It COULD have been a just simple and cute love story, BUT....

What is up with the ridiculous and over-exaggerated acting by Yim (Jade)???? Why can’t he act normal like all the other characters?? It was so over-the-top that it was unbearable for almost the entirety of the show. Yim looks so handsome and normal in the special interview episode. I would have dropped this drama within the first 5 minutes if I weren’t watching this for a clown watch challenge.

I was confused when the show started. Was I watching the right show or was I watching an anime? Three to four minutes in, I realized I was in for a very bumpy ride. The acting is ROUGH.

The plot is very simple. Mai is adorable and is a super green flag. Thank god for supportive parents and family. It was cute following Mai's attempt to court Jade, who has no idea Mai is in love with him. As a rom-com lover, I love it and it’s my jam. But…. Did I mention I hate Jade (Yim’s overacting)?

The secondary romance between the other two interns is boring. I forgot about them after they left my screen. The writing and the acting are not good. What a waste of time.

The saving grace is Uea and King. They are so pretty to look at, and so fun to watch. They have great chemistry and almost make me want to check out “Bed Friend”. Uea (James) is so pretty and I love his aloof sassiness, and he knows he has King at his fingertips. King (Net) is such a good-looking guy. I love that he’s tall, DARK and handsome, and totally smitten. The two of them are also great friends to Jade. They are supportive yet never cross the lines in exposing Jade’s secrets/feelings/history to Mai.

The second half of the drama drags. There isn’t a lot going on aside from Mai’s internal conflict and indecisiveness. I understand why he feels this way, given his upbringing and failed relationship. But that lasted too long and I became very bored in ep 5-7. There’s a lot of filler in this short drama. Do we really need to spend so much time at the sports day, which has no sports but a bunch of party games like a fraternity party?

Once Mai and Jade finally get together, it’s full-on cringey, sweet, fluffiness. This is a little hard to tolerate, but at least I expected this much. The drama jam packs all the kisses, skinship and sexy scenes all in one episode to make up for lost time. However, I can’t say I did not enjoy Mai’s (Tutor’s) enthusiasm in those kisses. LOL

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this show, unless you REALLY love Yim and can tolerate that exaggerated acting. Don’t waste your time.



Completed: 7/3/2024 - Review #456

Citeste mai mult

“Gray Shelter” is one of the few darker Korean BL out there. It’s short and dark, and you really need to take the time to understand and feel what’s going on. The premise isn’t difficult. Two step brothers bonded through surviving difficult family lives. Yoon Dae tried to cut off his relationship with his father, and moved away from home. But that doesn’t seem to bring him much happiness or hope. Soo Hyuk, though not living with his parents, is still burdened by duties that he doesn’t seem to be able to shake off.

The two reunited by chance and rekindled a complicated brotherhood bond. It’s a push-and-pull, give-and-take relationship. It’s a never-ending cycle that was finally broken. The ending can be open to interpretation. I want to believe that they both need to work on themselves, before breaking off whatever is preventing them to lead a much happier life together.

I was quite impressed with Lee Jae Bin’s acting as Yoon Dae after seeing him in “Choco Milk Shake”. He’s still new to the industry and already has the opportunity to act in two vastly different roles. This is Jang Woo Young’s first drama, and he did fine. His character, Soo Hyuk, is so solemn that he can’t really deviate too much away and show us if he has any acting range.

This is a small budget production, and it shows. The sets are simple, the transition and editing appear jerky at times. The storytelling and the execution of the plot could be better.

“Gray Shelter” is a quick watch if you are in the mood for something darker and more mature. It’ a breath of fresh air from all the rom-coms out there.


Completed: 4/28/2024 - Review #435

Citeste mai mult

Deep and thought-provoking conversations & quotes - BUT could be too much and boring to some.

I forgot how I stumbled upon this drama, “Is Love Sustainable?” aka “Jizoku Kanona Koi Desuka: Chichi to Musume no Kekkon Koushinkyoku”. It’s either from the feeds, or as I was browsing through dramas of the male lead, Tanaka Kei, after watching him in Ossan Love. I wanted to see him play a slightly more normal character, not crazy and over-the-top.

I was very impressed with the first episode. It was full of meaningful conversations, great chemistry between daughter and father, and good romantic chemistry between Kyoka and Seita. It has some nice cinematography, and thought-provoking enough for me to be interested in their views of relationships and marriages. But as the story progresses, I realize some of these positives could be negatives for other viewers.

This is a pretty slow-paced slice-of-life drama. The plot is character-driven, and really nothing too exciting happens. There are many wonderful quotes of life and marriages, and a lot of yoga and yoga teachings. I don’t practice yoga, and especially not understanding its deeper meanings and lectures. Dad is a lexicographer and dictionary editor. He loves words! Throughout the drama, you can see him explaining the origin of words and seeing him trying to learn new slangs is quite interesting. All of this could either be very wonderful and interesting, or super boring to the viewers. I was initially impressed but it did get to be a little too much towards the end.

I enjoy watching the romance development of both couples. They are mature, communicative, and have some cute moments. Both couples have great chemistry. The drama also challenges traditional gender roles at home. Not all wives want to be home and are good at doing household chores. It also talks about the difficulty of balancing work, family life and personal time.

Overall, I had a pretty decent time watching “Is Love Sustainable?”. The pace at times is slow and I think 10 episodes are too much, maybe 8 would be better. If you enjoy thought-provoking quotes/teachings and deep conversations, this is the drama for you. But if you like something faster paced and more plot-driven, then I would not recommend this for you.


Other Random Observations:
1. Tanaka Kei is a very normal-looking guy, but there’s something about him that I like. He also looks pretty good in suits.
2. It’s quite interesting seeing a bunch of old guys (dictionary editors) discussing ‘kyun’ and other modern slangs.
3. Who knew match-making services are that involved and comprehensive. They even teach you how to start and carry a conversation.
4. Igawa Haruka (Ortho surgeon) is so beautiful and elegant!
5. Ueno Jury (FL) makes me believe she’s a yoga instructor. Her body type and yoga moves look very legit from my novice eyes.
6. Pleasantly surprised to see a Jdorama (or Asian dramas) to feature a body-positive yoga class.


Completed: 4/27/2024 - Review #434

Citeste mai mult

Love all the Singing and Dancing!

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

Wow… what a pleasant surprise! I can’t believe I had so much fun watching “Dream High” in 2024, and not find it cringey and dated (Ok, it did take me a couple episodes to get past how annoying Suzy’s character was in the beginning). Now that the cast are A-listers, it’s interesting to look back at how they started. As I am writing this review, I am also watching the concert ?

I am quite impressed with everyone’s acting even though it was a first drama for some of the cast members. I think out of the 6 main leads, Kim Soo Hyun did a little better and he’s more experienced than the rest of the cast. His character undergoes tremendous change from the first episodes to the last episode. Towards the second half of the drama, you can see how his character changes just by looking at his eyes. OK Taec Yeon has such a charismatic presence. Out of all the guys, I find him most attractive and can’t take my eyes off him when he’s on my screen. This is Suzy and IU’s first drama and I think they both did quite well. The veteran supporting cast is great, and some provide us with memorable comedic moments.

I love all the singing and dancing. IU has such a beautiful voice and is so talented. Ham Eun Jung has a more powerful but equally beautiful voice. The OST has some amazing songs. The dance choreography is great and I feel like I am really watching idols in the making. Jang Woo Young (Jason) is the best dancer in the drama and also the best out of all the actors. His dancing is cool and stylish. However, I found Taec Yeon dances with more charisma and joy and is infectious. Can't forget Teacher Yang, who is also the drama’s Creative Director and Choreographer. His moves are really sharp and precise. I forgot flash mobs were a thing back in the day, and it really brought back memories, and songs I haven’t heard in a long time.

I really like how the drama gives me a little peep into the idol training world. I’ve seen other dramas which focus a lot more on just singing and dancing, and fighting between students and group members. But “Dream High” shows us more than that. I enjoy watching the songwriting class, learning how to sing with emotions while acting out the lyrics, and even the pitch test. Additionally, I like that they didn’t make it a big deal with the IU’s weight loss. I wasn’t happy with her initial reason to lose weight, but I’m glad she came around. Though the weight loss was brought up in the professional/music/PR world, the issue was not dragged on.

The romance… well, my ship did not sail, but that’s OK. Even though there’s a love triangle/square, it was not bad. Guys are respectful of each other and are both positive influences. Unfortunately, I found the chemistry between the three main leads a little lacking. I like Suzy and Tac Yeong’s chemistry a little better than Suzy and Kim Soo Hyun. The secondary romance is cute and sweet, and provides the drama with limited fluffy moments. I actually wanted to see more of them.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments and very emotional ones. In ep 13, I was very moved by a solo performance with the assist from another member. However, I also found there’s a little too much crying in the second half of the drama, especially from FL/Suzy. I do not like FL’s father and how he just abandons his kids and disappears for a year. The debt collection side plot is quite unrealistic.

Overall, I have a great time watching this. I wouldl recommend this to those who enjoy a lot of singing and dancing, and if you are interested in the idol training world. It’s quite fun to see how young these superstars were back then.


Completed: 4/27/2024 - Review #433

Citeste mai mult

Not my kind of drama - 70% Wars/Battles + 30% Palace Politics & Scheming

Overall Rating: 7.0
Subjective Rating: 5.0
Objective Rating 8.0

Instead of just looking at my rating, please read my reasoning first. This is a very difficult drama to rate because it’s not that “Singing All Along” is a horrible drama, instead it’s a solid one. It’s just that I am not in the mood and it’s not my cup of tea. Since I watched this as part of a challenge, I did not drop it.

Why did I not like it? My biggest criticism is that the drama spent 70% of its time in wars/deserts/battles, and then the other 30% in palace politics, scheming evilness and harem fights. Not that I don’t like any of this, as I expected them in a C-drama historical drama. My dislike is the uneven distribution of these elements. 70% of wars and battles is too much for my liking. After a while, everything feels repetitive. As a romance lover, sometimes romance can help me get through some of these more serious elements. Unfortunately, the romance does not move me, despite a solid and faithful relationship between the leads. I was never too sad, emotional, happy, or giggly. For someone who usually doesn’t skip scenes or increase the speed, I ended up watching most of the drama at 1.25-1.5x speed, and then 1.75x in the last episode so that I can finish this ASAP. I wasn’t even paying much attention. This drama has become background noise to me. And because of that, I am giving it a subjective rating of 5.0 - purely based on my viewing enjoyment.

However, that would not be a fair rating for a pretty good drama. If I have to rate this objectively, there are also many elements I enjoy.
-Strong female lead, mentally and physically. Yin Li Hua is a consistently strong female warrior from start to end. She was never the damsel in distress and she actually saved the day a few times.
-Other few strong female characters - those who are smart and can fight.
-Good acting all around - from those with minor roles to our leads.
-Beautiful costumes and accessories (when they are not in battle gear).
-Surprisingly decent dubbing even though this drama is from 2016. I’ve seen some 2024 dramas with worse dubbing.
-I got to see baby Mao Zi Jun and Qin Jun Jie

Unfortunately, this is not the drama for me. But this could be a drama for you if you enjoy wars/battles and palace politics.


Completed: 4/20/2024 - Review #429

Citeste mai mult

“To Be Continued” is a simple and easy watch about second-chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes. This is also the reason why I watch this drama despite its low rating. The plot itself is simple and there really isn’t any plot twist. Flashbacks play a big part in the storytelling, as it goes back-and-forth between the past and present timelines throughout the drama. It’s not hard to follow along, but it gets exhausting in a way. With only 8 episodes, the pacing is fine. I wish the drama has spent more time on other characters instead of all on the leads, when their story is quite simple.

This is my first time watching the main leads, Fluke (who played Ji) and Junior (who played Achi). I have to say I was not impressed with their acting, especially in the earlier episodes. They both lack facial expressions, no matter how handsome they are. I actually find Fluke really cute and adorable, more than the supposedly handsome superstar Fluke/Achi. The camera also likes to stay on their faces for 5 seconds too long. When you can’t act, it just makes everything feels awkward.

However, as we enter the second half of the drama, I do think their acting improved. I was particularly impressed with the acting In episode 7. That scene was beautifully shot and I can feel all the mixed emotions - lust, love, longing, care, hesitation, shyness and uncertainty. Their conversation and everything that happened afterwards broke my heart, even though I knew what’s about to happen. But aside from that episode, the acting is a hit or miss.

In the beginning, I found Ji to be quite mean to Achi. Through the flashbacks, you knew how Achi felt about Ji when they were in high school. So, in the back of my mind, I wonder why Ji is so mean, until the full backstory is told. They were young and innocent back then, thus making such mistakes is totally believable. But 10 years seems a little long for Achi to come back and try to patch things up. And when they finally resolved their issue, it was underwhelming and anti-climatic. With the buildup for most of the series, I was expecting more.

The secondary romance between Ji’s brother, Ki, and the farmer is also underwhelming. They could have been so cute together, but the writing of the story makes them an afterthought. It seems like there’s more to Ki’s story and why he’s a food vlogger instead of an architect.

Overall, I would only recommend this if you are interested in second-chance romance and can get past some questionable acting. It’s also nice to take a break from most Thai BLs that have a strong and sole focus on students. Though this one has many flashbacks to high schools, at least you also see the leads as a doctor and a superstar/idol (in a semi-believable way).



Completed: 4/16/2024 - Review #428

Citeste mai mult

Amazing chemistry and great early episodes, but with rushed ending.

I really enjoyed the first 4 episodes of “Love is Better the Second Time Around”, as I am a big fan of second-chance romance. Two high school sweethearts separated due to unconventional circumstances, reunited 14 years later as business partners. Miyata is the editor assigned to work with professor Takashi.

Through flashbacks, we learned of their high school days and how close they were. They feel like two lost souls attracted to each other. They were young and made mistakes. Feelings were hurt but feelings never went away. When they reunite, sparks fly! The chemistry is so good! Takashi is flirty and has no trouble expressing his feelings and love for Miyata. On the other hand, Miyata is trying to keep things professional and avoid getting hurt again.

I am mesmerized by Takashi. He is handsome, successful and popular with men and women. He’s also gentle, even when he’s trying to set boundaries or yell at someone. But deep down, there’s a different side of him and he’s not who he appears to be. Contrasting Miyata’s awkwardness and nervousness, they make a fun pair to watch. 14 years later, they are both more mature and can cope with challenges better. I enjoy seeing their relationship develop as well as a couple sexy scenes. I do think the kisses could have been better, especially from Miyata. Maybe he’s so lost in Takashi’s mesmerizing eyes that he forgot to actually move his lips.

Unfortunately, the last two episodes are not as satisfying. The introduction of a ‘troublemaker’ in ep 5 makes everything feel rushed. I expected to find out Takashi’s backstory eventually, but having everything wrapped so quickly and easily in the last makes the initial cause of the leads’ breakup seem unimportant. I wish the drama had more episodes, or the episodes are longer.

Even with my criticisms, I really had a great time watching “Love is Better the Second Time Around”. I love a mature second-chance romance with sizzling chemistry. There are too many BL romantic comedies and once in a blue moon, a more mature and melodramatic one hits the right spot.


Completed: 4/9/2024 - Review #426

Citeste mai mult

Interesting general plot and family relationships, but lacking in romance execution

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

There’s a lot to like in “One Year:365 Wan Ban Chun Ban Tur”, especially the general plot and side stories. Unfortunately, execution of the romance storylines are not quite as good as the family stories.

The main plot is quite simple. Mama wants to get married to her boyfriend but she never told her daughters that she was actually dating this long-time guy friend. The girls are up in the arms and are pissed off. The solution is to merge both families and have them live under the same roof for a year as a trial period. If at the end of the year, no one is upset, then the parents can get married. It’s not hard to see how conflicts arise when you live under one roof.
* Someone doesn’t get along with the other family’s sibling
* Someone doesn’t like the future stepdad
* Someone is jealous
* Someone is totally against the idea and not just targeting a person
* Someone is optimistic and agreeable
* Someone falls in love with someone
* And then another person falls in love with someone
* There’s another someone who has an unusual relationship with a classmate

There are conflicts within the family, and there are conflicts against other people. There are no plot twists and you could probably guess the outcome in the end. But despite all that, this is a very enjoyable watch. I love the sisterhood between the sisters and how they always have each other’s back. I love the unique birthday cake and it shows how much the oldest daughter loves her family. I love the interesting dynamics between the mother and the oldest daughter. There is laughter, and a whole lot of tears as well. The family is so lively that I want to be a guest and hang out at their place every weekend.

Unfortunately, the adults in the drama don’t really make very good judgment calls. You can’t drop the bomb and let the other family move in without having a family meeting. You can’t sell a house that your son has big plans for without telling him and wait for him to tell you first. This is too much of a change to just spring upon your kids. The adults did not think things through and caused so many problems.

Comparatively, the romances are not well-written and developed. I would love to see a little more pining for each other, to build a stronger foundation, tension and chemistry before they get together and chaos hits. I don’t question the decisions of two of the daughters regarding their boyfriends because I can see where they are coming from. What I don’t like is the guys don’t seem to put in the effort to fight for their girlfriends. They give up too easily. The chemistry between the couples is lacking. I also don’t like how one of the daughters backing off and not chasing after her best friend since birth to explain and save their friendship. There are also many decisions by different characters that don’t make sense and just create plot holes and unnecessary drama.

Regarding the acting of the cast, most of them are pretty decent. Special props to Mama Mook (who seems to play the evil mother in every other lakorn but this one), nice guy Papa Tum and Tawan (so different from her role in Bad Genius). The weakest acting comes from the boys. Boom was bad in the first few episodes but got a little better as the drama went on. Celebrity Mark isn’t that great either. The rest of the sisters are OK but not outstanding.
Despite all the flaws and me ranting, I did have an enjoyable watch. It’s an easy watch and I binged all 10 episodes in one go on a Saturday, non-stop. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this drama unless the plot interests you and you are a fan of the actors.



Completed: 3/31/2024 - Review #423

Citeste mai mult

Samdalri is very welcoming! Great chemistry with a predictable but still interesting plot.

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

I think I enjoyed “Welcome to Samdral-ri” a little bit more than I expected. There are a few things that usually give me pause when I watch a drama about moving back to a village/small town/rural area, and then learn to live or re-acquaint with a different lifestyle. Oftentimes, there are a bunch of loud, nosy, annoying villagers/town folks that irritate me to no end. Or, the plot is so slice-of-life that I need something to happen. Afterall, I prefer a plot-driven drama rather than a character-driven drama.

Luckily, aside from one somewhat nosy auntie, everyone is lovely. Even this auntie isn’t too bad, just a little annoying with her high-pitched voice. Everyone in Samdalri is really welcoming, friendly and caring. Moreover, “Welcome to Samdal-ri” is not very slice-of-life and the pace isn’t that slow. There are actually many side plots, in addition to the main plot of FL’s career downfall and moving back home. These are the two main reasons why I enjoy this drama more than I thought.

Despite being more plot-driven than other similar dramas, there are times when I do feel that the drama could have spent more time on the side characters, instead of the main leads. FL’s career and the main romance are important, but towards the second half of the drama, I just wish the leads would have opened up to each other sooner, or get back together sooner. I actually want to see more of the two sisters’ romances and backstories, and also more of the friendship between FL’s mother and ML’s mother. There’s a lot of potential here in keeping the drama interesting by sharing the spotlight with other interesting characters.

The acting is great all-around. Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun did not disappoint. JCW could be a hit or miss. I enjoyed his acting here more than in “If You Wish Upon Me”. SHS is just a goddess. She can slide into any role and become that character. The two of them have amazing chemistry. I have to say, I am a little disappointed with the kisses, given how experienced they both are in that area. LOL. The supporting cast is just as strong. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I really enjoy the acting of our beloved ahjumma, Kim Mi Kyung (FL’s mother) and also Yoo Oh Sung (ML’s father). The two of them broke my heart with the storyline about ML’s m other. Oh, and I discovered Kim Min Chul. He’s adorable as the dolphin guy.

Overall, I really enjoy “Welcome to Samdal-ri”. It’s not perfect but it’s worth a watch even if it lost my interest for a little bit. The plot is quite predictable but maybe that’s what you are looking for if you want something easy and light.


Completed: 3/24/2024 - Review #420

Citeste mai mult

Simple story of teen loves with a more melancholic undertone. It makes me feel something.

“Ao Haru Ride” aka “Blue Spring Ride” is a sweet coming-of-age teen first love romance. The story is simple and nothing you have never seen before. It conveys the shy sweetness of young love, but also adds a more melancholic undertone to the overall plot. It’s not a romantic comedy but it has the youthfulness of high schoolers.

The characters are all likable and no one is perfect. I really like the female lead, Yoshioka. She was introduced as someone shy and an outcast. But she has made the decision to work hard and change. There are bumps along the way as she grows to be her more confident self, with the support of good friends surrounding her.

Male lead, Kou, has gone through some tough times in his young life. The more melancholic part of the plot surrounds his sadness and sudden change in personality. Nevertheless, he’s still a teenager. When the matter of the heart comes into play, it’s hard for him not to get a little wishy-washy and confuses Yoshioka.

I really enjoy the interaction between Yoshioka and Kou. They started out really shy (and very cute), but the growing friendship and affection made them more comfortable around each other. They share a few quiet, honest and intimate conversations. My favorite moment is when they were at training camp in the earlier episodes, and they were having their heads down on the desks. That was intimate and romantic.

I also like the blossoming friendship of the 5-some, between Yoshioka, Kou, Murao, Yuri and Kominato. Each character slowly becomes more comfortable with each other and then shares some of their intimate thoughts. The girls and boys individual friendships also develop separately and beautifully. They are all sweet and kind-hearted and it’s lovely to not have any annoying characters.

Season 1 closes on a nice note, but we can expect season 2 to bring us more heartaches and love triangles/squares/pentagons. I look forward to seeing how Yoshioka and Kou’s story ends (and I hope it ends positively and sweetly).


Completed: 2/25/2024 - Review #409

Season 2 review: https://mydramalist.com/profile/voicelesslove/reviews/342639

Citeste mai mult

Poor Acting, Writing and Execution of a Very Common Plot.

If I am not watching “Step by Step” due to the Clown Challenge, I would have dropped it within the first 1-2 episodes. The general plot is nothing special and we’ve seen many similar boss/subordinate relationships before. If the plot doesn’t stand out, then the acting, writing and execution must. Unfortunately, I don’t think this drama delivers. I also question if I should have watched the regular version, instead of the uncut version.

The first thing that bugs me about this drama is the poor acting of the male lead, Pat. I understand that this is Ben’s first acting gig and it really shows. The character he plays, Pat, is already not a super likable character. He’s childish and whines way too much. Unfortunately, Ben’s portrayal makes it even more intolerable. His angry, frustrated, and sad faces are all the same. When he cries (and he cries way too much), there are no tears. When he pouts, I find him annoying instead of cute. Aside from him, Saint (who plays Jaab) is just as bad. This is also his first role and his acting is so unnatural that the supposedly cool guy Jaab acts like a lovesick teenager.

I also really dislike the annoying and loud coworkers. The first few episodes are really hard to digest when Ying can’t stop screaming and Prem can’t stop being nosy. Both of the characters are so inappropriate in so many aspects. Luckily, there are also a few fun and good supporting characters. Ae and Chot save the show. They are fun, bossy, flamboyant and the life of the party. The actors did a great job in making these characters come to life and not annoying.

I am not sure if I should categorize the romance to be slow-burn or delayed. But the development is not written well. There are some indications that Jeng likes Pat from mid-drama on. Not much comes from Pat when he seems to respect and fear Jeng as his boss, after the initial attraction when they were strangers was gone. Their interactions before they become a couple are not fluffy or heartwarming. The introduction of a love rival definitely delays their romance. I waited for 10 episodes for them to finally get together. Then within 3 episodes, their relationship goes through a roller coaster ride. Everything feels rushed in regards to their romance in the last episodes, as well as the final business arc in the drama. I wish their romance had started sooner, like in ep 7 or so, to allow their relationship to develop at a much better pace. I also didn’t find closure with the Jaab/Jane arc.

Am I the only one who didn’t find Jeng to be that bad of a supervisor? I found his ‘demands’ reasonable as a boss expecting good quality work from his subordinates. At least he is respectful when pointing out mistakes. I must have watched too many mean bosses in Chinese and Korean dramas. Does Jeng warrant all that criticism and talk behind his back about how evil he is? I guess we need Jeng to have some flaws and a character development plot. Otherwise, he’s just too perfect of a character and too handsome. I was just writing down on my notes how perfect he is (+ a hot body) when the troubles of episode 11 happened and he didn’t want to talk about the issues when he should have.

If I watched the regular version instead of the uncut, will the extended product placement and filler be reduced? There's so much screen time spent on actors just holding a bottle of sugar free green tea and other products, describing how good they are. I chose the uncut version because I wanted all the kisses and intimate scenes. But what I get are boring bits.

The only positive things about this drama are the kiss scenes and the intimate scenes. Unfortunately, they are mostly jam packed into ep 10, instead of spread throughout the drama. At least, we have two participating actors who are not shy in going at it. The intimate scenes are also done well without feeling cringey.

I would not recommend this drama unless you really like the actors. If you are a fan of Man (who played Jen) and his handsome good looks and hot body, then go ahead. I also enjoy seeing Up (who played Put) again after watching him in “Lovely Writer”. This is a very different role and I quite like him here. I am giving this a 6.5 rating, which is quite low on my personal rating scale. But given the fact that this does not seem like a big budget production, with two actors in their first roles, and some good kiss scenes, I am not going to rate this any lower.


Completed: 2/25/2024 - Review #408

Citeste mai mult

Good main character development but OTT acting, full of one-sided loves, too many side plots.

Watching “Moon River” in 2024 is quite an experience. There are so many tropes and over-the-top acting that seems to be quite common with Taiwanese comedies. This drama also gives me a very Meteor Garden/F4 kinda feel. I have to remind myself to curb my frustrations and be understanding. Having said that, this could be a fun drama if you don’t mind over-the-top and loud acting.

Note: I could not find the complete version of ep 25. YouTube and sites-that-shall-not-be-named only have the first 15 minutes. Because of that, I missed the most important non-romance plot/reveal and have to gather info based on flashbacks and conversations in the last couple episodes.

------------------------
What I Like:

Xiao Xi (FL) Character development - If I have to overlook the portrayal of her over-the-top personality and how loud she is, I quite enjoy how she was introduced as an inexperienced villager in the big city. She was never portrayed as someone you could take advantage of physically or emotionally, never too naive or dumb. She just doesn’t know. Oftentimes, she realizes the real intentions of others. As her romantic relationship with Liu Bing (ML) grows and matures, you can see her grow and mature as well. In the end, she’s his support system and is there for him no matter how many times he pushes her away.

Liu Bing (ML) Character development - Similarly with Xiao Xi, we see how Liu Bing grows from an arrogant, super smart, King of the school, to someone who needs to learn to start from the bottom and learn the real (poor) way of life. As he matures, there’s a very distinct part of his personality that never leaves him - his stubbornness and unwillingness to express how he truly feels to protect. It could be frustrating to watch as a viewer, but I am also glad that in a way, he is still the same Liu Bing in ep 1. I hate to see someone who changes for the better (?) and loses who they truly are in the beginning.

Headmistress Dong - I have a girl crush on her! She’s so cool. I love Grace Ko’s elegance and voice. It’s too bad her screen time is limited to the beginning episodes. I wanted to see more of her.

------------------------
What I have Mixed Feelings:

Main Romance - The romance between Xiao Xi and Liu Bing is central to the whole drama. It was fun to watch them from bickering, to living together, falling in love, and experience challenges together. What I dislike the most is the introduction of misunderstandings, evil deeds from Sha Sha and then add CoCo to the mix. That seems a little too much to try to cause troubles to their relationship. Luckily, despite all that, they both stay strong and their love never wavers. Additionally, aside from a few cute (and somewhat cringey) things that Liu Bing did for Xiao Xi during the initial courtship, he doesn’t seem to have done much as a boyfriend. He’s lucky his girlfriend is sweet and understanding. I actually would have loved to see more of their cute relationship, skinship and kisses, but unfortunately, the drama is too busy with many extra side plots. Their kisses are not great and not very romantic either (except for the last one).

Feng Jiang Che (2ML) - In other dramas, he would be classify as the perfect boyfriend, Mr. Green Flag. But in this drama, I find him to be so perfect that it’s a little annoying. I also think that the acting of Evan Ma might have contributed to my very slight annoyance. If Che has expressed his feelings for Xiao Xi early on, he might have a fighting chance. He is sweet, caring, considerate and always there for Xiao Xi in action and in words. Her happiness is the most important thing to him. He would be a perfect main lead in another drama.

Pacing - The pacing is quite good in the first ⅓ of the drama. There are a lot of fun events happening at school and in their lives as the characters are introduced. Then in the ⅔ of the drama, the pace slows down considerably and we have repetitive one-sided romances which go nowhere and repetitive animosity and sabotage to FL and the main romance. The drama picks up the speed in the last 5 episodes, but because the focus has switched to a revenge plot, it doesn’t feel quite right either.

OST - There are only two songs and they are SUPER overplayed. The opening theme by SpeXial is fun and upbeat. The ending theme by Pets Tseng is romantic and beautiful. As much as I love both songs and have added them to my Spotify playlist, they are just played way too often.

------------------------
What I Don’t Like:

One-sided Love - The romances in this drama are quite something. I think I counted 6 STUBBORN one-sided, unrequited loves. That’s way too many! I don’t care for a few of them and wish they did not take up so much screen time, and then the drama could be a few episodes shorter.

Annoying side characters - 2FL Sha Sha’s animosity and obsession towards Liu Bing lasted too long for my taste. Her bitchiness started from ep 2 all the way till almost the end. I also hated Xiao Xi’s two roommates in the beginning. They are selfish and frustrating and I fast forwarded a few of their scenes. Luckily, they got a little better later on. Those girls at school are just as annoying. They also have too much screen time. These scenes and ‘evil’ acts become very repetitive and boring.

Flashbacks and Inner Monologues - Usually you will see inner monologues from the lead characters once in a while. But not this drama. It seems like every single character has them. This contributes to a lot of telling instead of acting. Additionally, I also notice many flashbacks that don’t seem to serve a purpose of advancing the plot. These flashbacks are not short either. But I do have to say, thanks to the flashback, I was able to get a little info on what I missed in ep 25 when I couldn’t figure out what was the important info on ML’s father.

Villain - This villain acts as the almighty God. He can control and destroy everything. For all that he’s done to everyone throughout the drama, his ending is half-assed and way too simple.

------------------------
Overall, this is an OK drama. I might have enjoyed this more if I watched it in 2015. I personally have a love/hate relationship with Taiwanese comedies, so in a way, it’s not my cup of tea. I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this drama until I wrote this review and list what I like/don’t like. It’s not horrible but it’s not a drama I would re-watch, not even clips of certain scenes.


Completed: 2/17/2024 - Review #403

Citeste mai mult

Good chemistry and interesting plot, but overall nothing special

Quick and easy, finished this in less than 3 hours. It's just your run-of-the-mill low budget web drama. Nothing sticks out like a sore thumb, nor is it anything special amongst a sea of very similar dramas. The time loop plot is quite interesting and I do like the execution of it. But the mystery/thriller part feels very out-of-place.

The leads have good chemistry and they look good together. ML is handsome and quite young (21 years old). He reminds me of a younger and less chiseled Dai Gao Zheng, though we didn't see his abs. FL is a very experienced actress and has appeared in many dramas. The acting is decent, and nothing is too cringey.

However, it has the usual things that I don't like in a Chinese drama - accidental falls/kiss/tripping in slow motion & poorly dubbed voices. The kisses are disappointing. I was really expecting more because censorship is usually a little more relaxed for these short web dramas. At least the male lead is not drowned in white foundation and white filter. He actually appears normal and good-looking.

Overall, it's OK. I can't really rate this as if it's a high budget production. A 7.0 seems about right.

Citeste mai mult

A very average and short romance drama.

“Since I Met U” is an easy-to-watch romance drama. The plot is simple. It’s not 100% cute and fluffy because there’s a backstory of family trauma and mental illness. But the drama really doesn’t go into details in exploring that. Everything is very surface-level. A cute romance without any angst, misunderstanding or evil ex’s.

The production quality is average. Though the desserts are delicious-looking and ML’s Sol Bakery looks modern and welcoming, you can also see where they skim on money. FL has an awful wardrobe (why is she wearing old lady PJs?), the car riding scenes look pretty ‘green-screened’, and they keep on re-suing the same few filming locations. I personally do not like the dubbing, nor the English theme song that plays pretty loudly and repeatedly.

The acting is decent and not awful, not great. ML is cute and I’m watching this drama for him because I liked him in “Story of Kunning Palace”. We also have the cute kid from “Unforgettable Love” and he’s as cute as ever. There are a few good-looking guys at the bakery and am I sensing a closeted gay couple? I got some vibes from one of the guys. The secondary romance is OK but the tertiary romance is annoying.

Overall, this is a very average drama if you want something simple and short. I was in the mood for a romance drama for stress relief, and this fits the bill.


Completed: 1/5/2024 - Review #390

Citeste mai mult

Beautiful Drama of Romance, Family, Comedy and Healing. Brings me so much joy!!

Subjective Mood Rating: 9.0

“To the Moon and Back” is my last drama completed in 2023 and it’s a big surprise!! I was just browsing around trying to find a romance drama to end the year on a happy note, and stumbled upon this treasure. This is one of the very few Thai modern dramas that is not about fighting for inheritance or a company that I watched. Is this drama a masterpiece? Definitely not. But it brings me so much joy that emotionally, I just need to give this a high rating.

Main Romance:
Romance is what I was searching for and this doesn’t disappoint. This drama tells the story of opposites attract and it’s done so well. FL does take me a little to get used to since she’s so outgoing and talkative. ML is the quiet, reserved and repressed type. But they complement each other so well and bring out the best of each other. ML is patient and caring, while FL teaches him how to feel and understand his and others feelings. It does take them half a drama to be officially together but the cute scenes of them together starts from the very beginning. ML understands FL’s thoughts and actions (and clumsiness) so well, and FL is so in tuned with ML’s feelings. I love how she worried about his feelings after the surgery, when he tried to stay strong for her and didn’t say much. When he finally opened up and broke down, it pains me as well. I can’t help but smile whenever I see them together.

Auntie Grace
I am awarding FL’s dad the “Father/Mother of the Year” title. She experienced so much pain due to her sexual orientation but yet she taught FL to live with kindness. Auntie Grace raised a beautiful child and you can see that especially in the last ¼ of the drama and when FL has to face ML’s parents at the birthday party. The lessons taught in this drama by Auntie Grace should be taught to everyone. She also comforted ML and 2ML and allowed them room to breathe, to be themselves and to feel. I love Auntie Grace so much!!!

Family Relationships/Healing
A big part of the drama is spent on broken families and mending relationships. ML’s father is controlling and does not appreciate ML’s efforts. ML has been brought up not having a childhood and with feelings repressed. His mother is unable to support him and stand up for him. On the other hand, Auntie Grace’s father did not accept her new identity. There’s so much anger in me whenever I see these two fathers and how unreasonable they are. But of course, no one is a true villain. They both want what’s best for their child but are unable to communicate. FL is integral in mending both relationships and her persistent, kind and happy personality helps heal these relationships in the end. On the other hand, a smaller part of the drama is about 2ML and 2FL relationships with their families as well. No one comes from a ‘normal’ family.

Loving Non-traditional Family
They are loud, they are crazy and they are fun! That is FL’s family. A group of drag queens, transgendered and gay aunties that help raise FL. It does take me a little while to get used to how rowdy they are, but I love them! I love their fashion and always look forward to their outfits/costumes. I love all of their performances. I love how they always say they are “kind and pretty” because they truly are. They step in to help strangers, even those they might have a beef with at times.

Villains
Can’t really get away from evil parents in a Thai drama. They are not truly villains, but characters that have so much pain and jealousy in their hearts that they don’t know how to express them appropriately. Therefore, they cause our main leads a lot of pain and hassle. I hated seeing ML unable to fight back when he’s in front of his dad. I hate it when 2ML tries so hard but his mother just doesn’t get it. Do I find these villains irritating and want to punch them in their faces? Definitely. But I also know that they did not have a happy childhood or life. Luckily, FL’s family balances out the toxicity.


If you like Thai dramas, I definitely recommend “To The Moon and Back”. It is a great combo of romance + family + comedy + healing. In the end, it gives me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. This is in no way a perfect drama, but it brings me so much joy.



Other Random Observations:
1. FL is said to be the “hippie” and “Bohemian” type, does that mean she doesn’t wash her hair??
2. I love ML trying to learn how to braid hair.
3. Two handsome male leads with 6-packs. LOL
4. There’s some useful, simple medical advice for the general public.5.
5. Didn’t like ML’s acting in the early episodes, but he grew on me.
6. Pacing is decent, maybe a tiny slow in the middle. But that’s also probably because I binged 13 episodes in one sitting. LOL



Completed: 12/31/2023 - Review #389 (First review of 2024 and I still can't keep it short and succinct.)

Citeste mai mult