Reviews

Memorable

This a great casual watch with a unique take in the historical genre with a focus on how clothing impacts the palace dynamics. It's likely deserving of a higher score but unfortunately it's a story that really requires far more than movie-length time to blossom. This is the only reason for the lower score.

It's definitely one I'd recommend for those who enjoy this genre as the acting was great, the plot was straightforward but also not predictable, and of course, the costumes were gorgeous. It hits all the spots for minimal investment and I do hope they one day decide to create a series with a similar feel around royal tailors.

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Good lead actors, but their chemistry was off

Cha Seo Won and Gong Chan (the lead couple) seem like capable actors, but their chemistry was off, like they never really clicked as a couple; they didn't feel comfortable as a gay couple. Their -- as others have called them -- dead fish kisses and robotic hugs did not help. Do Woo and Won Tae Min (the side couple) had much more electricity between them. Heck, even the hetero, couple in the last episode seemed more into each other. There are other KBL series' couples that seem so into each other (e.g., The Eighth Sense), they heat up the screen.

Great OST though.

I was also bummed that they did not say the word "gay" at all (at least in the subtitles I saw).

Worth a watch? I guess, but don't expect too much zing from the lead couple.

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Enjoy the Budding Young Romance!

Easter (Earth Katsamonnat) intentionally attends a university in the north of Thailand. He hopes to find a new place to erase the memories of his relationship with his ex, which didn’t end clearly. But he doesn’t think that he would meet with Hill (Pond Ponlawit), his ex again at this university. And it is the beginning of a relationship that will not end in the same way ever. At the same time, his roommate, North (Bas Hatsanat), also faces chaos because he was drunk and caused a quarrel, then woke up with the debt. But it could be more chaotic because the god just sent him a flirtatious and very spoiled creditor, Johan (Maxky Ratchata). The stories of these roommates will be followed by their friends from the Art club, Typhoon (Tonliew Methaphat) and Daotok (Oat Tharathon) with the senior medical students Tonfah (Bever Patsapon) and Arthit (Ngern Anupart). Their friendship in this university and love stories will be memorable notes for a long time.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/15/fourever-you-first-impressions-ep-1-to-6/

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Brain Game Done Nicely

I had low expectation before, since its a B level (low budget) drama, made 5 years ago, non romance genre.

But after watching 6 eps, the story is surprisingly so good.... its fast paced, thrilling, everyone is smart, lots of strategies and i have to use 0.75x speed watching it to understand, with lots of rewind, haha..

All the cast are experienced actors and actresses, so everyone acting is online and realistic...

So if you like smart plot, smart ML FL, smart antagonists, chess and strategy game, spy and espionage theme, give it a try.

Its a breath of fresh air after so many fantasy and romance dramas, we all need brain gym a little, dont u think so? Hehe

Dont bother with the era, kmt, or whatever the parties, just enjoy the brain burning plot and actions ;)

Deep Lurk is also surprisingly top 1 on tv drama chart in China now, even with 0 promotion and marketing, isnt it a real prove that its worth watching? :)

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Work-out murder mystery romance done alright

Note: .5 of my rating is me being generous for no reason. I don't know what to tell you, it just felt right.

It was a bit awkward in terms of pacing/line delivery from the side characters, but when they focused on just the two leads bouncing off of each other, it was quite natural. I could buy that they were not only incredibly close friends, but so close they were edging toward the line.

And for a co-production between Thailand and Korea, it wasn't half bad. And compared to past offerings, it was leagues above them. Sure, Jay's entire circle of friends/acquaintances conveniently understood Thai perfectly while he understood Korean, so they almost never spoke the other's language, and thus, conversations were never a hassle for him. But it was honestly SO easy for him to communicate with everyone that it felt like the drama was aware of how ridiculous it was and was playing on it.

As for the "murder mystery," it was pretty ridiculous. But this drama was never meant to be some cinematic masterpiece or truly balance surprising darkness in an otherwise light story like either season of Love Class. No, it was created to be something silly and entertaining. And, you know what? I'm okay with that. Overall, I had a decent time.

I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. But I won't yell, "You're making a mistake!" if you decide to spend your time watching this instead of something else.

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Kickass FL who has great chemistry with ML

I was in the mood for reversed gender roles so I searched for dramas on MDL with this tag and found 'The Only Girl You Haven't Seen'.

What I liked:
1) Leng Li characterisation - I love her character! She's tough and feisty but lovable. She goes for what she wants and that includes her feelings for male lead He Lian Xuan. I also like that she's brainy - she knows about herbs and uses the knowledge to help people. Wen Mo Yan was brilliant in this role. She kinda looks like Kim Sejeong, a Korean actress and pop idol.
2) He Lian Xuan characterisation - I enjoyed his character too. He is protective of Leng Li but at the same time, couldn't show his full self to avoid trouble with others. His other persona Qing Ru is cool. Wang Zu Yi was brilliant in this role.
3) Romance - I could feel He Lian Xuan's feelings for Leng Li - so genuine & pure of love & admiration. Damn I love it when a woman makes the first move and gosh that scene of Leng Li making the first move is HOT! I also like that Leng Li never resisted He Lian Xuan's feelings - she too never doubted her feelings for him.
4) The comedy - Never expected comedy scenes to be laughed out loud. Leng Li getting back at He Lian Chen and 6th prince was a gold moment!

What I disliked:
1) Transmigration arc - I feel like this plot wasn't well explained.
2) The ending - I understand why the series ended that way but why make it a sad one?

Favourite scene
When Leng Li told He Lian Xuan to "be a man" in episode 5.

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Melodramatic but I like the leads!

I am in the mood for mini series. I watched this drama after watching Zheng Nan Xi's other mini drama, Love at Second Sight.

What I liked:
1) The visuals - Wow, I'd say both Li Pei En and Zheng Nan Xi are visually stunning. Li Pei En, whom I find very handsome, resembles B.A.P's Jung Daehyun while Zheng Nan Xi, whom I find very pretty, resembles Blackpink's Jennie & Twice's Nayeon. I think the stylist made the right choice of outfits for their characters. I love Xu Nian's chic wardrobe.
2) The romance - Good development of romance considering Gu Mingyan dislike people touching him. Love the scenes when Nan Xi helped Mingyan to overcome his fear. Wish there were more kissing scenes.
3) Mutism - I actually liked Nan Xi when she was mute. It's great to see a main character doing sign language and also adorable that the other main character learns the sign language.
4) Shots - I enjoy the quality shots of this mini drama because it felt like a good quality movie. The colours are sharp and vivid.

What I disliked:
1) Villains - There were too many villain arcs in this story. Jiang Wanli arc was overly done - at times her character felt like a caricature because of the overacting. Gu Hongyu's , Mingyan's uncle, arc was clear from the start but Grandpa Gu's arc was confusing. I get a villain vibe from him and I think what Hongyu at the end was true.
2) Multiple arcs - I also dislike the multiple arcs given to the supporting characters because this approach made the mini drama cluttered and too melodramatic.

Favourite scene:
When Xu Nian was feeling down and Mingyan came to her rescue

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This drama feature alot of hatred and madness

Ugh...i hate when I run into watching dramas about tortures of innocents with the poison and I certainly hate when a main male character is a anti hero but pretend to be a hero and a story is rather disgusting but there's a excuse you got framed for watching empire abd harem again even though it wouldn't be that bad if they made a pacing of the episodes more properly like in the start they could go with the flow that end 10th episode emperor save Lady Ling from her hands being chopped and give her justice over a treasonous and bold concubine but the 10th episode was rather disappointing as it was about her entering the graveyard room of his mom and throw her away abd point a sword into her andshe had to get lost from the chamber...well at least they got rid out of palace with a 14 year old kid girl slave (maid)...this kind of stuff aren't fir her anyway

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leesong heeil the director that you are

Esse é o segundo filme do leesong que eu vejo e ficou claro pra mim a necessidade dele de mostrar as dificuldades de se ser gay em determinados ambientes. É um sentimento misto de admiração e tristeza em relação a obra dele. Admiração por uma arte transgressora que respinga não só no contexto do país de origem mas em outros também, e tristeza por uma retratação tão cruel de algumas vivências mesmo em uma obra de ficção.

Aqui se tem a demonstração de como o ambiente escolar consegue ser um espaço totalmente doentio e traumatizante. Não existe um motivo claro que explica a repulsa dos bullys com as vítimas, o que torna tudo pior. A ideia de uma pessoa ser diferente de você e por isso ela deve ser punida é tão bizarra. É triste ver o yong ju tentando buscar por alguma mudança enquanto lida com os sentimentos conflitantes dele, como ele demora tanto pra ter alguma reação mesmo cultivando um afeto por anos. Assim como ver o gi woong enfrentando diferentes dilemas e evitando de sentir qualquer resquício de sentimento que não seja raiva. Os altos e baixos da relação dos dois traz muitos sentimentos conflitantes ao ponto de você não saber como quer que os dois termine.

Mais uma vez nos minutos finais de um filme do leesong eu perdi toda minha sanidade, talvez seja o modus operandi dele (não aguento mais um assim)

P.S. a cena final da escola me lembrou mto a de weak hero class em que o sieun quebra tudo, fiquei pensando se eles não se inspiraram no filme.

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light entertainment -scrolled forward from episode 17 onwards.

Martial Art World. The Plot ist not deep, it's focusing on comedy romance. From episode 17 onwards I scrolled forwards because I want to know the "origin" of the female lead.

Unfortunately, the ending is open and it's unclear what its origin is. She opens a box, looks inside, smiles, and that's it. At the end, she says a sentence indicating that she is from another world. That's all. If you are watching the series because you really want to know what makes her special and where she comes from, there's no need to finish it, as this is not revealed. There are only hints.

But it was funny, at least in the beginning, and there are some nice fighting scenes.

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A Masterpiece of 2024

"The Story of Pearl Girl" is a drama that will pull you in from the start! It’s a brilliantly crafted tale where every moment feels meaningful and visually stunning.

Set against a rich historical backdrop, this is more than just a love story—it’s a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and personal growth. From the opening scene where Zhao Lusi’s character, Duan Wu, dives into the sea for pearls, the breathtaking cinematography transports you into her world with unforgettable visuals.

Zhao Lusi shines as Duan Wu, bringing incredible emotional depth and expression to her role. Her eye acting alone speaks volumes, making her character’s ups and downs feel real and raw. Every tear she sheds pulls you in; you’ll feel her joy and heartbreak as if they were your own. Zhao beautifully captures both the inner strength and vulnerability of Duan Wu, making her journey powerful and inspiring.

Liu Yuning’s portrayal of Yan Zi Jing is equally captivating, bringing a layered intensity to his role. His chemistry with Zhao Lusi feels genuine, making their characters’ growth and struggles deeply relatable and real. Together, they create on-screen magic!

With unforgettable acting, mesmerizing visuals, a fast-paced and heartwarming storyline, "The Story of Pearl Girl" is a drama you won’t want to miss. It captures the beauty of life’s highs and lows, delivering a tale that’s as uplifting as it is heartfelt. This is a must-watch for anyone looking for a story about strength, purpose, and the courage to grow.

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Great Chemistry and an adorable kitten, however...

The chemistry between the leads was great. I wouldn't be against them in another series together. Just hope it is better written.

I was not a big fan of the plot or writing in quite a bit of the show. I honestly would not have gotten through episodes 4-14 if not for the lead's chemistry. Those episodes where ML was chasing her and she was treating him like he'd kicked her kitten in front of her were not exactly easy to get through.

Don't get me wrong, I understand her hurt from being rejected. It stings. But for her to act like it was all on him and he was fully in the wrong for rejecting her... it got annoying quick. She confessed to him and he asked her how long she liked him and why. Her answers were recently and because he was rich and handsome... did she really think he'd be like yeah, me too? Instead of telling the truth, which were great answers, she lied. Seriously, no one wants to hear those as answers for why someone likes them.

Also, the forced kiss.. if ML did that to FL, everyone would've thrown a fit.

That said, here are some pros.

- adorable kitten
- real kisses
- a cute 2nd couple (ep 10 and on tho)
- no triangles or break ups
- both leads had supportive parents

If you can overlook my little rant, I'd recommend at least checking out the first 5 episodes to decide if this is for you or not.

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