A fun drama with one flaw I had to overlook to rate it this high

(Spoilers regarding one character in Ep 8 specifically)

I went and watched it! It was as grand and ridiculous as I thought it would be: Amazing cinematography, epic music, great atmosphere, excellent acting, fun villains, a plot that is always moving forward in interesting ways, convenient solutions that know they're convenient, slow-mo shots that go on too long on purpose, constant murders, a badass pigeon, a FL that doesn't exist to be a love interest, and a cool Italian-speaking ML that is always one step ahead. It was an incredibly fun and bloody drama that heavily leaned into Mafia stereotypes that had jokes that made me lose my mind laughing. What's not to love?

Well, there's one thing.

Regarding Representation: Okay. The elephant in the room. The representation (Ep 8). Hwang Min Sung, CEO of Shinkwang Bank, is Gay. He has physically abused his exes in the past but wasn't punished because they were afraid of being outed. His character is very over-the-top but I had no problem with them leaning into that. It's the style of the show and all the characters are oddballs, villains and protagonists alike. That wasn't what I found problematic.

What I Did find problematic was Vincenzo's behavior. He has to pretend to be interested in Min Sung and reacts Very negatively to the prospect. The very idea of pretending to be interested in a man makes him shudder. And he freaks out multiple times while going on dates with him. He is not called out for this nor is it addressed in any way.

They did that for comedic purposes, which really upset me. That, and it doesn't even fit with the way his character normally is. Unless it's something that offends his "Italian sensibilities," he doesn't really care and will pretend and do whatever it takes. This tells us, the audience, that the writers really wanted to include this joke about his disgust/horror at pretending to be Gay.

In summary, we got a Gay SML here. But, we were treated to some problematic behavior on the part of our ML in regards to that SML. I'm disappointed. Not to mention, the jokes about any male affection continued from then on.

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There's toxicity. Nevertheless,

I started this without meaning to. I was just going to watch a couple minutes out of curiosity, probably forget about it, and move on to watch episode 8 of Romance is a Bonus Book. But, I watched the whole episode. Nine minutes somehow turned into over an hour.

It intrigued me. From the artistry, great lighting and camera work, really cool creations, just enough subtly, to the right amount of flirty.

They had me. I was short on time. Nevertheless, I started this drama.

And you know what? I don't regret it. While I ended up disliking one of the main characters, Na Bi, I was still able to enjoy this by rooting for who I did like and just observing the character as a person I didn't necessarily NEED to like or understand. I could just find her interesting at the very least.

I was rooting for both Na Bi and Jae Eon in the beginning. Unlike most people though, by the end of the drama I was there for Jae Eon, not Na Bi.

While Jae Eon is declared to be manipulative and toxic, the really toxic person was Na Bi. And the ending only solidified that for me.

So what did I love about this drama? I loved that it was very out-of-the-box and didn't tell a typical K-Drama romance story. I also loved the soundtrack, the side couples, the representation I wasn't expecting to get that was incorporated into this very popular drama alongside the main couple and treated as normal all the while, the physical art, the acting, Na Bi's backstory, and the metaphors surrounding Jae Eon.

You know what upset me with the reaction to this drama? The level of absolute hatred for Jae Eon while Na Bi got little to no criticism. She was either seen as the victim, someone who was just being too easy and going with the flow, or someone who was just a bit toxic.

I have to wonder: Did we watch the same ending? Did we hear the same internal monologues?

Because I have no idea how anyone can walk away from this still viewing Jae Eon as the "evil mastermind," or "monster" who simply got his hooks in the naïve Na Bi.

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The Good Not Great Drama

The Good Bad Mother: How true to its title. The mother in this drama is portrayed as having the best intentions for her son, wanting him to have power so as not to be hurt by others like she was. But while pushing him toward this goal, she indirectly and directly tells her son his life is not his own to live; he is being raised to fulfill a dream she couldn't.

Overall, I found this drama to be a genuinely healing experience. Through emotional gut punch after gut punch, this mother came to realize the full weight her abuse caused her son. When raising him, her intentional and painful choices were a gust of wind that would lead to a hurricane: The Butterfly Effect.

I am all for adults who have experienced abuse having the agency to decide how they move forward. Whether they attempt to heal that relationship with that parent (if it's even possible), keep them at arms-length, or cut them out of their life entirely. In this case, I could understand how Kang Ho found peace in maintaining a close relationship with his mother. For him, she understood what she did, and she had moments, even when he was younger, of her love getting across to him.

What ultimately held me back from rating this higher and embracing the message the drama was trying to convey was that I felt an in-depth, confrontational, and honest sit-down conversation with Kang Ho and his mother was sorely needed. Yes, she did apologize for many of her actions and express her regrets about how she raised her son, but, for me, I needed her to take 100% brutal accountability in person.

If you think humor would have no place in a story such as this, I don't think you'll enjoy watching this. I myself found many jokes out of place. Additionally, if you're not mentally in a place to handle watching scenes with parental abuse (including scenes where it is brushed aside or excused), I wouldn't recommend watching this. If you feel you can handle a topic like this and don't mind the mixing of serious with comedic, I think you'll find value in this.

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Perfection

This is one of only two dramas I've seen that made me feel unworthy of its greatness (the other being Stranger). That I needed to work to deserve watching it, which manifested in the form of my full rapt attention. Everyone is a mastermind, or, at least, close to a mastermind. Each main and side character is fully utilized, with not one person being forgotten or failing to play a key role at some point. The FLs aren't reduced to stereotypes, plot devices, or trophies to be won; they are portrayed as equals who are mentally strong and can fight as well as anyone. The bromance is a slow-burn epic. The dialogue is so well-written that I would not be surprised to know each scene was rewritten ten times so as to produce perfection, plant the seeds of things to come, and fill any plot hole the viewer could conceive of with their eager but small mind. This leads me to the point that I would be falling short of my duties as a reviewer not to stress: the incredible intelligence of not only the drama but each character and plot point. It is impossible not to root for everyone, if only briefly. The antagonists, protagonists, and morally grey characters are not minds you would dare imagine battling and are helpless but to admire. They point out flaws in their plans, consider each possibility with all the knowledge at their disposal, tactfully make allies, carefully plan not only their main and strongest course of action but multiple backup plans, and plot and plot some more.

Nirvana in Fire is truly one of a kind. I can safely say it is the best C-Drama I have seen (and, for now, the 10th best piece of Asian media I have seen. Yes, it has skyrocketed to 10th place on my Absolute Perfection list).

NIF can keep you in the dark without upsetting you or being nonsensical. It doesn't try to be something it's not or pull you in different directions, nor does it lay all the cards on the table for the viewer resulting in its characters appearing foolish and unable to see the bigger picture. From the start, there is a hint of a goal that slowly becomes revealed and then worked toward in the light, with added revelations and events only solidifying it and enriching and adding more scope. The viewer only needs the patience required to allow it to unfold as it will, attempt to guess what may happen if you can, but simply: give it the attention and respect it deserves.

By the end of watching this, you feel as though a massive weight has fallen from your shoulders. And it is a relief but also terrifying to feel so unburdened.

I cannot recommend this drama to you enough. I thank my lucky stars it was recommended to ME. Yes, it is 54 episodes, each averaging 45 minutes. But I promise you, it is worth it. The only valid question to answer is if you are a dialogue junkie. Because if not, this is most definitely not the drama for you.

Side Note: And, let us not forget, this is the sexiest of Sexy Brain dramas.

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Doesn't follow the typical easy drama format

(One minor spoiler regarding the couple)

I'm surprised by just how good this drama was. I thought it would be on the same level of ridiculousness as True Beauty but it's actually very real, sensible, mature, and genuine.

The ML is not like the typical cold and jerkish MLs who only later become "good" guys who are really still jackasses who don't apologize for their mistakes. He is nice to who he wants to be nice to and isn't to others. Simple. The rest of his "coldness" is just his sarcastic and dry humor he naturally has. He also doesn't fall for the traps set by the opposing FL like so many other MLs do. Not once. In fact, he catches the lies very easily and isn't fooled by crying or anything. That was so refreshing to see!

The misunderstandings between him and the FL are very few and are resolved quickly. He doesn't generally assume she had bad intentions or believe what others tell him about her outright.

Sometimes I got a bit annoyed with the FL but I understood why she still struggled with confidence issues and standing up for herself. And though she grew slowly I was proud of her journey.

The message is also incredibly well executed. We can diet to lose weight and get plastic surgery to "fix" our face but that won't necessarily make us confident or make everyone leave us alone/treat us as normal. In fact, it can bring more attention to us than before and cause new issues we never considered.

And there is nothing wrong with wanting to be skinnier or getting plastic surgery, just like there is nothing wrong with Not wanting to lose weight or Not getting plastic surgery. But understand that it won't make life perfect. It won't "fix" you. Your mindset is the biggest problem. And while you may be struggling with just being okay with yourself it isn't okay to push your insecurities onto others by rating their faces or judging them based on their looks.

Just a side note: There wasn't a kiss until the second to last episode and I didn't find myself caring one bit. I didn't even realize it until I finished the drama.

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Good but not a very satisfying ending

(Spoilers regarding the relationship)

This drama came along just at the right time in my life when I very much needed some comfort. For that, thank you, Record of Youth :)

This drama had the most wonderful, non-toxic, respectful, kind, and not-cold ML. For the majority of the drama his and the FL's relationship was beautifully communicative, healthy, fun, flirty, and understanding. They also had great chemistry together and had their own separate lives and goals apart from each other.

I wasn't truly mad about the break-up like I thought I would be. That probably had to do with how the drama wasn't solely focused on the romance. It was more slice-of-life with a slice of romance. Lol. Pardon my lame joke. That being said, I can understand why many reviewers and commenters were upset by it. I get it. I didn't like the break-up either. I think she should have held on.

Now, aside from the romance, I loved the side characters. Hae Hyo's story was very well done in particular. And the commentary on the difficulties right from the start of being born into a poor family versus having an advantage right from the beginning was hard-hitting. He started several feet in front of Hye Joon in the race of life. Of course it would be almost impossible for him to catch up or pass him when he lacks the support and resources he has.

I hate when those in power say "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." Easy for you to say. Sure, it's possible for someone from the poorest family in the poorest neighborhood going to the poorest school to become a millionaire someday. But, it's close to impossible. Possible, but close to impossible. And you can have all the talent and drive in the world but if you don't have connections it's almost impossible to get many jobs. They always ask if you know someone in the company/industry. And if you do you always have an edge over even the most hard-working candidate. It's sadly why the cycle of poverty continues. Generally, the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

Anyway, in conclusion, I found this drama very soothing as well as true-to-life a lot of the time.

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It had its flaws, but I loved it all the same (very minor spoilers)

Overall an enjoyable watch with real characters with real flaws, as the title says.

The crude humor can be a bit much at times but at a certain point in the drama they dispense with resorting to it. The rest of the time I was laughing or smiling hysterically. The jokes usually hit well, and I loved the "All by myself!" bit. In particular when any of the brothers were involved it was a good time. They played off of each other and the sister incredibly well.

I commend the actors for doing such a good job.

The FL was a bit hard to love at first. She was a fun character but was dense for quite a bit of the runtime. She kept assuming things and then getting pissed at people when she found out things weren't like she thought. It got annoying when all she had to do was ask/talk to people. However, she did have her own moral compass that she abided by (such as being protective of anyone who was Gay by making sure to not reveal their sexuality) and I grew to root for her in the end.

The ML himself was fun to watch. If you don't like childish ML's you won't enjoy him though. The SML on the other hand was incredibly difficult to root for in the slightest once his character was revealed. Yes, he did redeem himself later but I really don't like how they made him into a villain for so long. It just didn't work for me.

I must admit that the brothers stole the show often. They were all just the right amount of silly, arrogant, and/or sincere.

Finally, I would be remiss to not bring up the fantastic job this drama did at normalizing LGBT+ people. I really appreciated and liked how they had one of the brothers being Gay and working at a Gay bar be just another part of the story. It was the set for not just him but also just for his siblings and others to come by and tell their woes and other important parts of the plot to occur.

The Gay characters' stories were handled respectfully and not for the sake of laughs because of who they were but rather just the silly things they said/did. You know, like normal people. And not only that but they showed the different realities for them. Some have supportive parents but struggle because of their own self-hatred, others are completely comfortable with themselves but struggle because of their unsupportive parents and/or are worried about the judgement of everyone around them. Coming out was also treated with care and the idea of outing someone was judged by the characters as being horrible, as it should be.

This past year I got to witness a mainstream drama, Nevertheless, include a Lesbian Romance with one of their side couples and show how representation could be easily put into dramas and be well done if we were only so inclined and studios/companies took a chance. I'm happy to go back a couple years and find another drama, Love with Flaws, that in spite of being older managed to do (I would argue) an even better job.

For a good time, I will be coming back to this drama. And to cry, I will be coming back to this drama.

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Had potential to make a statement, but didn't have the guts to do it

The acting and music is great. And it does hit you with a lot of emotions. However, I was unable to sympathize with the FL after the threat she made and carried out. I couldn't see her in a positive light after that and that affected the rest of my experience with the movie constantly trying to get me to like her and feel for her and framing her as a good and sympathetic person. I just couldn't.

The actually in love couple (the two ML's) could have ended up easily and happily together if she had just done the right thing. And the ending we did get didn't satisfy or clarify anything. It's clear who Jon Wae was actually in love with. He said and constantly showed who he loved and valued more. See all the dates where he immediately went running to Dong Hwa afterward, etc, etc, etc.

I felt like this movie chickened out of the two ML's being together because of the year this was made in. I have no proof of this, I just suspect it. They couldn't actually have them clarified to be together, just the two of them, in the end because South Korean audiences wouldn't have been able to handle that. So, over half-way through the movie they made it a three-way relationship, but not really. And at the end they suggested that maybe all three were together in the end or just single and friends. This way things can be passed off as Jon Wae still having been in love with Ho Jeong (FL) the entire time and Dong Hwa (ML) was just an "experiment" that he wasn't serious about.

This wasn't like 3 Will Be Free which was a legitimate polyamorous relationship with a Bi ML at the center of it. Nowhere near its level. Not at all.

Basically, the movie should have ended about halfway through.

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A mixed bag that I enjoyed but you might not

Don't let my ratings fool you up above. I still have a lot of criticism.

The stories varied wildly, so I don't have much to say about the drama as a whole. Rather, I'm going to be talking about each of the different couples and their two episodes centered around them.

I like this concept for a drama with a lot of couples, and I was excited to see where it would go.

First Couple (Ep 1 & 2):

The first couple (Tue & Ake) started things off very well for this drama. Having just two episodes wasn't a problem in telling their story and the actors did a great job in developing believable chemistry. There were some plots holes about the Muay Thai boxing aspect, but I still enjoyed their episodes a lot. They make you forget about the plot holes and inconsistencies really.

I would rate them a 8.5/10, with the added .5 just because the tension was insanely palpable. I really enjoyed this couple.

Second Couple (Ep 3 & 4):

The second couple (Sun & Nuea) was a disappointment. At first, it seemed like there was some pretty good humor with their story and they had good chemistry. However, the direction the actors were given made some scenes annoying or just too cheesy. The second episode contained the majority of these problems along with Sun & Nuea acting very out of character by the end.

I would rate them a decent 7/10. I almost want to give them a 6.5/10 but I feel that would be a little too harsh as I still generally enjoyed my time watching them. Unfortunately, I would have to label this as the weakest couple in Y-Destiny.

I will say that Nuea is just a fashion icon who seems to be able to rock anything. My goodness! He is far too attractive for his own good.

Third Couple (Ep 5 & 6):

The third couple (Mon & Team) was pretty good. They were definitely better than the second couple. I found their cheesiness and shyness charming instead of cringey like I did for Sun & Nuea. Plus, their chemistry was much better. I thought they had believable chemistry, were cute together, and had a great kissing scene. I would call them the averagely good couple in Y-Destiny though.

I would rate them a 7.5/10-8/10. I think they deserve AT LEAST a 7/10 rating.

Fourth Couple (Ep 7 & 8):

The fourth couple (Pao & Thurs) was one of my favorites. I got emotionally attached to them and found both Pao and Thurs interesting and enjoyable on their own and together. We didn't get to see quite as much of their interaction as I would have liked in their first episode though, as the beginning didn't start with them right off the bat. However, this problem was easily and quickly resolved in their second episode with them having much more time together. I loved their chemistry and they were really sweet and funny together. It wasn't the masterpiece that is He's Coming to Me, but it was a very fun, charming, and emotional watch all the same.

Compared to the other couples I mentioned I would say they are leagues above the second and third couple for sure. And also the first couple, though with not as big a gap in quality/enjoyment.

They are definitely a 9/10 in my book. Definitely an 8.5/10.

Fifth Couple (Ep 9 & 10): Welcome to my Favorite Couple!

The fifth couple (Puth & Kaeng) was a huge surprise for me. I found myself adoring them and their unique story. I want them to have their own miniseries or something. Please! I don't want this ship to die yet!

Puth and Kaeng are THE most intriguing couple in Y-Destiny. Fight me. I realized that before I even saw the sixth and seventh couple. But, I knew it and called it early. And, I was right I felt so bad for Kaeng. He tried to change himself to make Puth interested in staying with him, even if it was only for sex. He just wanted to be around him, even if he couldn't date him. He must have caught feelings long ago but had been holding back his confession. And the fact that all he wanted before their "relationship" was about to end was for Puth to act like he loved him during their last night together just destroyed me.

My only criticism is that I wish we got to see a couple short scenes from Puth's point of view to see more how he felt about Kaeng. But, I was very happy with what I did get to see.

This was one of the most adult and intensely human stories we got to see in Y-Destiny (the other being the seventh couple). Loving someone so much that you will change/adapt yourself for them, no matter how it hurts. Seeing that pained me, in the best way possible.

Also, their chemistry and "scenes" are absolute fire! Good grief!

9.5/10. I'm not kidding. Damn this was so good.

Sixth Couple (Ep 11 & 12):

The sixth couple (Sat & Choke) was looking to be a favorite of mine. The fact that it was basically a remake of 13 Going on 30 had me intrigued from the start. And the first episode was very well done and didn't shy away from the more down-hearted/upsetting aspects of it's story. Especially regarding the lifestyle Sat realized he was living in the future and the toxic "friends" he had. Sat & Choke had great chemistry, maybe too great. Lol.

However, episode 12's plot twist of Choke already having a boyfriend was absolutely unnecessary and made his actions toward Sat seem really weird and not as sweet as they were before. I mean, what was with that kiss then?!

Other than that I also wanted to say that I liked their use of animation and I enjoyed the fact that English was incorporated. Also, the actor who played Sat did an amazing job capturing the behavior of a young boy in a grown-up's body, and Choke was insanely flirty, in the best way possible.

I WANT to give them a 8/10. But, because of the plot twist not making sense or working, I feel forced to give them a 7.5/10.

Seventh Couple (Ep 13 & 14):

The seventh couple, well really it's like two separate couples. There is Masuk & Tir, and Masuk & Jia. But, Masuk ends up with Jia so they're technically THE couple. I was continuously heartbroken in the best way possible during these episodes. Masuk & Tir's love story is truly tragic. I understood how Masuk would value Tir more than anyone else as he is the one he loves and therefore would want him to leave the theatre, but at the same time I understood how Tir was the type of person to do anything he could to help/save others because he has a lot of love for everyone and values their happiness above his own and therefore would stay to help the kid (who turned out to be Jia's nephew which was actually a pretty nice plot twist).

I liked how Jia wasn't trying to take advantage of Masuk's grief, but gave him all the time and respect in the world. He valued any affection Masuk felt he was able to give, respected that he would always love Tir and he would never/should never replace Tir, and was willing to wait for him to be comfortable.

Jia wasn't very present in the episodes, but that was the point. He was willing to leave space for Masuk to be with Tir. He was meant to be a patient, loving, and calming presence in Masuk's life. And, I felt they got that across very well.

I would rate episodes 13 & 14, and the combined couples and their story a 9.5/10.

Couples 5, 7, 4, and 1 were the ones I enjoyed the most, in that order. My least favorite couple was the 2nd one. Couples 6, 3, and 2 I still enjoyed. Just, not as much as the others.

As far as the final episode. I'm not going to lie: I thought it was major cringe for almost half of it and showed some of the couples' partners being controlling of their SO (which I was not happy to see). There were some cute scenes though and I liked the conclusion with each of them making a short speech. The last episode was basically filler, but at least I got to see a few scenes with some of my favorite couples that were pretty nice.

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It's Complicated . . .

I began watching this series many months ago. I got bored sometime around the first episode and forgot about it. Then, I watched a story video of RamKing on YouTube about a month ago. And I was intrigued. So, I looked up this series, remembered I had tried to watch it before, but decided to give it another shot anyway.

Bohn and Duen are fine, at first. Until Bohn decides to be insanely jealous if anyone other than Duen's close friends interacts with him. It's not healthy, and he does it 3 or more times. It gets annoying to see him repeat the same stupid mistake over again, learning nothing. Also, Bohn decides to pursue Duen, seemingly out of nowhere. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate them. I just didn't find their dynamic to be too terribly intriguing. Also, the whole joking about who's top/bottom got annoying fast.

Mek and Boss had the husband-wife name thing, but at least for them it felt more like nicknames they had for each other for a long time. So, it didn't come across as forced.

I'm not going to just say negative things about Bohn and Duen, don't worry. They do have some really cute moments, especially with the kids. This couple needs better communication skills though. So much conflict could be solved by a simple conversation right away and/or a quick apology.

Basically, the main reason to rewatch this (for me) is for RamKing. And secondly, for MekBoss (although that is heart-breaking for a very long time). Mek and Boss have a really touching relationship. I was moved by Mek's devotion for Boss. And Boss's loyalty as soon as they begin a real relationship.

It's difficult at first to get over the dubbing on Mek's voice at first, but it's worth it.

Ram and King had a lot more chemistry, no stereotyping, and they didn't have the "I don't like guys, I just like you." It was very real and exceeded my expectations of how natural an on-screen couple could be. The progression of their relationship was very smooth. And, unlike the main couple, King didn't pursue Ram out of nowhere. He found him strange, so he tried to talk to him, and then he became interested in him as a person. Eventually, he realizes he has feelings and only voices them at the very end of the show, finding them returned. Even though Ram doesn't talk much to King, or much to anyone in general, he conveys a great deal with his actions and the few words he does use. Also, I got a real kick out of him dragging King with him to eat to thank him. Lol. King helps him with his schoolwork, expecting nothing in return though, which was really sweet.

Also, the contrast and similarities between them are very interesting. King talks to his plants, is really smart and helpful, and is afraid of dogs. Ram is talented at boxing, has tattoos, loves dogs, and speaks very little out loud. He comes across as a deep-thinker who uses his words carefully to express himself. At the moment, I can't think of a relationship like theirs that I've seen before.

Personally, I'd first watch compilations/scenes of RamKing before I'd rewatch the series. My Engineer doesn't suck. It's just that the main couple taking up the majority of the screen-time doesn't hold my attention enough.

If I had to rate Ram and King's story, I'd give it a 10/10. But I really want a separate series with them! Please! Give it to me! Or, at least give me a second season of My Engineer that continues their relationship as a side couple. I just need them!

If I had to rate Mek and Boss's story, I'd give it a 9.5/10. Just because the husband-wife name was annoying for a bit. And Boss was a bit too unintentionally insensitive at times. Please don't recast Mek if you make another season! If you're going to do Mek and Boss again, you have to have the original actor! Or, just don't include them. He's too good to replace!

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Magic sorcery going on here!

I started it because of the possible Bi rep I was told about. I did NOT expect to walk away from it SO amazed by this short Thai drama.

I don't like sports. Like, at all. In real life I detest whenever football season comes around and fans around me lose their shit. In school I couldn't for the life of me understand the appeal. I found basketball, football, tennis, etc, etc, etc, to be absolutely boring and pointless. "How could you enjoy this crap?"

So, when an anti-sports person like myself falls in love with a drama centered around/about sports, volleyball, you know it has done a damn good job. Seriously, by the end of it I was cheering and stamping my feet like I was one of those fans in the bleachers rooting for my team. I just have to note that the music is energetic as hell and only made me even more passionate.

This was intense, badass, subtle (I'll get to that), and engaging. And the comradery and bond between the teammates was so satisfying to watch. It's a 9/10 overall and an added .5 for making me become engaged in a sport. Because, how did they do that? Lol.

Regarding representation, it was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Throughout the majority of the drama we get basically no clue as to Puen's sexuality (until near the end). He's focused on playing volleyball, and so are we. We don't think to stop and ask that question. We are given hints that Jern has feelings for him though. During one episode (6) she has a moment alone with him where they get talking about relationships. She asks him if he has a type and he says "All's okay." Then she proceeds to ask about height, weight, skin type, etc. And he just repeats what he said before. Then, she asks, "Girl or boy?" And he gives her the same simple smile, shrugs like it's as easy and inconsequential as the other questions she asked, and says "If it feels right, all's okay." So, Pansexual, not Bisexual. My jaw dropped from how easily and casually this was done.

This is a drama not centered around romance and yet they made the conscious decision to include this scene with these lines. They didn't have to do that, but they did it anyway. They included a Pansexual ML in a non-romance drama who doesn't have a kissing scene or a confirmed partner by the end. Am I happy? You bet I am!

Now, onto the subtlety I mentioned above. That would be Puen's feelings/potential romance. Because that is something where if you blink you miss it. So, don't blink! Whatever you do, don't blink! Blink and you're dead! If you get that reference I'll love you forever. Lol.

Singha and Puen are shown to be best friends who are incredibly close. Only during the last few episodes are we shown that, at least on Puen's part, there was something more there.

During Ep 7 there is a parallel shown between Jern's confession to Puen, she said her type was him, and a flashback scene with Puen and Singha where Puen seems to give a confession by saying, "You're the one whom I really wanna be with." Both of these characters make a confession that the other person doesn't understand because they don't see them as more than a friend. Like I said, if you weren't paying attention you wouldn't see this.

Then, during the finale we get a scene between Puen and Than that parallel's the scene I mentioned with Puen and Singha but specifically regarding their body language. Puen and Singha had been sitting on the court and when Singha leaned back a bit more their hands touched. Puen was the only one who acknowledged it. He looked down at their hands, back up at Singha, and then smiled and looked into the distance thoughtfully. During the finale, Puen and Than are sitting on the court and after talking they both lean back, smile at each other, and the angle widens to show their hands are quite close but not touching. Fade to black, roll credits, and the drama has ended.

Okay, enough of the parallels. Who do I think feels something for someone? Well, I think it's safe to safe Puen was in love with Singha, but it was one-sided. And, through many many subtle hints and moments from our main ML's and also from other characters, one specifically being Jern seeing Puen and Than interacting and her face/reaction being very telling and another being Singha's lines to Puen that felt very coded to put it lightly regarding Puen and Than's relationship, I think there is a romance brewing between Puen and Than. If we were to have a second season I would not be surprised if it would show they had just started dating.

Needless to say, there is a shit ton of subtlety regarding Puen's feelings/possible romance! And, I'm not even covering half of it really! I'd keep going with my observations but we'd be here forever. And, my wrists are starting to ache from typing. Lol.

So, in conclusion, this was fucking amazing. If you like romance and you don't mind extreme subtlety that keeps you on your toes, you'll like this. If you like dramas about strong friendships, you'll like this. If you like dramas about sports, you'll like this. Basically, just go watch this fucking drama and please come rant positively with me about how good it was and how you felt so amazing when you were able to put the pieces together from subtle moments! I have so much more I could say!

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The subtitles sucked but everything else was amazing!

What a silly premise! I had so much fun watching it. Right now, I'm rating this a 9.5/10. Though it could fluctuate from a 9/10 to a 10/10.

My only real criticism is that some jokes go on a little too long. But, there's generally a better joke made shortly after to make up for it. The many funny shenanigans that came as a result of the weird concept were truly a blast.

I grew to love this drama! They really show the importance food has with people as well how people can be devastatingly affected by loneliness/being alone. And not just that but what it's like to try and overcome something often debilitating due to past trauma. You can't suddenly get yourself to eat alone within a week. You may make progress one day and be right back where you started, or worse off, the next day. What matters is that you try. And you don't beat yourself up for failing.

Also, Diew is just a ray of sunshine, even without including his yellow clothes. His smile is addictive and his personality is warm and welcoming. And Mix is simply incredibly attentive, caring, and sweet.

I saw many in the comments section argue that this isn't Bl/doesn't have a "Gay Romance." It absolutely does. Now, if you ignore the constant quiet flirting, easy chemistry, deep connection, and sometimes obvious lines you may walk away from this with the impression that this was only baiting people and this was a story with simply straights. But, you would be wrong.

This drama was everything for me, and then some. It was wholesome, sweet, had amazing cooking shots and camerawork, symbolism through key colors, and an intense amount of subtlety in regards to romance (which I am a big big fan of).

To put it in one word, this drama was: Wonderful!

Regarding representation: I'm just going to say it. I think Diew is Pan. No, every part of my being screams he's Pan. I know my gut feeling is right with this. Though, I have no evidence for this other than that he seems to have great chemistry with everyone he meets (whether it may be something leaning more toward romantic, or just friendship). I could go into more detail, but we'd be here all day. In my opinion if there was EVER queer coding THIS is queer coding.

Side Note: The subtitles do get screwed up a lot in the later episodes, so that is something to keep in mind if you decide to watch it.

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Gritty Realism

This was an epic cinematic blast of a drama. I'm going to recommend this to everyone I know, whether they watch Asian dramas or not! If they like action, I'm forcing their ass down on the couch next to me and prying their eyelids open with my fingers. So what if it has subtitles? You will fucking love it!

I loved how realistic they took this. They didn't make her unbelievably badass, completely cold, or even fully determined right away. She quickly wants to get revenge but doesn't process exactly what that means. And she's also scared. But bit by bit, in just the first episode, she builds some courage.

In particular, I found the training and fight scenes well done as Yoon Ji Woo is shown to have weaknesses in that she is not as large or muscular as the other men, but she has grit, a bit of talent, and she's not afraid to hurt others and understands what it will cost her.

This was one of the best strong female leads I've seen.

I highly highly recommend watching this if you haven't already.

How I wish I could watch this on a massive theater screen *sigh*

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A mixed bag but a pretty enjoyable mixed bag

Almost every episode was touching in some way and often addressed topics not generally talked about or shown in dramas. Of course, there were episodes far better than others and all the episodes had their own problems that were either entirely obvious or just a bit noticeable.

If you were to ask me which ones you can skip?
-Honestly, it would probably just be Ep 7. I found the others beautiful in one way or another and was very glad to have seen them, and I rewatched them. I doubt I will for Ep 7 though as it was really just okay and the plot didn't feel new or highly emotional.

Which ones are a must watch?
-That's kind of tough. If you forced me to pick, I would say Ep 1, Ep 4, Ep 6, and Ep 2. It's really hard not to pick Ep 3 or Ep 5 as well though. Ep 3 is a difficult pill to swallow though which is why I wouldn't recommend it for most people. Ep 5 was basically on par with Ep 2 but didn't tackle the important subjects it did, but it had much more heart and realness than I expected it to.

Really, this is the kind of drama where you can pick which stories appeal to you the most. There are some characters that appear later in other episodes but there isn't really a running thread. The episodes that are the most connected and will leave you missing a part of the story if you skip either of them are Ep 1 and Ep 4. I'd say give at least one or two episodes a shot, I'm sure there's at least one you'll really like.

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