Not sure if I believe in magic, but I do believe in the reality this show sets us in

This drama regrettably leaves viewers with many unanswered questions by the end of the last episode. Too many plot holes and too much craziness that probably can't be fixed. Ever.

But the show's beauty lies in the fact that none of the above bothered me by the end of it. I genuinely enjoyed the glitch this show put me through and the heartstrings it managed to pull in me. The darkness of the plot is tamed by the sweetness of the relationships in it, and I can watch the actors play their roles so well all day. Probably not all will find this show to be sane or worthy of a serious watch, but if you are missing this, you might as well have lost a chance to learn the meaning of true magic.

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A cliche made right

This drama, to be honest, is so fluffy with cringeworthy moments, but nonetheless, I had a lot of fun watching it. Having watched a lot of intense and suspense-packed dramas recently, I needed something lighthearted and cheesy and Koi Wa Tsuzuku Yo Doko Made Mo was a very pleasant break. The story is very cliche and predictable, but it did have a few heartfelt moments and when a cliche is made right, it can be very fruitful.
I loved the acting and the FL made the show so much more cheerful to watch.
I probably won't rewatch it because of how simple the drama is, but I feel like many people definitely will rewatch it for the exact same reason. The supporting characters could have had a better and stronger storyline which was the only place I was disappointed.
Definitely worth a watch though.

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A show you will definitely like!

I just finished watching this show and what can else can I say about it apart from the fact that it's a tearjerker, a comedic and blissful romance...
What I love about this show is hard to list out because of the huge number, but I must agree on the fact that the familial, and friendship bonds in this show are so raw that it'd just bring a teary smile to your face. The way they show the contrast between the North and South in every aspect is just so gorgeously detailed that it never fails to bring out my empathetic side for the North Koreans. There's a small aspect of dark humor underlining the entire show that you'll have a great time figuring it out.
The main leads romance is so cliche yet so pure and enjoyable to watch that the cliche aspect wouldn't even stop you from liking it.
The story of the second leads is just as good as one would expect it to be and I loved all the side characters. Even the bad ones.
The only drawback of this drama is that it is HIGHLY unrealistic. But that just made it even more enjoyable to watch so I'm not in queue to complain.
I will definitely rewatch it one day.

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The deeper you get, the more interesting it is.

I was a little confused about what the underlying message behind all the four short films was... so I did a little search for it and then I found some interesting stuff...

The first film, Love Set, is basically a tennis match with IU's father's marriage at stake. But in reality, it's a power struggle between the two women. They hardly pay any attention to IU's father and IU's supposed 'boyfriend' throughout the course of the match, making it more about them and their fight for dominance over each other with the father's 'marriage' as an excuse to do so. It brings out the proud side of human nature... Love Set basically portrays how we deal with conflict in our life.
But another theory is that IU and Doona (the English teacher) go way back in time and have had a past before Doona and IU's father even met.

Collector is a short film about a 'Kumiho' (a nine-tailed fox that turns into a beautiful woman who seduces men and eats their liver or heart). Collector shows the dominance of women in society and portrays the darker side of woman empowerment. In the film, IU uses her sexuality to her advantage and seduces Beak Jeong U until he's so in love with her that he's willing to rip out his heart and give it to her. This shows the manipulative side of women that society doesn't really talk about.

Kiss Burn, the lightest of all four films, is a short depiction on youth, friendship, loyalty, mischief, oppression and rebellion. IU plays the role of a loyal friend who helps Hye Bok take revenge on her oppressive father. IU and Hye Bok try various methods to take revenge on Hye Bok's father and find amusement even in the smallest of things which shows the innocence of childhood. As the film progresses, it's clear that IU and Hye Bok have a strong bond of friendship and admiration for each other. As an act of rebellion, IU encourages Hye Bok to smoke a cigarette which results in the fire in the chicken coop. During the incident, we can see a chicken escaping the coop with its tail on fire which, in the end, leads to the massive forest fire we see in the end of the film. This shows that the Youth neglect the bigger picture of what their actions do to society.

Walking at Night is a take on depression. In the film, IU, who is dead, visits her boyfriend in a dream and they talk about things they didn't get to talk about when IU was alive. IU confesses that she committed suicide because she felt lonely. Her boyfriend hardly keeps his tears in, partly blaming himself for what happened despite IU's constant reminder that her death wasn't his fault. IU confesses that he did help her, but the loneliness she felt when she was with others overpowered the feelings her boyfriend made her feel. Then the two former lovers go on to talk about how they'll be eventually forgotten and how life is uncertain for death is not the end.

I summarised what I understood from reading two-three articles explaining each film because I was jobless and really curious. I initially gave this anthology an 8/10 but after deciphering what it truly conveys, I'm changing it to a 9/10 because it genuinely impressed me. IU's acting was really good but so was Park Hae Soo's in Collector. He stood out to me the most among all four shorts.

I wouldn't rewatch it, but I'd say if you're a commuter, you just found yourself two days worth of entertainment.

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A serotonin boost

Kieta Hatsukoi is by far the cutest and fluffiest drama I've come across. It is short, incredibly sweet, and very very, very enjoyable. Waiting for a 20 min episode every week was pure torture but also very rewarding.

In reality, there's not much to the story at all. It is cliche, and generic, nothing much to be impressed with. But the way the show was shot is an absolute joy. One can't help but smile their way through the entire show and squeal in delight every time something fluffy happens. The acting was exaggerated, but not in a way that made one cringe. The OST is catchy, and I would totally rewatch this show whenever I feel down.

It is no doubt one of my go-to dramas and I highly recommend giving it a shot.

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Insightful and Entertaining!

(There will be very minor spoilers that are unrelated to the plot)

Where do I start with this show... I feel like I liked it more than I should.

It wasn't anything special nor did it have great aesthetics or music. It is your normal Thai BL.... so what makes this show worth watching?

It was everything together blending almost perfectly that made this show enjoyable for me. It started off cliche, one of the lead's acting was amazing while the other's was a bit off, both were eye candy and the plot didn't seem all that great. But as the story progressed, one can clearly see where it is heading.

Though it was nothing too deep, the plot had a very significant meaning that exposed the toxicity a fandom can hold. It was a healthy diss to the BL community as a whole and I loved the way the script of these arcs was written! Gene's acting was top-notch, changing from an introverted writer who was in a slump to an introverted writer who fell in love. The humor was where we needed it and there was no extra drama or over-dramatic characters (except for one... *sigh* that character had so much potential). It had enough of everything.

But the most important aspect of the drama that I must talk about, and I am sure every review out there is pointing it out, is the healthiness of the relationship between NubSib and Gene. NubSib is your typical 'dog gong'. He caters to Gene's every need and it's not limited to only when he's pursuing him, but also emotionally accommodates him and actually speaks to him about everything. Gene is also portrayed to be very mature and I love how non-toxic and healthy their relationship is, not only compared to its BL drama counterparts but all dramas as a whole.

One major issue I had throughout the show was the music and sound effects.... what did they make it so dramatic for? The music was beautiful, but the editing of it and the sound effects into the drama were overdone and could have been toned down a bit. There were also quite a few plot holes that were not addressed or filled even in the last episode and though it's not disrupting the main story, it is irresponsible of the scriptwriter to not take care of them. I love most of the side characters and their stories, but almost all the side characters either didn't get enough screen time or lacked some charm or depth.

This drama had a LOT of setbacks. It could have been MUCH MUCH better. But I am willing to overlook all of that because of how much I enjoyed watching it despite the problems. And the fluff in this drama is super cute :')

If you are someone looking for entertainment, this show will provide you with a lot of that and more.

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A splendid way to spend your time!

Wuliang is a movie I watched knowing nothing about what it was going to be like. I didn't read the blurb and kind of expected it to be like the actors' and director's previous work - Painted Skin.

Though the aesthetics of both the movies were slightly similar, the story and cinematography of Wuliang much exceeded my expectations that were set by Painted Skin.

Let's start off praising the acting. Both the leads have proved to be amazing actors through this short movie because of how emotionally taxing it is to the watchers. To be able to have the viewers of the movie connect to the characters in such a short time frame is not an easy task and the actors were amazing in that aspect. The chemistry they portrayed, their smiles, their caution, their decisions, and their actions... everything proved their worthiness of playing the roles they did and I am so glad it was THEM and not someone else.

The story itself seems a bit basic, but it couldn't have been more concise and wonderful! It wasn't hard to understand and it keeps one engaged and pulls them into the plot. Not knowing what a character would do next or why they were acting the way they were would obviously have the audience waiting to know more. I can't say much for the script because I feel like the translation I have read isn't too accurate, but I can decipher the intensity of it through the actions of the characters. The music and production, the fights, all of them fit the story so well and I can't stress upon this fact enough!

The pacing was just fine. It wasn't slow nor was it rushed. The only aspect of the movie that could have been better (not that it's very necessary) is that we could have gotten at least a few more mins to explain Feng Ren's (one of the main leads) back story a bit more... maybe not in words but in the form of flashbacks. Apart from that, I don't think this is a plot that can have any plot holes, and it was near perfect!

A must watch! At least give it a try... it is very short and most won't regret watching it.

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MUST WATCH!

This show was like that one really sweet grape that you won't have or find again.

I Told Sunset About You is a drama with a not-so-worth-mentioning plot and average storyline. What makes it stand out in its genre, though, is the incredibly meaningful script, its perfect pace, the detailed and to-the-point acting, the little angst, and the necessary drama.

In the beginning, I was truly a bit concerned about the chemistry between the leads. There was close to none of it and being a romance lover, I walked in expecting some sort of instant connection between the two protagonists. But then, I came to realize this was a total slow burn and needed patience, and before I knew it, more than the romance, I started watching it for the beauty of the show, its wonderful cinematography, and its poignant yet realistic nature of the plot.

As a BL lover, I obviously watched my share of the genre, and I can confidently say that I rarely found any BL's deal with the 'coming out of the closet' problems and ITSAY does that really really well.

The actors did an AMAZING job. I was totally immersed in the show and the OST clearly was a bonus. The sceneries were beautiful. The side characters (most of them) were memorable and lovable.

In general, the quality of this show by far exceeded almost every BL I have watched (especially every Thai BL I have watched). It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but no matter what, it is worth giving a shot.

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A very attractive watch

Now I call it an attractive watch because of the twistedly acceptable elements of this show. I have watched multiple romantic plots with the main leads having all kinds of good, flawed, or likable personalities. This show is probably the first where I see both the leads have morally questionable characters, which evens out the dynamic and makes it quite acceptable since they aren't ruining anything (or anyone for that matter) with the way they are.

One can come out as innocent, stalkerish, and perverse, and the other can come out as a total bully and dominantly aggressive (especially with their words). Somehow, I don't find it as creepy, at least not as much as I found it different. I read a random comment that said, 'this story is about two broken boys coming together and learning how to communicate' and by the end of the last episode, that's precisely how I viewed it as well.

Now there are many out there who couldn't accept this show for what it was, and that's understandable. This isn't everyone's cup of tea. But if you are looking for something other than a norm to watch, this one is well worth trying.

Talking about the quality of the watch, I can't think of a better directed and better acted-out LGBT+ drama from Japan. The music was a bit too cheerful at times considering the theme of the show, but apart from that, it's pretty aesthetic to look at, and the script seems good too (the subtitles I was exposed to were very off, so I had to settle with those subs and my limited Japanese knowledge to rewrite the dialogues in my head). The show's pacing was great (for me), and like any fan of the show, I wish it were longer.

In conclusion, you might not want to miss this one out. It may or may not be to your liking, but that's for you to decide, and don't miss out on making that decision for yourself.

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A CLASSIC AND MUST WATCH!

To begin with, Your Name Engraved Herein is not your typical BL movie that's aimed to please a Fujin. Within the first five minutes, one is bound to figure out the essence of the story and the direction it is going in. What hooked me on since the beginning is that 'essence' and anticipation of what might happen next.

I absolutely loved the setting of the plot and the movie is nothing short of a 'masterpiece' in my opinion. Starting from the storyline which is heart-wrenchingly beautiful and sadly serene, to the music and acting which perfectly complimented the poignance of the movie, towards the end, one would be left feeling melancholic but also fulfilled in a way that cannot be explained.

The main leads were bewitching and I cannot praise the cast enough!

Your Name Engraved Herein is a must-watch LGBTQ+ movie! Despite not having a very heavy plot, it is enough to engage most people from the start.

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DEFINITELY A DRAMA WORTHY OF ALL THE PRAISE IT RECEIVES!

I was under the impression that, just like any other fantasy drama, The Untamed would be a little unrealistic, with a credible plot, really handsome men but a lot of CGI...
I am someone who has watched more than 90 dramas but this was only my fourth Chinese drama and I didn't really know what to expect. It was also my first wuxia drama, so I was basically clueless about anything and everything Chinese culture had to offer.

But then came the day I saw this drama on my Netflix recommended and I didn't know what pushed me to do it, but I clicked the play button and I haven't stopped clicking it since then.

The drama started off with a strong plot that instantly captivated me. And the intensity of the plot remained consistent until the very last minute of the last episode and that's one thing that I absolutely loved about The Untamed. It has an amazing script, and an equally engaging storyline that you will never get bored of.

And then the next best thing was obviously the relationship between the leads. One thing I wasn't warned about before watching this drama was the bond the main leads shared and I wasn't ready for any of the bromance... Like not ready at all... So when it hit me that I was in-fact watching a semi-BL drama, I couldn't help but squeal in excitement because the chemistry was that good. It was undeniably The Best. As someone who prefers Bromance over Romance, I was super pleased with the way the actors got it all right. I still can't get enough of Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian...
Honestly, the drama's summary should come with a 'CAUTION! INSANE AMOUNT OF BROMANCE' tag so people would be mentally prepared for it instead of just gushing into a wave of cuteness and cheese.
And the familial bonds in the show were equally satisfying and I just couldn't not like the show from the very beginning.

I was so amused with the costumes they wore, so amused with the place they live in, I enjoyed everything the show had to offer. The OST was just as melodic as one would expect it to be for a drama as good as this. I think the soundtrack is one of the factors that made this drama so likeable and goosebump-worthy.

The direction, the editing and the cinematography were so breathtaking, I'm not lying when I say I cried just because of the way a tear trailing down a characters cheek was shot. Just amazing...

I would say that the only drawback is that it got a little draggy in a few episodes, mostly towards the end... but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. In fact, I'm craving for more.

If you want a perfect combination of amazing action, direction, OST, acting, bromance, and really good looking people, this is the show for you.


P.S: This is my first review on MDL... please don't mind the bad grammar and the way I wrote it, because I'm definitely not a critique. I'm biased and I love this Show.

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...

I am not entirely qualified to write a review for this show, but I also couldn't help myself.

I watched the entire show in 3 days, which is physically impossible unless I skipped a good portion of the plot. And that's precisely what I did. I skipped most of the ML's back story, which isn't the wisest thing to do when watching such a high-rated drama that deserves to be sipped like hot chocolate on a cold winter night.

I personally would have given the entire show a genuine watch if it wasn't for my mental space, but I also blame the plot equally for being a little too elaborate and complicated to follow. It didn't help that the extra annoying characters and the palace drama were unevenly concentrated entirely in the middle of the show.

All that aside, what I look for in a show is for me to be emotionally invested in it, and Love Like The Galaxy has done that even though I skipped through half of it. Even without as much context as I could have had, it made me smile, laugh, and bawl my eyes when it needed to, and that just says how well it's made and how much the cast put into this work to bring the characters to life. There were characters I never thought I so desperately needed to watch, and I love the show for bringing them to life. The romance itself is slow, but so wholesome and respectful. What I love about this show is the fact that it addresses the importance of individuality and dependence.

I do wish to watch an epilogue that can ease the angst the last few episodes of the show put me through, but it nevertheless had a pretty good and unrushed ending.

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This gives me hope for better quality LGBTQ+ content from Korea.

This is by far the best Korean BL I've seen so far! The cast was great, the acting was great, the script was great, the music was great. Everything was soooo good!

They used up every short minute of the show carefully. I only wished there was one more episode, so there was more story to develop the feelings between the leads, so we connected to it more. The only other drawback I see is with the side characters. But their story couldn't be developed with the plot cause of the time restraints and that's understandable.

There's nothing more to say. Just watch it!

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A Heartwarminng depiction of Love and the acceptance of it

While the Unknown might have initially been a novel filled with dark themes and a humongous list of well developed characters that I’m unaware of, on its own, it stands to be one of the best, well made, well paced, and well acted dramas I’ve watched in a while.

The actors were absolutely stunning to watch! The concept of the show was a little morally jarring, but the said theme of loving one’s guardian, and then the struggle of the guardian to come to terms with those feelings and gradually accept them, I’ve never seen a show portray such concepts so well! I mean, if there are any out there, I’d love some recommendations!

Overall, a very very touching, beautiful watch! Highly recommend!

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