Reviews

Disappointing Drama with Missed Potential

Overall, the drama isn’t THAT awful; it’s watchable, but there are several issues that stood out to me.

First, the format is a real problem. With 80 episodes that are only about 2 minutes long each, it felt like the creators didn’t know how to properly edit the scenes together and just decided to go with this format. The pacing sometimes is too fast, and some scenes feel abruptly cut, which makes it hard to stay engaged.

Second, I struggled to feel any genuine connection between the main characters. They hint at a mutual interest, but they dont show us how they fell in love. It’s as if they just decide to like each other with no emotional build-up or depth.

Third, I cannot understand why r*pe scenes are still being included in 2024. I thought we had moved past that. T
An even has trauma afterward and is afraid of Jin touching him, but the show barely addresses it. There’s one scene that acknowledges the trauma, but then it’s completely ignored for the rest of the series. What makes it worse is that Jin wasn’t even toxic up until that point; he had the potential to become a great character. Honestly, I found An to be more toxic than Jin. An had zero communication skills and refused to talk to Jin, even though Jin repeatedly encouraged him to open up.
Also dont get me started on the side characters, like the Aunt and Uncle.
The story had potential and so did the character BUT they ruined it.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this drama, nor would I watch it again. There are just too many issues for me to overlook.

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Excellent Spin-Off!

The spin-off from No Gain No Love! This spin-off really shows how good is the second lead story in NGNL. The whole story is excellent and hilarious. HJH and LSY do a fabulous job playing both character. It's great that they made it just into 2 episodes, rather than a series of boring and pointless story. And apparently, this spin-off also explains the reason how Ja-Yeon fell in love with Gyu-Hyun in the parent series.

Though I think they should add 1 episode. It should contain the ending of the novel, since Ja-Yeon wrote the ending after being together with Gyu-Hyun.

I really recommend it! The story is very light and enjoyable. However, I recommend to watch NGNL prior watching this spin-off, so you can understand why Ja-Yeon really hated Gyu-Hyun so much.

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romanticizes SA

How this TV series passed censorship is a mistery to me. As a short series from Tencent with cold CEO as male lead, I expected something closed to SA or mild SA but this one just got the crown among all. Listening to romantic music while watching the ML corner the FL in a corner or throw her very hardshly against a wall and force kiss after kiss to a very scared FL who cannot move (Very clearly being SA) it just sits so wrong with me and make me question how f**ked up we are as an audience to like this to be in the second position of most viewed series on wetv this week.

The storyline looks great so far. The actors are great too and the picture makes everything eveything an eye candy. except it’s…romanticized SA.

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The Love Game in Eastern fantasy is truly one of the most fantastic dramas of 2024! It's chaotic, energetic, and surprisingly emotional at times, creating a rollercoaster experience for viewers. The graphics and visuals are stunning, really adding to the magical vibe of the show.

The chemistry between the leads is absolutely adorable, and their interactions keep you hooked throughout the story. However, the ending might leave you with mixed feelings—it’s an open ending. If you’re optimistic, you might find it hopeful; but if you think of it differently, it might feel a little bittersweet.

Regardless, this is undoubtedly a must-watch drama of 2024. The storyline, visuals, and performances make it worth every moment. Definitely give it a try!

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A Must-Watch Drama in 2024

I started watching this drama because of Cheng Xiao and Minghao—two of my absolute favorites! Initially, I thought the main couple would be Cheng Xiao and Minghao, but it turns out that's not the case. Cheng Xiao plays a supporting character, but she completely nailed her role and shines just as brightly as the leads. Honestly, her performance is so captivating that she steals the show at times.

The drama has already secured a spot in my top 5 favorites list, right after The Love Game in the Eastern fantasy. It’s currently in 3rd place! My all-time favorite remains Dashing Youth and The love game in Eastern fantasy in 2024 but this one definitely deserves its ranking.

The story and characters are exceptionally well-written, with every detail pulling you into the drama’s world. At first, I thought it might be a BL/GL drama because they emphasize not just the couples' chemistry but also the connections between Cheng Xiao and Chen Duling, as well as Minghao and Jiarui. Honestly, I’m obsessed with the dynamics between Jiarui and Minghao and love their chemistry even more than the actual couples (Minghao and Duling)!

This drama stands out with its strong performances, stunning visuals, and an intriguing plotline. It’s one of those shows that keeps you hooked from start to finish, and every character feels so alive. Definitely worth watching if you're a fan of complex relationships and beautiful storytelling!

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Beautiful

Oh boy, this was an absolute tear-jerker, especially in the last few episodes. The relationship between Geu-ru and his dad was heart-warming already, but it’s given such a perfect arc as we see Geu-ru coming to terms with his grief while he and Sang-gu get closer.

There are parts of this show that really surprised me with how deep it got, and even plot developments that weren’t necessarily new still managed to hit the right emotional beats.

I did enjoy the “case of the week” style and I enjoyed pretty much every single story, but I definitely don’t think any of them were extremely hard-hitting emotionally. Still, the parallels between them and the A-plot was really strong, and if I’m being honest I’d totally watch a sitcom type of show where they just do this every week for the rest of my life. The dynamic of the main trio — Sang-gu/Geu-ru/Na-mu is just THAT good.

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Love, like life, is a series of steps, and we must start with the first one

Imagine 'Hotel del Luna' (2019), by South Korean Oh Choong Hwanm without ghosts walking through the rooms, 'Meet Me Outside' (2020), by Filipino JP Habac, without dating apps, or 'Hit Bite Love' 2023, by Thai Yuan Tin Tun Danop, with two lovers enjoying the pleasures and dangers of BDSM (something that breaks the tone of the series towards the end), and you will get 'The Renovation'.
If this setup sounds generic, that's because it is. However, the Thai miniseries of the romantic genre by Nob Sathanapong Limwongtong, director of numerous BL series, such as 'La Cuisine' (2022), 'Ai Long Nhai' (2022), 'Gen Y' (2021) and 'Gen Y Season 2' (2022), among others, manages to find some new angles and emotionally effective ways to examine those turbulent feelings that arise when two people fall in love.
There are many much more urgent and exciting Asian BL miniseries with similar plots, but 'The Renovation' more or less falls into the above-average range of this crowded genre due in large part to the authentic and nuanced performances of its young actors.
Scripted by Wittavat Sungsakijha, the short drama of two episodes lasting one hour each, revolves around Manu (Kunavut Jirattikorn), a young architect unlucky in love who seeks to heal his heart, and P (Peter Paratthakorn Duangsawang), a nerd who recently graduated abroad, who dreams of being a writer and is looking for both a plot for his first novel and true love.
Their lives intersect when P arrives at a hotel complex under renovation owned by Manu, located on Hua Hin beach, one of the most famous tourist destinations among Thais thanks to its proximity to Bangkok, with a reservation confirmation and previously paid stay via social networks, waiting to find inspiration for his first novel.
While Manu assures that there could have been an error in the reservation system and that, as a solution, he could disburse his money through the same payment mechanism, but it could take around fifteen days, P will claim that he likes the atmosphere of the hotel, even being under renovation, so it doesn't bother you to stay in those conditions.
Without staff to attend to him, P will demand that Manu himself, as the owner of the resort, be the one who receives and cares for him during the days of his stay.
And although that is a perfect and quiet place to vacation or wait for the muses, it will also be a place for a palpable romantic tension to arise between Manu and P, and they develop an emotional evolution quickly, making it possible for one to find that person in the other. May it heal your heart, and the other that first true love that you were waiting for, and maybe, maybe, the inspiration for your novel.
I like the quotes of song lyrics, poems and phrases from musicians, poets and businessmen, such as Bob Marley, Ralph Ransom and Sam Walton, visible on the walls of the hotel.
I like how Manu begins to laugh and gains affability after the night in which he drinks with P and then takes him, when he is in a state of intoxication, to the guest room, gives him a dry bath and, with great modesty, He changes his clothes so that he can sleep peacefully. His distant and cold personality gradually transforms once he comes into contact with P and they begin to get closer.
Peter recreates P's open, frank and expressive personality with great success. The young actor is a pleasure to watch for his portrayal of the flirtatious visitor, eager to realize his dreams as a writer and find love.
Some other scenes establish flirtation and obvious sexual tension between the two: invitations to eat the food prepared by one of them in the absence of service personnel, that one visits the other in his room, worried, to make sure he is well, that Manu offers P a strong black coffee for a hangover, the way in which one takes care of the other, the games in the pool or those in which one paints the other's body, their dates for ice cream, on the edge of the pool or among lit candles at the Moonlight to eat squid…
Where did these two debut actors come from who, with their presence, fill the screen and demonstrate a chemistry that goes beyond the physical realm, being emotional, psychological and fully satisfying. I would like to see them in other projects with a better budget and script, in more complex characters.
Simple and direct, the romantic comedy emits refreshing and relaxing vibes, about two boys who, due to the circumstances described above, live together in a beach resort one summer and little by little open to love.
Filmed at the Paskani Hun Hin Resort, the beautiful photography by Nattapong Pakdeesri ('Gen Y 2, 2022), also shows the beach town that is 3 hours from Bangkok (200 km), and the 3 kilometers of little beach busy Hua Hin, a place famous for being a family-friendly and friendly destination, also thanks to its relationship with the Thai monarchy, since several kings have frequented this beach city usual.
The interest is not in the narrative arc as presented, but in the understanding of what they think and feel: the resort owner who heals the wounds of a recent breakup and feels confused, uncomfortable, in the presence of P, and the visitor who raises suspicions as a person interested in discovering the secrets of the hotel and its owner.
I'm looking forward to the second and final episode.

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A very original story telling and great Actor!

This story is beautifully executed and a very easy to binge watch.
I felt all the emotions watching.
The ML going through the rest of his life feeling someone else's past life
and the woman is attracted to the ML because of her late husband heart
inside of the ML which brought them closer but he was already married
which made things complicated. I felt it for the other woman as she earns for
her husband's attention while he only care to learn about the heart of the man
he is living with. I enjoyed it and as I love watching the ML in series it was easy
on my eyes lol. He is just so flawless with his acting skills that he makes everything
so natural. I recommend if you like series with no action in a country side setting.

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Over done amnesia

First , I actually love Jeremy Tsui, will watch anything with him in it. This is a good performance by him, but surely not one of his best. Wasn’t impress with FL or the wanna be girlfriend. 2nd leads were pretty good. I definitely agree that the amnesia bit went on too long, who ruined the story it would’ve been better with more romance especially since Jeremy was so romantic as the grand tutor. Could have done without the love triangle. Tired of women who chase men and are delusional about the man having any type of love for except in a sisterly way. Thinking the other woman that the man is interested in is a problem so she needs to be removed. Over played too much. I would hard pressed to watch this again even with Jeremy in it the amnesia wore me out

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