Reviews

Same old, same old

It,s the same old drama about a girl and a boy. Same old storyline about a girl and a boy falling in love. The actor and actress were great at acting and it did not feel like it’s bad. however, the storyline is too predictable and there is nothing new. Just kept watching it to make sure i finished the drama but 5ere was nothing pulling me to make it enjoyable. There was no plot twist or anything new. It’s the sMe thing that has been played over and over. But just because the story line is the same doesn’t mean it deserve a bad review. The cast did their best and made in a nice show to watch.

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The rating I am giving is only because of the chemistry between the leads.Sorry for my long document but watching the series more than 1 time and every time I feel worse from the behavior of JIEON and SEOLRI, I avoid watching from 1-9 because the anger grows and those who wrote the series should explain
(because the series is still watched now) for the way the story is progressing maybe they thought of a different plot but changed it later. 1) JIEON is shown to be a moral person while he himself betrays his wife who was his great love, is enough for him to feel good after the crisis in their relationship and creates an affair with another woman without respect for her, the scene of his wife in the rain crying is shocking while he is with the other and making love. His look at the little whore is shown in the first episodes to be the same loving look he has in the following episodes towards his wife, how come he says afterwards that he only loved his wife. I have read comments and I agree that they have not shown us at all what the relationship between JIEON and SEOLRI was like in America while in the first episodes they show us that there is a erotik relationship between them when they return it does not show them being close but at the same time thinking about marriage (so in America there was no love affair or not which is not possible since they already had) but the author tries to forget what he had shown in the first episodes. When he came back his thought was not to find out what has happened but to continue his life with SEOLRI , he started thinking about his wife only when he saw her with someone else and became jealous. For the DNA confirmation it could have been done earlier since her mother was also alive. They make him mourn her death while he didn't want to see her again, as he said, and it doesn't make sense why they hid it after he had moved on in life. I also wanted an answer when SEOLRI tells him that she dumped him in order to get revenge on his wife if he realized that it was a game for her to make his wife hurt (his look doesn't show it). He blamed his wife for changing. , her change hadn't happened in a day, what did he do for so long because he didn't protect her, he didn't talk to her but maybe he was comfortable with the situation so he wouldn't be bothered by his father. In general, he was a selfish person who only looked out for how he would feel better and got angry when things didn't go his way. 2)HAE GANG the biggest victim of the case was betrayed by her husband and her husband's family. They show when the first memories came she was in pain since she knew from the beginning that SEOLRI had left with JIEON who was married (she was told that at the house she was staying at). They even make her apologize to SEOLRI for coming between the couple in their crisis and leaving her to die on the street. When she found her memory in the plot of the series they make her quickly move past her rage against her husband and that she wanted him back, he had to feel the pain you had caused her and see her hugging and kissing the other man like he showed off with the other. I can't understand that she wanted to protect him and not find out what his family has done since he himself knew what they could do and the wealth where her husband's family had made came from her father and did not belong to them. She deserved a better man. As far as her behavior at the beginning is justified, the movements of a cheated wife are unpredictable, and when she has been betrayed by the man you have gone through so many difficulties and he said that she was his great love but he also shows her on her knees begging the porn.. 3) SEOLRI a calculating person , her love an obsession towards the man. They don't make her apologize for doing so much to HAE GANG she came between the couple in a crisis to get revenge on her, left her to die on the street and stuff. The whore benefited from this relationship, she began to live better as his mistress, her career progressed and since she herself admitted that he is not in love with her so she persisted because she did not want to give up all the privileges that came with being married to the man this.
Also what a void ending to show HAE GANG and SEOLRI meeting and talking as if they were old acquaintances this is done in the realm of fantasy. I would like to write and ask a lot, but I don't want to get tired.

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Good story, bad acting

I have watched the first 2 instalments of the univerkada series and I liked them both mostly because of their plots that took me back to my wattpad era. The highschool/ college love, something going wrong, separating because of it only to find their way back to each other cooks up a very nice story. It's sweet and light to watch why is why I love stories like these.

while the story is good overall, the plot didn't deal properly with how ely handled her grief. Her father was violent and abusive and he is shown as the bad guy, rightfully so. But her mother had an affair with a married man. from what we know, she is part of the reason that a family broke. i don't understand why she is given such a clean slate at the end. ely constantly saying that her mother was a pure heart etc. etc. seemed like the character just swept all of the mother's mistakes under the rug because she can't handle the idea of a grey personality. a person according to her is either 100% good or 100% bad.

i liked how they didn't fix everything between ely and her dad. this closure was much more realistic. apart from that, when ely talks about the worst thing that happened to her after what her father did, she just says "i had to go to therapy because of you". in my opinion, a very awkward choice of words. the point of even saying the dialogue was to show the impact of her father's actions on her, and the entire impact was just shoved into the dustbin by summarising it with therapy. if someone has an accident, the gravity of the situation is better explained when you say "i fractured my rib and broke my arm" not when you say "i had to go to the doctor". it's almost as if the writer didn't know what might happen to a traumatised person and were too lazy to do any research.

The moments between ely and sevi were very cute and i think that those moments were probably their best acting? because most of the acting sucked. the dialogue delivery was painfully slow. or is that just how rich people talk? idk. every syllable spoken by ely was stretched for some reason. also, the crying was just...awful. there was water all over the face which looked very comical. and as much as i like hearing a character's thoughts, it was so awkward to hear ely's thoughts. it was like reading lines from a script. i preferred sevi's dialogue delivery over ely's but like her, he too doesn't know how to cry properly and his expression for most part of the series was him looking at something/someone with an eyebrow raised.

Overall, the love story is very cute and was the only thing that made me look forward to the episodes. the ost was also great. but everything else is unimpressive if not horrible.

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A Mature Storyline

I had not expected , I thought this would be same Thai traditional cheesy BL story but I was wrong . Gmmtv did a great job .

Disclaimer - I wrote this review according to my own thoughts . This review may contain spoilers . It will be change according to the upcoming episodes .

Story - Po , a heartbroken soul , was wondering a good job but everytime for being honest he failed at the interview . He recently broke up with his partner ( Earn ) and tried to heal his broken soul . He suddenly got a job at a big entertainment company and he was tasked with documenting a boy group's ( MARS ) final concert before their disbandment . Thame ( the leader of MARS ) about to make a solo debut in South Korea for a misunderstanding with his bandmates .

Impression - A mature and emotional story . The way the actors expressed every details ,is excellent . Thame and Po , both of them were trying to understand their hearts with each other's companion . The cinematography and visuals are top tier . As William is here then the music must be good , yes his beautiful voice stole our heart . The intro was so beautiful , one of the best intro I ever seen .

Overall - Try one episode , you will understand . I am giving 10/10 .

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Don't look at the rating and rush to judge, this series is much better than the number above, I don't know why it is rated so low but it deserves a rating of over 8.0. The chemistry between William and Est is very good, the two are a very nice couple and I believe they will do much better in the following episodes. This is Est's first leading role and also William's first leading role debuting as an actor besides being an idol before. Please give them a chance because this is all their first chance. You can check the positive reactions of many other directors and many others towards this series on X App. Please support these cute 2 kids and LYKN because they put a lot of effort and time in this project. 💯

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A Heartfelt Tale of Friendship

One of the most striking aspects of the drama is its exploration of friendship heartbreaks, an often-overlooked theme. Friendship heartbreaks can be some of the most painful experiences, and this drama captures that emotional intensity with remarkable authenticity. The portrayal of this dynamic is brought to life by the characters Saint and Shin, whose journey of friendship is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Their bond, its challenges, and its eventual evolution are handled with such care that it feels incredibly real and relatable.

Acting Excellence

Sky and Nani’s performances are nothing short of extraordinary. These two actors have proven their mettle by delivering some of the most emotionally charged scenes with finesse. Their ability to convey a wide range of emotions through subtle expressions and body language is commendable. At times, even without dialogue, their eyes alone communicate volumes, allowing the audience to feel the depth of their characters’ emotions.

This kind of nuanced acting is rare and speaks to the skill and dedication of the actors. Whether it’s a moment of joy, a heated argument, or a tearful reconciliation, every scene feels genuine, pulling the audience deeper into the story. Their chemistry on screen is undeniable, not in a romantic sense, but as two individuals navigating the highs and lows of a profound friendship.

Themes and Impact

What sets this drama apart is its focus on relationships that are often overshadowed in mainstream storytelling. By emphasizing the significance of platonic bonds and familial connections, it offers a refreshing perspective. It reminds viewers of the importance of cherishing these relationships and acknowledges the emotional weight they carry.

The storytelling is complemented by a well-written script, meaningful dialogues, and a narrative pace that keeps the audience engaged. The director deserves praise for weaving together the various elements acting, cinematography, and music into a cohesive and impactful production.

Final Thoughts

In a world where relationships are often reduced to romantic entanglements, this drama stands out as a genuine celebration of friendship and familial bonds. Contrary to common misconceptions, this is not a BL (Boys' Love) drama and has never been promoted as such. Instead, it delves into the profound beauty and complexity of friendships and family ties, offering a narrative that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced the joy and pain of such relationships.

This drama is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates stories rooted in emotional depth and authenticity. It is a testament to the power of platonic relationships and the profound impact they can have on our lives. Sky and Nani’s performances elevate the narrative, making it a memorable experience that will stay with viewers long after the final scene.

In celebrating friendship and family, this drama offers a poignant reminder that love exists in many forms, and each one is worth cherishing.

For me it is a 10/10.

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Severe Second Male Lead Syndrome

The first episode (or two episodes as it’s listed on MDL) was amazing. It was one of the best first episodes of a drama I’ve ever seen and set my expectations sky high. Unfortunately, the first episode was the highlight of the show.

The execution of the romance was one of the biggest issues. While the connection was there at the beginning, it really seemed to fade throughout the show and they stopped seeming romantic. Both the male and female main leads were odd characters on their own, and the two of them together seemed to magnify their awkwardness. Jung Hae-in plays one of the best second male leads in history and it was impossible not to root for him. I loved his character on his own, I loved his friendship with the leads, he was great. The show did handle his character’s feelings towards Hong-ju, the female main character, very well. His character deserved more screen time and a romance plot line of his own.

The psychic dreams started off extremely interesting but the show continued to complicate the lore so that by the end it was just very confusing. It did make for exciting storylines because they were all foreseeing each other’s deaths and then coming to save them. The thing that seemed crazy was that they weren’t better at saving the day when they would have all the details about a tragic event and somehow barely get there in time. It’s just to add the drama but it was a little annoying. Hong-ju made a lot of really bizarre decisions, even while having the knowledge from her dreams.

We all know childhood connections are very overplayed and this one did not work at all. The “twist” of the flashbacks was so unbelievably obvious but the show kept drawing it out as this great supposed mystery. If they were going to have their pasts connect, they could have done it in a much more interesting way. With all the time spent on their connection, the show didn’t spend enough explaining other parts of the main character’s backstories.

While You Were Sleeping has a pretty large cast of characters and a lot of the side characters were great. Firstly, Hong-ju’s mom was very funny and she got to interact with a ton of the other characters. The way she kept score of her daughter’s love interests was one of my highlights. The other prosecutors in Jae-chan’s office started out annoying but became funny and charming over the course of the show. The office romance was another really great side plot.

The beginning of While You Were Sleeping started off so strong for me and it just felt that it had lost some of the magic along the way. I did really enjoy a lot of the show, but the boring main romance and stupid character decisions brought it down a bit for me.

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You’re cute in every universe out there

Played by the same male leads, the characters are hopelessly drawn to each other in all of the universes they inhabit. This series is perfect for people who get bored easily. 

What’s commendable is that the characters in various storylines not only look different, but also behave extremely differently in terms of how they display their emotions and respond to difficult situations. The dynamic between each couple is also not the same.

The clever part of the series is that it ties together a collection of several storylines involving vastly different characters, played by the same actors.

Top and Mick have done well on this front, as versatile actors who are able to capture every character’s unique essence. They also have superb chemistry across all their characters (some obviously more electric than others), which is quite a feat if you ask me.

While you’ll be able to grasp the storyline completely even with the cut version, the unfortunate reality is that the story comes out a little choppy and truncated. Watch the uncut version for maximum enjoyment!

More reviews: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/

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This is a GEM

The Untamed is a popular Chinese drama (C-drama) that aired in 2019. It's based on the BL (Boys' Love) novel Mo Dao Zu Shi (also known as Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Unlike the original novel, which explicitly depicts a romantic relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, the drama presents their relationship with more subtle, implied affection due to censorship rules in China.

Major Themes:
1. Friendship and loyalty: Despite societal pressures, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji remain steadfastly loyal to their beliefs and to each other.
2. Moral ambiguity: The show explores themes of justice, revenge, and what it means to truly do the right thing.
3. Found family: Many characters build relationships outside their bloodlines, showing the importance of chosen bonds.

One of its greatest strengths lies in the chemistry between the leads. Xiao Zhan delivers a charismatic performance as the free-spirited yet misunderstood Wei Wuxian, while Wang Yibo’s reserved portrayal of Lan Wangji provides a perfect counterbalance. The supporting cast also shines, with memorable performances that bring emotional weight to the complex inter-clan rivalries and alliances.

Visually, the series is breathtaking, with its traditional Chinese costumes, picturesque landscapes, and an evocative soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. However, the production is not without flaws. Some CGI effects are inconsistent, and the pacing can feel slow in parts, particularly during flashback-heavy episodes.

While the drama skillfully conveys the deep bond between the leads, it must rely on subtlety due to censorship, which may feel unsatisfying to fans of the original novel’s explicit romance. Despite this, the emotional connection remains palpable and moving.

Overall, The Untamed is a richly layered drama that rewards patient viewers with a heartfelt tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption. It’s a must-watch for fans of Chinese fantasy and anyone looking for a story that combines action, mystery, and emotional depth.

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