An entertaining experience from beginning to end

In the beginning episodes I almost dropped because I thought it was childish, but putting that aside this was definitely worth every second. The pacing was amazing, the characters were enjoyable, and they didn't waste time or bore me with too much filler. While the romance wasn't the main focus, I was entertained enough just by the amazing friendship of the main trio and the mysteries surrounding their families and friends. Not to mention everyone had chemistry with each other, no ships were totally meritless.

Story: A group of friends go on a long adventure to discover the truth about their families and about themselves, finding love along the way.

As I said before, romance was not the main focus but instead individualism, plot, and friendship. Most of the romance only started near the end, so don’t expect tons of kiss scenes or romantic moments. That's not saying there wasn't romance, the main couple is definitely one of my favorites now. My biggest problem with the plot was that Lingsha was always getting harmed in the beginning, I didn’t find that fair with her character development. I also wish they focused a little more on Zi Ying’s backstory. It felt rushed and incomplete compared to the other main characters, although he also had less screen time than them in general. Lastly, China is definitely stepping up its game when it comes to cinematography and aesthetics. I was very impressed by the CGI and quality overall.

Acting/cast: I wasn’t too impressed with Chen Zhe Yuan in Hidden Love but this drama shed a new light on his acting for me. While this was my first Jing Yi drama, I am excited for her and She Yuan’s future works, all the hate was definitely uncalled for. The acting might not have been top tier, yet it wasn't unbearable and you get used to the playfulness of it after a couple episodes. For the most part I felt emotionally connected to everyone and that definitely makes me a little biased when it comes to the acting and everything else.

Other Pros:
- The Mystery aspect of the drama was entertaining and it was fun to watch the trio figure things out even if it was just filler from the main plot. Filler is not bad when used in the right way and Sword and Fairy did not disappoint. I loved watching everything piece together like a puzzle, almost everything had a purpose.
- The Ending. I was worried since there was a lot to wrap up in the last couple episodes, but they managed to do it nicely. The last episode was like a whole movie.

Others Cons:
- The story slowed down when they got to the sect, especially after the story was moving so quickly. I think they could have cut some things out and extended others.
- There were a couple things that were hard to follow when it comes to the story, mostly involving the stuff that happened in the past. That might be my fault for not being able to wrap my head around it although they could have simplified a couple things.

That being said, it was/is worth the watch. I usually cannot stay focused when watching longer dramas (I.e. most Chinese dramas) so if you're like that too, this was fast-paced enough that you won't get bored.

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Forgettable, But Still Worth The Watch.

(Spoiler free)
The first half had me confused, but I still really enjoyed it, (thanks lian for subbing, or else I would have been confused for the rest). The setting and main plot isn't usually my cup of tea, but it's good to step out of your comfort zone.

The million dollar question, which a lot of people were wondering: Is it a censored BL or hints at it? My personal take is if you want to watch it as so, then yeah, but if you don't think it is, then it's not. It's really up to the watchers imagination. I found it a bit suspicious at parts, definitely gave a vibe, especially in the last few episodes. No matter if it is or not, I really enjoyed the main lead's friendship and relationship dynamic.

What I liked/didn't like:

Cons-
1. The opening was way too long for such a short runtime. It was okay for a couple episodes, but 20? Not necessary.
2. The characters were boring, and no one really had a good backstory. Again, there was little screen time, but it's important to give some insight to the characters... Even the ML's just seemed to magically come into existence. I had/have so many unanswered questions.

Pros-
1. The bromance. After watching so many romance dramas recently, it's nice to see a (mostly) platonic pairing once in a while. I really felt like they had chemistry and the friendship felt realistic, comfortable, and fun.
2. The comedy aspect. The story seems fairly dark, however, it was quite lighthearted and funny. Wei ji, as dumb as he was, certainly was amusing and I enjoyed his personality.
3. Cinematography, Set, & Clothes. I don't like the 1900s historical setting, but Feng Guan Yu gave a New York mobster from the 50's vibe, which is rather specific, but it fit the story well.

Stand by me, overall, was fun and interesting. Worth checking out.

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A solid tale of revenge and new beginnings

~~~~ Contains very light spoilers, so read at your own risk ~~~~

Another great Chinese drama of 2024 for the books. I contemplated giving it a nine, but there were some parts that I found slow or I found myself more on my phone than actually paying attention. Despite this, I was emotionally invested in the characters and never thought that they hung up on one conflict for too long. Towards the end, I was afraid there was too much to resolve in a short amount of time, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it wrapped up. However, I didn't particularly like the slightly ambiguous ending with the couple.

Pros:
~ Chemistry: The slow-burn romance between the main characters was so fun and interesting to watch. Although it may have been a bit too slow in some aspects. But the main focus of the show was not really the romance, but the mystery and the revenge. I strongly disagree with those who said there was no chemistry, I felt it right from the start and it even got better later on. The physical tension between them hit all the right notes.

~ The hidden identity: The plotline involving the female lead's hidden identity was particularly my favorite part of the story. I do think the resolution for this part was a bit lackluster considering it was the main point of the show. I was expecting a bigger reaction then she got, such as getting in trouble by the king for lying to him or her family getting angry with her. But I was always on the edge of my seat whenever her identity was about to be revealed and when she interacted with her ex-husband.

~ Fight scenes. I was impressed by how well the fight sequences were done. It looked real especially during the war and final episodes. The only minor flaw was the blood, which sometimes dyed the characters' skin and clothing pink, but the blood splattering effects were super cool.

~ Music. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Chenle in the ending song but the opening was pretty to listen too also. No surprise because Chinese OST’s are almost always amazing.

~ Angst. I enjoy angst, and this drama was heavy on it. It was portrayed well, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea. At times, it was a bit too dramatic and extra. The drama could pass as a soap-opera, especially in the beginning. Another problem was that Jiang Li was killed off so soon she barely interacted with the FL. Her reaction to Jiang Li's death and how much she cried for her in the future was not very realistic.


Cons:
~ Missed chances. When it came to the romance, there were times when I felt the writers missed out on some cute interactions or tropes. Sometimes I thought something would happen between them and then I would be disappointed that it didn't happen. It might be because of Duke Su's personality, as he's more of an observer than a doer, but still, there were so many opportunities for them to interact in a more physical sense rather than just staring at each other for hours.

~ The trauma dumping. I found it annoying how often the female lead cried and repeatedly shared her story of betrayal. Despite being highly intelligent, there were moments when she seemed helpless and whiney. Her personality seemed to change at moments like that. An example would be when Duke Su shared his story about how his dad might have been killed unjustly, and instead of cheering him up or something, she tried to one up his trauma by ranting about hers… At least it felt like that to me.

~ Fillers. Fillers are destined to be in a drama with such lengths, but I lost interest during her trip to her family and the mother with her shenanigans. Also on that note what’s with everyone going crazy whenever something happens to them? Three different people went off the rails… Anyway, The first and last 10 episodes definitely improved my overall rating, I was so excited for the drama after watching the first episode.


I recommend this drama for those who enjoy angst and a very slow-burn romance. The cast and acting were outstanding. The plot had its flaws but it was enjoyable for the most part.

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Heartwarming Japanese Drama.

I gave it a lower rating, but the show will stay in my heart forever. Its been days since I finishing it, yet, I cannot get it out of my head! Literally I'll be eating, and just start laughing whenever I remember a scene...

The story follows a highschool girl who just got rejected, doesn't have any friends, and started losing her desire to live. That is until her teacher interrupts her during an attempt and asks her to date him before she dies. From then on, anytime she starts feeling down or starts thinking of suicide, he shows up. Slowly, she starts getting a grip and finding a reason to live on.

The teacher/student relationship might be a turn-off at first, but it never felt creepy. Anytime it seems like the ML is being pushy or "pervy," there is usually a ulterior motive that in turn helps the FL.

The ML will go down as one of my most favorite's ever, he also made me smile and the made the story extra entertaining. At first, I didn't like the beginning episode, nonetheless I kept going and I have no regrets! The story is unique, unpredictable, and hilarious/sad when it should be. If you need something to cheer you up, this is the perfect drama for you. I could rewatch this a million times and never get tired of it, especially the ML.

I teared up when it ended, and I beg to anybody who was involved, for a second season. Even if you don't like the whole "teacher/student relationship," just give it a try and you WILL NOT REGRET IT.

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Lackluster At Most

Finally, after months, I finished this drama. I turned on 2x speed halfway through, which helped it keep my attention. Otherwise, Minato Coin Laundry was as boring as Minato's character.

I am going to keep this short, because I already gave too much attention to this waste of time drama.

Pros:
1. Unique idea. The plot execution sucked, but I think it would have been really good if they did some things differently. The age gap didn't bother me, since Minato never lead Shintaro on, so it wasn't a problem.
2. The side couple. Wish they had more screen time, and wasn't so rushed near the end. It felt half developed. They would be the only reason I would watch season 2.
3. Good ending. 10 minutes till the end, I was afraid Shintaro would move away and never get with Minato, which I would have hated. There is nothing worse than the feeling after watching an incomplete ending! I was pleasantly surprised it ended with a smile on my face.

Cons:
1. The repeat of themes. Throughout the whole drama, the story was going in a circle. if it wasn't some jealousy moment, it was Shintaro getting upset at Minato for declining his *illegal* advances or something along those lines.
2. The lack of backstory with Shintaro. It was weird how he didn't seem to care about his dad moving out, or his sister having to take care of everything because the parents worked all the time. It felt like random unexplained filler.
3. The attempted rush of a relationship when Shintaro turned 18. Just because you are a week older than being a minor, doesn't mean you should rush into a relationship with someone 10 years older! I wish he hadn't been so forceful at times.

Minato Coin Laundry was overall easily forgettable, and I have no motivation to watch the next season. Wasn't for me.

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Low Beginning Expectations, But No Regrets.

(Spoiler free review)
I watched this after watching a clip on Youtube, but didn't expect to enjoy it. Was it the best Korean BL I have seen? No, but its definitely a must watch. 2023 has been a great year for Korean BL's, from acting to the amount of screentime, this is another addition to its improvement.

Here are my personal Pros and Cons:

Pros-
1. Acting. SMC had some of the best acting I've seen. It felt so natural and comfortable, making it feel like I was watching a reality show.
2. The couple. Goes along with the first one, but they did really well at showing the friendship and relationship aspects. Usually in drama's, its like they act normal with each other at first, but as soon as they start dating and it gets super cringe. But I didn't feel that at all!
3. The friends-to-lovers trope. About 95% of BL's seem to be enemies-to-lovers, so SMC was refreshing.
4. The music. They played one song multiple times, but I didn't get tired of it.

Cons-
1. It started to lose my attention at episode 7. I have a hard time concentrating on dramas, so its probably just me.
2. The lack of conflicts. Personal taste, but I like dark and heavy elements of shows, so chill ones aren't really chill for me. If you like that kind of stuff, definitely watch it.
3. The first real "kiss." What the hell was that? I swear Korean BL actors cannot kiss for the life of them. Like I get why, but at least try to put effort it it! Wasn't as bad as cough*Color Rush*cough though, which should be considered a flex.

Thanks for reading!

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Engaging but depressing.

"Dog bite dog" marks my first Hong Kong drama. (spoiler free review)

This show is for people who like psychological action movies. Its not crazy suspenseful, especially towards the middle, but I enjoyed the beginning and the end. To be honest, I expected more gore, but it was not as extreme as I expected. Now, I am not saying you should watch this if you have a light stomach. There were some pain-cringe worthy moments.

The title on the other hand is very odd, but after watching the movie, its more understandable. If you don't like sad endings, I don't recommend. At first, I didn't know how to feel after finishing the movie, but I am starting to process it more. The story is well written, but if you stop paying attention for 5 seconds, you'll be so confused, I learned from experience. The acting was great, the only problem was the amount of characters. I am still confused about who half of them were...

At first glance, the movie sounded weird and maybe even boring, but it was far from that. Recommend.

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Slow Burn Suspense, but Entertaining.

I started this show with no high hopes. This is not a typical watch for me, but I was pleasantly surprised.

As slow as it could be at times, I was never was bored while watching. The acting was decent, especially from the FL. The plot was not all that spectacular, but it had nice twists that made up for its "lack of plot."

Even so, there were a few things I didn't like:
1. The romance-I enjoyed it, but it was kind of unnecessary. It didn't make much sense to put it in, and the ML was quite a jerk in the beginning. I didn't like how much time they spent on the romance in the first part, and then abruptly ended it. Then the FL decides that she's in love with him, even though didn't spend much time together.
2. The time skip in the middle- It wasn't a huge deal, but they didn't show how or why the FL went from being the maid to the manger. I was quite confused.
3. The mother- She wasn't bad, but I don't understand where she got those photos from. She would have had to go inside the house to take the photos...

What I liked:
1. The antagonist- They did a good job at making her and the husband very dislikable. I liked the dynamic between characters. I will say, the dad was a top doctor, but extremally brainless. He was the most annoyingly dumb character I've seen.
2. The end- The twist was unpredictable, but I am glad it ended that way. I was scared for a second that the ML had been the arsonist, because I liked his character. It would have ruined it for me.
3. How well rounded the characters were- Most of them had a very interesting personality's. The antagonist had a social media praise addiction, which was a nice touch. The FL was smart and I liked how she took care of her sister. The rich ML who made money off of the demise of other rich people. Etc.

All in all, I would recommend for someone in future, and I really enjoyed it.

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Mediocre Drama with a Great Cast and Pretty Costumes

I started this thinking it was a light-hearted romance drama And it was for the first half, seeing the main couple bicker, flirt, and chase each other was super cute, but that got old fast. During the second half I had to put it on hold and it took about 3 months to actually finish. Which is sad because the first half was so promising, I even had my friend watch it because I thought this was a hidden gem. Here’s my breakdown of the episodes:

Episode 1-5:
The start was very good. The set, actors, costumes, and story were all great. The main characters' first interaction was hilarious, and I was excited to see how their relationship would develop. I enjoyed the slow build-up of romance, and they did a good job with that in the beginning. Them getting trapped on the bottom of a mountain was a bit ridiculous, considering the fact that an average human would not have survived, but it was funny nonetheless. The side couple was also introduced during this time, but I ended up skipping most of their scenes. Their story was super slow getting started, and when they finally got together, it felt rushed compared to the main characters.

Episodes 6-10: Okay, from here the mains are still bickering, but you could tell the male lead started caring for the female lead. At first it seemed like the show was going to be an unserious rom-com type deal. However, the comedy aspect started to disappear, and the show became more dramatic. I found the "forbidden love" and "parents disapprove" trope annoying. I wanted the main couple to have a happy relationship without unnecessary drama. Why can't drama parents ever let their kids be happy?

Episodes 11-15: I started losing interest during this time, especially after they killed the pig. This was like the first major dark twist. It wasn't crazily dark, but it was kinda gruesome and “out of place.” The main couple's relationship became more melodramatic in this period, with constant back and forth. Such as anytime I thought they'd get together, something would stand in the way. A drunken crying scene would follow, and then repeat. The story started to feel forced, especially with the arranged marriage plot. It seemed like the writers were running out of unique ideas.

Episodes 16-20: I was actually surprised when the story finally got interesting again during these episodes. It was cute when the FL was making the ML all jealous and him being all protective. The resolution with the arranged marriage was a little dumb, like why even pretend to go through with the marriage if you're just going to run away? How did that stop her from having the marriage with the prince when she was forced to by the king and her family? I don't know, I'm still confused about why they did that, and why they were allowed to get married right after.

Episode 21-22: The show should've just ended with the wedding. Adding more conflict and a fake death felt unnecessary since everything seemed resolved. However, I did like the plot twist involving the wine and the father's betrayal. The dialogue in the final episodes dragged on, and I ended up skipping 95% of it.

Final thoughts + other things I really enjoyed:
My favorite part of the show was the romance between the female lead's maid and the guard. Instead of focusing on a war in the final episodes, I believe the writers could have developed their story more instead. They were so cute and definitely the best couple of the show. I also liked the costumes, although I wished for more variety. The music was good, but some tracks were overplayed. Overall, this show is worth watching if you're bored and want to watch a short Chinese drama. It's not particularly memorable, but I might still recommend it to others.

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I really enjoyed Pit Babe up until episode 10, from there it was okay. I was unsure of how I’d feel when I first started it. I thought it would be cringe like most BL’s I've watched recently (in my subjective opinion). I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a drama with an actual good plot, romance, and most of all good acting.

Story:
I've never enjoyed the Omegaverse concept before, so I went into this drama thinking it would be as disappointing as the Manhwa’s I have read, but dang this was addicting. Although I would hardly consider Pit Babe an Omegaverse drama. You kind of need Omegas and Betas for it to count as one.

I was expecting the main focus to be racing, so the whole child trafficking plot was unexpected. I didn't love it and I feel like the situation was resolved too easily and killing Way was unnecessary. Speaking of killing, I don't understand why Charlie faked his death. It was pointless and gave me trust issues when Way died. I had to look up for sure if he was actually dead. Also Babe’s reaction to finding out his lover faked his death was way more chilled than it should have been. Charlie lied to him on multiple occasions and not just white lies, like major lies that I can't believe anybody would forgive.

Way being the enigma was definitely shocking. I would have thought that after he found out just how evil Tony was, he would have stopped following Tony’s orders, but I guess not. They did his character kind of dirty but I also don’t condone attempting to rape someone. That's an unforgivable offense. I wish Way and Pete would’ve actually become a couple. I was hopeful that Way would fall for Pete and accept that his chances with Babe were never going to happen. But by the 7th episode I lost hope, they totally had chemistry nonetheless.

The racing part was an enjoyable and unique concept. I've never been interested in cars and as deadly as the sport is (which only after I watched this did I realize HOW deadly it is), I think it would be fun to watch. Honestly the story would have just been as good if the focus was on the sport and Babe teaching Charlie.

I know this might be wrong to say but even though he did try to kill Babe, I felt bad for Dean. They did not treat him like a valuable player and didn't even care if anything happened to him. I was not surprised he switched sides at all.

Couples + Main Characters:
Charlie x Pit Babe. Calling Charlie obsessive is an understatement. His character was so one-dimensional, his choices never made sense, and I always laughed anytime he interacted with any character besides Pit Babe. He would blatantly ignore them or walk away, and just overall did not care about anyone except Babe. Charlie and Jeff were supposed to be close like brothers, but they barely talked to each other throughout the drama. Jeff would go missing for long periods, so Alan would worry like crazy but Charlie remained unconcerned. Anyway, as somewhat toxic and crazy as Pit Babe and Charlie’s relationship was, it was quite cute. The NC scenes were not jaw-dropping but besides that, no complaints. I will also include that I did not like them calling each other “Mama” and “Papa.” It feeds into the harmful stereotype that there is always a “feminine” or “female” type in gay relationships.

Alan x Jeff. I loved them at first but later it got a little boring. I loved watching Jeff get jealous whenever Alan would talk to someone, you could feel his eyes on him. I liked the age gap trope but they really stretched it out. They made Jeff seem like he was a minor but they don't even look that far apart. That aside, their relationship was pretty wholesome.

Acting/Cast:
I can not stress how much I loved Pavel’s acting in this. He acted his heart out and he's definitely one of the best I've seen in Thailand. The cry scenes made me cringe a little but I'm usually squeamish about them in the first place. He definitely out-acted more than half the industry. I won't criticize Pooh too hard considering this was his first drama, but for the most part he did just okay. In some scenes it felt a bit stiff and forced, like he was reading the script but not putting much effort into the emotional part. Everybody else played their scenes well, I especially liked Sonic and Dean. They were more like background characters but they seemed very natural.

Although Pit Babe wasn’t top tier and the writing wasn't spectacular, it was enjoyable and addicting= watch.

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