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Great Chemistry, Questionable Plot Execution
This drama was a mess and parts of it didn't make much sense, but I enjoyed it mostly because of Mos and Bank.What I didn't like
This 8 episode drama had too many plot points packed in, none of which were fully developed. We had:
Child acquaintances
Dealing with the loss of a parent and a new step mother
Enemies to lovers
Playboys falling in love
Working together on a work project
Arranged marriage that the main character didn’t want
Studying abroad opportunity
Love triangle with the friend coming back from overseas
Going to the same university but in different faculties
One person falling in love with the other years before they actually fully met
Date rape (whatever happened in the first episode)
Any of these plot lines or maybe even 2 or 3 of them fleshed out properly would have given us a great drama but because they decided to include all of those plot lines, the drama was all over the place.
The editing could have been improved because scenes didn't seem to fit together and some felt unnecessary. There were also enough cliché shots to make it noticeable (like focusing on some kisses too long, the rain falling randomly during the fight and the lights at the claw machine). Some of the kisses were really good, but others not so much.
Don't even get me started on the messed up premise of the show, that they never even full addressed/ explored. Like I'm all for a dark storyline, but it needs to be done well.
What I liked
Mos and Bank's chemistry. I'm talking about the way the look at each other and the natural skinship that Mangkorn and Yai had in the series. Just beautiful.
The conversations about equality and same sex marriage in Thailand, even though not always well incorporated, these conversations are still important.
The OST is amazing, though it might not capture the vibe of the show, Bank has a beautiful voice.
The drama itself is visually pleasing in terms of the contrasting of colours Mangkorn and Yai wear, the expensives cars and the pretty locations.
So, if you are watching this show because you saw how adorable Mos and Bank are in their interviews and vlogs, then this show is worth a watch to support the actors or even if you want something to pass the time and don't want to think too much, then watch it. However, if you are watching it for a logical plot and good progression of the storyline, then I'd say skip it but watch ep 7. It's so cute.
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Great Fighting Scenes
Honestly didn't really know what to expect going in, but I had a lot of fun watching this. The characters could have done with a bit more fleshing out, but we got the gist of most of the characters' motivations. I think the main thing that stood out for this drama were the fighting scenes. For the most part they looked really cool, held the tension and kept me invested. Overall, to me, the story doesn't seem too deep, but it was a really entertaining watch, and I didn't even notice the time passing by as I was watching.Was this review helpful to you?
Pat and Pran; The Definition of a Healthy Relationship
Pat and Pran communicate really well, their misunderstandings were cleared up quickly, they know how to make each other happy, and they are willing to comprimise. I couldn't have asked for a healthier couple. Despite the world being against them, they never lost sight of each other and the love that they share. Their relationship was portrayed naturally and flowed nicely. Ohm and Nanon did a wonderful job with the characters and their chemistry is insane. They even managed to make the goofy product placements funny/ interesting and less cringey.I really appreciated the fact that this drama took some of the typical tropes and stereotypes and flipped them as well as the fact that it addressed taking care of the environment. The OST was also great; Nanon really is a talented singer.
The editing was a bit choppy sometimes, some of the side characters could have been fleshed out a bit more and one of the time jumps felt a little out of place. However, overall, this drama is super sweet, and I smiled throughout most of the episodes. Pat and Pran had such a beautiful relationship where they grew and pushed each other to be the best version of themselves. I highly recommend watching it.
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Underrated, Quirky and Heartwarming
I started watching this to pass the time, but this drama surpassed my expectations. It's quirky and has a sad undertone right from the start but it's sweet and heartwarming. At the heart of the show is how to deal with grief and they handled it well. Koichi and Mitchan are so sweet together. You can feel their love through the screen.The internal monologues, which are something I'm usually not fond of because they can be so cringey, are really well done and felt genuine. I love contrasts between the Koichi and Mitchan's personalities and they really complement each other. Their story progresses naturally and you really see the character development especially Mitchan's.
The timeline at the beginning felt a little odd and the supernatural stuff isn't really explained, but that's not too important. Watch this drama for the characters and the love they have for each other. As someone who doesn't usually like sad endings I must say that it was warranted here and really well done. Any other ending wouldn't have fit the story.
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Refreshing Drama
I love the Queen. She truly is an amazing mother and woman. The love shas has for literally everyone is so beautiful and I loved that even though she was caring, she wasn't a pushover. Honestly one of my favourite female characters.I loved the relationship between the brothers and even the relationship between the Queen and the concubines was really interesting. Basically, all the characters and the character interactions were entertaining and well done.
Even though I think it was a bit slow to start and there were too a lot ofcharacters introduced at once, I still absolutely loved this show once I got into it. It felt like a modern sageuk since they had some progressive themes and characters, but to me that's what made it refreshing.
It did get a bit predictable towards the end, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the show. I love the ending scene so much. The show really came full circle. Definitely recommend.
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Entertaining But Could Be Better
Phayu and Rain (Eps 1-7)Phayu and Rain make a really believable couple and I love this couple so much. Their interactions are organic, a little cringey at times but still super cute. Their story for the most part feels like a slice of life, where not that much happens plot wise and it's more like we're just taking a peek into these characters' lives and I love that.
However, the plot tends to introduce things/ build up things only to have them peter out. For example, the race between Phayu and Stop. They built that up so much and Rain was so worried, but then the race happens and it was so underwhelming. Everyone said that Stop cheated but how? They never should us that he cheated or how.
Another thing was that they made it a big mystery about Phayu's family owing a garage but then Phayu randomly says it to a bunch of juniors. If he can mention it so casually there, how was it that this never came up before in all the years he was in uni?
The acting was pretty decent, not the best but also not the worst I've seen. Honestly, I love Phayu and Rain and could watch them being all cutesy and in love any time. 9/10
Prapai and Sky (Eps 8-13)
I actually think this storyline could have been handled better since the themes were darker compared to the first part. What bothered me the most was that in the beginning Prapai doesn't seem to understand the meaning of the word 'no.'
He was pretty pushy in the beginning and I think they could have showed his determination to pursue Sky in a better way that didn't make him come off as a bit of a stalker. I mean he changed phone nember multple times because Sky kept blocking him. That's very stalker like. Or they could have shown Sky being more receptive in deeds but saying no verbally. Just something so it didn't seem so one sided.
However, in the later episodes, Pai was sweet for the most part and I do think the actors have good chemistry so Prapai and Sky were still a pretty cute couple.
The acting was okay. Peat's crying was a bit awkward sometimes and Fort's smile sometimes felt too fake and didn't portray the happiness that Prapai was supposed to be feeling. 7/10
Overall, the sound quality wasn't great and it was a little annoying that every charater needed to speak all of their thoughts aloud. It's fine if one character does it but when you have all four main character with this trait then it's awkward. However, I still enjoyed watching the show.
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A Love That Runs Deep
The story was beautifully woven and well thought out. The main characters and the side characters were well developed and the chemistry between the characters was amazing. What I loved the most about this drama was the love between Orchid and Dongfang Qing Cang. It ran deep and was so pure and strong. You could feel how much they loved each other, from the little gestures and touches to the loving look in their eyes and the sacrifices they were willing to make for each other.Dylan and Esther both did such an amazing job portraying their characters, especially Dylan. The way he portrayed Dongfang Qing Cang, you could see every emotion in his eyes and micro expressions, and he was absolute gold in the body swap episodes.
The costumes and the settings were beautifully designed. I love the contrast between the clothing of the Moon tribe vs Fairy Realm, and I also quite enjoyed the OST. There were a bit too many fade to black transitions between scenes which was a little jarring at times and people complained about Orchid's voice, although I actually found it quite fitting for her cute, bubbly character.
Overall, this drama is not without it flaws and could have used a bit more explanation in some areas, but it was definitely enjoyable and I highly recommend it.
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Hope in the Face of Adversity
I really liked this drama. Suicide is an extremely complex topic and this drama wasn't always realistic in terms of how quickly some of the cases seemed to be wrapped up. I wished they'd emphasized the importance of treatment/ therapy after the chraracters overcame their crisis situations, but overall the drama did touch on some very important aspects and shed light on the struggles that people face on a daily basis.I went through so many emotions watching this, sadness, rage, irritation, disbelief and happiness to name a few. This drama tugged at my heart strings like very few dramas before this could and to me the underlying theme was always having hope in the face of adversity. I appreciated the bits of humour sprinkled in since it made me smile in some of the heavier parts of the show.
The entire cast, main, suppoting and guests, did an amazing job and the acting was quite moving. I was a little disappointed that Lee Soo Hyuk didn't have a bigger role since I originally started this drama because he was listed as a main character, but that's a small issuse.
If you're watching this drama, beware of the tags since the themes are on the heavier side.
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