Reviews

When an 8 episodes drama felt like a 16 episodes drama.

Contract marriage is one of my go-to genres but the way they did it here was not your typical contract marriage.

The plot : The ex-wife (with issues) planned for her ex-husband (also with issues) to marry other woman while she herself marries to another. Thus began their mutual toxic relationship in the drama until the ex-husband met now his new wife (who also had her own share of trauma) which after living together her presence slowly become significant in his life. Then after facing a series of incidents together, began their process of healing.

For an 8 episodes drama you would think just how hard it can be to finish one. But it took me 7 days to complete watching. Even watching in 2x speed still feel too long. Plot got repetitive especially in the first half. Just when I feel like things started to get interesting , we are back to 0 again.

This was me while watching,

Ep 1 : Feel like the longest 1 hour of my life.
Ep 2 : Watching my cat sleeping is better than watching this.
Ep 3 : Still feel like the longest hour ever in my life.
Ep 4 : Why I am still watching ....
Ep 5 : Now things are getting interesting.
Ep 6 : We getting somewhere..
Ep 7 : Urgh. Not this obsessive woman again .
Ep 8 : Okay...

What this drama has :-

🔸️Contract marriage
🔸️Broken main leads
🔸️Toxic unhealthy marriage
🔸️Annoying unhinged ex-wife
🔸️Lot of stalking
🔸️Snailed-paced storyline
🔸️Okay mystery
🔸️Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin who have great chemistry with each other

If you liked these elements in your drama well good news ,this is the drama for you.

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Not only extravagance and impactful visuals

It's been weeks since I've finished the series and it is still in my head. Their story is one about navigating good and evil, forming friendships, overcoming prejudices, and much more. Despite knowing how the story would end, I couldn't help but keep watching—dreading how destiny unfolds but at the same time, hopeful that the strength of the bonds between the characters will prevail. There are so many details embedded throughout the episodes that one would definitely find new treasures when rewatching. Not to mention the excellent lyrics of the OSTs (which is undermined through translation) and their fit for the story and characters. As one of the many dramas I have watched this year, Fangs of Fortune will be one for reminiscing for years to come.

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Story
My favorite and least favorite part of this drama was the story. I loved its moral—how evil people continue to harm others without sacrificing nearly as much as the good people, who endure so much to protect what’s right. It felt unfair at times, but even so, the good people persevered and ultimately found happiness. Justice prevailed, and that made it all worthwhile.

Romance
The main characters’ chemistry was amazing! It wasn’t just about their banter but also how they consciously chose to love each other through countless challenges. The story beautifully emphasized that what truly matters is what’s on the inside, not outward appearances, and that love is ultimately a choice.

Loyalty
I also appreciated how clearly the lines between good and evil were drawn. Watching this gave me a sense of security because I knew the good characters wouldn’t betray one another. The last time I felt this way was while watching Demon Slayer XD. The good characters in Alchemy of Souls were genuinely likable, and I loved the relationships among them.

Especially the Crown Prince—he had so many opportunities to get jealous or join the evil side, but he stayed true to his beliefs and overcame his struggles. By doing so, he was able to build meaningful friendships and surround himself with good people. He truly deserves a happy ending (even beyond what we saw in the drama)!

What Could Have Been Better
Now, onto what I didn’t like—or rather, what I think diminished the drama’s potential—the lack of episodes! The plot could have been developed more thoroughly, allowing us to follow the story at a better pace. Instead, it felt rushed.

Why? I wanted more of Uk and Naksu—UKSU <3. I also wanted to see Uk mourn for Mudeok and uncover Buyeon as Naksu. However, the rushed pacing made it difficult for many viewers to accept Buyeon’s character. It felt like such a missed opportunity.

Final Thoughts
Overall, I loved the drama! Even though it could have been better, I truly appreciated the story’s intention and message. Every actor gave their all, and it was evident in the way they brought their characters to life.

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Refreshing twist on business rivalry and marriage of convenience

I noticed this series when browsing my iQiyi dashboard. I wasn't familiar with any of the cast. However I thought I should watch this series after reading MDL reviews. Glad I did it!

What I liked:
1) The romance - Because Female lead and Male lead had different personality (she was more serious, no-nonsense businesswoman while he was bright but confident architect), I expected a lot of "push" in the development of their relationship. Luckily the "push" factor wasn't too long as Female lead realised what a great man Male lead was. I love how natural and comfortable both were with each other. The hand holding, the affectionate gaze, the kisses, the playful banter...I felt like watching a real couple in love.
2) Ye Cheng Su characterisation - At first I was apprehensive about his character because he appeared childish. However he proved me wrong when he took business matters seriously. I like that he was patient and secure about his capability and his relationship with Gu Ling Se. His character has shown a lot of growth by the end of the series.
3) Supporting characters - Most of the supporting characters were well developed. I enjoyed watching Bei Chen (especially his random utterance of English words), Secretary Jin, Mu Qiu Hui, Uncle Zhao, Piao Piao. Even Gu Huai Heng, Gu Pei Ya and Jiang Han was a delight to watch
4) The plot - I find this series rather engaging as it has nice balance of personal and professional lives of the FL & ML. I also like the arcs of Jiang Han and Pei Ya.
5) Outfits - I love the outfits for Gu Ling Se. The leather jacket and tight pants for motorcycling made her hot while the dresses made her pretty.

What I disliked:
1) Business aspect - I was slightly lost after Gu Huai Heng made his big move. I didn't like how that affected the relationship between FL & ML. I also expected some explanation about Future Corporation's direction after the acquisition but nope, there as none.
2) Ye Cheng Su's hairstyle - I don't like his hairstyle except the one in the ending because that hairstyle made him looked much younger than Gu Ling Se and less serious about work.

Favourite scene
When Gu Ling Se surprised Ye Cheng Su with the lantern festival

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Light, fluffy vertical drama with good looking leads

I love Zhang Chu Xuan's performance in 'Captive love from the mob boss' so I went to look for her work. The synopsis was interesting so I searched and found a full movie version of this series on Youtube. I clicked 'Play', what else?

What I liked:
1) The romance - I like Gu Huai Yan and Duan Qing Yu from the start of this series. That one night stand reminded me of 'Fated to Love You / You are My Destiny'. Sweet and playful romance between them - a lof of physical touch. It's cute to see Gu Huai Yan acknowledges his feelings for her and acted on them.
2) Visuals - Both Zhang Chu Xuan and Lu Shan Dong are very good looking although Zhang Chu Xuan's styling for this series made her look like university student rather than a working adult.
3) Pacing - Easy to digest series because of its fast pacing.
4) Similarity with other dramas - This series reminds me of 'Follow My Dear General' due to the rashes and 'Love Me in Three Days' due to the treatment.

What I disliked:
1) The ending - Quite flat for me. Wish they would talk more about his medical condition, their feelings and future together.
2) Subtitles - Some episodes were missing subtitles, if I am not mistaken. However due to the fast pace nature of this series, I could roughly guess what is happening during those episodes.

Favourite scene
It was raining and Duan Qing Yu taught Gu Huai Yan about dating

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From Chinese BL fiction to the colors of Southeast Asia

The plot begins when An's world is shaken after Jin, his adoptive brother and platonic love, returns to Thailand from the United States, after several years geographically and sentimentally distanced.
In this way, those who, between laughter and games, and without having any blood relationship, had grown up within the same family, meet again. But they are not children anymore. They are two university students. The reunion gives rise to the fact that, while both discover that some powerful and intense feelings unite them beyond being "brothers", An immerses himself in a journey in which he realizes a shocking truth from his past.
We are talking about 'Secret Love', a BL genre miniseries, directed by Content, the Chinese-Thai adaptation of the Asian giant's novel danmei, by J.W. "Secret Planet Series".
Produced by Bebravehud, 'Secret Love' leaves the viewer with a carnival of events, secrets, betrayals, revelations, adoptions, childhood traumas, reconciliations and love affairs.
It is a short miniseries of the BL genre presented by QuStory, with 81 episodes of 2 minutes each.
Among the points to highlight, it is necessary to keep in mind the schedule for which it was conceived in Thailand, its country of origin. 'Secret Love' was not created for primetime requirements, but to be shown on Saturday and Sunday evenings in that Southeast Asian nation.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 20 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between one and the other I have previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive promotions of Thai products that usually appear after the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximate 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy usually have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
That a poor boy is adopted by a rich family after surviving an accident, at age eleven, in which his parents died; That the cause of his orphanhood is the same person who welcomed him into his home, and he ends up in love with his adoptive brother, may seem unlikely; but in the vision of its creators it is nothing more than a functional resource that is inserted into an imaginative and traditionally light dramaturgical conception. This is not the case with the allied and almost fraternized villainy, whose plans to do as much damage as possible to innocent people, often helpless, have sometimes bordered on the absurd in so many similar productions, especially in the final stretch of the series.
Although Gu Hao Wei, the CEO and friend of An's parents, and his wife, have upset more than one, a point in their favor is the overthrow of their negative attitudes by the growing love between the young orphan and Jin, the son of this marriage.
The fact that it is a short drama does not represent a serious problem for me: I watch the 10 weekly episodes, in a subtitled edition, one following the previous one, and between them previews of the next one. The transition is much more enjoyable than the boring and unproductive commercial promotions of Thai products that usually appear in the Next Break in any BL series from that country.
On the other hand, the sum of all the episodes broadcast between Saturday and Sunday add up, in their entirety, to the approximately 40 minutes that the BL series that we frequently enjoy have. In total, the 81 episodes would represent four episodes in a series of this format.
We also have Turbo Chanokchon Boonmanawong among the cast, an actor known for playing Camp in the story 'Friends Forever', from the BL series 'My Universe', and Anda in 'Love Stage!!', who plays in this one. occasion to Lan; and Tee Vitsarut Suwinijjit, popular among genre lovers after starring in 'Restart(ed)', now adding the role of Tong to his resume.
The flashbacks that lead the viewer to understand An's past, the gloomy settings and, at times, the soundtrack of 'Secret Love', underline the dark elements of the story.
Despite some timorous performances (to be developed in the immediate future by the two protagonists), and the lack of depth in the story, the latter being a typical feature of short plots and low-budget productions, both in music and in dialogues, the viewer will also find a beautiful story of love and reconciliation, especially with oneself for hiding an atrocious family secret for years. All of these elements immerse us in engaging entertainment, and debuting stars Tle Matimun Sreeboonrueang, as Jin, and FirstOne Wannakorn Reungrat, as An, are especially charming.
Casting directors take note: Tle and FirstOne, in their respective first roles in their young careers, are two actors to be reckoned with, capable of conveying subtle shades of inner turmoil, of discomfort at finding themselves in love with someone of the same gender, then of his time on the 'TV Show DMD Friendship the Reality', Domundi's artist training program.
They both need a little more acting skills, confidence in front of the cameras. I have no doubt they will win in this regard.
The protagonists of 'Secret Love' had already participated in the 'TV Show SosatSeoulsay', precisely in episode 237, a television program that follows the protagonists and actors of Thai dramas.
In the script, which adapts the Chinese BL novel of the same name, the ingenuity of Wang Tinglian and Ding Wuen must be highlighted, by taking the original work and transferring its setting to Thailand, where the centers move between lavish mansions, companies and the university, with its pertinent allusions to studies, to obtaining the family company as an inheritance and to the search for success at any price, no matter if through crime.
And, if we talk about society, the series explores in a sensible way (and with high doses of sensitivity) certain topics such as male homosexuality, the emancipation of children from their parents, the breaking of taboos, self-acceptance and friendship.
The miniseries, with Chinese narrative inspiration and a warm mix of Thai essences, manages to satisfy the public thanks to the combination of melodramatic elements in an agile, light and attractive story.

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Here for the romance & chemistry

Its a random watch for me. I saw ML from a fireman drama and I thought, hmm he has potential - lets see how he does here. And well, he does not disappoint :D

I honestly skipped many scenes as I am not into this field of work/business. However, i am so impressed with the romance part; the couple story line, the progress and development, all the peak scenes - they are very well executed! Huge applaud for the leads and the director.

A must for viewers who are into leads' chemistry and realistic + emotional kiss scenes. They have so many kiss scenes i felt like they should get married irl at one point haha

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Surprisingly Amazing

I actually hesitate to watch this at first, since i wasn't familiar with the actors. But then i saw some fan made videos on youtube and amazed by the chemistry from both main leads. So i decided to binge-watch it, and WOW it didn't disappoint!. From the story wise, acting, chemistry, and everything is soooo good!

Kiss and love scenes on this series have got to be one of the best out of Thai BLs (or even all dramas). We're convinced that they are in love. And what i like about it is every kiss has different urges. We can fee whether it was frustration kiss, passionate kiss, sad kiss, playful kiss, etc. The actors really did excellent job here.

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Thank you very much ❤️🌸🌹💐
All the players, all the character names, the stories, are engraved and remembered in my heart. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This drama is very exciting, Very very very very very good, interesting and touching, it raises the spirit to watch it and enjoy every moment of it.⭐✨❤️
The storyline is interesting.
The actors are very good at playing their roles. Handsome and beautiful are an added value that doesn't make you bored watching it. The actors are very very suitable, good and great in playing their roles. Good job 🍀❤️⭐✨
It's so much fun and heart touching to watch, it makes me excited to wait for each episode.❤️⭐❤️✨⭐

I hope there is a next episode. I hope my day can be accompanied by every episode. I always wait and wait in every day as if I were following an adventure in it.

All the feelings are mixed and very very happy for me, to be able to watch it and be this cool is very very exciting. At least in life you need something like this❤️🍀 like it too much, love storyline, ost, Especially I love the actors who plays his role❤️✨⭐


My Favorite Character
Tang San ❤️⭐✨ Xiao Wu ❤️⭐✨
Ma Hong Jun ❤️⭐✨ Bai Chenxiang ❤️⭐✨
Da Mu Bai ❤️⭐✨ Zhu Zhu Qing ❤️⭐✨
Oscar ❤️⭐✨ Ning Rong Rong ❤️⭐✨

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Most memerable drama of 2024

I enjoyed Seo Hyun Jin in Another Miss Ohh and The Beauty Inside, which I coincidentally watched only a couple of weeks ago, and so I was really interested to see how she would do in this new drama and wow I was not ready for how great she would be! The show hooked me quickly with its mysterious plot and the asymmetrical, curved, modern, wealthy yet cold and emotionless interiors or the main settings contrasted with where the FML comes from, not wealthy yet equally cold and emotionless. The cool tone of the lighting and the stark cinematography reflects how the characters feel no connection anymore to the world around them, the tone at times is so dark and foreboding that it felt difficult to watch, and found myself taking breaks to steady myself to watch further. The circumstances of the arranged marriage between the ML and Seo Hyun Jin's character is never really explained in a way that made any sense to this viewer, and one sort of has to set that aside and just accept that they have been thrown together into this situation. The reward for doing so is seeing the outstanding performances of the two leads portraying characters with hearts so broken come slowly back on line. Many of the most emotionally powerful moments of the film having little or no dialog whatsoever, with much being expressed through the eyes and small, silent kindnesses and affirmations, and I think it takes both great acting and mature, authentic chemistry between actors to pull that off, and they did in spades. Whereas I frequently forget a drama almost as soon as the final credits start rolling. I feel Seo Hyun Jin's performance, and also that of the other actors, was such that this show will stay with me, much as My Mister did before it, for a long time to come.

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Who is the Replica?

This is both a dark & light watch. The plot of the FL not having her memories & the ML being her bodyguard with secrets adds some drama & tension, while the Leads’ chemistry brings the swoons & heart flutters. I love when a couple only has eyes for each other throughout the whole show. It’s a true “you’re the only one for me” coupling & I’m a huge fan of that.

The FL is going through a lot & isn’t quite sure who to trust, but even when it seems like the ML betrayed her, she never actually loses faith in him. She’s a strong woman in a very confusing situation. She’s trying to connect all the dots & piece her memories back together, determined to uncover the truth of who she really is. All while quickly & completely falling for her mysterious bodyguard.

As for the ML - the way he’s devoted to protecting her, physically & emotionally, is so perfect. 🫠 He knows there’s more going on then he’s aware & he’s determined to keep her safe while helping her find the truth. Yes, he’s got a hidden agenda, but he never for a moment puts that above the safety or well-being of the woman he’s completely fallen for.

They’re a truly great couple who prove that, no matter what, love is always worth it! The trust they have in one another is well deserved as neither would ever do anything to sabotage the other. As the ML proves with the way he handles the SFL’s advances & flirtations. I love when the Leads put others in their place, leaving no doubt as to who they love & where the “love rivals” fit (or don’t fit) in the equation.

If you haven’t watched “Mysterious Love” yet, I recommend seeing that too. It was the Leads’ first drama together. The storylines don’t connect, but the main cast are almost all the same so it sorta feels like a duo set. You can watch one w/out the other, though, & still understand everything. 👍🏻 It’s just really great to see them on screen together again!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 6💋
- 2G : 8 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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Love Among the Stars

When a video’s leaked with proof of an actress’s { Dilraba } gaming ineptitude, it threatens her contract with the developer. When she recognizes the proficient gamer she’s playing with as her first love { Yang Yang }, she asks him to help her hone her skills (without revealing her identity!) so she can redeem herself. Thus their story begins…

I enjoy that the FL stays kind & innocent throughout. She’s strong & stands up for herself while remaining humble. She never uses her fame as an excuse to be rude or act as if she’s better than anyone. She’s a very cheerful & honest person who has worked very hard for her accomplishments & doesn’t take the people around her for granted. She does have a few moments where I’m like, “girl, whyyy?” but overall I really enjoyed her.

I love watching the ML fall for her. He starts as a closed off person who isn’t mean, but rather burdened. He’s got the worry for his parents’ finances & health weighing him down, causing him to give up his career as an aerospace engineer for a more stable desk job. But the FL’s constant encouragement & unending belief in him give him the courage to once again chase his dream. Her sunny personality & quirky charms help brighten the darkness he’s been living in, giving him hope for a better future.

I enjoy the way he goes about pursuing her after he pushed her away & proving his feelings are genuine. He knows he messed up by letting her go, he realizes just how much he needs her in his life, & he sets out to win her back. And I appreciate that she isn’t cruel in her hesitation to accept him & that their separation doesn’t last long. It shows how serious they both take their relationship. Some shows drag this situation out too long to add more tension & drama, but I personally hate that. If you both love one another & want to be together, why would you be dumb & hold onto your pride when you could just apologize/forgive & hold onto each other instead?

Their chemistry is 🔥! They love to flirt & their banter is so cute. Their devotion to each other is 🫠. I love how they support each others goals & never let the difficulties of life come between them. It’s very nice that we get to witness the progression of their story too with the time jump. Getting to actually see them functioning as a married couple & how that works with both of their demanding careers is really well done, imo. Life doesn’t end after the “HEA” scene - that’s when a whole new life begins! They’re total married couple goals too. Just as flirty & affectionate as when they were dating. Lovely hugs & kisses. Their story is a joy to watch!

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- F(r)K : 21 💋
- 2G : 21 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BU : Nope 💍

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A Realistic Romance that Doesnt Feel Very Realistic By the End

This drama is shot beautifully and well acted. The OST might be the best part of the show. Up to a certain point the romance is a warm hug with no cliche misunderstandings. Then the dreaded kdrama episodes 12-16 hit this show like a white kdrama truck. Everything was going too well in the show, so the director needed to spice things up by adding in unnecessary melodrama that didn't fit the characters or tone they were building.

This brings me to my biggest point of contention with the drama: the breakup. Its realistic for couples to breakup over misunderstandings and miscommunication. My problem doesn't lie with the breakup, even if its a kdrama cliche, rather the problem is the writing and character assassination that took place to get there. There is a way to write the FL becoming unhappy with the relationship as she moves on from the honeymoon phase. The show presents the FL as nice, caring, thoughtful, and a sweet person in every single scene until episode 12 when she becomes completely different. Her actions don't make sense, she becomes bitter and depressed like she is a scorned lover. The show tries to tell us that the barrier to communication was the reason, but to the audience it seems like she just fell out of love. This would be fine if the show's message is about appreciating the time you spent together and loving in spite of knowing the end, but the show doesn't stop there! In the last 5 minutes we get a ham fisted monologue (in a play) and then the couple is back together. The writers clearly didnt know how to properly get the couple to break up in a realistic manner, and then we also get a patch work reconciliation at the end. Either the show should've put more effort in showing the audience why and how the FL eventually grew distant or they needed the couple to break up for good and have the last episode with them reconciling and moving forward without each other.

The overall plot of this drama hinges on the "fire event" during their college years. So much of the ML's, 2FL's, and weird friend's motivations and character makeup begin from this traumatic event. Unfortunately like many kdramas that try to play up a large traumatic event in a character's past, the actual event is messy, borderline nonsensical, incoherent mumbo jumbo. Ultimately it led to me questioning why we needed a random unknown stalker who whistles, why the friend side character (whose name I cant even remember) is even needed in this story, why the ML and FL didn't just communicate or read the police report of such a big event? Sure, the FL admits she was looking for an excuse to run away in the end, but there are so many leaps in logic that we, the audience, have to jump over to get to where we are in the present day story.

I enjoyed the side romances in this show. Jinwoo's class was hysterical and the best side characters in the show. The FL's roommate and her brother's romance was enjoyable too, but it was clearly there to pad out the run time to 16 episodes because they are never mentioned again after they become a couple and have no relevance to the overall story or the ML/FL romance. I was expecting something from Modam because he had such a strong negative first impression of Jinwoo, but nothing comes from that. Also, Jinwoo's reunion with his birth mother was very well acted and well earned.

Its a very slow drama. I think it's worth watching for the cinematography, OST, and the first half of the show. I didn't love the main couple as much as I wanted to, but other's may feel differently and consequently you may love the show much more than I did.

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