Reviews

Love Sick 2024: When Lightning Strikes Twice

Remember when Thai BL was the industry’s best-kept secret? Now it’s a global phenomenon, and Love Sick 2024 arrives to remind us why this genre captured hearts worldwide in the first place. This remake of the 2014 classic that helped ignite Thailand’s BL wave walks a delicate tightrope between nostalgia and reinvention—and it’s a balancing act worth watching.

The bones of the story remain: two high school boys navigate friendship, first love, and the rocky road of self-discovery. But this isn’t your older sibling’s Love Sick. Per and Mawin’s romance now unfolds in a world where production values gleam like Bangkok skyscrapers, and character development runs deeper than the Chao Phraya. Their family dynamics and personal struggles feel remarkably current, swapping out melodrama for a nuanced exploration of modern Thai youth culture.

The glow-up is undeniable. Every frame looks like it was dipped in honey, with cinematography that turns stolen glances into visual poetry. Yet, there’s a part of you that misses the original’s raw charm—like when your favorite street food joint gets a Michelin star. Sure, the plates are prettier, but something of that initial magic gets lost in translation.

Speaking of translations, let’s talk about the soundtrack. Thai BLs are known for their emotional musical punches—those heart-swelling ballads that linger long after the credits roll. While the original Love Sick gave us earworms that millennials still hum in convenience stores, the remake opts for a more sophisticated, ambient score. It’s beautifully produced, but it doesn’t hit you in the same visceral way.

For newcomers to Thai BL, this polished version serves as the perfect gateway drug. It’s accessible, stunning to look at, and emotionally resonant without requiring a PhD in BL tropes. For veterans, it might be a more complicated affair—caught between appreciating the craftsmanship and yearning for the unfiltered sincerity of the original.

Love Sick 2024 proves that lightning can strike twice—it just hits differently. The remake honors its roots while acknowledging how both the genre and its audience have grown up. Whether that growth feels like evolution or just really good cosmetic surgery probably depends on your relationship with the original. Either way, it’s a feast for the eyes and a workout for the heart.

So, is it worth watching? Absolutely. Love Sick 2024 doesn’t just reimagine a classic—it reflects how we, as viewers, have evolved. The original captured the messiness of teenage love; the remake captures our desire to make sense of it. Both have a place, just like there’s room for both our past and present selves.

And if you need me, I’ll be rewatching both versions back-to-back for the third time. You know, for research.

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I expected more from a drama with a gangster

"My Sweet Mobster" follows Eun Ha, a kids content creator who unexpectedly runs into Ji Hwan, a former gangster who's now living a new life. The two become entangled with each other and eventually Eun Ha comes to live with Ji Hwan, because she lost her house. With time, they become closer and fall in love.

My biggest problem was with the character Eun Ha, I know that because of her work she has to act cute and stuff, but that doesn't mean that she has to act like that ALL the time... eventually her "way" was really annoying me.
And also, for me there was no chemistry between the two main leads characters, the funny scenes were so much better than the romantic ones.

It's a sweet, light and easy to watch drama. I should have been expecting that for the poster and synopsis, but I didn't think it would be so childish.

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Condensed story, very good acting, positive message

Love Sick 2024 was a surprise for me. I did not expect much out of it, but it was made very well. They condensed the story of the original two seasons into one, cut out some of the draggy stuff, but they did struggle in the end.
While the series started really strong, I felt like the last three episodes left something to be desired. Maybe it was time-constraints that forced them to do that, but it could have been better. Minus points also for the ads in your face, even when they tried to make them incorporate in scenes, but most felt forced. Plus points for the acting of most of the young lads/gals which did deliver a performance most seasoned actors could take a lesson from. Of course there are no NC scenes, because most of the kids are really kids, around 14 to 19 while filming this series, Sometimes it was not that easy to keep track of all the storylines with such a huge cast, but the original had even more going on (the did cut the girl-school out of this version).

Some reviewers will give you a detailed acount of what's going on, so I will not repeat them, suffice to say, while the original series was not bad, I liked the condensed version better, especially it has no match in production quality. The original felt very budget constraint but here they went all out with good cinematography and sound.

This is more a coming of age story than a BL, but kids need to know of themselves, need to know how to solve problems with talking, like Phun & Aim and Noah & Yuri, they need to intervene when abusive parents are doing bad things and to be mature when it matters. The series has also a nice vibe going on, even with the bad stuff happening and sends a positive message to every teenager watching this: Be yourself, don't hide your feelings and stand up for yourself.

Overall, one of the few Thai shows in 2024 I can recommand. It's not perfect, it lost some stream in the end, but compared to all the other shows around, it was still done very well.

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With repercussions of regrets and longing, can we easily move on?

I'm not the type to hop on the bandwagon of hyped content. But I definitely wanted to see what the hype is all about!

So I decided to binge-watch this on Sunday. Started it in the afternoon and finished it at midnight. I was in a good mood when I started it but ended up with a choked throat and a lump in my chest. Really had a hard time with sleeping.

From the very beginning, an unsettling vibe is present, drawing the viewers into something eerie. The storyline or the situation doesn't immediately feel scary, but the tension slowly builds up, which eventually leads to moments that will leave viewers gasping in awe!

I was almost about to lose all my interest after ep 2-3, then it started...From ep 4-8, I don't know how it all just happened, and I feel like I'm in a daze.

In the first half, the story can be a bit confusing, as the events unfold without any clear explanations, leaving everything shrouded in mystery. The pacing is slow, which may not be to everyone’s taste. I do understand people might lose interest and drop it before going to ep 4. But trust me, bear with the storyline; it gets better and better in the second half.
"Disclaimer: box of tissues needed!"

What made this stand out from all the other kdramas was its way of storytelling and its execution of putting the right situations in the right time. The storyline moves at a slower pace, though it never feels dragging or boring, as the jump scares are well-timed for an adrenaline rush; they keep you on the edge. Moreover, it doesn't solely rely on jump scares; instead, it builds tension through unsettling visuals and subtle sound design with a creeping sense of fear. The story is engaging, which will undoubtedly leave viewers wanting more. There was no way the audience could assume what was going to happen next.

Overall, it was a rollercoaster ride of suspense, mystery, tearjerker moments, and grievance. It should be watched binge-watched; otherwise, viewers can get confused by waiting. Even if it's not your genre, please give it a try; I'm sure there's no way you'll be disappointed.

P.S.- I'm definitely not going to re-watch this as this is bad for my heart. Wanted to give it a solid 10 but needed to deduct (-0.5) for making me miserable on a good day.

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find that light, where life and death depends on your destiny

"hoping that we would never see each other again"

After i've watched the drama moving last year, now i realized why this has must to be must watched, especially the director and writer from this drama are the same as the drama moving! Also, this has been one of my greatest top-tier kdrama of 2024 for me. Very heartwarming and as I kept watching it, made me now realize why they were in a dark area, as they were very unconscious, laying on a hospital beds in the ICU while they altogether experienced the same traumatic tragedy. The ending was pretty clear, that they shall find light, and that hope from its light depends on your destiny and future.

There was no ost, but the storyline was very unique, it was like from the drama moving, where from that drama each family has their own superpowers, while in this drama it was all about passing through generations of taking in charge of the darkest world where everyone (not all specifically) are unconscious and finding answer through unexpected short-comings. The storyline was very clear, there were no plot holes and as everyone's story was connected one by one. Park Bo Young's role (Kwon Young-ji) from here is very remarkable and yet, as she understood everyone's experiences that actually she came from her own experience of life and death. She was like the so called "bridge" of hope and light, despite the light shop owner, Ju Ji-hoon who had a similar tragedy experience way back in his time, (played by jung won-young) was there to keep eye on new "lightbulbs" where it gave as the life of those people who were in between life and death. Each of the victims from that incident find each of their light, as they depend if they go back to their current path, or they'll left behind. At the last episode, everything for me actually makes sense, despite the short episodes allotted for this series, everything went well and all of my answers have been answered.

One of the highlights for me was definitely knowing that on behalf of the lightshop owner, he recognized his daughter, who survived from the incident of the apartment collapsing, as he brings the lightbulb and gave her a source of life during that incident. As they met in the light shop, every moment the time her father (the owner) realized that actually they met again, and they'll stay forever as both of them died in a form of accident. The ending was clear, they stayed together in the light shop as they had their mission to give lightbulbs to those who want to see their path again. It was pretty clear and yet I love how it was a sign that there would be another season to come (hopefully) :')

Also, the end-credit scene gave us a clue of how the timeline of Moving and Light Shop were all the same!! I really love that series so much because of how cool the concept and the story is. Jang Hee Soo (played by Go Young Ju) made a promising appearance in this drama!!

The ending was pretty clear, most of them had reborn to their new life, while others stayed behind, waiting for their final moments to end. "hoping that we would never see each other again":') Kudos to the cast who were so good in portraying their characters, especially to Shin Eun-soo whom I adored so much from her previous drama, twinkling watermelon, as well as Park Bo Young for choosing this drama that fits for her role as she was very promising and had so much potential <333



Overall, really a good watch, I really love the storyline and the cast from this drama. Knowing that the directors and writers from this drama has so much potential to write another series/story, I do hope that they continue to shine with their own talent and skills in making the drama both Light Shop and Moving a remarkable and yet unforgettable one!! Really recommended for beginners and totally rewatchable. Everything was very emotional, despite the thriller and mystery genre, I was totally satisfied with the story being told.

Rooting for the casts future roles!! Hoping for another season definitely.

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Light & good chemistry between leads

I am a fan of Zhang Chu Xuan so decided to watch this drama. This is my first drama of Sun Yue.

What I liked:
1) Romance - Wow, I really like this pairing between Zhang Chu Xuan and Sun Yue. They had great chemistry & dynamic, which translated well to their characters' growing romance. Their romantic scenes were brief but the biting was unexpected & sexy. Wish there were more affectionate scenes.
2) FL's characterisation - I like that FL Xia Xi Wan is knowledgeable in acupuncture & uses that skill to heal others and defend herself. I also like that she's self-reliant.
3) Ending - That last quote is touching & sweet.
4) Sun Yue - I really enjoyed his acting. He excelled in comedic parts, which made me want to watch his other works.
5) FL's family - I love their warmth!

What I disliked:
1) Illness - At first I thought there would be horror / supernatural element because of Lu Han Ting's illness. Unfortunately that arc wasn't expanded. I'd love to know the cause & see more of his struggles with the illness.
2) Running time - This drama is 1 hour 35 minutes long, which I find short. Certain arcs could be expanded.

Favourite scene
When Lu Han Ting's illness broke out

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MASTERPIECE!!

I've been watching this series for a while now and I haven't been able to find a series as good and complete as this one. It's incredible how well done this series is, the acting quality is top notch, the narration, the location, the direction, EVERYTHING was perfect!! The way they approached the feelings of both main characters makes me cry every time.

The director knew how to approach the subject of self-acceptance very well, he made it so real and natural that it's impossible not to feel part of the story and empathize with both characters. I love this series!! It will always be a series that I will remember for a lifetime.

Adding that Thailand won the lottery with Billkin and PP, these guys are incredibly talented!! If you have the opportunity to see this series for the first time, do it now, I promise you won't regret it!!

The best thai bl till date.

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We Were Definitely Robbed. More of a Stick Up Than Highway Though...

THE TRACK Wonder Why GIVES MY LOVELY SAM SOON!!! I love it so much, I just love Sam Soon lol. That track alone means I can never hate this drama.

The acting was phenomenal! Everyone played their roles so well. You love characters when you are supposed to love them and hate them when you are supposed to hate them. Beautifully done. Superb casting. Give the casting directing a medal.

Ha Sang-Su - This is my second drama with him as the ML. I was watching his new drama WTPR and ran out of episodes and then this was suggested. I saw MKY was the FL and was sold. He was very good at acting hesitant and ever so longing. It was very frustrating for me when he got with Mi-Yeong, I didn't know that was going to happen lol. The pushing and pulling we went through because our dumb main couple decided to go the long way.

Ahn Soo Young - Moon Ga-Young is such a good actress, and she played the role very well—a lovely and complex FL. Loved her in Tempted, although I dropped that drama, she should have ended up with Woo DoHwan. She has a very good poker face, she gives off the impression to everyone that nothing phases her. After everything went down with the fake-out she pulled, everything became too much and my girl needed a fresh start. After all the disappointments from not being promoted, all the nasty rumors, the harassment, the straw that broke the camel's back ended up being her not being comfortable hurting 3 people she cared about. So she decided to destroy everything and have them all turn on her instead. I was reluctant to see her leave since she had finally received the promotion she deserved but also happy because that company didn't deserve her. It was a great decision in the end, leaving that micro-toxic world in order to create her own was for the best. It really goes to show that the ones who look the toughest on the outside are usually the softest.

Main Leads Chemistry: OFF THE CHARTS! The chemistry was soooo good but they never ended up feeding us until we were full. I remember thinking, around episode 7 or 8, that once they get together I hope it doesn't get too happy since it gets boring sometimes in dramas when they do that. Little did I know they planned on making us suffer until the end. If their chemistry were not good the fact that the leads stay in a semi-awkward state the whole time would have been unbearable. They finally get comfortable and then BOOM, ASY pulls off her stupid little trick. We kinda get over that hurdle and BAM ASY disappeared and we were back to the initial hesitant and shy atmosphere the main couple called home. Fortunately for us and the director, the underlying tension between the leads spoke for itself. Episode 10. Nothing else needs to be said about their kisses except ELECTRIC! They have to pair together again for another drama because I need more of them!

Jeong Jeon Hyeon - Adorable. Annoying but still adorable. The initial happy phase with him and the FL made me even consider that they might just live happily ever after. Then his financial troubles kicked into high gear and I got tired of his shame after a while. There was only so much I could take. Like you chose to not give up, just buck up and understand that you have to lean on her and pass that flipping exam! Then that girl he was studying with was very annoying. Like even if he and FL don't end up together to get with someone so happy to flirt with you while you have a GF and who would disrespect that GF in front of you is crazy. His telling that girl that he only had fun with her still ticks me off. I am very happy he passed that test and became a police officer but the downfall of their relationship tired me out and I was ready for him to be gone lol. When he punched Gyeong-Pil I was surprised because I thought he was cheating with that study-group-girl lol, I was like "Oh, he does care" 🤦‍♀️

Park Mi-Yeong - A sweet girl. A bit annoying at times. She was so privileged but desired to work for the things she got, unaware of the fact that everything she was blessed with was handed to her. She was ungrateful to her father and resented him for his seemingly overbearing assistance, causing their relationship to weaken. The moment when she thanked him was very touching. She finally realized that he wasn't trying to buy her affection with the things he provided, he was trying to show his love for her in the only way he knew how. Mi-Yeong although full of herself, had her heart in the right place. She was definitely foolish to get into a relationship with a man who told her he was not in it 100%. I don't see her as a victim in that aspect. She saw many signs and ignored them. The power dynamic was tilted in her favor even though her feelings caused her to be the one at a disadvantage. Getting with a man who hardly likes you is risky business and I could never feel bad for someone who puts themselves in that position. If you turn his heart towards you, great you win, but if his heart stays on whoever it is, you only have yourself to blame and the hurt caused to your heart is basically self-inflicted. She's still my girl though, don't get it twisted.

Honorable Mentions:

Gyeong-pil - He's actually a pretty great friend, all things considered, lol.

The Two Moms: I'm glad they reconciled since their relationship was cute.

I don't get why everyone in the comments thinks this was an "open" or "unclear" ending. As far as I am concerned, the main couple is happily married with baby #3 on the way. Do you think they had that much chemistry, went through 4 years of no contact only to meet and be just as obsessed with each other and they didn't get together??? Tsk, tsk, tsk, not the brightest bulb are you huh? Lol, but seriously our OTP is living happily and well. If they had gotten together before the time skip the relationship would have probably been very strained and it might have ended badly. They both had ample time to collect themselves and improve and found their way back to each other even when they did not intend to.

A great drama where you can't completely hate anyone. Magnifique ✨😚👌

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too weird for my taste

I totally understand the ambition of the director, who tried hard to combine a soap opera with a psychological drama... But one has got to know their limits.
So, we have this good-looking FL in stilettos and a miniskirt, who is also a famous childrens' story writer - because average ppl dont make an impact, right? - but she is also a monster for loving blood and suffering. Of course, she is just a traumatic soul, after being hurt by her own family as a child. And here comes the ML in shining armour, who always believes in good and does good, while looking after a retarded brother.
I could put up with the story till now, but the director tried hard to feed us another as glorious as idiotic trope - the "i-met-the-fated-one-in-kindergarten/ primary school-and- we-will-be-together-forever" one. Like, how many of us REALLY married someone they "dated" in kindergarten? Did our life stop there and we were unable to meet someone as adults?? I totally DONT UNDERSTAND why scriptwriters favour this kind of stories... Seriously, you cant move on from age 5 or 6?
Dropping at 1st episode.

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A new take on time travel!

I guess this series was divided into two entries. I watched all 22 episodes. I loved this series and would enjoy watching it again. It was interesting from a cultural point of view, and had many bits of wisdom throughout. I also appreciated the take on time travel and the speculation about its possible effects (or not) on the future, especially the explanation of how timelines could work by Dr. M's colleague towards the end. The penultimate bit at the clinic could not have been more perfect, and the whole story could have ended there, but the actual ending was also okay and left room for more episodes, although I can't imagine what more could be added to this wonderful story. So glad that I watched this!

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Sweet & mature slow-burn romance

I saw this drama on my Youtube dashboard & quickly browsed comments section. Most users gave positive comments so I clicked play.

What I liked:
1) Mature - I am a fan of marriage of convenience & cohabitation tropes and this drama handles both tropes well. Despite them being strangers, they negotiated & navigated their relationship via mutual respect & mostly clear & frequent communications. It's also great that this drama isn't too melodramatic like other vertical shot drama because excessive yelling & violence could ruin my enjoyment.
2) FL characterisation - I like that she's confident, level-headed woman. She faced challenge head-on and I like how she never gave up believing in ML's love for her.
3) Grief - I like how grief is portrayed & dealt with in this drama.
4) Acting - I like Zhu Mo Yen's acting in this drama. Subtle but with impact. Great chemistry between Yu Shang Xu and Zhu Mo Yan. They matched each other's temperament & even visuals.

What I disliked:
1) Romance - I wish there were more affectionate scenes between ML & FL.
2) ML's female friends - I understand that they are protective of ML & were apprehensive with FL. However they should be mindful & tactful when interacting with sensitive issues related to ML & FL.

Favourite scene
When FL's mother died

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What is with this main character

Started off great, I always love a story where a female character goes to a small town/province because the vibe is always a pleasure. This one has the added bonus of the main character already growing up in said town and goes back home because of a scandal at work. She also has to face her old childhood friend turned ex boyfriend again, and I LOVE second chance romances.

But I am so confused with the main character. The show wants to portray her as your usual "strong independent woman" and yet she keeps crying and making stupid decisions? she's also such a big fat COWARD, breaking the ML's heart and never telling the reason why and not bothering to clear her name when her whole scandal was fake. Where was the urgency! She didnt even want to enter that photo contest at the island! I don't understand how her friends were so ride or die for her when she hasn't bothered to contact any of them for YEARS, and now she's back home because she needs help. Pathetic.

All in all, her sisters were so much more enjoyable to watch. I love the eldest sister's plotline the most. Their family dynamic was sweet too. The mom really stole the show in my opinion!

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