don't expect too much
honestly, writing this review is kinda hard because I'm so conflicted...I had fun watching it and it was cute, but my expectations were probably to high and thats why i feel so dissapointed.
I really trust Korean remakes. Because in my experience Kdramas are often more high quality than other asian dramas.
thats why i was really surprised when i caught myself thinking that the Thai original was better.
First, the story was quite different. The only things they had in common was the enemies to lover trope, the novel that becomes reality and the university setting. I'm sure there are other but these are the most prominent similarities.
I like that it was not just a copy, but the story didnt seem very thought through? I found a few contradictions (but that might also be because of mistranslations)
Personally, i couldn't connect with the characters, but the actors had great chemistry and veeeeeeery convincing kiss-scenes lol
The biggest issue (for me) was that the scenes were often not connected well.
Yeah, because they were played after another you could understand what was happening but it seemed so cheap, because the scenes didn't flow seamlessly into one another and instead were cutted in a very choppy way.
None of the main leads had played in more than 3 dramas and I noticed very quickly that they were inexperienced actors.
Plus, the sound was weird at times and it was taking me out.
It's not a bad remake and it is also not a bad drama. even though I critcized it a lot, i still enjoyed it!
If you watched the original or enjoy very high quality productions, this is probably not the drama for you
but if you just have some time to spare and like fun stories, why not check it out!
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Uh- What just hapenned?
Honestly, I think both this version and the Thai version have their own merits and their own problems. With that being said I will review this show based on nothing else. And I honestly feel like it was a little too quick for my taste. The two couples don't even become couples until the last minute being the last episode. I genuinely thought the series was going to end on a cliffhanger with a will they? Won't they? Type of situation. Thankfully though, the series does end with things wrapped in a slightly messy bow. But with only eight episodes, I honestly can't blame it too much for this fault. As the drama uses its time wisely, always progressing the feelings both couples have towards each other.When it comes to the actual characters themselves, I found the main couple extremely interesting and entertaining to watch. I thought their dynamic was super cute and even though their enemies to lovers trope does a complete 180, I'm willing to forgive it just this once due to it being so short. The side couple though I found pretty lacking. Just the usual miscommunication drama between them. But even just as characters I couldn't really empathize or care about them as much as the main couple.
Overall I'd suggest this for someone looking for something quick and easy to digest. Without really expecting anything new or groundbreaking.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute and Simple
This was a quick and fun watch!The story itself was okay, nothing extraordinary or new. I will say though, I don't really remember much about the Thai version but it did seem to be a bit different. This version was DEFINITELY more wholesome ?
The characters had good chemistry, in my opinion! I actually enjoyed the acting, even though it was a bit amateurish in some instances – kind of understandable, considering most of the cast have not been in many roles before this one. It is always nice to see some new faces on the screen though! I will say though that, although I think the actors/characters had good chemistry, 8 eps that are 25 mins long each is not enough time to really flesh out the relationships and romance in the series. Like, we went from Ji Oh being this cold, smart and arrogant guy who disliked Lee Won, them fighting and being at each others throats for the first 4 episodes(we do find out Ji Oh has had a crush on Lee Won for a while now though), to Ji Oh acting needy and like a lost puppy the very next episode.....? Also, when they had conflict at the end (on ep. 7, the Korean BL version of the curse of ep. 11 in Thai BL series' ?), it just felt so unnecessary and out of place because of how little time we got to see the two couples actually BE a couple or spend time together. When they made up in the last episode, the 'emotional' part of it didn't land for me because, like I said, I wasn't as emotionally invested as I could have been if we were shown them bonding, building a relationship and creating tension for me to actually care about the romance.
If you're willing to switch off your brain, willing to overlook the bad dubbing (shocking in a KDrama?) and are looking for something light and cute to watch, this is for you!
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ahhh dare I say better than the OG?
I was skeptical going in, but omg I really liked this one! it was so light and fun and pretty easy to follow along unlike the mess of the Thai one!I don’t know if I need to go back to rewatch it, but it was the perfect light quick one that I needed rn. and I really liked the cast, I hope to see them in future works (hopefully together but probably not).
also the kissing in this was so good for a Korean BL???? I was kind of surprised but this gives me hopes for future BLs and the improvement of how their kissing goes.
I still think the story of the sister writing the BL is kinda quirky and dumb, but I get that it’s what sets the plot going in this show, so I’ll be fine with it.
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Did I speedrun this bitch yes absolutely
It's such a short series that even if you think you're not gonna like it it's worth a watch, bc you won't lose more than an afternoon watching it.Ok so production-wise it was not the best, and the overall aesthetics of the show could have been better, but regardless of that, it's quite a messy series. The acting is.. tolerable, for a k-drama, pretty basic. The story is (or could be) interesting but gets a bit confusing and dramatic for no fkn reason at all.
The sister is a fujoshi, which never helps, because I hate fujoshi characters in media who simp for REAL PEOPLE. But I digress.
I liked the main couple, they were cute and had an interesting dynamic. They were both hilarious sometimes as well, so that was really nice. And the KISSES omg-- the first kiss scene was incredible. Props to the actors for going all out.
I really couldn't care less about the second couple, sorry. I was under the impression that he was dating the girl for like 90% of the series and then they pull the fake-dating thing but by then I was already uninterested T-T I just didn't see a reason why they would like each other. And they were so dramaticcc bitch whenever I skipped ahead they were arguing or crying.
Overall, it's a dumb series that --for the most part-- doesn't take itself too seriously. If I ever find a compilation of MCs scenes I'll be set for life and happy. That's all
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Better than the original
I dropped the Thai version and it's still on my "hold" list.This version pulled me in from the start and kept me hooked. I binged it all in one sitting.
The acting is solid, the story is understandable, the characters are all likable and full-dimensional.
This is a sweet , first-love drama in a college setting.
Not too angsty or deep.
Not too long or draggy.
Just sweet overall.
I smiled a lot watching this.
Tropes/Story:
* No toxic or evil characters
* No second lead syndrome or "other" love interest
*The chemistry was good.
*Some suspended belief is needed but only a teeeny bit. Overall the story is pretty believable and true to life for a college and first love setting.
*The normalization of a m/m couple. Sexuality, coming out, etc., wasn't even a conversation. It was just taken for granted, "Oh you like this person? Cool!"
*I lived for the max/nat cameo lol.
What could have been better:
*Character-wise, they all could use some lessons in communication. But let's be honest, would it be a drama without a bunch of dense, love-sick fools running around without a clue? lol
*The music. It wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.
Enjoy <3
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:)
um, well, there’s a lot i can say here.for starters, this wasn’t really anything like the thai version, which i’m not complaining about. it was a LOT less problematic, which is good. i also just liked both of the couples relationships.
to be honest, i couldn’t remember much about the thai version, since i watched it while it was airing and never touched it again after it finished. but i feel like the only thing similar is the fanfic plot. other than that, it felt like a completely different series. i couldn’t figure out which characters was supposed to be who. but hey, maybe that was the point. to take a similar plot but make it it’s own. i did enjoy this more than the original anyways.
it’s definitely not a bad show, i actually really enjoyed it. i binged it all in one night, and unknowingly got caught up. so it was a bit of torture waiting for the last two episodes.
i think the actors all have great chemistry with each other. their relationships didn’t feel forced at all, but if the writing was better they would’ve been more amazing couples. the production wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t amazing either. the directing was good, and the pacing was pretty ok.
there were a lot of plot holes though. one of the major plot holes that should’ve been addressed was when yugyeom broke up with this girlfriend, and when yiwon and jioh got together.
i felt like yugyeom should’ve told sunwoo that his relationship with doyeon was fake. i really don’t think he would’ve told anyone. it would’ve been much easier for them, and a lot less confusing. their communication was terrible, but so was jioh’s and yiwon’s. but that’s usually a given in bls.
i wish they would’ve shown jioh and yiwon having a conversation or something before they got together.. instead of just cutting to them making out in the hallway.
other than that, i think those two are my only complaints. yugyeom was so stupid for a lot of things but i loved him a lot. he really just needed to talk to sunwoo, he didn’t have to make everything so complicated.
it was an enjoyable series for me. it was really funny and engaging. i liked jioh’s character a lot.
another thing i didn’t like is how the recap’s from previous episodes were almost 2-3 minutes long. that was a bit annoying.
all in all, it could’ve just been written a bit better, that’s it!
also, yiwon’s sister needs therapy. like there is seriously something wrong with her.
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new life to a tiring series
though I personally dropped the Thai original, I found this interpretation entirely more enjoyable! there was some nice, low simmer tension going on between the pairings that didn’t leave me thinking more was needed.though I personally wished we could see a better amount of intimacy (hand holding, conversations, small moments between a couple) I can’t truly complain about the roles.
one thing I kept getting annoyed by was the bad sound engineering. the voiceovers were really loud and not mixed well so they would take me out of the scenes too much.
other than that, I found the series enjoyable! it was kind of funny seeing max & nat too lol. not sure what that was about but they were cute to see.
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The VoiceOver
The drama was good not The best. i likes The actors playing in the series. but quality was not my favorite I think some places there where to much close up scenes on the faces. and their voices sound like a Dub or something or more like they talked in the Microphone and kinda didn’t like that.the drama itself is cute and how but there need more practice
I prefer the Thai Why R U more still but this is a whole different why R u so ofc it’s not the same.
I do not hate this drama I do not. i like that the relationship wasn’t rushed as it was in the Thai drama for the 2nd lead couple.
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Why r u so short?
The biggest flaw of Korean BLs is their lenght. They put a lot of stuff on the table but don't take the right time to develop anything.The scenes pass from one to the other without a real connection just to speed up the plot and that's a real shame. I hope to see a 16-episode K-BL soon with episodes lasting at least 45 minutes like classic kdramas.
If you have already watched the thai version you can't help making comparaisons and, even though the basic story is the same, there are a lot of differences in managing the plot that almost make of them two completely different series. The lack of sexual tension in the Korean version is balanced by the astonishing acting when it comes to showing the feelings.
While I watched the thai version only for Tutor/Fighter storyline, in this Korean version I enjoyed Jung Lee Won story the most because it felt like the K versions of Zon and Saifah did justice to their relationship and somehow filled the gaps of the thai plot.
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loved itt
I loved this drama..it's short and sweet...I'm not fan of very long dramas so this one was a short a plus for mefirst of all I haven't watched the original so idk if this one has covered everything from the original drama..but if it did cover everything then hatss off to the maker of this drama since wrapping everything up within 8 eps that too like 20 mins each is no easy jobb
the actors were all nice...the story development was nice as well...just before this I watched "the director who buys me dinner" i didn't like it since it felt rushed and offered no development...while this one being almost the same length as the director who buys me dinner offered great development and the romance also didn't felt like it was just there for fansercice...the kisses ahhhhh gave me butterflies ahhh
but one thing to complain about is..the second couple like I like them but it just felt weird..like sunwoo says he can't date GO because GO is dating dohyeon but at the same time he also kisses him???? like doesn't makes sense...I didn't like that u don't kiss ur best friends mann bruhhh
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Fun!!!
I didn't have high expectations for this series because of my own pre-judgment of few episodes with multi-couple but this turned out to be a fun watch. I bursted out laughing at scenes I didn't expect to be funny at all. Jung Lee Won (JLW) and Kim Ji Oh (KJO) truly delivered their roles quite good. I didn't see the chemistry at first but my mid series, I realized I was looking forward to more scenes of them.Woo Soon Woo and Ko Yoo Kyeom is the cute couple doing a more serious tone in characters. Although KYK made my head spin with his relationship with his GF and then his response when WSW confessed to him, I stuck with it to get a better understanding of his character. (You gotta watch to see why it confused me. You will see it clearly). I hope it wasn't lost in the translation.
The production did pretty good with wardrobe and sets considering this to be a low budget series. Unlike other series, you wouldn't see same wardrobe for different scenes.
I would recommend this for any BL series lover. Fujoshis will have a fun time watching this series. This Korean version is my most favorite one.
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