A dishonest rating but an honest review, because I am a fool for OnlyOneOf

Is my rating honest? No. In reality, it's more like a generous 7. But I love my LGBT+ supporting kings OnlyOneOf, and I would just cry if I rated a drama they starred in any lower than an 8, okay?! So forgive me for fudging the numbers! I am a person with feelings!

All this being said, just because I won't rate it honestly doesn't mean I won't review it honestly.

It makes sense that the acting here wouldn't be stellar; they were all new to this. Credit where credit is due, though, Nine and Mill managed to pull off some pretty decent chemistry with their characters despite not being given a lot to work with. However, the editing, story beats, and pacing desperately needed work, and there is no excuse for that. Many times, when scenes continued, they would abruptly cut to new locations or would skip forward a few hours, giving the watcher this uncomfortable feeling of being rushed. Also, more screen time should have been devoted to showing more of the leads spending quality time together rather than talking about or cutting to very brief clips of it. As they say with books, "Show, don't tell." Finally, did we need the scheming ex? No, we did not.

All in all, could have been a lot better.

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Orange Juice Meet Cute

This has to be one of the sweetest fucking things I've ever seen.

This showed from start to finish the embarassing and exciting experience of finally talking to that person you're interested in and actually having them reciprocate. And all the missteps and moments of barely-mustered courage in between. From initiating a conversation and agonizing over what to say so much that you say very little, exchanging numbers, typing, deleting, and retyping the first text, to going on a date for the first time and making things official.

What a treasure these shy and real moments in a developing romance are.

Bless these two sweet, terribly awkward men.

That's it. That's all I had to say. NOW GO WATCH THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT'S GOOD, I PROMISE!

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Smiling over a meal

Our lovely ladies returned in this second season to grace our screens with the sweet development of their relationship, their own personal challenges and moments of growth, the meeting of new supportive and heart-warming friends, and even more delicious meals.

I know last season I begged for a second season but, now, I'm begging for a third. Pleeeeeeeeease!

If you're not watching this, what are you doing?! Do you not like JOY?!

. . .

Did I mention there's rare Ace rep?

Just go watch it, you fool! I will be over here, crying over my coffee, blessing Furritsubs for allowing me to watch this with subs.

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Nothing is easy, but this was easily a 10

Everything about this was well-thought-out. From the clothing, lighting, props, and music to the dialogue, line delivery, and message.

It doesn't paint its protagonists as always right. More often than not, their points of view are challenged, often by each other. And, there is no easy answer. Peacefully protesting is a great way to speak out but does not guarantee a solution. Many companies are happy to wait it out until the public forgets about it. Acting illegally but nonviolently to expose deep-seated corruption is another way. But you can be arrested and/or have the public turn against you. For many, the end does not justify the means. And, if the law can be so easily disregarded, what is the point of it? Removing one person in power doesn't necessarily make the root of the issue go away; someone else will take their place.

None of it is easy. Even though this drama ended, it wasn't the end for the characters. They won the battle, but they're still fighting the war.

Our protagonists, while working together, aren't even on an equal playing field with each other. I think this is best shown through White's internal dialogue about growing up privileged and ahead of others and how unfair that is reflected by what he sees around him and what others say.

This wasn't a cash-grab romance drama with "brownie-points" material thrown in. This was a genuine attempt to portray working-class people being taken advantage of, discriminated against, and still fighting for equal rights.

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I can sum up this drama with two words: A Need

Where do I even begin to review this drama?

This was a deliciously teasing slow burn, with the tension (and my anticipation) only rising with each new episode. It wound up getting crazy hype; I'm of the belief it was deserved.

They paid attention to the details here: From meaningful items that come up/are shown in the background—even quietly revealing to the viewers how things are progressing—and minute shifts in framing and lighting of scenes to detailed dialogue with weight, symbolism, and double meanings.

Impressively, while the subject matter was often serious, they somehow smoothly incorporated belly-aching comedic moments as well.

Finally, I would be remiss not to praise the actors, as not only the MLs but every side character nailed their roles.

My only real critique: While the music was great, far too many times, it came on too strong during a pivotal scene.

I would absolutely recommend watching this!

Side Note: Can we talk about the FLIRTING game here?! Not just Xiao Yuan but Wei Qian was freaking smooth as butter. Like, damn, man!

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Spoiler that shouldn't be a spoiler ahead because it's a Trigger Warning!

I'm just going to jump right into it:




Waii rapes Apo. And afterward, a "romance" blooms between the two. It is not a scene featuring questionable consent. It is undeniably rape. Apo says no and tries to fight back; Waii doesn't listen and restrains him. You may be asking hopefully, "Is it condemned?" I'm sorry to tell you, it's not. The drama doesn't treat it as the horrible act it is, not at all. Not only does Waii face no consequences for what he does, but romantic music is played over it, and it's even used in a flashback later. Apo also takes almost no time to forgive Waii, as if he stole his homework rather than forced himself on him against his will. Now, it is each survivor's right to be affected by their experience in different ways and heal from it however they see fit. However, this drama did something unforgivable and extremely damaging by not properly framing rape as wrong. If you can stomach the experience, I would recommend watching The Effect. It properly shows how horrifying and violent rape is and its effects on someone, including not only trauma but also the conflicting feelings that may come as a result of someone you love hurting you in a way you never thought they would.

After reading all of this, you may be wondering, "Why in the Hell did Noir watch this?"

I started this for the Bi/Pan FL. Every time I asked for Queer FLs, this drama kept getting recommended to me, always tagged along with the phrase "problematic content." I wish now I'd looked into this drama more so I knew what to expect and could skip that horrible scene. So, if, like me, you do decide to watch this drama for the rep alone, let me save you: The rape scene takes place in Ep 4 1/4. Unfortunately, I can't remember what episode has the flashback.

What also hurts me inside is seeing the year this was made was 2017. It was only 5 years ago that this mindset of using rape as a plot device for romance was perfectly acceptable.

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Impressing and Special

I'm giving the male couple a 10/10. If I had to rate the female couple, I would give them an 8/10, and I would give the male and female couple a 7/10.

I do admit I may have a bit of a bias in regards to the Straight couple. As someone who only some years ago came out as Bi, I have been trying to find all the LGBT+ content I can. I have seen so many Straight romances, and the world of tv and film mostly consists of Straight romances, so I have seen every Straight trope and relationship dynamic under the sun. In a way, I find myself bored with Straight romances. Because I've seen it for so long, am always publicly presented with it, and live in a majority Straight world. So, while this premise is unique for the other two couples, I have seen rather similar scenes play out with a Straight couple before (Love Alarm would be the most recent comparable example).

The two guys acted the best compared to the two other couples (I'm not knocking the others' acting, they did a good job overall, I just thought their chemistry and actions didn't feel as natural). Their tension was palpable. It felt as though there was this constant pull between them. It was as though they kept taking turns inhaling and breathing out for each other.

This short is very short (of course, because it's a short film). I only wish I saw a little more. I would have loved to have seen what happened 5 minutes before they went inside to escape the rain. What were they talking about before? Were they hanging out? Or, did they just run into each other?

But, then again, the fact that this short film leaves me longing for more just speaks to how good this was. I think the point of it was to leave you with some questions. So, consider me happily annoyed that not everything was spelled out and handed to me. Lol.

Surprisingly the limited dialogue made it much more interesting. They were able to play more with tone, spacing, and atmosphere. It was also very interesting to see how the 3 different couples' actors changed up the lines in small but subtly beautiful ways. This has to be the best short film I have seen in years.

Also, one final compliment: The sound team did an amazing job! Every sigh and movement felt heightened, which made every moment feel precious and not wasted, and the rain was perfect background noise.

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Touching

This was a dramatic improvement compared to the first season. Fuyu reemerged more emotionally vulnerable and, though battered from intense familial pressure, managed to rise above and take a true stand for her and Itsuki's relationship.

Not only was there a more concrete storyline and satisfying ending, but they also had something to say: If we always hide, we'll never create a more accepting world where Queer people can feel safe and comfortable to come out. Let us not reinforce our culture's promotion of silence and enduring.

And Tsuki—darling Tsuki—was a national treasure, encouraging and supporting her moms just by being an innocent, confident, and kind little girl.

Even if you never watched the first season, I recommend you watch this one.

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Well-meaning but not always well-executed

As someone who adored the film adaptation and has gone back to it again and again and again, this was pretty darn faithful, showing how one meaningful connection can expand someone's world and how all you really need is one person to see and understand you, just one.

I liked how this Taichi showed more of an interest in Kohei right off the bat, which led to some lovely, thoughtful moments. And Kohei was more forward with his feelings in his own way. However, over time, I did begin to feel like the drama was dragging its feet. By making Taichi more attached to Koehi but also more dense, there was this constant circling around his feelings. And while I, of course, was happy to see them explore hearing loss and the different perspectives and struggles of people who are deaf/hard of hearing, I think it took away valuable time that could have been spent with Taichi and Kohei. While they focused on Taichi's passion for making a better world/helping others, Kohei ended up taking a backseat. Some later episodes had barely any scenes of Taichi and Kohei together, let alone from Kohei's point of view.

The ending also didn't quite sit right. While it did its job and was sweet, it felt rushed and lacking.

I think this drama wanted to be bigger than it was and lost itself a bit.

I wasn't disappointed, per se; I just think they could have done more.

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Logically, I know they didn't do anything truly incredible. On the surface, this story has been told before. However, I found a surprising amount of emotional depth here.

From the beginning, with a shared pain, the leads are able to see through the other in a way others aren't able to, hear the words they're not saying. Before they even got together, the connection between them felt earned.

The way Hyun Seung approached Song Ah not just with good intentions but with a level of sincerity most men would not dare to show. He didn't play games, beat around the bush, or do things in half-measures; he loved honestly and fully, even when he had no hope or was given less in return. It was truly refreshing to see a ML take a chance with his whole heart.

I also appreciated the showcasing of a mature as well as flawed working woman FL. Song Ah put her career first and love life second. Some may say this made her selfish. However, she knew how she prioritized these aspects of her life, and rather than attempt to be someone she wasn't, she was honest with herself and Hyun Seung, made her goals clear, and took accountability for her shortcomings. And knowing herself as a person who struggled to express her feelings, she took steps to push through the blocks in her mind as well as make efforts suited to her affection style.

I felt I learned and grew with these two. I'm so glad the rep made me check She Would Never Know out!

Side Note: Can we talk about the respect Hyun Seung had for Song Ah?! He didn't take things into his own hands to remove her from a potentially dangerous situation. He respected her agency, stood to the side, and asked, "Do you want me to?"

My hearrrrt!

By the way, can we take a moment to talk about the height difference between these two?! Because it was . . . Ahhh! Maybe I'm starting to realize I sometimes have a thing for it . I mean, Extraordinary You and Abyss also had me swooning.

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Not perfect, but memorable

I'll be upfront and admit I did not go into this with an open mind, AT ALL. I went into Deep Night fully expecting to find something cheap and surface-level that would make me cringe and regret hitting play. I'd probably end up rating it a 6-6.5/10 and say it was a tasteless, eye-candy watch.

Well, you know what? Shame on me!

This drama had glaring flaws, for certain. The main ones were the villain FL, who screamed like a banshee for no reason and was just plain annoying/idiotic, loud and out-of-place sound effects, and the central roadblock problem for everyone playing out in too similar a way each time.

But it also had highlights as bright as spotlights. And I'm not just talking about the amazing acrobatics, stunning performances, and intense chemistry between the MLs, oh no.

Quietly, a theme of breaking down prejudices and shifting perspectives unfolded, particularly on the part of Khem. He went on a long, difficult, growth-filled journey. From judging hosts, never wanting to be associated with the Deep Night club, and allowing his jealousy and lack of understanding of his boyfriend's career to overtake him to admiring the hosts and noticing their efforts, taking pride in Deep Night and working to make it succeed, and accepting and respecting his boyfriend's work to the point of feeling fully secure in his relationship and cheering him on without any reservations.

My own perspective shifted along with him as I found myself feeling emotional near the end, wishing the best for everyone and wanting the club to do well, not wanting to let these characters that had wormed their way into my heart go.

I wish I could explain in better detail just why I found this so worthwhile. All I can say is that I think you should give Deep Night a chance; it might just surprise you.

Note: .5 out of my score is extra just because, I really wound up loving it, dammit!

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Just . . . Bad.

I wanted to like this. I really did. At first I told myself: It's not bad. But not good.

But . . . It was just bad.

I could tell the actors were trying to work with what they were given, but it was like you could almost see it behind their eyes that they wished they could say some lines differently.

And it wasn't just the performances that were lacking, the camerawork could be downright ugly, the important plotpoints of the story felt like they were thrown in at random times, the pacing was off, and the dialogue made me feel like I was in a hamster wheel!

Side Note: Why did Dennis even exist as a character?

Me trying to see the positives:

The concept had promise, the ending wasn't too bad, and sometimes the MLs had legitimate chemistry.

This is a skip my friends. Go watch The New Employee instead. I know you've been thinking about it. Just go!

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I was impressed, and I think you will be too

Watching this all at once makes me believe releasing it in one day was the right decision. It flows and feels like a movie, not a drama. I don't think you'll like it or appreciate it as much if you just see an episode or two a week.

This. This is top-tier. If Romance is a Bonus Book is a love letter to books, Blueming is a love letter to films.

It manages to capture "a feeling" in every scene, and the cinematography is everything. Semantic Error went for a style similar to its original work, with bright colors and loud music and graphics. This was toned-down, with warm colors, unassuming music, and subtle cuts.

Both are great, just in different ways.

I loved how, at its core, this was about opening up to someone. Finding a person you can share your insecurities with who won't look at you differently because of it, someone you can comfortably be vulnerable with.

Sexuality wasn't even a topic or issue because it was of no importance to the story being told. It wasn't the point. Seeing people onscreen actually declare their sexuality is great for representation. Having it be a non-issue is also great. We can tell stories with LGBT+ people without necessarily making it about them being LGBT+. Straight romances and stories aren't generally about them being Straight; it's about the story.

When I reached the end of this film, I realized it had never come up. And my reaction was simply, "Oh."

This was lovely.

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Jazz for Two Might be for You

This drama and the characters truly shined the most in tension-filled moments where it felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. I also rather appreciated the consistency of the character's flaws/toxic behaviors, with there also being guilt and growth. Also, the fake-out conflict being resolved through thoughtful perspective and acceptance? Loved that. More not dragging things out for added drama and instead having a main lead think rationally, please!

Based on this drama's description, I expected less than average—to not be excited at the prospect of seeing the story progress. I was glad to find I could lose myself in Jazz for Two for a while.

All this praise aside, I wish the curtains closed more smoothly on this drama. At least ten extra minutes were desperately needed to tie up the side character's stories as well as allow a smoother transition as to where the main leads ended up. When the credits started rolling, I legit thought I was being punked. I was like, "Come on, there's got to be five more minutes left, right? Did I skip ahead?!"

All in all, I would recommend it. Just keep your expectations moderate.

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A sunny day on Earth with a raincloud overhead

23.5 was a fun flurry of cuteness that managed to wonderfully capture teen love in school. It kept a light comedic tone and, while leaning into many tropes typical of teen Disney romances/Thai BLs, managed to stay fresh with an energetic tone, well-rounded and communicative leads, and unique side characters (need I talk about Aylin, our resident Alien who captured everyone's hearts?).

Even the main misunderstanding was executed better than many similar dramas. Instead of a dragged-out separation topped with assumptions and more misunderstandings, 23.5 pushed through it with heart, developed insight, and thoughtful conversations.

The final conflict is where I felt like this drama was pulled down from greatness.

For a character like Sun, who is presented as a bright, caring ray of sunshine who looks out for others and is mature for her age when it comes to handling emotions and complex situations, you'd think she'd be able to analyze and be critical of her own actions, considering the hurt they caused someone she loved. Granted, she was raised in a fully accepting and supportive environment with a family who never forced their own wants onto her and pushed her toward her dreams. But she also, through Aylin, directly got to see/observe how ignorance/bullying could affect someone.

And while both Sun and Ongsa had work to do on themselves and did grow over time, I found myself unable to fully appreciate it when what should arguably be the biggest conflict they have amounted to a one-sided blame game with a cutesy and rushed make-up unfitting of the situation.

A lack of awareness/regret and the drama's unwillingness/oversight in not calling out its characters is what kept me from finishing 23.5 on a high note. As it stands, I feel pleased as well as disappointed.

All this being said, I do recommend it, just with a small sigh.

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