Choco Milk Shake (2022)

A rollercoaster that you want to write again and again

This is my first review of a drama I've seen. I have tbh, I'm usually too busy/lazy to take the time to do it. BUT... I'll make an exception for this one. Because the actors, producers and screenwriters should get some credits for this too.

Vibe:
I "briefly" dipped into the first episode and, after five hours of binge-watching, found myself completely emotionally overwhelmed on the couch with tissues and a glass of wine. And a big smile on my face.
This drama is a roller coaster of emotions. The episodes are quite short (around 15 minutes) and I cried, laughed, cringed, and felt second hand embarrassed in EVERY episode.
The chemistry between the actors was great (all four of them).

Actors:
It's a mystery to me how to "play" a cat and a dog, but if two can pull it off then definitely Seonghyuk (Milk) and Jaebin (Choco). Jaebin was such an adorable "doghuman", he played it very well and made me feel that he actually was a dog but in human form. Seonghyuk (despite being incredibly handsome *sigh*) managed to show a "typical" cat behavior without being weird.
Kudos to both.
Hojung (Jungwoo, the owner) was also very good. He embodied the character very pleasantly and managed to give the viewer the feeling that he treasured both of them equally. Seungbin (his boss) played his part of a cafe owner that is struggling but does not try to show it very well.

Plot:
I thought the idea was really good, so I started the drama. I found episodes 10 + 11 a bit rushed but that's unfortunately often the case in KDramas (BL) since you would have much more plot for a full drama but the production is usually shortened to a few.
But beware: Episode 10 you will only survive with at least three packs of tissues.

Entertainment value:
Fantastic. As I said I binged the drama straight away and loved every minute of it. I miss the four already (and it's not 24h ago that I finished it). Some reviews say that the audience cried endlessly in the drama.
YES, that is true. But somehow the balance was right. I did ball my eyes out every episode, but a minute later I smiled like an idiot. It never felt incredibly sad, it had sad moments that fit at that point but not ten episodes of despair ;-)

Rewatch?
YES. Even though you know the end of the drama now, it's just nice to see the story over and over again.

Notes:
For a Korean BL, the actors are VERY relaxed with each other during the kissing scenes. Not just one little kiss, but two uncharacteristically intimate kisses.

I hope this helped a little. I highly recommend everyone to see it. It was truly one of the best BL's I've seen in years!

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One of My Favorites!!

Story: This became one of my favorite bls and dramas in general! Even though it was short, I thought each episode was well done with plenty of romance and comedy.

Acting/Cast: The casting was perfect! Both Choco and Milk perfectly embodied a dog and cat and all four actors did their parts justice. It’s also surprising that this is the first acting experience for all of them, besides Go Hojung being in one other series prior.

Music: I loved the music in each episode, including the cutest song at the end with each actor singing. :)

Rewatch Value: 10/10 will watch this again and again!!!

Overall: I looooved it and thought it was super adorable! I’m hoping there is a second season and/or even movie!

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my heart

Look at me actually doing a review. This show really pulled on a lot of heartstrings, and it almost got me in the last two episodes. But it didn't, and I am still stronger than a Korean drama. Was I confused? Yes, very, but I came around. I found this on YouTube on my recommendation, and I saw three men in bed together, so I was like, "Why not?" READ THE DESCRIPTION. I was thrown for so many loops, but they were mostly good ones. The story was interesting; it had a lot of deeper meanings and lessons, but some of it was actually so confusing. It was not even funny. The acting was actually so good. Especially the people who played milk and choco, they gave what needed to be given. I loved this a lot. The music, besides the sad parts, wasn't that good and gave me a headache. I would definitely rewatch this for the smiles and laughs. It was good; I liked it. I feel like Jung Woo learned that it's okay to let go, even when they are close to you. So that was deep. Choco has my heart with that puppy dog face; oh my god, it was so cute. banger. Okay, let me see what the overall is. It got an 8.75. really great one.

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Fluffy and Cute

The series is funny and cute. It does have a good cast with some good chemistry and a nice story to tell. The cast is good at playing around as their counterpart a dog and cat. There are some sweet tender moments and a few funny moments that you find yourself laughing or thinking it sweet. The down part of the series is the short time of 15 min each episode which does not allow to help develop a storyline to answer a lot of the unanswered questions. The ending was very confusing and left you trying to figure out the real back story as to how they keep coming back and why did the cat and dog got to be human for that time period. I needed more explanation. I did enjoy the cute two pairings.

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Interesting general plot but Lacking in Execution

I like the general premise of “Choco Milk Shake”. A cat and a dog came back as humans to help their former owner heal from loneliness, have closure and pursue happiness. However, the execution is a little lacking. The pacing of this very short drama is slow, and I am not sure if it’s because I watch this after a long day of work. But I fell asleep watching the first half because there’s a lot of silence and pauses. If the director is aiming for beautiful aesthetics and setting a mood, then they forget about adding some substance to the scenes. What is up with the empty Royal Saloon until the last couple episodes?

The overall acting is pretty good especially since this is the first drama for 3 out of the 4 main leads. Choco and Milk portray the mannerisms of a dog and cat well. Jung Woo and Uncle are OK as well. If I have to pick, I believe Milk might be the better of the bunch (I also think he’s the cutest one).

I am not a pet owner, so I have some trouble believing in the main romance between Choco and Jung Woo. I am under the impression that Choco loves Jung Woo unconditionally as a pet towards its owner. Is that love between two adult humans? I am not sure. I have an especially hard time believing Jung Woo would fall in love with his pet dog which he has raised from young. Is he in love with Choco as two adults, or as a pet owner? The drama does try to show us some cute scenes, some petting and Choco following Jung Woo around (like a puppy). But their interaction is not enough for me to believe in this romance.

On the other hand, it’s easier to root for Uncle and Milk. They do seem like two adults liking each other. The chemistry is a lot better despite not having better romance plot development. I would have liked to see more interaction between the two before they get drunk together. Nevertheless, I enjoy seeing Milk fighting the attraction and yet couldn’t help himself with the look Uncle gives him. If there’s a side story, I want one for Milk and Uncle.


Completed: 1/11/2023

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Tive preconceito, mas acabei quebrando a cara

Preciso confessar que comecei a ver com um certo receio, essa história de bicho virando gente sempre me cheira a final triste, principalmente por saber que quem abriu as portas pra esse plot foi "The miracle Teddy bear". Uma história assim, pra ser boa tem que ter um excelente roteiro e direção, e apesar de saber que a Coréia geralmente não decepciona, o fato dele ter poucos e curtos eps dá um certo receio de que a história não se desenvolva bem.

Enfim, quebrei a cara e amei a série! Primeiro, pq afora o cuidado que eles tiveram, de ir além dos 8 eps tradicionais (foram 10 eps, 1 ep especial com um final feliz, e o melhor de todos, um ep curtinho explicando o motivo pq eles vieram encarnados como humanos, esse último eu achei o máximo, pois acabou com todos os possíveis questionamentos, totalizando 12 eps)

O plot apesar de diferente é super leve. Tem um certo drama, mas nada que nos leve às lágrimas, e também tem um dose moderada de humor.

Os atores realmente combinam com os personagens e o ep 11 é de cortar o coração, pois até então não sabíamos que teria um especial com final feliz. Os aspectos técnicos estão todos perfeitos, atuação excelente, ost, fotografia, cenários, tudo se encaixa dentro da temática e eles conseguiram de fato emocionar! Com certeza recomendo!

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This mini drama surprised me and held me with iron bonds

NOTE: I always do a short summary and then I put everything I think, for you who are too lazy to read very long reviews hahaha.

So short, but so impactful. I think this is the phrase that most defines CMS in my opinion.
In a nutshell I can say that I liked the performances, especially Milk's, - who masterfully showed every behavior of a cat, I loved it too much - I liked the soundtrack, which fits well with the scenes and the characters, I liked the chemistry, I liked the aesthetics and about the script.... well then the thing gets more complex - if you want to know more read the review until the end - but as it is a summary I can say that it is totally acceptable if you get into the wave of the series and understand the genre of the program you are watching, along with what the series wants to deliver. Because in the end it is not about what you want to see, but what the series has always been willing to deliver and in this regard Choco Milk Shake does not fail. I RECOMMEND watching for those who like the genre.

Now the full review:
1 ° we start with the script. I saw many people criticizing the novel, that it was okay for Milk to fall in love with Jung Woo's uncle, but that it was terrible for Choco and him to fall in love. Come on, for me any romantic interaction between humans or guardians and animals is a problem, but here in this series we have a break of worlds. They are no longer just a cat and a dog but two human beings who in a past life were animals and therefore, now in human bodies, still have old ways and customs. They return with the purpose of cheering up their former guardian, since he is lonely and obviously Choco feels this connection more because he has always been devoted to Jung Woo. Now as a HUMAN he has sensations and thoughts that before as a dog he didn't have and his devotion has turned into love. Is this fanciful and unlikely? OBVIOUS, but it is the genre you chose to watch. Many are saying, "It would be better if it didn't have the romance", but you chose a romance series, that's what it proposed. You knew about the theme and you knew about the romance. The series is not bad just because of that.
The script is complete and manages to develop the characters - as far as possible, because of the time limit - in a way that we start to care about them and instigate us to want to know how they will solve the problems and what they are feeling in the process.

2° Some pertinent points:
The characterization of the animal-human transition is very well done and so is the whole dramatic story about losing a pet. Anyone who didn't cry at the end or at least feel their chest tighten is a psychopath, honestly. Because the build up of Jung Woo's pain and the way they portray the bond Choco and Milk still feel, is heartbreaking. Especially when they have a time limit to stay on earth.

I don't agree with most and I like Choco with Jung Woo because I can separate Choco who was an animal and Choco who came back with human thoughts and sensations - it allows him to have feelings that a dog wouldn't have. But I have to agree that Milk and Uncle make a much better couple. Not only better constructed, but also because they are comical and just fit together. Even their ending is cuter. I'm Milk's little dog, so I'm easily influenced.

3rd and last. I liked the ending, I think the 10th episode exposes reality and makes us think about thousands of sad things about overcoming and understanding that limits exist. That things end and that everyone is gone, that we have an "expiration date" and the like. But we are seeing a work of romance and fiction, which still touches on fantasy, so the 11th episode was a more than welcome addition. I like this overlap that dramas do. To bring the worst to the end to give a happy ending and if you believe that the ending should be in episode 10, fine, pretend that the last one didn't exist. Like the last season of GOT hahaha. When Choco left it touched parts of my heart that I wasn't prepared for, I can't imagine losing my dogs and it brought up a very real fear in my daily life. That's why I cried a lot. But the series shows another side too, it shows that they were always there, that they were fine despite having passed away, always by Jung Woo's side, listening to him and trying to know if he was okay. Aff, I'm crying just remembering to write this hahaha.

I appreciate that they let Choco come back because Jung Woo needed his buddy back and vice versa. As for Milk... The world needed him back, because he's too perfect and Uncle needed him too, because let's agree that he was a pretty lonely man too, who didn't seem to care about almost anything besides his nephew and the restaurant. At least with Milk he got a love and a private taster for the rest of his days on earth.
Could you tell I loved the mini drama? Well, it was very obvious right. I understand who has criticisms, but I don't agree with any of them, as a good lunatic fan. I recommend the series a million times and prepare your tissues - I'm serious.

If you liked this review, I invite you to read my other reviews here. I always update my account, every time I watch something new. You can help me by liking and following me here on MyDramaList.
I thank you for reading this far <3

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This could have been so much better

This show must be really glad for the hype, because if it wasn’t there then it would easily flop. The story has a good base/foundation but was ruined by the lack of building and a step in the wrong direction. The main issue is the fact of adding a romance between the dog and the owner, that was in no way, shape or form necessary and in result ruined the potential this type of story has. The depiction of the likeness of a dog and a cat well done though I must say, especially the cat. While watching I tried my best to give a benefit of the doubt each time I was the story heading in a wrong direction. What made this show even 100x worse is that they missed the opportunity of doing some damage control in the ending like adding a crazy plot twist that was explain all the weirdness, but instead they dived in the romances and even made them come back in the end?? the only thing worse than the entire show is the ending by itself.

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THE ENDING THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT

'Choco Milk Shake' isn't what I expected it to be. I thought for real that this is a comedy-romance series. When it comes to stories with familial bonds, the soft spot in me goes active. The fantasy of his longing to his beloved pets which comes to life as a human is the next level of wits and uniqueness. I was heavily hit by the crashing waves of the ocean of emotions from the early episodes up until episode 10 that the main characters have experienced. The ending (entire episode 11) is somewhat the same usual endings I see from other series. I was hoping for something semi-realistic that is bound to happen. If you watched 'The Miracle of Teddy Bear", a 2022 Thai fantasy BL series, you would understand what I mean.

Who chose the casts? You're the man! 'Choco Milk Shake' is the pioneer series of the three main leads (Jae Bin, Hyeong Suk, Seung Bin) and the second series of Ho Jung. From observing their acting with 100% emotional and gesture accuracy, I could say that they are now ready to keep up with the professional popular actors. I'm not fond of cats but Seong Hyuk's acting makes me want to have a cat. Can I also have a dog like Jae Bin? Just kidding. The chemistry of both couples is quite good too.

I am also loving the music and instruments played.

This series is only a two and a half hour long. THIS IS A MUST-WATCH!

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Like:
+ It starts fluffy and funny!
+ I fell for Milk the second I saw him. u.u Kim Seong Hyuks acting stole my heart. x.x Wanna see more of his work!
+ It's really easy to tell at first sight who is the dog and who is the cat. The actor did a really good job portraying the pets behavior.
+ The chemistry between Milk and Uncle is fiiiiire. I loved their scenes together!

Dislike:
- Tbh I found the story between Jungwoo and Choco a bit boring. I couldn't bring myself to like Choco.. I am just someone who likes people like Milk more than someone like Choco. So this whole being that clingy and affectionated didn't catch my sympathy. I just waited the whole time to see more of Milk. x:
- The story is a bit flat. Especially towards the end it feels so dragged. I don't really have a problem that they don't explain how the whole coming-back-thing works, but it would have been indeed interesting.
- I don't know what to think about season 2. I'm happy to see more of their work, but actually I just wanna see Milk and Uncle looking at each other lmao.

Overall I don't regret watching it. It's short, fun and I am absolutely not sorry for being mad in love with Milk. :')) I can agree on other people's opinion about the production, the flaws and I am also a bit unsure what to think about the preview for season 2, but I'll just give it a try. :>

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