Reviews

Touchant et poignant !

S'il ne semble pas offrir grand chose dans ses grandes lignes (deux personnages traumatisés qui sont liés, mais sans le savoir et finissent par se retrouver), il renferme pourtant une puissance émotionnelle stupéfiante.

Il ne faut pas attendre longtemps avant de plonger au cœur de l'intrigue. Sans grande précipitation, les scènes se dévoilent, nous donnant alors un aperçu des traumatismes et conséquences de chaque personnage. Malgré les années qui passent, la douleur (physique et mentale) est toujours aussi vive. Soit on apprend à vivre avec, soit on tente de l'amoindrir.

Ha Moon Soo (Won Jin A) porte le poids de la mort de sa petite sœur. Rongée par cela, elle s'empêche de profiter de sa vie. Acculée et en charge d'une mère se noyant dans l'alcool, elle tente d'encaisser, ignorant ses propres blessures. Avec force, elle ne recule pas devant la difficulté. Won Ji A délivre une performance prenante avec des émotions vives. Lee Gang Doo (Lee Jun Ho) est également victime et connaît bien des démons. Dans cet accident, il perd son père, passe des jours entiers avec une personne décédée sous des décombres et ne pourra plus jouer au foot. C'est un personnage torturé et en colère qui ignore comment le gérer. Lee Jun Ho transmet une palette d'émotions captivantes. Quant à leur histoire, elle est réconfortante et chaleureuse, exactement ce que ce dont ils avaient besoin.

L'histoire progresse sous la forme de flash-back. Au fil des épisodes, les pièces du puzzle se mettent en place, tandis qu'elles renforcent les caractères et pensées des personnages. De la grande sœur pleine de regrets et de l'anticipation de cet homme qui lutte chaque jour contre un mal qui le ronge. Sans jamais abuser du côté dramatique, on se laisse submerger par les peines et les combats respectifs de chacun avec un seul but : vivre. Bien que certains éléments sur les derniers épisodes n’étaient pas utiles, on retiendra particulièrement la relation solide qui s’est formée et la performance de chaque acteur.

La bande originale est très jolie. À la fois lente, nostalgique et mélancolique. Au travers de certaines chansons, on ne peut échapper aux notes d'espoir qu'elles dégagent aussi pour finir par une photographie sublime.

En bref, Just Between Lovers est un mélodrame glacial et aux combats brûlants qui pousse deux âmes perdues et blessées à faire face aux démons du passé.

Citeste mai mult

Watch this for my 2024 Alphabet Challenge. It turned out much better than I expected.

Story about Kamogawa Restaurant, a restaurant in Kyoto that has a special purpose on the side. Customers come from different parts of Japan with one mission in their mind, “Search for food with memories”. Customers who come only relying on a single line advertisement in “Spring & Autumn Cuisine”. Those who come to this restaurant looking for food from their memories and all that memories bear troubles of the seeker.

Every customer who comes will tell their story to Kamogawa Koishi, and after that her father, Nagare uses the instincts and powers of observation honed as a retired detective, to identify what meals customers truly desire and demonstrates his skills by recreating them. Customers who eat the “food with memories”, which are the fruits of the efforts of Koishi and Nagare, will leave Kamogawa Restaurant, finding the answer for their question & trouble…

But except to answer all the customer’s troubles, Koishi and Nagare themselves have problems that need to be answered along the way….

Below I’ll write about each of the dish that was recreated by Kamogawa Restaurant.

1st dish:
Looking for meat and potatoes cooked by late mother. Date Hisahiko looking for the dish cooked by his late mother. After his mother died, Date’s dad remarried to a new woman & also brought a girl along. Date and his step mom are not close, he even feels his step mom treats him and her real daughter differently. But after eating the dish that is recreated by Nagare, he understands how kind his step mother actually is.
The message from this episode: “Try to know the people before you judge them.”

2nd dish:
Tonkatsu. Hirose Suyako looking for a dish for her sick husband. Her husband longs for the Tonkatsu & Suyako wants to give it to him before it’s too late. After the investigation done by Nagare, Suyako finally knows the reason her husband longs for the dish.
The message from this episode: ”A marriage couple bond's that can't be broken by farewell or distance.”

3rd dish:
Spaghetti. A memory with grandpa. Mizuki Asuka looking for a spaghetti dish she ate with her grandpa when she's little. Her grandpa suffers from dementia & other diseases, so she wants to serve a memory dish to her grandpa before his memory & health deteriorates even more. This is the first dish Koishi does the investigation, she learns to be independent & rely more on her instinct & observation.

4th dish:
Nabe from late wife. Kuboyama Hideji looked for nabe used to cook by his late wife. Hideji wants to remarry, but before he does that, he wants to eat nabe that his late wife cooked, then after that he can start a new life living with his new wife. After eating the meal Hideji realized how much effort & love his late wife put into making the dish.

5th dish:
Hamburger vs steak. Takeda Kana, a food blogger, who prefers a steak over all kinds of mixed meat. She so pissed when her son pick burger over steak & want to teach her son how more delicious steak over burger. After the dish was served, Kana learned a lot of things regarding her father.

6th dish:
Beef stew. The one that got away. Nadaya Nobuko once met a boy in her youth, the boy that brought her to the restaurant that served beef stew dishes. They've been in correspondence before, but upon meeting the boy just suddenly proposing to her, that's shaken her & she fled. Now in her old days, she begins to recall everything & one question about what if suddenly shows up in her mind. It's not mean Nobuko is regretting her life, but that ‘what if’ is still lingering in the air.

7th dish:
Noriben. Made by father. Kitano Kyousuke's father can't cook but he still made bento for him everyday. Noriben only consists of Nori, Seaweed & may consist of some other side dish, and in Kyousuke case is umeboshi. Kyousuke always thought his father was a lazy man who wouldn't learn any other dishes. Although it seems simple, after learning about the dish, Kyousuke realized how much effort his father put into the dish.

8th dish:
Fried Rice made by mother. Shirasaki Hatsuko wants to cook her late mother dish for her boyfriend. A simple dish made by a single mother who didn't have too much time, but still thinking about her daughter.

Overall this really one warm drama about every dish from our memories that have special meaning for us.

Citeste mai mult

Love it so much!!!

I wanted to watch a drama which isn't only about romance and has a different plot in it and I def recommend it!! I was also looking for something like Lighter & Princess, bc I missed a drama like that and I have to say Derailment was really good!!
The trope is def a trope which you haven't seen before, which makes it really exciting and makes you want to keep watching it and not get bored!! The drama is full of plot twists, esp in like ep 21...
However you gotta get used to the female main lead as first, but trust me she will go thru character development!!
It is def a quite complicated drama and like I've said it is perfect if you wanna watch a romance drama which doesn't only have romance and has a trope you've never seen before!!
Btw the intro of this drama is one of the best I've ever seen
I instantly regret watching it on the airplane bc I couldn't stop crying in some episodes, but happy ending!!
Also I cannot get over this drama 😭😭

Citeste mai mult

Un beau jeu d'échecs

Les 20 premiers épisodes sont brillants ils méritent du 11/10 ! Des joueurs d'échecs très forts, perturbés par une variable inconnue, intelligente elle aussi !
Les 20 suivants sont plus lents et il y a moins de calculs.
La production est énorme, il y a de belles scènes de guerre, et les acteurs sont tous excellents.
La romance ne se voit pas du tout, pas de bisous langoureux donc, mais des jeux de regards, et pour "la nuit de noces" une image des deux bottes côte à cote près du lit..
J'aurais mis 10 si la fin été bonne, mais ils aiment des fin à la "till the end of the moon", des fins bien tristes, avec une femme seule avec un bébé.

Citeste mai mult

It's not that Bad as everyone is saying.

Hello ^^, I have read a few reviews above and everywhere you can only see that how much everyone hated this season. And genuinely I believe that set it all aside, I won't list those flaws again here~

Here are the things I want to mention about this Season — — — —

1) Gong Yoo, like a hot meal, he SERVED. He gave such a good performance in those 20 minutes. He ATE, his screentime. The Psychopathic character he showed was awesome, the Russian Roulette game, and crushing the bread was over the top.

2) I wanted to see behind the games, or the staff quarters of those guards and I got to see them this Season, so it was not that bad for me. The Guards are actually (hot people) can't agree more.

3) The Casting was Hot and Charming, Viewers want looks + acting and they won there, but I didn't feel the connection or bond with the players like season 1, or should I say there was not much backstory this season.

4) The Frontman, he was giving total Yaoi vibes, It looked like he was obsessed with Gi Hun and kept glancing at him. He played his own games and got frustrated at some point, and his own guards like "huh this person is supposed to be our boss".

5) The Carousel 🎠 game, that single game felt like season 1, where there was actual fear in players and showed their true nature. The music was addictive.

6) It was not that bad, It was like filler. But it's good for binge watch. Even I'm not exaggerating that "Omo it's so good, everyone should watch it or something". It's fine for a one time watch. I didn't waste my 7 hours, I liked it for the reasons I mentioned above.

Hope you'll see a few positive points about it too. Anyways I'm onto finding another series to watch. This Review ends here~

Citeste mai mult

A perfect 1000/10!! literally one of the best of 2024!

At first, I honestly thought I wouldn’t enjoy this show much because of its cliché story and theme, especially I had just finished Mr. Plankton and couldn’t bring myself to start any other show and felt too emotionally drained to dive into another one. But I decided to give it a try, and boy, I was wrong. Just two episodes in, I was hooked to the point where I found myself impatiently waiting each week for the next two episodes. I can’t even describe the thrill and excitement I felt an hour before each episode aired—lol 😭 what a great time. This show is epitome of the perfect K-drama. It can't get any better than this: so well-made and balanced. It’s neither too much nor too little—just perfectly balanced with no unnecessary drama or scenes. Everything is on point: the story, acting, cinematography. And THE DIALOGUES—chef’s kiss!! Each episode leaves you on the edge of your seat, making your brain race with so many thoughts. It’s the perfect blend of action, thriller, romance, twists, suspense, and mystery. I loved how they twisted the plot, with each episode revealing something new—absolutely amazing! had an incredible time watching this. It’s like eating your favorite ramyeon: not too spicy, not too bland—just the perfect taste.

Now, today is the last episode, and I just can’t fking wait to watch it. The cliffhanger they left us on!! Sooo excited, but lowkey sad since it’s ending, and there will be no more episodes to look forward to. 😩

To anyone planning to watch this—just go for it! Definitely worth the watch!!

Ps: I’ve seen some people recommending The Perfect Marriage Revenge based on this. Bro, it ain't it. I have watched TPMR but didn’t quite enjoy it. I couldn’t get past episode 8, so I skipped to the last episode just to see the ending. Maybe it just wasn’t my cup of tea. No offense to those who enjoyed it—just my opinion.

I’d personally recommend Branding in Seongsu. It’s so underrated! It’s totally different from WTPR, but somehow, it gives a similar thrill and feel. It’s not perfect, but it’s so freaking good! Just ignore the little flaws, and it’s definitely worth giving a try!

Citeste mai mult

A Beautiful and Groundbreaking GL Series

Pluto has truly redefined what a GL series can be, weaving a story that is both heartwarming and deeply impactful. As a usual watcher of this genre, I can confidently say this series has set a new standard for storytelling, character development and emotional depth. The show also takes on the powerful and nuanced theme of living with disability, delivering a portrayal that delivers good social impact in the community.

The TV adaptation has significantly improved the novel plot, not just focusing on romance but on personal growth and overcoming adversity. The show tackled the hardships of disabled person, showing honest storytelling. The plot is both engaging and unpredictable, making for an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you invested.

The actresses are EXCEPTIONAL. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their performance elevate the material to new heights. Both are incredibly talented. And of course the OST! Every soundtrack is so good and I keep on repeating it. Also, it's the first time for me to learn Thai song just because of Pluto!

The romance in Pluto doesn't feel forced or rushed. Instead, it's a slow burn that builds on mutual respect, understanding and shared vulnerability. It's rare to see such well-crafted GL relationships and Pluto really shines here by focusing on the inner strength and emotional bonds between the characters.

Without a doubt, Pluto is the best GL series I have ever watched. If you are looking for a show that offers something deeper, Pluto is absolutely worth your time. It's a beautiful, emotional journey, and I can't recommend it enough!

Citeste mai mult

A series that worth all the time..

I waited for this series when the first promo was released, in that promo the Top's weren't present. They only showed the backs of the Top, And bottoms were shown as friends. AndI instantly fell in love with them.. So, when the official trailer was released, I was soo happy. I am a huge fan of Earth and I also liked Bas when he acted in 2moons and Gen Y which were one of my favourite bl's and also my starting bls.. And other two main cast also looked cute . So my expectations were high...
And I am BL fan, who is addicted to bl's. And I watched so many bl's that I can't even count them. Different languages, different cultures, different point of views.. For me watching bl was never been limited to any country. But you know, there is a big setback for people like me who are too involved in bl's. It may look like we can any bl and yes it's true. But really liking a bl or a new bl couple is very difficult for us. New BL fans may accept new BL's but us who watched so many bl's for years and faced many problems in bl industry like the sudden departure of Fav actor, Break up's of favorite couples, cancellation of long awaited series and so on... So we will hesitate to get too involved with a bl series' and a bl couple because of past heart breaks.

"Forever you" was a project which made me once again made me involve deeply in a series. After "Cutie pie.." it was the first time I got the 'i want to loss my memory and re-watch it again as a beginner' feeling. Though series ain't complete and there are still two more couples are remaining, still i loved it soo much... The cut, heartwarming and innocent love story of Hill and Easter, Charming, funny and cheerful love story of Johan and North. I don't know which one i should like more. Many people like JohanNorth and even watch the series for them. But for me choosing a single couple is rather difficult.

I like How innocent Easter and Hills relationship is. Though a misunderstanding broke their past relationship, still they loved each other. And their families separating them when they found out their relationship were close to real life. Their story felt very realistic. And Hill is such a good boy. Which we usually call green flag. And Easter is also like that. He is cute and adorable. And Earth played 'Easter' with utmost sincerity. I can't still forget the changing expressions of 'Ter' which are cute and funny. His feelings are written all over his face. On the other hand Hill looked somewhat mysterious, he was hiding something but was very guilty about that but didn't wanted to hurt his love. Pond, did play the charector well, he showed the longing and love Hill have for his love. Even though hill is a charector who is usually calm and collected, he never hid the fact that he loved Easter and wanted to show his love for Easter every as he could. But he never pushed his Ter. He waited till Easter can get comfortable with him. And solved there misunderstanding and supported Easter with utmost sincerity. Their love story was cute and each moment made us think what going to happen next. But one thing was clear from the beginning. Hill will never let go Easter again.
He waited for Easter and missed Easter so much. Easter also wanted to move on from his past love but still couldn't forget Hill. And the most important part is that Easter knew hill was hiding something and wanted to know what. But didn't wanted to push or hurt p'Hill in the process. But made the viewers curious about what happened between them and in the end they gave a rather convincing reason. The way their story progressed was soo heartwarming. Not so forward but also not dragging. Making people unable to skip.

Second couple Johan and North. What can I say, those two where perfect. Story of Johan and North was typical plot line which we usually see in many dramas (Though, it's somewhat rare in bl dramas). Like falling in love with a person. And making them indebted to us so we can control them. And with a cold, intelligent, playboy and rich ML and cute, funny, straight forward and stupid MC made it a typical background setting of many c and k dramas. So, this story was really predictable. But still the story of Johan and North were never been boring. They made us eagerly anticipate for each episode. Even though we knew how it's gonna go, still we watched it without blinking our eyes and it also made us giggle and screem through out the all episodes. The reason..? Chemistry between the leads. Even now I want screem thinking about the moments between Jo and North. In the series I never doubted the identity of the charector. Maxkey and Bas were not acting, they were living as Johan and North. Their story progression was nothing out of my imagination but their chemistry and romance really blown my mind out. And how their relationship which was in the beginning build in debt but at the end turned that debt into an excuse to flirt made giggle so much. And the fact that they were sooo clingy to each other and never hid their feelings from eachother made me so happy. Especially North, who never lie about his feelings. And is straight forward with everything which caused the Johan, who usually wears a mask and hide his feelings from others, to open up. And the part is how Johan become silent and shows all his vulnerability to North and in return North never doubts or questions jo and accept Jo for who and how he is..

And another important part of the series was the friendship between the ML's. Though the MC's were also friends but the relationship between Hill, Johan, Arthit and Fah were so good. The four cool medical student who are best friends and campus idols, it really sounds so cool. But more than that how well they understand each other and care for each other is soo vivid in the series. Like other three knew that Hill liked someone and Hill also never hid from his friends as to who he like and showed off his love for Easter to his friend. On the other hand other three made Fun of Hill and Teased Hill the moment they get a chance. Even so, they were respectful and caring towards their friends love aka to Easter. And the way Hill leaves Easter who is basically his most valued tresure to his friends to take care showed how much he trusted them. But on the other hand he hate his noughty friends approaching his lover because he didn't want them to tease Easter. It's so contrasting. And in the case of Johan, though Hill is the only one who knew the fact that Jo liked North, still the moment Jo began to make his moves on North, Hill immediately published it to his other two friends. It was a funny scene though, expecially between two play boys Jo and Arthit. And also they rooted for Jo. And others understand Jo and knows Jo hiding his feelings, but never forced him to be happy and never even showed their concern because they knew Jo didn't liked those concerns. But the moment they realised that Jo liked North , they asks North to take care Jo which made me smile seeing how deep their friendship is, how concerned they were and how relieved they are when Jo finally opened upto someone. I love and admire the friendship between those four.
And other friendship is Easter and North. They were typical bestfriends. Though they had their own different friend circle around their faculty but still they were best friends. Nothing could break that. And I love how they ship each other with their lovers. If North was a Passenger in Hill and Easter's relationship then Easter was the captain of Jo and North's ship. And how they get soo exited and curious about each other's relationship progress was so cute and hilarious. And also they understood each other and still gave each other their own time and space too..
Though this part of the series didn't shows the deep friendship between these two with Dao and phoon. I am anticipating that next part will show more of the relationship between those four people. And though, the story of other couples weren't shown still they did give us hints about who going to be the third couple.

There were many demerits too in this series. Pond, who played Hill though did a good job in bringing out the emotions of the charector but still some places his expressions looks forced. Like when he smiles, not always but sometimes it looked like he was acting. And I have to say, the chemistry between Pond and Earth wasn't that good compared to all other partners Earth had till now. I just couldn't connect them.
But on the other hand Chemistry between Maxkey and Bas was on another level. Even so, Bas also had moments when he properly couldn't express the feeling of North. Sometimes, it is very difficult to understand what is North feeling though in the series North is shown as a open and carefree charector. I know as to what feeling he had in that moment but I couldn't find that feeling from his expression. On the other hand I have to say how well Earth and Maxkey portrayed their roles.
Expecially Maxkey, who played a charector which is completely opposite to his orginal personality. Which even made me doubt about his true personality. A bubble, easy going and a loud person, who acted as a cold, calm and reserved person and convinced everyone that's it's his real personality is really is a good actor. And I have to say, how well he done his part.

Overall this one was one of my favorite series which fulfilled my bl heart among the many recent BLs. Now a days there are so many BL series and finding one we really like is very hard. So getting a drama this heartwarming made me feel refreshed. So thank you all the producers, directors, cast and crew members for this amazing work...

Citeste mai mult

Breathtaking and affecting.

Kim Tae Ri as Yun Jeong Nyeon ate this role. In every scene she captured attention.
Her character was very flawed, arrogant, headstrong, prideful and joyous, and generous. Awestruck with her singing ability, she remained true to herself throughout.
Ultimately Jeong Nyeon was on a mission and her voice was her ticket to freedom from mediocrity and her determination was the candle she had fired up. At times it was painful to watch and I kept hoping someone would save her from her actions. There are others in this story and I felt that all of them let her down in their own way.

This was so unlike any other drama I had watched and this female lead was truly a hero, if only onstage. She starred in her own life production as the star.

Citeste mai mult

Waaay too dark

I don't mean that the show is emotionally dark, I do mean that there is hardly any lighting! That's my pet peeve about this show - probably 40% of it happens in the dark and the sets are underlit. It's hard to make out what's happening unless you watch in a dark room. If you're someone who has a home theatre, good for you! I had to put my laptop in a box to make out what was happening.

The plot twists and turns so quickly that you really have to pay attention. However it's really hard to do so when the sets are so dark and difficult to make out what's happening. The director must like using 'natural' lighting like moonlight to illuminate the faces. Frankly, everyone looks the same when you can only see their silhouette or side profile. In the end, I had to catch up by relying on recaps to 'illuminate' the plot twists and turns.

Aside from that, everything else about the show was great - the pacing and particularly the acting by all the main and supporting actors was phenomenal . Hence I had downgraded my original rating of 8.5 to 9 that I rated when I started the show because of this. I know the director is trying to create a certain dark, dreary and 'doubtful' mood but it's frustrating.

Citeste mai mult

Rapid/Introduction Review

A Rapid Review on Moonlight-Mystique with quit details.

. Moonlit Mystique will definitely emerges as a captivating addition to the Xianxia genre, setting itself apart with its enchanting narrative and stellar cast.

. Directed by Zhu Ruibin, known for his work on "Ashes of Love," this series promises a blend of fantasy, romance, and drama that keeps viewers hooked from the very beginning.

Plot and Characters:

. The story revolves around Bai Shuo(FL), portrayed by Bai Lu, the youngest daughter of a general who embarks on a journey to cultivate immortality.

. Her path crosses with the powerful demon god Fan Yue(ML) , played by Ao Ruipeng. Their relationship evolves from mutual manipulation to a deep, passionate love, navigating through numerous challenges.

. The chemistry between Bai Lu and Ao Ruipeng is electrifying, bringing a fresh dynamic to the screen. The narrative is rich with twists and turns, providing a compelling exploration of love transcending boundaries of immortality and humanity.

Visuals and Production:

. From the get-go, "Moonlit Mystique" impresses with its breathtaking visuals. The costume design, with its intricate details, perfectly captures the essence of a mystical world where gods, demons, and humans coexist.

. The production value is undeniably high, with CGI that does justice to the fantastical elements of the story. Zhu Ruibin's direction ensures that every frame is a feast for the eyes, echoing the grandeur and magic of the Xianxia universe.

Acting and Chemistry:

Bai Lu's portrayal of Bai Shuo is both humorous and poignant, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Her evolution from a sheltered young girl to a fierce, determined goddess is compelling.

. Ao Ruipeng complements her with a nuanced performance as Fan Yue, embodying the complexity of a demon god with a mysterious past. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable, making the romantic arcs genuinely engaging.

Music and Soundtrack:

The OST of "Moonlit Mystique" stands out, with tracks that resonate with the emotional undertones of the series. The new song released for the drama has been noted for giving viewers "goosebumps," perfectly encapsulating the journey of Bai Shuo through its melody and lyrics.

In Conclusion:

. The "Moonlit Mystique" combines traditional Xianxia elements with a unique storyline that feels both fresh and nostalgic. It's a testament to how modern storytelling can revitalize beloved genres.

. With its strong performances, stunning production, and a narrative that balances romance, action, and intrigue, this drama is not just recommended; it's a must-watch for fans of Chinese-fantasy dramas.

. The anticipation surrounding its release is well-justified, setting high expectations for it to be one of the standout dramas of 2025.

NOTE:

Don't get confused of why there is a review prior to the drama's release. __That's why this is a rapid Review with quick details.

Please get to know the different types of reviews such as; (1) Rapid-reviews (2) Integrative-reviews (3) Scoping-reviews.

Citeste mai mult

Well, kept me entertained until the end.

PROS:
- Lots of interesting dishes and chefs
- Good pacing (I notice this about lots of Korean shows actually)
- Generally entertaining and keeps you interested. I think most people would be able to watch until the end as a result.
- Creative competitions. Tofu Hell was really interesting despite being completely brutal.

CONS:
- Obvious maneuvering as others have said to keep the number of "black spoons" and "white spoons" even; this took away some of the show's excitement and appeal IMO and gave it that "scripted" feel
- Too much screen time for some characters/contestants, too little for others. I know that's not a big thing, but some contestants made it quite far and got a total of five minutes of screen time while others who didn't make it as far got much more.

TLDR; I think this show mostly achieved what it was aiming for and is definitely entertaining/worth a watch.

Citeste mai mult