Has the potential but failed to execute a clean flow of story

The genre is not my cup of tea but the storyline seems to be interesting but still fails to execute it in a cleaner way. The first half of the show is excellent however the way they solved the cases are too good to be true and mostly overwritten ideas. The plot twist is either cliche or another norm that I’ve seen from many other related categories of problem-solving cases.

Destinies and coincidences in dramas are weird. Both of the main character shares the same birthday who also linked them to the day of the bombing incident 20 years ago which also turned out that the person who surrendered himself was related to the other guy as one of the staff who took care at them in the orphanage.

I didn't even feel any kind of shock the moment they revealed that the sister/senior is alive. The same goes with the rest of the revelations such as the reason behind the bombing, dual side of each characters, keeping the main character alive despite the risky things they did, and many other things. I laughed at how idiot most villains in the drama are. They have the capacity to kill the protagonist but choose to play with their lives that bite them back sooner. The difference between killing without a sense of doubt a minor character compared to those who have a big role is far too distant. Also, the son of the Prime Minister is bad at acting; his laughs are cringe.

The feeling of being bored all throughout their operational scenes. I’m getting tired of the never-ending search for the mastermind of the incident from the past. The last few episodes are a major downfall. Too many loopholes, ordinary turn of events, and below average resolving of the problem. The ending is too bad. They’re too many issues not yet resolved or maybe they’re planning for a second season.

The biggest debate of the viewers is whether the show is a bromance or BL. To be honest, I came here expecting a BL but sadly they only give us a bromance. Every episode I am anticipating a shift to real romance but they wasted several chances of showcasing a perfect bloom to make the character face their real feelings to each other. Until I lost all my excitement and watched the show at 2x speed.

The extra-scenes on each epilogue are the only thing that I am somehow relieved to stay until the end. My favorite is the hilarious rock-paper-scissor game. I only conclude that Ichiro and Shiro are in the stage of realizing that they have feelings for each other yet no one will admit or initiate to talk about it first. They definitely acquired the chemistry of a couple and their little intimate scenes are enough to send me butterflies.

Thank goodness that the OST isn’t bad compared to the other elements of the show. The transitioning, editing, visual, and cinematography are great as well. Unfortunately, there’s too many errors that make it hard not to notice from the story itself which also puts the whole show in a disadvantage.

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A Colorless Sequel

As a big fan of the first season, I anticipated this sequel the moment it was announced. Unfortunately, this season disappoints me to the point that I felt like they wasted a great opportunity to create a more distinct flow of story. Yoo Han has been kidnapped and this season focused on the MONOs desperation of wanting to see colors and undergo probe surgery, which was later on found out that it was an experimental procedure that resulted in the death of the MONOs who turn out to be the guinea pig without their knowledge. The victims of this test surgery include Se Hyun’s sister and Yeon Woo’s mother.

The story is confusing. Still love the concept but the execution was poorly done and feels like they're the only one who understands what's going on in the story. A bland and plain season, just like how MONOs can’t see a color without their probes.

Some flaws I can’t help but to question in the show are:

- How can they determine the outstanding employee of the quarter? They based it from what?
- The power of the main protagonist. Two teenagers managed to stop an adult scam facility, and fought against plenty of men who are older than them. How can they beat them all? Unbelievable.
- The two side-characters. How can a student interrupt and force a broadcast of certain news on national TV? Wow, what a skillful technique.
- Background music has been abruptly cut a few times. Hey, can’t we listen to nice music with a good timing of when to end it?
- The unacceptable appearance of the deceased sister to Yeon Woo’s dream. Do they have nothing more realistic to think about? Probe and Mono are a good fantasy but to shift into something incompatible to the concept is insignificant.
- The idiot guy who was on the run for the crime he did but still chose to cut into a broadcasting event that led him to be arrested. Please, this scene was so funny! No more ideas? I can buy a classic scene but not this one.
- Lastly, the action scene was not suited for the main character. Hey, he is so cute throwing his punches like that. He fits the adorable role better than a student who is good at fighting.

To be honest, I supposedly gave this a much lower score but Kim Se Hyun was just so enchanting and appealing that I felt sad and decided to adjust my score a little higher. Hyuk was a good addition to the show. As Yeon Woo says to himself, Se Hyun is so cute and lovely. His pouty lips want me to see him kiss Yeon Woo so much hahaha but I’m still salty to witness a dream-kissing-scene without seeing their lips touch each other. Anyway, I also wanted that forehead kiss as a gift coming from Se Hyun hahaha.

Yeon Woo has two boys who love him now. One is his probe and the other one is a MONO just like him. Despite the disappointment I felt this season, I want to see another season with Yoo Han’s comeback. The ending gives us a hint already so it is possible to become a reality.

Good enough for a continuation but can be carried out more than good.

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I came here for the drama of students but give me the drama of adults.

After several delays and problems occurred before the official release, I really waited for so long just to watch this one since I am a big fan of KBS’ school series. I have a love-and-hate feedback about the show since it was different from the previous shows but also the reason why the show doesn’t have a definite impact on me.

The first half of School 2021 was really a great one but they failed to be consistent on maintaining the satisfying ambiance of watching the show after the last few episodes. From unexpected plot twists from the beginning to the typical classic plot in the ending, the downfall. Also, the story of the side couple overshadowed the story of the main couple. They don’t even have the proper chemistry needed in the story. I can’t feel anything except seeing two actors trying their best to create chemistry but failed to do so. I am really happy to see Yohan’s acting skill improved during this show but I can’t feel that he is the main character. Kang Se Yeon’s character was more likely deserving to be the main character compared to the others.

On the other hand, Kang Min playing the role of Ho Sung was really cringe. His character here is the most annoying one in terms of acting. I just feel that it doesn’t fit him. The same with his on-screen couple Eun Bi. The way she smiles was really awkward most of the time. I was really looking forward to her role since she has the same name from my favorite school series in 2015, yet her acting doesn’t give justice to her role.

The thing I hate the most is that the story revolves around the world of adults. It was a never-ending struggle of students facing their life involving the adults as the villain. Yes, it happens in real life but I am expecting more youthful struggles involving the interpersonal and intrapersonal relationship of the students.

Anyways, it was good enough for a School series but I expected more than from what they gave me. Some student characters have interesting stories but they tend to focus more on the issue of the annoying adults trying to ruin the life of the students for their selfish reasons. The OST “Dream On” contributes additional points in my score review since I really like the song.

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Captivating visual with fine acting delivery but needed more duration time

The first thing that really got everyone's attention is how good looking the leads are. I'm not complaining since Korea were known for emphasizing beauty as a standard for the camera appeal. But the good thing is, given the handsome faces they had, they know how to executed the emotions needed in every scene. Due to this, it already been a well love series by many. But the most important element of every film is the flow of the story. I guess for a 11 min duration with 8 episodes, they manage to connect every scenes in one fitting. But obviously they're some scenes that needed more time to be explained or tackled. How do their love for each other blossom? What was the exact background or past of the guy? Where do the relationship of the two extra guys headed to? (since the drama itself gives us some clue or interpretation of a possible romance between them.) How do the second lead cope up with the atmosphere, did he finally manage to move on? We need more closure to the ending.

There are several cringe scenarios that I can't help but to giggle about. On the first episode the typical "I'm going to save you from falling, I'll catch you in my arms" was so typical. They should altered it with a fresh new ideas or something that will be either romantic or comedic. Another consecutives cringeness scene was the "hand sign photo capture," I knew Korea loves that kind of gestures but it was too childish for me. Speaking of childish, the fight scene between the two best friends was so immature. Okay, sometimes people tend to do things based on their emotions despite of how old they became.

I feel sad for the second lead, he's so cute but you can't really force someone to feel the same way as you especially when it comes to love.
I was shocked that he is so young, he's character was full of sex appeal and I'm thinking that he is much more older than his real age. On the other hand, I was happy that I get the chemistry of the main couple. Another soft-mysterious guy relationship. Aside from cooking, seeing the main guy in a Taekwando uniform is so sexy! The dishes was literally yummy, I mean the menu from their business. I like how they presented the meal in an IG worthy vibes, really presentable.

I was so into the music as well. A great one to add color to the show. It was so lovely and at the same time its pop my mood up, perfect song for the show.

The major fall back of the drama is the length of time they given to the story. I keep thinking of many possible things that might be added to the story. But anyways it was a good and cute mini-series. I am contended on how it is. Fluffy and majestic!

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It is sweet that I need to see a dentist!

A love story between a dentist and a bar owner was a new thing for me to see. They managed to create a cute romance between numerous couples with winning chemistry. Although the reasoning behind the phobia of seeing a dentist from the main character’s perspective doesn’t conclude well, I still enjoyed it since this is where everything began.

The main couple was great and deserves to be the star of the show but it also pains me to be left hanging with the minimum screentime from the side couples. RJ and Alex were cute but I feel like Big A and his admirer are worthier to be called as the next couple between the main. I easily swayed and fell in love with Big A and his adorable little bye-bye’s that are so soft and gentle.

All the characters are lovely and I enjoyed the entirety of the show. It was not super impactful but the important thing is how I see and remember them in general. I liked the settings and the absence of annoying villains from the story, it made the show even lighter to absorb. The lines from the script were too clever too.

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A sex-oriented show that is deep yet light at the same time

The BL element brought me to this show and it was fun. I can always see the difference when it comes to adult series that were produced by Asians compared to the films from the West. As an Asian myself, I am connected with how they tackled stereotypes and the firm grasp of the traditional values of the majority, especially the old ones. Which, the drama presented it by having the featured family members have their own stories that rotate about love and desires.

I have been a big fan of Kai Ko since his debut movie role in ‘You Are the Apple of My Eye’ and he hasn’t lost his charm. His still courageous to take roles that allowed him to be fully naked in front of the camera. The friends-with-benefits turned lovers couple are just okay. Storywise, I’ve seen a lot of similar flow and plot of story from this couple. I was not entertained or felt excited when they began dating for real. I am also disappointed that they easily skipped the trauma of the youngest daughter who at a young age discovered that his father is an animal who left her in the car just to eat girls in a hostess club. I also hated her mother for lying and defending his lewd husband.

JC Lin once again slays! He fit his role in this show and I love that I get to see another cool story of a homosexual character. The BL couple was the ‘icing on the cake’ in this drama. It was unexpectedly cute and entertaining. The ending of their love story was pleasing. I love the fact that the gangster boss decided to surrender himself and improve to be a better version of himself the moment that he met the one. Their romance may be short but it was the most memorable one among the multiple couples in the story.

Jumping to the oldest sibling who emphasizes the importance of communication in a relationship. First, I applaud them for clearly and loudly speaking that it is okay not to bear a child of their own. The pressure of the parents is so real for most Asians and I liked that several individuals right now from different age gaps are taking this topic seriously. In the modern world, raising a child is so hard that varieties of traumas and difficulties await them. Each of us has our reasons and decisions about whether to have a child or not, and no one has the right to put us in the spotlight of self-doubt and tension. Another thing that I find cool about this couple is how they also discuss the significance of attending sessions for married couples.

This is a good show for a light yet educational rom-com in this modern period. The only thing I felt lacking was the absence of prolonging the specific topic and resolving it first before jumping to the next plot to be discussed. Nevertheless, the production was good enough to deliver a family story that is very open and transparent about what matters in a healthy relationship.

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The main couple sucks

It wasn’t enjoyable all thanks to the obnoxious love story of Toh and Nuea; an obsessed stalker and an uncharismatic campus heartthrob. I swear, I haven’t felt any lingering emotions or sensations in any of their scenes. I was annoyed by them having over-executed sex scenes for a drama that has the high school concept of sweet and puppy-type love. They are the sole reason why the show is not loveable at all.

Nevertheless, the side couple and side characters save the show and have stories that are more fun than the main ones. Sky and Jao's romance was bearable; they started slow yet cute but also ended up having unforgettable scenes as well. My favorite screentime of them was when Sky wasn’t leaving and driving his way back home when the light of Jao’s room was still on. I just loved the simple yet meaningful touch of worry and care. Daisy, Som, and Intouch also add sweetness to the show. I adored their chemistry with each other and were able to make me laugh from time to time.

I know from my heart that I can fully enjoy this show without the existence of the main couple, or just for them being a side character only. It gives me creeps and secondhand embarrassment from all the things that Toh did before they became an official couple with Nuea. It is also obvious that the intimate scenes from this couple are unnecessary and I didn’t feel any spice at all.

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A deeper understanding of love and happiness

What a fantastic way to start 2024 with a remarkable Korean BL. It’s been on my watchlist for so long and just waiting for the release day, now finally, I was able to finish the show. To be honest, I am not expecting the fantasy touch as its concept and I find it too hard to get the whole story but you just need to focus on the build-up of the characters to enjoy the drama to the fullest.

It all starts with a mission to make Cha Yeon Woo happy, as we all thought, this has to be the objective of the game but in the end, we realize that it is not. The point of the game is to give him another chance for Tae Myung Ha to acknowledge himself, love himself, to find his purpose and happiness in life. I admire the clever way of writing the script -unique and excellent.

In general, the drama wins a lot and has something great to offer to its audience. Casting a beautiful set of actors to play the roles is the typical norm we see from K-BLs, but this one is not the usual one. The actors are such great actors who can deliver and be firm with their characters. I love the genuine acting with top-notch chemistry that is a must for a romance genre. I’ve been a fan of Cha Joo Wan since his debut acting in School 2021 and have been following him on Instagram since then, but I am still amazed at how soft and pure he is and feels like he is Cha Yeo Woon in real life.

Love for Love’s Sake is the perfect title for the show. It allows viewers to understand that love in general is complicated but an important factor in life that makes us alive. This drama receives a lot of love from the community and I am happy for the warm feedback as the actors and crew behind the success of this drama work so hard to produce and promote such a masterpiece. I’m going to be honest, I don’t enjoy it to the fullest unlike with a few K-BLs but I am pretty sure that this show is part of my Top 10 K-BLs of all time. It's just that, the story may be a little confusing at the beginning but worth watching since you will fall in love with the ending.

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Half good, half bad

In general, the drama itself is neutral in terms of overall rating. It offers a few captivating episodes that made me in tears but also has a few forgettable featured stories. Decided to watch this because of the edits I watched regarding the BL side of the story, as well as having Tseng Jing Hua as one of the many characters in the drama. To rate the drama, I must emphasize each episode with my mini-reviews. In particular order, from best to least, here is my ranking:

Best to Good EPs:

EP05 The Perfect Dodgeball Game
I’m being biased here, as a BL fan, I honestly enjoyed this episode. The story touched on the reality of the life of an ordinary homosexual person. “To fall in love with a straight man…” These few lines contain a lot of stories from the gay community. It painfully hurts you a lot. The conclusion of them being good friends and supporting each other from a distance is good enough. I, once again fall in love with Derek Chang. I first saw him playing a villain role in Oh No! Here Comes Trouble and this man is soothing with manliness and sensational appeal. What a blissful sight to see him being cast in a short gay episode.

EP02 The Night in Question
Thank you for introducing me to Terrence Lau, another cute actor to add to my long list of celebrity crushes. The charm of this episode lies in the unusual story. A single man with hearing impaired that fell in love with a hostess. Both of them have a loveable and firm character that makes their chemistry as cute and sexy as possible. A happy ending for a deserving couple.

EP08 Head of the Family
Loving the light yet meaningful storytelling of the happiness of a married couple. I always feel enthusiastic when it comes to the story that showcase different approaches to the norms of how people view one’s life and roles. The married couples being supportive of each others’ life decisions and careers was wholesome.

EP07 The Promise of Karuizawa
I never thought that the usual mistress concept could be somewhat sweet yet remain unethical. The two characters who were betrayed by their respective partners and eventually committed the same mistake were unexpectedly interesting. They fell in love but chose to distance themselves was the perfect ending for both of them. The society will never see them as a good couple because of how their story went out. If they end up together, the fault of their spouses will immediately all directed towards them alone. I can’t imagine the hate and gossip of the people around them. What a dramatic episode.

EP09 The Ghost in Your Heart
The gays are winning… and sobbing. “But why does loving someone turn us into ghosts? I’ve been wondering, if one of us is a boy, would you and I will be fine together?” Lines that spell agony and discomfort. At least, the couple continues their love story after how many years but loses the middle man’s life that huddles their romantic story.

Kay to Meh EPs:

EP06 Something Old
The only good thing about this episode is that the ex-couple did not end up together during the finale. The woman felt pressured by the man’s good intentions which took out the wrong and painful way for the woman’s life. The man is too nosy and has the undying habit of involving the people around them on most occasions, without even consulting the woman first.

EP03 The Color of You
All about lies. I understand that the man can easily reject people who are fond of him, but the whole episode revolves around lies to fulfill their desires.

EP04 From Beyond the Stars
Love the chemistry but not the concept of aliens and time travel stuff. I believed that forcing a fantasy into a reality show was unpleasant. It ruins the setting and pace of the drama.

EP01 Reality Dating Show
I hate that the pilot episode is not even close to being called a decent start to the show. It was chaotic with too much stuff happening between the many featured characters.

EP10 Based on True Events
I understand why EP01 was meh, all because of this finale that turns out to be the mother who produced the storyline of the first episode. The finale episode must need to be impactful and beyond great but this just ruins that idea. I was too bored and not emotional that the drama had ended. My baby Tseng Jing Hua deserves a better story than this one.

I was frustrated but at least I am happy with some of the episodes. Having the pandemic as the time setting is good to showcase what happened to people’s lives during this world health crisis. At the Moment is more about living your best moment in life, prioritizing your happiness more than others.

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The dosage is super effective in the first half but abruptly ineffective during the last part

Psychological dramas are one of my top favorite concepts in K-Drama and I always look forward to what their stories have to bring to the audience. Daily Dose of Sunshine is a great show but loses its charm when it focuses on the life story of the main character, Jung Da Eun. The romance is the major factor why I am not satisfied with the story progression. I don’t feel any butterflies and just want to skip most of the scenes from the main character. I guess if they ended up the two best friends became the main couple, I may have enjoyed it somehow.

On the good side, I get to see heartwarming yet tragic stories about people who are facing such mental illnesses and how they move forward in the real world. Jang Dong Yoon once again proves how versatile he is as an actor. He nailed his character who suffers from panic disorder. I like how his story concluded and the other featured characters with mental illnesses.

The most valuable role in this drama has to be the head nurse. I like her strong, positive, and thoughtful characteristics. I just feel a little bit disappointed with the overall production since they already started with high impact but failed to give consistency and it ended up getting tiring. The other staff from the hospital have a better story to offer. Nevertheless, I still like the show and how it tackles mental awareness for people who are ignorant and have little knowledge regarding these disorders.

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Blowing a pleasant breeze of young love

It kind of feels average, but I salute the balance of giving us decent BLs with captivating visuals and a plot that is good enough to satisfy the viewers. It wasn’t as great as I was expecting it to be, maybe because of how the main couple took longer for their love to only bloom during the finale. I liked the tension of the enemy-to-romance troupe but this is a short drama that I badly hoped for an early access to love progress.

Nevertheless, no one can’t deny the fact that the cast perfectly does their best to give life to their characters. The amount of visuals is insane, and I easily fell in love with them. Giving the second lead a proper ending is the best decision of the production. They also hinted at a possible sequel that may focus on his romance.

The finale is certainly the best episode. I didn’t expect that they would almost draw a daring scene during the scene that involves sitting in bed, the ice, and asking if one wants to see the other one’s underwear. Ending them in kisses is fine but as said before, I am demanding more since the couple have the right chemistry and it is a pity not to utilize it in the show.

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A serene of young love

I have my doubts about adding this one to my list solely because of how misleading the poster was. It was far different from what the actual vibes of the story were. The poster is somehow dramatic and I thought that it would be a devastating series with a lot of pain but thankfully, I came across with non-spoiler comments of how beautiful the setting was.

Characters are fluff and sincere. I love the innocence and kindness that Ryuji-kun has and how he manages to embrace Amane’s feelings in the end. A short BL that did a remarkable way of flourishing the main character’s growth the moment he finds the one with letting go of his past lustful intimate fling with others.

The story being produced in a seaside city was indeed an appealing sight to see and gives the highlight of being covered in warmth and affection that the story is trying to tell its viewers. I wanted to try the summer season living in that beautiful rural town.

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Marking my favorite idols

Casting idols to play as former idols is a good choice and having both Xiumin and Hyungwon in one project is a blessing. Been a fan of these two ever since the peak of their careers as KPOP stars and seeing them together makes my heart beep with happiness. They are my bias in their respective groups and I loved the bond they formed even after the filming of this drama. It is funny that their role contrasts with their real-life personality. Shin Tae Ho being grubby and unorganized is very different from Kim Minseok aka EXO Xiumin as he is the most obsessed idol I knew when it comes to becoming neat and clean. As well as with Jo Yi Joon who was tagged as a fashion terrorist yet Hyungwon from Monsta X is the best dresser in the group. Furthermore, the two of them did not disappoint me as they executed their characters very well with the right amount of acting skills and threw their lines with perfect emotions.

The rest of the cast did pretty well as well and I like each of their characters’ establishment from the story. Eun Young Min, the butcher catches my attention since he is the only actor I didn’t know from the show and he is extremely cute too. I think the downfall of the show for me is how they give us a plot that is too unlikeable. The villain, who turned out to be the cousin of their deceased friend/member, is too hateable. His acting is believable and I wanted to punch his face whenever he showed up on the screen. Having him the redemption of the mart and his reconnection with his auntie and uncle at the end isn’t just as good as it seems to be.

Thunder Boys is such a cool name and I wish they also show us more of their journey when they are still active idols. Yet, the ten episodes are good enough to deliver everything that the story has to offer. I enjoyed it but not as much as I expected it to be. It is all thanks to the perfect set of casts that the drama seems to be more interesting.

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Okay, he’s yours!

Cliche but still entertaining. The over-used office romance as the setup of the story kinda feels typical nowadays. Yet, the good thing about this show is that despite each character's norms and basic portrayal, the overall impression it has on me is average to beyond average. The romantic scenes are bearable but create an impact during the kissing scenes, in which, the main characters deliver intimate acting that makes you believe their characters’ perseverance in staying and growing together.

Leading the show with eye-candy visuals of the cast has always been one of the main reasons for a drama's success. I like both actors and how they executed the personality of their characters. The supporting actors, from the vice-president to the rest of the secretaries, also did a great job.

I don’t have much hate about the show and I like it the way it is. However, one can’t argue that it is not the best BL out there but the important thing is they let the viewers enjoy their project and make us feel light from their short yet cute love story. Although the ending feels rushed, I am already satisfied with how it ends -the two of them becoming one and having been accepted by the people around them.

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The server and his lover

We have a weird but unique storyline out here. The main couple living in one roof wherein one serves while the other one pays the bill, is quite intriguing. Subjectively speaking, not a big fan of this genre and feel way too questionable but the drama itself is good enough to emphasize the romance and intimacy that the characters have with each other.

The main cast is just okay, nothing extraordinary, or either one of them stood the best. But I found it cute how nerdy yet hotty the side character is, the husband of the girl manga author.

I don’t have much to say in this drama; all I can say is that it is average for me. Not too bad and not too impactful for a show in general. I just wished that somehow, they tried to build a different character development to the weatherman, in a genuine and soft kind of attitude towards the manga artist.

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