What. A. Letdown

QOT had the potential to be a heart-wrenching exploration of fading love in marriages but instead it gives you bland nothing but a frustrating mess.
Sure, the initial premise was intriguing. A couple from opposite worlds, Haein with her messy family dynamic burdened by family issues and Hyunwoo a seemingly picture-perfect handsome guy from a humble family falling in love despite their differences? This is what I signed up for. From the promos, the show even promised to delve into the complexities of their unraveling marriage.

But here's where things go south. Haein who was surprisingly honest about her family baggage from the get-go during the proposal, gets painted as the villain in her own marriage. We see her blaming herself for the miscarriage, a wound the show never bothers to properly explore. Its there solely for the shock value, just another trope for the writer to add to the list. How can you leave something as important as this, which apparently caused Hyunwoo to be withdraw from the marriage open to interpretation? If this was the main reason, why wasn’t it discussed between the couple? Major Ick.
The initial portrayal of Haein as a cold, workaholic CEO immediately positions viewers on Hyun-woo's side in their contentious divorce. Yet, the series never fully shows us the nuances of a complex character like Haein. After bombarding us with many reasons why Hyunwoo wants to end the marriage, these motivations are inexplicably dropped. The narrative then shifts gears, showing Hyunwoo seemingly forgetting his initial animosity and falling back in love just like that. This was so frustrating. Why establish these compelling reasons for the divorce only to completely abandon them later? This emotional whiplash left me dizzy.

The show never bothers to address the root of their problems. We never get that crucial conversation, that heart-to-heart where they dissect what went wrong. We never get them discussing their insecurity or even the miscarriage.
The only saving grace is the phenomenal acting by Kim Soohyun and Kim Jiwon. Their performances are the sole reason this drama doesn't completely sink. But even their talent can't salvage a story that abandons its own premise.

I believe unconventional love stories can be powerful. But without proper exploration of the conflict, it feels like a missed opportunity. QOT had the potential for greatness, something people remember by for years to come, hailed as one of the top kdramas ever made, but the execution left me wanting more. It's a show that relies solely on its cast's charm, ultimately failing to deliver on the promise of a unique and thought-provoking drama.
While I don’t regret watching it, there are far better K-dramas out there exploring love and relationships with more depth. This one, sadly, remains stuck in a melodramatic telenovela past.

Leia Mais

Okay so I have watched a lot of bl series. Maybe not all of them obsessively but more or less all the popular ones. My first bl series was History : Trapped and right after I started watching TharnType while it was airing.
So needless to say my expectations were really high. History Trapped sets a standard and TharnType was my first thai bl I didn't know what to expect.
Lets start with acting. Gulf in the first few episodes looked a bit uncomfortable and his acting was a bit cringe and overdramatic. Gradually that decreased and in the last few episodes his acting was organic and raw. Mew is amazing and has been from the start. Mild is the funniest and has a great comic timing.
But the first episode man. I just can't get over how they portrayed it or how it was. It was sexual assualt. But after that as I've read the novel Type is pretty much horny for Tharn and doesn't know how to deal with his sexuality. I think the fact that Gulf was interested even after being 'homophobic' wasn't really clear in the episodes after the first one. So that obviously came out that Type didn't consent but in reality in his mind he did.
The songs, the acoustic versions, the lyrics are all phenomenal. Overall in the end, I enjoyed TharnType the series and do hope they get a second season.

Leia Mais

Half-done love stories that leaves you yearning for more

Lovestruck in the City is a promising concept with uneven execution. The docu-style format feels fresh, following six interconnected unique souls, navigating the complexities of love and life. While the show strives to be different, it leaves you wanting more. The narrative stumbles when it comes to giving equal weight to the characters. The main couple, Jaewon and Eunoh, get a satisfying arc while the others get sidelined.

Rin-i and Kyungjun had so much potential! A seemingly solid and dynamic couple, then the series throws a fight scene at us and expects us to believe this is the end of a years-long relationship? It felt rushed, uncovering none of the complexities of a long-term relationship. We never get to see them grow, navigate real conflicts or even understand their motivations. It's a wasted opportunity. Instead, the series throws their story as well as the characters away, serving a rushed breakup on our platter.

Rin-i especially comes across as selfish. Did Rini ever truly care? They could’ve delved into Rini's motivations, the driving force behind her uncaring, immature, free-spirit nature. Kyungjun remains hopelessly in love, just like in the beginning. Was kyeongjun’s devotion genuine love or a desperate need for stability? We deserved to see them evolve, not just stay stagnant characters.

I love that Sunyoung bravely confronted her commitment issues. Geon, the ever-patient lover, finally acknowledges his doormat tendencies which was satisfying. Jaewon and Eunoh also get their well-deserved happily ever after.

While the series ends up being an imperfect exploration of modern love, it truly shines in its intimate moments. Their portrayal of physical affection is natural, free from unnecessary theatrics and awkward movements. Intimate scenes which are well shot can truly elevate a drama. Thankfully, the director didn’t shy away from utilising Ji Changwook and Kim Jiwon’s passionate chemistry. The slow burn is perfectly paced because of the short length of the series. It never drags and is surprisingly engaging.

All in all, it's a fun series with a dynamic approach you can watch on your free time.

Leia Mais