Watched 2025

02/01/2025

A microfilm (*cough* advertisement) that's just sweet and fluffy. The couple were adorable together and I loooved the domestic vibes and how natural it all felt! 

Recommend: ▲▲▲▲◭ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Japanese Watch Challenge, MDL Countries Challenge

05/01/25

The movie has a simple feel to it as it tackles a lot of taboo topics surrounding mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. Though it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped (mostly in terms of pacing, direction and overall professional incompetence), it was still a very solid and worth-while watch. It's a complicated and raw story. Actors did extremely well (ML especially, daaaang) and the portrayal of mental illness felt quite realistic (from my POV as someone who does not have this illness). 

More rants 'cause idk where else to put 'em... I seem to be in the minority of people that actually strongly disliked the FL. The common opinion seems to be that she was as troubled as ML but that just... isn't it- Yes, she had issues, that much is clear but taking advantage of someone in such a delicate mental state as ML was while also abusing her power and then immediately backing down felt... Very wrong regardless of how unwell she is. Like she chose to make the wrong decision over and over and over again... But maybe my biggest issue lies mostly in those around FL. Like, her mentor. It doesn't take a fricking genius to realize that FL is clearly unwell and incapable, so pray tell, HOW is she even ALLOWED to handle such a complicated case with little to no supervision? Like, are you kidding me??? Not only that, she gets off with a slap on the wrist 'cause "she felt bad about it"- and, and SHE'S the one that ends up leaving?!?! I know this happens IRL too, maybe that's why it pissed me off so much but wow... the collective incompetence of pretty much everyone involved was infuriating. So glad ML cut her off from his life, hoping he thrives. 

Fav Scene: 01:39:00 - 01:45:54 (ML's relapse)

Recommend: ▲▲▲▲△ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Every Genre Challenge, MDL Countries Challenge

02/01/25 - 06/01/25

Honestly... for a vertical microdrama... this was more interesting and well-crafted than I initially anticipated. Absurd? Absolutely but also interesting- The kidney arc had me laughing every time it was brought up even though it wasn't funny ? The villains were cartoonishly evil but still more developed than the average microdrama antagonist ^-^ Leads have amazing chemistry and kiss (and more steamy stuff) like all the time. There's also quite some RR in their dynamic. FL is cool asf (with amazing outfits), ML is cute asf (and the way he says Jiejie? AUGH- MELTED). Definitely worth a rewatch ^^

Recommend: ▲▲▲▲△ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, Miniseries Challenge, r/CDRAMA Challenge

08/01/25

A collection of short stories about unrequited love. I won't lie, most of them were painfully boring. I only really liked 1 (#5 by a director I like) and tolerated a couple more (#3 & #8). 

Notes for me: 

• #3 - A girl coping with with a newly developed disability. I really liked the ending.
• #5 - The broken woman that always lies x the one good guy she met that made her question her entire life. Nicely done tbh. 
• #8 - Love triangle between an elderly woman (SFL), a young nurse trainee (ML), and a seasoned veteran nurse (FL). Actually kinda made me emotional <3

Recommend: ▲◭△△△ | ❌

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Back to the Past Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Movie Challenge, Every Genre Challenge, WHY NOT? Challenge, Japanese Watch Challenge

11/01/25

Short but sooo well made. It's an episodic drama with an overarching plot. All were well-crafted with a strong beginning, middle, and end. The main plot especially was a pleasant surprise! So well done! Also a surprising amount of plot twists that you don't really see coming + good acting, direction, and quality! I loved it! 

Recommend: ▲▲▲▲▲ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Miniseries Challenge, PTW Challenge

12/01/25

Nothing extraordinary but a well-crafted action/thriller with an unlikely duo and a surprising amount of emotional depth. The action aspect was fairly lowkey as is expected with an elderly ML and the other who cannot fight but still, it was exciting. The OST was also very nice and the characterization was endearing and rewarding. Those plot twists at the end were either surprising or poetic and well presented so kudos!

Recommend: ▲▲▲▲◭ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Every Genre Challenge MDL Countries Challenge

13/01/25

Meaningful and emotional. A story that shows the resentment of a young girl as she comes to realise that all the women around her are but in different kinds of cages. It's not dark, it's not cruel, it's honest and ultimately, hopeful. 

It reminded me a lot of a quote I saw a long time ago on pinterest: "In a dream I saw my mother with the love of her life and no children. It was the happiest I'd ever seen her"

Recommend: ▲▲▲◭△ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Japanese Watch Challenge

14/01/25 - 15/01/25

One of those classic war adventure stories with a small group of warriors defending the country (and in this case also the king). It had the feeling of a classic, like those older films (late 90s/early 2000s) that feel rather grounded. It was overall very solid and high quality. Beautiful cinematography, acting, fight scenes, and quite some emotional moments too! I liked all the actors' performance, especially the crown prince/king who looked so pretty while he suffered. 

Recommend: ▲▲▲◭△ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Every Genre Challenge

15/01/25

Was waiting for it to be good but it was just okay. I thought it was going to be wacky, bold, and thrilling but I found myself bored more often than not (watched most of it at x1.25 and barely noticed). The story focuses eternally on the detective duo which to be completely honest, idgaf about T_T The plot wasn't plotting. I wasn't sold on motives or how pretty much anything came to be. There's also weird time jumps pretty much everywhere and at the end we still don't know what the main antagonist's deal is. The premise however had promise and was interesting. Reminded me a lot of Can't Be Erased by JT Music

Recommend: ▲▲◭△△ 

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Every Genre Challenge, Japanese Watch Challenge

16/01/25

A solid, action-packed mystery/thriller with an interesting plot and fun characters. The comedy was definitely a surprise but it worked out well and there was a good balance of comedy and action. Would've likely scored higher if it didn't feel so preachy xD 

Recommend: ▲▲▲◭△ | ✔️

• Used for the MDL Watch Challenge, Color Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Every Genre Challenge