Well-executed and acted roller coaster ride of emotions.
*re-posting from the movie/compilation version, since this has a lower rating and I actually watched the 6-ep version*Subjective Gut Rating: 9.25 (going to be generous and rounding this up to 9.5)
Wow.. I had zero expectation going into this as I haven’t watched “Unintentional Love Story”. I was just hearing good things about “The Time of Fever”. Am I glad I watched it! It’s been a very long time since a Korean BL made me feel all the different emotions. The last one was “To My Star” Season 2.
The plot is really simple. But what this drama excels in is its execution, acting and the range of emotions that it brought out of me. I was smiling, giggling and crying throughout these couple hours. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
The acting of the two main leads and their chemistry is electrifying. I can feel their innocence, confusion, shyness, happiness, sadness, desperation and hurt. The two kiss scenes were beautifully shot and full of tension. Go Ho Tae and Kim Dong Hee are like yin and yang, and complement each other so well. Ho Tae is outgoing and wears his feelings on his sleeves. He’s not afraid to push through the thick barriers that Dong Hee put up. Dong Hee is gentle and mature, but there are moments when his teenage self couldn’t resist the temptation of touch or a teeny bit of jealousy.
The ending leaves it up for viewers’ interpretation. I would have loved to believe that they finally expressed their honest feelings for each other in the future. I am not sure if “Unintentional Love” will provide me with more happiness from this pair, but this drama makes me want to check out the other story to see more of Ho Tae and Dong Hee.
I am rating this a high 9.25, from a subjective and objective point of view. If a drama makes me feel this way, it deserves at least an 8.5. Coupled with excellent execution, it deserves high ratings and rave reviews.
Completed: 9/22/2024 - Review #489
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This review may contain spoilers
I Love This Series, But We Needed More
I don't normally write reviews, but felt I needed to for this one. Hotae and Donghee were my favorite couple from Unintentional Love Story and I loved that series in general. When I heard there would be a spinoff, with Hotae and Donghee nonetheless, I was excited.I loved this mini series and was glad we received some more back story on the two of them. Overall I think it was filmed well and the acting was fantastic, but I have a few issues with it. They never explained the significante of the watch that was brought up in ULS. It seemed like something important then, but not so much in TTOF. Also, while we can gather why they have issues in the future, it wasn't really explained why they are so indifferent and angry with one another in the future to the point they don't want anything to do with each other.
The relationship between Donghee and his father was surprising, but felt kind of random. I definitely felt as if they could have explained it more. I thought perhaps his father realized he was gay, which was the reason he said he was "sick," but they missed executing the storyline there. Perhaps that could explain Donghee's reluctance so much with his relationship with Hotae.
I wish this series would have been longer and would have gone into more detail. It was sweet, but short, and I think we could have gotten so much more back story. I don't feel as if they fully got the justice they deserved with their storyline. It's very wishful thinking, but I hope we get something more in the future.
Side note, I loved the little cameo Chansik made. It's bittersweet to know the three previously met years before they all became friends.
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A Path to Somewhere and Nowhere at the Same Time
I’m conflicted about this movie/series. I think the problems I have with it are not as a result of flaws in the film but rather a flaw in the basic concept and what they were given to begin with. How do you end a prequel happily when the sequel starts sadly? That is the problem they were handed.We know from Unintentional Love Story that they have a history in which there was confusion on Ho Tae side over his feelings and there was never a romantic relationship between them. They have an adversarial relationship, on the surface, at the beginning of the series and grow closer with an implied ending of them getting together. This is what leads to the problem of what you do with the prequel. They mentioned basic plot points but you’re dealing with a case of they parted for two years and ever since they have met again, they have not had a good relationship. So, you want to tell a story with a happy ending, but you essentially need to retcon the original story in order to obtain that.
Also, the plot felt like it dragged on. I watched around 2 episodes at a time due to the fact that it felt like we were going around in circles or just repeating the same plot points over and over again. It’s very weird in my head because it felt like there was a development in their relationship, but it felt like we kept stuttering to get there and it felt both like we got somewhere and also that we got nowhere. Was it maybe the repetition of Ho Tae’s actions towards Dong Hee. The repetitive promises he gave didn’t really change much. They were supposed to show forward change, and it just felt like we were going back to the last time this happened and were doomed to relive similar events again. Maybe it would have been different if I had seen it as a film as opposed to separate episodes, it may have flowed better that way but that’s not what was available to me.
It kind of feels like we got both somewhere and nowhere and that I think is the fault of the original story because in that story, we started just after nowhere, so this story had to end at nowhere. The ending felt rushed and empty and that is due to the limitations of the beginning of the original. I also believe that this was a very one-sided story.
In my opinion, Ho Tae is the main character and Dong Hee felt very much cast to the side. It felt like we were watching the development of Ho Tae’s feelings and his story and how Dong Hee fit into that with only a sprinkle of plot development for Dong Hee but only how it impacted him in relation to Ho Tae. That’s just the feeling I got.
Overall, I didn’t dislike it, but I’m sitting with a lot of opposing feelings.
(I already posted this review on the movie page but decided to post it here to so people can see it)
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Teens figuring life out...unsuccessfully!
I was bored by this short drama, beautifully filmed, maudlin but eventually unconvincing! I remember reading the webtoon a couple of years ago and finding the main couple boring and annoying, while the second couple was hot. I really do not remember the details of the webtoon, but these two made me finish it, they had sizzling chemistry and their story was far more compelling than the main one!This drama on the other hand seems to try to check every trope on the list: childhood friends, zero communication skills, horrible family, moaning in pain while an almost invisible scrape is being treated, hair drying session, noble idiocy, time jump....
It also has beautiful cinematography, everything was filmed in warm and fuzzy yellow tones. The music was just enough there to stress the importance of scenes.
It is the storyline and the chemistry where this drama fails. Teenagers are as they are, exploring their burgeoning sexuality, they are confused and usually act before thinking. The two characters here are the opposites. One has been kicked out of the house by his father for being gay (how does he survive, go to school etc. Is his father still paying for him?)so he is serious and hard-working and has had a crush on his friend like forever. The friend in question has just lost his father and moved to this seaside town. Living with the other boy, he is an idiot, trying to recapture the past childhood emotions and not understanding why he cannot do it. The evolution of his feelings is shown rather smoothly. When he realizes he has a crush on the other boy, he first acts upon it but is confused by the boy's reaction. Then there is the noble idiocy part and the departure to go to med school in Seoul: what happened there? With what money? Why did he become the proud owner of a coffee shop? With what money?
These little practical things are what ruined this drama for me....
The plot lacks substance: we are given some facts and everything else are just dreamy pretty sequences. And being a prequel (which I saw and which does not really fit well with this drama's ending) the ending is open. They should have added another epilogue or an episode concluding their story after another time jump to after the first drama. Their story has a happy ending in the webtoon.
Pretty but empty!
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they really went all and above yet they give us nothing
This drama had so much potential, but honestly, it left me feeling a bit empty. The story of Ho Tae and Dong Hui was super emotional—a mix of grief, abuse, and confusing feelings—and it could’ve hit really hard, but it just didn’t deliver.The setup is solid: Ho Tae comes back to his hometown after his dad's funeral, and Dong Hui, who's been through hell with his own dad, is already living in Ho Tae’s house. They’re practically family, but there’s this underlying tension because Dong Hui’s feelings for Ho Tae go beyond brotherly love. The way they try to keep things “normal” is so relatable, especially when you’re young and don’t really know how to deal with emotions that feel so huge.
What really stood out to me was how different the two are. Dong Hui is outgoing and has a thing for swimming, but deep down, he’s so fragile. Ho Tae is quieter, into drawing, and kind of a loner. Watching them navigate this weird mix of being close but not too close felt very real—like they wanted to hold on to their childhood bond but couldn’t ignore that things were changing.
But here’s the thing: the pacing felt off, and the ending? It gave us nothing. One of them ends up with a broken leg, losing his dream, and the other goes off to college in another city. Then suddenly, they’re just… at the beach again, like nothing happened. That beach was such a big part of their story, but the way they brought it back felt more like a shrug than a real conclusion.
I really wanted more. More closure, more clarity on what they actually mean to each other. The whole “we’re brothers but maybe something else” vibe was so raw and interesting, but it just kind of fizzled out. It’s like the drama was scared to commit, and that’s disappointing because the emotional buildup was there.
Overall, The Time of Fever is great at creating feelings—grief, tension, longing—but it doesn’t know what to do with them. You’ll probably feel something while watching, but don’t expect to walk away satisfied.
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Refreshing nostalgia of love
It’s Do Woo’s time to shine, once again! His charming smiles spread positive vibes within me and the way he nailed his role as Kim Dong Hui was excellent. I was in awe at how beautiful he was during one of the scenes when he was smiling up to his ears with splashing water in the background. This boy is so precious, an adorable gem.Won Tae Min as Ko Ho Tae also delivered a well-acted performance as someone who shared the same romantic love with his beloved boy. The please-teach-me-how-to-kiss scenarios were beautifully written. It’s the plot of the story that ignites the flame of love to the both of them.
The story should give us more info regarding Dong Hui’s father. There was one scene when he was beaten up on his birthday with the mother just crying in the corner and kind of being used to it. In terms of romance, I liked how they blended a good amount of chemistry without relying on other supporting casts. Yet, at some point, I am hoping that Dong Hui’s classmate can be the potential love rival of Ho Tae as explicit during the first few episodes.
Honestly, I almost forgot the whole storyline of its sequel. This prequel ended up better than the first show. Nevertheless, both shows did well and I am happy to complete another well-written short BL series.
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Hyung concept brought up a very savory flavor to the romance and made my heart flutters
This BL series of 6 episodes (which has also been released under a full length movie format) features a gripping story between two childhood friends. The "Hyung" cultural aspect gave to the drama a very savory flavor that I particularly enjoyed. I would have loved for the epilogue to be a bit longer but was overall happy with the poetry of the conclusion.I really enjoyed and believed in the chemistry between the two main actors: more specifically, I was fascinated by the infirmary scene. It was beautiful and made my heart flutters. There might be room of improvement for some of the most serious scenes but they were credible together.
The budget felt relatively low but in a quite expected way I feel for this type of production. Filmmaking was efficient in conveying the story, but not really outstanding and the overall soundtrack was quite forgettable as well.
I would recommend this to people that are looking for BL with a well executed childhood friends-to-lovers trope. Chemistry and story was good and overall 6 episodes are highly bingeable (which is expected with the original format being a movie).
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All Show, No Substance
Frankly, this movie, turned into a BL mini-series, presented better than it actually was. Well-acted and certainly well-crafted but it says absolutely nothing. Yet, it looks so good in the process. I kept waiting for a ‘punch line’ but it never came. These kinds of movies/series are so exasperating to watch and I for one am frankly getting tired of hiding a non-existent story under false and artificial melodrama nonsense. Certainly, this series will pull at your heartstrings but perhaps because I am old and cynical, I saw right through this ruse. Flatly this series said nothing. At least nothing of substance and again reinforced the stereotypical thinking that gay people from an early age really do not want to be gay, or will hide it for as long as they can, or are ashamed of what they are, or lack the courage to be who they are, or are terrified of their own feelings, or, or, or…. All perhaps well meaning but sending a wrong message.Was this review helpful to you?
Despite their ages, both actors actually did a great job, as expected. My first issue with the series, however, was the short duration—it was too brief! This limited runtime really affected the quality of the story. There were many things that needed more development, like Dong Hui's feelings toward Ho Tae. We know he likes him from the very first episode, but his reasons for hiding his true feelings were never really explored. It would have been better if they had provided a bit of background on how Dong Hui fell in love with Ho Tae and why he acts so guarded. I wouldn’t mind watching some extra episodes just to get answers to these questions.
Another thing worth mentioning is the lack of supporting characters to enhance the story. For example, we don’t learn much about Dong Hui’s father, who might actually influence his behavior.
Aside from these two major concerns, this series isn’t bad—especially compared to other Korean BL dramas this year.
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In 2023, a story about a young man who spies on his company president's favorite reclusive artist to get his job back, captured the hearts of Korean series enthusiasts in general and lovers of boy love stories in particular.
TVING's original drama 'Unintentional Love Story', based on the manhwa and webtoon of the same name, written by Phoebe, starring Cha Seo Won as Yoon Tae Joon, and Gong Chan as Ji Won Young, showed us a second couple, played by actors Woo Tae Min ('You Make Me Dance', 2021), and Han Do Woo ('Love Playlist: Season 5' (2021), the former playing Go Ho Tae, and the latter playing Kim Dong Hee.
Loved by fans and the cause of the so-called "sub-disease" or love for the protagonists of the stories attached to the main one, at the end of the series complaints rained down requesting that the story of Ho Tae and Dong Hee be resumed to tell the exciting previous relationship between these two young people that was not included in the series, especially one that reflected their exciting school days.
Ultimately, the request was to represent in another work the vague narrative and interesting relationship of the couple made up of Go Ho Tae and Kim Dong Hee; but equally, that the future main couple was assumed by the same actors, with the same character names.
Thus came the idea of filming a spin-off to tell a sad, but at the same time beautiful and tender story of two children who grew up together and discovered mutual love.
Directed by Yang Kyung Hee, a renowned director who has filmed several BL stories, such as 'A Tractor Loaded with Love' and 'The Director Who Buys Me Dinner', both from 2023, or 'I Wanna Bite It' ('Kissable Lips' ), from 2022, and 'Florida Banjeom', from 2021, and with the script masterfully crafted by Shin Yoo ('Where Your Eyes Linger', 2020), the film 'The Time of Fever' ('When your temperature touches my fingers' '), introduces the viewer to an immersive narrative journey.
At the forefront, Won Tae Min shines as a straight swimmer who one day discovers he's in love with his best friend, along with Han Do Woo's nuanced portrayal of the character he plays, and the support of a talented cast who bring depth to their respective roles.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR AND HIS WORK
In the film, its director approaches the issue of homosexuality with an intimate and personal approach, a topic that, as has already been said, he has addressed on previous occasions.
Yang Kyung Hee's work is marked by a display of sexual and emotional discovery, a theme that is addressed in a very suggestive way in 'The Time of Fever'. Far from reaching that need to search for personal identity from the beginning, with this film, the South Korean director takes up a love story not told in depth in an original story already brought to the small screen.
Therefore, from the perspective of the journey to the roots, a reunion between two old friends ends up becoming a labyrinth of passions. What stands out about the script is that it gets rid of superficial flourishes or moral dilemmas about the conception of masculinity. Although at certain moments he highlights the clichés surrounding homosexuality, he then puts them aside to reveal an internal story. Thanks to this, it gives the public a love story without consuming, where the fact that they are men becomes something circumstantial, but necessary.
In this way, the film talks about feelings and the attractiveness of emotion, where the physical becomes the result of an intimacy that occurs prior to sexual relations. It cannot be denied that that depth about what it means to love, desire or suffer is what makes the difference. Although the story follows a structure that has already been seen previously in other films, also with LGBT+ themes, perhaps, that naturalness of the unexpected love between two people with a common past makes it become a different film.
THE HISTORY
Produced by Number Three Pictures Co., Ltd., the film tells us that Ho Tae and Dong Hee have grown up as brothers since childhood. Ho Tae, who was born in Gangneung and moved to Seoul the year he graduated from primary school due to problems with his father's business, was never particularly interested in studying. For this reason, he started swimming at the school he transferred to in the South Korean capital.
Owner of enough talent to occupy a high position on the swimming team, he is forced to return to his hometown after his father's funeral, because his mother decided that they would return to start a business.
Upon returning home, Ho Tae, now 17 years old, discovered that Dong Hee, who is two years older than him, had filled the space that had been empty for a long time. Dong Hee, who had been expelled from his father's house after admitting to his family that he is homosexual, found a roof over his head in Ho Tae's uninhabited house.
Born as sons of friendly mothers, both, without any full siblings, grew up together as older and younger neighborhood brothers.
In the summer of Dong Hee's third year at High School, Ho Tae returned. The two meet again and end up living together under the same roof.
Despite their close brotherly bond, Dong Hee, who has hidden his homosexuality after being beaten by his father, who also called him "mentally ill" for this reason, cannot help but feel emotional when he sees Ho Tae, who is like a real brother to him, but he is also his first love, and he tries to repress his feelings. But it's not easy to bury these feelings.
Similarly, Ho Tae, who sees his friend as a kind young man who likes to smile, confronted with Dong Hee's presence, also develops feelings for the boy whom he has not seen in a long time, but is confused by those feelings sensations stirring inside him that he had never experienced before.
In an effort to escape his confusing emotions, Ho Tae begins dating girls in superficial relationships, which inadvertently causes pain to the previously independent Student Council president and valedictorian of his school.
As their dynamic changes after an unforeseen event, the delicate balance of their relationship hangs in the balance.
OF ACTORS AND CHARACTERS
Having a cast with few performers allows the acting direction to be focused and give greater impact to those who participate. In this way, in 'The Time of Fever' the protagonist duo is exploited above all. On the one hand, Woo Tae Min offers a metamorphosis in his character that gives him the ability to shine at an acting level. Along with this, you can see that he has a connection with the camera, giving realism and naturalness to his character at all times. Furthermore, the mischief with which he balances the most subjective effect contrasts with the sensitivity that he lets emerge at every step. It should also be noted that he is generous with his co-star, given that they form a team with great chemistry, where the tension necessary for this type of narrative is perceived.
On the other hand, Han Do Woo uses that connection with his co-star to his advantage, given that what begins as a performance in the background ends up exploiting his quality as an actor. On the one hand, it has that exquisite familiarity, which combines perfectly with the tone of the film and, then, it knows how to perfectly convey that whirlwind of sensations that lives inside. Likewise, it would be important to highlight the difficulty of being on a more restrained level, in the face of a reaction that follows that slower line, but letting out all the emotional tear that it suffers, with gestures and physical expression, something that it achieves perfectly.
With solid performances from both actors, I would highlight actor Do Woo's deeply repressed emotional performance. Won Tae Min's acting, which was childish but serious, is also very good.
They both express their feelings and emotions well. Both powerfully show the vision of two people leaning on each other's shoulders and seeming lost in deep thought.
Personally, I can perfectly empathize with the feelings and circumstances of the two characters.
SOME THOUGHTS
Korean LGBT+ films and series have gained significant popularity in recent years, captivating audiences with their heartfelt narratives and compelling characters. This lineup is joined by the spin-off of 'Unintentional Love Story'.
From the trailer, I anticipated that the reunion between the two old friends would provoke a complex mix of emotions, particularly for Dong Hee, whose affection for Ho Tae runs deeper than brotherly love. Upon learning that 'The Time of Fever' was in the process of filming, I was deeply curious to witness the synergy between these two young actors, and I must admit that they did not disappoint me.
This is one of the Korean LGBT+ film productions that delve into themes of love, friendship and self-discovery within the context of same-sex relationships. Through its delicate depiction of emotions and nuanced storytelling, this film offers viewers a unique combination of romance and drama, providing insight into the complexities of love and identity in contemporary Korean society.
The temporal background of the work is from the fall of 2013 to the spring of 2014, and from there it jumps, in its final scenes, to the present, to make it coincide with the story told in 'Unintentional Love Story', in which It tells the reunion of Dong Hee with Ho Tae, when the former returns to his hometown after studying in Seoul, while the latter runs a business with his mother.
As was the case with the OST sung by actress Cha Seo Won in 'Unintentional Love Story', the OST sung by Won Tae Min in 'The Time of Fever' is one of the many notable aspects of the film.
In addition to "You Call My Name", by B1A4, used as the final song, we will hear in the soft and emotional voice of the actor who plays Ho Tae the song "What If (원태민), composed by Kwak Jeong Im, which captures the deep emotions of the film, and "Someday Again" (언젠가 또 다시), by Masa (도우).
The viewer will feel as if the lyrics of the songs and the content of the film are intertwined, further increasing the emotions.
And the kiss scenes, especially the first one... still shake me because of their tension and the tremor of that moment.
The cameo of Gong Chan, who played Ji Won Young in 'Unintentional Love Story', is a special and long-awaited appearance.
The cinematography is exquisite. The day and night views of Donghae-si, Samcheok-si and Gangwon-do, Samcheok Meister High School and Mangsang Beach, where the film was shot, are beautiful.
Even knowing that the ending would not be happy, in order to connect the story with that told in 'Unintentional Love Story', the exploration that 'The Time of Fever' makes about sexuality is one of the most attractive that South Korean cinema has given. in a long time, with maturity, without resentments and with much more reality than fantasy. A story that will break our own internal and external limits, as it will make us cry, it will tear our hearts, but we will always keep in mind that the story of Ho Tae and Dong Hee does not end here.
Despite the lack of sincerity of the two in not expressly acknowledging their feelings, the rapprochement between both characters, very well carried out by Woo Tae Min and Han Do Woo, is honest and credible, a teenage friendship that is slowly growing. They are the story and it is the chemistry between them that allows the film to be beautiful, at the same time sad and heartbreaking.
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The cinematography made me feel like I'm watching my sweetest dream in 1280p!
Before this, I watched Unintentional Love Story and was disappointed with the mediocre storyline; I only watched for the second leads. But seeing their own story get portrayed this skilfully warmed my heart.To be honest, this storyline is also very common; I could literally predict what's going to happen, but I couldn't let go because of the beautiful, aesthetic, mesmerising cinematography! I was watching a series, but I felt like I was reading a poem. Although after all these interactions we still didn't get our answer. It's definitely complicated.
The best part of the series is its short yet resourceful runtime, and there weren't any annoying side characters to waste time on doing dumb shit.
If you're looking for something wholesome and cinematographically pleasing, then this one is perfect for you! It wasn't anything phenomenal or groundbreaking but a quick fix sweet candy to uplift your mood.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Heartwarming Reunion with a Nostalgic Charm
The Time of Fever (also known as When I Feel Your Warmth) is a tender, emotionally charged South Korean BL series that serves as a prequel to Unintentional Love Story, exploring the formative student years of Hotae and Donghee. The series captures the tension and complexity of their friendship, which begins to transform after years apart, as Hotae returns to his hometown to live with Donghee. What begins as a brotherly bond evolves into something deeper and more complicated, as both wrestle with newfound feelings.The plot is straightforward, without unnecessary subplots, allowing the delicate dynamics between Hotae and Donghee to take center stage. The story is not new, but its fresh delivery gives it a refreshing charm. As a spin-off, it complements Unintentional Love Story beautifully by offering a glimpse into the backstory that led to the original drama’s events. Donghee’s quiet longing and Hotae’s gradual realisation of his own feelings are portrayed with an intimacy that feels raw and real.
The cinematography is stunning, with bright yet blurred colours, and the sound design is exceptional, often mimicking the heightened senses of the characters. The attention to detail—like Donghee noticing Hotae’s breath or the tactile tension of a hand on a shoulder—heightens the emotional weight of each scene. The music choices only serve to amplify this atmosphere, drawing viewers into the world of the two leads.
What stands out most is the chemistry between Won Tae-min and Do Woo, reprising their roles from Unintentional Love Story. Their interactions are packed with yearning gazes, subtle gestures, and a palpable connection that carries the show. It feels light and avoids unnecessary melodrama, giving it a natural, lived-in quality.
The tension between Hotae and Donghee is both heart-wrenching and electric. There’s a strong sense of longing, not only for each other but also for clarity in their emotions. The subtle chaos of their relationship—often conveyed through ambiguous dialogue—mirrors the uncertainty they feel internally. The series encapsulates the confusion, curiosity, and fear that often come with young queer love, making it incredibly relatable.
If there’s one thing I would have loved, it’s a final episode showing us what happens years later, after the events of Unintentional Love Story. But as it stands, The Time of Fever is a touching, beautifully told story that left me both satisfied and yearning for more.
The series is a must-watch for fans of the original, and it serves as an emotional prequel that adds new layers of meaning to the relationship between Hotae and Donghee. Rewatch value? Absolutely!
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