I really wanted to write about this drama. I haven't watch a lot of jdramas and I don't really know a lot. I found this by accindent as a BL drama. Also, I haven't read the manga (but I am planning to).

I really loved the drama. The story is really interesting, but not the most unique. I may not know about japanese dramas, but as a crime thriller lover, let me tell you we have seen this plot a lot. But it is used nicely here and with the bromance/BL element it is a unique combination. But, I agree with a lot of comments and reviews, in about the middle the drama started to lose its suspense and interest. And in a mystery/crime drama this is unacceptable. As for the bl/romance thing, even if I started the drama for this reason, I really don't care if it is more subtle or is just bromance. In this story works, because it is not the main plot. For me there is enough moments to understand how deeply Shiro and Ichiro care for one another.

It isn't a perfect drama by far, but the reason I wanted to write this review is more because I really enjoy japanese movies and dramas. Even the most low budget productions find a way to give a nice feeling. They have a really realistic texture and you can actually feel the people, the society, the real world. As oposed, for example, the overly glorified thai or chinese dramas, where you feel you are in an illustration and cannot connect with anything. What I mean, for example, in japanese productions the roads are dirty, the houses are messy or with bad lights, the public hospitals are a bit worn out, there is nothing perfect and these little details make you identify with the enviroment. Even the worst dramas have really good aesthetics. And this is the reason that lately I really enjoy japanese dramas and movies.

(P.S.: Is it really only me or the music theme for the sadder scenes (the one that starts with a beat) has really similar beat with Outro: Tear of BTS? Not shading anything and I don't want to start anything, just my observation. Had any fellow ARMY the same feeling?)

Leggi di Più

Power to women

This is the second drama I watched because of Cha Hak Yeon (I am a Starlight, what can I say?) and I became hooked. Actually, the main themes aren't that great or interesting, rich people, forbidden love stories, secrets etc. What made this drama a masterpiece is the characters and the plot. Strong but sensitive women with weaknesses and bad moments, real people, are trying to free themselves from a supressing and abusive enviroment like a marriage, the society etc. Everyone, Seo Hi Soo, Jung Seo Hyun, Lee Hye Jin, has their own way to do it and each one has to create their own path to archive their freedom. They are real women in a real world.

This drama actually works a lot with the prejudice that follows the women. For example, the patriarchal sterotype is, if a woman wants to be a leader, she must be strict, emotionless with a "proper" family. Or if she is sensitive and sweet, she is naive or weak. I really, really, really loved how Seo Hyun and Hi Soo broke these stereotypes and became what they wanted to be.

The only thing which was a bit off is the wealth. We speak about a crazy rich family who lives away and without the real problems of the majority of the society. I think it would better if we talked about everyday women. But, OK, I understand that is a drama in a major korean channel and cannot be everything...

Leggi di Più

I was a nice drama. But the plot wasn't really fresh and a bit predictable. This story is common in crime thriller dramas in SK (I cannot tell more because it's a major spoiler). And I was bored a biiiit. The second thing that was a bit unsettling is Ha Jun Won's character. I didn't understood his motives. Why he did alll these? Why he is so obssesed with this case? They never explained it. For the other part, Lee Dong Sik or Park Jung Je's characters was really well written with great depth.

The good thing, the really amazing acting from the whole cast. Everyone was really great, especially Shin Ha Kyun (he gave me the chills sometimes. )

Leggi di Più

This drama is a perfect example of how to destroy something with great potential. A story with good base and was interesting in the start but as the drama continued the plot didn't even make sense! From the summary, I was waiting something more like the Avengers (I mean as a theme), a team/friends with superpowers trying to find a solution and fight the evil. The love stories with completely no chemistry and building were unnecessary. And of course a completely random end. All these things for nothing? Not even a final battle? Why will someone see a "superhero"/fantasy drama without a final battle?
The only good things, and I mean it, is 1) Wang Yi Bo, but, of course the role was a loooot less than what he can do and deserves, and 2)A-Fu's arc, the only interesting and realistic arc. But seriously, can someone give a proper role to Wang Yi Bo? Lan Wan Ji was perfect and interesting, even with minimum words. But everything else is similar... I really hope his upcoming dramas will be better and his roles actually interesting.

Leggi di Più

Healthy

With the first look, this series is not anything special and they have a really common plot in Thai (bl) dramas (but I never understood the rival between engineering and architecture in Thailand. I am an architecture senior and let me tell all my classmates was dating engineering guys...). But OK, this is not important at all.

The important thing is the relationship of Pat and Pran. They are two realistic young people trying to understand themselves and the others. They have the expectations of their family in their shoulders, they want to fit in with their friends. They have their backs and forths like every teenager/young adult out there. And this reflects in their relationship which is actually healthy and completely realistic.

I would like to give a big applause to the creative team of this series, from production to actors/acresses. They actually made a drama with a healthy relationship and environment. We have seen a lot of romance dramas, especially bl, with problematic tropes and representation of lgbtq+ people (I spoke more about this in the review of History4: Close to you, which is the worst, most problematic BL ever). They didn't use abusive attitudes like unwanted kisses or staff like that, they didn't fetishise lgbtq+ people, they didn't use the homophobic "You are the only man I like" (like it is some fashion to be queer), they didn't use the BL stereotype with the seme and uke (the manliest and the most feminine/weaker) , they didn't use the crazy, evil girlfriend/female admirer trope.

Instead, they made a comforting rom-com with real people and a healthy relationship in which they are equal, they are joking about both their female and male admirers, there are some really well written, strong, independent female characters (I have a crush on Ink, who can blame me?). I really, really enjoyed it. And I really hope this can be a start of a change in opinions for the better and better, healthier represantation of relationship without misogyny and homophobia. Because a lot of production of the romance genre (not only BL) has problematic relationships, see for example the boys over flowers franchise...

Leggi di Più

I actually feel a bit strange. This type of stories isn't my cup of tea but I watched this drama because of Xiao Zhan. I was waiting since the untamed... The story was a bit common, we seen it before with all the tropes and the common, predictable twists. Also, I believe it had a lot of supporting characters that neither gave anything to the main plot nor had complete and indipendant stories. They were always in the middle, to the point I skipped a lot of their scence. That I think is the main problem of the drama, it tried to put in a lot of things but left them in the middle. Even if I enjoyed the drama, I always felt that something is missing. Another of my problems is the bit archaic and a tinyy bit patriarchical views about mariange and family. I watched a lot of asian content and I know some countries are a bit more conservative but it is my first I feel it so strongly. Maybe it has to do with the million reviews from the authorities or the chinese society become more conservative, I don't know... Maybe it isn't a problem that the writing team could control. But this is my feeling.

What actually saves this drama is the lead actors and Lin Zhixiao's family. Xiao Zhan is, like always, amazing and actually is the only reason I finished this. Also. Yang Zi was really really good. Her role wasn't so well written but she did an amazing job with what she was given. Also the Lin family was really great, Xia Zhiqing and Sunny Hao was great in their roles. These four was the only memorable and interesting characters with complete stories that you wanted to watch.

Maybe I am a ting bit dissapointed ( I waited for almost 3 years) but all in all it was a good experience.

(P.S.: Amazing OST, both their voices are amazing)

Leggi di Più

The example

This drama has to become the example. Even if it was a production with a smaller badget, you couldn't see it.
Really great acting, interesting characters, even the supporting ones, amazing cinematography. In this drama you can understand that you don't need a lot to make a high-quality product. The way it is filmed, the scenes sequence, the shots and the acting make it amazing.

I really hope that this drama will be the example for other dramas of smaller productions. I am really happy that the K-BL in general is progressing a lot. Actually, I can see a progress in korean and japanese bl. They start making more realistic stories, more reallistic characters and the aesthetic, the scenery is much more real and curated and not so glorified like the majority of older productions or thai bl. We don't want to watch perfect boys, with perfect lives and perfect homes to fall in love. We want to see real people in realistic situations trying to love one another because we can resonate with them.

Leggi di Più

I started watching this drama for my great love for food, cooking and Park Seo Joon and I just finished it. I wanted to write a review for a long time but I waited to finish this. IT IS PERFECT. The story is really nice and refreshing, with the right amount of drama and cuteness. Everything makes sense and you won't skip even one thing. The caracters are amazing, with great development, everyone even the side characters has a backstory. They use great with all the seriousness and in the right directions themes like powerful yet sensitive women (Ms. Kang, Grandma, Soo Ah, Yi Seo etc), a black character and a trans character in the main cast. I never saw something like this in any other drama. And the cast was perfect for everyone, with special credit to Park Seo Joon and the "Jang family" Yoo Jae Myung, Ahn Bo Hyun, Kim Dong Hee. Also, really good soundtracks with a lot of emotions.
And as an architect, I really couldn't forget the really nice scenery and plans. A lot of Itaewon and you feel like you are there even if you never went.
Overall it is a really nice drama which ends with a comforting feeling. No character is good and bad, make mistakes and underastands the meaning and the concequences of them. Besides, that's how life works.

(I'm sorry for any mistakes. English is not my first language)

Leggi di Più

I don't really think I can write something about it. It was really, really intense, but I will try to write as much passive as I can.
The story is nothing new, is a type of Hunger Games more or less, the plot even the whole building of the characters and their relationships. But actually it is a analogy to our world, where a lot of people believe that they can step in the bodies of others to succeed and they do it. But in the end, if you are poor, you have to stay like that and the rich dectate your life... Maybe this is my own interpretation. This analogy, this absolutely crazy story is trying, with the most horific way, to tell that this isn't the solution. Even if you step on everyone, this system is designed for you to fail or to became on of them.

Ok, in the more prominent staff. Exceptional shots, photography, scenery (the colourful stairs, oh my god). And also amazing music and acting. At last, I really don't think it needs a season 2 (nothing official, just the way it ends it surely gives that vide). Some stories need a final end. And it is enough. But, with all this success (do you know how huge is for a k-drama be no1 in Greece? Here, they don't even acknowledge BTS' success), I'm almost sure they will continue. And I really, really don't want that.

Leggi di Più

I think my opinion is an unpopular one, but I really cannot understand all the fuss about this drama (and the 2nd season). I am not saying it is bad because it is not. It is a good drama in general. I really enjoyed the fantasy element. Also, I love how this isn't a historical accurate drama and it contains elements of different eras.

The most annoying thing is the passing. For example, you have 1 scene in which the story is progressing and the rest of the episode is just a filler. Up until ep 12, I was a bit bored. It could work with half the episodes. Also, I didn't like the many pairs. Some was completely unnecessary. And the love triangle didn't make sense. With everything happening, does anyone care who love who? I surely don't. All in all, I believe this drama contains a lot of things and it isn't clear if they are necessary. It is a bit confusing.

It is a promising drama. If it had a bit tighter plot, less elements and less comedy, it would be better. And I think two seasons is too much. If had better passing, they could fit everything in the 20 episodes of 1+ hour.

Leggi di Più

The new era of Thai BL

I really wanted to write about these series from almost the start but I waited. I will try to write this as much objectrively as I can.
The main story is really unique and different from the majorityy of BL dramas, especially from major production companies. We have seen before a few stories of everyday people try to get by, survive and in the end they fall in love. But, major companies rarely make dramas with people challenging and trying to change the system. Actually, Thailand has a great history of uprisings and student protests. It is really hopeful and empowering to watch stories like this, As an active member of different movements and a communist, in the start I was affraid they will glorify or dismiss this believes and fighting. But they actually are protraying reallistic protests and causes. Also, I really liked that the drama doesn´t try to take sides about the team's behavior. They present it and they let us decide if it is wrong or right. Lastly, when I watced the last episode, I was a bit underwhelmed with the ending, but I changed my mind because saddly the world doesn´t change so easily. As for the romance, I really liked that it wasn't the main focus and there was a greater plot around the love of the characters. I don't really know if I like the twin brothers plot but ok... I also wanted a bit more of the female characters. Finally, the drama has great acting. I really liked First's acting and of course Gun, who played two completely different characters. And what amazing chemistry Gun and Off have?

Lastly, this drama feels like a new era in Thai BL, especially considering Bad Buddy and what is coming. We are starting to see that the creators are trying to challenge the sterotypes and the problematic behaviors (ex. non-con, fetishism of certain groups of people like trans etc.). Also, they are trying to make them more inclusive (Yok's deaf mother). Also, here in Not Me we can see everyday people which are poor and work to get by, not the common in Thai Bl super rich boys which feels away from our society sometimes. I really hope that we will continue to walk in this path and make more series that actually represent the LGBTQ+ people.

Leggi di Più

PERFECTION

I watched this drama when it came out because of N (I am a Starlight what can I say), that time I didn't watch a lot of dramas. But this drama blown me away. It is one of the best series I ever watched. I literally recomend it to everyone I meet... This drama has a lot of layers. It starts with some murders and a crime theme but as the story goes, it goes deeper and deeper. It deals with a really heavy and important topic, which i think is a tamboo. They are really careful and they approach it with a objective way. In a lot of parts the characters and the viewers are trying to choose what is worst, if the first justify the second or not and this moves the plot. The drama doesn't take sides and we sometimes sympathize with the murderer, because even they have their one story to tell. No one is totally innocent for something, even the psycologist or the detective who try to solve the cases.

It is a really dark drama with great suspense (I remember I couldn't watch it at night). There is no filler or missing. Everything is there for a reason. The mystery is built really greta, I think this drama has to become the textbook for the mystery thriller genre. it is one of best series that I ever watched. This drama is the reason I started loving asian crime/mystery thrillers. I think East Asia are the best in this genre, especially Korea and Japan. For so many years I didn't find a drama that can come close to this.

I am really dissapointed that this is a relatively unknown drama, maybe because of its story and it was only in korean tv.

Leggi di Più

Promising but...

This drama started as really promising and interesting. Probably, a lot of international watchers that don't have this type of education cannot understand it, but my country (besides SK) has this type of academies to get better grades and prepare for the national university entrance exam. So, it hit really close to me and I could relate with a lot of things in the drama and it woke in me memories both bad and good. I felt some kind of comfort from this.

Besides that, I don't know if I liked the drama. The plot was super basic and after episodes 8-10, you knew what is going to happen. Also, besides Jun Ho, Hye Jin and maybe Cheong Mi, every character was a bit single minded and a bit boring, not really realistic. However, the cast was great and Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won had very good chemistry and their characters' relationship was so relatable and real.

Leggi di Più

A great drama with a common plot

And I really mean it. The main plot is really common. Both the reincarnation thing and the coglomerate family that can do anything, even above the law. The real magic of this drama is the characters, the cast and the plot twists. Each one of the family have their unique personality that is absolutely realistic. Also, the cast is phenomenal. They handpicked each actor/actress with great care. I really believe this type of anti-hero, morraly quastionable charecters suits a lot more in Song Joong Gi.

The other interesting thing is the plot twist and what hold me back from drop it. As much as I love SJG, as much as I loved the cast and the characters, I really really didin't care for the laws and the business system in Korea and in general (also I know nothing about these things and sometimes I couldn't follow what the hell was going on), nor for the family matters and the succesions of crazy rich people. But this drama has so many great plot twists that I kept watching with interest.

In conclusion, I really liked it. It is actually a great drama. Just the plot and the theme was not my cap of tea. It is just my personal, subjective opinion. I really recommended it.

(English is not my native language, so sorry for any mistakes)

Leggi di Più

In the start, I didn't want to write about it because I was watching this when it was airing, left it and finished it after some time. I won't speak about the acting or the music, in this series it doesn't matter.

I cannot believe people are justifying the rape. Nothing and I mean NOTHING can justify it. There isn't "no but..." or staff like that. Whatever the conditions or I don't know, Yong Jie is at fault. I cannot anymore with dramas, romance and BL especially, that romanticize the abuse and the toxic relationships. The obsession sometimes or the completely wrong "I want you only for myself" or even the kissing the sleeping person, It is abuse whatever we say, even if it is the most "romantic" scene. It is wrong and it is rooted in the patriarchy that exist in our society and in the 21st century we have to adress these things and change our way of thinking.
I red in comments that this is a work of fiction and some things is forgiven, something like that. No it is not. First, a lot of people especially younger ones, watch these things and these things create some morals from them and what you say? "It is ok to do anything to your partner, even abuse." Second, when we are speaking about abuse of any kind, especially rape, there are victims, survivors out there, real people with real wounds that they are trying to heal. I have meet some of them and I have talk to them. Let me tell you it is really hard even listening to their stories, think about how they feel. And I don't speak about someone in the road did something to them. In the most cases, it was their partner the one who abused them. How do we think these people feel when their trauma is used in this way?

The second couple had far more chemistry, but also it was created with the wrong reason. A man wants a woman (who is fetishizing LGBTQ+ people), the woman doesn't want him (he is not stepping back and he is pushing her) and he is using and lying to his best friend. We can see where this is wrong. Mu Ren is drugged and Li Cheng thinks how sexy he looks??? Ok... I spoke before about abuse. I cannot also understand how this man that tried to rape Mu Ren came back and the way Mu Ren tried to take revenge.

All in all, it was a really unconfortable and borderline angering experience. Yes, you can watch something and be harsh about it if it is using crimes like this, it isn't "making noise". I truly, truly believe that, fisrt, we will trully try to change our way of thinking about these things, and, second, any kind of series (especially romance) will stop the use of these tropes (non-con, abuse, obsession etc) as their way to create relationships. It is toxic and wrong.

Leggi di Più