Reviews

Be prepared to develop a selective memory; remember the good parts and forget the rest.

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REVIEW WITH IMPLIED SPOILERS:

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This show doesn't know its identity. It has a lot of good elements, but its storylines are a jumbled mess, and meaningful characterization is thrown out of the window every chance the drama can give a shock value in the form of a despicable villainess and a typical white knight who is "trying to scare his loved one away for her own sake".

The first part had its problems, but it was entertaining to watch, somewhat. The second part actually made me depressed and disgusted with certain characters and actions. Even the suspension of disbelief wasn't enough to keep watching it for me, becuase I hated it THAT much. I kept going because I wanted Nan Qiao to have a happy ending (even if it was with a coward who didn't really deserve her) and see the villainess from hell suffer satisfactorily. It is rare for me to be disgusted by fictional characters (partially because I drop dramas if it seems like people are too accommodating to these types of people), but she is definitely going into my top 10 most hated characters ever. Wow.

Love is not a joke. People's feelings aren't a joke. Scars on relationship dynamics (romantic as well as friendship) won't heal suddenly. You can't just undo many, many unjustified attacks because you feel sorry about them.

And that is without even mentioning the many, many, many, many, many, MANY flashbacks. I am not against flashbacks, but this drama had no idea how to utilize them. And more ridiculously, they showed these flashbacks over and over and over again, occasionally adding a few seconds to give "new info about the past". If that was an artistic choice, it was an epic fail. When you cut the garbage time and random meaningless looks into the sky (that usually led to having a flashback, sometimes even to the events that happened in the very same episode), you would have 20 episodes or less. I am not joking.

The writers, the directors, the editors, the stylists... I can't help but feel like they had a good (if a bit basic, but still charming and relatable) concept yet failed the audience and the acting. I can't believe they wasted William Chan and Li Xian's screen presence like this, and I especially can't believe how underutilized Bai Bai He was in the first half of the drama. Since she was especially good in the second half (when they gave her more to work with), you can't help but think of reasons why her character wasn't as dynamic in the first half.

I can ignore budget-related issues like obviously fake car scenes, but I can't forgive bad-faith direction.

In short, I don't recommend this drama to the people who read the synopsis and are REALLY intrigued. If you are a fan of the lead actors, you can watch it, there are great materials for you to be satisfied. But you might also combust in anger over the wasted potential. The FL's character progression is fine, but that alone can't be a reason to watch this.

And if you are going to watch this no matter what, be prepared to fast-forward many, many, many, MANY scenes, whether they are repetitive flashbacks or unnecessary nastiness.

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MY RATING:

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I still give it 7 out of 10, because for a drama I hated, it had a lot of elements I enjoyed. I know this is a bit contradictory to what I wrote above, but, well, I calmed down a bit as I was writing this review. I still hate a lot about the drama but I guess it is a decent time waster if you can utilize the fast-forward feature liberally.

I liked the character progression of the FL, especially after the first quarter of the drama. I liked William Chen's character when he wasn't influenced by his toxic slave owner; he had a mischievous side with a charming smile. (Indeed, he was very easy to like until the Cdrama cliches kicked in.) The drones were interesting, if a bit basic concept. Even though the storylines got jumbled at points, I liked the FL's attitude regarding this, her hardworking attitude and her willingness to realize her goals.

The acting wasn't outstanding, maybe excluding a few scenes. If you have seen these actors in other dramas, you probably have seen their highs already. And the drama relied heavily on William Chen to sell us on the lead couple's chemistry in the first 10 episodes or so, and I fully blame the directors and editors for this. Bai Bai He is fine, you can see it in their cute scenes in the middle and last parts of the drama. Especially the very last episodes fed me well. I even forgot about my anger for a second, the lead couple was being that cute. But anyone with an eye can see that the post-production of this drama was a mess.

OST was well enough but the ending song was LOUD.


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SMALL RANT WITH IMPORTANT SPOILERS:

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I will never forgive a drama for making its main lead sinister to the romantic interest in order to protect them. I actually won't forgive. Because the writers have the nerve to act like these things didn't happen, as if all toxic behavior of a lead character is good as long as they have good intentions.

Some things are irredeemable. Even if they are to be forgiven despite that, they are definitely unforgettable.

There are many instances in which I was disgusted by Shi Yue and An Ning's relationship. Besides the unbelievable amount of screen time this ridiculous (and disturbing) storyline had, one thing that stuck in my mind was how soft-spoken Shi Yue was to An Ning even when he *hated* her. I cannot believe the writers and director made him so sinister towards Nan Qiao while making him do these kinds of scenes with his "owner", yet expect us to believe this is a well-done romance drama. What a joke. What an unfunny, disgusting, disturbing joke.

I truly do not understand how the writers thought it was a good idea to make Shi Yue so soft and compassionate to An Ning, even to the last second, right in front of his girlfriend and right after AN tried to kill his girlfriend. It is so, so frustrating to see him being like that in front of his girlfriend. I know I am repeating myself, but that is because of the anger and frustration I feel about this. Li Xian's character was an annoying antagonist too, but at least he wasn't the walking red flag An Ning was, and the show didn't try to redeem him by making Shi Yue subservient to him to the end, like they did with An Ning and Shi Yue. (I should stop, because I feel like I could write an essay with thousands of words about my disgust and anger about this.)

For my sanity, I am choosing to ignore everything related to An Ning and try to remember this drama by its best qualities, which are the incredibly cute scenes at the back-half of the drama.

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Boring, Weird, Deceptively Basic Plot

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I wasn't sure about watching this. I'm not really into contract romances. However, psychological is my favorite K-drama genre... so I do like darker stuff.

Acting/Cast: A good cast with good acting. Although, two of the characters, I think, looked too similar. It may be confusing for people who are new to K-dramas. It was Jo Yi Geon (조이건), who for some reason isn't listed in the cast (the second female lead's new husband) and Kim Dong Won (김동원), who plays the stalker. When I was half paying attention to this drama I would get them mixed up. There's also some characters in this drama that I'm not sure why they're there. But, to be fair, I'm not sure why this drama is doing anything it's doing. 7/10

Writing: This drama is so overdramatic. They tease the hell out of us like it's such a crazy murder mystery and it's not. Literally, it's nothing. It's all a gimmick. This drama is more like a life drama that's trying to trick us into thinking it's a scary mystery drama. The villains are non-threatening and the motives are weak. Actually, the real villains are the cops because they refuse to lock up a psycho murderer until after he kills someone, but they have to catch him doing it on camera with his face showing clearly. So if the cops aren't going to do anything about this dude, then someone else will...naturally. The story is just very predictable and way overdramatic for what the plot actually is. By the end...well I wasn't really surprised by how dull the "revelations" were because I could see it coming, but it was pretty strange that there wasn't really anything to the story and that the contract marriage aspect to it was really just a gimmick. They could have told the same story without that and I think it would have been much better, too - there would be more at stake. The female lead doesn't make much sense. Even the whole thing with her and her ex was overdramatic and weird. The male lead was a decent character, though. I think he was the only decently written aspect of this drama (except if I had his trauma, I'd have a device on me at all times that detects hidden cameras). The ending...I haven't seen such a sudden dramatic change in a character before. It only made this whole drama feel even more pointless. 1/10

Direction/SFX/Music: The SFX is fine. The music is good, but it doesn't fit the drama. It just feels so dramatic for no reason. I wanted to say that this drama feels "over-produced", but when I looked up exactly what that word means, people said either it means you can't explain why you don't like a film or that there's too much meaning behind every little thing. But, I mean it in the sense that it feels really flashy (the music, camera work, direction, etc.) as if the story is going to be something really badass or scary or intricate, but it's really not. The production is gaslighting me. The direction is also confusing for no reason - making scenes appear as if they're dreams when they're not? Right? 3.5/10

Entertainment Value: I binged this drama, but not because I was liking it. It was because it's only 8 episodes and I just wanted to get it over with. I wish I didn't though. I feel like I wasted my time. Nothing cool happens; it just gets more dumb and confusing as it goes. 1/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 3/10. The production of it felt a lot like The Glory, but the writing was more like...Please Don't Date Him...yeah that's a good reference. That's another overdramatic drama that was really just a life drama that used sci-fi and mystery elements to make it seem like it was going to be something more interesting.

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A joy to watch- you get ALL the feels!

I really enjoyed this show, for many reasons:

1) the concept of this show is fresh (I’ve watched many reality music shows) and it was interesting to see the interaction between the singer/songwriters and the established singers.

2) getting to see the stars/famous singers/actors in unscripted situations, playing games with each other, having natural interactions with their peers and the writers, fighting for a song and general goofing off.. it’s so priceless, and unexpectedness hilarious at times.. I almost peed my pants several times watching Charlie teasing his cohorts and other antics throughout the show.

3) a unique platform given to (in some cases) really struggling artists, to showcase their work and make their songs available for immediate consumption by viewers.. what an amazing opportunity for them to boost their visibility in the music industry..

4) many high and low moments taking us on a roller coaster of emotions..
you really get a sense of the writer’s perspective during their songwriting process, their muses and life experiences that have shaped and sparked their creativity, and their love of music and what drives them to continue down an unknown and sometimes unsuccessful career path..

I gave this show 9/10..

The only thing I would say needs improvement may actually be an IQIYI issue, not a Melody Journey issue:

The episodes are really hard to follow in the correct order, based on how they are listed on IQIYI’s platform. There are supposed to be 11 episodes, but there are over 40 listed on IQIYI and in random (not chronological) order which had me re-watching episodes several times before I noticed I’d already watched it and it must be a duplicate or in the wrong order.

All in all, I am still eager for the season 2 they’ve already promised us!

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Pure Escapist Sweetness

I don't usually write reviews but I also don't usually rewatch dramas either and I rewatched this entire drama right after finishing it the first time. First, the negatives (they are very minor): Some weird edits/cuts, music was mediocre and the secondary couples didn't hold my interest at all. But the positives! Wow! The chemistry between the leads was amazing (I did some research afterwards and can see that they have acted as a couple several times before). Maybe that is why they seemed so comfortable with each other. I found myself squeeing even from the hugs and eye contact. The snogging was next level even though there really wasn't enough of it for my taste. The romance is soft and sweet and the overall 'feel' of it was like having a cozy blanket thrown over you on a rainy day. Also, there were nice, kind and strong female characters (no annoying female antagonist which is way too common in BL dramas). I highly recommend watching this (and rewatching). I will be looking for more dramas featuring these two leads.

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It's fun if you don't take it seriously

I originally watched this series while airing and although I enjoyed it I still thought it was dumb so I gave it a 5. After watching Jack and Joker recently and being utterly disappointed by how dumb the story I remembered this one and thought that 5 was to harsh because at least this one somewhat makes sense sometimes so I decided to re-watch and give it a better rating if needed.

10 episodes into the re-watch I have to admit that 5 was generous enough. It's cute, with great scenery, good looking leads and great soundtrack. But all the plot holes and the bad acting make it a tough watch, especially the second time around.

I would recommend to watch this one if you have nothing else to do, just enjoy the silliness and the beauty of it. Also the special episodes are cute I recommend to watch them once your done with the series.

Em did I say the specials were good?? I was sure I had liked it the first time around, I had given them a 6 🤣 The specials are so so much worse, but again, pretty scenery beautiful boys, watch if you're bored, forget logic and enjoy the silliness.

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All You Need To Know Before Watching This Show.......

This was the first K-drama I ever watched, and it was a unique and memorable experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the main leads and their performances. Having initially watched it four years ago, I recently revisited the series, and while I still appreciated its emotional depth, I noticed certain flaws in the writing.

The narrative occasionally feels unsettled, with events beginning and concluding abruptly. The last two episodes, in particular, appeared rushed, with too much happening in a short span. Additionally, the romantic arc lacked development, with limited focus on it in the middle portion of the series. Some side characters seemed unnecessary, and the inclusion of a love triangle felt out of place and did not contribute meaningfully to the story.

However, the emotional scenes remain a standout feature, resonating even more deeply during my second viewing. The acting, especially from the main cast, is exceptional and elevates the drama significantly. That said, character development across the series could have been stronger.

Overall, this is a solid K-drama, particularly well-suited for beginners. Despite its shortcomings, its emotional moments and stellar performances make it an enjoyable watch.

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Bad Ass Gurls! ❤️❤️❤️

I had initial interest because of Uee (Hago’s Love) & Soel In Ah (Business Proposal) in their previous dramas. I was unfamiliar with the other 2 athletes but seen their drama résumés and now a fan of their work too. To see they all have physical strengths and to see them push the process to overcome their mental challenges and blocks was inspiring and heartwarming. To see their competitive passion and external emotions is a reflection of the professional work ethic they each have as actors. MAD RESPECT ✊ TO THE IRON GURLS ❤️❤️❤️😊. The show is awesome!

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A Journey Worth to Ride

It is an amazing story. The build up is slow, but that is life! It is not even a build up, it is a journey of pain, struggle, sorrow, failure, joy, smile, success, everything you have got through that makes you who you are today. It tells us to share our journey with the people around us who loves us, people who we can lean on, people who are willing to hit the rock bottom together with us, and rise back to the peak. It also shows that love is not always about happiness. Sometimes you have to squeeze you blood, sweat and tears to love!

The conflicts in the beginning are really complex and a lot. However, the writer's put everything in mostly correct place. The struggle of each characters: Seok-Ryu's, Seung-Hyo's and even each of the family members are highlighted well. And it really depicts the struggles of a normal person, normal family in real life. They cried for help, they helped each other to solve their problems, and once again, that's life!

For all the comments saying that the romance is dull, I think it's not. It just a different form of romance that they were on. For someone who had known and lived next to each other more than 30 years, I think you can't expect them to have a passionate affection as in other romance dramas. Still, I love how Seok-Ryu could compare everything she has in mind with foods!

On the contrary, I don't really like the character build up of Kang Dan-Ho. He does not seem to have a consistent characteristics. One day he would be very kind and affectionate, the next day he became reluctant and mean and on the other day he became passionate again towards Mo-Eum without any valid and strong reason. I mean people can change, but for someone who had a personal experience, it was too easy for him just to change his mind like that.

The storyline near the end of the series are a bit thin and slow, compared to the complexity at the beginning. I think the storyline was intended for 15 episodes. However they were forced to make it into 16. Also I feel like the writer failed to explore some chance to be developed. I was looking forward to see the result of the school gym renovation. As that place meant a lot to the journey of Seung-Hyo and Seok-Ryu, I was hoping they will create a new moment together there, but nothing happened. Same thing happened to Seung-Hyo's time capsule letter. He picked it up from the trash only to be forgotten! As for the soundtrack, they didn't highlight it well. They should put it more in the important scenes so that it can be more memorable.

For someone with younger age, I think this drama may be boring. But for the older group, a lot of the scene in this drama may relate to your real life. Overall I would REALLY recommend this drama, but for you may have to consider if you want to rewatch, unless you want to feel the pain again, lol.

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Straightforward Romance with a Slightly Brilliant FL

I have never heard of the names of any of the actors in this series, so u can say my review is very unbiased as i picked up this title just by the whim of the moment. Finished it within 3 days too.

The story started off with a somewhat cute cartoonish creature flying around the FL, Nan Yan, which i first thought was her fairy friend or pet. But then it was revealed that even she herself doesnt know that this creature resides inside her. Then a mysterious ML comes along, then a few others she befriends with as she was supposedly curing ML’s heart disease which was similar to her mother’s.

First off, i gotta say FL is one of the brightest and quickwitted characters ive ever watched. She just looked soft, gullible, and easily manilulated, but as the story progresses, it is revealed that she’s the exact opposite of that. Yeah in the first one third of the story, she was weak in physical and magical strength, because she only focusses on her medical skill and not interested in cultivating. But after the first love tribulation, when she came back strong and reknowned as the top demon slayer, with the combination of the intelligence and strength, she became someone you dont wanna mess around. And the best part of this character is that, in situations where FLs of other typical drama would go down the rabbit hole of misunderstanding and grudge against their better half, Nan Yan did not! Ha!

As for the ML, i like it that he manage to put on two very different attitude and demeanor of he as Shao Cang and later as Yin. Shao Cang appears to be arrogant and yet humble in his own way, aloof as the monarch of his sect and yet still cares of lives around him. While Yin, although still has the aloof aura as he doesnt really interact with people due to his demonic possession, has a much brash attitude and rather harsh in his actions.

Other supporting characters are all great. Costume are nice to look at and doesnt look too flamboyant.

The thing i dislike about the series is how badly the editing is. One scene jumps right to another in the middle of a conversation, which i sometimes had to backtrack to confirm if i had been spacing out and missed anything. This scene would eventually be explained in another scene through flashbacks. So yeah they wanted to keep it a surprise as not to reveal everything in a streamline fashion, but cutting in the middle of a conversation is such a turnoff. I keep getting dumbfounded as the scenes dont tally with the next that i eventually stopped backtracking and just went with it. Sure enough, that dumbfounding scene would then be explained later.

I feel that there is not much chemistry between the main couple. I almost felt it between Shao Cang and NanYan, but later when he came back as Yin, it somehow got diffused and became lost. The villains keep popping out episode after episode but Sen Luo is probably a major disappointment after they build up his reputation as the owner of three divine hearts and conqueror of 5 demon prisons which cannot even be vanquished by the best demi god of the realm - he can only be imprisoned while the demi god himself perish later on. All these hype and this demon lord get kicked out of the scene just like that? There was hardly any battle at all. And those banter between Yin and Sen Luo made it look like this demon lord is a mere joke instead of second biggest villain.

SPOILER BEYOND THIS LINE_____________



I dont get the point of Yin having to be killed by Nan Yan in the last episode too. The drama is just nonexistent as two minutes later (3 years by the story) he would resurrect yet again. There’s no explanation of why or how he manage to live again though. So I see it as pointless. The last episode seemed rushed especially the the last battle between the lovers.

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Opposites Indeed Attract

I'm in LOVE with this BL. For me, it's rivalling Doku Koi "Love is Poison" for Best Japanese BL of 2024.
I read the manga "Our Youth" a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I was a bit nervous about the live adaptation. I'm so happy my fears were unfounded. The acting and the cinematography really elevated and brought this story to life for me.

We meet Minase, a well off high school student, who lives alone. His mother and friends direct a lot of his life and he seems content with their direction. That direction being to graduate with high marks, get into a good university, work at a big company and live a quiet life. His path is set for him and he seems to have the direction for his life figured out. His father, a creative, is mostly absent from his life and his mother has directed him not to follow his father's career path as a creative.

Then Hirukawa enters his orbit, the school bad boy who smokes, runs with the wrong crowd, beat up a teacher and occasionally shows up to school with bruises and black eyes. His energy is mysterious and alluring to Minase. Even though Minase implores him on multiple occasions to stay away from him, their paths cross continuously and Minase feels compelled to care for Hirukawa.

Their initial somewhat hostile encounters have an air of familiarity and kindredness. They quickly fall into a routine spending secret time together and begin to rely on each other.

I'm curious how the story will end since the manga ended positively after a time skip. But so far I'm enjoying where the drama is going. I will update when it's complete.

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Family by Choice...A CRITIC.

BEFORE READING, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I WILL BE REVIEWING THIS AS OBJECTIVELY AS I CAN. However, as I do have a bias for Go Ahead, this will be filled with comparisons and critics (as the title says). If you can't take it, move along.

LIKES: Cast (especially the kids), OST, STORY, Some of the character changes (Ju Won becoming a baker), the lack of a love triangle and the brother ending up with the friend.
DISLIKES: Sanha's mother, inability to capture my emotions, Sanha's resolution. (READ FURTHER FOR DEEPER DIVE INTO THIS)

I went into this with little to no expectations as I am not really fond of remakes, however I had nothing else to watch at the time. First few episodes surpassed those expectations as it really managed to get most of the major points across...until right before the time skip. I discovered that during the first couple episodes, I wasn't comparing this to the OG but then as it went on, it started to get harder to not compare, especially after the time skip.

Without too much spoilers, here's a few things that made the show ratings drop for me
- The fl's character was inconsistent. As a kid she had more drive and was more of the bully but then she suddenly lost that in HS? AND YES I KNOW PEOPLE CHANGE but it just felt off.

- Sanha's family, specifically his parents. There's 3 things I found super hard to ignore and really disliked in this point...
1. Sanha's father's lack of a backbone. It's hard to explain without comparing so imma compare anyway. In the OG, Ling Xiao's father also didn't have a solid backbone but when he needed to stand up for him, he did so with zero hesitation. In this though, I found Sanha's father a bit weak even during confrontation. It was as though the mother always had the upper hand. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY SECOND ONE.
2. Sanha's mother. OMG SHE WAS INFURIATING. I didn't think I'd ever hate this character more than the Chinese one but damn!!! I hated the fact that the writers let her have the upper hand the whole time? Like ZERO REMORSE TILL THE END. She was the major reason for everything Sanha faced and even till the end, she never once apologized? THIS WAS A MAJOR REASON for another drop in rating.
3. Sanha's resolution: WHY??? WHY??? I felt as though the writers decided to just skip over all the trauma this boy went through with "Insomnia" and "Abandonment". While these are two major things he dealt with, they completely glossed over his PTSD and depression AND THEY basically ended it all with a talk with his brother and a shared drink??? ALSO EXCUSE ME??? WHY DID SANHA HAVE TO BEG THAT WITCH?!!! SHE NEVER APOLOGIZED!!!!! This PISSED ME OFF FR. I was hoping he'd leave her. I hated the mother being able to simply just be forgiven in the OG but I hated this one more. At least there, she actually realized her fault (albeit too late).

- FINALLY, The show's inability to evoke strong emotions from me: If you look at my ratings, the lowest is it's rewatch value. This isn't because I don't rewatch shows but it's because I doubt I'll have reason to rewatch this. And that's because this show was unable to capture my full attention and evoke strong emotions within me.

I have rewatched Go Ahead at least 4 times since it came out and I can tell you each time, I CRY. Not just silent tears slipping down my face but full blown sobs. While watching this, I found myself smiling more than crying and sometimes falling asleep (the last two eps were a drag). I mentioned Sanha's resolution and I wanna just point out that his LACK of resolution was the final reason for my rating dropping from a 9 (in the beginning) to a 7.5. In the OG, there's a few scenes that made my heart HURT and the ones that hurt the most were the scene where his father finds out about the pills he had to take to survive those years with his mother. The fact that his kid was broken and he had no idea. - This was the resolution Sanha did not have.
And the scene where Ling Xiao's mother comes uninvited to his house and sees Jian Jian and Ling Xiao finds out, breaks down, runs to Jian Jian's apartment and embraces her. This scene showed his attachment to her, it wasn;t a pure romantic love but it was A "I need you to be able to survive" kind of attachment. Yet another scene that would've given the viewers a deeper insight into Sanha as a broken person.
However, a lot of the scenes that should've evoked big emotions were changed/not included in this and it just made the show fall flat for me. Less focus on the romance in the last 2 eps and more on resolving their trauma would've made this way better

Oh also, someone mentioned that there was a lack of "familial" bond amongst the siblings as they made it so that Sanha was in love with her from start and I cannot agree more. The feelings this character should have for fl isn't just romantic love, It's deeper, more twisted than that...but alas.

END: WHY is this rated a 7.5 and not lower?: All in all, I think this show as a standalone and not an adaptation/remake would've been a masterpiece. However, it's sad that it is after all an adaptation and cannot be free from comparisons. I want to also say, I think the cast was amazing especially Bae Hyeon Seong who plays the role of KANG Hae Joon. They did fully embody the characters to the best they could. Kudos to the little kid actors too, loved loved loved little Ju Won. Ju Won's father was amazing as always!

If you made it this far, You deserve a cookie! Thanks for reading and being a part of my ramble/rant session!

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Trailer-Bait, No Stockholm Syndrome, and WTF Did They Do to This Plot?

Let me just start by saying this: I'M SORRY. If y'all don’t vibe with my review, then oopsies but also… not really? You can fight me. Anyway, let’s unpack my trauma real quick because I was SO HYPED for this series. Like, Ohm in a BL post- Bad Buddy? Leng being adorable IRL and OhmLeng TikToks giving BFF-to-lovers energy? Sis, I was READY.

And then the trailer? Sheesh! It was giving gritty, it was giving Stockholm Syndrome realness, it was giving “morally grey character development arc.” I was salivating. But GUUUURL. WHY do I keep getting scammed by trailer bait? First Jack and Joker, now this? Is this my villain origin story? Probably. Let’s dive into this tea, because Miss Gurl is HOT.

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Ohm as Mint: My Sweet Green Flag with Red Flag Tendencies

Listen, Ohm slayed. Mint is a stuntman who’s broke, clumsy, and soft, working overtime to save his sick baby bro. We stan a hardworking king. He’s a family man, super protective, and just the right amount of clueless to be charming. A certified Green Flag™… except for that slight overprotective Red Flag™ energy.

Now, here’s the gag: I wanted Mint to be a layered, complicated man. Like, give me tortured anti-hero! But noooo. The writers kept it basic. Yet Ohm, bless his talented soul, gave this flat character depth. His action scenes? ICONIC. This man was out here throwing hands like rent was due (which, it was). Ohm could’ve made reading a cereal box dramatic. We don’t deserve him.

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Leng as Q: A Puppy with Lazy Eyes and No Sass

Leng… sweetie… listen. I love you but you gotta step it up. Your resting serious face is giving “annoyed at the world” when it should be serving depth. Like, we need to work on those eyes, babe, because right now, your vibe is “placeholder meme material.”

And Q? GIRL. His whole personality is just trauma and vibes. They took 10 episodes to unpack it, and by the time they did, I was like, “We been knew.” Q could’ve been bratty, spoiled, or even savage, but no. He’s just… meh. He’s lucky he’s cute because otherwise, I’d be snoozing. If Leng doesn’t hit acting workshops HARD before Only Friends 2, I’m gonna cry in 4K.

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Mheen: Mint’s Rebellious Lil’ Bro Who Deserves a Spinoff

Mheen (played by another Ohm, because why not) is Mint’s sick younger brother. And guess what? He’s the surprise MVP. His acting? Solid. Not groundbreaking, but solid. I love how he’s always giving Mint love-life advice like some teenage Dr. Phil. Rebellious, a little naughty, but wholesome? We love that for him.

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The Plot: Y’all Catfished Me

Oh. My. GOD. Y’all, the trailer had me HYPED. It was giving Stockholm Syndrome, action, drama, tension—all the juicy stuff. But what did we get? TRAILER-BAIT BULLSHIT.

So here’s the gist: Mint takes a kidnapping job because he’s broke and needs money for Mheen’s medical bills. Enter Q, the rich kid with daddy issues and a hit on his life. Mint is the world’s worst kidnapper, so Q just… stays at his house? Like, “Cool, this is fine. Better than being murdered.” And then they fall in love. The end.

The plot could’ve been so much more. Like, imagine if Mint faked Q’s death and Q had to hide while hitmen that were promised with bounty came for him. Or if Mint betrayed Q but regretted it. Or if they leaned into the Stockholm Syndrome vibe and gave us a morally complex love story. But no. They chose mediocrity. By episode 8, I was like, “Okay, can we wrap this up?” And the last 4 episodes? Pure fluff. Unnecessary.

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Action Scenes: Ohm’s Fists Could End Me

The action scenes are the saving grace. Ohm knows how to land a punch, and every fight was poetry in motion. Leng? Ehhh, he tried. The choreography was solid, but the fights couldn’t distract me from the dumpster fire of a plot.

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Chemistry: BFF Energy Instead of Butterflies

Okay, hear me out. They have chemistry, but it’s not hitting. Like, I wanted butterflies, heart palpitations, the whole deal, but instead? It’s giving “besties who sometimes kiss.” The steamy scenes were fine, but the emotional connection felt shallow. I get it—they’re new, but PLEASE do some workshops together before Only Friends 2 because I’m rooting for y’all.

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OST: Forgettable, Just Like the Plot

The OST? Trash. I can’t even hum it for you because it’s THAT forgettable. Also, why is the opening a soft, romantic song when the show’s supposed to be action-packed? Make it make sense.

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Final Thoughts: Trailer Bait Strikes Again

Great actors, mediocre plot, and wasted potential. The action scenes are fun, and Ohm’s acting is worth watching, but the chemistry and story just didn’t deliver. Would I rewatch it? No. Would I recommend it? Only if you’ve got nothing better to do. Anyway, here’s hoping Only Friends 2 gives these two the redemption arc they deserve.

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Bad Guy... Plot Went MIA

Bad Guy My Boss is a Thai BL drama that initially piqued my interest with its intriguing teasers, but unfortunately, it fell short of delivering the same level of satisfaction in execution. While it’s a consumable watch, it left much to be desired, particularly in terms of coherence and believability.

The series was, at best, a patchwork of ideas thrown together without much concern for narrative consistency. The story lacked clarity and often felt like a compilation of unrelated concepts mashed into a single plotline. This incoherence made it hard to stay invested, and while I did complete the series, it was more out of curiosity than enjoyment. The overreliance on sensual scenes to fill plot gaps was particularly noticeable, and though this may appeal to some viewers, it detracted from the overall storytelling.

That said, there were moments of believability, especially in the subplot featuring Thiti and Thiranai. Their dynamic felt more grounded compared to the main leads, whose interactions often veered into the realm of the unbelievable. Speaking of the main leads, while they were undeniably attractive (Pat without glasses, in particular), their chemistry and character arcs left much to be desired. Pat’s portrayal as a naive, often irritating protagonist showcased some potential but wasn’t enough to carry the series.

The premise of a "sexually induced bad guy" is a challenging one to pull off, and in this case, the execution fell flat. The actor’s lack of skill to embody this complex character type was evident, especially when compared to Pavel’s portrayal in Pit Babe, which, while not exceptional, was at least believable. The sensual scenes, instead of adding depth or tension, often felt gratuitous and misplaced, mirroring the disjointed nature of the plot.

The series reminded me of Unforgotten Night, another Thai BL drama with a similarly incoherent narrative. However, at least Unforgotten Night had a character like Phusanu, whose strong-willed personality added a sense of direction to the story. In contrast, Bad Guy My Boss struggled to establish a clear identity, feeling more like Guy with High Sex Drive Boss Became My Lover.

Overall, Bad Guy My Boss is neither bad nor good, it sits squarely in the middle, as a series that’s watchable but not memorable. While it might appeal to viewers looking for a light, uninvolved watch, it’s not something I’d rewatch intentionally.

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A great drama♥♥

A great drama that touches the soft underbelly of society, and I was even more surprised that the story is based on a true story, perfect casting of the actors, perfect acting by Ji Chang Wook, such a talented actor, who doesn't need much text, he simply has a phenomenal ability to convey a range of emotions in his facial and eye expressions. It's true that there are violent scenes in the film, but they are asked to enhance the plot. The plot reminds me of the scandal of "Burning Sun" | (2019) in Seoul, which involved politicians, celebrities, police officers, lawsuits/prosecutors, trafficking in women, drug use and trafficking, corruption, sexual favors. And it all happened in a nightclub for friends only.
It's true that the first two episodes are a bit confusing, but in the following episodes the picture becomes clearer.
Great soundtrack
Perfect direction
And as I said, perfect casting
A drama worth watching

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