Queer chronicles of a gay guy living and loving in the big city of Seoul : a raw and poetic journey

This is clearly one of the most qualitative BL that I have seen so far, not necessarily one that I would easily re-watch but one that really left a strong impression on me. It is drastically different from what I have seen in the genre, as it provides a deep dive into the life the central character of the story, almost like a chronicles of his life. It can be seen as a slice-of-life with a lot of dramatic elements put in a realistic but at the same time poetic way.

The main character is a writer who in a way narrates his life to the viewer, which really give it a different flavor to most series. His relationship with his mother as well as with Kylie were central pieces of the story to me. The romantic interests in the series were more like passing boats into the hero's life, not the main focus but bringing up so many thoughts as he evolved through the various relationships. The ending felt bitter-sweet and made sense given all that happened to the hero and the way the storytelling was built from the start. I would not have minded an additional episode to better round it up tough.

Casting was very solid overall with the main actor clearly being the strongest part of the series. I really hope to see him in other works because it is his performance that elevated the watching experience and made me care that much for the character he portrayed. The cinematography was pretty good: the apartment of the hero was a character in itself evolving with him as he went through various life events, the OST was also very fitting to the drama and there were quite a lot of very memorable scenes that were filmed super impactfully.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a different kind of BL story. It is more of a chronicle of a life rather than a standard romance. Of course, I have nothing against fluffy and butterflies romance or angsty tales of passion but here it is a different proposal both in terms of content as well as storytelling. The good writing, the very deep topics relating to what's happening in real life as well as the interesting arc of the main character arc strongly resonated with me and make it worth your time. If you enjoy BL such as 'I Told Sunset About You' and 'The Eighth Sense', I think you should give it a shot.

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Eye candy with some splendid visuals but some flaws in writing and pacing (especially in 2nd half)

This drama is about the encounter between strong heroine/chaebol Do Do Hee (who runs her own company among some family dissession regarding the group succession) and very charming, powerful Demon Jung Gu Won who makes dangerous but very tempting deals with humans.

I truly enjoyed the first half of the show but it unfortunately lost a bit of steam in its second half. The writing is full of great ideas, there is a mix of genre which is really well done and the set up and characterization is quite strong for a lot of the protagonists. Unfortunely, the pacing is not good and the series can feel sluggish at time with the central plot not moving very fast and a lot of gimmick being repeated to seemingly "fill" time. Instead of some fillers scenes, I would have preferred some fat to be trimmed from the story: the same story could have been done in less episodes (or shorter episodes) in a more dynamic way. I also regret a bit that the ending did not adress enough certain questions important for the future of some of the characters, after a very strong start and entertaining first half, the latter part of the drama felt a bit weak.

Fortunately, despite some of the flaws in the writing/pacing, there are a lot of very entertaining elements that makes this series an entertaining watch. I love both the female lead and the male lead: their pairing worked very well, they were beautiful together and a lot of their scenes felt very dreamy (and almost like an ad for perfect couple). Song Kang (playing the Demon) is really the king of visual in this !!! Let's be honest, he is a real pleasure to watch, his acting was good and he really elevated by just his presence the eye candy factor !!! Kim Yoo Jung's acting as Do Do Hee was very good and I cannot wait to see her in other works.

The production value was amazing: the clothing, the decors, the style and directing were all top-notch. There was a lot of details that made the fantasy elements feel very real (the office of the demon, the book, the clocks,...so many details helping in the world building). The fight and action scenes were convincing and there was some pretty iconic moment in terms of filmmaking. The OST is pretty great as well with the intro song really beautifully opening each episode.

I would recommend this to people looking for a high production value rom-com with some fantasy elements. Despite some flaws in the writing and pacing (especially in the second half), the casting, directing and filmmaking make it worth it. I was mesmerized by the decors, the clothing and the visuals of both male lead and female lead, they really brought a dreamlike quality to their relationship. If you enjoyed drama as "My Love From The Star", you will likely enjoy this.

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Emotional well-acted roller-coaster romance during the Qing invasion of Joseon Dynasty

This historical drama take place in the Joseon Dynasty, in the 1600s, during the Qing invasion. The invasion aspect is the one that intrigued me the most with some pretty interesting political aspects. The war is quite gutwrenching to follow as it impacts a lot characters you appreciate more and more.

This story is quite melodramatic with a romance that I think is quite nice and with a lot of emotional stakes...The romance is not my favorite part of the drama as it is truly a series of misfortunes and heartbrakes. It for sure take a lot of resilience for the heart of the viewer if you are rooting for some of the couples...

Production and acting-wise, it is very good...The soundtrack is nice with very melancholic balads perfectly fitting for the story but are not necessarily songs that I will keep on listening very often contrarily to some other shows. There are a lot of action sequences that are well executed and the crying/sentimental scenes are very well done as well.

The actors and actresses are very well casted and you found yourself very invested in their characters survivals. Ahn Eun Jin is brilliant as the brave and strong female lead with a super attaching cunning side. Namkoong Min is excellent as the flawed but super intelligent and tactical hero. I love them as individuals but I am less invested in their relationship as it is sometimes difficult for me to understand why they should/need to be together. They have a nice chemistry together but it is not the most sizlling one and I hope to be more invested in the romance in Part 2 of the series. I'm also truly wondering if I'm not protecting my heart by trying to not be too invested in the romance...

I would recommend this to people looking for a very good historical drama with good acting and set during an interesting period of time. If you do not enjoy melodramatic moments and just want a cute / fluffy romance, this is not the drama to watch as it is pretty rough for the heart.

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Not memorable nor original but cute BL office romance lacking substance

This BL office romance is centred around Jun (the boss) and Jun (the intern) who are childhood friends that lost sight of each other and meet again in a hierarchical context in the marketing team of a perfume company.

As many Korean BLs, the total duration of the show is pretty short making it sometimes a bit frustrating in terms of pacing (you can often have the feelings that the sentiments and emotions are too quick to come) as well as in terms of plot development and logic. Here, it is a bit the case, I truly enjoyed the meet cute, the introduction as well as the development of the first 6 episodes but I found the ending quite rushed. It was still nice to follow but it felt lacking in terms of storytelling because some narrative arcs were not really properly developed. I more specifically really enjoyed the storyline around the idols world and I wish the drama would have expanded much more on that aspect.

I found the acting relatively average and I wish it could have been better especially in the more emotional moments. It is to be noted that contrarily to most Korean BLs, the main characters do not shy away regarding physical contact, kisses as well as sexual innuendos. The main leads managed to make those scenes believable even though it is not the pairing with the most convincing romantic tension. I wish there would have been more airing time for some secondary storylines as I really enjoyed the performances of Jung Ye Bin (as the comic relief girl) and Jo Chan Hyun (as the SML). Despite the scenario giving them almost nothing to play with, they left a really good impression on me and I would be curious to see them in other roles.

The music will not leave a lasting impression on me. It was nice but not remarkable. I found the production very good and colourful, with some really well filmed scenes being either the funny moments or the sexy times.

I would recommend this to people that enjoy BL story in an office setting. It will for sure not revolutionize the genre but it is a sweet drama, not memorable but which is fun to binge-watch.

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Movie revisiting TxT 2022 US Tour: wish it went deeper but still felt a lot of emotions watching it

This documentary movie follows the summer 2022 US Tour of Tomorrow x Together which culminated with their first participation to the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

As I enjoy TxT's music and appreciate the 5 members also in their individualities, it is difficult to give an objective opinion on this movie... The angle of approach of the documentary seems to be that after debuting in March 2019 and not being able to do tours/live concerts with real people during the pandemic years, the group can finally meet again its fans in the real world. It is an intelligent starting point but at the same time, I must say that overall the message the director was going for seems kind of vague.

The film consists in a mix of several elements: some interviews with the members to get their feelings and input on what happened during the tour, some behind-the-scenes moments regarding the organisation, preparation and repetitions for the concerts in addition to some storytelling about the tour focusing on specific situations happening to the members. Therefore, the direction of the movie feels not clear. They try to go into too many things but at the same times it stays in a way too superficial because of the lack of time to deepen the topics.

If you are a casual fan of the group or even considered yourself as a MOA, I'm not sure it will give you really a lot of new insights on TxT. But you will still of course for sure enjoy the movie. If you are a newcomer or know very little about TxT, I'm not sure you will really understand all the ins and outs regarding the group...There are very little contextualization done in the documentary regarding the launch of the group, their music, each of the members and you might not totally get the importance of some of the events.

Despite its shortcomings, I really think it was a quite interesting watch that will bring you for sure some feelings. It is enjoyable but also really painful on some aspects as the boys face many difficulties to go through the tour. It has clearly a physical and emotional impact on them but at the same time, they share also pure moments of joy and are rewarded of their tremendous efforts.

I would recommend this to people that love TxT. It is a nice complementary watch to revisit the 2022 US Tour in another way. Even though I wish it would have been deeper on some aspects, I'm still grateful in a way about the fact that they shared both the joyful times but also the more painful moments. It was done in a controlled way but at least it does not totally brush off the difficulties faced. It is beautiful in a way to know that just one year later, in summer 2023, the group successfully headlined the Lollapalooza festival.

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Interesting concept but I got super bored...Maybe a case of "it is me, not you"

The movie is centred around an interesting concept, as our hero Saijo is able see women in love surrounded by sparkling lights. The fact that he is able to visually perceive the love but does not understand what it is is, is the key element of the story. The viewer follows his evolution as he interacts with the three main female protagonists and learn more about himself and what love is.

Despite this intriguing premise, I found myself totally disengaged from the storylines. The discussions that the characters were having were highly theoretical and I got super bored as the story unfolded itself. The outcome was pretty obvious from start and the script did not manage to hold my interest. I was still hoping for a surprise until the end...but no, the resolution was exactly what I expected. Surprise and unexpectedness are not necessarily what I look forward in a romance, but still I need something to catch up my interest (passion, chemistry, poesy,....) but here it felt too bland for my taste.

I found the casting doing an adequate job but I was not super impressed by any of them. I must say that the pretty convoluted dialogs did not help keeping me invested in what was happening on screen, so I'm not sure if the problem in keeping my interest is the acting or the story, both or totally something else?

I would not recommend this to people. I feel there are better romantic movies out there and that this one is overall pretty bland and forgettable...

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An almost fairy tale BL story in a remote village in Thailand

This BL story felt almost like a fairy tale to me and is centred around the development of the relationship between two guys with very different backgrounds as they meet in a remote village all up in the North of Thailand. One being the rich city boy while the other is the country strong guy, it can sound a bit unoriginal...But the context in which they meet as well as the events leading to their encounter, bring a lot of savours to the plot.

The romance between the two main characters is completely platonic but it is still bringing all the feelings and is truly convincing. I found the chemistry between the two actors pretty great and they managed to convey a lot of emotions through just staring at each other or slight hand touches. The development of their relationship was really good with just the last 2 episodes containing too much of (one-sided) noble idiocy from one specific character for my liking.

I think what I liked the most from this drama is the character of Tian, played by "Mix Sahaphap Wongratch". I truly enjoyed his performance and for me he carried the show acting-wise as well as narration-wise. I'm not sure if it is entirely due to the actor' skills or if it is more linked to the writing, but I will for sure try watching another drama with him.

All along the course of the story, I was rooting so much for the happiness of Tian: I was able to relate to him and I empathised so much with his circumstances and all the burden he was trying to carry. He was the key element in my enjoyment of the show and I wanted him to be appreciated and loved for himself and not because of connections to others characters. Fortunately, the script really was satisfying in those aspects. The scenario maybe missed a bit the mark regarding some of the side characters which could have benefited for more in-depth storylines but overall it is a minor flaw to my eyes.

The production was clearly kind of low budget. Some action scenes and props felt very cheap to me but it did not prevent me to enjoy the series overall. I quite appreciated the soundtrack overall, it was a bit repetitive at time but I found the instrumental with the Klhui (= type of Thai flute) poetic and charming.

I would recommend this to people looking for a BL story with a lot of turmoil and feelings combined with remote village storylines and rural atmosphere. If you have enjoyed "Crash Landing On You" or even "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" where people from 2 very different worlds meet and fall in love with each other, as well as learn a lot from their interactions with villagers, this might be just right in your alley !

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Great action-packed story in a well-conceived dystopian futuristic world!

This action drama is set on a futuristic Earth where oxygen has become a scarce resource. A team of deliverymen ensures its distribution to a population organized under a strict social order with high opportunity disparities.

Despite its short length (only 6 episodes of about 45 minutes), this series manages to set up very quickly and properly the stakes, the universe and the various characters. The story ramps up in an exciting way across the episodes: it is packed with action and still leave some room for a deeper thematic, resonating with the preoccupations and actuality of our current times.

The characters made sensible choices and are intelligent, the writing is solid and make sense overall. I would just have appreciated for the antagonist to have more fleshed out motivations and aspirations. I loved the mentoring relationship that develops between two of the characters. This TV show is proof that when done well, the common trope of the apprentice being taught all the ropes and progressing (almost levelling-up in a way) remains a really interesting and compelling storyline to follow.

I was amazed by the performance of Kim Woo Bin: as expected he did a great job. He has such as strong physicality and presence which I find captivating: it is always a real treat to see him on screen. Kang Yoo Seok also really impressed me, I was totally invested in his character and I will be digging into his filmography as he was such a good discovery. Overall, the ensemble cast is really strong and work excessively well together.

The production value was pretty high. They managed to create a quite realistic and frightening dystopian futuristic world. All the details were on point regarding the decors, costumes and accessories. For example, there are several kind of breathing masks (and not just one type used by everyone which would make less sense), there are also a big variety of technologies, machines and digital tools featured across the course of the story. All these elements brought together made the series looks really believable. The soundtrack is mainly atmospheric, providing suitable thrilling or dark vibes. I liked a lot the transitions between some scenes and episodes with the picture shifting to a drawing piece: it was super eye-catching.

I would recommend this to people looking for an ultra binge-able action drama set up in a well-conceived dystopian futuristic universe. If you like movie such as "Dune (Part1)" or even to a lesser extent TV shows such as "The 100" or "The Mandalorian", this will be right up your alley!

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Unhinged and exciting performance of Kim Seon Ho, you might never see him the same way ^O^

This very gore action movie took me by surprise. I found it pretty good on some aspects: pacing, some great actions sequences with some shocking moments with disturbingly big amounts of blood. Where it missed slightly the mark for me was in terms of characters likeability. Everyone is kind of detestable so I was not very invested in the survival of anyone. The man hunt was still pretty entertaining but would have been better if I care about the protagonist being chased.

I watched this film for Kim Seon Ho and was not expecting to see him in such a different role. He did not disappoint and provide a very good performance playing an unhinged and quite crazy hitman. On the other hand, I found Kang Tae Joo lacking in terms of charisma next to him. Hiq role was central to the plot but with very few dialogs, so I am not sure if it is the script or the actor who is the most at fault here. The other side characters were good overall, fitting well with the craziness and over-the-top actions sequences.

If the soundtrack did not stand out to me, I was impressed by the production value and I found the parodic undertone enjoyable. The fight scenes were good, the gory details were really bringing the film together, making the picture daunting but still beautiful in a way. The chasing scenes with cars or just characters running were well put together and successfully stressful.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a thrilling action movie and do not mind gore. If too much blood is not your thing or if character likeability or relatability is important to you, do not watch this movie. I had personally a good time watching it and I am wondering if a second watch would help me appreciate some of the characters and plot elements better (such as the ending which left me an uncanny feeling regarding the movie's morale and meaning).

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Interesting for the juvenile crimes approached, tedious for the adults storylines

This legal K-drama provides an interesting take on the justice system in South Korea by focusing on the treatment of juvenile crimes. The format remains quite standard for the genre, each case being handled over the course of 2-3 episodes. Some stories are more captivating than others but overall I found the show pretty compelling when the focus was on the young offenders. However, my interest dropped a lot regarding the storylines involving the adults: the intrigue became a bit tedious to follow when they were concerned because of too much pathos and some plot devices a bit too coincidental.

Regarding the casting, it is overall pretty good. There is no obvious weak part and the main actress does a suitable job. Most of the young actors playing criminal or victim roles are convincing. It is thanks to their skills that some of the cases were so gripping to follow. I would have loved to see the script centred more around them and their psyche than the adults characters who did not show enough growth and evolution and were often unlikable.

The music was good with one particular song fitting really well with the thematic of the show. The filmmaking was dark and well-done with some scenes tough to watch...At the same time, it was for some aspects more consensual with some "moralizing" scenes than I expected given the context of the story. In my opinion, it would have been even better if the screenwriter and the director had take an even darker road. There are grey areas approached but not that much and a bit in a superficial way.

I would recommend this to people that love legal shows and are looking for a new take on the genre with cases not often seen. It is clearly not a binge-able drama because of the difficult topics approached as well as its format and structure. It might be very triggering given its inner nature, so be mindful.

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Captivating fantasy romance beautifully directed ! Worth all the hype !

The second (and final) season of the latest fantasy series brought to Dramaland by the Hong sisters was worth the watch. The writers managed a successful landing for this highly anticipated show as this sequel reaps all the seeds that were planted in its parent series.

Storytelling wise, I found the change of the main actress pretty audacious and leading to some uncharted territories of pinning and angst regarding the romance between the 2 main leads. It was properly captivating to see the lovers interact with each other. The cast did a good job (especially some of the secondary characters which provided some great added-value to the story) and I will be curious to see their next projects.

The drama was also beautifully directed. The production value was amazing with a real artistry in terms of the way scenes were filmed and the choice of colours overall. The pastels of the costumes gave me all the feels and were really eye-catching. I also found the Visual FX satisfactory and some songs of the OSTs are still stuck in my heads because it was so good.

Pacing might have been slightly too slow in the middle and motivation/plan of the arch nemesis might have been better thought through but it was a very enjoyable and thrilling ride that made me go through a lot of emotions. The ending had me glued to my seat, anticipating for the worst and praying for the best.

I would recommend this (and the overall saga as a whole with its season 1) to people looking for a fantasy show with strong production value and in search of an epic romance.

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