Image: Google

Title: To My Star

Director: Hwang Da Seul

Scriptwriter: Park Young

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Youth

Stars: Son Woo Hyun, Kim Sang Min, Ko Jae Hyun, Jeon Jae Yeong, Kim Jin Kwon, Han Ji Won

Watched on WeTV

Actor Kang Seo Joon was once one of South Korea’s biggest and most popular stars, but his career is now in decline. Despite his fall in popularity, he believes he has had a change of fortune when he meets and falls for a dashing young chef named Han Ji Woo.

Despite having wildly different personalities, the two enter a relationship. However, their love comes under threat when the more conservative Han Ji Woo and the free-spirited Kang Seo Joon realize that their outlooks on life, love, and everything else appears irrevocably different.

***

Honestly, I don't remember how I found this series. But, since I still want to watch a BL drama, I decided to find a good recommendation for it. Then, it turned out To My Star is one of the best.

The story

To My Stars tells the story of Kang Seo Jun, an actor with a declining career because of some misunderstanding rumours. In order to avoid the press' attention, Seo Jun's agency asked him to stay low and move to Han Ji Woo's place. Well, to be exact. Ji Woo, a young and talented chef, rented a room from Seo Jun's boss. Therefore, it's effortless for Seo Jun to stay at Ji Woo's place.

Both of them have very different personalities. Ji Woo is a quiet type, meanwhile, Seo Jun has the very opposite personality. At first, I don't know how their story would be developed, but, how Seojun is being honest toward Ji Woo and how Ji Woo gives special attention to Seojun, is enough to make me melt.

What I really like

One thing I remember for sure is how this series didn't make me cringe. I still remember how I really struggled when watching Cherry Winter After Blossoms. Yes, I am aware that the setting is different. But, To My Star is way better than CBAW. Seo Jun and Ji Woo's chemistry is built little by little. It just makes my heart warm watching it. 

Then, I loved how Ji Woo started to care for Seo Jun. He knows how Seo Jun still got trauma from his past. The way Ji Woo knows how to make Ji Woo calm. I love their intimate relations on this.

In my opinion. this mini-series definitely need a continuation story--and I am glad they have released the second season. I would do a separate review for it.

Conclusion

To My Star is a very good BL story. Even though it looked so simple, this mini-series definitely deserved more and more love. 

7.5 out of 10 stars

Sincerely,

Ra

Image: WeTV

Title: Cherry Blossoms After Winter

Director: Yoon Joon Ho

Genres: Romance, Youth, Drama

Number of Episodes: 8 episodes

Watched on WeTV

The death of his parents forces a seven-year-old boy named Seo Hae Bom to move in with an adoptive family who have a young son of the same age named Jo Tae Seong. Seo Hae Bom is in awe of Jo Tae Seong – he considers the boy to be everything that he is not: tall, handsome, popular, caring, and worthy of love and attention. The diminutive Seo Hae Bom thinks himself inferior and is humbled by the kindness of the family that took him in. Things become slightly different for the duo, however, after Seo Hae Bom and Jo Tae Seong end up in the same high school class. All of a sudden, they are spending more time than ever together at home and at school. An unexpected romantic spark ignites between the two – but what will Cupid have to say about all this?

***

I found Cherry Blossoms After Winter, a BL miniseries on WeTV. This mini-series, in my opinion, is perfect if you're looking for a fluffy romantic story. The series followed Hae Bom (Ok Jin Uk), who has been residing at Jo Tae Seong's (Kang Hui) house since his parents passed away. As a humble person, Hae Bom tried not to take the kindness of the Tae Seong family for granted, especially Tae Song's mother, Ha Eun Sun (Lee Hyun Kung). As a result, after Hae Bom graduates from high school, he plans to move out.

Jo Tae Seong is a typical main male protagonist. He is tall, attractive, intelligent, well-liked, compassionate, and deserving of love and care. Tae Seong decides to get closer to Hae Bom after learning of his plans to leave his house. After all, he had never thought of Hae Bom as a brother or a friend. Tae Seong has a feeling to Hae Bom for quite some time

My Thought

This miniseries is based on a webtoon of the same name. Because this is a short series, it's natural to compress the plot into only 8 episodes. The plot is not particularly complicated. The central conflict of the series concerns how Hae Bom and Tae Seong resolved their misunderstanding their coming-out to Mrs. Ha. Nevertheless, Haebom does not want to let her down.

This miniseries is an okay drama in my opinion. I can't think of a single likeable character that I adore. When I originally saw the first episode, I thought Hae Boom appeared to be extremely awkward. It's difficult to imagine their romantic side because they appear like Hyung and Dongsaeng.

Because I also read the webtoon, the story has been shortened because there are so many plot lines that need to be cut. I'm not sure if there will be a second season, but I believe their college years will be more meaningful because there will be so many conflicts.

Nonetheless, I admire Tae Seong's efforts to justify his feelings for Hae Bom. It's one of my personal favorites. Apart from that, I'd like to point out that Jin Ah (Johyun) and Yong Hee (Cha Gun) are two other great friends in the BL universe.

Conclusion

CBAW is a really light and fluffy BL story that you can watch. However, please be cautious of the level of cringiness here.

5.5 out of 10 stars

Sincerely

Ra

Image: KissManga

Original title: Kieta Hatsukoi

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Shogo Kusano Tadaaki Horai

Scriptwriter: Aruko, Wataru Hinekure, Tsutomo Kuroiwa

Stars: Michieda Shunsuke, Ren Meguro, Riko Fukumoto, Jin Suzuki

Watching on Netflix

Aoki has a crush on Hashimoto, the girl in the seat next to him in class. But he despairs when he borrows her eraser and sees she’s written the name of another boy—Ida—on it. To make matters more confusing, Ida sees Aoki holding that very eraser and thinks Aoki has a crush on him!

Well, I think this is the first time I watch BL series. Once again, I got the recommendation from Mbak Dewi. My Love Mix-Up! is definitely a very cute and sweet BL story. You should watch it on your own.

The misunderstanding

One day, there is an exam on Aoki's class. Being a careless guy as he is, Aoki forget to bring his eraser. Then, he asked his best-friend, Aida--Akkun, but he only has one and scold Aoki for being forgetful. Luckily, there is Hashimoto, a girl who Aoki likes, that willing to lend her eraser to Aoki. Of course Aoki feel so happy and relieve about it. 

While waiting the questions sheet being circulated, Aoki noticed there's a written text on the eraser. It's "Ida ♡ "! Aoki was shocked because of it. So, does Hashimoto has a feeling for Ida, the guy who sits in front of Aoki? Then, the drama still linger on Aoki because when Ida gives the question sheet to Aoki, he accidentally make the eraser fall and ofc he saw the name. Yeah, that's the beginning of the misunderstanding that will lead to more sweet story later on.

The sweet couple

Ida is a typical a cool guy that calm and couldn't express his feeling freely. At the other side, Aoki has a really bright personality. He is also very honest. Seems like they will make a good couple, right?

In my opinion, My Love Mix-Up! has a really good storyline. There is no rush at all. Since I also read the manga, I understand about a lot of adjustments in the series. Ida is like an unreal guy that only exists on fiction life. I really appreciate his understanding towards Aoki. His attitude made me melting to some extent. I mean, when Aoki feel so helpless, Ida will assure him that Aoki could tell him everything. He also understands instantly when there is something that troubled Aoki.

Istg that they are a really sweet and cute couple. I don't think I have prepared my heart enough to watch their fluffy relationship.

Other than that, there's also the story of Hashimoto and Aida's relationship. Even tough there won't be much explained, but their relationship has a sweet side too. At least, that's what I know from the manga.

Conclusion

I just don't want the story to be over, please :( Well, the drama is end perfectly well... but I still thirst of their story. Therefore, I decided to also read the manga. Anyway, they are still cute there. Then, I should give props for the production crew because the appearance of each character is so similar to the manga character. Just love it. 

So 8.5 out of 10 stars from me.

Sincerely,

Ra

Image: themoviedb.org

Title: Blue Birthday

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Thriller

Director: Park Dan-hee

Scriptwriter: Goo So-Yeon, Moon Won-young

Cast: Kim Ye-rim, Yang Hong-seok, Lee Sang Jun

Number of episodes: 16 episodes

Watching on WeTV

• A fantasy romance drama that goes back and forth between the past and the present through her first love that she lost to suicide on her birthday 10 years ago, and the mysterious photos that he left behind.

I watched this mini-series because of Mbak Dewi's recommendation. It's simple. I just wanna watch a really light series. Then, here is me, watching Blue Birthday. Hmm, perhaps this is the first time I've seen a Korean mini-series.

The blue birthday

The plot begins when Oh Ha-rin discovers that her best friend, Ji Seo-jun, has died on her birthday. He died, ironically, in the photography club room. It's a traumatic event for Ha-rin that she won't be able to forget for a long time. Even ten years have passed.

Ha-rin went to an old photo-printing shop one day. She knew Seo-jun used to print his photos in that shop. Well, actually she accidentally saw Seo-jun's old film camera. As a result, she decided to retrieve the photo that had been left by Seo-jun at that shop.

When Ha-rin returned home, she realized that all of the photos taken by Seo-jun evoked a particularly painful memory. Ha-rin burned one of the photos without much thought. Then, when she wakes up, she is transported back in time. When Ha-rin realized what had happened, she tried her hardest to fix everything, including bringing Seo-jun back to life as best she could.

But, just like with what other's side, playing with time won't bring any good things. There are always consequences and prices that they have to pay.

What I like

This mini-series has piqued my interest from the start because it is about more than just love. The thriller aspect of this mini-series is captivating. I have assumed the entire series would have a twist. To be honest, I wasn't expecting the double, or possibly triple, twist that they provided in this mini-series.

Some of the twists that I didn't expect at all are, the fact that Seo-jun actually knows how to come back to the past and the actual culprit for Seo-jun's death. I really didn't expect that all. So, I was surprised when watching it. 

At first, I wanna complain about the unclarity of the time-travel's rule, but then, if you pay attention to every rule before credit, you will find out which one you can do and don't during your time travel journey. 

Even though the main story of this mini-series is about Ha-rin and Seo-jun's relationship, I think their romance is in enough level. Not that much sweet but also not lacking. Then, for someone who is looking for a mystery-thriller genre, you won't be disappointed as well. The story is really unpredictable and two thumbs up for the scriptwriter.

Conclusion

Wanna try a Korean mini-series with a very great twist? Just try to watch Blue Birthday. You will find a very interesting side of this mini-series.

Anyway, I didn't know that actually, the lead character in this series is Yeri from Red Velvet and Hongsoek from Pentagon.

8 out of 10 stars.

Sincerely,

Ra