Reviews

It's not one of the best.

I watched this BL 5/6 years ago and it was my first. it's not that bad, but of course it could be better. It's not one of my favorites because I think it contains a lot of flaws, and honestly? I don't know how I managed to watch all the eps at the time. I think that as I hadn't watched any others before, I thought this one was cool! But nowadays I wouldn't watch it again. I think it's acceptable if people liked it at the time of release, but FOR ME the quality of BL dramas has improved more, in terms of acting, production, etc.
Not to say it's that bad, I think the second season is better.

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The cast was good, I liked the music, the acting and the filming was awesome as always. Afterall it's a korean bl xd. However I just could not understand the ending. Througout the whole series i felt like I accidentaly skipped a few minutes, or a complete episode. The cliffhanger was so shocking at the end, I'm not joking, I had to check twice this page to be sure the series really has just 5 eps. About the plot, I liked the idea of the sport club and everything, but it was kind of amateur and rushed. It felt like they were just rushing even the filming too. Overall.. well, it's forgetable. It's cute, but did not worth watching it.

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Fun but not a BL

It's a very good series. It has great characters, a fun plot that is different from the other two seasons of this anthology series and here the production is excellent and delivers quality acting, script and cinematography.

However, it is not a BL. And that's the biggest problem with this series. They create situations in some episodes and imply that Earth and Best could be a couple or that Win and Dunk will be a secondary couple, but in the end nothing happens and the series only presents heterosexual relationships.

It's frustrating - and disrespectful - the studio's strategy of using the name Close Friends (which is a BL franchise) and promoting the series as a BL only to deceive and attract BL fans to a series that doesn't even have a bromance or romance scenes.

Personally speaking, I believe that the plot would be much more interesting with a romance between Earth and Best, since both have an enemy to lovers construction.

Despite that, it's a good series, has great scenes and presents a fun story. I love the characterization of the characters and how each of them has a distinct style and personality.

But if you're looking for a BL, you won't find it here. Just like My Strawberry Film, here they also talk about being LGBTQIA+ but in a brief and shallow way and that's all you get.

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♡ Perfect Days ♡

This is a lovely movie where the main actor is Yakusho Koji ♡ He works in a toilet company in Shibuya, everyday he wakes up early and goes to work then around lunchtime he always has lunch at the park at his favourite spot where there is a lot of nature and trees. He carries with him a disposable camera and takes pictures of the trees. He lives a simple life he likes cameras, films and books. Every evening after work he goes to his favourite Izakaya, and then before bed he always reads his favourite book. On the weekends he goes to the laundry and then to the bookshop to buy more books. I really really loved this movie especially Hirayama's acting, he is so handsome and in the movie he is so simple, he doesn't talk much but he gives to the world the best impression of surrealism. ' Now is now' ♡

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Impressive and Beautifully Executed

I am very thankful for this contribution to the genre and am glad I chose to watch it.

I feel it is cerebral and poses deep questions. Although the topic is taboo, a lot of great works are and it really depends on what and how it is executed. 180 degrees is a superb example. It's beautiful, simple and complicated at the same time, true to life, full of action and inaction, demonstrates bravery and fear, and differences in dealing with significant decisions. I especially loved the mature way it incorporates diverse ideas, feelings, and decisions of both MLs, while trying to be respectful of opinions/actions that may not be satisfying to others. On top of that, it offers what I felt was compassionate insight as well as clever and amusing banter.

I agree with many that I don't understand why it has such a low rating.

Pond and Nike were simply amazing in their roles. It was very well written. I loved the monologue. Cinemtography was great. I highly recommend it.

** Although the actors are very attractive, this isn't an eye candy or skinship show.

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New trend: forming a main couple with star actors in JDramas?

We live in the era of dating applications like Blued, Tinder, Grindr, Tantan, Jimu, Meeff and many others, and new technologies as a vehicle to find a partner, but it is also the era of that confrontation between the romantic and the realistic, between comfort of conventional relationships and the daring of sexual freedom. It is time to analyze who we are and how we want to relate to each other. Today, romantic dramas are full of our fear of commitment, our insecurity towards romanticism, the changes that technology has brought to our lives, the erotic-festive attitude without ties... And yet, also of our constant search of the perfect love story in the style of a "movie", or a television series, which for that matter is the same.
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. And when life finally offers insecure and hesitant rookie actor Yuki Shirasaki (Taisuke Niihara) an important role in a television drama in which he must portray a homosexual character in a relationship with popular actor Asami Hayama (Komagine Kiita) as co-star, and given his inexperience in love, he decides to make the best of the situation... looking for a real experience.
This is how he goes to a gay bar with the aim of finding someone to sleep with to experience a full-fledged apprenticeship and to be able to incorporate the skills and knowledge acquired into the character to embody. There, he meets Hayama, who in addition to being a television superstar is also studying his last year at university.
How will Shirasaki react when Hayama offers him his body? What will happen between the kōhai and inexperienced in matters of love Shirasaki when the senpai Hayama proposes to form a "romantic relationship for the sake of character development" until filming conclude? What will happen between these two very different people when filming ends?
And, while Shirasaki goes through a lot of false "official first moments" with Hayama—her first real kiss, her first real date, her first sexual encounter, her first role in a television series, her first leading role in a non-theatrical play or his "first coming out of the closet", he is surprised that among lies, emotions flourish, feelings grow and they fall in love. In other words: what seems like a solid plan soon turns into emotional chaos that will lead them to…
The series raises questions about the nature of falling in love (is it a pure matter of instant chemistry or a difficult process of adaptation to the other?), the transition to adulthood and the acceptance of sexual identity.
Based on the manga series "25:00, in Akasaka" by Natsuno Hiroko ('25ji, Akasaka de' / 25時、赤坂で), first published on November 24, 2018 by Shodensha, the action adaptation real with the same name, is directed by Horie Takahiro ('Death Kyun Loop Wa Tomaranai!) and Kawasaki Ryo ('Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2' and 'My Strawberry Film').
Based on a script written by Aso Kumiko, known for writing the script for 'Inochi Aru Kagiri Tataka e, So Shite Iki Nukunda', throughout the plot and the false courtship, the characters discover that love can arise even in the terrain of deception. The viewer might think that this is a classic tender story framed in a romantic comedy-drama, but in reality, it is full of script twists that exceed any expectations.
From the TV Tokyo channel, the series seeks to capture the audience with a formula that combines humor, drama and love through a pseudo-romantic relationship that off-screen leads to a touching and beautifully crafted love story that explores the complexities of relationships within the entertainment industry and between actors.
The cast is reinforced by renowned figures from Japanese cinema and television such as Takuma Usa, a figure known for his participation in other romantic dramas such as 'Kiss x Kiss x Kiss: Love ii Shower', 'Kiss × Kiss × Kiss: Melting Night' and 'Cool Doji Danshi'. Accompanying Usa in supporting roles is Shoma Nagumo, from 'Kiss x Kiss x Kiss: Love ii Shower' and 'Minato Shouji Coin Laundry'. The cast is completed with Atsushi Hashimoto, who began his acting career in 2004 in the film 'Water Boys 2'; Moemi Katayama, actress who in 2019 played the character of Kohiruimaki Himeko in the romantic series 'Ossan's Love: In the Sky', and Shinohara Yushin, known for his intervention in the film 'We Couldn't Become Adults', who together contribute memorable performances. It is, truly, a luxury cast.
I wonder: Will there come a time when they stop pretending that they are a couple and make it known that they ARE a couple? Will the student be a good apprentice to the sensei?
If someone asked me: What is so special about the series? I would answer:
- Shows the non-stereotypical or stigmatized image of the homosexual man and same-sex relationships with the purpose of achieving significant changes in the conservative, patriarchal and heteronormative Japanese society.
- The right decision to make the main couple with two acting stars, since Japanese romantic dramas of the LGBT+ genre usually pair a popular, experienced actor with one less known to the public. Apparently, producers and creators of the genre are seeking to implement a new trend, if we take into account that in the recently concluded 'Sukiyanen Kedo Dou Yaro ka' (2024) they also paired two experienced actors who enjoy great popularity, such as Kan Hideyoshi and Nishiyama Jun.
- The use of monologue through which the characters define their traits and the audience can get to know their most intimate thoughts without the need for a narrator to intervene.
- The respect, passion and sincerity of the members of the artistic-technical teams to the original work.
- The forced plot does not take away from the magic of a leading couple that brims with chemistry and dialogues that manage to convey more than one substantial reflection.
- The two protagonists are very funny in this drama with characters that one represents maturity and experience and the other "first-time" naivety in all areas, both in love and sexual matters to those concerning his work as a novice actor.
- Although the script presents the same tricks as many other series of the genre, the truth is that '25ji, Akasaka de' has shares of originality in the evolution and outcome of the plot.
- The value of friendship, of the camaraderie of coworkers and students to help the two protagonists manage the complex emotions that will accompany them throughout the plot, focused on building the love relationship of Shirasaki and Hayama , their successful participation in a television series, and that both discover their authentic selves.
- Taisuke Niihara and Komagine Kiita play a seemingly impossible couple who will have to force themselves to have an initially non-existent chemistry, because they are unknown people chosen in a casting to play two protagonists of a television drama.
- The disturbing innocence of the entire approach.
- The purity of characters who grow without "corrupting", clinging to their first loves and unusual experiences on a film set.
- Its light narrative and good performances hook you from the first frame, making it a fun series.
- A series with a concept developed and outlined as a drama and not as a comedy.
- '25ji, Akasaka de' shows a series of circumstances that could hardly happen to its characters, always maintaining the premise that dramatic moments in real life are often interspersed with humorous moments.
- The creators wanted there to be certain honesty in the script and that the actors did not have to react intentionally to the planned moments of humor.
- With the dosage of humor and a choreography of gestures that also extends to intelligent and elegant compositions of shots, those responsible for the series achieve the very complicated task of getting each of the decisions made right.
- The music, the smoothness of the camera movements, the ease of provoking different emotions in the viewer and the palpable complicity of a well-rounded cast make the experience of the episodes something special.
- A series that from the pilot episode captivates the viewer and the illusion that the balance is not lost and those responsible are overcome in the following chapters full of disparate occurrences and interesting situations.
- The idea of a closing with a delicate and tender musical sweep.
- Having two directors with extensive experience in the world of entertainment, whose experiences also as writers combined with the skill and vast writing craft of the accredited screenwriter could perfectly outline both the narrative discourse and the staging or production.

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Finally completed it!

I finally managed to complete this series entirely, with a few skips of scenes here and there. Overall, the series is not that bad or extremely good. It - for me personally - stands between a fine line of good and bad. I got slightly "conned" by the time traveling part mentioned in the synopsis. This is definitely not a time traveling series like Serendipity, but more science project gone wrong. That said, 30 episodes for this..... abit tad long for me.

Both the Male and Female Lead are good, they did a great job bringing the characters and the series to life along with the rest of the casts. Despite some criticism about the Male Lead - Lin Yi - I would like to point out that he actually did a good job of portraying the character. Expressionless is most likely something the directors and script needs him to be. So I would say he nailed it awesomely. There are many other series with men portrayed like him also. Even in real life there are some people who are like how he is portrayed in the series. Expressionless, aloof, cold etc. The Female lead is cool, with her bubbliness, positiveness and her never giving up attitude. The only thing I couldn't stand - and most of the parts i skipped - was the bossy princess know it all attitude at the beginning when she found out she is "poor". But that also proves she is good in portraying her character of both being the rich princess and the poor scrapping person. The rest of the casts also did a great job. Especially love the hair salon manager - his antics are just so adorable. The evil person behind all the fiasco also really did a great job of being evil and two faced. Great job!

Music was also awesome. Paired nicely with the series.

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Good drama about Loyalty and Love

It was really enjoyable because we can see the character development of some characters, and all the actions and strategies to fight wars. I think I couldn't give a good review this time bcs I didn't finish this drama in one go. I paused watching it when there was still 5 eps left ughh bcs life intruded and only got to finish it about half a month later.

ML, Ashile Sun/Falcon or A'Zhun, was a general and leader to the Eagle Division of Asher Tribe. He was ruthless, intelligent and very very good at strategies when it came to war or dire situations.

FL, Li Change or Shisi, was a princess to former CP of Tang Dynasty. Earlier, she was filled with fire to avenge her family and so she was a bit brash wanting to start war against the current Emperor. But she experienced some hard lives and realised that she still a princess that had responsibility to protect the citizens of Tang Dynasty so she underwent character development after all of that. It really help that she met with righteous people (shout out to Gongsun Heng!). Changge also the same with ML in the sense that she was very good at strategies. She was very loyal and affectionate to people who treated her well even though she was not really that friendly. She really was not the typical noble lady.

The romance between both of them was slow burn bcs they started as friends but Ashile Sun liked her first and wld do anything for her. Later, Changge wld do the same for him. But really ML did everything everything for her like I think he loved her more. He was so sweet.

One of the the things I love about this drama, some characters that I liked at the start became the face that I didn't want to see later and while some I hated but really really love him now. Talking about Wei Shuyu and Hao Du.

I am so glad that A'Sun and She'er still hv a good siblings relationship. I love love love that we got other couples stories even tho... only one can get a happy ending :\. Anyway, this was random but I'm glad that Great Khan/Yanli Khan suffered for a long time even though A'Sun was still being a filial son to him. Serve him right!! The way he treated both A'Sun and She'er was not fair to them.

I am contemplating to give it 9 or 8.5 stars rating because the ending wasn't giving that much to me. I need more. I need to see how Changge's daily life with A'Sun, how the tribe fared, how our second couple doing too. Myb I'll change my rating if I get the mood to rewatch it... Who knows.

20230418 2301

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What I expected but not really (to be edited until series ends)

I was interested in watching this after seeing the cast cry during the script reading and it had similar vibes to "May I Help You?"(which I recommend btw) so I was interested in seeing how the theme of helping the dead safely move on to the afterlife without having any regrets was going to be tackled. Plus, it being a photo studio was already I guess unique because how are they going to deal with providing such a service to ghost customers when living people may give them issues.

the series has a solid opening. It gives basic understanding of how everything works and still leaves enough curiosity for plot development in future episodes. I enjoyed the stories of the deceased (ep3 was hilarious imo- the aespa cameo you didn't know you needed) and learning more about how our ML's family came to be cursed this way and how FL comes into play in everything especially the link to a ghost from the past. We get to meet all type of ghosts so not every story is the same/similar. Plus, not every ghost has good intentions and seeing how they deal with them ensures the interest in the story is maintained. The side character stories are also somewhat interesting, but I hope they are fully developed by the end of it all.

My problem with the series starts(?)/started(?) in ep7 when the romance plot finally takes off, that's if we can call it that. I am all for FL taking initiative but tbh it was more coercion than positive pursuit. She keeps crossing the line and not respecting his stance. My guy says no she hears try again (just because she felt embarrassed and feels like he is stringing her along which he isn't btw). We are blinded in seeing this because he is also interested in her, but oh well.

I am still struggling to wrap my head around why ML is looking for his uncle when he knows about the family curse but there is still time for clarity.

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Honestly, it's amazing.

I mean, TBW really surpassed my expectations. I don't normally write reviews like this, but this one deserved it. The CGI is beautiful, the cast is amazing, the storyline is well-developed, and there's actual closure in the drama. Besides, the romance was developed beautifully, so in the end, the true love that the leads had for each other was really showing.

I think the best part of the drama was that besides all the misunderstandings and the overall angst, there was an equal amount of humor in it. There were no plot holes- like the things made sense in the end. It's just everything you're looking for in a historical drama. The acting is spot on too.

Personally, the storyline could have been developed further. They didn't have to show so many deaths, but I guess thats just one of the unique parts of the show.

The opening OST song is amazing, literally its so so good.

So, overall, its totally worth it.

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tried to binge watch the show but due to time constraints. I couldn't but nonetheless I was able to finish it and I'm fairly satified with how the show went and all the trailers and ads that were promoting it really got me hooked on watching the show the story I liked I'm not going to go in depth on the story or anything too much but I feel refresh when I'm able to complete a korean drama due to how long each episodes are but this one just hits right for how I pace myself in watching certain drama and I think that other people would sure you can binge the show but you can also pace yourself with this one you won't be behind the rest of the people who are watching this drama all the more to love it even more. (I just wanted to finish black dog at the time but couldn't cause it got removed from netflix in my country.)

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Heartrenching, enraging masterpiece

Tbh I’m a fan of the manhwa that happens to also watch kdramas etc, and let me tell you this was 100% it for both.
Plot wise it doesn’t cover the story of the manhwa but tells the story before the beginning of it. Bits and pieces of the drama have appeared in the manhwa in flashbacks and such but not, well, not THIS.
They took a story about a teen who facing tough times and his own genius, ends up making actual friends ready to stand by his side through everything and making the best casting choices I’ve seen to date brought it to life.
Every single actor have their moments and they all make you actually connect. The scenario is built in a way that kills your insides at the end but also makes you understand the manhwa in such a different light. Every reader have their own suspicions when reading but actually coming face to face with such a story and that, done through such acting, directing, everything is perfection.
Idk what else to say, honestly I’ve seen this one too many times.

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