Work of Art

This is for Wuxia lovers and is honestly just a beautiful piece of cinematography.

The story is a simple one, but is executed quite well for a short story. I can't get too much into the storyline because it would give the whole story away, but they did a phenomenal job of creating a perfect atmosphere right off the bat. I did feel a little lost at first but everything draws together by the end. My only qualm would of course be the length (this is is only thirty minutes long) just because there is so much that could have been fleshed out. The characters were complex and the way they influenced each other made me want to explore them more in depth. However, this wasn't too glaring of an issue because what they did portray held so much weight to it.

Painted Skin succeeds in creating an air of mystery but also delivers an almost intimate experience. Every interaction and scene carries itself flawlessly and was meaningful which I loved. This made me feel more than some full length dramas and it did it well. The acting is on point and despite the short length, this had me completely immersed in the characters quickly and thoroughly. They did a great job of building the relationships in Painted Skin up on a strong foundation and then moving them forward towards the endgame. The music in this is so beautiful and really contributed to the emotional scenes within. The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous and each take was beautiful and/or heart wrenching.

All in all, a really good mini-film that carried its weight in watching gold. I would recommend if you're looking for something meaty (pun intended hehehe. You'll understand if you watch) but short. This was a really good filler drama for in between drama indecision and I thoroughly enjoyed the watch.

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Chemistry for Miles

This is a slow burn, chemistry laden short film that grabs you from the moment it starts to the last finishing scene. There was not a dull or insignificant scene in Wuliang and I'm all the happier for it.

This is the same length as its predecessor Painted Skin, and features the same two leads wonderfully enough. The two main actors have some serious chemistry together and this is what truly brings forth the emotional performance. This could have easily been a full length, forty episode, wuxia drama but it still manages to deliver a solid experience within thirty minutes. The storyline is well done, easily followable, and concise. The plot is engaging and continues to move forward nicely while maintaining a semblance of mystery. Although this is a short film, the chemistry between the ML's felt like a slow burn and I could easily believe they built a bond over time. Nothing here felt too abrupt or empty. They sprinkled some action scenes into Wuliang too and they were well done without being cheesy. The acting is on point and very believable. I loved the difference in the characters here than in their previous film together. Their diversity is no joke and the emotional scenes here carry some heavy impact to them. Though the soundtrack is used less than the previous film, it is beautiful.

All in all, a good action and emotion based wuxia drama that will be sure to wrench your heart. I would recommend if you're looking for a concise but emotional watch.

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Although it is censored, this series is very obviously BL. The chemistry between the two main characters all but screams that they are in love with each other. There is plenty of VERY close skin ship, but no actual kissing. The storyline, although not well developed itself, was easy to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters interactions with each other. My only complaint is that it ended super abruptly and a little bit strangely with a animation scene rather than live action. I would definitely watch more episodes of this, but I think they end it where they do because Xia Yuo has the realization that he's in love with Yuan Zong. We don't really get any closure on the story between the two which is sad.

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Cute & Impactful

If you're looking for a sweet BL with deeper content, or just honestly a cute BL, this is for you.

The premise itself is pretty self-explanatory, but the storyline focuses on Adachi who leads his life afraid to say no or get into uncomfortable situations. Adachi is our resident anti-social and anxious ball of fluff. He tends to focus on people's outer appearance and blames himself for not being better or more put together. When a co-worker jokes with him about thirty year old virgins becoming magic users, he of course laughs it off. Then we have Kurosawa, who on the outside world views as perfect and Adachi looks at him with something akin to respect and an almost bitterness. This is their love and learning story. Thus enters the "Cherry Magic" which allows Adachi to hear the thoughts of those he touches. Through this, he finds out Kurosawa is in love with him, and so begins the ridiculous adventures of the magic.

This is honestly such a wholesome drama/bl. It's not a super skinshippy BL, but the love that Kurosawa has for Adachi is so pure and the romance in it is adorable. CM portrays the journey to self love beautifully, and I loved the lack of "evil" characters in this as it was so unneeded. We get a side couple and some lovely secondary characters who help move the storyline/character development along. I would have loved this to be longer as each twenty minute episode felt quite short, but this was definitely quality over quantity. The OST is cute, and the acting is wonderful. The latter is really what pulled this drama together as the two mains and secondary couple had to convey chemistry without lots of intimate touches. There are sweet looks, intense ones, and the small moments peppered throughout were an all around pleasure to watch.

All in all, a cute drama with nice meaning behind it. I would highly recommend to any BL lover, and honestly even if you're just looking for a sweet but involved drama to watch.

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An Insight Into The Mind of the Hopeless

This is not a wonderful romance nor a drama that tempts you with the glimmer of a happy ending.

This is a thought provoking piece on those who live with pain under the surface and how society deals with it. It follows a girl who is heavily abused at home and at school, thus making her attempt to take her life. Enter the ML who later tells the FL that he doesn't have the courage to take his own life. He professes to being her stalker and steals her away from her suicide attempt and life. This leads to a series of events in which she learns what being cared for is like, and by someone who society would tell her to run away from. (I'm not promoting kidnapping or stalking, but the circumstances are quite sad.)

Sachirro no One Room is by no means a light hearted series. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has heavy triggers or someone who tends to stay away from gloomy watches. There really isn't anything in here to lighten up the mood. This drama addresses suicide, mental trauma, familial abuse, bullying, and sexual abuse. It is a somber tale of someone who is abused by everyone who is supposed to take care of her, and a man who has nothing to live for, but needs to find something to die for. It was insightful in a way, but incredibly sad.

The acting is done decently well, and the series is quite short so there is a lot packed into each episode. I definitely hated all the people who abused Sachii. The girl had some major trauma. The music didn't make much of an impact, this is very content driven. I will say, I am unlikely to ever forget this drama, but it is unlikely I would watch again.

All in all, I'm not sure I could recommend this, but I think it's worth the watch if you're looking for something short with serious content. Just don't go into this expecting a happy ending.

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One person, forever.

Sometimes home is a person, and happiness the sound of the heartbeat that resides there.

It's been some time since I've written a proper review but this drama sincerely deserves it.

If you're worried about the age gap aspect here, set those worries aside, it's been done extremely well and tastefully. This is a drama about two people who meet at all the right times, and who are what the other needs throughout all of the hardships and hidden wounds. Every green flag you can think of is in here. There is no misunderstandings, the couple works together to make their relationship mesh well despite their different places in life, and they will have you smiling and crying the entire time.

Hidden Love is heartwarming in all the best ways. Not only is there romance, but familial love as well. Every single relationship, from SZ's friends to DJX's buddies, is something wholesome and it is portrayed so naturally it's hard to not believe they are real friends who have known each other for years. I adored every single character as they grew together and leaned on each other.

The music is perfect, and by the end will have you sobbing and smiling at the same time, and the pacing in Hidden Love is absolute perfection. There wasn't a moment where I wanted to skip ahead or felt like there could have been more. This is a feel good drama and it is extremely well done.

If you need softness and a beautiful love story, give this a try!

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A Run Towards Love

"You can't control what others think about you."

This is definitely a top tier coming of age story. There is love, friendship, and most of all, plenty of angst to go around.

While there are many BL's out there that are fluffy and dish out a light dusting of angst, ITSAY takes the cake on the later and runs with it. The story of two boys who are growing into themselves, their feelings, and dreams rings too true and will hit close to home for many. The acting in ITSAY is phenomenal and I have no complaints on that front. This drama really confronts societal pressures and facing your own feelings head on. The cinematography was beautiful, and the shots in this were very pleasing.

If I'm being honest, the angst in ITSAY was a little heavy for my taste, but if you're a glutton for emotional punishment then this is definitely for you. I appreciated the lack of evil characters, and that the story mainly revolved around the two ML's. This is where the push and pull was heavy, but very character building between the two. Since there is very little outside pressure added to the mix, it allowed the viewer to focus more on the prominent chemistry with the leads. Though some scenes were filled to the brim with emotion and left me slightly uncomfortable, they captured the essence of growing pains to the fullest.

All in all, a good series, but definitely not a light one. I would recommend watching if you're looking for a BL with substance and beautiful cinematography.

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An Orange Blossom in the Midst of Winter

Disclaimer: I haven't read the manga for this movie so this is just based on the movie.

This is honestly such a chill and laid back drama that it will satiate any needs for a relatively angst free watch.

As with many Japanese dramas, this drama had a certain nostalgic feel to it. The cinematography was very pleasant and cozy. This is definitely a movie that you can curl up on the couch with a cup of tea. It just has that sort of feel to it. The storyline is pretty simple and since it is a movie, we move on to the character introductions and storylines quite quickly. There are lovely elements in here like family, burgeoning love, and accepting oneself. We tick through the discovery boxes decently fast, but the pacing didn't leave me feeling left behind. I would have liked to go more in-depth into the characters but since the movie was only an hour and half long, it wasn't too big of a hang up. There was so much to these characters and I think after watching this, it might benefit to read the manga though. The characters have substance to them, so maybe go in expecting a surface plot. The acting was lovely, charming, and believable. The relationships were sweet and foundational as well and flawlessly executed.

All in all, a drama for lazy afternoons and it makes for a pleasant watch. I would recommend if you're looking for something slightly nostalgic but light.

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As someone who absolutely loves traditional folklore and a fan of the Gu Family Book, I was pumped for this drama to come out. Unfortunately, my high hopes were dashed over the progression of this drama.

The main plotline of this drama is promising with the modern day introduction showing a beautiful Lee Yeon with his red umbrella and his intense fight scene with a rogue fox. The colors are shot vibrantly, the story begins promisingly, and the cinematography, although somewhat cheesy at times, is well done. Entering stage left is the spunky and stubborn Ji Ah with her camera and sharp eyes to figure out mysteries. She captured my interest the moment she fell of the building to test Lee Yeon, and I thought that was it. Maybe my biggest mistake. Instead of character development, Ji Ah basically said take it back now ya'll, and her character disintegrated into a hopeless and clueless damsel in distress. The love story fell sadly short in this drama, the romance was flatter than a slippery banana peel, and I couldn't make myself care about these second-chance lovers. Since the majority of the screen time is devoted to the love-dovey couple, my interest faded in and out, and I felt the strong points in the drama were ignored.

However, it's not all bad. The secondary characters save the day. Specifically Ki Bum's character, who was the knight in shining armor to the bleak storyline that was unfolding before me. The revenge/redemption plot line between the two brothers kept me watching, and I honestly would have watched a sixteen episode series of just their adventures. His character is done an injustice by the end though, and it was the only moment in the drama where a felt something. Kim Bum did a great job being the villain and the devoted brother, and I am so happy it was something to keep me distracted from the rest of the bland chaos.

I feel there a plot holes in this drama as well, and so much missed potential it hurts. There were some twists that were meant to be interesting, but just came off as confusing. The sacrifice trope gets over milked too, and ended up losing any meaning by the end for the two leads. The acting isn't necessarily bad here, but I feel that there were some actors/scenes that were missing that certain spark that pulls me in. I can't say I felt much about this drama other than awe at Ki Bum's acting, and eternal frustration at the strange ending. The OST was really good though, and I love the dark ending song.

All in all, a drama with a lot of potential but one that missed its mark. There are cute moments, and I would watch just for the two brothers storyline. However, this is definitely not a groundbreaking drama.

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Objectively not a bad drama, just not my cup of tea.

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, is a romantic comedy that follows four couples (all with varying screen times) and their daily life. It tried to be a little spicy by adding some light angst to it, but they probably should have left the traumatic past out of it as it didn't get enough screen time devoted to actually matter.

This drama would have been greatly benefitted by ending at episode 12, but they definitely tied up all the loose ends, and finished their character development. It was just a little dragged out in my opinion. There are a lot of sweet and funny moments throughout this, but it is by no means a riveting series. The chemistry was stronger between the side couples than the main couple even though we get our fair share of steamy kisses. I love the two main leads in other dramas, but I'm not sure they meshed together well in this one.

What I did like was that this is certainly a learning and development drama. WWWSK addresses the growing pains that happen in a first (or any) relationship, how important it is to compromise, and that understanding in a relationship is key. The acting is done well, but it was a pretty flat ride for me.

All in all, not bad if you're looking for something light and sweet, but it probably won't keep you glued to your seat.

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Do memories hold power? Do those memories or the lack thereof shape who we become?

This was a spider web of lies and truths with the spider in the shadows waiting for its prey. The entire drama was a giant, twisted, puzzle and everybody had little pieces to the story. I found this super refreshing since most of the villain's reveal themselves for the suspense, but this was the exact opposite. The entire drama is a cat and mouse game, and I can't say I feel the least bit sorry for the mice in this one. The entire story is built on the fact that everything you know could be a mistruth and all your progress could disappear in an instant.

The acting is really well done. The premise did remind me slightly of He Is Psychometric, which initially made me hesitant to watch it, but it is nothing like it. I did feel they could have used music more to further the emotions in some scenes, but they made up for it with the killer (literally) storyline and suspense. You think you know who the culprit is then your thrown back into the dark over and over again helplessly. It was wonderful.

Just a warning, there are some decently violent scenes, along with a heavily implied rape scene near the end.

Definitely give this one a try if you like a good thriller/mystery. It will keep you on your toes.

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This is a classic get the bad guys drama, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. It had just enough light scenes to balance out the violent ones, and the bond between the group members was so much fun to watch. A little warning though, if you're not into bloody scenes this might not be for you. There is a good bit of people dying at the hands of the villain's in the series, and plenty of beatings to go around.

The OST was great and all the music in the scenes was on point to set you in the mood for what was going on. The actors did a phenomenal job with everything. While we've definitely seen the revenge/defeat the bad guys story before, this was well executed. I cheered on the guys who were the outcasts of society (technically criminals, but the goodish guys in this case) and despised the real criminals who killed and manipulated to get what they wanted out of society. Definitely a roller-coaster of emotions, but fun to watch. All in all, a great drama.

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A Cup Of Tea On A Cold Winters Morning

This is a light and healing drama with some touch of serious notes. Warning: If you're sensitive to relationship abuse, you might want to steer clear or at least skip through some scenes on this as it does deal with those kind of issues.

The storyline was lovely and very much a slow burn on this. It focuses on the two main character's and their developing romance, but also follows other characters on their walk through life. I experienced some very lovely warm feelings from watching as the relationships and romance played out on the screen. It does get quite serious at times, but the story is more about finding your own happiness and not living your life according to other peoples expectations. Love yourself and look for your happiness continually instead of getting lost in societal pressures. Also, community is everything. I do wish the ending was a little less open ended, but not every story gets wrapped up with perfect bows, so it wasn't too much of a concern.

The acting was spot on. I didn't cry much in this, which was exactly what I was looking for, but there were many smiles and laughs watching WTWIF. Everything conveyed is so genuine, that sometimes when the characters are only looking at each other or acting without words, I felt the emotions through the screen. It was highly pleasant and enjoyable to watch.

The music is very pretty and soothing. Not the main focus for sure, but it helped heavily in setting the mood in many scenes.

All in all, I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a break from heavy dramas and want something soothing to the soul and mind. It was a slow developing drama, but at sixteen episodes, I thought it was paced well and very enjoyable. It left me with a nice warm feeling after watching it.

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Tell Your Story To The World

This series has so much going for it. It is an important narrative about a man who is out and proud and another who is still figuring out what his truth is.

I have to say, hype can be dangerous and I was nervous about this one, but from the moment it started to the finish line, it was beautiful. There is so much to love about this. LITM is not the classic "I'm not gay, I just like you" trope that is so often found in BL's these days. While the show mainly takes place in the apartment, every scene feels true and powerful. They confront real issues in the LGBTQ+ community while telling the gradual love story of these two boys. The side characters get their own brief stories that still carry an impact. The music is beautiful, and honestly one of my favorite soundtracks to date as each song was different and perfect for the coinciding scene.

The acting is so spot on. It might be because I have been both Vlad and Karl, but their roles and acting hit hard in the best way. I spent the whole time either grinning, crying, or both. Everyone in here plays such an important role and delivers a truly solid performance. This is going to make you feel something, and it is going to do it well.

All in all, I highly recommend if you're looking a BL (or anything really) that has something more beneath the surface. This is a simple yet beautiful watch.
And last, but not least. Be true to yourself. The real fight is on the outside. We welcome you when you're ready.

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A Wonderful Surprise

This was exactly the ticket to fluff-ville that I was looking for lately.

IFFY was pleasant surprise as I went into this drama not expecting too much. It has the fluffiest of fluff and enough mystery to keep the plot propelled. There is of course the usual tropes such as childhood love and promises, as well as some small plot holes, but these were overlooked for the cuteness and well-placed humor throughout. It isn't really an action packed drama, but there was enough going on that the plot rarely dragged. There was little need for skipping as the less packed moments were filled with many laughs and sweet chemistry all around. While it is definitely puts the romantic in rom-com, don't go into this expecting a touchy feely, skinshippy kind of passionate love story.


The acting had its highs and lows, and was often times humorous even in serious moments (I assumed it was purposeful), with some actors doing better than others, but ultimately it wasn't cringeworthy. The OST was spot on, with the ending song being highly addictive.

All in all, IFFY is by no means a skip and hop into thriller-ville, but was well-paced and sweet. I recommend if you're wanting a nice and light drama to watch, with a little mystery to balance it out.

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