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A good remake
I watched the original Japanese series quite some time back, but based on what I can recall, this remake uses the same basic story as the 2018 seven-episode series (not the 2016 single-episode one or the subsequent series with similar titles).The story is now set in Hong Kong instead of Japan, but the changes to the main characters are minor as far as I can remember. The humor is perhaps given a bit more of a Hong Kong style, especially in the case of Edan Lui and his exaggerated expressions as Tin Yat Hung.
The story isn't really spectacular as BL, but I appreciate the range of likable characters with different predicaments and relationships. Perhaps the 2018 Japanese version had an edge over this remake because viewers knew less what to expect: will the ossan manage to win the love of his crush, for instance? Since the HK remake uses the same story, the ending isn't much of a secret, so many viewers already know how the ossan will end up.
For me, having watched the original one some time back did not mar my enjoyment of the remake. Perhaps this was because enough time had passed for me to forget quite a bit of the original. Perhaps the remake has its own peculiar flavor. I did appreciate the title a bit more because, (spoiler ahead) despite all the humor and lightheartedness in the story, the ossan's love is really touching. KK (the ossan in this remake) decides to give Tin and Siu Muk his blessings, and the latter are brought together by his selfless love.
This is worth a watch if you enjoyed the original and also worth a watch if you haven't watched the original.
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STARTS OUT FABULOUSLY AWESOME, THEN GOES TO CRAP
ONLY reason to watch this remake is for the stupendously amazing comedic acting of Edan Lui in episodes 1-6. After that it all goes to BL hell, following exactly in the footprints of the Japanese series original and movie before it. I have no idea why the producers put money and effort into this when it tells the same, original, lame-ass story as the earlier version. Nothing new or exciting, liberating, joyful at all. Just cliche after cliche to wind the story down from its exhilarating early episodes to its depressing second half. I'm watching to the bitter end, however, cause I've already put in 11 hours and I'm a masochist.I would have loved to give this show a 9/10, which I did early on.
I'm ending up at a warmed-over 4/10.
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Over Hype?
I'm here for the hype and I gotta say, I'm disappointed. I was pretty bored most of the time, but I stuck it out hoping it would get better/be worth it. I'm giving it a 6.5/10 cause the cute scenes were few and far between but just what the Dr. ordered when they appeared. Something about KK rubbed me the wrong way... pretty sure it was his obnoxiously bright teeth LMAO Overall, the show was more like a soap opera. It was pretty tacky, campy and quirky making it seem parody like, as opposed to having any real storyline. Can't imagine who'd I'd recommend this too but I won't tell you not to watch it. A lot of people seem to have enjoyed it. The ending was definitely to my standards lolEnjoy...
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This review may contain spoilers
The ending delivers, but not without frustration and head-banging
(I didn't read the manga nor did I watch the original Japanese version of the drama, so keep that in mind.)If you've ever watched a HK-produced comedy, the type of slapstick comedy that you'll see in this drama will feel familiar. Unfortunately, the drama leaned too heavily into the slapstick comedy at times, dragging out the plot and drowning out themes that could've been interesting to explore.
It was rather distasteful to portray the older boss as a comedic character rather than a more mature and tragic one. He comes off as kind of creepy and manipulative, leveraging his power as the boss to coerce the main character into more or less "accepting" his feelings. His over-the-top displays of love feel like jokes, which does a massive disservice to the character. (I'm kind of bitter because they could've used his character to more seriously explore what it is like to come out of the closet later on in life.)
At times, the characters can be frustrating and dumb, and make decisions that literally no sane person would make. Given how many characters eventually develop feelings for the main character, this is probably one of the biggest gatherings of morosexuals I've ever seen in a drama.
This isn't really your typical bl, so there won't be many melodramatic scenes with flowery background music, but the endgame couple is pretty darn cute when they do have their moments. We do get some pretty solid female characters with satisfying development (which is rather uncommon in bl), and some of the cutest side couples. So it's not a terrible deal.
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Good but I find original one a bit better
In some ways, it was better than the original with the story being less messy but I still liked the original one more.I loved the acting of Siu Muk in this one, but somewhere I felt with other actors it didn't match as well as the original one did.
There are very less differences between the original and this, while the original is fast paced this one is comparatively slow.
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office romance love triangle comedy
This is a remake of the Japanese original and while I found the cast in this one superior, for me it didn’t correct for any of the pacing or squick factor flaws of the central romance of that original. There were new side characters and new depth given to original side characters which I did like and Tin is a little bit more endearing. Tin was still touch adverse and overly freaked out about everything, the old dude was still a creepy office predator, and the break up and engagement timeslip still felt uncalled for and jarring. I must conclude that this franchise is not for me.Was this review helpful to you?
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Literally why was this so good
Im not lying when I say I literally finished this bl in a day. Do I regret it? No lmfaoSure this bl has plenty of flaws that rlly frustrated me but the goofiness of the acting and story rlly kept me going
I have to say my favorite part about this bl is it’s acting, bro as dumb as the acting was it made me laugh bc of how dramatic it was
For its flaws, I really got frustrated with how dragged out it was. I know that basically the point of the story that the situation just keeps getting dragged on and getting worse and worse because the main character is extremely hesitant to tell his boss he doesn’t like him romantically, afraid he might end up getting fired because of it. But what irked me was the whole marriage plot after Siu Muk broke up with him. Like he really didn’t have to go as far as to almost marry his own boss lmfao that was rlly unnecessary
Regardless though, it still was a really good bl and I would definitely suggest it if you’re into slapstick humor. Just remember not to take the bl seriously or else you won’t enjoy it lmao
Og is still better than this remake tho and I stand by that so I’d suggest the original more if you don’t wanna suffer through the extensive dragging of the plot lol
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Kind of disappointing but will be fun for newcomers to this series
First of all, I've been a very big fan of this series since the first movie with the same name came out. So I had high expectations for this adaptation but it was, like the title says, a bit disappointing for me.I wouldn't expect everything to be same with the Japanese version, and actually, I found it very refreshing that they explored some background characters better than the original, such as the Boss' wife and the workers in MC's branch.
This is actually what bore me eventually too. As you'd expect, the first few episodes are about the MC and his relationship between two love interests but around episode 6-7, we had to see every single detail about background characters for some reason. I started to skip so many scenes at first but then I skipped through an entire episode at the end. So I said to myself, "Why bother with this?" I may finish the rest of the episodes some other time, since I already know about the outcome.
My favorite character was the Boss as he also was my favorite in the Japanese version as well. The actor who portrayed him did him perfect justice in my opinion! I also liked the performance by the actor who played Darren.
I want to talk about the relationships between the love interests. As it is a rather goofy series, I don't expect it to be too serious. However, there is barely any reason for you to believe that the two main leads could be in love at all. I'm talking about Tin and Siu Muk, of course! ^^ Seriously, all the "chemistry" they have is Siu Muk being a caretaker towards Tin. That's all there is to it to their relationship! For whatever reason, Tin doesn't want him to leave his house and he can't even give a reason as to why he wants Siu Muk by his side... So the main "couple" is not interesting at all, for me.
I gave a very low point for music because I don't think any of the background music stuck with me at all. It was almost non apparent.
All my excitement wasn't for nothing, of course. If you're a newcomer to this series, I think there will be a lot for you to laugh and have fun with. Ossan's Love's simplicity with its characters and settings were the reasons I always remembered loving this series for. It's a pity that I couldn't find it on this version.
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So from my perspective, this series really enjoying and annoying at the same time. I do mind a little bit about their acting performances, but another aspects of this series were really great. I keep wondering, on another series (from another countries) was Tin’s expression really that exaggerated?
Even though, some jokes didn’t get my criteria but the plot was quite interesting. I didn’t even realize how silly the jokes were, but still I laughed no matter what.
And now the original soundtrack still ringing in my head.
Do I need to watch the original one? hm
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Not Bad
This adaptation is not bad actually because everything are still there but If they could only change some events in the story it would be great to watch this because you know I already watched the Japanese one and I want some new twist hahahah but then it's ADAPTATION still they gonna follow the story : )))For the story I don't have something to say to this because we all know this (for some who already watched the original version) But it's a Story about an Ossan and the young man also (Siu Muk) who fell in loved with a young man (Tin Yat Hung) and that young man ( Tin Yat Hung) still confused about the relationship that he has.
ps: In the story their gender is not classified if they were homosexual or Bisexual the only gender that they classified is Haruta (Japanese) Tin Yat Hung ( Hongkong) as straight. I think it is good to not to classified their gender because love has no gender.
Acting: They really practiced their Characters lol they are entertaining to watch to!
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As good if not better than the original Japanese version
As Ossan’s Love Returns graces our screens five years after its Japanese predecessor, I ventured into the Hong Kong version for a fresh take on the beloved storyline. Binge-watching all 15 episodes, I was pleasantly surprised. Staying true to the original plot, the extended runtime allowed for a more nuanced exploration of the characters, enriching the overall viewing experience.While the primary narrative mirrored its Japanese counterpart, the standout factor here was the characters. Edan Lui's portrayal of Tin Yat Hyung (Haruta Soichi in Japan) was a masterclass in capturing the character's eccentricity and innocence. His reactions, though over-the-top, avoided cringiness, rendering Tin simultaneously lovable and annoying—an art that Lui executed flawlessly. Anson Lo, in the role of Tin's love interest Ling Siu Muk (Maki Ryota in Japan), delivered an exceptional performance. Siu Muk's confident and caring persona, coupled with Anson's portrayal, conveyed desperation for acknowledgment from Tin and the struggle to sustain their relationship against all odds.
With 15 episodes, as opposed to Japan's 7, the Hong Kong adaptation utilized the extended runtime to delve deeper into character backgrounds and intricacies, portraying the gradual evolution of relationships. The series seamlessly blended comedic elements with ample doses of romance and emotional scenes, effectively tugging at the heartstrings.
In conclusion, Ossan's Love (Hong Kong) excels in character development, weaving emotions through stellar performances from the entire cast. Whether or not you've seen the Japanese version, this rendition is a heartfelt homage worth experiencing.
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I was entertained the majority of the time
I would like to start off by saying that I never watched the original, so I don't have anything to compare it to. However, I would like to add the definition of what the word 'remake' means, cause some of you in the comments seem not to know the definition of this word.A remake is a production of a film, television series, video game, or similar form of entertainment that is based upon an earlier production. A remake tells the same story as the oribut uses a different cast and may alter the theme or target audience. So basically, don't look for anything drastically new is what I take it to mean.
Story-8/10
I actually like the storyline. However, I have to take away some points due to some episodes I felt were fillers and really didn't add to the story. Also, sometimes Tin's character annoyed me...like a lot. I felt episodes thirteen and fourteen did nothing for me. And because of the reasons listed, I gave the story an 8.
Acting/Cast- 8/10
While everyone's acting was good and there were a few moments Edan and Anson's characters shined, I felt that an 8 would suffice for the acting/cast as no one really shined for me to draw me in and wow me in this series.
Music-10/10
The music is a bop and I will give that a 10 all the way!
Rewatch Valu-6.5/10
I gave this on the lower side, cause while I may want to watch it sometime soon in the very distant future, I am currently not that eager to watch it right away.
Overall-8/10
All in all, I liked this series. It entertained me from Mondays to Fridays these past three weeks and I enjoyed watching it.
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