on-point comedic relief to lighten the serious premise. At times, the dialogue can be surprisingly offensive, but also honest. Even though the show was a fictional political farce, the feelings that were explored were real and interesting.

I just love that everyone’s family was so sweet on this show. Kim Hang Ah’s father was such a darling, a tough general who always trying to protect his daughter and doing what he thought she wanted. The way that the whole royal family interacted with each other was so cute and it was nice not having any family in-fighting for once. There was nobody out to steal the crown or trying to kill each other. The childish sibling interactions between Jae Kang, Jae Ha and Jae Shin were just so endearing.

Jo Jung Suk really does have a swoony voice and he is a great actor. His Eun Shi Kyung was so humorless and straight-laced, and yet so earnestly adorable and attractive. What happened to him left me feeling gutted and crying.

If there was one thing I dislike about this drama, it was anything related to Kim Bong Gu, played by Yoon Jae Moon who did well. Bong Gu appeared to be interesting at first as an absurd arch villain, but he lost his scary factor after too many pointless scenes involving him. Less is always more and had the show focused more on legitimately creepy moments with Bong Gu, it would have been more effective.

I would also like to add that the OST for this was well-chosen and the tracks fit the scenes perfectly. Some pieces were suitably tense, and the use of instrumental pieces for the poignant moments heightened the mood for me.

In general, I truly recommend this show - it was pitch-perfect, with great episodes up to the end.

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Movie equivalent of comfort food

This show is nostalgically soothing with a high-sentimentality quotient. Set in the 90s, it serves as a perfect time capsule for that decade. The fashion, food, music, and everything else are showcased perfectly and meticulously. Personally, it takes me back in time on two fronts - my high school experience and my first love.

Sure, the show is not perfect, but it is good comfort viewing that hits much more than it misses. The characters are likable and simple, the plot dynamics easy to follow, and the laughs are just what one needs sometimes. The central romance is so pure and sincere, with a bit of teen angst that everyone can relate to. Vivian Sung and Darren Wang are so sweet together, and their acting as teenagers going through the emotional roller coaster of first love is on-point. Plus, I love that Andy Lau is featured so prominently. With a sweet ending, the show is unfailingly heart-warming. Also, the music has exactly the right tone and emotion for the scenes.

The only thing I don't understand is why the show has to use different actors for the adult version of Truly and Taiyu. I like Joe Chen and Jerry Yan, but the ending would have been more poignant if Vivian and Darren continue playing as their adult versions.

I would re-watch this show. It is deserving of its high rating and it serves well as a distraction from the anxiety of real life.

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Fun Rom-Com Done Perfectly, Thai Style

So I finally got around to watching this lakorn after so many recommendations, and I totally agree with the positive reviews! Despite some dark drama like murders, ghosts and human trafficking, this show has infectious, feel-good energy, thanks to the cast of characters that one cannot help but root for. The supporting characters are so over the top and at times ridiculous that you cannot help but laugh. Had this been a K-drama or C-drama, I would have called it cheap humor, but somehow it works in a Thai drama. I have nothing bad to say about the cast, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Kao and Great. They play off each other so well, and the dialogue and interactions between them just flow so smoothly. It's definitely a well-paced romance that is fitting to the plot. I love watching the sweet moments between them and how the sparks begin to fly as their relationship develops.

I really like how the show incorporates natural skinship between the couples, family, and friends. It is not always about hot steamy scenes for the couples, and I appreciate watching the characters offer comforting hugs and closeness via hands touching or someone's head leaning on another's shoulder. The human touch is essential in a relationship, and the show does well showcasing this.

Kao really sparkles in this show, and you can see her acting range as Suam as she displays various emotions. She is such a natural beauty, and visually, she is such an excellent match to Great. They make a gorgeous-looking couple, especially with their height difference. Great portrays Rut, an intelligent, fair, but tough cop role very well, and I guarantee you that he would endear himself to anyone the minute they see him smile.

The secondary couple is also amusing to watch, and they have some great scenes together. It is cute that the second female lead is so into the Korean culture, and I love how the show uses that as a plot device and weaves it in so effectively, especially during the ending when they paid homage to a K-drama that I liked.

The OST is catchy - fitting for the scenes, and I read somewhere that Kao sang the main song. The starting song is fun to listen to and lends the same tone of fun that is infused throughout the show.

Overall, it was a well-done show, and the only reason I did not rate it a perfect 10 is that there is a scene where Rut displays some physical aggressiveness towards Suam. The scene is actually very tame compared to other Thai dramas, but I do not condone any acts of aggression or abuse, especially when in the context of a male dominating a female. Still, I hope that it does not deter the few who have not watched this show. Do give it a try!

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Be prepared for all the feels

I'd recommend this lakorn for those who are looking for an emotional roller coaster ride. It is definitely a drama with angst, self-sacrifice, and deep meanings. I cried a river, but I also cheered for the main couple, relished their happy moments and appreciated the ending. I'm not too fond of sad endings, so not having watched the Taiwanese version, my heart was in my mouth during the last few episodes.

For me, the show was well-directed and well-written, and it did a nice job delivering the message about how true love can overcome all obstacles, including death. Any superfluous characters were there for comic relief, and I like that there were depth and complexity to the main group of characters. Unlike the one dimensional villains in many lakorns, the protagonists here had backstories, and I ended feeling sorry for them as they were more victims of manipulation or expectations than anything else.

Not surprisingly, Esther did a great job portraying the sweet, kind, and selfless female lead, Jane. I think she plays this kind of role best and she looked really pretty in the show. This is the first time I watched Pong, and I thought he was cast well as Wynn. It's refreshing to see an appropriately aged lead who was supposed to be a company CEO, plus Pong acted superbly, with his facial expressions on point. Perhaps I am biased because his smoldering gazes won me over. Overall the cast did a great job, and I felt what they were emoting. I did think that the actress playing Jane's best friend, Pat could have done better. For some reason, she seemed to be shouting throughout the show, which I find annoying and distracting.

Music-wise, the songs were good and fitted the scenes well, evoking the right emotions. I was happy to find the theme song on youtube, but sadly, I could not find the others. There were some scenes when the background music seemed off or too campy, but that's an issue that I find in most lakorns, so I cannot really hold it against the show.

I would re-watch many scenes, especially Pong's ones with Esther, but I don't think that I will re-watch the whole thing, mainly because I've cried enough the first time.

I hope that more people will watch this series and think it is under-rated for a well-executed show. Also, a big shout out to the subber(s) - I watched it on Dramacool, and it was not obvious who subbed it.

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Letting Go of What Was and Accepting What Is

This show is not perfect, and at times, it can be a little slow but regardless, it is an enjoyable watch. It did a good job showcasing the romance between two people who have become jaded about love after suffering painful heartbreaks while delivering on good character development for all involved. The series balanced light and fun moments with witty and sophisticated dialogue. It also showed depth in dealing with heavier themes like mental illness and the pain of loss, and the struggles of moving on. Another plus point was the OST, and the show almost always hit the right dramatic notes during heartbreaking scenes while transitioning smoothly to more light-hearted scenes. I liked the tracks, all of them, including the instrumental pieces.

I loved the references to 'Crash Landing On You", and I had a faint hope that maybe Seo Ji Hye and Kim Jung Hyun may reunite in 'Dinner Mate' with a happier ending for them. Of course, that was not to be. Instead, we have Seo Ji Hye paired with Song Seung Heon resulting in a lovely, heart-warming story of a man and a woman who found love and comfort in each other's company as they share their lives through having meals together. I love that the our lead couple's story started with them crossing paths on Jeju Island, and through a string of coincidences led to them choosing to be dinner mates with certain ground rules like not sharing personal information about each other. That kicked off a comfortable relationship that allowed them glimpses of each other's brokenness, and eventually to them letting go of their past and starting anew with their own sweet romance.

Seo Ji Hye shined as the unpredictable, cool, and energetic Woo Doo Hee. She played such a different character in CLOY, and I did not expect to like her so much as PD Woo. She was charming, natural, funny, and the role of a strong, sassy FL who held her ground fitted her perfectly. In my book, Seo Ji He has proven to be a note-worthy leading lady. Song Seung Hoon's chemistry with her was magnetic, and as the charismatic psychiatrist Dr. Kim Hae Kyung, his acting was on point. I find it refreshing to have a leading man who is a true dramaland Oppa; mature, good-looking, suave, sexy, and most importantly, caring. From the very beginning, he was kind and considerate to Doo Hee, looking after her and keeping her company on the day of her breakup despite them being practically strangers. Throughout the show, we can see the dashing doctor going out of his way to help others. Honestly, Song Seung Hoon made my heart fluttered so much that I am on a mission to watch more of his shows.

The supporting lead stars were equally and effectively great in portraying their roles. Lee Ji Hoon left a lasting impression on me as Jung Jae Hyuk, Woo Do Hee's ex-boyfriend, who had to deal with his own family troubles and the resulting trauma. He was so good at emoting, switching easily to tearful, heartbreaking scenes that made me cry along with him. We can understand why Jae Hyuk left Doo Hee so suddenly, and I think one can also relate to his desperation to winning her back. For a while, I was rooting for him; that's how good Lee Ji Hoon played his role. On the other hand, I felt more hate than love towards Jin No Eul, Hae Kyung's ex-girlfriend, who wanted him back after realizing that he was still the best catch for her. Son Na Eun did a good job as the possessive, self-absorbed social influencer who eventually came to accept her past mistakes that led her to lose Hae Kyung. Additionally, Ye Ji Won and Park Ho San as Nam Ah Young and Keanu, respectively, provided lots of hilarity during their quirky romance.

I thought this show was under-rated on MDL, and I noticed quite a few negative comments were about how the show focused too much on the exes. I disagree - I found that the exes provide the right amount of tension, and it's the kind of conflict that I have come to appreciate about K-Dramas.

Overall, I recommend this heart-warming show about second chances and acceptance, accepting that some things are not meant to be and that it is never too late to look for happiness.

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A nice twist to the 'Overbearing CEO' trope

Love, love the female lead! Not only was she smart, confident, sassy, and influential, Lu Fang Ning was also attractive, and I lusted over her outfits. Her character was the first to draw me in and kept me vested in the show, and the presence of Ling Rui, the male lead, enhanced my watching experience. Zhou Yu Tong and Simon Gong have great chemistry, and they look so good together. This is the first time I watched Zhou Yu Tong, and she has the air of a female lead. Simon Gong has improved a lot since his role in the Love Equations. He emoted well and portrayed the brilliant, calm, reserved but charismatic Ling Rui perfectly. The two leads complemented each other so well, and it was endearing to see their consideration and care for each other as their love deepened.

I enjoyed the character development for the leads, and interestingly, there was a role reversal towards the end. What I appreciate was that Fang Ning did not lose her spunk. She was calmer and more matured but did not lose her fighting spirit despite having suffered adversities. Ling Rui, on the other hand, charmingly became more overbearing and demanding, motivated by his fear of losing Fang Ning again. I liked how he strategized and anticipated Fang Ning's moves so that he can compel her to stay with him, but he did it so smoothly and in a non-creepy way.

The supporting characters were precisely that, nothing more but to keep the story flowing. Most were likable, though, and the whole cast had a great rapport with each other. It was interesting to see Ling Rui living and surrounded by three female relatives. Fang Ning's family story was heart-breaking but provided an opportunity for a heart-warming ending. I did not suffer the second lead syndrome, but I did sympathize with Lu Yi Yao. He would have been a good match for Fang Ning, and I can picture them as a power couple in the business.

The show was well-written, and the comedy was on point with amusing soliloquies from the leads and the creative scenes when their imaginations ran wild.

Another plus point was the OST - so effectively used in the poignant scenes, and each song evoked the right mood and heightened my watching pleasure.

Why I could not rate it a perfect 10:

1) I detested the second female lead character. In a show that featured a strong female lead, I did not understand why there had to be a character so simpering, self-absorbed, and totally unworldly wise. She was so into romance novels, blinded by the thought of romance instead of acknowledging actual feelings. She did redeem herself a little towards the end, but I fast-forwarded through most of her scenes.
2) There were some plot holes, and some scenes felt "shallow" like there should have been more development of those storylines.
3) Lu Yi Yao's sudden change of affection to the second female lead - I didn't see the chemistry, nor did I see any reason for that transition other than his fear of aging.

Overall, a recommended watch for the amazing leads, good dialogue, well-delivered comedy, and sweet romance.

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Great acting and intense chemistry between the lead pair

[Spoilers ahead!]

I found this gem while looking for lakorns with strong female leads, and this show did not disappoint. I don't know how I managed to miss out on the talents of Ken Theeradeth Wongpuapan and Nune Woranuch Bhirombhakdi until now. Still, after seeing them in Ra Raerng Fai, I believe the claims that they both have been labeled as the royalty of Thai dramas. To me, Nune is the doppelganger of my favorite Korean actress, Park Min Young, especially how she looked in this show. Ken and Nune are so good-looking that I found it hard to take my eyes off them whenever they appeared on the screen. The chemistry between them was off-the-charts. Even though the kisses were fake, both actors were so on point with their expressions and body language that I did not need obvious gestures like kissing to see how well they played off each other. They have a unique dynamic that made it so interesting to watch them.

I truly enjoyed this revenge lakorn. I don't understand why the rating is low since I thought this was a pretty well-executed plot, and the pacing was good. Nevertheless, a lakorn would not be a lakorn if it did not include some tropes like entrapment, gold-digging and scheming stepmother and daughter pair, and physical dominance over women (wrist grabbing and pulling, almost rape). NOTE: Absolutely no rape scenes. There was definitely melodrama and angst, and I found my heart wrenching or my blood pressure rising numerous times. However, throw in the happy and satisfying scenes and you get an addictive drama that kept me binge-watching it. Yes, 14 1.5 hour-long episodes in 2 days.

I appreciate the maturity reflected in how Yada and Chakrit communicated. There's no yelling. Both so cool and collected but boy did the sparks fly when they get into a verbal-sparring match! I love that Yada was not like the typical screechy female character, with tons of crying. Yes, Yada's eyes were often shining with tears, but she never dissolved into a complete mess, especially not in front of others. She always tried to portray a strong front, and in front of Ken, she never wanted to appear weak. Indeed, Yada was like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Plus, she was also intelligent, quick at decision-making and resourceful. It was no wonder that her family looked to her as the household head after their dad. Nune portrayed Yada with such elegance and grace, and she can really emote with her eyes. The only complaint I have was how filial Yada was towards her father and how that blinded her to the truth for so long. I felt so much frustration for Chakrit during those moments.

Ken was perfect as Chakrit - a man described as a scoundrel but at the same time, was so charming, charismatic and attractive that I wanted him to get away with everything! Hell-bent on seeking revenge for his father, Chakrit had done some bad things, but at the same time, as Yada noted, he was truly a good person in his true self. I was so invested in his attraction to Yada. He did not know what hit him when Yada appeared in his life, and I liked watching how his attraction to Yada developed into full-blown feelings. He was drawn to her strength and iron will, but also to her vulnerability that she tried so hard to hide from him. Yada was never part of his revenge plan, and he really wanted to marry her because he was falling for her. One of my favorite genres is when the ML falls for the FL first, and it was cute how Chakrit smoothly expressed his feelings to Yada. Like when he told her that this would be his last marriage and her first and only marriage. Or when he told her that he did not wrestle with women (rape), and that he would wait for her to run into his hug. I have nothing but praises for Ken's acting in this show and have added his and Nune's other shows to my watch list.

The couple has gone through so much that I am so grateful that the writers gave us a satisfying ending that was not rushed. There was a bit of turmoil even in the last episode, but at least the couple reunited properly before the last episode. I was so worried that they would have Yada continue being obstinate and letting her pride stop her from accepting Chakrit back. It was also nice that there were no true love triangles.

I loved the female characters' outfits, especially Yada's and Khem's! The production designer deserved a shout-out for such excellent choices.

The supporting cast was good, but I was not very interested in the second and third couples' relationships. I just did not like Khem, and even though P'Na was the sweetest gentleman, I could not see them as a couple. Trai and Nee were cute together, but again, I was not particularly drawn to their relationship. The two characters that I could not stand were the stepmother and her daughter. They were such devious, money-grubbing hustlers that I think their characters were more to provide comic relief. I found myself fast-forwarding through their scenes quite a bit so that I did not have to deal with their stereotypical over-acting. There was no overly evil villain; in fact, the character that I would consider to be the worst was Yada's father. His refusal to acknowledge his mistakes and the wrongs he inflicted upon others really irritated me. He was a good foil to Chakrit who acknowledged that he was the bad guy but the father was one who thought he was the good guy when he wasn’t. Good news - all the "bad" guys did get their karma.

I did not find the soundtrack memorable, but I did like the theme song, and there were a couple of instrumental pieces that were fitting for the scenes.

I gave a high rating for the re-watch value since I am already re-watching many of Chakrit's and Yada's scenes. I think this is one OTP that I will have a hard time getting over.

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Kept me coming back for more!

Wow - what an emotional roller coaster ride this Lakorn has been for me! I really wanted to rate this show higher, especially after watching Donut Dejpongwaranon deliver some excellent acting. Additionally, the story was pretty well-written, particularly the plot centering around how Paul/Poramee exacted his revenge.

However, I did also spend all 18 episodes feeling extremely annoyed for the following reasons:

1) A female lead that was all looks and very little brain. Nai, for most of the show, came across as weak and overly naive. She was either crying, fainting, or choosing to sacrifice herself for her so-called family's happiness. I found myself cursing at the screen many times during scenes with Nai in them. I understand that Nai viewed Khun Net as her benefactor and therefore was unwilling to go against her wishes. Still, one can reasonably expect Nai to at least have some common sense with her interactions with other people. There were a few times when she redeemed herself a little by showing some intelligence or backbone, but those moments did not last long. It was during the last episode that she finally toughened up. Better late than never, I guess.

2) No respite from the villains always having the upper hand. Seriously, the villains in this Lakorn seem to get all the breaks. It would have been better if there were more triumphant moments for the good guys. I had to wait until the last episode to see the bad guys get any retribution.

3) Noble idiocy at the last minute, causing the ending to be less satisfying for me. After everything that the main couple has gone through, I thought I could at least have half of the final episode dedicated to their happy ending. But nope, the show had to throw in another twist, another reason for separation.

Ultimately, I still gave this show a pretty high rating, mainly because each episode kept me at the edge of my seat and kept me coming back for more. I ended up binge-watching this show because I really wanted to see what happened to the main couple and the villains.

The chemistry between Donut and Prapye Theerapat was great, and undeniably, they were a visually striking couple. Prapye is gorgeous; it is too bad that I was not too fond of her character for most of the show. I don't have much to say about her acting skills other than she nailed the crying scenes and looking pretty during them. Throughout the show, she tended to have this wide-eyed look, displaying shock, confusion, innocence, sadness, or happy sweetness. Donut, on the other hand, did a fantastic job with a wide acting range. His micro-expressions were on point, and he emoted so well during the crying scenes. Plus, he's got a killer smile!

Unfortunately, the main couple did not have that many romantic scenes. Despite the near-kisses and longing stares, Paul and Nai only got together towards the end. As for the supporting cast, they also did a good job. Not surprisingly, there were some over-the-top acting for comedic effect. I enjoyed watching the development of the second couple's relationship. Kachane was such a blockhead, so focused on loving Nai, and I have to admire Pat's tenacity in getting her guy. I liked that Kachane was a gentleman all the time, secretly and then finally openly loving Nai but graciously retreated after finding out that Nai loved Paul.

I enjoyed the music selection; between the love songs and instrumental pieces, each one fitted the scene/mood well and evoked my emotions. I was glad that I found the main ones on YouTube.

Probably not a re-watch for me since I don't think I can afford to get my blood pressure up that high again.

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Great rom-com featuring a mix of Thai Boran and modern Lakorn.

Featuring a time travel element, this show added a nice twist that gave equal screen time to two story lines set in different eras. Individually, the stories were nothing new - usual villains and plot set-ups, but still, it was an enjoyable watch and they were both pretty well-executed. My only criticism is that the transition between the two eras was a little jarring for me, especially since the switch was done rather quickly after a couple of scenes.

A quick synopsis: Opal from the present era and Duangkaew from the Boran era look identical and even have the same parents and personal servant. Due to a prayer of help, they switched places on the night of a full moon. Ultimately, Opal fell in love with the man whose parents and her parents want Duangkaew to marry, and Duangkaew fell in love with Opal's best friend.

Namtarn Pichukkana is gorgeous! It is the first time I watched her, and to me, she did a fantastic job portraying the spunky, intelligent, bold Opal and the gentle, well-mannered court lady Duangkaew. Her chemistry with both male leads was great, although I was more drawn to Opal's and P'Mor's relationship. Opal was my favourite type of FL (i.e., not a simpering weak maiden) and who could resist a male lead like P'Mor. A royal doctor with exceptional warrior skills, he was a charismatic gentleman who can flirt so effectively using just words. What made it even better was that Opal had the fighting skills and bravery to match him, and she is super flirty as well in a modern, forward way. I loved watching her make P'Mor blush.

Puen Chobpradit is ADORABLE with the cutest smile! He portrayed the dignified Luang Osotworrawech (P'Mor) perfectly, and he was charismatic. His micro-expressions were on point, changing from flirty to fierce, from gentle to strong easily. Ting Kratingg, another fine-looking actor, did pretty well as PeePop, although I think the other lead actors were better.

The supporting cast was good too, and the parents of Opal and Duengkaew were hilarious. The show used sound effects well to highlight the comedic moments.

I enjoyed the music selection. Between the love songs and the fun rap, each piece fitted the scene/mood well. I was glad that I found the main ones on YouTube.

I liked learning a bit about the history of Ayutthaya, and the setting was just beautiful. I lusted after the Boran outfits - The silk clothing worn by the men and women were just so well-coordinated, and the colours were so lovely in the pastels and so rich in the brights.

It is too bad that it is so hard to find the dramas with English subtitles. I got lucky and found this gem on Telegram. You should definitely give this show a chance!

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