A mellow ode to the barter system, object value, and storytelling

This film is slow and mellow, like most slice-of-life tales, and I very much came to love it. In the beginning, I was quite put off. Where is this going? When will Josie start running her decisions by Doris? Will we see the less aggravating side of their sister relationship?

The first thing that really drew me in is the fact that their business is based around the bartering system - something I am quite fond of myself. While the coffee and baked goods are still sold using money, the collected items around the store are all for exchange. It's something that they kind of fell into by circumstance, but quickly proved to be the best thing to happen to them. We also got to see how it meant different things to each of them. To Josie, it was an opportunity to exchange up for both parties. Item A means more to me than Item B, while Item B means more to you than Item A, let's trade. Meanwhile Doris saw it as a peek into lives and dreams she never had. Each person's experiences led them to being able to make an exchange and carried memories through the exchange themselves. In these perspectives, you could see these alternative aspects of the leads' personalities that they previously didn't get a chance to explore.

"In this city, surely there's someone looking for bone china, and surely there's someone with a spare set. Surely someone has an empty sofa, and surely someone else is looking for it. They just haven't found each other."

I also like how stories got incorporated. The overall film is sort of being told as a story. Then we have a storytelling traveler who becomes a frequent and important presence. We also have stories being told by visitors about why they want certain goods or are there in the cafe to begin with, and the stories being told by Josie to serve as an exchange for something Doris wanted. And throughout it all, Doris never had a story to tell herself. Which made the ending just that much stronger and memorable.

"You were right to say that by running an exchange, we'd hear lots of stories about things we haven't experienced. But the more of them I heard... the more I wanted stories of my own to exchange."

And it make the subtle subtextual romance a mellow sort of poignant too. Did Doris like the storyteller, or was she romanced by the stories he told and the wanderlust he inspired?

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Turn your brain off and detox with laughter, ghost ships, and pop culture refs

I laughed the whole way through. The half "that was funny," half "what am I watching" sort of laugh. But laughing nonetheless. Truly a good choice for when you need something 100% mindless (and don't mind Thai humor). It's quite similar to YYY in randomness but, unlike YYY, this drama actually does have a plot with some degree of emphasis (thus why I was able to finish this drama, and not the other one).

They picked a great ensemble cast for this production, many of which you don't really anticipate being in a drama together. But they work together really really well. I really want to see them on the same screen together more in the future.

On a similar note, it was FULL of gif-able and meme-able moments to share. And it is probably heaven for the ghost shippers out there (fans who ship together actors/characters that have almost no hope of ever actually being a thing). Because where better to put ghost ship fan service than in a ghost drama, with a fangirl ghost who can make it happen - using inspiration from all her favorite stories (which are of course unnamed to us, but can easily be identified by fans).

Besides the laughter and mountain of screencaptures, I think I enjoyed the intertextual/pop culture references above all else. And the music was extremely catchy (and able to be found on Apple Music!).

A great brain-off, detox drama for when the drama in standard dramas is way too much.
Also, probably a pretty good fit for kids, imo.

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Hard-hitting and precious

"When I wake up in the morning, I wonder if I'm qualified to open my eyes."

Female lead Seulgi has been beaten down by life just a few too many times. With no one listening to her pleas for help, not even her family, her ability to go outside gradually decreased until she could no longer step outside of her apartment. She had been in this state of living for the past 2.25 years before a Lia wandered into her life. Lia, a sock-loving dog with a technological device that allows her to talk, settles into Seulgi's life easily and adapts into a sort of Emotional Support Animal for her.

Seulgi's pain felt all too real for me, both in dialogue and performance. And it was beyond precious seeing her try to be the best person she can for Lia. It's a cute healing microdrama.

However, the story introduced an extra point of tension to the climax that the story didn't really need, and currently shows no signs of possessing an episode 3 to resolve it.

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Equal parts comfort and recipes

Let me paint you a picture:

Each day, Natsuki writes in her journal. She tells it (us) about something notable about her day. Her favorite bookstore closing down. Her mom sending her a package. Something small that reminded her of a moment in her childhood. She takes us on a journey as she tells us what that event made her think about. Sometimes, it's something that gives us a peek into her character. Sometimes, it's something larger and rather philosophical.

As she's speaking to us, she's also deliberating her next meal. What fits her mood/energy? What ingredients does she need to finish off? Sometimes she's sharing a favorite recipe. Sometimes she's experimenting. But by the end of it, she's able to move past whatever thought she was stuck on and is ready to move on to the next thing. Cooking is a sort of therapy for her. And it's so clear, that it makes you, as a viewer, feel like perhaps it could be for you too.

Her voice is so soothing. And the entire atmosphere that she creates is rather eclectic grandma-esque, despite her only seemingly to be in her mid 20s. She's not hung up on trends. When at home, she wears off-the-wall patterns and colors - whatever makes her happy. She's got herbs growing out of old tin cans, and an old-school radio playing a new tune every episode. It feels cozy and like coming home - despite my own home feeling nothing like it. It was the perfect drama to put on at the end of a long day.

I wish there was more, but I will definitely be rewatching this. Both for the atmosphere, and the recipes (which are written and subbed in detail at the end of each episode).

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A Nostalgic Air and Familiar Faces

This was such a cute film about friendship. It had this air of nostalgia to it that really found a way to touch my heart, even as we breezed through plot developments. The characters were admittedly pretty flat: the protective one, the resourceful one, the romantic one. But that turned out okay, because the focus wasn't on who the characters were, or what they were going through separately, but rather on the unconditional friendship that they shared with each other. And the ending was just so heartwarming.

All 3 of these actresses have made quite a name for themselves, and I think fans of Thai dramas would really like seeing their familiar faces in such a piece.

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Run-of-the-mill, but quite cute. Especially being a GL first.

This is actually my second time watching this film. I am rewatching not because I particularly liked it or because it had a high rewatch value, but simply because I couldn't remember it. Which, coming from me, already speaks about its memorability.

Filled with microaggression homophobia, this roommates-to-lovers tale reminded of a less-problematic version of the BL TharnType and several early BLs. Some of the same annoyances (i.e. girl who can't take a hint, a main lead who can't read a ridiculously obvious room). Some of the same tropes (i.e. coy back-and-forwards with almost-confessions). And some of the same cute moments (i.e. taking care of each other, supporter reactions). It feels very run-of-the-mill as far as queer content goes, even more so many years after its release. But, this is often considered the first full-length Thai GL movie, in the midst of a still prominent lack of GL stories, so I don't think we should necessarily put it down for this.

However, my biggest gripe story-wise is how much time we spend in the homophobia stage. It makes the attraction from Pie's end seem quite sudden. Just showing her jealousy was not enough for me to be convinced of the depth of her feelings.

Several songs were quite childish in vocal quality, which annoyed me as a viewer. But there was a song towards the end that I liked enough to instantly download, so it boosted up my music score some.

I watched officially on GagaOOlala, who also has the whole franchise (PSA: there's a couple missing subtitles here and there, but they aren't particularly plot-relevant).

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If the story had more focus on the FL and her friends, I would've thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe even made it a favorite. Instead, the large majority of the film is focused on the male lead. Who is weak-willed, easily influenced, and naive. Who takes the words of his conspiracy theorist best friend as gospel. Who very much presents all the traits of the "nice guy," as told from the perspective of someone who believes that a "nice guy" and a nice guy are the same thing. I found it relatively comedic in the beginning, but after a certain point in time, enough is enough.

And while all the actors sold their individual characters very well, the chemistry between FL and ML didn't feel consistent. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but I was never quite sold on their couple performances.

The things that made me keep watching (and boosted up my rating):

-The female lead's hidden past and personality was quite enjoyable to watch. Even more so when it would leak into her present life. Especially when her friends came more to the forefront. They are a HOOT when they are all together.

-That poor contract worker. He just wants to get his job done. But the ML keeps presenting him with difficult work. Making him have to keep changing his job afterwards. That made me laugh more than it probably should have.

-Also, you KNOW you're an adult when you get as excited as the FL at the prospect of winning a household appliance. I just love her expressions in these scenes. They pretty much guarantee that you're gonna like what comes next.

-THE MUSIC. You can just leave out the dialogue please - just the music and character actions are enough to please me.

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The main cast and characters SHINED without stupidity and romance, everyone else... not so much.

The casting was spectacular. This was actually my first work where I really liked Seo In Guk's character. I can definitely see why he has so many fans. And all the cast played their characters so convincingly well. The situational and relatively mild humor was great. I was really expecting more of the usual stupid-funny that comes with the action-comedy genre cross. We didn't get that here, for which I am thankful. I think my favorite instance of this was the epic getaway scenes. Perfection. This was purely a suspenseful crime movie. Comedy added rather than subtracted. There was no romance to make things messy.

My one and only problem, which is a pretty big one, is the antagonist and support cast are all idiots. There was no logic. No defense. I found myself wanting to hit them upside the head more to knock sense into them rather than because of them impeding our mains.

Also, as a fan of heist stories, I wish a tad more of the suspense was related to the heist rather than the violence.

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Cheesy and Easy Watch, Even W/O the Drama

Based on many of the top reviews and several comments, from viewers who watched the drama first, I was really expecting this to be confusing as someone who hadn't watched the drama first. Boy was that a wrong assumption. This was extremely easy to understand. Do I wish some things were fleshed out more? Absolutely. But it didn't detract from the experience at all. This was incredibly straightforward. A little cheesy and kinda fast-paced, but enjoyable. The characters were consistent all the way through. And like most esports dramas, the team dynamics are incredibly fun to watch.

My major problem though, like most Chinese titles, is that I really wish that the antagonists got more consequences for their actions. It wasn't like the leads weren't capable of doing it.

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A New Favorite: Love Triangle and Meaning of Love Done Right

It wasn't groundbreaking or fresh or anything like that. But it is definitely a favorite now. The acting was spectacular, especially when we got into heavier/deeper emotions. I was laughing and crying and holding my breath right alongside the leads. And the way that the story handled the love triangle was excellently done. No despicable villains here. And we didn't just watch as the leads fell in love, we watched as the female lead learned about self-love as well. It's a precious story. And I was sold on it for every minute (except for few instances of second-hand embarrassment that is). My camera is also now filled with pictures from the movie. And I have downloaded several songs as well (my favorite is Di Mo Inakala by Juris).

If I have 1 complaint, it's that the film seems to have tried too hard at being "trendy" with all the acronyms. I've never seen a film try to use so many before. But, they did mention what each of them meant, and you don't have to commit any to memory. So while it was a bit clunky, it didn't get in the way much.

I will also admit that there is a sizable focus on appearances throughout the film. So if that's a subject matter that's sensitive for you, I don't think this film will work out.

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A More Than Capable Story, Lacking in Bite

From the onset of this movie, I was struck by how very 2000s it was. The visuals. The wardrobe. The music. The comparatively muted tone. What I did not expect from a 2000s lesbian film though was the sexual content - especially towards the end. Not that it's a bad thing or that it was poorly done - just a bit surprising.

The story also took me by surprise in some ways. I loved the communication between the leads. I loved how natural the ensemble of LGBT+ characters are. And how each of these instances and characters bring something new to the perspective the story is telling - without ever once feeling preachy. Whether it be about stereotypes, family, acceptance, coming out, loneliness, or even questioning identities. It seems like a lot to touch on that would subtract from the story - but it really doesn't. Because it's told in a simple organic way that comes out of the plots themselves. But most of all, I loved how the different plots interweaved together. I didn't particularly like the female leads (didn't particularly hate them either) for a while, but the growth and development that both of them got as a result of the interweaved plot lines were really well done.

However, there were a few moments that I don't think should have been as muted they were. I deserved to feel a little bit more emotion. And that complaint exists because of a few factors: music choice (or lack there of), lack of consistent chemistry (not just romantically, but the ability for the characters to bounce off of each other on the screen), and the ease at which certain topics were moved on from in the script.

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Like watching through a window

My one and only problem with this film: I don't feel like I know the characters.

The premise is great. And it was portrayed very realistically. Nothing feels overdone or excessive. I can easily see why this film has been used in classrooms as social commentary material. And there are small details that made for a compelling story that is quite memorable. But I don't feel like I know who the characters are. I don't know their motivations. I don't know the source of their concerns. Instead, we see the plot unfolding - but without access to the "whys" and even a couple "whats."

But when all is said and done, many details were mastered. And I found myself going back to watch all of the characters' reactions. Of course, part of this might have been because of the lack of character focus, but the fact that there were details there that appeared to have meaning upon a rewatch, as well as the remaining urge to do so upon completing the film in the first place, is worth some credit.

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A really mellow film, this story tells of our two leads who are quite unenthusiastic about life and find themselves drawn together through multiple interactions. They help each other feel a sense of belonging in the world, overcome loneliness, and inspire new experiences and new thoughts. For sure, they cared deeply for each other. But would I say they were romantically in love or meant for each other? No. Even their romance was really mellow and low-emotion. And I wouldn't attribute this to the actors, because the characters did bounce off of each other quite well. This was all in the characters. They didn't feel like they were IN love, if you know what I mean. And I think it was intentional - if you just look at the cinematography and dialogue.

Nonetheless, it was a pretty powerful story. The female lead, disabled and reclusive, finds solace from life in books. So much so, that she will tell the tales she's read as if she's actually lived them. Which, in her mind and with her imagination - i suppose you could say she did, in a way. This was definitely a comfort mechanism - given the fact that she hadn't been able to live and explore much in her life. And that's why some of the most powerful and memorable moments in the film were when she lived in the moment. When she realizes that she's living her own story right now. And she actively works to make them count and reminisce on them.

Other really powerful scenes are when the male lead introduces her to google maps so that she can explore the world, right at her fingertips. Not just from her imagination and words on the page, but in front of her eyes. I think this was also a form of therapy for him as well. He appears to feel trapped by circumstances and gives in readily with the whims of others for any sort of comfort. So helping the FL was very much helping himself in a way too.

This is, above all else, a slow-paced character-driven story focused on personal growth. These 3 components are the key factors in determining whether this film is for you or not.

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Classic indeed. They don't make them like this anymore.

I can easily see why this was a hit with western audiences at the time of it's release, and is considered a classic masterpiece. The story is very reminiscent of some favorite western fantasy films being released around the time (DragonHeart being a personal favorite of mine), as well as having all the characteristics of a Wuxia production.

The story is simple but action-filled. The motivations for the conflicts went beyond greed - instead erring towards the desire for a better future and justice for the past. It allowed the characters to have ample depth. Even when you were wholeheartedly against them, you could understand where they were coming from. And the action sequences were gorgeously choreographed and told stories beyond just "this is the characters fighting." There were some things that were not explained, as they would in several modern wuxia dramas, but it didn't make the story hard to understand. I wish modern wuxias would do similar, so that we are not bogged down by explanations, world-building monologues, and character introductions all at once.

Even the ending was well-done. It was very true to the story being told. And the one unanswered question being left open like it was makes it a perfect ending for divided watchers.

It's a perfect starter wuxia. A classic if you will. That even long-standing fans may go back to for the actor performances and exquisite fighting sequences (which are numerous).

The only reason why this didn't get a 10 from me is because of the lack of one subplot that deserved a few more minutes of attention.

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A Fluffy Teen Romance Surrounded by Adult Pressures

I think this is a story that anybody who has grown up with strict parents can relate to. And it was acted so well that I found myself wanting to cry along with Guang - in part because of what he was going through, and in part because of my own memories with those emotions and fears.

Thankfully, the romance served as a counterbalance and reprieve to these tough topics, rather than a further source of angst. And it felt natural and easy for them to get together.

The music also served this purpose and was quite enjoyable. But, there were only a couple of songs so after a while it didn’t really do much.

The second couple (and the individual characters of the couple) felt really underdeveloped. I dont think the main storyline should be cut at all, so perhaps they should’ve left the second couple out altogether, had them established from the beginning, or left us with mere teasing breadcrumbs. Because what we got just didn’t consistently hit the right notes. There were several other elements that felt underdeveloped and/or rushed as well.

Although an absolutely terrific story with a great cast, this really wasnt suited for just 8 20-minute episodes. And it’s to its detriment.

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