Historical Drama with a Relatable FL and Gender Role Reversal ML

Okay, so there are already a lot of reviews of this drama but I will try to talk about things that others may not have discussed and that were standout moments for me.

The FL from the beginning was super relatable and likable. She does not want to marry. She is older than the rest of the girls and hasn't been married off...this is really frowned upon but she doesn't want her freedoms to be constrained. While I love a romantic novel she hates them because she is a logical person with a curious mind. For someone who enjoys character-driven dramas I feel this drama was really enjoyable to watch because the protagonist is a smart, strong-willed, diligent, funny, and relatable. This was important to me because there are many kdramas where I do not really like the females, as in I feel they're written one-dimensionally or without substance so this was a stand out for me.

I thought the ML's acting was a little off the mark in the beginning but as I continued to watch he made the role his own and I fell in love with him. In fact, both the leads were lovable. You root for them and when they get their happy ending you are filled with such happiness.

I didn't used to like historical dramas but recently I have watched a few that made me change my mind. Historical dramas don't have to be slow-paced and boring. They can be fun to watch!

I didn't give this a full 10/10 because I felt like there were some things in the plot that did not receive proper closure. For instance, I wish the crown prince and prince Dowon had a moment where they reconciled and shared a more profound bonding moment.

Also, I wished the FL could have had more developed female friendships. I wish the FL could have talked with another female about how limiting the social roles were.

They could have also shocked the grandmother by telling her about how prince Dowon and a historian were really in love. I just felt there were some moments that could have been better utilized. Also, the eunuch is often like a father to prince Dowon and they could have had at least one conversation about what he means to prince Dowon who has been neglected by the man he called father.

Okay, regarding the gender role reversal I am referring to how the show hinted that prince Dowon is like Rapunzel. He's trapped in his castle and can't leave. He is the one who often has to depend on the FL to save him and she does so. I found this really charming and made the story feel so light at times.

Overall, this is a wonderful drama that could have been explored more but that is definitely worth watching and warms the heart.

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Love Sick Season 2 picks up where the first season left off. It has a longer season run. It provides viewers with more character development, twists and turns, and cuddly and steamy moments between Phun and Noh. The heavy censorship is still present, which is unfortunate but its still one of the best love stories I've ever seen. Some might say it is too long, but if you are not interested in some of the side stories I say you just skip them. I found the character Jeed particularly annoying, but overall this is a phenomenal show. You root for Noh to be able to end up with Phun and you feel bad for Phun even though he is basically cheating. For people who don't like stories that contain cheating I think you should give this a try anyways because Phun and Noh fall in love despite everything and no one cheats just because they want to have sex. This is a story first and foremost about a deeply engrossing and abiding love that overtakes the characters. There are some love triangles, super funny scenes, heartbreaking moments, and this show just makes you ache.

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Riveting Cult Story

I started this drama because I had just finished 'The Guest' and wanted to watch another horror type of kdrama. This did not disappoint. While it is not exactly a horror it is a psychologically horrific drama that makes you frustrated, want to throttle not only the antagonists but also the main character, and makes you want run screaming from religious fanatics (if you didn’t already want to). It is highly addictive. I finished the show in about three days, but it is also draining. The show depicts a family that gets sucked into a religious cult and I thought it felt really realistic. The rewatch value is the lowest of all my ratings because of how draining the show is and how much you want to pull your hair out from all the things that happen that make you want to go into the tv and slap some sense into the characters. I will also say that the drama has some major themes that can trigger or be uncomfortable to watch such as bullying, suicide, murder, sexual assault. If you want to watch a mature drama that is addictive with great acting and see how brainwashing can not only scar but break people watch this. If you want to watch how people overcome trauma and fight past not only the people in their lives who try to control them but injustice as well, watch this. Also, because it is important for me to know and might be a factor in people’s decision to watch this the show does have a HEA but it takes a while to get there and there are a lot of painful events before we get there. The show doesn’t really have romance but what I found to be one of the most entertaining and enticing aspects was the friendship between the two ML’s. For me their relationship was one of the best to see. At the core of this show is the friendship of four boys and how doing the right thing can hurt but if you have the support and love of friends you stand a chance. I wish we could see the FL develop her friendship with the four boys more, but even so the drama was riveting especially since these boys could have abandoned the FL but despite everything they came through. The music was good but I do not find it all that memorable. It did fit the vibe of the series. Overall, great drama!

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Excellent Horror and Character-Driven Series

I've had this on my watchlist for ages and was putting it off because horror is not my favorite genre. However, I was bored and tried it and it's one of the best decisions I've made. The story revolves around three characters who's lives are intertwined by a horrible spirit who kills their family members. There are many reviews but I want to focus on the chemistry of the actors and how well they immersed themselves into the characters they portrayed. What makes a drama entrancing is the magic that happens when actors can bounce off of each other well and a great script. This drama has both. The supernatural was blended into the real world and the scary moments were believable. It kept me on the edge of my seat but I will say it can be emotionally tiring since the drama is in equal parts horror and drama. My favorite genre is drama and the way the characters had to push past their differences, their feelings of guilt and anger, and their loneliness in order to eventually defeat the big bad makes you root for them with all your heart. Their relationships with each other were the heart of this story. The complexity in their bonds made this drama sing. There were intimate moments where one or another character would care for the other in such loving ways. These moments were small but interspersed and made the scenes where they tried to save each other and even sacrifice themselves for another even more poignant. This is especially true between the priest and Yoon Hwa Pyung. This drama was a masterpiece and will go down as one of my favorite kdramas. Also the music was touching and perfectly matched the tension and emotion of the scenes. A+

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This is my favorite Bl drama and one of my favorite dramas in general. The setup is pretty cliched but it works because you can feel how the characters fall for each other. The actors in this drama did not have much experience but I felt that it added to their performance of young teenage boys who are confused, love each other, and become inextricably attached. The title for this show perfectly encapsulates this show. The characters Phun and Noh become lovesick. Their feelings for each other eat them up inside and they crave each other and even though there is a terrible amount of censoring you can feel the sexual and LOVE tension. haha.

***Spoilers***

Phun is going out with Aim. They've been together for several years. An acquaintance of his rushes in to see someone from the student council because of a problem with the budget. The only one in the room when Noh enters is Phun who is the student council secretary. Noh has a big budget problem and asks if there is anyway Phun can help. Phun promises to help if Noh becomes his boyfriend. And this is the start of their story. The first episode is a mess. You can hardly tell who are the main characters and the execution is poor but keep watching and you will see one of the most beautiful love stories of all time. I loved this show so much I've watched it around 5 times (both seasons) and read the novel a couple of times. There are other BL couples in this and I won't say I didn't find their stories amusing but the major draw is Phunnoh. Its made me cry, laugh, giggle, blush, and ache. You will become love sick with Phun and Noh's story. Also, the music is perfect, catchy, and just wonderful to listen to. I've replayed several of the songs on youtube many times and downloaded the soundtrack. Watch this show, you won't regret it!

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The acting in this episode is better than in the first episode and I feel that the characters had better chemistry and more scenes to develop. It has its share of cliches like walking in the rain while you cry, but it is so charming when I see BL dramas adapt these cute scenes. If you want to watch an episode of a couple that has great chemistry, is a little taboo, has some cliched scenes (that are adorable), and happen to be guys then I recommend this. Some people may not like the Meng Meng character but I found her to be necessary and I would like to have her as a sister or friend. It has a low production value but feels real and I wasn't bored at all while watching. I do wish it was longer but it was a good BL show to watch. A+

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Beautiful and Addictive

This series has a lower rating than the drama I just dropped "Eternal love" but I fell in love with this drama and dropped "Eternal Love". Goes to show different strokes for different folks. Now why did I love this series? The music was addictive and I listed to the OST's all the times. The CGI for me was gorgeous and most of all the characters were fun to watch and the acting felt authentic. The female lead, at the start, was a dunce and I was annoyed by her but her friendships with the other fairies made me like her character more. As the female lead was put through heartaches she grew and I grew with her and I became fond of her and felt so much for her. The writers really made me do a whole 180 on her character. I really enjoy when a female character has other friends and storylines outside of her romance with the male lead. While the focal point is their romance, and I do love that, because their romance and chemistry was out of the park, the female lead still her her personal struggles aside from the male lead. One of the characters that I loved in the beginning gets progressively sadder and harder for me to like and I felt so sad for the death of the character as I knew him. While he does not pass away the person he was dies and it's really tragic especially since I liked his character even more than the male lead. The male lead was the typical strong man with a heart of gold, but he does become more jaded due to some unforeseen consequences. I watched this drama on the heels of watching "Love between Fairy and Devil" and it was even easier to slip into this world since I had a feel for the genre. I think if you don't typically watch Chinese dramas the long story format can feel daunting, but when I'm in the mood for a long drama this genre is such a great option. To me it feels like a long novel that you can get lost in and in these types of dramas you have the opportunity to see characters develop in a way that feels authentic and not too fast, since they can take their time to show how and why these characters change. The chemistry was great, the music was beautiful, the setting was pretty, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you glued to your t.v. screen. This was a 10/10!

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Simple and Cozy

This movie has been on my watchlist for a while so I decided to give it a shot. I thought the attraction between the ML's was great and there were some small funny scenes that made me laugh. This movie is a good watch if you want something simple and enjoy BL. I personally found myself bored at certain parts but the ML's had good chemistry and there were some moments that I screamed at because I was scared about what was going to happen or because of the tension. This movie had a lot of potential but I do think it was overly simple, however its a good start, and I hope it leads to more scripts for tv's and movies in Korean BL.

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Fell in Love with Loony

I've been watching this show for the past several days. I wouldn't say this is a show that is great for binge watch since each episode is long and has a gamut of feelings in it. I was often either crying my eyes out and also laughing at their little antics. However, I decided to see what others commented on the show because I wanted to steel myself in case the main lead has a tragic ending. What I found was the typical decision to give the gay character a tragic ending where they can't overcome their tribulations. Also, when watching the show I noticed how they did not show the ml romance kiss even on the cheek and just focused on their feet? I know that they may been constrained from being able to showcase their romance but I found it irritating, so along with the fact that Looney does not get his happy ending his love life is shrouded in secrecy. This left a distaste in my mouth and while I loved the main character and want to see him get his happy ending and overcome everything I can't move on with the drama knowing that the gay character doesn't get to see his own victory.

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Entertaining, Cute, and Original

This show is currently airing and I have only seen 2 episodes so far but I'm already in love with it. The main character is a virgin at 30 and in this story this grants him the ability to read minds. He then discovers the cool handsome and all-rounder guy at work has a crush on him. This show is well-acted, funny, and has such cute lovely moments. I also find it to be introspective and thoughtful. I can relate to the main character and his struggles and his loneliness. He has lost hope in falling in love and his life isn't miserable but he goes through the motions and does his best settling for the usual. You can't help but root for him since the beginning to find love. The progression of the show so far feels natural and the chemistry between the ML's gives me butterflies. I will come back once the show has fully aired but this drama is refreshing, romantic, funny, and. sweet. Also, I'm addicted and wish all episodes would air at once.

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Unmatched and Unparalleled

This series is based on a book series which I've read countless times before. The show and the books are not for the faint of heart and it has content that some may find triggering. The show features dubious consent and the novel has a brutal rape scene between the two main leads. This may lead some people to not condone or enjoy this series but I personally found this show to be the best BL I've ever seen. Real life is not fiction and shows are not meant to portray all LGBT relationships. People who can't understand the difference here should not watch. Taking that into account this show has wonderful acting, a gorgeous soundtrack especially when it comes to the OST, two ML who have magnetic and profound chemistry, and very touching moments. The show does end on a cliffhanger because it was banned by the Chinese government. Google if it you are interested, but the story itself is completed. The author completed the book series and I recommend people watch the show and continue with reading the books to see how their relationship proceeds. The two ML are masculine and begin as sort of "enemies". They have a very cat-and-mouse relationship at first which the actors do a great job in portraying. The emotional and sexual tension between the ML can be felt throughout the show and it makes the scenes poignant and ADDICTIVE. You just keep wanting more of them. No other BL or story has ever captured the magic that this series has with these actors, for me. So basically if you can differentiate between fiction and reality and want to see a BL where the ML have insane chemistry watch this.

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Okay, so this is the first episode from the History series and I wanted to watch all of them so I gave this a try. It wasn't bad, but it left a lot to be desired. I think the story had a lot of potential, but because of the limited time they had to show the story and because one of the male leads was a little too wooden from me it fell flat in some ways. I think it was pretty funny and I was intrigued so definitely give it a watch, but I just think it could have been great given enough time and a little bit better acting from the taller male lead.

*****Spoilers*****

The guy who has a girl inside of him was really great at acting and his partner was hella fine. Damn, he was good looking. There were however plenty scenes that he was staring off that I felt like he could have played better. Perhaps, he just need more experience with acting...That wouldn't have bothered me much except for the fact that the script had a major flaw. The major flaw was that the guy whose body the girl is inhabiting (yeah that probably makes no sense unless you watch the show) has barely any scenes with his partner. It felt like this story was more about the doomed relationship between a girl and guy. You feel bad about the girl but you watch a BL to see the BL characters fall in love and you do get snippets in the episode, but it is minimal compared to the girl who is in a male body and her boyfriend. The beginning of the episode is a bit hard to get into because of editing choices which could have been handled a little better. Overall, I enjoyed this episode but it has some aspects to it that left me feeling bereft.

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Bored and uninvested

Okay so after finishing "Love between Fairy and Devil" and "Ashes of Love" I was interested in watching another Chinese fiction series. I tried to immerse myself into this series but after three episodes I couldn't. The FL kept annoying me and the CGI was pretty bad. Also, there are so many moving parts and characters that it's just a lot to keep track of.

The Female lead whines and expects to get away with doing whatever she wants. I was intrigued by the male lead but she annoyed me so much that I can't force myself to keep on watching. This drama is so popular so I felt it must be good, but perhaps because it is complex and long I found myself struggling with watching and I only got up to the third episode. I did sneak a peak at what happens in the future of the series and I did not want to put myself through that, especially since I could not find the characters interesting. I am a fan of angst and tension but knowing what happens to some of the characters in the name of character development just felt unnecessary. Also, like I mentioned I do not feel connected to the characters in the slightest.

Although the CGI is pretty bad I don't think that should be a deterrent for people who like the genre. I've seen bad CGI such as in "The Untamed" and still absolutely loved the series. The success of a series for me boils down to the acting, chemistry, and whether the show has a fulfilling ending. I personally can enjoy a story that has little to no plot to a story that is multi-layered and finely crafted in terms of plot. I can tell this series is plot-heavy but seeing how I'm uninvested in the characters it is not something I will waste my time watching.

The music was mediocre for me. Some dramas I don't skip the intro or ending song because they are so good and memorable and lovely to hear. This happened for me in "The Untamed", "Love between Fairy and Devil" and "Ashes of Love". All of their OST's were addictive. Even though the series were long I usually did not skip the intro or ending song. I don't mean to offend others by comparing these dramas but I did think it might be helpful to have a frame of reference for the content that I liked versus content I could not connect with.

This drama definitely is for people who want a rich plot and don't mind that the chemistry between the leads seems to develop with time. Based on spoilers I've read it is also for people who enjoy angst and action. I fall in the category of liking angst but the chemistry was not enough for me to become invested. Not my cup of tea, but I can see how it could be someone else's. Overall, I would rate it a 3/5 because I feel it has a lot of content to sink yourself into and that if you do enjoy the characters it would be an intriguing story to watch unfold. However, based on my personal enjoyment I would rate is a 2/5.

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