Uneccesary remake, of a dated story-line.

The settling of a debt: the sins of the father laid upon one child. One punishment for having jerks for parents? Selling off your child and future grandchild in an all-in-one human trafficking moment. But then, both families were 'a piece of work' in both versions (2001, 2015) of this drama.

I do appreciate they toned down little sis' need to be the male lead's mistress in this version. Though early cringe moments can be heard as inappropriate shadows, left in dialog. As for the 2001 original rape scene; 2015 same scene, slightly consensual context (FL touches ML's back in fadeout), & same outcome. A bad remake, of a dated story-line. Not recommended.

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Brutally horrible drama ahead.

The salacious nature of the bondage plot-line is supposed to be the titillation to draw watchers into this drama. Unfortunately, it was just another cringe-trending moment, to mask a really badly produced drama. There should be hate, joy, love, and lust among the mains triangle, but, with no chemistry to speak of between all three mains. The characters couldn't rub a real feeling moment between them if they'd tried.

Everything, was flat, even the side characters appear to have no lasting purpose. The editing was off; the story was all-over-the-place; the characters made no sense; leads had no chemistry; so brutally horrible I stayed for the bad-drama cult-film aspect. Will I recommend it to the rest of you? Certainly, not. If you proceed under the guise of 'bad cinema' - Deities help you.

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rape is not romance

I would assume most everyone would expect the mature romantic male lead, not to rape his love interest, a teenage girl, under any circumstances. I was wrong. The aftermath? A forced cuddle session for a tearful teenager, with her unrepentant rapist, the male lead. That's criminal enough; I hope she wasn't underage too.

Sometimes, there is no nuance, you can put forward that will soften sexual assault. No debate, that will convince, that tears on a pillow are invisible because the main couple had feelings. As if rape was inevitable. The female lead's life misfortune negating her humanity, her feelings something that needed to be forced. How foolish of any woman to expect romance, and, heaven forbid, a wish to keep her body choices intact. Awe, but, the choice was not hers, but the writer's. Sometimes you can't differentiate, from forced, or coerced. I lean toward the victim's reaction, and in this case dialogue supported it. Rape to romance, is an out dated scenario, that is easily replaced by a loving moment. Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One" https://mydramalist.com/list/389deQR4)

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rape is not romance.

This was a train-wreck in degradation by everyone to the female lead. The first rape by the male lead horrific, and a violent introduction to the most cowardly and vicious group of characters ever to grace a drama. And, we haven't gotten to the bad-guys yet. Misunderstandings do not account for the silence, outright lies and sanctioned treatment spilling over into everyone's bad behavior toward her. To the point; no matter what the female lead did, she was never going to be human. And, in her moment of escape - Real family and friends turn-on-her to judgement. Using their influence to bring it home; her life is ruined because she's pregnant by her abuser. The last act of cowardice of all these unrepentant characters - A surprise wedding with her rapist, the psycho male lead. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. I hope this never gets remade. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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Let comments be your guide.

I wasn't going to review it, but this happens far too much lately in modern dramas. The story leaves the synopsis and wanders into the territory of a production wanting the ultimate reveal with jump scares, cliffhangers and titillation. Not thinking that the reason you watch a romance tag, is to follow your mains through a love story. Bitter, or sweet. We can take it - it's love!

What I can't take, is what they did here. Screen-time for our mains was nonexistent. Do, we want to watch the mains in a platonic relationship, or watch the male lead confess his love to the second female lead? Probably not, romance remember. From, what I can gather from other sources; most of the main couple's romance was edited out of the actual series. But, available in promotional vids, and stills on twitter posted after in protest. And then, that hug just before the end.

I will always remember the second female lead (the ex) and that tearful gripping hug with the male lead. Just before the beach scene where she hugs the son she had with someone else; right after leaving the female lead for dead on the mountain under the less than attentive male lead's attentions. Who left his maybe girlfriend laying unconscious to pursue his ex (SFL, the female lead's step-mom) down said hill to be available for that hug. All, within 15 minutes of the closing credits. Life is good in Meena Land (fear that name) - But, leaves a bitter aftertaste. Not recommended.

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A good story.

The negativity in the comments and reviews, put me off this drama. It is neither deserving of that criticism, nor gushed over with undo praise. To me; It is a good story, with good actors, and mains with brains, and chemistry.

What, I liked the most about "Time Flies and You Are Here" - Where so many smart female leads become 'dumb as dirt', less than sassy, and regulated to harem scapegoat. As if, once you've got a man 'Mary Sue' becomes a damsel, slash doormat.

This hero, the male lead finds his love, and doesn't waver in that love. Likes her the way she is, and in the end, didn't expect her to change. And, the other half of this couple, the female lead; never wavered in her life goals, and when she decided on him. It was a choice for love.

Good story, multiple couples, and character growth happens. Over all a decent watch, with a couple, I wanted to see succeed. Recommended.

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A lesson in how to create apathy in viewers.

Disclaimer: The synopsis is triggering. What it triggered was public anger toward the mother initially, and blanket disgust not personally directed straight at the rapist. I found that to be an odd distinction; and, I won't confirm, or deny the copy as written.

As one of the most maligned and vilified of 2022 releases. It deserves that, but not for the reasons stated. You can watch the first 4 episodes and skip to episode 28; you will have missed nothing in your journey. Even without that 24 episode filler, you won't miss out on any salacious and criminal behavior. Because, there is plenty to go around. But, will get to skip through, to the only warm moments in the entire drama. Don't take these to heart; they will only confuse.

The series is boring, and the episodes repetitive. Scenes redone and content repeated so many times, empathy for any character is lost. Editing the number of episodes down by half and it would still be too long. This drama is a lesson in how to create apathy in your watchers, and turn a blind-eye to the criminality of rape in dramas. Avoid.

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rape is not romance.

Shades of sexual assault. A traumatic past rape of the female lead, with someone trusted. Later, kidnapped by one of the most toxic male lead characters ever created; She is then chained, imprisoned, and raped by him. Who incidentally, just happens to be the female lead's first rapist's brother-in-law (ML). What kind of karma is that? In this drama, the romantic choice would have been 'second male lead syndrome' - it doesn't change the outcome by yelling this at the screen though. I tried. Obviously, rape in all its shades of criminality is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

note: Avoid this original, watch the remake.
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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It isn't the cast change; it is the script.

I don't recommend season two - Go out on the finale from season one. By the time you get done with this, the questions you had at the end of season one will be unanswered, and that other dramatic finale will be the only thing you remember from this series. Because from this moment on, this story changes, and becomes an unrecognizable repetitive loop not vested in the original adventure except in title only. It isn't the cast change; it is production without continuity.

Season one's characters are regulated to little screen time, if they show up at all. Even, the effects, and choreographed action season-one was loved for, are absent from the screen. The main couple disappear into a cart for 75% of the episodes. I personally think the director just wanted to showcase the character Ye Hong Yu in this season - Pretty visuals, with no invested substance; filler. While, Sang Sang and Ning Que, the female and male leads, became secondary characters by omission.

Where, in the previous season the leads were the highlight of an intricate couple's tale (Sang Sang and Ning Que) of fantasy, revenge, and mystery. I blame production, that took the lively couple, and split them into a triangle, that was as devoid of color as they could paint it. With repetitive scenes, and dialog that sucked life out of a dynamic tale-of-adventure we came to know in season one. It was a waste of time, a waste of talent in 42 more episodes of what should have been amazing. I can't recommend it, not even for closure.

(Watched as aired.)

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the stupidist ML in any drama

This is the oldest version, and it didn't age well. This will cause frustration, and irritation in the watcher. You are warned.

The story-line is repetitive, generic at times, and drags in the next instant. Just when you think a reconciliation might happen for the main characters. The male lead makes promises which are promptly forgotten in the wake of the 'same misunderstanding' in the next episode. It gets to the point where I had to ask; Isn't this the same problem and didn't he just promise to fix it in the last episode? Till eventually I wondered; Why do I expect anything different from this drama. As dramas go, the male lead is one of the most obtuse and ineffectual leading men I've ever cringed over. Do I recommend this? Avoid the heartache. Just say no.

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advised trigger; teacher and student relationship

"Lesson in Love" could have delved a lot deeper into the backstory. The first six episodes set viewers up for a completely different tale, one that should have gone much darker than it did. One where a compromise of tag-principals, might have been warranted. The student and teacher relationship was still what it was, even without the manipulation of timed events. The implication was the same. Instead of playing with that tag, as later flashback reveals. If the writer had clarified those in advance, it would have made both leads' choices acceptable in the end. The writer did cover certain aspects of past facts; playing on similarities and comparisons to tie up loose ends. But, that liaison was an adult college student and a married professor, and not an underage teen. "Lesson in Love" falls short of what it needed to be to convince me the topic deserved to be covered. I would say an average watch that didn't deliver on its promises in the end.

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rape is not romance.

Jao Sao Prissana and its male lead character, was old the day it finished filming. But, a drama-teaching moment in the depths of apathy, that can be found in a male lead personality. The male lead is nothing, if not apathetic and momma's boy. The male lead doesn't care who he marries, because, there is a hostess bar waiting for him somewhere. Or, how many, illegal as that might be, as long as mom says to. Marrying his step-cousin, was like watching paint dry. Yes, that apathy was maddening. If an emotion crossed his face that I believed, those rape scenes wouldn't have made me confused, but angry. Confused, in what(?) just happened, with a rewind to confirm. There was no reason for the male lead to rape the female lead (twice), nothing. But, then laying all the sins of this plot on the female lead was just as cringey. 'Rape culture', doesn't belong in any story, much less this one. The underlining revenge plot without a rape, would be worth a remake. But still; Rape is not romance, and does not belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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rape is not romance,

Rape as a tool to rage against your enemy, to make them "die alive" as the saying goes. Instilling fear and control, the male lead kidnaps his enemy's sister; the female lead. Repeatedly raping her, and then going so far as to try to kill her numerous times. On returning home, the fear and abuse doesn't stop for the female lead. Because, boundaries have now been completely broken, a victim has been created, and the male lead, the in-house rapist still lives down the hallway. And, with that shift from heroic female lead, to demoralized victim - societal judgement rules. Though, the supporting characters are clueless; the shaming dialogue toward her begins now, and will last until the end of the drama.

Sawan Biang is revenge, pure, and simple, but, the redemption arc, is writer-self-serving. This is when, family and friends find fault with the victim (FL), forgiving her abuser, and wheedling a happy ending for themselves. Shaming, works. Though, it usually sucks the life out of any story. While, the second female lead's motives and support are just as self-serving. Please. She, sends a rapist (ML) after the second male lead's love interest (FL) by convincing him (SML) it is all for the best. Please, again. And, don't get me started on the second male lead that forgives the rapist (ML), before the victim (FL), shames her for not accepting her rapist's love, and finds a girlfriend in the process. Even, the female lead knew 'second male lead syndrome' was less than sincere. Rape is not romance, and doesn't belong in the romance genre. Avoid.

redemption:
FL: "Stubborn?
I'll tell you something.
The feelings I have for you now, are many hundreds of times more than stubbornness.
I feel scared. I feel hatred.
All the times, I've looked back at all the terrible things you've done to me, and there is only painfulness.
So, you think that looking for me for a few days, can pay for all the evil things you've ever done to me?"
[EP 10: 1:02:00]

romance:
FL: "Since, I have known Kawee, my life has only met terrible things. Many incidents, make me cry every time I think about them.
Every time I close my eyes. It's like a nightmare that keeps haunting me over and over.
Kawees's every deeds and every words. I can't erase it from my heart. I try to forget it, but I can't forget.
Until I have a baby, Kawee comes back to be good to me. He has done the good thing, Very good. But, it's like a dream that cannot happen. The more Kawee tries to be good to me. The more I feel bad.
What do you want me to do?
When I close my eyes, I see only nightmare.
When, I wake up, I see only the dream that can't come true.
I can't live my life like this.
I really can't live like this."
[EP 12: 1:25:00]

I leave those final words, from the victim.
(source; read; My Custom List "Rated One")

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